Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - The federal government late Friday jacked up the prices of petrol Rs 13.

• Senior lawyers agree with Federal Constitutional Court that SC had overstepped its domain by ordering a citywide demolition drive • Say verdict binds provincial govt to regulate and preserve public amenities for future generations A DAY after the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) verdict recalling some Supreme Court orders that led to the demolition of the 15-storey Nasla Tower, senior lawyers and constitutional experts endorsed the FCC’s stance that the apex court had overstepped its domain, but caution that the fresh decision now puts the onus on the Sindh government and Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to prevent illegal construction on amenity plots. Dawn spoke to four senior lawyers who were of the view that the Supreme Court had exceeded and overstepped its domain while issuing sweeping demolition orders, since there was limited scope, especially in its appellate jurisdiction. They also maintained that now, the issues of commercial activities and status of the subject plots, as well as illegal...

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan yesterday reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to multilateralism and the central role of the United Nations in addressing global challenges as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Macky Sall, candidate for the position of United Nations Secretary-General, in Islamabad.

Health authorities declare disease spread to new Haut-Uele province in northeastern Congo after seven deaths confirmed

IN this article, I argue that India’s decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance fails on two independent grounds. First, ‘abeyance’ is a status unknown to the treaty and to the law of treaties: the IWT contains no suspension or exit clause, and Article XII(4) continues it in force until terminated by a duly ratified treaty betw­een the Pakistani and Indian governments. Sec­o­­nd, even according to India’s own logic the step was premature, for every fact it relies upon is disputed and none has been examined by any com­petent multilateral or bilateral forum or court. The tragic Pahalgam incident occurred on April 22, 2025. FIR No. 25/2025 was registered within 10 minutes of the incident. No Pakistani national was named in it. Without proper investigation, without the apprehension of any suspect, without a confessional statement, and without seeking cross-border cooperation through any mutual legal assistance, India assumed that it was Pakistan that caused the terrorist incident. Let us now turn to a ...

Pyongyang accuses alliance of pursuing exclusive geopolitical interests at expense of peace, security

THIS year, there is much to celebrate on World Population Day (July 11). Population issues have finally risen to the top of the government’s agenda. The prime minister has announced the formation of a high-level National Population Council, which includes the defence chief and four chief ministers among others. The long-term goal of a supra-body focused on population and related human development, to be headed by the PM, has been realised. Given the relentlessly high population growth rates with their huge, documented human and financial costs, this announcement was long overdue. There are great expectations of the NPC. Much can be learned from other countries in the region and most parts of the world about how to accelerate and support fertility decline, mainly through investments and priority given to education — especially female education — women’s empowerment — especially through paid work — and above all, voluntary high-quality family planning services integrated with other aspects of healthcare. Pakist...

WORLD Population Day has traditionally prompted discussions on population growth and fertility rates. This year’s theme, ‘Realising the hopes and aspirations of young people — today and for the future’, invites a different conversation. It reminds governments that population policy should begin not with numbers, but with people. The aim is not simply to influence how many children are born, but to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to make informed choices about education, employment, marriage and parenthood. Experience shows that these choices are closely linked to access to healthcare, quality education, economic security and gender equality. When such conditions improve, demographic outcomes improve as well. Population policy, therefore, is ultimately about expanding people’s choices rather than merely managing population trends. That shift in perspective is particularly relevant for Pakistan. Public debate often revolves around census figures, fertility rates and warnings about a rapidly e...

Indian actor opens up on Hollywood debut, what it really takes to break into industry

Latest release contains 40 files, including 14 documents, 19 videos, 4 audio recordings, and 3 images

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump faces questions about the security of his new Air Force One plane gifted by Qatar, after he took an older jet home from a Nato summit this week. The billionaire president has barely been able to contain his excitement over the retrofitted Boeing 747-8 aircraft, which took him to Ankara on its maiden trip outside the United States. But then Trump abruptly announced in Turkiye that he was sending the luxury plane on ahead to a British airbase — saying it was so US troops could tour the plane donated by the Qatari royal family. The New York Times reported on Friday that the new plane lacked the same security countermeasures boasted by the older jet, including anti-missile defences. US media also reported that the Secret Service had advised the switch. Speculation was fuelled by the fact that US hostilities had flared again with Iran, which borders Turkiye, and because journalists on the old plane out of Ankara were also told to keep their window blinds down, a step normally ...

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...