Leaders of the Afghanistan interim government held a meeting with Pakistani officials in Doha on Monday in what was seen as an effort to ease tension following the announcement of a fresh operation against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which security officials insist operate from Afghan soil. Relations between the two neighbouring countries have lately become strained, largely because of the TTP but …

GILGIT: As climbing season kicks off, hundreds of local and foreign climbers are making their way to Gilgit-Baltistan to climb eight-thousander peaks, including K2. According to Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism Department, over 1,700 permits have been issued to foreign tourists to climb peaks in the region, while 175 permits have been issued to scale K2 (8,611 metres). Many climbers have established their …

RAWALPINDI: A housemaid was allegedly sexually abused by her employer and his friend in the limits of Ratta Amral, police said on Monday. The victim, a resident of Babu Lal Hussain Road, lodged a complaint, stating that her employer, Arsalan, initially developed physical relations with her on the pretext of getting married to her. When she insisted on marriage, he …

ISLAMABAD: Thirty electric buses which had arrived in Islamabad last month are likely to start operations this week, as the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to ply these vehicles on two city routes following an inauguration ceremony likely on Friday. The ceremony is expected to be held on July 5 and either the prime minister or the interior minister will attend …

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has finally allowed cellular companies to share with police data related to suspects for investigation in the post-crime scenario, as scores of inquiries remained halted due to a previous order, restraining telecom operators from facilitating law enforcement agencies with surveillance. The order was issued on the petitions of Mian Najamus Saqib, son of former …

KARACHI: As citizens heaved a sigh of relief with restoration of the sea breeze on Monday, the low atmospheric pressure area that brought a severe heatwave in the city made its presence felt again on the night between Sunday and Monday as it was recorded as the warmest night of the month of July in over six decades. According to the Met …

ISLAMABAD: The month of June saw 20 per cent decline in militant attacks, resulting in fewer deaths and injuries. According to data released by an Islamabad-based think-tank, Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), militants carried out 69 attacks across the country last month. These attacks resulted in 60 deaths, including 33 security forces personnel, 26 civilians, and one …

RAWALPINDI: Dubai-based low-cost airline flydubai has commenced operations for Islamabad and Lahore and inaugural flights received water cannon salutes as they touched down at ariports in the two cities on Monday. Fire tenders from the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) Rescue and Fire Fighting Service prese­n­ted water cannon sal­utes, which is a traditional aviation gesture to honour inaugural flights at the …

ISLAMABAD: Amid intense questioning, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa came to the rescue of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday by reminding that the commission was not a subordinate institution to the Supreme Court or the government but an independent authority conferred with a constitutional role to conduct elections. The Supreme Court can only exercise …

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) — allies of PM Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government and political opponents in Sindh — accused each other of “igniting the politics of hatred” on Monday, with the former blaming the PPP for hiring officials on ethnic grounds and the latter advising the MQM-P to refrain from fanning ‘urban-rural divide’ …