WEB DESK, July 24(ABC): A war of words between the PTI and PML-N erupted on Sunday with PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry alleging that the PML-N “has begun to speak against the judiciary, and over the next few days, it will begin speaking against the army too.” He further alleged the PML-N “feels it has made a big mistake by aligning itself …

LAHORE, July 24(ABC): Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Sunday questioned why the Supreme Court did not take notice of PTI workers jumping into the Lahore Branch Registry following Pervez Elahi’s defeat in the Punjab chief minister’s elections. During a press conference in Lahore flanked by Punjab Home Minister Attaullah Tarar, the law minister defended Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari’s …

ISLAMABAD, July 24(ABC): Planning minister Ahsan Iqbal, in reaction to a news report of a national reconciliation in the works, has attributed it to PTI Chairman Imran Khan feeling the “noose around him tightening” in the foreign funding case, reported. “Perhaps Imran Khan feels the noose around him tightening in the foreign funding case and so he has suggested such talks …

RAWALPINDI, July 24(ABC): Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Sunday said that no one would be able to run the government if important decisions are not made before August 30. Taking to Twitter, the former interior minister said there was little time left to save the country from an economic crisis as the “political instability is leading the …

KARACHI, July 24(ABC): Railways and Aviation Minister Saad Rafique Saturday said if their coalition government is pushed out of power general elections will not be held. Addressing a public gathering at Liberty Chowk — after the hearing of the Supreme Court on Pervez Elahi’s plea on the chief minister elections in Punjab, Rafique said: “If you (PTI) wants election then it will …

ISLAMABAD, July 24(ABC): PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman Saturday revealed that the coalition government has been told to follow instructions otherwise a crisis would be created for them. “Imran Khan is nothing in front of us and should not be presented as a threat,” said Fazl adding that they know the worth of the PTI chief and he knows theirs. …

ISLAMABAD, July 24(ABC): The COVID-19 positivity ratio in Pakistan has witnessed a slight decline after nearing 3% for several days, the National Institute of Health, Islamabad (NIH) data showed Sunday morning. Pakistan reported 532 COVID-19 cases during the last 24 hours, which placed the country’s coronavirus positivity ratio at 2.74%. The new infections were detected after diagnostic testing on 19,402 …

ISLAMABAD, July 24(ABC): President Dr Arif Alvi Saturday emphasised that state institutions and the media should help create an environment to set up a government that truly represents the people of Pakistan. Speaking during the fifth Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ICCI) Business Excellence Awards Ceremony, the president elaborated: “Such a government will reflect people’s aspirations and hopes to …

ISLAMABAD, July 24(ABC): Pakistani importers are facing severe problems amid a liquidity crunch worth millions of dollars braved by the interbank market these days. Owing to the severe liquidity crunch, bankers are forcing importers to open Letters of Credit (LCs) after a pause of at least one month for clearing their goods. The importers are left in the lurch finding …

WEB DESK, July 23(ABC): That banana peel, turned into graphene, can help facilitate a massive reduction of the environmental impact of concrete and other building materials. While you’re at it, toss in those plastic empties. A new process introduced by the Rice University lab of chemist James Tour can turn bulk quantities of just about any carbon source into valuable …

WEB DESK, July 23(ABC): Researchers use a ferroelectric glass electrolyte within an electrochemical cell to create simple self-charging batteries. A new type of battery combines negative capacitance and negative resistance within the same cell, allowing the cell to self-charge without losing energy, which has important implications for long-term storage and improved output power for batteries. These batteries can be used …

WEB DESK, July 23(ABC): Nanocarbons for purifying water get a lot more efficient by exposing a precursor mixture to high voltage. Nagoya University scientists have developed a one-step fabrication process that improves the ability of nanocarbons to remove toxic heavy metal ions from water. The findings, published in the journal ACS Applied Nano Materials, could aid efforts to improve universal access to …

WEB DESK, July 23(ABC): Device for harnessing terahertz radiation might enable self-powering implants, cellphones, other portable electronics. Any device that sends out a Wi-Fi signal also emits terahertz waves —electromagnetic waves with a frequency somewhere between microwaves and infrared light. These high-frequency radiation waves, known as “T-rays,” are also produced by almost anything that registers a temperature, including our own …

LAHORE, July 23(ABC): Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Saturday while launching a tirade against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and former president and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari said that the thieves should not be allowed to sell national assets. In his latest Tweet, the former PM said, “How can Imported govt …

WEB DESK, July 23(ABC): PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Saturday said that the party will not accept “one-sided” decisions by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, after it said that Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shahbaz will work as a trustee CM till Monday (July 25). The Supreme Court’s decision came during a hearing on PML-Q leader Pervez Elahi’s petition against Punjab …

LAHORE, July 23(ABC): The Supreme Court of Pakistan Saturday directed Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shahbaz to work as a trustee CM till Monday (July 25) during a hearing on PML-Q leader Pervez Elahi’s petition against Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari’s ruling in the provincial CM’s election. The apex court further directed Hamza to work in accordance with the law …

ISLAMABAD, July 23(ABC): The establishment is considering a “soft intervention” under which it may mediate between PTI Chairman Imran Khan and the coalition parties — comprising PML-N, PPP, JUI-F, and others — sources told The News Saturday, as political and economic crises grip Pakistan. The sources told the publication that there are chances of a “grand dialogue” between the Opposition …

ISLAMABAD, July 23(ABC): The coalition government on Saturday demanded that a full court hear the petition filed against the ruling issued by Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Dost Muhammad Mazari in the election of the province’s chief minister. A joint statement has been issued in this regard, urging the chief justice to constitute a full bench to hear the case. Mazari …

ISLAMABAD, July 23(ABC): Finance Minister Miftah Ismail Saturday announced that the government is allowing the imports of all the items that have reached the ports by June 1 with a minor surcharge to prevent the importers from facing any losses. Taking to Twitter, Miftah said that the shipments of many luxury items, banned by the government, have reached the ports. …

LAHORE, July 23(ABC): PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s ability to make decisions is “limited due to his illness” — after the former prime minister decided to not back PTI’s candidate for the Punjab chief minister, his own relative Pervez Elahi. It seemed like the PTI and PML-Q were going to win the CM …

LAHORE, July 23(ABC): PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat has said he has old standing relationship with the institutions therefore, he cannot support those who criticize the institutions. “ “Stability is in Pakistan due to the institutions. I have old relations with the institutions. I can not support those who criticize the institutions.”, he said this while talking to media men here …

LAHORE: The Supreme Court is hearing PML-Q leader Pervez Elahi’s petition against Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari’s ruling in the Punjab chief minister’s election. A three-member bench — headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, and comprising Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar — is holding the hearing at the Supreme Court’s Lahore registry. At the outset of the …

LAHORE, July 23(ABC): The Supreme Court is hearing the PTI and PML-Q’s joint petition against Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari’s ruling in the Punjab chief minister’s election. A three-member bench — headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, and comprising Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar — is holding the hearing at the Supreme Court’s (Lahore Registry). The deputy …

ISLAMABAD, July 23(ABC): Despite high international crude and POL prices, the country’s imports of oil products and crude hit record highs — both in volume and money terms — on the back of a rising US dollar against the rupee and the government’s decision to raise local POL prices to revive the stalled International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, reported. Having …

LAHORE, July 23(ABC): Following a dramatic three-vote victory against PML-Q and PTI joint candidate Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz on Saturday took oath as chief minister of Punjab. Governor Punjab Baligh Ur Rehman finally administered the oath to Hamza Shahbaz. The oath-taking ceremony took place at Governor House and was attended by PML-N leaders and other government officials. Hamza …

ISLAMABAD, July 23(ABC): A marginal increase was witnessed on Saturday in new COVID-19 cases in Pakistan, data from the National Institute of Health, Islamabad (NIH) showed. According to the NIH data, 23,423 diagnostic tests were performed in the last 24 hours, with 693 returning positive, indicating a 2.96% positivity ratio. The virus claimed two more lives in the last 24 …

LAHORE, July 23(ABC): PML-Q leader Pervez Elahi, who was PTI’s candidate for the chief minister’s slot, Friday castigated Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari for giving a contentious ruling on the chief minister Punjab election, saying Article 6 applies to him for subverting the Constitution. “Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari has committed contempt of court and violated the Constitution,” said Pervez …

WEB DESK, July 23(ABC): Following PTI chairman Imran Khan’s call over Hamza Shahbaz’s victory in the Punjab Assembly, party workers staged country-wide protests against the CM Punjab election, reported. After a crucial Punjab Assembly session on Friday, PML-N’s candidate Hamza Shahbaz retained the post of the Punjab chief minister against Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervez Elahi through a three-vote victory. Punjab Assembly Deputy …

WEB DESK, July 23(ABC): Following PML-N’s Hamza Shahbaz’s ‘surprising’ victory in the Punjab Assembly Friday, PTI Chairman Imran Khan asked the masses to take to the streets tonight against the deputy speaker’s ruling. The PTI chairman was addressing the public after PML-N’s candidate Hamza Shahbaz retained the post of Punjab CM against Pervez Elahi in the run-off election held in the …

WEB DESK, July 23(ABC): Following an end to Friday’s dramatic Punjab Assembly session which retained Hamza Shahbaz as the chief minister of Punjab, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Allah for the party’s victory today. “His [Chaudhry Shujaat’s] role today is the victory of democracy and constitutional values and I pay tribute to him for his contributions,” he wrote on Twitter, adding …

LAHORE, July 22(ABC): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Hamza Shahbaz has been elected as the Chief Minister of the Punjab province by securing majority of votes in the runoff election. Hamza Shahbaz secured 179 votes whereas Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi – the Joint Candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) – bagged 176 votes. Although 186 votes were cast …

LAHORE, July 22(ABC): Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Friday said ahead of Hamza Shahbaz’s possible victory in the Punjab CM election said that now the rules of the game will be the same for everyone. Taking to Twitter, she wrote that PML-N has not forgotten the treatment done to the party, adding that now …

LAHORE, July 22(ABC): Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has refused to support Pervaiz Elahi in the election for the Punjab Chief Ministership. According to sources, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain confirmed writing the letter. In a major development before the voting, PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi said that his uncle, Chaudhry Shujaat, has refused to back Imran Khan s candidate. He said …

LAHORE, July 22(ABC): Punjab will once again be the centre of attention today (Friday) as all eyes are set on the crucial session of the Punjab Assembly to hold the process of the chief minister’s election between incumbent CM Hamza Shahbaz and Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervez Elahi. The contest, which began after a delay of three hours, is expected to …

RAWALPINDI, July 22(ABC): A huddle of the military’s top brass was held Friday to discuss the defence and security environment of the country, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Nadeem Raza chaired the meeting that took place at Joint Staff Headquarters (JSHQ), with all services chiefs in presence, the military’s media wing …

LAHORE, July 22(ABC): PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Friday, vowed to keep a close eye on Lahore — considered to be the political heart of Pakistan’s largest province, Punjab. “I will not keep away from Lahore. Next month, I will live here twice a week,” he said, from his residence in Zaman Park. Seemingly upbeat ahead of the election for the …

KARACHI, July 22(ABC): The US dollar continued its ascent on Friday against the Pakistani rupee, as it trades at a new all time high of Rs228 in the interbank market. The new rate was a climbed by Rs1.19 after the business day started in interbank. As per the economic experts, the downfall of Pakistani rupee against the US dollar is …

LAHORE, July 22(ABC): Punjab will once again be the centre of attention today (Friday) as all eyes are set on the crucial session of the Punjab Assembly to hold the process of the chief minister’s election between incumbent CM Hamza Shahbaz and Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervez Elahi. The contest is expected to shape the country’s future political scenario. The session …

LAHORE, July 22(ABC): PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari last night again met PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in a bid to woo him to support PML-N’s candidate Hamza Shahbaz, Geo News reported Thursday. The political temperature in Punjab continued to mount as the clock ticks on the crucial Punjab assembly session for the chief minister’s election, taking place this afternoon. A …

ISLAMABAD, July 22(ABC):  Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb berated PTI Chairperson Imran Khan for criticising the chief election commissioner (CEC), saying Imran Khan is asking for a National Reconciliation Order (NRO) from the CEC due to the foreign funding case. “Imran Khan is venting his anger on [the] CEC. However, Sikandar Sultan is not like NAB’s [National Accountability …