Wednesday, December 17, 2025
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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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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.

President Zardari signs key legislative bills into law

By
Ishtiaq Rao
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ISLAMABAD, Dec 17 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday accorded his assent to different important legislative bills on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, following their passage by both houses of Parliament.

The president signed into law the Qanun-e-Shahadat (law of evidence) (Amendment) Bill, 2025 as well as King Hamad University of Nursing and Associated Medical Sciences Bill, 2025.

President Zardari also assented to the National Commission for Minorities Rights Bill, 2025 aimed protecting, empowering and developing religious minority communities through various measures across the country.

However, he returned the Daanish Schools Authority Bill, 2025 to the prime minister for reconsideration, in view of the need for provincial consultation.

In his observation, President Zardari viewed that a prior consultation with the relevant provincial governments was inevitable in case of establishment of Daanish Schools in the provinces.

President Zardari felicitates government, people of Bhutan on their National Day

By
Kamran Muraad
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ISLAMABAD, Dec 16 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan, extended warm felicitations to King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the Royal Government and the people of Bhutan on their National Day.
“This day marks the historic coronation of Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck as the first Druk Gyalpo in 1907, a moment that laid the foundations of a unified and modern Bhutan under the Wangchuck monarchy. It is also an occasion to honour the contribution of Bhutan’s successive monarchs in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and nurturing its unique cultural identity,” the president said in his message on the occasion of National Day of Bhutan.
He said Bhutan’s focus on people-centred development, especially its philosophy of Gross National Happiness and its commitment to environmental stewardship, continues to inspire many around the world.
He said Pakistan values its cordial relations with Bhutan both bilaterally and specially within the SAARC framework. “It is sad that India continues to kill the South Asian spirit of SAARC by its hegemonic designs by freezing the great multilateral forum. With the help of the great people of Bhutan, we look forward to revive SAARC with more power and impact.
We also look forward to working together to strengthen cooperation in education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges for the peace and prosperity of our region,” he added.
He also conveyed his best wishes for the continued good health and happiness of His Majesty the King and for lasting progress and wellbeing for the people of Bhutan.

Israel’s new demolition order threatens West Bank refugee camp: UNRWA

By
NNPS Desk
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UNITED NATIONS, Dec 16 (APP): Israel has issued new demolition orders for the Nur Shams camp in the north of the occupied West Bank effective this week, which a senior official with the UN Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA) labelled as “more devastating news” for the region.

Some 25 buildings face imminent demolition starting on 18 December, impacting hundreds of forcibly displaced Palestinians, the Director of UNRWA Affairs for the occupied West Bank, Roland Friedrich, said on Tuesday in a statement posted on social media.

Furthermore, satellite imagery shows that nearly half of all buildings in the camp — 48 per cent — had already been damaged or destroyed before this latest order.

“This new demolition order fits the pattern we have seen too often this year, with Israeli forces destroying homes to enable their long-term control over the camps in the northern West Bank, permanently altering their topography,” said Friedrich.

“Justified through ‘military necessity’, these demolitions make no one safer,” he added.

In January, the Israeli military launched a large-scale operation in the northern West Bank that has displaced thousands of Palestinian refugees.

‘Operation Iron Wall’ initially targeted the Jenin refugee camp but expanded to the Tulkarm, Nur Shams, and El Far’a camps.

“The forced displacement of the more than 32,000 Palestine refugees in the northern West Bank must not become permanent,” Friedrich said.

“Residents have anxiously waited for 11 months to return home. With each blow of the bulldozers, this hope becomes ever more distant.”

UNRWA assists nearly six million Palestine refugees in five locations across the Middle East, including at 19 camps in the occupied West Bank.

Some 13,739 people were registered at Nur Shams camp in 2023, where two UNRWA schools – one each for boys and girls – serve roughly 1,571 students.

Residents also access primary healthcare including reproductive health, infant and childcare, immunizations, screening and medical check-ups, at the camp’s sole health centre.

Escalating violence and tensions in the West Bank are cause for alarm, UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Ramiz Alakbarov

said on Wednesday in his quarterly briefing to the Security Council in New York.

Alakbarov told the 15-member Council that Israeli security operations in the north had caused high fatalities, population displacement, and large-scale destruction, especially in refugee camps.

“Continued Israeli security presence in camps contravenes obligations to end the unlawful occupation,” he said via video conference.

Alakbarov also condemned “relentless Israeli settlement expansion” which “fuels tensions, impedes Palestinian land access, and threatens the viability of a contiguous and sovereign Palestinian State.”

It coincides with rising settler attacks, thus further entrenching occupation, violating international law and undermining Palestinian self-determination.

He said that settlement advancement reached its highest point this year since the UN began tracking nearly a decade ago.

“I urge Israel to abide by its obligations under international law, recalling the International Court of Justice advisory opinion of 19 July 2024, which obliges Israel to cease all new settlement activities, evacuate settlers, and end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory promptly,” he said.

The senior official further condemned rising settler violence across the West Bank, which intensified during the olive harvest.

Palestinian farmers have faced assaults, harassment, and obstruction from their lands; while olive trees have been uprooted or burned, and entire harvests destroyed.

A view of houses damaged due to a gas leak explosion at Luhur Colony, in a result one killed and more than 20 others were injured, including man, women and children who have been shifted to the Trauma Center for medical treatment

By
Khuram Maryam
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0
A view of houses damaged due to a gas leak explosion at Luhur Colony, in a result one killed and more than 20 others were injured, including man, women and children who have been shifted to the Trauma Center for medical treatment
APP34-161225
LARKANA
A view of houses damaged due to a gas leak explosion at Luhur Colony, in a result one killed and more than 20 others were injured, including man, women and children who have been shifted to the Trauma Center for medical treatment
APP35-161225
LARKANA
A view of houses damaged due to a gas leak explosion at Luhur Colony, in a result one killed and more than 20 others were injured, including man, women and children who have been shifted to the Trauma Center for medical treatment
APP36-161225
LARKANA
A view of houses damaged due to a gas leak explosion at Luhur Colony, in a result one killed and more than 20 others were injured, including man, women and children who have been shifted to the Trauma Center for medical treatment
APP37-161225
LARKANA

People stand in front of oil tankers burned at the Keamari Oil Terminal

By
Khuram Maryam
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0
People stand in front of oil tankers burned at the Keamari Oil Terminal
APP44-161225
KARACHI
People stand in front of oil tankers burned at the Keamari Oil Terminal
APP45-161225
KARACHI 

Court orders university to vacate residential quarters from retired staff

By
Kamran Muraad
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HYDERABAD, Dec 16 (APP): The Sindh High Court has ordered the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, to vacate all its residential bungalows and quarters occupied by retired professors, doctors, officers and lower staff.
The Hyderabad Circuit Bench on Tuesday issued the order in a petition filed by Gulshan Ara. During the hearing the counsel of LUMHS advocate Bhagwandas Bheel submitted the list of the varsity’s quarters and briefed the court about the allotment mechanism.
The petitioner contended that a number of retired administrative officers, professors and other staff were still living in the university’s quarters even though the law stipulated them to vacate those places.
The SHC directed LUMHS to bring an end to illegal occupation of its quarters and submit a compliance report in the court at the next date of hearing.

Minorities minister highlights religious harmony at Christmas event

By
Kamran Muraad
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0
RAWALPINDI, Dec 16 (APP): Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora on Tuesday evening attended a Christmas celebration as chief guest at a local hotel, where he extended greetings to the Christian community and highlighted the message of peace, love and brotherhood associated with Christmas.
The provincial minister cut a Christmas cake and congratulated the community, saying Pakistan was home to followers of different religions who enjoyed complete religious freedom.
He said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had repeatedly stated, including on the floor of the provincial assembly, that minorities were a source of pride for her, adding that she was taking practical steps for their welfare and regularly participated in minority religious festivals.
Sardar Arora said the chief minister would attend a Christmas ceremony at the Church of Pakistan in Lahore on December 22. He added that Christmas celebrations had formally begun across the province from December 14.
Referring to related activities, he said a rally was organised from Cathedral Church, Regal Chowk to Liberty Chowk, Lahore, as a demonstration of interfaith harmony.
The minister said places of worship, including gurdwaras and temples that had remained closed since independence, had not only been reopened but were also being renovated.
He stressed that projecting Pakistan’s positive image was a shared national responsibility and called for collective efforts to promote interfaith harmony and peaceful coexistence.

Punjab focuses on agri reforms, farmer support: Marriyum Aurangzeb

By
Kamran Muraad
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0
MULTAN, Dec 16 (APP):Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Tuesday said that under the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Agricultural Graduates Internship Programme had become a practical guarantee of dignified employment for educated youth after graduation.
She emphasized that agricultural reforms, promotion of modern technology and farmer welfare remained the top priorities of the Punjab government.
She was addressing the inauguration ceremony of the second phase of the Agricultural Graduates Internship Programme at Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Agriculture University Multan, along with Provincial Minister for Agriculture Ashiq Hussain Kirmani where she distributed appointment letters among agricultural graduates.
Congratulating the selected graduates on behalf of the Chief Minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb said that through a merit-based and transparent system, young professionals were being provided an opportunity to work in the public sector with dignity on a monthly stipend of Rs 60,000. She said that in the second phase, 2,000 more agricultural graduates were being inducted, bringing the total number of interns to 3,000 across two phases.
She further stated that the Punjab government had allocated Rs 66 billion for agricultural reforms, while the Rs 250 billion Kissan Card Programme was being implemented successfully. She added that the Punjab was the only province where wheat was being cultivated on more than 16.5 million acres. Through this initiative, agricultural graduates would facilitate services for over one million farmers across the province.
Highlighting the performance of agricultural interns, the Senior Provincial Minister said they played an exemplary role during floods and other emergencies, as well as in the recovery process of the Kissan Card Programme, which had now reached a recovery rate of 90 percent. She said the Chief Minister had launched the revolutionary Green Tractor Scheme, adding that 5,000 super seeders were already operational across Punjab, with plans to increase the number to 10,000 in the next phase. As a result of these measures, the burning of crop residues had been reduced by 55 percent, significantly contributing to smog control. She also noted that for the first time, 5,500 acres of land in the Potohar region were being brought under cultivation.
Aurangzeb also highlighted other welfare initiatives of the Punjab government, including the Suthra Punjab Programme for cleanliness in streets and neighborhoods, internship opportunities for 50,000 students in various sectors, and 1,100 field hospitals that had provided medical facilities to millions of citizens. She said free electric bus services were being operated for students and senior citizens, while under the “Apna Chhat Apna Ghar” scheme, housing had been provided to 120,000 citizens. She added that the use of modern AI technology had led to a significant reduction in smog across the province.
Speaking on the occasion, Provincial Minister for Agriculture Ashiq Hussain Kirmani said that the launch of the second phase of the internship programme in Multan reflected the government’s confidence in the capabilities of young agricultural graduates. He said that in the first phase, 1,000 graduates were deployed in the field and delivered outstanding performance, which paved the way for the expansion of the programme.
He added that by equipping educated youth with modern training, the government was ensuring real progress in the agricultural sector. Joint efforts of the Agriculture Department and agricultural interns had made record wheat cultivation possible. Provision of quality seeds, irrigation water and other facilities, he said, remained a top priority for farmers. He also highlighted the launch of the Agriculture Mall initiative, through which farmers were being provided affordable agricultural inputs and equipment.

Rangers, Customs seize smuggled goods in joint operation

By
Zaka Ullah Ch
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0
KARACHI, Dec 16 (APP):Pakistan Rangers Sindh, in coordination with Pakistan Customs, recovered a large quantity of smuggled and non-duty-paid goods during a joint operation conducted on the basis of intelligence information in different parts of the city.
According to a Rangers spokesperson on Tuesday, the operation was carried out in the areas of Bus Terminal Yousuf Goth and 100 Feet Road near Hub River Road.
The seized items included dry milk, Iranian toffees and chocolates, cloth, tile strips, Chinese salt, tyres, dairy milk cream, crockery, and other assorted food items. The goods had been concealed in warehouses.
The recovered consignments were shifted in 10 trucks and handed over to Customs authorities for further legal proceedings.
The spokesperson said Pakistan Rangers Sindh will continue operations against smuggling until its complete eradication.

Leghari condemns Dr Nusrat’s public humiliation by Bihar’s Chief Minister

By
Zaka Ullah Ch
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0
ISLAMABAD, Dec 16 (APP):Federal Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmed Leghari on Tuesday strongly condemned the public humiliation of Indian Muslim woman Dr. Nusrat Parveen by Bihar’s Chief Minister and forcibly removing a woman’s niqab.
In his message of solidarity with Muslim woman, the Minister termed this coward act of Indian Chief Minister a violation of woman spirit, dignity, and religious freedom.
He highlighted that this act is not an isolated lapse but it reflects a disturbing pattern where the rights of Muslim women in India are disregarded with impunity by those in power, adding that the laughter from officials on stage compounds this injustice.
“We stand in solidarity with Dr. Parveen and the Chief Minister must issue an unconditional apology on this act,” Leghari stated and urged the Indian authorities must investigate and ensure such violations of religious freedom never recur in future.
He emphasized that the international community must take notice when fundamental rights are publicly stripped away which a concern for all.
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