Dawn
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Dawn - 03:22 May 08, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Karachi, has frozen four more high-value properties of Bahria Town on the instructions of an accountability court. Sources in the NAB said the action was carried out under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010, following investigations that established that these assets were purchased through the laundering of crime proceeds. The bureau has attached the Bahria Icon Tower in Clifton, Karachi, where investigations revealed that Rs8 billion in crime proceeds had been laundered for its construction. The property was being held under a front company, M/s Galaxy Construction Pvt Ltd. Similarly, the Bahria Town Tower on Tariq Road, Karachi, was attached after it was established that the project was held in the name of Muhammad Awais, a “benami” frontman for Malik Riaz Hussain and M/s Bahria Town. Beyond Karachi, the operation extended to significant land holdings. The bureau has attached 817 kanals of prime land in Sheikhupura and 2,029 kanals of land in Peshawar in... -
Dawn - 03:18 May 08, 2026
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday directed the provincial government to make the University Road fully functional within two months. The SHC also ordered the Sindh government to complete the much-delayed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line project within the given timeline after it was informed that the project was now scheduled to be completed by October next year. A constitutional bench of the SHC comprising Justice Muhammad Saleem Jessar and Justice Nasir Ahmed Bhanbhro made it clear that the construction of the Red Line must not in any manner affect the smooth flow of traffic on the University Road. The bench issued such directives while disposing of a petition filed by M/s AM Associates and CR 3, and submitted that the petitioner company was executing the project, but the respondents had sealed their project site and served a termination notice on April 21 without any lawful justification and contrary to the terms of the contract. The bench noted that the contract of the petitioner company had... -
Dawn - 03:03 May 08, 2026
NEW YORK: A federal judge on Wednesday released a document described as a suicide note purportedly written by the late Jeffrey Epstein and including the line: “It is a treat to be able to choose ones time to say goodbye.” Epstein, the disgraced financier and accused sex trafficker, was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 in what was ruled a suicide. The handwritten note was said to have been found by his former jail cellmate, convicted murderer and ex-police officer Nicholas Tartaglione. US District Judge Kenneth Karas, who oversaw the Tartaglione case, released the note after a request by The New York Times, which reported its existence last week. Karas ruled that the note qualified as a judicial document subject to the public’s right of access because it was submitted in connection with Tartaglione’s criminal case. Tartaglione is serving four consecutive life sentences for drug-related murders. Karas oversaw that case. Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026 -
Dawn - 02:47 May 08, 2026
• Seeks probe into ‘sudden and suspicious’ transfer of ex-PM’s spouse to medical centre from Adiala jail • Rana Sanaullah advises party to pursue matter through legal channels ISLAMABAD: PTI senators walked out of the Senate on Thursday after the party’s parliamentary leader in the House, Syed Ali Zafar, raised alarm over reports that Bushra Bibi was “suddenly and suspiciously” taken to a hospital from Adiala jail during the night and returned without any disclosure, calling it a “serious human rights violation”. Raising a point of order, Mr Zafar said the reports had caused “grave apprehension and concern throughout the country”. He termed the situation “highly strange and secretive” and said it raised several questions. “If Bushra Bibi was unwell, why has the nation not been informed about her medical condition? To which hospital was she taken? What medical tests were conducted? Which doctors examined her? Why was she immediately brought back to jail?” he asked. He said the silence of the government and jai... -
Dawn - 02:45 May 08, 2026
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s decision to pause a US operation to escort commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz reportedly followed pressure from Saudi Arabia, according to an NBC News report citing two US officials. The operation, dubbed Project Freedom, was unexpectedly announced by Trump on social media on Sunday and began on Monday. However, US allies in the Gulf were reportedly surprised by the announcement. According to the officials, Saudi Arabia — one of Washington’s key regional partners— subsequently suspended the US military’s access to its bases and airspace needed to support the mission. “Trump surprised Gulf allies by announcing ‘Project Freedom’ on social media Sunday afternoon, the officials said, angering leadership in Saudi Arabia,” NBC News reported. “In response, the Kingdom informed the US it would not allow the US military to fly aircraft from Prince Sultan Airbase southeast of Riyadh or fly through Saudi airspace to support the effort.” Riyadh rejects media report on Tr... -
Dawn - 19:21 May 07, 2026
Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Thursday that Islamabad was hopeful about and would expect an agreement between the US and Iran “sooner rather than later”. He said this during a weekly briefing, where he was asked how soon the agreement could be expected. “You have asked us how soon we can expect an agreement. We remain optimistic. A simple answer would be that we expect an agreement sooner rather than later. We hope that the parties will come to a peaceful, sustainable solution and bring peace, not just to our region but internationally as well,” he said. In this regard, Andrabi also said Pakistan would welcome a settlement between Iran and the US wherever it may be reached. “If an agreement is reached in Pakistan, it would be an honour for us,” he said. The FO spokesperson also said he could not say whether the draft of the agreement would be one page or longer. Asked whether the US government could be under pressure to end the war due to the upcoming mid-term elections, Andrabi said:... -
Dawn - 18:40 May 07, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Finance and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday showed unanimous optimism over economic growth and achieving fiscal and current account targets despite the regional crisis. The development comes amid anticipated approval of disbursements worth over $1.2bn by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday and the scheduled visit of another mission for next year’s budget formulation on May 15. Testifying before the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, SBP Governor Jameel Ahmed confirmed that the SBP had purchased about $27bn from the market over the past three years, including $4.5bn so far this year, to boost foreign exchange reserves. He said the expected $1.2bn disbursements from the IMF would take foreign exchange reserves beyond $17bn by the end of the current fiscal year — enough for three months of import cover. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said that Pakistan had received regulatory approval from China for the inaugural laun... -
Dawn - 18:28 May 07, 2026
WASHINGTON: After weeks of military escalation, economic pressure and threats of a wider regional conflict, the Trump administration now appears to be searching for a diplomatic exit from its confrontation with Iran, even as officials in Washington insist the United States still holds the upper hand. President Donald Trump’s decision this week to pause a planned naval operation aimed at escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz has triggered debate over whether Washington is moving toward a negotiated settlement or simply recalibrating pressure before renewed escalation. The debate has been further intensified by Trump’s assertion that a peace deal with Iran is now likely — a claim that contrasts with the uncertainty still surrounding core disputes over nuclear capability, sanctions and maritime security. Analysts say the latest shift reflects a familiar pattern in US-Iran relations: escalation followed by partial de-escalation, without a clear end state. One of the most prominent voices analy... -
Dawn - 17:50 May 07, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday rejected the two lowest evaluated LNG bids from BP Singapore and TotalEnergies, priced at $17.28 and $16.98 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), respectively, for delivery next week and in the last week of the current month. State-run Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) received a total of seven bids — three cargoes for May 12-14 and four for May 24-26 — against urgent tenders floated a day earlier. For the first cargo, PetroChina bid $17.69 per mmBtu, BP Singapore $17.28 and Vitol Bahrain $17.84. For the second cargo (May 24-26), TotalEnergies bid $16.98 per mmBtu, OQ Trading $18.58, SOCAR Trading $17.21 and PetroChina International $17.49. PLL on Wednesday floated urgent tenders on a 36-hour notice for the import of two LNG cargoes for delivery between May 12-14 and May 24-26 amid rising temperatures and a power shortfall. The tender was floated following expectations among authorities that the Gulf crisis would ease and the Strait of Hormuz would reopen. PLL had rejected two bi... -
Dawn - 17:27 May 07, 2026
The second edition of the Breathe Pakistan International Climate Change Conference, organised by DawnMedia, concluded in Islamabad on Thursday after two days of deliberations on climate resilience, adaptation, energy transition, water security, urban planning, agriculture, climate finance and equitable policymaking. According to a press release by Breathe Pakistan, the conference brought together policymakers, parliamentarians, international organisations, climate experts, corporate leaders, academics, development partners and civil society representatives to assess Pakistan’s climate vulnerabilities and the reforms needed to strengthen resilience. It stated that across both days, speakers emphasised that climate change was no longer solely an environmental concern, but a broader economic and development challenge requiring coordinated implementation, regional cooperation and long-term planning. On the first day, federal ministers, government officials, business leaders, and agriculture and water experts were... -
Dawn - 17:22 May 07, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday received a telephone call from Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. During their “warm and cordial” conversation, the two leaders held a productive exchange of views on the current regional situation. Both sides reaffirmed their strong commitment to facilitating ongoing efforts to ensure lasting peace in the region, according to an official press release by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Recalling his recent visit to Doha on April 16, the prime minister said that his meeting with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the rest of the Qatari leadership was “most helpful” in forging a consensus for the peace efforts. He noted that the people of Pakistan were looking forward to a visit from the emir of Qatar at a convenient date, adding that the visit would help to further strengthen bilateral ties between the countries. Meanwhile, Qatar’s premier expressed deep appreciation for Pakistan’s continued ... -
Dawn - 17:18 May 07, 2026
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Thursday that Pakistan was “prepared” as he highlighted the armed forces’ indigenous military capabilities. He made the remarks while addressing a press conference in Islamabad as the nation commemorated the one-year anniversary of Marka-i-Haq. The deputy chief of naval staff (operations), Rear Admiral Shifaat Ali, and the deputy chief of air staff (projects), Air Vice Marshal Tariq Ghazi, were also present alongside him. Last year’s military conflict with India, starting from the April 22 Pahalgam attack to the end of Pakistan’s Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, with a ceasefire ending a military escalation between the two countries on May 10, has been called “Marka-i-Haq” (Battle of Truth) by the state. “We welcome you to ISPR on this happy day,” he said at the outset of his presser, congratulating the nation on the one-year anniversary of Marka-i-Haq. He said that the country’s armed forces had risen to the nation’s expe... -
Dawn - 17:13 May 07, 2026
ISLAMABAD: PTI said that preparations for the final round of its movement against Imran Khan’s imprisonment had begun, as Adiala jail authorities again denied permission to meet the party founder on Thursday. PTI leaders, including Khurram Virk, Naseem Ali Shah, Zahir Shah, Rajab Abbasi, Zar Aalam and Rubina Shaheen, reached Adiala jail but were not allowed to meet Imran Khan until the end of visiting hours. Zahir, talking to the media, said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had announced preparations for the final round of the movement against the imprisonment of the PTI founder. He said that as soon as directions were received from the party founder, the movement would move forward, adding that the struggle had not yet ended. “Obstacles are deliberately created, resulting in serious damage to the judiciary, and that is why court orders to arrange a meeting with Imran Khan are not being implemented,” Zahir said. “The attacks on state institutions have weakened them significantly,” he added... -
Dawn - 16:39 May 07, 2026
Countries worldwide sought to prevent further spread of the hantavirus on Thursday, after an outbreak on a cruise ship, by tracking those who had already disembarked before the virus was detected and anyone in close contact with them since. Three people — a Dutch couple and a German national — died in the outbreak on the MV Hondius. In total, five people are confirmed to have contracted the virus, with another three suspected cases, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said. Hantavirus is usually spread by rodents, but can, in rare cases, be transmitted person-to-person. All passengers who disembarked in St. Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean, where the ship made a stop on April 24, have been contacted, the ship’s operator said, adding this included people from at least 12 countries, among them seven British citizens and six from the US The first confirmed case of hantavirus in this outbreak came in early May. ‘This is not Covid’ The WHO repeated that the risk to the general public was “low” even if the A... -
Dawn - 16:16 May 07, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Thursday set aside Section 7E of the Income Tax Ordinance (ITO) 2001 as ultra vires the Constitution, which had empowered tax authorities to levy tax on “deemed income” from assets and properties. Having a significant impact on the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) property taxation, Section 7E was introduced through the Finance Act, 2022, for the tax year 2023. It provided for taxation on deemed or notional income arising from ownership of certain immovable properties, subject to specified exemptions relating to personal residences, agricultural land, and other exempt categories recognised under the statutory framework. The Finance Act 2022 had imposed tax on the “deemed income” of taxpayers holding immovable property worth over Rs25 million. The provision taxed such property at five per cent of its FBR-defined fair market value, subject to a 20 per cent tax rate, resulting in an effective annual tax of one per cent on the capital value of undeveloped or no... -
Dawn - 15:34 May 07, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The government decided in principle to grant commercial banks significant powers to take over mortgaged houses in case of default after a cumulative notice period of 90 days, in a move aimed at encouraging lending to the housing sector. The proposed foreclosure law to amend “The Financial Institutions (Recovery of Finances) Ordinance, 2001”, currently under review by the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, provides that where a customer defaults on payment of mortgage dues, the financial institution may issue three notices of 30 days each, “demanding payment of the outstanding mortgage amount”. “In case of default in payment by a customer after service of the final (third) notice, the financial institution may proceed with the sale of the housing unit, provided that all notices have been duly served upon the mortgagor, who has remained in default of payment of mortgage dues or any part thereof.” The Standing Committee on Finance, which held a meeting in Islamabad on Thurs... -
Dawn - 14:49 May 07, 2026
Cambridge International Education (CIE) on Thursday cancelled the “prematurely shared” mathematics exam, announcing that it will conduct a new version of the exam for affected regions on June 9. On April 30, CIE confirmed that its AS-level mathematics paper was “shared prematurely” against its regulations. It said that the exam paper was for the Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Pakistan and South Asia regions. CIE, in a statement, said that “Cambridge’s senior assessment experts have decided that a new version of the Mathematics (9709/12) exam paper will be sat by all candidates in the affected regions”. CIE noted that the previous exam paper could not be used to award final exam results and “will not be used to generate results through calculated assessment”. As per the statement, the replacement exam will “ensure fair outcomes for students and deliver grades that are trusted by universities and other stakeholders”. CIE announced that the new exam will take place on June 9 (Tuesday), “as part of the June ser... -
Dawn - 14:12 May 07, 2026
Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood has expressed confidence in the bowling attack as the national side prepares to face Bangladesh in the first Test of the two-match series in Mirpur on Friday. The Green Shirts are visiting Bangladesh for a Test series after being whitewashed on home soil by the Bengal Tigers in August 2024. The visitors had won the two-match series by 10 wickets and six wickets respectively in Rawalpindi. Addressing the pre-series press conference on Thursday, Masood said, “We are fully focused on this series and the challenge of playing Bangladesh in their own conditions.” He also put the weight on the home side’s “quality in all departments”. Masood said that the team is looking forward to “testing” itself against its hosts. “We have selected a well-balanced squad that can perform in different conditions. The players have experience of playing in seam-friendly as well as spin-friendly environments, so we are confident about the options available to us,” he said. “In Test cricket, taking 20 ... -
Dawn - 14:05 May 07, 2026
LAHORE: At least four children were killed and 20 people were injured after the roof of a classroom at a private school in Punjab’s Dera Ghazi Khan collapsed on Thursday. The preliminary report of the incident released by the district administration confirmed the number of casualties. The injured include 16 students, two teachers and as many labourers, according to the report, which is available with Dawn. It said the incident was reported around noon, following which rescue personnel and ambulances were sent to the site. Initial responders reached the site “in four minutes”, it added. Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmad also told Dawn that rescue and district administration officials, along with local residents, participated in the rescue operation to pull out the students and teachers from under the rubble. District Education Authority Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Waqas Gill told Dawn that he was also present at the site while the rescue and search operation was under way. He said all the injured were ta... -
Dawn - 13:47 May 07, 2026
Two separate attacks in South Waziristan on Thursday killed three children and injured several people, security sources said. According to reports, an explosion occurred near a civilian settlement in the Gawa Khwa area of South Waziristan, while mortar shells were also fired at civilians by Afghan Taliban forces in the border tehsil of Angoor Adda. The explosion, they said, was caused after “Fitna al Khawarij hid cylinders filled with explosives near a house in a nearby settlement”. Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. “Three innocent children of a family were martyred and several people were injured” as a result of the explosion, the security sources said, noting that the victims were a 15-year-old boy and two girls of eight and seven years old. Security sources added that those injured in the attack were immediately taken to the District Headquarters Hospital in Wana. Locals expressed deep grief and anger over the tragic incident and s...
10418 items