Last month’s mob attacks on churches and homes of Christians in eastern Pakistan erupted after three Christians threw the pages of Islam’s holy book outside the house of two others to falsely implicate them in a blasphemy case due to a personal dispute, police said Monday. The three detained suspects confessed to conspiring and throwing Quran pages outside Raja Amir’s …

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar grapples with rising public discontent as protests persist over soaring electricity bills, with the people demanding action rather than simple expression of inability or just the good intentions. The unprecedented increase in consumer bills that triggered nationwide protests had prompted the interim prime minister to call back-to-back emergency meetings to discuss the crisis and …

Over the weekend, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) advised tourists visiting northern areas to avoid travel in the evening to avoid any inconvenience or danger during their journey. The department has decided to close Babusar Pass for all traffic after 6 p.m. on Sunday, per a PTDC advisory. It cited unpredictable weather and the recent flooding that submerged a significant …

Muzaffargarh Traffic Police has issued a truck driver’s license to a transgender person for the first time in Punjab. According to a media report, Shahaana Abbas Shani has received a Heavy Transport Vehicle (HTV) license from the department. She told the media that her desire to earn an honorable living motivated her to take this step. Shani told the media that, …

The Hundi rate (illegal money exchange business) often leads to a preference for Hundi channels when it comes to remittances. He emphasised that if these rates were aligned, remittances would naturally flow through the SBP. Anwar emphasised the importance of an enhanced and sustained interactive dialogue between the business community and relevant authorities. He expressed concerns over the prevailing lack …

Special Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain, who is hearing the cipher case against PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, is on leave, it emerged on Monday. The cipher case pertains to a diplomatic document which reportedly went missing from Imran’s possession. The PTI alleges that it contained a threat from the United States to oust Imran …

BAHAWALPUR: Bahawalpur Commissioner Dr Ehtesham Anwar Mahar says good quality toilets have been established for women along the major highways in the Bahawalpur division. The commissioner said the facility had been made available at select fuel stations and in the first phase, five, six and 10 sites have been selected in Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur districts, respectively. He …

PESHAWAR: Several Jamaat-i-Islami activists were booked by the police here on Sunday allegedly for blocking traffic, burning tyres and forcefully shutting down shops in the provincial capital on Saturday. The FIR, registered at Shaheed Gulfat Hussain police station, under sections 436, 341, 148, 149, 153 and 506 against seven JI activists says that the police received a call about a …

Two Pakistan Navy officers and one soldier were martyred on Monday in a helicopter crash in Balochistan’s Gwadar, a spokesperson for the navy said. In a statement, the spokesperson said that the helicopter crashed during a training flight in Gwadar. “The helicopter crashed during the flight due to a possible technical fault,” the spokesperson said. “As a result of the …

MOSCOW: Russia’s former president and Security Council chairman Dmitry Medvedev said Sunday that Moscow had recruited some 280,000 people into the army since the start of the year. Russia has not announced another mobilisation, seen as an unpopular measure, but has led an active campaign to attract more men into the military as its Ukraine offensive drags into a 19th …

ISLAMABAD: Carjacking and cell phone snatching witnessed an increase in the federal capital during the last week as more than 91 vehicles were stolen or snatched and 72 mobile phones snatched from citizens, mostly at gunpoint, in various localities. According to data, over 10 cases of theft including robbery and snatching of cash were reported to the city’s different police …

LONDON: The persistent and damaging debt problems gripping a number of developing world nations will be a core topic during the G20 summit in Delhi next month. Below is a look at countries currently facing problems. Pakistan Pakistan needs upwards of $22 billion to service external debt and pay other bills for fiscal year 2024. A caretaker administration is in …

A delay in the decision-making by the Power Division and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has proved to be a shocker for the people. Under an agreement with the IMF, the electricity tariff was supposed to be increased from July 1. However, NEPRA and the Power Division delayed raising the basic tariff and multi-air tariff. Owing to the negligence …

Caretaker Federal Minister for Information Murtaza Solangi has denied the deployment of Pakistan Army in Gilgit-Baltistan. In a statement, Murtaza Solangi said that the reports about the deployment of Pakistan Army in Gilgit-Baltistan are baseless. The information minister said that all the roads, commercial centers, educational institutions are open as usual across the GB region. Only in view of the security and …

The Gilgit-Baltistan government has decided to call in the army to ensure peace in the region and maintain the law and order situation, it emerged on Saturday. The decision was arrived at during a meeting of the Parliamentary Peace Committee the apex body headed by the chief minister that decides on matters related to law and order held yesterday. The …

ISLAMABAD: The Punjab Intelligence Agencies have proposed to the provincial government to stress upon the federal government to address excessive billing issue on emergent basis as some political parties including PTI could further strengthen protests. In a letter to Punjab Government, Provincial Intelligence Centre (PIC) explained that apropos reports of public protests in various districts of the Punjab against astronomical …

Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar is likely to cancel his maiden foreign visit amid turmoil in the country over inflated electricity bills and hike in petroleum prices. Hours after Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch confirmed at a weekly news briefing here on Friday that the prime minister would undertake a three-day official visit to Kenya, official sources said now …

The Counter-Terrorism Department of Punjab has arrested five women terrorists from Lahore and Sheikhupura by conducting intelligence-based operations.The arrested women were said to be a part of Daesh, also known as the Islamic State. In view of the fears of terrorism, the CTD Punjab carried out intelligence-based operations during which five women terrorists were arrested. The CTD officials arrested three …

Thousands of traders shut down their shops on Saturday, as they observed a strike against the soaring energy and petrol prices. There were widespread market closures on Saturday in Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar, where abandoned bazaars were posted with placards decrying “the unreasonable increase in electricity bills and taxes”. Everyone is participating because the situation has become unbearable now,” Township …

Social media sensation Mahek Bukhari and her mother, Ansreen Bukhari, have been sentenced to life behind bars for their involvement in a ruthless double murder case. The victims, Saqib Hussain and Hashim Ijazuddin, both just 21 years old, lost their lives in a horrific car crash during a high-speed chase in Leicestershire. The motive behind this tragic incident revolves around …

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Friday hearing a plea challenging the amendments remarked that the National Accountablity Beauru (NAB) law was misused against business figures. A three-member bench headed by CJP Bandial comprising Justice Ejazul Ahsan and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah heard the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Supremo Imran Khan’s petition challenging the NAB amendments during Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) …

The Punjab Emergency Services Department (ESD) has reported just under 1,100 road traffic collisions in the last 24 hours. According to the report, five people died and 1,130 were injured in 1,097 road accidents across all 37 districts of Punjab. Of these, 595 people sustained critical injuries and were put in urgent care at various hospitals across Punjab. The remaining …

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has sought the records of around 20 officers who are reportedly involved in corruption. The officers are currently working for the Capital Development Authority (CDA). According to an FIA report, around 20 CDA officers were found involved in corruption, money laundering, and record tampering. FIA has sought the financial details of the suspects. The investigation …

The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat on Friday took serious notice of the recent hike in electricity prices. Chairman Committee Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmad said that this is a national crisis and many cases of suicide linked to the price hike have been reported in the country. The committee submitted a proposal to withdraw all taxes on electricity bills, …

In a bid to bolster research and development in virology and vaccine technology, ten fellowships have been bestowed upon scholars hailing from eight member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The ceremony, held at the Ministry of Health in Jakarta, Indonesia, marked a significant milestone in advancing scientific collaboration among OIC nations. These prestigious fellowships were awarded as …

PTI President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi was re-arrested by the Islamabad police on Friday, hours after the Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered his release. According to the capital police, the former Punjab chief minister was taken into custody on orders of the district magistrate under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO). “He is being shifted to jail,” it …

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday announced that it has decided to shorten the timeframe of the delimitation of constituencies and will complete the process by November 30. Though it would still be a violation of the Constitution, which requires the conduct of polls within 90 days after the dissolution of assemblies, the ECP decision allays fears that …

Diplomatic missions in Islamabad were urged on Friday to “brief and encourage their countries” to profit from Pakistan’s rich resources in a bid to attract foreign investment to the country, the Foreign Office (FO) said. The development comes days after caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar directed the authorities concerned to accelerate the realisation of identified Special Investment Facilitation Council …

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar directed the Immigration and Customs authorities to provide all facilities to the overseas Pakistanis at the airports. While presiding over a meeting over on economy, the caretaker prime minister said that overseas Pakistanis are a valuable asset and their valuable services for the stability of the country’s economy must be appreciated. In the context of …

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has decided to suspend the country’s membership due to non-payment of the annual subscription fee. The Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), a part of the Ministry of Science and Technology, failed to settle its dues despite repeated reminders and emails from the ISO. Renowned worldwide as an independent and non-governmental organization, ISO …

The business community of Lahore has taken a stand against the mounting electricity bills and surging inflation by declaring a widespread shutter-down strike on 2 September. Mujahid Maqsood Butt, the President of the Traders Association, issued a statement today confirming that markets throughout Lahore will be closed on Saturday. This comes as a direct response to the burden of exorbitant …

The government is finally looking to import 100,000 tons of sugar from Brazil as a potential shortage is on the cards during the two-and-a-half months before the sugarcane crushing season begins in late November. Interestingly, the July 2023 exports stood at 5,542 tons which is more than five times higher than the quantity exported during June 2023, but we will …

The authorities have shared their plan with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to provide relief to the nation heavily burdened by sky-high electricity bills. However, the Fund has been assured that none of its targets agreed upon by the previous government would be compromised. Caretaker Minister for Finance Dr Shamshad Akhtar said on Wednesday that a team comprising Pakistani authorities …

Pakistanis living in the UAE have said they are sending more money this month to their families back home to cover their higher utility costs. Widespread protests in cities and towns have taken place in the South Asian country in recent days over soaring electricity bills, with many refusing to pay charges that have increased by more than three times …

The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday dismissed the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) plea asking the top court to revisit its order of holding elections to the Punjab Assembly on May 14. “The court will intervene whenever the Constitution is violated,” Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial remarked during the hearing. In a unanimous judgment on April 4, …

RAWALPINDI: Police have arrested a couple over allegations of torture of an eight-year-old maid who was employed at a house in Bahria Town as a babysitter. The case was registered against the couple on Wednesday at the Bahria Town police chowki by Fazeel Ahmad, a resident of Khanpur Katora tehsil in Rahimyar Khan. Mr Ahmad claimed that they had sent …

US Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland held a phone call with Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani on Wednesday during which she assured him of Washington’s support to stabilise Pakistan’s economy and its continued engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Last month, the global lender’s executive board had green-lit a $3 billion nine-month standby arrangement (SBA) for Pakistan …

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar is expected to visit three countries in September. Sources divulged on Wednesday Interim PM Kakar is expected to visit Kenya in the first week, followed by his visit to Saudi Arabia in the second week of the next month. In the third week of September, PM Kakar will visit the United States. According to the sources, …

The coursing floods in eastern Pakistan first swallowed Nasreen Bibi’s corn crop, then the cattle that fed on it, and finally her family home. They retreated to the roof to escape the rising water, before fleeing for their lives by boat. “We didn’t bring any of our belongings with us, everything we own is abandoned back there,” said Bibi, who …

The special court set up to hear cases under the Official Secrets Act extended PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s judicial remand in the cipher case by 14 days. The hearing of the cipher case involving the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman was held at the Attock Jail following an official approval from the Ministry of Law. Imran Khan was presented before the …