Dawn
Source:
https://www.dawn.com
Found 10706 news
-
Dawn - 08:03 May 09, 2026
Pakistan has raised alarm at the systematic annexation of the occupied West Bank, expansion of illegal settlements and the forced displacement of Palestinians, calling for the intervention of the global community. The stance was expressed by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad at the Arria-formula meeting on the situation in the occupied territory. “While international attention is consumed by multiple crises across the region, the systematic annexation of the occupied West Bank, expansion of illegal settlements, demolitions, land seizures and forced displacement of Palestinians continue unabated, and this requires our attention,” he said, according to the statement shared by Pakistan’s UN mission on X. “Israeli policies and illegal actions, unprecedented in scale and impact, are undermining the prospects for a viable Palestinian state,” he said. The ambassador said that Pakistan condemned Israel’s ongoing legislative and administrative measures aimed at en... -
Dawn - 06:49 May 09, 2026
Pakistan and Bangladesh have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen bilateral cooperation against drug trafficking and narcotics abuse, the Ministry of Interior said on Saturday. The development came during Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s visit to Dhaka, where he met his Bangladeshi counterpart Salahuddin Ahmed, according to the ministry. It said that Naqvi and Ahmed signed the MoU on behalf of their respective governments, adding that both also agreed to set up a secretary-level joint working group between their ministries. Under the MoU, both countries will fully cooperate to prevent the illegal transportation and smuggling of narcotics, while joint efforts will be made to “curb the growing trend of drug abuse and eliminate its negative impacts”, the ministry said. It was also agreed that a joint strategy will be formulated to dismantle narcotics sale and supply networks. The relevant agencies of both countries will exchange timely intelligence and information regarding drug traffickers a... -
Dawn - 04:00 May 09, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Reza Amiri Moghadam believes the region could witness new political alignments once the ongoing war involving the United States and Israel comes to an end. He was speaking at a roundtable hosted by the Centre for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad, where diplomats, academics and policy practitioners discussed the future course of Pakistan-Iran ties and the evolving regional situation as the conflict continues under what participants described as a delicate ceasefire. The Iranian envoy, reflecting the thinking in Tehran, said Iran considers its relationship with Pakistan a priority in the neighbourhood. While noting that Iran maintains relations with other states, including India, he said Pakistan remained a key partner and the relationship was steadily growing stronger. The envoy said Iran had consistently pursued friendly relations with neighbouring countries, but predicted that the recent war could significantly reshape regional order. He suggested ... -
Dawn - 03:56 May 09, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Capital Development Authority (CDA) has initiated action against Al-Mustafa Tower, located in Sector F-10, and an inquiry has been launched in this regard. Sources in the CDA said the inquiry would determine the role of CDA officials and fix responsibility, if any. They said the civic agency recently received information that amenity spaces in the tower, such as the gym and open areas, had allegedly been sold out. CDA officials said that in 2019, on the directions of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the CDA took over the project and started managing its affairs through a management committee. “On the directions of the Islamabad High Court, CDA constituted a committee to manage the affairs of Al-Mustafa Tower. However, the committee became dysfunctional without any order from the competent authority, due to which the affairs of the building could not be managed properly. In the meantime, CDA received information that public amenity spaces had been illegally sold by the ex-allottee/builder and more th... -
Dawn - 02:44 May 09, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Senior leaders of the Afghan Taliban government on Friday contacted JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to express condolences over the killing of Sheikh Idris. According to the JUI-F media cell, Afghan Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid separately contacted Maulana Fazlur Rehman. In the discussion with Maulana Fazl, the Afghan leadership expressed deep sorrow over the killing and prayed for the departed soul. Maulana Idris, a senior member of JUI-F was shot dead by armed motorcyclists in the Utmanzai area of Charsadda on May 5, while he was traveling to a madressah. As the Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) claimed responsibility for the killing the initial findings suggest the attack was planned in Afghanistan. JUI-F protesters in Islamabad demand immediate arrest of culprits They strongly condemned the assassination and said the people and leadership of Afghanistan equally share the grief... -
Dawn - 02:35 May 09, 2026
The government raised the price of petrol by Rs14.92 per litre and that of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs15 on Friday. Following the increase, the price of petrol stands at Rs414.78 per litre and HSD’s at Rs414.58. The Petroleum Division’s press release notifying the increase said the new prices would be effective from May 9. Petrol is mostly used in private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws and two-wheelers and has a direct bearing on the budget of the middle and lower-middle class. High-speed diesel is mainly used in the heavy transport sector and for large generators. The government has been revising petroleum prices every week on Friday night following the now-paused US-Israeli war on Iran, which began on February 28. The war also led to a global fuel crunch caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s supply of oil and gas used to pass in peace time. After the US-Israeli war on Iran began, the government initially hiked petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 per litre... -
Dawn - 02:21 May 09, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The newly created Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has pushed the emoluments of its staff and officers to unprecedented levels as debate continues over the constitutional supremacy of FCC and Supreme Court. The development comes amid an intensifying constitutional debate between the FCC and the SC over their respective jurisdictions and authority following the 27th Constitutional Amendment. In a recent judgement, the SC ruled it is not subordinate to the FCC despite FCC’s repeated assertions that exclusive constitutional adjudication now rests with it after the amendment. The ruling, authored by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, interpreted the amended constitutional framework as creating two co-equal apex courts with separate jurisdictions, rather than a hierarchical arrangement placing one above the other. The judgement diverged sharply from several FCC rulings declaring its decisions binding on all courts, including the SC. Pay gap of up to Rs300,000 in some cases raises questions In a n... -
Dawn - 02:17 May 09, 2026
• Marriage halls increase rates or avoid long-term pricing commitments due to economic uncertainty • Govt austerity measures have led to stricter enforcement of wedding regulations, including the 10pm curfew and one-dish policy KARACHI: With temperatures climbing, wedding invitations seem to have mercifully dwindled to a stop for those who dread the sweat of suits, heels, and layers of makeup. And not a day too soon, given how the ongoing war has impacted this wedding-obsessed country. Amid surging fuel rates and inflation, pricing volatility has reached new highs. Several venues have raised rates by up to Rs500 per head, while others are refusing to commit to winter pricing altogether, citing uncertainty around oil and input costs, says Izzah Zaman, co-founder of wedding-tech startup Shadiyana. Alongside this, the government’s austerity measures have led to stricter regulatory enforcement: a 10pm wedding cutoff, police intervention in cases of violations, and crackdowns on the one-dish policy, resulting in ... -
Dawn - 02:00 May 09, 2026
WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Executive Board on Friday approved the latest review of Pakistan’s reform programme, paving the way for the release of $1.2 billion in financing under the ongoing arrangements. In Islamabad, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb also confirmed the approval, saying the decision reflects Pakistan’s continued progress on difficult but necessary economic reforms. The approval was given at a meeting of the IMF Executive Board in Washington, DC, reflecting its continued support for Pakistan’s ongoing economic reform programme. The disbursement includes around $1 billion under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and approximately $200 million under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). With this tranche, total disbursements under the current programme have risen to about $4.5 billion. The IMF said the approval comes after Pakistan successfully met key structural benchmarks, including tax policy measures and adjustments in energy pricing, aimed at strengtheni... -
Dawn - 20:31 May 08, 2026
The interior ministry on Friday denied reports about the “targeted deportation” of Pakistanis from the United Arab Emirates, asserting that no “country- or sect-specific” expulsions from any country, including the UAE, were being carried out. The ministry’s statement contradicts claims on social media that Pakistanis were being deported from the UAE without any reason. In recent days, several media outlets have also reported that Pakistanis are being deported from the UAE. Among them, The New York Times published a report earlier today stating that the Gulf country had begun a “large-scale expulsion” of Pakistani workers. The US news outlet spoke to more than 20 Pakistani Shias who worked in the UAE, the report stated, adding that “all [the workers] said they were suddenly arrested, detained and deported in the past month”. The article linked the reported expulsion to what it described as an apparent dent in the relationship between the two countries amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Following these repo... -
Dawn - 19:11 May 08, 2026
The government raised the price of petrol by Rs14.92 per litre and that of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs15 on Friday. Following the increase, the price of petrol stands at Rs414.78 per litre and HSD’s at Rs414.58. The Petroleum Division’s press release notifying the increase said the new prices would be effective from May 9. Petrol is mostly used in private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws and two-wheelers and has a direct bearing on the budget of the middle and lower-middle class. High-speed diesel is mainly used in the heavy transport sector and for large generators. The government has been revising petroleum prices every week on Friday night following the now-paused US-Israeli war on Iran, which began on February 28. The war also led to a global fuel crunch caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s supply of oil and gas used to pass in peace time. After the US-Israeli war on Iran began, the government initially hiked petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 per litre... -
Dawn - 18:59 May 08, 2026
Security forces killed five terrorists in two separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank and Dera Ismail Khan districts, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Friday. In Tank district, an intelligence-based operation was conducted on the reported presence of khwarij. “During conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged khwarij location and after intense exchange of fire, four khwarij, belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Khwarij were sent to hell,” said the military media wing. Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. In another IBO conducted in DI Khan district, a terrorist was killed during a firefight with security forces. The ISPR said the IBOs were conducted on May 7-8. “Weapons and ammunition have also been recovered from killed Indian sponsored khwarij, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area.” A sanitisation operation is being conducted to eliminate any other khawa... -
Dawn - 18:41 May 08, 2026
BANNU: A powerful explosion, following the reported crash of a quadcopter drone, injured eight people, including women, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district on Friday night. Security agencies immediately launched an investigation into the matter as panic spread in the area. According to police, the drone flew into the area from an unknown location and exploded shortly after falling near a residential area, leaving several people injured. Local residents rushed to the scene and shifted the injured to the District Headquarters Hospital Bannu after initially providing first aid. The administration at the District Headquarters Hospital confirmed that all injured individuals are receiving medical treatment, while some are said to be in critical condition. Meanwhile, security sources said the incident is being investigated from multiple angles to determine the nature of the explosion, the origin of the drone, and possible motives. Local residents expressed deep concern over the incident and urged the government a... -
Dawn - 18:27 May 08, 2026
WASHINGTON: The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has once again urged the US State Department to declare India a “country of particular concern,” citing its 2026 assessment and hearing over “ongoing, systematic, and egregious religious freedom conditions” in the country. The issue was examined during an in-person hearing in Washington on Thursday, where commissioners, lawmakers, scholars, and legal experts shared their views on conditions faced by religious minorities in India, including Christians, Muslims, Sikhs and Dalits, as well as allegations of growing transnational repression targeting critics abroad. USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler said India’s trajectory on religious freedom had continued to decline. She stated: “Our 2026 Annual Report, USCIRF once again recommended that the State Department designate India as a ‘country of particular concern’ for its ongoing, systematic, and egregious religious freedom conditions.” Hartzler added that under the current political envi... -
Dawn - 16:06 May 08, 2026
WASHINGTON: A courtroom clash with US War Secretary Pete Hegseth is rapidly transforming Democratic Senator Mark Kelly into one of the most closely watched potential challengers to President Donald Trump ahead of the 2028 US presidential election. A federal appeals court on Thursday appeared sceptical of Pentagon efforts to punish the retired astronaut and Navy officer over remarks urging US troops to refuse illegal orders, with judges sharply questioning whether the government’s case could stand constitutional scrutiny. The case has taken on broader political significance in Washington, where Democrats are increasingly searching for figures capable of challenging Trump’s hardline political and security agenda. Kelly, 62, is a former US Navy combat pilot who flew missions during the 1991 Gulf War before joining Nasa as an astronaut. He later commanded multiple space shuttle missions, including the final flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour in 2011. He studied at the US Merchant Marine Academy and earned a master... -
Dawn - 15:32 May 08, 2026
Senators alarmed by ‘surge’ in violence against women; 5pc conviction rate termed ‘systemic failure’
ISLAMABAD: Senators on Friday voiced alarm over rising violent crimes against women and demanded stronger measures to improve the conviction rate, which the presiding officer, PPP Vice President Sherry Rehman, said stood at “only five per cent”. The debate began after Balochistan Senator Naseema Ehsan raised the killing of Rubina Chandio for alleged ‘honour’ in Sindh’s Tando Masti. “Rubina Chandio was killed in Sindh. She was given neither a funeral nor a shroud,” Ehsan said. She added that the woman was shot in front of a crowd, and the case surfaced after videos circulated on social media. “The culprits involved in this brutal murder should also be hanged publicly,” she added. Police suspect that Chandio was killed in a karo-kari case in Khairpur district. ‘Honour killings’ persist despite the 2016 anti-honour killing law that removed the option of pardoning by heirs. HRCP data says over 470 women were killed in the name of ‘honour’ in Pakistan in 2023. Rehman called the situation “deeply distressing and un... -
Dawn - 14:55 May 08, 2026
The Pentagon on Friday released a first batch of previously secret files documenting reported sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) — some as far back as the 1940s — a move sought for decades by some Americans. “These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation — and it’s time the American people see it for themselves,” War Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a statement. More than 160 files were released on Friday on the website of the War Department, which officially refers to UFOs as “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena,” or UAPs. An image showing an Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon, or UAP, released by the Pentagon on May 8, 2026. — Photo courtesy US Department of War One file — from December 1947 — contains a series of reports on “flying discs.” An Air Force intelligence report — marked “top secret” — from November of the following year features information on reported sightings of “unidentified aircraft” and “flying saucers.” Another file documents a 2023 incident in ... -
Dawn - 14:35 May 08, 2026
Australia on Friday imposed sanctions on the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and three of its senior leaders, according to a statement from Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s office. “The Australian Government has today imposed counter-terrorism financing sanctions on the Balochistan Liberation Army and three senior leaders for their engagement in and support of terrorist attacks,” said the statement dated May 8. The Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the BLA is a “group that has conducted violent terror attacks across Pakistan”. “These appalling attacks have targeted civilians, critical infrastructure, and foreign nationals, as well as the Pakistani state,” the statement read, adding that Australia’s commitment to counter-terrorism and curbing violent extremism is “unwavering”. “These sanctions help cut off financial support of terrorists, making it harder for them to fund operations, recruit and spread their harmful ideology,” it added. Wong’s office reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling networks t... -
Dawn - 14:12 May 08, 2026
BANNU: A high-profile terrorist who was killed in a recent operation by security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district was a member of the Afghan Taliban regime’s special forces, security sources said on Friday. Security sources said the terrorist, Fatehullah alias Mudassir, was an active member of Yarmook 60 Special Forces Battalion. The unit operates under the Taliban regime’s Ministry of Interior Affairs. They added that Fatehullah belonged to the Zarmat district of Afghanistan’s Paktia province and was actively involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan alongside the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Reports further suggest that he was also involved in facilitating cross-border terrorist networks and planning various militant operations, the security sources elaborated. Security sources said that Fatehullah was killed along with his accomplices during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) conducted near Bannu’s Baka Khel Airport on April 9. During the operation, security forces effectivel... -
Dawn - 12:56 May 08, 2026
PESHAWAR: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Friday held a second round of protest rallies across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa against the killing of prominent cleric Maulana Muhammad Idrees, according to a statement released by the party’s media cell. On Tuesday, JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced that the party would hold two rounds of protest rallies — on Wednesday and Friday — against the “martyrdom” of the cleric. The party had also staged demonstrations on Wednesday. “On the appeal of the JUI-F, protest rallies were held across all districts of the province today after Friday prayers against the killing of Maulana Idrees,” the statement said. It added that a large protest demonstration was also staged by JUI-F outside the Peshawar Press Club, with protesters demanding the immediate arrest of the killers of Maulana Idrees. The statement said the protestors decried the worsening law and order situation in the province and the “frequent killings of religious scholars”. “JUI is being punished for stand...
10706 items