Category: Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong reaffirmed the enduring Pakistan China strategic partnership during a high-level meeting at the Ministry of Interior on Thursday. Minister Naqvi welcomed Ambassador Zaidong upon his arrival and received strong condemnation from China over the recent terrorist attacks targeting civilians and security forces in Balochistan. The ambassador expressed deep sympathy for the affected families, underscoring that China “stands in complete solidarity” with Pakistan during this difficult time. Ambassador Zaidong reiterated China’s firm stance against terrorism in all its forms and assured…

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MUZAFFARABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering political, diplomatic and moral support for the Kashmir cause, declaring that the Kashmiri people’s struggle for the right to self-determination would continue until its logical conclusion in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions. Addressing a special session of the AJK Legislative Assembly on Kashmir Solidarity Day, the prime minister also announced a special development package for the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). He paid tribute to the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people, saying history bore witness that…

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Pakistan and Uzbekistan signed a joint declaration following the state visit of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, reaffirming their commitment to expand strategic cooperation across trade, connectivity, security, education and culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday. The declaration said the talks and agreements signed during the visit would “further strengthen the strategic partnership between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan”. Both sides expressed satisfaction over the trajectory of bilateral ties and agreed to deepen cooperation in political, economic and regional spheres, with the leaders…

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Uzbekistan on Thursday agreed to enhance the bilateral trade to $2 billion within the next five years. To this respect a protocol for enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the two countries was signed in Islamabad by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The two countries also signed a number of accords aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in diverse fields including defence, agriculture, trade, industry, culture, education, disaster management, pharmaceuticals and others. Under the protocol, the two sides shall constitute a joint working…

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ISLAMABAD: At least 31 worshippers were killed and dozens more injured when a massive bomb tore through an imambargah in the Tarlai area of Islamabad on Friday, police and administration officials confirmed, adding that the bomber had “travelled to Afghanistan”. The explosion went off just as worshippers were offering Friday prayers at Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra on the outskirts of Islamabad. The blast was so powerful that it was heard within a radius of hundreds of metrers, whipping up fear and panic among residents. Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon confirmed…

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ISLAMABAD: The Senate session on Friday addressed several national issues, including the health of PTI founder Imran Khan, rising tuition fees in private medical colleges, agricultural reforms, and the political situation in Balochistan. Lawmakers also discussed national security, including terrorism and border management. PTI founder’s health and February 8th protest Senator Azam Swati raised concerns over the deteriorating health of PTI founder Imran Khan and acknowledged governance shortcomings in the country. “The justice system in the country has collapsed,” Swati said, urging policymakers to adopt a stance of compassion and…

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ISLAMABAD: In a ruling with far-reaching implications for public service law, the Supreme Court has held that a civil servant who is reinstated after a wrongful dismissal is, as a general rule, entitled to receive full back pay and benefits for the period he remained out of service. The verdict, authored by Justice Shahid Waheed, came while adjudicating the question of whether police officials, upon annulment of a dismissal order, automatically acquire the right to back pay. The five-judge bench, led by Justice Waheed, issued the 13-page judgment reaffirming that…

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PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Monday directed the authorities to complete the verification process for the disbursement of relief funds to the affected families of Tirah within one week, stressing that payments must be ensured at the earliest. The directives were issued during a high-level meeting chaired by the chief minister to review matters relating to the payment of compensation and relief funds to the affectees of Tirah, Kurram and Bajaur. The meeting was briefed in detail on ongoing relief measures in the affected areas, utilisation of…

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ISLAMABAD: In a judgment reasserting the primacy of constitutional discipline over personal sentiment, the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has ruled that judges of superior courts must not allow morality, compassion, personal beliefs or political realities to shape their decisions, stressing that courts exist solely to interpret and apply the law. The ruling came as the FCC set aside a Sindh High Court (SHC) decision that had directed Benazir Bhutto Medical University to allow a student to appear in a “special/super supplementary examination” for second year MBBS physiology. In doing so,…

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The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, is set to undertake his first official state visit to Pakistan from February 3 to February 4 at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement on X, said, “During the visit, President Tokayev is expected to meet with the President of Pakistan, hold talks with the Prime Minister, and address the Pakistan-Kazakhstan Business Forum.” The president will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, comprising senior cabinet ministers…

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