Islamabad | Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad sessions court sentenced Umar Hayat, the main accused in the Sana Yousaf murder case, to death on Tuesday after finding him guilty of killing the teenage TikTok influencer at her residence in June last year. Hayat was arrested a day after 17-year-old Yousaf was shot dead in her Islamabad house on June 2, 2025. On Monday, 23-year-old Hayat — son of a retired government official and a TikToker himself — retracted his earlier confessional statement admitting to Yousaf’s murder. Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka announced the verdict on Tuesday, handing Hayat the death sentence under Section 302(b) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) for committing qatl-i-amd (intentional murder) of Yousaf. The death sentence would be subject to confirmation by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) under Section 374 (sentence of death to be submitted by court of session) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The court also directed the convict to pay Rs2.5 million as compensation to th...

Islamabad and Baku are developing their ties under a trilateral framework involving Pakistan, Turkiye and Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev said on Sunday. The Azeri president met with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in Baku, where CM Maryam arrived on a three-day visit on Saturday to represent Pakistan at the 13th UN World Urban Forum (WUF13). “President Ilham Aliyev also emphasised that Azerbaijan-Pakistan relations are currently developing within a trilateral framework involving Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Pakistan,” read a statement issued by the Azeri president’s office on the meeting. During the meeting, the two sides “commended the development of fraternal relations and strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Pakistan”. “They discussed cooperation in political, economic, diplomatic, defence, and other fields, while also highlighting the importance of interregional cooperation and the strong potential for further expanding trade ties,” the statement said. It was also highlighted during the meeting...

Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar has said that investigations into alleged drug dealer “Pinky” have revealed links extending beyond Sindh, claiming she was also operating in Punjab and Islamabad, while investigators have reportedly identified names of her alleged clients.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Wednesday announced that a regional ambassadors conference will be held in Islamabad from May 14 to 18 under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Flydubai has suspended its flight operations from and to Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar till October 26 due to “operational reasons”, the airline’s flight inquiry in Pakistan said. However, flight operations from and to Karachi will continue as usual, the airline confirmed. Flydubai, a low-cost airline based in the United Arab Emirates, launched its operations in Islamabad and Lahore in July 2024, and commenced flights to Peshawar in May last year. According to aviation monitor Flightradar24, flydubai’s flights between Islamabad and Dubai (FZ353, FZ354), Lahore and Dubai (FZ359, FZ360), and Peshawar and Dubai (FZ375, FZ376) were cancelled since at least May 7. A statement on flydubai’s website, issued on March 31 — days after the Iran war began — says that the airline is “currently operating flights across its network with a reduced schedule”. It advised passengers to regularly check flight status and operational updates for the latest information before heading to the airport. While the statement did not men...

ISLAMABAD: Months after postponing local government polls in the federal capital for the fourth time, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has directed the interior ministry and Islamabad administration to immediately issue notifications on town corporations’ limits and union councils for polls, warning it would fix the matter for a hearing if there was no progress. Chairing a meeting, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja said holding local government elections was a constitutional requirement under Article 140(A) of the Constitution, further noting that local governments were functioning in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan, but elections could not be held in Punjab and Islamabad due to changes in local government laws. The ECP also directed the interior secretary and chief commissioner to take up the matter immediately with the relevant standing committee and cabinet. “If no progress is made, the case will be fixed for hearing in the Election Commission,” it said. “If required, this...

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday vowed that illegal constructions would be “completely eradicated” from Islamabad. He made the remarks during a special meeting he and Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry were chairing, the interior ministry said on the social media platform X. “Land-grabbing mafia and illegal constructions will be completely eradicated from Islamabad,” the ministry quoted Naqvi as saying. He vowed, “Operation Clean-up would continue without any pressure until it achieves its final result.” For the past two months, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has been conducting anti-encroachment operations in Islamabad, with a special focus on katchi abadis (informal settlements), whose residents have strongly protested the actions. According to CDA’s rules, 34 societies/schemes were supposed to transfer amenity land in the name of the civic agency for further utilisation. However, despite the passage of years, CDA has failed to get the land. There are reports that many societ...

Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has announced a major protest demonstration in Islamabad on May 15 against rising inflation and the recent increase in petroleum prices.

Islamabad suicide attack plot foiled: Bugti

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said on Monday that a plot to coerce a girl into carrying out a terrorist attack in Islamabad had been thwarted by intelligence agencies. The girl, who was reportedly arrested before she could carry out a suicide bombing, will be released to her father under supervision instead of facing trial, he said. The chief minister, in a press conference alongside the suspect, emphatically denounced the perpetrators of exploitation against Baloch women and girls. He stressed that their actions had no connection at all to Baloch tradition or history. “We are faithful to our tradition,” he said, adding, “These people have no connection to Balochiyat, and the way they are using our women in this war is shameful. I am so ashamed that I cannot even tell the media the details.” According to details shared by Bugti, the girl’s name had initially appeared on social media as a missing person, but an investigation by intelligence agencies ascertained that she was allegedly training at a t...

ISLAMABAD: Flight operations at the Islamabad airport may be affected due to “operational reasons” from May 8-10, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) notified in a notice to airmen (Notam) on Friday. The Notam said flight arrivals and departures could be delayed because of “operational” reasons from 10:45am to 12:15pm on May 8 and between 8pm and 9:15pm on May 9 and 10. It further stated that flights arriving at the Islamabad airport had been asked to “bring sufficient holding fuel to cater to the delay”. The PAA had issued a similar Notam for the airport in the federal capital in March as well. It said flight operations at Islamabad airport would be suspended for two hours on March 17 due to “operational reasons”. The arriving aircraft were advised to “bring sufficient holding fuel to cater for delay” back then as well. PIA reinstates weekly flights from Muscat Separately, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced on Friday that it would reinstate flights from Oman to Islamabad, Lahore, and Multan, s...

ISLAMABAD - Islamabad police have claimed an overall 30 percent reduction in crime in the federal capital during the first four months of the ongoing year.

The US State Department has announced the phased closure of its consulate in Peshawar, saying it would transfer operations to the embassy in Islamabad, it emerged on Wednesday. “Responsibility for diplomatic engagement with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will transfer to the US Embassy in Islamabad.  This decision reflects our commitment to the safety of our diplomatic personnel and efficient resource management,” it said in a statement. While our physical presence in Peshawar is changing, the administration’s policy priorities in Pakistan remain steadfast.  We will continue to engage meaningfully with the people and officials of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to foster economic ties, promote regional security, and advance the interests of the American people,” it said. “The department, through the US Mission to Pakistan, remains dedicated to advancing the US-Pakistan relationship through our remaining diplomatic posts in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore,” it said. The Independent had reported about the consulate’s closure in March. T...

Mild to moderate earthquake tremors were felt in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Monday, causing brief panic among residents, though no loss of life or property was reported.

Tremors were felt in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Monday after a 5.2-magnitude earthquake was reported. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the earthquake was recorded at 10:56am. It added that the epicentre was located near the Tajikistan–Xinjiang border region and had a depth of 128 kilometres. According to state-run PTV, the tremors were felt in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Pakistan falls on three major tectonic plates — the Arabian, Euro-Asian and Indian — which create five seismic zones under the country. The intersection of multiple fault lines means that tectonic movements remain a frequent occurrence in the region. Last week, a 5.7-magnitude earthquake jolted parts of Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Residents of Islamabad and KP also felt tremors on April 3, when a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region in Afghanistan.

Tremors were felt in Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday as an earthquake of 5.7 magnitude struck the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border region, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said. In a statement, the PMD said the quake was recorded at 11:46am. It added that the epicentre was located near Afghanistan’s border with Tajikistan and had a depth of 170 kilometres. According to PMD, jolts from the earthquake were felt in Islamabad, Swat, Shangla and Buner. However, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the earthquake’s magnitude as 5.1 on the Richter scale, with its epicentre having a depth of 105.1km. Residents of Islamabad and KP had last felt earthquake tremors on April 3, when an earthquake of 6.1 magnitude hit the Hindu Kush Region in Afghanistan. Earlier this month, Balochistan also witnessed two quakes. Pakistan falls on three major tectonic plates — the Arabian, Euro-Asian and Indian — which create five seismic zones under the country. The intersection of multiple fault lines ...

Islamabad - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed profound shock after a shooting incident at a high-profile event in Washington, where a gunman opened fire but was swiftly apprehended, and all senior officials were safely evacuated.

ISLAMABAD: Four members of a family, including a woman and a teenager, were gunned down in the capital’s suburbs, a police official said on Saturday. According to the police official, the incident occurred in a house located in the Jhangi Syedan area, adjacent to Sectors I-15 and I-18 of Islamabad. The police official said people in the neighbourhood heard gunshots in the morning and informed police about the incident. Upon reaching the spot, a police team found four bodies on the first floor of the house, with two victims on separate beds and one on the floor. All victims sustained bullet injuries on their heads, the police official said. The victims were identified as Mula Khalil; his wife, Shamim Bibi; their 14-year-old son, Musa Khan; and Habib Majid, believed to be Shamim Bibi’s brother. Police shifted the bodies to a hospital for medical-legal procedures. The reason behind the killing was yet to be ascertained, but police suspected it could be an incident of so-called honour killing. Preliminary investi...

Tight security arrangements were in place in Islamabad’s Red Zone on Saturday as a high-level Iranian delegation was in town amid intensifying diplomatic activity around the US-Iran conflict. Araghchi arrived in Islamabad late on Friday, carrying Tehran’s formal response to proposals conveyed earlier by the US through Pakistan. The Islamabad police have said that the Red Zone and Extended Red Zone will be “completely closed to all types of traffic” and issued an alternative traffic plan for the public. Dawn takes a look at some of the scenes from key roads in Islamabad, where security personnel stand guard and barricades are placed as part of stringent security. Police personnel keeps watch in the Red Zone area of Islamabad on April 25, 2026. — AFP A security personnel diverts traffic at a closed road in the Red Zone area of Islamabad on April 25, 2026. — AFP An army trooper keeps watch in the Red Zone area of Islamabad on April 25, 2026. — AFP An army trooper stands guard at a closed road in the Red Zone are...

Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Friday that an Iranian delegation led by the Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had arrived in Islamabad. The development came as the White House said that envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would also be heading to Pakistan for talks with Iran. However, Iran asserted that it would not be meeting with the US. In a post on X, FO spokesperson Andrabi Araghchi was received by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and other senior officials. “During the visit, the Iranian foreign minister will hold meetings with Pakistan’s senior leadership to discuss the latest regional developments as well as ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability,” he added. Subsequently, Dar posted on X that he was pleased to “receive and welcome my brother, Foreign Minister of Iran, Abbas Araghchi, to Islamabad”. “Look forward to our meaningful engagements aimed at promoting regional peace...