News Updates Pk

The Cabinet Division set in motion on Monday the federal government's austerity policy, detailing measures for foreign visits of government officials. The officials were encouraged to opt for teleconferencing over in-person foreign visits whenever possible, with a strict prohibition on staying in five-star accommodations. Approval for official visits by federal ministers, advisors, and others must be sought from the PM's office, according to the policy. The policy also imposes a ban on simultaneous foreign trips by ministers and secretaries, except under unavoidable circumstances. Additionally, officials of grade 20 or above must obtain permission from the relevant office, the policy maintains. All pertinent details of foreign trips are to be furnished to the Ministry of External Affairs within 15 days. Exceptions to these regulations include the ministries of foreign affairs and commerce, which are exempted from certain restrictions related to attending international conferenc...

Security forces killed eight terrorists, including a commander, during an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Monday.  The terrorist commander was identified as Sehra aka Janan and was killed after an intense gun battle along with the other militants.   "He was involved in orchestrating the terrorist attack on security forces’ post in Mir Ali on 16 March and was highly wanted by the law enforcement agencies," said the statement.  Forces launched a sanitization operation in the surrounding areas following the IBO, ensuring the elimination of any lingering terrorist threats. Read: 'HVT' among four terrorists killed in North Waziristan IBO "The security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country," the ISPR statement said. In a similar operation in North Waziristan on March 16, at least six terrorists were killed in the Mir Ali. While a lieutenant colonel...

The Supreme Court ordered re-election on Monday for Balochistan's PB-50 Qilla Abdullah constituency after mutual consent of all political parties and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa heard the case. The court annulled ECP’s earlier order of repolling at six polling stations and ordered the electoral watchdog to conduct fresh polls in the constituency as per the law. Awami National Party’s (ANP) Zamard Khan challenged the ECP’s order and contended that the turnout at many polling stations of the constituency remained low. Read: Elections held transparently, peacefully: CEC The week following the elections in Balochistan was marred by protests from political and religious parties that took to the streets against alleged election irregularities including rigging, manipulation of results, and undue delays in the announcement of poll results. Despite calls for restraint and appeals for dialogue, political and reli...

Responding to Information Minister Attaullah Tarar's statement, a spokesperson for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday stated that the martyrs are the collective assets of the nation, transcending any political or group divisions. In a statement, the spokesperson asserted that those martyred while fulfilling their duty of defending the homeland are true heroes, and disrespecting them by exploiting their sacrifice for petty political gains constitutes a grave crime. The PTI spokesperson remarked that the “attacks” on the armed forces and its martyrs have been a tradition of PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, and his cohorts. “Khawaja Asif and Atta Tarar are among those criminals rejected by the public, yet they were ushered into the assembly through rigged mandates,” he added. Read more: Info minister claims PTI behind social media campaign against armed forces The spokesperson emphasised that the “assaults” on the sanctity and dignity of ...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has extended the tenure of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu by a year, a day before the air chief was due to retire.  The tenure of Sidhu was due to end on Saturday and he was set to retire on March 18. The four-star Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officer and 16th chief of air staff took over command of the air force on March 19, 2021, from his predecessor ACM Mujahid Anwar Khan. The chief of the air staff is a military appointment and a statutory office held by an air chief marshal in the Pakistan Air Force, who is appointed by the prime minister of Pakistan and finally confirmed by the president of Pakistan. Babar joined GD (Pilot) branch of the PAF in 1986 as a fighter pilot. He has also served in fighter squadrons, operational airbases and regional commands. He attended Combat Commanders School, Air War College and Royal College of Defense Studies in the United Kingdom for higher studies. He has also served as Assistant Chie...

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's intervention facilitated the removal of PTI leader Maleeka Bokhari's name from the no-fly list.   Bokhari, facing difficulty in travelling abroad due to being on the no-fly list for a year, appealed on X (formerly Twitter) for help regarding a visit to Australia due to her sister's deteriorating health. In her post on X, Maleeka wrote about her sister's dire condition on Saturday, stating that she was put on a ventilator and doctors had given her only 24 hours to live. Maryam responded to her post and assured her of assistance, pledging to intervene with authorities “I hope you have filed a request in writing officially,” she wrote in her post on X. Read Imran’s name recommended for no-fly list Following the CM's involvement, Bokhari thanked her for swift action and announced that her name had been removed from the no-fly list, allowing her to travel to Australia to be with her ailing sister. It is pertinent to...

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday the PTI was behind the propaganda against the armed forces and warned the former ruling party of action. Addressing the media in Lahore, Tarar said the Pakistan Army is the "guarantee of our survival" and that the humiliation of martyrs will not be tolerated. "I condemn the insulting social media campaign launched by a political party against the martyrs and their sacrifices," said the information minister. “Those who are responsible and campaigning for their own political interests will be held accountable. The humiliation of the country's interest and martyrs will not be allowed.” Tarar maintained that social media should be used responsibly and warned the accounts involved in the malicious campaign of action following an investigation.    "Many social media accounts are being operated from abroad but some are also present in Pakistan and the list of these account holders is being prepared," said...