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Dawn - 16:52 Mar 31, 2026
Fear for her son’s fate kept Maisoun Shawamreh awake through the night in the occupied West Bank following the Israeli parliament’s approval of a law permitting the execution of Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks. “The mothers of prisoners — none of us slept last night,” Shawamreh told AFP as she joined a protest in Ramallah against the law on Tuesday. Her son has been in detention for three years, awaiting sentencing on charges of attempted murder. “He may or may not be subject to execution,” she said, uncertain of what lies ahead. Relatives of Palestinian prisoners hold placards and shout slogans during a rally in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Nablus on March 31, 2026, against a bill approved by Israel’s parliament that would allow the execution of Palestinians convicted on terror charges for deadly attacks. — AFP Under the new law, passed in parliament late Monday, Palestinians in the occupied West Bank convicted by military courts of carrying out deadly attacks classified as “terrorism” wil... -
Dawn - 16:11 Mar 31, 2026
Pakistan and China on Tuesday issued a five-point initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, in which they called on the immediate cessation of hostilities and starting peace talks as soon as possible. The development came as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar undertook a one-day visit to Beijing at the invitation of China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, for “in-depth discussions on regional developments”, according to the Foreign Office (FO). In a statement released after the meeting, the FO said the two reviewed the situation in the Gulf and Middle East region and put forward five points. Both countries called for the “immediate cessation of hostilities and utmost efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading”. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to all war-affected areas, the statement said. The two countries also called for starting peace talks as soon as possible. “Sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independen... -
Dawn - 15:59 Mar 31, 2026
On the 32nd day of the US-Israel war against Iran, the evolving dynamics of the conflict reinforced the sense that it has become a deep war of attrition, where sustained allied military pressure on Iranian infrastructure has so far failed to deliver it a clear strategic advantage. Meanwhile, Tehran’s ability to impose asymmetric costs, particularly through maritime disruption and coordinated proxy action, has continued to shape the broader trajectory, leaving diplomatic efforts active but stalled amid maximalist positions on both sides. Over the past 24 hours, US and Israeli forces intensified precision and standoff strikes, with bunker buster munitions targeting Iran’s Isfahan region, including the Badr military airbase and an adjacent ammunition depot, which triggered large secondary explosions. Power outages were also reported in parts of Tehran, as Washington projected confidence that a significant portion of Iran’s air defence and missile infrastructure has been degraded. Members of the Iranian Red Cresc... -
Dawn - 15:47 Mar 31, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) on Tuesday notified a whopping 35 per cent increase in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) rates, jacking up the cost of an 11.8kg domestic cylinder by Rs924 for April as a consequence of a surge in the global market In a notification, the authority set the price of LPG at Rs304.15 per kg for April against Rs225.84 per kg in March. As such, the price of an 11.8kg domestic cylinder was set at Rs3,588.60 for April against Rs2,664.88 in March. As per the Ogra calculation, the producer price of LPG (which comprises 40pc propane and 60pc butane) was determined at Rs262,817.53 per tonne for April against Rs184,537 per tonne in March. The new price included an excise duty of Rs85 per tonne. Therefore, the producer price for an 11.8kg cylinder was worked out at Rs3,101.25 for April against Rs2,177.54 in March. This also included a petroleum levy of Rs4,669 per tonne and 18pc general sales tax (GST) at Rs40,091, which was Rs26,552.94 in March. For the consumer price, an... -
Dawn - 15:36 Mar 31, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Showing cautious optimism over Pakistan’s short-term economic outlook, the finance ministry on Tuesday warned that rising global oil prices due to the US-Israel war on Iran posed risks to the country’s import bill and macroeconomic conditions in the long-term. “Rising global oil prices and potential supply chain disruptions may exert pressure on industrial input costs”, said the Ministry of Finance in its Monthly Economic Update and Outlook, with the estimated rate of inflation growing by up to 8.5 per cent for the month. It said the near-term outlook for the country’s economy remained cautiously optimistic despite emerging geopolitical risks. Recent data indicated improving momentum in the industrial sector, with higher imports of textile machinery, transport and construction-related inputs, likely to translate into higher domestic industrial activity. The finance ministry said the government was actively pursuing prudent measures, including maintaining adequate petroleum reserves, managing energy... -
Dawn - 15:20 Mar 31, 2026
LAHORE: A sessions court on Tuesday ordered singer Meesha Shafi to pay singer-cum-actor Ali Zafar Rs5 million in damages. The court issued a short order in a defamation case filed against Shafi by Zafar for levelling allegations of sexual harassment. According to a copy of the short order — available with Dawn — the court found that that a social media post and an interview in Instep Today “contain false, defamatory and injurious imputations against the plaintiff (Zafar), whereby allegations of sexual harassment of a physical nature were levelled, which have not been proved to be true or made for public good, and thus constitute actionable defamation”. It noted that Zafar was entitled to compensatory damages on account of damage to reputation, dignity and mental anguish. However, it noted that the claim of special damages “has not been proved through cogent and reliable evidence”. “Accordingly, a sum of Rs5,000,000 … is awarded to the plaintiff as general damages only, recoverable from the defendant,” the ord... -
Dawn - 15:15 Mar 31, 2026
KHYBER: The Torkham border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was reopened on Tuesday for the repatriation of undocumented Afghans. The frontier, which connects KP with Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province, was last opened on Thursday for the repatriation of Afghans after a month-long closure following the launch of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq. However, the repatriation process was suspended only 12 hours after it was permitted when a security official was injured in a firing incident from the Afghan side. Officials at Torkham earlier said that, upon a strong protest from Pakistan and a matching response by the border security forces, the Afghan authorities regretted the earlier incident and requested officials in Pakistan to resume the repatriation process. They said that after assessing the security situation along the Torkham, relevant departments had been directed to resume the implementation of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP) from March 31 (today). On Tuesday, the border was reopened after security o... -
Dawn - 14:56 Mar 31, 2026
King Charles will make a state visit to the United States in late April, Buckingham Palace said on Tuesday, a high-profile trip that the British government hopes will help to repair relations with President Donald Trump, damaged by the war on Iran. Charles and his wife Queen Camilla will visit the US in a long-planned trip to mark the 250th anniversary of that country’s independence from British rule, before the couple visits Bermuda. “Their majesties’ programme will celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States,” Buckingham Palace said, adding the trip was being made on the advice of the British government. It will be the first state visit by a British monarch since 2007, when Charles’ mother Queen Elizabeth made what was the fourth such US trip of her reign. Trump said the king and queen’s visit would begin on April 27 with a banquet dinner at the White House the next day. “I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I great... -
Dawn - 14:54 Mar 31, 2026
LAHORE: A legislative bill seeking five years in prison for the perpetrators of forced conversions was formally submitted to the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday. Chairman of the Standing Committee on Minority Affairs, Falbous Christopher, submitted the Punjab Protection of the Rights of Religious Minorities Bill 2026. The bill will now be referred to the Standing Committee on Minority Affairs, where it will be discussed and reviewed. After this process, the bill can be tabled in the provincial assembly. Under the proposed bill, a copy of which is available with Dawn, perpetrators of forced conversion could face up to five years in prison as it formally defines forced conversion as a criminal offence. According to the bill, whoever “compels or attempts to compel” a person belonging to a religious minority with threats, undue influence and coercion to change their religion “shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to five years and with fine”. Voluntary conversions without such pressure were excluded. ... -
Dawn - 13:56 Mar 31, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday instructed that stringent measures should be taken against the smuggling and “illegal hoarding” of petroleum products, a statement issued by his office said. The statement was released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) after the premier chaired a meeting in Islamabad with a focus on the petroleum products’ supply chain and austerity measures that were announced in view of the ongoing Middle East conflict. The conflict began with the US and Israel launching attacks on Iran on February 28. The world has faced a fuel crisis since, primarily resulting from the disruption of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz — a corridor that had been the route for 20 per cent of global liquified natural gas and a quarter of seaborne oil until the war began. In view of the situation, the government announced unprecedented austerity measures on March 9 and initially also hiked petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 per litre. But, according to PM Shehbaz, he has rejected proposals for a further h... -
Dawn - 13:55 Mar 31, 2026
State Minister for Interior Tallal Chaudhry said on Tuesday that all the suspects involved in the killing of a prominent businessman in Islamabad during a dacoity had been arrested. Police said on Monday that a businessman identified as Amir Awan was murdered during an alleged dacoity at his farmhouse located in Orchard Scheme. Political figures, VIPs and big-shots, including an adviser to the prime minister, own property in the neighbourhood where the incident took place. In a press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, Chaudhry addressed the incident and said, “The suspects belong to the Mansoor Khan gang … They are from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The dangerous nature of the gang had prevented the local police from arresting them. Afghanis, as well as other people, are included in the gang.” He said the safe city cameras and the professional attitude of the Islamabad police contributed to arresting the suspects. He said that the Islamabad inspector general, on the directions of the interior minister, personally moni... -
Dawn - 13:54 Mar 31, 2026
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday assured his “full support” to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for the “resolution of all legitimate issues”, according to the finance ministry. The meeting comes a day after President Asif Ali Zardari chaired a meeting in Islamabad with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the chief ministers of all provinces, including Afridi. His presence was considered significant, as he usually does not attend such meetings due to the political differences of his party, the PTI, with the ruling alliance. In a post on the social media platform X on Tuesday, the finance ministry said that Aurangzeb held a meeting with CM Afridi at the Finance Division “The meeting was held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere. The chief minister apprised the finance minister of various economic and financial issues being faced by the province,” it said. It stated that Aurangzeb assured CM Afridi of “his full support for the resolution of all legitimate issues”, adding that he a... -
Dawn - 13:37 Mar 31, 2026
Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz trade route in the Middle East war is driving up the costs of shipping fuel and goods around the world, industry data shows. Prices have risen because of falling capacity, with ships staying put in the Gulf for fear of attack if they set sail. Other ships are taking long, costly alternative routes to avoid the strait — while the reduction of oil flows has raised the price of boats’ fuel. “We’ve had to stop bookings … from and to the upper Gulf region because we can’t get the ships in nor out,” said Rolf Habben Jansen, chief executive of major container shipping line Hapag-Lloyd last week, estimating the war had driven up costs by “$40, 50 million per week”. “A big chunk of that is bunker fuel prices, but also in categories like insurance or container storage and inland transportation, we have seen costs go up, and we have six ships that we cannot use today, which reduces the available capacity,” he told a news conference. Here are five data indicators of how the crisis ... -
Dawn - 13:03 Mar 31, 2026
Schools in Sindh and Balochistan will resume classes from April 1 (Wednesday) and follow a five-day working week amid the fuel crisis, the provincial governments said on Tuesday. On March 9, the Balochistan provincial government had announced that educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities, would remain closed from March 10 to March 31 due to the global fuel crisis triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran. According to a notification posted on the provincial government’s X account, it was announced that “all schools (public and private) in Balochistan shall re-open with effect from April 1 (Wednesday)”. However, it added that due to the current fuel situation, “all schools (public & private), the provincial directorate, divisional directorates and the district offices of the School Education Department shall observe a five-day working week (Monday to Friday)”. Saturday and Sunday will remain off, the notification said. “All examinations/assessments shall be conducted as per the notif... -
Dawn - 12:15 Mar 31, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of the suspension of sentence applications filed by Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, in the £190 million case, after the defence counsel sought time to obtain fresh instructions from his clients. A division bench headed by IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and including Justice Muhammad Asif presided over the proceedings. During the hearing, defence counsel Salman Safdar appeared alongside National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Special Prosecutor Javed Ashraf and prosecutor Rafay Maqsood. The hearing was also attended by the PTI founder’s sisters, Aleema Khanum, Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi. At the outset, the NAB prosecutor argued that two separate applications for suspension of sentence had already been filed, stressing that such pleas could not be heard without issuance of notice in the main appeals, particularly after recent amendments to the NAB law. He urged the court to proceed with arguments on the appeals if t... -
Dawn - 12:14 Mar 31, 2026
‘Hunuz Dilli dur ast’, which translates to Delhi is still far away, is a phrase deeply rooted in South Asian history. Legend has it that when Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya was threatened by Sultan Ghiyasuddin Tughluq, he responded with these words. The sultan never made it back to Delhi; he died on his return journey. Another popular anecdote recounts Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor, dismissing the advancing British with the same phrase. History, of course, proved otherwise. Together, these stories illustrate the best and possibly the worst of human nature. On the one hand, they reflect hope; a belief that circumstances may improve even in the face of danger. On the other hand, they illustrate the dangerous optimism that leads societies to ignore looming crises until it is too late. That same instinct has long shaped the global response to climate change. No longer a distant abstraction Since at least the 1930s, scientists have warned that environmental degradation and rising greenhouse gas emissio... -
Dawn - 11:51 Mar 31, 2026
The outgoing head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) supporting Palestinian refugees said on Tuesday he wanted an investigation into the killing of nearly 400 UNRWA staff during the conflict in Gaza. “I believe that we need to have a panel … a high-level panel of experts to look into the killing of our staff,” Philippe Lazzarini told reporters in Geneva. Speaking at a press conference on the last day on the job as UNRWA commissioner general, the 62-year-old Swiss national condemned the fact that “more than 390” of the agency’s staff had been killed since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023. “Many others have sustained life-changing injuries or have been arbitrarily detained and tortured,” he said. He said an investigation was needed not just into the killing of UNRWA employees but also of other UN staff, stressing: “There have been other UN colleagues who have been also killed. “And we have to look also at the extraordinary, large-scale destruction of the agency, of UN premise... -
Dawn - 11:31 Mar 31, 2026
US says respects Israel ‘right’ to legislate as death penalty bill for Palestinians widely condemned
The United States said on Monday it respected Israel’s right to set its own laws after its parliament introduced the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of killings, a move sharply criticised by European nations and rights groups. “The United States respects Israel’s sovereign right to determine its own laws and penalties for individuals convicted of terrorism,” a State Department spokesperson said. “We trust that any such measures will be carried out with a fair trial and respect for all applicable fair trial guarantees and protections.” The United States is the only Nato country that still practices capital punishment. It has long been the key diplomatic and military supporter of Israel. Meanwhile, the European Union condemned Israel’s approval of the bill, terming it “discriminatory”. “The death penalty bill in Israel is very concerning to us in the EU. This is a clear step backwards — the introduction of the death penalty, together with the discriminatory nature of the law,” EU spokesman Anouar El An... -
Dawn - 11:20 Mar 31, 2026
The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s benchmark index climbed by 1,900.34 points on Tuesday after witnessing a meltdown a day earlier. The KSE-100 index climbed by 1,900.34 points, or 1.29 per cent, to close at 148,743.31 from the previous close of 146,842.97. The index saw an intraday low of 147,743.67 points at around 9:30am. However, it then rose to an intraday high of 150,225.63 points at around 2:20pm, before settling at 146,842.97. On Monday, PSX came under extreme selling pressure, dragging the KSE-100 index below the 145,000 milestone intraday. The benchmark KSE-100 index remained in negative territory from the beginning of trade, hitting an intraday low of 144,656.97, a sharp decline of 7,050.55. It then closed 4,864.54 points lower than the previous session. Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Ltd (AHL), said that since February 9, it has been the seventh consecutive Monday, excluding March 23, during which the market experienced significant sell-offs, mostly driven by adverse geopolitical dev... -
Dawn - 11:12 Mar 31, 2026
Lahore Qalandars batter Fakhar Zaman has been suspended for two Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches after he was found guilty of breaching the code of conduct, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Tuesday. The incident occurred in the final over of Sunday’s match between Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars, with the former needing 14 runs to win. Fakhar, Lahore captain Shaheen Afridi and fast bowler Haris Rauf were involved in a brief discussion, during which Fakhar and Rauf passed the ball between them. The umpire then approached Rauf and asked to see the ball. Following consultations with the square-leg umpire, the officials awarded five penalty runs to Karachi and ordered the ball to be changed. The penalty proved costly as Karachi went on to chase down a target of 129 with three balls to spare, Abbas Afridi hitting a four and a six to seal a four-wicket victory. On Monday, the PCB had officially charged Fakhar with ball-tampering. In a press release issued on Tuesday, the PCB said, “Fakhar Zaman h...
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