Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday visited the residence of senior political leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to condole over demise of his mother-in-law.

LAHORE - Punjab Home Department on Monday sought the deployment of Pakistan Army and Rangers personnel to ensure foolproof security arrangements across the province during Muharram.

ISLAMABAD - President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad on Monday.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman yesterday urged transparency as PPP emerged strong in Gilgit-Baltistan polls.

ISLAMABAD - Foreign Office on Monday urged the United Kingdom to act against supporters of proscribed groups amid irresponsible and ill-informed insinuations made by certain members of the diaspora in the UK regarding Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court of Pakistan Monday upheld life imprisonment sentence awarded to an acid attacker and rejected his appeal seeking leniency for being “a juvenile” at the time of crime.

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday urged all sides to exercise restraint and give peace a little more chance, as they worked earnestly and painstakingly to find a peaceful diplomatic solution to the regional conflict in the Middle East.

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Sunday stressed the importance of early diagnosis, timely treatment, and public awareness in combating brain tumors, saying that increased awareness can help save lives and reduce complications associated with the disease.

GILGIT: The PPP is all set to form a government in Gilgit-Baltistan after it gained 11 out of 24 seats in the Gilgit-Baltistan Legi­slative Assembly, according to unofficial results (Forms-47) of the June 7 elections. As per Forms-47 issued by returning officers from 24 constituencies, the PPP bagged 11 seats, with the PML-N trailing with six seats. The candidates backed by the PTI won two seats, and its ally MWM was victorious in one seat. The independent candidates secured four seats. In a post on X in the early hours of Monday, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari declared victory, saying the PPP had become the “single largest party” in the region. “The Pakistan Peoples Party is emerging as the single largest party and we will be attempting to form government. I am grateful to the people for their trust and congratulations to Jiyalas on their victory,” said Bhutto-Zardari, whose party had alleged rigging during the polling. Recount ordered On Monday, the Elec­tion Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan ordered a reco­unt in two...

• ‘Proscribed’ JAAC to go ahead with rally from Bhimber to Muzaffarabad, sit-in outside assembly • Officials say govt ‘will not allow’ march to go ahead; large crowds unlikely since group’s leadership is ‘on the run’ MUZAFFARABAD: In the aftermath of Sunday night’s fierce clashes that claimed the lives of seven civilians and four law enforcement personnel in Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) braced for a shutter-down and wheel-jam strike on Tuesday (today) , announced by the proscribed Joint Awami Action Com­mittee (JAAC). According to initial plans, the JAAC had decided that protesters would start a long march from the southernmost district of Bhimber, passing through Mirpur, Kotli and Poonch before reaching Muzaffarabad on June 10 for a sit-in outside the Legislative Assembly. Government officials, meanwhile, appeared hopeful about the prospects of a tepid response to the protest call for several reasons, including the recent crackdown. In action against JAAC, the authorities had rounded up more than ...

GWADAR: Cross-border trade between Pakistan and Iran through the Gabd-Rimdan border crossing has come to a complete halt, raising fears of a severe LPG shortage across the country and leaving hundreds of tonnes of perishable export goods, including rice and mangoes, at risk of spoilage. The Gwadar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) urged the federal government, senior customs officials and other relevant authorities to take immediate notice of the strategic importance of the Gabd-Rimdan border crossing, remove bureaucratic bottlenecks and ensure the smooth movement of commercial vehicles. It blamed the suspension of trade at the Gabd-Rimdan border on what it described as the incompetence of Pakistan Customs officials. The chamber accused customs authorities of deliberately disrupting formal border trade through unnecessary procedural delays. “This crisis comes at a time when Pakistan’s border trade infrastructure is already under severe strain,” said GCCI President Jiand Hoot. He noted that the Chaman bo...

PESHAWAR/MANSEHRA: Following the emergence of a dissident group of lawmakers within the ruling PTI, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati seems reluctant to hold an assembly session, apparently fearing criticism against the provincial government by the party’s own MPAs over the question of Imran Khan’s continued imprisonment. Reports of rifts within the PTI emerged soon after the induction of new ministers, advisers and special assistants – who took oath on May 22. It is understood that some of the MPAs in question are unhappy after not being included in the provincial cabinet. The last sitting of the KP Assembly was held on May 18, which was adjourned by the chair till June 1. However, the house did not meet on the scheduled date, as the speaker first postponed it to June 8. The latest notification issued by the assembly secretariat on Sunday said that the sitting would now be held on Monday, June 15 at 2pm. One of the dissidents told Dawn that there were initially 25 of them, but the number...

President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday stressed that the upcoming 2026–2027 federal budget should prioritise “public welfare, provincial rights and economic stability” during a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Presidency said. The meeting, part of wider pre-budget consultations between major allied parties in the Centre, came a couple of days ahead of the government’s announcement to present the federal budget for FY2026–27 on June 10. A handout released after the meeting said Zardari and Shehbaz discussed the upcoming budget at the President’s House. “While discussing budget proposals and public relief, the president stressed prioritising public welfare, provincial rights and economic stability in the federal budget,” the handout said. It added that the president directed that every effort should be made to harmonise the growth rate with public welfare schemes in the upcoming budget. National security, as well as the internal and regional situation, were also discussed. The Presidency said Inter...

A controversial proposal to expand military technology cooperation between the United States and Israel is headed for a vote in the House of Representatives after surviving its first major congressional challenge, setting the stage for a broader debate over the future of one of Washington’s closest strategic relationships. The measure, known as the United States-Israel Defence Technology Cooperation Initiative, advanced out of the House Armed Services Committee on Friday after lawmakers rejected an amendment seeking to remove it from the annual defence policy bill. Opponents are expected to renew their challenge when the legislation reaches the House floor, likely in July. The initiative is part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual legislation through which Congress sets policy and priorities for the US military. If enacted, it would establish a formal framework for expanding cooperation between American and Israeli defence industries and research institutions. The proposal would requi...

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, conducted a surprise, late-night inspection of Pakistani pilgrims’ residences in the Markaziya area near Masjid-e-Nabawi to review service standards.

The Directorate General of Hajj in Madinah has implemented multiple revolutionary initiatives for the Hajj 2026 operations, driven by advanced technology, smart governance, and optimal financial strategies.

KARACHI: Recognising the growing threat of narcotics consumption in the city’s educational institutions, the city’s South Zone police have prepared an anti-drug policy in collaboration with the heads of 22 universities and schools. Speaking to Dawn on Monday, South Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Syed Asad Raza said: “Recognising the need for a coordinated, proactive and sustainable response, the police have adopted this comprehensive anti-drug policy to safeguard students from substance abuse and foster a safe, healthy and drug-free educational environment.” He added that the policy was founded on the principles of “prevention, early intervention, parental engagement, rehabilitation, institutional accountability and lawful enforcement”. “It aims to establish and maintain drug-free educational institutions, protect students from exposure to narcotics and other harmful substances, and promote awareness of the physical, psychological, social and legal consequences of substance abuse,” the South DIG sai...

Both sides pause strikes after hitting targets Trump says peace talks in final stages Warns ignorance could derail

PM urges all sides to 'give peace a little more chance'

FO warns UK diaspora over AJK interference