ISLAMABAD: The ruling PML-N faced an unprecedented backlash in the National Assembly on Friday, with even lawmakers from the treasury benches joining their opposition counterparts as they lashed out at Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb for presenting a ‘tax-loaded and IMF-dictated budget’, while a key ally in the ruling coalition continuing its boycott of the general debate on the budget. The second …
RAWALPINDI: Five Pakistan Army soldiers were martyred in a blast from an improvised explosive device (IED) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district on Friday, according to the military’s media wing. A press release from the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the IED exploded on a vehicle of the security forces in the district’s general area of Sadda. The ISPR said …
ISLAMABAD: Rare political consensus was shown on Friday at the third meeting of the Pakistan-China Joint Consultative Mechanism (JCM) of Political Parties on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Islamabad as a visiting Chinese minister stressed that internal stability was essential for Pakistan’s development. The cross-party political unity was shown at the CPEC Pakistan-China Political Parties Forum co-chaired by Deputy …
ISLAMABAD: The opening day of budget debate in the National Assembly saw a bitter war of words being waged, as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle accused each other of colluding with the military establishment and intelligence agencies to gain power. Meanwhile in the Senate, opposition leaders decried the heavy taxes proposed in the upcoming budget, warning that they could lead …
KARACHI: After months of speculation, a glimpse of ‘Awaam Pakistan’ — the new party on the block — appeared on the country’s political horizon on Thursday. The video posted on the X account of Awaam Pakistan was shared with the tagline ‘Awaam Pakistan: Badlein ge nizam’ (People of Pakistan: We will change the system). It featured a string of despondent citizens asking questions …
GWADAR: President Asif Ali Zardari has called for enhancing the capacity of the law enforcement agencies (LEAs), posting competent officers in Balochistan, and improving the prosecution mechanism to effectively counter terrorist elements in the province. The president expressed these views while chairing a meeting on the security and law and order situation in Balochistan on Thursday. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Chief Minister …
ISLAMABAD: The PTI will hold a countrywide protest on Friday (today) for the release of incarcerated party founder Imran Khan. PTI leader and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, in a video statement, said the party would hold the protest for the release of Imran Khan. He said the PTI founding chairman is fighting for Haqiqi Azadi (true freedom) of …
ISLAMABAD: Refusing to suspend the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) May 29 pronouncement, the Supreme Court on Thursday sought the formation of a five-judge larger bench to settle the controversy over whether the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) or the high court should appoint tribunals to decide electoral disputes. The order was issued by a two-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of …
ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Zubair Tiwana drew flak for an increase in taxes and punitive measures for non-filers, as the Senate Standing Committee on Finance deliberated on the Finance Bill 2024 on Thursday. In addition to a proposed raise in taxes on imported electric vehicles, reservations about hikes in other sectors, such as cement, telecom and beverages, were also discussed, and senators observed that abrupt …
WASHINGTON: The US State Department said on Thursday that Washington supports direct talks between India and Pakistan but will not tell them how to conduct those discussions. At the regular news briefing in Washington, spokesperson Matthew Miller also emphasised a strong counterterrorism partnership with Pakistan, stating that both countries are committed to maintaining this relationship. “We value our important relationships …