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Dawn - 02:58 May 12, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his team call on President Asif Ali Zardari at the Presidency. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Senator Saleem Mandviwalla are also present.—Online ISLAMABAD: With no end in sight to the conflict in the Middle East, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday ordered that a countrywide austerity drive be extended until June 13. Meanwhile, with rumours of a possible 28th Constitutional Amendment swirling, the premier and his team also met with President Asif Ali Zardari and his aides on Monday, even as both houses of parliament were in session. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, and Senator Saleem Mandviwalla were also present at the meeting. A source privy to developments told Dawn that if enacted, the 28th Amendment would entail “a complete rollback of the 18th ... -
Dawn - 02:16 May 12, 2026
• Petroleum minister says removing bottlenecks crucial to implementing long-delayed policy; terms local refineries ‘critical national assets’ • Officials argue upgrades are in line with IMF’s ‘resilience and sustainability’ objectives, will improve fuel quality besides saving money ISLAMABAD: The oil disruption in the wake of the US-Iran war has compelled the government to dust off its petroleum refining policy, which was passed almost three years ago but could not be enforced due to flawed negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The government has now assured the refining sector of corrective measures in the upcoming budget to revive $6 billion in investments for refining upgrades and expansion. Pakistan is losing up to $2bn in annual foreign exchange due to expensive petroleum product imports instead of crude. The refining policy returned into the limelight after Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, at a recent meeting, assured the management of the refineries that the government was seri... -
Dawn - 19:03 May 11, 2026
ATTOCK: A shepherd laid down his life while averting a suicide attack on the Mankor security post in Attock’s Jand area on Monday, potentially saving dozens of lives, District Police Officer Sardar Marwan Khan confirmed. Talking to the media, DPO Marwan said the incident occurred near a key security post on the Punjab-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border, located in tehsil Jand, some 70km from Attock city. The local shepherd was identified as Liaqat and a former employee of Pakistan Railways. According to witnesses, Liaqat noticed a suspicious individual in the area while grazing his goats nearby. He confronted the suspect after sensing something unusual about the man’s behaviour. As he approached, the witnesses said that the suspect detonated the suicide vest, causing a powerful explosion and claiming Liaqat’s life. Shortly after the blast, officials rushed to the scene, and authorities cordoned off the area. The forensic teams also began collecting evidence from the blast site. Meanwhile, DPO Marwan and Deputy Commiss... -
Dawn - 18:37 May 11, 2026
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark this week on a multi-nation tour to the United Arab Emirates and four European countries, officials said on Monday. Modi will start his whirlwind tour from the UAE — where a 4.5 million-strong Indian community lives — on Friday, India’s foreign ministry said in a statement. Modi will meet with the UAE’s leader, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with energy cooperation high on the agenda amid global supply disruptions caused by the Middle East war. “The visit will serve to promote the significant trade and investment linkages between the two countries,” the statement said. The premier will then travel to the Netherlands between May 15 and 17 on his second visit there since 2017, with defence, semiconductors and “a strategic partnership on water” between the two countries on the agenda. Modi’s visit “early in the tenure of the new government will provide an opportunity to further deepen and expand” India’s partnership with the Dutch, the ministry said. Bilateral... -
Dawn - 17:56 May 11, 2026
President Donald Trump on Monday said the ceasefire in the Middle East war was on “life support,” rejecting Iran’s latest counteroffer, which it said had included demands for the release of frozen assets and the end of a US blockade. The president’s reaction to Iran’s position — itself a response to a US proposal — sent oil prices soaring and dashed hopes that a deal could be quickly negotiated to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. After slamming the response as “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE”, Trump insisted the US would see a “complete victory” over Iran, adding that the truce, which has largely halted fighting in the Gulf for over a month, was on its last legs. “The ceasefire is on massive life support, where the doctor walks in and says, ‘Sir, your loved one has approximately a one per cent chance of living,’” he told reporters on Monday. The developments unnerved global energy markets already thrown into chaos by the war and the overlapping blockades imposed by Iran and the US in the Strait of Ho... -
Dawn - 17:06 May 11, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Senators on Monday decried the latest hike in petroleum prices and costly energy, accusing the government of “economic oppression” and calling for an exit from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. PTI’s parliamentary leader in the Senate, Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, termed the fresh hike in petroleum prices a “petrol bomb” and “economic oppression” against the public, regretting the Rs117.5 per litre levy. Speaking on the floor of the Upper House, Zafar rejected the government’s claim that international oil prices forced the increase, arguing that global crude prices had instead declined. “Instead of reducing prices, the government has sharply increased petroleum levies on the public,” he said. He said the government was collecting “more than Rs117.5 per litre in petroleum levy, far exceeding the IMF-agreed limit of Rs80,” terming the policy “daylight robbery” aimed at covering up “economic incompetence”. Referring to the French Revolution, Zafar said when the poor had no bread, Queen Mar... -
Dawn - 16:54 May 11, 2026
ISLAMABAD: More than two years after the General Elections of February 2024, election tribunals across Pakistan have yet to dispose of nearly a third of election petitions. As a result, dozens of lawmakers continue to hold office under a legal cloud with 128 cases still awaiting adjudication, according to the Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen). By the end of April 2026, election tribunals had decided 246, or 66 per cent, of the 374 petitions filed against GE-2024 outcomes in 113 National Assembly and 236 Provincial Assembly constituencies. Of these, 73 out of 124 petitions pertaining to National Assembly constituencies and 173 out of 250 petitions about Provincial Assemblies have been disposed of. Under Section 142 of the Elections Act, candidates may contest election results within 45 days of the gazette notification of a returned candidate, while Section 148(5) requires tribunals to decide each petition within 180 days of filing. The legally prescribed timeline for disposing of petitions expired in Octo... -
Dawn - 15:46 May 11, 2026
The National Assembly on Monday unanimously approved a resolution hailing the armed forces’ “befitting response” to India’s unprovoked military aggression during last year’s May conflict. The conflict with India — starting from the April 22 Pahalgam attack to the end of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos with a ceasefire between the two countries on May 10 — has been dubbed “Marka-i-Haq” (Battle of Truth) by the state. Today, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar moved the resolution, which stated that the NA paid “rich tributes to the gallant armed forces of Pakistan”. It noted that the armed forces, under the leadership and command of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, “launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos on May 10, 2025, delivering a befitting response to this aggression”. The NA deplored that in the “aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist incident on April 22, 2025 in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, a malicious campaign was immediately orchestrated by the Indian... -
Dawn - 15:35 May 11, 2026
Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto hit an unbeaten half-century as Bangladesh extended their lead by 179 runs on the rainy fourth day of the first Test against Pakistan on Monday. The hosts were 152-3 in their second innings, with Shanto on 58 not out alongside Mushfiqur Rahim on 16, when stumps were drawn for the day at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. Bangladesh lost their openers early after resuming on their overnight score of 7-0, with Mahmudul Hasan Joy trapped leg before off Mohammad Abbas for five. Shadman Islam was then caught at gully by Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel off Hasan Ali for 10, leaving the hosts reeling at 23-2. Shanto came to the rescue, joining hands with Mominul Haque (56) to steady the innings. The left-handed pair, who had tormented Pakistan with a record 170-run third wicket stand in the first innings, added 70 runs off 122 balls to take Bangladesh to lunch at 92-2. Pakistan had chances to make further inroads but Mohammad Rizwan failed to hold on to Mominul’s catch. The af... -
Dawn - 15:11 May 11, 2026
The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) on Monday announced the launch of a “fully online and paperless” degree attestation system to facilitate students. In December last year, the HEC said that it had initiated a project to revamp its degree attestation system by integrating cutting-edge blockchain technology, saying the project would be completed within six months. Meanwhile, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Government Assurances had also asked the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to reduce the turnaround time in degree attestation. In a social media post on X, HEC Chairman Dr Niaz Ahmed Akhtar said, “HEC has revamped the Degree Attestation System (DAS) by introducing a fully online and paperless attestation mechanism to facilitate students and graduates across Pakistan.” Under the new system, he explained, applicants will no longer be required to physically visit HEC offices or submit original documents. “Applications for online attestation can now be submitted 24/7 through the HEC e... -
Dawn - 15:08 May 11, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday extended the countrywide austerity drive till June 13. The Middle East war, which began with US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, has given rise to a global oil crisis. In order to deal with the situation, the government had announced unprecedented austerity measures on March 9. A notification of the Cabinet Division, available with Dawn, said: “The prime minister, on consideration of the recommendations of the committee for monitoring and implementation of fuel conservation and additional austerity measures, has been pleased to extend the applicability of the following additional austerity measures up till 13th June, 2026 with immediate effect.” The measures extended included 50 per cent reduction in fuel allowance for official vehicles, with the exemption of operational vehicles such as ambulances and public buses. Other steps included grounding 60pc of official vehicles and a complete ban on foreign visits by ministers and government officials, excluding those ... -
Dawn - 14:33 May 11, 2026
European Union (EU) foreign ministers reached an agreement on Monday on new sanctions targeting violent Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, as well as leading Hamas figures, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. The sanctions package, which targets three settlers and four settler organisations whose identities have yet to be publicly disclosed, had been blocked for months by the previous Hungarian government, which lost an election last month. European governments have raised concerns about a rise in reports of settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. “It was high time we move from deadlock to delivery,” Kallas said in a post on X. “Extremisms and violence carry consequences,” she added. Reacting to the development, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on X that the EU had “chosen, in an arbitrary and political manner, to impose sanctions on Israeli citizens and entities because of their political views and without any basis.” “Equally outrageous is the unacceptable comparison ... -
Dawn - 13:24 May 11, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, have submitted additional documents to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, bringing these on record before the hearing on Tuesday, May 12, on their plea, which seeks to set aside the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) order denying interim relief in the controversial social media posts case. In December 2025, Imaan Mazari and her husband moved the Supreme Court to set aside the IHC’s decision that denied the interim relief in the controversial social media post case against the couple. The petition argued that the high court had “erroneously and illegally refused” to exercise the discretion to grant ad-interim relief to the petitioners to stay the criminal trial, as recording of evidence before the trial court in their absence was not only a violation of Section 353 CrPC, but also their due process and fair trial rights under Article 10A of the Constitution. The additional documents, submitted by their counsel, Faisal Siddiqi, on... -
Dawn - 13:20 May 11, 2026
The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday dismissed a set of appeals instituted by Greentree Holdings Limited (GTH) against a June order by the Sindh High Court (SHC), which had held that GTH shares were the property of private equity firm The Resource Group Pakistan (TRGP). The dispute revolves around a challenge to a June 20, 2025 SHC judgement, in which the SHC had allowed an application of former TRG CEO Muhammad Ziaullah Khan Chishti to be filed under company laws. In its order on June 20, 2025, the SHC had ruled that shares held by GTH in TRGP (the respondent) were the property of TRGP, and would be deemed to have been purchased by the latter from its shareholders. The court had also ordered TGRP’s Board of Directors to issue notice for an extraordinary general meeting of the company immediately to elect directors, adding that the new board of directors would decide whether to retain or cancel these treasury shares after the elections. A three-judge SC bench, headed by Justice Naeem Akhter Afghan alongside Justi... -
Dawn - 12:46 May 11, 2026
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday decried decisions taken behind closed doors, saying that the provincial government would oppose those decisions that went against peace in the province and the people’s interests. He made the remarks during a visit to Bannu, after 15 police personnel were martyred and three sustained injuries after a suicide attack on the Fateh Khel police post. According to a statement issued by the CM House, Afridi met the families of the martyred police personnel and also offered Fateha. The statement said that he also visited the hospital to inquire about the health of the injured personnel and directed officials to provide them with the best possible healthcare facilities. The statement quoted Afridi as saying that the KP police had shown bravery and courage against terrorism. He said that the people of the province had to stand up for their rights, otherwise the “imposed circumstances” would continue to prevail. “We have been continuously saying that terrorists a... -
Dawn - 11:26 May 11, 2026
The Foreign Office (FO) said on Monday that the Afghan chargé d’affaires was summoned and handed a “strong demarche” over the suicide attack in Bannu, which claimed the lives of 15 police personnel. In a statement, the FO said, “The Afghan chargé d’affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today to deliver a strong demarche regarding the cowardly vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (IED) attack carried out by terrorists of Fitna al Khawarij on the Fateh Khel police post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu District on May 9.” Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, while Fitna al Hindustan is a term designated by the state for terrorist organisations in Balochistan. “The ministry conveyed that a detailed investigation into the incident, along with evidence collected and technical intelligence, indicates that the attack was masterminded by terrorists residing in Afghanistan,” the FO said. “Reiterating Pakistan’s grave concern ... -
Dawn - 11:02 May 11, 2026
Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat on Monday announced a three-month-long summer vacation for schools in the province. In a statement released by his spokesperson, he said that the summer break would begin on May 22 and would end on August 23. He said that schools in the province would then open on August 24. The minister also posted the same on his official Facebook account. Last month, schools in the province were advised to alter working hours or declare early summer holidays due to excessive heat, which has prevailed over parts of the country over the past few weeks. The Punjab Disaster Management Authority had issued urgent directives to educational institutions and district administrations across the province in view of a heatwave. The advisory had stated that schools should alter working hours or declare early summer holidays if excessive heat persisted; suspend all outdoor sports and activities immediately; ensure uninterrupted availability of clean, cold drinking water; maintain functi... -
Dawn - 10:48 May 11, 2026
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said on Monday that a plot to coerce a girl into carrying out a terrorist attack in Islamabad had been thwarted by intelligence agencies. The girl, who was reportedly arrested before she could carry out a suicide bombing, will be released to her father under supervision instead of facing trial, he said. The chief minister, in a press conference alongside the suspect, emphatically denounced the perpetrators of exploitation against Baloch women and girls. He stressed that their actions had no connection at all to Baloch tradition or history. “We are faithful to our tradition,” he said, adding, “These people have no connection to Balochiyat, and the way they are using our women in this war is shameful. I am so ashamed that I cannot even tell the media the details.” According to details shared by Bugti, the girl’s name had initially appeared on social media as a missing person, but an investigation by intelligence agencies ascertained that she was allegedly training at a t... -
Dawn - 10:26 May 11, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday ordered an inquiry into an attack in Toba Tek Singh that left PML-N MPA Col (retired) Sardar Ayub Gadhi injured and four of his aides dead. The incident occurred on Sunday night, when Gadhi was sitting with his friends in his outhouse (Dera) in Chak 184-GB. Subsequently, unidentified gunmen opened indiscriminate fire. In a statement on Monday, PM Shehbaz expressed deep concern and strongly condemned the incident. He also directed the relevant authorities to swiftly complete the inquiry so that those responsible could be identified and brought to justice. Calling Gadhi one of the PML-N’s hardworking workers, the prime minister said that the attack on the MPA while he was listening to public grievances was extremely concerning. He offered prayers for those who lost their lives in the incident and for the recovery of the injured. Those killed in the incident on Sunday night were identified as Zaigham Abbas (41), Nadim Noor (45), Khaliqdad (49), and Haq Nawaz (55). Police s... -
Dawn - 10:22 May 11, 2026
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday allowed an application filed by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz seeking the return of Rs70 million deposited as surety for bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case. The case by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) pertains to alleged money laundering and income beyond means via “dubious” business transactions of the Chaudhry Sugar Mills, of which Maryam was a major shareholder. At the outset of the hearing, a NAB deputy prosecutor submitted an affidavit to an LHC full bench about the withdrawal of its plea before the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) challenging directives for the closure of the Chaudhry Sugar Mills investigation against Maryam. At this, Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, who headed the bench, accepted Maryam’s application with instructions to the registrar’s office to return the surety amount. Justice Muhammad Jawad Zafar and Justice Abher Gul Khan were the other members of the bench. The chief minister, through her counsel Javed Arshad, had filed ...
10418 items