Dawn
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Found 10732 news
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Dawn - 16:43 Apr 07, 2026
ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: The PTI said on Tuesday that the sisters of incarcerated party founder Imran Khan were taken into custody by law enforcement agencies as they attempted to stage a protest outside Adiala jail. The PTI had called for a “peaceful protest” outside the Adiala jail on Tuesday against the restrictions on meeting Imran. The party has also announced a protest in Rawalpindi on April 9 (Thursday), marking the day the former prime minister was ousted in a no-confidence motion in 2022. However, Section 144 was imposed in Rawalpindi under which gatherings were banned across the district for 15 days. Despite the imposition of Section 144 and the rainy weather in the twin cities, a large number of leaders and workers of PTI reached Adiala jail on Tuesday. PTI Core Committee member Seemabia Tahir told Dawn that party leaders, along with Imran’s three sisters, were stopped at DHA Chowk near Adiala jail. “Law enforcement agencies had already vacated a hotel in the vicinity; they arrested Noreen Niazi and U... -
Dawn - 16:14 Apr 07, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Tuesday announced that it would hold the National Equivalence Board (NEB) examination on May 16, with the PMDC chairperson terming it the “best opportunity” for students affected by the US-Israeli war on Iran. The PMDC conducts the NEB exam twice a year to assess the knowledge, clinical skills, and professional competence of students who have partially completed medical or dental education abroad and seek transfer to/ admission in Pakistan. The exam is computer-based and consists of multiple-choice questions. Speaking to Dawn, PMDC Chairperson Dr Rizwan Taj said, “Although students from across the world can appear in the exam, but it will provide the best opportunity to those who have been stuck [due to the war] and want to return to Pakistan without facing any loss of education and time.” He said that Pakistani students, who were enrolled in foreign medical or dental institutions, had completed two years of study and reached at least the third year... -
Dawn - 16:06 Apr 07, 2026
PESHAWAR/MOHMAND/LAHORE: Rescue personnel evacuated several people as rain caused flooding in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s provincial capital, Peshawar, on Tuesday while an operation was also carried out in the province’s Mohmand district to rescue a group of people stranded in floodwater. Meanwhile, heavy showers also lashed parts of Punjab. The continuing spell of rain over the past few days has claimed several lives in KP and Punjab, as well as, Balochistan. Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi told Dawn that at least 65 people were evacuated from Peshawar’s Sardar Colony on Tuesday due to flooding in Budhni nullah during a heavy downpour in the afternoon. He said that water level in the nullah has increased, with water entering Sardar Colony. A flood alert on the Irrigation Department’s X account at around 3:30pm said that discharge in Budhni nullah had increased up to 13,035 cusecs and that it was in high flood. In the evening, Rescue 1122 said in a statement that District Emergency Officer Iftikh... -
Dawn - 15:35 Apr 07, 2026
US President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” as Iran showed no sign of accepting his ultimatum to open the Strait of Hormuz. Trump had initially vowed to carry out the “complete demolition” of Iran’s critical infrastructure, particularly bridges and power plants, only if a deal was not reached. But writing on Truth Social, Trump elevated his ultimatum for Iran, stating that “a whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will”, if the country does not heed his call for a deal. It was not clear exactly what he meant or by what means he intended to carry out the threat. His remarks drew a strong reaction from politicos, with several calling for him be removed from office by invoking the 25th amendment, which allows for the vice president and a majority of the cabinet to declare a president unfit for office. Democratic Leader in the US Senate Chuck Schumer assailed Trump’s threats, branding him “... -
Dawn - 14:38 Apr 07, 2026
Efforts to facilitate talks between the US and Iran are still ongoing, two Pakistani sources with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters on Tuesday, as US strikes on Iran intensified and US President Donald Trump’s deadline to unleash “hell” neared. One of the sources, a senior security official, said Iran’s overnight strike on Saudi Arabia’s industrial facilities linked to US firms threatened to derail the talks. If Saudi Arabia were to respond to the strikes, the talks would be over, the source said, adding that retaliation could also draw Pakistan into the conflict under its defence pact with Riyadh. The second source said Iran was “walking on thin ice” and that the next three to four hours were critical for the future of dialogue. Pakistan has been at the centre of negotiations between the US and Iran in recent weeks, acting as the main go-between for proposals shared by both sides, but there has been no sign of a compromise. “We are in touch with Iranians. They have lately shown flexibility that they ... -
Dawn - 14:09 Apr 07, 2026
A gunman was killed and two others wounded in a shootout on Tuesday with police outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, the local governor said, adding two officers were lightly wounded. Governor Davut Gul confirmed the killing of one of the assailants during the attack that took place around 12:15 pm (2:15pm PKT). It was not immediately clear if the intended target was the Israeli consulate. No Israeli diplomats “are currently on Turkish soil”, a source familiar with the matter told AFP. Israeli diplomatic missions had been evacuated “not only in Turkiye but throughout the region for security reasons” shortly after the October 7, 2023 attack that followed Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, according to the same source. Israel said it would not be cowed down, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the “treacherous attack” and vowed to fight “all kinds of terrorism”. “We will not allow … provocations to harm Turkiye’s climate of security,” Erdogan said in a televised speech. “We appreciate ... -
Dawn - 14:06 Apr 07, 2026
Pakistan repaid $1.43 billion in external debt, including a $1.3 billion Eurobond maturing on April 8, Adviser to the Finance Minister Khurram Schehzad said on Tuesday. “As part of its routine course of external debt management, Pakistan has repaid its $1.3bn Eurobond maturing on April 8 — on schedule and in full,” he said in a post on the social media platform X. “Alongside, the country has also met $126.125 million in coupon obligations on other Eurobond issuances,” he said, adding that this brought total payments on Tuesday to “over $1.426bn”. “Debt servicing continues to be executed as a non-event — reflecting consistency, discipline, and strengthened capacity,” he said. “The seamless execution of large external repayments underscores both capacity and consistency — reinforcing Pakistan’s credibility across global investors and financial institutions,” he said. The development follows Pakistan’s decision to return $3.5 billion in debt to the UAE before the end of this month. According to a senior Pakistan... -
Dawn - 13:35 Apr 07, 2026
The army’s top brass on Tuesday condemned attacks on Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure amid the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran as “an unnecessary escalation”, according to the military’s media affairs wing. The development came as Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir presided over the 274th Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC) at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, according to a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). It said that the forum appreciated the “hectic efforts” taken by the government to bring an end to the war in the Middle East, “echoing the call for restraint, dialogue, and de-escalation, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to principled diplomacy and constructive engagement”. “The forum reiterated Pakistan’s role as a responsible regional stakeholder, actively contributing to peace and stability as a regional security stabiliser,” the statement said. It added that the forum noted with “concern and vehemently condemned the latest attacks on... -
Dawn - 13:10 Apr 07, 2026
Pakistan on Tuesday strongly condemned the storming of Al Aqsa Mosque by Israeli occupation forces, the Foreign Office (FO) said. The reaction comes a day after far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stormed East Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa Mosque compound, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa. The report quoted the Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem as saying that the minister toured the mosque’s courtyards, entering through the Mughrabi Gate and proceeding to the Chain Gate before returning via the same route, amidst a heavy deployment of occupation police. “He has stormed the mosque approximately 14 times since assuming his position in 2023, as part of an escalating policy towards the mosque,” the report said. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the FO said, “Pakistan condemns in the strongest possible terms the storming of Al Aqsa Mosque by Israeli occupation forces.” It noted that the “reprehensible act constitutes a direct assault on the sanctity and historical character of the holy s... -
Dawn - 12:52 Apr 07, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan Petrol Pump Owners Association (APPPOA) and Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) on Tuesday demanded that the government immediately increase their commission. They warned that if their commission was not raised in proportion to recent price hikes, they would be forced to shut down fuel outlets nationwide. The associations demanded a margin revision to eight per cent of the invoice price, arguing that the current fixed profit of Rs8 per litre was insufficient to cover rising operational costs. Furthermore, they cautioned that existing margins made it financially impossible to continue accepting bank credit or corporate fuel cards. “Currently, we are paying 0.75pc to banks and card companies on every Rs100 of fuel sold,” explained one petrol pump owner. Addressing a press conference, PPDA Chairman Abdul Sami Khan highlighted that the cost of doing business had reached unprecedented levels, arguing that operating under profit margins that had remained unrevised for a long ti... -
Dawn - 12:44 Apr 07, 2026
Former Australian opener and Karachi Kings captain David Warner has been charged with drink-driving after he was pulled over in Sydney during the weekend, reports said on Tuesday. The 39-year-old, who still plays Twenty20 cricket for franchises around the world, was allegedly at the wheel of a van that stopped and parked short of a random testing site on Sunday. National broadcaster ABC said officers approached the vehicle and breath-tested Warner, who returned a positive result. He was arrested and taken to a local police station, where he was charged with mid-range drink driving, ABC and other local media reported. He is due to appear in court on May 7. Police in a statement outlined the incident but did not name Warner, who retired from international cricket in 2024 after racking up 8,786 runs across his 112 Tests. He most recently appeared for the Karachi Kings last week in the ongoing Pakistan Super League. The Kings are the only team with a perfect record at the PSL this year, with three wins under thei... -
Dawn - 11:42 Apr 07, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is expected to provide financial and technical support for the transition of solar power to battery energy storage systems, as well as for integrated planning, digitisation, and data governance in Pakistan’s power sector. This was indicated on Tuesday during a meeting of the ADB delegation with the Power Division, ahead of an upcoming visit by the ADB’s vice president to Pakistan later this month. “ADB is conducting studies on the impact of rooftop solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the power sector,” said Emma Xiaoqin Fan, the country director of the Manila-based lending agency, according to the Power Division, following the meeting between Power Minister Awais Leghari and Fan. The meeting discussed ongoing reforms and future cooperation in the power sector, the Power Division said. The minister said that Pakistan’s power sector had recently shown strong resilience despite global energy challenges, attributing this stability to greater use of indige... -
Dawn - 11:35 Apr 07, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday said the ongoing conflict sparked by the US-Israeli war on Iran has not adversely impacted Pakistan’s remittances from the Middle East. “Some members spoke of remittances, which is true. [However,] thankfully, there has been no impact on remittances as of yet,” Aurangzeb said while speaking on the National Assembly floor. “However, the reality is, roughly between 40 to 50 per cent of our remittances are coming from the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries,” the minister said, pointing out the region’s large contribution. “So we are also reviewing its elasticity, that what difference it can make on the balance of payments and the current account,” he added. Noting that other lawmakers had “rightfully” wondered what impacts the conflict would have on Pakistan’s economy, Aurangzeb said the government was regularly monitoring several aspects. “Not only is the oil and gas bill increasing, but trade and insurance cost has gone up and the vessels availabl... -
Dawn - 10:26 Apr 07, 2026
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday granted post-arrest bail to a Canadian national, also a Pakistani PhD scholar, in a cybercrime case. In late February, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) had registered the case against Hamza Ahmad Khan under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016 for allegedly making anti-state posts on social media platforms X and Instagram. After being denied post-arrest bail by a judicial magistrate and a sessions court, Hamza had approached the LHC for the same. Taking up the case today, Justice Muhammad Waheed Khan allowed the bail petition, subject to furnishing surety bonds of Rs200,000. Earlier, Advocate Asad Jamal appeared before the court on behalf of the petitioner and completed his arguments. The bail petition contended that the sequence of events raised doubts about the legality and transparency of the investigation against the petitioner. The lawyer argued that the case against the petitioner was false and manufactured with the malic... -
Dawn - 09:41 Apr 07, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday directed authorities to facilitate a meeting between jailed PTI founder Imran Khan and his lawyer regarding the £190 million corruption case. The instructions came as the court heard petitions filed by Imran and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, seeking suspension of their sentences in the case. The bench also hinted at an early disposal of the couple’s main appeals against their conviction. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif conducted the hearing. National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Special Prosecutor Javed Ashraf and Senior Prosecutor Rafay Maqsood appeared before the court, while the PTI founder was represented by Barrister Salman Safdar. During the proceedings, the chief justice inquired about a hearing on the main appeals as miscellaneous applications seeking suspension of sentence were also pending. Barrister Safdar informed the court about the need to consult his client, to which the bench direct... -
Dawn - 08:45 Apr 07, 2026
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday dismissed the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s request seeking two months for party chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui to appear in a case regarding the holding of intra-party elections. According to a statement issued by the ECP, a three-member commission — headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja — presided over the hearing on Tuesday. Director General Political Finance ECP Masood Sherwani and an MQM-P representative appeared before the commission. Sherwani stated that MQM-P last held intra-party elections on October 16, 2021, and as per MQM-P’s legal framework, the next election should have been held on Oct 16, 2025. He further stated that the ECP directed MQM-P to hold the election by January 16, 2026; however, the party passed a resolution enabling extension of the current tenure by one year. In its resolution, the party had written that the elections would be held before March 16, 2026, Sherwani informed the commission. The MQM-P... -
Dawn - 07:49 Apr 07, 2026
Days after Iran effectively blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz following the start of US and Israeli attacks in late February, two Pakistani electric motorbike (EV) outlets 1,400 km away found themselves overwhelmed with enquiries. Haseeb Bhatti, who retrofits petrol-fuelled bikes with battery-powered motors in the northern city of Rawalpindi, said his March sales surged 70 per cent. For Ali Gohar Khan, who owns a 7-year-old electric motorbike retail franchise with branches across Pakistan, the recent surge in sales is the steepest ever. “People have this fear that maybe in the near future, they might not get petrol at all,” Khan said. The Middle East crisis has sent global fuel prices soaring, compounding pain for Pakistanis already hit by inflation and a post-pandemic economic downturn. As the nation imports nearly all its oil through the Strait of Hormuz, shortage rumours took hold despite the government’s supply assurances. Workers assemble an electric motorcycle at D.S. Motors Pvt. Ltd, in Hyd... -
Dawn - 07:18 Apr 07, 2026
WASHINGTON: The United Nations Security Council is set to vote on a Bahrain-drafted resolution on the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, just hours before US President Donald Trump’s self-imposed deadline for Iran to reopen the strategic waterway. The resolution, drafted by Bahrain in coordination with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Jordan, strongly encourages states using commercial routes in the Strait to coordinate defensive measures to ensure safe navigation, including escorting merchant vessels. It demands that Iran immediately cease attacks on commercial ships and civilian infrastructure, including oil, gas, and water installations. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for roughly 20 per cent of global oil consumption and a quarter of maritime-traded oil, has seen rising tensions since US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets on February 28. Iran retaliated against Israel and Gulf states hosting US military bases, including reported attacks on commercial vessels and the deployment of naval mines. While... -
Dawn - 07:01 Apr 07, 2026
LAKKI MARWAT: At least five policemen including an officer were injured in an explosion in the Shahbazkhel town of Lakki Marwat district, police said on Tuesday. A spokesperson for the district’s police, Qudratullah, confirmed that the attack was carried out by Fitna-al-Khawarij on the Bannu-DI Khan section of the Peshawar-Karachi Indus Highway. Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He said that terrorists had fitted an improvised explosive device (IED) to a motorcycle parked along the roadside, which later exploded with a loud bang. The official added that a police patrol from Shahbazkhel police station was the target of the blast. A police van seen after being damaged in an attack in Lakki Marwat. —Photo provided by author The police spokesperson said that “the explosion was heard throughout the area and left one assistant sub-inspector (ASI) and four constables injured”, adding that the police van they were patrolling in was also... -
Dawn - 06:41 Apr 07, 2026
The four astronauts of Nasa’s Artemis II mission flew deeper into space on Monday than any humans before them, as they cruised through a rare flyby of the shadowed far side of the moon that revealed a lunar surface under cosmic bombardment. The six-hour survey of the normally hidden hemisphere of Earth’s only natural satellite was highlighted by the astronauts’ direct visual observations of “impact flashes” from meteors pelting the darkened and heavily cratered lunar surface. About two dozen scientists packed a conference room adjacent to mission control at Nasa’s Johnson Space Centre in Houston to record the lunar phenomena witnessed by the Artemis crew in real time as their Orion spacecraft, about the size of an SUV, sailed around the moon roughly a quarter million miles (402,000km) from Earth. The six-hour flyby, which swooped to within 4,070 miles of the lunar surface, came six days into a spaceflight marking the world’s first voyage of astronauts to the vicinity of the moon since Nasa’s Cold War-era Apol...
10732 items