ISLAMABAD: Blaming a small group of criminal elements behind violent clashes that left some Pakistani students injured in Bishkek, the Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan in Islamabad, Ulanbek Totuiaev said the chief and nine officers of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Sverdlovsk region were removed from their positions after riots on the night of May 18. “Do not let an isolated event put you off from visiting Kyrgyzstan. The incident does not reflect the overall safety of the country or the warm hospitality of the Kyrgyz people,” Ambassador Ulanbek Totuiaev said at a press briefing held at the Embassy of Kyrgyzstan. About 10…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
QUETTA: Four Pakistani nationals were killed and two others injured in firing by Iranian forces along the border in Washuk district of Balochistan. According to officials, the firing occurred in the Judar-Bacharai border area late Tuesday night. “Iranian forces opened fire inside Pakistani border,” a senior official of the Mashkel administration said, adding that the victims were sitting in the Pakistani border area when the Iranian forces opened fire. “We have received four bodies and two injured,” Dr Ashraf at Mashkel Rural Health Centre said. “The Pakistani nationals killed and injured were involved in the supply of Iranian smuggled oil,” an official…
New York will boost security for the upcoming T20 Cricket World Cup in June, the governor said on Wednesday, after reports of threats especially related to the India-Pakistan match. “In preparation for the Cricket World Cup, my team has been working with federal & local law enforcement to keep attendees safe,” Governor Kathy Hochul wrote on X, adding there was “no credible threat at this time”. ABC News cited a New York City Police Department bulletin saying the tournament and its related events in New York City could be viewed by extremists as an opportunity to commit acts of violence or…
Dogs rush over and greet Nilgul Sayar when she arrives by car to feed them in the countryside near Istanbul, one of many Turks with affection for Turkiye’s estimated four million stray dogs, whose fate now lies in the government’s hands. Ankara has drafted legislation to get them off the streets, citing concerns about attacks, road accidents and rabies. It has touched a raw nerve among animal-loving Turks who fear it will lead to many dogs being euthanised. The bill, set to be presented to parliament in the coming days, has also drawn objections from the main opposition party, which…
Iran on Thursday began registering candidates for an early election next month following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi told state TV. Once seen as a possible successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — Iran’s ageing ultimate decision-maker — Raisi’s sudden death triggered a race among hardliners to influence the selection of Iran’s next leader. After the five-day registration period, the Guardian Council, which oversees elections and legislation, will vet the candidates running for the presidency. “The vetting process will be seven days and then qualified candidates will have almost two weeks for…
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) claimed on Wednesday that as many as 7,167 individuals had filed their returns for the tax year 2023 after their mobile SIMs were blocked, as part of a drive to enforce a law that allows the stoppage of cellular services to individuals who fail to comply with the country’s tax laws. Since May 14, the FBR has sent around 60,000 CNICs of non-filers to three major telecom companies — Telenor, Ufone and Jazz — to disable their SIM cards. The FBR did not have information about the number of SIM cards issued to…
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has taken exception to remarks made by British High Commissioner Jane Marriott during a public event, in which she underlined the “importance of democracy, elections and need for open societies”. On the instructions of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, the court’s registrar, Jazeela Aslam, wrote a letter to Ms Marriott on May 3. The letter notes that the British government expressed the need for open societies and democracy and offered criticism on the Supreme Court’s decision, through the high commissioner’s speech at the Asma Jehangir Conference on April 27, expressing the hope that “reciprocity would…
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: The ruling PML-N on Wednesday held a special meeting at the Sharifs’ estate in Jati Umra to review budget preparations for the upcoming fiscal year, where it decided to prepare the financial plan in line with the demands of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and also discussed proposals for “drastic” cuts in government expenditure. The ‘people-friendly’ budget envisaged by the ruling party, however, might be delayed to the second week of June as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be visiting China on June 4-8, making the presentation of the federal budget on the scheduled date of June 7 unfeasible. The federal budget has…
ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the National Command Authority Lt Gen (retd) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai has underscored Pakistan’s stance on not committing to the No First Use (NFU) policy regarding nuclear weapons. Speaking at a seminar held at the Centre for International Strategic Studies (CISS) to commemorate Youm-i-Takbeer, the anniversary of the 1998 nuclear tests, Gen Kidwai, who has served as the director general of Strategic Plans Division (SPD), said: “Pakistan does not have a No First Use policy, and I’ll repeat that for emphasis. Pakistan does not have a No First Use policy.” The NFU refers to a country’s stance and is…
ISLAMABAD: A Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, on Wednesday reserved its decision on a Punjab government petition seeking review of its Feb 6 judgement that overturned appellant Mubarak Ahmad Sani’s conviction on charges of distributing ‘proscribed literature’. At the last hearing of the government’s review petition, the SC had sought assistance of the Council of Islamic Ideology, religious scholars and institutions on the matter after the decision of overturning the Lahore High Court verdict in the case stirred a controversy and malicious campaign against CJP Isa. A heavy contingent of anti-riot police was deputed…
