Pakistan

Australia booked their place in the World Cup’s round of 32 on Thursday with a cagey 0-0 draw against Paraguay that delighted pragmatic coach Tony Popovic but left the South Americans with a nervous wait to see if they will advance. In a physical, scrappy contest at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Paraguay pushed late after being dominated early but it ended with the Socceroos holding on to make the tournament’s knockout phase for a third time, four years after reaching the last 16 in Qatar. Popovic’s team sealed second place in Group D behind the United States and will head to Dallas to meet the second-placed team in Group G, which remains wide open before Egypt face Iran and Belgium meet New Zealand on Friday. It was hardly a performance that will have Australia’s next opponents shaking in their boots, but players and staff celebrated with hugs and back-slapping, and soaked up a warm ovation from thousands of lingering Aussie fans. “I’d like to think that we dominated the game in a crucial World Cup qualifi...

Youm-e-Ashur, the 10th of Muharram, is being observed across Pakistan, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, on Saturday with religious devotion to commemorate the sacrifices of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), his family members and companions in the Battle of Karbala.

Even as the administration has emphasised unity, ​differing worldviews are at times rising to the surface

Brent crude futures fell $1.50, 1.99%, to $73.76 a barrel; US West Texas Intermediate fell $1.49,2.07%, to $70.43

SARGODHA: An uncle of the minor girl, who was raped and murdered in Sargodha on June 23, as well as the family of suspect Arsalan, who was killed during an encounter, have separately alleged that the police have let some other suspects, including the owner of the shop where the crime was committed, off the hook during investigation. Sargodha city police had registered a case on the complaint of victim’s father Naeem who stated in the FIR that when his daughter, Mantaha Zahara (8), did not return home from the market, he and some others started searching her. During the search, they also went to the nearby grocery store, owned by one Hanif. On being asked about the girl, the shop owner reluctantly revealed that Arsalan, a helper at the shop, had taken her to the upper floor, where the victim was later found raped and murdered. The victim’s father had initially nominated four suspects – Arsalan, Abbas, Hanif and his son Ehsan Ali. Later, Arsalan was allegedly killed by his associates during an “encounter” with ...

ISLAMABAD: The Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench has directed the Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi to ensure that residents of a private housing society are not subjected to any adverse action or harassment merely for forming a welfare association. Justice Jawad Hassan passed the order while hearing a petition filed by Adnan Saeed and other residents of University Town. The petitioners had challenged show-cause notices issued by the society’s administration regarding the formation of an association without prior approval or authorisation from the management. During the hearing, counsel for the petitioners, A. Ammar Sehri, argued that the notices issued on June 11, were an infringement of the fundamental right of citizens to peaceful assembly guaranteed under Article 16 of the Constitution. The counsel contended that every citizen has the constitutional right to assemble peacefully and without arms, subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of public order. He argued that the socie...

BRUSSELS: Sweden’s environment minister brought her baby to an EU meeting on Thursday, in a barrier-breaking move she said showed it was possible to be both “a present minister and a present mother”. Romina Pourmokhtari arrived at the ministerial talks in Luxembourg with her three-month-old son, Adam, in a sling with a pram-pushing aide in tow — becoming the latest public figure to shake up conventions around motherhood and work. “Happy also to be an example of not having to choose between being a present minister and a present mother,” the 30-year-old told journalists as Adam rested on her chest. “There are many things that make Europe a wonderful place to live. One of them being just this, that we can have the possibility of attending meetings and attending to my child.” Her French colleague Monique Barbut promptly gave her a gift — a baby onesie. An EU official said it was thought to be the first time a baby was brought to one of the bloc’s ministerial meetings. Mothers are particularly affected by the cha...

• Coalition partners trade barbs after PPP challenges PML-N to hold LG elections in Punjab, Islamabad • Saad Rafique opposes holding local polls in Punjab ‘on Karachi pattern’ • Sharjeel says people of Punjab should be given their constitutional right ISLAMABAD: The PPP said on Thursday that the next local government elections in Sindh would be held in 2027, amid a fresh war of words that has erupted between the party and its main ruling coalition partner — the PML-N — over the local government system in the country. “By the grace of Allah Almighty, local government elections will be held for the third time in Sindh in 2027,” senior PPP leader Senator Waqar Mehdi said in a statement issued in response to a recent statement by PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique. In a post on X, Rafique had criticised PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s demand for local government elections in Punjab and the federal capital, saying such polls should not be held on the pattern followed in Sindh. He said it was Mr Bhutto-Zardari...

• President lashes out at Republicans during a closed-door Capitol Hill lunch over earlier votes • Senators Bill Cassidy, Rand Paul shift positions following White House intervention • Administration seeks $70bn for war, needs Democrats to pass 60-vote barrier WASHINGTON: The US Senate blocked an Iran war powers resolution late on Wednesday night, abruptly reversing course hours after a closed-door lunch between President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers erupted into a fierce shouting match over the conflict. The late-night procedural vote ended in a 50-47 tally to block the measure, which originally advanced in May. The resolution directed Trump to withdraw US forces from hostilities with Iran until Congress authorises the deployment. The turnaround came after intense White House pressure, prompting two Republican senators who supported previous checks on executive authority to alter their stances. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana voted no, while Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky voted “present”. The vote ...

LAHORE: The Ministry of Commerce has issued dual directives introducing structural clarifications and a selective, conditional waiver for used vehicles imported under the Gift and Transfer of Residence schemes. While the decisions aim to resolve intense clearance logjams at ports, they have drawn sharp criticism from the local automotive industry, which warns of severe fiscal and safety ramifications. In an official office memorandum, the ministry addressed a long-standing impasse regarding the validity of Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI) certificates. The federal government announced that certificates issued by EAA Company (Pvt) Ltd and Auto Terminal Pak (Pvt) Ltd through their foreign principals in Japan are fully acceptable. This compliance clearance follows their formal registration with the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) for automobiles. To prevent fraudulent filings, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and customs authorities must verify the certificates directly with the local off...

KARACHI: Pakistan could once again tap Iranian crude oil supplies following a temporary easing of US sanctions on Tehran, reopening the possibility of sourcing discounted crude and refining it locally to produce higher-value petroleum products. While industry experts say local refineries are technically capable of processing Iranian crude, commercial and operational challenges remain, particularly due to the high furnace oil yield and the absence of significant domestic demand for the fuel. Pakistan Refinery Ltd (PRL) had previously imported Iranian crude under a long-term contract with the National Iranian Oil Company, but purchases halted after US sanctions were imposed. Since then, no Iranian oil has been imported into the country. Commenting on the prospects for refining Iranian crude oil, a former head of a leading refinery in Karachi told Dawn that the scenarios are changing and sanctions are being lifted temporarily. The outcome remains uncertain over the next two months. Discounts, demand and tech upg...

Move aimed at implementing Article 5 of Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding

Snipers, drones, CNIC scanning app, mobile service suspension among security measures in place

DERA ISMAIL KHAN - Commissioner Muhammad Dawood Khan and Regional Police Officer (RPO) Ghulam Mubashir Maken on Thursday monitored the main 9th Muharram mourning processions and reviewed security arrangements during visits to various Imambargahs and procession routes across the district.

PESHAWAR - Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) central leader Syed Naveed Qamar called on Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi at Governor House on Thursday and discussed the overall political situation in the country.

HARIPUR - Commissioner Hazara Fayaz Ali Shah and DIG Hazara Nasir Mahmood Satti on Thursday conducted a detailed inspection of the routes of the main 9th Muharram procession in Haripur and reviewed the comprehensive security and surveillance arrangements put in place to ensure peaceful observance of the religious event.

PESHAWAR - Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Thursday said the tragedy of Karbala remains a timeless symbol of the struggle between truth and falsehood and continues to inspire people to stand against oppression and injustice.

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that the Day of Ashura serves as a timeless reminder of faith, patience, sacrifice, truthfulness and social reform, urging the nation to draw guidance from the teachings and sacrifices of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and the martyrs of Karbala.

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RAWALPINDI - Officials of Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) here on Thurday arrested an assistant manager of Pirwadhai Bus Terminal on the charges of taking bribe from a transporter.