Daily News

HYDERABAD: At least three people including two children died and around 50 others sustained burn injuries in a significant explosion at a liquid petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder filling station in Hyderabad’s Preetabad neighborhood on Thursday, ARY News reported. The cylinder blasted into a ground-floor shop which had started to spread to the top levels of the building where the families reside. Rescue sources confirmed that 10-year-old Rahim and 7-year-old Ali Raza and a woman were killed in the deadly incident while dozens were wounded. The injured persons were rushed to Liaquat University Hospital and Civil Hospital Hyderabad. Sindj Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali along with ministers visited Civil Hospital Hyderabad and inquired about the health of injured persons. He was accompanied by Health Minister Azra Pechuho and other provincial ministers Sharjeel Memon and Ziaul Hassan Linjar. The chief minister directed the doctors to provide better treatment. Read More: Gas cylinder blas...

LAHORE: A house in Lahore’s Millat Park area was looted by two alleged robbers dressed as policemen, ARY News reported on Thursday. According to the victim’s statement, the culprits, wearing police uniforms, forcibly entered the residence, claiming to be personnel from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and fled after looting the house. “The intruders continued to present themselves as law enforcement officers while conducting the robbery”, the resident claimed. The victim further claimed that the alleged robbers stole eight mobile phones and cash amounting to Rs 225,000 during the ordeal. Meanwhile, the victim has filed an application seeking legal action against the unknown individuals. Earlier, in an unprecedented incident that occurred in the vicinity of Hadyara, seven people dressed in Punjab police uniforms burgled a house and escaped without a hitch. According to details, the individuals have stolen jewelry from the house worth Rs3.5 million along with cash and motor...

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder has been advised to give key roles in the party affairs to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa leadership, ARY News reported citing sources. The sources revealed that party founder Imran Khan is ‘not happy’ with central leadership in the current situation. Imran Khan has started consultation with senior leaders in this regard. The sources privy to the development said that one of the key roles might be assigned to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur without appointing him to central position in the party. The sources said that Imran Khan is quite pleased with the performance of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s media team. Earlier, PTI spokesman Raoof Hassan said that efforts were being made to keep the PTI founder in jail, lamenting the delay in the ruling on iddat case against former premier Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi. Hasan also claimed that the PTI founder is being targeted through false cases and efforts were being made...

KARACHI: Sindh Energy Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said that K-Electric has overbilled the provincial government by billions of rupees over the past 10 years, ARY News reported In a statement issued here, the energy minister said that K-Electric has charged the Sindh government’s departments an additional Rs 20 billion during the last 10 years. “An audit conducted revealed an overbilling of over Rs 2 billion during last year alone,” Syed Nasir Hussain Shah added. The energy minister went on to say that to prevent overbilling, the provincial government had also billions of rupees to the KE for the installation of smart meters but to no avail. “The KE has yet to install smart meters at Sindh government’s departments despite receiving billions of rupees,” Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said. The minister said that smart meters would have provided real-time data and prevented overbilling. “What will be the state of citizens when government institutions are overcharged for billions of r...

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister (FM) of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov on Wednesday arrived here on a two-day official visit for talks with Pakistan’s leadership. At the Islamabad International Airport, he was warmly received by Additional Foreign Secretary (Afghanistan and West Asia) Ahmed Naseem Warraich, Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on X account. During his visit, FM Azerbaijan will call on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and hold extensive discussions with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar. Earlier, during the tenure of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government, the two sides signed an agreement for import of at least one LNG cargo per month . The agreement was signed between Pakistan LNG Limited and Azeri Company SOCAR. Read More: Azerbaijan Airlines make its first flight on Baku-Karachi route However, Pakistan imported only a few LNG cargoes from Azerbaijan and could not continue to take supplies on a regular basis. Separately, Pakist...

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur has announced that heirs of police and other government officials martyred in the line of duty, would be allotted residential plots in the housing schemes. CM Gandapur also directed the authorities concerned to compile data of the heirs of such government officials and determine the modalities for this purpose. The decision was taken while chairing the first meeting of the Housing Department here at Chief Minister’s House Peshawar on Wednesday. Special Assistant to Chief Minister for Housing Amjad Ali Khan, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Amjad Ali Khan, Secretary Housing Dr. Ambar Ali Khan, Director General Provincial Housing Authority Imran Wazir and other relevant officials attended the meeting. The KP chief minister decided that 500 plots already available within the various housing schemes would be provided to them through balloting. He also directed the authorities concerned to speed up work on th...

Representatives of Spanish Club Atletico de Madrid are thrilled to attend launching ceremony of the Pakistan Football League (PFL). Atlético de Madrid Academy Manager Adolfo Guerrero Gunther in a statement said that they are thrilled to have been invited to the unveiling of PFL and to be back again to Pakistan. “It (Pakistan) is a huge market full of opportunities, where we wish to explore different possibilities to develop the Academy programs,” he added. The Pakistan Football League is being unveiled in a ground-breaking ceremony Lahore on 4 June 2024, followed by a series of farewell dinners in each city celebrating its success with VVIPs and celebrities before send off by the British Deputy High Commissioner who will host a farewell sendoff reception in Karachi on June 5. Spanish Club Atletico de Madrid had also deployed its International Academy Project in Lahore from 2016 to 2020 as part of its strategic international expansion plan. The Pakistan Football League (PFL) is se...

WASHUK: At least 27 people have been killed after a bus overturned and fell into a ditch in Washuk, Balochistan on Wednesday, ARY News reported on Wednesday quoting police. The accident occurred due to over speeding, said police adding that women and children were among the deceased. The ill-fated bus was travelling from Turbat to Quetta. Soon after the incident, the rescue officials reached the site and shifted bodies and the injured to the Basima Civil Hospital. Rescue sources said the death toll in the Washuk bus accident might rise further as the majority of the injured were in critical condition. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the tragic traffic accident in Washuk district of Balochistan. “We stand with the bereaved families in this difficult time,” he said in a statement. The prime minister also directed to provide all possible medical aid to those injured in the accident. Read more:  Five dead as car plunges into gorge in Shika...

Cristiano Ronaldo broke the record for the most goals in a Saudi Pro League season when he struck for the 34th and 35th time in Al Nassr’s final game of the campaign. “I don’t follow the records, the records follow me,” the 39-year-old Portuguese forward tweeted afterwards. The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star struck in first-half stoppage time and again in the 69th minute with a header as Al Nassr defeated Al Ittihad 4-2 at home on Monday. The previous record for most goals in a single season was the 34 scored by the Moroccan Abderrazak Hamdallah in 2018-19. Al Nassr were already assured of a second-placed finish, coming a distant 14 points behind champions Al Hilal. Cristiano Ronaldo joined Riyadh-based Al Nassr in December 2022, the start of an influx of overseas players to the Saudi league on lucrative contracts. Follow us on our Official  WhatsApp channel Notably, the star Portuguese forward ended the year 2023 as the leading goal-scorer, leaving ...

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif is likely to visit China from June 4 to 7 to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and other high-ranking officials, ARY News reported. According to sources, the visit is aimed at boosting business and strategic ties between the two friendly countries. The prime minister is expected to discuss issues including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and phase II of the ML-1 project with the Chinese leadership. The sources said that federal ministers and other high-ranking officials will be accompanied by PM Shehbaz during the tour in which several agreements are expected to be signed. It is pertinent to mention here that the prime minister had already visited Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Iran after assuming the office for the second time. Read More: PM Shehbaz terms his Saudi Arabia’s visit ‘historic’ Earlier, PM Shehbaz Sharif said that the bilateral relations as well as the economic partnership between Pakistan and Saudi A...

New Zealand’s legendary batter Ross Taylor spoke highly of India’s batting star Virat Kohli, stating “he is up there” with football greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Ronaldo and Messi are regarded as two of the best football players in the world, courtesy of their unparalleled success on the field amid their ongoing decorated careers. Whereas, Kohli has been reaching new heights as a batter since making his debut for India in 2008. In addition to their on-field achievements, Ronaldo and Messi have been sweeping the social media landscape. The Portugal international is the most followed individual on Instagram with 630 million followers, followed by the Argentine superstar, who has 503 million followers. Virat Kohli has a whopping 269 million followers on Instagram, the 13th highest in the world by an individual. Follow us on our Official  WhatsApp channel Meanwhile, former New Zealand batter Ross Taylor asserted that Kohli is parallel to Ronaldo and Messi in terms of...

KARACHI: Following the government announcement to observe a public holiday on May 28, 2024, all banks remain closed for public dealing on Tuesday across the country, ARY News reported on Monday. On the occasion of “Youm-e-Takbeer”, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) issued a statement announcing the closure of banks across the country as declared by the government. Earlier in the day, the incumbent government announced a public holiday on May 28 (Tuesday) to mark the historic day, ‘Youm-e-Takbeer’, when Pakistan emerged as an atomic power. In a statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the ‘Youm-e-Takbeer’ is a reminder of the country’s unshakeable commitment to its defense and sovereignty. “On this day, we unite under the green and white flag to celebrate our nation’s unwavering resolve,” the prime minister added. He highlighted the significance of May 28, 1998, when Pakistan successfully conducted nuclear tests, making its defense invincible. “We will continue to work t...

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released an official statement following discussions with Pakistan. The statement confirms that Islamabad has formally requested a new loan program from the IMF. The IMF delegation, led by Mission Chief Nathan Porter, visited Pakistan and held extensive negotiations from May 13 to May 23 to discuss the country’s economic improvements. The statement highlights that the Pakistani government is making serious efforts to increase revenue and emphasizes the need for fair tax collection from privileged sectors. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission assured Pakistan of its commitment to working together for sustainable economic growth. The statement noted that Pakistan’s economy would stabilize with the support of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program. Pakistan has successfully met the targets set under the Standby Arrangement Agreement, which will support the forthcoming new loan program. Read more: IMF ‘asks’ Pakistan to deregulate...

KARACHI: The four-year-old girl reportedly went missing on August 14, 2023, from the Numaish roundabout recovered after months from Karachi’s Surjani Town area, ARY news reported on Sunday. The police officials in a statement revealed that the missing child was residing with a family in the Surjani Town area of Karachi. Ayesha’s mother, along with the family – taking care of the minor girl for the past 3-4 months – from Surjani [New Lyari area], reached the Azizabad Police Station to report her recovery. The parents of the minor girl claimed that the family allegedly kidnapped and kept the girl at Surjani Town [New Lyari area]. The child’s family maintained that the people who had the minor girl for the past couple of months deprived her of food and clothing, and had intentions to sell her. Meanwhile, the mother of the missing girl disclosed a call from an unknown number that informed her about the whereabouts of her missing daughter. Earlier, the missing Hyderabad girl was reco...

ISLAMABAD: Former National Assembly (NA) speaker Asad Qaiser on Sunday lamented the political victimisation of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, saying that PTI will only hold talks when its concerns are addressed, ARY News reported. Speaking at ARY News programme ‘Sawwal Ye Hai’, the PTI leader demanded that the incumbent government take concrete steps to restore the party’s mandate, which he claimed was stolen in the recently-held general elections. Asad Qaiser said that the government is talking about negotiations, but it needs to take trust-building measures first. He added that the PTI will only hold talks when its concerns are addressed first. He termed the government’s offer of negotiations ‘a public stunt’, saying that the PML-N was instead using force to suppress his party’s voice. He also demanded that the issue of Form 45 be discussed in a joint session of parliament, noting that this was the only way to move forward and ensure the legitimacy of the electoral process. “[Prime...

ATTOCK: The Congo virus has claimed the lives of two individuals in Attock district, ARY News reported on Saturday. In response to the medical emergency, the authorities have imposed Section 144 to curb the spread of the virus. Deputy Commissioner Rao Atif Raza announced a ban on setting up cattle markets across the district. Additionally, there is a complete ban on the inter-provincial and inter-district transfer of animals to prevent further transmission of the virus. The Section 144 ban will remain in effect until May 30, as confirmed by Deputy Commissioner Raza. Last year in November, a patient suffering from Crimean-Congo Haemo­rrhagic Fever (CCHF) died at a private hospital in Karachi. The deceased was shifted to Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital in Karachi from Quetta on Friday morning. He was on a ventilator. “A total of 17 patients including both suspected and those who tested positive for CCHF were brought to Karachi. Of them, 2 have been discharged and two passed aw...

KARACHI: Maripur police of Karachi on Saturday successfully foiled the smuggling attempt involving Iranian dry milk worth more than Rs 3 million, ARY News reported. The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Keamari, Faizan Ali, stated that a truck carrying a total of 100 sacks, weighing 2,500 kilograms, of smuggled dry milk was seized. Earlier this month, the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) while conducting seven operations across the country managed to recover 47 kg of drugs and arrested 12 suspects. He informed that 600 grams of heroin was recovered from a parcel booked for the UK at a courier office in Sialkot. 13 kg heroin was recovered from two suspects arrested near M-1 Motorway Islamabad. 10 kg opium and 320 grams weed were recovered from three accused netted on M-8 Gwadar. 10 kg of Ice was recovered from three Afghans held in the Torkham area while 8 kg of heroin was recovered from two suspects rounded up near Divine Garden Lahore. 4 kg of heroin was recovered from an accused...

ISLAMABAD: A high-level delegation headed by Federal Minister for Board of Investment, Privatisation and Communications Abdul Aleem Khan will visit Kuwait by end of current month for boosting investment in Pakistan. The Pakistani delegation is expected to have meetings with Prime Minister of Kuwait and Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Power and Petroleum while Trade Minister of Kuwait will host, said a news release issued here on Friday. Trade and business activities between the two countries will also be finalized and the visit to Kuwait will be made more useful in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Commerce. Abdul Aleem Khan presided over the important consultation meeting regarding the visit to Kuwait in which the necessary issues were finalized. The minister said that during his visit to Kuwait, there will be progress in providing employment to more workforce from Pakistan, especially health professionals and skilled labor, as well as taking the business community into ...

KARACHI: A man, who was arrested for allegedly making obscene videos of his wife for dark websites, made shocking revelations, ARY News reported. During the interrogation, the suspect said that he was contacted by the website operators via WhatsApp. The accused added in his statement that that he is unsure of how the proprietor of the website obtained his WhatsApp number. The suspect added that he had installed a camera in the bathroom to record videos of his wife two years ago but later removed. He added that he did not did not upload any videos of his wife to the website. The police said that the suspect’s wife alleged that he was pressurising her to have relations with his friends. According to the police, the suspect’s wife said that he had also tried to make obscene videos of thier daughter. The police are investigating the suspect’s mobile phone and laptop. Earlier, the District Central Police of Karachi arrested the suspect, claiming to be affiliated with the international...

ISLAMABAD: In a move to eliminate illegal construction in Islamabad, the anti-encroachment team of Capital Development Authority (CDA) initiated an encroachment operation at the head office of Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), ARY News reported on Thursday. According to the details, the anti-encroachment team, accompanied by the district administration, has reached and sealed the PTI head office located at Sector G8/4. Heavy machinery along with police personnel have been deployed outside the PTI central office, meanwhile, the CDA officials stated that the illegal constructions of offices belonging to political parties are being demolished. The plot on which the PTI office is established is under scrutiny, as it is allotted to an individual named Sartaj Ali. However, significant encroachments have been made by occupying adjacent land, including the construction of an additional floor in violation of building by-laws. As part of an anti-encroachment operation, a portion of the PTI headquart...

ISLAMABAD: In a major reshuffling, the federal government transferred and posted several top officers of the federal bureaucracy. According to notifications issued by the Establishment Division, Hasanat Qureshi has been appointed as Managing Director (MD) of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PEPRA). A 21-grade officer Hasanat Qureshi was serving as the financial advisor at the Pakistan Ordnance Factories. Secretary National Heritage Hassan Nasir has been given additional charge of Secretary Information. Similarly, the services of Hasan Raza, a Police Service officer of Grade 20, have been given to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. Mian Saeed Ahmed, a Police Service officer, has also been directed to report to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. As per the notification, the services of Asif Iqbal Mehmood have been handed over to the Gilgit-Baltistan government. Saudur Rehman, a Police Service officer, has been transferred to the Balochistan government. Earlier on March ...

ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-a-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman said that on national issues, the priorities of political parties should be the same, ARY News reported Speaking to the media in Islamabad along with a delegation of the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan that called on hint at his residence, Maulana Fazalur Rehman said that improving relationships and removing bitterness is the need of the hour. Although the meeting did not result in a major breakthrough, all the parties agreed to continue their interaction for future strategy. The JUI-F chief said that they welcomed the delegation which came with a ‘positive message’. He said that the meeting mainly focused at having a ‘united’ stance on national issues. “The Constitution and parliament of Pakistan are losing dignity while the democracy is losing its case. We should have one voice in parliament,” Maulana Fazalur Rehman added. Speaking on the occasion, Opposition Leader in National Assembly Omar Ayub ex...

KARACHI: The police on Wednesday busted a gang ‘involved’ in sexually abusing children in Karachi’s Orangi Town and recovered three minors, ARY News reported. Superintendent of Police (SP) Orangi Town said that three gang members were apprehended while as many children have been recovered by the police. The SP said that the gang used to lure children with Rs 200-300 and sexually abuse them. The suspects were also involved in recording the children’s videos and supplying them in the area. The police officer said that the investigation began when a child went missing on May 11. The interrogation in the case led to the discovery of the gang’s activities. The SP said that one of the suspects named Nisar used to lure children from gaming zones and take them to their hideout. The gang members subjected the children to sexual abuse and supplied them to others as well. The police officer said that the gang mostly lured children aged 12 to 14 years. According to police, the suspects used...

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman approved bilateral agreements with Pakistan to enhance cooperation in the energy sector and counter-terrorism, local media reported. According to the kingdom media outlet, Mohammed bin Salman gave the approvals while chairing a weekly session of the Council of Ministers in Jeddah on Tuesday. Minister of Media Salman Al Dosary said that during the session, the Council of Ministers reviewed the government’s recent initiatives, including the efforts to boost bilateral and multilateral partnerships in a number of sectors with friendly countries and to strengthen regional and international cooperation. Salman Al Dosary said that the cabinet authorised the minister of energy or his deputy to negotiate and finalise a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) for energy cooperation with Pakistan. The minister said that the session chaired by the crown prince and prime minister also approved an agreement between the ...

German international midfielder Toni Kroos announced on Tuesday he will retire from all football after Euro 2024. “My career as an active footballer will end this summer after the Euro championship,” 34-year-old Kroos, who won the 2014 World Cup with Germany, said on Instagram. Before the European Championship, Toni Kroos has a chance to win the Champions League with Real for a fifth time when they face Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on June 1. He also won the Champions League with Bayern Munich before joining the Spanish giants. Kroos joined Real in 2014 and quickly formed a formidable midfield partnership with Luka Modric. In a statement on their website, Real said Kroos “will go down in Real Madrid history as one of our club and international football’s greatest legends”. Kroos has also won the Liga title four times and won the Bundesliga three times with Bayern. He announced he was quitting international football in July 2021 but reversed his decision in February afte...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Hanif Abbasi opened up on a brawl with former Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar over the wheat import scandal. Speaking at ARY News Programme ‘Off the Record’, Hanif Abbasi confirmed that there were heated arguments between him and the former premier. He said that Anwaarul Haq Kakar asked him as if he had come to arrest him? “I told Anwaarul Haq Kakar that I have no authority to arrest him,” Hanif Abbasi said. The PML-N lawmaker; however, said that during the heated arguments, there was no discussion about Form 47, a term PML-N’s rivals use to describe alleged rigging in the general elections 2024 held on February 8 Hanif Abbasi emphasized that the PML-N is the largest political party in Punjab and centre. “We (PML-N) did not loose the elections that’s why we have formed governments in Punjab and the centre. The PML-N has a two-thirds majority in Punjab and is also the largest party at the federal level,” he added. E...

Liverpool confirmed on Monday that Feyenoord coach Arne Slot will be the new manager of the Premier League club, 24 hours after Jurgen Klopp’s emotional farewell at Anfield. Liverpool said in a statement that the Dutchman, 45, would take up the position of head coach on June 1, subject to a work permit. The club did not specify the length of his contract but it was widely reported in the British press that Slot had signed a three-year deal. The new manager’s arrival was an open secret, with Liverpool reportedly agreeing a compensation deal worth up to £9.4 million ($12 million). Slot confirmed Anfield was his next destination at his final pre-match press conference at the Eredivisie club on Friday. Klopp, 56, announced January that the 2023/24 season would be his last at Anfield, and took charge of his final game on Sunday, a 2-0 win against Wolves. In his farewell speech to the crowd, Jurgen Klopp urged fans to throw their full support behind his successor, leading them in a cha...

Manchester City created English football history on Sunday, beating West Ham 3-1 to win their fourth straight Premier League title and break Arsenal’s hearts as Jurgen Klopp made an emotional Liverpool exit. Phil Foden scored two early goals — including one after 79 seconds — at an expectant Etihad to lay the foundations for City’s victory. West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus pulled a goal back with a spectacular overhead kick to give Arsenal renewed hope but Rodri struck just before the hour mark to effectively wrap up the title. The Gunners, without a Premier League trophy since 2004, came from a goal down to beat Everton 2-1 but had to content themselves with second place for a second straight season after they finished two points behind City’s tally of 91. The champions’ relentless surge to the finishing line has included 19 wins and four draws since their last defeat in the league, at Aston Villa in early December. City, who have now won six titles in seven seasons, stand alone as the ...

MULTAN: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Syed Ali Qasim Gilani emerged victorious in the NA-148 by-election, according to the unofficial and unconfirmed results. The by-election for the National Assembly seat in Multan was held on Sunday, featuring a fierce contest between PPP’s Ali Qasim Gilani and Barrister Taimur Altaf Malik, the candidate backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Sunni Ittehad Council. According to unofficial and unofficial results from all 275 polling stations, Ali Qasim Gilani secured 85,850 votes, while his opponent, Barrister Taimur Altaf Malik, garnered 53,449 votes. Following the announcement of unofficial results, PPP workers danced to the beat outside Gilani House in Multan to express their happiness. Eight candidates belonging to various political parties were on the run to win the seat vacated following the resignation of Senator Yousuf Raza Gilani who took oath as the Senate Chairman. The total number of registered voters, according to th...

ISLAMABAD: In another ‘demand’, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission asked Pakistani authorities to impose tax on monthly pensions exceeding Rs 100,000, ARY News reported on Sunday, citing sources. Sources close to the development revealed that the ‘new bailout programme’ will necessitate pension reforms, with policy talks scheduled to commence tomorrow as negotiations between Pakistan and IMF have reached their final phase. One of the key components of the new loan program is the imposition of a tax on monthly pensions above Rs 100,000 as ‘insisted’ by the IMF. The move is expected to get the necessary legislative support aimed at taxing wealthy pensioners. As negotiations progress, it becomes evident that the ‘new bailout programme’ will mandate stringent economic measures. Pakistan remains committed to the IMF loan program, with no plans for its replacement. In order to qualify for the ‘new bailout programme’, Pakistan will need to exercise fiscal discipline, curbing...

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan, has been arrested in a case related to an attack on a company’s office, ARY News reported. Sources told ARY News that the former AJK premier was arrested in the case registered at Margalla Police Station. According to sources, Sardar Tanveer Ilyas is accused of trying to seize the central offices and important documents of Centaurus Mall. The First Information Report (FIR) was filed by Colonel (retd) Tipu Sultan, Deputy Security In-charge of The Centaurus Mall, naming Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, Muhammad Ali, Anil Sultan, Rizwan, and other unknown individuals as accused. As per the FIR, Sardar Tanveer, accompanied by an armed group of 20 to 25 individuals, entered office 1708 of Centaurus Mall by breaking the lock, with intentions to take control of the premises. However, their attempt was thwarted by the vigilant security guards. Sardar Tanveer allegedly issued threats to kill Sardar Yasir Ily...

The polling for the NA -148 Multan by-election has begun under strict security measures on Sunday (today), ARY News reported.  Polling that started at 8:00 in the morning will continue till 5:00 pm without any interval. Eight candidates belonging to various political parties are on the run to win the seat vacated following the resignation of Senator Yousuf Raza Gilani who took oath as the Senate Chairman. Political observers are assuming a tough contest between Pakistan People’s Party’s Ali Qasim Gilani, Sunni Ittehad Council’s Taimur Altaf and Ahmed Hussain Dehr. On Feb 8 elections, Ahmed Hussain Dehr on PML-N’s ticket had grabbed 57989 votes. The total number of registered voters, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan stands at 213,333, with 111,639 male voters and 101,694 female voters. The constituency, previously labelled as NA-154 Multan-I in the 2018 election delimitations has been re-designated as NA-148 Multan-I. A comparison of the electoral rolls revea...

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi directed concerned agencies to conduct a crackdown against the encroachments in Islamabad, ARY News reported.   The interior minister directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) staff to remove all encroachments with across-the-board action along with the Islamabad administration and the police. He directed the CDA to carry out the operation without any discrimination. Chairman CDA and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Ali Randhawa immediately took action on the directives of the federal minister and launched an operation against encroachments in Islamabad. The authorities demolished the encroachments in Sangjani Sasing and sealed another factory. According to the authorities, the farmhouse built illegally by constructing on 24 kanal area was demolished. The Islamabad administration and the police led by the DC and CDA, jointly conducted the operation against the encroachments. Earlier, the interior minister announced to upg...

The Ambassador of Belgium in Pakistan, emphasized that peace in the world can only be achieved through mutual cooperation. He expressed hope that there would be no questions about Palestine, but unfortunately, the situation in Israel is also causing concern for Belgium. The ambassador Charles Delogne was a guest speaker at English Speaking Union of Pakistan, where he highlighted Belgium’s efforts for global peace, mentioning their significant investment of 0.7 percent in the development sector. The event was organized at a private hotel in Karachi, attended by Patron in chief of ESUP Aziz Memon, President Pervez Madraswala, Kalim Farooqui, and many other diplomats. He underscored the strong bilateral relations between Belgium and Pakistan, emphasizing the crucial role played by Pakistani students studying in Belgium. He mentioned that Belgium is also investing in Palestine, reiterating that mutual cooperation is essential for achieving peace worldwide. He expressed Belgium’s sol...

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Friday replaced the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) days after violent protests against high electricity bills and flour, ARY News reported. According to a notification issued by the Establishment Division, Abdul Jabbar, a BS-20 officer currently serving in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), had replaced Dr Sohail Habib Tajik, a BS-20 officer of the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP). Abdul Jabbar had been transferred and placed at the disposal of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government for his posting as the IGP. Azad Kashmir witnessed violent clashes between the police and activists of a rights movement amid a wheel-jam and shutter-down strike across the territory, which left at least one police official dead and several others injured. Sub-inspector Adnan Qureshi  succumbed to a gunshot wound in the chest in the town of Islamgarh, where he was deployed to stop a rally for Muzaffarabad under the b...

RAWALPINDI: An accountability court on Friday failed to testify witnesses when Bushra Bibi, wife of PTI founder Imran Khan, expressed distrust on the judge hearing £190 million National Crime Agency (NCA) settlement reference, ARY News reported. At the outset of the hearing conducted at Adiala Jail, the former first lady came to the rostrum and expressed distrust in the accountability court’s judge. She stated that the previous hearing was held without her knowledge, and she was not informed about the postponement of the case. The court explained that the previous hearing was postponed due to a request from the jail administration, and asked the defendant’s lawyers if they also distrusted the court. However, the lawyers replied that they had faith in the court, but requested permission to consult with their client, Bushra Bibi. The hearing was stopped thrice following the lawyers’ requests. PTI founder Imran Khan and his lawyers tried to persuade her to trust the court, and after...