Bodies of Pakistanis killed in Somalia being repatriated, arrive in Addis Ababa: PMO

The bodies of three Pakistanis killed in an operation to recover a hijacked oil tanker off the Somali coast have reached Addis Ababa, with arrangements under way for their repatriation, the PMO said on Saturday The Palau-flagged MT Honour 25, carrying 18,500 barrels of oil and a 17-member crew, including 10 Pakistanis, was seized on April 21, around 30 nautical miles off Puntland while sailing from Oman to Somalia. Puntland’s Maritime Police Force said it rescued the tanker in an operation off Dharin-baar, but the pirates opened fire on the hostages, killing five, including three Pakistanis and injuring four others. According to the PMO statement, the bodies of Syed Kafeel Omar, Ahmad Ansari and Rafiullah had arrived in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, where Ethiopian Airlines staff were reviewing arrangements for their transfer to Pakistan. Read: Three Pakistani sailors killed in Somali ship rescue operation وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف کی ہدایت پر صومالیہ میں جاں بحق پاکستانیوں شہریوں کی میتوں کی پاکستان منتقلی کے انتظامات جاری ہیں. اس سلسلے میں جاں بحق پاکستانی شہریوں کی میتیں ایک گھنٹہ قبل ایتھوپیا کے دارالحکومت ادیس ابابا پہنچ گئی ہیں۔ ایتھوپین ایئرلائنز کا عملہ میتوں کی پاکستان… — Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) October 3, 2026 The PMO said final approval would be granted for the bodies to be dispatched to Karachi once the necessary preparations had been completed. In accordance with the prime minister’s directives, relevant officials were in constant contact to expedite the repatriation process, the statement said. The prime minister had assured every possible assistance in bringing back the bodies of the three Pakistani citizens, according to the PMO. It said PM Shehbaz had spoken by telephone on Friday with Izaan Kafeel, the son of deceased Syed Kafeel Omar, and expressed his condolences over the death of his father and assured him that the government would take all necessary measures to swiftly repatriate his body along with those of the other deceased Pakistanis. Also Read: Four Pakistani crew members from hijacked MT Honour 25 to arrive in Karachi tomorrow: Dar A day earlier, the prime minister announced financial assistance of Rs12.5 million for the families of each of the three Pakistanis killed during a Somali operation to rescue the crew from pirates. He also announced free education and healthcare for the deceased’s children, while each bereaved family would be provided with a house. The oil tanker Honour 25, sailing under the Somali flag from Oman to Somalia, was hijacked by pirates on April 21. There were 17 crew members aboard, 10 of them Pakistani nationals. The families of the Pakistani hostages spent months seeking the safe release of their loved ones, staging peaceful protests and repeatedly approaching government authorities. During their captivity, the pirates initially demanded a ransom of $3 million, which was later reduced to $1.9 million and subsequently to $1 million. All the Pakistani crew members who were killed or injured were from different areas of Karachi. The pirates came under pressure during a rescue operation and, while retreating from the vessel, opened indiscriminate fire on the abducted crew before fleeing the ship. Five sailors were killed, including three Pakistanis — Second Officer Kashif Umar, Third Engineer Mahmood Ansari and Boiler Rafiullah. The other two deceased crew members were an Indian sailor, Tanveer, and the chief engineer from Myanmar. Four sailors were injured — Usman, Yasir, Ameen and Vicky from Indonesia — while Hussain Yousuf, Imran Ali and Yaseen remained safe. The two surviving Pakistani crew members later contacted the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust in Karachi using the ship captain’s mobile phone and provided details of the incident. Puntland police said the Honour 25 had 18,500 barrels of oil on board when it was hijacked. The police had been pursuing three hijacked vessels off the Somali coast and had also rescued another oil tanker, Sibu 1, on Friday. However, 28 of the 41 pirates arrested during that operation later escaped while being transferred to jail, with several Puntland security officials accusing local police of complicity.

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Mir Raza commission seeks answers from senior police officers

The Judicial Commission probing the Mir Raza Ali case has sent questionnaires to senior police officers, including AIG Karachi Azad Khan, involved in the investigation, seeking answers to questions raised by the victim’s family. The sealed questionnaires were delivered through the commission’s designated Nazir, Tajammal Lodhi, to AIG Azad Khan, DIG Amir Farooqi, head of the investigation team, and DIG Farukh Lanjhar. The questions were submitted to the commission by Mir Raza’s mother, sister and father through their counsel, Advocate Jibran Nasir. Read: Mir Raza judicial commission’s term extended until October 15 Separately, Sindh government focal person Javed Abro met commission chairman Justice Umar Sial in his chamber and informed him that the commission’s term had been extended until October 15. The commission has also issued notices to CPLC official Kashif Iftikhar and DSP Siraj Lashari. Their statements will be recorded on October 5. The commission is examining the circumstances surrounding Mir Raza’s death and has been recording statements and seeking responses from officials and other relevant witnesses. The Sindh cabinet on Thursday extended the tenure of the Judicial Commission probing the death of Mir Raza Ali until October 15, giving the panel additional time to complete its proceedings and finalise its findings. The cabinet was told that the commission, headed by Justice Umar Sial, had recorded statements from several witnesses but needed more time to complete its inquiry. It was also authorised to continue proceedings beyond October 15 if required. The case so far Mir Raza Ali, the 25-year-old owner of dessert brand Wafflix, went missing from Karachi’s PECHS area on July 28, 2026. His body was found the following day in bushes near a wedding hall in Gulistan-e-Johar. Police initially treated the death as a possible suicide, but a second post-mortem conducted after his exhumation found a firearm entry wound, multiple ante-mortem injuries and signs of internal bleeding, leading investigators to treat the case as murder. The initial post-mortem had faced several objections, with the Karachi police surgeon identifying 14 deficiencies, including the absence of an X-ray, failure to collect hand swabs for gunshot-residue analysis and the lack of chemical examination of gunpowder marks around the bullet wound. The investigation subsequently came under scrutiny from Raza’s family, who alleged serious lapses in the handling of evidence and CCTV footage and sought the formation of a joint investigation team. The Sindh High Court later rejected the family’s plea for a JIT but directed the relevant authorities to conduct the investigation impartially, fairly and expeditiously. Read More: Mir Raza commission rejects family's plea to summon top cops Police told a Senate committee in September that they had recorded statements from 78 people but had not found evidence linking anyone to Raza’s alleged murder. Investigators nevertheless continued to treat the case as murder, while reviewing medical, chemical, forensic and digital evidence. The Sindh government had meanwhile established a judicial commission headed by Sindh High Court Justice Umar Sial to examine the circumstances surrounding Raza’s death, the conduct of the investigation and any possible negligence or concealment of evidence by police or other officials. The judicial commission had so far examined police records, witness statements and the circumstances surrounding Mir Raza Ali’s death, with its proceedings raising discrepancies in witness accounts, the handling of evidence and the initial post-mortem. The commission also questioned senior police and health officials over the investigation, including the handling of CCTV footage, Raza’s phone and smartwatch, and the initial focus on a possible suicide.

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PM announces Rs12.5m, assistance for families of Pakistanis killed in Somalia hostage situation

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced financial assistance of Rs12.5 million rupees per household, free education for children and residential accommodation for the families of the three Pakistanis who were killed during the recovery operation off the coast of Somalia in a hostage situation. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a post on X that PM Shehbaz announced that the government would also provide healthcare facilities to the children of Syed Kashi Umar, Mahmood Ahmad Ansari and Rafiullah Khan. Additionally, it would also provide one house per family to these individuals' families for residential purposes. "The prime minister said that the bereaved families will not be left alone in this difficult time, and the government will provide all possible support and assistance," the PMO said. Prime Minister @CMShehbaz has announced financial assistance, free education for the children, and residence for the families of three Pakistanis, who lost their lives during the rescue operation off the coast of Somalia@PakPMO #News #RadioPakistan https://t.co/nBLG0TbCEn — Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) October 2, 2026 The statement said that PM Shehbaz had a telephonic conversation with Umar's Azhaan Kashi, in which he extended his condolences on the death. Read: Somali pirates kill three Pakistanis during rescue operation وزیر اعظم محمد شہباز شریف کی صومالیہ میں جاں بحق ہونے والے پاکستانی کاشف عمر کے بیٹے اذہان کاشف سے ٹیلیفون پر گفتگو ہوئی. وزیر اعظم نے سید کاشف عمر کے انتقال پر انکے بیٹے اذہان کاشف سے دلی تعزیت کا اظہار کیا. وزیرِ اعظم نے کہا کہ ہم اپ کے غم میں برابر کے شریک ہیں۔ اللہ… — Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) October 2, 2026 "The prime minister said that we share equally in your grief. May Allah Almighty grant Syed Kashi Umar a high station in paradise and give your family the strength to bear this shock. The prime minister assured that the government will bring the bodies of Syed Kashi Umar and the other two martyred Pakistanis back to Pakistan as soon as possible," the PMO stated. It added that the premier directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all other relevant institutions to remain in direct contact with the families of the deceased at every stage. Read More: Pakistan in contact with Somalia over recovery of saved, slain crew of MT Honour 25: FO He also directed the Foreign Office and the Pakistan embassy to expedite the process of transferring the bodies to Pakistan while maintaining continuous contact with Somali authorities and other relevant parties. "The prime minister also instructed that all possible measures be taken to provide the best medical facilities to the injured Pakistanis and to ensure the safe return of the other Pakistani crew members". The oil tanker Honour 25, sailing under the Somali flag from Oman to Somalia, was hijacked by pirates on April 21. There were 17 crew members aboard, 10 of whom were Pakistani nationals. The families of the Pakistani hostages had continuously appealed to the government for the safe release of their loved ones. During their captivity, the pirates initially demanded a ransom of $3 million for their release. The demand was later reduced to $1.9 million and subsequently to $1 million. According to the surviving crew members, the governments of Somalia and the semi-autonomous region of Puntland in northeastern Somalia launched a joint operation to free the hostages from the pirates. An exchange of fire took place between Somali security forces and the pirates during the operation. Pakistani sailors Hussain Yousuf and Imran Ali, who survived the attack, contacted the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust office in Karachi using the ship captain’s mobile phone and provided details of the incident. The Pakistani crew members said that when the pirates came under pressure and began retreating, they opened indiscriminate fire on the abducted crew members before fleeing the vessel. Three Pakistani sailors were among the five crew members killed, and four sailors were injured, according to survivors and the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust. All the Pakistani crew members who were killed or injured were from different areas of Karachi. Their families had spent months seeking the safe release of their loved ones, staging peaceful protests and repeatedly approaching government authorities.

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Bilawal hails govt-opposition talks, hopes for unconditional end to long march

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday welcomed the government’s decision to engage the opposition to find political solutions, saying he hoped the talks would lead to an unconditional end to the long march and allow the country to unite against terrorism. His remarks came as the first round of talks between the government and opposition concluded on Friday, with the two sides agreeing to meet again at 2pm on Saturday in the National Assembly (NA) speaker’s chamber. “I’m pleased that the government has accepted the PPP’s suggestion to jointly engage politically with the opposition in an effort to find political solutions to political problems,” he wrote in a post on X. I’m pleased that the government has accepted the PPP’s suggestion to jointly engage politically with the opposition in an effort to find political solutions to political problems. The challenge of terrorism has become an existential threat to Pakistan, particularly given the… — Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (@BBhuttoZardari) October 2, 2026 Bilawal said the challenge of terrorism had become an existential threat to Pakistan, particularly given the active support he said such groups received from neighbouring countries. “I hope these talks conclude with the opposition unconditionally calling off its long march, allowing us to come together as a nation to combat the menace of terrorism and address the threats emanating from neighbouring countries,” he said. Bilawal added that the PPP had been, and would always remain, committed to combating terrorism through all constitutional means. Read: TTAP accuses Sherry of breaching talks code as PPP leader calls for end to long march The talks came after weeks of escalating tensions between the federal government and the PTI-led Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government over the party’s planned October 4 march on Islamabad. PTI had initially announced the protest for September 27 but later postponed it to October 4, while the Centre had increasingly discussed constitutional options, including governor’s rule and emergency, citing the deteriorating security situation in the province. The government and PPP subsequently formed a six-member committee to engage the PTI, with the opposition also signalling willingness to negotiate but insisting on dialogue without preconditions. Barrister Gohar confirmed that the two sides would meet at Speaker Ayaz Sadiq’s office, while maintaining that the long march would proceed unless the party’s concerns were addressed. The prospect of federal intervention in K-P had become a major point of contention, with federal ministers citing the province’s security situation, while PTI leaders rejected governor’s rule or emergency and called for political engagement instead. K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also said the October 4 protest would remain peaceful and rejected warnings of federal intervention.

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FCC puts CJ in charge of bench formation

Unlike the Supreme Court, the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) will have no three-judge seniority committee to oversee the constitution of benches as its newly notified practice and procedure rules vest the authority in the chief justice. The Federal Constitutional Court (Practice and Procedure Rules) 2026, now notified and available on the court's website, designate the chief justice as the 'master of roster', giving him discretion to constitute benches for hearing cases before the newly established constitutional court. Under the newly notified rules, notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, every cause, matter or appeal, including an appeal arising out of a judgment passed by a division bench of a high court, shall be heard and disposed of by a bench consisting of not less than two judges, to be nominated by the chief justice. "If the Judges hearing any cause, petition or appeal are equally divided in opinion, the matter shall, at the discretion of the Chief Justice, be placed for hearing and disposal either before another Judge in Chamber or before a larger Bench to be nominated by the Chief Justice." The rules further state that the chief justice may, at any stage, if deemed appropriate, constitute a larger bench to hear any cause, petition, or appeal, having regard to the importance, complexity, or public significance of the questions involved. The rules also provide that a larger bench shall comprise as many judges as the chief justice may determine by order. Taken together, the provisions make clear that the 'master of roster' system has been retained in the FCC, leaving the chief justice with discretionary powers over the constitution of benches. Since the restoration of the judiciary in March 2009, Supreme Court chief justices have faced considerable criticism over the formation of what were described as 'like-minded' benches. During former chief justice Umar Ata Bandial's tenure, the PDM government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif enacted the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act 2023, under which a three-member committee headed by the chief justice was tasked with constituting benches. A full court headed by former chief justice Qazi Faez Isa subsequently upheld the SC Practice and Procedure Act 2023. A majority of judges, including incumbent FCC Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, had strongly supported the three-judge committee for constituting benches. Even following the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the three-judge committee was retained for the formation of constitutional benches. The committee remains in place in the Supreme Court. Following the 27th Constitutional Amendment, jurisdiction relating to the enforcement of fundamental rights and the interpretation of laws and the Constitution was assigned to the newly established FCC. Lawyers therefore argue that, with these significant responsibilities now vested in the FCC, there is a need for checks on the chief justice's discretionary powers in order to ensure greater transparency within the institution. "Once you have torn the heart out of an independent court; the replacement you prop up must function with precision and efficiency. It must be a disciplined unit, akin to a military camp. Any democracy within can only lead to weakness," says lawyer Abdul Moiz Jaferii. Jaferii believes that the chief must have complete control. And so we are back again to the master of the roster. Unacceptable when the chief was heading an independent court. Completely necessary when you have the FCC", he adds. FCC judges are already facing what some lawyers call a "battle of perception", particularly because they were appointed by the federal government, which is expected to be the primary litigant before the court in several politically sensitive matters. It has also been witnessed that the FCC has entertained some important cases against PTI. For instance, it has sought the record of the case related to Imran Khan's health from the Supreme Court. The FCC also issued notices to respondents on a petition against the de-seating of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. The court has also sought a reply from the K-P chief minister over his statement regarding the formation of the Imran Khan 'Rahae Force'. Likewise, the FCC restrained the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Peshawar from entertaining a K-P government petition seeking withdrawal of cases against PTI leaders, including K-P CM Afridi. Interestingly, the government has allocated Rs6.048 billion for the FCC in the 2026-27 budget. Despite the passage of ten months, seven judicial seats in the FCC are still vacant. More than 23,000 cases are pending in the country's apex court.

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K-P emergency proposal not linked to PTI long march: Tariq Fazal

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Thursday linked the proposed emergency or governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the province’s worsening security situation, saying it had nothing to do with the PTI’s planned long march. Speaking to a private television programme, the minister attributed the worsening security situation to what he described as the provincial government’s lack of cooperation with the federal government in the fight against terrorism. Talking about the government-PTI talks scheduled for Friday, Chaudhry said political issues would also be discussed during the talks, adding that if the party sought any favour or concession from the federal government, it would be considered within the constitutional and legal framework. Read: President, PM form committee to initiate talks with PTI leadership However, he said the issue of the provincial government’s non-cooperation in the fight against terrorism was equally important. Chaudhry said it should be made clear that postponing the long march would not end the issue of a possible emergency in K-P. “If it is being thought that if the talks result only in postponing the long march, the issue of emergency will be over, then this should be made clear: the long march has nothing to do with the imposition of emergency,” he said. He said discussions on the imposition of an emergency had begun despite repeated efforts to explain to the provincial government that terrorism was increasing in the province. According to the minister, the provincial government was not cooperating with the federal government and law enforcement agencies, resulting in an increase in casualties and making it difficult to establish full control over the situation. Talking about the comparisons being drawn between terrorism in Balochistan and K-P, he expressed regret over the incident in Balochistan but said the provincial government there stood with the federal government in measures to stop terrorism and was on the front line in the fight against it. “In K-P, the provincial government is standing like a wall in front of the law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies and the federal government’s measures to crush terrorism. It does not cooperate, which is why terrorism cannot be brought under control there,” he said. Also Read: Govt 'seriously' considering imposing emergency in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: Tariq Fazal He also criticised the PTI’s governance in the province, saying poor governance had contributed to the growing nexus between terrorism, crime and smuggling, which was indirectly facilitating terrorists. Chaudhry said the issue would also be discussed during talks with the PTI and that the party would have to provide the federal government with the cooperation required to bring terrorism under control in the province. He said it was the PTI’s responsibility, politically and otherwise, to stand with the federal government in dealing with terrorism. On the possibility of an emergency, Chaudhry said all ministers and government spokespersons had maintained that the matter was being seriously considered and that a final decision would be taken after consultations. He said work had already been carried out on the issue, including an assessment of its pros and cons and the possible consequences of its implementation in K-P. However, he said the PML-N and its main ally, the PPP, had maintained from the outset that if the grievances of both sides could be resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding, it had always been the position of the prime minister and every member of the cabinet to pursue that course. The minister’s comments came after the government formed a committee to hold talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership on the current political situation in the country. The decision was taken during a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at Aiwan-e-Sadr, according to a statement issued by the President House. The decision was taken during a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at Aiwan-e-Sadr, according to a statement issued by the President House. The meeting also expressed concern over the security situation in K-P and reviewed the country’s overall security situation.

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Pakistani national indicted in US over alleged $126m postage fraud

A federal grand jury in Florida has indicted a Pakistani national for allegedly operating a website that sold more than 5.1 million counterfeit United States postage labels, causing over $126m in losses to the US Postal Service (USPS). The US Department of Justice said on Monday that Faheem Akram, 33, of Punjab's Khanewal district, operated LabelsBank.com, an online website that allegedly sold counterfeit US postage at a fixed rate — typically $2 per label — regardless of a package’s weight, size or destination. LabelsBank.com was not authorised to sell USPS products and services, the department said. Read: US charges 2 Pakistanis for alleged involvement in $10m health care scheme fraud It added that the counterfeit labels allegedly allowed customers to ship packages at rates far below legitimate USPS prices, resulting in substantial lost revenue and shipping costs to the Postal Service. “The alleged scheme was simple but massive: sell counterfeit postage online at fixed, cut-rate prices, as little as $2 per label, regardless of a package’s weight, size, or destination, enabling customers to avoid legitimate postal service charges,” US Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida said. “The indictment alleges more than 5.1m counterfeit labels and more than $126m in losses,” he said, adding that the website had been shut down, its domain seized and federal charges brought against its alleged operator. The department said the investigation found that more than 5,200 individuals used LabelsBank.com to purchase more than 5.1m counterfeit shipping labels, resulting in over $126m in alleged losses to USPS. In conjunction with the indictment, USPS obtained a court order authorising the seizure and shutdown of the website, according to the department. “Our reach goes beyond our borders,” Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Miami Division said. “Transnational criminal organisations defrauding the postal service and targeting US consumers by pushing phoney postage will be found and brought to justice,” he added. Also Read: US launches online portal to report suspected visa fraud Akram was charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the US and to make and sell counterfeit postage stamps, five counts of making and selling counterfeit postage stamp labels and four counts of wire fraud, the department said. If convicted, Akram faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the conspiracy and counterfeit postage counts and 20 years in prison on each wire fraud count, according to the department. The USPIS Miami Division is investigating the case.

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