ISLAMABAD: A joint session of the Parliament to elect the next president of Pakistan has been summoned on March 9 by newly-elected National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. In a notification issued on Sunday, the speaker summoned the session at 10am, Saturday. Zardari to face-off against Achakzai The political stage is all set for a head-to-head showdown between former president Asif …
ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Saturday issued a sharp rebuke in response to India’s interception and seizure of a commercial consignment en route to Pakistan, labelling the action as an “unjustified seizure” and criticising India’s self-assumed role as a regional enforcer. “Pakistan condemns India’s high-handedness in seizure of commercial goods. This disruption of free trade underscores the dangers inherent in …
ISLAMABAD: Barrister Gohar Khan was declared the PTI chairman again following fresh intra-party polls, according to results shared by the party’s spokesperson and Chief Election Commissioner Raoof Hasan on Sunday. Gohar won the chairman’s election unopposed, Hasan revealed during a press conference. This is the third time PTI has conducted intraparty elections in the past two years, following its Dec …
BEIJING: China on Friday again urged the parties involved, Israel in particular, to bring about an immediate cease-fire and ensure the safety of civilians, after attacks on Thursday against Palestinian aid-seekers killed at least 112 and injured more than 700 in Gaza. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at Friday’s routine press briefing, calling on efforts to …
BEIJING: China deplores the U.S. statement related to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and urges it to stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday. Mao’s remarks came after the U.S. Department of State said on February 28 in a statement that it is closely monitoring the implications of Hong Kong’s national …
LAHORE: The special prosecutor has designated PTI founder Imran Khan as the primary accused in seven cases related to the May 9 riots and other incidents. An anti-terrorism court (ATC) proceeded with the hearing on Friday regarding Imran’s applications for interim bail.Special Prosecutor Rana Shakeel, presenting arguments during the hearing, identified Imran Khan as the main accused in the PM …
ISLAMABAD: The presidential candidate for the incoming coalition government, PPPP President Asif Ali Zardari, will face off against Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) candidate PkMAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai. The nomination papers for both candidates were filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday. Farooq H. Naik and Saleem Mandviwala filed Zardari’s papers while PTI leaders Sardar Latif Khosa and Omar Ayub Khan filed the papers for …
ISLAMABAD: PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif visited the residence of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman here on Friday, possibly to seek the latter’s support in the formation of the upcoming coalition government at the Centre, as the JUI-F had abstained during the voting for speaker and deputy speaker of the National Assembly. Nawaz Sharif was accompanied by PML-N stalwarts Ishaq …
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has dismissed the United States’ suggestion to probe electoral discrepancies, emphasising that it will not succumb to external dictates. In her weekly press briefing on Friday, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch categorically stated that no country can give directions to Pakistan, which is an independent and sovereign country. “We believe in our own sovereign right to make …
QUETTA: Months after stepping down as the caretaker interior minister, Sarfraz Bugti has been elected unopposed as the new Balochistan chief minister. The leader, who recently joined the PPP and enjoyed the support of PML-N, submitted his nomination papers with Assembly Secretary Tahir Shah on Friday. He was proposed by PPP leader and former chief minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri and …