Pakistan

Police said on Friday that five Japanese nationals were unhurt after their vehicle was targeted by a suicide bomber in Karachi’s Landhi area. The suicide bomber was killed in the attack while an accomplice was gunned down by police, officials said. A private security guard accompanying the Japanese national died after succumbing to his injuries while two bystanders were also …

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed authorities concerned for robust renewable energy management to cut the country’s $27 billion oil import bill and improve the country’s existing electricity distribution system. “Ultimately, we have to move to renewable energy. The oil import worth billions of dollars can be controlled by using alternative resources like solar, wind and hydel. Make …

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday disposed of a petition filed by ex-premier Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi seeking her transfer from her Banigala residence, which had been declared a sub-jail, to Adiala Jail. Justice Miangul Hassan Aurang­zeb disposed of the plea due to Bushra Bibi’s lawyers failing to appear before the court. The former first lady was taken …

Four more people died in rain-related incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Shangla and Charsadda districts as the death toll in the province rose to 25, officials said on Tuesday. Contin­uous heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms have lashed several parts of the country in the past few days. Heavy rainfall, floods and landslides continued to wreak havoc in the northern parts of KP for …

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Tuesday said that his visit to Pakistan would deliver “significant benefits” in the upcoming months by realising the potential of untapped economic development. The Saudi diplomat was addressing a joint press conference in Islamabad with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar after a meeting between the two at the Ministry of Foreign …

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday said that the report compiled by the Faizabad dharna commission was bereft of any “authenticity” or “credibility”, adding that its authors needed to reflect on whether they had done justice to the duty assigned to them. The commission constituted to probe the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) 2017 sit-in at Faizabad has submitted its report to the federal government recommending, among other …

The military’s top brass on Tuesday expressed concern against a “malicious propaganda campaign meant to demoralise the armed forces” and distancing them from the nation, stressing that the army would not allow such efforts to succeed. The observation was made during the 264th Corps Commanders’ Conference at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, which was presided over by Chief of Army …

QUETTA: As a three-day spell of torrential rainfall, which resulted in the deaths of 10 people across Balochistan, ended on Tuesday, the Met Department has issued a forecast for more downpours from today (Wednesday). In an advisory, the Meteorological Centre of Balochistan said a “powerful” spell of rain was approaching the province and predicted heavy rains with thunderstorms in various districts …

ISLAMABAD: With by-elections on vacant seats of the national and provincial assemblies less than a week away, the PTI has accused the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of pre-poll rigging in the run-up to the elections slated to be held on April 21. The former ruling party also decided to organise public gatherings in constituencies where by-polls are slated to …

LAHORE: The ruling PML-N lost two of its National Assembly seats on Tuesday after separate benches of the Lahore High Court set aside the victory notifications of its lawmakers elected from Gujranwala and Lodhran. In addition, another PML-N MNA from Nankana Sahib had his victory notification suspended on a petition filed by his PTI-backed opponent. Meanwhile, incarcerated PTI leader Dr …