Monday, February 16, 2026
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Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi passes away in Lahore

By
Shafek Koreshe
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0

ISLAMABAD, Nov 19 (APP): APP Digital NewsAllama Khadim Hussain Rizvi, the leader of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan breathed his last Thursday night at Lahore, his party announced. He was 55.

No reason for his death was given. His party officials said he was rushed to a hospital after he had problem breathing and had fever for past few days. However he was pronounced dead when he arrived at the hospital.

Senior TLP leader Syed Inayat-ul-Haq Shah also confirmed the news and asked the TLP workers to proceed to Lahore to participate in his last rites. The Tehreek-e-Labbaik announced that his funeral would be held on Saturday at 10 in the morning at Minar-e-Pakistan.

Videos on several social media accounts showed large number of his followers rushing to his home and crying over his sad demise.

The fire brand clerk was known for his protest marches, that often became violent and created law and order problems. His last protest was relatively shorter at Faizabad and ended only after a two day blockade of the twin cities on Monday.

Immediately after the confirmation of the news condolences poured in from all sections of society; including the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, Information Minister, Chief of Army Staff, Chief Minister Punjab and political leaders of many parties.

Prime Minister Imran Khan in a tweet expressed his grief over the sad demise of Allama Khadim Rizvi and conveyed condolences to his family.

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa also conveyed his condolences over the demise of the TLP leader.

 

Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information in Punjab also expressed grief over his sad demise.

Amir Jamat Islami also expressed his grief and prayed to Allah Almighty to bless the departed soul.

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s consistent stance on Kashmir

By
Shafek Koreshe
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0

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s stance on Kashmir at international fora to highlight gruesome human rights violations by India

 

Indian media’s fake “civil war” in Pakistan, falls flat on face

By
Shafek Koreshe
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0
APP Digital Small logo
By Shafek Koreshe

In an abortive attempt to create diversion from Narendra Modi’s human rights abuses in Kashmir, the Indian media went berserk by propagating fake news about a “civil war” like situation in Karachi, triggering a hilarious response from the twitterati in Pakistan, who enjoyed every bit of the ridiculous reports.

#CivilWarInPakistan and #KarachiCivilWar were in no time the top trends, with the young twitter users going crazy by posting video clips from action movies, comics, images of the Indian MiG pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, shot down by Pakistan Air Force inside Pakistan’s territory, as scenes from the Civil War, getting an equally enthusiastic response with numerous retweets and likes.

The arrest of PML-N leader Captain (Retd) Safdar on charges of political sloganeering at Quaid’s Mausoleum and leave applications by senior police officers was exploited by the top Indian news channels, who portrayed an administrative issue as a “civil war” and went to the extent of even reporting casualties, and armed clashes.

Indian Media ditches professionalism to dip at to its lowest 

#FakeNews CNN18News
#FakeNews CNN18News

The news reports were part of a persistent barrage of fake news from Indian mainstream media and its RAW controlled assets on social media over the past few months. The trend has witnessed a sharp spike as part of India’s fifth generation war (5GW) against Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office on the “malicious and fabricated propaganda” by Indian mainstream and social media claiming civil unrest in Pakistan, said planting such baseless stories were reflective of the “Pakistan-obsessed BJP-RSS” mindset.

“Needless to say that Indian media continues to hit new lows,” he said, when asked to respond over the series of fake news flashed as breaking news across the Indian media about a “civil war in Pakistan”.

“Indian media continues to hit new lows”: FO

The Spokesperson said through “peddling fake news and running propaganda machinery”, India could not wash away the truth about its own gross and systematic human rights violations in Indian Ilelgally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

“Rather than reporting on humanitarian crisis in IIOJK, the Indian media chooses to spread fake and sensational news about Pakistan to detract from core issues,” he said.

5th Gen War – Twitterati bust RAW’s #Fake letter attributed to COAS

 

#FakeNews - Yet another figment of imagination of Indian Media
#FakeNews – Yet another figment of imagination of Indian Media

The Indian media tried hard to appease its own consumers and to create a diversion from its human rights abuses in occupied Kashmir. However in its abortive attempt it created history by churning out fake news overpowered by the anti-Pakistan hysteria, undermining its professional ethics and credibility.

#FakeNews - India Today with its concocted news story
#FakeNews – India Today with its concocted news story

The unleashing of the Indian media did not go unnoticed, as Michael Kugelman, deputy director at the @AsiaProgram and South Asia senior associate @TheWilsonCenter in a tweet pointed that the Indian disinformation accounts were exploiting Pakistan’s current political crisis, and “falsely claiming that the country is no experiencing urban warfare.”

He described the trend as “dangerous and disturbing”, as several of these accounts were verified and had huge followings.

Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari said the Indian media was in “hyper drive with fake news on Pakistan” and regretted that it was “unfortunate that Twitter is [deliberately ignoring it].”

All major media outlets in so-called world’s biggest democracy decimated all journalistic norms as none bothered to fact-check such a huge gaffe. India’s News18, India Today, Zee News, India.com and several others quoted the International Herald which showed old videos of bomb explosions in Pakistan and portrayed it as the ongoing civil war.

#FakeNews - Indian International Herald tweet
#FakeNews – Indian International Herald tweet

The Institute of Policy Research in a report said their data indicates a pattern of Indian propaganda against Pakistan on digital media that grew exponentially after 2018 General Elections in #Pakistan. The propaganda hovers around largely 4 key themes.

IPRI Timeline of Indian Propaganda
IPRI Timeline of Indian Propaganda

Minister for Ports and Shipping pointed that the Indian propaganda was at its peak and “sadly fueled by the PDM Circus.” He said the food inflation was artificially manufactured, but was being brought under control.

Minister for Kashmir Affairs also lambasted the “fake, fabricated and malicious propaganda campaign to malign State institutions of Pakistan. He urged @Twitter to take action against Indian accounts for #FakeNews against Paksitan.

However, this idiocy of Indian media gave the Twitterati a perfect chance to enjoy as the microblogging site was flooded with messages to ridicule the Indian media’s insanity.

“Karachi civil war has gotten so bad that my food panda delivery boy had to crawl through mine fields carrying his AK47, RPG & 9mm along with my nihari and Biryani. This thing is getting so serious. Multiple cows have been killed & people are dying of over eating. #IndianMedia,” commented renowned singer Fakhr-e-Alam.

Besides numerous other fake photos, the Indian media also used an image of a building collapsed following a gas leakage blast in Karachi earlier in the day to substantiate its fake news of civil war.

“A little investigation would have informed Zee News that it wasn’t a bomb blast in ‘civil war’ in Pakistan but the result of a  gas leak in Karachi. Whither truth, objectivity, balance and fairness in reporting?,” said Farhatullah Babr, former senator of Pakistan Peoples Party which rules Sindh province.

“An Aircraft shot during civil war in Karachi… and the pilot captured…,” commented another Twitter user Fasihuddin while sharing the images of Indian aircraft MiG-21 and captured injured pilot Abhinandan following an aerial dogfight during India-Pakistan standoff in 2019.

Cantonment Board launches tree plantation drive

By
Samina Ch
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MULTAN, Feb 16 (APP):The Cantonment Board Multan on Monday launched a weekly tree plantation campaign aimed at promoting a cleaner and greener environment for residents and raising awareness about ECO-friendly practices.
The campaign,initiated on the directives of Cantonment Executive Officer Sardar Atif Sultan will continue till February 19,2026.
The initiative involves students,civil society members,local residents and environmentally conscious citizens who are participating in plantation activities and awareness programs.
As part of the campaign,walks,workshops and community activities were being organized to encourage participation across all age groups and to educate residents about the benefits of greenery and proper plant care.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Deputy CEO Asif Hayat,Secretary Cantonment Board Wasim Amir and board member Yaqoob Shaira,who participated in planting saplings.
Free plants were distributed among residents to encourage household-level participation in environmental improvement efforts.
Under the supervision of Garden Superintendent Chaudhry Zaheer and his team,plantation activities were being carried out across green belts, parks and public spaces within the cantonment area.
Officials emphasized that the campaign focuses not only on planting trees but also on their long-term care and protection.
Special distribution camps have been set up at Lalak Jan Shaheed Park and Cantt Garden,where residents can collect free saplings.
The campaign aims to distribute up to 10,000 plants to maximize community involvement and enhance urban greenery.
Sardar Atif Sultan urged residents to actively participate by planting and protecting trees,stressing that sustained public cooperation was essential to transform Multan Cantt into an environmentally friendly and healthy urban community.

PM Shehbaz accorded guard of honor at Austria’s Federal Chancellery

By
Ishtiaq Rao
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0

VIENNA, Feb 16 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday was accorded a warm reception and a guard of honour at the Austrian Chancellery, where he arrived to meet Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker.

As the prime minister arrived at the venue of the formal reception ceremony, he was welcomed by Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker.

PM Shehbaz accorded guard of honor at Austria's Federal Chancellery

The national anthems of Pakistan and Austria were played. The honor guards of Austria presented a guard of honour to the prime minister, which he reviewed and the Austrian chancellor accompanied him.

Both leaders introduced their respective delegations to each other before proceeding for tête-à-tête and the delegation-level talks, wherein both sides will take stock of the entire gamut of bilateral relations.

The prime minister also penned his remarks in the guests book placed at the Chancellery.

PM Shehbaz accorded guard of honor at Austria's Federal Chancellery

Accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to PM Syed Tariq Fatemi, and Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch, Prime Minister Shehbaz is on a two-day official visit here at the invitation Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker.

This visit marks 70 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

This visit by Prime Minister Shehbaz to Vienna marks the first visit by a Pakistani prime minister to Austria in over three decades, the last having been undertaken by the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 1992.

Three proclaimed offenders held in murder case

By
Samina Ch
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0
ATTOCK, Feb 16 (APP):The Jand police  arrested three Category “A” proclaimed offenders wanted in a murder case during a targeted operation, the police officials said on Monday.
According to police sources, the arrests were made under the supervision of SHO Jand, Sub-Inspector, Muhammad Sajjad. The suspects included Jehad Ali, Dilshad Ali and Qaiser Raza had been declared proclaimed offenders in a murder case.
The police said the accused were traced and apprehended using modern investigative techniques and technological assistance.

Trump announces ‘Board of Peace’ members have pledged more than $5 billion toward Gaza reconstruction

By
NNPS Desk
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UNITED NATIONS, Feb 16 (APP): Ahead of this week’s meeting of the Board of Peace, President Donald Trump has announced that members of his newly established U.S.-led body have pledged $5 billion for the reconstruction of Gaza and will commit thousands of personnel to international stabilization and police forces for the war-shattered territory.

Trump plans to host the board’s inaugural meeting on Feb. 19 at the “Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace” in Washington, D.C., where, he said in his Sunday Truth Social post, the pledge will be formally announced.

“Very importantly, Hamas must uphold its commitment to Full and Immediate Demilitarization,” Trump wrote. “The Board of Peace will prove to be the most consequential International Body in History, and it is my honor to serve as its Chairman.”

Trump’s post on Sunday did not specify which member nations were making the pledges or would contribute personnel. However, The Associated Press reported that Indonesia’s military expects up to 8,000 of its troops to be ready by the end of June for a potential deployment to Gaza as part of a humanitarian and peace mission. It’s the first firm commitment that Trump has received, according to the AP.

Rebuilding the Palestinian Gaza Strip is projected to be an immense undertaking. Estimates from the United Nations, World Bank and European Union place reconstruction costs at roughly $70 billion, following more than two years of devastating Israeli bombardment that left much of the territory in ruins.

Pakistan, whose Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will also attend the Board meeting, is a founding member of the Board. But Islamabad has not yet announced its commitment in this connection.

The UN-endorsed Board initiative is tied to the Oct. 10 U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas aimed at ending the prolonged conflict.

The agreement mandated the creation of an armed international stabilization force which is to be tasked with maintaining security and ensuring the disarmament of Palestinian organization Hamas — a key demand of Israel.

So far, few countries have publicly expressed interest in joining such a force, and Thursday’s meeting might make things clear in terms of individual commitments.

It is unclear at this time as to how many of the board’s more than 20 members will attend Thursday’s meeting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who met with Trump at the White House last week, is not expected to participate.

Several European countries have declined Trump’s invitation, including France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Ukraine. Trump revoked Canada’s invitation after Prime Minister Mark Carney voiced opposition to tariffs the US president had proposed against European allies in his bid to acquire Greenland.

APP/ift

PM Shehbaz greets President Xi, Chinese people on Lunar New Year

By
Ishtiaq Rao
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0

VIENNA, Feb 16 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday extended his greetings to President Xi Jinping, the people of China, and the Chinese communities worldwide on the occasion of the Chinese New Year 2026.

“As we welcome the Chinese New Year 2026 – the Year of the Horse – I extend my heartfelt greetings to President Xi Jinping, the brotherly people of China, and to Chinese communities around the world,” the prime minister wrote in a message on his X timeline, which he started with the Chinese words “Gong Xi Fa Cai” translated as “congratulations and may you prosper.”

Referring to the Year of the Horse, named under the Chinese zodiac calendar featuring a 12-year cycle represented by 12 animals, the prime minister said that the Horse symbolized energy, resilience and speed – values that resonated deeply with our shared journey.

Prime Minister Shehbaz, who is currently in Austria on a two-day visit, said that Pakistan and China were iron brothers, bound by an All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and a shared vision of peace, development and regional connectivity.

He wished that the new year would further strengthen the enduring bilateral friendship and deepen cooperation for the prosperity of two peoples.

“The entire Pakistani nation joins me in wishing our Chinese brothers and sisters continued good health, success and forward momentum in the Year of the Horse,” the prime minister added.

Abducted youth found dead in Hazro

By
Samina Ch
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0
ATTOCK, Feb 16 (APP):The body of a young man reportedly kidnapped a few days ago was recovered from the Barah Zai area of Eastern Chhach, in the limits of Hazro police station, the police said on Monday.
The deceased, identified as Muhammad Rafiqat, had allegedly gone missing earlier this week.
The body was shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital (THQ), Hazro, for legal formalities .
The police  confirmed that a case had been registered against unidentified suspects and an investigation was under way.

Three police officials penalized

By
Samina Ch
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0
KHANEWAL, Feb 16 (APP):Three police officials were penalized in a major disciplinary action initiated by Ismail Kharak,District Police Officer(DPO) Khanewal,over allegations of negligence,misuse of authority and corruption,here on Monday.
The action reflects the department’s ongoing zero-tolerance policy against misconduct, with officials facing demotion, dismissal, and suspension following departmental inquiries.
According to official details,Sub-Inspector Maqsood was demoted to Assistant Sub-Inspector,Assistant Sub-Inspector(ASI) Muhammad Iqbal was reduced to the rank of Head Constable and Constable Muhammad Ajmal was dismissed from service.
In a separate move,Muharrar Muhammad Arshad of Chubb Kalan police station was suspended and closed to line pending further investigation.
DPO Ismail Kharak said strict accountability and disciplinary measures would continue to ensure transparency and professionalism within the police department.

NHA operates with Rs43bn surplus, rejects ‘loss-making’ labels

By
Samina Ch
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0
ISLAMABAD, Feb 16 (APP):The National Highway Authority (NHA) on Monday dispelled recent reports labeling it as a loss-making State-Owned Enterprise (SOE), saying such claims stem from a misreading of accounting entries rather than its actual operational performance.
A financial fact-check of the Authority’s audited accounts shows that for FY 2024–25, NHA recorded a robust Net Operating Income of 43.612 billion PKR, calculated from 122.021 billion PKR in revenue against 78.409 billion PKR in operating expenditures. The reported “accounting deficit” of 288.541 billion PKR arises almost entirely from non-cash entries—specifically 133.771 billion PKR in depreciation and 193.488 billion PKR in finance costs—which do not involve any direct cash outflows.
The NHA has evolved into a financially independent entity that no longer imposes a burden on national fiscal resources. Unlike many other organizations, the NHA does not receive any budgetary allocation for its administrative expenses and manages these entirely from its own resources. This financial autonomy extends to its workforce; the NHA does not rely on the Federal Government for employee post-retirement benefits. Instead, it has established its own independent pension and retirement funds, governed by a Board of Trustees and audited according to prevailing standards.
Furthermore, while 50% of the NHA network serves as a non-revenue-generating Public Service Obligation, the Authority successfully finances the maintenance of the entire network through its own generated income.
To ensure long-term sustainability, the NHA is undergoing a transformation aimed at operational efficiency and debt restructuring. Under the leadership of Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, the recent milestones include a 63 percent growth in operating income (rising from 66.8 billion to 108.27 billion PKR) and a 31 percent reduction in maintenance-related expenditures.
The Authority has also revolutionized revenue collection, with 81percent of tolling now conducted via M-Tag as of January 2025. Through the ADB-funded SOE Transformation Programme, the NHA is currently rationalizing its debt by classifying projects into categories based on their commercial viability. These measures reinforce the fact that the NHA’s operations remain cash-positive and are a testament to its financial resilience.

Pakistan rejects Israel’s illegal measures in the occupied West Bank

By
Najam ul Hassan
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0

ISLAMABAD, Feb 16 (APP): Pakistan on Monday strongly condemned the latest attempt by the Israeli occupying power to convert areas of the Occupied West Bank into so-called state property, and to expand illegal settlement activities.

Such steps are in clear violation of international law as well as relevant United Nations Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, and must be rejected by the international community, a press statement issued by the Foreign Office Spokesperson said.

It added that the occupying power’s continued disregard for the international law and its provocative actions undermined the prospects for a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the region.

“Pakistan calls on the international community to take concrete measures to end Israeli impunity, and ensure respect for international law”, the spokesperson added.

Pakistan also reaffirmed full support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and for the establishment of an independent, viable, and contiguous State of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Dacoits loot shopkeeper at Kamoke-Tatlay Aali Road

By
Samina Ch
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0
NOWSHERA VIRKAN, Feb 16 (APP):The armed person on Monday looted Rs 45,000 from a shopkeeper on Kamoke-Tatlay Asli raod.
The police said two unidentified motorcycle riders looted the shopkeeper namely Mubarak Mughal at gunpoint and escape from the scene.
The police registered a case and started prob.
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