Pakistan

Pakistan has apprehended another Indian spy near the Iran-Pakistan border, former Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry revealed, marking the most significant espionage-related arrest since Kulbhushan Jadhav’s capture in 2016.

Pakistan has received a $1 billion loan tranche from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the ongoing Extended Fund Facility (EFF), ARY News reported Wednesday, citing sources in the Ministry of Finance.

The second ceremony of Chief Minister Punjab's Laptop and Honahar (Meritorious) Scholarship Program Phase II is being held today at Government College University Faisalabad, where CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif will personally distribute modern laptops to deserving students.

ISLAMABAD: With up to 14 per cent reduction in regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) prices notified for the current month, the electricity rates for Karachi and petroleum prices across the country are expected to come down in coming days. With a reduction of Rs3 to Rs7 per litre in major oil products estimated for the next fortnight, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) on Tuesday notified a 14pc reduction in the price of RLNG on Tuesday for sales at the transmission stage by the two Sui gas companies for the current month. The Karachi-based Sui Southern Gas Company Ltd (SSGCL), which serves consumers in Sindh and Balochistan, has seen its system losses at the distribution stage drop from 16.16pc to 10.6pc. On the other hand, the Lahore-based SNGPL, which provides gas to consumers in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saw its system losses at the distribution stage drop to 7.47pc from 8.6pc until February this year. According to a notification, the RLNG’s sale price for SNGPL at the transmission stage h...

With Gaza under a complete Israeli aid blockade for over two months, Pakistan has issued a powerful call to the UN Security Council to act urgently to end what it described as a humanitarian catastrophe and to bring justice to the Palestinian people.

LAHORE - An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday extended the interim bail of Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub, and others until June 16 in six May 9 cases, including the torching of the PML-N office in Model Town and a container at Kalma Chowk.

Deputy PM Ishaq Dar warns failure to resolve water issue will amount to act of war Says nuclear option was never on the table Pakistan expels India’s HC official over incompatible activities.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Tuesday strongly condemned the recent remarks by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, terming them “provocative and inflammatory” and warned that such rhetoric could dangerously escalate tensions in South Asia.

ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday directed the immediate removal of Aleema Khan, sister of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, and PTI leader Raoof Hasan from the Exit Control List (ECL), Passport Control List (PCL), and Provisional National Identification List (PNIL).

• Perpetrators must be dealt with iron hand, bench tells authorities • Dismisses appeal against life term for man who killed his wife KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has expressed concern over the killing of innocent people in the name of so-called honour and ordered the state to stop this “uncivilised, barbaric and abominable practice” and deal with perpetrators sternly. Terming honour killing a severe type of domestic violence, a single bench of the SHC said that such practice was unabatedly increasing with every passing day and there was a dire need to stop it immediately “before it gets out of hand and creates total anarchy in society”. Justice Nisar Ahmed Bhanbhro of the SHC stated that the offence of “karo-kari” had been declared as Fasad fil Arz (mischief on earth), which is a serious offence under Islamic teachings and described as disobedience to God. “Thus to avoid fasad on earth, perpetrators are required to be dealt with iron hands,” the court said. “The honour killing has stained the society where ...

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) yesterday rallied behind the armed forces and urged for dialogue after victory against the Indian aggression.

Gilani, Matvienko reaffirm commitment to deepening bilateral relations, parliamentary diplomacy, trade.

LAHORE: The Punjab government on Tuesday banned the use of newspapers with Quranic verses for packaging. The home department issued a letter about imposing an immediate ban on the use of rough papers or newspapers containing verses of the Holy Quran for packaging or preserving commodities. The order, enacted under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898, aims at preventing potential disturbances to the public peace and tranquility. The directive, signed by the home secretary, cites concerns over the misuse of religious texts in everyday trade practices, which could offend religious sentiments. The ban will remain in effect for 90 days across the entire province, starting from May 12. The authorities were directed to ensure widespread dissemination of the order through official channels, including the gazette, newspapers and broadcast media. The Punjab Police, divisional commissioners, and deputy commissioners have also been directed to enforce the prohibition strictly. Published in Dawn, May 14th, ...

• PPP’s Khar says India has crossed red lines, misread Pakistan’s restraint as weakness • Insists ceasefire after face-off between nuclear powers should be celebrated ISLAMABAD: Amid India’s dangerous war rhetoric, Pakistani lawmakers on Tuesday cautioned that New Delhi could again resort to military misadventure out of political desperation, warning of the grave consequences such an escalation could bring between two nuclear-armed neighbours. Addressing the National Assembly dur­­­ing a discussion on recent tensions with India, several members lambasted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a “certified terrorist” and warning that he could go to any extent for political gains as his politics thrived on corpses. Former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar said that India’s crushing defeat at the hands of Pakistan was nothing to celebrate. “We must all be unapologetic as a country that celebrates a ceasefire. Why not celebrate the ceasefire? Yes, we absolutely will,” she said. Ms Khar warned that Indi...

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday adjourned proceedings in a politically sensitive case involving the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) after SIC’s counsel Faisal Siddiqui requested time to respond to new legal grounds submitted by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

ISLAMABAD - Senator Irfan Siddiqui, the parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the Senate, on Tuesday highlighted former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s great services in making the country’s defence impregnable.

ISLAMABAD - The Anti-Terrorism Court of Islamabad on Tuesday moved a step closer to a verdict in the May 9 case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers, as statements from the accused have been recorded.

• New law proposes real-time monitoring of stocks • Imposes up to Rs100m fine on sale of smuggled petrol ISLAMABAD: The government has introduced a landmark bill in the National Assembly aimed at digitally tracking petroleum products from import and production to retail sales in a bid to curb smuggling and adulteration, which cause massive revenue losses estimated at Rs300-500 billion annually besides affecting environment and vehicle engines. The Petroleum (Amend­ment) Act, 2025 — moved by Pet­roleum Minister Ali Per­vaiz Malik on Monday — seeks to amend the 1934 Petroleum Act. The draft law envisages new clauses for information technology-based tracking of petroleum products to curb smuggling and to initiate strict actions against illegal transportation and decantation of petroleum products, along with actions to be taken against illegal petrol pumps. All local refineries and major oil marketing companies have been demanding — both individually and from their collective forums — that the government take str...

QUETTA: The bullet-riddled bodies of four abducted truck drivers from Punjab were found on Tuesday in the Galangoor area of Noshki district, approximately 100 km west of Quetta, officials said. The drivers were transporting LPG imported from Iran on May 9 when armed men intercepted their trucks in the Ahmedwal area on the Quetta-Taftan highway. The assailants burst the trucks’ tires and abducted the four men at gunpoint before security forces arrived at the scene, according to authorities. Local residents informed the administration about the bodies, prompting Levies and other law-enforcement agencies to rush to the site. The bodies were taken to the district hospital in Noshki. Hospital officials confirmed all four men died from multiple bullet injuries after being shot from a close range. The deceased were identified as Moin and Huzaifa, residents of Pakpattan, and brothers Imran Ali and Irfan Ali, residents of Rahimyar Khan. Their bodies were sent to respective hometowns after legal formalities were comple...

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif conducted surprise visits to various areas of Lahore on Monday to inspect ongoing development projects under the Lahore Development Plan.