As a part of improving healthcare facilities, the Punjab government continues its motorcycle ambulance services. In October 2017, the scheme was inaugurated in Lahore. In November, Multan city saw the introduction of the same. When the idea of motorcycle ambulance is to provide emergency care in crowded areas and narrow lanes. Given the traffic congestion in the cities, this is a welcome and practical idea. Go Punjab Go.
Photo Source: Daily Times
After a party meeting in London, Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan to face the cases being pursued by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Referred as the "London Plan" in the media, the PML-N leaders have reached a consensus to project Shahbaz Sharif as the Prime Minister candidate for the forthcoming elections.
Photo Source:
To celebrate the birthday of Baba Guru Nanak, around 2600 Sikhs from India reached Pakistan. The celebration would take place in Nankana Sahib, situated around 80 kms away from Lahore. The city is the capital of Nankana Sahib district in Punjab, and has been one of the most important places of pilgrimage for the Sikhs from all over the world. The Gurudwara at Nankana Sahib was constructed around 1600.
Photo Source: The News
After being captured by the Taliban in 2012 in Afghanistan, the Canadian-American couple were finally released in October 2017. Pakistani security forces, acting on American intelligence secured the couple along with their three children. The Huqqani network is believed to be behind the kidnapping and were held in Afghanistan earlier, before moving them into Pakistan.
Photo Source: The Express Tribune
In October 2017, an American delegation led by Lisa Curtis visited Pakistan, kickstarting the US-Pak reset. Immediately after the meeting, the Quadrilateral Contact Group on Afghanistan resumed after a year. On the eve of the meeting, Pakistan secured the release of an American-Canadian couple held by the Taliban as hostages since 2012.
Photo Source:
On 18 October, a truck carrying police officials was targeted by the Pakistani Taliban in a suicide attack, killing seven. Carried out by the Pakistani Taliban, the attack is a part of TTP’s expansion of terror attacks outside KP and FATA. Besides the TTP, the sectarian militants and ISIS have also been engaged in terrorist activities, especially against the Shia communities of Balochistan.
Photo Source: Dawn
Pakistan on 23 February 2017 launched a military offensive named 'Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad.' According to an ISPR statement, the "Pperation aims at indiscriminately eliminating residual / latent threat of terrorism, consolidating gains of operations made thus far and further ensuring security of the borders. Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Navy, Civil Armed Forces (CAF) and other security / Law Enforcing Agencies (LEAs) will continue to actively participate / intimately support the efforts to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country.
The effort entails conduct of Broad Spectrum Security / Counter Terrorism (CT) operations by Rangers in Punjab, continuation of ongoing operations across the country and focus on more effective border security management. Country wide de-weaponisation and explosive control are additional cardinals of the effort. Pursuance of National Action Plan will be the hallmark of this operation."
Photo Source: The News
More than 70 people were killed and over 200 injured when a suicide bomber blew himself at the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan town in Sindh on 16 February 2017. The devotees were perfoming the dhamaal (a Sufi ritual) after the evening prayer. The Qalandar shrine was well known and have a center for attraction for people from different faiths.
In the recent years, there have been increasing attack on the Sufi shrines all over Pakistan. The attack has been claimed by the Islamic State
Photo Source: The Express Tribune
A highly experienced diplomat with extensive experience in working at the United Nations. She is currently Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva. She was earlier the spokesperson for the external ministry and has served as Ambassador to Italy from December 2011 to October 2015.
Photo Source: Daily Times
Lahore, the second largest city of Pakistan and the capital of Punjab province witnessed a suicide attack near the Provincial Assembly. The attack took place in a protest meeting, where hundreds of chemists were protesting against a legislation. Lahore, known for its liberal values and cosmopolitan outlook has been increasingly targetted by the militant groups in the recent years. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, one of the Taliban factions claimed the attack.
Photo Source: The Express Tribune
On 10 February, the fourth multinational naval exercise commenced in Karachi. The five day exercise has more than 35 countries taking part; according to media reports, three warships from China, four from the US, two from Russia and one each from Indonesia, Australia, Turkey, Sri Lanka and United Kingdom, and two P-3C Orion aircraft from Japan are participating in the exercise. Besides the exercise, an international maritime conference is also being organised.
Photo Source: The Express Tribune
The second edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) started during the second week of February at Dubai. With five teams participating this year as well, the PCB Chief Najam Sethi has promised to hold the final game at Lahore. All other games will be held at the UAE. The teams (Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar) have attracted international players this year and is expected to be a great spectacle.
Photo Source: The News
Thanks to the sustained efforts by the civil society, a series of activists who disappeared all of a sudden during early January 2017 seem to have returned. The missing included a professor, poet, blogger and a human rights activist. If the disappearence was a mystery, so was their reappearence, leaving a trail of quetions - who kidnapped, for what reasons and how were they released. Though the families have confirmed their return, there has been no public appearence of them so far. Media reports suggest some of them may be leaving the country
Photo Source: The Express Tribune
There is an intense debate on the FATA reforms with a polarised debate. A section of the tribal society has been demanding for the repeal of the British imposed colonial FCR. The government has formed a committee which has finalised its recommendations. A section, especially the religious parties protest against the reforms and do not want any merger of the FATA with the KP. The regional political parties also are divided on the issue.
Photo Source: The News on Sunday
Supporters of the JuD Saeed have taken to streets protesting the arrest of Hafiz Saeed. The government has placed him under house arrest. The ISPR in its statement said the action was taken to pursue "national interest". News reports suggest that the JuD is back in action under a new name - the Tehreek Azadi Jammu and Kashmir (TAJK – Movement for Freedom of Kashmir) and started collecting donations.
Photo Source: Express Tribune
Despite Pakistan being one of the few countries to eradicate Polio, the country is working hard to provide an impetus to the government machinery, but also fighting a conservative society that is apprehensive of polio vaccination. More importantly, the State also has to protect the vaccinators from the militants, as the latter have called for a ban against vaccination. The militants consider vaccination as a western ploy against the Muslim countries aimed at sterilisation. In the last few years, there have been a series of kidnapping and killing of Polio workers
Photo Source: Dawn, www.dawn.com, 25 Jan 2017
On 24 January 2017, Pakistan tested Ababeel, Surface to Surface ballistic missile. According to the ISPR press release, the missile has a range of 2200 kilometers and is "capable of delivering multiple warheads, using Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology." Early January, Pakistan also tested Babur-III, a submarine launched cruise missile. According to the ISPR pres release, "Ababeel is capable of carrying nuclear warheads and has the capability to engage multiple targets with high precision, defeating the enemy’s hostile radars."
Photo Source: ISPR, https://www.ispr.gov.pk
23 January 2017: Imdad Pitafi, Sindh Minister for Works and Services apologizes to Nusrat Sahar Abbasi - fellow legislator from Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) for his derogatry remarks earlier in the Assembly. Nusrat accepts the apology and comments: "For the sake of this dupatta and because he called me his sister, I am forgiving him. It is a tradition in Sindh that when a shawl is used as a sign of forgiveness, then the other person accepts it...It is out of respect for this tradition that I am forgiving Imdad Pitafi"
Photo Source: Geo TV https://www.geo.tv/
21 Jan 2017: A terror attack in Parachinar vegetable market that killed 25 people; the attack was claimed by the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi al-Alami. Kurram Agency has a Shia population; along with Orakzai Agency, Kurram has been a target of sectarian militancy.
Photo Source: Express Tribune, 21 Jan 2017
Dharampura Bridge, Canal Road, Lahore. Pedastrians, motorists, cars and trains sharing the same track
Photo Source: Daily Times, 22 January 2017
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After the dissolution: ECP suggests holding assembly elections for Punjab and KP in April
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PTI members are asked to part ways with me, alleges Imran khan
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