Islamabad police arrest man over satirical post comparing Tarnol crossing to Strait of Hormuz, sparking free speech debate.

After the busy Black Friday holiday weekend, Kristen Tarnol, owner of Emerald City Gifts in Studio City, California, is already asking her supplier to send more more fuzzy alpaca scarves and warm slippers that were best sellers over the weekend.

After the busy Black Friday holiday weekend, Kristen Tarnol, owner of Emerald City Gifts in Studio City, California, is already asking her supplier to send more more fuzzy alpaca scarves and warm slippers that were best sellers over the weekend.

ISLAMABAD: Four people were injured after a cylinder explosion at a house in Islamabad's Sector F-15/2, located within the limits of Tarnol police station, on Saturday. According to the district administration, rescue teams responded to the scene and brought the resulting fire under control, while a magistrate was present to oversee the emergency response. The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Authorities said the explosion also caused significant damage to the house, shattering its windows and doors and damaging the walls. Initial investigations suggest the blast was caused by a gas leak from a water heater (geyser), the district administration said. The Capital Emergency Services also confirmed the incident. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the explosion. The post Gas leak suspected as four injured in Islamabad F15/2 house blast appeared first on HUM News English.

ISLAMABAD – Pakistani social media users are known for their sharp criticims, and witty remarks, and a triggering post about a busy railway crossing in Islamabad ended in legal action. Islamabad police detained a local citizen after a social media post comparing Tarnol railway crossing to the “Strait of Hormuz” sparked serious legal action. Khurram […] The post Islamabad man arrested for comparing Tarnol Railway Crossing to Strait of Hormuz appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

Heavy hailstorms struck Islamabad and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday, causing significant damage. The storms impacted vehicles, windscreens, and solar panels, and they also triggered flash floods due to intense rainfall. In Islamabad, the hailstorm lasted about 35 minutes, with large hailstones smashing windscreens and damaging trees. In the Tarnol area, uprooted trees disrupted […]

ISLAMABAD: Police have arrested a citizen for mocking and likening the Tarnol railway crossing to the Strait of Hormuz, police said. The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route, has been virtually paralysed by the Middle East conflict. The arrest was made after registration of a case against the man under sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant), 341 (punishment for wrongful restrains) and 511 (punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or for a shorter term) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) in response to a complaint lodged by Sub-inspector Shahid Asghar of Tarnol Police Station. According to the FIR, the man was accused of sharing a post on social media, saying, “Tarnol Railway Crossing is no less than the Strait of Hormuz. If it is closed, all our problems will be resolved”. The FIR stated that the post went viral on social media. Upon seeing the post, police reached Tarnol Chowk and investigated the matter, where it emerged that the man, a resident of Dhoke Paracha, had shared the post. In view of the prevailing security situation, the government has imposed Section 144 against promotion and advertisements related to it. It said the citizen was taken into custody and his phone was checked and evidence about the social media post was found in it. The development comes as extraordinary security measures are in place in the twin cities ahead of an expected second round of talks between the United States and Iran. When contacted, Advocate Supreme Court Rizwan Abbasi said all the offences mentioned in the FIR did not make sense and the high court would quash the case if approached by the citizen. He said the statement comes under freedom of expression and did not in any way threaten national security. _Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026_

ISLAMABAD: Police have arrested a citizen for allegedly mocking and likening the Tarnol Railway crossing to the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route, has been virtually paralysed by the Middle East war. The first information report (FIR), a copy of which is available with _Dawn_ , has been registered on the complaint of Sub-inspector Shahid Asghar on the state’s behalf. The FIR was registered under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant), Section 341 (punishment for wrongful restrains) and Section 511 (punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or for a shorter term) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). According to the complaint, a man identified as Khurram was accused of sharing a post on social media, saying, “Tarnol Railway Crossing is no less than the Strait of Hormuz. If it is closed, all our problems will be resolved”. It said that the citizen was taken into custody and his phone was also checked, wherein evidence of the social media post was found. It is worth mentioning that the development comes as extraordinary security measures are in place in the twin cities ahead of an expected second round of talks between the United States and Iran amid the war in the Middle East.

ISLAMABAD: Police have arrested a citizen for allegedly mocking and likening the Tarnol Railway crossing to the Strait of Hormuz, according to a first information report (FIR). The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route, has been virtually paralysed by the Middle East war. The FIR, a copy of which is available with _Dawn_ , has been registered on the complaint of Sub-inspector Shahid Asghar on the state’s behalf. The FIR was registered under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant), Section 341 (punishment for wrongful restrains) and Section 511 (punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or for a shorter term) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). According to the complaint, a man named identified as Khurram was accused of sharing a post on social media, saying, “Tarnol Railway Crossing is no less than the Strait of Hormuz. If it is closed, all our problems will be resolved”. The FIR stated that the post went viral on social media. Upon seeing the post, police reached Tarnol Chowk and investigated the matter, where it emerged that Khurram, a resident of Dhok Paracha, Islamabad, shared the post. It further said that in view of the prevailing security situation, the government had imposed Section 144 against the promotion and advertisements related to it. It said that the citizen was taken into custody and his phone was also checked, wherein evidence of the social media post was also found. It is worth mentioning that the development comes as extraordinary security measures are in place in the twin cities ahead of an expected second round of talks between the United States and Iran amid the war in the Middle East.

ISLAMABAD: In a major crackdown on illegal meat trade, the Islamabad Food Authority (IFA) has seized about 1,000kg donkey meat from a farmhouse located in Tarnol. Over 50 live donkeys were also confiscated during a raid on the premises and a foreign national was taken into custody on the spot. According to a spokesperson for the Islamabad district administration, an FIR has been registered against the foreign national following the recovery. Authorities believe the meat was being prepared for supply to foreign restaurants and individuals. “We are investigating where the donkey meat was being delivered. Local accomplices involved in the supply chain are also being traced. The case is being pursued from multiple angles,” the spokesperson said. > Islamabad Food Authority orders cases against all suspects to dismantle network The raid was carried out by a team led by IFA Deputy Director Dr Tahira Siddique. The arrested individual was handed over to police for further investigation. Dr Siddique directed the police to register cases against all parties involved and to dismantle the entire network. She also ordered the confiscated meat to be destroyed, adding investigators were working to identify the end recipients of the supply. Sources within the food authority, however, said that initial findings had suggested the meat was intended for foreigners. They noted that the packaging found on-site was sophisticated, indicating it may have been prepared for export or high-end distribution. The sophisticated packaging shows that it was intended to be exported or supplied to some foreigners in the federal capital. As there were over 50 alive donkeys so it is out of question that they were selling the meat of donkeys who occasionally die, they said. They said that, according to initial investigation, the business was being run by a foreigner living in the area for a long time. However, they said the farmhouse was not registered for such an activity. **Meat sellers hail action** In response to the incident, the Jamiatul Quresh Meat Welfare Association praised the swift action by the IFA and renewed its longstanding demand for the establishment of a regulated slaughterhouse in the capital. During a meeting held in Aabpara Market, chaired by Association President Khursheed Ahmed Qureshi and attended by other members, including Javed Qureshi, Sardar Zaheer Ahmed, Zahid Masood Khan, and Iqbal Qureshi, the group said the absence of a government-managed slaughterhouse had allowed such illegal operations to thrive. They urged President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to take immediate notice of the matter and ensure preventive measures are in place. The association called for the immediate establishment of a slaughterhouse in I-11/4, emphasising that doing so would help stop the sale of unregulated and unhygienic meat. They also demanded strict legal action against all individuals involved in illegal meat trade. Pakistan exports donkey hides and meat to China. _Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2025_

Donkey meat was seized on Sunday in Islamabad’s Tarnol area by the Islamabad Food Authority, according to a press release by the authority. “On the tip of the AFSO [assistant food safety officer] team, a cafe was raided, and 25 maunds of donkey meat were recovered,” the statement said. A case has been registered against a foreign national present at the scene, according to the police. The case was registered under Sections 11 (Selling food against the law), 12 (Substandard or misbranded food), 13 (Unsafe food) and 14 (Unhygienic or unsanitary place for food) of the Islamabad Capital Territory Food Safety Act, 2021. As per the first information report (FIR), 1,000 kilogrammes of donkey meat was found at the scene. “Investigations are underway regarding the supply of donkey meat,” a police spokesperson said in the statement. Local people involved in the supply of donkey meat are being traced. “The police are investigating the matter from various angles,” the spokesperson added. He added that food samples were being sent to the laboratory for analysis. Items kept in the refrigerator were found to be defective and unusable, the spokesperson added. “The administration has formed a committee for further investigation,” the statement concluded. A three-member committee will investigate in which areas the meat was distributed, the police said. In March, Chowk Sarwar Shaheed Patrolling Police recovered 20 maunds of dead animal meat from a van at Muzafargarh’s Riazabad Chowk.

Heavy hailstorms struck Islamabad and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday, causing widespread damage to vehicles, windscreens, and solar panels, while also triggering flash floods following intense rainfall. The hailstorm, accompanied by strong winds, lashed the region in the afternoon today. In Islamabad, the storm lasted around 35 minutes, with large hailstones smashing vehicle windscreens and damaging tree branches and leaves. Several trees were uprooted in the Tarnol area, disrupting traffic flow. > View this post on Instagram > > Children playing in parks were caught off guard by the sudden storm and were seen running home in fear. > View this post on Instagram > > The downpour and hail brought a much-needed break from the heat in Islamabad, turning the weather pleasant. However, power outages were reported in several areas, and efforts to restore electricity were underway. > View this post on Instagram > > A statement from the deputy commissioner’s office said district administration teams were present on various roads and carrying out drainage work. “The damage caused by hail is being estimated. There are reports of broken windows of vehicles and houses in various areas. Traffic flow is being ensured with the help of traffic police,” the statement said, adding that the city’s civic bodies were engaged in draining the water. Meanwhile, a resident of Rawalpindi’s Racecourse Road told _Dawn.com_ that there was no hail in his locale. “There was no hail here. Even places like Bahria Town in Pindi hardly had any rain. We had lots of rain here in this part of the city,” he said. PPP Senator and former climate change minister Sherry Rehman termed the scenes witnessed as being “insane”, adding that hail was “coming down like pellets”. “This is extreme weather volatility driven by climate change, where anomalies proliferate. Not a random natural event. And related entirely to human actions like emissions, which are growing because of addiction to dirty energy,” she said in a post on X. In a statement issued in the evening, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said its Director General (DG) Asfandyar Khattak assured the public that the department was fully prepared to manage the flood situation expected in Landikotal, Mardan, and other districts. Under special directives from Relief Minister Haji Nek Muhammad Dawar, the PDMA sought detailed reports from deputy commissioners across the province and was taking necessary steps to assess damages and provide compensation. DG Khattak added that he remained in constant contact with local administrations and relevant institutions and had submitted a preliminary report to the minister for relief, rehabilitation and resettlement. He also noted that the Emergency Response Centre at the PDMA central office was operational around the clock, and citizens could call the toll-free number 1700 in case of emergencies. Meanwhile, Diamer police spokesperson Raja Ashfaq confirmed that two children were swept away by flash floods in Chilas. One child died while being transported to the hospital, and the other was referred to a hospital in Islamabad for further treatment. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had said that rain, wind and thunderstorms were expected to sweep across the northern parts of the country from today, with dust, thunderstorms and rain expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and other cities today and from April 18 to 20. A hailstorm had hit the federal capital last April as well. ## Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium lashed by rain The inclement weather also affected the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where the Pakistan Super League match between Islamabad United and Multan Sultans was scheduled. “There was no hailstorm at the Rawalpindi cricket stadium,” _CricWick_ correspondent Abu Bakr Tarrar confirmed to _Dawn.com_ , adding that there was rain and the outfield was wet after the rain. The pitch under covers and a wet outfield at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium after the rains on April 16. — Abu Bakr Tarrar He added that the sun was out after the rainclouds had cleared. * * * _Additional reporting by Shakeel Qarar, Abyan Amir and Mikail Ahmed Shaikh._

Heavy hailstorms struck Islamabad and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday, causing widespread damage to vehicles, windscreens, and solar panels, while also triggering flash floods following intense rainfall. The hailstorm, accompanied by strong winds, lashed the region in the afternoon today. In Islamabad, the storm lasted around 35 minutes, with large hailstones smashing vehicle windscreens and damaging tree branches and leaves. Several trees were uprooted in the Tarnol area, disrupting traffic flow. > View this post on Instagram > > Children playing in parks were caught off guard by the sudden storm and were seen running home in fear. The downpour and hail brought a much-needed break from the heat in Islamabad, turning the weather pleasant. However, power outages were reported in several areas, and efforts to restore electricity were underway. > View this post on Instagram > > A statement from the deputy commissioner’s office said district administration teams were present on various roads and carrying out drainage work. “The damage caused by hail is being estimated. There are reports of broken windows of vehicles and houses in various areas. Traffic flow is being ensured with the help of traffic police,” the statement said, adding that the city’s civic bodies were engaged in draining the water. Meanwhile, a resident of Rawalpindi’s Racecourse Road told _Dawn.com_ that there was no hail in his locale. “There was no hail here. Even places like Bahria Town in Pindi hardly had any rain. We had lots of rain here in this part of the city,” he said. PPP Senator and former climate change minister Sherry Rehman termed the scenes witnessed as being “insane”, adding that hail was “coming down like pellets”. “This is extreme weather volatility driven by climate change, where anomalies proliferate. Not a random natural event. And related entirely to human actions like emissions, which are growing because of addiction to dirty energy,” she said in a post on X. In a statement issued in the evening, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said its Director General (DG) Asfandyar Khattak assured the public that the department was fully prepared to manage the flood situation expected in Landikotal, Mardan, and other districts. Under special directives from Relief Minister Haji Nek Muhammad Dawar, the PDMA sought detailed reports from deputy commissioners across the province and was taking necessary steps to assess damages and provide compensation. DG Khattak added that he remained in constant contact with local administrations and relevant institutions and had submitted a preliminary report to the minister for relief, rehabilitation and resettlement. He also noted that the Emergency Response Centre at the PDMA central office was operational around the clock, and citizens could call the toll-free number 1700 in case of emergencies. Meanwhile, Diamer police spokesperson Raja Ashfaq confirmed that two children were swept away by flash floods in Chilas. One child died while being transported to the hospital, and the other was referred to a hospital in Islamabad for further treatment. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had said that rain, wind and thunderstorms were expected to sweep across the northern parts of the country from today, with dust, thunderstorms and rain expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and other cities today and from April 18 to 20. A hailstorm had hit the federal capital last April as well. ## Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium lashed by rain The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where the Pakistan Super League match between Islamabad United and Multan Sultans is scheduled for later today, was also affected by the inclement weather. “There was no hailstorm at the Rawalpindi cricket stadium,” _Crickwick_ correspondent Abu Bakr Tarrar confirmed to _Dawn.com_ , adding that there was rain and the outfield was wet after the rain. The pitch under covers and a wet outfield at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium after the rains on April 16. — Abu Bakr Tarrar He added that the sun was out after the rainclouds had cleared. * * * _Additional reporting by Shakeel Qarar._

During the proceedings in a Pakistani court on Monday, former Prime Minister Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi became emotional and started crying bitterly. She expressed her helplessness against the inefficient justice system of the country and the unjust punishment of her husband. The former PM's wife had appeared in the court of Islamabad District Magistrate Afzal Majoka to seek bail for her husband and herself in six cases registered at Tarnol, Karachi Company, Ramna, Secretariat and Kohsar police stations.

ISLAMABAD – A local resident has been arrested in the federal capital after posting a comparison of the Tarnol railway crossing to a major international

Islamabad Food Authority takes 1,000kg of donkey meat from Tarnol café, slaps case under food safety rules. Full story below.

ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad Food Authority carried out a surprise raid in the Tarnol area and recovered a large stock…

At least 22 Afghans were arrested in Islamabad’s Tarnol, Bhara Kahu, Ghauri Town, and Mirabad districts.

During the proceedings in a Pakistani court on Monday, former Prime Minister Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi became emotional and started crying bitterly. She expressed her helplessness against the inefficient justice system of the country and the unjust punishment of her husband. The former PM's wife had appeared in the court of Islamabad District Magistrate Afzal Majoka to seek bail for her husband and herself in six cases registered at Tarnol, Karachi Company, Ramna, Secretariat and Kohsar police stations.