Pakistan

r ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court will commence on Thursday the hearing of a petition moved on behalf of Prime Minister Imran Khan against the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) declaration that Akbar S. Babar — a founding but dissident member — was still a member of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). The Islamabad High Court had on Dec 4, 2019 …

ISLAMABAD: Despite internal rift over nomination of Senator Mirza Mohammad Afridi for the office of Senate deputy chairman, the ruling alliance on Friday managed to defeat the candidates of the opposition Pakistan Demo­cratic Movement (PDM) in the elections for the posts of chairman and deputy chairman and claimed that the proceedings of any of the two houses of parliament could …

PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday rubbished rumours that PML-N senators did not vote for opposition’s candidate in yesterday’s election for the slots of Senate chairperson and deputy chairperson. When asked that there were reports of PML-N senators having abstained from voting for Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) nominees for the top Senate slots, Bilawal said: “Everyone showed loyalty.” “I know, we all …

RAWALPINDI: Heavy rain coupled with thunderstorm lashed the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Thursday, bringing the temperature down and clearing the air from dust. The rain started early in the morning and continued till night with short breaks. Due to the chill in the air, the temperature lowered to 14 degree Celsius in the capital city. The meteorological …

GILGIT: No new coronavirus case has been reported in Gilgit-Baltistan, according to Home Secretary Mohammad Ali Randhawa.Dr Shah Zaman, the focal person for coronavirus in GB, also confirmed that presently there was no Covid-19 patient in the region. He said that all patients of coronavirus in the region had recovered. He said that three coronavirus cases were reported in GB …

LONDON: In a public video message, former prime minister and PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif accused elements in the country’s security establishment of threatening Maryam Nawaz. “First you broke open the Karachi hotel room door where Maryam was staying, and now you are threatening her, that if she does not stop she will be smashed,” Mr Sharif said, in a …

ISLAMABAD: The District Health Office on Thursday asked all hospitals to comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and ensure observance of precautionary measures in the wake of rising number of Covid-19 cases. In a letter to state-run and private hospitals of Islamabad, District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia asked their managements to observe strict compliance of SOPs. “It is …

LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan on Thursday questioned Federal Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh being in the office as unelected member of the cabinet despite losing Senate election. “In truly democratic countries people voluntarily resign from the public offices if [they are] not elected,” the chief justice observed and added the establishment of the democracy …

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday fined a petitioner Rs10,000 over repeated non-appearance of his lawyer in a case seeking the disqualification of Prime Minister Imran Khan from holding any public office on multiple grounds. A bench consisting of Justice Lal Jan Khattak and Justice Syed M Attique Shah took exception to the failure of the counsel for Inamullah …

ISLAMABAD: To boost the Digital Pakistan initiative, the government has decided to accord major concessions to the IT & Telecom sector by granting it the status of ‘industry’, with reduced taxes and duties, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Syed Amin-ul-Haque said on Thursday. Various heavy taxes on the telecom sector will be reduced gradually, Mr Haque said at …