Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Two technocrats each from Punjab and Balochistan are set to be elected unopposed as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday completed the process of scrutiny of nomination papers filed by candidates from all over the country to contest for 48 seats of the Senate, for which polling would be held on March 3. The statistical data shows …

LAHORE: India stopped on Thursday 720 Sikh pilgrims from attending the Saka festival being held in Pakistan from Feb 18 to 25, citing Covid-19 and “safety” reasons. Pakistan criticised the Indian government decision, calling it a grave human rights violation. “Sikh pilgrims were scheduled to enter Lahore via Wagah border and we all were there to welcome them, when we …

DADU: A three-year-old minor girl was subjected to rape and left battling for life in Chhano Shahabad mohalla here on Wednesday. The child, daughter of a labourer, was admitted to Dadu Civil Hospital in critical condition while police immediately arrested the rape suspect. Dadu SSP Aijaz Ahmed Shaikh, who arrived at the hospital to enquire after the victim’s health, told …

A day after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) received flak from the apex court during the hearing of a presidential reference on the use of open ballots in the upcoming Senate elections, Justice Ijazul Ahsan on Wednesday told the body that the vote in Senate polls “cannot remain secret forever”. During the hearing on Tuesday, the five-judge Supreme Court bench, headed …

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has directed the departments concerned to take immediate steps to make the newly established Hangu prison functional within a month and prepare PC-I for construction of access road to tourist spot Samana. He was presiding over a meeting to review progress on various developmental projects in southern districts of the province, said an official statement …

PESHAWAR: With only three members in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Jamaat-i-Islami, a component of the now defunct Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal, holds its cards close to its chest as other political parties have made a beeline, seeking its support for the upcoming Senate polls. Jamaat-i-Islami has nominated four candidates from the province on all category seats for the Senate elections scheduled for March …

DERA ISMAIL KHAN/LOWER DIR: A would-be suicide bomber was killed in an intelligence-based operation on Dera-Tank Road, official sources said on Wednesday. They said the security forces and police launched a joint operation after receiving information about the presence of a would-be suicide bomber in the area. The sources said the alleged bomber was aged between 20 and 25 years. …

• PM wants legislation to resolve missing persons’ issue • Enforcement of laws to check sexual violence ordered • Minister says overseas Pakistanis to vote in next elections ISLAMABAD: The cabinet on Wednesday gave a relief of Rs21 billion to the federal secretariat employees by approving a 25 per cent increase in their salaries, urging provinces to end wage disparity …

PESHAWAR: The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) here on Wednesday announced seat adjustment in the province for the upcoming Senate polls. BAP has four lawmakers in the provincial assembly. They joined the party after winning elections from tribal districts as independent candidates. Addressing a press conference in the civil secretariat, provincial government spokesperson Kamran Khan Bangash, …

ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani has convened a session of the upper house of parliament on Saturday morning (Feb 20) on the requisition of the opposition on a one-point agenda to discuss the controversial presidential ordinance promulgated by the government on Feb 6, seeking open Senate vote. The session has been called at a time when a presidential reference on …