Daily News Pakistan

Usually, playing and exercising outside aids in a child's physical and mental health development but outdoor activities for children should be limited when there is scorching heat outside. Currently, the hotter days during summer have become a matter of concern for the entire country so, children should be protected during heat waves and parents should follow these essential tips and ensure that the child is safe and sound. Summer is known to be pleasing as many people go on vacation and enjoy outdoor activities where children especially are happy as they get to play their favourite games outdoors but unfortunately, summer can also give a tough time to children. In an interview with international magzine, Dr Sandeep Sawant, Consultant and Head Department of Paediatrics shared, “High temperatures and extreme heat can cause children to become sick. It can invite dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and heat stroke which is a medical emergency and can turn fatal for the chi...

New images of the sun’s surface captured by a powerful ground-based solar telescope have revealed sunspots and other features in unprecedented detail. The eight images, released on May 19, were taken using the National Science Foundation’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, a 4-meter (13.1-foot) telescope located on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Although the sun is becoming increasingly active as the July 2025 solar maximum — the peak of the sun’s 11-year cycle — draws closer, the photos showcase the quieter aspects of the solar surface. Cool, dark sunspots dot the photosphere, or the sun’s surface where the magnetic field is strong, and they can be the size of Earth or larger. Clusters of sunspots are the cause of solar flares and coronal mass ejections — when plasma and part of the magnetic field pinch off from the sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona, and go streaming across the solar system. This composite image of the Sun includes high-energy X-ray data from NASA's Nuclear S...

The Justice Isa-led judicial commission probing audio leaks raised objections on Wednesday over the larger bench hearing petitions against the formation of the commission, and maintained that it was "not appropriate" for the bench to hear the petitions. The government on May 20 formed a commission - led by Supreme Court puisne judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa, comprising Balochistan High Court (BHC) Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq - to probe into the genuineness of some audio leaks concerning serving and former members of the judiciary and their impact on the independence of the judiciary. A number of petitioners including former prime minister Imran Khan challenged the formation of the commission. Later, a five-judge Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Shahid Waheed, suspended...

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Wednesday jacked up the power tariff by Rs1.60 per unit. As per details, the power regulatory authority approved Rs1.60 per unit hike in electricity tariff in the wake of the monthly fuel adjustment. The consumers have to pay the additional amount in June. Furthermore, the increase in electricity tariff will apply to all the consumer categories except lifeline consumers and KE users. The increase in power tariffs will put Rs15.60 billion additional pressure on the already burdened masses, who are struggling to make ends meet amidst rising inflation and a weak economy.

Jordan begins its festivities on Wednesday to celebrate the royal wedding of Crown Prince Al-Hussein bin Abdullah II and Saudi citizen Rajwa Khalid Al-Saif, Jordan News Agency reported. The two-day celebration will include a royal feast hosted by King Abdullah II at the Royal Hashemite Court, with 4,000 people from across Jordan attending the event. The banquet will boast poetry recitals, singing, and Jordanian folk tunes. It was revealed earlier this month that the religious marriage ceremony will take place on Thursday at Zahran Palace in Amman, with the reception — to be attended by international heads of state and the Jordanian royal family — at Al-Husseiniya Palace. The wedding of the Jordanian royal and the Saudi national has drawn interest from local, regional, and international media, Petra reported. Several television networks will be broadcasting the ceremony on Thursday.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s bail plea in the Al-Qadir Trust case later today at 2pm. A division bench headed by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb will preside over the hearing. The case alleges that the PTI chief and his wife, Bushra Bibi, obtained billions of rupees and land worth hundreds of kanals from a real estate firm for legalising Rs50 billion thpresideat was identified and returned to the country by the UK during the previous PTI government. Imran was whisked away from the IHC premises by paramilitary forces on May 9, leading to violent protests across the country. The PTI chief had immediately approached the IHC for release but it had declared his arrest legal. Imran had then approached the Supreme Court, which on May 11, termed his arrest “invalid and unlawful” and directed him to appear before the IHC the next day. Subsequently, the IHC had granted Imran bail in the case for two weeks and stopped authorities from arresting the PT...

ICC Chairman Greg Barclay and Chief Executive Geoff Allardice arrived in Lahore on Tuesday on a two-day visit to meet the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) top officials. International Cricket Council’s high-ups were received by the Chair of the PCB Management Committee Mr Najam Sethi (also an ICC Director) when they reached the board’s headquarters at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. PCB Chief Operating Officer Barrister Salman Naseer and other board officials were also present on the occasion. The visit is believed to be of enormous importance since it came at a time when the PCB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) were at odds over the fate of the 2023 Asia Cup. ICC Chairman Greg Barclay and Chief Executive Geoff Allardice meet Chair of the PCB Management Committee Mr Najam Sethi and board officials at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. pic.twitter.com/5I2BHKdNoW — Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) May 30, 2023 According to reports, PCB will discuss the issues related to Pakistan...

President Dr. Arif Alvi has arrived in Quetta to hold meetings with the provincial administration and attend other events. Governor Balochistan Malik Abdul Wali Kakar along with senior officials received the President on his arrival in the provincial capital. A contingent of Balochistan Constabulary presented a guard of honour to the president at the Governor House, Quetta. President Alvi and the Balochistan Governor held a meeting and discussed matters of bilateral interest and the overall situation of the province. The President will attend the concluding ceremony of the two-day 34th National Games. He will also address a seminar on the role of ombudsmen in good governance.

Nine people were injured when gunfire erupted along a beachside promenade in Hollywood, Florida, sending people frantically running for cover along the crowded beach during the Memorial Day holiday in the United States. According to international media reports, everal of those wounded on Monday evening were taken to a children’s hospital, police spokesperson Deanna Bettineschi said. Bettineschi said four minors – aged between one and 17 – were hit, along with five adults between 25 and 65. One was in surgery late on Monday night while the others were stable, she said. The shooting happened shortly before 7pm (23:00 GMT) when a fight broke out and at least one gun was pulled and shots were fired, Bettineschi said. At least one person was in custody, but police were looking for more suspects. Police chief Chris O’Brien said thousands of people were in the area and dozens of police officers responded, including some who were nearby. “It’s unfortunate we have law-abiding citizens wh...

In ancient times (i.e. the early 2000s) scammy websites would automatically open multiple windows with ads, which you then had to close one by one. It was obnoxious, which is why now every major browser stops sites from opening new windows by default. But websites found a workaround to show you ads or get you to sign to their newsletter: the overlay. You’ve surely seen them, even if you never had a word for it before. Overlays cover up what you’re trying to read, watch, or access, generally asking you for an email address or some other piece of personal information. Most times their purpose is relatively harmless, but sometimes these boxes have dark patterns: deliberately confusing design that manipulates users to collect their personal information. Fortunately, you can remove overlays by editing the HTML code of a webpage. You can do this manually in your browser if you want, but it’s a lot easier to use an extension especially designed for the job. The single-click option: ...

An accountability court (AC) in Karachi on Tuesday sent the reference filed against former prime minister and PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi back to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Four people, including Abbasi, had been nominated in the reference filed in 2020 in connection with alleged illegal hiring in the Pakistan State Oil (PSO). On the last hearing, the court had reserved its verdict on sending the reference back to the NAB. Besides former prime minister, other accused in the case were former PSO MD Sheikh Imranul Haq, Sattar Yaqub and former federal secretary Arshad Mirza. Sheikh Imran had filed a petition in the court for sending the case back to the bureau. Counsels for the accused had argued before the court that it was not authorized to hear the case following amendments in the NAB ordinance. Later talking to media, Abbasi said whether the NAB officials would be held accountable for filing a ‘fake’ case against him. “At least the anti-corruption watchdog...

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan served a defamation notice on Tuesday to Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel after the latter disclosed that "traces of alcohol and cocaine were found in the former premier’s urine analysis". The legal notice, filed under the Defamation Ordinance, 2002, was served on account of the “dissemination and circulation of wrongful, baseless, false, misleading, erroneous, malicious and defamatory information” against Imran during the minister’s press conference on May 26. It claimed that through the press conference, the minister “dishonestly…alleged” that Imran’s medical tests showed traces of alcohol and cocaine in his urine sample and that the former premier’s “mental stability” was “questionable” in addition to “some appropriate gesture”. The notice questioned how “alcohol and cocaine consumption can be traced through a urine test”. It continued that the medical report “failed to mention” that Imran “incurred head injury...

Summer is quickly approaching, bringing scorching temperatures and an increased risk of dehydration along with it. Though it’s common knowledge that consuming more fluids on hot days is a good idea, there are also many foods you can consume that can help replenish fluid loss from sweating and prevent dehydration. This article explores the best foods for refreshment on a hot day. What is dehydration? Dehydration occurs when you lose more fluid from your body usually as sweat than you are drinking, resulting in a fluid deficit. Without enough fluid, the body has difficulty performing its usual daily functions which can result in severe health problems if left untreated. The signs and symptoms of dehydration to look out for include: Dry mouth Extreme thirst Less frequent urination Dark-colored urine Fatigue and weakness Dizziness Confusion Muscle cramps Low blood pressure Why does heat cause dehydration? The main reason you are at higher risk of becoming dehydrated in the ...

Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi Monday formed a two-member committee to investigate allegations levelled by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of mistreatment of its female supporters in prisons who were arrested after the May 9 vandalism. PTI Chairman Imran Khan had claimed that the party supporters were being "molested and harassed" and urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial to intervene ad take notice of the matter. Thousands of PTI workers who have been arrested in connection with the May 9 violence also include women, while CM Naqvi had initially claimed that women have been dealt with in line with the law he has now formed a committee to probe the issue. Earlier, CM Naqvi had said the PTI was resorting to propaganda regarding women being mistreated in prisons. He had revealed that 32 women were arrested and only 11 of them are still in jail now. The chief minister added that it is his government's duty to ensure that "mothers and sisters rema...

An eight-day special anti-polio drive kicked off in southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday. According to emergency operation center, the drive is being conducted in six districts of the province including Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Upper South Waziristan, and lower North Waziristan. More than one point one million children under the age of five years will be vaccinated during the campaign. The health authorities have appealed to parents and other segments of society to make campaign successful for their better future of children.

President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have felicitated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his re-election to the office of the President of Turkiye. The President, in a tweet on Monday, said his win is reflective of the trust posed in him by the people. The President said Turkiye is a close friend and a country with which we have had brotherly relations for centuries. President Arif Alvi said Pakistan and Turkiye have always stood by each other, expressing the confidence that the relations between the two countries would continue to prosper under the dynamic leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The President said Pakistan looks forward to working with the Turkish President to further expand bilateral cooperation with Turkiye in all areas of mutual interest. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also congratulated Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his presidential win. The Prime Minister wrote on twitter, ‘Heartiest ...

The Supreme Court has indefinitely put off the hearing on the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) plea against its order of holding Punjab's polls on May 14 after the apex court was informed that a law for the review of suo motu judgements had come into force. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial comprising Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar heard the case. Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan appeared before the court and said that after the president’s assent, the Supreme Court (Review of Judgements and Orders) Bill 2023, had become a law. The statement of objects and reasons of the bill, “it is necessary to ensure the fundamental right to justice by providing for meaningful review of judgments and orders passed by Supreme Court of Pakistan in exercise of its original jurisdiction under Article 184”. The AGP raised objections to the three-judge panel hearing the case and said that the review co...

New Delhi has deployed security forces to Manipur to try and put down ethnic unrest that began earlier this month. Dozens of rebel fighters have been killed in clashes with security forces in India’s remote northeastern state of Manipur. The state has been on edge since the explosion of inter-ethnic violence on May 3 between tribal groups and the ethnic majority Meitei people over plans to extend economic quotas to the Meitei. Dozens were killed in the unrest and thousands were displaced. On Sunday, Chief Minister N Biren Singh told reporters at least 40 fighters had been killed in a crackdown by security forces. Two police had also been killed in the past two days of unrest, he added. “The terrorists have been using M-16 and AK-47 assault rifles and sniper guns against civilians. They came to many villages to burn down homes,” local media quoted Singh as saying. “We have started taking very strong action against them with the help of the army and other security forces. We ...

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has reaffirmed the government's firm resolve to promote Islamic finance industry and eliminate interest based system in Pakistan. Addressing the inaugural session of International Conference on Islamic Capital Market in Islamabad today, he said we are committed to achieve the goal of this transformation within the timeframe of five years given by Federal Shariat Court. He said Pakistan has a strategic plan in place to develop Islamic finance. The Finance Minister announced that the National Savings have been directed to launch Shariat compliant products for investors. He said the products shall cater to the persistent public demand for safe investments in line with the principles of Shariat. He said the products will be in the forms of saving accounts and term accounts of one, three and five years. Ishaq Dar said the finance division has constituted a steering committee for providing strategic guidelines regarding implementation of Federal Shariat Co...

Tehreek-e-Insaf has formed a committee to prepare for local body elections in Punjab. Former Speaker Punjab Assembly Sabtain Khan was appointed as the Chairman of the Committee. A formal notification was issued with the signature of Secretary General Umar Ayub. According to the notification Humayun Akhtar along with Riyaz Fatiana, Rai Azizullah, Faisal Sher Jan, Tariq Deen, Hafiz Farhat, Waseem Qadir and Ijaz Manhas were also appointed as the chairman of the local body committee. Apart from this, Farrukh Habib West Punjab, Sadaqat Ali Abbasi North, Dr. Yasmin Rashid Central while Aun Abbas Bapi were appointed as Regional President of South Punjab. While Rai Murtaza was appointed as Regional General Secretaries of Local Government Committee in West Punjab, Hamad Azhar in Central Punjab, and Moin Qureshi in South Punjab.

Awami Muslim League chief and former interior minister Sheikh Rasheed on Sunday demanded a fair and impartial investigation into May 9 violence. In a series of tweets, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed requested the institutions to remain neutral and conduct an inquiry on the May 9 incidents۔ Whoever is found guilty should be given exemplary punishment, he added. Sheikh Rasheed claimed no patriotic Pakistani can stand against his army and he cannot stand with the ‘thieves’ of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)۔ The former minister said he would live and die in Pakistan but his name had been placed on the exit control list (ECL) while diplomatic passports were issued to the convicted persons living abroad having their assets and children also there. The former federal minister said that the 13-party gang has become a symbol of ‘hatred’ among the people.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said the nation would have to move ahead with the same spirit as manifested on Youm-e-Takbeer to attain economic sovereignty and self-dependence. In a message on the occasion of Youm-Takbeer to mark the day of nuclear tests carried out by Pakistan in 1998, the Prime Minister said the day reminds that for the defence, solidarity and national interests, we would not budge from any sacrifice. He expressed the determination that with unity, hard work and staunch faith, we would turn Pakistan into an economic power. The Prime Minister said twenty-five years ago today, the people of Pakistan announced the invincibility of their defence by detonating five nuclear explosions in response to India's nuclear explosions. Shehbaz Sharif paid tributes to the patriotism of then Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif who raised the head of Pakistan among the comity of nations with pride by rejecting all pressures and temptations. The prime minister a...

Several thousand demonstrators gathered in the Mali’s capital Bamako, demanding an end to a United Nations peacekeeping mission that they say has failed to bring peace. According to international media reports, demonstrators held signs calling for the UN mission known as MUNISMA (United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali) to leave the country. The M5-RFP, the party of the transitional Prime Minister Choguel Maiga and civil society organisations supporting the transitional military government, organised the rally held at the Palais des Sports arena. “It’s an evil force that needs to leave our land. It’s been of no use; it has failed to deliver. Give us a few weeks and we will drive them out of the country,” demonstrator Abdoulaye Diarra told reporters. Thousands of people have been killed in attacks by armed groups linked to ISIL (ISIS) and al-Qaeda since 2013. MINUSMA was established that year to support foreign and local troops battling the armed ...

A silver jubilee of the nuclear tests is being observed today (Sunday) to mark in remembrance of nuclear tests conducted on May 28, 1998 that gave country strategic nuclear deterrence in the region. The day, now remembered as Youm-e-Takbeer, is celebrated every year across the country as a day of national pride and thanksgivings which made Pakistan the seventh nuclear nation of the world and the first Muslim state, having the nuclear arsenal in its defense stockpile to exercise maximum deterrence for peaceful purposes. The tests not only demonstrated the resolve of the Pakistani nation to safeguard Pakistan’s territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty, but also the desire to preserve strategic balance in South Asia. The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a special statement issued said,“ Today, the complete Pakistani nation celebrates the Silver Jubilee of Youm-e-Takbeer and commemorates the remarkable achievement of establishing Credible Minimum Deterrence.“ ISPR...

The brotherly nation of Azerbaijan celebrates Independence Day on May 28th every year. The famous and friendly ambassador of Azerbaijan His Excellency Khazar Farhadov hosted a reception in this regard. The Diplomats and the distinguished guests were received by Mr & Mrs Khazar Farhadov among other diplomatic staff. Mr. Rana Tanvir, the Federal Minister for Education & Professional Training was the chief guest while other ambassadors also joined the stage. The event started with the national anathems of Azerbaijan & Pakistan. In his welcome note His Excellency Khazar Farhadov said, " May 28 is celebrated as the Independence Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan every year and the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic which was the first democratic secular republic in the Muslim East was established on May 28, 1918". He added that after the restoration of Azerbaijan’s Independence in 1991, Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Azerbaijan....

A 6.0 magnitude earthquake — with its epicentre being the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border region — jolted parts of the country on Sunday morning, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). In a statement, the department said that the earthquake occurred at 10:50am and struck at a depth of 223km. Tremors were felt in several districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.  In a statement, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial disaster management authority said that tremors had been felt in various parts of the province. It added that the authority’s control room had not yet received reports of any damage. In March, at least two people were killed while six injured as a 6.8 magnitude earthquake had jolted parts of the country. The US Geological Survey said the quake rocked Afghanistan and parts of India as well, including the capital New Delhi, adding that the quake epicentre was 40 kilometres south-southeast of the Afghan town of Jurm.

The Punjab Home Department constituted a JIT to investigate the vandalism and arson in Jinnah House. According to the notification, SP Investigation Iqbal Town Aqeela Niaz Naqvi has been appointed as the convener of JIT. According to the sources, the JIT members include DSP Masoom Ali, Inspector Mohammad Arham, Sub Inspector Javed and Sub Inspector Shahbaz Akhtar.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan approached the Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court to cancel the search warrant of the house. The court issued notices and sought answers from the parties. According to the text of the application, the police obtained a search warrant from the Anti-Terrorism Court on May 18. The PTI chairman has taken the stand in the petition that the search warrants were obtained by the police and others on the basis of malice. In the petition, it is requested that the court declare the search warrant issued on May 18 as null and void.

Ali Zaidi announced to quit PTI and politics. In a video statement, Ali Zaidi condemned the events of May 9 and said that after much deliberation, he has decided to quit politics, resigning from all PTI positions. President PTI Sindh and former federal minister Ali Zaidi said that we have served Pakistan and came into politics for Pakistan, I condemn the events of May 9 and do it again. Pakistan forces are our pride. We sleep soundly because they protect our borders, what happened on May 9 is wrong, whoever is involved should be brought to book. He further said that after much deliberation, he made this decision, which was a difficult decision and not an easy decision.When I leave politics, I will resign from all the positions I hold in PTI, including MNA, and I will try to serve Pakistan.  

Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel Friday, citing details of former prime minister Imran Khan's medical report, said it indicated excessive alcohol consumption, no information about a fracture on his leg, and unstable mental health. Patel was informing media persons in Karachi about the former prime minister's medical report after he underwent an examination at PIMS hospital following his arrest on May 9. At the outset of the press conference, the health minister, before sharing the details of the report, said that it was a "public document". He said that the report does not have any details about the fracture on his foot, which Khan claimed he sustained following the November 3 assassination bid. "He [Imran Khan] had a plaster on his foot for about five to six months, however, the medical report did not indicate any fracture," he added. The minister said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief's urine sample was also taken. He said that the ...

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s close friend and legal advisor, Babar Awan, has made an unannounced departure from Pakistan. According to the reports, Awan boarded a flight to London from Islamabad International Airport at 1pm on Friday. The flight, Virgin Atlantic VS379, is scheduled to arrive in London around 5pm Pakistan time. He said in a tweet, he was with the party and had left the country for “ pre-arranged private engagements.“ “I have left the country for pre-arranged private engagements. All my medicines are Pakistani and treated by proud Pakistani doctors. Imran was a friend before, now he is my leader, Tehreek-e-Insaf is my larger family and Pakistan is my destination,” he said. Awan is known for his vocal criticisms of the PDM government. He joined the PTI in 2017 after being associated with the Pakistan Peoples Party for several years. In recent days, PTI has seen its several leaders quitting the party or stepping down from their posts.

Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Firdous Ashiq Awan also announced to leave the party. Firdous Ashiq said that those responsible should be punished by conducting an independent investigation into the incidents of May 9. While giving a press conference in Islamabad, Firdous Ashiq Awan said that I am leaving PTI due to the activities of miscreants. Firdous Ashiq Awan said that Imran Khan's agenda has become a killer poison for Pakistan, Imran and Pakistan cannot go together, they use people like tissue paper and then throw them away. Firdous Ashiq said that those responsible for the incidents of May 9 should be punished by conducting an independent investigation.

Japan announced fresh sanctions against Russia on Friday over its invasion of Ukraine, targeting its military as well as the construction and engineering sectors. Russia was hit with a wave of sanctions after it sent forces into Ukraine in February last year, but calls have grown from Kyiv and its allies for tougher action against Moscow. The latest embargo by Tokyo follows the Group of Seven summit Japan hosted last week in Hiroshima, where the bloc’s leaders agreed to “starve Russia of G7 technology, industrial equipment and services that support its war machine.” The new Japanese sanctions include “an asset freeze of Russian individuals and groups, a ban on the export of goods to Russia’s military-related organizations, and a ban on the export of construction and engineering services to Russia,” top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters. The asset freeze targets 17 individuals and 78 groups, including high-level military officials, while the 80 organizations hit...

Ayesha Gulalai, a former MNA for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), formally joined the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) in Lahore on Thursday. According to details, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Chaudhry Sarwar, Noor Wali, and other party officials participated in a combined press conference where the announcement was made. Ayesha Gulalai expressed her confidence in the PML-Q’s leadership and platform when announcing her decision to join the party during the press conference. Qaumi Watan Party’s (QWP) prominent leader also announced his departure from the QWP and joined PML-Q. Speaking at the press conference, Chaudhry Sarwar expressed his happiness at the rising number of people joining the PML-Q. To strengthen the party’s presence and influence, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he claimed that Ayesha Gulalai and Noor Wali would be essential.

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is said to have endorsed Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) hybrid plan for hosting the Asia Cup in September. Pakistan will host four to six Asia Cup matches, according to the hybrid model given to the ACC by PCB Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi. Simultaneously, India will play its matches in a neutral venue that will also host other matches. According to sources, the Asian body has accepted in principle the hybrid model offered by Najam Sethi, with no additional requirements. According to this hybrid model, Pakistan will host four to six matches, with the other matches taking place in neutral venues such as Sri Lanka or the United Arab Emirates. “However, all of the details will be finalised at the ACC meeting, which will be held soon,” the insider stated. The 2019 Asia Cup and Pakistan’s participation in the Men’s ODI World Cup have been jeopardised as the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) refused to tour Pakistan for the aforementi...

Imran Khan has decided to approach the Supreme Court against the attempt to dissolve the party and to force the leaders to leave the party. Chairman PTI filed a petition in the Supreme Court through Hamid Khan. The position has been taken in the petition that the summoning of the army under the undeclared martial law and Article 245 has been requested to be annulled. The petition states that the trial and arrests of civilians in military courts should be stopped, the workers and leaders arrested under the MPO should be ordered to be released, efforts to dissolve Tehreek-e-Insaf should be annulled. A judicial commission should be formed to investigate the incident of May 9. It has been said in the petition that the attempt to abolish the party is a violation of the constitution, forcing party leaders and workers to separate from the party is against the law. The Supreme Court has issued important decisions in this regard in the past. Arrests are being made without trial by raids, Co...

An Anti-Corruption Court in Lahore rejected the interim bail of former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in an alleged corruption case. At the outset of the hearing, the public prosecutor argued that the medical certificate submitted by Pervaiz Elahi’s counsel in court is fake. The court dismissed the interim bail plea on the ground of non-compliance and also rejected the PTI leaders’ request for a day attendance waiver. It may be recalled that Mr Elahi had obtained protective bail from the Lahore High Court in two cases – one filed by the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) and the other linked to terrorism. On April 28, the anti-corruption establishment (ACE) team along with police contingents raided former Punjab Chief Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Pervaiz Elahi’s house in Lahore. It was learnt that 25 persons including a woman were arrested by ACE during the raid. However, Pervaiz Elahi was not arrested in the raid. The eight-hour-l...

The US surgeon general is calling for tech companies and lawmakers to take “immediate action” to protect kids' and adolescents' mental health on social media. But after years of insufficient action by both social media platforms and policymakers, parents and young people still bear most of the burden in navigating the fast-changing, often a harmful world of secretive algorithms, addictive apps and extreme and inappropriate content found on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat. So what can parents and young people do now? Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has some tips. “Our children and adolescents don’t have the luxury of waiting years until we know the full extent of social media’s impact,” Murthy said in an advisory released Tuesday. “Their childhoods and development are happening now." Tips for young people 1) Reach out for help: If you or someone you know is being negatively affected by social media, reach out to a trusted friend or adult for help. 2) ...

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday asserted that the country was not on the verge of a financial crisis and “will absolutely not default”. Dar’s remarks comes amid growing fears of default, propelled by the country’s declining remittances and foreign exchange reserves, as well as a prolonged delay in reaching an accord with the International Monetary Fund for the release of a $1.1 billion tranche out of a $6.5bn loan package. Addressing the fears during a gathering at the Federal Board of Revenue in Islamabad, the finance minister commended his economic team for its “efforts and hard work”, pointing out that the country had recorded a current account surplus for the months of March and April at $750 million and $18m, respectively. Regarding the ongoing negotiations with the IMF for release of the long-awaited bailout tranche, Dar said his team had completed all the technical work and prior actions required for the completion of the ninth review. He stressed that there was a ...

The world is failing to protect civilians as the death toll of people caught up in conflicts surged more than 50 percent from the previous year, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council “to live up to its commitments” to protect civilians as enshrined in international humanitarian law, citing examples of civilian deaths in Ukraine and Sudan, schools destroyed in Ethiopia, and damage to water infrastructure in Syria. In 2022, the UN said there was a 53 percent increase in civilian deaths compared with 2021, with nearly 17,000 civilian deaths recorded across 12 conflicts. Guterres said UN research into war zones showed 94 percent of victims from “explosive weapons” in populated areas were civilians last year, while more than 117 million people faced acute hunger primarily because of war and insecurity. “Law overlooked is law undermined. We need action and accountability to ensure it is respected. And...

Khadija Shah was produced by the police in the Anti-Terrorism Court. Khadija Shah, who is the daughter of former Finance Minister Salman Shah and the granddaughter of former Army Chief General Asif Nawaz Janjua, was arrested yesterday. According to the details, the worker of Tehreek-e-Insaf was presented in Lahore court in the case of arson and vandalism in Jinnah House Lahore. Khadija Shah, who is the daughter of former Finance Minister Salman Shah and the granddaughter of former Army Chief General Asif Nawaz Janjua, was arrested yesterday.

Government is considering banning former prime minister Imran Khan’s political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday. Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, he said the parliament will also be taken into confidence if the government arrives at a final decision. The Defence Minister said those parting ways with the PTI themselves are disclosing that May 9 violent acts were pre planned. He said there is no precedence of the acts that took place on the 9th May as these amounted to challenging the state. Khawaja Asif said the armed forces have legitimate reservations on the violent attacks on military installations and the memorials. He said every step will be taken to ensure that the armed forces are not targeted by anybody for political purposes in future. When asked about whether there is any pressure on the government to send Imran Khan in exile, the Defence Minister said it is our internal issue and there is no pressure from an...

US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller says that the US is monitoring the situation in Pakistan. Attacks on oil and gas installations in Pakistan are regrettable. During a press briefing in Washington, he said that we have no position on any political candidate or party. The implementation of democratic values, freedom of expression and the rule of law should apply to all. "We demand respect and equal application of democratic principles, freedom of expression - and the rule of law throughout the world, and of course, in Pakistan, we insist that these principles be respected by all," Mr. Mathew added. The spokesperson of the US Department of State also said that the attacks on oil and gas facilities in Pakistan are regrettable. "We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of those killed, and we wish the injured a speedy recovery. We are closely monitoring developments," the spokesman said.

The Supreme Court will hear the Election Commission's review petition related to the Punjab elections again today. A three-member bench headed by the Chief Justice will conduct the hearing. Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Muneeb Akhtar are included in the bench. The Election Commission has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court against the court decision regarding holding elections in Punjab on May 14.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed the authorities concerned to take all possible steps to provide relief to the common man in the next fiscal year's budget. He was chairing a high-level meeting about the preparation of the budget for financial year 2023-24 in Islamabad today. During the meeting, the Prime Minister was briefed by his economic team about preparations of the next year’s budget. He was also briefed about the revised estimates of revenue and expenditures and target estimates for the next year. The meeting was informed that Budget for fiscal year 2023-24 would be presented on 9th of next month in the National Assembly after getting approval by the Federal Cabinet. Speaking on this occasion, the Prime Minister said all available resources should be used to reduce the financial difficulties and provide relief to the middle class. He expressed satisfaction that prices of Urea are continuously decreasing as a result of the timely and prudent strategy...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced, a comprehensive strategy has been established to develop Pakistan’s Railways on modern lines, under which solar panels of international standards will be installed at seven railway stations to save electricity. As per the announcement, it has been decided that the solar panels will be installed at 45 railway stations and offices of main cities including Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Multan, and Sukkur divisions with a budget of Rs 40 million. According to the sources, in the first phase, the Pakistan railway has selected three points in Peshawar, five in Rawalpindi divisions, 20 in Lahore division, four in Multan division, five in Sukkur division, three in Quetta division, and five in Karachi division. The sources reported that, after the successful completion of this initiative,solar panels will be installed at other railway stations in the country. However, the excess electricity generated by these solar panels will be sent ...