Category: Pakistan

LAHORE: A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court seeking registration of a criminal case against Punjab Information Minister Azam Bukhari, the Deputy Commissioner of Lahore, and other officials for allegedly spreading false information regarding the deaths of a mother and daughter who fell into an open manhole near Bhati Gate. The petition noted that more than 10,000 manhole covers are stolen in Lahore annually, yet effective preventive measures remain absent. It argued that the police registration of an FIR under Section 322 is inadequate, as the deaths…

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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced a series of measures aimed at supporting Pakistan’s industrial sector and export-led growth. Electricity tariffs for industries have been cut by Rs4.04 per unit, wheeling charges lowered to Rs9 per unit to allow industries to sell power to neighboring units, and the Export Financing Scheme rate for exporters reduced from 7.5% to 4.5%. Speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad honoring the country’s top businessmen and exporters, the Prime Minister said, “If it were up to me, I would have reduced it by another…

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency has launched an AI-enabled investigative tool aimed at strengthening the country’s ability to detect, prioritise and investigate online child sexual exploitation and abuse. The system, named Katalyst, was developed through a partnership between the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control and the UK-Pakistan Serious Crime and Law Enforcement (UPSCALE) Programme, funded by the British High Commission, and was formally launched at an event in Islamabad. Read: Musk wants to put AI data centres in space Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control,…

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ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to providing institutional facilitation and fast-track approvals to partner enterprises, and underscored the importance of deepening long-term cooperation in rail freight modernisation, inland logistics and integrated freight corridors. The president met with Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DP World in Dubai, UAE. The president appreciated DP World’s strong and sustained partnership with Pakistan and its contribution to the country’s logistics, port operations and infrastructure, President Secretariat said in a press release. The meeting reviewed…

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ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) on Thursday strongly rejected remarks made by Judge Mohsin Aktar Kayani suggesting its involvement in the arrests of lawyers Iman Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha, calling the allegations “baseless”. “There is no truth in the judicial remarks that the High Court Bar was involved in the arrests of Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha,” said IHCBA Secretary Manzoor Jajja. He described comments made by a judge, who previously served as president of the High Court Bar, regarding the Bar’s conduct…

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ISLAMABAD: A decision has once again been taken to appoint an acting registrar at Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), as the Ministry of National Health Services has forwarded an agenda to syndicate members proposing the appointment of a registrar on deputation. According to the agenda, Syed Tanseer Asghar, a surgeon at CDA Hospital, has been nominated for appointment as registrar on deputation. However, syndicate members have suggested that the post should instead be advertised and a registrar appointed on a permanent basis. Objections have also been raised over…

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ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has asked how separate trials can be held and judgments delivered on the basis of FIRs arising from the same incident. Describing this as a serious legal issue, the capital’s high court also lamented over the lack of competence of some judges “brought from the Lahore High Court (LHC)” on deputation to Islamabad. IHC senior puisne judge Mohsin Akhtar Kayani on Wednesday raised these concerns while hearing a jail appeal filed by Zeeshan Masih, who is serving a life sentence in a murder case.…

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ISLAMABAD: Islamabad is set to emerge as a key diplomatic hub next week as the presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan undertake separate official visits to Pakistan, reflecting the country’s expanding engagement with Central Asian states. According to official sources, the schedules and agendas for both high-level visits have been finalised. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is expected to visit Pakistan on February 3 and 4, followed by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on February 5 and 6. During President Tokayev’s visit, Pakistan and Kazakhstan are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding…

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LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly session on Wednesday witnessed sharp exchanges between treasury and opposition members, as allegations of political victimisation, misuse of police powers and procedural irregularities dominated proceedings. Opposition Leader in the House, PTI’s Moeen Riaz Qureshi, alleged that the son of Nasir Cheema had been arrested from Gujranwala and was being shifted across multiple police stations. He urged the government to take immediate notice, warning that the opposition would proceed with its protest scheduled for February 8. He claimed that many opposition MPAs had been nominated in FIRs…

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