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  A large number of Shia Muslims attend the 10th Muharram procession to mark Ashoura at Empress Market Sadar in Karachi on July 29, 2023. — APP The countrywide mourning processions in connection with Yaum-e-Ashur — the tenth of Muharram-ul-Haram — to pay homage to the supreme sacrifice rendered by Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his devoted companions in Karbala, came to an end peacefully on Saturday night amid tight security, with mobile phone services remained suspended in some areas to avoid any untoward situation. This day is a poignant reminder of the unwavering resilience of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), the beloved grandson of the Prophet (PBUH), his family, and devoted companions, who valiantly defended Islam in the face of opposition and cruelty. Major cities and towns witnessed processions to commemorate this historic day, where scholars and orators delivered sermons, shedding light on various aspects of the Karbala tragedy. A large number of Shia Muslims participate in 10th Muh...

  The 34-year-old Indian woman was staying at her 29-year-old Pakistani friend Nasrullah's home in the Upper Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The father of Anju, a married Indian woman  who travelled to  Pakistan 's  Khyber  Pakhtunkhwa province  and married her Facebook friend there on Tuesday, said she was as good as dead for her family back home. She had ruined the future of her two children, said her father Gaya Prasad Thomas, speaking to reporters at Bouna village in Gwalior district of Madhya Pradesh. Anju, a married Indian woman who travelled legally to Pakistan, during a sightseeing trip with her Facebook friend Nasrullah, in Upper Dir district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. (PTI)

  PTI chief will be quizzed on follow-up questions related to his recorded statement on July 25 PTI Chairman Imran Khan. — AFP/ File ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Wednesday summoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on August 1 in a case related to the diplomatic cable saga, a cipher what the former premier claimed contained details of a threat made by the United States against his government. In a public gathering on March 27, 2022 in Islamabad, Imran waved a letter claiming that it was evidence of an “international conspiracy” backed by the US to topple his government. A day earlier, the FIA grilled the ex-prime minister for nearly two hours and recorded his statement in the case. In the fresh notice, the investigation agency asked the deposed prime minister to appear before its joint investigation team at 12 noon on Tuesday (August 1). The FIA instructed Imran to appear before the JIT along with the relevant documents. The PTI chief will b...

  Rana Sana says politicians should be made interim PM; rejects delay in elections Former president Asif Ali Zardari (L) and Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. —AFP DUBAI: The marathon consultations being held in Dubai between the top leaders of two major political parties of Pakistan, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party, could not lead to the name of the caretaker prime minister. More rounds of dialogue are likely to be held. During the extensive consultations, various names for the caretaker prime minister were discussed, including a non-political figure from south Punjab. However, a final decision was not reached. A two-hour-long meeting was held at a Dubai hotel on Monday night between former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari. During the meeting, it was repeatedly emphasised that the caretaker prime minister should be a neutral and non-controversial figure to ensure that the election results are accepted by all. There was a s...

  SC sends case back to IHC, asking it to hear all pending petitions of PTI chief together A policeman walks past the Supreme Court building in Islamabad in this undated photo — AFP/File ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to stay the trial court’s proceedings in the Toshakahana case but directed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to decide the pending petitions of former prime minister Imran Khan. A two-member bench of the apex court, comprising Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Musarat Hilali, heard the petition of Imran Khan in which he challenged the IHC order of remanding back his case to the trial court for re-examining maintainability of Toshakhana case. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman had also prayed to the apex court to stay the proceedings before Additional District and Sessions Judge, Islamabad, Humayun Dilawar, until a decision on his appeal by the apex court. During the course of the hearing, Khawaja Haris, ECP counsel Amjad Pervez and DG (Law) of...

  Elite Presidential Guard detains Mohamed Bazoum after sealing off access to president’s residence Supporters of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum gather to show their support for him in Niamey amid the coup on July 26, 2023. — AFP The soldiers in the West African nation, Niger, claimed to have toppled the government led by President Mohamed Bazoum, in an apparent coup on Wednesday. The ousted president was reportedly detained by the members of the elite Presidential Guard, who sealed off access to the president’s residence and offices in the capital Niamey. They even "refused to release" him when the talks broke down, a presidential source said. The soldiers said "all institutions" in the country would be suspended, borders were closed and a curfew imposed "until further notice" from 10pm to 5am (local time). "We, the defence and security forces... have decided to put an end to the regime" of President Bazoum, Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane sai...

  Sources say several domestic and international flights were either cancelled or faced delays A carrier of the PIA. — AFP/File KARACHI: The Pakistan International Airline (PIA) said Wednesday night that its flights continued uninterrupted despite the tax bureau freezing its accounts. In recent years, mismanagement of funds, a rise in operating costs, and a surge in fuel prices have led to financial difficulties for the national carrier. The PIA has also faced scrutiny over its compliance with international safety standards, leading to temporary bans and restrictions on Pakistani airlines in various countries. Sources told  Geo News  otherwise, saying that several domestic and international flights were either cancelled or faced delays. Initially, sources in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) said that PIA's bank accounts were frozen due to non-payment of taxes worth around Rs4 billion. "The FBR has, through tickers, collected Federal Excise Duty worth Rs4 billion," the s...

  Stakeholders advise against passage of bills in haste Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs a cabinet meeting at the PM House in Islamabad on May 10, 2022. — APP ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has approved two bills relating to cyberspace — the Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 and the E-Safety Bill 2023. It is the view of the government that existing regulators such as PTA and Pemra have been unable to scrutinize or regulate social media and online media sites in the country. The E-Safety Bill, 2023 is reportedly to bring digital media platforms under strict regulations whereby a separate regulatory body is proposed to be established to penalize those who commit any violations. This bill is aimed at regulating web-based channels and online news websites for which a separate regulatory is proposed to be established which will be empowered to impose a penalty if a web-based channel or online media outlet is found to have aired or published any information maligning someone. The Pe...

  The court started the process to seize properties of Gill as the FIA and NADRA submitted details PTI leader Shahbaz Gill in court during a hearing of a sedition case filed against him. Screengrab ISLAMABAD: A local court has declared Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shahbaz Gill a proclaimed offender in a sedition case on Wednesday. Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ), Islamabad, Tahir Abbas Sippra, made the announcement after the accused repeatedly ignored notices to appear in the court for an extended period of time. The court started the process to seize properties of Gill as the Federal Investigation Agency and National Database and Registration Authority have submitted details of his properties. The PTI leader’s requests for a virtual appearance and a stay on the case were both denied by the court during the hearing. The ADSJ remarked that the proceedings for declaring a suspect proclaimed offender could not be halted unless the suspect appeared in court. He s...

  Caretakers are not empowered to make new accords, authorised only to decide on existing bilateral, multilateral pacts ISLAMABAD: A joint session of parliament Wednesday okayed a crucial but controversial provision contained in the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2023, giving powers to the caretaker government to take decisions and actions regarding existing bilateral agreements, along with a set of 53 other amendments to the Elections (Amendment) Act, 2017. The bill tabled in the joint session by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Murtaza Javed Abbasi was approved with a majority voice vote. The house was assured before the passage of the bill that under the amendments, the interim setup would not have the authority to sign any new agreements and make decisions on bilateral and multilateral agreements. The subclauses 1 and 2 of Section 230 of the Election Act related to the functioning of the caretaker government have been amended. The caretaker government would be able to exercise power...