Karachi marked most unsafe city in Economist’s report
A report by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) — the research and analysis division of The Economist Group marked Karachi as the most unsafe city in the world- having a place at the bottom of 60 cities on the list. The report is based on the second iteration of the index, which ranks 60 cities across 49 indicators covering digital security, health security, infrastructure security and personal security. “Although it performs poorly across all of the categories, it was dragged down by a very low level of personal security. This is a reflection of a number of factors, but the main reason is that among the cities in the index, it experiences by far the most frequent and most severe terrorist attacks,” reads the report.
PTI condemns PML-N’s Rana Sanaullah for calling Ahmadis his brothers
Condemning the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah for calling Ahmadis his brothers, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shah Farman said on Thursday the main aim of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is to protect Pakistan’s physical, ideological and religious borders. This development comes three days after PML-N’s retired Capt. Muhammad Safdar lashed out against Ahmadis in the National Assembly- following which Prime Minister Khaqan Abbasi disowned Safdar’s views to be representative of the party or the rest of its leadership. Not just from a religious point of view but “Sanaullah has [also] violated the 1973 Constitution, which has declared Ahmadi community as non-Muslims,” Farman said.
Three injured as army aviation plane crashes in Waziristan
Due to a technical fault in the air-conditioning system and engine, an army aviation plane crashed near South Waziristan’s Wana stadium on Friday, injuring three officers who were identified as Lt-Col Murad, Major Nasir Tareen and Major Shahid. Security forces cordoned off the area and secured the plane’s wreckage while the officers were shifted to the local field camp, where their condition was stated to be stable.
ISPR should not comment on the state of the economy: interior minister
In a statement issued by his public relations officer, interior minister Ahsan Iqbal said that the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, should refrain from commenting on the country’s economic situation, DawnNews reported. His response comes a day after Gen Ghafoor during a TV interview said that “if the economy is not bad, it is not doing so well either”- adding that economic stability is tied to the security concerns of the country. “Pakistan’s economy is stable,” said Iqbal in his statement on Friday. “Irresponsible statements will bring disrepute to the country,” Iqbal added, claiming that the economy today was doing a lot better than it was in 2013.
Nawaz, Maryam, Safdar’s indictment postponed after lawyers gatecrash court
Justice Muhammad Bashir adjourned the indictment hearing of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law, Muhammad Safdar, after PML-N lawyers and supporters forcibly entered the building and surrounded the judge’s bench, loudly complaining that they had been manhandled by security forces outside the court and prevented from entering the courtroom. The crowd dispersed as Justice Bashir announced the postponement of the indictment hearing to Oct 19. Taking notice of the incident, the interior ministry asked Islamabad Police to compile a detailed report of the incident.
PIA’s net loss rises to Rs45 billion
Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIA) posted a net loss of Rs45 billion ($433 million) for 2016, a jump of 36 percent over the loss of Rs33bn ($310m) incurred in the previous year. The company’s revenue was also down 2pc to Rs89bn from Rs91bn a year ago, DawnNews reported. The national airline continues to face a financial crunch- with the corporation announcing in a development last week the possible suspension of its flights to the United States– a first for the airline since it launched the operation there in 1961.
UK General acknowledges Pakistan’s achievements in fighting terrorism
On Friday at a meeting with the chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Bajwa at General Headquarters Rawalpindi, Chief of General Staff (CGS) United Kingdom Army General Sir Nicholas Patrick Carter acknowledged the achievements and sacrifices made by the Pakistan army in fighting terrorism. Carter who is on a two-day official visit to Pakistan also discussed matters of mutual interest, including the strengthening of bilateral security and defence cooperation between armies of the two countries with Bajwa. The UK General is scheduled to address participants of a national security and war course during his visit as well.
Seven killed as overspeeding van overturns near Hasan Abdal
A speeding passenger van toppled on GT Road near Hasan Abdal on Friday, killing seven passengers on spot, while five injured were shifted to the Tehsil Headquarter Hospital, sources told The Express Tribune. In July 2017, at least 11 people were killed and 26 were injured when an overspeeding Rawalpindi-bound bus collided with a tractor-trolley on Layyah’s Karor Road. Such road accidents, according to a World Health Organization report, contribute to about 2.69% of annual deaths in Pakistan most of which are of people aged between 15-29.