The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) has suggested some very important election reforms, including a reduction in the National Assembly’s term, more powers for the election commission, the size of the cabinet, and the number of seats a single candidate can contest. As per the report, titled ‘Reform Agenda’, the prominent economic and research think tank has suggested the …

ISLAMABAD: A thick blanket of fog starting from Tuesday night in Pakistan’s federal capital Islamabad and its twin city Rawalpindi has disrupted bus, train and flight schedules and affected the daily life of local residents. A man rides a bicycle amid heavy fog on a road in Peshawar, Pakistan, Jan. 3, 2024. (Photo by Umar Qayyum) Vehicles run amid heavy …

The Balochistan government has suspended 44 government employees in Turbat and Kohlu, including some officers, for allegedly participating in and facilitating a protest sit-in and rally against the alleged killing of Balaach Mola Bakhsh. An official notification issued by the commissioner of Makran division confirmed the action against 30 government employees from various departments in Turbat. Officials stated that the …

President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday stressed improving the status of women by providing them with an enabling work environment to increase their economic participation. The president highlighted that following the rights granted by Islam, it was the responsibility of the society to give them their due share and create a safer society for them. He expressed these views while …

Several Indian Army officers and officials have been killed in attacks by Kashmiri freedom fighters in 2023, as the military unleashed a wave of cruelty on innocent Kashmiris, violating UN resolutions for decades. In 2019, India’s BJP-led government stripped off the special status of occupied Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of its constitution. In December, Lt General Sandeep Jain, …

Former Punjab chief minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi was taken to the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (PIC) after his health deteriorated in prison. Doctors at the PIC conducted Elahi’s medical tests on complaints of chest pain. The reports of his electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram are awaited. Pervaiz Elahi is among several PTI leaders and supporters …

The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notices to the Inspector General Police (IGP) of Punjab Dr Usman Anwar, chief secretary and AG Punjab on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) petition seeking contempt of court proceedings against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for failing to address the party concerns regarding level-playing field ahead of the upcoming polls. A three-member bench, headed by …

National Democratic Movement leader Mohsin Dawar’s vehicle was targeted by unknown gunmen on Wednesday in the North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As per reports, Mohsin Dawar survived the attack due to the vehicle being bulletproof. Unknown assailants open multiple bullets on the rear mirror of the former MNA and partner of the former coalition government of the Pakistan Democratic …

ISLAMABAD:  A high-profile business delegation, led by Li Ting, Chairman of the Chang Chinag Chamber of Commerce, China met with Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Muhammad Sami Saeed, in Islamabad on Tuesday. The meeting aimed to discuss potential collaboration opportunities between Pakistan and China across various sectors, fostering business expansion and exploring new investment avenues. Comprising eight …

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has urged authorities to crack down on fertilizer hoarders, smugglers, and profiteers, claiming that the country has enough urea storage for the current wheat season. A statement issued by the PM Office Media Wing on Monday said that there was enough urea in the country to meet demand and action would be taken against …

The security forces find themselves facing a renewed threat from terrorists equipped with foreign weapons believed to have originated in Afghanistan. This alarming trend has reignited concerns about the role of Afghanistan’s interim government in curbing the flow of arms and preventing their use against Pakistan. The Pakistan Army has been fighting the war against the TTP for the past …

The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing of a case related to missing persons till 11:30am on Wednesday, while Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa remarked during the hearing that the court could not order parliament to enact legislation. On Tuesday, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by CJP Isa and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and …

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to establish over 92,500 polling stations nationwide, with the official polling scheme to be revealed 15 days before the scheduled February 8 general elections. For the upcoming general elections, it has been determined that Punjab will have 51,821 polling stations across 438 national and provincial constituencies, while Sindh will have 19,236 polling …

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday nullified the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) decision to suspend the appointment of a returning officer in PK-91, Kohat. Last week, the electoral body filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the PHC order, suspending its order about the appointment of Irfanullah as a returning officer (RO) for the provincial assembly constituency of PK-91 …

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Monday issuing a stern warning against terrorism in Balochistan said that separatists are receiving funding from India’s RAW. Speaking to the media in Lahore, Mr Kakar acknowledged the right to protest within the constitutional framework but firmly stated that terrorism would not be tolerated. He also condemned the recent clashes in Islamabad where …

ISLAMABAD: A delegation of Chinese Companies and Investors called on the Caretaker Federal Minister for Privatisation, Mr. Fawad Hasan Fawad today at Privatisation Division. The Federal Minister appreciated the interest of the Chinese companies and briefed them regarding investment opportunities in Pakistan. He observed that the true potential of the partnership between the two countries in trade and investment is …

The process of filing nomination papers for general elections has been completed and now candidates have started filing appeals against the decisions of returning officers (ROs) against their candidatures The respective appellate tribunals will decide on the appeals by January 10 and election symbols allotted to the candidates on January 13. As per the election commission schedule, the scrutiny of …

India and Pakistan exchanged lists of their respective nuclear installations on Monday, as well as lists of the other country’s prisoners in their jails through diplomatic channels. According to sources, the lists of nuclear facilities between Pakistan and India were exchanged in Islamabad and Delhi. Pakistan’s lists were handed over to a senior official of the Indian High Commission in …

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has written a letter to the media regulatory authority, pointing out alleged violations of the election code of conduct by some TV channels. The letter seeks action from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) against media houses violating the election code of conduct. Some channels are broadcasting poll surveys, which is prohibited according …

Pakistan took the lead in helping the Palestinian brothers and sisters while the third batch of relief goods was dispatched from Noor Khan Air Base, Rawalpindi by a special flight of Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The third aid shipment contained about 20 tonnes of essential items including surgical or medical supplies, dry food items, and gift bags for children as …

The inquiry commission probing into the Faizabad sit-in of 2017 has summoned PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif. Sources say that Shehbaz has been summoned by the commission on January 3 to record his statement. They added that he has been summoned in his capacity as the former chief minister of Punjab. On December 29, the commission had summoned former director general of the …

Five dead bodies have been found near CRBC Canal in Dera Ismail Khan, Police said that five dead bodies identified as Inayatullah, Naimatullah, Sajawal, Aslam and Kifayat have been found at 14th Road near CRBC Canal. Police has taken dead bodies in their custody and initiated further inquiry of the matter. Police said that few years back some persons had disgraced …

As many as 18,736 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) have been conducted by the security forces across the country in 2023 resulting in killing of 566 and the arrest of 5,161 terrorists in efforts to maintain peace and security. According to the data issued today, effective security measures have been taken by the forces against terrorists in the year 2023. In the …

Veteran politician and esteemed lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan has made startling predictions regarding PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, suggesting that the former premier might once again exit the country before the upcoming elections and keep tabs on the results from abroad. Ahsan shared his insights during an interview with a private news channel on Friday. Pointing out that the PML-N supremo “is …

In a recent intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan district, five terrorists, including TTP commander Rahzeeb Khore, were neutralised. The operation uncovered a troubling trend: foreign weapons, including M4 Carbines and AK-47s, were recovered, signaling a potential link between Afghanistan and the surge in terrorism in Pakistan. Instances of terrorist attacks on Pakistani soil using American weaponry have been on the …

The Tel Aviv government cabinet Sunday voted unanimously to postpone the nationwide municipal elections scheduled for the end of January until February 27, 2024. The municipal elections were originally scheduled for October 31 but were postponed in light of the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, which erupted on October 7. That day, some 3,000 Hamas terrorists burst through the …

In a bid to elevate the travel experience for air passengers, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has unveiled a thoughtful addition to Islamabad Airport – free body massage sofa chairs. Passengers departing from both domestic and international lounges at Islamabad Airport can now indulge in a rejuvenating experience with the newly introduced body massage sofa chairs. Unlike other international airports, …

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senior leader Saeed Ghani said on Sunday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) should have the right to contest the forthcoming general elections. Addressing the corner meeting in Karachi, Ghani said: “The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should not take any pressure while taking any decision. We do not want the deployment of the election commissioner and …

The process of filing nomination papers for general elections has been completed, now candidates have time for appeals against the decision of Returning officers (ROs) till Jan 3. The Appellate Tribunal will decide on the appeals by January 10 while election symbols will be allotted to the candidates on January 13. As per the ECP schedule, scrutiny of papers for …

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday challenged the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) decision to reinstate the PTI’s election symbol. On December 26, the high court announced the verdict on PTI’s petition challenging the ECP’s verdict, which had stripped PTI of using the ‘bat’ symbol. The election watchdog has filed an intra-court appeal in the PHC challenging the decision …

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday rejected nomination papers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder from two National Assembly constituencies NA 122 (Lahore) and NA-89 (Mianwali. “The PTI founder has been convicted,” the returning officer (RO) said while rejecting nomination papers of former prime minister. Mian Naseer of PML-N objected to Imran Khan’s nomination papers, saying the former PM’s …

At least five terrorists were killed by security forces in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the general area of Mir Ali, North Waziristan district, said a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday. “After an intense exchange of fire, five terrorists, including terrorist commander Rahzaib, who is also known as, ‘Khuray’, were sent to hell,” said the statement …

The repatriation of illegal Afghan residents from Pakistan is still underway. Even before the announcement by the government of Pakistan to arrest and forcefully repatriate the Afghans living in Pakistan, a large number of illegal residents crossed the border into Afghanistan out of fear of arrest. In this connection, on December 29, 1,207 allegedly illegal Afghan citizens left Pakistan, out of …

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) spokesperson Faisal Karim Kundi asserted on Saturday that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman wants to escape elections by making excuses for the country’s situation. Expressing his thoughts in Dera Ismail Khan, Kundi said: “We want the conduct of the general elections in a peaceful way. There can be political differences, but there is …

As Saturday marks the last day for scrutiny of nomination papers filed by various potential candidates for the upcoming general elections, the returning officers are gradually announcing whether they have accepted or rejected the several documents. It would be decided today who would land in the election arena and who would have to go home. The final list of candidates …

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday permitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and lawyers to hold election meetings with party founder Imran Khan in Adiala jail in the run-up to polls scheduled for February 8. The order was passed by Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb on a petition by Imran seeking permission for meetings with party leaders to formulate a strategy …

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has emerged as a premier tourist destination in Pakistan. According to a recent report by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Department of Tourism, an astonishing 169,889,946 tourists visited the region in 2023. The surge not only underscores the region’s natural allure but also highlights its growing popularity among domestic and international travelers. The World Bank’s Kite Project’s 1422 call center …

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Friday challenged the Election Commission of Pakistan ECP’s decision not to release the list of reserved seats for women in the Lahore High Court (LHC). The lawyer in the application stated that Peshawar High Court has suspended the decision of the ECPs regarding the nullification of the intra-party election and ECP should be ordered to release the …

A Commission of Inquiry (CoI) has summoned former Lieutenant General (rtd) Faiz Hameed next week to record his statement in the Faizabad Dharna Inquiry Commission, via the Ministry of Defense. Sources further claimed that Faiz Hameed has been asked to record his statement before the commission next week. ‘Faiz Hameed has been summoned by the Faizabad Dharna Commission for the …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani experts said on Thursday that countries around the globe, including Pakistan, need to form holistic and dynamic solutions to address the challenge of climate change. The international community must work hand in hand to save future generations from the adverse impact of climate change, the experts and officials said during a seminar on climate change organized by the …