Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman held high-level talks with Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, following an official welcoming ceremony, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Tuesday. The meeting, described by both sides as warm and productive, underscored the deepening partnership between Riyadh and Kuala Lumpur and their shared commitment to advancing cooperation in a broad range of areas including trade, defense, investment, and technology. According to a statement from Istana Negara, the Malaysian royal palace, the visit reflects the Kingdom’s and Malaysia’s mutual determination to strengthen bilateral ties and…
Author: Imran Ali Khan
Doha: President Asif Ali Zardari met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha on Wednesday, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening historic Pakistan-Qatar ties through expanded cooperation in defense, trade, and food security. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development, being held in the Qatari capital from November 4 to 6. According to a statement issued by the Presidency, President Zardari proposed enhancing collaboration in defense and defense production, to which the Qatari emir responded positively, directing relevant authorities to begin discussions with Pakistan immediately. He…
TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared on Monday that Tehran would only consider cooperating with the United States if Washington completely changed its regional policy including halting its support for Israel, withdrawing military bases from the Middle East, and ending interference in regional affairs. If they completely abandon support for the Zionist regime, withdraw their military bases from the region, and refrain from interfering in this region, then cooperation can be considered, Khamenei said during a gathering with students in Tehran. The event marked the anniversary of the 1979 takeover of the US embassy a symbolic reminder of…
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Tuesday accused the Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SEAP) of deliberately attempting to derail the national carrier’s ongoing privatisation process by suspending aircraft clearances under the guise of safety concerns a move that brought flight operations to a standstill and stranded thousands of passengers. The main objective of this movement is to sabotage the ongoing process of PIA’s privatisation, which is now in its final stages, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan said in a statement, adding that the airline viewed the action as a deliberate attempt to create chaos and pressure the administration.…
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned sessions of both houses of Parliament this week, with the Senate meeting on Tuesday (November 4) and the National Assembly convening on Wednesday (November 5), where the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government is expected to introduce the long-awaited 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill. The move comes as part of the government’s effort to initiate what officials describe as a comprehensive governance and constitutional reform package, which aims to redefine the balance of power between the federation and the provinces, and restructure key state institutions. According to official sources, the proposed amendment includes major constitutional…
ISTANBUL / ANKARA: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday called on Israel to immediately halt violations of the US-backed ceasefire in Gaza and to fulfil its obligations to allow unhindered humanitarian aid into the besieged territory. Speaking at a press conference following a ministerial meeting in Istanbul attended by top diplomats from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia and Turkey, Fidan said discussions focused on the fragile truce, humanitarian conditions, and post-war governance in Gaza. He revealed that participating nations were still negotiating the framework for a United Nations–mandated stabilization force, part of the US-brokered…
WASHINGTON / RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) will pay an official working visit to the White House on November 18, a senior White House official confirmed to Al Arabiya English on Monday. During the visit, Crown Prince Mohammed will hold talks with US President Donald Trump, marking his second official trip to Washington following his 2018 visit. President Trump, notably, had chosen Saudi Arabia as his first foreign destination during both of his presidential terms a symbolic gesture underscoring the strategic weight of the US–Saudi partnership. According to diplomatic sources, the meeting is expected…
ISLAMABAD / KARACHI: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb has described Pakistan’s blue economy as a “game changer” for the country’s long-term growth, projecting its potential to reach $100 billion by 2047, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to policy continuity and economic reform. Delivering a virtual address at the inaugural session of the Pakistan International Maritime Expo & Conference (PIMEC), organised in Karachi by the Pakistan Navy and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the minister underscored the immense untapped opportunities within the maritime sector. Mr Aurangzeb noted that the blue economy encompassing fisheries, aquaculture, port logistics, and ocean-based…
LAHORE: An election tribunal has dismissed a petition filed by PTI-backed independent candidate Mehar Sharafat, challenging the election victory of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz from PP-159, Lahore, reaffirming her win in the February 8 general elections. The tribunal, headed by retired Justice Rana Zahid Mahmood, ruled that the petitioner had failed to provide substantial legal grounds or evidence to support allegations of electoral irregularities. The 19-page order, dated October 21, was made public on Monday. Sharafat had claimed that he was the original winner of the constituency based on the Form-45 results but alleged that Form-47 was later manipulated…
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari revealed on Monday that a PML-N delegation led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had met him and President Asif Ali Zardari, seeking PPP’s support for the 27th Constitutional Amendment, a proposal that could reshape Pakistan’s judicial and administrative framework. According to a statement issued by the PPP, Bilawal said the amendment includes proposals for the creation of constitutional courts, restoration of executive magistrates, and revisions in the transfer of judges. It also reportedly addresses Article 243, which pertains to the command of the armed forces, and the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award,…