Pakistan

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired a meeting in Karachi to review progress on ongoing development projects across the city.

Security forces carried out a large-scale, coordinated search and combing operation across Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Chakwal and Murree against illegal Afghan residents and individuals involved in identity and tenancy violations.

• 116-page judgement declares his law degree invalid • IHC rules appointment was ‘without lawful authority’ and a ‘legal nullity’ • Calls ex-judge’s plea to recuse CJ Dogar ‘dilatory tactics’ and ‘bench-hunting’ ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Monday issued a detailed 116-page judgement on the removal of one of its judges, Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, declaring that his appointment to the bench was “without lawful authority” as he did not possess a valid law degree. An IHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muha­mmad Azam Khan held that ex-Justice Jahangiri’s foundational law degree was void ab initio, rendering his elevation to the high court a “legal nullity”. The judgement relied heavily on original academic records produced by the University of Karachi (KU) registrar, concluding that the respondent’s academic credentials were tainted by fraud, impersonation and a deliberate attempt to circumvent a disciplinary ban. According to the verdict, Mr Jahangiri fi...

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry briefed the Senate on Monday on recent strikes targeting terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, pointing out that they were carried out following multiple attacks by militants in Pakistan and saying that Islamabad “cannot tolerate this anymore”. Pakistan carried out airstrikes on Afghanistan in a retaliatory operation late on Saturday night, targeting groups responsible for recent attacks in its territory. The strikes were conducted in retaliation for a series of suicide attacks in Islamabad, Bajaur, and Bannu that had claimed the lives of Pakistani security personnel and civilians. Mentioning these incidents, Chaudhry said they were “linked” to Afghanistan-based actors, adding that it was subsequently decided to give a “decisive response” to the neighbouring country. “As a result, our Air Force carried out strikes in three Afghan provinces, Paktika, Nangarhar and Khost on February 21,” he said, adding that there were reports of the deaths of over 100 militants ...

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved the launch of a free ambulance service for transporting deceased persons from public hospitals to their homes, marking the first such initiative in the province.

ISLAMABAD - Lieutenant Colonel Shehzada Gul Faraz and Sepoy Karamat Shah, who embraced martyrdom in a cowardly attack by Fitna al Khwarij in Bannu, laid to rest with full military honours in their native hometowns.

Islamabad - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Doha, on a two-day official visit, at the invitation of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Monday.

LAHORE - The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday set aside all decisions issued by Dispute Resolution Committees (DRCs) in cases related to alleged illegal occupations under the Punjab Property Ownership Law, while transferring more than 1,500 pending petitions to the relevant tribunals for fresh proceedings.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Shazia Marri yesterday strongly reacted to recent statements made by certain federal ministers, terming them “irresponsible” and accusing them of promoting unrest and uncertainty in the country.

Says silence is complicity | Justice can’t be selective, must prevail even when it challenges power, prestige ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday issued its detailed judgment in a petition through which Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri was ordered to be de-notified as a judge of the court.

Islamabad - Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider has commended the role of Pakistan Sweet Home while addressing the Annual Iftar Dinner hosted by Sweet Home donors.

ISLAMABAD - Unlike the past series of clashes between MQM-P and PPP-P, the tension between allies of the government is near to an abnormal level and potentially leading to serious consequences owing to the mysterious indifferent approach of the ruling party.

PESHAWAR/ Islamabad - An ambulance transporting injured FC personnel came under heavy fire from terrorists in Karak district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in the martyrdom of three officials on Monday.

ISLAMABAD - Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry while vowing that there would be no compromise on national security, on Monday informed the Senate that no one would be allowed to weaken Pakistan’s defence.

In Senate, PM’s aide urges opposition to help govt strengthen Charter of Democracy Abbas says opposition will never become part of any conspiracy to topple govt.

London police on Monday arrested Britain’s former ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, amid allegations over his ties to disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein. “Officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office,” the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. Images on UK television appeared to show Mandelson being driven away from his north London home accompanied by a man and a woman, after police raided his properties earlier this month. “He was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, 23 February and has been taken to a London police station for interview,” the Met added. The arrest comes days after ex-prince Andrew, King Charles III’s younger brother, was arrested in a misconduct in public office probe also related to the latest release of documents related to Epstein. Mandelson, a pivotal figure in British politics, is being probed over allegations that he sent sensitive documents to the late US sex offender Epstein when he was a government minister, inc...

ISLAMABAD: The upper house of Parliament on Monday echoed with the PPP’s displeasure over recent statements regarding the creation of a separate Karachi province, asserting that it was an inseparable part of Sindh. The development comes two days after the Sindh Assembly passed a resolution terming Karachi an “inseparable” part of Sindh and opposed any move that suggested otherwise. Opposing the resolution in the Sindh Assembly, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) had also declared it unconstitutional. On Monday, PPP’s parliamentary leader in the Senate, Sherry Rehman, denounced recent statements by certain federal ministers, ostensibly a reference to MQM-P’s Mustafa Kamal and Khaliq Maqbool Siddique. Rehman said that such reckless talk was not only unconstitutional but also a direct provocation to the unity of the federation. “Let me be clear: the PPP is the custodian of Sindh’s unity and no one will be allowed to undermine it,” she said. She said Sindh had always opened its arms to everyone, adding...

KARACHI: A food delivery rider lost his life after a speeding vehicle flipped over and crashed into his stationary motorcycle in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) area, according to police. The video of the incident that took place on Sunday was widely shared on social media. South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) told Dawn that the food delivery rider was on his motorcycle outside a bungalow in DHA’s phase IV when a speeding car turned over and crashed into his vehicle. “Both the rider and the car driver were injured in the incident,” he said, adding that they were initially taken to a private hospital in the Clifton area. The rider was later taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in critical condition and died during treatment, the official said. Meanwhile, the car’s driver was at the private hospital in Clifton, and a police mobile was deployed outside the facility for the arrest of the car driver after treatment, DIG Raza said.

The West Indies blew away T20 World Cup surprise package Zimbabwe by a colossal 107 runs in Mumbai on Monday as Shai Hope’s team opened their Super Eights campaign with a dominant victory. Shimron Hetmyer blasted 85 off 34 balls as the West Indies piled up 254-6, the second-highest total in the history of the tournament. Zimbabwe, who stunned Australia and Sri Lanka to reach the Super Eights, got off to an awful start chasing a monumental 255. They were reduced to 20-3 in the third over when two wickets fell to Akeal Hosein’s left-arm spin and never threatened to get close. They were all out for 147 in 17.4 overs with Brad Evans hitting some lusty late blows before being last man out for 43 off 21 balls with five sixes. Left-armer Gudakesh Motie was the pick of the West Indies bowlers with 4-28 as he found some sharp turn. Hosein took 3-28. Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and opted to bowl, then saw his bowlers flogged to all parts of the Wankhede stadium. Only Sri Lanka, who made 260-6 against Ke...

ISLAMABAD: The government invited the opposition on Monday to hold talks and “strengthen and take forward” the Charter of Democracy — a 2006 document signed by PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and late Benazir Bhutto, with the commitment to struggle against dictatorship. “Let us sit together to strengthen and take forward the Charter of Democracy”, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said while addressing a Senate session in response to a speech by Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas. Sanaullah said the government was willing to hold dialogue with the opposition, which would strengthen democracy, rather than opting for confrontation and deadlock. “We are ready to sit with you for the betterment of the country,” he asserted, maintaining that parties in the ruling coalition had stressed the need for talks even when the PTI was in power. However, PTI founder Imran Khan was not ready to talk to politicians, he said, saying that his “stubbornness is a big hurdle” in the way of talks. Without...