Category: Featured

The Election Commission conducted hearings on code of conduct violations in the by-elections today, with a bench headed by the chief election commissioner. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was summoned to appear before the commission, while a notice was issued to Shehrnaz, wife of former opposition leader Omar Ayub. CM Sohail Afridi’s case A five-member commission heard the case against the K-P CM regarding allegations of threatening election staff and violating the code of conduct. Though Afridi was granted an exemption from personal appearance, his lawyers and those representing Shehrnaz…

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Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb and the United Kingdom’s Minister for Development, Baroness Chapman, held the first federal-level Pakistan–UK development talks in eight years on Wednesday, discussing economic cooperation and Pakistan’s structural reform agenda. The meeting was also attended by British High Commissioner Jane Marriott. Chapman’s visit comes at a time when UK–Pakistan bilateral trade has crossed £5.5 billion for the first time, with more than 200 British companies currently operating in Pakistan. Officials said the revival of ministerial-level dialogue underscores renewed momentum in economic engagement between the two…

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LAHORE: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, sensing political frailties in all-too important province of Punjab, on Tuesday tread cautiously when he spoke about dwindling space for allies and paucity of resources at the disposal of the Governor House but at the same time showered praise on the provincial government led by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. Speaking during an interaction with media bureau chiefs and bigwigs, the PPP chairman backed the move aims at creating another province in Punjab, all the while deflecting questions regarding new provinces in Sindh and…

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LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: With the embattled opposition party in the crosshairs of intense state scrutiny, government ministers on Tuesday appeared to move closer to endorsing punitive steps against PTI, including the possibility of a ban on the party and the imposition of governor’s rule in PTI-ruled Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, while the Punjab Assembly passed a resolution seeking a ban on the party’s incarcerated leader. The Punjab Assembly adopted a resolution calling for a ban on the PTI founder and his party, accusing them of undermining national stability, promoting disorder and acting in alignment with…

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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday agreed to enhance bilateral trade, expand cooperation in health, agriculture, Information Technology, science, and education, and deepen coordination on regional and global issues, including Palestine. In a joint press stakeout along with President of Indonesia Prabowo Subiato at the PM House, the prime minister said Pakistan and Indonesia were committed to boosting bilateral trade, which currently stood at $4.5 billion, noting that over 90% of the total trade comprised of palm oil import from Indonesia to Pakistan. He…

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