Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: A high-level delegation from Iran arrived on Thursday to participate in the 10th Iran-Pakistan Special Se­­curity Committee (IPSSC) meeting to discuss counter-terrorism measures, border management strategies and issues of mutual interest. According to a statement issued by the Iranian Embassy on Thursday, Seyed Majid Mirahmadi, Deputy Minister of Interior of Iran, arrived here, leading a delegation of Iran officials …

Former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan and ex-commerce minister Humayun Akhtar Khan on Thursday said they were parting ways with the PTI over the events of May 9. Announcing his decision to leave the party, Sarwar said in a video statement that “the Pakistan Army has rendered numerous sacrifices for the security and sovereignty of the country”. “Attacking the memorials …

ISLAMABAD: The Cabinet Division has revised the Eidul Azha holidays notification, adding June 28 to the list. As a result, federal government employees will have three holidays in addition to their two weekly days off. The notification, reissued on Thursday, states that Eid holidays will start from Wednesday, June 28, to Friday, June 30, for offices that observe a five-day …

ISLAMABAD: Courtroom No.1 of the Supreme Court was left stunned on Thursday, with bitter polarisation among judges coming to the fore, after Chief Justice-designate Qazi Faez Isa said he did not consider the nine-member bench hearing appeals against military trials ‘a proper court’. “I am not recusing (withdrawing) myself but I will not sit either and therefore [I am] rising,” …

ISLAMABAD: After chief justice-in-waiting Qazi Faez Isa refused to become part of a nine-member bench hearing pleas against trials of civilians in military courts on Thursday, a polarising debate started over whether the withdrawal of two judges from the bench would hurt the apex court. As lawyers on social media criticised Justice Isa for his failure to put up a united front, …

GILGIT: Flood-affected people from Jaglot blocked the Karakoram Highway on Thursday to stage a protest against the alleged misuse of rehabilitation funds. According to the protesters, glacial lake outburst flooding caused a blockage of the Hunza River last year, which diverted the water towards residential areas. This caused damages to property, submerging eight homes, cultivated land, fish farms and shops. …

ISLAMABAD: Firebrand PML-N stalwart and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday assailed the judiciary for taking up the petitions challenging civilians’ trial in the military courts over the May 9 incidents, stating that the “politically-motivated” petitions had been filed by some “discarded politicians” who wanted to seek public attention. Speaking on a point of order during the budget debate in the National …

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commis­sion of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday reminded the caretaker chief ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that maintaining neutrality is their legal duty. “As you are aware that Under Section 230 of the Elections Act, 2017, the role and duties of the caretaker government is to maintain neutrality and impartiality during its period and ensure equal treatment …

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Friday provided an update on the Greek shipwreck incident, revealing that 82 deceased Pakistani victims had been recovered, with their specimens obtained and the ongoing identification process being conducted through Nadra. Last week, an Italy-bound fishing trawler reportedly carrying at least 800 pople — including hundreds of Pakistanis — capsized off Greece. Only 104 people …

Attorney General of Pakstan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan told the Supreme Court (SC) on Friday that 102 people were in the army’s custody as the top court resumed hearing pleas challenging the trials of civilians in military courts. A seven-member bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib …