Former U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk, who has been assigned to cut federal spending, reports directly to him and cannot take any action without his approval. The statement comes amid growing concerns over the access Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been granted within the federal government’s payments system. These concerns intensified after Musk announced plans to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a move that has sparked sharp criticism from lawmakers. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump clarified the extent of Musk’s authority, stating…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
KHAIRPUR: The mother of a young domestic worker, who was allegedly murdered by an influential Pir in Sindh’s Ranipur town in 2023, has reached a settlement with the accused and requested the dismissal of the case. Shabnam, the mother of the slain maid, submitted a written statement in court, confirming her settlement with the prime suspect, Pir Asad Shah Jeelani, his wife Hina Shah, and other accused individuals, including Fayyaz Shah and Imtiaz. This development took place during a hearing at the additional sessions court. The petitioner’s lawyer, Qurban Malano, informed the court that since his client had reached an…
KARACHI: The Oxford University Press Pakistan (OUPP) announced its plans for the 16th Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) during a press conference held at a local hotel. The festival, with the theme “Narratives from the Soil,” will take place from February 7 to 9, 2025. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah expressed his support for the festival, emphasizing its role in celebrating Karachi’s vibrant culture and ideas. He stated, “As the Chief Minister of Sindh, I am delighted to support this platform that fosters creativity, learning, and dialogue among diverse voices across our province.” Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab also…
Islamabad: Amid the rising incidents of terrorism in the country, the military leadership expressed deep concern on Tuesday over the use of Afghan soil by terrorists against Pakistan and demanded that the interim Afghan government take “effective and decisive measures.” This concern was raised during the 267th Corps Commanders’ Conference, chaired by General Asim Munir at the GHQ in Rawalpindi. A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the forum called for concrete actions against the Khawarij faction by the interim Afghan government, rather than denial, and emphasized continuing all necessary measures for the defense of Pakistan…
Islamabad: Amendments to the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) by the ruling coalition government were challenged in the Supreme Court on Tuesday. The petition reads, “It is humbly requested in the national interest of peace and stability that both the amendment and the existing law may kindly be reviewed in the full court bench in the light of the freedom of expression and opinion to disseminate to society.” Muhammad Qayum Khan, in his petition, has asked the Supreme Court to declare the amendments to PECA as “ultra vires” to the constitutional powers of the legislature, calling the changes…
Islamabad: On Monday, Supreme Court Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail raised questions regarding the powers of military courts under the Army Act. The constitutional bench heard an intra-court appeal against the trial of civilians in military courts, during which senior lawyer Salman Akram Raja presented arguments. Raja referred to the 1962 Constitution and explained that the ruling in the FB Ali case allowed military trials for civilians as long as their fundamental rights were protected. Justice Mandokhail questioned, “What are the powers of military courts under the Army Act? Can a non-military person be tried solely based on their crime?” Raja…
Islamabad: The new amendments to social media laws have come into effect following President Asif Ali Zardari’s assent. These amendments introduce new definitions, establish regulatory and investigative bodies, and impose stricter penalties for spreading “false” information. Under the new amendments, the punishment for disseminating “fake information” online has been reduced to three years, along with a fine of up to Rs2 million. The amendments propose the establishment of the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA), the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), and the Social Media Protection Tribunal. Furthermore, any individual “aggrieved by fake and false information” can approach…
Islamabad: On Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the government would introduce a Ramadan Relief Package this year without the involvement of Utility Stores, aiming to prevent corruption and the distribution of low-quality goods to the public. “As the month of Ramadan approaches, I have instructed the Ministry of National Food Security to bring a Ramadan package without the Utility Stores. I had told several months ago that it cannot continue with the Utility Stores,” the Prime Minister said during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Last month, the current government formed a seven-member cabinet committee to oversee the immediate…
ISLAMABAD: The government is set to issue an Expression of Interest (EoI) this month in a fresh attempt to privatize Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). The move includes clearing the airline’s balance sheet and exempting the buyer from an 18% General Sales Tax (GST) on aircraft purchases, following approval from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Notably, after PIA’s privatization, the aviation sector across Pakistan will also be eligible for the same 18% GST exemption. This will support private operators in expanding their businesses and services. Previously, investors backed out from bidding due to two major concerns: PIA’s negative equity of Rs45…
ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Monday reaffirmed his support for the journalist community regarding the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 (PECA), and suggested that President Asif Ali Zardari may have endorsed the bill under external pressure. Speaking to members of the Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA) at the Parliament House in the federal capital, Fazl said he would hold consultations with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on the controversial legislation. “The president faced such pressure that he signed the bill into law immediately,” the JUI-F chief remarked, adding that journalism and politics had always been interlinked.…
