Crime
Two facilitators of Lahore Anarkali blast arrested: Sources
CCTV footage shows ‘terrorists’ doing recce of Anarkali Bazaar

Lahore: A key progress in the probe of Lahore Anarkali blast as the law enforcement agencies have arrested two alleged facilitators of the blast on Friday
According to the sources, the security forces nabbed the two alleged facilitators from the Ravi Road area of the city this morning. The arrested facilitators have been shifted to undisclosed location for further interrogation.
It was also reported that the security personnel arrested with the help of the CCTV footage obtained from the area.
Earlier in the day, the law enforcement authorities (LEAs) have identified suspects in the blast in the Anarkali market of Lahore using CCTV footage and had prepared their sketches.
“The terrorist who planted a bag at the blast site was in contact with his handler,” they said adding the terrorists have been identified using CCTV footage.
On the other hand, police have registered a case of the terror incident, in which murder and terror-related sections have been inserted.
A day earlier, the death toll in Anarkai Bazaar's bomb blast jumped to three after a man succumbed to his wounds at Mayo Hospital on Thursday.
In a tragic incident, at least two people—including a kid were killed while over 20 sustained injuries after a horrific explosion rocked Lahore’s New Anarkali on Thursday (January 20).
Yasir of Khanpur was brought to the hospital with his both legs and an eye severly damaged.
At least two people have been killed while 28 including women and children sustained injuries when a blast took place at New Anarkali area in the Punjab's provincial capital.
Rescue teams and police reached the spot after getting information and shifted the deceased and injured to Mayo Hospital where an emergency alert has been imposed. The area has been cordoned off and police is gathering evidence from the place of incident.
As per police a huge number of people were present at the place of incident. The bomb disposal squad is being called in to inspect the site for explosives.
The explosion left the windows of nearby shops and buildings shattered.
Seven victims are said to be in critical condition, said officials.
Medical Supredent (MS) Mayo Hospital Doctor Iftikhar revealed that a 9-year-old boy was among dead.
Authorities stated that the blast caused a 1.5 feet-deep crater in the ground, said police.
They said the device was planted outside the shop of a prize bond dealer and damaged several food outlets in the street besides vehicles parked nearby.
Initial reports suggested that the blast was a cylinder explosion at a shop. However, forensic experts said that the blast might be triggered through a time device.
In the meantime, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar took notice to the incident and directed the concerned authorities to submit a detailed report as soon as possible.
Pakistan
Govt hikes per litre price of petrol and diesel by Rs30
New prices will go into effect at midnight

Islamabad: The federal government Thursday announced hike in per litre price of petrol and diesel by Rs30 each.
The announcement came after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) emphasised abolishing the subsidies on the commodities.
Government has decided to increase the prices of Petrol, High Speed Diesel, Kerosene Oil and Light Diesel Oil by Rs 30 per litre from Friday May 27, 2022. New prices will go into effect at midnight. The new price of petrol will be Rs 179.86 & diesel will be Rs 174.15 per litre.
— Miftah Ismail (@MiftahIsmail) May 26, 2022
Federal Finance Minister Miftah Ismail announed raise during a press conference.
In a tweet, the minister said: "Government has decided to increase the prices of Petrol, High Speed Diesel, Kerosene Oil and Light Diesel Oil by Rs 30 per litre from Friday May 27, 2022. New prices will go into effect at midnight. The new price of petrol will be Rs 179.86 & diesel will be Rs 174.15 per litre."
Petrol will now be available at Rs179.86, diesel Rs174.15, Kerosene oil Rs155.56 and Light diesel Rs148.31.
Pakistan
NA passes election amendment bill; scraps electronic voting
Law Minister rejected the impression that the amendment is aimed at depriving overseas Pakistanis of their right to vote.

Islamabad: The National Assembly on Thursday passed "The Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2022" to conduct pilot projects in bye-elections before using I-Voting and Electronic Voting Machines in the general elections.
Speaking on the occasion in the House, the Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar rejected the impression that the amendment is aimed at depriving overseas Pakistanis of their right to vote.
He said overseas Pakistanis are precious asset of the country and the government does not believe in snatching their right to vote.
Regarding use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), the Law Minister said we are not against use of technology, but we have concerns about misuse of technology as Results Transmission System had failed in last general elections to favour a particular political party.
He said the Election Commission of Pakistan had also expressed its inability to hold elections through I-Voting and EVMs in a short span of time and without proper homework.
He said two amendments are being brought to revive the Elections Act 2017, enabling the ECP to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections.
Under the amendment in Section 94 of the Election Act, 2017, the Commission may conduct pilot projects for voting by Overseas Pakistanis in bye-elections to ascertain the technical efficacy, secrecy, security, and financial feasibility of such voting and shall share the results with the government, which shall, within 15 days from the commencement of a session of a House after the receipt of the report, lay the same before both Houses of the Parliament.
Under Amendment in Section 103 of the Election Act, 2017, the ECP may conduct pilot projects for utilization of EVMs and biometric verification system in the bye-elections.
Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Raja Riaz Ahmed has said the Assembly should complete its tenure and elections should be held on time.
Responding to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's remarks, he assured that the opposition will play its positive and constructive role in running affairs of the House.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while speaking on the floor of the House, congratulated Raja Riaz Ahmed for becoming Leader of the Opposition.
He assured the Leader of the Opposition of his government's full cooperation in running business of the House in an amicable manner.
The Prime Minister said the treasury benches will pay utmost attention to the speech of the Leader of the Opposition by burying the bad traditions of the past.
Responding to a Calling Attention Notice, Minister of State for Interior, Abdul Rehman Khan Kanju assured the House to make every possible effort for the maintenance of government accommodations in Sector G-6 and F-6 of Islamabad.
World
Death toll from Iran tower block collapse rises to 18
The number of people still trapped under the rubble remains unclear.

Tehran: Iranian authorities announced Thursday that 18 people were killed in the collapse of a building under construction in southwestern Iran, in a new toll after four days of the tragedy.
On Monday, a large part of the 10-storey "Metropol" building under construction collapsed in Abadan, one of the main cities in Iran's Khuzestan province. The building is located in the middle of one of the busiest streets in the city of 230,000 people.
The number of people still trapped under the rubble remains unclear.
The cause of the collapse, which occurred during a sandstorm, is yet to be ascertained.
Police, however, arrested the owner of the building and the project manager of the construction company that built it.
-
Pakistan 20 hours ago
Govt extends deployment of Pakistan Army troops in Red Zone
-
Pakistan 2 days ago
Govt decides to stop PTI's long march
-
Pakistan 49 minutes ago
Govt hikes per litre price of petrol and diesel by Rs30
-
Pakistan 1 day ago
PTI's Senator Ijaz Chaudhry arrested
-
Pakistan 13 hours ago
Imran Khan calls off 'long march'; gives 6-day ultimatum
-
Regional 1 day ago
Training helicopter crashes in Mianwali
-
World 1 day ago
Delhi court to deliver quantum of sentence to Yasin Malik
-
Pakistan 2 days ago
'I apologise for police raid on Justice Nasira Javed's residence': Khawaja Asif