Karachi | Pakistan

A strike by public transport operators in Karachi will continue after talks with police broke down, the head of a transporters’ union said on Saturday. The wheel-jam strike has been observed in the metropolis since Thursday against electronic traffic challans, “heavy fines and other regulatory measures”. Haji Tawab Khan, president of the Karachi Transport Ittehad (KTI), told Dawn on Saturday that the strike would continue. “We held a meeting with the DIG Traffic, who said reversing the e-challans was not under his authority,” he said. “He, however, assured us that he would review the challans which transporters said were unjustified.” Tawab added that none of the transporters’ demands had been met and that, despite repeated requests to government officials, no meeting had been called. Earlier, Muhammad Ilyas, vice president of KTI, said that no breakthrough had been achieved on the transporters’ four key demands. “We have objected to heavy fines imposed under the e-challan system,” said Ilyas. “We believe tha...

A domestic worker accused of stealing 20 tola gold jewellery from a house in Karachi has been arrested, police said on Wednesday.

KARACHI - Speakers at a dialogue organized by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Sunday argued that Karachi’s longstanding problems could only be resolved through an empowered local government system, implementation of Article 140-A of the Constitution, and the creation of new administrative provinces.

KARACHI: The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), in a joint operation with a federal civilian intelligence agency, arrested a suspect in Karachi for allegedly supplying drone technology and electronic equipment to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for use in drone-based attacks, a CTD spokesperson said on Saturday. According to the CTD, the suspect is the brother of Talal alias Zaid Baloch, an alleged active member of the banned TTP currently based in Afghanistan and listed among the department’s most-wanted militants. In a statement, the CTD described the arrest as a significant development, claiming that the suspect played a key role in the procurement and supply of modern drone technology and explosive-related material allegedly used in terrorist activities. Officials said that, on the instructions of his brother, the suspect allegedly purchased drone motors, propellers, batteries, controller boards and other electronic items that could be used in the preparation of improvised explosive devices (...

KARACHI: Several individuals have been arrested for participating in a rally in support of MQM founder Altaf Hussain on Karachi’s Arif Jiyeja Street, it emerged on Friday. The first information report (FIR), a copy of which is available with Dawn, was registered on Thursday and under Sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). It nominated 11 people and said that police constable Deedar Ali, while on patrol duty, saw some people forming a group, chanting slogans in favour of Hussain and carrying flags with “jiye Altaf” and “48th foundation day APMSO” written on them. Hussain’s political career began during his student years at the University of Karachi (KU), when he and Azeem Ahmed Tariq founded the All-Pakistan Mohajir Students Organisation (APMSO). As per the FIR, the constable said the slogans were causing “tensions and hostility” and inciting political parties in the area, indicating t...

• Jacobabad becomes hottest place with 49.5°C • Weatherman expects some relief after tomorrow • Expert says staying hydrated key to coping with heat-related illnesses KARACHI: While the maximum temperature recorded in Karachi on Wednesday was 37.4 degrees Celsius, the feels-like temperature surged to 54°C, the Met Office data showed. According to the data, the feels-like temperature gradually soared from 49°C at around 1pm to 54°C at 3pm. It showed relative humidity was 79pc and 65pc in the morning and evening, respectively. The minimum temperature was 30°C. Other districts of Sindh also experienced harsher weather conditions with mercury soaring to 49.5°C in Jacobabad followed by Dadu 49°C, Paddidan and Sukkur 47°C, Mohenjo Daro, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad 46.5°C, Rohri 46°C, Khairpur 45.5°C and Sakrand 45°C. “We are expecting relief after Friday (tomorrow). The high pressure area developed over the region will gradually subside and the temperature will drop to 36°C to 34°C. But, there are no chances of ra...

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the convictions of two Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) workers — Abdul Rehman alias Bhola and Zubair alias Chariya — for their alleged involvement in the deadly 2012 Baldia factory fire in Karachi. Over 260 workers, including 16 who could not be identified, were burnt alive when the multi-storey Ali Enterprises garment factory was set on fire in Baldia Town on Sept 11, 2012, in what became the deadliest industrial blaze in Pakistan’s history. On Wednesday, a three-judge SC bench, headed by Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed and including Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi and Justice Shakeel Ahmad, set aside the death sentences awarded to the two accused by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on charges of murder, extortion, arson and terrorism, granting them the benefit of the doubt. Abdul Rehman alias Bhola, a former sector in-charge in the party’s organisational structure, and Zubair alias Chariya were sentenced to death in September 2020 for allegedly setting the multi-store...

KARACHI: The mercury in Karachi stood at 37 degrees Celsius as of 1pm on Wednesday, with the feels-like temperature at 49°C due to humidity as a heatwave continues to grip parts of the country. According to data shared by the Met Office, relative humidity was recorded at 56 per cent at 1pm, with southwest winds blowing at 26 kilometres per hour. The city also witnessed hot and humid weather, with a feels-like temperature of 48°C a day earlier as a severe heatwave persisted across the country. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had issued a heatwave warning for various parts of the country last week. The heatwave is expected to persist till June 12. The PMD said temperatures were expected to rise by up to seven degrees Celsius above normal during the heatwave period under the influence of a high-pressure system. The Met Office said maximum temperatures in Karachi were likely to remain between 40°C and 43°C from June 8 to June 12, and warned that night-time temperatures were also likely to rise during...

Street crime in Karachi continued to surge in May, with the latest data released by the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee revealing 4,671 criminal incidents across the city.

Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Saturday criticised the federal government for what he described as a “low priority” approach towards Karachi, arguing that the country’s largest city continues to shoulder immense economic and infrastructural burdens despite its significant contribution to the national economy. Speaking to the media in Karachi, Memon said Karachi remained Pakistan’s most challenging city, facing pressures stemming from migration, trade, employment and transportation. “We do have motorway issues. Karachi has been given low priority by the federal government,” he said, noting that as the country’s main port city, Karachi should have been prioritised in the development of the motorway network. “When you have to start a motorway, you should start it from Karachi. But it has been built everywhere except Karachi,” he added. The minister said Karachi’s infrastructure was under extraordinary strain as heavy traffic from across the country converged on the city. “All of Pakistan’s heavy tr...

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and local partners have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore the development of a maritime business district on prime Karachi Port Trust’s (KPT) waterfront land, the maritime affairs ministry said on Saturday. In a statement, Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said the MoU was signed between KPT, Saudi Business Council–Najd Gateway Holding Company, Arif Habib Dolmen REIT Management Limited (AHDRML), and the Pakistan Corporate Consortium. The proposed project would be built on a 140‑acre KPT site on Karachi’s MT Khan Road and is intended to transform the area into a major commercial and maritime hub, the minister said. The development is envisaged to include modern commercial infrastructure aimed at attracting investment, generating employment, and supporting urban development, he added. “This strategic collaboration is a transformative opportunity to unlock the full potential of KPT’s waterfront assets and position Pakistan as a regional hub for maritime co...

KARACHI: A Karachi court on Wednesday directed authorities to produce alleged drug baroness Anmol alias Pinky in court when required, adding that she did not need to appear in person at the current stage in proceedings. The order was issued in cases registered against Anmol at Karachi’s Garden police station and on an application seeking the appearance of the suspected cocaine dealer before the court via video link due to security concerns. The application was filed by the senior superintendent of the Central Prison for Women on Monday, when Anmol was scheduled to appear in person before the court in two cases, including those relating to the possession of drugs and an illegal weapon. “Since there is no need [for the] physical appearance of the accused at the challan stage due to security risk[s], […] the jail superintendent shall be directed to produce custody whenever the court requires,” Judicial Magistrate (South) Sitara Kainat stated in the order, seen by Dawn. In the application filed on Monday, the jai...

A forced power shutdown by K-Electric at the Dhabeji pumping station has severely disrupted water supply across Karachi, leaving several areas facing shortages.

• No time frame given for restoring normal supply • Residents say water shortages always worsen during important events and religious festivals in Karachi KARACHI: Already struggling with a worsening water shortage during the three days of Eid, residents of the metropolis faced another uncertainty on Saturday after an emergency power shutdown at the Dhabeji Pumping Station disrupted the water supply to several parts of the city. This has been the second month of an acute water crisis in Karachi that has left taps dry, created long queues for water bowsers and frayed tempers. The fresh crisis was announced by Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) in a statement on Saturday evening with the most alarming aspect being the utility was unable to provide any time frame for restoring the normal water supply leaving residents uncertain about how long the disruption would continue. According to the KWSC statement, K-Electric informed the utility that a major fault had developed in Transformer No. 1 at the Dhab...

A large-scale operation against illegal land occupation in Karachi has resulted in the recovery of government-owned railway property valued at more than Rs1.

Sharmila Farooqi has once again defended her earlier remarks comparing Karachi to Paris, saying the port city remains “Paris” for her because it is home.

A newly married couple was shot dead in Karachi’s Malir area soon after appearing before a local court on Monday, according to a senior police official. According to Korangi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Fida Hussain Janwari, the couple was returning from the court when assailants, who were chasing their car, opened fire on them in the Saudabad locality near the RCD ground. SSP Janwari said that the woman’s family had lodged a complaint at Sachal Police Station over her disappearance. However, the woman had recorded a statement before the Malir court that she had married of her own free will. The couple had also submitted their Nikahnama in the court. “The couple suffered critical injuries and died on the spot,” he said. SSP Janwari added that the suspected assailants had been identified as the woman’s relatives, and concerted efforts were underway to arrest them. He further said that the couple belonged to Sindh’s Dadu district and had been living in the Sachal Goth area in Karachi. Meanwhile, Police...

The city administration has launched a large-scale crackdown against illegal cattle markets established across Karachi ahead of Eidul Azha, on the instructions of Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi.

Humanitarian worker Saad Edhi, who was illegally detained by Israeli forces during the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters earlier this week, arrived in Karachi on Saturday. Saad was detained by Israeli forces on Monday along with around 100 other members of the humanitarian flotilla, after at least 10 boats were intercepted in the eastern Mediterranean. He landed at Jinnah International Airport today after being deported from Israel to Turkiye on Friday, along with other foreign activists on board the Sumud Flotilla. A large number of supporters and family members gathered at the airport to welcome him home. Video footage showed people showering him with flower petals and placing floral garlands around his neck as chants and cheers filled the arrival area. Many supporters were seen embracing him and expressing relief at his safe return. A day earlier, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Saad — grandson of late philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi — had arrived safely in Istanbul along w...

KARACHI: A sessions court in Karachi handed double 15-year sentences to a cleric on Wednesday after finding him guilty of sexually abusing two of his students at a madressah in the city’s Landhi area. Additional District and Sessions Judge Naseer Noor Khan announced the verdict against Qari Muhammad Anwar — whose sentences will run concurrently — in two cases of sexual abuse. The court also penalised Anwar with a fine of Rs1 million in each case, and directed that half of the amount of the fine be paid to the boys or their parents as compensation. According to state prosecutors Rehana Khan and Amjad, two separate first information reports were registered against the cleric, who is also a madressah teacher, in 2025. The prosecutors said the first case was registered on the complaint of the parents of a 13-year-old boy after he told them that the cleric had sexually abused him and other students at the madressah. The prosecutors added that the second case was registered after a 17-year-old boy saw reports on te...