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Dawn - 13:43 Apr 17, 2026
The air force escorted Iranian negotiators home from inconclusive peace talks with the United States last weekend, launching a major operation after the Iranians said Israel might seek to kill them, three sources told Reuters. Pakistan deployed some two dozen jets in the escort, as well as the force’s Airborne Warning and Control System for aerial surveillance to ensure the safety of the delegation back from Islamabad, said two Pakistani sources with knowledge of the operation. One said similar security protection would be provided for subsequent talks if the Iranians ask for it, “otherwise Pakistani aircraft would receive them in Pakistan airspace”. A third source involved in the talks said measures were already in the works ahead of an expected further round of talks as soon as this weekend. ‘They might be targeted’ A regional diplomat briefed by Tehran, however, said Pakistan insisted on the escort after Iranian delegates raised the “hypothetical” possibility of a threat. The discussions with the Iranian d... -
Dawn - 13:20 Apr 17, 2026
The Islamabad and Rawalpindi administrations on Friday refuted reports regarding the closure of transport terminals. In a post on the social media platform X, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfaz Nawaz Memon said, “All bus terminals in Islamabad are open as usual. All types of transport are operating as usual at all bus terminals, including Faizabad.” Further, the Islamabad Traffic Police also clarified that reports regarding the closure of transport stands in the federal capital were baseless. A traffic police official said that inter-city transport in Islamabad was operating as usual and no shutdown had been ordered. He said any decision regarding closure of bus terminals or inter-city public transport would be communicated to the public in advance through official channels. The official urged citizens to rely only on verified information and avoid spreading unconfirmed reports. The same was also shared by the Islamabad Traffic Police on X. Meanwhile, Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema also s... -
Dawn - 13:17 Apr 17, 2026
Pope Leo has debuted a new, forceful speaking style on his four-nation Africa tour this week, issuing sharp denunciations of war and inequality that have sparked repeated attacks on the pontiff from US President Donald Trump. The change in rhetoric reflects Leo’s growing concern with the direction of global leadership, experts said, after he maintained a relatively low profile for a pope during the first 10 months of his papacy. Trump first attacked Leo as “terrible” on Sunday, in an apparent response to the pope’s criticisms of the US-Israeli war on Iran. He lobbed more criticism again on Thursday, suggesting the pope didn’t understand foreign policy issues. The first US pope, speaking earlier that day in Cameroon, had said the world was “being ravaged by a handful of tyrants”, without naming individuals. “Normally popes and the Vatican are cautious when it comes to international politics, preferring diplomacy to public censure,” said John Thavis, a retired Vatican correspondent who covered three papacies. “... -
Dawn - 11:45 Apr 17, 2026
The International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Friday it is investigating Cricket Canada over allegations of match corruption, including the team’s loss to New Zealand at the recent T20 World Cup hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The game in Chennai — which Canada lost by eight wickets — is under scrutiny following allegations of corruption highlighted in a documentary aired by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) on Thursday. “The ACU (anti-corruption unit) is aware of the programme broadcast by CBC,” Andrew Ephgrave, interim general manager of the ICC’s Integrity Unit, said in a statement. The documentary by the public broadcaster made wide-ranging accusations of corruption and poor governance against Canada Cricket. In the Chennai game, suspicion is focused on the fifth over bowled by captain Dilpreet Bajwa during New Zealand’s chase, according to ESPNCricinfo. He started with a no-ball, bowled a wide, and ended up conceding 15 runs in the over. Canada scored 173 for four wickets in 20 overs, while Ne... -
Dawn - 11:37 Apr 17, 2026
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has upheld the federal government’s policy to monetise free electricity units for officers of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) and power distribution companies, it emerged on Friday. As per the ruling, the benefit was a non-statutory service perk and could be lawfully altered as part of administrative and financial reforms. Justice Malik Javid Iqbal Wains announced the verdict dismissing a constitutional petition challenging a notification issued by the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) on December 5, 2023. The impugned notification introduced a policy to monetise free electricity units previously provided to officers in BPS-17 and above working in Wapda and ex-Wapda entities, including distribution and generation companies. Previously, officers from BPS-18 to 22 were given a total of 75 million units of electricity collectively, costing up to Rs4-4.5 billion annually. Under the policy, officers are now required to pay electricity bills, while a fixed monetary ... -
Dawn - 11:10 Apr 17, 2026
Bushra Bibi, the wife of incarcerated ex-premier and PTI founder Imran Khan, was shifted back to Adiala jail on Friday after undergoing an eye surgery at a Rawalpindi hospital, according to jail authorities. Bushra is serving a seven-year sentence in the £190 million corruption case. In December 2025, she was sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment in the Toshakhana 2 case, which revolved around the purchase of an expensive jewelry set gifted to Imran by the Saudi crown prince during his May 2021 visit. The PTI has expressed concern over reports about her health, demanding that she be taken to a hospital for diagnosis and treatment. According to a press release by the Adiala jail authorities, she had complained of impaired vision in her right eye, due to which the prison administrators immediately had her examined by ophthalmologists. The superintendent of the jail said that retinal detachment was diagnosed in the right eye. In view of the diagnosis, doctors advised surgery, he added. On Thursday evening, the pa... -
Dawn - 10:23 Apr 17, 2026
KARACHI: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and FIA Director General (DG) Dr Usman Anwar on Friday directed the timely redressal of complaints and ensuring transparent investigations at all costs. The directions were issued during their visit to the FIA Karachi Zone, where they conducted a detailed inspection of various departments. On the occasion, the director of FIA Karachi Zone and the additional director general (South) gave a comprehensive briefing on ongoing complaints, inquiries, and important cases. The senior officials conducted a detailed review of the performance of all circles and emphasised that public grievances must be resolved on a priority basis. During the visit, special attention was also given to matters related to the welfare of officers and staff. Director FIA stated that the promotion system was being further improved to ensure the professional development of officers. He also issued directions regarding the conduct of medical tests for officers and staff, as well as the provision ... -
Dawn - 09:39 Apr 17, 2026
Alongside hundreds of others forced to flee south Lebanon, Amani Atrash and her family waited eagerly on Friday morning for bulldozers to reopen the Qasmiyeh bridge, which Israel bombed just hours before a ceasefire began. Her family was among the tens of thousands of people hoping to go home after being displaced by the Israel-Hezbollah war — despite warnings against returning to the south from the Iran-backed militant group, Lebanese officials and the Israeli army, which continues to occupy parts of the area. “We set off an hour before the ceasefire took effect so we could reach the bridge once it opens, allowing us to return to our town,” said Atrash, 37, who fled north at the start of the war. “The wait is very difficult because we want to get there as quickly as possible,” she told AFP as she sat in her car in a line stretching for kilometres northeast of the coastal city of Tyre. The 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into force at midnight, hours after it was announced by US President Don... -
Dawn - 08:49 Apr 17, 2026
Sweden’s government has faced growing criticism over its plans to require migrants to adhere to “honest living”, with rights groups and legal experts saying the proposed measure is discriminatory. Sweden’s government, which came to power in 2022 on vows to get tough on immigration and crime, is trying to rapidly push through a slew of reforms in various areas ahead of legislative elections in September. If approved by parliament, the “honest living” measure would come into force on July 13. Under the change, the Migration Agency will consider, when granting or renewing non-EU citizens’ residence permits, whether applicants have at any time posed a threat to public order or security, had extremist sympathies or links to groups advocating violence, or committed minor offences punishable by fines. Other factors may include going into debt “without any intention or effort to repay”, organised begging, committing welfare fraud, or working off the books. Those found not adhering to the “honest living” standard coul... -
Dawn - 07:41 Apr 17, 2026
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday faced renewed calls from his political opponents to resign after it was revealed that his former ambassador to the United States failed security vetting and was still allowed to take up the job. The government on Thursday confirmed Mandelson — who was subsequently fired after Starmer said he had lied about the strength of his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — had failed his security vetting before taking up the role. The government said Starmer was unaware officials in the Foreign Office had overruled the vetting recommendation, and a source said the most senior official at the Foreign Office, Olly Robbins, would leave his role after losing Starmer’s confidence. “I don’t think the prime minister can get out of his responsibility by sacking Olly Robbins. I think the buck has to stop with Mr Starmer,” Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey told BBC Radio. “I think the evidence suggests that he misled the Commons (parliament) and misled the public. ... -
Dawn - 07:35 Apr 17, 2026
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb appreciated China’s support in facilitating Pakistan’s engagements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, the finance ministry said on Friday. Aurangzeb arrived in the United States on Monday to participate in the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings 2026, taking place from April 13 to 18 in Washington, DC. The Spring Meetings bring together finance ministers, central bank governors, policymakers and development experts from around the world amid ongoing global economic uncertainty. While there, the finance minister held an important meeting with China’s Finance Minister Lan Fo’an on the sidelines of the meetings, the ministry said in a statement on X. During the meeting, he expressed deep appreciation for China’s “long-standing and unwavering bilateral support” to Pakistan, as well as the constructive role played by China’s Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in facilit... -
Dawn - 05:37 Apr 17, 2026
An Australian court granted bail on Friday to former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith, charged with murdering unarmed prisoners captured in Afghanistan following a sweeping war crimes probe. The towering soldier became a household name across Australia when he was awarded the Victoria Cross in 2011, a medal reserved for only the most courageous wartime exploits. But a landmark military report in 2020 revealed grave allegations against Australian troops sent to fight Taliban forces, accusing elite units of torture, summary executions and “body count” competitions. This month Roberts-Smith was charged with five counts of “war crime — murder”, with police alleging he was complicit in a string of unlawful killings between 2009 and 2012. After ten days behind bars he was granted bail, with Judge Greg Grogin telling a Sydney court that the former soldier faced the prospect of “years and years” in jail before his case went to trial. In court via video link, Roberts-Smith appeared impassive as he was shown on screen in a gr... -
Dawn - 05:14 Apr 17, 2026
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Friday signed an agreement to extend a $3 billion deposit from the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD). Saudi Arabia, earlier this week, pledged an additional $3 billion in deposits for Pakistan and extended its existing $5bn facility for a further three years. “The agreement, signed between the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), provides for the extension in the maturity of a USD 3 billion deposit placed by SFD with the State Bank of Pakistan,” said a post on X by the Ministry of Finance. The ministry said that the agreement was signed between SBP Governor Jameel Ahmed and Chief Executive Officer of the SFD Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad. Minister for Finance and Muhammad Aurangzeb witnessed the signing of an important financial agreement in Washington, DC, in the presence of Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States. The development took place on the sidelines of the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings. The ministry added that the extension of the... -
Dawn - 03:48 Apr 17, 2026
KARACHI: Setting aside a conviction in a sexual assault case, the Sindh High Court (SHC) has deplored that the underage victim was subjected to trauma by both the police and his own father. A two-judge SHC bench, headed by Justice Omar Sial, observed that the victim’s father and the investigating officer had weakened the prosecution’s case to the extent that reasonable doubt was created. The court further noted that the investigation was not conducted with the sensitivity required in a case involving a juvenile. The bench also remarked that the prosecution had been callous in attempting to prove the charge of sodomy during the trial while lawyers for the parties displayed insensitivity during the recording of the victim’s statement. It emphasised that the primary duty to regulate proceedings lay with the trial court, which should have exercised greater care given the involvement of a minor, particularly as the medical evidence did not support the prosecution’s allegations. In October last year, a sessions cou... -
Dawn - 03:27 Apr 17, 2026
PRIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim shake hands in Doha; and (right) Field Marshal Asim Munir meets Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in Tehran.—Reuters/AFP • Claims Iran has accepted ‘almost everything’ in talks • Nuclear issue remains key sticking point; US presses for complete dismantlement • Pakistan-led diplomacy, CDF’s Tehran visit gain global attention • FO says Pakistan maintaining ‘open channels’ with both sides • Massive security deployment planned in Islamabad, Rawalpindi WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday he may travel to Islamabad if a final agreement with Iran is signed there, while claiming that Tehran has accepted “almost everything” currently under negotiation. Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn before departing for Nevada and Arizona, Trump expressed optimism about Pakistan-led diplomatic efforts to end hostilities and secure a settlement before the current ceasefire expires. “If a deal is signed in Islamabad, I may go,... -
Dawn - 02:35 Apr 17, 2026
• Recommends tax reduction for sake of affordability; Qamar likens income tax on phones to sales tax • Senate committee questions high SMS alert charges ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee on Thursday expressed concern over the high tax burden on mobile phones, directing the Tax Policy Office (TPO) in the Ministry of Finance to submit a detailed report on the existing taxation structure for both imported and locally manufactured devices. The National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance, chaired by MNA Naveed Qamar, observed that income tax on mobile phones was effectively being treated as a sales tax and directed the authorities to review the practice. The committee also asked for a detailed written note outlining the rationale, revenue implications and policy objectives behind the current tax regime. FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial briefed the committee on the mobile taxation. After a presentation, the committee recommended a reduction in mobile phone taxes. Tax officials assured the committee that ... -
Dawn - 02:28 Apr 17, 2026
• Duration nearly three times more than what was announced earlier • Minister cites LNG import disruption, Middle East crisis as key factors • Shortfall estimated at 3,400MW • Demand spikes from 9,000MW to 20,000MW in days • Nuclear plant maintenance postponed to boost supply ISLAMABAD: Power Minister Awais Leghari on Thursday confirmed six to seven hours of load management — almost three times higher than the government’s public commitment — citing a sudden surge in demand, non-availability of imported gas and lower water discharges for irrigation. Speaking at a news conference, the minister said power shortfalls had been caused by disruptions to LNG imports due to the Middle East crisis and by lower provincial irrigation water requirements, both of which he said were beyond the government’s control. However, he insisted that the government was making every possible effort to minimise both outages and potential tariff increases arising from the use of expensive alternative fuels. In this regard, he said the ... -
Dawn - 21:57 Apr 16, 2026
A 10-day ceasefire deal agreed between Lebanon and Israel took effect on Friday while US President Donald Trump said he was trying to set up the first-ever meeting between the leaders of the two countries. The ceasefire was announced by Trump on Thursday. Israel has been carrying out deadly attacks in Lebanon against the backdrop of a now-paused US-Israeli war on Iran. The war spilled into Lebanon on March 2, with an attack by Hezbollah against Israel. Israeli attacks have killed more than 2,100 people in Lebanon since and forced more than 1.2 million to flee, Lebanese authorities say. Israel says Hezbollah attacks have killed two Israeli civilians, while 13 Israeli soldiers have died in Lebanon since March 2. Trump announced the agreement between the two sides on a ceasefire in a Truth Social post, saying that he had “excellent conversations” with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countri... -
Dawn - 20:34 Apr 16, 2026
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that if a deal with Iran to end the war was reached and signed in Islamabad, he might go there, claiming that Iran had agreed to almost everything. He also said that the US and Iran were “very close” to signing a peace deal. Trump struck an optimistic tone about Iran as he spoke with reporters on the White House lawn on his way to a trip to Nevada and Arizona. Pakistan’s civil and military leadership has been engaged in feverish diplomacy, seeking to bring the US and Iran back to the negotiating table after the Islamabad Talks over the weekend yielded no result. Now, there are reports that the negotiating teams from the US and Iran could return to Islamabad. The talks were held as a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran remained in effect. The ceasefire paused hostilities that began with the US-Israeli strikes on February 28. During the conversation at the White House, Trump was asked if he would go to Pakistan to seal the deal himself, t... -
Dawn - 20:04 Apr 16, 2026
After wrapping up visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday arrived in Turkiye’s Antalya on the third leg of his tri-nation tour, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The PMO later said that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, paid a courtesy call on PM Shehbaz, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi were also present at the meeting. “During their cordial conversation, Foreign Minister Fidan extended a warm welcome to PM Shehbaz and thanked him for his participation in the upcoming Antalya Diplomacy Forum. He said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was looking forward to his meeting with the PM on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum,” the PMO said. It added that PM Shehbaz thanked FM Fidan for the warm welcome and traditional hospitality. “He said it was a pleasure for him to visit Turkiye, his second home. He was looking forward to the opportunity to participate in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum and sa...
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