RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has reinstated the jail trial of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in the GHQ attack case linked to the violent events of May 9, marking another significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings against the former prime minister. According to the notification issued by the Punjab Home Department, the jail trial will resume at Adiala Jail, with proceedings expected to begin tomorrow (Tuesday). The decision comes weeks after the provincial government had earlier withdrawn its order transferring the trial from the jail premises. Following the latest notification, the Superintendent of Adiala Jail has formally requested…
Author: Imran Ali Khan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has constituted an 18-member high-level committee to lead bilateral economic engagements and negotiations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), marking a new phase in Islamabad’s push to deepen strategic and financial cooperation with Riyadh. According to an official notification issued by the Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday, the committee will be co-chaired by Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik and the National Coordinator for the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Lieutenant General Sarfraz Ahmad. The notification stated that the co-chairs “shall constitute core/negotiation teams for talks with the Saudi counterparts,” ensuring the implementation of agreed initiatives on a…
ISLAMABAD: Former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani on Monday urged the federal government to immediately take parliament into confidence regarding its new policy towards the United States, following media reports about the sale of rare minerals and an alleged proposal to offer Pasni Port to Washington. In a strongly worded statement, Rabbani criticized the government for keeping both parliament and the public in the dark about the evolving nature of Pakistan’s relations with the US. It is the right of the people to know the direction of foreign policy. In history, the US has never been a reliable friend, he stated.…
RIYADH: In a landmark move aimed at making Umrah more accessible, Saudi Arabia has announced that all visitors and residents holding any type of visa will now be allowed to perform Umrah during their stay in the Kingdom. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Haj and Umrah on Sunday, individuals with personal, family visit, electronic tourist, transit, or work visas as well as other visa categories are now eligible to perform Umrah at any time during their visit. The ministry said the decision was part of the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to streamline procedures, enhance pilgrim services, and…
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday called for Pakistan and Malaysia to join hands in developing mutually beneficial projects and expanding cooperation in trade, technology, and investment, marking what both leaders described as a new chapter in their longstanding partnership. Addressing a joint press conference alongside his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, after bilateral talks in Putrajaya, PM Shehbaz said his visit aimed to transform Pakistan-Malaysia relations into a strategic and forward-looking alliance. This is my first visit to your great country, but it feels like a family reunion, the premier said, expressing gratitude for the exceptionally warm welcome extended…
ISLAMABAD:Speaker of Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh will arrive in Islamabad on Monday for an official visit to Pakistan, leading a high-level parliamentary delegation. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Speaker Al-Sheikh highlighted the deep strategic ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which enjoy the full support of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the Pakistani leadership. He said the visit represents a continuation of the historical legacy of cooperation between the two brotherly nations that continues to grow stronger and more dynamic.He added that the visit is…
ISLAMABAD/RIYADH:Reaffirming their shared commitment to the Palestinian cause, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Saturday discussed recent developments, including Hamas’ response to the ceasefire proposal put forward by US President Donald Trump. During their telephone conversation, both sides agreed to remain closely engaged with Arab and Islamic partners as well as the broader international community to advance a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace based on the two-state solution. The two ministers reviewed ongoing diplomatic efforts, including consultations among the eight Arab-Islamic countries and the United States…
ISLAMABAD: In a major breakthrough for Pakistan’s mining sector, the country has successfully delivered its first shipment of rare earth elements and critical minerals to US Strategic Metals (USSM) in the United States. According to PRNewswire, the consignment includes antimony, copper concentrate, and rare earth elements containing neodymium and praseodymium, all sourced and prepared locally in Pakistan. Pakistan’s natural resources are valued at an estimated $6 trillion, making it one of the world’s richest countries in terms of mineral wealth. Stacy W. Hastie, CEO of USSM, hailed the milestone as the first step in an exciting journey with Pakistan’s Frontier…
ISLAMABAD: Advisers to Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, have approached US officials with an offer to build and operate a new port on the Arabian Sea, the Financial Times (FT) reported on Friday, citing a plan it reviewed. According to the report, the proposal invites American investors to build and run a terminal in Pasni, a coastal town in Balochistan’s Gwadar district. The port would serve as a key access point for Pakistan’s critical minerals, which are gaining global attention for their strategic importance in clean energy technologies. The development comes shortly after Field Marshal Munir and Prime…
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s military on Saturday warned India that any future conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours could result in “cataclysmic devastation”, vowing a firm and overwhelming response to any aggression. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), in a strongly worded statement, cautioned that in the face of “highly provocative statements” by India’s defense minister and its service chiefs, Pakistan would “not hold back” and respond decisively if hostilities erupted again. “In case a fresh round of hostilities is triggered, Pakistan shall not hold back. We shall resolutely respond, without any qualms or restraint,” the ISPR said. The statement comes a day…