GAZA STRIP: Israeli strikes across Gaza killed scores overnight as battles raged on Sunday in the besieged territory’s south and Hamas was reviewing a proposal for a halt in the nearly four-month-long war. France’s top diplomat Stephane Sejourne began his first Middle East trip as foreign minister, aimed at pushing for a ceasefire and prisoner release, a ministry spokesman said, …

At least two people were killed in Bangladesh on Monday after mortar shells fired from Myanmar during clashes there landed in a village across the border, police said. Parts of Myanmar near the 270-kilometre (167-mile) border with Bangladesh have seen frequent clashes since November when rebel Arakan Army fighters ended a ceasefire that had largely held since a 2021 coup. …

ISLAMABAD: PML-N leader and former Senator retired Lt General Abdul Qayyum has said that the concept of caretaker government is flawed and it should be done away with after the Feb 8 general elections. “Hardly any country in the world has such an arrangement. Bangladesh introduced this concept and appointed a chief adviser instead of a prime minister but then …

QUETTA: The leaders of Haq Do Tehreek (HDT) have warned candidates from various political parties contesting elections in Makran to withdraw their candidates, or the people will give them a shameful defeat against HDT on February 8. Speaking at a large public meeting on Sunday at Shahada Jeweni Chowk in Gwadar, Maulana Hidayatur Rehman Baloch expressed that HDT is facing …

RAWALPINDI: The district administration has refused to grant permission to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) candidate in NA-56 Shehryar Riaz and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed to hold public meetings. Shehryar Riaz told Dawn that he had sought permission from the district administration for holding a public meeting in NA-56 on any suitable day, from February 4 to 6, but the …

QUETTA: The Balochistan government has imposed limitations on candidates’ movements and prohibited election events and campaigns due to a threat alert regarding the potential presence of a female suicide bomber in Quetta. According to a press release issued by the deputy commissioner, a credible report indicates the presence of a female suicide bomber in Quetta, with intentions to target political …

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz will hold a public meeting in Murree at the General Post Office (GPO) square on Monday afternoon. The PML-N has given the party ticket to Raja Usama Ashfaq Sarwar in NA-51, which comprises Murree, Kotli Sattian, and Kahuta tehsils. Raja Usama Ashfaq Sarwar is the son of Raja …

ISLAMABAD: With Feb 8 polls only a few days away, the Rawalpindi police have chalked up a comprehensive security and contingency plan, under which it will deploy about 12,783 police officials and 4,390 military and paramilitary personnel — to assist police as the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) — to protect 5,490 polling stations across the division. Regional Police Officer Rawalpindi …

ISLAMABAD: In a significant step towards upcoming general elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has completed the printing of 260 million ballot papers for all 859 National and provincial assembly constituencies. ECP spokesman Syed Nadeem Haider told Dawn that except for around a dozen districts, the delivery of ballot papers to district returning officers (DROs) has been completed and in the …

LAHORE: The PML-N and PPP have locked horns over allegations of vote buying against each other while the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) awaits the Punjab government’s report on the alleged incident that took place in Lahore on Saturday. Tensions between both the mainstream parties intensified when the PML-N candidate for NA-127 Attaullah Tarar, who is facing PPP Chairman Bilawal …