North Korean hackers develop AI tools for cyberattacks

KARACHI: Internal differences within Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) intensified on Sunday after supporters of two rival factions allegedly clashed outside the party’s Bahadurabad headquarters in Karachi, leaving at least three people injured. According to reports, tensions between supporters of the groups associated with MQM-P Chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and senior leader Mustafa Kamal escalated following a party meeting. The confrontation turned violent as workers allegedly exchanged slogans, engaged in physical fighting, and pelted stones at each other. Witnesses also reported aerial firing near the Bahadurabad headquarters during the unrest, creating panic in the area. Three people sustained injuries during the clashes. Senior MQM-P leader Dr Farooq Sattar said the dispute erupted after a meeting of party leaders at the Bahadurabad office. Speaking to the media, he alleged that supporters of one faction assaulted MPA Ejaz-ul-Haq and party leader Zakir. He further claimed that party leaders Mangla Sharma and Sabeen Ghori were also mistreated during the incident. MQM-P leader Amin Ul Haque alleged that one party worker was injured in the firing, while several others suffered injuries due to stone-pelting. He also claimed that extensive vandalism took place inside the party office and that the office’s DVR recording system was taken away. Amin Ul Haque said the matter had reached a point where it could no longer be ignored and called the incident deeply concerning for the party. Meanwhile, Dr Farooq Sattar later arrived at the Bahadurabad headquarters following the clashes as senior party leaders attempted to assess the situation and address the growing internal crisis.

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Monday granted transit pre-arrest bail to Noreen Niazi, sister of incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, in a case registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016. The court directed Niazi to approach the relevant Islamabad court by August 20 for further legal proceedings. Her protective relief will remain effective until that date. Justice Arshad Ali heard Niazi’s petition. Her legal team included Ali Zaman, Amir Zeb and Barrister Sarwar Muzaffar Shah. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) registered the case in Islamabad on July 27. Niazi has been accused of making allegedly derogatory and inflammatory remarks about state institutions during a podcast and in video clips later circulated on social media. Her lawyers rejected the allegations and maintained that she had been falsely implicated. They argued that the case was politically motivated and that the authorities had not presented substantial evidence linking her to the alleged offences. The defence further claimed that attempts were being made to arrest and harass Niazi. The lawyers said the statements cited in the case had been taken out of context and wrongly interpreted. In its order, the PHC observed that the request for transit bail deserved consideration. The court subsequently granted interim protection subject to bail bonds of Rs80,000 and two sureties. Niazi later spoke to reporters and said she became aware of the case after arriving in Peshawar. She claimed that remarks she had made privately were allegedly passed on to authorities and subsequently became the basis of the case. She also alleged that several cases had been registered against members of Imran Khan’s family. Niazi questioned the allegations against her, saying she had never visited Peshawar and therefore had no involvement in matters concerning the province. The case emerged after the NCCIA summoned Niazi on July 20 over allegations involving the dissemination of what the agency described as false, offensive and inflammatory content concerning state institutions. The action followed the circulation of a video interview in which Niazi discussed the Pakistan-India military confrontation of last year. She made allegations about the circumstances surrounding the conflict and questioned the motives behind it. She also made claims involving Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israel and US President Donald Trump.

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has said that the groups holding sit-ins had attempted to disrupt the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections but failed to achieve their objective. Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Rana Sanaullah said the people of Azad Kashmir had exercised their right to vote and given a mandate to their chosen representatives. He said the process of government formation in Azad Kashmir would begin after the completion of the third phase of the elections. Rana Sanaullah expressed hope that the groups staging protests would now recognise the situation and end their sit-ins. He said the government was willing to review the legitimate demands of the protesters. However, he warned that individuals who take up arms or act against the state would have to face legal action. The adviser also rejected allegations of widespread election rigging. He said those making such claims had so far failed to present evidence to support their allegations. Rana Sanaullah accused the Pakistan Peoples Party of using allegations of rigging to cover up what he described as its electoral defeat. He said the PPP was still raising concerns about alleged rigging, but the intensity of its claims had decreased compared with earlier stages of the election. He expressed hope that PPP leaders would eventually accept the results and congratulate the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on its performance. Polling in the third phase of the Azad Kashmir elections was continuing, while authorities reported that the overall voting process remained peaceful. Rana Sanaullah said elements that had attempted to prevent people from casting their votes had failed in their efforts. He maintained that voters were freely exercising their democratic right and choosing their representatives through the ballot. The prime minister’s adviser also expressed confidence about the formation of the next government in Azad Kashmir. He claimed that the results available so far indicated that the PML-N was on course to form the government with a two-thirds majority. Rana Sanaullah described the elections as free, fair and transparent. He said the democratic process had allowed the people of Azad Kashmir to give a clear mandate to their representatives. He added that the government would focus on addressing public issues after the elections. According to Rana Sanaullah, the completion of the third phase will pave the way for the formal process of government formation in Azad Kashmir. The remarks came amid political tensions surrounding the elections and protests. The government has repeatedly called for the continuation of the democratic process, while opposition groups have raised concerns over the conduct of the polls.