Pakistan

• Law minister sees fourfold drop in cases of enforced disappearances • Says recent reforms must to ‘end judicial overreach’ • Claims military courts hand down ‘lenient sentences’, compared to civil courts • Legal experts warn against 28th Amendment; question govt’s legitimacy LAHORE: Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Saturday announced that the government is forming a new high-level committee to investigate the issue of ‘missing persons’ with greater scrutiny, reaffirming the government’s commitment to reaching a target of zero missing person. Addressing the 6th Asma Jahangir Conference in Lahore, Mr Tarar admitted that while the reported number of enforced disappearances dropped significantly in recent years from nearly 10,000 to around 2,600, even the current figure was “unacceptable” from a human rights standpoint. He detailed an interim relief package designed to support the families of missing persons. This policy mechanism, developed over 18 months, provides not only financial assistance but al...

GILGIT: A renowned young mountaineer from Shimshal lost his life after falling from a mountain during ice climbing in the Khyber area of Gojal, Hunza, on Saturday. According to officials, Shah Daulat, 31, a resident of Shimshal, was climbing an ice wall in Khyber village along with a foreign tourist. The two were practising ice climbing, as the mountain develops a steep ice wall during winter. During the climb on Friday evening, Shah Daulat suddenly slipped on the ice and fell nearly 400 metres, sustaining fatal injuries. He died on the spot. Local volunteers later recovered his body and shifted it to a government hospital in Sost, near the Pakistan–China border at Khunjerab Pass. On Saturday, his body was dispatched to Shimshal for burial. Shah Daulat was a young and highly respected climber from Shimshal. He had successfully summited four eight-thousand-meter peaks, including the world’s second-highest peak K2 (8,611m), Nanga Parbat (8,126m), Gasherbrum-II (8,035m), and Gasher­brum-I (8,080m). In 2025, he a...

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain, snow and thunderstorms in the upper parts of the country as well as Balochistan over the next two days, as a westerly wave is likely to approach the western parts of the country on Feb 8 (today). The PMD said that due to the new weather system, landslides may occur in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtu­nkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir, warning that snowfall may cause traffic disruptions and slippery conditions in the hilly areas on Feb 9 and Feb 10. Tourists have been urged to remain extra cautious and avoid unnecessary travel during the forecast period. Under the influence of this weather system, rain accompanied by wind and thunderstorms, with sno­wfall over the hills, is expected in Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, Qilla Saifullah, Chaghai, Nushki, Harnai, Zhob, Kalat, Mastung, Barkhan, Sibi, Loralai, Khuzdar, Kech, Gwadar, Panjgur and Awaran on Feb 8 and 9. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rain-wind/thunderstorms with...

Three others also arrested from K-P; Naqvi points finger at India; Says terror network operate from Afghanistan

Vision 2030 drives demand for AI, highlighting scope for high-skilled jobs

Acting chairman cites youth workforce, SMEs and Gwadar as pillars of economic growth

Industry body cautions prolonged disruption will cause factory closures, mass unemployment

Business leaders call for structural reforms in energy and taxation, clarity from IMF

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Commerce minister inaugurates expo, cites PTA and transit facilitation

Revised committees, digitisation aim to speed pest risk analysis and seed clearances

KSE-100 index sees choppy week, closes marginally lower by 45 points

Showcase wide range of products to offer consumers taste of country's craftsmanship

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LAHORE - The government pledged Saturday to eradicate terrorism “from its roots” and bring all facilitators of the Tarlai Imambargah attack to justice, as officials said the suicide bomber had received training in Afghanistan.

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court said Saturday it had forwarded concerns raised by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leadership regarding access to their jailed founder to “relevant executive authorities” for consideration under the law.

Islamabad - The death toll from the suicide bombing at Imambargah Qasr-i-Khadijatul Kubra in Tarlai, Islamabad, rose to 3 6 on Saturday, with 169–170 people injured, hospital and official sources confirmed.

Festival's Day Two focuses on economy, fashion, literary dialogue

Initiative aims to provide platform for artists from all regions of Pakistan

Critics say her Italian song 'Volare' at winter Olympic opening ceremony fell flat, was lip-synced