ISLAMABAD: Islamabad has warned that the acquisition of abandoned weapons by terrorist groups based in Afghanistan not only threatens peace and security in Pakistan but also in the region. Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks while addressing the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate on small arms late on Monday, according to …

ISLAMABAD: The Natio­nal Secur­ity Committee (NSC) did not overrule the then army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa’s response plan during the 2019 Balakot crisis, according to at least two participants of that meeting who spoke on Monday. “The then army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s response strategy was agreed upon and executed by the Pakistan Air Force,” said a federal minister …

ISLAMABAD: The fate of Pakistan’s top court hangs in the balance as the government pushes through the 27th Constitutional Amendment – a move that could redefine, or even rename, the Supreme Court itself. Tense deliberations are reportedly underway within the judiciary over whether to respond collectively to the existential threat to judicial independence. Under the proposed amendment, the Supreme Court …

ISLAMABAD: At least 20 terrorists were killed by security forces in two separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 8 and 9, said a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Monday. During an intelligence-based operation in the general area of Shawal in North Waziristan, eight terrorists were killed by the security forces. “During the conduct of operation, own …

ISLAMABAD: As the government made moves toward the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, former judges and top lawyers on Monday urged Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi to summon a full court meeting to discuss the proposed legislation. The request came in a letter, dated November 9 and a copy of which is available with Dawn, that was …

Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra, a human rights activist, poet and education expert, died on Monday. The author’s niece, Ameena Kamal, confirmed that Zehra had passed in Lahore at age 83. “Dr Arfa will be buried in her family graveyard, Cavalry Ground, Lahore, tomorrow, and the time of her funeral will be announced at a later time,” Kamal said. President Asif …

ISLAMABAD: The contentious bill for the 27th Constitutional Amendment sailed through the Senate on Monday after 64 lawmakers voted in its favour, with members of the opposition staging a noisy walkout. The government and its coalition partners secured a two-thirds majority in the vote following the defection of two opposition members. The bill, which had stirred controversy in the country …

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi said here on Sunday that 27th Amendment, to be passed by those having only 17 seats in National Assembly, flattened democracy and the Constitution. He was talking to journalists at Karkhano station of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). He said that not a single army general was sentenced in the country. He added that if …

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) on Sunday stated that the Afghan Taliban only participated in talks with Pakistan this past week to prolong a temporary ceasefire between the two nations and did not take any action against terrorist elements operating from their soil. Talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban followed weeks of shuttle diplomacy after deadly border clashes last …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia formally signed an agreement for Haj 2026, state-run Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday. According to the report, “Saudi Deputy Minister for Haj and Umrah Dr Abdulfattah Bin Sulaiman Mashat and Secretary Ministry of Religious Affairs of Pakistan Dr Syed Ata-ur-Rehman signed the agreement in Jeddah on Saturday.” Haj, one of the fundamental pillars of Islam, …