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.
Security forces thwart hostage bid, kill 12 militants in Balochistan
ISLAMABAD: The security forces have killed 12 militants in a series of clashes in the restive southwestern province of Balochistan after the attackers targeted a police station and two banks in an attempt to seize hostages and loot cash, the military said on Friday.
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.
Pakistan seeks calm in Iran crisis, saying conflict would endanger an already volatile region
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday pushed for cooler heads and talks to ease the tensions running high between the United States and Iran, arguing that any resort to threats or military steps would deepen the turmoil in a region already on edge.
Security forces kill 13 militants in counterterrorism raids in northwestern Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed 13 militants in two operations in the restive northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this week, the military said on Thursday, as the country presses ahead with a nationwide campaign to root out insurgents amid a surge in attacks.
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.
Govt holds pump prices, taps oil windfall to boost revenue
ISLAMABAD: The government opted to hold fuel prices steady for the next two weeks, even as it hiked a key levy on gasoline and diesel, effectively pocketing gains from falling global oil prices rather than passing relief to consumers.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey consider a shared defence platform
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have drawn up a draft defence agreement after nearly a year of negotiations, a senior Pakistani official said, confirming reports of talks among the three Muslim-majority nations amid lingering regional tensions.
Pakistan is betting its economic revival on minerals it’s long failed to mine
Islamabad is making a calculated push to turn its vast, largely dormant mineral reserves into a cornerstone of economic revival, betting that policy overhauls and international tie-ups can lure investors wary of the country’s longstanding hurdles. With trillions in untapped copper, gold, lithium, cobalt, rare earths, and gemstones scattered across its rugged terrain, Pakistan sees a path to becoming a key supplier in the global scramble for critical materials essential to tech, energy transitions, and manufacturing. But success hinges on delivering transparency, infrastructure upgrades, and community buy-in—elements that have eluded the sector for decades.