Pakistan

A five-member Constitutional Bench (CB) of the Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on PTI leader Shibli Faraz’s appeal against his disqualification as a senator. On July 31, Faraz, along with PTI’s Omar Ayub and other lawmakers, was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment by a Faisalabad anti-terrorism court for his involvement in the May 9, 2023 riots. Subsequently, he was disqualified as the Senate opposition leader under Article 63(1h) (disqualification from parliament due to conviction) of the Constitution. After being denied relief by the Peshawar High Court (PHC), Ayub and Faraz approached the SC on October 4 against the former’s order under Article 185(3) of the Constitution (appellate jurisdiction). Headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, the CB took up four appeals — two each by Ayub and Faraz — for hearing today, according to the cause list. The bench also included Justices Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Shakeel Ahmad. ...

A senior BJP leader and regional minister has said that two Australian cricketers who were inappropriately touched by a man last week during the Women’s World Cup would “learn a lesson” from the incident and stay cautious in the future, according to Indian media. The incident in question took place in the central Indian city of Indore on Thursday morning when the two players left their hotel to go to a cafe, a day after Australia’s six-wicket victory over England in the group stage of the World Cup, when they were allegedly approached by a motorcyclist. The two players were not identified by Indian police or Cricket Australia, which confirmed the incident, and one man has been arrested in connection with the case. NDTV reported on Sunday that senior BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvargiya had stated that the incident was “a lesson for everyone.” “Sometimes, players don’t realise their popularity. Players are very popular, so they should be careful,” Vijayvargiya said. “This incident has ha...

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is set to announce its new monetary policy today (Monday), with analysts widely expecting the central bank to keep the key interest rate unchanged at 11 percent amid stable inflation and ongoing economic challenges.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, stressing that it is in the shared interest of all regional states and the international community to end.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced a groundbreaking initiative to enhance healthcare, safety, and digital skill development for special children across the province — marking a historic step toward inclusive education and empowerment.

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Malaysia on Monday, as the two countries push trade talks and ease tensions over Washington’s punishing tariffs. Few details were released, but Rubio’s meeting with Jaishankar is the highest-level contact since the US imposed sanctions last week on Russian oil companies, a key source of India’s crude supplies. Jaishankar posted a photograph on social media showing him smiling and shaking hands with Rubio, saying he “appreciated the discussion on our bilateral ties as well as regional and global issues”. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Malaysia, which US President Donald Trump attended in person and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed by video link. Modi had backtracked from his proposed visit to Kuala Lumpur to attend the Asean summit, with Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim saying that his Indian counterpart had cite...

Polluted winds drifting from India continue to smother Punjab’s major cities, propelling Lahore, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala to the top of global air pollution charts.

25 terrorists slain in N Waziristan, Kurram; 5 soldiers embrace martyrdom; Leaders vow to pursue Azm-e-Istehkam

Islamabad questions Kabul's sincerity over cross-border attacks

Rubio says ties with Pakistan not at India's expense

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Playing with numbers a systemic malaise undermining policy, investor trust

As some long-entrenched firms leave, new players move in, drawn by signs of economic recovery and growth

Trillions are locked in idle plots; taxing unproductive assets can redirect savings into job-creating sectors

Dilemma continues as desire to reduce tariffs is met with resistance

Meeting with Xi will determine whether ongoing tensions spiral into full-scale trade war or yield another truce

Presence of govt entity in market creates uneven field, even if there is competition

Bhat calls for UN to fulfil its promises

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ISLAMABAD - Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Yahya Afridi has commended the collective commitment to the reform and renewal of the country’s justice system, extending heartfelt appreciation to the entire judicial fraternity and allied institutions for their steadfast dedication.