Pakistan Champions secured their second consecutive victory in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, defeating South Africa Champions by 31 runs on Friday at Grace Road. Batting first, Pakistan posted a formidable total of 198-5 in their allotted 20 overs. Openers Sharjeel Khan and Kamran Akmal provided a brisk start. Sharjeel scored 19 off 11 deliveries, including three boundaries and a six, before being dismissed by Hardus Viljoen in the third over. Kamran Akmal soon followed, falling for 17 off 11 balls in the final over of the powerplay to Duanne Olivier, leaving Pakistan at 54-2. Skipper Mohammad Hafeez…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
Lionel Messi has been suspended for one game by Major League Soccer (MLS) for his unapproved absence from the MLS All-Star Game, the league announced on Friday. The Inter Miami forward and his teammate, Jordi Alba, did not participate in Wednesday’s game despite being on the All-Star roster and not being injured. “Per league rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to compete in their club’s next match,” MLS stated in a press release. This suspension means Messi, a major draw for the league, will miss Inter Miami’s…
Dr. Musadik Malik, the Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, called upon global climate leaders to honor their climate finance commitments and enhance collaboration between developed and developing nations. He made these remarks during the COP29 Heads of Delegation (HoD) Retreat held in Shamakhi, Azerbaijan. The retreat, a private dialogue among Heads of Delegation from around the world, aimed to foster trust and establish a clear path towards achieving meaningful outcomes at COP29, which is slated to take place later this year in Azerbaijan. Discussions primarily centered on critical unresolved issues, including climate financing, loss and damage mechanisms,…
On Friday, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet approved a mark-up subsidy scheme for 50,000 housing units, with an estimated total budgetary requirement of Rs72 billion for the current fiscal year. This initiative, developed collaboratively with the Ministry of Finance, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), and the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, aims to facilitate housing finance for first-time homeowners. To qualify, individuals must hold valid CNICs and not currently own any residential property, with eligibility for financing extending up to 20 years. The scheme offers subsidized fixed rates: 5% for loans up to Rs2 million…
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed optimism on Friday, stating his hope that a trade deal between Pakistan and the United States could be finalized “in a matter of days, not weeks.” Speaking at the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington, Dar noted, “I think we are very close to finalizing a deal with the US. Our teams have been here in Washington, discussing, having virtual meetings, and a committee has been tasked by the prime minister to fine-tune now.” He reiterated the imminent nature of the agreement, saying, “It’s not going to be months, not even…
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Yahya Afridi has announced a comprehensive agenda for judicial reform under the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee. This initiative, reported on Saturday, aims to significantly enhance the country’s justice system. Key proposals include the establishment of model criminal trial courts, fixed timelines for expeditious disposal of civil and criminal cases, the introduction of a professional excellence index, and the development of ethical guidelines for the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within the judiciary. CJP Afridi made these announcements during a national symposium held at the Federal Judicial Academy in Islamabad, themed “The Human Dimension…
In a recent police operation in the Naryab area of Hangu on Saturday, another terrorist involved in the attack on District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Khalid Khan was killed. This development comes just days after DPO Khan sustained injuries in the militant assault. The police conducted an operation in the Naryab area, which led to an exchange of fire. While police personnel remained safe, the terrorist involved in the attack on the DPO was reportedly killed by friendly fire from his own accomplices. This incident follows a fierce exchange of fire that erupted between security forces and militants in Hangu’s…
Disturbing details have emerged regarding the alleged honor killing of a 19-year-old newlywed girl in Rawalpindi, following a decision by a local “jirga.” A First Information Report (FIR) claims the victim left her home with gold jewelry and cash. The identity of the victim has not been officially released. She was married to Zia-ur-Rehman, a resident of Fauji Colony in Pirwadhai, who works at a cloth shop in Bara Market. The couple had wed in January 2025. The FIR, registered by the husband on July 21, initially claimed his wife had been abducted. It stated that she had left home…
Several sections of the Fairy Meadows Road in Chilas have become impassable due to torrential rains and landslides, as Pakistan prepares for another round of monsoon downpours starting July 28. Numerous parts of this crucial road are blocked because of landslides triggered by intense rainfall in the area, leading to the suspension of aerial operations due to adverse weather conditions. The Deputy Commissioner Chilas has confirmed that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has deployed teams to the site, and search operations for missing individuals are being jointly conducted by the Pakistan Army and other relevant authorities. Meanwhile, in Khyber…
https://youtu.be/tLaDb_VoNps?si=kppCXPiesBHlz_Ep Imran Khan’s Sons, Trump’s Intervention, and the Field Marshal’s Silence. Has a Deal Already Been Struck? By Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada One photograph, two familiar faces, and countless questions. When Imran Khan’s sons, Suleman Khan and Qasim Khan, were seen in images meeting U.S. Congress members and Senators in the illuminated corridors of Washington, it sent ripples through Pakistan’s political landscape. These weren’t just routine photo ops , they felt like symbolic glimpses of potential behind-the-scenes deals. While some claimed these meetings were purely humanitarian and non-political, others insisted they were the result of personal lobbying. There were also…
