Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers celebrated three years in power on Wednesday with a military parade paying homage to their homemade bombs used in war, fighter aircraft, and goose-stepping security forces. The Taliban’s armed forces towed Soviet-era tanks and artillery pieces through the former US air base in Bagram, where Chinese and Iranian diplomats were among hundreds who gathered for the parade and speeches. The former Bagram base once served as the linchpin for US-led operations against the Taliban for two decades. A swarm of motorbikes strapped with yellow jerry cans, often used to carry homemade bombs during the fight against international forces, also…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
ISLAMABAD: In a bid to pay tribute to world record holder, javelin throw athlete Arshad Nadeem, a busy road in the capital is being named after him. Sources in Capital Development Authority (CDA) told Dawn that as per the directives of the federal government, the main road in sector F-10, extending from the F-10 roundabout to Khayaban-i-Iqbal (also known as Margalla Road) is being named after Arshad Nadeem. “The federal government has directed us to name the road after the top athlete who made entire country proud by winning gold in Paris Olympics,” said an officer of CDA. He said that the…
ISLAMABAD: The Sindh prosecutor general on Tuesday approached the Supreme Court against an Islamabad High Court order to quash an FIR registered against former information minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed for allegedly passing obscene and derogatory remarks against PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. “The high court order overlooked vulgar and sordid remarks of Sheikh Rashid Ahmed against Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in front of the media which caused emotional damage and also provoked party workers,” contended an appeal filed on behalf of the prosecutor general under Article 185(3) of the Constitution. As a consequence, it said, an FIR was lodged against Sheikh Rashid, but…
Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday dismissed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin for appointing a former lawyer who served jail time to his cabinet, raising the spectre of more political upheaval and a reset of the governing alliance. Real estate tycoon Srettha becomes the fourth Thai premier in 16 years to be removed by verdicts by the same court, after it ruled he violated the constitution by appointing a minister who did not meet ethical standards. Srettha’s removal after less than a year in power means parliament must convene to choose a new premier, with the prospect of more uncertainty in a country dogged…
ISLAMABAD: Former information minister Muhammad Ali Durrani has launched efforts to unite opposition parties on the one-point agenda of securing Imran Khan’s release from prison. The move has come as a surprise to many as Mr Durrani is traditionally considered close to the establishment, having been a minister in the cabinet of former military ruler, Pervez Musharraf. After remaining absent from the political scene for several years, he re-emerged ahead of the February 8 general elections. Talking to Dawn, Mr Durrani rejected the impression that he was gathering opposition parties at anyone’s behest and claimed that he wanted to play his role as…
PESHAWAR: Jamaat-i-Islami central emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to do away with their aggressive rhetoric towards each other and resolve bilateral issues through dialogue. “Our region is on the brink of violence, so Pakistani rulers should avoid adventurism in Afghanistan, while the Taliban government should exercise restraint,” Mr Rehman told a party gathering late on Monday. The JI chief alleged that Afghan soil was being used for terrorist activities in Pakistan. He advocated for dialogue between Islamabad and Kabul saying it is the only solution to issues. Warns party will march on Islamabad if govt fails to provide…
ISLAMABAD: The capital police have put in place a comprehensive security and traffic plan to ensure the safety and convenience of citizens on Independence Day. On the other hand, security level has been raised to ‘high alert’ in the garrison city of Rawalpindi with the deployment of 5,300 police personnel. Islamabad police, meanwhile, said a security arrangement involving over 3,000 police officers had been finalised to maintain law and order. Besides, over 500 personnel of the Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) were also deployed to ensure smooth flow of traffic and take action against motorcyclists involved in traffic violations, including one-wheeling,…
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and its intelligence wing have been ordered to disclose the details of ‘tampered vehicles’, handed over to officers of different government departments at nominal prices. The Pakistan Information Commission — which deals with requests for data under the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017 — directed the FBR and its Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation to share the information with Malik Tariq Mehmood, who has been seeking these details for the past decade. “[Y]ou are required to provide information to this commission under intimation to the appellant by August 27, 2024,” the…
LAHORE: Indian forces shot dead an unidentified man who allegedly strayed across the border on the eve of Independence Day. Sources said the incident occurred near the border village of Hadyara, on the outskirts of Lahore. India’s Border Security Force (BSF) claimed that the man was trying to infiltrate into India before he was shot and killed, and tried to turn over the body to Pakistani authorities. However, Pakistan Rangers have refused to receive the body before a thorough investigation into the incident to establish the man’s identity, as per the Standard Operating Procedures devised by the two sides for…
President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday announced the conferment of national awards for 104 Pakistanis and foreigners in recognition of their services, excellence, and sacrifices in their respective fields. The awards were announced on Pakistan’s 78th Independence Day and will be presented to the awardees at an investiture ceremony on Pakistan Day, March 23, 2025, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). The president conferred awards in the fields of science and engineering, education, medicine, arts, literature, sports, social services, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, taxpayers and exporters, public services, gallantry, and services to Pakistan. The Nishan-i-Pakistan was conferred on former president and prime minister…
