Pakistan

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Lawmakers highlight Adiala, Bahawalpur jails as overcrowding crisis deepens

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Authorities identify 150 habitual offenders as April sees spike in fake calls

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Afridi-led protest hits routine work, targets federal policies; Centre-province rift widens

Religious leaders warn May 10 march will be a decisive turning point

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ISLAMABAD: The Sixth International Paigham-i-Islam Conference, held on Wednesday, awarded the titles of “Leader of Peace” and “Greatest Victorious General of the Century” to Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, in recognition of his role in promoting peace and strengthening stability across the Muslim Ummah. The conference, organised by the International Tazeem-i-Haramain Sharifain Council and Pakistan Ulema Council, strongly condemned the attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel. The conference also expressed concern over the strikes targeting Arab countries, terming them detrimental to regional stability. It called for national security, unity of the Muslim world, and enhanced interfaith harmony. The conference was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador ...

The Punjab Safe Cities Authority has launched a crackdown against individuals making fake, hoax, and irrelevant calls to Emergency Helpline 15, officials said on Tuesday.

The Sindh police on Wednesday suspended three police officials for alleged mistreatment of Aurat March activists, including Sheema Kermani. On Tuesday, the activists were detained after they gathered at Karachi Press Club (KPC) for a press conference to demand a no-objection certificate (NOC) for their upcoming annual march in Karachi. However, the police released all activists after briefly detaining them on the orders of Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar. “In connection with the arrest and alleged mistreatment of Sheema Kermani and women human rights activists, Karachi Additional Inspector General (AIG) Azad Khan has issued orders to suspend Saddar Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nasir Afridi, Women Station House Officer (SHO) Hina Mughal, and Artillery Maidan Police Station SHO Nadeem,” according to an official press release by Karachi Police spokesperson. “On the orders of the police chief, a transparent inquiry will be conducted and action will be taken against those responsible in accordance...

Ted Turner, the flamboyant US entrepreneur who transformed television news with the creation of CNN in 1980, died at the age of 87, the network said on Wednesday. The moustached southerner, yachting enthusiast and philanthropist, whose empire also included sports clubs, had been suffering from the degenerative disease Lewy Body Dementia. Cable News Network upended established broadcasting with its dedication to around-the-clock breaking news and shot to global recognition with its coverage of the Gulf War in 1990-91. The 24-hour network was the first in the United States to run non-stop news and quickly built a worldwide footprint. Correspondents brought live coverage from major events ranging from the collapse of the Soviet Union to the Chinese crackdown on the Tiananmen Square protests. CNN’s decision to keep reporters in Baghdad amid US bombing on the Iraqi capital cemented the network’s reputation as an indispensable source of breaking news. “Ted is the giant on whose shoulders we stand, and we will all t...

ISLAMABAD: Electricity consumers across the country are expected to receive an unusual relief of Rs1.75 per unit over the next three months (June to August), due to Rs64 billion in savings mainly on account of lower capacity charges paid to power producers during the first quarter (January–March 2026) of the current year, it emerged on Wednesday. Under the annual tariff rebasing mechanism, the government revised tariff-setting to a calendar-year basis, with effect from January 1, 2026, from the historic practice of fiscal-year adjustments. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has called a public hearing on May 19 at the request of former Wapda distribution companies (Discos), which have sought a Rs63.94 billion refund to consumers under the quarterly tariff adjustment (QTA) mechanism. The refund is estimated to result in a negative QTA of about Rs1.75 per unit for three billing months. Consumers are currently paying about 42 paisa per unit in positive QTA on account of higher costs of Rs10...

Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and discussed matters related to mutual interests.

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki on Wednesday addressed the Sixth International Paigham-e-Islam Conference held at the Jinnah Convention Centre, bringing together leading Ulema and Mashaikh, diplomats, politicians, academicians, and senior government officials.

Australia’s Royal Military College (RMC) has declared Pakistan Army Cadet Sardar Arsam Abbas the “overall best foreign military cadet”, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Wednesday. “The Australian RMC, Duntroon has declared Pakistani army Cadet Sardar Arsam Abbas (PMA 152 Long Course) the ‘overall best foreign military cadet’ in the passing out parade held at RMC Duntroon, Canberra on May 5,” ISPR said in a statement. The statement said that the award was conferred upon the highest performing foreign military cadet across all facets of training. “This is a testament to the highest standards of professionalism, commitment and excellence demonstrated by the junior leadership of the Pakistan Army,” the military’s media wing said. It stated that the commissioning parade was reviewed by the Australian Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart and other officials. The event was witnessed by members of the diplomatic corps, including the Pakistani high commissioner in Canberra, families of gradu...

ISLAMABAD: Key capital market institutions of Pakistan on Wednesday established the Capital Market Development Fund (CMDF), aimed at promoting financial literacy, expanding financial inclusion and increasing retail investor participation in the capital markets across the country. The main participants of the CMDF included the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), Central Depository Company (CDC), National Clearing Company of Pakistan Limited (NCCPL), Pakistan Mercantile Exchange (PMX) and the Institute of Financial Markets of Pakistan (IFMP). The CMDF was established under the auspices of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to ensure coordination in the industry and strengthen the institutional capacity in Pakistan’s capital markets. Addressing the ceremony, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said recent regional tensions had reinforced the need for Pakistan to make independent commercial decisions, diversify energy resources, and mobilise domestic capital for national development. “We must re...

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing would play a “greater role” in ending hostilities in the Middle East during talks with his Iranian counterpart on Wednesday, a week before US President Donald Trump is due to meet Xi Jinping. China is a key customer for Iranian oil, defying sanctions imposed by the United States, and is directly affected by the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, bordered by Iran. Beijing has quietly engaged in efforts to resolve the weekslong crisis and its diplomacy is credited with playing an important role in the fragile ceasefire agreed between Washington and Tehran. China “will work harder to ease tensions and end the fighting, continue to support the launch of peace talks, and play a greater role in restoring peace and tranquillity to the Middle East”, Wang told Iran’s Abbas Araghchi in Beijing. “China considers that a complete cessation of fighting must be achieved without delay, that it is even more unacceptable to restart hostilities, and that continuing to negotiate remai...