As lawmakers in parliament’s second joint sitting on Monday sounded alarm over surge in terrorist activities by the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), PPP Senator Raza Rabbani demanded that the military leadership provide an in-camera briefing on failed peace talks with militants. In a joint sitting chaired by National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf, the lawmakers rued the decision to enter into dialogue with militants and demanded that the military leadership be invited to the house for an in-camera briefing on the matter in light of resurging militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Earlier, Senator Raza Rabbani questioned the absence of Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah when the house was set to discuss law and order. He claimed the surge in militancy was driving the business class out of the province. He also questioned how the TTP managed to make its way back to Swat and attack the CTD office.

Washington: The US seeks a strong partnership with Pakistan on counterterrorism, the State Department has said, underlining that America looks forward to cooperative efforts to eliminate regional and global terrorists and other security threats. “We seek a strong partnership with Pakistan on counterterrorism. We look forward to cooperative efforts to eliminate regional and global terrorists and other security threats,” State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters. The United States maintains a dialogue with Pakistan on a broad range of issues. “The delegation will also reaffirm the strong security cooperation between our nations.

A single-member bench consisting of Justice Omar Sial gave its decision on Dania's plea, granting her bail and ordering her release from prison. Dania's lawyer Liaqat Gabol had argued that the phone numbers from which the videos were spread do not belong to Dania. On December 17, the Judicial Magistrate East sent Dania to jail on judicial remand while rejecting an FIA plea for her physical remand. A few days later, the court rejected Dania's bail plea, keeping her in judicial remand. Last week, Dania's bail application was rejected once again by the Sindh High Court.

Secretary General People’s Party Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari said the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan was bringing disgrace to Pakistan. “The most unworthy and incompetent prime minister in the country’s history is bringing disgrace to the country and the na­tion with his irresponsible talk,” he said. Bukhari said the PPP will de­cide about the by-elections soon. “Imran Khan, you were powerless, why did you cling to power,” he questioned in a state­ment. Meanwhile, PPP leader Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said the PTI dissolved the assemblies of two provinces without any reason.

Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has observed that "no doubt a woman cannot commit the offence of rape but if she facilitates the act then she can be prosecuted for the offence of 'gang rape' under section 376D of Indian Penal Code (IPC) in view of the amended provisions". Elaborating on the provisions of sections 375 (rape) and 376 (punishment for rape) of the IPC relating to the offence of rape,...

A senior finance ministry official confirmed that both the measures have now been dropped. The list included the 0.6% withholding tax on cash withdrawals by non-filers and 1% increase in the General Sales Tax rate to 18%. The still under-consideration proposal to impose 0.6% withholding tax on the deposits could also lead to increase in the currency circulation. In its post-visit statement, the IMF has emphasised “permanent” revenue measures, which can immediately increase tax collection and also withstand court scrutiny. There was a clear view in that meeting that the flood levy would be in violation of the World Trade Organization commitments.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Climate Change, Senator Sherry Rehman in her message on National Women’s Day paid tribute to the women of the country who were playing a vital role in nation building and development of the country. “Be it Lady Health Worker or Benazir Income Support Programme, PPP has always initiated public and revolutionary projects,” she wrote on the micro-blogging website. “Now, through the Sindh government’s People’s Poverty Reduction Programme, women across the province are setting a new example of development, Sherry mentioned. Women are ensuring economic stability and growth through a revolutionary project. “We don’t just create slogans and narratives of “change” but work on revolutionary projects for the development of society,” she added.

Share:Five matches were contested on the final day of phase one of the National Challenge Cup 2023 played at various venues across the country. The first match of the day took place between Otto Cranes and Klash Mills at Agriculture University Faisalabad, and after a good competition, Otto Cranes won the encounter by 4-1. For Otto Cranes, Haider Ali banged in a beautiful Quartet. In the second match of the day played at POF Wah Football Ground, Army thrashed POF by 3-0. In the fourth match of the day played at PAF Sports Complex Peshawar, Mamsons recorded a stunning 2-1 victory over PAF.

The Pakistani Taliban first came into the limelight towards the end of 2005 when a group in North Waziristan killed militants of another group and hanged their headless bodies and called themselves the Pakistani Taliban. In January 2008, the TTP under Baitullah Mehsud de­clared war on Pakistan, and at the same time in order to get recognition from the Afghan Taliban, thousands of Pak­istani Taliban were sent as reinforce­ments to Afghanistan. Before taking any action inside Afghanistan, the Af­ghan Taliban must be taken on board to avoid any misunderstandings. Pakistan has already paid a huge price during the war on terror as more than 85,000 Pakistanis have lost their lives. The Pukhtoons of Pakistan have sacrificed more than any other ethnic groups in Pakistan as a result of this war.

Share:ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Interfaith Harmony and Middle East Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi on Saturday termed the murder of an accused who desecrated the Holy Qauran in Warburton Nankana Sahib unconstitutional and un-Islamic. He, in a video message, said as per media reports, desecrator of the Holy Quran who was under police custody of Warburton, Nankana Sahib, had been killed after attacking the police station by a group of unruly mob. He said if someone had committed a crime, it was court’s jurisdiction to penalize the accused, it was none of the group, party or individual’s discretion power to announce sentence against anyone. He urged the Punjab government to put culprits involved in this heinous crime behind the bars and proposed that their trials should be conducted in the Anti-Terrorism Court. He said it was a shameful act in the eyes of Ulema and Mashaykh of all schools of thought as it had brought a bad name for the country in the comity of nations.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday set into motion the process to deliberate over and finalise the schedule of the Punjab Assembly elections in light of the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) orders to hold polls immediately. In a statement, the election watchdog said Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja has summoned a high-level meeting on February 13 (Monday) at the commission’s secretariat. The meeting will review the decision of the Lahore High Court and will decide its future course of action and the implementation of the verdict for holding the general election to the provincial assembly. On Friday, the LHC ordered the ECP to immediately announce the date of elections to the Punjab Assembly after consultation with the governor, in his capacity as the constitutional head of the province, to ensure that polls were held not later than 90 days as per the mandate of the Constitution. Justice Jawad Hassan passed the order allowing petitions of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and others, seeking directions for the governor and ECP to immediately announce a date for general elections in the province, since the assembly had been dissolved.

Share:The city police on Saturday night foiled a terror attack at law enforcers at Gomal Bazar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Tank city. According to details, some police officials in KP’s Tank came under a gun attack by a group of heavily armed terrorists. In the statement, the law enforcers stated no casualties occurred during the exchange of fire while an operation has been launched in the area to arrest the suspects. KP police foiled a terrorist attack on Jandola police station in Tank district by befittingly responding to the attackers. The inspector general praised the police personnel for their bravery to foil the terrorist attack.

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Despite the LHC pronouncing its much-awaited order to immediately announce the date for elections in Punjab, the fate of the provincial assembly still hangs in the balance as uncertainty buries a definite legislative answer to the issue. While PTI extols the decision, the legal minds of the ruling party tap into the "ambiguities" for a favourable legal answer to potentially defer the polls. According to his interpretation, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will have to announce the date of the election within 90 days and not the holding of the election. On the other hand, PTI Lawyer Chaudhry Faisal Hussain has lauded the LHC order to hold the election no later than 90 days. He cautioned extending the period for holding elections would be akin to applying the “General-Zia formula”, which would spell “disaster for the country”.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President and Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz on Saturday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan's "selectors", who had brought him to power in 2018, were now "regretting" their decision. "Your [Imran] selection committee has been dissolved, and the selectors have left for home,” Maryam said while addressing the PML-N workers' convention in Islamabad. "Whenever the country's economy collapses because of the rulers, people look to Nawaz Sharif for rescue," Maryam said. Speaking to her party workers, the PML-N leader vowed that her party would win the next elections in the country. “The future of youth is linked with the PML-N.”She vowed that her party would steer the country out of the prevailing crisis.