ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday sharply criticised India for what it described as the intrusive profiling of mosques and their management committees in the disputed territory of Kashmir, calling the move a blatant violation of religious freedom and part of a wider campaign of discrimination against Muslims.
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At least five killed as fire engulfs shopping mall in Karachi
KARACHI: A massive fire tore through the Gul Plaza shopping mall on Karachi’s bustling MA Jinnah Road late Saturday night, killing at least five people and injuring more than 20 others, as flames engulfed the multistory building and trapped dozens inside, officials said.
Opposition leaders in Pakistan demand new vote and restoration of parliamentary power
HYDERABAD: Leaders of Pakistan’s fractured opposition alliance gathered on Saturday to demand fresh elections, constitutional reforms and an end to what they described as systemic injustices, warning that the nation’s stability hinges on restoring parliamentary supremacy and equal rights for all provinces and ethnic groups.
Industry sees sharp November rebound, led by cars and refining
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s large-scale manufacturing sector posted its strongest monthly growth in years during November, expanding 10.37% from a year earlier amid a rebound in automobiles, petroleum products and other key industries, even as exports continued to slide and some segments lagged.
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.
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.