Category: Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday appointed Advocate Salman Safdar as a friend of the court to submit a report on the living conditions and health of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, who is currently jailed at Adiala Jail. At the outset of the hearing, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi said Safdar should be treated with respect and not be made to wait outside the jail. “It is expected that our friend of the court will be given access to the PTI founder at Adiala Jail with…

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HYDERABAD: The three-day devotional festivities in Sehwan, marking the 774th Urs of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (RA), concluded on Monday, with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah claiming that over three million devotees attended the event. CM Shah, who performed the closing ceremony at the shrine, said the Urs proceeded despite security concerns following the recent suicide bombing at a Rawalpindi mosque. Over 5,000 police officers and 300 Rangers personnel, along with CCTV and drone surveillance, were deployed, ensuring the large spiritual congregation concluded without incident. Cultural, literary, musical,…

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KARACHI: Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday paid rich tribute to the Mary Adelaide Leprosy Centre (MALC) for its decades-long humanitarian services, saying that celebrating its Platinum Jubilee alongside the 73rd World Leprosy Day was a tribute to healing, hope and humanity. Addressing a ceremony held at a local hotel, the chief minister said MALC’s journey from a leprosy control programme to a leading humanitarian institution was truly commendable. The event was attended by the German consul general, MALC Chief Executive Officer Marvin Lobo and other dignitaries. The chief…

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ISLAMABAD: The government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif may face political backlash as solar net metering becomes virtually dead after the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) abolished the exchange of electricity units, dealing a blow to consumers hoping to shift to renewables. At present, the buyback rate for solar net generation stands at Rs25.9 per unit, which may be reduced to Rs11 per unit, while the contract period has been cut from seven to five years. The burden of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) capacity payments is now being shifted…

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ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Yahya Afridi on Monday underscored the importance of a strong and credible justice system for sustainable development and democratic governance. He expressed these views during a meeting with United Nations Resident Coordinator in Pakistan Mohamed Yahya and a delegation comprising country representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women, UNICEF, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and UNFPA. The top judge shared perspectives on ongoing reform initiatives aimed at improving access to justice, enhancing institutional efficiency, and ensuring a justice system that…

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ISLAMABAD: The Senate Functional Committee on Devolution on Monday expressed concern over what it termed a failure to implement provinces’ constitutional rights and powers under the 18th Amendment. The panel met under the chairmanship of Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro, a statement said. The committee was briefed about the implementation status of various provisions of the 18th Constitutional Amendment, as well as on the resources, budget, and staff of the Ministry of Petroleum, including its corporations and attached departments. Officials of the Council of Common Interests (CCI), the secretary of the…

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ISLAMABAD: February 8 was projected by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as a decisive moment to translate street power into political momentum, but despite intensive promotion as a major show of public strength and resistance, the uneven response on the ground raised fresh questions about the party’s mobilisation capacity and political direction. While pockets of supporters did turn out, the overall impact fell short of expectations. More strikingly, much of the party’s top leadership remained absent from the scene. The protest, it seemed, came and went without delivering the political punch it…

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ISLAMABAD: February 8 was projected by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as a decisive moment to translate street power into political momentum, but despite intensive promotion as a major show of public strength and resistance, the uneven response on the ground raised fresh questions about the party’s mobilisation capacity and political direction. While pockets of supporters did turn out, the overall impact fell short of expectations. More strikingly, much of the party’s top leadership remained absent from the scene. The protest, it seemed, came and went without delivering the political punch it…

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LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will take the final decision on whether Pakistan plays its scheduled T20 World Cup match against India after consultations with the Pakistan Cricket Board, following renewed call from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Sources familiar with the matter said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is expected to meet the prime minister within the next two days to seek government guidance on Pakistan’s announced boycott of the high-profile February 15 Group A fixture in Colombo. The sources said that Naqvi will brief Shehbaz on…

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Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday expressed gratitude to fellow deputy prime ministers, foreign ministers and world leaders, as well as the foreign offices of friendly countries, who reached out with condolences, prayers and messages of solidarity after Friday’s heinous bomb blast in Islamabad. At least 32 people were killed and around 169 others injured when a suicide bomber struck Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra during Friday prayers, according to authorities and hospital officials. The blast occurred as worshippers gathered for Jumma prayers and was accompanied by explosions and…

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