ISLAMABAD: Leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) launched a scathing attack on the ruling alliance on Saturday, raising serious questions about the recently concluded presidential election. The PTI leaders expressed their dissatisfaction following the defeat of their candidate, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, at the hands of the ruling coalition’s nominee, Asif Ali Zardari. Addressing the media outside the Parliament House, PTI Chairman Barrister …

ISLAMABAD: In a surprising turn of events, the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), a party predominantly composed of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers, submitted the name of Omar Ayub Khan for the position of Opposition Leader in the National Assembly. The nomination was formally presented to the office of the National Assembly Speaker, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, on Saturday. Malik Amir Dogar presented …

QUETTA: Sadiq Sanjrani took oath as a member of the Balochistan Assembly on Friday, after failing to muster support of the ruling coalition to continue as the Senate chairman for the remaining period of his term, which was set to expire later this month. Sanjrani was elected to the provincial assembly from PB-32, Chagai, in the February 8 general elections. …

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court in Lahore granted bail on Saturday to anchorperson Imran Riaz in the Zaman Park attack case.  Imran was arrested on charges of vandalism and assaulting police officials during a clash at PTI founder Imran Khan’s Lahore residence. A week earlier, the police had produced Imran before the court and sought his physical remand. The court sent Imran …

RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff General Asim Munir has stated that the armed forces are fully prepared to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan against the “full spectrum of threats”. The army chief was visiting troops engaged in an exercise in the area of Rahim Yar Khan. He was also briefed on the “Shamsheer-e-Sehra” exercise, said a …

ISLAMABAD: The ruling PML-N and its coalition partner PPP have reached a consensus to abolish the caretaker setup system and reform the electoral process. Both parties have agreed that the head of the outgoing government will remain in office until the new general elections, eliminating the need for a caretaker government. Additionally, after completing its term, the prime minister’s cabinet …

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) rejected on Saturday a call by Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) presidential candidate Mahmood Khan Achakzai to postpone the elections for president being held today. The commission, in a written reply after rejecting the PkMAP chief’s plea, stated that Achakzai did not object during the phase of submitting and scrutiny of nomination papers and the electoral …

UNITED NATIONS: The US would welcome “productive and peaceful relationship” between India and Pakistan, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Wednesday, but made it clear that the pace, scope, and character of any dialogue was a matter for the two countries to determine. Miller made the statement while responding to a question from a Pakistani journalist on Prime Minister …

QUETTA: Chief of the Army Staff General Asim Munir visited on Friday Balochistan’s Awaran district and said that the “success of Balochistan is the success of Pakistan”, said a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).  “People of Pakistan are proud of the brave people of Balochistan who have stood tall against all odds. Armed forces of Pakistan and …

RAWALPINDI: Two terrorists were killed in separate operations last night in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media affairs wing said on Thursday. A press release from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that an IBO (intelligence-based operation) was conducted in Khyber district, during which terrorist ring leader Shmrooz Sheenay was “sent to hell” by the security forces. “In another operation conducted …