Somali pirates demand direct talks with Pakistan

The Ansar Burney Welfare Trust has established direct contact with Somali pirates who seized the Honor 25 oil tanker, in an effort to secure the release of the abducted crew members. However, the pirates insist that they will present their demands only to representatives of the Pakistani government. The pirates have also sent recent photographs of the 17 crew members, including 10 Pakistani citizens, who are being held hostage. The Honor 25 was taken over on April 21 by Somali pirates, and for the past two weeks, the families of the kidnapped Pakistani crew members have been deeply worried about their loved ones. Ansar Burney, head of the trust, said although contact with the pirates has been successfully established, no practical steps have yet been taken by the government. Qurat-ul-Ain Advocate, Director of the Ansar Burney Trust, said the pirates have clearly stated that they would present their demands only to a representative of the Government of Pakistan. However, she added that the government has not responded even to an email sent by the pirates to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She further said that the pirates had also contacted the governments of Indonesia, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, as seven crew members from those countries were also being held captive on the vessel. Meanwhile, the federal government maintained that it was in contact with the relevant parties to secure the release of the Pakistani hostages. Eighty-year-old Umar Farooq is striving for the safe release of his son. "I have been forced to go from place to place in distress at this age," he said. His son, Kashif Umar, is among those held on the ship. Ali Akbar, the brother of another hostage, Imran Ali, appealed to the government to take immediate action so that the Pakistani captives could return home safely. He said the latest photographs of the hostages have brought some relief, as they confirm they are still alive. The families of the hostages gathered at the Ansar Burney Trust office and collectively demanded that the government at least form a committee to keep them informed about efforts being made for the release of the Pakistani captives. They said they do not know where to turn or whom to approach for help in securing the release of their loved ones.

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Bara alliance to stage May 7 Peshawar sit-in

The Bara Political Alliance has announced a protest sit-in in Peshawar on May 7, demanding resolution of issues facing the displaced people of Tirah Valley, ensuring their dignified return, and protesting against rising unrest in Bara Akakhel. The decision was announced in a communiqué issued after a joint jirga of Afridi tribes, organised by the Bara Political Alliance. The jirga was attended by alliance president Hasham Khan Afridi, leaders of various political parties from Bara and Tirah, social activists, officials of social organisations and unions, and local elders and notables. Speaking on the occasion, Amir of Khyber chapter chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, Shah Faisal Afridi, said the Bara Political Alliance had been begging the government for peace for the past four years. "We have held dozens of protests and peace marches, but sadly peace could not be established in our region due to the negligence and carelessness of the federal and provincial governments," he added. Shah Faisal Afridi accused the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister of misleading the public by claiming that decisions made in closed rooms were unacceptable. "The reality is that he himself is part of those closed-room decisions," Afridi charged. Meanwhile, young leader Khan Wali Afridi told jirga participants that the time had come for them to unite. "The issue of peace is our common problem. Our children and women are falling victim to mortar shells on a daily basis," he said. Khan Wali Afridi added that the Constitution and laws of the country allow them to demand their rights. "We are demanding peace through peaceful protest. Living in a peaceful environment is the right of every citizen, and we will come out on May 7 for this right," he asserted. Separately, the Tahrik-e-Mutasireen Tirah announced its support for the May 7 protest demonstration in Peshawar. Movement spokesman Sohbat Khan Afridi told The Express Tribune: "We, the Tirah victims, support the protest demonstration being held in Peshawar on May 7 under the auspices of the Bara Political Alliance." However, he added a caveat: "If at any point we feel that the Bara Political Alliance is merely doing politics over us and compromising on the issues of Tirah victims and their dignified return, we will immediately withdraw from this protest sit-in and announce a boycott. But if they speak only for the dignified return of Tirah victims and restoration of peace, we will stand with them." It may be recalled that a tribal Loya Jirga (grand council) was convened at the Chief Minister's House in Peshawar under the chairmanship of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. The jirga was attended by parliamentarians elected from tribal districts, along with local elders, notables, and youth. Releasing the decisions of the jirga, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the Loya Jirga strongly condemned the killing of women, children, and elderly people in drone strikes. All participants demanded negotiations with stakeholders.

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Abbottabad court stays water supply scheme

A local court in Abbottabad has issued a stay order on the Janderbari Water Supply Scheme following a petition filed by over a hundred residents from various village councils, including Janderbari, Phulkot, Dhakki Khaitar, and Aziz Bang. The petitioners, represented by social activist Shezad Gul Awan, have raised concerns over potential water shortages and environmental implications stemming from the project. Renowned lawyer and Secretary General of the District Bar Association, Asad Khan Jadoon, while presenting arguments before Civil Judge-V Altaf Khan, contended that the scheme, which aims to divert local water resources to Abbottabad city, threatens residents' access to the Nadi Dor water source - vital for drinking, agriculture, and other essential needs. They fear this diversion could lead to a severe water crisis in their communities. Concerns have also been raised about the impact on local tourism, particularly as Nadi Harno serves as a major picnic spot for both local and national tourists. The Janderbari Water Supply Scheme, costing Rs18 billion, is part of the KPCIP projects and is claimed to meet Abbottabad's water demand for the next 50 years. Despite significant infrastructure development, including the installation of 24-inch diameter pipelines across the city, experts say the pipelines have not been connected to the main Janderbari source. Concerns over the viability of the project persist, as reports indicate the source may provide only 60 to 80 litres per second (LPS), while the scheme aims to deliver around 200 LPS. Community leaders claim that around 60,000 residents could be negatively impacted by the project, alleging that its proponents are pressuring locals to withdraw their objections. This has led to unrest in the community, with demands for the immediate halt of the project, which they say threatens their rights and livelihoods. Independent assessments linked to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have raised further concerns, suggesting that only 38 to 45 per cent of the required water is currently available at the source for the proposed scheme. Local residents have also expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of adequate consultation from the outset, saying that meaningful community input could have highlighted critical insights about seasonal water flow variations. Technical experts have criticised several engineering decisions, including the selection of a two-foot diameter pipeline despite reported water supply constraints, and the proposed transmission route, which could lead to further inefficiencies. In response to these concerns, advocates have called for a comprehensive technical reassessment of the scheme to ensure responsible resource management and sustainable benefits for local populations. They emphasised the community's fundamental right to access the Nadi Dor water channel - an essential resource that has historically supported local livelihoods - and argued that the government must safeguard it for present and future generations.

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CPNE elects Kazim Khan unopposed as president, flags press freedom concerns

Prominent journalist Kazim Khan was once again elected unopposed as president of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) during its annual general meeting held on the eve of World Press Freedom Day on Saturday, while Ayaz Khan was elected senior vice president. During the meeting, Ghulam Nabi Chandio was elected general secretary and Tanveer Shaukat deputy general secretary. The announcement was made by election committee chairman Ali Raza Lehri, who congratulated the newly elected members. The annual general meeting discussed the future of print media, the expanding influence of digital platforms and the economic challenges facing the media industry. 1-روزنامہ دنیا کے ایگزیکٹو ایڈیٹر کاظم خان سی پی این ای کے صدر منتخب ہو گئے ۔ روزنامہ پاک سندھ کے ایڈیٹر غلام نبی خان چانڈیو سیکرٹری جنرل منتخب ۔ 2-سال 27-2026 کو “ مزاحمت “ کا سال قرار دینے کا اعلان۔ صدر سی پی این ای 3- جس صحافت نے عزت دی آج اسکی عزت خطرے میں ہے ۔ کاظم خان 4-… pic.twitter.com/HjEmp4mEwk — Kazam Khan (@presidentCPNE) May 2, 2026 Addressing the meeting, Kazim said World Press Freedom Day would be observed as a year of “resistance and protection of press freedom in 2026”, adding that “resistance will begin at home”. He said efforts would be made to counter fake news propagandists, dummy newspapers and those shaping narratives on the payroll of political parties and institutions. “Every writer, every speaker, and everyone sitting in front of a camera is not a journalist. Journalism that once gave respect is now under threat,” he said, adding that powerful forces were attempting to control journalism. He further said those summoning journalists to offices and issuing threats in broad daylight must be resisted. Participants of the meeting noted that although digital media was expanding rapidly, print media would continue to retain its position as a credible and documentary source. Concerns were also raised over a sharp reduction in government advertising, which has created financial difficulties for newspapers and magazines. The decline in budgets and advertising share for regional newspapers was described as a serious issue. Speakers called on the government to provide subsidies or financial support to print media, ensure fair distribution of advertisements, restore quotas for regional newspapers and formulate a clear and transparent media policy. Suggestions were also made regarding digitalisation, including the establishment of an effective digital platform under CPNE, expansion of digital reach and adoption of modern technology. Participants stressed the need to counter the growing trend of fake news by promoting credible journalism, calling both print and electronic media a source of public trust. The meeting also discussed organisational reforms, media policy and financial structures, agreeing that CPNE must modernise its strategy in line with current challenges. It was further emphasised that integrating print and digital media was necessary to build a strong, sustainable and credible media system to uphold journalistic standards and promote democratic values. A special condolence session was held in memory of former CPNE secretary general late Amir Mahmood, where his services to press freedom and the organisation were acknowledged by his son Taimur Aamir, President Kazim Khan, Secretary General Ghulam Nabi Chandio and other members. At the conclusion of the meeting, Kazim and Chandio thanked all participants and appreciated the services of the CPNE secretariat staff. President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz congratulated the new officebearers. صدرِ مملکت کی صحافتی تنظیم کاؤنسل آف نیوز پیپرز ایڈیٹرز کے نو منتخب صدر کاظم خان، سیکریٹری جنرل غلام نبی چانڈیو، سینئر نائب صدر ایاز خان، نائب صدور شکیل احمد ترابی اور انور ساجدی، سیکریٹری اطلاعات منزہ سہام سمیت دیگر عہدیداران کو مبارکباد۔ صحافتی اقدار، حقائق پر مبنی رپورٹنگ اور… pic.twitter.com/pgqSzqCb3L — PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) May 2, 2026 وزیراعظم کا صدر کاظم خان، سیکریٹری جنرل غلام نبی چانڈیو، سینئر نائب صدر ایاز خان، نائب صدور شکیل احمد ترابی اور انور ساجدی، سیکریٹری اطلاعات منزہ سہام سمیت دیگر عہدیداران کے لیے نیک تمناؤں کا اظہار آزاد، ذمہ دار اور باخبر میڈیا جمہوری معاشرے کا بنیادی ستون ہے، امید ہے سی پی… pic.twitter.com/AsDxrVl6xe — PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) May 2, 2026 وزیراعلی مریم نواز شریف کی سینئر نائب صدر ایاز خان، نائب صدور شکیل احمد ترابی سیکریٹری جنرل غلام نبی چانڈیواور دیگر کے لیے نیک تمنائیں امید ہے سی پی این ای کے نو منتخب عہدیدار آزاد، ذمہ دارانہ صحافتی اقدار کے لئے بھرپور کردار ادا کریں گے. سی پی این ای قیادت سے قومی مفاد… pic.twitter.com/6OZ9RXBiNe — PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) May 2, 2026 Other elected office-bearers Other elected office-bearers include Arif Baloch as finance secretary and Manzah Saham as information secretary. Regional vice presidents were also elected: Qazi Asad Abid (Sindh), Shakeel Turabi (Rawalpindi/Islamabad), Mian Ahmad Hassan (Punjab), Tahir Farooq (Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa) and Anwar Sajdi (Balochistan). The joint secretaries include Munir Baloch (Balochistan), Maqsood Yousufi (Sindh), Tanveer Siddiqui (Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa), Babar Nizami (Punjab) and Yahya Sadozai (Rawalpindi/Islamabad). Other members of the standing committee include Hamid Hussain Abadi, Sardar Muhammad Siraj, Sher Muhammad Khawand, Abdul Rehman Mangrio, Zia Tanoli, Mudassar Iqbal, Shehzad Amin, Irfan Athar, Zulfiqar Ahmed Rahat, Abdul Salam Bhatt, Mumtaz Ahmed Sadiq, Faqir Manthar Mangrio, Ayaz Ali Memon, Nisar Khattak, Akmal Chauhan, Dr Zubair Mehmood, Masood Khan, Fazl Haq, Ali Ahmed Dhillon, Abdul Khaliq Ali, Taimur Aamir, Syed Intizar Hussain Zanjani, Mian Aslam, Hamza Ali Afghan and Mehmood Alam Khalid. Bilal Aslam and Obaid Aleem were also named as committee members, while the two-member arbitration committee comprises chairman Hassan Abbas and member Wazir Zada.

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Three-day technology and books festival kicks off in Karachi

The three-day Karachi International Books and Technology Fair (KIBTF) kicked off at the Karachi Expo Centre on Friday. Educational technologies, STEM competitions and thought-provoking talk sessions are also part of the festival. Authors, publishers, innovators, startup founders and other experts are participating during the three-day festival. “Haprow”, a cute little robot, grabbed attention as it was fabricated in Pakistan with the efforts of the National Incubation Centre, Karachi. The AI-enabled robot helps children in learning and is designed to be a virtual friend for children with autism. Its different version is a disinfection robot that kills germs and pathogens with ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Students in a competition at KIBTF. PHOTO: KIBTF Various new startups also showcased their digital products, offering 100% online classes with an effective learning feedback mechanism. An Islamabad-based company presented its school books with STEM learning to empower pupils with coding even at the primary level. Another ed-tech startup presented its experience in project-based learning for young minds to avoid rote learning. KIBTF kicks off in Karachi. PHOTO: KIBTF Fiction Genie and Storise are two homegrown companies dedicated to producing audiobooks of Pakistani publishers, as it is much needed in the scenario of digital learning. Both companies said they are working to provide a bigger platform for Pakistani authors and publishers. Students from different institutions participated in STEM competitions at KIBTF. PHOTO: BY AUTHOR Robothon and STEM competitions were another hallmark at KIBTF, where students from different schools participated with creative ideas. Discussion sessions KIBTF also arranged parallel sessions on learning and education. Different experts talked about the future of learning, teaching with AI, the single national curriculum, the role of journalism in education, smart classrooms and the future of book publishing. Panel discussions and talks are part of the fair. PHOTO: AUTHOR Ameena Saiyad, Dr Nigar Sajjad Zaheer, Ali K Chishti, Dr Naveed Yousuf and others expressed their views on different topics directly or indirectly related to education and learning. May 3 is the last day of KIBTF, where many inspirational discussions are planned. The topics range from AI in classrooms, ed-tech startups, learning strategies for autistic children, and talks on other subjects to be held.

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Punjab announces new kite flying rules for Basant 2027, sets strict safety rules

The Punjab government on Friday announced new rules and regulations for kite flying for next year’s Basant festival, setting December 30 as the deadline for their full implementation. Under the new rules, kite flying will only be permitted on structurally strong and secure rooftops. The boundary walls of rooftops must be at least three and a half feet high. Overcrowding on rooftops will not be allowed. Parents and guardians have been directed to ensure continuous supervision of children, who will not be allowed near rooftop edges without adult supervision. Read: 17 lives lost during Basant festival in Lahore, Punjab govt informs LHC According to a statement, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif emphasised that children’s safety remains the top priority, adding that running, jumping, hanging from edges, and aggressively retrieving kites have been strictly prohibited. The use of loud music, DJ systems, and noise-generating devices during kite flying has also been banned. Any activity causing disturbance to neighbours will be treated as a punishable offence under the law. The availability of first aid kits at all locations has been made mandatory, with easy access ensured. In case of any accident or emergency, citizens have been advised to immediately contact Rescue 1122. In the event of any accident or violation of the law, building owners and event organisers will be held personally and jointly responsible. The chief minister reiterated that strict legal action would be taken against violators, adding that no one would be allowed to endanger lives under the guise of kite flying. She directed all deputy commissioners and district police officers to ensure complete implementation of the regulations. Also Read: Kites in the sky, stories on screen: Basant in Punjabi cinema and music She also appreciated citizens for adhering to safety measures during Basant 2026 and expressed confidence that similar compliance would be observed in 2027. She urged citizens to follow all safety precautions, assuring them that the government stands with them in safely celebrating Basant.

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Punjab announces new kite flying rules for Basant 2027, sets strict safety rules

The Punjab government on Friday announced new rules and regulations for kite flying for next year’s Basant festival, setting December 30 as the deadline for their full implementation. Under the new rules, kite flying will only be permitted on structurally strong and secure rooftops. The boundary walls of rooftops must be at least three and a half feet high. Overcrowding on rooftops will not be allowed. Parents and guardians have been directed to ensure continuous supervision of children, who will not be allowed near rooftop edges without adult supervision. Read: 17 lives lost during Basant festival in Lahore, Punjab govt informs LHC According to a statement, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif emphasised that children’s safety remains the top priority, adding that running, jumping, hanging from edges, and aggressively retrieving kites have been strictly prohibited. The use of loud music, DJ systems, and noise-generating devices during kite flying has also been banned. Any activity causing disturbance to neighbours will be treated as a punishable offence under the law. The availability of first aid kits at all locations has been made mandatory, with easy access ensured. In case of any accident or emergency, citizens have been advised to immediately contact Rescue 1122. In the event of any accident or violation of the law, building owners and event organisers will be held personally and jointly responsible. The chief minister reiterated that strict legal action would be taken against violators, adding that no one would be allowed to endanger lives under the guise of kite flying. She directed all deputy commissioners and district police officers to ensure complete implementation of the regulations. Also Read: Kites in the sky, stories on screen: Basant in Punjabi cinema and music She also appreciated citizens for adhering to safety measures during Basant 2026 and expressed confidence that similar compliance would be observed in 2027. She urged citizens to follow all safety precautions, assuring them that the government stands with them in safely celebrating Basant.

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