ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has confirmed that 24 Pakistani crew members, along with three others, were safely released after being briefly held by Houthi forces following an attack on an LPG tanker near the Yemeni coast.
In a statement shared on social media, Naqvi said the incident took place near Ras al-Isa, where an Israeli drone targeted the LPG tanker. At the time of the strike, 27 crew members were on board, including 24 Pakistanis. The attack caused one of the tanks to explode, sparking a fire, but the crew managed to bring the blaze under control.
According to Naqvi, after the attack, Houthi fighters intercepted the vessel and took the crew members hostage. Through coordinated efforts by Pakistani security agencies, the Ministry of Interior, and diplomatic channels, the hostages were released unharmed. The ship’s captain, Mukhtar Akbar, and all Pakistani crew members were confirmed safe. The vessel has since left Yemeni waters.
The interior minister praised the role of key officials, including Secretary Interior Khurram Agha and Ambassador Naveed Bukhari, as well as Pakistani teams in Saudi Arabia and Oman, for their critical contributions in securing the safe release of the crew. —Internews
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Islamabad court indicts Azam Swati in controversial tweets case
ISLAMABAD, Sept 27 (Internews): The District and Sessions Court in Islamabad has rejected Senator Azam Swati’s plea for acquittal (bail before trial) in the controversial tweets case, and formally indicted him today. The court named him in the charge sheet and set the next hearing date for October 14.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Afzal Majoka oversaw the hearing. During proceedings, Senator Swati entered a plea of not guilty to the charges. The prosecution was directed to summon its witnesses for the next hearing.
Azam Swati has long been entangled in a legal battle over alleged tweets targeting state institutions. He was previously arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) under charges of “intimidating tweets” and has secured bail through the Islamabad High Court in the past.
With the formal indictment, the case will proceed to the evidence stage, where the prosecutor’s witnesses will be examined, and the defense will have an opportunity to respond. —Internews
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ATC cancels Imran Khan’s Lawyer Panjotha’s bail, orders arrest:
RAWALPINDI, Sept 27, (Internews): An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Saturday canceled the interim bail of Naeem Haider Panjotha, lawyer of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, and ordered his arrest today.
The decision was announced by ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah after Panjotha failed to appear before the court despite being summoned.
Panjotha had secured interim bail in two cases registered at Attock Police Station on November 26. However, during today’s proceedings, neither the accused nor his counsel appeared before the court.
Owing to non-compliance, the court dismissed the bail petitions and directed authorities to arrest Advocate Panjotha. —Internews
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PM Shehbaz chairs Pakistan-Malaysia trade meeting from New York:
ISLAMABAD, Sept 27, (Internews): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday chaired a meeting via video link from New York to review steps for boosting trade relations between Pakistan and Malaysia.
According to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Media Wing, Shehbaz Sharif underlined the long-standing brotherly ties between the two countries, which span several decades. He acknowledged Malaysia’s consistent support for Pakistan in difficult times, stressing that the nation values this solidarity.
The prime minister noted the immense potential for expanding Pakistan-Malaysia trade and called for concrete measures to fully tap this capacity. He directed the concerned institutions to develop a practical and result-oriented plan for exporting Pakistani beef to Malaysia.
During the meeting, officials provided a detailed briefing on Pakistan’s export potential in the Malaysian market. The prime minister instructed that a comprehensive strategy, particularly focusing on beef exports, be prepared and presented for implementation. —Internews
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