Day: February 19, 2026

Pakistan reiterated its longstanding support for Palestinian rights and called for sustained diplomatic efforts toward a just resolution of the Middle East conflict during a high-level United Nations Security Council briefing on the Palestinian question on Wednesday. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar addressed the council in New York, underscoring Pakistan’s position that “there can be no durable peace without justice, no stability without accountability, and no sustainable solution without the realisation of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.” In remarks summarising Islamabad’s stance, the foreign minister…

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Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Thursday strongly dismissed media reports suggesting any “deal” between the government and jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. In a statement shared on X, Tarar said, “There is neither any deal nor any leniency for Imran.” He added that any suggestion of the government granting Imran Khan concessions was “entirely false and misleading”. Tarar concluded with, “Imran Khan is a convicted criminal, and the news regarding his release is baseless. There is no truth in this news.” Khan, 73, has been jailed since August…

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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday heard three cases concerning former prime minister Imran Khan – an appeal in the Toshakhana case, the cipher case and a defamation case – and adjourned all proceedings indefinitely. A three-member bench headed by Justice Hashim Khan Kakar conducted the hearing. “The courtroom has limited space,” Justice Kakar said at the outset. “I can feel a shortage of oxygen in this room,” he remarked. “We will hear your cases in court number 2,” he told Khan’s lawyer, Barrister Salman Safdar. Leaders of…

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ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Wednesday directed jailed former prime minister Imran Khan to appear either in person or via video link at the next hearing of six cases filed against him. The hearings at the District and Sessions Court included five cases linked to the May 9 unrest, in which former minister Shah Nawaz Ranjha was allegedly targeted in an attempted murder, as well as a separate case involving alleged fake receipts. Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka presided over the proceedings. Imran was represented by…

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ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination on Wednesday unanimously decided to move a privilege motion against the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman over failure to submit the required record, including Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) proposals. The committee met at Parliament House under the chairpersonship of Munaza Hassan. The committee chairperson expressed concern over the ministry’s failure to provide mandated briefing documents, describing it as disregard for parliamentary oversight and procedural obligations. Members noted that…

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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a request by PTI founder Imran Khan’s counsel to arrange a meeting with his client during proceedings in the Toshakhana case. The court also issued a notice to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the case. A three-member bench—headed by Justice Hashim Khan Kakar and comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim — heard multiple petitions related to Imran, including bail cancellation applications in the cipher case, Toshakhana case and defamation case. When Imran’s counsel Latif Khosa requested the court to…

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The opposition Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP) on Wednesday called off its sit-in outside Parliament as the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chief minister announced the formation of the ‘Imran Khan Release Force’, a new strategy to secure relief for jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. The PTI and its allies have been protesting to demand eye treatment for Khan at one of the country’s top hospitals, under the supervision of his personal doctors and in the presence of family members. The alliance formally ended its protest outside Parliament while simultaneously unveiling a fresh…

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ISLAMABAD: While imposing a hefty Rs1 million cost on a petitioner, the Supreme Court ruled that using judicial proceedings as an instrument of coercion and harassment is wholly impermissible. In a seven-page judgment authored by Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, the court noted that the petitioner compelled the respondent, a young woman, to undergo repeated, invasive and demeaning scrutiny through a defence that was concurrently found to be unsubstantiated. “Such use of judicial proceedings as an instrument of coercion and harassment is wholly impermissible. In order to mark the court’s strong…

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ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad on Wednesday granted bail to rights advocate Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chatha, in a case involving a confrontation with the police. Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain ruled in favour of the accused, granting post-arrest bail on sureties of Rs10,000 each. The case, registered at the Secretariat Police Station, involves accusations of a police altercation and public protest. Read: Court cancels bail of Imaan Mazari, husband in social media posts case Representing the accused, state lawyer Ali Azad claimed the charges were unfounded, with…

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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in Washington to participate in the “Board of Peace”, as Pakistan has denied that it will join the International Stabilisation Force to demilitarise Hamas. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi are accompanying the Prime Minister in the Pakistani delegation, alongside delegations from 20 other countries. According to the release, the PM will attend the Board of Peace meeting in Washington today, and high-level meetings between the PM and US officials…

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