More than 1,000 people rallied on Saturday in Washington in support of Palestinians, calling for an end to US aid to Israel. The demonstration on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial came as a ceasefire, which ended 11 days of violence in the Gaza Strip, has so far held. “We are hoping to send a clear message to the United States government that …

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) have rejected the proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) Ordinance, 2021. “The proposed law is draconian in scope and devastating in its impact on the constitutional principles and guarantees for freedom of expression, media freedoms, and the right to information as …

HYDERABAD: In the wake of the decision taken by the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) on Saturday to apply 32pc shortages for Punjab and Sindh, the Guddu Barrage chief engineer has advised growers not to go for paddy sowing in May and June as the barrage is experiencing “worst water shortage in 60 years”. He said growers could go for …

ISLAMABAD: Over a dozen protesters were arrested and scores of motorcycles impounded during a police action to disperse students staging a protest demanding online examinations at Faizabad on Saturday. Officials of the capital administration and police said the SSC and HSC students from Rawalpindi and Islamabad in groups started gathering at Faizabad Bridge in the afternoon. Shortly, their number increased …

KARACHI: The Sindh government on Saturday moved a reference under the relevant article of the Constitution, seeking a joint session of parliament against approval of what it called the controversial and faulty census results by the Council of Common Interests (CCI). In a letter to the Senate chairman and the National Assembly speaker, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has …

LAHORE: The Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) on Saturday announced re-opening of all colleges in 34 districts of the province on a staggered basis from May 31. The colleges in Khanewal and Rahim Yar Khan, however, will be closed till further orders. The colleges will be open from Monday after implementing coronavirus SOPs. According to the notification available with except …

ISLAMABAD: About 80 to 90 per cent of fires in the Margalla Hills National Park are the work of residents of surrounding villages, Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWWB) Chairperson Rina Saeed Khan told Dawn on Saturday. Every summer the Capital Development Authority (CDA) inducts nearly 400 villagers on daily wages to patrol and spot forest fires. “But those who are not inducted, …

LAHORE: Amid reports of growing differences within the party over its narrative, PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif will attend a meeting of its senior leaders on Monday via video link from London, and among other issues also discuss a proposal for holding a “grand dialogue” with all stakeholders, including the establishment. “PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and other senior leaders will present …

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday visited a nuclear facility managed by Army’s Strategic Forces Command, according to a statement issued by the PM’s Office. The visit, although a day after the observance of the 23rd anniversary of the 1998 nuclear tests, appeared to be linked to that occasion. This was Mr Khan’s first visit to any nuclear site …

ISLAMABAD: The country’s premier spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has “totally disassociated” itself from the recent attack on a journalist and YouTuber Asad Ali Toor in Islamabad, says a handout issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Saturday. The statement said that a “high level contact” was established between the ministry and the ISI over the incident in which a …