Three suspected robbers killed in Karachi police e…

QUETTA: Security forces have killed 15 terrorists during a series of intelligence-based operations conducted across several districts of Balochistan, security sources said on Sunday. The operations were carried out under the ongoing Operation Rad-ul-Fitna-3, targeting militant networks in Mastung, Bolan, Washuk, Awaran, Sibi, Khuzdar, Harnai and Noshki. According to security sources, the operations were launched following intelligence about the presence and movement of militants in the targeted areas. A significant quantity of weapons and ammunition was also recovered during the actions. Officials said the operations dealt a major blow to militant networks and disrupted their ability to move and operate across parts of the province. Security forces, they added, remain committed to continuing intelligence-driven operations until terrorist activity is eliminated. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the security forces for what he described as successful operations against militant groups. He commended the personnel for their professionalism and said the government would continue supporting efforts to counter terrorism. The latest operations come amid heightened security concerns in Balochistan, where militant attacks have targeted both civilians and security installations. Security forces have continued intensified operations in the province following a series of deadly attacks. Earlier, security forces reported killing 12 militants during intelligence-based operations in the Washuk and Mastung districts. Authorities have also launched joint operations involving the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and Balochistan Police following recent attacks on security personnel and civilians. Pakistan has witnessed a significant rise in militant violence in recent years, with Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa remaining among the most affected regions. Security agencies say intelligence-led operations will continue as part of broader efforts to prevent further attacks and dismantle militant networks.

  Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting to review the implementation of Pakistan’s National Integrated Digital Policy Framework, with discussions focusing on strengthening digital governance, expanding the digital economy, and improving public services through modern technology. During the meeting, the prime minister directed the relevant authorities to take immediate steps to make the facilities of the National Data Center, “Sky 47,” available to all federal government institutions. He emphasized that the initiative would serve as a cornerstone of Pakistan’s digital transformation strategy and significantly improve the efficiency of government operations. Shehbaz Sharif said the National Data Center would function as a centralized platform for storing and managing data from all government institutions. He explained that maintaining a unified data infrastructure would eliminate the need for individual departments to establish separate data centers, resulting in substantial savings of public resources while ensuring greater coordination and improved data security. The prime minister highlighted the role of the Pakistan Digital Authority in leading the country’s digital transformation. He said the authority was providing an effective direction for the delivery of government services and citizen-centric facilities. According to him, the implementation of the National Digital Vision would play a key role in building a modern, integrated, and technologically advanced society capable of meeting future challenges. Appreciating the progress made so far in promoting digital governance, the digital economy, and digital public services, Shehbaz Sharif instructed officials to strengthen international partnerships under the National Integrated Digital Policy. He stressed the importance of increasing collaboration with global technology partners and ensuring Pakistan’s effective representation at international digital forums to benefit from global expertise and innovation. The prime minister further directed that the National Digital Vision should be implemented across multiple sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, public utilities, housing, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). He noted that the adoption of digital technologies in these sectors would improve service delivery, enhance efficiency, and provide citizens with faster, more reliable, and transparent access to government services. He also instructed authorities to accelerate efforts to provide better digital facilities to the public without delay. According to the prime minister, the introduction of a Digital ID system would allow citizens to access multiple government services through a single, integrated platform. This initiative is expected to simplify administrative procedures, reduce paperwork, improve transparency, and make public services more accessible for people across the country. The meeting also decided that a session of the National Digital Commission would be convened in the near future. The commission will engage provincial governments and other key stakeholders to ensure coordinated implementation of the National Digital Policy across Pakistan. Officials said the collaborative approach would help align federal and provincial initiatives while accelerating the country’s digital transformation agenda. Several senior cabinet members and government officials attended the meeting, including Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Information Minister Atta Tarar, National Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, and State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmad, along with other senior officials. The meeting reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating a digitally connected Pakistan by modernizing public administration, strengthening the digital economy, and ensuring that technology-driven services improve the daily lives of citizens while supporting sustainable economic growth.

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has distanced the party from recent remarks made by Imran Khan’s sister, Noreen Niazi, stating that her comments reflected her personal opinion and should not be viewed as the official position of PTI. Speaking to journalists outside Adiala Jail on Tuesday, Gohar said he had been informed that the interview in question was recorded nearly three months ago. He emphasized that Noreen Niazi holds no office within the party and is not involved in PTI’s political decision-making process. Highlighting national security, the PTI chairman described Pakistan’s recent success in Marka-e-Haq as a matter of national pride and credited it as a blessing for the country. He said Pakistan’s response to external threats had demonstrated its strength before the world and warned that any future aggression would be met with an even stronger reaction. Gohar also appealed to political leaders and the public to avoid making controversial statements about the armed forces or the country’s martyrs, stressing that such sensitive issues should remain above political disagreements. Reaffirming PTI’s position on terrorism, he said the party fully supports decisive action against terrorist elements and called for a united national strategy to eliminate the threat through collective efforts and available state resources. On the political front, Gohar confirmed that PTI’s boycott of parliamentary standing committees and the Judicial Commission remains unchanged. Discussing the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections, he said the party had received reports that the electoral process had been rescheduled into three phases. Although some members had proposed reconsidering the boycott, no agreement had been reached, and the party’s decision to stay away from the polls remains in force. Separately, prison sources confirmed that former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were allowed to meet inside Adiala Jail. The meeting reportedly took place in the prison’s conference room and lasted around 30 minutes. Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan called on PTI lawmakers and senior leaders to actively participate in the party’s anti-government campaign instead of leaving the responsibility to a limited number of workers and family members. Expressing concern over the lack of updates regarding her brother’s condition, she questioned how long the movement could continue without stronger support from the party’s elected representatives and leadership.