Dawn
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Dawn - 16:24 Apr 02, 2026
The secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Thursday called for the UN Security Council to authorise the use of force to protect the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian attacks. Iran has placed a stranglehold on the key shipping lane — threatening fuel supplies and buckling the global economy — in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes on the country that triggered the month-old Middle East war. “Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, prevented commercial vessels and oil tankers from transiting, and imposed conditions on some to pass through the Strait,” said Jassem al-Budaiwi, head of the GCC. He spoke in New York at the first Security Council meeting on cooperation with the GCC, which comprises Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman. “We call upon the Security Council to assume its full responsibility and take all necessary measures to protect maritime routes and ensure the safe continuation of international navigation,” al-Budaiwi said. Bahrain has proposed a draft ... -
Dawn - 15:52 Apr 02, 2026
Meetings with Imran continue to remain suspended as authorities stop PTI leaders outside Adiala jail
ISLAMABAD: Meetings with the incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan continued to remain suspended on Thursday as authorities yet again stopped party leaders outside Adiala jail. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja had previously given a list of six names to jail authorities for a meeting with Imran. The leaders included Seemabia Tahir, Haider Mehdi, Raja Saqib Ali, Jahangir Ahmed Butt, Malik Najam Khan and Muhammad Owais Qaiser. Talking to Dawn, Tahir, a member of the party’s core committee, said that the time slot for meetings was from 2pm to 4pm. She said that workers and leaders reached Adiala jail at 1:45pm. “At the Dhagil check post, we informed authorities that our names were included in the list and, as per orders of the apex court, we should be allowed to meet Imran. But we were not allowed to move ahead. We were left with no option, so we started protesting,” she said. “We remained there till 4:30pm and finally decided to return,” she said. Replying to a question, she said that it was unfortunate th... -
Dawn - 15:34 Apr 02, 2026
UN experts have called for an international investigation into the killing of three Lebanese journalists in an Israeli strike, saying Israel had not provided “credible evidence” of their supposed links to armed groups. The three journalists, including Al Manar correspondent Ali Shoeib, were killed on March 28 in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon. “We denounce strongly what has now become a standard, dangerous practice of Israel to target and kill journalists and then claim, without providing any credible evidence, that they were involved with armed groups,” the experts said in a statement. The Israeli army claimed that Shoeib was a member of the Radwan force, an elite unit of Hezbollah, operating “under the guise of a journalist”. According to the experts, Israel’s only “evidence” for its claims was a photoshopped image of the journalist. Israel also confirmed it killed journalist Fatima Ftouni of Al Mayadeen and her brother, cameraman Mohammed Ftouni, alleging he was “an additional terrorist in Hezbollah... -
Dawn - 15:00 Apr 02, 2026
Pakistan is holding talks with Afghanistan to end the current conflict between the two countries, but Kabul must “demonstrate visible and verifiable actions”, said Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi on Thursday. Since Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan on February 26, diplomatic contact between the two sides had largely ceased. The talks in the northwestern Chinese city of Urumqi were being held between senior officials of the two countries, the spokesperson said in his weekly press briefing. The meeting was focused on sharing perspectives on the latest escalation. No major outcomes were expected, though it was believed that China was pushing for confidence-building measures, such as reopening trade routes. The spokesperson recounted the visit of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Beijing earlier this week at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, saying that it “provided an opportunity for both sides to hold in-depth d... -
Dawn - 14:56 Apr 02, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has approved a series of initiatives related to transshipment with the aim of strengthening Pakistan’s maritime sector amid evolving regional security dynamics following the US-Israeli attack on Iran, it emerged on Thursday. The initiatives were approved based on recommendations of the high-level committee constituted by the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, headed by Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry. According to an official handout, the decisions mark a significant step toward positioning Pakistan as a competitive and resilient transshipment hub in the region”. Among the key initiatives, the government has approved the handling of bulk and break-bulk cargo under transshipment arrangements. The handout added that the measure was expected to significantly enhance port throughput, attract new shipping lines, and facilitate regional trade by enabling the efficient movement of commodities such as grains, coal, minerals and project cargo. The government also approved ... -
Dawn - 14:55 Apr 02, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Amid a continuous surge in the global market, Pakistan on Thursday said it would seek flexibility in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme to create room for evolving contingencies following the US-Israeli war on Iran and pass on the burden of petroleum prices to consumers. This was announced by the Ministry of Finance after a meeting between Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and the US Charge d’Affaires Natalie Baker ahead of upcoming spring meetings with the IMF and the World Bank later this month. An official statement by the ministry said both sides discussed Pakistan’s ongoing engagement with international financial institutions and development partners, including efforts to maintain reform momentum under the IMF programme. “The finance minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to fiscal discipline while seeking flexibility in light of evolving global and regional challenges,” the statement said. The minister also briefed the US diplomat on ongoing efforts to manage energy sector c... -
Dawn - 14:07 Apr 02, 2026
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday reminded his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh that the “illusion of space for war between two nuclear states is inconceivable and has drastic consequences”. The reprimand was ostensibly in reaction to Singh’s recent statement, in which he warned Pakistan against any attempting “misadventure” under the shadow of the ongoing Middle East war, as reported by Indian media. A post on X, in which Asif did not specifically refer to the statement but tagged Singh, said: “Repeated rhetoric reflects not strength, but visible strategic anxiety as the anniversary of the staged false flag operation in Pahalgam approaches — an episode that failed to withstand international scrutiny and exposed New Delhi’s reliance on manufactured crises. “Such threat-mongering is not new; it is part of a predictable pattern — externalising internal fragility, and attempting to provoke escalation under the garb of unsubstantiated allegations for vested political interests,” he said. The Pahalgam epis... -
Dawn - 13:00 Apr 02, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said the Centre and provinces need to set their priorities and make collective efforts to provide relief to the needy amid the global oil crisis triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran. He made the remarks while addressing a high-level meeting, attended by Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, the chief ministers from all four provinces and federal ministers. The premier said that the Centre and provinces should utilise their resources sagaciously and curtail their development projects as much as possible while also utilising their resources on agricultural-related initiatives. “We have to spend this money on public goods and transport. Now we have to set our priorities jointly,” he added. He also highlighted the government’s initiatives to protect the economy and the common man from the adverse impact of the global oil crisis. In his remarks, PM Shehbaz also said that like other countries across the world, Pakistan was “being severely affected ... -
Dawn - 12:34 Apr 02, 2026
Indian police this week seized 414 cooking‑gas canisters hidden in a graveyard in Hyderabad city and arrested those involved in trying to sell them on the black market amid shortages due to the US-Israeli war on Iran, a government official said on Thursday. Authorities have stepped up raids to curb hoarding of liquefied petroleum gas canisters after the US-Israeli war against Iran disrupted shipping, causing supply shortages. India, the world’s number two Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) importer, meets about 60 per cent of its demand through overseas purchases, mostly from the Middle East. “Just yesterday, around 2,600 raids were carried out and about 700 cylinders were seized,” Sujata Sharma, a senior official in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, told a regular briefing on the Middle East crisis. “In addition, around 400 cylinders were recently found at one location inside a graveyard in Hyderabad. Ten people have been detained there, and the distributor involved has been suspended,” she said.... -
Dawn - 11:29 Apr 02, 2026
The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 index sank by 3,500 points on Thursday, after a press conference by United States President Donald Trump dampened investor hopes of a quick end to the war on Iran. The KSE-100 index dropped by 4,073.85 points, or 2.62 per cent, to stand at 151,505.26 points as of around 12:15pm, in a change of course from the bullish momentum it had sustained over the past two days. It closed at 152,011.26 points, down 3,500.30 points or 2.25pc, from the previous close of 155,511.56. Topline Securities said that the local bourse remained under pressure, “tracking the negative momentum in global markets” after remarks by Trump on the ongoing war on Iran dented investor sentiment. “Escalating geopolitical tensions, coupled with a surge in oil prices, kept market participants on the back foot, reinforcing a cautious stance throughout the session,” it said. “Selling pressure prevailed across the board, dragging the index to an intraday low of 5,489 points. The market eventuall... -
Dawn - 11:08 Apr 02, 2026
Eight Muslim-majority countries, including Pakistan, on Thursday strongly condemned Israel’s move to pass a law making death by hanging a default sentence for Palestinians convicted in military courts of deadly attacks. The joint statement, shared by the Foreign Office, was released by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The statement said that the countries “strongly condemned the Israeli occupying power’s enactment of a law in its Parliament (Knesset), that allows the imposition of the death penalty in the occupied West Bank and its de facto application against Palestinians”. They warned against the “increasingly discriminatory, escalating Israeli practices that entrench a system of apartheid and a rejectionist discourse that denies the inalienable rights and the very existence of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”. “The ministers underscored that this legislation constitutes a dangerous escalation... -
Dawn - 11:00 Apr 02, 2026
The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday restrained the anti-terrorism court (ATC) from framing charges against veteran journalist Matiullah Jan, and directed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to expeditiously decide on the challenge to the terrorism charges invoked against him. Headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, a three-judge SC bench took up a plea by the journalist seeking to set aside the IHC’s Feb 23, 2026, order denying ad-interim relief to stay his criminal trial. During the hearing, the prosecution did not object to the issuance of directions to the high court, while the apex court observed that it would not go into the merits of the case at this stage so as not to prejudice it in favour of either party. Barrister Qadeer Janjua represented Jan in the case, in which the journalist raised questions about the trial court’s jurisdiction and the applicability of terrorism charges against him. Filed under Article 185(3) of the Constitution, the petition challenged the Feb 23 IHC order, which, while issuing notic... -
Dawn - 09:47 Apr 02, 2026
Every year on World Autism Awareness Day, morning television shows and programmes are awash with families of autistic children pouring out their lived realities — the exhausting therapy schedules, the struggle to find inclusive schools, the financial strain of specialised care, and the quiet isolation that often follows. Their testimonies lay bare a system that offers sympathy but little structural support. Even with the surge in visibility, awareness fades as the cameras move on, and families are left navigating the same gaps in services, affordability, and inclusion, with no meaningful progress in sight. A recent episode brought this gap into sharp focus. A furore erupted on social media after users commiserated with Asma Afaq, the mother of a nine-year-old autistic child, Zaviyar, who was reportedly denied entry into a play area at Karachi’s Dolmen Mall. Despite her reassurance that she would personally supervise her child to ensure the safety of others, Zaviyar was refused access to Sindbad’s Wonderland. ... -
Dawn - 08:26 Apr 02, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The government is preparing a new power tariff structure to encourage industrial consumers to maximise their operations during the daytime and minimise them during peak consumption hours in the evening. Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Leghari discussed the concept with World Bank Country Director Bolormaa Amgaabazar on Thursday. The minister said that electricity consumption in Pakistan has been steadily increasing, reflecting the success of the government’s policies. He further said that the government is aiming to make electricity tariffs competitive so that key economic sectors can benefit. He informed the World Bank country director that the Power Division, after assessing concessional tariffs, is currently working on Time of Use (ToU) proposals to further enhance the country’s energy competitiveness. Leghari noted that the aim is to leverage Pakistan’s solar potential while providing concessional tariffs to industries. He added that the Power Division is currently consulting all ... -
Dawn - 06:59 Apr 02, 2026
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump signalled that the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran could conclude within weeks, even as he warned of intensified strikes and issued sweeping claims about the scale of damage inflicted on Tehran. In a 19-minute prime-time address from the White House, Trump described the conflict as a “decisive, overwhelming victory” and said the United States was “getting very close” to finishing the “job” in Iran. “We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We are going to bring them back to the Stone Age, where they belong,” Trump said during the address from the White House. “In the meantime, discussions are ongoing.” While suggesting that the war may soon end, the president made clear that military operations would intensify before any resolution. He did not define the terms of the “deal” he is demanding from Tehran, nor did he outline a diplomatic framework. Trump claimed Iran’s military capacity had been severely degraded. He said its mi... -
Dawn - 06:59 Apr 02, 2026
Security forces have killed eight terrorists while responding to their movement along the Pak-Afghan border in North Waziristan district, the military’s media affairs wing said on Thursday. In a press release, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the engagement took place on Wednesday after the “movement of a group of khwarij” was picked up by the security forces. “As a result of precise and skilful engagement, eight khwarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij were sent to hell,” the ISPR said, adding that weapons and ammunition were also recovered from them. Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). “Sanitisation operations are ongoing to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored khawarij in the area”, the military said. “The engagement once again substantiates our repeated stance regarding abject failure of Afghan Taliban regime to ensure effective border management on their side of the border,” the ISPR pointed out. “[Th... -
Dawn - 06:53 Apr 02, 2026
WASHINGTON: Democrats sharply criticised United States President Donald Trump following his national address on the ongoing war in Iran, framing the conflict as deadly, costly, and lacking clear objectives. In a 19-minute prime-time address from the White House, Trump described the conflict as a “decisive, overwhelming victory” and said the US was “getting very close” to finishing the “job” in Iran. “We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We are going to bring them back to the Stone Age, where they belong,” Trump said. “In the meantime, discussions are ongoing.” Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin said Trump’s address was a failed attempt to justify a war that has already burdened Americans and strained the economy. “Tonight, Americans watched Donald Trump desperately try to justify his deadly and costly war of choice in Iran that has killed over a dozen brave service members and injured hundreds more,” Martin said. “Trump offered no new information to the A... -
Dawn - 05:19 Apr 02, 2026
Four astronauts blasted off from Florida on Wednesday on Nasa’s Artemis II mission, a high-stakes voyage around the moon that marks the United States’ boldest step yet toward returning humans to the lunar surface later this decade in a race with China. Nasa’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, topped with its Orion crew capsule, roared to life just before sunset at the agency’s Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying its debut crew — three US astronauts and a Canadian astronaut — into Earth orbit. The 32-story-tall space vehicle thundered into clear skies, trailing a towering column of thick, white vapour. Nasa Administrator Jared Isaacman said the launch was an opening act for subsequent missions that would include construction of a moon base to support the “enduring presence we’re trying to create on the surface”. If the mission proceeds as planned, the crew consisting of Nasa astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, plus Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will... -
Dawn - 04:19 Apr 02, 2026
A view of the charred Gul Plaza structure.—Fahim Siddiqi /White Star KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday ordered the authorities to demolish the fire-hit structure of Gul Plaza to pave the way for its reconstruction. The CM asked the director general of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to submit a detailed plan for the reconstruction of the building, where a devastating fire killed dozens on Jan 17. He issued these directives while chairing a meeting to review the progress of compensation disbursement to victims’ families and the provision of financial assistance to traders affected by the tragic fire. According to a press statement, the CM told SBCA chief Muzammil Halepoto that he wanted work on the plaza to start at the earliest. CM asks SBCA chief to submit reconstruction plan; reviews compensation disbursement to victims’ heirs, traders He also instructed the Karachi commissioner to inform the judicial commission investigating the fire incident before beginning the demoliti... -
Dawn - 02:34 Apr 02, 2026
LONDON: Britain will this week hold a meeting of about 35 countries to discuss how to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz which has been crippled by the Middle East war, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Wednesday. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will host the discussions, Starmer told reporters during a Downing Street press conference, without specifying the day of the talks. The meeting will “assess all viable diplomatic and political measures that we can take to restore freedom of navigation, guarantee the safety of trapped ships and seafarers and resume the movement of vital commodities”, Starmer said. “Following that meeting, we will also convene our military planners to look at how we can marshal our capabilities and make the strait accessible and safe after the fighting has stopped,” he added. Starmer says Britain must focus on closer ties with Europe to undo some ‘deep damage’ done by Brexit The discussions will include countries which recently signed a statement saying they were read...
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