Ƶ

Pakistan actress Humaira Asghar Ali found dead at Karachi home — police

Pakistan actress Humaira Asghar Ali found dead at Karachi home — police
The picture shows Pakistani actress Humaira Asghar Ali, who was found dead at her home in Karachi, Pakistan, on July 8, 2025. (Picture courtesy: Humaira Asghar Ali/Facebook)
Short Url
Updated 09 July 2025

Pakistan actress Humaira Asghar Ali found dead at Karachi home — police

Pakistan actress Humaira Asghar Ali found dead at Karachi home — police
  • Ali’s body was discovered when a court bailiff arrived at her rented flat to get it vacated
  • The actress appeared on ARY’s reality TV show ‘Tamasha’ as well as in a 2015 film ‘Jalaibee’

KARACHI: Humaira Asghar Ali, a Pakistani actor and model, was found dead at an apartment in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, police said late Tuesday.

Ali’s body was discovered when a court bailiff arrived at the rented apartment to get it vacated on court orders on a complaint filed by the landlord, according to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mehroz Ali.

“The landlord had filed a court case to have the premises vacated. Today, when the bailiff arrived with a court-issued break-and-enter order and forced open the door, the woman’s body was found inside,” SSP Ali told Arab News.

“The woman has been identified as Humaira Asghar Ali who was a TV actress. It has been learned that she was originally from Lahore.”

The deceased actor was best known for her appearances on ARY’s reality TV show ‘Tamasha’ as well as a 2015 action thriller, ‘Jalaibee.’

Following post-mortem, Karachi Police Surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed said, the deceased’s body was in a “very advanced stage of decomposition,” which suggested that she died around a month ago.

“We have collected all relevant samples for analysis. Cause of death reserved,” Syed said.

Ali’s death comes just weeks after renowned actress Ayesha Khan was found dead in her apartment in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal area, according to police.

Her neighbors reported a foul smell emitting out of her apartment that led to the discovery of the 84-year-old’s body.


Military says not concerned about Pakistan becoming ‘next target’ after Iran conflict 

Military says not concerned about Pakistan becoming ‘next target’ after Iran conflict 
Updated 5 sec ago

Military says not concerned about Pakistan becoming ‘next target’ after Iran conflict 

Military says not concerned about Pakistan becoming ‘next target’ after Iran conflict 
  • Israel, USA launched strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities in June, leading to conflict and tensions in the Middle East
  • Pakistan military spokesperson says seeking conflict with a nuclear power is “absurd, sheer stupidity and inconceivable“

ISLAMABAD: Army spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Wednesday there is “absolutely no concern” among the military establishment that Pakistan could be the “next target” of attacks, especially with regards to its nuclear program, following last month’s conflict between Israel and Iran.

Last month, Israel and USA launched strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities after Tel Aviv claimed Tehran was close to developing nuclear weapons, a charge the Islamic country denied. 

Pakistan condemned the Israeli and American strikes, calling them a violation of international law. Islamabad has frequently assured the international community that its nuclear assets are safe, and it has developed atomic weapons only for deterrence purposes. 

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Chaudhry was asked whether there was concern in the military establishment about Pakistan becoming the “next target,” especially with regards to its nuclear program, following recent developments in Iran. 

“There is absolutely no concern, whatsoever, in the military, that Pakistan can become the next target,” Chaudhry responded. 

He added that Pakistan is an established and declared nuclear power, noting that the world is not experienced at even attempting to go into a “misadventure” against such a country. 

“And if such a misadventure is taken or attempted, then it will lead to horrific consequences which the world may not be able to endure,” he warned. 

The military spokesperson reiterated that seeking conflict with a nuclear power is “absurd, sheer stupidity and inconceivable.”

Fears of an all-out nuclear war broke out in early May when India and Pakistan engaged in the worst fighting between the nuclear-armed nations in decades. 

India and Pakistan both traded missiles, struck each other with fighter jets, artillery fire and drones after Delhi blamed Islamabad for supporting an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April. Pakistan denied involvement and called for an international probe into the incident. 

After four days of conflict and more than 70 people getting killed on both sides of the border, India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire on May 10 that was brokered by Washington. 

The ceasefire has persisted yet tensions remain, as India remains adamant on holding in abeyance a decades-old water-sharing agreement with Pakistan. 

Islamabad has warned that any attempt to divert or stop the flow of its waters would be treated as an “act of war” and responded with full force. 


Pakistan waives all duties, taxes on sugar imports to curb price hikes

Pakistan waives all duties, taxes on sugar imports to curb price hikes
Updated 56 min 10 sec ago

Pakistan waives all duties, taxes on sugar imports to curb price hikes

Pakistan waives all duties, taxes on sugar imports to curb price hikes
  • Announcement comes as sugar prices surge to Rs200 [$0.70] per kg in several parts of Pakistan
  • Pakistan to import 350,000 tons of sugar in two phases initially, says food security ministry 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Food Security Ministry announced on Wednesday it has decided to waive all duties and taxes on sugar imports to ensure the product is available to the public at affordable prices. 

In Pakistan, high sugar prices have triggered public outcry and become flashpoints for opposition criticism in the past, with allegations of hoarding and cartelization frequently surfacing in election years or periods of economic volatility.

The latest announcement from the ministry comes as sugar prices surge to nearly Rs200 [$0.70] per kilogram in several parts of the country, triggering public concern. National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain chaired a meeting of the steering committee on sugar on Wednesday, which decided to import the commodity through the Trade Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) to ensure transparency and quality control. 
“To facilitate this process, the government has exempted all duties and taxes on sugar imports so that sugar can be made available to the general public at affordable prices and inflationary pressures can be eased,” the ministry said in a statement. 

It said sugar will be imported initially in two phases. In the first phase, a tender for 200,000 metric tons of sugar will be issued, followed by another tender for 150,000 metric tons after one week.

The ministry said these import quantities have been determined in line with immediate market requirements and anticipated demand in the coming weeks.

“The imported sugar will be of premium quality, meeting standard market expectations— specifically, the coarse-grain variety commonly used by consumers,” the statement said.

“Additionally, post-shipment inspection will be strictly enforced to ensure that quality standards are upheld.”

Hussain said the government would deploy a streamlined and “active system” to guarantee timely distribution of imported sugar across the country, leaving no room for hoarding or profiteering.

“He expressed hope that this strategic intervention will help stabilize sugar prices in the local market and significantly ease the financial burden on consumers,” the ministry said. 


Saudi aviation team to conduct security audit of seven Pakistani airports in August

Saudi aviation team to conduct security audit of seven Pakistani airports in August
Updated 09 July 2025

Saudi aviation team to conduct security audit of seven Pakistani airports in August

Saudi aviation team to conduct security audit of seven Pakistani airports in August
  • Saudi team to conduct audit at airports in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Multan, says official
  • Ƶ’s aviation team expressed satisfaction with Pakistan’s aviation security procedures in its last audit two years ago 

KARACHI: A Saudi aviation team will conduct a security audit of seven Pakistani airports in August, a Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) spokesperson said on Wednesday. 

The security audit will cover airports in Pakistan’s Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Sialkot, and Multan cities, PCAA spokesperson Shahid Qadir said.

He said the director-general of Ƶ’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has approached Pakistan’s DG PCAA, Nadir Shafi Dar, to conduct the aviation security audit. 

“A Saudi aviation security team will visit Pakistan in the coming month and will conduct this audit in August and onwards,” Qadir told Arab News. 

The Saudi aviation team is coordinating closely with the PCAA’s Directorate of Aviation Security (AvSec), which will host the visiting delegation, Qadir said. The PCAA’s director general has designated the AvSec director to oversee the audit process, he added. 

This marks the second such audit by Saudi aviation authorities, who conducted their inaugural security assessment of Pakistan in 2023. The Saudi team later expressed satisfaction with Pakistan’s aviation security procedures, which involve multiple stakeholders such as the Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA), the Airport Security Force (ASF), airlines, cargo handlers and catering companies.

The development takes place as Pakistan’s civil aviation sector shows marked improvement in international benchmarks.

Following the separation of the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) from the PCAA and the enactment of the Civil Aviation Authority Act, Pakistan has achieved a score of 86.73 percent in the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP). 

As per the PCAA, this rating is higher than the global average of 71 percent and India’s 73 percent.

Separately, a two-member team from the United Kingdom’s Department for Transport (DfT) began its aviation security assessment of the Islamabad International Airport on Tuesday.

The team, accompanied by a representative of the British High Commission, will review airport security procedures, catering, and flight operations over its three-day visit.

“All aviation security stakeholders, including PAA officials, ASF personnel and representatives from PIA, British Airways, Air Blue, Kitchen Cuisine, Ras Menzies and others attended the initial briefing,” a PCAA handout said.

The PCAA said Pakistan has previously performed well in the UK’s DfT audits, saying that officials are optimistic about the outcome of the latest assessment. 

The PCAA said its director general has also initiated engagement with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in pursuit of direct flight operations to the US.

The development follows Pakistan’s national carrier resuming flights to Europe in January after the European aviation safety agency lifted its four-year ban on the airline.

Pakistan International Airlines has also approached UK authorities for permission to resume its services to the country. 

PIA was banned by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), UK and the US after Pakistan opened an investigation into the validity of pilots’ licenses following a PIA plane crash in Karachi in May 2020 that killed 97 people.


Police say militants behind quadcopter attacks in northwest Pakistan that killed one, injured three

Police say militants behind quadcopter attacks in northwest Pakistan that killed one, injured three
Updated 09 July 2025

Police say militants behind quadcopter attacks in northwest Pakistan that killed one, injured three

Police say militants behind quadcopter attacks in northwest Pakistan that killed one, injured three
  • No group has claimed responsibility for attacks, one of which police say targeted a police station in Bannu
  • Pakistan’s military blamed militant outfits backed by India for drone attacks that killed four children in May

PESHAWAR: One woman was killed while three others were injured in two quadcopter attacks in northwestern Pakistan this week, a police official said on Wednesday, blaming militants for carrying out the assault. 

The first attack took place on Tuesday night in the northwestern tribal Bannu district’s Srah Bangla area, District Police Officer (DPO) Saleem Abbas Kulachi said. The quadcopter strike killed a woman and left three injured, including two children, he added.

The second attack targeted the Miryan Police Station in the same district at 6:45 am on Wednesday, he said. The police officer added that an explosive-laden quadcopter deployed by the “Khawarij” had struck the facility.

Khawarij is a commonly used term by Pakistani authorities to describe extremist factions like the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

“These attacks are being carried out by militants who have acquired and deployed quadcopters in carrying out attacks,” Amir Khan, a media officer for the regional police officer in Bannu, told Arab News.

He did not provide further details. Kulachi, however, said an investigation is underway to identify those responsible for the Miryan Police Station attack.

The TTP, which has carried out some of the deadliest attacks against Pakistan’s armed forces and civilians since 2007, has not claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

On May 19, a suspected drone strike reportedly led to the deaths of four children in Hurmuz village of the northwestern Mir Ali tehsil and injuries to five others, including a woman.

Pakistan’s military denied responsibility for the attack days later, attributing the incident to a proscribed militant network which it said was operating on “the behest of their Indian masters.”

“Initial findings have established that this heinous act has been orchestrated and executed by Indian-sponsored Fitna Al Khawarij,” the military’s media wing said in a statement.

Later in May, police said at least 22 people were wounded in another suspected quadcopter attack near a volleyball ground in Pakistan’s South Waziristan district.

The police spokesperson had said the origins and operators of the drone remained “undetermined.

Islamabad has repeatedly blamed Afghanistan-based militant groups for launching attacks inside Pakistan, a claim that Kabul denies.

Pakistan also blames India for backing militant groups in its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces. India denies the allegations. 


Pakistan extends Hajj 2026 registration deadline to July 11 as 313,000 complete process 

Pakistan extends Hajj 2026 registration deadline to July 11 as 313,000 complete process 
Updated 09 July 2025

Pakistan extends Hajj 2026 registration deadline to July 11 as 313,000 complete process 

Pakistan extends Hajj 2026 registration deadline to July 11 as 313,000 complete process 
  • The deadline for the registration process of Hajj 2026 was supposed to end on July 9
  • Registration is mandatory for all intending pilgrims and no fee is required at this stage

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government has extended the deadline for Hajj 2026 registration by two days to July 11, the religion ministry said on Wednesday, sharing that 313,000 people have completed the registration process so far.

The ministry had announced the launch of next year’s Hajj process last month, which was due to remain open till July 9. Applicants will be able to choose between the government and private Hajj schemes once the deadline expires.

Intending pilgrims can register through 15 designated banks, and only those who complete the process will be eligible to perform Hajj next year. No fee is required at the registration stage.

“Deadline for Hajj 2026 registration has been extended by two days,” Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) said in a statement. 

“Hajj registration will continue until July 11 through designated banks and the ministry’s online portal.” 

The ministry said 313,000 individuals have so far completed the registration process for Hajj 2026. It added that the decision to extend the deadline was taken after considering requests from several intending pilgrims.

The ministry said expenses and other terms and conditions of Hajj 2026 will be issued separately as per the Hajj policy.

Registration is mandatory for pilgrims who were left out of the private scheme this year, as well as for Pakistanis residing abroad.

Pakistan had received a quota of 179,210 pilgrims from Ƶ for Hajj 2025, evenly divided between the government and private Hajj operators.

However, a major portion of the private quota remained unutilized due to delays by companies in meeting payment and registration deadlines, while the government filled its full allocation of over 88,000 pilgrims.

Private operators blamed the situation on technical glitches such as payment issues and communication breakdowns.