PESHAWAR: Militants stormed a natural gas and oil extraction plant in Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday, killing four police and two private guards, police said. The attack by up to 50 militants took place at a plant run by the MOL Pakistan Oil and Gas Company in Hangu district near the Afghan border, said police official Irfan Khan. …

ISLAMABAD: The judicial commission formed to investigate the validity of audio leaks has announced that its proceedings will be made public. The commission was formed under Section 3 of the Inquiry Commission Act 2017, which states that “whenever it is expedient to conduct an inquiry into any definite matter of public importance, the Federal Government may, by notification in the …

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir said on Monday the recent attacks on military installations and memorials are “intolerable”, and announced that May 25 will be observed as “Pakistan Martyrs Day”, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. According to the military’s media wing, the army chief passed these remarks in a ceremony held at the General Headquarters, …

ISLAMABAD: Census result shows country’s population increased by around 49 million since 2017. Chief Statistician Dr Naeem Uz Zafar on Monday disclosed the official findings of the digital census, revealing that Pakistan’s total population stands at 249,566,743 or 249.57 million. This represents an increase of approximately 49 million people compared to the previous census held in 2017. The population increase …

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a notice to the Police IG and secretary of the interior on the details of the cases against Shah Mahmood Qureshi and on the protective bail petition. The IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq heard the case and sought details of the cases by May 24 against petitioner Mehar Bano Qureshi’s father and …

SRINAGAR: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday said holding a G- 20 countries’ tourism group meeting in Srinagar was a sheer violation of the UN resolutions on Kashmir. Addressing a special session of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly, he said the people of Kashmir had been denied of their basic right of self-determination for decades. He …

ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of Pakistan said on Monday that the country is likely to face extreme climate events from May to October this year. The country is likely to face intensive heat waves, snow melting, land sliding, flash floods, forest fires and cyclones, the NDMA said, directing the provincial bodies of the authority to brace up …

SIALKOT: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif clarified on Sunday that “no new military courts” are being established to try those responsible for the attacks on military installations on May 9. “No new military courts are being established,” Asif told the media in Sialkot, adding that the law is already present in this regard. “Courts are present and they have been working …

QUETTA: Six Iranian border guards were killed Sunday during clashes with an armed group in the restive southeastern province of Sistan-Balochistan near Pakistani frontier, local media reported. The guards were killed in Saravan, near Iran’s border with Pakistan, local prosecutor Mehdi Shamsabadi as saying. Poverty-stricken Sistan-Balochistan, which also borders Afghanistan, is a flashpoint for clashes with drug smuggling gangs as …

LAHORE: All roads leading to former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence were opened for traffic on Sunday while the number of police personnel deployed to provide security to the former prime minister was also increased from 106 to 200, SP Civil Lines Hassan Javed Bhatti, who visited the Zaman Park, gave instructions to the cops. …

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Sunday launched its flight operation for the Hajj, 2023 from Karachi, The first flight PK 773, carrying 316 pilgrims, left Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport for Medina at 4:50 AM in the morning. Later, the first Hajj flight carrying 316 Pakistanis landed in Madinah Munawarah where Pakistani and Saudi officials welcomed them. The pilgrims were …

LAHORE: Former Pakistan PM and PTI chief Imran Khan gave an unprepared address to the nation from his Zaman Park residence and talked about the vandalism following his arrest on May 9. In the address, the cricketer-turned-politician lambasted the current Pakistan administration and pointed out how 25 unarmed protestors lost their lives in the midst of the mayhem. The former …

RAHIM YAR KHAN: Sindh Police managed to culminate the ‘honey trap’ method by dacoits of the Kacha area Sindh IG said that due to police strategy in the Kacha operation, the problem of dacoits has now been limited to only four districts, however, Police did not have aerial support which caused difficulties Kacha dacoits are involved in kidnapping for ransom …

QUETTA: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) emir Sirajul Haq who narrowly escaped a “suicide attack” criticized on Sunday the Shehbaz-led government saying incumbents not paying attention to the problems of provinces as they have failed to protect the masses.  Addressing a presser in Quetta, the JI emir raising questions over his security measures said as a citizen he wanted to know who was …

PESHAWAR: The Pakistan-China relations are exemplary and we should learn from the China’s Leadership and Peoples dedication and devotion for their loving home land and their vital role in China’s stand on international stage with pride. The recent past China’s global positive role for peace and economic development is a guideline for us. This was stated by former Justice Irshad …

LAHORE: The All Pakistan Business Forum (APBF) has expressed full solidarity with the Pakistan army, warning of creating division between the military and the public, saying the business community is always standing with them. APBF President Syed Maaz Mahmood, in a statement issued here, observed that political stability and law and order are the pre-requisite for the strengthening of the …

KARACHI: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which obtained the third spot in the local government elections of Sindh, has announced its support for the Jamaat-e-Islami’s candidate for the Karachi mayor’s slot. The PTI has alleged that the PPP is engaged in pre-poll rigging in the mayor’s election process. The PPP wants to elect the mayor as soon as possible, it added. The …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday strongly condemned storming of Al Aqsa Mosque by a member of the Israeli occupation authority and members of the Knesset under protection of Israeli occupation forces. “Pakistan calls upon the international community to take urgent action to put an end to Israeli transgressions in the occupied territories that have been conspicuously ascendant since the beginning of …

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has issued a written verdict on the petitions against accepting the resignations of 72 members of the National Assembly. Justice Shahid Karim said in the two-page decision that the National Assembly speaker should hear each member separately and decide whether to accept his resignation or not. In case a member fails to appear, the speaker …

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has given a clean chit to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the Ashiana housing scandal. According to a NAB report, no evidence of corruption was found against Shehbaz Sharif in awarding Ashiana housing contracts. The report also stated that there was no loss caused to the national exchequer in the Ashiana project, and PM …

Helpline notes transgender community subjected to orchestrated online hate campaign this year The Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) has released its sixth annual Cyber Harassment Helpline Report for 2022. The helpline completed six years of operations since its launch in December 2016. The helpline has received 14,376 cases in the last six years. In 2022, it reported a total of 2,695 …

KARACHI: At 82 years old, architect Yasmeen Lari is forging the way in fortifying Pakistan’s rural communities living on the frontline of climate change. Lari, Pakistan’s first woman architect, has ditched a lifetime of multi-million dollar projects in the megacity of Karachi to develop pioneering flood-proof bamboo houses. The few pilot settlements already constructed are credited with saving families from …

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has established a three-member judicial commission, led by Supreme Court senior puisne judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa, to investigate the validity of audio leaks. The commission includes Balochistan High Court (BHC) Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq. The decision was made on Friday during the federal cabinet’s meeting. …

A terrorist was killed and three soldiers were martyred when security forces retaliated to an attack on one of their posts in the Zarghoon area of Balochistan on Saturday, the military’s media affairs wing said. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the early-morning attack by a group of terrorists was launched at a post that …

ZHOB: Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq on Friday survived a suicide attack that targeted his convoy in Zhob, Balochistan, reported Aaj News. In a tweet, the party said that Haq was safe and that the attacker had been killed. The party added that Haq was present in the area to address a political gathering. In another tweet, the party said seven …

Total power generation in Pakistan witnessed a significant decline of 23 per cent on a yearly basis to 10,010 GWh in April 2023, compared to 12,960 GWh in same period last year. “Power generation down by 23 per cent YoY during April 2023, the highest decline since available data (Jul’12),” said Arif Habib Limited (AHL) on Friday. On a monthly …

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said on Friday that the attack on Jinnah House has brought ‘‘disgrace’’ to the country. While talking to reporters as he appeared before an anti-terrorism court, (which granted him pre-arrest bail in three cases), the former prime minister said the event should “not have happened”. Responding to a query regarding claims by the …

LAHORE: The Lahore anti-terrorism court court also directed the 70-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief to become a part of the investigation An anti-terrorism court in Lahore on May 19 approved pre-arrest bail for Imran Khan in three cases filed against Pakistan’s former Prime Minister after his arrest on May 9. While granting him bail till June 2, the Lahore anti-terrorism …

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Shariat Court has declared all the rules formed under the Transgender Act un-Islamic. It also clarified that a gender remains the same as it is at the time of birth, adding no one can change their gender at will. Prayer, fasting, Hajj are among several acts related to gender, the court ruled. Islam has provided all basic …

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Cabinet Friday made a resolute commitment by pledging a “zero tolerance policy” against the miscreants involved in the events that unfolded on May 9, with an unwavering determination to maintain ‘law and order’. The ongoing federal cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, is currently discussing the political and economic situation of the country. The meeting …

KARACHI: Imran Ismail was taken into custody within jurisdiction of Darakhshan Police Station Amidst the intensifying crackdown on the former ruling party after May 9 mayhem, former Sindh governor and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Ismail was also arrested on Friday by Karachi Police. The PTI stalwart was taken into custody within the jurisdiction of the Darakhshan Police Station, and …

LAHORE: In a high-level meeting chaired by caretaker Punjab chief minister Mohsin Naqvi, it was decided to file an official reference against a judge for allegedly providing extraordinary facilitation to terrorists. The meeting also reviewed the progress regarding legal proceedings against extremist elements, while rewards were approved for those identifying the suspects involved in terrorist incidents. The meeting also expressed …

One person has been killed and 18 others, including two police personnel, seriously injured after unidentified armed men attacked a police van with a hand grenade in Tank on Friday morning. The injured were shifted to the district headquarters hospital. Unidentified armed men first hurled a hand grenade at a police van near Damaan plaza in the main bazaar on …

A police officer has been martyred in an attack on a polio team on Friday in the rural area of Kali Kariz, a suburban area of Mastung district of Balochistan, Samaa TV reported. The armed men, who opened fire on a group of female workers, killed the police officer assigned to protect the anti-polio team. The polio team had embarked …

KARACHI: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s minority member Jai Prakash has also announced to quit the party. He says the peaceful protest of May 9 went to the extent of attacking military installations. During a press conference, the PTI minority wing president, also condemned the May 9 protests in the strongest terms, saying “Pakistan exists because of the army, and we exist …

ISLAMABAD: AGP admits Shireen Mazari should not have been re-arrested in wake of court orders The Islamabad High Court says remarked that the government has launched a campaign against the constitutional court, and is trying to defeat the court’s writ. Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb of the IHC said during the hearing of a contempt of court petition filed on the …

The Government of Sindh has officially declared the start and end dates for the much-awaited summer vacation for schools and colleges across the province. Beginning on June 1, students and teachers can look forward to a well-deserved break that will last for a refreshing two months, ending on July 31. Educational institutions are set to reopen on August 1. This …

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif along with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi inaugurated the 100MW Polan-Gabd electricity transmission line project from Iran to Gwadar at Mand-Pishin crossing point of Pakistan-Iran border on Thursday. The two leaders also inaugurated a sustenance marketplace at the Mand-Pishin crossing point. The 100MW transmission line will benefit the citizens of Gwadar. Not only has this project …

LAHORE: Imran Khan, the former prime minister and Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is currently in a stand-off with authorities who have surrounded his house. In his first interview since the police deadline expired, PTI chairman informed that an “unprecedented crackdown” is occurring in Pakistan. During a conversation, he expressed his belief that he will soon be rearrested. He …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has called upon G20 countries to take cognizance of the Indian atrocities in Occupied Kashmir (IIOJK). Addressing weekly press briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Kashmir is an internationally recognised conflict, emphasising that holding the G20 meeting in the occupied valley would be inappropriate. Furthermore, the spokesperson dismissed the US report on religious freedom. Understanding, …