Category: Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari have extended heartfelt greetings to the Christian community in Pakistan and around the world on the occasion of Christmas. In his message, the prime minister said Christmas conveys a universal message of love, peace, tolerance, and goodwill for all humanity. He prayed that the birth anniversary of Hazrat Isa (AS), would bring peace, stability, and prosperity to the Christian community and the country. The prime minister said Hazrat Isa (AS) holds a revered status in Islam as a great Prophet of…

ISLAMABAD: After the suspension of the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Act 2025 by the Lahore High Court (LHC), and the subsequent reaction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, speculation has begun over whether winds of change are starting to blow through the Punjab judiciary. Some experts believe that so far the judiciary in Punjab has been “very accommodating” toward the Punjab government during the tenure of incumbent Chief Justice Aalia Nelum. The Punjab government and powerful circles were visibly upset with former LHC chief justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad…

LAHORE: Former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar has said that without democracy, there can be no constitution, and without a constitution, no state can survive in the world. “The system of Shura also originates from Islamic teachings. Democracy itself is rooted in Shura,” Nisar said on Wednesday while addressing a book launch. Referring to the parliamentary system, he said all stakeholders agree on democracy as the foundational structure. He noted that the real test of judges takes place within a democratic system. He said the responsibility to…

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top military leadership on Wednesday vowed to deal decisively with all terrorists and their facilitators, warning that no political or other vested interests would be allowed to undermine national unity, security and stability. The resolve was expressed during the 273rd Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC) held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and chaired by Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces (COAS & CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). At the outset, the forum…

ISLAMABAD: The government offered substantial tax concessions to facilitate the sale of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which incurred losses of Rs500 billion since 2015, said Privatisation Adviser Muhammad Ali on Wednesday. Speaking at a joint news conference with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Muhammad Ali displayed a presentation that implicitly held the three major political parties responsible for PIA’s decline over the past 15 years. According to the briefing, PIA was profitable between 1989 and 2009, but started incurring losses from 2008 onwards. The presentation highlighted that the airline’s decline began…

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Wednesday passed the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Bill 2025 with a majority vote, introducing stringent punishments and heavy fines to regulate kite flying across the province in a bid to safeguard human life and property. The new legislation imposes a complete ban on the use of metallic wire, nylon string, and chemically or glass-coated kite strings, commonly known as manjha, which have been blamed for numerous fatal accidents in the past. The law also prescribes strict penalties for flying, manufacturing, storing, or selling kites…

MUZAFFARABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said Pakistan’s youth were the country’s greatest strength and investment in their education and skills was an investment in the future. Addressing the ceremony as he formally launched the distribution of laptops under the Prime Minister’s Youth Laptop Programme in Azad Jammu and Kashmir at the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK), the prime minister said the laptops were not merely machines but a means to connect young people with the world, knowledge and opportunity. He cited success stories of students who,…

The nation is celebrating 149th birth anniversary of the ‘Father of the Nation’ Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah today with renewed pledge to uphold his guiding principles of Faith, Unity and Discipline on Thursday. It is a public holiday today. The day dawned with 31-gun salutes in the federal capital and 21-gun salute at provincial capitals, while special prayers were offered at the mosques after Fajr prayer for the departed soul of the ‘Father of Nation’ and peace, prosperity and development of the country. National flag has been hoisted atop all…

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Alia Neelum sharply rebuked the Punjab Chief Secretary during a hearing, accusing him of undermining judicial supremacy and warning that “if he had his way, he might even suspend the Constitution.” The hearing concerned petitions challenging the Punjab Property Ownership Ordinance, including those filed by Abida Parveen and others. The court suspended the implementation of the ordinance, recommended the formation of a full bench to address objections, and restored possession of properties seized under the ordinance. The Punjab Property Ownership Ordinance, passed just last month, aimed…