Pakistan

Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has opened the second phase of receiving Haj applications for 2026, which will be accepted from August 11 to August 16, state-run Radio Pakistan reported on Monday. On Saturday, the ministry successfully completed the first phase for Haj next year, receiving more than 71,000 application submissions through its online portal and designated banks, the ministry’s spokesperson Muhammad Umar Butt said in a statement. “In the second phase, which will continue till Saturday, unregistered intending pilgrims can also submit their applications. The process of receiving applications will continue through the ministry’s online portal and designated banks,” the report said. Overseas Pakistanis can also apply for Haj through designated banks via a close relative. “Those living abroad will be required to submit their medical fitness certificates upon arrival in Pakistan,” it said. Haj, one of the fundamental pillars of Islam, is performed each year by millions of Muslims ...

MUZAFFARABAD: The death of a young woman after falling from a cliff on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad on Saturday has triggered widespread outrage across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), with demands for the harshest punishment for those accused of harassing couples under the guise of “moral policing” to extort money or valuables. According to a police spokesperson, the incident occurred at about 1:15pm near Mera Tanolian village on Pir Chinasi Road, when Aqeel Ahmed and his tenant Fakhra Amjad — both residents of the Plate neighbourhood in Muzaffarabad — had stopped their Mehran car by the roadside while returning from a drive. Three to four men, one of them a police constable in plainclothes, confronted the pair, deemed their presence “suspicious” and began beating Aqeel. During the assault, Ms Amjad got out of the car and tried to flee, but fell approximately 100–120 feet down a mountainside into a ravine, sustaining critical head injuries. Aqeel, also injured, tried to take her to hospital, but she died on th...

The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has forecast the arrival of the seventh spell of monsoon rains from August 13 and issued a flood advisory for major rivers in the province.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued an advisory warning of the potential spread of mosquito- and insect-borne diseases during the ongoing monsoon season.

KARACHI: A young lawyer was shot dead in a Garden locality late on Saturday night, police said on Sunday. The Karachi Bar Association (KBA) on Sunday announced that it would stage a protest outside Chief Minister House on Monday (today) over the police failure to provide protection to the legal fraternity. Soldier Bazar police station SHO Waqar Azeem told Dawn that lawyer Nasir Malik, 38, had gone to meet his sister at Al-Fareed Apartment in Garden East on Business Recorder Road. He was inside the parking area of the building when armed men opened indiscriminate fire on him and fled on motorcycles and in private cars. The lawyer sustained critical bullet wounds in the head. He was taken to the Civil Hospital Karachi where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival. Traffic police to close Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road due to security concerns from 8am The officer said the murder appeared to be an outcome of personal enmity as the deceased had a property dispute with someone in the area. He said the victim’s brother had ...

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan acknowledged a dilemma over the fifth bowler and said they would take a late decision on their team combination for Tuesday’s series decider following their defeat in the second one-day international on Sunday. Pakistan, who won the opening ODI by five wickets, posted a competitive 171-7 in 37 overs in a rain-truncated match but West Indies prevailed by five wickets to draw level in the three-match series. Pakistan’s part-time duo of Saim Ayub and Salman Agha conceded a combined 66 runs in seven wicketless overs as West Indies cruised home. “You could say our fifth bowler gave away too many runs but in recent years, Salman Agha and Saim Ayub have both bowled well for us,” Rizwan said after the match. “Saim didn’t have the best day today, but he performed well in the T20Is. That’s just part of the game.” Rizwan said they could not read the conditions and several rain delays did not help their cause. “Honestly, the weather forecast has been completely different from expectations...

In recent years, a number of states have claimed to be acting in self-defence when conducting an act of aggression against another state. Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and said it was acting in collective self-defence of the Donetsk and Luhansk republics. Israel invoked its right to self-defence in response to Hamas’ attacks on October 7 in its military operation in the Gaza Strip in 2023. India struck Pakistan in 2025 and claimed it was acting in self-defence against an armed attack by proxies. Finally, Israel attacked Iran in 2025 and claimed it was acting pre-emptively in self-defence against its nuclear programme. Ukraine, Pakistan, and Iran each also claimed their right to self-defence against these attacks, though of course there cannot be a right to self-defence against self-defence. So what then constitutes self-defence? The United Nations Charter After World War II, one of the main aims of the drafters of the United Nations Charter was to seek to restrain the use of force and avoid the horrors of th...

Lahore - Lahore General Hospital (LGH) has achieved a major milestone by securing the top position in infection control among all teaching hospitals in Punjab.

Hyderabad - Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori congratulated the Sindh Government for successfully organizing a musical program on Friday night at Rani Bagh in Hyderabad, calling it a vibrant part of the Independence Day celebrations.

Matiari - Chief Minister of Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti, participated in the Latif Literary Conference—a gathering dedicated to the life, poetry, and philosophy of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai—during his visit to Sindh’s Matiari district on Sunday, where he attended the annual Urs celebrations honouring the revered.

• Protesters demand tax exemption for GB residents and clearance of 280 stuck consignments • Federal committee, including GB leadership, meets today to discuss resolution GILGIT: The ongoing sit-in on Karakoram Highway (KKH) has disrupted travel and trade between Pakistan and China via Khunjerab Pass for the 22nd consecutive day on Sunday as deadlock between government and protesters persisted. The federal committee constituted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will meet on Monday (today) to make recommendations for resolving the issue. GB Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan, GB Chief Secretary Abrar Ahmed Mirza, PPP President Amjad Hussain Advocate, former GB chief minister and PML-N President Hafeezur Rehman have also been included in the committee. Trade and travel between Pakistan and China, as well as business activities at the Sost Dry Port, have remained shut for the past 22 days. The protest sit-in, called by the Tajir Ittehad Action Committee — backed by trade organisations, government and opposition part...

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday reaffirmed her government’s commitment to safeguarding the rights, welfare, and dignity of minority communities, describing them as “the beauty and crown of Pakistani society.

Eight local volunteers lost their lives in a massive landslide while repairing the flood-damaged Danyor Nullah in Gilgit, rescue officials said on Monday.

QUETTA - The Pakistan Railways on Sunday suspended Jaffar Express and Bolan Mail for three days amid security threats in Quetta.

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the government of Pakistan guided by high religious and constitutional values was committed to the full inclusion of minorities in government institutions, Parliament and the national mainstream.

Field Marshal Gen Asim Munir says Indian aggression has dragged region to explosive war RAW’s involvement in transnational terrorist activities a matter of concern Lauds Trump for Pak-India ceasefire Shows no sympathy for terrorists Jammu and Kashmir is an unfinished international agenda .

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced launching a lawyers’ movement against the anticipated 27th Constitutional Amendment, calling it a major threat to the already weaker democratic norms.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan and the United States are moving ahead with a renewed phase of engagement as Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir meets senior American military and political leadership in Washington.

ISLAMABAD: The Research Centre for International Maritime Law & Practice (RCIMLP) has been appointed as maritime law consultant for the first ferry service by Sea Keepers International. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs on August 5 approved the ferry service lice­nce to an international ferry operator. The UK-based company, Sea Keepers International, will operate ferry routes connecting Pakistan with Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The legal consultant will ensure that the ferry service operates within a robust legal framework, adhering to international maritime laws and best practices while addressing unique challenges of Pakistan’s maritime landscape. The organisation will work closely with stakeholders to navigate regulatory complexities, promote safety standards, and foster sustainable practices that align with global maritime norms. The launch of Sea Keepers International represents a historic moment for the country, opening new avenues for trade, tourism, and regional collaboration...

ISLAMABAD - National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Sunday lauded the role of minorities in Pakistan’s development and progress, describing their contributions as exemplary.