WASHINGTON: Pakis­tan has made substantial progress in countering terrorist financing and addre­ssing regional extremist networks, a US State Dep­ar­tment report states while also highlighting significant security challenges including a sharp rise in terrorist attacks in 2023. The report released this week commends Pakistan for completing its updated National Risk Assessment (NRA) on money laundering and terrorist financing in 2023. This …

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Sunday invited Chinese technology, other firms to launch operations in Punjab, with representatives of several companies expressing keen interest in investment opportunities in Punjab. Presiding over an investment conference in Guangzhou on the sixth day of her visit to China, Ms Nawaz announced plans to facilitate Chinese companies through a one-window operation, …

ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Sunday said that 18th Amendment was instrumental in empowering the provinces to take ownership of their health-related affairs, allowing for local solutions to be tailored in accordance with the specific needs of their populations. Addressing a health awareness and recognition seminar, he observed that devolution of powers had helped create a more …

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has vowed that the sacrifices of PTI workers who were martyred during the 26 November protests at D-Chowk will not be forgotten, pledging to seek justice for their deaths. Speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the Havelian Water Supply Scheme, Gandapur stated, “We will definitely take account of the blood …

LAHORE: A court has declared eight senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including Murad Saeed and Hammad Azhar, as absconders in a case related to the burning of containers during the 9 May protests. The anti-terrorism court in Lahore, presided over by Judge Arshad Javed, declared the PTI leaders absconders in the case concerning the incidents at Kalma Chowk on …

ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) has released 38 individuals arrested in connection with last month’s D-Chowk protest, while 50 others were sent on a judicial remand, it emerged on Saturday. On November 13, PTI founder Imran Khan issued a “final call” for nationwide protests on Nov 24, demanding the restoration of the PTI’s electoral mandate, the release of detained …

ISLAMABAD; Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and the communications head of the Turkish presidency on Saturday agreed on joint broadcasts between PTV and Turkiye’s state-run television TRT, including airing popular Turkish dramas in Pakistan, Radio Pakistan reported. The development came as Tarar, who arrived in Turkiye on Thursday on a three-day official visit, met with Professor Fahrettin Altun, head of communications …

ISLAMABAD: Senior Pakis­tan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaiser on Friday stated that the party had not yet initiated dialogue with the government and talks could be held only after the acceptance of three demands, including release of former prime minister Imran Khan and other party activists and constitution of a judicial commission comprising senior Supreme Court judges to probe violent …

ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) of Islamabad granted bail to three teenagers arrested in a case registered by the Secretariat police station pertaining to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) protest at D-Chowk. The youngsters, aged 14, 16, and 17.5 years, were released on bonds of Rs10,000 each. During the hearing, the petitioners’ legal representatives presented arguments highlighting procedural lapses and questioning the …

ISLAMABAD: Senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court Justice Mansoor Ali Shah has called on the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) to urgently finalise ‘clear and transparent rules’ for appointing judges to constitutional courts, warning that any appointments without such a framework would be unconstitutional and could undermine judiciary’s independence. In a detailed letter to Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, the …