Pakistan

Ministers cite security concerns and operational considerations; PTI objects to 'secrecy' surrounding visit

ECC sets pricing 41% lower than cost of imports

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FCC continually asserts its judicial supremacy over SC

After England beat Pakistan in the T20 World Cup Super Eight clash by two wickets on Tuesday, Pakistani pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi acknowledged that his side’s fate was not in its hands anymore. Pakistan have only one point from two Super Eight matches so now must win their final game and rely on other results going their way to have any hope of reaching the semi-finals. “We know our fate is not in our hands,” he admitted, “But we need to beat Sri Lanka in our last match on Saturday and then hope other results go our way.” “It’s not ideal, but it’s like this,” Shaheen said during a press conference after the match. He also hailed Harry Brook’s century in the match against England as a “world-class knock”. Brook reached his maiden T20 International hundred off 50 balls, with four sixes and 10 fours, as England went past their 165-run target with five balls to spare to win by two wickets. Afridi jolted the England top order with a burst of three wickets before Brook played the ultimate captain’s innings to steer...

EVERY body part is important, but few are as important as an eye. I use the singular for a body part that comes in pairs because its function is so crucial that one outweighs the combined functions of many others. Even diminished sight is so essential that ‘in the land of the blind, one-eyed man is king’ has become an idiom. Its vernacular version goes something like ‘andhon mein kana raja’ (‘among the blind, the one-eyed rules’). In an old interview, one of Imran Khan’s sisters reminisced that even as a child he likened himself to a tiger. It’s a coincidence that a very charismatic Indian cricketer of the 1960s and 1970s, Nawab Mansoor Pataudi, was nicknamed Tiger Pataudi. He was a stylish right-handed batsman and considered the best fielder of his day, despite losing vision in his right eye in a traffic accident. He was named captain of the national team at the age of 21. Gen Amir Abdullah Niazi, who surrendered during the 1971 war, also styled himself as ‘Tiger Niazi’. Though his sight was not impaired, he...

LAHORE - The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday directed the federal government to submit a comprehensive progress report on the establishment of Anti-Rape Crisis Cells.

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court of Pakistan Tuesday suspended the Special Judge (Customs, Taxation, Anti-Smuggling-I), Karachi, to attach the movable and immovable properties of the petitioners passed under Section 8 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010.

LAHORE - A special meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday was informed that for the first time in the province’s history prices of essential commodities have registered a decline of over 50 percent during Ramazan.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN/WANA - Terrorists ambushed a police vehicle and martyred five officials and two civilians in Kohat, police said on Tuesday.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan and Qatar on Tuesday underscored the importance of enhancing cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Shazia Marri on Tuesday condemned the brutal killing of Dr Mehwish and called for swift justice and enhanced security Marri, Central Spokesperson of the PPP Parliamentarians, expressed profound grief over the tragic incident and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

Peshawar - A high-level meeting of parliamentarians from Hazara Division was held at Pakhtunkhwa House Islamabad under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi.

LAHORE: Two policemen were martyred in a suicide blast at a checkpost in the jurisdiction of Punjab’s Bhakkar district on Tuesday evening, according to officials. Bhakkar District Police Officer (DPO) Shahzad Rafiq told Dawn that a suicide attack was carried out near the Dajil checkpost. He said that two policemen were martyred and one was injured, while three passersby were also injured in the blast. “The suicide attacker came near the check post and blew himself up, while we were conducting a search operation in the area to maintain law and order,” he added. The deceased policemen were identified as Muhammad Faheem and Muhammad Shehbaz, and the injured as Arshad. The identities of the injured passersby have not yet been ascertained. The injured were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital, DPO Rafiq said. In a statement, President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the terrorist attack. He expressed grief at the deaths of the officials and offered his condolences to the bereaved families. He also praye...

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that a nuclear deal was “within reach”, ahead of talks with the United States scheduled for later this week. “We have a historic opportunity to strike an unprecedented agreement that addresses mutual concerns and achieves mutual interests,” said Araghchi, in a post on the social media site X. He added that a deal was “within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority”. The talks are set to take place on Thursday in Geneva, a senior US official said on Monday, with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner slated to meet with an Iranian delegation for the negotiations. The two countries resumed negotiations earlier this month as the US builds up its military capability in the Middle East. Iran has threatened to strike US bases in the region if it is attacked. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said on Tuesday Iran is ready to take any necessary steps to reach a deal with the US. “We are ready to reach an agreement as soon as possible....

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, saying that the two countries would continue to work together for peace and stability in the region and beyond. In a post on X, he described the meeting in Doha as “excellent”. The premier is currently in Qatar on an official visit. PM Shehbaz stated that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir were also present for the meeting. “Our most warm and productive discussions focused on how our two sides can advance our brotherly fraternal bonds and transform them into mutually beneficial economic relationships,” he said. “We also took stock of the regional situation. Pakistan and Qatar will continue to work together for peace and stability in the region and beyond,” he said. Meanwhile, a handout issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said the two leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their shared commitment to fur...

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met with the Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, during his official visit to Doha, reaffirming the two countries’ commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is set to travel to Jeddah on Tuesday to take part in an urgent meeting of foreign ministers from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has indicated that Ramazan is expected to last 30 days this year, as the Shawwal crescent is unlikely to be visible on March 19.