Man held for faking robbery
According to police, the man had called the police helpline and claimed that four armed men had snatched his cash, mobile phone and motorcycle at gunpoint. Acting swiftly, the police reached the scene.
However, during the investigation, it was found that no robbery had taken place. Instead, the man's brother had hidden Rs260,000 and the motorcycle in his shop.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Boarded flight for Karachi, but landed in Saudi Arabia
Air Karachi is modelled on after the success of Air Siyal of Sialkot. PHOTO: FILE In arguably one of the most bizarre cases in air travel history, a Karachi-bound passenger was mistakenly boarded onto a Jeddah-bound flight, resulting in a 15-hour ordeal that ended with questioning by Saudi authorities and a struggle to return home. Malik Shahzain, an electrical engineer and resident of Korangi, was returning to Karachi from Lahore on the night of July 7 after learning that his child had fallen ill. However, due to what he described as a "serious and irresponsible error" by ground staff at Lahore airport, he was instead flown to Jeddah aboard an AirSial flight. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Shahzain recalled how he arrived at the airport around 9pm and approached airline staff with his boarding pass for the Karachi-bound flight. At the time, two AirSial aircraft were parked on the tarmac — one scheduled for Karachi and the other for Jeddah — both reportedly departing at 10pm. "I handed over my boarding pass and was directed to the international departures gate. I was seated at window seat 17F without being informed I had boarded the wrong flight," he said. Two hours into the flight, Shahzain got concerned and asked a flight attendant when the plane would arrive in Karachi. To his shock, he was informed that the aircraft was en route to Jeddah. Panic ensued among the crew, who informed the captain about the situation. Upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, the airline staff tried to manage the incident discreetly but failed. Saudi customs and security officials boarded the aircraft and escorted Shahzain away for interrogation. "I was taken about 800 metres from the plane, questioned repeatedly, and even my water bottle was examined," he said. A Bengali-speaking member of the Saudi security team acted as a translator during the inquiry. After explaining the situation and presenting his documents, Shahzain was released when authorities accepted that the incident had occurred due to negligence on the part of the airline. He was placed on a return flight to Lahore with instructions for AirSial to ensure his safe arrival in Karachi. However, the trouble did not end there. "Upon reaching Lahore, I was told to arrange my own ticket to Karachi," he said. With only Rs15,000 in hand and the ticket priced at Rs23,000, he had to contact his factory's Karachi office to purchase the ticket on his behalf. Shahzain said that while his 11kg luggage was correctly sent to Karachi and received later, the airline had yet to issue an apology or accept responsibility. He stressed that his intention in sending a legal notice was not to demand financial compensation but to seek accountability. "This mistake could have had far worse consequences had it involved someone who couldn't explain themselves — perhaps an illiterate or poor traveller from a remote area," he said. "It's not just about embarrassment; such incidents damage the country's image." He called for proper training and accountability for airline staff, arguing that simply reprimanding those responsible is not enough.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Man held for faking robbery
Police have arrested a man for making a fake call to the emergency helpline 15 and staging drama of a robbery. According to police, the man had called the police helpline and claimed that four armed men had snatched his cash, mobile phone and motorcycle at gunpoint. Acting swiftly, the police reached the scene. However, during the investigation, it was found that no robbery had taken place. Instead, the man's brother had hidden Rs260,000 and the motorcycle in his shop.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Unjustified methyl bromide imports banned
Listen to article The government has uncovered a methyl bromide scandal within the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) and suspended a suspicious company's licence, while halting shipments worth $1 million. Amid a major crackdown on the DPP, the government has reviewed the policy for methyl bromide imports and imposed a ban on the unjustified import of the product. Under the leadership of Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, the DPP has undertaken a series of transformative, corrective and disciplinary measures over the past six months to overhaul its operations, systems and regulatory mechanisms. As part of this reform agenda, Rana Tanveer directed the initiation of several strategic measures, including the launch of NAFSA, upgrading testing laboratories and the establishment of a modern institutional infrastructure aligned with global phytosanitary standards. These reforms are aimed at improving Pakistan's compliance with international trade requirements and enhancing export competitiveness. One of the most impactful actions was the revision in import conditions on a scientific basis, resulting in a drastic reduction in the unjustified use of methyl bromide. This regulatory shift led to significant cost savings for the import industry, ranging from Rs30,000 to Rs40,000 per container, particularly benefiting imports of cotton, grains, pulses and lentils. The move was welcomed by the industry stakeholders and is being viewed as a landmark step towards rationalised pesticide use. The minister also took firm action against malpractices. A detailed internal audit revealed that a company was importing methyl bromide from a suspicious origin. Under the minister's instructions, the DPP undertook rigorous scrutiny, including third-party verification, cross-checking of documents and allied investigations. As a result, the company's licence was promptly suspended due to violations of regulatory norms and in coordination with Pakistan Customs, four under-process shipments valuing at $1 million were intercepted at the port before clearance. These enforcement actions not only prevented the entry of potentially harmful substances but also sent a strong signal about the ministry's zero-tolerance policy against non-compliance and malpractice. Furthermore, strict disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against those found responsible. Rana Tanveer has repeatedly emphasised the importance of transparency, accountability and institutional integrity within all attached departments of the food security ministry. The detection and disruption of a high-value scam, along with swift and lawful action, have been widely appreciated by stakeholders and the public. It reinforces the resolve to cleanse the system of inefficiencies, ensure fair competition and uphold phytosanitary integrity in national and international trade. Rana Tanveer reaffirmed that the Ministry of National Food Security would continue to pursue reforms with full force, ensuring that Pakistan's agricultural and quarantine systems meet global benchmarks, and that no leniency would be shown to those violating the law or compromising the national interest.
