Current Final

Category: Politics

  • President allows NAB to secure 30-day physical remand of suspects, night before Imran Khan’s NAB appearance

    President allows NAB to secure 30-day physical remand of suspects, night before Imran Khan’s NAB appearance

    Acting president and Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani on Monday night signed the National Accountability Bureau (NA) Amendment Ordinance 2023, which allows the accountability watchdog to secure a 30-day physical remand of a suspect, as opposed to the existing duration of 14 days

    After the revisions, the NAB chairman has been given authority to issue arrest warrants for individuals implicated in cases where cooperation during the investigation is insufficient.

    Sanjrani has signed the ordinance upon the request of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, “The prime minister’s advice at para 6 of the summary is approved. The National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, is signed and promulgated.”

    It is pertinent to mention here that NAB Rawalpindi has summoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, and his wife, Bushra Bibi today (Tuesday), regarding two lseparate cases.

    Imran Khan will be appearing in the Toshakhana case, while Bushra Bibi has been summoned in relation to a £190 million National Crime Agency (NCA) UK settlement case.

  • The journey of economic progress will pick up pace: PM Shehbaz

    The journey of economic progress will pick up pace: PM Shehbaz

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the nation and the business community on the start of business activities with a remarkable flow of 2231 points in the stock exchange on the first day of the week.

    In a statement, the PM said that the country’s economic recovery has started, crediting it to the continuous hard work and effective policies of the government.

    The PM said that the journey of economic development, reduction in inflation, and progress in Pakistan is going to restart again. Shehbaz Sharif further said that the country is again on the track of development.

    He congratulated the nation, saying a new light of hope had emerged after severe disappointments, after the staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    He further said that the country will continue the journey of economic development and stability with the same hard work and passion.

    The PM also said that the journey of progress will pick up pace in multiple sectors like agriculture, Information Technology (IT), and industry.

  • Terrorist attacks increased by 79% in Pakistan in first six months of 2023: report

    Terrorist attacks increased by 79% in Pakistan in first six months of 2023: report

    According to a recent report from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), terrorist activities in the country have risen by 79 per cent in the first half of 2023.

    The report highlights that during this period, there were approximately 271 militant attacks in the country, leading to the loss of 389 lives and injuring 656 individuals.

    In the first six months of last year, there were 151 attacks resulting in 293 fatalities and 487 injuries.

    The statistics indicate a significant rise of 79% in militant attacks during the initial half of this year as compared to the same period of the previous year.

    During the first half of this year, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa experienced the highest impact, with a total of 174 recorded militant attacks. These attacks led to the loss of 266 lives and left 463 people injured.

    Out of the reported incidents, 100 attacks occurred in mainland KP, resulting in 188 fatalities and 354 injuries. Additionally, 74 attacks took place in the tribal districts (formerly known as FATA), causing 78 deaths and 109 injuries.

  • Bilawal visits Tokyo, says Pakistan needs ‘trade, not aid’

    Bilawal visits Tokyo, says Pakistan needs ‘trade, not aid’

    Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, on his maiden visit to Japan, has declared his intention to boost trade and promote diplomatic ties between the two countries on Sunday. He stated that Pakistan needed trade and not aid.

    Giving an address at an event organised by the Pakistani diaspora living in Tokyo, Bilawal maintained that the two countries have agreed to further deepen and enhance their mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in multiple areas. These include trade, investment, human resource development and exchange, IT, tourism and agriculture sectors.

    “We have also jointly agreed to explore the possibility of working together on targeted programs with higher impact in the domains of solarisation, desalination, and water purification and housing and infrastructure rebuilding in the floods affected areas in Pakistan,” Bilawal said in a joint press stakeout along with his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi, as reported by The News.

    Empowering our workforce

    In addition, the two sides have agreed to conduct language skill assessment tests for the Japanese language in Pakistan to facilitate the movement of skilled workers. The Nation reported that Bilawal underscored the importance of Pakistanis living abroad, stating: “The overseas Paki­stanis are our assets, who are play­ing vital role to promote bilateral ties between Pakistan and Japan. Our population consists of 65 per­cent youth and we want Pakistani youth to get employment in Japan.”

    Potential for growth

    The Foreign Minister met with repre­sentatives of the Japan Interna­tional Development Agency (JICA) and the Japan External Trade Orga­nization (JETRO) to discuss poten­tial for trade and investment. He also stated that Pakistan’s incumbent government was working on economic diplomacy in order to bring prosperity to the country.

    Bilawal also went on to praise Japan’s advancement in IT and other fields, saying Pakistan could learn from them. Both sides have seen a new vigour in their relationship through continued high-level exchanges.

  • Khaqan Abbasi thinks it’s ‘ethically wrong’ for PM to engage Farogh Nasim

    Khaqan Abbasi thinks it’s ‘ethically wrong’ for PM to engage Farogh Nasim

    Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said in a TV show that he is not aware of the appointment of former law minister Barrister Farogh Naseem as a lawyer for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

    He further said on Sawal Yeh Hai that he doesn’t know who makes the appointment, but firmly declared that it is ethically wrong to engage a person as a lawyer if he has been accused by the same government.

    Farogh Naseem, a law minister in the previous government, will represent Shehbaz Sharif in a case pertaining to civilian trials in military courts.
    The Premier has chosen Naseem to be his attorney in the matter. Following the arrest of their party chairman, angry protestors from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vandalised army installations, prompting the government to decide to try civilians under army laws.

    Special Assistant to PM Shehbaz, Malik Ahmad Khan, also said that he has disagreement with the political position of Farogh Naseem.

  • Will bring down inflation if elected: Nawaz Sharif

    Will bring down inflation if elected: Nawaz Sharif

    Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday said that he will bring down inflation in the country if voted to power in the next general elections, Radio Pakistan has reported.

    Sharif made the statement while meeting with PML-N Gulf leaders in Dubai.

    During the meeting, Nawaz Sharif commended the local leadership who expressed their hope for Sharif to win upcoming elections and come to power.

    He further stated that the PML-N leadership has consistently steered the country through challenging times and is determined to address the ongoing economic crisis once again.

  • EU, UNAOC and OIC condemn act of burning Quran

    The European Union (EU), The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the UN Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC) has condemned the heinous act of burning the Holy Quran in Sweden on on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.

    In a statement, the EU has condemned the act, terming it offensive.

    “It is even more deplorable that such act was carried out on the important Muslim celebration of Eid al Azha,” the statement said.

    The OIC in a statement said that such an act contradicted “international efforts to spread the values of tolerance, moderation, and renunciation of extremism.”

    Miguel Moratinos, UNAOC, official said that “such a ‘vile act’ is disrespectful to Muslims.”

    Salwan Momika, an Iraqi living in Sweden, set fire to a copy of the Quran in front of Stockholm’s central mosque

  • Attack on police station in Quetta leaves one police officer injured

    Attack on police station in Quetta leaves one police officer injured

    A police officer was wounded on Saturday when an unidentified assailant hurled a hand grenade at the Smart Police Station, Civil Lines, in Quetta.

    The injured officer has been identified as Abdul Saboor.

    According to the police, an unidentified motorcyclist carrying a hand grenade attacked the police station located in the White Road area of Quetta.

    The hand grenade resulted in a powerful explosion. As per local authorities the attacker managed to flee the scene.

  • Heart surgeries on health cards at private hospitals halted in Punjab

    Heart surgeries on health cards at private hospitals halted in Punjab

    Heart surgeries, including the insertion of stents, on health cards at private hospitals in Punjab have been put on hold indefinitely until it is established who is deserving and in need.

    A notice stating that private institutions in the province will not provide care to heart patients with health cards has been issued.

    The Punjab government has suggested charging 30% of the cost of therapy for all cardiac patients.

    Cardiovascular services listed on the health card won’t be made available until Punjab’s deserving residents are identified.

    The warning clarified that any private hospital providing care for cardiac conditions after July 1 would not be compensated.

  • Security forces kill six terrorists in two separate operations

    Security forces kill six terrorists in two separate operations

    Security forces have killed six terrorists in two separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank and North Waziristan districts, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has said on Friday.

    According to ISPR, an exchange of fire broke out between Pakistani troops and the terrorists late on Thursday night, June 29, in the Manzai region of Tank.

    “Own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location. Resultantly, three were sent to hell,” stated ISPR in a statement.

    In another encounter between troops and terrorists in the general area of Razmak, North Waziristan District, three more terrorists were killed.

    As per the ISPR, the militants were actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces and killing innocent citizens.