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Dawn - 20:11 Feb 13, 2026
A day after revelations emerged about the vision loss of PTI founder Imran Khan, the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz-i-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP) staged a sit-in at the Parliament House on Friday and vowed to continue until their demands were fulfilled. The sit-in started after Friday prayers and was ongoing till midnight. On Thursday, the Supreme Court (SC) was informed that PTI founder Imran Khan’s right eye had only 15 per cent vision remaining, prompting a strong response from the party. Subsequently, the TTAP announced the sit-in outside the Parliament House on Friday (today). The protesters were still present at the Parliament House late at night on Friday, having shifted from outside to the main hallway of the premises. In a video shared by the opposition alliance on X, TTAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai said they planned to spend the night at the Parliament House. On a lighter note, he added, “In the morning, we will sit [here] again after changing clothes and shaving. And if the [protest] is prolonged, ... -
Dawn - 18:46 Feb 13, 2026
The Pentagon is sending an aircraft carrier from the Caribbean to the Middle East, US officials said on Friday, a move that would put two carriers in the region as tensions soar between the United States and Iran. The Gerald R. Ford carrier, the United States’ newest and the world’s largest carrier, has been operating in the Caribbean with its escort ships and took part in operations in Venezuela earlier this year. Asked why a second aircraft carrier was headed to the Middle East, US President Donald Trump said: “In case we don’t make a deal, we’ll need it … if we need it, we’ll have it ready.” One of the officials, who was speaking on condition of anonymity, said the carrier would take at least a week to reach the Middle East. The Gerald R. Ford will join the Abraham Lincoln carrier, several guided-missile destroyers, fighter jets and surveillance aircraft that have been moved to the Middle East in recent weeks. The United States most recently had two aircraft carriers in the area last year, when it carried ... -
Dawn - 18:24 Feb 13, 2026
UNITED NATIONS: The 15-member United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Friday condemned the suicide bombing at an imambargah in Islamabad in the “strongest terms”. On February 6, a suicide bomber had ripped through the Friday congregation at the Imambargah Qasr-i-Khadijatul Kubra on the outskirts of Islamabad. At least 38 people were killed in the incident and more than 150 were injured. In a press statement issued by UNSC President James Kariuki, the 15-member body described the February 6 attack as a “heinous and cowardly suicide bombing terrorist attack”. The UNSC expressed “its deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and the people of Pakistan” and wished “a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured”. Reaffirming its long-standing position, the UNSC said that “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security”. The statement further stated that UNSC members stressed the need ... -
Dawn - 18:04 Feb 13, 2026
KARACHI: Twelve people were killed and six others were injured in a traffic accident involving an oil tanker and a passenger bus on the M9 Motorway at Ansari Bridge near DHA City, according to officials. Police and Rescue 1122 had initially stated that 13 people were killed and nine were injured. Later, however, Police Surgeon Summaiya Syed confirmed to Dawn that 12 people had been killed and six were injured. After the accident, a significant quantity of oil spread on the M9 Motorway, causing difficulties for rescue workers who avoided using electrical equipment for fear of fire. As a result, they had to manually cut apart the vehicles to retrieve the bodies of the injured. It is worth mentioning that authorities gave different reasons for the traffic accident. While Malir police attributed it to the bus travelling in the wrong direction, motorway police said that the tyre of the oil tanker had burst. Malir Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr Abdul Khaliq Pirzada told Dawn that 13 people had died in the accide... -
Dawn - 17:33 Feb 13, 2026
LAHORE: The National Cyber Crime Agency (NCCI) on Friday released a journalist a few hours after detaining him for questioning. As per initial reports, Khurram Iqbal, a producer with Hum News, was reportedly picked up by unidentified men from his sister’s home in Lahore around 1pm. Subsequently, there was an uproar on social media, with many demanding information on the journalist’s whereabouts. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) had called on federal and provincial authorities, including the interior and information ministries, to take urgent action for Iqbal’s safe release. The Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors had also condemned the journalist’s alleged abduction and called for his release. The statement said that, according to Iqbal’s family, armed men in plainclothes whisked him away from his sister’s residence. It also expressed concern over the “growing trend” of harassment of journalists. Meanwhile, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General Usman Anwar ... -
Dawn - 16:46 Feb 13, 2026
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won an overwhelming two-thirds majority on Friday in general elections, a result expected to bring stability after months of tumult following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a Gen Z-led uprising in 2024. Latest counts in a vote seen as the South Asian nation’s first truly competitive election in years gave the BNP and its allies at least 212 of the 299 seats up for grabs, domestic TV channels said. People look at the results published by Election Commission, following the 13th general election, in Dhaka, Bangladesh on February 13, 2026. — Reuters The opposition Jamaat-i-Islami and its allies won 70 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad, or House of the Nation. The Election Commission put the BNP at 181 seats, the Jamaat-i-Islami at 61 and others at 7, with full official results not expected before noon (11am PKT) on Friday. The BNP, which returns to power after 20 years, thanked the people soon and called for special prayers on Friday for the nation and its pe... -
Dawn - 16:33 Feb 13, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday held a telephone call with United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, lauding the Gulf country’s “consistent and unwavering support to Pakistan”. According to a press release, during their “warm and cordial conversation”, the two leaders “fondly” recalled their recent meetings in Islamabad and Rahim Yar Khan last month. “The prime minister lauded the UAE’s consistent and unwavering support to Pakistan that had helped the country navigate through difficult challenges,” the statement said. “This support was a manifestation of the historic, fraternal bonds between the leadership and the people of both countries,” PM Shehbaz was quoted as saying. The statement added that the two leaders reaffirmed their shared desire to further enhance mutually beneficial cooperation between Pakistan and the UAE. “The two leaders also exchanged views on other matters of mutual interest and agreed to remain in close contact,” the statement said. In a post on the... -
Dawn - 16:17 Feb 13, 2026
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has expressed keen interest in leveraging the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) training ecosystem and aerospace development infrastructure to enhance his country’s defence capabilities, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Friday. The Indonesian president made his interest known during a meeting with Pakistan’s chief of air staff, Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, who called on the former during an official visit to Indonesia, a statement by ISPR said. “During the meeting, the air chief underscored the shared values and longstanding brotherhood between Pakistan and Indonesia, and President Prabowo expressed keen interest in leveraging PAF’s state-of-the-art training ecosystem and aerospace development infrastructure to enhance Indonesia’s defence capabilities,” the statement read. Earlier, the statement said, the air chief held separate high-level meetings with Indonesian Defence Minister Lieutenant General (Retd) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, the commander of ... -
Dawn - 16:11 Feb 13, 2026
Prices of flights and hotel bookings to Colombo, Sri Lanka, have soared as thousands of fans flock to the city to watch India play Pakistan on Sunday in cricket’s Twenty20 World Cup. The neighbouring countries and cricket rivals are due to meet during the group stage of the tournament, which is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, after Pakistan reversed a decision to boycott the match earlier in the week. The game at Sri Lanka’s largest stadium is sold out with roughly 35,000 tickets sold, and ahead of the match, most hotels in Colombo have doubled their prices — the cost of a room has climbed as high as $660 a night from a typical price tag of about $100-$150 per night, multiple booking sites showed. After the match was finalised this week, last-minute bookings led to fuller flights from major cities like Chennai and Delhi, according to three Colombo travel agencies. Flights from Chennai, which is about one and a half hours away, have more than tripled to around $623-$756, while flights from Delhi are up... -
Dawn - 15:51 Feb 13, 2026
K-Electric (KE) on Friday appointed Adeeb Ahmad as the company’s interim chief executive officer (CEO) with immediate effect. Last week, Moonis Alvi had stepped down as the company’s CEO, days after getting a clean chit from the Sindh governor in a workplace harassment case. According to a press release issued on Friday, the KE board of directors held a meeting and decided that Ahmad would be appointed the CEO in place of Alvi with immediate effect. Further, a disclosure submitted by the company to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) also stated the same. “The board has commenced an accelerated search for a permanent CEO,” the disclosure said. According to KE’s website, Ahmad’s career spans 34 years, including C-suite roles. He has been involved in managing private equity funds, mergers and acquisitions, and transformation focused on energy and other infrastructure sectors. He recently served as the CEO of Hascol Petroleum Limited. In a post on X last week, Alvi had confirmed that he had “decided to step down”.... -
Dawn - 14:51 Feb 13, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The upper house of Parliament descended into pandemonium on Friday after a resolution expressing concern over the health of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan and demanding that he be shifted to a hospital for medical examination was rejected through a voice vote. The development came a day after Barrister Salman Safdar submitted a report in the Supreme Court, which stated that the former premier had only 15 per cent vision in his right eye due to a delay in imparting treatment. The resolution, a copy of which is available with Dawn, was moved by PTI Senator Aon Abbas Buppi. It demanded that the ex-premier be moved to a “premier, high‑standard hospital for comprehensive medical examination and treatment”. It also demanded that Imran’s personal physicians and private medical team be granted immediate and regular access to evaluate his health and oversee his clinical care. It also sought to ensure Imran’s family had consistent access to him and was kept fully informed of his medical status and treat... -
Dawn - 14:21 Feb 13, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Shafqat Ali Khan on Friday denied reports that the Gulf country has suspended the issuance of 96- and 48-hour transit visas for Pakistanis. “It’s not true,” he said in response to Dawn’s query about reports circulating on social media. The 96- and 48-hour transit visas are sponsored by the UAE-based airlines — Emirates and Etihad Airways — and must be processed and approved before entering the UAE, according to the information available on the government’s website. “If you are not eligible for a visa on arrival or a visa-free entry to the UAE, and intend to step out of the airport, then you need a pre-arranged transit visa,” the website says. Several users shared screenshots on social media that stated: “As per the latest information from USE immigration transit visas (96 Hours and 48 Hours Visa) for PAKISTAN nationals has been temporarily suspended. Hence, kindly do not apply for this 96 Hours and 48 Hours visa category.” Others, meanwhile, j... -
Dawn - 13:57 Feb 13, 2026
This planner blends weekly structure with daily mindful actions, helping you move through Ramazan with balance, intention, and calm. Each day offers practical guidance alongside a gentle spiritual nudge. Image showing a bowl of dates. — Unsplash via The Daily Star Week 1: Adjusting the rhythm In a world where notifications never stop, and timelines dictate our moods, the first week of Ramazan is about consciously slowing down. Social media may be filled with elaborate iftar spreads and productivity checklists, but this week reminds us that Ramazan is not a performance. It is a personal reset. Step back from comparison, ease into the month gently, and focus on setting intentions rather than chasing perfection. Day 1 – Set the pace Plan sehri and iftar timings and aim for an early night. Begin the month with a sincere intention, reminding yourself why this month matters to you. Day 2 – Stock and simplify Buy fruits, dates, and vegetables that will sustain you through the week. Accept an invitation for iftar or ... -
Dawn - 13:23 Feb 13, 2026
Britain’s ban on pro-Palestinian campaign group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation was ruled unlawful by London’s High Court on Friday, though the ban will temporarily remain in place and the government said it would appeal against the decision. Palestine Action was proscribed in July, having increasingly taken “direct action” against Israel-linked defence companies in Britain, often blocking entrances or spraying red paint. Britain argued the group’s actions amounted to terrorism, citing a 2024 raid on a factory of Israel’s largest defence firm Elbit Systems, in which prosecutors said activists caused around £1 million ($1.4 m) of damage and a police officer was hit with a sledgehammer. Ban followed break-in at air base Palestine Action was banned shortly after a June break-in at the Royal Air Force’s Brize Norton air base, in which activists damaged two planes, an action described by Prime Minister Keir Starmer as “disgraceful”. Lawyers representing Huda Ammori, who co-founded Palestine Action in ... -
Dawn - 13:03 Feb 13, 2026
Dubai’s DP World named a new chairman and chief executive officer on Friday, replacing its former leader Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, after the Epstein files revealed frequent correspondence between him and the convicted sex offender. “DP World announced the appointment of His Excellency Essa Kazim as chairman of its Board of Directors and the appointment of Yuvraj Narayan as Group Chief Executive Officer,” the group said in a statement published by the Dubai media office. The statement did not mention Sulayem. Described by Jeffrey Epstein as one of his “most trusted friends”, Sulayem was group chairman and chief executive officer of DP World, one of the largest port operators on the globe. He is cited more than 9,400 times in the documents recently released by the US Department of Justice, which revealed close ties between the two men. They maintained regular correspondence from 2009 to 2018, exchanging messages on intimate matters, meetings, introductions and business opportunities. The correspondence suggests... -
Dawn - 12:34 Feb 13, 2026
Short-term inflation in Pakistan, measured by the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) for the week ending on February 12, decreased 0.59 per cent, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. The SPI-based inflation has been on an upward trend for the past few weeks, mainly driven by a surge in prices of perishable products, pulses, and meat. Major decreases noted during this time period were in the prices of eggs (17.61pc), followed by tomatoes (12.02pc), chicken (6.34pc), onions (2.73pc), potatoes (2.49pc), salt powder (1.69pc), LPG (1.57pc), wheat flour (1.31pc), and sugar (1.12pc). Major increases were in the prices of bananas (7.62pc), garlic (4.35pc), pulse mash (2.69pc), chilies powder (1.68pc), mutton (0.80pc), beef (0.37pc), mustard oil (0.34pc), shirting (0.31pc), cigarettes (0.24pc), vegetable ghee 1Kg (0.08pc), and georgette (0.02pc). The year-on-year data show a 4.26pc increase. The major influences contirbuting to this annual trend were an increase in tomatoes (73.36pc), wheat flour ... -
Dawn - 12:33 Feb 13, 2026
Pakistan’s benchmark stock exchange, KSE-100, closed in the red on Friday, down 908.91 points (0.5 per cent) from its previous close of 180,512.64 points. The top active stocks were led by K-Electric Limited, rising 4.02pc to Rs8.55 at a volume of 131,137,671, followed by Pakistan International Bulk Terminal, which rose 0.72pc to Rs19.53 at a volume of 34,704,501, and Worldcall Telecom Limited, which fell 1.21pc to Rs1.63 at a volume of 33,828,798. The top advancers were led by LSE Capital Limited, which rose to Rs2.30, a 25.68pc increase, followed by 786 Investments Limited, which rose to Rs16.25, a 10.02pc increase, and Apna Microfinance Bank Limited, which advanced to Rs21.74, a 10.02pc increase. The top decliners were led by Grays Leasing Limited, falling 9.65pc to Rs20.78, followed by Saritow Spinning Mills Limited, falling 9.57pc to Rs28.17, and Shahtaj Sugar Mills Limited, falling 9.10pc to Rs152.71. In company news, according to Topline Securities, Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) reported its 2QFY26 ... -
Dawn - 11:11 Feb 13, 2026
A report by the Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) released on Thursday found that women in Pakistan continued to be underrepresented in the media, although digital platforms offered greater space for their participation and visibility. The Pakistan National Report 2025 was released by the GMMP’s Pakistan partner, Uks Research Centre. It was based on the monitoring of the news landscape on May 6 last year — a day “marked by severe military and political tensions along the Line of Control with India” — which shaped the news content and the visibility of women across different platforms. “The data captures not just a single day’s news, but the outcome of decades of institutional and societal factors that shape women’s visibility in Pakistani media,” the report said, adding, “On a day that was dominated by overwhelming national security coverage, these findings show broader systemic trends.” According to the report, the monitoring was based on nine print newspapers, six television channels, the state-owned P... -
Dawn - 10:26 Feb 13, 2026
The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) said on Friday that the first day of Ramazan is “likely to fall” on February 19, 2026. The new moon is expected to be born on Feb 17, 2026, at 5:01pm, according to the statement by the space agency. “At the time of sunset on Feb 18, 2026, the age of the new moon will be approximately 25 hours and 48 minutes. The time duration between sunset and moonset is expected to be 59 minutes along the coastal areas of the country,” added the Suparco statement. “Consequently, the 1st of Ramazan may likely to fall on 19 Feb 2026.” However, the agency said the final announcement regarding the beginning of the Islamic holy month will be made by the Ruet-i-Hilal Committee, “which is the sole competent authority, based on credible witness testimonies from across the country”. Earlier this week, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) stated that there is a “fair chance” of sighting the new moon of Ramazan on the evening of February 18. “According to astronomica... -
Dawn - 07:57 Feb 13, 2026
A 5.6-magnitude earthquake was recorded 86 kilometres northeast of Balochistan’s Khuzdar on Friday, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). According to PMD’s National Seismic Monitoring Centre, the earthquake struck at 6:30am at a depth of 13 km, 86km northeast of Khuzdar. It was preceded by another earthquake — magnitude 3.8 — that struck 75km southeast of Khuzdar at 5:52am at a depth of 33km. Tremors were felt in several districts of Sindh as well, APP reported, including Sukkur, Qambar, Shahdadkot, and Dadu, while Jhal Magsi, Jaffarabad and Nasirabad in Balochistan reported tremors as well. Last month, an earthquake of magnitude 5.8 jolted parts of Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan, Peshawar and adjacent areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. A 5.8-magnitude earthquake jolted parts of the country in January. Tremors were felt in Islamabad and parts of KP. Pakistan falls on three major tectonic plates — the Arabian, Euro-Asian and Indian — which create five seismic zones under the country. The ...
7368 items