ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday sought replies from the superintendent of Adiala Jail, Punjab home secretary and secretary of defence on a petition filed by former prime minister Imran Khan against meddling of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the jail administration. IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the petition and, after a preliminary hearing, issued notices to the three government …

QUETTA: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday emphasised the need to counter terrorism by defeating its narrative and underscored the importance of restoring peace and political stability in Balochistan through grassroots political processes. Mr Bhutto-Zardari made these remarks during a meeting at the Chief Minister Secretariat after he arrived in Quetta on a two-day visit. The meeting was attended by …

GUJRAT: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday announced mega projects for Gujranwala, including the Gujranwala Metrobus Project, worth Rs18 billion, the first state-of-art cardiac hospital and a burns unit in the city. During her visit to Gujranwala on Thursday, she also ordered the construction and repair of small and big roads of the city. Former CM and current Prime Minister …

ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has called a public hearing on July 8 on the question of passing on more than Rs700 billion additional burden to electricity consumers during the current fiscal year by jacking up the average national tariff by around Rs5.72 per unit. The increase would significantly impact the sale rate for poor protected consumers …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday clarified it would not become part of any “bloc” politics as regional security club leaders met in Astana to challenge the global order led by the United States. As the Russian and Chinese leaders called for a “more fairer and transparent” world order at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, foreign office dismissed the perception that …

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday suspended the decision of the Lahore High Court (LHC) and the notification by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) concerning the establishment of election tribunals in Punjab. Additionally, the court dismissed PTI leader Niazullah Niazi’s objection to the inclusion of Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa in the larger bench in the election tribunal …

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to convene an All Parties Conference (APC) to address the concerns of political parties regarding Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, sources said on Thursday. According to sources privy to the development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is considering calling the APC upon his return from Kazakhstan, where he travelled to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. PM Shehbaz …

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday stressed the need for police action against blasphemy suspects, but cautioned against the use of such allegations for “settling scores”. Mob lynchings are relatively frequent in Pakistan, and even an unproven allegation of blasphemy can spark violence. Last month, the lower house of the Pakistani parliament passed a resolution condemning the recent incidents of …

ASTANA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday raised the issue of terrorism as a major concern for member states at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and called for “meaningful” engagement with the Afghan Taliban government. PM Shahbaz arrived in Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana on Wednesday for a two-day official visit, representing Pakistan at the SCO meetings where leaders and …

LAHORE: A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court challenging the exemption from income tax on property sales granted to retired and serving army personnel and bureau­crats in the budget for fiscal year 2024-25. The petition filed by citizen Mashkoor Hussain through Advocate Nade­­em Sarwar pleaded that the tax exemption given to the bureaucrats and military personnel was in violation …