Pakistan News World

The Supreme Court ordered on Wednesday that elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) should be held in the next 90 days with the chief justice saying that 'democracy cannot exist without assemblies'. The verdict was split 3-2 with Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail dissenting with the majority verdict. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar supported the ruling. The dissenting note maintained that the suo motu was not maintainable. The bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial concluded the two-day-long proceedings in the suo motu case on Tuesday. Concluding the hearing, the bench reserved the verdict and said it would be announced before 11am Wednesday (today). During Tuesday's hearing, the chief justice said that they were not there to support any side but to support the Constitution. "We cannot abandon the Constitution," he said, adding that they

In another immediate relief to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday suspended National Assembly (NA) Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s notification regarding the acceptance of PTI MNAs’ resignations from Islamabad. Issuing the interim order on petitions filed by Asad Umar, Ali Nawaz Awan and Raja Khurram Nawaz, the IHC also suspended the process of by-elections in the petitioners’ constituencies. IHC judge heard a petition filed by 3 PTI MNAs including former finance minister Asad Umar, Ali Nawaz Awan, and Khurram Nawaz, challenging two notifications – one issued by the National Assembly speaker through which their resignations were accepted and the second of ECP in which they had been de-notified. In the petition, they stated that on 11-04-2022, en-masse letters were obtained by PTI from 123 members of the National Assembly, including the petitioners, and submitted accordingly. “The resignations were forwarded to ECP on 28.07.2022 in terms

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has secured bail in two separate cases by courts in Islamabad. The banking court approved bail of defiant politician in the prohibited funding case, while the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) granted him bail in the case related to protests outside the officeof electoral watchdog. Former premier and chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan reached the judicial complex in Islamabad with hoards of supporters. Khan left his Lahore residence in the early hours on Tuesday and reached the capital with huge convoy of party supporters. In recent development, PTI leaders sought an exemption of party chief from an in-person appearance before an Islamabad sessions’ court in the Toshakhana reference wherein his indictment is expected today. Initially, the cricketer-turned-politician planned to travel to Islamabad via flight but due to last-minute changes in his travel plans, the former PM departed for the capital via the Motorway. A

The Supreme Court on Monday resumed the hearing of the suo motu case regarding the delay in the announcement of the date of the provincial elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). A five-member larger bench of the apex court, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, is conducting the hearing. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar are part of the bench. Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Abid Zuberi, Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Shehzad Ata Elahi and President Dr Arif Alvi’s counsel Salman Akram Raja are present in court. JUI's Kamran Murtaza is also present. During his arguments, the AGP contended that the SCBA president’s name was removed from the court order even though the SC recognised it as an institution. CJP Bandial stated that what was presented in the court was not a court order, and would become a decree if the judges overruled it. The AGP objected to SCBA

Argentina and Paris St-Germain forward Lionel Messi has been named men's player of the year at the 2022 Best Fifa Awards. According to international media reports, the 35-year-old beat French forwards Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema to the prize. Messi captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, and scored 27 goals in 49 games for club and country in 2021-22. Barcelona's Alexia Putellas was named women's player of the year. Messi, who won the award for a second time, said: "It's amazing. It's been a tremendous year and it's an honour for me to be here and win this award. Without my team-mates I wouldn't be here. "I achieved the dream I had been hoping for for so long. Very few people can achieve that and I have been lucky to do so." At the ceremony in Paris, Lionel Scaloni, who led Argentina to their third World Cup title, was named men's coach of the year. Scaloni beat Pep Guardiola - who guided Manchester City to a sixth Pr

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formally launched countrywide spring tree plantation campaign in Islamabad on Tuesday. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister appealed the entire nation to actively participate in the tree plantation campaign to secure the future of our coming generations. He said during this campaign two hundred and forty million trees will planted across the country. The Prime Minister stressed for enhancing the country's forest cover to meet with the negative impacts of climate change. The Prime Minister said the recent devastating floods which inflicted a loss of thirty billion dollars to the economy and displaced millions of people has further highlighted the significance of forests. He said we will have to take practical steps for environment protection and enhance green areas in the urban areas. He also stressed for enhancing awareness at educational institutions and seminaries in this regard. Meanwhile Prime Minister on Tuesday inaugurated Schools

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan will appear before Islamabad courts in four cases today. According to details, Imran Khan is appearing before three courts in Islamabad today after being summoned, while a bail plea will be filed in the fourth case. In Islamabad, Imran Khan will appear before Judge Rukhshanda Shaheen in a case registered under the Foreign Funding Act in the Banking Court. He was summoned in person by the court and a decision on his bail application is expected today. Mr. Khan will also appear before the Anti-Terrorism Court of Judge Raja Jawad Hasan, where he will file a pre-arrest bail. It may be noted that the court had rejected Imran Khan’s bail plea in the case, earlier, over his non-appearance. Furthermore, two cases against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief will also be heard in Islamabad Court today. The addition judge Zafar Iqbal has fixed today, the date for the indictment of Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case. The

Foreign Office says Pakistan Embassy in Italy is vigorously following the case of Pakistanis aboard the vessel that capsized off the coast of Italy on Sunday. In a tweet, the Foreign Office said a senior Embassy official has met 16 Pakistani survivors of the capsized vessel who were in good physical condition. The survivors informed that there were twenty Pakistanis on the ship. The Embassy is in close contact with Italian authorities to verify status of the four missing Pakistanis. The foreign ministry said that 16 Pakistanis were among those rescued, but four were reported missing after their overloaded boat sank early on Sunday in stormy seas off Italy’s southern Calabria region. Italy's coastguard searched the sea and beaches for bodies following a shipwreck off Calabria, as authorities tried to identify the dead and the government's migrant policy came under scrutiny. The boat was reported to have set sail from Izmir in Turkey last week. Three suspected human traffi

Justice Yahya Afridi of the Supreme Court has objected to invoking suo motu jurisdiction by the chief justice in the election date case. In his additional note, made public on Monday along with the court order on the February 23 hearing, the apex court judge questioned the logic behind taking the suo motu notice despite the fact that the matter was pending before the high court in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Justice Afridi also recused himself from the nine-member bench hearing the case after which a new five-judge bench was constituted headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial. “For detailed reasons to be recorded later, it appears that prima facie these petitions fall within the purview of Article 184(3) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973. However, it would not be judicially appropriate to exercise the power to make an order under the aforementioned provision of the constitution given that the matters raised in the petitions are presently pending adj

Two Pakistan Army soldiers were martyred in the Spinwam area of North Waziristan tribal district during a gunfight with terrorists, the military’s media affairs wing said on Monday. The statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) identified the martyrs as 25-year-old Sepoy Imran Ullah from Bajaur and 21-year-old Sepoy Afzal Khan from Upper Dir. “On 26 February, an exchange of fire took place between terrorists and security forces in the general area of Spinwam, North Waziristan district. Own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location,” the ISPR said. “Resultantly, two terrorists were killed, while two terrorists were apprehended. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the terrorists,” it stated, adding that the killed terrorists remained actively involved in terror activities against security forces and innocent citizens. The military’s media wing said sanitisation of the area was being carried out to eliminate other terrorists in the area. “

A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Monday rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s request to transfer the hearing of Toshakhana reference to the judicial complex. Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal presided over the hearing in the case filed by Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mohsin Shah Nawaz Ranjha. The case pertains to attempted murder in the context of the protest held after the Toshakhana reference decision, in which former premier’s lawyers Babar Awan and Ali Bukhari appeared before the court. Awan told the court that Imran will come to Islamabad on Tuesday. Moreover, a request for an exception for appearance today was also filed in the court, in which security measures were requested for Imran's appearance in the court tomorrow. The PTI chief’s lawyer furthered that the ministry of interior has given a statement that there is a “fear of attack on Imran”, adding that “there may be a suicide attack on him during his appearan

A local court in the federal capital on Monday rejected the police's plea and approved a three-day physical remand of Lieutenant General (retd) Amjad Shoaib. The former military officer was presented in the court of Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah today after he was arrested by the Islamabad Police early this morning on charges of inciting the public against national institutions. During the hearing, the prosecution informed the court about the case registered against the former three-star general and requested a seven-day physical remand. Prosecutor Adnan contended that the ex-general, through his statement on TV, tried to spread hate between the government, the opposition and the government employees. The lawyer also told the court that they require a photogrammetric test of the former military officer and have to take him to Lahore for the purpose. The prosecutor then requested the court to approve seven-day physical remand of Lt Gen (retd) Shoaib. Meanwhile, Lt Gen (retd

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the scope of Prime Minister Youth Program has been widened with allocation of more resources in order to enable the youth earn their livelihoods and practically contribute to the country's development. In his video message on the occasion of Youth Week, he pointed out that agricultural and other sectors have also been included in this program. Felicitating the youth and the PML (N) leadership over the completion of ten years of Youth Program, the Prime Minister recalled that the program was initially launched in Punjab back in 2011. He said former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif then spread its reach to the whole country in 2013. He noted this historic program is proving to be a milestone in the development of the youth. Shehbaz Sharif said the country was faced with immense economic problems when he assumed the power last year. The floods further added to the woes. Since the youth are our future and are sixty eight percent of the population

Pakistan is marking the 4th anniversary of Operation Swift Retort, popularly known as Surprise day in the country when country’s armed forces gave a befitting response to Indian misadventures, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Monday. In a statement on the fourth anniversary of Operation Swift Retort, the Director-General of ISPR Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry the daring, resolute and measured response from Pakistan thwarted Indian nefarious designs on February 27, 2019. Let this day be a reminder that while being a peace-loving nation, Pakistan Armed Forces are ever ready, not only to defend every inch of the motherland. “CJCSC, Services Chiefs & AFs of Pak pay tribute to the resilience of nation & resolve of AFs displayed during Operation Swift Retort. Under the pretext of false flag Pulwama attack, India stage managed a cowardly attack on a fictitious target,” Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said. February 27, 2019, is a memorable day for Pakis

The counting of votes is underway as polling for by-election in Rajanpur’s NA-193, National Assembly constituency, concluded. The voting in Rajanpur began at 8am today and continued till 5pm. The NA-193 seat had fallen vacant following the death of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) MNA Sardar Mohammad Jaffar Khan Leghari in December 2022. In videos shared by the electoral body today, a number of voters can be seen gathered inside the polling stations. A total 11 candidates are contesting NA-193 Rajanpur by-poll, but the main contest is expected between the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Emaar Owais Leghari and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Mohsin Leghari. 237 polling stations have been set up in the constituency, of which 68 are declared sensitive. 2,650 police personnel have been deployed to deal with any untoward situation while Rangers and Army personnel will also patrol the area. Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) accused the district ad

To resolve the ongoing deadlock over security expenditures for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight’s Lahore and Rawalpindi leg, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi has reached out to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for assistance. The fate of PSL fixtures in the two Punjab cities, including the final scheduled in Lahore on March 19, remains uncertain as Punjab’s interim Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi insists that his cabinet is not willing to sanction the expenses for holding the tournament. Last year, the Punjab government reportedly spent Rs600 million on the PSL. However, Naqvi has said that his cabinet is not ready to sanction the expenses this time due to being an interim setup. Sethi, who briefed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today (Sunday) on the issue of security expenses, has received assurances of complete support and assistance from the premier. The PCB chairman said that the matches will have to be shifted to Karachi if the gover

In an unprecedented move, Sabahat Rizvi became the first ever woman to be elected as the Lahore High Court Bar Association's (LHCBA) secretary since its establishment. Rizvi was elected as the first female secretary after bagging 4,310 votes in the LHC Bar Association's polls that took place on Saturday. Rizvi was supported by the majority of lawyers and Asma Jahangir's AGHS Legal Aid Cell Team. Another woman, Rabia Bajwa, was elected to the vice-president’s seat by grabbing 3,590 votes. Meanwhile, the Professional Group led by Hamid Khan won the presidential slot in the polls by defeating an independent group. Ishtiaq A Khan won the seat of the president by bagging 7,293 votes, while his opponent, Lehrasib Gondal, could get only 3,372 votes. On the finance secretary’s position, Muhammad Shahrukh Shahbaz Warraich won by securing 7,109 votes. The total strength of the registered voters was 26,043, out of which 24,271 were men and 1,772 were women lawyers. As many as

Just like in the World Cup final, Paris Saint-Germain teammates Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe go up against one another for The Best FIFA Men’s Player prize for 2022 on Monday, with Ballon d’Or Karim Benzema the other contender. The ceremony takes place in Paris, and Messi appears as the favourite to add another individual gong to his collection after leading Argentina to glory over Mbappe’s France in that epic encounter in Qatar. Messi has won the Ballon d’Or seven times and claimed the FIFA award — inaugurated in 2016 following FIFA’s split with Ballon d’Or organisers France Football — once in 2019. In the last two years, Messi has made the podium as Robert Lewandowski has won the title, but the 35-year-old’s career-crowning World Cup triumph was the defining moment of 2022. The winner is decided by a jury comprised of the coach and captain of every men’s national team and one journalist from each country but fans can also vote. Mbappe became the first player to score a World

Voting for the by-election on the National Assembly constituency of NA-193 in Rajanpur began as per schedule on Sunday, despite provincial government's request for the deferral of polls. Punjab Home Department had requested the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to defer the by-polls due to security concerns, however, the electoral body turned down the plea. The ECP said in a statement released this morning that the polling kicked off at the scheduled time 8am and will continue till 5pm without interval. It said that a control room had been established at the ECP's secretariat to monitor the election and address the complaints regarding the polling. As per the electoral body, 11 candidates are contesting the by-polls, while there are 379,204 registered voters in the constituency, of which 206,497 are male and 172,709 are female voters. The ECP said that 237 polling stations have been established in the constituency, where police personnel had been deputed for security.

An explosion was reported inside the Rakhni market in Balochistan’s Barkhan on Sunday morning. Footage run on television showed a number of injured people being taken to the nearby hospital. The police have reached the site along with rescue officials and cordoned it off. via Original Source

Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been reopened for business activities. As per details, the official sources said that loaded vehicles from both the sides arrived at the Torkham border. The Pakistan custom officials have also confirmed the opening of business activities at the Pak-Afghan border. Earlier, the Customs officials seized a container with consignment of urea fertilizer at Torkham border crossing. Additional Collector Customs Muhammad Tayeb had said that the department’s officials during search of an export container at the border crossing, recovered a consignment of 40 tonnes of urea fertilizer, being smuggled to Afghanistan. via Original Source

At least two labourers were killed after an under-construction Bhara Kahu bypass flyover collapsed early Saturday morning, police sources reported. Rescue teams rushed to the incident site and pulled three labourers out of rubble, wheras two succumbed to injuries, Islamabad Capital Territory spokesman said. According to rescue officials, heavy construction material was being pitched on it when the portion caved in. Later on Inspector General Police Islamabad Dr Akbar Nasir Khan, Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) Noor-ul- Amin Mangal along with assistant commissioner Secretariat Aneel Saeed and other officials visited the incident site to supervise the rescue operation. Meanwhile, a committee under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon was also constituted to review all aspects related to the incident. The 5.6 km-long Bhara Kahu bypass (including a 1km flyover) starts from Murree Road at Malpur and culminates on Murree Road near the Jugi bu

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has appointed Zahir Shah as its acting chairman after Aftab Sultan resigned from the position on Tuesday, it emerged on Saturday. In a notification issued by the bureau on Friday, Shah has been designated the role with effect from Feb 22 “in pursuance of the proviso to Section 6b(v)” (chairman National Accountability Bureau) of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999. Shah’s appointment comes on the heels of the sudden resignation of Aftab Sultan as the NAB chairman after only seven months at the anti-graft body’s helm. Sultan cited “interference” and “pressure” as the reasons for his departure, but did not elaborate who was pressuring him. The main opposition PTI seized on these remarks as evidence of him being coerced to file corruption references against their chief Imran Khan. Shah has acted as the bureau’s Director General (Operations) Zahir Shah in the past and was subsequently appointed as its deputy chairman in October 2021. H

A banking court has ordered the former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan to appear before court on February 28 in prohibited funding case. As per details, the banking court judge Rakhshanda Shaheen heard the prohibited funding case against Imran Khan and others. The PTI chief Imran Khan’s legal team submitted the copy of IHC order to the banking court. His counsel Naeem Haider Panjotha said that IHC has ordered Imran Khan appear before banking court on February 28. The hearing was also adjourned till February 28. Earlier local media reports had said that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) decided to arrest PTI chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan in a prohibited funding case. A four-member team has been formed for the arrest, while a summary has been forwarded to the DG FIA for final approval. It is pertinent to note here that the Investigation Agency had registered a case against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and 10 others over accusations of r

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized to forge national unity to alleviate poverty and make Pakistan an economic tiger. He was chairing a review meeting on the implementation of the National Action Plan attended by civil and military leadership in Islamabad. The Prime Minister said after the Peshawar attack, the government also invited all the stakeholders for a meeting but one particular party did not bother to attend it. He said Pakistan currently faces economic challenges and expressed the hope that the situation would improve after the matters with the International Monetary Fund were finalised in near future. He maintained that the state of Pakistan was above all and even the government's coalition parties put their political interests at stake for the sake of the country and to improve the economic situation. Mentioning the killings and arrest of terrorists during different military actions, Prime Minister Shehbaz said the security agencies were making their eff

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo has expressed satisfaction over the recovery of four abducted children of Khan Muhammad Marri from District Barkhan and other areas. According to an official hand-out, he appreciated the efforts of levies force Balochistan for safely recovering of abducted children. He said strict action would be taken against those who are involved in the murder of three people in District Barkhan. via Original Source

The security forces on Thursday gunned down eight terrorists during a sanitisation operation in Balochistan’s Mazaaband Range, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. Terrorism is again rearing its head in the country since the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) announced the end of the ceasefire in November last year. According to a statement issued by the military’s media wing, terrorists had attempted to ambush a convoy of security forces in the Kech District of Balochistan on Wednesday evening. “While alert and combat-ready troops not only foiled this cowardly attempt without any loss of life, they also immediately commenced a follow-up operation to hunt down the fleeing terrorists using ground and aviation assets,” read the statement. The ISPR said that a suspected hideout of terrorists was identified in Mazaaband Range today morning, where a sanitisation operation was launched. “In ensuing, heavy exchange of fire, eight terrorists have been kil

PML-N Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz, in a fiery speech on Thursday, came down hard on a “cabal of five”, among which were former and serving members of the judiciary, whom she accused of “conspiring” against PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif. Addressing a workers’ convention in Sargodha, Maryam — who is currently on a reorganisation tour to shape her party’s narrative — said: “Ever since this watch thief left the government, our ears are tired of hearing ‘there was a conspiracy, there was a conspiracy’.” Her watch-related jibe was aimed at PTI chief Imran Khan, who has acknowledged that he sold a wristwatch he had procured from the state treasury during his time as as the prime minister. “Today, I will tell the nation that the real conspiracy took place against Nawaz Sharif,” Maryam roared. On the PML-N leader’s cue, a video screen showed a combo picture of the five people she held responsible, saying: “The people of Sargodha should also see the ones behind the conspiracy”. The pi

Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial said on Thursday that the Supreme Court will not tolerate the violation of the Constitution as the top court began its suo motu hearing to determine who has the constitutional responsibility and authority to announce the date for elections to a provincial assembly after it was dissolved in different situations, under the Constitution. A nine-member bench of the SC, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, heard the suo motu notice of an apparent delay in the elections of Punjab and KP assemblies. Apart from Justice Minallah and CJP Bandial, the bench includes Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar. At the outset of the hearing, the court observed that the authority for giving the date of the elections after the dissolution of the assembly needs clarification.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner joined his Al Nassr teammates and embraced Saudi Arabian culture and ethnic wear to celebrate the foundation day of the middle eastern country. The 38-year-old was all in smiling and enjoying the day with his new teammates. During the Foundation day event at Al Nassr's home ground, Cristiano can be seen putting on Thawb along with his Al Nassr colleagues. Ronaldo can also be seen drinking an Arabic drink at the event and dancing with a sword in his hand. Happy founding day to Saudi Arabia ?? Was a special experience to participate in the celebration at @AlNassrFC ! pic.twitter.com/1SHbmHyuez — Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) February 22, 2023 Former Real Madrid and Manchester United star posted a video on his social media saying, "Happy founding day to Saudi Arabia. Was a special experience to participate in the celebration at @AlNassrFC!" In the video, we can see Ronaldo adapting the new Arabian culture and

Pakistan reaffirmed its consistent and unstinted support for the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause, which has always been a defining principle of the country’s foreign policy. At her weekly news briefing in Islamabad today, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch while commenting on the recent violence in the West Bank where eleven Palestinians people have been martyred by Israeli forces, said we condemn all acts that lead to the killing of innocent civilians including in occupied Palestinian territories. The Spokesperson said Pakistan's position on Palestine is consistent. We support a comprehensive approach for resolution of Palestinian question. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan has maintained that there should be a total withdrawal of Israel from the occupied Arab territories including Jerusalem. There should be restitution of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to exercise self-determination and sovereignty in an independent and viable Stat

Multan Sultans have set a 197-run target for the Karachi Kings to chase during the 11th fixture of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023 being played at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan today. Sultans managed to set the mammoth target at a loss of only two wickets, after the sensational performance of captain Muhammad Rizwan, who scored a ton during the innings and stayed on the pitch throughout the innings. Earlier, Karachi Kings had won the toss and opted to bowl first against Multan Sultans. Multan are currently at the top of the points table with six points after four games. Karachi are placed in fourth position with two points after four matches. Playing XIs: Multan Sultans: Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan (wk/c), Rilee Rossouw, David Miller, Kieron Pollard, Khushdil Shah, Carlos Brathwaite, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Ihsanullah, Mohammad Ilyas. Karachi Kings: James Vince, Haider Ali, Matthew Wade(w), Irfan Niaz Khan, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim(c), Ben Cutting, Aamer Yamin,

As the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) "Jail Bharo Tehreek" (court arrest movement) kicked off Wednesday, the party's senior leaders including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar and Azam Swati, along with party workers voluntarily surrendered themselves to the Lahore police. The movement, according to the PTI rationale, aims to counter the "attack on constitutionally-guaranteed fundamental rights" and the "economic meltdown" by the incumbent government". Taking to its Twitter handle, the PTI shared that its party’s Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Secretary General Asad Umar, Swati, Omar Cheema and other leaders and workers are being taken to the Kot Lakhpat jail in the police van. The prisoner’s van earlier reached the Camp Jail where workers chanted slogans and several landed on the van’s roof. Former PTI minister Hammad Azhar, who was present outside the Camp Jail, said: “We have arrived to have ourselves arrested. They will run out

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Wednesday unveiled a host of austerity measures aimed to keep the country afloat as the nation buckles up to meet the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) conditions. Pakistan is desperate to unlock the next tranche worth $1.1 billion loan facility with the IMF but is struggling to meet tough conditions set by the global financier. The IMF is demanding that Pakistan boosts its pitifully low tax base, end exemptions for the export sector, and raise artificially low energy prices that are meant to help poor families. The nation is in dire need of funds as it battles a wrenching economic crisis as the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)-held foreign exchange reserves barely cover one month of imports. Addressing a press conference flanked by the senior leadership of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), the premier announced that the ministers and advisers to the premier have "voluntarily" decided not to take salaries from the government in orde

A high-level delegation led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif is in Kabul today to meet with officials of the Afghan Taliban government to discuss security matters including counter-terrorism measures, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday. The delegation includes Inter-Services Intelligence Director General Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum and Pakistan's special envoy on Afghanistan Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq. The visit comes against the backdrop of a recent surge in Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) sponsored terrorist attacks in Pakistan. Sources say Islamabad will persuade the Afghan interim government to live up to its commitment of not allowing Afghan soil to be used by the TTP and its affiliates. The visit was the result of hectic behind-the-scenes efforts by Pakistan aimed at pressing the Afghan Taliban to tackle TTP sanctuaries. Official sources claimed that the Afghan Taliban have shown a willingness to address Pakistan’s concerns, however, observers are skeptical.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Wednesday that PML-N’s legal team will be approaching two judges of the Supreme Court to recuse themselves from hearing the cases against the party leadership. In a series of tweets, senior PML-N leader and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said these two judges have a biased attitude towards PML-N. The minister, while naming both the justices, said one was a supervising judge in the case against Nawaz Sharif and the party doesn’t expect justice. Sanaullah said that “irrefutable evidence” of the second judge’s “impartiality” has come forth through leaked audio. He was referring to a telephonic conversation between former Punjab chief minister Parvez Elahi and a lawyer talking about a Supreme Court judge hearing the case of Lahore police chief Ghulam Dogar. “Both judges have given verdicts in dozens of cases against Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif. Panama, party leadership, Pakpattan allotment case, Ramzan sugar mills cases are included in