Pakistan

The Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) on Tuesday announced that it will conduct intra-party elections on September 27 in Quetta.

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will convene in Islamabad on Tuesday to sight the crescent of Rabi-us-Sani 1447 Hijri.

Peshawar - A meeting of the Health Department held on Monday here at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court’s registrar office on Monday raised administrative objections to the petitions separately filed by five sitting judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) before the apex court. Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Babar Sattar, Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan and Saman Raffat Imtiaz had appeared in person before the Supreme Court last Friday to institute constitutional petitions challenging the exercise of administrative powers by the IHC chief justice. According to the objections, the petitioners invoked the apex court’s original jurisdiction under Article 184(3) of the Constitution for the enforcement of fundamental rights, but the grievances raised were of an individual nature and thus not maintainable in view of the 1998 Zulfiqar Mehdi case. In that judgement, the SC had held that Article 184(3) could not be pressed into service for redress of personal grievances. Incidentally, the same case law was cited by the SC registrar while returning Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar’s pet...

• PA President Abbas calls on all states to follow suit • Dar attends, but doesn’t address high-level moot • PM due to meet Trump alongside Muslim leaders • Palestine flag unfurled at London mission NEW YORK: France and Monaco extended formal recognition to the State of Palestine at a high-level conference on Monday. “We must do everything within our power to preserve the very possibility of a two-state solution, Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security,” French President Emmanuel Macron said before announcing the diplomatic move, drawing lengthy applause from the audience. Macron outlined a framework for a “renewed Palestinian Authority” under which France would open an embassy subject to factors such as reforms, a ceasefire and the release of all remaining prisoners held in Gaza. Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg and San Marino were also expected to recognise a Palestinian state ahead of this week’s UN General Assembly, after Australia, Britain, Canada, Portugal and Malta did so over the we...

HYDERABAD: The water level in the Indus rises as a medium flood reaches Kotri.—PPI • Locals in three southern districts complain their houses still under water due to govt failure to plug breaches • Irrigation minister says 70 and 90pc area of Alipur and Jalalpur Pirwala, respectively, devastated LAHORE: The residents in different localities of Multan, Lodhran, and Bahawalpur districts remain homeless as the government has failed to plug the breaches at the Noraja Bhutta embankment along the Sutlej River despite the passage of 12 days. Communities in Noraja Bhutta, Bahadurpur, Basti Lang, Kanu, and Dipal in Jalalpur Pirwala; Tarut Basharat, Daily Rajanpur, and Belaywala in Lodhran; Dunyapur, Jhangra, and Muradpur Soiwala in Bahawalpur were forced to live on the banks of the embankment, as their homes remained inundated. Basti Lang resident Muhammad Bakhsh said the water was rising again in his union council, adding it would continue to rise if the Noraja Bhutta embankment was not plugged completely. “We are a...

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, claimed on Monday that her brother had barred the party leadership from contacting “the establishment”, stressing that they should reach out to her brother directly if they are genuinely interested in talks. She made these remarks while talking to media persons outside Adiala Jail after the hearing of the Toshakhana-2 case. “Imran has directed party leaders and workers not to contact the establishment, and if the establishment wants to talk, it should directly talk to him,” she said. Commenting on the Toshakhana-2 case, Ms Khan said that last week, the main witness had been discredited, yet the judge did not close the matter. “Moreover, Brig Ahmed and Col Rehan [Imran Khan’s former military secretaries] also confirmed that the documentation on gifts was complete. So logically, the case is concluded, but the judge is still recording statements of investigation officers. We strongly believe it will be closed in the next two to three hearings,” s...

• Justice Aminuddin Khan issues detailed reasoning, says Oct 23 order by five judges more akin to ‘legislation than interpretation’ • Civilians’ trials in military courts ‘long understood as valid and operative’, says Justice Mazhar ISLAMABAD: Justice Aminuddin Khan has said that though the procedural framework under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) 1952 includes due process protections, the absence of an independent right of appeal to a civilian court has rendered its application to civilians constitutionally incomplete. He made these remarks in a 68-page judgement to justify the May 7 short order on a set of 38 intra-court appeals, which challenged the Oct 23, 2023, order on military trials of the civilians. Justice Khan explained that this deficiency required legislative intervention, urging parliament to do the needful in 45 days. According to Justice Khan, the Constitutional Bench had referred the matter to parliament for the enactment of appropriate amendments, with the expectation that such institutional de...

PESHAWAR - At least 14 Khwaraj terrorists were killed and 10 civilians died when a powerful blast ripped through an IED-manufacturing factory setup by Khwaraj in Akakhel area of Khyber tribal district, police said on Monday.

ISLAMABAD - Incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan on Monday directed the top leadership of his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), to sever all ties with the powerful establishment, saying that such engagements had proven counterproductive since their ouster from power over three years ago.

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court of Pakistan Monday returned the constitutional peti-tions filed by the five judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), raising objections that the applications were based on personal grievances and did not meet the requirements of Article 184(3) of the Constitution.

KARACHI - The floodwater level in Indus flows across Sindh is receding easing fears of a super flood as monsoon rains end and upstream levels drop, the Provincial Rain and Flood Emergency Monitoring Cell on Monday.

RAWALPINDI - Federal Minister for Railways, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi said that the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement (SMDA), finalized with Saudi Arabia is a result of the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s efforts, and is good news for the entire nation.

ISLAMABAD - A pilot project has been planned to provide instant, targeted cash assistance to families living in disaster-affected areas through the integration of the National Catastrophe (NatCat) Model with the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).

ISLAMABAD - President Asif Ali Zardari’s just concluded visit to China has reaffirmed the enduring depth of Pakistan-China friendship, as both sides pledged to expand cooperation in trade, industry, agriculture, and cultural exchanges during high-level engagements in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Taxpayers’ lawyer argues the Constitution doesn’t allow any arbitrary legislation.

ISLAMABAD - An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Monday issued arrest warrants against former speaker national assembly Asad Qaiser in a case pertaining to the judicial complex attack case.

Lahore - Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has said that China has always stood by Pakistan in every sector, and if this friendship continues with the same spirit, Pakistan will soon overcome its challenges.

ISLAMABAD - Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, has said that his country is ready to work more vigorously with Pakistan under the leadership of the two countries for common development and strengthening strategic partnership.

KARACHI: Gold prices in both international and local markets surged to record highs on Monday, driven by expectations of further US interest rate cuts and rising demand for safe-haven assets amid global uncertainty. According to the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association (APSGJA), the international gold price rose by $34 to reach $3,719 per ounce. In the domestic market, the price of 10 grams (24kt) increased by Rs2,915 to Rs337,534, while one tola rose by Rs3,400 to Rs393,700. Silver also followed the upward trend. The domestic rates for 10 grams and one tola (24kt) climbed to Rs3,939 and Rs4,595 respectively, reflecting increases of Rs54 and Rs63. The international silver price stood at $43.68 per ounce. Gold dealers attributed the sharp rise to global developments, citing recent international media reports. The US Federal Reserve last week cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points — its first reduction since December — triggering speculation about further easing, which typically suppor...