Pakistan

Pakistan-made World Cup ball underscores country's global sports manufacturing prowess

Typhoon still potent risk due to moisture held within rain bands spanning size of France

Security sources say since July 5, 88 terrorists have been killed in operations across the province

MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore on Friday welcomed the latest assertions by a senior leader of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) about the ‘misuse’ of the platform by some individuals. Sharing a video clip of the address by senior JAAC leader Umar Nazir Kashmari at the Eidgah sit-in on the outskirts of Rawalakot, the AJK PM called it a ‘positive’ development. “Positive. Now let’s talk and resolve issues on the table instead of [the] streets,” PM Rathore wrote. In his speech on Thursday night, Mr Kashmiri distanced the alliance from controversial speeches and slogans delivered from its platform, insisting that only remarks by its core leadership should be regarded as the organisation’s official position. He had told the protesters that JAAC’s struggle was confined to the demands laid down in its charter and had no connection with personal, ideological or organisational agendas advanced by individuals. “Our Charter of Demands, our agreement and our standard operat...

• Restores headmistress’ penalty for negligence in protecting female teachers • Orders strict anti-harassment mechanisms, law enforcement ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday restored a severe penalty imposed on a government school headmistress for gross negligence in failing to prevent the sexual harassment of female teachers under her supervision. A two-judge SC bench, headed by Justice Muha­mmad Ali Mazhar and comprising Justice Musarrat Hilali, also issued wide-ran­ging guidelines to all educational institutions, requiring strict enforcement of workplace harassment laws. In a 12-page judgement auth­ored by Justice Mazhar, the court observed that the sexual harassment of female teachers by male colleagues in any educational institution was “a grave transgression, illegal behaviour and a violation of law, ethics, workplace dignity and self-respect”. The judgement explained that unsolicited comments, remarks, jokes or messages of a sexual nature, catcalling and other inappropriate behaviour, pressure for i...

Says responsible, prudent population planning and management form the foundation of a welfare-oriented society

PTI, TTAP reject account but senior leaders admit wider concern

• Former lawmakers’ spouses, children under 28 to get entitlement if bill becomes law • FBR resists placing officers on ECL in Rs250m cigarette theft case • Panel questions FBR probe for blaming junior staff • Inquiry committee to be set up in Islamabad girl’s alleged forced marriage case • Senators raise concerns over misuse of official security personnel ISLAMABAD: A Senate panel on Friday unanimously approved a bill seeking to allow the issuance of blue passports to dependent children under the age of 28 of ex-members of parliament, bringing them in line with the existing entitlement available to dependent children of retired Grade-22 government officers. The Members of Parliament Salaries and Allowances (Amend­ment) Bill, 2026, was introduced as a private member’s bill by Senator Abdul Qadir and approved by the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control during a meeting chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman. Minister of State for Interior Muhammad Talal Chaudhry supported the passage of...

QUETTA: Protesters who had been staging a sit-in at the Quetta Airport Road, triggered by the killing of five tribesmen, injuring of eight and the kidnapping of 11 others from Hanna Urak Valley, called off their protest after the release of the kidnapped people, following successful negotiations between Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti and leaders of the protest committee. On July 5, armed men attacked the Hann Urak Valley area on the outskirts of Quetta, killing five tribesmen, injuring eight others, and abducting 11 others. In protest against the incident, the family members and local tribesmen had blocked the Airport Road for five days, severely affecting city traffic. The protest sit-in was called off after 11 abducted tribesmen were released late Thursday night. Martyred policemen’s families continue their protest; traffic between Quetta, Pishin, and Ziarat remains at a standstill Also, bodies of the five people were handed over to their families who buried them in their graveyards. Balochistan m...

• CM Bugti says 75 terrorists killed in joint ops since July 5; 39 killed in ‘Operation Shaban’ • Claims attempt to attack police station in Khuzdar foiled • NA panel to visit Quetta for security assessment • Police issue detailed account of how attack on Mangi dam post unfolded • Deny reports of policemen resigning, regret spread of ‘fake, planted material’ QUETTA: Security forces have killed 39 more terrorists during the last 48 hours in a massive operation launched in the Shaban area of Quetta district, officials said on Friday. They said security forces, including the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and police, had been conducting a joint operation in the Shaban area since July 5 against terrorists involved in the killing of 27 police personnel during an attack on a police post at Mangi dam pumping station. The terrorists had martyred nine police personnel, including two station house officers, and took away 18 other policemen at gunpoint. Later, they killed the abducted police personnel, whose bodies were ...

Super sub Mikel Merino broke Belgian hearts and sent Spain through to a World Cup semi-final against France with a late goal in a gripping 2-1 win on Friday. The stunning finish at SoFi Stadium sets up a tantalising showdown between European champions Spain and the tournament favorites France and the red-hot Kylian Mbappe in Dallas on Tuesday. But it was heartbreak for Belgium’s substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens, sent on late, who spilled a shot into the path of Merino. The dramatic finale came after Fabian Ruiz had opened the scoring for Spain, before Charles De Ketelaere grabbed one back for Belgium against the run of play before halftime. Welcoming Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku back to the starting XI, Belgium were rocked by a hamstring injury during the warm-ups to captain Youri Tielemans that hit them hard. Having already lost Amadou Onana to a ruptured ACL, the Red Devils would have to play a near second-choice midfield against the Spanish possession masters. Ruiz, brought in for Pedri, wasted no ti...

Says Pakistan's strategic location an 'asset' for regional connectivity

Andrabi says both sides ironing out differences, building convergence, with view to early conclusion of agreement

• Senate panel seeks transparent probe into tunnel collapse, project cost escalation • Wapda reports Rs23bn loss due to fake bank guarantee in Nai Gaj Dam scheme ISLAMABAD: The over Rs500 billion Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHPP), shut since a tunnel collapse on April 2, 2024, may resume power generation by March 2028, nearly four years after its closure. This was disclosed to a parliamentary committee on Friday by Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman retired Lt Gen Muhammad Saeed, who also reported a Rs23bn loss caused by a fake bank guarantee submitted by the defaulting contractor of the Nai Gaj Dam project in Sindh. The Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources, chaired by Senator Jam Saifullah Khan, was also informed that groundwater levels had been falling beyond sustainable limits, particularly in Punjab’s agricultural belt, because of overexploitation, worsening Pakistan’s water crisis despite it already being among the world’s most water-stressed countries. Gen Saeed told t...

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon hosts Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Fire burns more than 9,883 acres, described by authorities as 'worst' in Andalusia

More than 16,700 injured, thousands displaced since powerful June 24 quakes, top official says

One forest fire remains active at Guigba, in Kalaa Bousbaa commune of northeastern Guelma province

US president claims military ready to bomb Iran for 1 year

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Friday stated that a total of 75 terrorists had been killed since July 5 in various intelligence-based operations in the province. In a post on social media platform X, CM Bugti said: “Operation Shaban is progressing successfully following the terrorist attack on Mangi Dam Police Station.” He elaborated that 39 terrorists had been killed in Operation Shaban as a result of joint ground and air operations by the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and Balochistan Police in rugged mountainous areas, while a total of 75 terrorists had been killed in various intelligence-based operations since July 5. Bugti further said that a terrorist attack on Zehri Police Station in the Kachhar area of Balochistan had also been foiled today. “The writ of the state will be maintained in Balochistan at any cost; terrorists cannot escape their fate,” he declared. A day earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the country’s civil and military leadership had taken a “mutual and singular deci...