ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has requested that US President Joe Biden pardon and release jailed Pakistani Dr Aafia Siddiqui, who was awarded an 86-year sentence for allegedly attacking US personnel in Afghanistan, it emerged on Friday. In a letter dated October 13, which has been seen by Dawn.com, the PM expressed his concerns about Dr Siddiqui’s “fragile mental and …
LAHORE: Punjab’s state counsel told the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday that students alleging the rape of a college student in Lahore “had no evidence” to support the claim. Last week, reports related to the alleged rape of a private college student went viral on social media, prompting the police to arrest a security guard at the college who …
ISLAMABAD: Members of opposition parties in both houses of parliament on Thursday decried the alleged harassment of their lawmakers, with the PTI claiming that its members were being offered up to Rs3 billion for their support to a government-proposed controversial amendment bill, aimed at bringing drastic changes to the country’s judicial system. Speaking during sittings of the National Assembly and …
ISLAMABAD / QUETTA: The Balochistan National Party leadership on Thursday condemned a late-night “raid” on the residence of party chairman Sardar Akhtar Mengal at the Parliament Lodges in Islamabad and accused authorities of kidnapping the sons of party senators to coerce the BNP into supporting a proposed constitutional amendment allegedly aimed at curbing the judiciary’s powers. However, the police clarified …
ISLAMABAD: The apex court on Thursday finally ordered the closure of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand Dams Fund, which was opened in 2018 amid much fanfare for generating funds to develop mega dams in the country. As of Oct 4, there were Rs23.6 billion in the account, most of which was …
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has met with President Asif Ali Zardari at the President house to discuss proposed constitutional amendments and the prevailing political situation. The meeting on Thursday comes as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) step back from their earlier proposal to establish constitutional courts, Express News reported. Moreover, during a special parliamentary …
DELHI/ISLAMABAD: India’s foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday dismissed media reports of talks between Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Indian Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on resuming cricket ties during the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Jaishankar arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday for the SCO summit — the first such visit by an Indian foreign minister in …
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday disposed of a petition seeking a declaration that the government’s much-touted ‘Constitutional Package’ cannot be introduced or enacted by parliament after the plea was withdrawn. The Constitutional Package comprises legislation proposing a set of constitutional amendments, including the extension of the top judge’s term. Experts fear that the proposed amendments would virtually erode the …
LAHORE/RAWALPINDI: At least 250 violent protesters were arrested in Rawalpindi as police used tear gas to disperse students demonstrating against the alleged rape of a Lahore student. Last week, reports related to the alleged rape of a private college student went viral on social media, prompting the police to arrest a security guard at the college who was allegedly involved …
LAHORE: The PTI’s political committee announced on Wednesday that it would oppose the constitutional amendments and called for nationwide protests on Friday (tomorrow) against the package and party founder Imran Khan’s incarceration. “All regional and local organisations are instructed to hold vigorous but peaceful protests at all district headquarters after Friday prayers. Total agreement not to accept any attempt by …