Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday dismissed petitions filed by three police officials from Dera Ghazi Khan against their dismissal from service, ruling that illegal detention, tor-ture and endangering the lives of citizens constitute grave misconduct in the police force and cannot be condoned.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan yesterday reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and connectivity as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar participated in the 29th Meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Council of Ministers (COM), held virtually.

LAHORE - Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari has said that after providing free cancer medicines, the Punjab government has now begun allotting free residential plots to deserving citizens, reflecting Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s strong welfare-oriented vision.

LAHORE - A Punjab Assembly session summoned on opposition’s requisition witnessed a day of turmoil which saw fiery speeches, slogan-chanting, walkouts and finally an indefinite adjournment after the House failed to meet the quorum.

KARACHI - Police on Friday detained 24 PTI leaders and workers following a protest at the Karachi Press Club (KPC), held to demonstrate the party’s concerns over former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s well-being.

ISLAMABAD - Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Friday criticized Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for pursuing a political ap-proach that, he said, neglects governance in the province.

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the government and people of Pakistan with unwa-vering resolve and commitment stand with the brothers and sisters in Palestine.

Foreign Office spokesperson says Pak-Afghan doesn’t imply traditional ceasefire It was about ceasing terrorist attacks inside Pakistan by TTP Indian minister’s statement threat to regional peace Condemns Washington, Tajikistan attacks.

An Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard members will be charged with first-degree murder, a US official said Friday, after one of the soldiers died of her wounds as Donald Trump pledged to suspend migration from “third-world countries.” The announcement marks an escalation in charges facing the assailant, identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who the US media said was part of the “Zero Units” — a CIA-backed Afghan paramilitary force. “There are certainly many more charges to come, but we are upgrading the initial charges of assault to murder in the first degree,” Jeanine Pirro, the attorney for Washington, DC, told the Fox News programme ‘Fox & Friends’. “It is a premeditated murder. There was an ambush with a gun toward people who didn’t know what was coming.” Pirro’s announcement comes after Attorney General Pam Bondi pledged on Thursday to “seek the death penalty” against Lakanwal, describing him as a “monster.” Pirro said Lakanwal opened fire with a .357 Smith and Wesson revolv...

The Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) restored power supply to four housing projects in Bahria Town Lahore after the society’s administration paid outstanding bills amounting to Rs682 million. “The power supply has been restored to four Bahria town projects, including main Bahria Town near Mohlanwal,” a Lesco spokesperson told Dawn. The power supply was suspended yesterday, inviting criticism from the residents, who also announced holding a protest demonstration in front of the Bahria Town offices after Friday prayers on this issue. According to Lesco CEO Mr Ramzan Butt, the last date for bill payment was November 21, which was extended to November 23 on the request of the housing society’s officials. After failing to pay, the officials had requested another day’s extension and continued securing more until Wednesday. “Since the final and last date was November 27 (yesterday), they, instead of paying bills, approached the court, reportedly. But before they could get the court decision, we disconnected th...

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said on Friday that Pakistan’s hastily adopted constitutional amendments seriously undermine judicial independence and raise grave concerns about military accountability and respect for the rule of law. In a statement issued in Geneva, the human rights chief said the latest constitutional amendment, like the 26th amendment last year, had been adopted without broad consultation and debate with the legal community and wider civil society. Turk warned that the amendments run counter to the separation of powers that underpin the rule of law and safeguard the protection of human rights in Pakistan. “Under the changes adopted on November 13, a new Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has been given powers over constitutional cases, replacing the previous authority of the Supreme Court, which will now only deal with civil and criminal cases,” the statement read. It added that the systems for appointing, promoting and transferring judges changed in a manner raising “ser...

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The Russian Embassy on Friday announced that a monument to Yuri Gagarin, the first man to travel to space and return, was unveiled in Islamabad’s Fatima Jinnah Park. Gagarin became the first man in space in April 1961, when he uttered the famous words “Let’s go” as his Vostok rocket blasted off from southern Kazakhstan. After a voyage lasting just 108 minutes, the 27-year-old cosmonaut ejected from his capsule and parachuted down into a field in the Saratov region of central Russia. According to a post on X, the unveiling ceremony was attended by Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev, Power Minister Awais Leghari, Russian Ambassador Albert P Khorev, Pakistani Ambassador to Russia Faisal Niaz Tirmizi and pilot-cosmonaut Elena Serova. “This is the greatest feat in our shared history. A huge number of scientists are engaged in space research. Let this work benefit all countries of the world,” the statement read, quoting Tsivilev. The post added that the unveiling was scheduled to coincide with the 10th meeting...

The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi said on Friday that three Pakistani prisoners in India were repatriated via the Wagah border. The border, which connects Lahore with the Indian city of Amritsar, is the only active land crossing between the two neighbours. It was closed to general traffic following a brief but intense military conflict earlier this year. The high commission identified the prisoners repatriated today as Asghar Ali, Ramzan and Muhammad Idrees, saying that it would continue working towards the “release and repatriation of all Pakistani prisoners in India”. The Foreign Office (FO) told Dawn the identities of the arrested fishermen and when they were taken into custody. Ramzan, 43, from Lahore, was arrested in 2010 by India on charges of illegally crossing the border and possessing narcotics. After receiving consular access, his status as a Pakistani national was confirmed in February 2011. Meanwhile, Muhammad Idrees from Narowal was arrested in 1995 for allegedly crossing the border illeg...