Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: PPP leader and the ruling coalition’s candidate for the head of state Asif Ali Zardari is set to become the president for a historic second time, as he swept the presidential elections by defeating PTI-Sunni Ittehad Council-backed candidate Mehmood Khan Achakzai in a one-sided contest on Saturday. According to the Elec­tion Commission of Pakis­tan, Mr Zardari sec­ured 411 electoral …

LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has filed a complaint with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against PTI leader Shandana Gulzar for embroiling her into the controversy over death of PTI worker Zilley Shah. “An application has been filed with the FIA against Shandana Gulzar for making false propaganda against Maryam Nawaz,” Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari told reporters here on Saturday. …

At least two people were killed while one suffered injuries in a blast near the Board Bazaar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Peshawar early Sunday morning, officials said. Rescue 1122 Spokesperson Bilal Faizi confirmed the death toll and injuries to. He said the bodies and wounded were moved to the Khyber Teaching Hospital and the blast site had been cordoned off. Speaking …

Heavy rains lashed flood-ravaged Gwadar and other parts of Balochistan on Sunday, suspending normal life and traffic. The showers, which began yesterday evening, left main roads and streets flooded with knee-high water and submerged low-lying areas in Gwadar and adjoining districts. In Kech, heavy rains suspended traffic and blocked connecting roads. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, 21 millimetres of …

ISLAMABAD: The PTI-Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) alliance formally nominated Omar Ayub Khan for the leader of the opposition by submitting his documents to the office of National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Saturday. Around 90 MNAs belonging to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had joined the SIC after contesting general elections as independent candidates in an attempt to secure reserved seats. The nomination …

MOSCOW: The US embassy in Russia warned that “extremists” had imminent plans for an attack in Moscow, hours after Russian security services said they had foiled a planned shooting at a synagogue by a cell from the Afghan arm of the militant Islamic State group. The embassy, which has repeatedly urged all US citizens to leave Russia immediately, gave no …

ISLAMABAD: The plan of former Senate chairman to get an extension through an amendment to rules seems to have gone awry as he has finally taken the oath as a Balochistan Assembly MPA. Sources told Dawn that the plan had to be shelved due to stiff opp­osition and the fear of the motion being defeated. Under Article 223 of the Constitution, Mr Sanjrani ceased …

ISLAMABAD: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari kept campaigning for his father till the eve of the presidential election as he hosted the lawmakers of National Assembly and the Senate on Friday. The PPP chairman also met with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and provincial assembly members earlier in the day. During the gathering held at Sindh House in Islamabad, Prime …

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) board on Friday approved a new policy under which private schools established in houses would be given plots on a priority basis for operating on rental basis. The board, which met with Chairman Anwarul Haq in the chair, besides other policy matters decided that the CDA through joint ventures will provide plots to private …

RAWALPINDI: Commissioner Rawalpindi Aamir Khattak emphasised the importance of taking early preventive measures to stop the spread of dengue as only four cases have been reported since Jan 1. Commissioner Rawalpindi, while presiding over the anti-dengue meeting at the deputy commissioner’s office, stated that the people who neglect and violate the SOPs endanger others life; therefore, strict legal action will …