Tuesday, January 27, 2026
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Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi passes away in Lahore

By
Shafek Koreshe
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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.

Alhamra welcomes young civil servants from Balochistan

By
Samina Ch
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LAHORE, Jan 27 (APP):A delegation of Probationary Assistant Commissioners from the Quetta Civil Services Academy, Balochistan, visited the Lahore Arts Council (Alhamra),here on Tuesday.
The delegation was warmly received by Executive Director Lahore Arts Council,Muhammad Nawaz Gondal,who extended his best wishes to the young officers for their professional journey in the civil service.
Addressing the delegation,Muhammad Nawaz Gondal highlighted the significance of their induction into the Civil Service of Pakistan,describing it as both an honour and a serious responsibility.
He stressed that sincerity,dedication and hard work were essential qualities for effectively addressing national challenges and serving the public with integrity.
The Executive Director briefed the officers on the role of Alhamra in promoting language,literature,culture and historical heritage.
He noted that Lahore Arts Council serves as a key cultural institution contributing to national cohesion,inter-provincial harmony and international cultural understanding through diverse artistic and literary initiatives.
Earlier,Deputy Director Administration Alhamra,Umair Hassan gave a comprehensive briefing on the institution’s administrative structure, creative programs, and cultural services, providing insight into Alhamra’s operational and artistic contributions.
As part of the visit, the Alhamra Academy of Performing Arts arranged a special musical performance, allowing the officers from Balochistan to experience and appreciate Pakistan’s rich classical music tradition.
At the conclusion of the visit, Executive Director Muhammad Nawaz Gondal presented an honorary souvenir to Director Quetta Civil Services Academy,Ms.Shabana Sultan.
The delegation termed the visit pleasant and memorable and expressed their gratitude to the Lahore Arts Council for its warm hospitality and cooperation.

S. Korea’s official gold reserves remain unchanged for 13 yrs, rank 39th worldwide

By
NNPS Desk
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SEOUL, Jan 27 (YONHAP/APP): The Bank of Korea (BOK) ranked 39th worldwide in terms of gold reserves, as the central bank has refrained from additional gold purchases since 2013 despite active buying by its global peers, data showed Tuesday.

According to a report by the World Gold Council, the BOK held 104.4 metric tons of gold at the end of 2025, ranking 39th among central banks worldwide, down one notch from a year earlier.

When holdings by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Central Bank (ECB) are included, South Korea’s position effectively falls to 41st.

The United States held the world’s largest gold reserves at 8,133.5 tons, followed by Germany with 3,350.3 tons, Italy 2,451.9 tons, France 2,437 tons, Russia 2,326.5 tons and China 2,305.4 tons.

South Korea’s total foreign exchange reserves stood at US$430.7 billion as of end-November, ranking ninth in the world. Gold accounted for 3.2 percent of the total, placing the country near the bottom globally.

The BOK last purchased gold in 2013, and its global ranking has since declined steadily from 32nd in 2013 to 33rd in 2018, 34th in 2021, 38th in 2024 and further to 39th last year.

The central bank has cited gold’s relatively low liquidity and high price volatility compared with other assets, such as bonds and equities, as major reasons for its cautious stance on additional purchases.

In contrast, the World Gold Council said in a report issued last year that central banks worldwide accumulated more than 1,000 tons of gold annually over the preceding three years, far exceeding the roughly 500 tons per year average seen over the previous decade, amid heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

S. Korea reports 4th African swine fever case as virus spreads nationwide

By
NNPS Desk
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SEOUL, Jan 27 (YONHAP/APP): South Korea on Tuesday confirmed its fourth case of African swine fever (ASF) this year, prompting authorities to step up containment measures nationwide.

The latest case was detected at a pig farm in the county of Yeonggwang, about 320 kilometers south of Seoul, which raises some 21,000 pigs, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

The government is taking necessary steps to prevent the spread of the virus, including the culling of affected pigs. It has also issued a 48-hour standstill order for all pig farms and related facilities nationwide, effective through Wednesday.

The country confirmed its first ASF case of the year earlier this month in the eastern city of Gangneung after a two-month hiatus, followed by two additional cases last week in Anseong and Pocheon, both in Gyeonggi Province.

“As African swine fever is spreading to areas previously considered safe, the current situation is more serious than ever,” the ministry said in a statement.

It urged local governments, livestock-related organizations and pig farmers to implement intensive disinfection and quarantine measures.

ASF does not affect humans but is fatal to pigs, and there is currently no vaccine or cure for the disease.

Anti-polio drive starts in Southern Sindh from 2th February

By
Samina Ch
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LARKANA, Jan 27 (APP):The Commissioner Larkana Division, Tahir Hussain Sangi, stated that polio is a dangerous disease, and to eradicate it, both the authorities and the public must work together so that this deadly disease can be eliminated completely.
                             He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting of the Divisional Task Force Readiness for Polio Eradication held on Tuesday in the conference room of his office, regarding the upcoming polio campaign.
                           The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Larkana Dr. Sharjeel Noor Channa, Deputy Commissioner Qambar-Shahdadkot Imdad Ali Abro, Deputy Commissioner Shikarpur Shakeel Ahmed Abro, District Health Officer Larkana Shoukat Ali Abro, District Health Officer Qambar-Shahdadkot, as well as officials from the police, Rangers, local government, PPHI, and the Health Department.
The Deputy Commissioners of Jacobabad and Kashmore-Kandhkot participated in the meeting via video link.
                       The Commissioner further emphasized that all Deputy Commissioners must work diligently to ensure the success of the campaign. He directed that any issues arising during the polio campaign should be reported promptly so they can be resolved in a timely manner.
                         He stressed the need to pay special attention to border areas of Sindh, ensuring that children traveling in vehicles entering or leaving these areas are also administered polio drops. He warned that no negligence during the polio campaign would be tolerated.
                        He instructed police officials to ensure the security of polio teams and directed District Health Officers to ensure staff attendance throughout the campaign. The Commissioner also stated that children present in schools, hospitals, madrassas, all union councils of the division, bus stands, and passenger vehicles should be vaccinated against polio to protect them from lifelong disability.
                          The meeting also reviewed the previous polio campaign, and a detailed briefing on polio was presented through maps and charts.It is worth mentioning that the upcoming polio campaign will be conducted from February 02 to February 05, 2026.

Comprehensive, indigenous counterterrorism strategy urged at IRS policy dialogue

By
Samina Ch
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ISLAMABAD, Jan 27 (APP):A high-level Counterterrorism Policy Dialogue, aimed at fostering informed debate and generating practical policy recommendations for the Government of Pakistan, on Tuesday called for an inclusive, indigenous, and well-coordinated national strategy to counter evolving security threats.
The dialogue, jointly organized by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Islamabad, and the BNU Centre for Policy Studies, brought together leading security experts, diplomats, academics, and journalists to assess Pakistan’s counterterrorism landscape and identify actionable pathways forward, said a press release.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS, emphasized the importance of engaging Afghanistan through peaceful means to address shared security challenges. He underscored that the purpose of the dialogue was to move beyond rhetoric and develop practical, implementable policy recommendations. Ambassador Saleem highlighted the need for Pakistan to invest in long-term societal resilience by prioritizing literacy, promoting tourism, fostering tolerance, and strengthening cultural values as essential components of countering extremism.
Providing historical context, Ambassador Mansoor Khan, former Ambassador of Pakistan to Afghanistan, identified three major waves of terrorism in Pakistan since 2001, 2006, and 2021. He pointed out critical gaps in Pakistan’s counterterrorism policy, stressing that an effective strategy must combine kinetic operations, sustained dialogue, and social and economic integration. Maintaining balance among these three pillars, he noted, remains a key challenge.
Ambassador Khan linked regional connectivity projects such as CASA-1000 and TAPI with security, arguing that cross-border challenges must be addressed for such initiatives to succeed. He also highlighted the lack of coordination among institutions and called for trilateral cooperation between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China. He stressed that NACTA must play a central coordinating role in the fight against terrorism.
Dr. Rizwan Naseer, Director of the Centre for Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism Studies at IRS, emphasized the growing threat of violent extremism and the need for evidence-based and community-focused responses. Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director of CRSS, pointed to the heavy economic cost of insecurity, revealing that farmers in Pakistan and Afghanistan have suffered collective losses of nearly USD 800 million, while lamenting the absence of effective civilian ownership of counterterrorism policy.
Challenging prevailing narratives, Professor Samina Yasmeen, Professor Emerita and Director, Centre for Muslim States and Societies, University of Western Australia, challenged traditional narratives about Balochistan, stating that the province is no longer entirely dominated by sardars. She emphasized the crucial role of women in addressing social divisions and countering extremism.
Amir Rana Director PIPS traced the evolution of NACTA since 2009, noting its ambitious beginnings under its founder, Tariq Pervez. He criticized the stagnation of policy development, pointing out that Pakistan’s counterterrorism policy has largely remained unchanged since 2014.
Dr. Rakesh Parkash Director at NACTA highlighted NACTA’s engagement with 49 stakeholder agencies and drew attention to emerging challenges, including the proliferation of leftover NATO weaponry and the growing use of cryptocurrencies in terror financing. While acknowledging NACTA’s reliance on kinetic approaches, he stressed that non-kinetic strategies are equally vital. Iftikhar Firdous Founder & Executive Editor, The Khorasan Diary called for indigenous mechanisms to counter extremism and referenced regional examples, including China’s handling of tribal dynamics, while questioning how NACTA is addressing the evolving threat of IS-K.
Concluding the discussion, Aarish Ullah Khan, Editor Publications and Head of Afghanistan Program at IRS, highlighted NACTA’s operational strengths but stressed the urgent need for a more effective and proactive diplomatic approach toward Afghanistan.
The dialogue concluded with a consensus on the need for an inclusive, indigenous, and coordinated counterterrorism framework that balances security operations with socio-economic and diplomatic initiatives.

Met office predicts cold, dry weather for Sindh

By
Samina Ch
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KARACHI, Jan 27 (APP):Pakistan Meteorological Department on Tuesday predicted cold and dry weather in most districts of the Sindh province during the next 24 hours.
       However, cold winds are also expected in most districts during afternoon.
         Mainly, cold and dry weather is likely to prevail in the province.

IRSA releases 34,400 cusecs water

By
Samina Ch
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ISLAMABAD, Jan 27 (APP):Indus River System Authority (IRSA) on Tuesday released 34,400 cusecs of water from various rim stations with inflow of 42,700 cusecs.
 According to the data released by IRSA, the water level in the River Indus at Tarbela Dam stood at 1492.00 feet which was 90.00 feet higher than the dead level of 1402.00 feet. Water inflow and outflow in the dam were recorded as 17,000 cusecs each.
The water level in the Jhelum River at Mangla Dam was 1202.50 feet, which was 152.50 feet higher than its dead level of 1,050 feet. The inflow and outflow of water was recorded as 8,100 cusecs and 100 cusecs respectively.
The release of water at Kalabagh, Taunsa, Guddu and Sukkur was recorded as 23,400, 20,700, 21,600, and 18,400 cusecs, respectively. Similarly, from River Kabul, a total of 10,500 cusecs of water was released at Nowshera, and 6,800 cusecs were released from River Chenab at Marala.

Governor condoles demise of Nighat Orakzai’s husband

By
Samina Ch
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PESHAWAR, Jan 27 (APP):Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Tuesday visited the residence of former Member of the Provincial Assembly and senior Pakistan Peoples Party leader Nighat Orakzai to offer condolences on the demise of her husband, Sajjad Khan.
During the visit, the Governor offered Fateha for the departed soul and prayed for the elevation of the deceased’s ranks and for Allah Almighty to grant him forgiveness.
He also expressed heartfelt sympathy and solidarity with Nighat Orakzai and other bereaved family members in this hour of grief.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said that he shared the sorrow of the bereaved family and stood with them in their loss. He prayed that Allah Almighty grant patience and strength to the family to bear this irreparable loss.

GCWUS opens laptop portal for student applications

By
Samina Ch
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0
SIALKOT, Jan 27 (APP):The Government College Women University Sialkot (GCWUS) announced on Tuesday that the portal for applying for government-provided laptops is now open to all students.
In a statement,GCWUS confirmed that students from universities,colleges and private educational institutions can now apply through the portal.
To receive a laptop,students need only to register their credentials on the platform.
This initiative was part of the government’s ongoing efforts to support students in their educational journey by providing them with the tools needed for academic success.
The university has welcomed the move,highlighting its potential to enhance students’ access to digital learning resources

Women Police officers appointed to key positions in Naseerabad Range to strengthen public-friendly policing

By
Samina Ch
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0
QUETTA, Jan 27 (APP): Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has announced a major step toward women’s empowermeBalochistannt and police reforms, confirming that women police officers have been appointed to key positions across all districts of the Naseerabad Range.
According to the Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, the initiative aims to make the police system more public-friendly while ensuring meaningful participation of women in law enforcement.
Under the new arrangements, women officers are now serving as complaint officers, deputy record keepers (Naib Moharrar), computer operators, and in other administrative and decision-making roles.
Sarfraz Bugti noted that women officers have already begun playing an active role in addressing public grievances, particularly cases of domestic violence and issues faced by women and vulnerable citizens. As a result, public trust in the police has visibly increased.
The Chief Minister praised the Inspector General of Police Balochistan and the Deputy Inspector General of Police Naseerabad Range for successfully implementing the initiative. He emphasized that utilizing the full potential of women officers would lead to improved policing, more effective service delivery, and better public facilities.
“These reforms are helping create a safe, dignified, and trust-based environment in police stations for women and all complainants, enabling citizens to register their complaints without fear or hesitation,” Bugti said.
Mir Sarfraz Bugti added that such measures would not only strengthen the police system but also enhance women’s confidence in law-enforcement institutions—an essential element for building a civilized and just society.
Reaffirming the provincial government’s commitment, he stated that providing equal opportunities to women in all sectors remains a core component of Balochistan’s broader vision and reform agenda. The Chief Minister assured that practical steps toward women’s empowerment and institutional reforms will continue in the future.
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