Pakistan

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday the latest talks with the United States saw them agree on “a set of guiding principles” that would pave the way for a deal. “Ultimately, we were able to reach broad agreement on a set of guiding principles, based on which we will move forward and begin working on the text of a potential agreement,” Araghchi told state TV. “I can say that, compared with the previous round, fully serious discussions were raised and the atmosphere was more constructive,” he added. Tehran and Washington held on Tuesday a second round of negotiations — which began earlier this month — after talks last year collapsed following Israel’s attack on Iran in June, which triggered a 12-day war. That war saw the United States briefly join Israel with strikes on key Iranian nuclear sites. The latest talks were held after Washington deployed an aircraft carrier group to the Middle East following Iran’s deadly crackdown last month on anti-government protests, first sparked by economic ha...

Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, Aalia Neelum, on Tuesday emphasized the interdependence of the bar and the bench, stating that addressing the issues faced by lawyers remains a top priority.

LAHORE: A fact-finding report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called for an urgent high-level judicial inquiry into deaths resulting from operations conducted by Punjab’s Crime Control Department (CCD), alleging that the department has adopted a “deliberate policy of staged police encounters leading to extrajudicial killings”. Last year, the Punjab government formally approved the establishment of the CCD to curb organised crime and protect life and property in the province. However, human rights advocates and civil society members have been voicing their concerns about the alleged encounters and the number of casualties. According to the HRCP, based on press accounts, at least 670 CCD-led encounters were carried out across Punjab over eight months in 2025. These operations reportedly resulted in the deaths of 924 suspects, while only two police officials were killed during the same timeframe, it said. The HRCP noted that the sharp disparity in casualties — averaging more than two fatal ...

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif surprised commuters and social media users alike after stopping at a roadside tea stall on the Murree Expressway during her visit to the hill station and personally preparing tea, a gesture that quickly went viral online.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) role in the promotion of responsible use of nuclear technology during an official visit to Vienna. According to a handout issued by the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday, PM Shehbaz met IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi at the Vienna International Centre. “The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for IAEA’s role in the promotion of responsible use of nuclear technology in areas such as cancer diagnosis and treatment, agriculture, nuclear power generation and industrial applications,” the statement said. “He praised the strong partnership between Pakistan and the IAEA, while observing that Pakistan was not only a beneficiary of the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme but was also contributing to the work of the IAEA through the provision of its experts and conducting international trainings for IAEA member states,” the press release said. The handout added that the IAEA dire...

Twelve terrorists belonging to Indian proxy Fitna Al-Khwarij were killed, while 11 security personnel embraced martyrdom during an attack on a joint security check post in Bajaur District, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Tuesday.

The Sindh government has issued an official notification announcing revised office timings for the month of Ramadan.

For people living with gastritis or peptic ulcer disease, Ramazan fasting can require extra care. Common causes of this ailment include bacterial infection, smoking, long-term use of painkillers, overeating, and frequent consumption of spicy, fatty, or acidic foods. Symptoms often include stomach pain, heartburn, bloating, burping, acid reflux, and a burning or aching sensation in the upper abdomen. These symptoms tend to worsen when the stomach remains empty for long hours, making fasting during Ramazan particularly challenging for some individuals. What to consider during fasting Whether a person with gastritis or an ulcer can fast during Ramazan depends on the severity of the condition. Skipping meals, especially sehri, can significantly increase stomach acidity and should be avoided. Sehri should include slow-digesting carbohydrates to help sustain energy and reduce gastric irritation during fasting hours. If appetite is low, light but nourishing foods such as milk, dates, and sufficient water are recomme...

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will visit New York starting tomorrow to participate in a high-level meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Palestine, the Foreign Office said on Monday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will visit New York on February 18 to participate in a high-level United Nations Security Council (UNSC) briefing on the situation in Palestine, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Tuesday. In a statement, the FO said that the meeting will be chaired by the United Kingdom’s foreign secretary as president of the UNSC. The statement said that during the briefing, Dar will reaffirm Pakistan’s “principled and consistent position on Palestine”. “He will reiterate Pakistan’s strong opposition of Israel’s recent illegal decisions to expand its control over the West Bank, emphasise the need for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, full implementation of Security Council resolution 2803, scaled-up humanitarian assistance, and the early commencement of Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction,” the statement said. “The deputy prime minister will also underscore Pakistan’s continued engagement with international and regional partners, including the group of eight Arab and Islamic cou...

The 2021 champions Australia were knocked out of the T20 World Cup on Tuesday, with Zimbabwe qualifying for the Super Eights after their match against Ireland was washed out without a ball being bowled in Kandy. Zimbabwe joined Sri Lanka as qualifiers from Group B and will move on to face the West Indies, India and South Africa in the next phase. Ireland were also eliminated. Persistent drizzle all day at the Pallekelle stadium kept the covers on and the umpires finally called it off at 5:30pm local time (1200 GMT) with no prospect of beginning the minimum five-over match before the 6:10pm cut-off time. Australia, who had been beaten by Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, needed an Ireland victory to keep their hopes alive. Zimbabwe are now on an unassailable five points with a game to still to come, while Ireland are third on three points. Australia, on two points, have one game remaining against Oman on Friday, but cannot overtake Zimbabwe. Australia had a shambolic build-up to the tournament They lost leading pace bow...

Eight Muslim countries, including Pakistan, on Tuesday condemned the Israeli move to claim land in the occupied West Bank as “state property”, saying that the step reflected an attempt to “impose a new legal and administrative reality designed to consolidate control over the occupied land”. Al Jazeera reported on Sunday that the Israeli government had approved a proposal to register large areas of the occupied West Bank as “state property”, for the first time since the Israeli occupation of the territory in 1967, in clear violation of international law that states an occupying power cannot confiscate land in occupied territories. Israel’s foreign ministry claimed the measure, approved late on Sunday, would enable “transparent and thorough clarification of rights to resolve legal disputes” but the move drew strong condemnations from across the globe for its violation of international law. In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indones...

LAHORE: A Pakistani national was repatriated to his home country from India on Tuesday after spending 17 years in jail on charges of spying. “Muhammad Shahid Iqbal Bhatti, a Pakistani citizen imprisoned in India, was repatriated to Pakistan via the Wagah-Attari border today,” Pakistan’s High Commission in India said in a post on X. Separately, an official told Dawn that Bhatti was a resident of Kasur and was handed a 17-year sentence by an Indian court after he was accused of spying for Pakistan. Quoting Indian media reports, he said Bhatti was arrested in August 2008 by police in Indian Punjab. While in custody, he was interrogated for living in India allegedly without legal documents, the official said, adding that the then-chief manager of the State Bank of India had filed a complaint against him in November 2008. “Subsequently, Bhatti was sentenced by a court and sent to jail on charges of spying. He spent nearly 17 years of his life in prison,” the official said. He further said that as Bhatti’s prison t...

Long overshadowed by his parents and heir to one of Bangladesh’s most powerful political dynasties, the country’s new prime minister, Tarique Rahman has finally stepped into the spotlight. At 60, the leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) takes charge of the South Asian nation of 170 million, driven by what he calls an ambition to “do better”. A year-and-a-half after the deadly uprising that toppled previous prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s iron-fisted rule, the BNP won a “sweeping victory” in parliamentary elections on February 12. He was sworn in on Tuesday, leading a more than two-thirds majority in parliament. “This victory belongs to people who aspire to and have sacrificed for democracy,” he said in a speech. His rise marks a remarkable turnaround for a man who only returned to Bangladesh in December after 17 years in exile in Britain, far from Dhaka’s political storms. Widely known as Tarique Zia, he carries a political name that has shaped every stage of his life. He was 15 when his father, Pr...

KARACHI: A fire that broke out at a chemical factory in Karachi’s SITE on Tuesday was brought under control, Rescue 1122 said. In a statement, the Rescue 1122 spokesperson said the fire had been brought under control, and the cooling process was underway. Earlier, the spokesperson said that efforts were underway to control the fire, which erupted in a factory located near Valika Chowrangi. “A fire brigade truck, along with rescue teams, was immediately dispatched to the site of the incident, as soon as the Rescue 1122 received report of the incident,” the spokesperson added. A contingent of Sindh Rangers personnel was also dispatched to the site of the incident, their spokesperson said in a statement. “Rangers personnel are actively participating in the relief activities and rescue operation along with the fire brigade and rescue personnel,” the spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab took notice of the incident. In a post on X, Mayor Wahab said, “KMC fire team is attending to the fire incid...

Pakistan’s benchmark index, KSE-100, closed in the red on Tuesday, down 1303.52 points from its previous close of 174,453.93 points. The index experienced a volatile trading session, reaching a high of 176,131.35 points and a low of 171,693.39 points. Trading volumes stood at 424,959,530 at a value of Rs32,759,788,353. Top active stocks were led by K-Electric Limited, falling 3.81pc to Rs7.82 at a volume of 122,541,564, followed by Bank of Punjab, rising 2.62pc to Rs34.12 at a volume of 79,835,860, and Worldcall Telecom Limited, which fell 0.65pc to Rs1.52 at a volume of 35,505,622. Top advancers were led by Itanz Technologies Limited, rising 11.78pc to Rs9.49, followed by Metropolitan Steel Corporation Limited advancing 10.02pc to Rs23.05, and 786 Investments Limited rising 10.01pc to Rs19.67. Top decliners were led by LSE Capital Limited, falling 38.76pc to Rs1.09, followed by Mirpurkhas Sugar Mills Limited, declining 10.01pc to Rs31.82, and Engro Powergen Qadirpur Limited, falling 10.01pc to Rs27.69. Accor...

An Anti-Terrorism Court in Rawalpindi has once again ordered the arrest of Aleema Khan in connection with the November 26 protest case registered at Sadiqabad police station.

Spinner Usman Tariq said on Tuesday he was confident that Pakistan can bounce back from their T20 World Cup drubbing against India and seal qualification for the next round. India’s 61-run romp means Pakistan must beat Namibia in their final match in Colombo on Wednesday to qualify for the Super Eights. A defeat would eliminate Pakistan, who are third behind the USA on net run rate in Group A. It would also leave an outside chance for the Netherlands to qualify, but they would need a big win over co-hosts India in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. “Lifting the team is only difficult when you don’t work on your mistakes committed in the last game,” Tariq told reporters. “We have worked on our mistakes, so I think it will not be a tough task. “We have a resolve not to commit the same mistakes again.” Pakistan were criticised for asking India to bat then folding meekly for 114 in 18 overs chasing a stiff 176 target. “We can feel their (fans’) disappointment because the match is watched by the whole nation,” Tariq said. “S...

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has refuted circulating reports about the alleged deterioration of the eyesight of the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), describing them as unfounded and politically motivated.

The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday voiced serious concern over prolonged road blockages linked to protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), directing authorities to restore traffic without delay and submit a compliance report by the next day.