In a veiled criticism of the PML-N, PPP leader Nadeem Afzal Chan on Saturday said no one else could be blamed for a party abandoning its slogan of ‘vote ko izzat do’ (respect the vote). The PPP leader’s statement comes against the backdrop of growing differences between the two parties which were part of the erstwhile Shehbaz Sharif-led ruling coalition …

Residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Battagram took to the streets and blocked a stretch of the Karakoram Highway near the Khatm-i-Nabuwat Chowk on Saturday, decrying action against illegal connections (kundas) and electricity connections, as well as defaulters. Last week, the interim government announced plans to launch a crackdown on electricity theft, which federal ministers said led to combined losses of hundreds …

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has said he sees no possibility of a delay in general elections due to the security situation at Pakistan’s borders. The interim premier expressed these views when asked about the possibility during an interview with Voice of America (VOV) Urdu. “I see no such possibility at present. Although there is an alarming situation on …

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Saturday filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) challenging the special court’s decision rejecting his bail plea in the cipher case. The plea by the former prime minister who was ousted from office following a no-confidence motion is likely to be fixed for hearing on Monday, September 18 by the IHC. A …

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday ordered to withhold the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) results on petitions filed by students regarding the use of covert Bluetooth devices for cheating in the examination hall. The court issued orders to the chief secretary, executive director of the Education Test and Evaluation Agency (ETEA), and the registrar of the …

The ordeal of former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi continued on Saturday after he was arrested again shortly after being released from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. Elahi was taken into custody by anti-corruption Punjab while he was on his way to Lahore.  Elahi’s counsel, Sardar Abdul Razzaq, said that the PTI stalwart has now been arrested at least a dozen times. …

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed all five high courts in the country to engage with their respective provincial governments to establish their own security agencies in order to strengthen the independence of the judiciary. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, who authored the judgment, highlighted the crucial role played by the district judiciary in shielding ordinary citizens from potential abuses of …

The interim Prime Minister (PM), Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to liaise with the UAE government regarding a private firm that has been organizing a beauty contest under the name of “Pakistan.” This event selected candidates to represent Pakistan in the Miss Universe Pageant, even though it hasn’t been sanctioned by the Pakistani government. Previously, …

The Supreme Court (SC) scrapped on Friday amendments made to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999 last year and admitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan’s petition challenging it. A three-judge bench, headed by CJP Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, announced the reserved verdict, which included restoring graft cases against public office holders …

Three terrorists were killed while a Pakistan Army soldier was martyred in an exchange of fire between security forces and militants in Quetta,the military’s media affairs wing said on Friday. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), militants had attacked a security forces’ post near Wali Tangi on Thursday evening. “During fire exchange, three terrorists were …

Interim Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar said on Friday there were “some signs” of economic recovery “even if they were just starting”. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside other federal ministers, she said that while the interim set-up had inherited a set of challenges after coming into power, it was not worried and was “dealing” with them. Akhtar said that …

The United States has urged Pakistan to hold “timely, free and fair” elections in line with the country’s laws. Spokesperson of the US State Department Matthew Miller said this while responding to a question regarding President Dr Arif Alvi proposing November 6 as the polls date. ’’We urge Pakistan to hold a free and fair free and fair and timely elections, …

The PPP on Thursday issued a show-cause notice to disgruntled party leader and lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa, asking him to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated against him for “working against the party policy”. The letter was signed by PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari. “You, being a member of the central executive committee, are defending/pleading/representing a head …

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has stated that it has “temporarily” grounded some of its planes, assuring that they would be back in the air once payments were made. Earlier this week, it had emerged that PIA had resorted to grounding several aircraft as it struggled to secure funds to maintain its operations for the next few months. The Ministry of …

Caretaker Chief Minister retired Justice Maqbool Baqar on Thursday ordered authorities to suspend internet services in katcha (riverine) areas of the province as part of law enforcement agencies intensify operations against bandits holding people hostage in such areas. The directives from the provincial chief executive came a day after Sindh’s caretaker Minister for Law and Human Rights, Muhammed Umar Soomro, …

A special court in Islamabad rejected on Thursday the post-arrest bail pleas of ousted premier Imran Khan and former federal minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. The court constituted under the Official Secrets Act had earlier reserved its decision on this matter while granting pre-arrest bail to former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) general-secretary Asad Umar. During the hearing, Imran’s counsel maintained that no …

A special court in Islamabad accepted on Thursday the pre-arrest bail plea of former federal minister Asad Umar in the cypher case. Federal Investigation Agency’s lawyer advocate Shah Khawar informed the court that no evidence has been found against Umar yet and he has not been named in the FIR either. The lawyer added that in case evidence is found …

The Punjab government has rolled out a significant initiative aimed at providing accessible and affordable transportation for students, disabled individuals, and senior citizens in Lahore. Under this new initiative, these groups will be able to travel on the Orange Line and Metro system for free, albeit for a limited three-month period. The announcement comes as a welcome relief to many …

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah on Thursday sustained injuries in a blast that took place in Mastung, Balochistan. According to initial reports, the blast took place near a vehicle which injured Hamdullah and several others. Police rushed to the site of the incident and cordoned off the area. Mustang Deputy Commissioner Abdul Razzaq Sasoli said several people were …

When the military was called on to help defend Pakistan’s ailing currency, licensed foreign exchange traders cheered while their black market rivals in the bazaars of Peshawar, Karachi and other cities shuttered their shops before they got taken away. The campaign against the informal market has worked. Tens of millions of dollars have poured back into Pakistan’s interbank and openmarkets, …

President Dr Arif Alvi on Wednesday wrote a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and proposed that elections be held by November 6. The letter comes against the backdrop of reports that the president would unilaterally announce a date for the elections. But contrary to the said reports, the missive is a mere suggestion, rather than a …

The Lahore High Court (LHC) adjourned proceedings for a week in the petition demanding the recovery of missing anchorperson Imran Riaz after the Punjab police chief assured the court that the investigation was “going in the right direction”. Imran Riaz a YouTuber and television anchor was arrested two days after violent protests broke out across the country following PTI Chairman …

Samreen Amir has been appointed as the first woman additional station house officer (SHO) in merged districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to Kurram District Police Officer (DPO) Mohammad Imran, who said this was also the first instance of a Christian woman’s posting as the SHO in the province. Amir, 35, took charge of the women police reporting centre in the …

A Lahore anti-terrorism court (ATC) began the process of proclamation on Wednesday against several PTI leaders who could not be arrested in two cases pertaining to the May 9 episode as they had “concealed themselves”. The leaders facing proceedings in the said cases include some mainstream politicians, namely Farrukh Habib, Azam Swati, Hammad Azhar and Murad Saeed. They have been …

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) recently had flight disruptions due to a shortage of aircraft, as planes in operation were stuck in Middle Eastern airports. PIA’s plane was grounded at Dammam airport, while four others were stopped in Dubai due to unpaid fuel bills. However, the planes were allowed to depart after PIA gave a written assurance to settle the debt. …

A special court in Pakistan on Wednesday extended judicial remand of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan in the cipher case till September 26. The special court newly formed to hear cases related to the Official Secrets Act, 1923 Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain conducted the hearing of the cipher case inside the Attock Jail where the former prime minister is …

The US has said that it does not take any position with respect to the outcome of an election in Pakistan nor does it support any one political party or any candidate in the South Asian country. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said this in response to a question regarding US Ambassador Donald Blome’s meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) …

PML-N Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmad passed away in Lahore on Tuesday after being ill for some time. According to the Senate website, he was elected to the upper house of Parliament on a general seat. His tenure began in March 2018 and was supposed to continue till 2024. He was the chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat. Senate …

This is the question that’s on observers’ minds as reports swirl that President Arif Alvi would unilaterally announce an election date. Since the president signed off on the National Assembly’s dissolution on August 9, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has kept mum on the matter. Ideally, in this case, elections should be held within 90 days of August 9. …

PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif is set to return to Pakistan on October 21, ending his four-year exile in the UK, his brother and party president Shehbaz Sharif confirmed on Tuesday. A statement by Shehbaz, shared by PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb on social media platform X, said that the party founder would be given a grand welcome upon return. Talking …

As Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Atta Bandial is set to doff his robe, Supreme Court judges appear optimistic about the prospects of positive change within the institution following the appointment of his successor, Justice Qazi Faez Isa. The hopeful sentiments were shared during an interaction with SC judges over refreshments after the start of the new judicial year. “On …

The Punjab School Education Department (SED) is facing backlash as it accelerates the privatization of 350 government schools in the Rawalpindi division, despite strong opposition from teachers’ associations. This privatization endeavor encompasses all assets, including buildings, playgrounds, and laboratories, estimated to be worth billions of rupees. Once these public schools fall under private sector control, the government will completely relinquish …

Speaking for the last time at a ceremony marking the commencement of the new judicial year on Monday, Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial said that the court was tested several times in February 2023 with matters pertaining to the Constitution of Pakistan. He added that he did not want to repeat all that has happened but it is …

On the occasion of the 75th death anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on Monday, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar said the entire nation paid homage to the founder of Pakistan for his tireless struggle, vision and leadership skills for the rights of Muslims of the Subcontinent. According to a press statement issued by the PM House, the interim …

A large number of female doctors are out of a job in Pakistan despite the fact that the World’s fifth most populous country badly needs qualified medical practitioners, it was reported on Monday. As many as 35% of female medical doctors are unemployed in Pakistan, revealed a research jointly conducted by Gallup Pakistan and PRIDE across the country. Ironically, this …

The Lahore High Court (LHC) issued bailable arrest warrants for Inspector General Police (IGP) Islamabad after he did not appear before the court on Monday despite issuance of a notice against him in contempt proceedings over allegedly flouting court’s order by arresting former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi. In a report submitted before the court earlier today, Punjab Police …

An American clothing and apparel company, Americana Pipedream, is selling Pakistani sneakers in the United States (US). It is marketing the shoes as the “Taliban’s Favorite.” The sneakers are, in fact, made in Pakistan by the leading shoe manufacturer, Servis. Americana Pipedream recently posted an advertisement mentioning that Servis started during World War II to produce boots for the British …

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is teetering on the brink of grounding more aircraft as it grapples with a severe cash flow crisis. The national flag carrier has already grounded five of its 13 leased aircraft, with four more facing a similar fate, according to the Ministry of Aviation. This dire situation arises as both Boeing and Airbus are on the …

Over-confidence is leaving consumers in Pakistan open to becoming victims of fraud, according to Visa’s latest Stay Secure study released today. Despite more than half of respondents (56 percent similar to the global average) claiming to be savvy enough to sidestep online and phone scams, the reality is that nine out of ten (91 percent; similar to global) are likely …

A Frontier Constabulary (FC) official was martyred on Monday while eight others, including two civilians, were injured in a blast near Prime Hospital Complex on Peshawar’s Warsak Road, police said. Warsak Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Arshad Khan confirmed that a vehicle of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa FC’s Mohmand Rifles regiment was targeted in the attack at around 10:30am. The vehicle …