U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he was revoking Joe Biden’s security clearance, ending his predecessor’s right to receive intelligence briefings after leaving office. “There is no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information,” Trump said on his Truth Social network. “Therefore, we are immediately revoking Joe Biden’s Security Clearances, and stopping his daily Intelligence Briefings.” In reference to his former reality TV show “The Apprentice,” Trump added in capitals: “JOE, YOU’RE FIRED.” U.S. presidents are traditionally given the right to receive intelligence briefings even after they step down. Trump said he was taking…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
On Friday, a U.S. judge temporarily allowed around 2,700 employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), who had been placed on leave by President Donald Trump’s administration, to return to work, halting certain aspects of a plan to dismantle the agency. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols in Washington, who was nominated by Trump during his first term, partially granted a request from the largest U.S. government workers’ union and an association of foreign service workers who filed a lawsuit to stop the administration’s efforts to shut down the agency. Nichols’s order, which will remain in effect until February…
Early Saturday, a federal judge temporarily blocked billionaire Elon Musk’s government efficiency team and political appointees from the Trump administration from accessing government systems used to process trillions of dollars in payments, citing the risk of improper disclosure of sensitive information. U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer issued the order after a coalition of 19 predominantly Democratic-led U.S. states filed a lawsuit late Friday, arguing that Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency lacks the legal authority to access the U.S. Department of Treasury systems. The lawsuit claimed that Musk and his team could disrupt federal funding for health clinics, preschools, climate initiatives,…
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal condemned the opposition’s claims of electoral rigging, labeling them as fabricated and baseless. Expressing his thoughts, Iqbal said, “Such allegations are being made through the creation of false forms, aimed at undermining the credibility of the current government.” He added, “If an inexperienced person runs a country, an accident is bound to occur.” Iqbal questioned, “How has the country been pushed into inflation and unemployment?” He claimed, “There is no project associated with the opposition’s leadership that has marked true success. Whenever the PML-N has been in power, the country’s development has resumed.” Halt in Development…
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and leaders staged protests across various cities on Saturday, marking February 8 as a “black day” in protest against the alleged theft of the party’s mandate during the general elections held on this day a year ago. The protests and rallies led to clashes with police, arrests, and additional security reinforcements. Clashes and Arrests in Multan, Muzaffarabad In Multan, PTI leaders Mehr Bano Qureshi, Makhdoom Zahid Bahar Hashmi, and Daler Mahar were arrested for violating Section 144, which bans public gatherings. Several party workers were also detained, though the exact number was not disclosed. In Muzaffarabad,…
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has once again refused to engage in political talks with the government, rejecting the latest invitation from the National Assembly speaker. Talks Are Now Closed: Omer Ayub Speaking to a private news channel, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omer Ayub Khan declared that “the chapter of talks is now closed.” He emphasized that political negotiations require firm commitments rather than mere wishes, which, according to him, the government failed to demonstrate. Government’s Approach and Negotiation Deadlock Omer Ayub criticized the government’s stance, stating that while PTI had initiated discussions in good faith, the ruling authorities…
The federal cabinet has approved a comprehensive security plan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, deploying the Pakistan Army, civil armed forces, police, and law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of participating teams. Deployment of Military Under Article 245 According to sources, security arrangements will be implemented under Article 245 of the Constitution, which allows the deployment of the Pakistan Army for internal security purposes. The decision was made following requests from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Punjab, and Sindh governments, emphasizing the need for foolproof security measures. Presidential-Level Security for International Teams Teams arriving in Pakistan from February…
Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Mian Rauf Atta separately met Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi and Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq to discuss judicial matters and recent developments in the legal system. Discussion on Judicial Performance and Reforms According to a statement issued by the SCBA, the meetings focused on the overall performance of the judiciary and ongoing reforms. Balochistan High Court Bar President Mir Attaullah Langove was also present during the discussions. During the meeting with CJP Afridi, Mian Rauf Atta lauded his initiatives for judicial improvements and acknowledged his role as the…
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while addressing the ‘Yaum-e-Tameer-o-Taraqi’ event, reaffirmed his government’s commitment to economic revival, tackling inflation, and ensuring national stability. The event was attended by federal ministers, parliamentarians, and key political and social figures. From Economic Crisis to Stability The prime minister highlighted Pakistan’s transition from economic turmoil to stability, crediting collective efforts for the country’s recovery. He acknowledged the hardships endured by the people due to soaring inflation and assured them that the worst was over. “There was a storm of inflation, and the common man faced difficulties. Our journey from darkness to light was not easy,…
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif asserted on Saturday that despite Donald Trump assuming the presidency of the United States, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan had gained no advantage. In his statement, Asif addressed the claims made by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who had stated that 99 per cent of PTI’s demands had been fulfilled. Asif questioned, “If their demands have been accepted, then why the protest?” He highlighted the contradiction between Gandapur’s statements and the ongoing unrest, suggesting that the protests were baseless. Mocking PTI’s earlier predictions, the Defence Minister remarked, “PTI had created an uproar, claiming…
