After 29 years, Pakistan is hosting an ICC tournament and is leaving no room for security risks. Over 12,000 police officers have been deployed in Rawalpindi alone.

However, frustrations over excessive duty hours and non-compliance with orders have led to the dismissal of over 100 security personnel.

A senior Punjab police official confirmed that many officers assigned to protect foreign teams were either absent or refused to take responsibility. Consequently, strict disciplinary actions were taken, leading to their dismissal.

After multiple postponements, the South Asian Games (SA Games) are finally set to take place in Pakistan after five years. According to a decision made in a meeting of the South Asian Games Federation in Lahore on Tuesday, the event will be held from January 23 to 31 next year.

Bangladesh Olympic Association’s Deputy Secretary General, Ashikur Rahman, and Executive Member, Sirajuddin Alamgir, attended the meeting. The games will be hosted across three cities—Lahore, Islamabad, and Faisalabad. A wide range of sports, including football, hockey, athletics, swimming, volleyball, basketball, handball, cricket, and archery, have been approved for the competition.

International human rights organizations and foreign governments have raised serious concerns over Pakistan’s ongoing deportation of undocumented Afghan refugees and eviction of legal refugees from Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Reports suggest that many deported refugees could face severe persecution under the Taliban regime. The Shehbaz government stated that those with agreements to migrate to third countries will be allowed to do so, while others will be sent back to Afghanistan. The UN Refugee Agency and the International Organization for Migration have expressed deep concern over the sudden arrests of refugees.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter has announced a province-wide strike on February 25 to protest the delays in resolving cases against former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Protests will take place in every district, with the central demonstration planned for Peshawar. PTI leaders are mobilizing supporters across the province, aiming to intensify pressure on the authorities.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has expressed his desire to make Pakistan a nation greater than India. Speaking at a large rally on Sunday, he said, “One day, we will leave India behind. And if we fail to do that, my name won’t be Shahbaz Sharif. We will work day and night to transform Pakistan into a great nation and surpass India.” Shahbaz added that his government is focused on achieving economic stability, with the goal of reducing Pakistan’s reliance on foreign loans.

Pakistan’s cricket team, led by Mohammad Rizwan, entered this year’s tournament with hopes of defending their title, last won in 2017 under Sarfaraz Ahmed. However, after losing their opening match against New Zealand, the team’s future in the tournament is uncertain. On Sunday, Pakistan struggled against arch-rival India, getting bowled out for 241 runs while India pursued the target comfortably. Across Pakistan, people from different religions—Hindus, Muslims, and Christians—have been offering prayers in their respective religious traditions, seeking divine support for their team.

Pakistan was unable to host the Champions Trophy independently due to India’s stance. India had firmly declared that it would not play any Champions Trophy matches on Pakistani soil. Even Rohit Sharma refused to travel to Pakistan for the official photoshoot.

Amid this backdrop, an unexpected incident occurred during the Australia vs. England match in Pakistan—the Indian national anthem was played instead of Australia’s. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed strong displeasure over the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) blunder and has demanded an explanation.

During the pre-match ceremony, after England’s national anthem, India’s anthem was mistakenly played instead of Australia’s. It was stopped shortly after, and Australia’s anthem was played instead. PCB has questioned why India’s anthem was played when India was not even part of the match and has urged the ICC to provide a formal explanation.

Pakistan has reaffirmed its decision to send Afghan refugees who have not been approved for resettlement in the United States back to Afghanistan. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar revealed this in an interview with TRT World on Saturday. He noted that discussions may be held with the United States on this matter. Dar emphasized that if any refugee has a plan to be accepted by another country but the process has not been completed, they will be considered illegal immigrants in Pakistan. This decision has sparked concerns internationally. In 2021, Pakistan provided refuge to 600,000 Afghan refugees, a portion of whom have resettled in the U.S., while others are still awaiting their turn.

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan are set to clash today in a highly anticipated match. While Pakistan once dominated, India has won five of their last six encounters, with one match ending without a result. After losing their first Champions Trophy match against New Zealand, Pakistan is already under pressure. All eyes are on the key matchups: Rohit Sharma vs. Shaheen Afridi, Shubman Gill vs. Naseem Shah, and Virat Kohli vs. Haris Rauf. The excitement is at its peak as fans await the outcome of this epic battle.

The political party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has alleged that authorities are blocking their leader’s access to meetings. PTI leader Junaid Akbar has described this as a violation of rules and has filed a petition with the Islamabad High Court seeking permission for the meeting. PTI leaders expressed concerns that this move would escalate provincial tensions and further alienate Imran Khan from state institutions. They are also contemplating approaching the Chief Justice of Pakistan. In response, the Punjab government denied the allegations, stating that Imran Khan’s family, party members, and legal representatives have been meeting him regularly. It was also emphasized that a prison is not an entertainment park, implying that visits are subject to regulations.

Former Pakistani federal minister Faisal Vawda has accused leaders from Imran Khan’s own party, PTI, of conspiring to keep him in jail. In a press conference, he claimed that Khan’s imprisonment is part of a deal with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). “I have always said that no ‘trump card’ will work,” he remarked. Looking back 15 years, he sees no one standing behind Imran Khan, he added. Vawda served as Pakistan’s Minister for Water Resources from 2018 to 2021. Although he remained a PTI member until 2022, he lost both his party membership and seat due to his dual citizenship.

The Champions Trophy continues to be embroiled in controversies. When India refused to play in Pakistan, a hybrid model was introduced. When concerns arose about wearing jerseys with “Pakistan” written on them, a solution was found.

Yesterday, Bangladesh played against India, but during the live broadcast, Pakistan’s name was missing from the Champions Trophy branding logo. This prompted Pakistan to seek an explanation from the ICC. In response, the ICC admitted its mistake and assured that it would not happen again. During the Bangladesh-India match, the on-screen logo only displayed “Champions Trophy 2025,” which Pakistan claims is a violation of regulations requiring the host nation’s name to be included.

The ruling Taliban government in Afghanistan has revealed that Pakistan plans to expel at least three million Afghan refugees in the near future. Although Islamabad has not officially notified the Taliban administration, reports indicate that Afghan refugees are being removed from cities like Islamabad and Rawalpindi without clear justification. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry has confirmed its decision to expel all undocumented refugees, allowing only those with legal status to remain. This move has raised concerns among international organizations.

Gunmen have shot and killed a police officer tasked with providing security for a polio vaccination team in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Pakistan remains one of the few countries still combating polio, and vaccination drives have been targeted by militants for years. Due to its location near conflict-prone areas, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has seen repeated attacks on polio workers and their security personnel. Despite heightened security measures, assailants arrived on motorcycles and opened fire before fleeing the scene.

On Tuesday, seven bus passengers were killed in an armed attack in Balochistan, Pakistan. Local officials reported that around 40 unidentified armed individuals intercepted several buses, began verifying passengers’ identities, and then forced seven people off the buses before shooting them dead. All the victims were residents of Punjab. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack as of now. While law enforcement has cordoned off the area, the perpetrators have yet to be apprehended. Armed separatist groups have long been engaged in battles for regional autonomy in areas bordering Afghanistan and Iran.