Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi passes away in Lahore

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

-

Thu, 22 Oct 2020, 12:36 AM

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

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

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.

#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.

Indian disinformation accounts are exploiting Pakistan’s current political crisis and falsely claiming that the country is now experiencing urban warfare and other serious instability. Dangerous and disturbing; several of these accounts are verified, with large followings. Ugh.
— Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) October 21, 2020

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.

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.

Indian media propaganda at its peak & sadly fueled by the PDM circus.
Both social & economic indicators of Pakistan are showing positive signs.
The artificially manufactured food inflation is being brought under control as well.
Pakistan on the rise under PM @ImranKhanPTI
— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) October 22, 2020

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.

#Indian media is deeply involved in a fake, fabricated and malicious propaganda campaign to malign state institutions of #Pakistan.@Twitter needs to take action against Indian Social Media accounts who are involved in nefarious attacks of fake news against Pakistan.
— Shehryar Afridi (@ShehryarAfridi1) October 21, 2020

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.

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 😂
— Fakhr-e-Alam (@falamb3) October 21, 2020

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.

A little investigation would have informed @ZeeNewsEnglish that it wasn’t a bomb blast in ‘civil war’ in Pakistan but gas leak in Karachi. Whither truth, objectivity, balance and fairness in reporting? https://t.co/RaZ81Tx96C
— Farhatullah Babar (@FarhatullahB) October 21, 2020

“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.

An Aircraft shot during civil war in Karachi… and the pilot captured…
#Karachicivilwar #IndianMedia pic.twitter.com/Al5iWx6jOe
Some of the selected tweets
Indian media propaganda at its peak & sadly fueled by the PDM circus.
Both social & economic indicators of Pakistan are showing positive signs.
The artificially manufactured food inflation is being brought under control as well.
Pakistan on the rise under PM @ImranKhanPTI
— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) October 22, 2020
— Fasih Uddin (@Fasih_Uddin) October 21, 2020

Captain Amir Liaquat Hussain leading the #CivilWarinPakistan, targeted Sindh Police positions with 2 grenades at a time from a single RPG. 👏 pic.twitter.com/VVDeI8y4Rh
— Kashif Ali (@KaschifAli) October 21, 2020

Live scene from #CivilWarInPakistan
This is civil war at its peak. pic.twitter.com/EOBXWjJMZv
— Mustafa T. Wynne (@mustafa_wynne) October 21, 2020

Security personnel are performing a mock exercise to prepare for any untoward incident at the University of Sargodha.

By

-

Wed, 10 Dec 2025, 5:41 PM

Security personnel are performing a mock exercise to prepare for any untoward incident at the University of Sargodha. — APP07-101225
SARGODHA: December 10 –

IHC rejects immediate stoppage of compensations to landowners of new sectors

By

-

Wed, 10 Dec 2025, 5:39 PM

ISLAMABAD, Dec 10 (APP):The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday rejected the request to immediately stop the payment of compensation to the landowners of the new sectors.

Justice Muhammad Azam Khan heard the case of citizen Malik Gulzarin to stop the payment until the payment of compensation is increased.

During hearing, DG Law CDA Naeem Akbar Dar submitted a detailed response of CDA to the court through Aamir Latif Gill Advocate, in which it was said that CDA is going to hold a lottery for development plots to the landowners of sectors D13, E13, F13 soon. CDA will allot plots to the landowners of the sectors under the land sharing policy. Landowners of CDA sectors will also be compensated in exchange for houses after the survey. Hundreds of landowners have applied to CDA for compensation under the land sharing policy. It said that the CDA has started paying compensation to the landowners under the land sharing policy after initial verification. CDA land Compensation has already been paid to hundreds of landowners under the sharing policy.

The court will hear the case of compensation to landowners in new sectors on December 12.

A young worker arranging decoration stuff and plants pots to attract the customers at local nursery, Chak Shehzad Road.

By

-

Wed, 10 Dec 2025, 5:37 PM

A young worker arranging decoration stuff and plants pots to attract the customers at local nursery, Chak Shehzad Road. — APP02-101225
ISLAMABAD: December 10 –

PEMRA, Alfalah Asset Management explore creation of media fund

By

-

Wed, 10 Dec 2025, 5:37 PM

ISLAMABAD, Dec 10 (APP):Acting Chairman of PEMRA Barrister Sikandar Rashid Chaudhry held talks with Alfalah Asset Management CEO Khaldoon bin Latif and his team on the proposed establishment of a dedicated media fund.

The meeting focused on exploring the establishment of a special media fund under the private funds category, designed to support Pakistani content in gaining access to international platforms.

The talks addressed prevailing challenges in the media industry and examined potential partnerships and strategies to unlock new avenues for growth and investment.

Both sides emphasized the importance of collaboration to strengthen the sector and foster opportunities that ensure investments and sustainable development.

Students keenly viewing flowers during the 3-day Annual Chrysanthemum and Autumn Flower Show 2025 at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF).

By

-

Wed, 10 Dec 2025, 5:36 PM

Students keenly viewing flowers during the 3-day Annual Chrysanthemum and Autumn Flower Show 2025 at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF). — APP06-101225
FAISALABAD: December 10 –

Students are busy painting in a competition during the 3-day Annual Chrysanthemum and Autumn Flower Show 2025 at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF).

By

-

Wed, 10 Dec 2025, 5:36 PM

Students are busy painting in a competition during the 3-day Annual Chrysanthemum and Autumn Flower Show 2025 at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF). — APP05-101225
FAISALABAD: December 10 –

3.9 mln beneficiaries enrolled in ‘Nashonuma Program’ over five years, NA told

By

-

Wed, 10 Dec 2025, 5:36 PM

ISLAMABAD, Dec 10 (APP):The National Assembly was informed on Wednesday that approximately 3.9 million beneficiaries have been enrolled in the ‘Nashonuma Program’over the past five years to address the issue of stunting.

Responding to questions during the question hour, Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Syed Imran Ahmad Shah said the enrolled beneficiaries include two million children and 1.8 million pregnant women.

Citing an impact evaluation conducted by Agha Khan University, the minister said the programme has had a significant effect on reducing stunting. According to midline study results, stunting among children under two years of age has decreased by 6.4%, while stunting within the 6-month age group has declined by an “enormous” 20%. He added that low birth weight has reduced by 5.6%, while early initiation of breastfeeding has increased by 11.6%.

Imran Ahmad Shah informed the House that the programme—initially piloted in 15 districts—has now expanded nationwide. At present, it is operational in 157 districts through 542 facilitation centres. He clarified that there is no plan for further expansion of Nashonuma at the moment.

The minister said over 10 million digital wallets have already been created under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), with SIM distribution underway. He assured that by March 2026, beneficiaries will no longer have to stand in long queues or face deductions and complaints, as payments will be fully digitised.

He highlighted that BISP budget has significantly increased from around Rs 500 billion to Rs 716 billion under Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s government. He said the Prime Minister is committed to bringing transparency and improving governance across all institutions, especially BISP.

He added that the launch of the digital wallet system will eliminate previous complaints regarding deductions, long queues, or intermediaries. “Those days are now a thing of the past,” he said, expressing confidence that the new system will ensure beneficiaries receive their full payments without inconvenience.

Imran Ahmad Shah said the government is determined to ensure that no corruption will be tolerated and that reforms will make the country’s flagship social welfare programme more efficient and transparent in the coming days.

KIIR, KPRI organize seminar on Kashmir to mark human rights’ day

By

-

Wed, 10 Dec 2025, 5:33 PM

ISLAMABAD, Dec 10 (APP): On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, a major seminar titled “Kashmiris are Rights Holders, Not Just Subjects” was organized by Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR) and Kashmiri Policy Research Institute (KPRI) at Jammu and Kashmir House, here on Wednesday.

The seminar was attended by political leaders, former ambassadors, human rights experts, researchers, media representatives and students.

The chief guest of the seminar was Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan and SAFRON Engineer Amir Muqam.

Speakers at the event included former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Ambassador Sardar Masood Khan, Senator R. Farhatullah Babar, Osman Atiq Khan of the Muslim Conference, Hurriyat leaders Farooq Rahmani, Abdul Hameed Lone, and Shaikh Abdul Mateen of APHC, human rights activist Dr. Khalid Aftab, Rana Qasim Noon, and youth leader Mahmood Shahzad Khan.

The minister for Kashmir Affairs highlighted that Kashmir was a disputed issue whose future should be decided according to the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

In Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), he said that India used all the tactics of force but could not suppress the spirit of freedom of the Kashmiris. “I pay tribute to the martyrs of IIOJK and salute the Kashmiri people.

The victory in the struggle for truth has once again made the Kashmir issue a topic of global discussion, he added.

The speakers expressed deep concern over the current situation in IIOJK and the serious violations of human rights.

They said that the right to self-determination enshrined in the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international human rights treaties has been declared as the fundamental right of the Kashmiri people.

Rana Qasim Noon drew parallels between oppression in Gaza and Kashmir, noting, “The Kashmir and Palestine causes are very similar. Over 500,000 Kashmiris have been martyred, yet atrocities continue. The issue must be resolved according to UN resolutions, giving Kashmiris the right to self-determination.”

Former senator Farhatullah Babar saluted Kashmiri freedom fighters, including Yasin Malik and Masrat Butt, calling the Kashmir cause sacred. He warned against external interference, saying, “Since August 5, 2019, the entire Kashmir has become like a cantonment. The world must know that Kashmir has turned into a prison. Kashmir belongs to Kashmiris and no one else.” Babar urged coordinated efforts for Malik’s release and called on the diaspora to pressure their governments to act against India.

Sardar Usman Attiq highlighted the struggles of Kashmiri youth and recalled the sacrifices of hundreds of thousands of Kashmiris. “Even today, the children in the occupied valley remember Pakistan’s national anthem. Kashmiris face violence just for expressing their sentiments. The people of the valley are fighting bravely and Kashmir is part of our faith and belief,” he said.

Hurriyat leader Abdul Hameed Lone urged youth participation in the cause, praising their energy and talent. “Throughout history, revolutions are led by youth, from Russia to the time of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Our youth can conquer the world,” he said, while thanking the media and announcing certificates for young contributors.

Hurriyat leader Sheikh Abdul Matin expressed concern over the grave human rights situation in IIOJK and said that Hurriyat leaders including Chairman APHC Masarat Alam Butt were in Indian jails and their basic rights are being denied. He said that our war is ultimately a war for Pakistan and we have great love for Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s Pakistan.

M Farooq Rahmani highlighted long-standing human rights violations since 1948 and stressed that jailed Kashmiris were unheard. “Youth are passionately working for Kashmir and taking steps to resolve the issue. Their only crime is advocating for human rights and freedom from Indian oppression,” he said.

The seminar concluded with a unified call for youth engagement, international pressure, and sustained efforts to ensure justice for Kashmiris, reaffirming that their struggle was a sacred cause deserving global solidarity.

Mock exercise held at Gujrat University

By

-

Wed, 10 Dec 2025, 5:29 PM

GUJRAT, Dec 10 (APP):A mock exercise was conducted at the University of Gujrat to evaluate the professional readiness of law enforcement agencies in responding to potential terrorism-related threats.

The exercise was carried out on the directions of District Police Officer (DPO) Gujrat Rana Umer Farooq and supervised by DSP Sadar Circle Rai Sarfraz Yousaf.

According to a police spokesperson, personnel from the Elite Force, Rescue 1122, the Bomb Disposal Squad, Traffic Police and other law enforcement agencies participated in the drill.

During the exercise, teams demonstrated a coordinated response to simulated terrorists inside a university building.

The Elite Force conducted a clearance operation, the Bomb Disposal Squad performed a search-and-sweep activity, Rescue 1122 provided first aid to mock casualties, and Traffic Police managed emergency route diversions.

The DPO said such mock exercises enhance the force’s operational capability and ensure timely and effective action in real emergencies. Protecting citizens will be ensured at all costs.

Chrysanthemum, autumn flowers exhibition inaugurated

By

-

Wed, 10 Dec 2025, 5:28 PM