Achakzai appointed opposition leader, ending five-month standoff in parliament

ISLAMABAD: After a protracted delay marked by legal wrangling and political maneuvering, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, a veteran politician and chief of the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan alliance, was formally declared leader of the opposition in Pakistan’s National Assembly on Friday, filling a vacancy that had lingered for nearly five months.

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ECP suspends 159 lawmakers over missed asset disclosure deadline

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s election commission on Friday suspended the memberships of 159 lawmakers across the national and provincial legislatures for failing to disclose their assets and liabilities by a mid-January deadline, a move that shows persistent challenges in enforcing financial transparency among the country’s political class.

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Jailed PTI leader seeks dialogue with government but draws line against ex-ally plan

LAHORE: An incarcerated leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the opposition party founded by the jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, called on Friday for renewed talks with the government to ease the country’s deepening political and economic woes, even as he distanced himself from an ex-fellow party member’s push for a national dialogue committee.

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Pakistan says US visa freeze is temporary as Washington reviews immigration rules

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan voiced optimism on Thursday that the United States would swiftly lift its suspension of immigrant visa processing for applicants from the country, describing the move as an internal American policy review amid broader efforts to ensure immigrants are financially self-sufficient.

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