ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday asserted that the recent sanctions placed by the United States on four Pakistani firms for their alleged involvement in the country’s ballistic missile programme had “no justification”. The statement came after the US imposed sanctions on the Islamabad-based National Development Complex and three Karachi-based entities last week, saying that the White House will …
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Tuesday announced that it had made significant strides in enhancing international connectivity through new submarine cable systems. On August 21, the PTA attributed the nationwide slow internet to a “faulty submarine cable” and clarified that no firewalls were being installed, after drawing criticism from both lawmakers and the public. A few days later, …
WASHINGTON: After the European Union and the United Kingdom, the United States has also raised concerns over the recent sentencing of 25 civilians by military courts for their involvement in the nationwide May 9 riots last year. The series of concerns come after a military court last week sentenced 25 PTI activists to imprisonment ranging from two to 10 years …
PESHAWAR / KURRAM: As Kurram remains cut off from the rest of the country due to violent clashes that have claimed more than 100 lives since October, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has formulated a comprehensive peace plan involving a special force, security checkpoints, deweaponisation, and a crackdown on inflammatory social media. As the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Ali …
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari held a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday, where both leaders agreed to move forward with legal reforms and make decisions through consultations with all political stakeholders. The meeting took place amid an environment of acrimony between the PPP and PML-N, the two major parties in the ruling coalition. Last week, key leaders …
LAHORE: The PTI’s parliamentary party in the Punjab Assembly says it is nothing but “hypocrisy” that the PML-N government, on the one hand, is holding talks with the opposition party’s leadership, while on the other “fascism” is being unleashed on its MPAs, leaders and workers, including women. “The parliamentary party leadership demands the Punjab government should immediately stop its fascism …
ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad accountability court on Monday postponed until January 6 its verdict — expected today — in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption reference against ex-premier Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi. Imran and Bushra were indicted in the case on February 27, shortly after the general elections. The case alleges that Imran and Bushra Bibi obtained billions …
KARACHI: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday slammed internet slowdowns and restrictions in the country, calling them “another effort to control and censor citizens” amid his party’s tensions with the government. In recent months, users have experienced sluggish speeds, difficulty downloading media on WhatsApp, and intermittent connectivity issues. Digital analysts say the government has been testing a “firewall” that …
ISLAMABAD: The first meeting between committees representing the government and the opposition PTI took place on Monday, kicking off long-anticipated talks between the rival parties to defuse prevailing political tensions. Earlier this month, former premier and PTI founder Imran Khan announced his party’s committee for talks with “anyone”. Subsequently, following the recommendation of National Assembly (NA) Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Prime …
PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former provincial minister Shaukat Yousafzai clarified that the civil disobedience movement initiated by the party remains active, pending a decision from former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Speaking to the media on Sunday, Yousafzai stated, “The civil disobedience call has not been withdrawn. A final decision will depend on the seriousness of the government’s committee.” …