Pakistan

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to a “longstanding” relationship with the United States, stating that “there is no either-or in our relations with other countries”. The DG ISPR expressed these views during an interview, which was aired by Pakistani television channels on Friday. According to television channels, the interview was purportedly given to a German media house. During the interview, the military spokesperson was asked about Army Chief Asim Munir’s visits to the US and whether they had helped with “warming up” relations between Islamabad and Washington. In his response, Lt-Gen Chaudhry appreciated the US and President Trump’s role in mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in May after a four-day escalation. He said, “Over a period of time, we have been able to enhance and amplify on our convergences (with the US) and deftly managed the divergences.” @dawn.today Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director...

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Friday inaugurated the electric bus project in Sargodha, announcing free travel for senior citizens and students.

The Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court has issued arrest warrants for eight absconding suspects in connection with two May 9 cases.

Virgin Atlantic Airways has announced that it will resume flight operations to Pakistan later this year, reconnecting the United Kingdom with major Pakistani cities after a hiatus of nearly two years.

Director General of the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Irfan Ali Kathia, on Friday announced that the 2025 monsoon season has officially concluded, with river flows across Punjab returning to normal levels.

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi dismissed on Friday the PTI’s plea that contested the decision to make incarcerated party founder Imran Khan appear in trial proceedings of the General Headquarters (GHQ) attack case via video link. Imran’s arrest on May 9, 2023 sparked violent protests across the country, during which state buildings and military installations, including the GHQ, were torched and vandalised. He was expected to attend today’s hearing at the ATC via video link, but his counsel argued before Judge Amjad Ali Shah against this arrangement on the PTI’s application. For his part, prosecutor Zaheer Shah contended that trial proceedings were transferred to the ATC from Adiala Jail — where Imran is imprisoned — on the Punjab government’s executive order. “The authority to review the executive order lies with the constitutional court,” he added. He further argued that in 2016, the Code of Criminal Procedure was amended to allow suspects to appear in courts via video link. Shah also cited Sect...

Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has strongly criticised India and its state institutions, including the Army, for being driven by extremist political ideologies and Hindutva nationalism.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that he put forward a “fair and balanced” nuclear proposal to European powers to prevent the return of United Nations sanctions on the Islamic republic. Iran is “introducing a creative, fair, and balanced proposal which addresses genuine concerns and is mutually beneficial,” Araghchi said on X. He added that the proposal was made on Thursday to Britain, France and Germany — known collectively as the E3 — as well as the European Union. “Turning this idea into action can be prompt and resolve the respective bottom lines to avert a crisis,” Araghchi said, arguing that “Iran cannot be the sole responsible actor”. The comments were made as the United Nations Security Council was set to vote on Friday on reimposing biting economic sanctions on Tehran over its contested nuclear programme. Diplomatic sources expect that Iran does not have the nine votes needed to maintain the status quo and prevent the punitive measures from being reimposed by the end of the month...

The federal government has launched efforts to secure maximum concessions from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the ongoing review talks, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directing authorities to negotiate relief in light of recent floods and heavy rains, sources said on Friday.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Thursday announced that his party will launch peace marches across all four provinces, vowing to unite the nation on a single platform for the protection of citizens’ rights.

LAHORE: The Punjab government’s support for a controversial YouTuber — who recently sparked outrage with remarks aimed at Sindh — has not only angered the PPP but also triggered a war of words between the two coalition partners on social media. A Senate standing committee recently summoned YouTuber Rizwan Razi, also known as Razi Dada, and grilled him for making derogatory remarks about the people of Sindh. The panel subsequently directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block his YouTube channel over what it termed “hate speech” against the people of Sindh. Committee members also questioned how a presenter who appeared on the state-run PTV News could make such remarks on his personal YouTube channel. In one of his recent vlogs, Razi considered close to the CM made unsavoury, racist remarks. CM Maryam backs Razi’s apology after PPP terms his remarks a slight to Sindh However, the Punjab government and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz openly came out in support of Razi, with a social media campaign...

Peshawar - Adviser to the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Information and Public Relations, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, has stated that the Commonwealth Report is a slap in the face of those who chant the slogan “Respect the Vote.

• US vetoes resolution calling for immediate Gaza ceasefire, Democrats table resolution for recognition of Palestine • Focus on Middle East may affect scheduled Trump-Shehbaz meeting • PM heads to London, will attend UN moot on two-state solution WASHINGTON: With world leaders expected to converge on New York for the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the escalating crises in Gaza and Qatar are reshaping global diplomatic priorities, with significant implications for Pakistan’s engagement with the United States. In addition to his address at the General Assembly, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is also expected to take part in the high-level international conference for the ‘Peaceful Sett­lement of the Question of Pales­tine and the Imple­men­tation of the Two-State Solution’. The conference, which will take place on Monday, would require the Pakistani delegation to hold close consultations with Arab and Muslim leaders during the UNGA. At a news briefing this week, UN Secretary General Antonio...

RAWALPINDI - Federal Minister for Railways, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi said that educational reforms are a top priority for Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, crediting her for ensuring merit and transparency in the education system.

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee was informed on Thursday that Pakistan plans to digitise all payments by the federal, provincial, and local governments, as well as state-owned enterprises, by June 2026. This initiative is part of a broader move towards a cashless economy. State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad briefed the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, outlining the country’s progress in developing a digital payments ecosystem. He discussed the current infrastructure, achievements, and emerging trends, noting that 88 per cent of retail transactions are now conducted digitally. He added that Pakistan’s digital infrastructure supports 226 million accounts and 46m RAAST IDs across the country. Efforts are ongoing to increase the value of these transactions and improve security, including the introduction of a bank liability framework and a two-hour transaction cooling-off period to reduce fraud. Mr Ahmad highlighted the successful launch of Mashreq Bank’s digital op...

• Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir argues the case fell outside workplace harassment law, should be dealt by SJC • Justice Saman Imtiaz defends assuming jurisdiction, says courtroom is a workplace ISLAMABAD: Two judges of the Isla­m­abad High Court (IHC) have written letters expressing conflicting views over the proceeding on the harassment complaint filed against the chief justice by Advocate Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, who was part of the now-defunct committee constituted to examine harassment allegations against IHC CJ Justice Sarfraz Dogar, aligned himself with the top judge, asserting that such allegations did not fall within the ambit of the workplace harassment law. In a letter, Justice Tahir clarified that the appropriate forum to address such grievances was the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). He maintained that the competent authority had erroneously assumed jurisdiction over the matter, according to sources familiar with the development. The letter was circulated among judge...

• Four terrorists eliminated in Khuzdar operation, says ISPR • Two FC men injured in Kalat grenade attack • Suicide bomber strikes convoy near Kech QUETTA: At least six people lost their lives in a powerful bomb explosion in the border town of Chaman, a suicide bomber targeted a convoy in Kech district, while security forces killed four militants in Khuzdar during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) on Thursday. Separately, four people, including two Frontier Corps officials, were injured in a grenade attack and firing by unknown armed men in the Mangochar area of Kalat division late in the evening. Officials said the Chaman blast ripped through a crowded taxi stand near the Pak-Afghan border in the evening, killing four people instantly and injuring two others. The wounded later succumbed to their injuries, raising the death toll to six. “The explosion took place near makeshift shops,” Assistant Commissioner Chaman Imtiaz Baloch told Dawn. Police and Levies forces rushed to the scene and shifted the dead a...

ISLAMABAD - Terrorism emanating from Afghanistan remains the gravest threat to Pakistan’s national security, top Pakistani diplomat told the UN Security Council yesterday.

QUETTA - At least five people were martyred and another one injured in a bomb blast in Balochistan’s Chaman district, police sources said on Thursday.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan Thursday wrote a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan wherein he expressed grievances over several matters, including the conditions he has been kept in Adiala Jail.