Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The joint investigation team established to probe a terrorism charge against former prime minister Imran Khan over threats to a sessions judge stands dissolved after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) removed the terror charge against the former premier earlier this month. The officers of the Islamabad police told Dawn that the JIT had submitted a challan to the Anti-terrorism Court (ATC) after Imran …

KARACHI: Without confirming or denying reports of his meetings with military brass and key political figures that drew sharp criticism from leaders of the ruling coalition, President Arif Alvi on Monday conceded his recent “efforts in personal capacity” to bring the “stakeholders closer” to one another. President Alvi talked about his role to “consult, negotiate and deliberate” in personal capacity …

A plea seeking the disqualification of PML-N leader Ishaq Dar has been withdrawn from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after the petitioner said he would approach a higher forum to pursue the case. Advocate Azhar Siddique had filed a plea with the ECP earlier this year seeking disqualification of Dar. “It is respectfully submitted that I want to withdraw …

Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah on Tuesday admonished Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid for filing a petition of a “political nature”. The former interior minister had filed a petition last week, contending that the appointment of a 72-member cabinet was a violation of Article 92(1) of the Constitution. The petition stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s …

A division bench of the Sindh High Court’s Hyderabad circuit on Tuesday expressed its resentment over the delay in drainage of floodwater from Khairpur Nathan Shah while calling out Dadu deputy commissioner for the pace of the dewatering. Floodwaters are constantly and rapidly receding in different parts of Dadu district as a result of the Sept 4 official “relief cut” …

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) told the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday that it did not require PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz’s passport that she had surrendered to the court for getting bail in a case. The accountability watchdog had previously opposed the petition seeking the return of Maryam’s passport, which she had surrendered to the court when post-arrest bail was granted …

An Islamabad district and sessions court on Tuesday discharged senior journalist Ayaz Amir from the murder case of his Canadian national daughter-in-law, Sarah Inam. The court concluded that there was no evidence against Ayaz in the police diary, as it announced its decision on the police’s request to extend the journalist’s physical remand by another five days. The request was …

ISLAMABAD: As nature begins to heal itself after a drop in human activity, the wildlife in Margalla Hills has started to reclaim the preservation area in the hills – a nocturnal leopard even ventured out during the daytime. “Porcupines, Khalij pheasants, foxes, and wild boars roam freely, which used to be unusual because under ‘normal circumstances’ there would be traffic …

RAWALPINDI: After complaints of alleged mistreatment and torture of inmates at the Central Jail Adiala came to light, an assistant jail superintendent was suspended and 10 head warders and 17 warders were transferred to other jails. Two head warders and four warders were also suspended after they were found involved in mistreatment and torture of prisoners. There have been frequent …

GUJRAT: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi on Sunday hinted at some background efforts to iron out internal differences within the family and PML-Q as three different sessions were held at the same venue to mark the death anniversary of Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi, the founding father of family politics. The ceremony has been a regular feature in Gujrat for the …