Veteran politician and senior lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan has claimed that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the caretaker government are trying to ensure Nawaz Sharif wins a two-thirds majority in next year’s general elections. “The way things are going, they are trying to give Mian Sahib a two-thirds majority. The election commission, the administration and the caretakers [are in …

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday issued notice to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on a petition filed by its founding member Akbar S Babar challenging the party’s intra-party polls. The PTI recently held intra-party polls after which Babar, along with other party members, filed a petition, against “rigged/fraudulent PTI intra-party elections” requesting the country’s top electoral authority to …

In a fresh blow to the former ruling party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) another wicket downed as former finance minister Shaukat Tarin parted ways with Imran Khan-led party on Friday. The former finance czar confirmed giving up his party membership and resignation from his seat in the Senate as well, in conversation with media. Tarin said that he is also bidding …

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has renewed his demand to hold accountable those elements behind his ouster from power in 2017 and responsible for Pakistan’s “destruction”. He said this while addressing the party’s parliamentary board meeting flanked by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, Vice President Maryam Nawaz and other leaders in Lahore on Friday. …

LAHORE: An accountability court of Lahore on Friday acquitted Adviser to Prime Minister Ahad Cheema in assets beyond means reference. Accountability Court Judge Malik Ali Zulqarnain Awan announced the reserved verdict.  The court, accepting Cheema’s appeal, acquitted him in assets beyond means reference. The NAB court, in its previous hearing, had reserved its judgement on Cheema’s appeal. Earlier, the National …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said Thursday it will first ascertain facts before issuing a comment on a report that claims that Afghanistan’s acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani possessed a Pakistani passport until recently. In her weekly press briefing, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said: “I have seen the report on the use of a Pakistani passport by the Afghan minister. …

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday decided to hear PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s appeal against his conviction in the Al-Azizia reference on merit. This means that the court will be hearing the actual substance of the case which includes the charge, the defense, the weight of evidence, etc., as opposed to matters of procedure or jurisdiction. Analysts said it …

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Thursday that he was the only politician in the country whose “hands were clean”. “There is no politician in any other political party whose hands are clean. Their politics [revolve around] filling their pockets. I am the only politician who has been doing politics since the age of 19, since 2007 […] I …

Ahead of the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 8, former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to disqualify him for five years. On August 8, the ECP had disqualified Imran for five years following his conviction in the Toshakhana case for concealing …

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday sought a report from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and other relevant authorities on how an audio of an alleged conversation between Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, and her lawyer, Latif Khosa, was leaked online. The court’s directives, which also called for reports from the Pakistan Telecommunication …

The PPP on Wednesday responded to JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s recent reservations about holding elections during what he described as a worsening security situation by suggesting that opposition to polls stemmed from a “fear of the public’s verdict”. PPP Secretary Information Faisal Kareem Kundi’s statement follows the JUI-F chief’s recent statement on the feasibility of holding elections amid a …

LAHORE: Caretaker government officials are refusing to disclose any information to back up their oft-repeated claim that Afghan nationals were involved in 14 out of 24 suicide bombings in Pakistan this year. On October 3, the interim interior minister Sarfraz Bugti revealed in a televised press conference that from January till October there have been 24 suicide bombings in Pakistan. …

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday turned down former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s plea to withdraw his appeal challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict on his disqualification in the Toshakhana case. The former prime minister had filed an appeal against the electoral body’s verdict on October 28, 2022, and later sought withdrawal on January 18, …

LAHORE: In a major political development, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) have decided to enter into seat adjustment ahead of the general elections slated to be held on February 8 next year. The breakthrough comes as PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday visited the residence of PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in Lahore after a gap …

Pakistan on Wednesday called on the international community to take cognizance of increasing Islamophobia, hate speech, and hate crimes against Muslims in India on the 31st anniversary of the demolition of the Babri mosque. “Today is a sad reminder of the demolition of the historic ‘Babri Masjid’ in India. On this day, 31 years ago, a mob of Hindu zealots …

Human rights lawyer, Clive Stafford Smith, Tuesday said Dr Aafia Siddiqui a Pakistani neuroscientist jailed in the United States for over a decadehas been sexually assaulted at least twice during her incarceration, in addition to the ill-treatment she was meted out at Bagram jail in Afghanistan. Smith, who represents Dr Aafia, said his client has been abused and tortured more …

The Punjab caretaker government has approved a multi-fold hike in the learner driving licence fee, which will come into effect from January 1, 2024. The approval came during the 33rd meeting of the provincial cabinet, chaired by caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Lahore on Tuesday. After the cabinet’s approval, the fee for the learner’s driving licence has been increased …

Balochistan caretaker Minister for Information Jan Achakzai on Tuesday said the provincial government had “safely handed over” Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Pashteen, who was arrested in Chaman a day earlier, to Dera Ismail Khan police. Pashteen was taken into custody by Levies and police personnel from the Gudhamo area on disputed claims of firing by his party and …

The Finance Division on Tuesday said it has released Rs17.4 billion to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the upcoming general elections slated to be held on February 8, 2024. The amount was in addition to the Rs10bn released in July 2023, the Finance Ministry said, highlighting that the latest disbursement brought the total funds released for polls to …

ISLAMABAD: The European Union (EU) has communicated to the government that due to a lack of time, it will not be able to send a full election observation mission, as it did in the 2018 polls, and will also be unable to provide recommendations after the conclusion of February 8 elections, it was learned on Monday. The Election Commission of …

RAWALPINDI: Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Monday stated that he will include former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and US embassy officials as witnesses in his defence in the cipher case. “Will include General Bajwa and US embassy officials as witnesses [in the case]. General Bajwa did everything on Donald Lu’s directives,” claimed Khan during …

Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori has revealed that he has communicated to former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari that political parties should not indulge in the “blame game”. Speaking to the media in Karachi on Monday during his visit to a school established by a welfare organization, he highlighted the rising political temperature in the country …

ISLAMABAD: As the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is failing to digitise and upload the statements of assets and liabilities filed by the legislators, it is restricting transparency and access to knowledge even about the unrealistic wealth statements filed by provincial and federal lawmakers. The ECP currently only provides the statements filed by the elected representatives of the parliament and …

As the country heads towards general elections on February 8, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Ghulam Ali has said it is difficult to carry out political activities in parts of KP and Balochistan due to the security situation. Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities in recent months, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, after the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire …

Diamer police on Sunday lodged a first information report (FIR) and arrested six suspects in connection with an attack on an Islamabad-bound bus in Gilgit-Baltistan’s (GB) Chilas a day earlier. At least nine people, including two soldiers, lost their lives and 21 passengers received injuries on Saturday evening after unknown gunmen targeted a bus from nearby hills which caused the …

Pakistan and the United States are holding consultations over several issues including the situation in Afghanistan, said the Foreign Office in a statement issued on Sunday. FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the two countries are also exchanging visits in a bid to speed up the consultation process, adding that important US officials are visiting Pakistan over the coming …

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani capital of Islamabad has grabbed the attention of a multitude of visitors as the three-day autumn flower show kicked off in the city on Friday. Several types of seasonal chrysanthemums were on display, and people of all age groups immersed themselves in an undulating sea of colors. A woman visits a flower show in Islamabad, Pakistan, on …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Saturday chose a new party chairman, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who was nominated by Imran Khan to contest for the top slot. PTI’s Chief Election Commissioner Niazullah Niazi announced the results, saying Barrister Gohar was elected unopposed following the intra-party election held today. Niazi said Omar Ayub Khan has been elected PTI’s central general secretary while …

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir Saturday emphasised that the armed forces were aware of the challenges faced by Pakistan and fully prepared to thwart any nefarious designs against the motherland. The COAS visited the troops in Khairpur Tamewali to witness the field exercise of the Bahawalpur Corps, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services …

LONDON: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Zulfi Bukhari Saturday reaffirmed that the party and Pakistan Army are still on the “same page”. The politician, who is considered a close aide to former party chairman Imran Khan, also emphasised that the party is open to talks with all political parties including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Bukhari’s comments came as he spoke …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan saw a notable surge in militant activities in November as the attacks rose by 34% following a two-month decline, it was learned on Saturday. According to data from the ‘Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies’ (PICSS), a total of 63 attacks took place which resulted in 83 fatalities, including 37 security forces personnel and 33 civilians. Additionally, …

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Saturday called for immediately executing the US$100 billion in commitments for climate finance to ensure the implementation of climate change actions by developing countries and mitigate the climate change impacts. Delivering his National Statement at the 28th Conference of Parties of the United Nations (COP28) in Dubai, PM Kakar said that such financing …

Ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday urged the special court conducting the cipher trial to summon President Dr Arif Alvi so he could testify before the court whether he had assented to changes in the Official Secrets Act, 1923. The cipher trial proceedings against former prime minister Imran Khan and his aide Qureshi resumed at the Adiala jail today …

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday filed a corruption reference against former prime minister Imran Khan, his wife and other suspects in the £190 million settlement case. The reference was filed by NAB’s Deputy Prosecutor General Muzafar Abbasi, along with investigative officer Umar Nadeem, in an accountability court in Islamabad. The registrar office is examining the reference. Apart …

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said Friday that the much-anticipated schedule for general polls would be issued 54 days ahead of the February 8 elections expected to fall in the third week of December as the political temperature in the country soars. In June, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government amended Section 57 of the Elections Act to …

PESHAWAR: The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday issued a list of female terrorists who had been involved in different natures of unlawful activities in the province since 2014. According to the list, 30 females were involved in incidents of terrorism, 13 in kidnapping, two in extortion and three each in targeted killing and terror financing. CTD DIG Imran …

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa on Friday ordered the auction of two luxury vehicles allocated for his use by the federal and Punjab governments, saying this is an “inappropriate splurge of scarce public resources”. In a letter sent by the SC registrar to the federal government cabinet secretary and Punjab chief secretary, the bureaucrats were told that …

Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti believes summoning former army chief (retd) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and former Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) director general (retd) General Faiz Hameed for investigation in the 2017 Faizabad sit-in case would not be beneficial for the country. “Moving forward is always in the interest of Pakistan,” he said during an interview on Dawn News show ‘Doosra …

PTI Chairman Imran Khan submitted a post-arrest bail petition with the accountability court of Islamabad in the 190-million-pound scandal case. The NAB chairman and director general have been made parties in the petition that was submitted on behalf of Imran Khan through lawyers Latif Khosa, Intezar Panjotha and Ali Ijaz. Accountability court judge Muhammad Bashir issued notices to the parties …

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari blamed on Thursday the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for ballooning inflation. Addressing the party’s foundation day gathering in Quetta, Bhutto-Zardari recounted the party’s origins and the visionary political approach initiated by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. “Departing from the conventional coordination room politics, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto  embraced a style of politics centered on the people,” …