KARACHI JUNE 29: Police said all four militants that attacked the busy Pakistan Stock Exchange Monday morning have been killed as four security guards and a police sub-inspector were martyred in the attack.

The militants launched a grenade attack at the main gate of the building and attempted to storm the building after opening indiscriminate fire. SSP City Muqaddas Haider said that seven injured persons had been shifted to a hospital for medical treatment.

The PSX building and surrounding areas were sealed by law enforcement agencies. People inside the PSX building were evacuated from the back door.

“An unfortunate incident took place at the Pakistan Stock Exchange,” said Abid Ali Habib, Director Pakistan Stock Exchange. “They made their way from our parking area and opened fire on everyone.”

He said that the militants had stormed the Railway Ground parking area and fired outside the PSX ground. They made their way to the main gate of the building and stormed it after trading fire with security guards.

Habib said that the firing by militants caused panic among the people in the building.

He said that the militants had stormed the Railway Ground parking area and fired outside the ground of the PSX, adding that the firing by militants caused panic among the people in the building.

Speaking to Geo TV, the Inspector-General Karachi said that the situation was under control and all militants had been killed in the attack. He said that Rangers and police officials had entered the building and were conducting a search operation.

According to the IG, the attackers were reportedly wearing clothes usually worn by police officials while they are off-duty.

At least two attackers are seen disembarking from a blue sedan with weapons amidst sporadic firing in an unverified amateur video of the attack being shared on social media.

Police said the militants conducted the assault with sophisticated weapons and were carrying a bag that probably held explosives.

“All militants involved in the Pakistan Stock Exchange attack have been killed,” said Sindh Rangers.

CTD’s Raja Omar Khattab said that police would try to find out details about the car used by the owner. CCTV cameras are being monitored by law enforcement agencies to obtain clues.

LEAs have seized AK-47 rifles, hand grenades, magazines and other explosive material from the attackers.

PSX compound attacked, ‘situation is still unfolding’

A statement by the PSX said that its compound had been attacked by militants and that the “situation is still unfolding”.

“There was an attack on the PSX compound earlier today. The situation is still unfolding and management, with the help of security forces, is managing the security and controlling the situation,” tweeted the PSX.

“We will issue a more detailed statement in due course once the situation is under control and more details are known.

For now firing has stopped and reinforcement are in place.”

ISLAMABAD : The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday once again rejected a request by the Sindh government to grant a stay order against the Sindh High Court’s (SHC) April 2 decision of overturning the conviction of four convicts in the American journalist Daniel Pearl murder case.

A bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Mushir Alam, took up appeals by the provincial government and two independent appeals by the parents of Daniel Pearl against the acquittal of the convicts.

Farooq H Naek, who represented the Sindh government, stated before the judges that the accused being global terrorists have been detained under maintenance of public order (MPO) after their acquittal.“How can you call the accused terrorists after acquittal,” questioned Justice Yahya Khan Afridi, a member of the bench, to which, the lawyer replied that one of them worked with a terrorist outfit in India while another with a banned organisation in Afghanistan.

Their release could have serious consequences, he cautioned.

Justice Mushir Alam asked how can the apex court suspend the SHC verdict without a solid reason. The verdict can be suspended in case there are any loopholes in the ruling, he observed.

The government can extend the accused’s detention under the MPO, if it wants, the SC judge suggested.

The hearing of the case was adjourned until December.

ISLAMABAD : The Ministry of Religious Affairs will start refunding money to pilgrims who had registered themselves for Hajj 2020 under the government scheme from Thursday.

According to a spokesman for the ministry, the funds would be doled out through the designated bank branches.

He said all successful Hajj applicants of the government scheme are being informed about payment of their amount via mobile phone messages.The ministry has decided to refund the government Hajj scheme charges following the Saudi government’s decision to exclude pilgrims outside of the kingdom from performing Hajj this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier, on June 23, Saudi Arabia’s Minister for Hajj and Umrah Dr. Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten had telephoned his Pakistani counterpart Pir Dr. Noorul Haq Qadri and formally conveyed the kingdom’s decision of holding Hajj with very limited pilgrims this year.

Noorul Haq Qadri in a Twitter statement said that the Saudi government will allow only its citizens and Iqama holders to perform the annual ritual of Hajj this year due to the coronavirus fears.

The opposition parties have decided to call an All Parties Conference to formulate a “joint strategy” against the annual budget presented by the PTI government, the leaders of the opposition said Sunday.

“Today, the whole country has become united against the government because of this budget,” Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the PPP leader, said while addressing a press conference along with other leaders of the opposition in Islamabad. “All the opposition parties have rejected the budget,” Bilawal.”

The government of Prime Minister Imran Khan presented the Budget 2020-21 two weeks ago in parliament.

“Our conscience doesn’t allow us to pass such a budget,” Bilawal said, adding that the opposition parties are planning to convene an All Parties Conference as soon as PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif recovers from the coronavirus.

“We wanted to convene an APC before the budget but Shahbaz Sharif’s health deteriorated,” said Bilawal.

Khawaja Asif, a PML-N leader, told reporters that the people were expecting a relief from the government in the budget due to ongoing coronavirus crisis. But, he added, that the government has put “intolerable burden” on people instead of providing them relief.

“Current Prime Minister Imran Khan has become a national liability,” said Asif. His government is leading us towards the destruction, he added.

The PML-N leader said that the time has come to “get rid” of PM Khan but said the opposition parties won’t choose any unconstitutional option to do so.

“We will use every constitutional option. No unconstitutional way will be used, we will protect the Constitution but we will use every constitutional option to get rid of Imran Khan,” said Asif.