Daily News Pakistan

A policeman was martyred after unidentified terrorists attacked a police checkpost in Lakki Marwat. According to a police spokesman, the suspects attacked the Shahbaz Khel checkpost with sophisticated weapons. Policemen deployed at the checkpost retaliated against the attack. During a crossfire, one constable embraced martyrdom, while a terrorist also got killed. The funeral prayer of the martyred policeman was offered at 10am. This is not the first time that a police checkpost has been attacked in Lakki Marwat in the recent past. On December 18, 2022, four policemen were martyred and four others suffered injuries after terrorists attacked a police station in Lakki Marwat. According to police, the terrorists attacked the Bargi police station with hand grenades and rocket launchers in the wee hours. The terrorists fled the scene after exchanging heavy gunfire with the police. The bodies and the injured officials were shifted to the local state hospitals. A heavy police contingen...

President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have felicitated the nation and international community on beginning of the New Year and prayed for development, progress and prosperity of Pakistan as well as peace in the world. In their separate new year's messages, they stressed the need to work together to make Pakistan the cradle of peace, prosperity and development. The President in his message said the nation faced various challenges last year but overcame difficult situations due to the hard work, sacrifice, determination and resilience. He said in the new year, as a nation we must set our priorities correctly to overcome the challenges facing the nation. The President said we need national solidarity, unity, discipline, persistent hard work, passion and dedication to make Pakistan a prosperous, developed, democratic and stable country. The Prime Minister in his message hoped that the new year would prove to be the year of ending hunger, war, terrorism, crime,...

The 193-member United Nations (UN) General Assembly on Friday asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to give an opinion on the legal consequences of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories. Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem - areas the Palestinians want for a state - in a 1967 war. It withdrew from Gaza in 2005, but, along with neighboring Egypt, controls the enclave's borders. The Hague-based ICJ, also known as the World Court, is the top UN court dealing with disputes between states. Its rulings are binding, though the ICJ has no power to enforce them. According to international media reports, the request for a court opinion on Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories was made in a resolution adopted by the General Assembly with 87 votes in favor. Israel, the United States and 24 other members voted against, while 53 abstained. "No international body can decide that the Jewish people are 'occupiers' in t...

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Saturday arrested five terrorists from Lahore belonging to banned outfits. As per details, the suspects arrested in the CTD operation include a banned outfit commander. The arrested terrorist had already planned to carry out an attack in sensitive districts. Apart from suicide jackets, explosives, guns, ammunition and literature pertaining to terror activities were recovered from the five suspects. Earlier, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) claimed to arrest a suspected terrorist during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Islamabad. The Counter-Terrorism Department and other institutions conducted a joint raid on a tip-off in Islamabad and arrested a suspected terrorist. The raiding team found a large quantity of arms and ammunition in the custody of the arrested suspect. The spokesperson said in a statement that the IBO was conducted under the supervision of the senior superintendent police (SSP) Counter-Terrorism Department....

To ensure security and prevent any untoward situations on New Year’s Eve, the Sindh government announced a ban on pillion riding and impose Section 144 in the provincial capital for two days. In a notification, Commissioner announced the ban, saying the decision was taken on the recommendation of Karachi law enforcers. A large number of citizens, mostly youth, flocked around Seaview on two-wheelers and cars, causing traffic jams and inconvenience to the residents. Meanwhile, public displays of weapons, aerial firing, crackers, and pillion riding will not be allowed as the world rings in 2023 tonight. Officials also beefed up security arrangements amid a recent wave of terrorism. In a similar decision later, the capital administration imposed Section 144 in Islamabad city on Dec 31. Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon has issued a notification in this regard, stating that action will be taken under Section 144 over violating the pillion-riding ban.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan on Saturday criticised the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for not holding LG polls in Islamabad despite the court’s orders. In his tweet, Imran Khan said by not implementing Islamabad High Court orders to hold LG elections in Islamabad today, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has again shown it is ‘B team of imported govt and its backers’. By not implementing IHC orders to hold LG elections in Islamabad today, ECP has again shown it is B team of Imported Govt & its backers. PDM, fearful of the people, is running away from all elections. Right to vote is a fundamental democratic norm & PTI stands committed to it. — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 31, 2022 Imran Khan claimed that the PDM is fearful of the people and this the reason why it is running away from all elections. Read more:  ECP   files   intra-court   appeal   against   IHC’s   verdict ...

The government has decided to engage international operators to help run three major airports of the country, including Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, with a view to attract direct foreign investment and provide world-class facilities to passengers. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, which discussed matters pertaining to aviation sector. It was decided that the government would hire the services of operators of international repute to run these major airports for a period of 20 to 25 years. The international operators would provide services of international standards at the said airports besides uplifting them through foreign investment. The meeting gave the Public Private Partnership Authority a go-ahead to initiate the formalities. The Prime Minister instructed the Authority to ensure accomplishment of the process transparently and in accordance with the highest standards.

North Korea has fired three short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters, the latest in a barrage of weapons tests this year that came days after it increased tensions by allegedly flying drones into South Korean airspace. According to international media reports, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement it detected the three launches from an inland area south of Pyongyang, the North's capital, on Saturday morning. It said South Korea has boosted its surveillance posture and maintains a readiness in close coordination with the United States. Japan's Defence Ministry said in a statement that North Korea fired suspected ballistic missiles. It was North Korea's first missile launch in eight days and came five days after South Korea accused Pyongyang of flying five drones into South Korea's airspace for the first time since 2017. South Korean warplanes and helicopters failed to bring down any of the North Korean drones spotted south of ...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered condolences to his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, over the passing of his mother. On Friday, Indian PM Narendra Modi confirmed the passing of his mother at the age of 100. Taking to Twitter, Modi tweeted: “A glorious century rests at the feet of God.” He recalled that when had met her in June on her 100th birthday, she had advised him to “work with intelligence” and “live life with purity”. Extending his condolences, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that there was “no greater loss than losing one’s mother”. “My condolences to Prime Minister [Narendra Modi] on the passing away of his mother,” he added. The Indian premier lit his mother's funeral pyre in her hometown called Gandhinagar in western Gujarat state. Modi visited his mother on important occasions and festivals, seeking her blessings. On her 99th birthday, the Indian prime minister said that his mother's "life, sacrifices had shaped his mind, personality and self...

Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant sustained injuries after his car crashed into a road divider and caught fire in the northern state of Uttarakhand. The star batsman was recovering in hospital Friday, police and doctors said. He was returning from his hometown Roorkee, a few hours north of the capital, before dawn when his Mercedes SUV crashed into the median. Police said the car immediately caught fire and he had to break the windscreen to escape the blaze. Pant was alone in the car when it collided with a divider on the road and caught fire, multiple reports in Indian media said. Pant had multiple injuries and was first rushed to a nearby hospital before being shifted to a more advanced facility. The exact extent of his injuries remains unknown but media reports said he had sustained head, limb and back injuries in the crash. “His condition is stable. His detailed medical bulletin will be released once he’s examined,” Ashish Yagnik, a doctor at the Max Hospital in Dehradun, told r...

A terrorist attack on a check post in Dera Ismail Khan was thwarted by security forces on Friday night. According to District Police Officer Shoaib Khan, unidentified assailants attacked a security check post by firing more than 17 rockets. In the ensuing exchange of fire, at least thr security personnel were injured. All injured have been shifted to the hospital. Earlier, as many as three soldiers embraced martyrdom in an exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists in Kurram district of Khyber Pakthunkhwa (KP) on Thursday. “The terrorists were involved to attack armed forces in the region,” the military stated, adding that the forces are committed to eliminate the menace of terrorism and that the sacrifices of brave soldiers only further strengthen their determination.

A Myanmar junta court has jailed ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi for seven years for corruption, ending the 18-month trial of the Nobel laureate. According to international media reports, Suu Kyi was sentenced to seven years on five counts of corruption on Friday related to the hiring and maintaining of a helicopter that had caused a "loss to the state", a legal source said, adding there were "no more charges" against her. Suu Kyi has been a prisoner since the generals toppled her government in February last year, ending the Southeast Asian nation's brief experiment with democracy. The Nobel laureate, 77, has already been found guilty on a raft of charges ranging from corruption to illegally importing walkie-talkies and breaching the official secrets act and has been jailed for 26 years. Journalists have been barred from the proceedings, which rights groups have slammed as a sham designed to remove Suu Kyi from Myanmar's political scene. Each ...

The National Security Committee will meet on Friday (today) to review counter-terrorism preparedness and chalk out a strategy in the wake of rising terrorist attacks. The decision to convene the meeting of the NSC was taken in a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir on Thursday. The meeting between the two took place a day after the corps commanders’ conference at the General Headquarters where the surge in terrorism incidents dominated the agenda. An important element of the military’s statement issued after the corps commanders’ conference was that the terrorist threat would be eliminated “as per the aspirations of the people of Pakistan”. This showed that the army, with its readiness to act against terrorist groups, needed political ownership of any new counter-terrorism operation that may be launched. The coalition government, which has so far shied away from tough decisions, was, meanwhile, finding it difficult to commit to any...

Pele, the magical Brazilian football star who rose from barefoot poverty to become one of the greatest and best-known athletes in modern history, died at the age of 82, his daughter said on Instagram on Thursday. He had been in and out of hospital in recent months after a tumor was found on his colon. Pele, whose given name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento, scored a world record 1,281 goals, and is the only player ever to win the World Cup three times. With sublime skills and a winning smile, he helped make football the world's most popular sport and he charmed popes, presidents and Hollywood stars in a seven-decade career as player and ambassador for the sport. Born on October 23, 1940, in the small Minas Gerais town of Tres Corações, or "Three Hearts", Edson Arantes do Nascimento learned the game from his father, a semi-professional player whose promising career was derailed by a knee injury. Several aspects of his youth are obscured by myth, including the origin ...

 Three soldiers were martyred and two terrorists gunned down Thursday after an intense exchange of fire in a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which is hit by a fresh wave of terrorism. In its statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) mentioned that the troops fought bravely and effectively engaged the terrorists' location in Kurram district's Arawali area. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists who remained actively involved in terror-related activities against security forces, the military's media wing mentioned. "Sanitisation of the area is being carried out to eliminate any terrorists found in the area," the ISPR wrote. The military, in its statement, said that the Pakistan Army is "determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism" and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve. For the past few weeks, Pakistan has witnessed a fresh wave of terrorism with the most recent spate of...

The Pakistan Tehrkeek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced Thursday it would start a country-wide protest movement starting tomorrow (Friday) as the party seeks to force the coalition government into early elections. The PTI has been repeatedly calling for snap elections since ex-prime minister Imran Khan's ouster in April as it refuses to go back to the National Assembly and keeps on stressing that "early polls" are the only solution to the country's ongoing crisis. But the government has ruled out staging early polls and has told the PTI that given the current situation — floods, census, and new delimitation — the elections cannot be held before October. "From tomorrow, country-wide protests will start against rising inflation, deteriorating economy, and shortage of gas," PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry told journalists in Lahore after the party's high-level meeting with Khan in the chair.

Undetterd Kane Williamson smashed a sensational double century to put New Zealand on top as the touring side declared their first innings on 612/9 on the stoke of Tea on Day 4 of the opening Test against Pakistan. Undeterred Kane Williamson stood solid with an unbeaten 137 along with Ish Sodhi as New Zealand amassed the first-inning lead of 81 runs over Pakistan before Lunch on the fourth day of the opening Test, at National Bank Cricket Arena on Thursday. Starting the day on 440/6, New Zealand gathered 79 runs in the first session to reach 519/6 at the interval with Williamson and Sodhi remaining unmoved. Williamson, who brought up a century yesterday, continued to frustrate Pakistan bowlers with his solid defence as he added 32 runs to his overnight score of 105. Sodhi, on the other hand, built a solid shield too and denied Pakistan any breakthrough that they were looking for, as the leg spinner scored an unbeaten 41 from 122 balls. While New Zealand are looking to stretch the...

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former SAPM, Dr Shahbaz Gill, on Thursday moved Sindh High Court (SHC) against his arrest warrant in the sedition case. The PTI leader pleaded with the court for an immediate hearing of the plea, which was turned down by the SHC bench. The court said it only hears new cases on an immediate basis. The court directed Shahbaz Gill to file the plea as per rules and regulations via the roster branch. It may be noted that on December 22, a district and sessions court in Islamabad issued a bailable arrest warrant against PTI leader Shahbaz Gill in the sedition case. The court issued a bailable arrest warrant upon PTI leader’s absence and rejected his petition for exemption from personal appearance in the case. The former SAPM was directed to appear before the before court on the next hearing and submit surety bond worth Rs 200,000. Moreover, the court adjourned Gill’s indictment in the sedition case till January 6.

National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf on Thursday informed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) delegation led by Asad Qaiser that for verification of the resignation the party’s lawmakers will be called individually. The delegation met the speaker in his chamber to discuss their resignation verification issue amid talk of the party's return to the assembly. The delegation included former speaker Asad Qaiser, Qasim Suri, Amir Dogar, Dr Shabbir Hussain, Ataullah, Fahim Khan and Tahir Iqbal. “Doors are not closed in politics there should be contact between politicians,” the speaker told the delegation. He added that decision on the resignations will be made as per the Constitution and rules of the assembly. The speaker added that he had invited PTI lawmakers to confirm the resignations. He added that when he accepted a few resignations one of the PTI lawmakers from Karachi appealed to a high court to stop the resignation. PTI's Chief Whip Amir Dogar had contacted the ...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the International Conference being co-hosted with the United Nations in Geneva on January 9, 2023 in the wake of the recent devastating floods in Pakistan. According to media reports, the Prime Minister held a telephonic conversation with the President of the Republic of Türkiye on Wednesday. The Prime Minister expressed gratitude on behalf of the people and the government of Pakistan to the brotherly government of Türkiye for the provision of prompt humanitarian assistance in the wake of the unprecedented catastrophic floods. Highlighting the daunting challenge faced by the country in terms of rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affected areas in a climate-resilient manner, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of continued international support and solidarity for Pakistan’s plans to build back better. The two leaders also exchanged views on various bilateral matters and internationa...

Maulana Tariq Jamil, renowned religious scholar and preacher who suffered a cardiac arrest a day earlier in Canada, is "recovering" and will be "discharged from the hospital soon". The scholar is under treatment for his heart problem and shared an update about his improving health status. A tweet from the preacher’s official Twitter handle, along with his smiling photograph, was shared in which he could be seen sitting on a hospital bed covering himself with a shawl and a woollen cap on his head. “By the grace of Allah and prayers of you friends, [my] health is a little better now. Will be discharged after staying under the care of doctors in the hospital for three more days,” the tweet read, requesting for more prayers. It was also learnt that Maulana received an angioplasty on Tuesday after suffering a heart attack during his stay in Canada, according to his family sources. A day earlier, the scholar’s son Yousaf Jamil informed his followers on the microbl...

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday dismissed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) appeal challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) decision of postponing the local body elections in the federal capital, terming it ineffective. A two-member bench headed by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani presided over the hearing. During the hearing, the court inquired if the ECP is not interested in holding the LB elections. To this, the commission's officials told the court that the election has been postponed due to an increase in the number of union councils. Irked by the remark, Justice Kayani stated that neither the previous government nor this government wants to hold local elections. The IHC justice added that the election is not being held despite giving an undertaking in the Supreme Court. “This falls under the category of contempt of court. This is not the job of the ECP to look at the government, you have to conduct elections freely,” remarked Justice Kayan...

Amid growing economic crisis, Pakistani rupee continued to lose ground against the United States dollar on Wednesday, for the seventeenth consecutive day, shedding 35 paisas to Rs226.50 in the interbank market during trading. The traded value of the rupee on Tuesday settled at Rs226.15, declining by 0.15% against the US dollar. Earlier on Monday, the rupee began the business week depreciating by 18 paisas to Rs225.82. However, on Friday, the rupee was trading at Rs225.64 against the US dollar, down roughly 0.09% from the previous session. The federal finance minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday said that the depreciation in the value of the Pakistani rupee has also caused the interest rate to go up. In the open currency market on Wednesday, the price of a single US dollar has increased to Rs235.50.

The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday called for the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and girls in Afghanistan, denouncing a ban by the Taliban-led administration on women attending universities or working for humanitarian aid groups. According to international media reports, in a statement agreed by consensus, the 15-member council said the ban on women and girls attending high school and universities in Afghanistan "represents an increasing erosion for the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Twitter on Tuesday that the restrictions were "unjustifiable human rights violations and must be revoked." He added: "Actions to exclude and silence women and girls continue to cause immense suffering and major setbacks to the potential of the Afghan people." The university ban on women was announced as the Security Council in New York met on Afghanistan last week. Girls have been ban...

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday assured investors at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) that the country will not default but did admit that the economy was in a “tight position”. In his address, the finance czar said he always believed that Pakistan has a prosperous future and “resilience” in its economy. However, he lamented that it was unfortunate that the country has been brought to a point where it should not be. “It’s been three months since I took charge and we listen every day that there is going to be a default. How will there be a default? There is no chance that Pakistan will default,” the finance minister assured the investors. Dar assured that Pakistan would survive and is managing itself but conceded that the economy was in a “tight position”. He added that the country does not have the $24 billion reserves that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) left in 2016 but that was not his fault. “The fault is in the system and we must ensure Pakistan goes forwa...

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Tuesday that the suspects and handlers involved in last week’s Islamabad suicide bombing have been arrested. A policeman was martyred and at least six others—including four policemen—were injured in the car bombing on Friday, the first suicide attack in the federal capital in more than eight years. "We have arrested the suspects of the Islamabad terrorist attack and have also detaine dtheir handlers," the interior minister said in a tweet. “The taxi driver was innocent and had no role in the attack. The terrorists moved from Kurram Agency and stayed in Rawalpindi. We have detained four or five suspects,” he added. Following the attack, Deputy Inspector General of Police Sohail Zafar Chattha had said the police spotted a "suspicious vehicle" in the I-10/4 sector at around 10:15am with a man and a woman inside. “The two came out of the vehicle. The man with long hair, while being checked by the officers, went inside the ...

Renowned religious scholar and preacher Maulana Tariq Jameel has suffered a heart attack in Canada, his son Yousaf Jamil said Tuesday. In a statement on the microblogging platform Twitter, the son said that following the attack, his father was shifted to a hospital. "He is feeling better now Alhamdulillah," Yousaf said, asking the followers to pray for his father's health. "May Allah grant my father complete health." It is pertinent to note here that Maulana Tariq's official account also retweeted Yousaf's tweet. In 2019, the prominent religious scholar also suffered a cardiac arrest and underwent a successful angioplasty in Lahore. Tariq underwent an angioplasty at a private hospital in Lahore. A stent was inserted in his heart to clear the blockage of arteries. The religious scholar had also contracted the deadly coronavirus in December 2020, but he had fully recovered from the disease.

The National Electric and Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has decided to decrease tariff by Rs7.43 per unit for November under monthly fuel cost adjustment (FCA). Under the chairmanship of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) Chairman Taseef H. Farooqui, a hearing was held where they approved the tariff reduction following an application by Karachi’s sole electricity distribution company, K-Electric. Nepra members from Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan were also a part of the hearing. The authority chairman remarked that the consumers will suffer if the federal government and K-Electric will not supply power to them. While the reduction will not be applicable to KE’s lifeline customers, the overall ease in power tariff will render a relief of Rs10.61 billion to consumers.

Election Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday once again delayed local government (LG) polls in Islamabad. The polls were scheduled to be held on December 31. The electoral body announced a short order on its reserved verdict. The federal government last week notified an increase in the number of Union Councils (UCs) in Islamabad. The notification had been issued a day after the ministry sent a summary to the federal government which the sources said was approved through circulation. Following this, the ECP summoned an emergency meeting to deliberate on the situation and at first decided not to delay LG elections in the federal capital. But on December 24, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) nullified the ECP’s order. “The election commission should revisit its decision and hear the government and other parties on December 27. For correcting the voter lists, the affected parties should also be heard on December 28,” IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq said. However, the commission went for ...

The Lahore High Court on Tuesday ordered the government to extend the winter vacations of schools and colleges of Lahore for seven more days due to the worsening smog situation in the city. The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday announced the decision for the closure of the educational institutes while hearing petitions seeking its intervention in the control of smog. The court also summoned the Provincial Disaster Management Authority's (PDMA) director general to the next hearing. During the hearing, the court said that the smog is being controlled to an extent. "The government is responsible for the prevention of the smog," said the court. Earlier this month, the LHC ordered closing the schools and offices for two days — Friday and Saturday — weekly owing to the smog situation. The notification, issued by the PDMA, stated that the staff may continue to work from home. The order will remain effective till January 15, 2023. "All private offices being operated...

Jailed former South Korean president Lee Myung-bak has received a presidential pardon, cutting short his 17-year sentence on corruption charges, the justice minister said. According to international media reports, Lee was on a list of more than 1,300 people who received special pardons "from the perspective of broad national unity through reconciliation, tolerance and consideration", Han Dong-hoon told reporters after a Cabinet meeting with President Yoon Suk-yeol on Tuesday. The 81-year-old Lee, who in June was granted a temporary release from jail due to his age and deteriorating health, is serving 17 years for bribery and embezzlement. It was effectively a life sentence as he was not due for release until 2036, when he would be 95. The former Hyundai CEO-turned-president was charged with 16 criminal allegations in 2018 and sentenced in 2020. He was found guilty of creating slush funds of tens of millions of dollars and accepting bribes from Samsung Electronics in re...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized the need to utilize digital media as a tool to portray the positive image of Pakistan. Addressing the National Amateur Short Film Festival 2022 in Islamabad, he said our youth should take a leading role for this purpose. Congratulating the winners of the festival, the Prime Minister said Pakistan has a wonderful soft, tolerant image which needs to be reflected all over the world through modern tools and technology. He said the coalition government will take every possible measure to facilitate our youth for its endeavour to showcase Pakistan's diverse and beautiful image to the world. The Prime Minister said merit based talent should be encouraged to promote Pakistan's culture and its industry. The Prime directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to increase the number of scholarships from fifteen to fifty under National Amateur Short Film Festival so more students can get opportunity of the foreign trainings. He sa...

As the country has been witnessing an uptick in terror incidents, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Monday reiterated his resolve to uproot the menace of terrorism by using all resources available in Pakistan. The premier, while addressing an event in Dera Ismail Khan, said that he will take all possible steps to control terrorism in all its forms in the country. PM Shehbaz’s assurance came while commenting on the recent acts of militancy across the country, particularly highlighting the Bannu operation against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) where its terrorists took over the Counter-Terrorism Department compound, which was later cleared by security forces. “Security forces bravely combatted the terrorists in Bannu. Acts of terrorism have once again seen a rise in the recent weeks. Those who embraced martyrdom in Bannu are Pakistan’s heroes. The nation will remember them,” the premier said, speaking at an event following the launch of development projects in DI Khan. He ...

A meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) is likely to meet during the ongoing week to discuss matters related to national security. According to media reports, the meeting is likely to meet this week to discuss the remedy for the new wave of terrorism in the country. The high-level meeting will be briefed on the recent terror wave in Pakistan. Pakistan has recently witnessed a rise in terror incidents in Mardan, Bannu and other parts of KP. Dozens of terrorists, who stormed an office of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in Bannu city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) sought safe exit to Afghanistan via airway. The Pakistan Army troops swung into action and killed 25 terrorists. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that security forces killed all 25 militants who had seized the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police station in Bannu.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday issued a notice to the state over Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Azam Khan Swati's post-arrest bail plea in the controversial tweets cases against him. Swati has been behind bars since November 27, when he was arrested for the second time for using abusive language against the top military brass, including former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa. The septuagenarian hurled swear words at Bajwa. While issuing a notice to the state for January 2, 2023, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq also sought replies of the parties in the case over Swati's bail plea. Swati had filed a plea seeking release on bail in the IHC in relation to the case filed against him on November 26. His earlier plea, filed on December 21, was dismissed by trial court judge Azam Khan, who said that the senator had committed the same offence twice. In his application, the senator stated that he did not post derogatory remarks against any institutions....

The Islamabad High Court on Monday directed Cabinet Division to provide details of gifts received by top politicians since 1947. Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb heard the petition seeking details of the gifts received by the heads of state since the establishment of Pakistan, more than a week after the Lahore High Court directed the government to submit the details by January 16. During today’s hearing, the petitioner maintained that his client had asked for the details of the gifts received by the head of the states since 1947 but Cabinet Division refused to provide the information. The petition maintained that Pakistan Information Commission issued an order in June this year but it had not been implemented, to which Justice Aurangzeb inquired why the rest of the public servants were not included in it. The deputy AG apprised the court that the records before 1990 would not be available and that such information should be on the website. The court later issued a notice to the C...

Pakistan captain Babar Azam opted to bat first after winning the toss against New Zealand in the first Test of two-match series here at National Bank Cricket Ground. Pakistan's former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has returned to the playing XI after almost four years. The Champions Trophy 2017 winning captain last featured in a Test against South Africa in January 2019. Left-arm pacer Mir Hamza also made his comeback in the playing XI after he last played his only Test against Australia in 2018. Playing XIs Pakistan: Babar Azam (C), Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafiq, Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Agha Salman, Abrar Ahmed, Wasim Jr, Mir Hamza, Nauman Ali New Zealand: Tom Latham, David Conway, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Ajaz Patel

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan has reiterated that the government would not allow unconstitutional and undemocratic steps for dissolution of assemblies. While addressing Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Workers’ Convention in Faisalabad, Rana Sanaullah said that not only wristwatches but the whole collection of the Toshakhana gifts were stolen which were allegedly sold by Imran Khan along with ‘murshid’. He claimed that ‘false cases’ were dissolved against the PML-N leaders and Imran Khan will now face ‘real cases’ against him. Sanaullah said that the PTI chief will be held accountable by the institutions. Regarding the dissolution of assemblies, the interior minister said that the dissolution process was an unconstitutional step and that the incumbent government will play its constitutional role. He announced that PML-N will actively participate in the 2023 general elections while Nawaz Sharif will lead the election campaign. The Interior Minister said the assemblies...

Five soldiers were martyred and at least a dozen others injured as four separate blasts hit Balochistan — two in Quetta and one each in Turtbat, Hub, and Kohlu district — officials on Sunday said as the nation battles rising terrorism. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that during an intelligence-based clearance operation — which is underway since December 24 — an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded near a "leading party" in Kohlu district's Kahan area. As a result, five soldiers — Captain Fahad, Lance Naik Imtiaz, Sepoy Asghar, Sepoy Mehran and Sepoy Shamoon — embraced martyrdom, the military's media wing said. Describing the incident as an "externally perpetrated threat of terrorism", the ISPR said that "such cowardly acts by inimical elements cannot sabotage the hard-earned peace and prosperity in Balochistan". The military's media wing said that the security forces remain determined to challenge th...

 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said Sunday he is "confident" that Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi will dissolve the provincial assembly after he wins the confidence vote. The Lahore High Court (LHC) earlier this week reinstated Elahi as the chief minister in the country's largest province on the condition that he would not disband the legislative but did not restrict him from taking a vote of confidence. The court will resume hearing the case on January 11 and Imran Khan, while speaking to senior journalists in the provincial capital today, said Parvez Elahi would take the vote of confidence before it. Following the confidence vote, the PTI plans on dissolving not just the legislative in Punjab, but Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well, the deposed prime minister said. "When both the assemblies have been dissolved, then the [government] will be forced to hold general elections," the ex-PM said, adding that if polls are delayed even after PTI...

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that the second Test of the upcoming historic home series against New Zealand has been shifted from Multan to Karachi. According to the PCB, the decision was taken citing the deteriorating weather condition in Multan and both cricket boards have mutually agreed to shift the venue. Besides the change in venue, the second Test and upcoming ODI series between the two teams have also been advanced by a day. “It has also been agreed between the two boards that the second Test and the three ODIs will now be brought forward by a day, meaning the second Test will commence on 2 January with the three ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League fixtures to be played on 9, 11 and 13 January,” said PCB in a statement. Notably, flight operations in Multan are already disturbed due to dense smog which can also pose a dent to the playing overs in the city. It is pertinent to mention that the English team also experienced a flight delay on their way back ...

A Pakistan Army soldier was martyred and two others were injured on early Sunday during an exchange of fire with terrorists in Balochistan’s Zhob, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations on Sunday morning, the operation, launched on the basis of “credible information”, was continuing for the last 96 hours. The objective was to “deny terrorists the use of few suspected routes to move across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border to sneak into KP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) along the interprovincial boundary and target citizens and security forces”, the ISPR added. As a result of the continuous surveillance and sanitation of the area, a group of terrorists was intercepted in the early hours of Sunday, the ISPR said, adding that “during the establishment of blocking positions to deny the terrorists escape routes, the militants opened fire on the security forces”. In the ensuing exchange of fire, a terrorist was kill...

Afghanistan’s Taliban-run administration has ordered all local and foreign nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) to stop female employees from coming to work, according to an economy ministry letter. According to international media reports, the letter, confirmed by economy ministry spokesperson Abdulrahman Habib on Saturday, said the female employees were not allowed to work until further notice because some had not adhered to the administration’s interpretation of the Islamic dress code for women. The letter said any NGO found not complying with the order would have their operating licence revoked in Afghanistan. The order came days after the Taliban-run administration ordered universities to close to women, prompting strong global condemnation and sparking some protests and heavy criticism inside Afghanistan. It was not immediately clear how the order would affect United Nations agencies, which have a large presence in Afghanistan delivering services amid the country’s humanita...

The 146th birth anniversary of the father of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah is being celebrated today (Sunday) with renewed pledge to uphold his guiding principles of unity, faith, and discipline. The main program of the day will be the change of guard ceremony at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi, during which a smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Army will assume the ceremonial guard duty. Fateha Khwani and Quran Khwani will also be held at the Mazar for Quaid and other leaders of Pakistan Movement. Special events will be arranged today to highlight and promote the ideals and views of the father of the nation, particularly with regard to rule of law, supremacy of the constitution, and upholding of democracy. Public and private departments will hold a variety of events including seminars, conferences, competitions and discussion programs to highlight the messages and vision of Quaid-e-Azam.  

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Saturday decided to approach the Supreme Court in its bid to challenge the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) verdict reinstating Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi. The LHC had, a day earlier, restored the provincial cabinet and Elahi as the chief minister after he assured the court about not dissolving the Punjab Assembly once he regains control of the office. The development, as media reports, came after the party’s members of the Punjab assembly met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at his residence in Lahore. As media reports that the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s (PML-Q) Tariq Basheer Cheema was also present in the high-level meeting where the decision to challenge CM Elahi’s reinstatement was taken. Earlier today, the federal government urged the country's top court to take notice of the ongoing turmoil in Punjab, stating that the LHC's decision does not fit legal parameters. Federal ministers Khawaja Saad Rafique, Rana San...