ISLAMABAD: The United Nations’ Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has said that PTI founder Imran Khan’s detention and prosecution in the first Toshakhana case — separate from a case involving his wife and undervalued jewellery — and cipher cases were “without legal basis” and were politically motivated to exclude him from competing in the political arena. The first Toshakhana case alleges that Imran had …

RAWALPINDI/ PESHAWAR/ ISLAMABAD: Traders in all major urban centres of the country staged protests against the government’s decision to increase taxes and electricity prices in the upcoming fiscal year. In Islamabad, traders, responding to a call by the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran, staged a major protest at Aabpara Chowk, blocking the main road. Heavy police presence was deployed to disperse the …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has criticised the tax exemption granted to civilian bureucrats and military personnel in the latest budget announced the the government. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Monday, the former premier, flanked by fellow Awam Pakistan party member Miftah Ismail, criticised Pakistan’s latest budget, labeling it as the worst in the country’s …

ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Monday announced a protest in Islamabad for July 12 against “high taxes and exorbitant electricity tariff”. The JI announced its Haq Do Awam Ko (give rights to the masses) movement in a post on social media platform X, adding that Rehman would lead the rally. President Asif Ali Zardari assented to the government’s tax-heavy Finance Bill …

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: The PTI has been accused of seeking the imposition of martial law and economic sanctions in the country by its political opponents. In separate statements issued on Sunday, PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui and senior PPP leader Shehla Raza assailed the party for backing a resolution, recently passed by the US Congress, accusing it of using their resources and influence to …

ISLAMABAD: The PML-N-led coalition government began the new fiscal year (2024-25) with an increase in petrol and high-speed diesel prices by Rs7.45 and Rs9.56 per litre, respectively, for the next fortnight. In a late-night announcement, the Ministry of Finance said prices of petroleum products have seen an increasing trend in the international market during the last fortnight. The Oil and Gas Regulatory …

ISLAMABAD: Taking on both the government and opposition parties, the mercurial Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday said that the incumbent government was incapable of allaying their concerns about the Feb 8 polls, while the PTI appeared confused about the way forward. Addressing a press conference after a meeting of his party’s Majlis-i-Shura, which spanned two days, the JUI-F chief demanded …

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday gave assent to the government’s tax-heavy Finance Bill 2024 for the new fiscal year. The government had presented the budget two weeks ago, drawing sharp criticism from opposition parties, especially the PTI, as well as coalition ally PPP. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb had moved the finance bill in parliament, which had been opened to seek …

ISLAMABAD: The PTI has called for the resignation of Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamir Farooq after his fellow judges questioned his conduct in the Tyrian White case against former prime minister Imran Khan. A day after the decision of a three-judge IHC bench was published, the PTI said CJ Farooq had no moral ground to continue holding his office. Earlier …

ISLAMABAD: Justice Athar Minallah has asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to satisfy the Supreme Court that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) was excluded from the electoral process legitimately, thereby forfeiting its claim to reserved seats. As a member of the full-court bench of the Supreme Court hearing the Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) appeal against the denial of reserved seats for women and minorities, …