Pakistan

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Wednesday said that the media in Pakistan was “freer” than in the West, saying that latter was under “stricter regulations”. The premier made the remarks in an interview with CNBC on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. During the interview, Kakar talked about the economic outlook for the country, the upcoming election and charges against ex-premier …

ISLAMABAD: Acknowledging the presence of threats in various parts of the country, top government and security officials assured the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday of their readiness to hold general elections. Reviewing preparations for the Feb 8 polls, with a focus on the law and order situation, the meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja was …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday downgraded its diplomatic relations with Iran, recalling its ambassador from Tehran and expelling the Iranian envoy in Islamabad, in the wake of Iranian missile and drone strikes in Panjgur, Balochistan a day earlier. Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan reserved the right to retaliate against the attack, which she described as an “illegal act” …

With polls merely three weeks away, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has yet to issue the final list of candidates for the February 8 general elections. On Dec 15, the electoral watchdog issued the poll schedule, detailing the step-by-step procedures leading up to the poll day along with their dates. As per the schedule, the ECP was to issue its …

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has warned that the polls may have to be delayed if orders keep coming for changing the election symbols already allocated to candidates. Without naming any court, the ECP in a statement pointed out that election symbols were being changed through various forums. Following the allotment of election symbols, the ECP said it …

Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa on Wednesday remarked there was a need to eradicate “Kalashnikov culture” from the country. He made the remarks as a three-member bench — led by CJP Isa and also comprising justices Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Musarrat Hilali — took up the post-arrest bail plea of a suspect named in a case concerning the …

RAWALPINDI: From 12pm to 2pm, more than 41 transgender persons gather at Government Islamia Higher Secondary School No. 1 in a non-formal setting to become educated members of the community. These people are taught by their community members, and some of them come from the outskirts of Islamabad to teach them. The non-formal education initiative is a project of the …

How bad is the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and will the uptick in militant attacks really impact the upcoming elections or disrupt them? There are as many opinions on the overall security picture in KP as there are mouths, and with less than three weeks left for election campaigns, views on the potential fallout of the growing militant attacks …

The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue on Wednesday summoned the ministers for law and finance to ascertain their views on whether the caretaker government had the authority to enact legislation. The summons were issued as the committee, headed by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, deliberated on bills, with a committee member insisting that the caretaker government lacked the authority to …

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Health has confirmed the presence of poliovirus in environmental samples from nine districts of the country. According to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Health, the virus was found in one sample each from Quetta, Mastung, Multan, Peshawar, Nowshera, and Hab. The Poliovirus was also found in samples from Karachi Malir, Karachi South and D.I.Khan. He …