Pak court rejects Imran, wife pleas in Al-Qadir case
ISLAMABAD, May 4: A Pakistan high court on Monday rejected petitions filed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi seeking suspension of their sentences in the 190 million pound Al-Qadir Trust case.
Both were convicted last year, receiving 14 years’ imprisonment for Khan and 7 years for Bushra Bibi. They had challenged their convictions in the Islamabad High Court, but a two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar declared their requests for suspension of sentence as infructuous. The court, however, scheduled May 7 for hearing their appeals against the convictions.
The case involves allegations related to the Al-Qadir Trust, a welfare organisation established in 2018 that operates a university near Islamabad. Prosecutors claim the trust was used as a front to receive land worth millions of dollars from a property developer. It is alleged that these transfers were linked to the use of repatriated UK funds by the government to settle fines for the businessman instead of depositing the money into the national treasury.
Imran Khan has denied all charges, stating that neither he nor his wife benefited financially from the trust or related transactions. (PTI)
Three killed, 14 injured in Pak’s strikes in Afghanistan
KABUL, May 4: Three people were killed and 14 injured in fresh Pakistani military strikes on Afghanistan’s Dangam district in Kunar province, according to the Taliban administration. Officials said the attacks also destroyed two schools, a clinic, and two mosques, and killed around 80 livestock. They claimed Pakistan has increasingly targeted civilian infrastructure, with 12 schools reportedly destroyed since the strikes began in the province.
The Taliban district governor alleged the strikes show Pakistan’s inability to carry out direct attacks, instead accusing it of hitting public facilities. Kabul has strongly condemned the strikes, calling them a violation of Afghan airspace and territorial integrity, and lodged a formal protest with Pakistan.
Earlier, similar strikes reportedly killed seven people and injured dozens, including students at a university. Rising cross-border tensions have led to repeated exchanges of fire and accusations from both sides, while diplomatic efforts have so far failed to ease the escalating situation. (IANS)
Hantavirus outbreak: Three dead, one critical
GENEVA, May 4: The WHO reported a hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius in the Atlantic Ocean, which has resulted in three deaths. One case has been laboratory confirmed, while five others are suspected among passengers and crew. The vessel was travelling from Argentina to Cape Verde. One infected passenger is in intensive care in South Africa. Health authorities are conducting investigations, coordinating medical evacuations, and providing treatment while assessing the public health risk and tracing the source of infection. (IANS)
