Today’s top Pakistan current affairs January 29, 2021 with download link available in pdf. These are the latest breaking news about Pakistan which will be helpful for aspirants in test preparation of current affairs, Pakistan affairs, General knowledge for NTS, PPSC, CSS, FPSC, KPPSC, SPSC, BPSC, AJKPSC, OTS, PTS, and other Govt Jobs, exams & MDCAT, ECAT Entry test preparation.
One Liner
- Increase In Petroleum Products Likely From Feb 1. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has recommended an increase in the price of petroleum products by up to Rs12 per liter from February 1.
- PIA Aircraft Seized In Malaysia Returned Back To Country. A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft which was seized by the Malaysian authorities over a lease dispute earlier this month has arrived Islamabad.
- Indian Forces Martyr Three Kashmiri Youth in IoK. In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Indian troops in their fresh act of state terrorism martyred three youth in Tral area of Pulwama district, today (Friday).
- COAS General Bajwa, Qatar Emir discuss security cooperation. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa called on Qatar Emir, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani
- PR fails to fully restore crashed reservation system. Pakistan Railways (PR) has failed to fully restore its nationwide crashed reservation system even after the passage of 72 hours
- Punjab govt to launch Special Enrollment Campaign from Monday. Punjab government will launch a Special Enrollment Campaign from Monday, to bring back children to schools who have not returned due to the COVID-19 crisis.
- SSC, HSC Exams To Be Held in May, June in Punjab. Exams for Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) classes in Punjab will be held in May and June this year.
- Small explosion occurs near Israeli embassy in New Delhi: police. A small blast near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi on Friday was caused by a “very low intensity improvised device” a police spokesman said, adding that there were no injuries.
- Pakistan Defeat South Africa In First Test By 7 Wickets. Pakistan defeated South Africa in first test match by 7 wickets.
- Rupee edges higher to Rs160.10 against US dollar. The Pakistani rupee appreciated by Rs0.18 against the United States (US) dollar in the interbank market on Friday, according to the State Bank.
Spotlight by The NewsRun
1. COVID-19 IN PAKISTAN
- Pakistan reported 1,644 cases and 46 deaths in the past 24 hours. Pakistan also conducted 43,381 tests in the span of 24 hours (P.S. this data was last updated on January 29 at 7:52 am).
2. Supreme Court acquits main accused in American journalist’s death
What’s going on? Pakistan’s Supreme Court upheld the acquittal and release of British-Pakistani, Ahmad Saeed Omar Sheikh, who was convicted for his involvement in the kidnapping and beheading of American journalist, Daniel Pearl.
The details: Sheikh was the main suspect in Pearl’s kidnapping and murder. The Sindh High Court (SHC) made some changes to Sheikh’s conviction in April last year. The SHC set aside Sheikh’s murder conviction and said he’s only guilty of kidnapping Pearl. The SHC sentenced Sheikh to seven years in prison for kidnapping instead. However, since Sheikh was already in prison for 18 years with a death sentence, the SHC decided it’s time to let him go. Pearl’s family and the Pakistani govt filed an appeal in Pakistan’s Supreme Court to challenge the SHC’s acquittal of Sheikh.
Tell me more: In a handwritten letter, Sheikh actually admitted his limited involvement in Pearl’s murder. He insisted that his “minor role” still doesn’t warrant a death sentence. Sheikh’s defence lawyers claimed he’s a “scapegoat” for the murder, and that he was sentenced on “insufficient evidence.” However, lawyers for Pearl’s family argued that Sheikh ordered Pearl’s captors to kill him.
The context: Pearl was the South Asia Bureau Chief for The Wall Street Journal. He was doing research on Pakistani militants. In January 2002, Sheikh allegedly lured Pearl into a meeting, during which he was kidnapped.
Looking ahead: Pearl’s family is in shock. The White House expressed its outrage over the Supreme Court’s verdict. White House spokesperson, Jen Psaki, called the decision “an affront to terror victims everywhere.” She said the US is “committed to securing justice for Pearl’s family.” Psaki called on Pakistan’s govt to review other legal options, such as letting the US prosecute Sheikh.
The bottom line: This case could become a challenge for Pakistan, especially if it wants to build a relationship with the new administration of US President, Joe Biden. Pakistan isn’t exactly making a good impression so far.
3. An “extraordinary object” in the sky
The pilot of a domestic Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight said he spotted “an extraordinary object” in the sky that looked “extremely bright.” The plane was flying through the airspace between Multan and Sahiwal at the time, and the pilot noticed the object near Rahim Yar Khan. The flight was during the day, and no, the pilot wasn’t referring to the sun. Judging from what we can see in the captain’s video, the supposed object looks like a shiny dot hovering in one spot. A PIA spokesperson said the pilot couldn’t identify what exactly he saw, so it’s still a mystery.
4. Pakistani university might make abayas mandatory
Bacha Khan University Charsadda is planning to introduce a new campus dress code soon. If the dress code is finalized, girl students will have to wear a scarf with an abaya. Girls will also be banned from wearing jeans, tights, t-shirts, shorts, make-up, jewellery, “fancy” purses, clothes that look “translucent” (i.e. see-through) and high heels. Boy students will still be allowed to wear blue or black dress pants, shalwar qameez, coats and jackets. However, guys won’t be able to wear shorts, sports shoes, jeans or wristbands. The dress code is meant to incorporate “cultural and religious teachings,” even though it seems more conservative-leaning for girls.
