BEIJING: China’s acceptance of the appointment of the new Afghan ambassador to China by the interim government is a normal diplomatic arrangement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed on Wednesday, noting that the international community should strengthen communication with the country to jointly help promote its reconstruction and development. The remarks were made by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin during a …

ISLAMABAD: The PML-N, a major political rival of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, and its ally in the upcoming elections, Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP), have hailed the special court’s judgement against ex-premier Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the cipher case, with PTI fou­n­der’s erstwhile confidante Jahangir Khan Tareen saying that both are reaping what they sowed. On the other hand, the …

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has invited the general public to submit designs for new currency notes as it initiates the process of replacing the existing banknotes. The announcement came a day after the SBP governor told a meeting of analysts about the decision to introduce new currency notes with advanced security features and to address the issue …

RAWALPINDI: In yet another blow to Imran Khan and his party, the former premier and his wife Bushra Bibi on Wednesday were sentenced to 14 years in jail in the Toshakhana reference. Last month, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed a fresh reference against the two in an accountability court for retaining a jewellery set received from Saudi crown prince against …

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) said on Wednesday that the bodies of nine Pakistani nationals, who were shot dead in Iran last week, would be airlifted today from the Taftan border to Multan. Nine Pakistani workers were gunned down by unidentified attackers in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province near the border with Pakistan on January 27, as the neighbouring countries sought to ease tensions …

QUETTA: At least four people were killed while five were wounded in a bomb blast at a PTI rally in Balochistan’s Sibi on Tuesday, police and health officials said. The medical superintendent of the District Headquarters Hospital in Sibi, Dr Babar, confirmed the injuries and casualties. The incident comes just nine days before the February 8 general elections. According to …

BEIJING: A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Monday that China will work with France to foster a more solid and vibrant comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and to jointly contribute wisdom and strength to world peace, security, prosperity and progress. Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks during a daily press briefing in response to a related query. Noting …

ISLAMABAD: Senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court Justice Sardar Tariq Masood on Monday referred a set of intra-court appeals (ICA) in the military court case back to the three-judge committee for the reconstitution of a larger bench after one of the petitioners argued that the present bench was not constituted by a three-judge committee under the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023. …

ISLAMABAD: As former prime minister Imran Khan decried what he called ‘unilateral’ proceedings at Adiala Jail, the state-appointed counsel on Monday concluded the cross-examination of all 25 prosecution witnesses in the cipher case while the judge closed the defence lawyers’ right to examine witnesses in the Toshakhana reference. Special Court (Official Secrets Act) judge Abual Hasnat Moham­mad Zulqarnain had on Saturday appointed …

QUETTA: Interim Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai on Tuesday said that six militants were killed after security for­ces thwarted three terror attacks in the province’s Mach town last night. Security for­ces had thwarted three “coordinated attacks” launched by terrorists using rockets and sophisticated weapons in Mach town on Monday night, some 70km from the provincial capital, officials said. While Achakzai had initially …