ISLAMABAD: For the fourth consecutive fortnight, the prices of major petroleum products, including petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD), are expected to decrease by around Rs10 per litre from September 15, barring any increase in the petroleum levy by the government. Sources indicate that international market prices for petrol and HSD have fallen by approximately $5 per barrel in the past two weeks. If the final exchange rate calculations and existing tax rates hold steady, the price reductions for both products could be in the range of Rs10-11 per litre. However, the government might raise the petroleum levy by Rs5 per…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
ISLAMABAD: Federal authorities have announced plans to initiate a series of meetings with leaders from various religious communities to enhance efforts against terrorism and religious intolerance. Interior Minister Senator Mohsin Raza Naqvi and Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain held a detailed discussion with a delegation led by Ruet-i-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad on Friday. A joint declaration adopted during the meeting emphasized the importance of interfaith and inter-sect harmony, as well as national unity. Interior Minister Naqvi underscored the need to prevent the misuse of Islam and to combat terrorism, stating, “We are all Pakistanis, and…
LAHORE: A full bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday issued notices to the provincial government, Inspector General of Police (IGP), and the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) in a case concerning the police stations’ record management system. The bench, headed by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, directed the IGP to compile a manual record of all cases registered in the province and to submit a report by September 11. Additionally, the court ordered the PITB to provide details on the mechanism of the police software, along with the associated costs and expenditures of the computerized system. Justices Farooq…
KARACHI: Karachi Zoo has lost its last remaining member of the tiger family, as it emerged on Friday that the old Bengal tigress passed away on Thursday after being seriously ill for some time. The zoo is now left with two lionesses, a lion, and a pair of lions. According to a zoo official, the tigress was one of the oldest members of the zoo’s animal collection and had developed multiple health complications in recent weeks. Despite receiving necessary treatment, the big cat could not recover. “In recent months, we were able to save an old lioness whose condition was…
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday temporarily restrained the provincial government from purchasing 138 double-cabin vehicles for assistant commissioners across the province, for a period of four weeks. A two-judge bench, comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Amjad Ali Sahito, issued an interim order in response to a petition challenging a letter that sought funds from the finance department for the procurement of the vehicles. The court also issued notices to the Sindh chief secretary, finance secretary, Board of Revenue officials, and the advocate general, setting the next hearing after four weeks. The petition was filed by Jamaat-i-Islami…
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has dismissed fresh applications filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) challenging the commission’s authority in its ongoing case regarding PTI’s intra-party elections. PTI had submitted four applications questioning the ECP’s jurisdiction over its internal elections. The party also sought directives for the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to return documents seized during a raid on its secretariat. Additionally, PTI requested a postponement of the intra-party election case until the Supreme Court issued a detailed judgment in the reserved seats case and provided guidelines to the ECP on implementing the verdict. The ECP, in a 10-page…
NAWABSHAH: A potentially catastrophic accident was narrowly avoided on Friday when the Shalimar Express train, traveling near Nawabshah railway station, collided with a gravel-laden dumper truck that had become stuck on the tracks at a railway crossing. Thanks to the quick actions of a gateman, who frantically waved a red flag to warn the train driver of the impending danger, the train’s speed was reduced from 180 km per hour to a more manageable level. This allowed the driver to apply emergency brakes in time to minimize the impact, preventing a major derailment and possible large-scale loss of life. The…
ISLAMABAD: After a prolonged period of estrangement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with disgruntled Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan on Friday to express condolences over the death of his sister, according to an official press release. The statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) conveyed that Mr. Sharif extended his deep sorrow over the loss and offered prayers for the deceased. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accompanied the prime minister during the visit, which took place at Mr. Khan’s residence. Chaudhary Nisar, once a key leader of PML-N, broke away from the party in 2018 after an…
ISLAMABAD: On Friday, senators criticized the government’s decision to grant special powers to the army and civil armed forces in Balochistan, which would allow them to detain terrorism suspects for up to three months. Lawmakers raised concerns a day after the federal cabinet approved an amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997, giving security forces broad authority for “more effective counterterrorism operations.” During a parliamentary session, senators warned that giving security forces the power to detain “terror suspects” or individuals deemed a threat to national security for three months would further destabilize the region, especially after recent coordinated attacks in…
ISLAMABAD: Senators expressed strong opposition on Friday to the government’s decision to grant special powers to the army and civil armed forces in Balochistan, allowing them to detain terrorism suspects for up to three months. The lawmakers voiced their concerns a day after the federal cabinet approved an amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997, which gives security forces extensive authority for “more effective counterterrorism operations.” During the parliamentary session, senators warned that these powers, allowing the detention of ‘terror suspects’ or individuals deemed threats to national security for three months, could further destabilize the region, following a series of…
