Dawn
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Dawn - 10:01 Jul 22, 2026
BAHAWALPUR: A young shepherd who was gang-raped by 12 men in Cholistan desert in jurisdictions of the Marot Police Station of Bahawalnagar succumbed to his injuries at the Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH) on Tuesday. A police spokesperson told Dawn, the shepherd was abducted by a suspect on his motorcycle on July 1 from Toba Jinnawala near Chak 289/HR where he had his over 40 sheep for grazing. After eight days on July 9, the youth’s brother, Mohsin, went to meet him at Toba Jinnawala and found him in a serious condition. The victim informed his brother that 12 men, seven of them identified in the FIR, administered him some intoxicant drink, raped him and stole his 40 sheep. Mohsin shifted his serious brother to the Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH) and informed Marot police on 15 about the incident. Marot police registered a case against twelve suspects. The Marot police arranged a post-mortem at the BVH. The police spokesperson claimed that five of the suspects had been arrested by Marot police. In Vehari, a b... -
Dawn - 09:29 Jul 22, 2026
LOWER SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: The death toll from rain-related incidents during the ongoing monsoon spell and flash floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has risen to 18, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Wednesday. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the current rain spell, which began on July 19, is expected to last till July 23 in KP. The latest rain-related fatalities in the province were reported from Upper South Waziristan, where four people were killed in a roof collapse incident, Additional Deputy Commissioner Fazal Wadood told Dawn. He said the incident occurred in the Bangiwala village on the outskirts of Sararogha tehsil during heavy rainfall. The victims belonged to the same family, including a couple and their son and daughter, he added. A report released by the PDMA this morning said that 18 people had died and 19 had been injured in rain-related incidents across the province since July 19. The authority’s report said 23 houses had been partially damaged in rain... -
Dawn - 08:58 Jul 22, 2026
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for talks on Wednesday during a regional gathering led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), where top diplomats voiced concern about renewed Middle East hostilities and tension in the South China Sea. The two were expected to discuss a possible US summit between their leaders flagged for the end of September by President Donald Trump, with Rubio saying on Sunday it was still anticipated. Rubio and Wang did not speak to the media as they entered the room. The meeting comes amid a fragile truce between the world’s biggest economies that could be complicated by Trump’s accusations of Chinese meddling in US elections, which Beijing has denied. The broader Asean meeting in Manila comes amid a flare-up in the conflict between the United States and Iran, while tension simmers between Beijing and close US ally the Philippines over an incident in the South China Sea that led each to summon the other’s ambassador. Meeting with fore... -
Dawn - 08:28 Jul 22, 2026
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said on Wednesday that four suspects, including officials of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), had been arrested in Karachi for their alleged involvement in making false documents for Afghan nationals. In a press release, a spokesperson for the agency identified the suspects as Nadra Assistant Director Imamul Haq, Nadra Deputy Assistant Director Fayyaz Ahmed, Junaid Ahmed, a watchman working for the authority, and a private agent Muhammad Umar Shah. He added that law enforcement agencies had seized important records and other evidence as part of the operation, adding that the scope of the investigation had been expanded. “Further significant revelations and arrests are expected during the investigation, and all facilitators and key figures linked to this network will be brought to justice,” he said. The spokesperson said that preliminary investigations showed that the suspects were involved in facilitating the issuance of fake identity documents f... -
Dawn - 08:17 Jul 22, 2026
Tehran is red and black when I arrive. Millions of people in black mourning attire carried red flags, the stark emblem of blood and martyrdom, seeking revenge for their leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated on February 28. “We Must Rise,” declare the banners. War songs ricochet off the walls in streets punctuated by elegies on the martyrdom of Imam Husayn and his Companions at Karbala. This is collective grief channelled as state resilience. An elderly supporter I meet, Akbar Ali Jafari, puts it like this: “The war has given the Revolution a new lease on life.” The founding purpose is resurrected and its leadership cast as embattled defenders of the nation rather than an ageing, contested regime. A vehicle carrying coffins of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family members, makes its way as people attend a funeral procession for Khamenei. — Reuters In early July, a towering fist was constructed a few days before the funeral proceedings of the slain leader. The Islamic R... -
Dawn - 08:01 Jul 22, 2026
India’s education minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration was committed to addressing the concerns of protesting youth and exam reforms, in the latest sign that the government was beginning to respond to growing protests. The comments by Dharmendra Pradhan are his first since the youth-led “cockroach” movement launched a protest in New Delhi last month seeking his resignation over the leak of medical school test papers that affected some two million students and was linked to several student suicides. The protests by the self-named Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) — which began as an online satire — involved a few hundred young people when they were first launched. This week, the movement has grown into the biggest youth challenge to Modi in his third term as the prime minister as tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Delhi on Monday, clashing with police who used tear gas and batons to push them back. The protests gained further momentum on Tuesday when the main oppositio... -
Dawn - 06:53 Jul 22, 2026
Exam paper leak, protests and Gandhi siblings' arrest — India's 'cockroach' youth movement explained
Thousands of supporters of India’s youth-led “cockroach” movement have been camping in the capital, New Delhi, to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in the biggest public challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his third term. Here is a look at what sparked the protests and the situation now. Why do protesters want Pradhan to quit? The immediate trigger for the demonstrations was the cancellation of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), India’s undergraduate medical school entrance exam, after its question papers were found to have been leaked. About two million students across India took the exam on May 3, but it was later scrapped, with about a dozen student suicides linked to its cancellation. A re-test was held in June. Why is NEET important? The exam is the sole gateway to undergraduate medical courses across India, and millions of aspirants sit for it every year, competing for fewer than 150,000 seats, making it one of India’s toughest entrance exams. The ... -
Dawn - 06:03 Jul 22, 2026
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Tuesday his office does not have the authority to carry out the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and called on US federal officials to step in. “Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal, the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people,” Mamdani said in a brief video message posted to social media. “My administration has reviewed every avenue available under applicable law to determine whether New York City could execute the ICC’s arrest warrant if Benjamin Netanyahu came here,” he said. “It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant. The federal government, however, does, and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant.” The Hague-based International Criminal Court said in 2024 that it had reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu was responsible for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to Israel’s offensive in Gaza f... -
Dawn - 05:47 Jul 22, 2026
Fresh US strikes triggered air defences in Tehran on Wednesday after President Donald Trump warned he was “not finished” with a war on Iran that has already cost his nation $37.5 billion. After the foes’ fighting over the strategic Strait of Hormuz led to the collapse of a preliminary deal, the Middle East war has expanded to include the region’s other key chokepoint for global oil supplies. The US military said its latest attacks hit targets such as “military logistics infrastructure” while Iranian state media reported strikes around the country, including Bushehr, which hosts a nuclear power plant. “News sources reported minutes ago that air defence activity was heard in the west, east and northeast of Tehran,” state TV posted on Telegram. As the war nears the five-month mark and November legislative elections approach, Trump has faced intense political pressure to end the conflict, which is unpopular even with segments of his base. Critics have pointed to the cost of the war that Pentagon Chief Pete Hegset... -
Dawn - 05:42 Jul 22, 2026
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that Pakistan was ready to extend cooperation with Iran in all fields. He made the remarks as he met with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, who is currently in Pakistan on an official visit. A smartly turned-out contingent of the Federal Constabulary presented a guard of honour to the visiting minister upon his arrival, according to a statement issued by the interior ministry. It said that the two ministers held one-on-one talks, followed by delegation-level discussions. It said that the two ministers reviewed bilateral relations, trade, regional developments and avenues for cooperation. According to the interior ministry, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, prevention of illegal immigration and efforts against human trafficking. The two ministers also emphasised the need for joint efforts to curb drug smuggling and terrorism “originating from the Afghan border”, while agreeing to improve coordination between the releva... -
Dawn - 05:09 Jul 22, 2026
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Manila on Wednesday to participate in the 33rd Asean Regional Forum (ARF) ministerial meeting, the Foreign Office (FO) said. “A busy programme of engagements lies ahead, including participation in the ARF plenary meeting and bilateral meetings with counterparts on the sidelines,” the FO said in a post on the social media platform on X. It said that upon his arrival, Dar was received by Elmer G Cato, the assistant secretary at Philippines’ foreign affairs department, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Philippines Asima Rabbani and other officials. In a statement issued on Tuesday night, the FO said that the high-level meeting will bring together foreign ministers and delegates from 27 ARF member states, adding that the Asean secretary general will also attend the meeting. It said that Dar will participate in discussions on “political and security issues affecting the Asia-Pacific region, with a special focus on promoting peace, stability, and mutual coo... -
Dawn - 04:52 Jul 22, 2026
The United States plans to announce an agreement with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday that would give the country a civilian nuclear programme, according to media reports, amid renewed fighting between the Gulf oil giant and Houthi rebels in Yemen. Citing two unnamed US officials, the New York Times reported on Tuesday the Trump administration plans to formally sign and announce the deal with the Saudis on Wednesday. President Donald Trump’s administration said the deal will provide billions of dollars for the US nuclear industry. A provision in the deal, which would last 30 years, would have American companies build a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia if a joint study determined it warranted, the Wall Street Journal reported. The deal is expected to be submitted to Congress in the coming days, but their approval is not required for it to go through. Two sources also told Reuters that the Trump administration plans to submit the agreement to Congress. The sources said the administration would submit to Co... -
Dawn - 03:46 Jul 22, 2026
KP’S petition before the Federal Constitutional Court, seeking Rs964bn as the province’s claimed share of tax revenues since the Fata merger in 2018, may well be a political move by the PTI-led government. Still, it raises larger constitutional and fiscal questions about Pakistan’s federal structure, a dysfunctional National Finance Commission and distribution of fiscal resources among the provinces. The core issue is whether constitutional and fiscal arrangements can be left frozen indefinitely despite major changes in a province’s demographic and administrative realities. While the Fata merger increased KP’s responsibilities, the province’s share from the federal tax pool is unchanged, raising questions about fiscal rights, as well as the centre’s role under Article 160 of the Constitution. Can an NFC Award, based on circumstances more than 15 years old, continue as it is indefinitely? And does a major constitutional change like the Fata merger automatically alter provincial entitlements, or require formal ... -
Dawn - 03:43 Jul 22, 2026
• Tally rises to 94 as Sindh govt had earlier confirmed 78 cases at Valika Hospital • Ombudsman orders comprehensive audit of hospital’s affairs KARACHI: Sindh Ombudsman Mohammad Sohail Rajput was informed on Tuesday that 16 more children were infected with HIV/AIDs at the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI)-run Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital. The ombudsman was hearing a case pertaining to an HIV outbreak at Valika Hospital, where the provincial government confirmed that 78 children had been infected with the infectious disease so far. During the hearing, Adviser to Ombudsman Haani Jamal Khan presented a report on the outbreak, which showed that 16 more children had been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, while concerns remained high that more cases might emerge. The fresh findings brought the total number of HIV-infected children to 94. Parents and families of the affected children, who were also present during the hearing, expressed serious grievances regarding the alleged lack of cooperation by the hosp... -
Dawn - 03:35 Jul 22, 2026
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Tuesday his office does not have the authority to carry out the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and called on US federal officials to step in. “Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal, the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people,” Mamdani said in a brief video message posted to social media. “My administration has reviewed every avenue available under applicable law to determine whether New York City could execute the ICC’s arrest warrant if Benjamin Netanyahu came here,” he said. “It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant. The federal government, however, does, and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant.” The Hague-based International Criminal Court said in 2024 that it had reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu was responsible for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to Israel’s offensive in Gaza follow... -
Dawn - 03:08 Jul 22, 2026
ISLAMABAD: At least 15 cases of threats against journalists have been reported from Punjab, out of a total of 22 such incidents reported between April and June 2026. According to a review released by the Freedom Network on Tuesday as part of its quarterly assessment of threats to media and journalists in Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa saw the number of documented cases in the province fall from five in the first to three in the second quarter of the year. Sindh and Balochistan recorded one case each in both quarters, while Islamabad Capital Territory and Gilgit-Baltistan documented one case each during the second quarter. No verified incidents were reported from Azad Jammu and Kashmir this year. Freedom Network review finds growing role of state institutions in intimidation of media practitioners; those reporting on corruption, governance issues most susceptible to threats The documented cases covered a wide range of violations against journalists, including actual legal action (six), threat of legal action (fo... -
Dawn - 03:02 Jul 22, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan Petrol Pumps Owners Association (APPPOA) on Tuesday announced a nationwide strike from Wednesday night after negotiations with the government over daily petroleum pricing failed. Speaking to the media after a meeting with the government’s team, led by Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, APPPOA representatives said their hour-long talks over the daily fuel pricing mechanism had “failed” to reach an agreement and that they were therefore left with no option but to go on an indefinite strike, as it was an issue of survival for them. The APPPOA delegation comprised Chairman Humayun Khan, Vice Chairman Nauman Ali Butt and other officials. Speaking to the media, Butt said the government’s plan to revise petroleum prices on a daily basis was “unacceptable to petrol pump dealers and unworkable”. He said their main demand was that fuel prices should be determined on a monthly basis, adding that their longstanding demand for an increase in dealer commission had also remained pending, as th... -
Dawn - 03:01 Jul 22, 2026
THE decision to merge the Board of Investment (BOI) and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) gives Pakistan an opportunity to rethink how it attracts investment. Whether this becomes genuine reform or merely another institutional reshuffle depends on one question: can any investment promotion agency succeed when the investment climate itself remains fragmented? Successful investment promotion agencies are remarkably similar, despite operating in very different economies. Singapore’s Economic Development Board, Ireland’s IDA and Costa Rica’s CINDE are recognised global leaders. More recently, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade has shown how a transition economy can integrate investment promotion with industrial development, exports and trade. Their common feature is not institutional design alone, but their ability to market a coherent economic strategy rather than compensate for fragmented policies. Uzbekistan’s main lesson is not the design of its investment agency, but the... -
Dawn - 02:58 Jul 22, 2026
• Incarcerated former senator Ejaz Chaudhry moves SC against high court’s refusal to suspend his sentence • Aleema questions allegations against Imran’s sisters over campaigning for his release ISLAMABAD: A court in the capital issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Tuesday, after he repeatedly failed to appear despite being summoned several times in a case relating to alleged misleading statements and defamation of state institutions. While issuing the order, Senior Civil Judge Abbas Shah noted that the KP chief minister neither appeared in person, nor was he represented by counsel, despite being granted repeated opportunities. Expressing displeasure over the accused’s continued absence, the judge observed that the court’s summons had not been complied with, and warned that if CM Afridi failed to appear on the next date of hearing, proceedings would be initiated to declare him a proclaimed offender under the relevant provisions of law. The judge directed th... -
Dawn - 02:58 Jul 22, 2026
THE rising death toll from the reported clashes between security forces and outlawed terrorist groups tells less than half the story of Balochistan. The strategically important province has been suffering for decades, and the crisis continues to worsen. Blocking the news cannot alter the reality on the ground. The situation points to a fractured state that is losing both public trust and effective control. Unfortunately, there is little attempt to address the political and social causes of the crisis. The state’s reliance on kinetic tactics shows that it has learned few lessons from the failed policies over the past two decades. After scores of policemen were killed in Ziarat earlier this month, the prime minister briefly interrupted his foreign tours to visit Quetta and reiterated that his government would fight until the last terrorist. We have heard this refrain for years, even as terrorism is taking hold across the province. The latest wave of attacks underscores the growing operational capacity of the gr...
12392 items