Pakistan

The National Assembly of Pakistan passed the Elections (Amendment) Bill 2022 on Thursday, which seeks to remove the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in general elections as well as disallows overseas Pakistanis from voting. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Murtaza Javed Abbasi presented the bill that was passed with a majority vote, with only members of the Grand Democratic Alliance opposing …

The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a petition filed by the federal government, seeking contempt proceedings against PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan for “violating” the apex court’s orders with regard to the party’s Azadi March. A five-member bench, headed by Chief Justice (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday that the National Assembly would decide the date for the next general elections. Speaking on the floor of the lower house of parliament, the premier lashed out at the PTI and party Chairman Imran Khan. “I want to clarify to leader of this group (PTI), your dictation won’t work. This house will decide …

KARACHI: A key member of the Sindh cabinet said on Tuesday that the Punjab police were not cooperating with their counterparts in Sindh in the recovery of two teenage girls allegedly kidnapped in Karachi. Sindh Minister for Women Development Syeda Shehla Raza told a press conference that she would go to every extent for their safe recovery both the kidnapped …

ISLAMABAD: The twin cities have once again become a political flashpoint as the government takes all measures to prevent the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) long march from reaching the capital on Wednesday (today). So much so even foreign diplomats have raised concerns over their security under the prevailing situation. Talking to Dawn, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Tahir Farooq confirmed that 86 prominent PTI …

Veteran journalist, political commentator and senior editor of English daily The News International, Talat Aslam, has passed away, the paper’s website reported on Wednesday. He was 67. Aslam’s career spanned many publications, noteworthy among them were assignments at Herald magazine and The News, which he went on to lead. He also had a sizable presence online, where he would analyse a variety of issues …

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to Attorney General for Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali on a petition seeking reinstatement of sacked governor of Punjab Omer Sarfraz Cheema. A three-member larger bench comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani took up the petition filed by the ex-governor. Advocate Babar Awan, the …

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution expressing solidarity with the family of Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik, who is being persecuted in a dubious and motivated case against him by India. The resolution, presented by Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, said the house condemns the abhorrent attempt of the Indian government to deprive the Kashmiri people of …

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Tuesday witnessed a verbal clash between Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Dr Fehmida Mirza of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) when the latter blasted the government for its decision to use force to block Imran Khan-led long march towards Islamabad and launching of crackdown on activists and members of the formerly ruling PTI in different parts of …

The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 index shed more than 500 points on Wednesday as clashes between PTI protesters and police officials in Lahore dampened investor sentiment. According to the PSX website, the KSE-100 index had gone down by 572.63 points, or 1.37 per cent, by 12:35pm. Ahsan Mehanti of the Arif Habib Corporation said the stock market was witnessing a …