Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: A Sup­reme Court judge on Friday questioned the haste shown by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in auctioning six Bahria Town properties when six references against Zain Malik were still pen­­d­ing adjudication before an accountability court, which would decide about confiscation of the properties if the accused was proved guilty. “After instituting applications for the termination of the plea bargain (deal appr­o­­ved in August 2020) betw­een Zain Malik and NAB, the references against the accused have been reverted to the preliminary stage,” observed Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, a member of the three-judge SC bench that had taken up the appeal against the Aug 4 short order of the Islamabad High Court. As the IHC in its short order allowed NAB to go ahead with the auction of the six attached properties, the anti-graft watchdog sold one property and received conditional bids for two other properties, at a combined value of Rs2.27 billion. However, the auction of three remaining properties was sh...

Shehbaz says NITB restructuring, recruitment of best talent will help strengthen IT industry Implementation of e-Office led to paperless governance in govt offices Calls for urgent action plan to boost tourism in Pakistan.

UN chief calls the move dangerous escalation as several countries request urgent UNSC session Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt condemn Israeli cabinet’s approval of plan to take illegal control of Gaza City Germany suspends arms exports to Israel.

ISLAMABAD - The National Assembly (NA) yesterday formally announced disqualification of several members from opposition benches including leader of opposition Omar Ayub.

BAJAUR: Amid talks between the Bajaur Amn Jirga and terrorists for the latter’s peaceful return to Afghanistan, security officials have ruled out any compromise with anti-state elements here. The seventh session of negotiation between Jirga members and TTP leaders was held on Friday. Sources claimed that the terrorists, living among civilian population in Bajaur tribal district, were involved in sabotage and other crimes. They said that the chief minister and security officials asked tribal elders to expel foreign terrorists, mostly Afghans, or vacate the area for one or two days for an operation against terrorists. While promising the continuation of operation against terrorists “at all costs,” the chief minister and security officials called for efforts to minimise collateral damage. Security sources said the government’s direct talks with terrorists or their facilitators was out of the question until the latter surrendered. They said the ongoing tribal jirga was a logical step to ensure the maximum public ...

ISLAMABAD - Foreign Office Spokesperson Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan on Friday said Pakistan and Iran have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations, promoting regional peace, and standing in solidarity with the Palestinian and Kashmiri people.

ISLAMABAD - At least 33 Indian-sponsored Khwarij were sent to hell when they were trying to infiltrate through Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Sambaza area of Zhob District in Balochistan late Thursday night, security officials said on Friday.

WASHINGTON: Azerbaijan and Armenia signed an initial US-brokered peace agreement during a meeting with President Donald Trump on Friday, a deal aimed at boosting economic ties between the two countries after decades of conflict, the White House said. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told reporters that Trump signed separate deals with both Armenia and Azerbaijan on energy, technology, economic cooperation, border security, infrastructure and trade. No further details were provided. The agreement includes exclusive US development rights to a strategic transit corridor through the South Caucasus, dubbed the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.” US officials said the agreement was hammered out during repeated visits to the region and would provide a basis for working toward a full normalisation between the countries. Neither the joint declaration due to be signed nor the separate bilateral agreements with the US were released. It was not immediately clear how the deal being signed on Friday wou...

ISLAMABAD - The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday reminded all political parties to submit their consolidated statements of accounts for the financial year 2024–25 by August 29, 2025, in line with the requirements of the Elections Act, 2017.

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif held a farewell meeting with the outgoing Australian High Commissioner, H.

ISLAMABAD - Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif here on Friday.

LAHORE - Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif had a meeting in Lahore on Friday in the backdrop of Asif’s controversial remarks about bureaucratic corruption.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan yesterday dispatched its 18th humanitarian aid consignment to Gaza, reaffirming Islamabad’s steadfast support for the Palestinian people amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

ISLAMABAD - Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said Friday that state media outlets including Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation, PTV and the Associated Press of Pakistan have established mechanisms in place to effectively counter misinformation.

UMERKOT: Justice Salahuddin Panhwar of Supreme Court has expressed his deep regrets over shortcomings of the country’s judicial system and institutions, and also criticised dishonest judges, lawyers and police officers responsible for the delay and denial of justice to the public. He was speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the Umerkot Bar Association here on Friday. Describing the saying: “Justice delayed is justice denied” as absolutely correct, he declared that a court failing to deliver justice serves no purpose. Mentioning the cases where justice was delayed for decades, he gave a couple of examples: “One woman waited for 71 years for a decision on her inheritance case and another person’s case relating to an accident was decided after 24 years”. He condemned use of influence by feudals and bureaucrats and observed that some judges were compromising their integrity to appease the powerful. Justice Panhwar said judges must act with courage, and not fear, and warned them that betraying the oath undermin...

• Under new legislation, house speaker will form body to set lawmakers’ salaries and allowances • Another piece of legislation allows 19 and 20 grade officers to be appointed as chairmen of boards, despite MQM-P’s dissent KARACHI: In a display of cross-party harmony, the Sindh Assembly on Friday unanimously passed a bill, paving the way for a fresh framework to govern the perks and privileges of its members. The Sindh Assembly Members (Salaries and Allowances) Bill 2025, presented by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Zia ul Hasan Lanjar, is aimed at replacing the existing law with “a more structured approach” overseen by a newly constituted Parliamentary Committee. Under the bill, the Speaker will establish the Parliamentary Committee through an official gazette notification. The committee’s membership will be determined by the Speaker based on proportional representation, ensuring fair representation. The committee will be empowered to oversee and recommend MPAs’ salaries and allowances, with its recomm...

ISLAMABAD - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (DPM/FM), Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Friday called for fast-tracking the implementation of already agreed-upon proposals and development projects, emphasizing the need for timely action and coordination across relevant ministries under Pakistan-Turkiye partnership.

• Diplomatic sources say it was US that ‘blocked’ exemption which would’ve allowed Muttaqi to tour Pakistan • Spokesperson hints that Pakistan will continue US-Iran messaging role ISLAMABAD: Although a UN Security Council travel ban is widely thought to be behind the cancellation of a planned visit by Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to Islamabad, the Foreign Office on Friday hinted that “procedural issues” had hindered the trip. “There are certain procedural issues we are working through,” Foreign Office spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan told reporters at the weekly media briefing when pressed about media reports on Muttaqi’s aborted trip. Mr Muttaqi was expected in Islamabad on August 4, continuing the recent high-level contacts initiated by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Kabul earlier this year, a move that led to a thaw in ties. The rapprochement was brokered by China. However, the spokesperson clarified that no official dates had been confirmed for the Afghan foreign mi...

Rawalpindi - Pirwadhai police have recovered the mobile phone and handbag of 19-year-old married Sidra Arab, who was killed for honour after a jirga decision in Fauji Colony on July 17.

ISLAMABAD - Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar stated that Pakistan is rich in mineral resources worth billions of dollars.