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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTI-P) chief Pervez Khattak said that PTI is still a popular party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), ARY News reported Talking to ARY News programme “Off the Record” Pervaiz Khattak said that he was offered by his friends in opposition to become prime minister but he did not choose that option. Pervaiz Khattak said that he was hiding for 20 days after the May 9 violence and there was no information that the vandalism was carried out against an institution. The former chief minister KP said that he has seen the cypher minutes but disclosing the details will create more problems. Read more: Pervez Khattak sees general elections in Feb 2024 He claimed that if the opportunities for elections were availed by the PTI chief the May 9 violence could have been avoided and if IPP’s Aleem Khan was appointed as Chief Minister Punjab then the PTI government could have survived. Pervaiz Khattak said that he knows the PTI chairman, he will not s

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Spain’s World Cup-winning star Aitana Bonmati won the UEFA Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year prizes respectively at a ceremony in Monaco on Thursday. Norway striker Erling Haaland scored 52 goals in 53 games to help City win the treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup, while Bonmati inspired Spain to World Cup glory earlier this month. Haaland’s achievements in his first season at City after joining from Borussia Dortmund saw him take the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award, for which his club colleague Kevin De Bruyne and Lionel Messi were also shortlisted. Messi was at Paris Saint-Germain last season but has since left to join Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. “I am kind of living a dream. This was my dream when I was young, so to be able to do this together with my teammates is something special,” Haaland, 23, said after collecting his award. Aitana Bonmati, 25, starred as Barcelona won the Women’s Champions League last se

LAHORE: The Punjab Health Initiative Management Company has unveiled a new policy regarding the coverage of health insurance cards, ARY News reported on Thursday. The company has announced a revised policy regarding the coverage of the government’s health insurance cards in Punjab. The cardholders will now have to pay 30 per cent charges for hernia, appendicitis, gallstones, prostrate and obstetric surgeries. The new policy will come into effect on September 1. In June 2022, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) had signed an agreement with the health ministry for Sehat Sahulat Programme in which the computerised national identity cards (CNICs) will be used as health cards. Related: Gov Kamran Tessori announces free health card for low income people The NADRA had signed an agreement with the federal health ministry and Punjab Health Initiative Management Company for the national health card and Sehat Sahulat Program. The agreement signing ceremony was held at

The groundbreaking ceremony of ARY Laguna was held at Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Gujranwala on Thursday, ARY News reported. The prestigious event was attended by ARY Laguna Chairman Mr Salman Iqbal, Project Director DHA Gujranwala Brigadier Muhammad Aslam Khan Niazi, industrialists, investors, DHA officers and businesspersons.  GOC Gujranwala Major General Abdul Moeed Khan was the chief guest of the groundbreaking ceremony of ARY Laguna. Addressing the event, Chairman ARY Laguna Mr Salman Iqbal said that when he announced that he is bringing ARY Laguna to Gujranwala, a lot of people asked him why is he choosing Gujranwala “I told them that Punjab would accept me openheartedly.”  Related: ARY Laguna DHA City holds first balloting ceremony He reminisced that he came up with this unique concept at a time when the country was dealing with Covid lockdowns and to launch a real-estate project and make it a success was a daunting task. “People were sceptical about the availabil

A senior journalist in Swat namely Fayaz Zafar has been arrested by the local police under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO), ARY News reported on Wednesday. Swat police department confirmed that they arrested a senior journalist Fayaz Zafar under MPO. Later, the journalist was shifted to Swat jail from the DC Office. The journalist told the media that he was taken to the deputy commissioner (DC) office where he was subjected to torture. He added that he was arrested for reporting the truth. Related: Jan Mohammad Mahar: Post mortem report of slain journalist issued Earlier in the month, a senior journalist and Kawish Television Network (KTN) Sukkur bureau chief Jan Mohammad Mahar had been murdered by unidentified assailants on August 13. The attackers on a motorcycle had opened fire at Mahar inside his vehicle after he left his office at 9:00 am in Sukkur. READ:  Journalist sacked from PTV for ‘questioning’ PM about freedom of expression In August, another journal

RAWALPINDI: Police arrested the couple accused of torturing the minor housemaid aged 8 years in Rawalpindi, ARY News reported on Wednesday. CPO Rawalpindi Khalid Hamdani told the media that the couple has been arrested who subjected the eight-year-old housemaid to torture. The arrested persons include Ali Sher and his wife Bakhtawar. A case was lodged against the inhumane incident at the Rawat police station over the complaint of the victim’s father. CPO said that the accused will be produced before the court after an investigation. Hamdani said that torture on children will not be tolerated at any cost. Related: Court rejects bail petition of judge’s wife in housemaid torture case Earlier in the day, it emerged that a minor housemaid was subjected to ‘torture’ in Rawalpindi. Kinza, 8-year-old, was ‘beaten’ by her lady owner and her husband in Rawalpindi’s area of Rawat. According to the father of the minor housemaid, Kinza was tortured by Bakhtawar, the house lady and her husb

KARACHI: An on-duty traffic policeman killed in car accident near Jamali Bridge on Super Highway Karachi, ARY News reported. As per details, the rescue sources said that the policeman is identified as 30-year-old Abdurehman. The dead body of the deceased policeman is shifted to Jinnah Hospital for legal formalities, sources added. Earlier, at least 20 people, including women and children, were burnt to death while 14 others sustained injuries in a collision between a passenger bus and a pickup carrying diesel barrels on Faisalabad Motorway near Pindi Bhattian. Read more: 8 dead, 1,090 injured in Punjab road accidents in 24 hours On August 25, it was reported that at least eight people were killed and 1,090 others injured in 1,047 road traffic crashes in Punjab during the last 24 hours. As many as 560 people with serious injuries were shifted to different hospitals, while 530 with minor injuries were treated at the incident site by the rescue medical teams. The data analysis sho

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has ordered the removal of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, ARY News reported on Tuesday. The ECP Secretary Omar Hamid Khan wrote to letter to the Establishment Division’s secretary regarding the KP chief secretary. The ECP secretary stated in his letter that the KP CS is unable to perform his duties impartially. It further stated that the appointment of an impartial officer is necessary to conduct free and fair elections. It added that the KP CS is unable to provide required assistance to the election commission. The commission demanded the Establishment Division to immediately replace Chaudhry with another officer who could perform the tasks impartially. Related: More ministers to be inducted into KP cabinet Earlier in the month, the  resignations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) caretaker ministers  had been accepted by provincial Governor Haji Ghulam Ali in line with the directives issued by t

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Lahore coordinators have announced to join Jahangir Tareen-led Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), ARY News reported on Tuesday. The coordinators of PTI Lahore held a meeting with IPP Lahore President Murad Raas. The coordinators include Shoaib Karim, Qasim Aziz, Sohail Maqbool and Rizwan Shah. The local leaders expressed confidence in the leadership of Jahangir Tareen and Aleem Khan. Coordinators from PTI Lahore join IPP. We welcome these hard working individuals to our team. pic.twitter.com/2aHqCgoEVU — Murad Raas (@MuradRaasMR) August 29, 2023 Earlier in the month,  Jahangir Tareen’s Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) backed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement for holding upcoming general elections on 2023 census data. Related: IPP applies for party registration, seeks ‘Eagle’ election symbol IPP Central Information Secretary Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that her political party will support the elections under 2023 census data. She, how

LAKKI MARWAT: Two police officers were martyred and three wounded as terrorists opened fire at a patrolling van in Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ARY News reported, citing sources.  Sources said the police party was on a routine patrol in Dara Peeza, Dera Road when they were attacked by unknown armed men. As a result, two cops were martyred while three others were wounded.  The bodies and wounded were rushed to DHQ Hospital, where the martyred were identified as Saif Ali and Basheerur Rehman, while the injured were identified as Inamullah, Imdadullah and Asmatullah. Following the incident, the security forces reached the area and started a search operation to catch the terrorists.  Read more: Four policemen martyred as terrorists attack PS in Lakki Marwat Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Zulfiqar Larik said cases will be filed against the terrorists and masterminds of the attack under ATA and terror financing act.  Earlier in June, two policem

KARACHI: The dengue cases soared to 896 in Sindh this year while a massive rise in the spread of the mosquito-borne disease was witnessed in August, ARY News reported on Monday. A total of 731 dengue cases were reported across Sindh in August. 291 cases were reported in Karachi’s East district, 126 in Central, 79 in Korangi, 136 in South, 20 in West, 40 in Malir and 396 in Keamari. 103 cases were reported in Hyderabad, 31 in Mirpur Khas, 14 in Larkana, 13 in Sukkur and four in Shaheed Benazirabad. NIH advisory Earlier in the month, the National Institute of Health (NIH) issued an advisory amid a potential threat of an increase in dengue fever cases in the monsoon season, ARY News reported. The advisory stated that the steep rise is witnessed in the monsoon season in the number of dengue virus cases for which a strong vigilant system is needed to control the rising number. The authorities and masses have been advised to ensure the prevention of mosquitoes from accessing egg-lay

A woman in Karachi broke into tear outside a K-Electric office after receiving inflated electricity bill and later she was forced to pay hefty penalty after lodging a complaint for electricity theft. Amid skyrocketing inflation, dilapidated infrastructure and other crises, Karachiites are suffering the menace of prolonged loadshedding and overbilling due to the sole power supply company in Karachi, K-Electric. کے الیکٹرک کے دفتر کے باہر خاتون پھوٹ پھوٹ کر رونے لگی #arynews pic.twitter.com/gW6hBXweHw — ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) August 28, 2023 A woman broke into tears outside a K-Electric office for facing another difficulty after lodging a complaint about suspected electricity theft from the metre. Related: Relief in electricity bills: Final decision likely today She told ARY News that she complained to K-Electric staffers about electricity theft but they imposed a hefty penalty on the consumer instead of addressing the issue. She detailed that they paid an electric

RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi citizens have approached the court to challenge the inflated electricity bills and the imposition of taxes, ARY News reported on Monday. Rawalpindi citizens including Ghulam Shabbir, Taj Abbasi and others have challenged the inflated electricity bills, high power tariff and hefty taxes in the high court. A writ petition has been filed at the high court’s Rawalpindi bench by the citizens through their counsel Sardar Abdul Razzaq Khan Advocate. Justice Jawwad Hassan will hear the writ petition today. The petition stated that the government is responsible for improving the living standards of the citizens and providing relief to the masses. Related: Relief in electricity bills: Final decision likely today It added that the government and National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) approved a massive hike in the electricity bills and made the lives of citizens more difficult by imposing taxes. The petitioners sought the high court to nullify the decis

LONDON: A journalist has lodged a complaint against a security guard of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif over ‘misconduct’ outside Hussain Nawaz’s office in London, ARY News reported on Monday. According to details, a complaint with London police was filed against Nawaz Sharif’s guard over aggressive behaviour and hurling abuses towards journalists who had gathered at Hussain Nawaz’s office to report on the forthcoming meeting between the Sharif brothers in London. The journalist said the former prime minister’s guard made obscene gestures and used foul language. He hoped that the police will take strict action against the accused. It is pertinent to mention here that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s security guard misbehaved with Pakistani journalists and hurled abuses for filming Shehbaz Sharif’s arrival. Read More: Video: Nawaz Sharif’s guard misbehaves with Pakistani journalists Pakistani journalists arrived at Nawaz Sharif’s residence  in London to cover

KARACHI: Exorbitant bills have forced people to hit the streets across Pakistan. Here’s why the masses are getting inflated bills.  Maria Memon, the host of the ARY News program “Sawal Yeh Hai,” while discussing the situation said that by carefully analyzing the electricity bills, every consumer can understand why they are being slapped with heavy bills? She explained that the electricity bill she has in her hands is of a house that consumed 839 units in the month of August. In this bill, there are two types of charges applied, including the Islamabad Electric Supply Company and government charges. The electricity charges in the bill are Rs35,842 for 839 units. In addition to this, due to fuel price adjustment, there is an FC surcharge of Rs2,709 and a QTR tariff adjustment of 1,447 rupees, bringing the total charges of this bill to 40,244 rupees.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by ARY News (@arynewstv) Furthermore, the govern

KARACHI: Senior Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Khursheed Shah on Sunday said that it is unlikely that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan in October, ARY News reported. Speaking at ARY News’ programme ‘Sawaal Ye Hai’, the former federal minister said that former prime minister premier Shehbaz Sharif may say that Nawaz will be returning in October but “I say that Nawaz Sharif’s health is not good”. Khursheed Shah said that Nawaz Sharif went to London due to illness and “if he [Nawaz] is returning amid health issues that’s a good gesture”. “His [Nawaz’s] own people are defaming him by saying that the former premier wasn’t coming due to legal issues,” Shah said, adding that such statements are portraying PML-N supremo as “a liar”. Earlier, former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan in October. “We held consultations with the senior leadership of

JARANWALA: Condemning the Jaranwala incident, Caretaker Minister for National Heritage and Culture Dr Jamal Shah on Sunday asserted that extremism and religious animosity will not be tolerated at any cost in Pakistan, ARY News reported. Talking to journalists in Jaranwala, the caretaker minister said Islam doesn’t permit any kind of discrimination and violence against any other religion and beliefs. He said that Islam teaches the lesson of peace, love and respect for others. He also lauded the efforts of Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his team for the speedy rehabilitation work on damaged worship places and houses. The Minister said it is our religious, national as well and moral obligation to protect rights of minorities in the country. Earlier, a mob attacked,  vandalized multiple churches and torched homes belonging to the Christian community  in Jaranwala, Faisalabad over blasphemy allegations. Read more:  Jaranwala incident extremely tragic and totally intolerable: C

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has announced countrywide protests against the inflated electricity bills, ARY News reported on Sunday. PPP Secretary General Nayyar Bukhari announced that the inflated electricity bills have worried every citizen. He added that PPP will stage protests on city, union council (UC) and tehsil levels across the country. Related: Jamaat-e-Islami decides to hold strike against power tariff hike Bukhari ordered PPP workers to stage protests across the country. The movement against inflated electricity bills nationwide is gaining momentum every day. People are hitting the streets and burning the bills in protest. The inflated power bills triggered country-wide protests from Karachi to Khyber and protests in some parts of the country are turning violent. Earlier in the day, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) announced to observe a countrywide strike on September 2 against the increase in electricity prices amid mounting public outcry. Related: Electricity bi

PESHAWAR: The voting for by-polls in 65 different village and neighborhood councils in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is underway amid tight security, ARY News reported on Sunday. The polling began at 8 am and will continue till 5 pm in the evening without any break. The by-polls are being held in 21 districts including Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Khyber, Mardan, Kohat, Bannu, Laki Marwat, DI Khan, Tank, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mansehra, Battagram, Torghar, Swat, Shangla, Malakand, Upper and Lower Dir and Bajaur. A total of 256 polling stations have been established for this purpose. Out of these 159 polling stations have been declared most sensitive and 84 have been declared sensitive. A fierce contest is expected between ANP candidate Shabir Ahmed Raza, PTI candidate Muhammad Zeeshan and independent candidate Ahmed Ali on neighbourhood council Bicket Ganj-1. Also, PML-N candidate Abbas Khan, JUI-F candidate Mukhtiar Ali and PTI’s Rahim Shah are vying for the general seat of village council

ISLAMABAD: The movement against inflated electricity bills nationwide is gaining momentum every day. People are hitting the streets and burning the bills in protest.  The inflated power bills triggered country-wide protests  from Karachi to Khyber and protests in some parts of the country are turning violent.  In Karachi, the people protested against exorbitant bills sent by K-Electric, the city’s sole power supplier. People complained that the bills they are being served are more than their salaries.  In Peshawar, a large number of people took to the streets۔ Citizens say they will no longer sit silent against this ‘injustice’۔ Traders from Ganj Bazaar and Lahore Square also set fire to power bills to record their protest۔ Meanwhile, in Rawalpindi, protesters gathered at Committee Chowk and burned bills while demanding that the government abolish imposed taxes on electricity. In Gujranwala, protesters surrounded the Gujranwala Electric Power Company office in protest against e

COLOMBO: Pakistan on Saturday reclaimed the number one spot in the ICC men’s one-day international (ODI) rankings after whitewashing Afghanistan in a three-match series in Sri Lanka, ARY News reported. Prior to the series, Pakistan was in second place with 116 rating, just two rating behind Australia. However, after whitewashing Afghanistan, Pakistan moved to the top spot in the rankings with 118 rating, ahead of Australia in points. This is Pakistan’s second time at the top of the ODI rankings this year. They first reached the top after winning their first four matches against New Zealand in a five-match series in May. However, they lost the fifth and final match to New Zealand, which allowed Australia to reclaim the top spot. Earlier, a collective bowling effort after Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s half-centuries, led Pakistan to a clean sweep victory against Afghanistan in three-match ODI series. Set to chase 269 in the third ODI, Afghanistan could only raise 209 despite Muj

KARACHI: In an act of bravery, a delivery man snatched a gun out of a robber’s hand as he attempted to steal his belongings in Karachi, ARY News reported on Saturday. The incident – CCTV footage of which is available with ARY News – took place in Karachi’s Nazimabad area, wherein a delivery man foiled a robbery bid and snatched the gun wielded by armed thief and turned on him. In the CCTV footage, the delivery man can be seen standing outside a house when an unidentified man, wearing shalwar kameez, came on a bike and pulled out a gun and pointed it at him. https://arynews.tv/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/WhatsApp-Video-2023-08-25-at-11.36.26-PM-1.mp4 During the robbery bid, the robber looted belongings, including mobile phone and cash, from the man. Meanwhile, the delivery man caught the suspect and got tangled up with him. Subsequently, the man snatched the weapon from the suspect but the latter managed to escape and left his motorcycle. Read more:  Girl killed while resisting ro

ATTOCK: Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) grilled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and former prime minister in Cypher case in Attock jail, ARY News reported. As per details, PTI chief has been officially included in the FIA investigation in cypher case. The FIA team headed by Deputy Director Ayaz grilled PTI chief in Attock jail for one hour. Earlier, a first information report (FIR) was registered against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, for ‘deliberately missing a copy of the diplomatic cypher’, has come to light. The first information report (FIR) – a copy of which is available with ARY News – was registered on August 15 under the Official Secrets Act. It was registered on the complaint of Home Secretary. Read more: ‘Missing’ cypher copy: FIR registered against PTI chief, Qureshi comes to light Former prime minister Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi were nominated in the report, while

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to UK Dr Muhammad Faisal called on caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Friday, ARY News reported. He congratulated the prime minister on assuming the office and expressed good wishes for him. The envoy got instructions from the prime minister on the improvement of the relations between Pakistan and the UK, the PM office said in a statement. It may be noted that Dr. Faisal assumed office as the country’s HC to the UK recently, on August 2 and recently held a meeting with Nawaz Sharif in London. Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan in October, his brother and party’s president Shehbaz Sharif confirmed on Friday. “We held consultations with the senior leadership of the party and we have decided that Nawaz Sharif will return to Pakistan in October and lead the election campaign,” Shehbaz Sharif said while talking to journalists in London. The PML-N president also said that

LAHORE/BAHAWALNAGAR: Sutlej River has been in high flood at Islam Headworks, with 1,51,000 cusecs flow, ARY News reported on Saturday. The floodwater has submerged several areas in Vehari, Burewala, Lodhran and Bahawalpur and destroyed standing crops. Sutlej has also been in high flood at Ganda Singh Headworks with present water flow 1,22,000 cusecs, Provincial Disaster Management Authority stated. The water level has been 20.8 feet. The river has been in medium flood at Sulemanki Headworks as water going down at the point with present inflow 96,638 cusecs and outflow 83,720 cusecs, Provincial Disaster Management Authority stated. A search has been underway to trace a resident of Chak Pana Mahar, Mohammad Rafique, who was swept away by the flood water. Floodwater released from waterworks in India has drowned a vast area of Sutlej River belt breaking roads and temporary protective dykes across the border in Pakistan. Flooding has wreaked havoc in the region as thousands of acres

ISLAMABAD: The reason behind the judge – who convicted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case – Humayun Dilawar’s demotion to the Officer on Special Duty (O.S.D) was revealed, ARY News reported on Friday.  Sources told ARY News that Judge Humayun Dilawar had reached Pakistan on August 16 and he wrote a letter to the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) chief justice on August 17. ARY News obtained a copy of Dilawar’s letter in which he gave reference of the verdict he announced against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief in the Toshakhana case. He apprised the IHC CJ about the security threats to him and his family. He stated in his letter that a smear campaign on social media was started against him after the verdict and he received threats from different people around the world. Dilawar demanded the IHC CJ to transfer him to the special courts, judicial complex or the high court citing the reasons. Earlier, Humayun Dilawar, a district and sessi

KARACHI: A courier rider made a courageous move and foiled the robbery bid in the Nazimabad area of Karachi on Friday, ARY News reported. The failed robbery event was caught on camera. The video showed a courier rider standing outside a house in the Nazimabad area when an armed street criminal reached there. The street criminal snatched mobile phone and other valuables from the courier rider at gunpoint. Suddenly, the courier rider caught the criminal and tried to snatch his pistol. During the fight, the rider fell to the ground but he did not lose his grip and managed to take away his pistol. The street criminal fled from the scene after losing his weapon, leaving behind his motorcycle. https://arynews.tv/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/WhatsApp-Video-2023-08-25-at-11.36.26-PM.mp4 A few days ago, a woman in Karachi successfully thwarted an attempted burglary from a family. A woman foiled an attempt of robbery from a family at Karachi’s Rashid Minhas Road. A witness said the two su

KHYBER: The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and terrorists have engaged in a gunfight in Khyber district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Friday, ARY News reported. In the exchange of fire, a wanted terrorist namely Abuzar Afridi was killed by the CTD officials in Khyber’s Sur Kamar town. Police said that Abuzar Afridi had facilitated the suicide bomber who targeted a mosque in Ali Masjid area – Khyber on July 25. Police added that the killed terrorist belongs to Landi Kotal town. On July 25, Additional Station House Officer (SHO)  Adnan Afridi was martyred  and other people sustained injuries in a powerful bomb blast at a mosque in the Ali Masjid area of Khyber district. A powerful bomb blast occurred at a mosque in the Ali Masjid area in Jamrud – -Khyber district in which a police officer – additional SHO Adnan Afridi was martyred and other people got injured. In the FIR, the SHO nominated the name of  Commander Ayub from the banned organization  Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakist

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday delisted September 5 cases, including a contempt case registered against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and others, ARY News reported. In a statement, the electoral watchdog has asserted that the cases – to be heard on September 5 – were delisted due to the unavailability of the bench. It is pertinent to mention here that the ECP had served notices to PTI chief and former federal ministers Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry in contempt case. Earlier, Lahore High Court (LHC) stopped Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from taking final decision against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief in the contempt case. LHC Judge Justice Muhammad Wahid Khan heard the plea filed by PTI chief against the  ECP proceedings . LHC stopped ECP from taking the final decision in the contempt case however directed the commission to continue the proceedings. Furthermore, the PTI chief’s petition was referred to Chief Justic

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday and received a briefing on the foreign policy of Pakistan, ARY News reported. As per details, Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi briefed the prime minister about the country’s foreign policy. The briefing covered Pakistan’s external relations, the working of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recent efforts to strengthen diplomatic ties with other countries, and priorities for the future, especially in view of the regional and global developments. The prime minister was apprised of the steps being taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with the ministries and departments concerned, to facilitate the Pakistani diaspora working and residing abroad. The need for close coordination between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all other national stakeholders was discussed with a view to ensuring the synergetic and holistic pursuit of Pakistan’s foreign pol