News Updates Pk

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi rejected reports that the federal government is preparing to impose governor’s rule in the province, saying he has not been consulted on the matter. “I am hearing through the media that governor’s rule is being imposed. To this day, I maintain that for now, there is no talk of governor’s rule,” said Faisal Karim Kundi while speaking to reporters in Peshawar on Sunday. The governor confirmed that while the Constitution provides a clause for imposing governor’s rule, no official communication has been made with him so far. “The Constitution contains a provision for governor’s rule, but no one has spoken to me,” he said. Kundi added that the current situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) did not allow space for widespread protests, given the fragile security and administrative challenges. “I believe our province’s conditions do not allow protests. The province is already burdened with issues, including law and order,” he said. Kundi’s statemen...

Mostly guilty of complaining, cribbing about and condemning authorities for power cuts, water shortage, gas shortage, high taxes versus lack of facilities, corruption, crime, the despicable condition of our roads and people for being discourteous, dishonest, lazy and insensitive, more so in Karachi, I truly had a moment of patriotism, amazement and pride after my visit to the Driving License Centre in Clifton which merits a story right here. No more spoilers, read on. When I randomly spotted my driving license nearing its expiry, I groaned and cursed my life for this gruelling task ahead. Not only would it be unnecessarily difficult but time-consuming too. Government documentation, in my experience, has always been cumbersome. Visuals of grubby and overcrowded offices with cunning clerks and arrogant officials raced through my mind. But then, the risk of driving around with an expired driving license, in a city of over four million reckless motorcycles — where the majority of them seem...

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi ordered a strict crackdown on visa agents exploiting travelers during an unannounced visit to Islamabad International Airport on Saturday, saying that those with genuine documents should not be barred from traveling abroad. "No passenger with genuine and complete documents should ever be stopped from travelling," Naqvi said in a post on X, adding that those attempting to travel on fake or unverified documents would not be allowed under any circumstances as "such actions damage Pakistan's reputation". Visited Islamabad Airport today and met passengers travelling abroad to hear their concerns directly. Ordered a strict crackdown against visa agents exploiting innocent people. Took serious notice of a passenger’s 7 November complaint about low staffing at immigration and… pic.twitter.com/dP29uZw2bB — Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) November 29, 2025 "Agent mafias playing with people's futures for money will face zero tolerance...

At the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Dr Badr Ahmed Mohamed Abdelatty, undertakes a two-day official visit to Pakistan starting on Saturday (today). During the visit, the Egyptian Foreign Minister will hold meetings and delegation-level talks with the deputy prime minister. The two sides will review the full range of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international developments, including the situation in Gaza. The visit reflects the longstanding and cordial relations between Pakistan and Egypt, grounded in common faith, cultural affinity, and shared perspectives on regional and international issues. Read More: Egypt lauds Pakistan-Saudi defence pact Earlier this month, Deputy PM Dar spoke with Minister Abdelatty, who conveyed his condolences over the loss of precious lives in the recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan. They discussed regional developments, includi...

A scandal involving large-scale, systematic irregularities has been uncovered at the Federal Treasury Office in Islamabad. It has been revealed that stamp papers were illegally obtained from the Federal Treasury Office (FTO), and the stamp paper fee, court fee, and foreign bills were not deposited into the national treasury. Following the exposure of this mega corruption scandal, the FIA Anti-Corruption Circle Islamabad has registered a case against senior auditor Adil Maqbool posted at the FTO, along with 71 officers, officials and stamp vendors. The case has been registered under sections 109, 409, 420, 467, 471 of the Pakistan Penal Code and section 5(2)47 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947. According to the FIA, under the supervision of Deputy Director of the FIA Anti-Corruption Circle, Afzal Khan Niazi, a late-night crackdown was carried out to arrest the suspects. During the operation, 20 suspects were arrested, while efforts to arrest the remaining accused are ongoing. Rea...

A drone attack on the residence of former Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister and current PTI MPA Anwar Zeb Khan has left one person injured. The injured person, identified as Zair Muhammad, a security gurad of the MPA, sustained serious injuries in the attack that took place in the Raghagan area of Khar Tehsil in Bajaur. Zeb was not present at home at the time of the incident. Security forces cordoned off the area and initiated investigations. The incident followed a protest demonstration that closed the Khar Manda, Raghagan Road. MNA Gul Dad Khan and other prominent figures addressed the protestors and condemned the drone attack on the residence of PTI leader. K-P Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi also condemned the blast, terming the incident a cowardly act by anti-peace elements. He has ordered the IGP Zulfiqar Hameed to conduct thorough investigation and submit the report as soon as possible. He also instructed the authorities to provide the best possible medical facilities to the inj...

Pakistan has called upon the international community to intensify efforts against terrorism, condemning the shooting in Washington DC, on Thursday as an act of terrorism. The Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi extended condolences to the affected families.  At the weekly Foreign Office press briefing, Andrabi recounted and condemned the killing of Chinese nationals in Tajikistan, extending condolences to the two countries. Three Chinese workers in Tajikistan were killed in an attack launched from Afghanistan near the border, Tajik authorities said Thursday. He stated that reports have suggested that an Afghan national may have been involved in the incident in the US. "Pakistan has faced numerous terrorist incidents over the past two decades, many linked to Afghanistan." The spokesperson stated that the Washington incident represents a rising case of terrorism, calling upon Afghanistan to prevent terrorism originating from its territory....

The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has released its report on the by-elections held on November 23, revealing a mixed picture of electoral conduct marked by improved arrangements alongside procedural lapses and low voter participation. FAFEN deployed 122 observers who monitored 373 polling stations across constituencies. While the report acknowledged that elections were conducted with overall better arrangements, it flagged election campaign violations and gaps in result transparency. Voter turnout remained extremely low across the board. The overall turnout stood at merely 23%, with most constituencies recording less than 50% participation. Only one constituency managed to cross the 50% turnout threshold. Read: By-polls a 'one-sided' affair, say analysts On polling day, FAFEN observers documented over 465 political camps established near polling stations, raising questions about adherence to electoral guidelines. At 49% of the polling stations, political parties were o...

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has issued show-cause notices to ten Punjab-based sugar mills for allegedly forming a cartel to delay the start of sugarcane crushing and fix the cane purchase price at Rs400 per maund. CCP Chairperson Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu said no commercial organisation or trade association should be used as a platform for collusive decision-making. He warned that strict action would be taken against any entity involved in anti-competitive practices. According to the CCP, representatives of the ten mills met at Fatima Sugar Mills on November 10, where they allegedly agreed to begin crushing on November 28 and set a uniform cane price of Rs400 per 40kg. The meeting was chaired by Fatima Sugar Mills’ Resident Director Rana Jamil Ahmed Shahid. Read: Wholesale, retail sugar prices hit record levels despite ample stocks Representatives from Sheikho Sugar Mills, Thal Industries Corporation, Tandlianwala Sugar Mills (Rehman Hajra Unit), JK One Sugar Mills, Ashraf ...

The United Arab Emirates is processing nearly 500 visas daily for Pakistani nationals under new facilitation reforms, even as Pakistan’s interior ministry warned the Senate that the Emirates had stopped issuing visas, except for diplomatic and blue-passport holders. The ministry highlighted growing concerns over passport misuse, human trafficking, and the vulnerabilities facing overseas Pakistanis, while the UAE ambassador presented a more optimistic picture of ongoing travel and visa support. The briefing, chaired by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, warned that Pakistan had narrowly avoided a complete international ban on its passports - a step officials said would have been “extremely difficult” to reverse. Officials informed the committee that 21,647 Pakistanis are currently imprisoned across 61 countries, mostly for minor offences such as overstaying visas, identity fraud, and bank-related violations. The Foreign Office said Pakistani embassies hold data for 90 percent of thes...

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said the Pakistan-GCC Free Trade Agreement, to be signed very soon, will help enhance trade between Pakistan and the GCC-member countries, particularly with Bahrain. Addressing the business community in Manama on Thursday (today), the prime minister said his government is ready to support joint ventures, facilitate investment plans, and assist in a mutually rewarding journey of progress. He asked the Bahrain leadership and businessmen to come forward, work together, and make Pakistan’s economy, particularly the industry, agriculture, IT, and fintech sectors more vibrant. PM Shehbaz said Pakistan and Bahrain are two brotherly countries and that their decades-old relations are based on culture, religion, mutual respect, and trust. He said the two nations also enjoy decades-old strategic cooperation and that it is now time to transform these relations into more vibrant economic cooperation. The prime minister said Pakistan is ready to enhance eco...

The Islamabad High Court has summoned the Islamabad Director Inspector General of Investigation on December 9 over the alleged abduction of a woman and her minor daughters from Lahore and Bahawalpur, linked to a financial dispute involving former PIA Chief Executive Officer Musharraf Rasool. The court has directed the DIG to clarify whether statements from the Lahore police involved in the raid on the woman’s house have been recorded, and whether those who carried out the raid had valid search warrants. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani emphasised that any removal of individuals without a warrant constitutes abduction, adding that the court seeks to establish the truth in a case involving the humiliation of a woman and her children. “If someone is taken without a search warrant, it is considered abduction. The police are inactive, and the Federal Investigation Agency is refusing to investigate”. The petition alleges that police officials, acting on behalf of unidentified people, abducted Sa...

The privatisation of Pakistan’s national carrier, PIA, has been postponed once again. The process is now expected to begin in the last week of December, instead of the first week as previously planned. The Privatisation Commission has announced that the privatization of PIA is now expected to take place at the end of December. PIA sources have indicated that companies reportedly interested in acquiring PIA include Fauji Fertilizer, Habib Rafique, Younus Brothers, and Airblue. According to PIA sources, four companies have been qualified to participate in the privatisation process. Any successful bidder will be required to make an additional investment of Rs30 to 40 billion. However, PIA’s domestic and international properties are excluded from the privatisation and have been transferred to the PIA Holdings Company. The privatisation will cover only the airline’s four main offices in Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Rawalpindi. PIA’s name and branding will remain unchanged after privatis...

The oath-taking ceremony of the newly appointed caretaker chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan was held in the regional capital on Tuesday, marking a significant administrative transition in the region. Governor Syed Mehdi Shah administered the oath to Justice (R) Yar Muhammad Nasir, a former judge of the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court, who has now officially assumed charge as the caretaker chief minister. The event drew a large gathering of political and social dignitaries, showcasing broad representation from various segments of society. Their participation highlighted the importance of the caretaker setup as Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) moves toward its next electoral phase. Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and G-B, Amir Muqam, was also present at the ceremony, underscoring the federal government’s engagement with the region’s political processes. Read: Zardari says G-B’s freedom highlights unfinished struggle in IIOJK Justice Nasir, who hails from Nasirabad in the Astore district, assume...

National unity is Pakistan’s greatest strength, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir said while addressing the National Security Workshop-27 on Wednesday, according to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The field marshal said that the protection of Pakistan’s territory, national integrity, and the safety of every citizen remain the Pakistan Army’s highest priorities, with no compromises to be made. Read: COAS briefs president about security situation Field Marshal Asim Munir noted that challenges such as rising geopolitical tensions, cross-border terrorism, and hybrid warfare have further complicated the security environment. However, despite externally supported terrorism and information warfare, Pakistan’s armed forces and intelligence agencies continue to demonstrate unwavering resolve, professional excellence, and steadfastness in safeguarding national security, the army chief said. The NSW-27 training programme brings together members of parliame...

A hearing at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday saw heated exchanges as lawyers representing Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi challenged the commission’s jurisdiction in a case alleging intimidation of election staff during the Haripur by-election. The ECP had initiated proceedings after Sohail Afridi was accused of making threatening remarks during a public rally in Abbottabad, where he allegedly warned officials of consequences if election-day misconduct occurred. The Commission said such statements put at risk the “safety of polling staff, police and voters” and potentially violated the code of conduct prohibiting public officeholders from influencing elections. The proceedings opened with complaints from lawyer Ali Bukhari and the Advocate General KP, who said lawyers were mistreated at the ECP. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja apologised, assuring action against the officers responsible. Read: ECP takes notice of K-P CM's r...

Despite the start of the crushing season in Sindh and Punjab and the availability of large stocks of imported sugar, wholesale and retail sugar prices in the country have surged to record levels. According to Rauf Ibrahim, Chairman of the Wholesale Grocers Association, the wholesale price of sugar in Karachi has, for the first time, reached Rs202 per kilogram. "Sugar mill owners in Sindh have halted the supply of sugar to Karachi’s wholesale markets for the past two days," he said. As part of an organised strategy, the wholesale price of sugar has reached Rs175 per kilogram in Punjab and Rs200 per kilogram in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, he added. In various areas of Karachi, the retail price of sugar has now climbed to Rs210 to Rs215 per kilogram. Read: Sugar mills blame government policy for price hike Due to the suspension of supply from sugar mills, fears have emerged that wholesale prices may rise even further in the coming days. Ibrahim said sugar mills have been purchasing suga...

Justice (retd) Yar Muhammad Khan will take oath as the caretaker chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan on Tuesday (today), following the end of Chief Minister Gulbar Khan’s tenure and the dissolution of the region’s assembly. The Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Assembly and government were dissolved at midnight on Monday after completing their constitutional term. With the assembly’s dissolution, the region’s government also stood dissolved, according to an official announcement. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his capacity as chairman of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council, approved the appointment of Justice (retd) Yar Muhammad Khan as caretaker chief minister under Article 48-A(2) of the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan Order, 2018. A notification issued in Gilgit stated that the caretaker chief minister will take oath in the morning. Justice (retd) Khan, who belongs to Astore, retired as a judge of the G-B Chief Court. He holds a degree in Shariah and Law from the International Islamic University Isl...

Police in Swabi killed two terrorists within the jurisdiction of Topi police station, sources said on Monday. According to the district police spokesperson, authorities received information about the presence of outlaws in the Deh Topi area who were planning terrorist attacks. Acting on the intelligence, a police team immediately rushed to the location. When confronted by law enforcement, the terrorists opened fire on the police team. In the ensuing exchange of fire, both terrorists were killed. Authorities recovered hand grenades, two pistols, and a 125cc motorcycle from their possession. The slain terrorists were identified as Yasir, son of Sher Aman, and Saudur Rehman, also known as Suwaid, son of Bakht Sultan, both residents of Pabaini. Police said both were active members of the terrorist network Khawarij. The statement added that the killed militants had been involved in a grenade attack on the Kalabat police post, in which Constable Noor Kamal Shah was critically injured and lat...

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signalled a renewed strategic alignment as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Saudi Chief of General Staff General Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili in Islamabad to review defence cooperation, counterterrorism coordination and regional stability. At the centre of the discussion was the recent historic strategic bilateral defence agreement signed during the prime minister’s visits to Riyadh over the past two months. Sharif described the pact as a “milestone” that both sides were now committed to operationalising through joint training, military exercises and expanded exchange of expertise. The prime minister stressed that Pakistan viewed security cooperation with the Kingdom as essential for regional peace, adding that the two countries shared a longstanding resolve to combat terrorism and extremism. He said the partnership, grounded in shared faith and mutual confidence, remained a critical pillar of Pakistan’s foreign and security policy. General Al-Ruwaili relayed...

The Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) has stated that the recent increase in sugar prices is due to the closure of FBR portals and government-imposed restrictions on dealers, including inter-provincial transport bans. The Wholesale Grocers Association had previously accused sugar millers of driving up prices. They had termed the prevailing sugar price hike an "artificial crisis," alleging that despite a bumper sugarcane crop and imports, there has been a deliberate delay in sugar supply. The PSMA's statement said that the industry had long warned that portal closures would reduce sugar supply and had alerted the government that such closures would lead to price hikes. The government, however, continued to pressure mills to sell unnecessary imported sugar. The association added that the majority of the public did not prefer imported sugar. In Sindh, portals were kept closed so that imported sugar at the port could be sold first. Since these restrictions were imposed,...

The Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the Controller General of Accounts and the Accountant General Pakistan Revenues, has launched initiatives aimed at improving the pension disbursement system for overseas Pakistani retirees, Associated Press of Pakistan reported on Sunday. According to a document obtained by Wealth Pakistan, the government is addressing longstanding issues related to pension disbursements, data integration, and logistical challenges to ensure pensioners living abroad receive their benefits without delay. The Finance Division is working to strengthen the pension and General Provident Fund (GPF) management system by improving data integration between autonomous bodies and the AGPR. This linkage is expected to streamline the processing of pensions and GPF contributions, particularly for employees on deputation. “Better coordination will ensure smoother and more accurate pension transfers for civil servants operating under separate contribution mechanisms,” the...

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has intensified a sweeping campaign against illegal migration and suspected internal collusion after a series of interceptions at major airports involving forged documents and, officials say, the possible assistance of insiders. Immigration officers at New Islamabad International Airport offloaded a passenger, Muhammad Usman, who attempted to travel to Europe on an Umrah visa on Sunday. Usman was identified during clearance for flight PK-713, and officials said an initial probe revealed he had been deported from Italy earlier this year and remained in contact with multiple travel agents. A search of his mobile phone yielded a tampered resident card with an altered expiry date, officials added. Read: FIA stops Afghan national using fake Greek ID to reach Europe Authorities described the episode as part of a pattern in which travellers seek to exploit religious travel visas and falsified paperwork to reach European destinations. Usman, they said...

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has intensified a sweeping campaign against illegal migration and suspected internal collusion after a series of interceptions at major airports involving forged documents and, officials say, the possible assistance of insiders. Immigration officers at New Islamabad International Airport offloaded a passenger, Muhammad Usman, who attempted to travel to Europe on an Umrah visa on Sunday. Usman was identified during clearance for flight PK-713, and officials said an initial probe revealed he had been deported from Italy earlier this year and remained in contact with multiple travel agents. A search of his mobile phone yielded a tampered resident card with an altered expiry date, officials added. Read: FIA stops Afghan national using fake Greek ID to reach Europe Authorities described the episode as part of a pattern in which travellers seek to exploit religious travel visas and falsified paperwork to reach European destinations. Usman, they said...

Pakistan condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the attacks by Israeli occupying forces across Gaza, which have reportedly resulted in the deaths of several Palestinian civilians, including women and children, and have left many more wounded. In a statement on Sunday, the Foreign Office (FO) said, Such actions constitute a blatant violation of international law, relevant UN resolutions, and the recently concluded peace agreement at Sharm El-Sheikh. These attacks also undermine international efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace and stability in the region. The Government of Pakistan reiterates its call upon the international community to take immediate steps to end Israeli impunity and ceasefire violations, and to uphold international human rights and humanitarian law. Pakistan reaffirms its principled position in favour of the establishment of an independent, sovereign, viable, and contiguous State of Palestine, based on pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capi...

A deadly collision between a Hiace and a car on the Karak–Indus Highway claimed six lives. Separately, five members of a family lost their lives in Nowshera when the roof of their house collapsed. According to details, a traffic accident occurred on the Karak–Indus Highway on Saturday near Metha Khel area that left six dead and nine injured. Rescue teams rushed to the scene and provided first aid to the injured, before transporting them to the District Headquarters Hospital. Read: Faisalabad chemical factory blast kills 20 Authorities say that the death toll may rise, as the condition of some of the injured is stated to be critical.Traffic on the highway remained disrupted until the rescue operation completed. The cause of the accident is under investigation, with early reports indicating that poor road conditions and possible driver error may have contributed to the crash. In a separate incident, roof of a house collapsed in the Dag Jadeed area of Nowshera that left five fami...

Amid reports suggesting a possible change of Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, the coalition partners — PPP and PML-N — have reaffirmed their confidence in the incumbent provincial chief executive. Swirling speculation emerged after claims that President Asif Ali Zardari had expressed reservations over Bugti’s performance. Reports further suggested that during a recent trip to Dubai, the president declined to meet the Balochistan chief minister, fueling rumours of an impending shift in the provincial leadership. However, senior parliamentary figures from both the PML-N and PPP quickly moved to quell such speculation, assuring the public that Chief Minister Bugti continues to enjoy the coalition partners’ full support. Their reassurance comes at a time when several prominent leaders from both parties — including PPP’s Ali Hassan Zehri and Mir Liaquat Ali Lehri, and PML-N’s Nawab Changaiz Marri — have publicly voiced dissatisfaction over what they see as the chief minister’s inab...

Security forces killed eight terrorists in an intelligence-based operation conducted in Bannu district on November 21, the military’s media wing said on Saturday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the joint operation by security forces and law enforcement agencies was launched after reports emerged regarding the presence of terrorists linked to the Indian-sponsored group Fitna Al Khawarij. The ISPR stated that troops approached the suspected hideout and came under fire. Security personnel returned fire, and after an intense exchange, eight terrorists were killed. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain terrorists, who, the ISPR added, had been involved in multiple terrorist attacks against security forces, law enforcement personnel and in targeted killings of civilians. The military’s media wing noted that the operation reflects strengthened collaboration between security forces and law enforcement agencies, who have significantly intensified intelli...

The federal government has officially lifted the ban on the import and export of gold, a move aimed at facilitating trade in precious metals and jewelry across the country. The decision comes following the approval of the federal cabinet, after which the Ministry of Commerce issued an official notification. According to the notification, the previously suspended Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) governing the international trade of gold has been reinstated. This reinstatement allows businesses and traders involved in the gold sector to resume import and export activities under the updated regulatory framework. In addition to lifting the ban, the government has introduced several amendments concerning the trade of precious metals and jewelry. While the specific details of these amendments were not disclosed in the notification, officials said they are designed to streamline the import and export process and align it with international trade practices. Read: Gold prices drop in domestic, ...

Forty thousand Karachi families refused polio vaccines this year. In a city where the virus circulates through every district, those refusals represent the gap between Pakistan's impressive polio infrastructure and its inability to close the final mile of eradication. Pakistan has cut polio cases by more than 99.6% since 1994—from 20,000 annual cases to just 30 this year. It has built one of the world's most extensive surveillance systems: 127 environmental sampling sites, 12,500 reporting locations, and campaigns that reach 45 million children. Two of three global poliovirus strains have been eliminated. But Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where polio still circulates. And in 2024, the WPV1 strain resurged across 90 districts, forcing authorities to overhaul their approach with a "2-4-6 roadmap" under the National Emergency Action Plan. "The last mile is actually very difficult to achieve," said Dr Azra Pechuho, Sindh's Minister of He...

Defence counsel of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi called the code of conduct violations notices issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan "unjustified", arguing that Afridi never addressed the rally in Haripur.  The ECP conducted a hearing on Friday to take action against public officeholders for alleged violations of the election code of conduct ahead of the upcoming by-elections scheduled for November 23. A notice was issued yesterday to CM Afridi regarding alleged threats and violations. A four-member bench, headed by the Chief Election Commissioner, conducted the hearing. Sohail Afridi, and opposition candidate from Haripur constituency, Shehrnaz Ayub did not appear; however, their legal representatives attended. Lawyer Ali Bukhari, representing CM Afridi, showed in the Election Commission on Friday, arguing that the notices were unjustified. "The Chief Minister addressed rallies in Chamba and Haveliyan, which are at the border of t...

Federal Constitutional Court Chief Justice of Pakistan's newly established Federal Constitutional Court, Aminuddin Khan, pledged Friday to uphold the Constitution with "transparency, independence, and integrity," declaring the protection of fundamental rights the court's top priority. In his first public message since assuming office, Justice Aminuddin Khan described the FCC's creation as "a significant milestone in our national constitutional journey" that renews Pakistan's commitment to the rule of law. The Federal Constitutional Court was established as part of the 27th Constitutional Amendment enacted on November 13. The Amendment stated that the FCC would have original jurisdiction in Constitutional disputes amid much resistance from opposition groups and fundamental rights enforcement cases.  All pending petitions or appeals in the Supreme Court or its constitutional benches, established under the 26th Constitutional Amendment, are to be transf...

Development projects underway in Sindh with Asian Development Bank support were reviewed by ADB and the Sindh government, including the BRT Red Line, urban transport schemes, infrastructure initiatives and climate resilience projects. ADB Country Director Emma Fan met with the chief minister at the Chief Minister’s House, accompanied by her delegation. Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon briefed the delegation on the resolution of issues affecting the Red Line project. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said ADB-supported projects were encouraging for the people of Sindh, describing the bank as a long-standing and trusted development partner of the provincial government. He reaffirmed that the Sindh government would continue sustainable initiatives in transport, water supply, climate protection and infrastructure, and stressed that the timely completion of projects remained the government’s top priority. He assured the ADB delegation that all obstacles in the Red Line project had been r...