ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has consented to an application seeking an end to criminal proceedings against President Asif Ali Zardari. In a written reply submitted to the accountability court in the Toshakhana vehicle reference, the prosecution of NAB stated that President Zardari enjoys constitutional immunity. NAB earlier last week cleared former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the reference. According to the …

WASHINGTON: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will meet on April 29 to finalise its last review of Pakistan’s $3 billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA). “According to the IMF’s event calendar, the review meeting is set for 10:00am on April 29,” a diplomatic source informed Dawn. Earlier this week, the Fund published a schedule of the Executive Board’s meetings …

LAHORE: PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif on Monday left for China on a ‘low-profile’ five-day visit, with the ruling party refusing to divulge details about the nature of his trip. PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurang­zeb and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar did not confirm the elder Sharif’s “unannounced visit” to Beijing. “I have no idea (about Nawaz Sharif’s China visit),” Mr Tarar …

ISLAMABAD: Just a day after by-elections were held across the country, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders alleged that intelligence and security agencies had played a role in rigging the polls. Saying that April 21 will be remembered as a “black day” in the history of Pakistan, the party urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to withhold the notifications of results and announced …

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has stated that Pakistan is on track to secure a new loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), adding that the money lender had been “very receptive in terms of agreeing to consider a larger, longer programme”. He made the remarks in an interview with The National published on Monday. The finance minister and his team were …

ISLAMABAD: The ruling PML-N on Monday emerged victorious in by-elections held on 21 national and provincial seats, according to provisional results released by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). On Sunday, by-polls were held across the country amid allegations of “record rigging”, temporary suspension of cellular services in specific districts of Punjab and Balochistan and multiple incidents of violence, leading to the death of a …

ISLAMABAD: In a groundbreaking move for luxury living in Islamabad, One Homes is excited to announce its latest collaboration with Bernardo Hair & Co. (BCO London) for its prestigious development, nestled in the serene Cedar Hills. This development is setting new benchmarks in luxury living, combining opulent amenities with breathtaking natural landscapes. BCO London, located in the chic Marylebone area …

ISLAMABAD: Three months after the two countries were on the verge of a major conflict, Pakistan and Iran on Monday decided to strengthen economic and security cooperation by setting a $10 billion bilateral trade target and jointly fighting the menace of terrorism. The understanding between the two neighbours was reached after formal talks between Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Prime …

BEIJING: China strongly deplores and firmly rejects the manipulation of China-related issues at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. The comments from the meeting are a deliberate mischaracterization of the facts and truth, and a blatant interference in China’s internal affairs, said a spokesperson from Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday, in response to the statement related to China released by the …

BEIJING: The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has set up an information support force, and Chinese President Xi Jinping presented it with a flag at the establishment ceremony held on Friday in Beijing. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), stressed solid efforts to build a …