Daily News Pakistan

Are you ready for some very hot days? Pakistan is about to get extremely hot. The government has just issued a major warning for the country. If you live in Punjab or Sindh, you need to prepare right now. This is not just regular summer weather. It is a severe heatwave that could break records. We want to help you stay safe during this time. For more general stories, you can check out Pakistan news updates on our main page. Today, we will focus on this extreme weather and what it means for your daily life. Why is the Heatwave Coming? The Pakistan Meteorological Department shared some worrying news on May 17, 2024. They say a high pressure system is building in the atmosphere. This system acts like a giant lid. It traps heat close to the ground. Because of this, temperatures will rise fast. How hot will it get? Experts say temperatures will be 6 to 8 degrees Celsius higher than usual. This heatwave will start on May 21 and last until May 27, 2024. It is going to feel very i...

Pakistan is facing a busy week with big news. An IMF team is in the country right now. They want to see how Pakistan is using the new loan. This loan is very important for the economy. It helps keep the nation stable. The government is trying to meet all the rules. It is a time of change for many people. IMF Team Visits Islamabad The IMF team arrived this week for a sudden visit. They are meeting with finance officials to check progress. They want to look at the $7 billion deal. This money is for the next three years. Pakistan must show it can collect more tax money. You can find more Pakistan news updates on our main page. The government says they are on track. But many small business owners feel the heat. It's a balance that is hard to keep. I think the next few months will be very telling. Severe Smog Hits Punjab The air quality in Lahore is at a scary level. The AQI numbers are often over 1,000. That is many times higher than what is safe. The government started a ...

The International Monetary Fund recently finished a surprise visit to Pakistan. From November 11 to November 15, 2024, the IMF team held meetings with Pakistani officials. Many people are wondering what happened in these talks. Will there be new taxes? Will electricity bills go up again? I want to break down these updates in a simple way. You can check more Pakistan news updates to stay informed on these fast-moving events. Why the IMF Made a Sudden Visit The IMF team came to Pakistan for an unplanned visit. Usually, these visits happen at set times. This time was different. The team was led by Nathan Porter. They wanted to see how Pakistan is doing with its new loan program. Pakistan got a seven-billion-dollar loan deal in September 2024. The IMF wanted to check if Pakistan is keeping its promises. Why did they come so early? I think they were worried about tax collection. The country did not collect as much tax as expected in the first few months. There was a gap of about...

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Saturday launched its much-awaited election manifesto.The manifesto was unveiled by PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif. Speaking at the launch event of the manifesto, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, who is the party’s Manifesto Committee Chairman, said there is nothing in the manifesto that the PML-N will not be able to do when it comes to power. Siddiqui emphasized that the PML-N leader instructed the committee to include only achievable commitments in the manifesto. “Nawaz Sharif prohibited us from making unrealistic promises in the manifesto,” he stated. The delayed manifesto announcement was attributed to the party’s focus on comprehensive reforms, involving the formation of 32 committees to draft it, including an assessment of the party’s past performance. PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal, present at the event, commented on the disparity between social media narratives and reality, taking a dig at social media campaigns led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)....

PTI Founder Imran Khan and his aide Shah Mahmood Qureshi reportedly lost their temper before the special court judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain on Saturday. The special court is hearing the cipher case against the PTI leaders who face charges of leaking state secrets under the Official Secrets Act and other laws. It has been holding hearings inside the Adiala jail. On Saturday, when Judge Hasnat opened the hearing, he found defence lawyers absent from the courtroom. The judge expressed his displeasure over the absence of lawyers and issued a warning — a third in the case so far. Meanwhile, Shah Mahmood Qureshi snatched a file from the state defence counsel and threw it on the wall. Qureshi also tried to engage the judge in an altercation. Judge Hasnat warned Qureshi for his conduct. This was when Imran Khan also used strong words for the judge. The lawyers for Khan and Qureshi have been absent from the court for the past several hearings, prompting Judge Hasnat to write to the High ...

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has formally requested China's envoy for a debt rollover of $2 billion in a letter. Kakar is seeking an extension of the loan payment period for one year, with ongoing discussions between the Ministry of Finance and Chinese officials for the possible rollover. Under the current terms and conditions, Pakistan is obligated to deposit the $2 billion loan by March 24, 2024. In his letter, Kakar expressed gratitude to China for its financial assistance during the economic crisis. The move comes after Pakistan recently secured a safe deposit of a $4 billion loan, alleviating mounting pressure on external debt payments and stabilizing foreign exchange reserves. Sources reveal that the formal discussions between the Ministry of Finance and Chinese officials are progressing, indicating the possibility of a one-year rollover for the $2 billion loan.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan allowed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf President Pervaiz Elahi to contest elections on Friday. However, Elahi’s lawyer said that he will only contest elections for the provincial assembly and will not run for the National Assembly. The court ordered the ECP to allot Elahi an electoral symbol and include his name on the ballot paper. The SC also allowed PTI’s Tahir Sadiq and Umar Aslam to contest elections, ruling that a person cannot be stopped from contesting elections simply because they are absconders. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah made the ruling in favour of the two PTI leaders by overturning a decision of the Lahore High Court. During the hearing he asked the Election Commission of Pakistan’s counsel if any provision of the law barred a person who had been absonding or had been declared a proclaimed offender. The ECP counsel replied that the absconders have been charged with violating the law. However, the judge said that contesting the elections was a...

Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed was rushed to the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC) after he complained of a heart problem. Rashid Shafique, the former minister’s nephew told media that he was informed by the jail administration that Sheikh Rasheed was shifted to RIC after reporting a heart problem. Incarcerated Sheikh Rasheed on Wednesday filed a plea in the anti-terrorism court (ATC) seeking medical examination. The former minister filed the plea through his lawyer, Sardar Shehzad, and urged the Court to transfer the AML chief to a government hospital. The plea stated that Sheikh Rasheed’s health had deteriorated, but he was not allowed to meet his lawyer. Furthermore, the plea urged the Court to order a medical examination and summon the medical report of the jailed former interior minister amid health concerns. Moreover, the ATC issued a contempt court notice to the jail superintendent for not allowing Sheikh Rasheed to meet his lawyer. After hear...

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday directed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former deputy speaker of National Assembly Qasim Suri to submit his written reply in a stay order case. Balochistan National Party’s (BNP) Lashkari Raisani challenged the victory of Qasim Suri, who contested the 2018 general election. On September 27, 2019 election tribunal declared Suri’s election from the National Assembly seat, NA-265 null and void, however, he moved to the Supreme Court and served his term on a stay order until the PTI government ended. A three-member bench headed by CJP Justice Qazi Faez Isa took up the plea against Qasim Suri. How Qasim Suri remained MNA on stay order, the CJP asked at the outset of the hearing from his counsel. Your counsel enjoyed the whole term as MNA on stay order and now you are saying the tenure of NA is completed and the case has become ‘ineffective’. The court ordered Qasim Suri to submit his written reply in the stay order case in three weeks. Me...

Authorities in capital have shut down three key universities for indefinite period over security threats. Reports in local media said security agencies conducted a search operation in the outskirts of capital late Sunday, and later Bahria University, Air University, and National Defence University were closed. Varsity students were informed about the closure by administration in late-night messages. Reports further said final examinations of university students have also been affected due to sudden closure. Police and other law enforcement officials beefed up security in the federal capital due to the upcoming elections and ongoing sit-ins by Baloch protesters.  

PPP Karachi’s President Saeed Ghani demanded of the authorities to arrest the people involved in attack on the PPP’s election office and launch an inquiry about those who orchestrated the attack. Addressing a press conference here Saeed Ghani, a former provincial minister claimed that “Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has been a powerless convenor” of the party. Saeed Ghani on Sunday alleged that the MQM has been in possession of the ‘PSP mafia’. He also claimed that after entry of Mustafa Kamal in MQM-Pakistan the party’s remaining vote bank has also left it. “They could not tolerate the People’s Party’s election office in their stronghold after eyeing a clear defeat in election,” he said. Saeed Ghani demanded of the authorities to arrest the people involved in attack on the PPP’s election office and launch an inquiry about those who orchestrated the attack.

Supreme Court Justice Athar Minallah underscored on Saturday the significance of judicial independence, urging judges not to succumb to fear or panic in the face of criticism. Addressing a gathering of legal professionals and scholars, Justice Athar Minallah stressed that judges must remain independent, regardless of the level of criticism they face. He asserted that the judiciary should be a steadfast pillar, unaffected by external pressures, stating, "Judges should not panic or be afraid; they must stand firm in upholding the principles of justice." Reflecting on Pakistan's historical context, Justice Athar Minallah highlighted the challenges faced by the country, stating that half of its history was spent under dictatorship, which curtailed freedom of expression. He acknowledged the role of journalists in facilitating the expression of opinions and noted the valuable insights gained from court reporters. "Expression of opinion is a significant aspect of a d...

The federal government has challenged the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) decision to declare its notification regarding the jail trial of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan's jail trial in cipher case as null and void. In November last year, IHC nullified the notification for conducting PTI founder Imran Khan's jail trial in the cipher case registered on charges of leaking state secrets. An IHC division bench, comprising Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, announced the verdict on November 21, 2023 on Imran’s intra-court appeal against a single-member bench’s decision to approve his jail trial in the cipher case under the Official Secrets Act, 1923. In its petition filed in the apex court today, the federal government implored the SC to overturn the IHC decision saying that the high court did not evaluate the facts of the case properly. It contended that the IHC did not have the authority to declare a spe...

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday withdrew its petition seeking contempt proceedings against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) over its alleged failure to ensure a level-playing field ahead of the upcoming elections. PTI moved the Supreme Court on December 26 last year with the plea. However, the top court today disposed off the plea after the withdrawal of the petition. During the hearing today, PTI lawyer Latif Khosa told CJP Isa that his party will approach the people's court in this matter. "We do not want to fight this case in your [Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa's] court. Thank you very much," said Khosa. He said that the Supreme Court's January 13 verdict — which deprived the former ruling party of its 'bat' symbol — forced the party to not contest on more than 230 seats. "Do you want to continue this case or not?" asked CJP Isa. At this, Khosa replied that he had been directed to withdraw the plea. ...

Islamabad police on Sunday said five officers, including the station house officer of Margalla, had been suspended following a preliminary inquiry into the raid at the residence of PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan. The raid at Barrister Gohar’s house, located in F-7, was conducted a day earlier when he was in the Supreme Court for the hearing on the petition against the restoration of the party’s electoral symbol. After getting information, he had informed the apex court about the incident and left for his house. Later, he had returned to the court and informed the bench that his son and nephew had been tortured by the police. Subsequently, the SC had taken notice of the raid and summoned the chief of the capital police. Initially, the police had denied that any raid was conducted at the residence of Gohar Ali Khan, but later a video went viral on social media after which the police issued “contradictory statements” about the raid. Separately, the police had claimed that the h...

Pakistan has dispatched the fourth batch of 20 tons of relief goods for the oppressed people of Gaza. The relief goods were dispatched from Noor Khan Air Base by a special flight of Pakistan Air Force. Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, Palestinian Ambassador to Pakistan Ahmed Jawad Rabi'i, officials of NDMA and Armed Forces were also present at the airbase. Speaking on this occasion, Jalil Abbas Jilani expressed full support to the Palestinian people. He condemned Israel's use of disproportionate and indiscriminate force against civilians, especially women and children in Gaza. The Foreign Minister also reiterated full support to South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. He called for an immediate ceasefire as well as ensuring the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. On this occasion, Palestinian Ambassador thanked the government of Pakistan for providing relief goods. The fourth aid shipme...

Accountability court Judge Muhammad Bashir on Friday conducted the hearing of Toshakhana reference against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan and his wife Bushra bibi in Adiala Jail Rawalpindi and adjourned the hearing till Saturday. During the hearing, PTI’s lawyer requested the court to adjourn the hearing till tomorrow (Saturday) due to unavailability PTI lawyer Latif Khosa, wherein the court accepted the plea and adjourned the hearing till tomorrow without proceeding. Earlier, former premier and his wife Bushra Bibi Tuesday were indicted in the Toshakhana by Accountability court judge Muhammad Bashir. National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Deputy Prosecutor General Muzaffar Abbasi and Amjad Parvez appeared with seven witnesses before the court. The witnesses were Qaiser Mehmood, Binyamin, Nida Rehman, Mohammad Fahim, Azim Manzoo. Rabia Samad and Zahid Sarfraz Azam.

In Rawalpindi, a series of police encounters led to the demise of six alleged criminals, including the perpetrator of a heinous crime against a British-Pakistani citizen. The law enforcement agencies exhibited commendable success in their operations against these violent robbers. The first encounter occurred within the jurisdiction of the Race Course Police Station, where four bandits engaged in a fatal confrontation with the police. The criminals, identified as Sajid alias Guttu, Hassan, Muhammad Ali alias Babio, and Waseem, were reportedly part of an inter-provincial gang responsible for various crimes, including the recent robbery that resulted in the tragic death of Tasir Mehmood, a British-Pakistani citizen. The police swiftly responded to the armed resistance, resulting in the elimination of all four suspects. Among the items recovered from the scene were the deceased victim's laptop and bag, along with the weapons used in the criminal activities and police uniforms worn...

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has renewed nation's resolve to root out terrorism with full might. Addressing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Darbar in Peshawar today, he lauded Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police force for rendering matchless sacrifices in the war against terrorism. Mentioning the Army Public School Peshawar tragedy in which innocent students and faculty members along with police personnel were targeted by the terrorists, the Prime Minister said the state will not spare the coward terrorists. He said correct approach is the main factor, required in fighting terrorism and we firmly believe that we are on right path. He said terrorists cannot shatter our resolve by carrying out terrorists attacks in the country. He said we have won war on terrorism morally. The Prime Minister reiterated government's resolve to continue war against terrorism till complete elimination of terrorists from the country. He assured that all the requirements of the police forc...

The Islamabad High Court has accepted an appeal of former prime minister Imran Khan against the in-camera trial of the cipher case against him, and annulled the proceedings of the case from December 14 onwards. The Islamabad High Court has also suspended the stay order in the cipher case in a verdict issued by Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb. The Islamabad High Court had stayed the trial of the cipher case in the trial court on December 28. During Thursday’s proceedings, the judge asked Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan if he wanted the proceedings to be reversed to backdate, adding that if that has to be done, it should happen from the date the order was passed. Justice Aurangzeb said that a formal order will also be issued in this regard. The AGP assured the court that the prosecution would conduct the in-camera proceedings afresh. He added that they were ready to record the statements of 13 witnesses all over again. Thus, on the assurance of AGP Awan, th...