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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police on Sunday said firing occurred near vehicles part of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s convoy in Dera Ismail Khan but the politician was not present when the incident occurred. “Vehicles part of Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s convoy went to Yarak area for refuelling when the incident occurred,” District Police Officer (DPO) Rauf Kesrani told Dawn.com . “Maulana Fazlur Rehman was not present,” he said without providing any further details. The development comes days after the interior ministry warned that there were serious threats to the lives of the Maulana and Awami National Party provincial president Aimal Wali Khan. In a statement, JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri termed today’s incident a “cowardly act”. “They have repeatedly warned that the situation is not favorable for our leadership. The administration writes letters about the threats every day, but does not take any action,” he said. He said the incident should be immedia

With the February 8 general election a little over a month away, former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Sunday that no government could be formed without the PPP. “Let me tell you one thing, no government can be formed without the PPP,” he said while addressing a press conference in Multan. “The PPP is the only ideological party in Pakistan. Its sacrifices for human rights, the upholding of the Constitution, the rule of law, women empowerment, and minority rights are in front of everyone. You have seen that in the subcontinent, no other family has rendered more sacrifices than the Bhutto family,” he said. Responding to a question, the PPP leader said it was the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) responsibility to hold free and fair polls. “I feel there should be a level playing field for all in the elections and no one should be given preference,” he said. Commenting on the large number of objections raised by the ECP on candidates’ nomination papers, he said,

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wrapped up the year with fresh threats of a nuclear attack on Seoul and orders for a military arsenal build-up to prepare for a war that can “break out any time” on the peninsula, state media reported on Sunday. Kim lambasted the United States during a lengthy speech at the end of five days of year-end party meetings that set his country’s military, political and economic policy decisions for 2024. The meeting announced plans for further military development in the coming year, including launching three more spy satellites, building unmanned drones and developing electronic warfare capabilities, as well as strengthening nuclear and missile forces, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) . This year, Pyongyang successfully launched a reconnaissance satellite, enshrined its status as a nuclear power in its constitution and test-fired the most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in its arsenal. Kim accused the United

The Karachi traffic police on Saturday said the force will use breathalysers on New Year’s Eve to arrest drunk drivers. In a statement, police spokesperson Ibrar Hussain Baloch said carrying alcohol and narcotics in cars would not be allowed at any cost. He said intoxicated drivers and motorbike riders along with people who indulge in aerial firing would not only be arrested but also booked under relevant laws with their vehicles impounded. “No leniency will be shown to such persons,” said the police statement. “The Karachi City Traffic Police, on the instructions of the Karachi police chief and DIG Traffic, has made a policy to tackle the traffic flow on New Year’s Night.” The statement highlighted the vision of the police to protect every citizen and let the people enjoy themselves without any trouble due to the “interdicted act of a few people”. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar on Thursday had announced a complete ban on New Year celebrations in an expression of soli

The death toll from Russia’s largest air attack on Ukraine rose to 39 on Saturday as rescuers continued to clear debris and rubble from the bombardment, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said. Russia launched 158 missiles and drones on cities and towns across Ukraine on Friday in what Ukrainian officials described as the worst aerial bombardment since the start of the war in February 2022. “Works to clear up the consequences of yesterday’s Russian attack are still underway. Almost 120 cities and villages, hundreds of civilian objects have suffered,” Zelenskiy said on the Telegram messaging app. Zelenskiy said 39 people were killed and 159 injured in the strikes that involved different types of ballistic and cruise missiles and Iranian-made drones. Ukrainian air defence said it shot down 87 Russian missiles and over 30 drones. In the capital Kyiv, at least 16 people were killed, the largest civilian death toll in the city during nearly 22 months of the war, said Mayor Vitali Klitsch

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday filed a review petition in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) against the suspension of its decision to not let the PTI retain “bat” as its electoral symbol for the February 8 general election. The high court on Tuesday suspended the ECP’s declaration of the PTI’s intra-party polls as unconstitutional as well as the subsequent revocation of the party’s iconic symbol. The court had also ordered the ECP to publish the PTI’s certificate on the commission’s website and restore the party’s election symbol “keeping in view the urgency, that a political party has been denuded of its symbol, meaning hereby that aspirants from the general public who were willing to vote for the petitioners’ party were divested of their right to vote as per their choice”. The ECP filed a review petition in the high court today, arguing that its verdict was “against the law as well as against the dictum laid down by the Supreme Court. “The constitution unambi

Former MQM and Pak Sarzameen Party leaders Raza Haroon and Anees Advocate joined the PPP on Friday after meeting party chief Asif Zardari in Karachi ahead of the Feb 8 general elections. In a post on X, the PPP media cell said both the ex-MQM members — as well as their associates — were welcomed by the PPP co-chairman following discussions on various issues plaguing Sindh. The party said that the development and prosperity of Karachi in a peaceful and reconciliatory environment also came under discussion under the “Charter of Karachi”. Zardari said the latest inductions would have far-reaching effects on the future of the city, adding that “the PPP is a party of the people of Karachi.” “We will work with the people of Karachi to restore the lights of the city that were stolen by the enemies of peace and the merchants of hatred,” he said. Zardari claimed that the PPP will come into power in the federal government through the votes of the people of Karachi. He also shared his

Russia on Friday unleashed one of its biggest missile attacks on Ukraine of the war so far, killing 12 civilians, wounding dozens more and hitting residential buildings in Kyiv, the south and west of the country, officials said. Ten people in Kyiv were trapped under rubble at a warehouse damaged by falling debris, the city’s military administration said. A maternity ward was damaged in the city of Dnipro, but no casualties were reported, the governor said. “Today, millions of Ukrainians awoke to the loud sound of explosions. I wish those sounds of explosions in Ukraine could be heard all around the world,” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said, calling for Kyiv’s allies to step up their support. The vast end-of-year aerial assault comes as uncertainty is swirling over the scale and staying power of future Western military and financial support for Kyiv nearly two years into the war with Russia. “Russia attacked with everything it has in its arsenal […] Approximately 110 miss

A Qatar court has dropped the death sentence imposed on eight Indian former naval officers arrested there last year, India’s foreign ministry said on Thursday. The eight men, who were condemned to death in October, were accused of spying for Israel according to sources — though India and Qatar have not confirmed the charges. India’s foreign ministry did not say what new sentence or penalty the men would now face. It “noted the verdict today of the Court of Appeal of Qatar” in which the sentences “have been reduced”. “We are in close touch with the legal team as well as the family members to decide on the next steps,” and will “continue to take up the matter with the Qatari authorities,” it added. It declined to comment on the case further “due to the confidential and sensitive nature of proceedings”. Qatar and Israel’s embassies in New Delhi did not immediately respond to requests for comment. India had expressed shock when Qatar’s Court of First Instance imposed the death pena

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar on Thursday announced a complete ban on New Year celebrations in an expression of solidarity with the Palestinian people. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas in retaliation for its October 7 attack , which left about 1,140 people dead, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. In response, Israel’s relentless aerial bombardment and ground invasion with troops and tanks have killed at least 21,320 people, mostly women and children, and wounded another 55,603 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry. In an address to the nation today, PM Kakar said: “Keeping in mind the seriously concerning situation in Palestine and to show solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters, there will be a strict ban by the government on holding any kind of event for New Year.” He requested the nation to show solidarity with the Palestinians and exhibit sobriety and humility at the New Year. Vie

The military’s top brass has vowed to provide all “requisite and necessary support” required to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the upcoming February 8 general elections, the military’s media wing stated on Thursday. The ECP had issued the election schedule on December 15 and the election programme is fully under way with the deadline for filing nomination papers over on Sunday . The returning officers will examine the nomination papers from Dec 25 to Dec 30. A press release from the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued today said the army affirmation was made in the 261st Corps Commanders’ Conference held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. The high-level moot took a “holistic review” of the government’s ongoing actions against smuggling, money laundering, power theft and hoarding of essential items amongst other illegal economic activities. “Pakistan Army will continue to provide all-out support to relevant government institutions and LEAs (la

Israeli high tech firms raised $1.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023, preliminary data showed on Thursday, in a sign that foreigners are still investing in Israeli startups despite Israel’s war. The Israel Venture Capital (IVC) Research Centre and LeumiTech said fundraising in the quarter up until Dec 26 dipped 15 per cent from the third quarter but 75 deals were done. The war began on Oct 7. Early stage “seed” funding was $220 million in 31 rounds. The report said that foreign participation rose in the fourth quarter after a decline earlier in 2023, saying “the presence of foreign investors is a significant indication of the availability of funds for investments”. Last week, a group of 70 US tech executives came to Israel in a show of support. LeumiTech CEO Mia Eisen-Tzafrir said the fourth quarter data, were “an indication of the high durability of the Israeli high-tech industry and an important reminder of the role this sector in the Israeli economy has especially these day

Russia and India have made tangible progress in talks on plans to jointly produce military equipment, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday, after talks with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Moscow. Speaking at a news conference, Lavrov said such cooperation was of a strategic nature and was in both countries’ interests and would help ensure security on the Eurasian continent. He said Moscow respected India’s desire to diversify its military hardware suppliers and was ready too to support New Delhi’s desire to manufacture things needed by India in India. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin would meet Jaishankar later on Wednesday. Jaishankar said he expected Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet next year. Jaishankar said he and Lavrov had discussed the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as bilateral trade and investment. India has become one of Russia’s core economic partners since th

Politicians, journalists and civil society resoundingly lambasted the manner of former foreign minister and PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s re-arrest from outside Adiala Jail on Wednesday in a case yet to be disclosed. Footage shared by the PTI on Instagram showed Qureshi, clad in a cardigan and a shalwar kameez, attempting to speak to police personnel gathered outside the jail while he remained inside its premises. However, an official wearing the Punjab police uniform refused to listen and proceeded to shove Qureshi out the gate and toward an armoured police vehicle. “Look at this. What is this?” Qureshi said as he was pushed the entire way to the van while the crowd urged the officials to be careful. View this post on Instagram President Arif Alvi denounced the incident, saying that the treatment meted out to a former foreign minister “in an undignified manner must draw the attention of the authorities”. He said Pakist

In line with expectations , former federal minister for interior Faisal Saleh Hayat on Wednesday quit the PPP and joined the PML-N ahead of the upcoming general elections. According to a Dawn report, the announcement of Hayat switching parties was expected on Monday or Tuesday when PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif were expected to visit Jewana. However, the announcement was made today (Wednesday) outside Hayat’s residence in Shah Jewana in the presence of Shehbaz only, with his elder sibling and party chief missing. “We are confident that Hayat’s induction will strengthen the PML-N, especially in Jhang and Chiniot, but also in his other constituencies,” Shehbaz said as he welcomed the latest inductee into his party. He said that Hayat’s presence in the party will bolster Nawaz’s leadership. “Nawaz will, God willing, become the prime minister for the fourth term. He is not just a politician but also a statesman.” Hayat, a former PPP and PML-Q member, had given clear i

Pakistan on Wednesday conducted a successful flight test of Fatah-II, the military’s media affairs wing said. According to the ISPR, Fatah-II is equipped with state-of-the-art avionics, sophisticated navigation system and unique flight trajectory. “The weapon system is capable of engaging targets with high precision up to a range of 400 kilometres,” it said. The ISPR said that the flight test was witnessed by “senior officers from tri-services and dedicated scientists and engineers”. It further said that President Dr Arif Alvi, interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir congratulated participating troops and scientists on successfully conducting the flight test. In October, Pakistan had conducted a successful flight test of the Ababeel Weapon System. The ISPR said the missile system was “aimed at strengthening deterrence and enhancing strategic stability in the re

A blast occurred near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi on Tuesday evening and all staff were unharmed following the explosion, government authorities said. “We can confirm that around 5:20 there was a blast at close proximity to the embassy,” Israeli Embassy spokesperson Guy Nir told Reuters . Israel’s foreign ministry said all staff were unharmed following the blast and Israeli authorities were cooperating with their Indian counterparts to investigate the cause of the explosion. More to follow. from The Dawn News - Home https://ift.tt/qUrJ91m

Jailed Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny on Tuesday confirmed his arrival at what he described as a snow-swept prison above the Arctic Circle and said he was in excellent spirits despite a tiring 20-day journey to get there. Navalny posted an update on social media platform X via his lawyers after his allies lost touch with him for more than two weeks while he was in transit with no information about where he was being taken, prompting expressions of concern from Western politicians. His spokeswoman said on Monday that Navalny, 47, was tracked down to the IK-3 penal colony north of the Arctic Circle located in Kharp in the Yamal-Nenets region about 1,900 kilometres northeast of Moscow. “I am your new Father Frost,” Navalny wrote jokingly in his first post from his new prison, a reference to the harsh weather conditions there. “Well, I now have a sheepskin coat, an ushanka hat (a fur hat with ear-covering flaps), and soon I will get valenki (traditional Russian win

SmartNet Private Limited, a technology arm of Capital Smart City and part of the HRL Group, has joined forces with One Network and Cybernet to build a high-speed data highway for Pakistan’s smart city initiatives. According to a press release, the landmark fiber lease agreement will see SmartNet deliver terabytes of data per second to Capital Smart City, Lahore Smart City, and motorway projects. This robust infrastructure boost aims to position Capital Smart City as a tech leader, enabling advancements in IoT, big data, AI, and other areas. Looking beyond domestic ambitions, SmartNet eyes fostering connections with Silicon Valley and promoting Pakistani technology exports as part of the “Digital Pakistan” vision. An incubation center is also planned to nurture local innovation and tech entrepreneurship. “We are thrilled to embark on this transformative journey with our esteemed partners, One Network and Cybernet,” said retired Brig Arshad Kayani, Chief Technical Officer at SmartNet.

Dr Saveera Parkash is set to be the first woman minority candidate to stand in the forthcoming general elections from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Buner district after submitting her nomination papers for the general seat of PK-25, it emerged on Monday. Saveera, a member of the Hindu community, is hopeful of contesting the elections on a PPP ticket. Parkash’s father Oam Parkash, a recently retired doctor, had been an active member of the party for the past 35 years. According to local politician Saleem Khan, who is affiliated with the Qaumi Watan Party, Parkash is the first woman from Buner to have submitted her nomination papers to contest the upcoming elections from the general seat. Parkash completed her MBBS from the Abbottabad International Medical College in 2022 and is also the general secretary of the PPP women’s wing in Buner. Talking to Dawn.com , Parkash said she wanted to follow in the footsteps of her father in working for the area’s poor. She said she had submitted her nomina

President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday approved the removal of Ahad Khan Cheema as an adviser to the prime minister on establishment. Last week, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had ordered Cheema’s removal from his post. The commission had issued the directives while hearing a petition seeking the removal of Cheema, Privatisation and Inter-provincial Coordination Minister Fawad Hassan Fawad and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Tauqeer Hussain Shah from their posts. The petition filed by Advocate Syed Azizud Din Kaka Khel in October had said the transparency of elections was not possible due to these individuals being part of the caretaker government. In the short order, the ECP said that the petitioner’s prayer for Cheema to be removed was “reasonable and is accepted” on the basis that the latter was a part of the previous government and could thus “influence the holding of free, fair and transparent elections” if he continued in his post. According to a press rel

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Asim Munir on Monday said Pakistan’s enemies were “hell-bent towards creating fissures using religious, ethnic and political vulnerabilities”. “We have to stand together and united to rise as a resolute and strong nation,” he said as he joined the Christian community at Christ Church, Rawalpindi for Christmas celebrations, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The ISPR said the army chief was welcomed by the congregation who thanked him for attending the celebrations, adding that Gen Munir also wished a Merry Christmas to the entire Christian community. “COAS expressed reverence for religious community and stressed upon the need for promoting greater interfaith harmony in society in order to follow Quaid-i-Azam’s true vision of a united and progressive Pakistan,” it added. “Islam teaches us the lesson of peace, friendship and encourages interfaith harmony which is the need of the hour,” the army chief was quoted as saying. The COAS

The PTI on Monday said it would challenge the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to declare its intraparty polls as unconstitutional and revoke the iconic ‘bat’ symbol in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) tomorrow (Tuesday). The development comes after the electoral watchdog last week voided, for the second time in less than a month, PTI’s internal elections in which Barrister Gohar Ali Khan was easily elected as the party’s new chairman. The verdict came following a first-of-its-kind microscopic examination of the inner workings of a political party and declared the party ineligible to obtain an election symbol to contest the upcoming general elections. “It is held that PTI has not complied with our directions rendered therein order dated 23rd November 2023 and failed to hold intra-party election in accordance with PTI prevailing Constitution, 2019 and Election Act, 2017, and Election Rules, 2017,” the ECP had said in its 11-page order. The party had termed the decision part

• Apprehends rollback of commitments on gas, power subsidies, tax measures and trade tariffs • Indicates willingness to support Pakistan in coordination with IMF • Says broader, deeper reforms needed to support fiscal consolidation, increase investment ISLAMABAD: The World Bank fears that following the upcoming elections , strong and organised vested interests may spur a number of potential reversals on critical policy reforms — committed to multilateral lenders — posing ‘high’ macroeconomic risks to Pakistan. The possible reversals include the rationalisation of gas and electricity subsidies, lower trade tariffs and better property tax realisation. “Stakeholder risks are high due to strong and organised vested interests, potentially advocating to reverse critical reforms, particularly trade tariff reforms, increases to property taxation and energy sector reforms,” said the Wash­ington-based lending agency in an assessment of its recently approved $350 million loan under second R

British interior minister James Cleverly apologised on Sunday after he was reported to have joked about spiking his wife’s drink with a sedative known for its use as a date-rape drug. The Sunday Mirror tabloid reported that Cleverly, one of the most senior ministers in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government, had joked to female guests at an event this month that “a little bit” of the drug in his wife’s drink every night was “not really illegal”. He reportedly joked that the secret to a long marriage was ensuring your spouse was “someone who is always mildly sedated so she can never realise there are better men out there”. The newspaper also said it came the same day Cleverly, the minister overseeing law enforcement, announced new measures to tackle drink-spiking, including changes to legislation. “In what was always understood as a private conversation James, the home secretary tackling spiking, made what was clearly meant to be an ironic joke — for which he apologises,” a spoke

The Foreign Office (FO) on Sunday condemned the “barbaric” killing of three people in the Indian army’s custody in held Kashmir, saying that the incident had exposed the neighbouring country’s “relentless state terrorism” in the occupied valley. A day earlier, the Associated Press had reported that three Kashmiris were tortured to death while in Indian army custody. The report stated that according to locals and residents, the army had arrested “at least eight civilians” for interrogation in the wake of an attack on two army vehicles in Poonch. “Locals accused army personnel of torturing the three to death in a nearby military camp. The bodies were later handed to the local police who in turn contacted the families. Residents said the bodies bore marks of severe torture,” the report stated. According to the families, the other five were moved to an army hospital after they were “severely tortured”. The report added that videos purportedly showing the “torture of detained civilian

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday said the cipher case against former prime minister Imran Khan was a very “serious issue” that merited an investigation since it was a “major national security breach”. The cipher case pertains to a diplomatic document that the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) charge sheet alleges was never returned by Imran. The PTI has long held that the document contained a threat from the United States to oust Imran as prime minister. On Friday, the Supreme Court had granted Imran and ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi bail in the case. Asked about the development while talking to the media in Larkana after submitting his nomination papers, Bilawal said it was visible that Imran was getting “relief” in the case. “The cipher case is a very serious case. I cannot be in favour of political retribution against a politician because our party and family have suffered and we would not want the same for our opponents. But the cipher case is a v

Three Kashmiris have been tortured to death while in army custody in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IOK), according to a report from The Associated Press ( AP ) on Saturday. The report stated that according to locals and residents, the army had arrested “at least eight civilians” a day ago for interrogation in the wake of a Thursday attack on two army vehicles in Poonch that killed four and injured three Indian soldiers. “Locals accused army personnel of torturing the three to death in a nearby military camp. The bodies were later handed to the local police who in turn contacted the families. Residents said the bodies bore marks of severe torture,” the report stated. According to the families, the other five were moved to an army hospital after they were “severely tortured”. The report said that according to local Mohammed Younis, soldiers had arrived at his Topa Peer village on Friday morning and held nine villagers, including two of his brothers and a cousin. “An elderly man was let