Dawn
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Dawn - 03:24 Aug 07, 2026
THE interior minister of Pakistan had said the other day that whether “we admit it or not, this system has collapsed” and that “this system has to be reset”. The healthcare system of Pakistan is sadly a clear illustration of what the minister said, and the spread of HIV and hepatitis C symbolise this collapse. The latest reported figure of small children infected with HIV in the country due to reused syringes and transfusion of unscreened blood is 7,500, minus cases in 2026 from Punjab, which has reportedly not bothered to share its data with the federal government. The total number of deaths due to HIV is reported to be 25,000. The number of children’s deaths is not available. As for the case of hepatitis C, we have the world’s largest infected population, ie around 10 million. The current estimated prevalence of hepatitis C in Pakistan is 7.5 per cent, which is also the highest in the world. Twenty per cent of the global burden of hepatitis C is in Pakistan alone. HIV and hepatitis C share the same modes of... -
Dawn - 03:07 Aug 07, 2026
• Says Oman, other ‘brotherly states’ leading different aspects of diplomacy • Insists Islamabad is focused on settlement rather than ‘individual symptoms of crisis’ • Pakistan examining TORs, operational modalities of Saudi-led maritime coalition • Govt will decide on Gaza stabilisation force after formal proposal ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Thursday insisted that Pakistan remained actively engaged in efforts to defuse the Strait of Hormuz stand-off, while also examining the terms of reference and operational modalities of a newly announced Saudi-led multinational maritime coalition aimed at protecting shipping routes in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The Foreign Office acknowledged that different regional partners, particularly Oman, were taking the lead on different aspects of the diplomatic process. It portrayed Islamabad’s role as part of a coordinated effort by “brotherly states” to steer the crisis back towards the framework established under the Islamabad Memorandum o... -
Dawn - 03:05 Aug 07, 2026
DESPITE the use of both carrots and sticks by the international community, the Afghan Taliban refuse to cut their ties to terrorist groups such as the TTP. This poses a particular problem to Afghanistan’s neighbours, including Pakistan, which has borne the brunt of terrorist violence ever since the Taliban’s return to Kabul in 2021. Both KP and Balochistan are currently in the grip of violent insurgencies, with the elements responsible for the bloodshed finding safe havens in Afghanistan. Pakistan raised the issue at the UN Security Council on Wednesday, with this country’s permanent representative highlighting the “increasingly permissive environment” for terrorist groups in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. He urged the Taliban to fulfil their obligations and ensure Afghan soil is not used against neighbouring states. China’s representative at the same forum echoed these concerns, urging the Taliban to take action, whilst supporting Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts. The Chinese diplomat also called... -
Dawn - 03:05 Aug 07, 2026
ISLAMABAD: While the government has once again invited the main opposition party, PTI, to begin negotiations, the party has linked any dialogue with improved meeting facilities and access to medical care for its founding chairman, Imran Khan. Aamir Dogar, the PTI’s Chief Whip, met National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Thursday. The meeting was also attended by Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Dr Fazal said the government had once again offered talks at the venue proposed by PTI within Parliament House. “The ball is now in PTI’s court,” he said, expressing hope that the opposition would respond positively. He recalled that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had earlier offered dialogue to the opposition, but PTI had not responded. Aamir Dogar meets NA speaker, minister in Parliament House He said negotiations were the only way to resolve political issues. PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram, while talking to Dawn, ... -
Dawn - 02:59 Aug 07, 2026
• Petitioners cite fear of Taliban persecution if sent back to Afghanistan • Peshawar High Court notes fears of detention and removal don’t constitute valid cause of action • Rules immigration, visa and residency matters fall within executive’s domain PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has rejected petitions filed by a former general of the erstwhile Afghan National Army and a special agent of the former Afghan Presidential Protective Service (PPS), along with their families, seeking protection against their imminent arrest and deportation by law enforcement agencies. A bench comprising Justices Wiqar Ahmad and Kamran Hayat Miankhel dismissed two almost identical petitions filed by former general Baryalai Sharifi and former PPS special agent Abdul Mujeeb Ghairat and their family members. They had approached the court fearing persecution by the Taliban government in Afghanistan if deported. The counsel for Mr Sharifi submitted that his clients were Afghan nationals who had entered Pakistan on valid visas.... -
Dawn - 02:54 Aug 07, 2026
• Naqvi says centre in Islamabad will combine detention, investigation and summary trial facilities under one roof • Initiative aims to speed up disposal of minor offence cases, reduce procedural delays ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to embark on a major transformation of its policing system, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announcing a series of reforms inspired by successful international law enforcement models, including the establishment of a China-style Law Enforcement Investigation Centre in Islamabad. The announcement came during his meeting with assistant superintendents of police who recently returned after completing specialised training courses in China and Turkiye. The officers described overseas programmes as an invaluable experience that significantly enhanced their professional capabilities and exposed them to modern policing practices, surveillance technologies, and contemporary approaches to maintaining law and order. Acknowledging the importance of international exposure, Naqvi declared that... -
Dawn - 02:39 Aug 07, 2026
• President has yet to approve summary for JCP-recommended hirings • Govt reviewing possibility of issuing notifications under Article 48(1) • Presidency sources warn bypassing procedure may lead to complications • IHC reserves verdict on maintainability of plea challenging delay in notifying appointments ISLAMABAD: The federal government is considering notifying the appointment and confirmation of high court judges despite President Asif Ali Zardari not having formally accorded assent to the recommendations made by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), sources told Dawn. The JCP, during its meetings held on July 20 and 21, recommended the appointment of 19 additional judges to the high courts, confirmed the services of four additional judges of the Peshawar High Court and one additional judge of the Lahore High Court, and extended the tenure of an additional judge of the Sindh High Court by six months. However, the appointments have yet to be notified by the Ministry of Law and Justice as the president... -
Dawn - 02:29 Aug 07, 2026
• Tanker reports fresh explosions in strait; US naval blockade remains in place • US imports of Middle East crude set to cross 0.6m barrels per day • Vance, Ghalibaf trade barbs over ‘messy negotiations’ WASHINGTON / TEHRAN: Despite an understanding between Iran and Oman, fresh security incidents in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday highlighted the continued risks for regional shipping in the critical waterway. While the agreement would be a step towards reopening the key energy route, Iranian media stressed that any easing still hinged on Washington ending its own naval blockade of Iran’s ports. On Thursday, Centcom said it continued to enforce the naval blockade of Iran, redirecting 49 commercial vessels, disabling two, and boarding two. Highlighting the risks to ships, the captain of an oil tanker reported hearing two explosions while transiting the strait, nine nautical miles southeast of Kumzar in Oman, Britain’s maritime security agency said on Wednesday. “The Master of a tanker has reported hearing two... -
Dawn - 02:08 Aug 07, 2026
KARACHI: Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier, Riyadh Air, has announced an expansion of its routes to Pakistan, with daily flights connecting the two capitals set to commence on August 14. In a statement, the airline said that ticket sales had started for the Islamabad-Riyadh and Lahore-Riyadh routes, while the inaugural service to Lahore would be launched on August 18. A total of seven flights per week would operate between Riyadh and Islamabad, while the Lahore route would be served by three flights per week, the statement said. The airline said that the new routes will be operated on Riyadh Air’s new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, featuring the airline’s latest cabin interiors and on-board experience. The Dreamliners feature four cabins, including Business Elite, Business, Premium Economy and Economy class. The Lahore-Riyadh and Islamabad-Riyadh routes have been planned to offer smooth onward connectivity to Europe and the Middle East, catering to both business and leisure travellers from Pakistan, the statemen... -
Dawn - 19:09 Aug 06, 2026
Eight Muslim countries, including Pakistan, have once again condemned Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip, terming them violations of international humanitarian law and relevant United Nations resolutions. The Foreign Office (FO) said on Thursday that foreign ministries of Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, in a joint statement, condemned the continued humanitarian crisis in the region, which they termed “a clear breach of Israel’s obligations under international law”, as well as the plan to end the conflict outlined by United States President Donald Trump in 2025. The ministers expressed “their strongest condemnation and denunciation of the ongoing Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip, particularly the targeting of healthcare facilities and medical infrastructure, attacks on civilian infrastructure and the continued loss of civilian lives”. They said the continued violence undermined efforts to implement the second phase of the plan, especially aft... -
Dawn - 18:34 Aug 06, 2026
Israeli settlers attacked a small Palestinian community in the occupied West Bank, injuring people, destroying homes and smashing their power source, the military and residents said on Thursday, in the latest in a spate of violent confrontations. AFP journalists in remote Khirbet al-Tuba saw buildings blackened by fire and smoke, the interiors of three homes completely burned and graffiti in Hebrew spray-painted on remaining structures. The dozen solar panels the isolated southern community relies on for power had also been smashed to render them unusable. The Israeli military said it “strongly condemned” the raid and that it had responded after “homes being set on fire and Palestinians being attacked in the area by Israeli civilians” late on Wednesday. People check damaged solar panels, which Palestinians say were damaged by Israeli settlers, in Tuba in Masafer Yatta, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on August 6, 2026. — Reuters “Several Palestinians were injured, among them a girl and a woman. Several stru... -
Dawn - 18:32 Aug 06, 2026
LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Thursday announced peaceful sit-ins against the petroleum levy at 510 locations across the country on Friday, warning that the protests would transform into a movement to overthrow the government if authorities attempted to stop them. Addressing a protest rally by the JI Women’s Wing on Wahdat Road in Lahore against rising petroleum prices and inflation, Rehman said major roads linking districts across Pakistan would be blocked from 4pm onwards; however, ambulances would be allowed to pass without interruption. “If obstacles are created or our peaceful protest against the petroleum levy is blocked, this campaign will turn into an anti-government movement,” he said, demanding that the price of petrol be reduced to Rs225 per litre. JI Lahore Emir Advocate Ziauddin Ansari, Women’s Wing President Dr Humaira Tariq, Samiha Raheel Qazi, Samina Saeed and Uzma Imran also addressed the gathering. Rehman urged the government to accept the public’s demand... -
Dawn - 18:17 Aug 06, 2026
The government on Thursday reduced the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs3.19 and Rs1.50 per litre, respectively. Following the revision, petrol will retail at Rs329.82 per litre, while HSD will cost Rs382.36 per litre. The government continues to levy Rs110 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs96 per litre on HSD. The Petroleum Division’s notification said the new prices would be applicable for August 7 (Friday). The diesel price has come down from a peak of Rs520.35 recorded on April 3. Its price had started rising from Rs281 per litre after the US-Iran war broke out on February 28. The petrol price had peaked at Rs458.41 on April 3 after beginning its upward trajectory from Rs266 in the first week of March. Earlier, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik announced that fuel prices would now be fixed on a daily basis due to fluctuations in international market prices following renewed hostilities between Iran and the US. The government had been announcing weekly revisions to fuel pric... -
Dawn - 17:58 Aug 06, 2026
KARACHI: Police on Thursday claimed to have made a major breakthrough in the case of Mir Raza Ali after recovering a spent cartridge casing from the crime scene in Gulistan-i-Jauhar. Raza, an IBA graduate and owner of the eatery Wafflix, went missing on July 28. The 25-year-old’s body was found a day later with a gunshot wound in bushes near Shahi Qila Ground in Gulistan-i-Jauhar. Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Samiullah Soomro, who heads the probe team, told Dawn that the police recovered “a fired bullet shell from the crime scene during a meticulously planned search operation”. He added that a special search team, comprising four station house officers (SHOs) and 40 constables, was formed to conduct a comprehensive examination of the crime scene. Equipped with metal detectors and other equipment, the team divided the area into four sectors, with each unit assigned a separate search pattern and sector to ensure complete coverage of the scene. “The painstaking search resul... -
Dawn - 17:30 Aug 06, 2026
The foreign ministers of eight Islamic countries, including Pakistan, once again condemned Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip in a joint statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday. Alongside Pakistan, the statement was issued by the foreign ministries of Egypt, Turkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, condemning the continued humanitarian crisis in the region, which they termed “a clear breach of Israel’s obligations under international law”, as well as the plan to end the conflict outlined by United States President Donald Trump in 2025. The ministers expressed “their strongest condemnation and denunciation of the ongoing Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip, particularly the targeting of healthcare facilities and medical infrastructure, attacks on civilian infrastructure and the continued loss of civilian lives”. They said the continued violence undermined efforts to implement the second phase of the plan, especially after Palestinian factions had accepted... -
Dawn - 17:26 Aug 06, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday evening for a three-day visit. Apart from CDF Munir, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi are also accompanying the premier on the visit. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, who is currently in Saudi Arabia after concluding a visit to Jordan, will be part of the delegation as well. In a post on X, the government said the premier landed in Jeddah and was received by Deputy Governor of Makkah Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz at the airport. Saudi Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Environment Engineer Abdulrahman and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq were also among the officials present to greet PM Shehbaz. The premier will also perform Umrah and visit Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) mosque in Madina during the visit, the government said. Earlier, FO... -
Dawn - 16:41 Aug 06, 2026
Prosecutors charged an Israeli settler on Thursday in the killing of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen in the occupied West Bank, the first such indictment since the outbreak of the Gaza war in 2023, activists say. “Yinon Eliya Levi [33], from Ma’on, has been charged with allegedly firing toward an area where people were present during a confrontation that developed over earthworks on private land, causing the death of the late Awdah Hathaleen,” Israel’s Ministry of Justice said on X. “The Southern District Prosecutor’s Office has filed an indictment against him … on charges of reckless manslaughter, trespassing, and willful property damage.” Hathaleen, an activist who took part in the production of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, was killed in July 2025 during a settler attack on his village of Umm al-Khair, in the southern West Bank. Umm al-Khair sits in the region of Masafer Yatta, where Palestinian communities have faced frequent settler violence and home demolitions by the military, which... -
Dawn - 16:25 Aug 06, 2026
ISLAMABAD: In the first six months of the year, 1,914 cases of child abuse were reported across the country, child protection NGO Sahil said in its latest report. Among the reported cases, 49 involved infants who were found abandoned by the roadside. From January to June 2026, as many as 1,015 cases of child sexual abuse, 558 cases of abduction, 101 cases of missing children and 35 cases of child marriages were reported. Furthermore, 98 cases of pornography following sexual abuse were also recorded. The Sahil report was compiled on the basis of data collected from different national and regional newspapers of all four provinces, including Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). Of the total reported cases, 58 per cent of victims were girls. The data also showed that children aged 11-15 years were the most vulnerable to abuse. Among the victims, 598 children were aged between 11 and 15, 356 were aged 16-18, 329 belonged to the 6-10 years age bracket, while 95 ... -
Dawn - 14:45 Aug 06, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday reserved its order on petitions seeking to declare the alleged solitary confinement of PTI founder Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi illegal after hearing detailed arguments from both sides. Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro observed that the court would issue an order after examining the record and directed the parties to submit in writing any judgments they wished to rely on. During the hearing, Adiala Jail Superintendent Sajid Baig, Islamabad Advocate General Naveed Hayat Malik and counsel for the petitioners Barrister Salman Safdar appeared before the court. The advocate general argued that the petitions were not maintainable and maintained that neither Imran nor Bushra had been kept in solitary confinement. He said the prison authorities had instead provided them with facilities exceeding those available to B-class prisoners. He submitted that, owing to security considerations arising from Imran’s political profile, he had been housed separately from ... -
Dawn - 14:06 Aug 06, 2026
Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir discussed the enhancement of bilateral defence and security cooperation with Somalia in a meeting with the country’s defence minister, the military’s media wing said on Thursday. According to a press release by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a high-level defence delegation from Somalia called on the CDF at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. The delegation was led by Somalia’s Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, the ISPR said. CDF Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to “supporting Somalia in strengthening its security apparatus and fostering enduring peace in the region”, the statement added. During the meeting, “matters of mutual interest, regional security dynamics, and measures to further enhance bilateral defence and security cooperation were discussed”, it said, adding that both sides underscored the importance of “deepening military-to-military ties and capacity building initiatives to counter common secu...
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