Day: January 22, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday sought a written response from the Advocate General Islamabad in a contempt of court petition filed over the failure to facilitate a meeting between PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja and the party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan at Adiala Jail, as the court questioned how proceedings could move forward without legal consultation. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir was hearing a petition filed by citizen Ghulam Murtaza challenging the blocking of the PTI founder’s X account, along with a related contempt plea over the…

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Wednesday passed a bill allowing members of the National Assembly and the Senate to keep their assets confidential for up to one year, citing security concerns. The bill, moved by Pakistan Peoples Party lawmaker Shazia Marri, introduces key amendments to the Elections Act 2017. Under the new law, a lawmaker may request that details of their own or their family’s assets be kept secret if there is a credible threat to their safety. Once such a request is approved by the National Assembly speaker or…

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) is facing an acute budget shortfall for development projects and the provision of improved basic civic facilities to residents. In order to generate resources for upgrading essential services and undertaking development works, the board has finalised a mechanism to raise funds and decided to auction 15 residential plots in cantonment areas. The board has described the auction of the 15 residential development plots as a golden investment opportunity. A comprehensive publicity campaign is currently under way for the three-day auction, which is scheduled to…

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday apprised International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva of Pakistan’s improving macroeconomic indicators, stabilisation efforts and progress on structural reforms. He underscored Pakistan’s commitment to fiscal discipline, revenue mobilization, and sustainable growth. The prime minister met the IMF MD in Davos, Switzerland, on the sidelines of the 56th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Economic…

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority informed the Islamabad High Court on Thursday that it had approached X on three occasions over the past three-and-a-half years, seeking the suspension of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan’s account, but most of its requests were declined. According to a PTA report submitted to the court, the authority first wrote to X on August 21, 2022, requesting that the Imran Khan’s account be blocked. A second request was sent on April 18, 2024, citing convictions in the Toshakhana, cipher and iddat cases, the report said. The proceedings…

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has reserved its judgment on the federal government’s petition challenging certain Lahore High Court (LHC) directions regarding the ban on imports from India and Israel. A three-judge bench of FCC led by Justice Aamer Farooq heard the matter. The ban was imposed through Statutory Regulatory Orders (SROs) Nos 927 and 928(I)/2019, issued by the federal government under its constitutional and statutory authority, reflecting considerations of foreign policy, national security, and sovereign discretion. The case arose after the SROs were challenged in the LHC. Although…

President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday approved the confirmation and extension of the tenure of additional judges of the Sindh, Lahore and Peshawar High Courts, in line with the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan and on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. For the Sindh High Court, the president approved the confirmation of 10 additional judges. They include Justices Miran Muhammad Shah, Tasneem Sultana, Riazat Ali Sahar, Muhammad Hasan, Abdul Hamid Bhurgi, Jan Ali Junejo, Nisar Ahmed Bhanbhro, Ali Haider ‘Ada’, Muhammad Osman Ali Hadi and Muhammad…