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Dawn - 10:03 May 27, 2025
India’s defence minister has approved a framework for building the country’s most advanced stealth fighter jet, the defence ministry said on Tuesday, amid a new arms race with Pakistan weeks after a military conflict between the neighbours. Indian state-run Aeronautical Development Agency, which is executing the programme, will shortly invite initial interest from defence firms for developing a prototype of the warplane, envisaged as a twin-engine 5th generation fighter, the ministry said. The project is crucial for the Indian Air Force, whose squadrons of French, Russian and ex-Soviet aircraft have fallen to 31 from an approved strength of 42 at a time when rival China is expanding its air force rapidly. Pakistan has one of China’s advanced warplanes, the J-10, in its arsenal, which it claims to have used to shoot down India’s latest French Rafale jets in the recent fighting. Militaries of nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan faced-off in four days of fighting this month, which saw use of fighter jets... -
Dawn - 10:03 May 27, 2025
A policeman guarding a polio vaccination team was gunned down on Tuesday by unknown attackers in Balochistan’s Noshki district, according to an official. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries where polio remains endemic, and vaccination teams are frequently targeted by militants waging a campaign against security forces. Noshki Deputy Commissioner (DC) Amjad Hussain Soomro confirmed the “unfortunate incident” to Dawn.com, in which Waheed Ahmed was gunned down in Noshki’s Killi Muhammad Hassni district. He said that police have set up checkpoints at various places to search for the attackers, who will be arrested soon. DC Soomro noted that security of the health department staff working on the anti-polio campaign has been further beefed up. He added that the anti-polio campaign is continuing even after the terrorist incident and the targets given to the anti-polio teams in Noshki district for this national cause will be completed soon. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed that th... -
Dawn - 08:20 May 27, 2025
A woman and her three-year-old daughter were killed in Mansehra district on Tuesday on the pretext of an “honour killing” for conducting a freewill marriage in 2021, officials said. The incident occurred in the Phulra area of Mansehra district where the woman and her minor daughter were killed inside their home. The woman had reportedly tied the knot against her family’s will through court marriage in 2021. Mansehra District Police Officer (DPO) Shafiullah Gandapur confirmed the incident to Dawn.com and said efforts were underway to apprehend the suspects. He said their bodies had been shifted to a nearby hospital where an autopsy was being conducted, while police teams have been dispatched to the area where the incident occurred to track down the suspects. The DPO said that according to initial reports, the victim tied the knot with Roshan of Bagal tribe, which triggered a clash between the two families. Police have lodged an FIR on the complaint of the victim’s mother. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Nasir M... -
Dawn - 07:48 May 27, 2025
The government on Tuesday extended the deadline for expressions of interest in purchasing Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to June 13, the privatisation ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. The government’s failed first attempt to privatise PIA cost the national exchequer $4.3 million, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Privatisation was informed on February 26. In March, Privatisation and Investment Minister Abdul Aleem Khan said that the government would complete all the steps to privatise PIA by May, while the privatisation commission approved a transaction structure for the second attempt to privatise the national carrier based on a divestment of 51 to 100 per cent of its shares of capital. The earlier deadline was June 3, with the bidding process expected to take place between October and December. According to a statement from the ministry, the deadline for submission on expressions of interest till 4pm on June 19. Last month, a PIA spokesperson said that the carrier’s board of dire... -
Dawn - 06:55 May 27, 2025
The Foreign Office on Tuesday condemned the recent remarks towards Pakistan by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a speech in Gujarat, calling it a “reckless provocation”. The developments follow a recent military confrontation between India and Pakistan over New Delhi’s allegations against Islamabad, without evidence, about a deadly attack in occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam. On the night of May 6-7, New Delhi launched a series of air strikes in Pakistan, resulting in civilian casualties. Islamabad responded by downing five Indian jets. After intercepting drones sent by India and tit-for-tat strikes on each other’s airbases, it took American intervention on May 10 for both sides to finally drop their guns as a ceasefire was reached. In a video shared by Indian news outlet ANI, Modi says: “The people of Pakistan must come forward to rid their country of terrorism. Their youth will have to come forward.” He went on to say: “Live a life of peace, eat your bread or [choose my] bullet,” to applause from the cr... -
Dawn - 05:42 May 27, 2025
Nepali Sherpa guide Kami Rita scaled Mount Everest for the 31st time on Tuesday, breaking the record he set last year. The 55-year-old reached the 8,849-metre (29,032 foot) peak — the highest in the world — by the traditional southeast ridge route while guiding a 22-member Indian army team, officials said, adding that 27 other Sherpas also accompanied the group. “He is a very passionate climber,” said Pasang Phurba, director of the Seven Summit Treks company for which Kami Rita works, adding that Kami Rita was currently descending to lower camps. Kami Rita, who uses only his first name, first climbed Everest in 1994 and has done so every year except for three years when authorities closed the mountain to climbers for various reasons. More than 8,000 people have climbed Mount Everest since it was first scaled by New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953. After Kami Rita, another Sherpa, Pasang Dawa, has ascended Everest the most with 29 climbs. Among non-Sherpa climbers, the record is ... -
Dawn - 05:13 May 27, 2025
A health worker administers polio drops to a child on the first day of a poliovirus eradication campaign in Karachi.—AFP DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Two polio workers were abducted by armed assailants in Tank district here on Monday as a five-day polio campaign kicked off across the country. The workers were performing their duties in the Dolat Koruna area of Tank as part of the ongoing vaccination drive. The abducted workers identified as a Union Council official, Sifat Khan, and his colleague Hizbullah. According to police sources, both health workers were on duty when unidentified armed men abducted them and took them to an undisclosed location. Minister calls upon nation to stand united against polio as it did against India Soon after the incident, police launched a search operation in the surrounding areas to trace the abductors and recover the kidnapped workers. According to the KP health department spokesperson, during this five-day campaign, nearly 7.3 million children under the age of five will be admi... -
Dawn - 03:15 May 27, 2025
ISLAMABAD: Senior Counsel Makhdoom Ali Khan on Monday informed the Constitutional Bench (CB) of the Supreme Court that Article 187 of the Constitution — the basis for the July 12, 2024 majority judgement which granted relief to the PTI in the reserved seats case — does not empower the apex court to grant relief to a party that was not before it. “Article 187 is a provision which allows the Supreme Court to decide a matter in a complete sense, but not to settle a dispute or grant relief to a party which is not before the court,” argued the counsel representing the candidates who were denied reserved seats after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) quashed a notification that had allocated special seats for women to them. “At times, in a dispute, the court can mould relief for one of the contesting parties, since there can be a situation where a party is entitled to more relief,” the counsel added. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, a member of the 11-judge CB hearing a set of review petitions ag... -
Dawn - 03:14 May 27, 2025
ISLAMABAD: Justice Shakeel Ahmed, a member of the five-judge Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court hearing the seniority dispute among judges, on Monday questioned whether the law secretary was competent to clarify in the final summary on transfer that judges would not be required to take a fresh oath upon their posting to the Islamabad High Court. “Were the real facts regarding seniority kept hidden from the chief justices during the process of consultation?” Justice Ahmed asked, expressing concern that such anomalies had led to doubts and raised questions about mala fide intent. The five-judge CB, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, had taken up a joint petition filed by five IHC judges — Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan and Saman Rafat Imtiaz. The petition argues that three transferred judges should not be treated as IHC judges until they take a fresh oath under Article 194, read in conjunction with Schedule III of the Constitution. Senior ... -
Dawn - 03:01 May 27, 2025
ISLAMABAD: A National Assembly panel was informed on Monday that internet services in Panjgur will remain suspended for next six months over security concerns. The committee was informed that the security agencies had responded to a letter from the Ministry of Interior stating that, due to the prevailing security and law and order situation, internet services in Panjgur district would remain suspended for the next six months. The NA Standing Committee on Information Technology, held with Aminul Haq in the chair was told that this has been communicated to the interior ministry by security agencies in response to a letter, citing prevailing law and order situation as the reason. Expressing concern over this situation, the committee noted that internet services in Panjgur have remained suspended for the past three years, causing severe difficulties for the local population, particularly the business community and students. Consequently, the committee decided to convene an in-camera meeting wherein the Secretary... -
Dawn - 02:57 May 27, 2025
• Govt activates emergency protocols; orders desilting of waterways • PDMA calls for standardised fitting of solar panels to withstand inclement weather • Official says 70pc deaths resulted from falling solar panels LAHORE: Heavy rain and thunderstorms are set to batter Punjab, days after similar weather killed around 20 people across the province. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has issued a province-wide alert of severe weather from today (Tuesday). A westerly wave combined with moist currents is likely to bring intense windstorms, thunderstorms, and heavy rainfall across the region from May 27 to 31, said the Met department forecast. Upper and central Punjab districts, including Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mianwali, Sargodha, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Okara, Lahore, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Gujranwala, Gujrat and Sheikhupura will experience heavy rains with hailstorms and lightning from the evening of May 27 through May... -
Dawn - 02:48 May 27, 2025
• Shehbaz, Pezeshkian agree to boost bilateral trade, investment • PM expresses gratitude for Iran’s support amid tension with Delhi • Renews offer for talks with India on Kashmir, other issues • Meets Ayatollah Khamenei ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran on Monday renewed their commitment to permanent peace in South Asia, underlining that friendly relations with neighbouring countries formed a core part of both nations’ foreign policy. The reaffirmation came during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian at a reception hosted at the Sa’dabad Palace in Tehran. The meeting took place during the prime minister’s official visit to Turkiye, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, aimed at expressing gratitude to friendly Muslim nations for their support during the recent Pakistan-India conflict. Both leaders resolved to enhance cooperation to boost bilateral trade and investment and work together to maintain peace and security in the region. View this post on Instagram Prim... -
Dawn - 02:25 May 27, 2025
• Finance minister hints at simplified tax returns for salaried class • Claims every possible support to be made available for armed forces • Privatisation drive to be ‘accelerated’ in next fiscal year; PIA, three Discos to be privatised by year end • Flags population growth, climate change as existential threats ISLAMABAD: Promising simplified tax returns for the salaried class, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday pledged that the upcoming federal budget would introduce “bold measures” to steer the national economy in a strategic direction and make available whatever support is required by the armed forces. Talking to journalists after an event organised by the Pakistan Banks Association and Karandaaz Pakistan, the finance minister said that every possible support would be provided to the armed forces, stressing that it was a national need in light of recent cross-border aggression, not just a military requirement. Responding to a question, he said the IMF mission and its regional director,... -
Dawn - 18:51 May 26, 2025
Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ghulam Nabi Memon on Monday formed a committee to probe a violent protest in Naushero Feroz’s Moro city on May 20, where one protester was killed and over a dozen other people, including police personnel, were injured. Clashes broke out in Moro last Tuesday when police attempted to disperse demonstrators protesting the controversial construction of new canals on the River Indus. Protesters, organised by the Sindh Saba and armed with sticks and rods, blocked the Moro bypass road and clashed with police. Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar’s house was also attacked, along with two trailers on Moro bypass road. A deputy duperintendent of police (DSP) was among the wounded. According to a notification, the committee, chaired by Sindh West Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Irfan Ali Baloch, will comprise Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amjad Ahmed Shaikh of the Anti-Vehicle Lifting Cell, Benazirabad SSP Shabbir Sethar, DSP CIA Hyderabad Iftikhar Buriro and sub-inspect... -
Dawn - 18:49 May 26, 2025
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari assailed the PTI-run Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Monday for its “harsh police response” to a protest by PPP workers and supporters in Peshawar against corruption, calling out the administration’s “cowardice”. PPP protesters on Monday staged a protest in Peshawar against corruption in the province. In a statement posted on X, the party alleged that the protesters faced shelling and violence at the hands of the police. In response to the situation, Bilawal took to X and posted a statement calling out the KP government, stating that they had “demonstrated cowardice” by attacking unarmed party workers. PPP Senator Saleem Mandviwala also condemned the alleged incident in the statement. He was quoted as saying, “The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government tried to cover up its failures by suppressing public protests with force.” He added, “Shelling and violence against peaceful activists shows the government’s desperation. “PPP workers are certainly unarmed and peaceful, but they are ... -
Dawn - 18:17 May 26, 2025
• High-level team due in NY to counter Indian lobbying, Bilawal likely to head delegation • Indian team led by Tharoor is already in US, assailing Trump’s role in truce A HIGH-LEVEL Pakistani delegation is arriving in New York next week to present Islamabad’s position on the ongoing dispute with India as an Indian parliamentary team is already in the United States to step up its own lobbying campaign. The Pakistani delegation currently includes Federal Minister for Environment Musadik Masood Malik, former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Senator Bushra Rahman, Khurram Dastagir, former ambassadors to Washington Jalil Abbas Jilani and Sherry Rehman. The group is expected to arrive in New York on June 1. PPP Chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto- Zardari is scheduled to lead the delegation. However, with the possible addition of two new destinations to the itinerary, the final list of participants is still being finalised. There is also a possibility that Pakistan may send two separate delegatio... -
Dawn - 18:02 May 26, 2025
The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore on Monday ordered that PTI founder and former premier Imran Khan undergo police polygraph and photogrammetry tests after his refusal. The ATC allowed the police to conduct the polygraph (lie detection) and photogrammetric (facial and voice analysis) test on May 14. The former prime minister, however, refused to undergo them. Last week, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari had assailed the PTI founder for refusing the tests, saying that he either made excuses such as being asleep or eating or claimed that his lawyers were unavailable. She remarked that it appeared he had still not come to terms with being a convict serving court sentences in jail, and stressed that “he needed to understand he was in Adiala Jail, not at his Bani Gala residence.” During today’s hearing, the police submitted a report to the judge about Imran’s refusal to take the test, arguing that the investigation could not be completed without the results. Legal Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)... -
Dawn - 17:57 May 26, 2025
PTI officials on Monday announced that the party will launch a “countrywide movement” and urged party members and supporters to get ready, though no date was announced. Party founder and ex-premier Imran Khan has been imprisoned at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail for over two years upon his conviction in four cases — two Toshakhana references, the cipher case, and the Iddat case, in which his wife, Bushra Bibi, is also jailed. The party has since launched several mass protests demanding his release, notably a march to Islamabad on November 26, 2024, where a day of pitched battles between security forces and PTI protesters ended in a hasty retreat of the party’s top leadership and supporters from the Red Zone. In a post on X, PTI Senator Ali Zafar wrote that the party would be mobilising nationwide after having a six-hour discussion with the ex-premier today. “Some very important matters were discussed. Amongst them was a countrywide movement for which the party should prepare and be well-organised,” the senator wrot... -
Dawn - 17:56 May 26, 2025
A man allegedly gunned down three people, including a child, for ‘honour’ in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Upper Dir district, police said on Monday. Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Zaman Shah told Dawn.com, “A man, a woman and her three-year-old daughter were killed by her husband in a suspected ‘honour’ killing incident in the Dadband area of Upper Dir.” He said that the suspect allegedly killed a man who was said to be a herbalist and used to visit houses for treatment in the area. He said, “[The suspect] was said to be mentally ill and worked as a labourer in Islamabad,” adding that he had come to the village a few days earlier and left his wife and daughter at home with his uncle. The official added that initial information revealed that the herbalist went to the uncle’s home where the incident occurred. “The suspect shot dead the herbalist with a pistol outside the house and then he went inside, killing his wife and daughter,” Shah said, adding that the police launched an investigation into the matter. Shah... -
Dawn - 17:38 May 26, 2025
The National Cyber Emergency Response Team (PKCERT) on Monday issued an advisory warning that the login credentials and passwords of more than 180 million internet users in Pakistan have been stolen in a global data breach, urging people to take immediate protective measures. According to the advisory, seen by Dawn.com, PKCERT identified the global breach involving a publicly accessible, unencrypted file containing more than 184 million unique account credentials. “The breach exposed usernames, passwords, emails and associated URLs tied to services from Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, Instagram [and] Snapchat, as well as government portals, banking institutions, and healthcare platforms worldwide,” the advisory read. “The leaked database is believed to have been compiled using infostealer malware — malicious software that extracts sensitive information from compromised systems,” it added. “This data was stored in plain text and left completely unprotected, with no encryption or password safeguarding.” PKC...
6698 items