ISLAMABAD: The government’s much-touted constitutional amendment remains in limbo as consensus eluded the Friday meeting of the parliamentary committee set up to debate the package. The much-talked-about Consti­tutional Package is legislation proposing a set of constitutional amendments, including the extension of the top judge’s term. Three separate drafts of the constitutional package are being prepared – one by the government, …

PESHAWAR: The federal government has agreed, in principle, to lift a recently-imposed ban on the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), with some caveats, multiple sources privy to the development told Dawn. The agreement came during a multiparty grand jirga, hosted by the provincial government on Thursday. Sources said that since a certain procedure has to be followed for lifting the ban, …

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday held that the May 17, 2022 majority judgement on Article 63A, which deals with defection, had all but transformed the head of the political party into a dictator, as they could never be challenged. Authored by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, a detailed 23-page judgement explained why the five-judge Supreme Court …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari have held discussions during which the two leaders reached an agreement on constitutional amendments. Bilawal called on Nawaz Sharif at the Punjab House, where the former Prime Minister welcomed the PPP leader. The two leaders also exchanged views on the country’s political …

ISLAMABAD: In a significant move, the government initiated on Thursday the termination of Independent Power Producers (IPP) agreements, which is expected to save consumers Rs60 billion annually and lead to a reduction in electricity tariffs. The decision, made during a federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, is expected to not only reduce consumers’ burden by lowering electricity …

ISLAMABAD: China said on Thursday it would work with Pakistan to protect the safety and security of Chinese personnel and projects and institutions in Pakistan, following the killing of two Chinese engineers claimed by the banned outfit Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). Mao Ning, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, said she was not aware of reports that Pakistani authorities were seeking …

PESHAWAR: A grand jirga on Thursday designated Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to resolve peace-related issues in the province ahead of a three-day gathering being organised by the recently proscribed Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM). On Sunday, the federal government imposed a ban on the PTM, citing threats to national peace and security. On Tuesday, the KP government prohibited …

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has called for “climate diplomacy” with India to mitigate smog impact in the province. “Both Indian and Pakistani Punjab should undertake joint efforts to combat smog. Stubble burning in Indian Punjab impacts here because of air direction. This issue needs to be taken up with India forthwith,” she said at a climate change event …

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday directed the FIA to appoint a prosecutor immediately to argue on the bail petitions of former prime minister Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi in the Toshakhana case related to a Bulgari jewellery set. Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb heard the couple’s bail petitions. The FIA alleged the set, including a necklace, …

KARACHI: Inflows of workers’ remittances from overseas Pakistanis remained robust, reaching $2.85 billion in September 2024. This brought the cumulative remittances to a record $8.8 billion in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2024-25, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). These strong inflows are expected to help stabilise the rupee, maintain foreign exchange reserves, …