Today’s top Pakistan current affairs April 13, 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
- TTP Terrorist Killed in S. Waziristan: ISPR. One terrorist was killed in exchange of fire with security forces in South Waziristan, army’s media wing said on Tuesday.
- Corona Cases Are Increasing Alarmingly: Asad Umar. Minster for Planning and Development Asad Umar has said over 1.3 million people have so far been vaccinated against COVID-19 across the country.
- Four Terrorists Killed in Balochistan By CTD. The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) killed four terrorists in an intelligence based operation in Bolan district.
- At least 10 Injured in Hub Football Ground Blast. At least 10 people were injured after an explosion took place in the ground during a local football match near the Hub Chowki area of Karachi.
- Earthquake jolts Islamabad, parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A 5.3-magnitude earthquake jolted Islamabad, the Swat Valley, and adjacent areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tuesday.
- Pakistan to receive 15m COVID-19 vaccine doses by May: minister. Pakistan will receive 15 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine by May through the vaccine alliance COVAX, said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Monday.
- Punjab extends ban on dining, wedding halls till April 26. The Punjab government has issued new restrictions for different cities as the country continues to battle the third wave of the coronavirus.
- China announces to gift more COVID vaccine doses to Pakistan. China has announced to send more COVID-19 vaccine doses to Pakistan as a gift to help Islamabad in the fight against coronavirus
- Gold price falls to a 10-month low in Pakistan. The gold price fell to a 10-month low in Pakistan after it fell by another Rs1,500 on Tuesday, according to rates shared by the All Sindh Saraf Jewelers Association.
Spotlight by The NewsRun
1. COVID-19 IN PAKISTAN
- 24-hour count: Pakistan reported 4,584 new cases and 58 deaths in 24 hours. Pakistan also conducted 44,514 tests in the span of 24 hours (P.S. this data was last updated on April 12 at 7:33am).
- Private vaccines selling out fast: COVID-19 cases in Pakistan are surging, and the govt’s vaccine program is moving at a snail’s pace due to delayed deliveries and limited supplies. The private sector in Pakistan is also importing vaccines that people have to pay for. However, the privately imported Russian Sputnik V vaccine is selling out fast after arriving in Pakistan at the beginning of April. The Sputnik vaccine costs PKR 12,000 (i.e. $80) for two doses. Even though anyone is eligible to receive privately sold vaccines, there are concerns about pricing and accessibility. Most privately imported vaccines are being sold in big cities instead of rural areas. Also, the price isn’t affordable for a large chunk of Pakistan’s population.
2. Arrest of far-right leader sparks protests
What’s going on? Police arrested Saad Hussain Rizvi, leader of the far-right religious party, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). As a result, protests broke out in several cities across Pakistan. TLP also blocked major roads while protesting. Travelers were stuck in their vehicles due to heavy traffic jams. There were reportedly clashes between the police and protestors as well.
The details: Rizvi is the son of former TLP leader, Khadim Hussain Rizvi, who reportedly passed away due to natural causes last year in November. TLP is known to be a vocal supporter of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.
Tell me more: TLP staged a sit-in protest last November. Back then, TLP was protesting against comments by French President Emmanuel Macron, which were considered “islamophobic.” TLP ended its sit-in after the govt promised to consider,
- Removing the French ambassador
- Banning all French goods in Pakistan
- Granting amnesty to TLP protestors who participated in the demonstrations
Looking ahead: In February, TLP said ‘you’re not keeping your promise,’ to the govt and threatened to protest again. The govt signed a new agreement, and said it would present TLP’s concerns in parliament and make a decision before April 20. However, April 20 is around the corner, and there’s still no decision.
The bottom line: The charges against Rizvi are still unclear. There is speculation that Rizvi was arrested to pre-empt more protests. However, the arrest itself ended up causing protests in multiple cities. Now, another TLP leader named Syed Zaheerul Hassan Shah is calling on TLP members to “jam the entire country.”
3. Prominent human rights defender passes away
Pakistan is mourning the death of journalist and human rights advocate, I.A. Rehman. He passed away in Lahore at the age of 90. He reportedly died of natural conditions. His death is considered a great loss to the human rights movement in Pakistan. Public figures and journalists are calling him, “a courageous voice,” a visionary leader,” a moral compass,” a voice of reason,” and “an icon of integrity.”
- Backstory: Rehman was an editor for various newspapers before joining the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). He served as the HRCP’s director from 1990 to 2008, and was elected secretary-general in 2008, a position he held until 2016. He was one of the few people against military action in Bangladesh (i.e. what used to be East Pakistan) in 1971. He also opposed military dictators, defended Pakistan’s minority groups, and campaigned for changes to the country’s strict blasphemy laws.
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