ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar has announced the opposition’s plan to challenge the newly approved Election Act Amendment Bill—which prevents independent candidates from joining political parties after a specified post-election period—in the top court. In a statement delivered on the floor of the National Assembly (NA), Gohar criticised the bill, asserting that it undermines democratic principles. The National …

ISLAMABAD: The Senate has passed the Election Act Amendment Bill 2024 by a majority vote, following its approval in the National Assembly. The government benches in the Senate had 30 members present during the vote. The opposition, with 15 members in attendance, did not propose any amendments to the bill, said Senator Farooq H. Naek. “Once the bill is passed, …

PARIS : Arshad Nadeem cruised to the Olympic javelin final with a solid 86.59m throw in Tuesday’s qualifier round at Stade de France, keeping the nation’s hopes for an Olympic medal well and alive. His season best throw, the first and only of the qualifier, ranks him fourth heading into Thursday’s night finals. Reigning Olympic and world champion India’s Neeraj Chopra led …

ISLAMABAD: Both houses of Parliament on Tuesday passed a bill seeking to bar independent lawmakers from joining a party after a stipulated period with the opposition PTI voicing a strong protest against it. The bill, titled “Elections (Second Amendment) Act, 2024” has introduced amendments to the Elections Act 2017 and is being seen by political observers as a move to frustrate the …

SWABI: As its founder Imran Khan completed one year in jail, the PTI and its allies on Monday organised a large power show in Swabi to demand the former prime minister’s release. The jalsa was held at Shahmansoor Town and PTI leaders and workers from across the country participated in the event, despite the hot weather. The PTI workers were waving …

LAHORE: A Lahore High Court division bench on Monday issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other respondents on a petition by PTI founding chairman Imran Khan, seeking details of cases and inquiries against him. The bench also expressed concerns at the arrest of the former prime minister in new cases after bail in …

TEHRAN: A senior ally of President Vladimir Putin arrived in Tehran on Monday for talks with Iranian leaders including the president and top security officials as the Islamic Republic weighs its response to the killing of a Hamas leader. Russia has condemned the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, leader of Hamas, in Iran last week and called on all parties to refrain from …

KARACHI: Pakistan is committed to good relations with all friendly countries and every country has its own importance and position in the country’s foreign policy, Infor­mation Minister Atta Tarar said on Monday. In a statement, the minister said Pakistan was committed to have a good and close relations, based on mutual trust and cooperation, with all friendly countries. “Relations with …

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa has explained that the Arshad Sharif case was not fixed before a five-judge larger bench as it didn’t require any constitutional interpretation. The CJP outlined the reason on Aug 1 while heading the meeting of the committee formed under the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023 to fix cases. The meeting was held after …

ISLAMABAD: The Senate, chaired by Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, convened on Monday to address the martyrdom of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Senator Palwasha Khan presented a resolution, which was unanimously approved. The Senate expressed deep sorrow over Haniyeh’s death in an Israeli Zionist attack and condemned the ongoing killings of Palestinians and violations of human rights by Israeli …