Torrential rains in the wake of a powerful cyclone caused the collapse of a quarry in India’s Mizoram state killing 12 people, government officials said on Tuesday. “So far 12 bodies have been found, we are looking for more,” deputy commissioner of Aizawl district Nazuk Kumar told AFP. Rescue efforts in the quarry were being hampered by “heavy rains”, police director general Anil …

ISLAMABAD: As Youm-i-Takbeer is being observed across the country on Tuesday (today), Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has lashed out at the government for exploiting the country’s nuclear programme for political gain. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday declared May 28 — known as Youm-i-Takbeer — a national holiday to mark the day Pakistan became a nuclear power 26 years ago. A PTI spokesperson slammed …

ISLAMABAD: Amid inte­nse pressure from the journalist fraternity and civil society organisations, the PML-N seemed to soften its stance on the proposed defamation law — recently pas­sed by the Punjab Assembly and pending gubernatorial assent. At a press conference on Monday, federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar backed demands for consultations with stakeholders before the finalisation of the legislation. When asked about the …

ISLAMABAD: Acting President Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday signed two ordinances on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which were promulgated following the approval by the federal cabinet. Mr Gilani, who assumed the role of acting president after Asif Ali Zar­dari went to Dubai on a private visit, signed the Elec­tions Act (Ame­nd­m­ent) Ordinance 2024 and NAB (Amend­ment) Ordi­nance 2024 into …

ISLAMABAD: As the schools managed by the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) undergo renovation and face-lift under a Rs7.4 billion project, the education ministry has sought Rs 3.5 billion from the federal government in the upcoming budget to complete the major part of the said project in the financial year 2024-25. The project titled ‘Provision of Basic Educational Facilities in …

ISLAMABAD: Senior leaders of the opposition in the National Assembly on Monday voiced solidarity with the tribal elders and vowed to raise their concerns on the floor of the house. They made the commitment during their meeting with a delegation of tribal elders from South Waziristan comprising Wazir and Mehsud tribes who called on them. Among the leaders who met …

RAWALPINDI: A three-member delegation from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad visited the Central Jail Adiala and met two Indian nationals who were shifted to the jail from Muzaffarabad on Monday. The prisoners, identified as Feroz Ahmad and Noor Mushtaq Wani, were taken into custody by the Pakistani authorities while crossing the Line of Control illegally. They were languishing in …

ISLAMABAD: One of the complainants before the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) that led to the unceremonious exit of Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi as the Supreme Court judge requested Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa on Monday to initiate prompt inquiry into the pending complaints against superior court judges. “The people as well as lawyers of this country consider it …

LAHORE: Six years after he lost the party president’s office due to a Supreme Court decision in the Panama Papers case, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is all set to be re-elected as the PML-N president in a general council meeting of the ruling party in Lahore today (Tuesday). The meeting set to take place at a local hotel will likely elect …

KARACHI: As temperatures rose above 52 degrees Celsius in Sindh on Monday, the PDMA issued an alert for rain, dust storms and thunderstorms in Punjab and some upper parts of the country during this week. Dust storm, thunderstorm and isolated rain were predicted in upper parts from May 28 to June 1, which is likely to subside severe heatwave conditions. However, the Met …