Category: Featured

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Wednesday criticised top-down decisions on anti-terrorism policy, saying that measures formulated “behind closed doors” and “imposed” on the province have so far not delivered the expected outcomes. Addressing the Aman Jirga, CM Afridi said the provincial government has consistently urged for peace, but “some people” have not responded positively to these efforts. “Peace can only be achieved with the complete eradication of terrorism, and policy on the matter is decided behind closed doors, which so far has not yielded the desired results,”…

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday said Pakistan rejected terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reaffirmed that dialogue, understanding and partnership remain the only sustainable path to peace and security. “These cowardly acts will never shake our national resolve to eliminate this menace,” DPM Dar said while condemning the recent terrorist attacks in Wana and Islamabad during his address on the second day of the three-day Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC). “Dialogue has always been our preferred instrument for stability and progress,” the minister remarked…

The 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, presented by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar in the National Assembly on Tuesday, is expected to be approved by the lower house today (Wednesday), with the ruling coalition holding the required two-thirds majority. The 59-clause amendment, passed by the Senate on Monday, seeks to overhaul the country’s military and judicial structures. It was moved by the law minister and secured 64 votes in the 96-member House, with no votes against it, as opposition lawmakers boycotted the proceedings and tore up their copies in protest. Apart…

Former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Jawwad S Khawaja on Tuesday filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment under Article 184(3) of the Constitution. In his petition, the former CJP argued that the apex court’s constitutional jurisdiction cannot be transferred to any other court or forum. He urged the top court to strike down any amendment that seeks to curtail the Supreme Court’s powers or limit its constitutional authority. The former top judge also requested the court to suspend the implementation of the contentious…

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reaffirmed their stance against terrorism, saying that counter-terrorism operations will continue until foreign-backed militants are completely eradicated. Over the past two days, Pakistan has witnessed two major terror incidents — one targeting Cadet College Wana in South Waziristan and another striking Islamabad. During their meeting at the President House, President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz reaffirmed their commitment to continue operations against foreign-backed terrorists and their facilitators until complete eradication. The president and prime minister also reviewed the overall…