Govt, PTI deny reports of Imran Khan’s ill health amid rising public anxiety

ISLAMABAD: As unconfirmed reports of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s deteriorating health circulated widely on social media and in foreign outlets, both government officials and members of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party on Thursday rejected the speculation, insisting that Mr. Khan, held in isolation at Adiala jail, remained in good condition.

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Rights campaigner Mazari, spouse decry ‘disappearance’ of court-appointed counsel

ISLAMABAD: A prominent rights activist and her lawyer husband, facing charges of inciting linguistic divisions and portraying the armed forces as engaged in terrorism through social media posts, protested in court on Thursday over the abrupt replacement of their state-appointed defence counsel, raising questions about the fairness of their trial and the whereabouts of the previous lawyer.

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Lahore bar seeks return of appeals on military trials to Supreme Court

ISLAMABAD: The Lahore High Court Bar Association on Thursday petitioned Pakistan’s newly established Federal Constitutional Court to return a series of pending appeals challenging the military trials of civilians to the Supreme Court, arguing that the transfer of jurisdiction under a recent constitutional amendment was unlawful and undermined the judiciary’s independence.

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Pakistani official flags major UAE visa slowdown, no ban says embassy

ISLAMABAD: A top Pakistani official said on Thursday the United Arab Emirates had largely halted issuing visas to Pakistani citizens, raising alarms about potential strains in the longstanding economic and cultural ties between the two nations, even as Emirati diplomats insisted no outright ban was in place and touted recent reforms to ease the process.

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