ISLAMABAD: Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi on Thursday said Islamabad had “credible evidence” of links between Indian agents and the assassination of two Pakistani nationals in Sialkot and Rawalakot. At a press briefing in Islamabad, he said India was running a “sophisticated and sinister” campaign of “extra-territorial and extra-judicial killings” inside Pakistan. Qazi stated that these were “killing-for-hire cases” …

BEIJING: China and Nauru on Wednesday opened a new chapter in relations as the two countries reestablished diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level, according to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during talks with Nauru’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel …

BEIJING: China and Uzbekistan upgraded their relations to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era during talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Wednesday. “Both sides should take the opportunity of developing the all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era to build a solid foundation for the China-Uzbekistan community with a …

ISLAMABAD: A division bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday restored the powers of the Islamabad chief commissioner and deputy commissioner (DC) that were taken away after a single-member bench stripped the DC of his powers to detain individuals under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO). An IHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, …

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Wednesday acquitted PML-N leaders Marriyum Aurangzeb and Javed Latif in a case relating to anti-state speeches registered against them during the PTI government in Punjab. ATC Judge Naveed Iqbal allowed the acquittal applications of both the PML-N leaders. The judge also acquitted PTV’s former managing director Sohail Ali Khan and former director news Rashid Beg in the case. …

ISLAMABAD: PTI President Parvez Elahi took his legal battle to the Supreme Court on Wednesday after the rejection of his election nomination papers by the Lahore High Court earlier this month. Represented by Barrister Haris Azmat, Mr Elahi seeks to overturn the LHC’s Jan 13 ruling that upheld the returning officers’ (ROs) decision to reject his candidacy for the National …

RAWALPINDI: Former prime minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that the Punjab government had imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to hamper the upcoming show of power by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s candidates. He was speaking to media persons after attending proceedings of GBP190 million, Toshakhana, and cipher cases. Accountability judge Mohammad Bashir deferred the indictment of Mr …

ISLAMABAD: The Election commission of Pakistan (ECP) has refused to allocate Grand Democratic Alliance’s election symbol to former Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza to contest National Assembly election from Badin. Dr Fehmida Mirza had filed nomination papers from NA-223 Badin-II which were initially rejected by the returning officer concerned and the appellate tribunal. However, the Sindh High Court had …

KARACHI: Out of total 19,004 polling stations, over 1,3000 have been declared sensitive and highly sensitive, it emerged on Wednesday. Addressing a joint press conference along with Information Minister Ahmed Shah, caretaker Home Minister retired Brigadier Haris Nawaz said that there were 5,954 normal, 6,593 sensitive and 6,457 highly sensitive polling stations. He said a total of 122,000 policemen were …

ISLAMABAD: About 10,000 officials of police and other security agencies will perform security duty in Islamabad during the upcoming election, police said on Wednesday. In this regard, a ban has been imposed on policemen’s holidays, they said, adding that besides it was also under consideration to reinstate the suspended official, including over 70 officials who have been suspended during the …