Pakistan

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad has declared 30 workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as proclaimed offenders in connection with cases related to the November 26 protest.

London police released former ambassador Peter Mandelson on bail in the early hours of Tuesday, in a probe into his ties to disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein, only days after ex-prince Andrew was arrested. Mandelson, a pivotal figure in British politics and the UK’s former envoy to Washington, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office around 17:00 GMT (10pm PKT) on Monday following allegations arising from the latest set of documents linked to Epstein. “A 72-year-old man arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office has been released on bail pending further investigation,” the Metropolitan police said in a statement around nine hours after he was taken in to an unnamed London police station. Images on UK television earlier appeared to show Mandelson, 72, being driven away from his north London home, accompanied by a man and a woman, after police raided his properties earlier this month. The arrest came days after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, King Charles III’s younger brother, was de...

• Rana Sana urges opposition to rejoin parliamentary panels; seeks end to political confrontation, deadlock • Senate opposition leader asks govt not to complicate PTI chief’s health matters; says Imran not looking for deal • Upper house approves criminal procedure code tweaks to prevent police from holding suspects incommunicado ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Monday extended an olive branch to the PTI to advance the ‘Charter of Democracy’, signed between the PPP and the PML-N in 2006, and asked opposition lawmakers to rejoin parliamentary standing committees to kick-start the political process for reconciliation. The offer was made by PML-N Senator and PM’s aide Rana Sanaullah in his Senate address, while responding to a speech by Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas. “Let us sit together to strengthen and take forward the charter of democracy,” Mr Sanaullah said, adding that the government was ready for a dialogue to strengthen democracy and avoid confrontation and deadlock. “We are ready to sit with you...

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has announced a special development package worth Rs200 billion for Hazara Division.

KOHAT: Employees of the KDA Divisional Headquarters Hospital and members of the Young Doctors’ Association on Monday protested the murder of a woman doctor outside the hospital. Dr Mehwish Hasnain was killed late on Sunday as she was going home after performing duty at the KDA hospital. The police said they had registered an FIR against unidentified people for the murder. The protesters blocked the KDA Road and demanded the immediate arrest of the killer. They also called for tight security for themselves. The protesters insisted that Dr Mehwish was shot by an attendant whom she earlier asked to leave the space reserved for women patients. DPO says three teams formed to arrest killer Spokesman for the YDA’s provincial chapter Hafeez Orakzai said that the woman doctor left the hospital alone for home, considering the incident a minor one. “When Dr Mehwish was shot multiple times by the same visitor outside the hospital, she died on the spot,” he said. The spokesman said staff members had suspended all services...

The Lahore High Court has announced a new roster for its judges, which will remain in effect for two months from March 2 to May 2.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired a meeting in Karachi to review progress on ongoing development projects across the city.

Security forces carried out a large-scale, coordinated search and combing operation across Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Chakwal and Murree against illegal Afghan residents and individuals involved in identity and tenancy violations.

• 116-page judgement declares his law degree invalid • IHC rules appointment was ‘without lawful authority’ and a ‘legal nullity’ • Calls ex-judge’s plea to recuse CJ Dogar ‘dilatory tactics’ and ‘bench-hunting’ ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Monday issued a detailed 116-page judgement on the removal of one of its judges, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, declaring that his appointment to the bench was “without lawful authority” as he did not possess a valid law degree. An IHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muha­mmad Azam Khan held that ex-Justice Jahangiri’s foundational law degree was void ab initio, rendering his elevation to the high court a “legal nullity”. The judgement relied heavily on original academic records produced by the University of Karachi (KU) registrar, concluding that the respondent’s academic credentials were tainted by fraud, impersonation and a deliberate attempt to circumvent a disciplinary ban. According to the verdict, Mr Jahangiri fi...

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry briefed the Senate on Monday on recent strikes targeting terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, pointing out that they were carried out following multiple attacks by militants in Pakistan and saying that Islamabad “cannot tolerate this anymore”. Pakistan carried out airstrikes on Afghanistan in a retaliatory operation late on Saturday night, targeting groups responsible for recent attacks in its territory. The strikes were conducted in retaliation for a series of suicide attacks in Islamabad, Bajaur, and Bannu that had claimed the lives of Pakistani security personnel and civilians. Mentioning these incidents, Chaudhry said they were “linked” to Afghanistan-based actors, adding that it was subsequently decided to give a “decisive response” to the neighbouring country. “As a result, our Air Force carried out strikes in three Afghan provinces, Paktika, Nangarhar and Khost on February 21,” he said, adding that there were reports of the deaths of over 100 militants ...

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved the launch of a free ambulance service for transporting deceased persons from public hospitals to their homes, marking the first such initiative in the province.

ISLAMABAD - Lieutenant Colonel Shehzada Gul Faraz and Sepoy Karamat Shah, who embraced martyrdom in a cowardly attack by Fitna al Khwarij in Bannu, laid to rest with full military honours in their native hometowns.

Islamabad - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Doha, on a two-day official visit, at the invitation of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Monday.

LAHORE - The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday set aside all decisions issued by Dispute Resolution Committees (DRCs) in cases related to alleged illegal occupations under the Punjab Property Ownership Law, while transferring more than 1,500 pending petitions to the relevant tribunals for fresh proceedings.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Shazia Marri yesterday strongly reacted to recent statements made by certain federal ministers, terming them “irresponsible” and accusing them of promoting unrest and uncertainty in the country.

Says silence is complicity | Justice can’t be selective, must prevail even when it challenges power, prestige ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday issued its detailed judgment in a petition through which Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri was ordered to be de-notified as a judge of the court.

Islamabad - Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider has commended the role of Pakistan Sweet Home while addressing the Annual Iftar Dinner hosted by Sweet Home donors.

ISLAMABAD - Unlike the past series of clashes between MQM-P and PPP-P, the tension between allies of the government is near to an abnormal level and potentially leading to serious consequences owing to the mysterious indifferent approach of the ruling party.

PESHAWAR/ Islamabad - An ambulance transporting injured FC personnel came under heavy fire from terrorists in Karak district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in the martyrdom of three officials on Monday.

ISLAMABAD - Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry while vowing that there would be no compromise on national security, on Monday informed the Senate that no one would be allowed to weaken Pakistan’s defence.