Category: Pakistan

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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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met World Bank Group (WBG) President Ajay Pal Singh Banga in Islamabad on Monday, welcoming him on his first official visit to Pakistan as WBG President. Banga is on a four-day high-level visit, touring several official and cultural sites. His visit began on February 1 and will continue until February 4. During his stay, he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb, and other senior officials. Discussions are expected to focus on economic reforms,…

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ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari, reaffirming the commitment to the conservation and sustainable management of wetlands, urged citizens—particularly youth, local communities, and policymakers—to value, protect, and sustainably manage wetlands as vital cultural and ecological assets. “This day marks the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands, also known as the Ramsar Convention, in 1971. Pakistan is a signatory to this landmark agreement, which promotes the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands and their resources for present and future generations,” the president said in a message on the observance of World Wetlands…

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KARACHI: If there were ever a record of the dirty dealings of the world’s elite, it would be the Epstein files. From Donald Trump to Bill Clinton, and even India’s hardline, ultra-religious prime minister Narendra Modi, few among the political and social elite appear untouched by the disgraced financier’s network. The scandal that dogged Trump’s second presidency from the onset has taken another explosive turn, with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) releasing a fresh batch of the notorious Epstein files. The disclosure lands as a political bombshell, dragging into…

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ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Monday extended its injunction stopping the cutting of trees in the federal capital, adjourning the case until February 13. The court had on January 15 ordered the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to immediately halt tree cutting in Islamabad while hearing a petition filed by Muhammad Naveed Ahmed, who challenged what he described as illegal felling in the city. During Monday’s proceedings, CDA lawyer Aamir Latif Gul told the court that the trees were removed to make way for a monument of the Ma’araka-e-Haq. Justice Khadem Hussain…

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LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurated a Danish School in Mankera, Bhakkar, and launched the School Meal Programme at Government Primary School Kisanwala, terming education and nutrition key pillars for a brighter future of children. During a visit, the chief minister announced the upgradation of three schools in Mankera, following which notifications were issued in this regard. The Government Girls Primary School Kisanwala was upgraded to elementary level, while the elementary schools in Kari and Noorpur Shah were granted the high-school status. The chief minister distributed lunch boxes…

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Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has urged residents to make the most of the upcoming long weekend, describing it as an opportunity to rest and rejuvenate. In a statement on X, the chief minister highlighted the sequence of holidays in Punjab. She said February 5 will be observed as Kashmir Day, followed by a provincial holiday for Basant on February 6, and the usual weekend holidays on Saturday and Sunday. The chief minister encouraged the public to use the extended break positively, expressing hope that residents across the province would…

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RAWALPINDI: A Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court on Monday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Aleema Khan, the sister of incarcerated former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, after she failed to appear in a case linked to the November 26 protest. The court rejected Aleema Khan’s request for exemption from appearance, summoned her guarantors and issued notices to them. The case is registered at Sadiqabad Police Station and relates to a protest held at D-Chowk in Islamabad on November 24, 2024. The protest followed a “final call” by Imran Khan for…

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