LONDON: Wall Street and European stock markets mostly rose on Wednesday ahead of key US inflation data later this week while the yen recovered slightly from a 34-year low against the dollar. The yen dropped to 151.97 to the dollar in Asian trading hours after a top Bank of Japan official indicated that it would press ahead with a loose …

RAWALPINDI: The Regional Police Officer Rawalpindi Region Babar Sarfraz Alpa has ordered the security audit of foreigners, especially the Chinese nationals to ensure their safety. Chairing a meeting to review security, crime and law and order situation here at the regional office on Wednesday, he said the audit should be carried out jointly by all law enforcement agencies. A spokesman …

LAHORE / KARACHI: All seven candidates vying for the upper house of parliament on general seats from Punjab were elected unopposed following the withdrawal of nominations by five other candidates, apparently following a behind-the-scenes understanding among the country’s three major parties — the PML-N, PPP and PTI. The development came on Wednesday, which was the last day for the withdrawal …

PESHAWAR: The Pesha­war High Court on Wednesday ordered the speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly to administer oath of office to the opposition members elected to reserved seats for women and non-Muslims, and facilitate them to cast votes in the Senate elections, scheduled for April 2. A PHC division bench consisting of Justice Syed Mohammad Attique Shah and Justice Shakeel …

QUETTA: A Levies Risaldar was martyred, and three other soldiers were seriously injured in an exchange of fire with an alleged criminal gang, also involved in terrorism in Pishin district on Wednesday. Security forces launched an operation after the firing incident and arrested two dozen suspects, including proclaimed offenders, and recovered stolen items, including motorcycles and illegal arms. Officials said …

ISLAMABAD: The Bar Council of England and Wales has welcomed correspondence from the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), in which the latter said there will be no restrictions on Ahmadis to practise law in Pakistan. It has also asked for further clarifications on the issue of Ahmadi lawyers being asked to renounce their faith in order to practise. In a press …

The United States has stated that “helping Pakistan address its energy shortage crisis is a priority” for Washington. The Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline is a long-term project between Tehran and Islamabad, and has faced delays and funding challenges for several years. In February, the government had decided to start building an 80-kilometre segment of the pipeline, extending from the Iranian border to Gwadar, …

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday wondered why the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was probing former prime minister Imran Khan and foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi for not returning the diplomatic cipher, while sparing other recipients who did the same. Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb — a member of the IHC division bench headed by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq — …

The Foreign Office (FO) said on Thursday that there was no doubt that Tuesday’s suicide attack in Bisham — which claimed the lives of six people including five Chinese nationals — was “orchestrated by the enemies of Pak-China friendship”. The five Chinese engineers — and their Pakistani driver — were killed in the suicide bombing on Tuesday while travelling between Islamabad and …

The Supreme Court on Thursday conditionally allowed military courts to pronounce reserved verdicts in cases pertaining to civilians held for their alleged involvement in the May 9 riots. It directed that judgements be announced in cases in which the nominated suspects could be released before Eid. The court issued the directives as it heard a set of intra-court appeals (ICAs) …