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Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan took oath as Chief Justice of Lahore High Court at Governor's House Lahore on Tuesday. Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar administered the oath to the new chief justice. Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, members of the provincial cabinet and other dignitaries were also present at the oath-taking ceremony. Justice Shamim is the 48th chief justice of the Lahore High Court.

Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamid Gul says Pakistan and Turkey are enjoying religious and historical relations. Talking to Law Minister Dr Farogh Naseem on telephone, he said Turkey wants to establish relations with Islamabad in the field of Law also. He appreciated the decision of Supreme Court of Pakistan regarding control of Pak-Turk educational institutions in Pakistan. Speaking on the occasion, Law Minister Dr Farogh Naseem said the government has a clear and positive thoughts about relations between the two countries.

Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Monday that Pakistan People’s Party co-Chairman Bilawal Bhutto cannot topple the federal government when his own father Asif Ali Zardari failed to do so. The federal minister was addressing a press conference, where he criticised the PPP chairman for claiming that if Zardari permitted then the party can overthrow the federal government. “The foundation of the Sindh government is weak, it’s shaking, which is why they think we are bringing a change in the province… We don’t want to interfere at all,” said Chaudhry. He said that Zardari and Nawaz Sharif want that the government changes the definition of corruption. He claimed that Zardari had a network in Sindh and Nawaz in Punjab, adding that they had a Code of Conduct to save each other’s back.

Pakistan Peoples’ Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Monday that his party can topple the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government within a week time if former president Asif Ali Zardari gives it a go-ahead. Speaking to the press after expressing his condolence to the family of Late Syed Ali Raza Abidi, Bilawal said that it appears along with governance the PTI doesn’t even know simple math. “I have got 99 seats in Sindh. They need 49 members to topple the Sindh government,” he remarked. The PPP leader called the recently submitted Joint Investigative Report, ‘a pack of lies and fabrication’. “The nexus between government and the JIT has been exposed now. We will challenge the JIT report before the court of law,” he said. “We will foil every conspiracy.” The PPP leader said that those who want the mass issues to not be resolved desires to see Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah replaced. “The people of Sindh won’t let the chief minster changed,” he said. Meanwhile, PTI’s provi

At least 18 people, two women and a minor girl among them, sustained gunshot wounds as a result of aerial firing in various parts of Karachi during the new year celebrations. As per details, people resorted to aerial firing to celebrate the new year in Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Lyari, Cantt Station, Old Sabzi Mandi, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Garden, FB Area, Airport, North Karachi, Tariq Road and other areas of the city. Police said a seven-year old girl and two women got injured owing to aerial firing in the Ayesha Manzil area. Those injured in the aforesaid areas were shifted to various hospitals for medical attention. The Sindh government had imposed a ban on aerial firing, firecrackers, and display of weapons to prevent any untoward incident in the city.

A deadly ambush in a northern province on the border to Mali has prompted Burkina Faso's president to declare a state of emergency. Burkina Faso is battling increased attacks by militants in the Sahel region. Officials in Burkina Faso announced Monday that President Roch Marc Christian Kabore is declaring a state of emergency in northern provinces following intensified attacks from terrorist groups in the area. "The president has decided to declare a state of emergency in certain provinces of Burkina Faso," Communications Minister Remis Fulgance Dandjinou said after a special cabinet meeting. "He has also given instructions for specific security measures across the country." Names of the provinces where the state of emergency will go into effect will be named in a forthcoming presidential decree. The measure gives security forces extra powers to search homes and restrict freedom of movement. Intensified militant attacks in Sahel states Since 2015, the Wes

“Stranger by the minute” is the only phrase we can use to describe the world we live in aptly. This strange place has quite a lot of crazy things happening inside it. Its evidence is recorded on a daily basis by everybody who walks down the road. Well, today we have a story from India. And no, it's not a story about saints, wisdom, and yoga. It's the story of an ATM with an extraordinary guest: a rat. This incident, according to Hindustan Times, took place in the town of Tinsukia, Assam, North-East India. In a world where humans are at one another’s throats for money, a measly rat has managed to evade security, enter an ATM vestibule, invade the teller machine and chew up nearly $17k. Really Size doesn’t matter!! What a rat this is! Rat-bitten bank notes worth Rs 12 lakh 38 thousand. Torn notes and dead rat found inside ATM in Tinsukia Assam. Rat found dead before little one could bite remaining Rs 17 lakh 10 thousand. pic.twitter.com/3Omns7gAZH — Nandan Pratim Sharma B

The liberal Democrat has taken the first step towards a presidential campaign by opening an exploratory committee. In her video announcement, she described America's middle class as "under attack" from special interests. US Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, a fierce critic of Donald Trump, took the first step towards running for the presidential office in 2020 by opening an exploratory committee on Monday. Warren released a video on her Twitter account explaining her motivation to move towards a presidential candidacy. In it, she described her family history and her vision of equal opportunity for all Americans. Every person in America should be able to work hard, play by the same set of rules, & take care of themselves & the people they love. That’s what I’m fighting for, & that’s why I’m launching an exploratory committee for president. I need you with me: https://t.co/BNl2I1m8OX pic.twitter.com/uXXtp94EvY — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) December 31

Pakistan Army spokesperson Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor has termed 2019 as the year of progress, in his message to the nation on New Year’s Eve. “In our national pursuit for a peaceful, prosperous & vibrant Pakistan, 2019 is year of progress,” said the DG in a Twitter post on Monday evening. In our national pursuit for a peaceful, prosperous & vibrant Pakistan, 2019 is year of progress. United we shall consolidate our successes,IA. May Allah continues His blessings upon us. Amen. Salute to resilient Pakistanis & Martyrs. ?? #YearOfProgress2019 #ہمیں_آگے_ہی_جانا_ہے pic.twitter.com/RkcHvfwr9m — Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) December 31, 2018 “United we shall consolidate our successes, IA,” Maj Gen Ghafoor said. “May Allah continue His blessings upon us. Amen. Salute to resilient Pakistanis & Martyrs.” On December 22, Army chief General Qamar Javed Bawja advised future military leaders to be able to gauge the enemy’s latest moves and be ready to respond even wh

A tiny, icy world a billion miles beyond Pluto is getting a New Year’s Day visitor. NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft is set to fly past a mysterious object nicknamed Ultima Thule (TOO-lee) at 12:33 a.m. Tuesday. It will become the most distant world ever explored by humankind. The flyby comes 3½ years after New Horizons swung past Pluto and yielded the first close-ups of the dwarf planet. This time, the drama will unfold 4 billion miles (6.5 billion kilometers) from Earth, so far away it will be 10 hours before flight controllers in Laurel, Maryland, know whether the spacecraft survived the close encounter. Lead scientist Alan Stern said Monday the team has worked years for this moment and now, “it’s happening!!”

People around the world are set to ring in the New Year. The Pacific island nation of Samoa was the first to enter the year 2019. DW is keeping track of all the New Year's celebrations across the globe. 16:00 Although the Lunar New Year is still king in China, revelers gathered in Hong Kong for a massive fireworks display marking the arrival of 2019. In Beijing, celebrities attended a VIP gala dedicated to the 2022 Winter Games. President Xi Jingping addressed the nation before the evening news, saying that his government "sent out China's voice" into the world. The celebrations in China came an hour after Japan welcomed the 2019 with a bout between American boxer Floyd Mayweather and Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa. The 41-year-old American defeated the local champion in less than three minutes. 15:47 Berlin opened its party mile which starts at the city's iconic Brandenburg Gate and stretches some two kilometers (1.24 miles) west to the Victory Column.

Russia has opened a criminal case against a US citizen for alleged spying. Relations between Moscow and Washington have soured since Russia's annexation of Crimea and allegations Russia interfered with US elections. An American man suspected of espionage was arrested in Moscow on December 28, Russia's domestic security service (FSB) said in a statement on Monday. The FSB said the man was caught "during an espionage operation" without giving further details. A criminal case has been opened against him under Article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code, which allows for prison sentences of up to 20 years. The state-run TASS news agency identified the man as Paul Whelan. The US Embassy in Moscow could not immediately be reached for comment. Russia has been entangled in multiple spy scandals in the West. Russian agents are suspected of poisoning former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England. A Russian national, Maria Butina, was also convicted in the Un

The government on Monday has reduced petroleum product prices for the month of January 2019. According to notification issued on Monday, petrol price has been slashed by Rs4.86 per litre, whereas the price of High Speed Diesel has also been decreased by Rs 4.26 per litre. The prices of kerosene oil and light diesel oil has also been reduced by Rs52 paisas and Rs2.16 respectively. So the new price of HSD will be Rs106.68 per liter, SKO Rs82.98 per liter and LDO Rs75.28 per liter. The new price of petrol will be Rs90.97 per liter. On Friday, Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) had submitted a summary to the petroleum division recommending that the petrol prices should be decreased by at least Rs9.50 per liter starting from January 1, 2019. According to OGRA sources, the regulatory authority had forwarded a summary to the petroleum division suggesting a cut of at least Rs9.50 in the oil prices. The summary had also referred to other petroleum products whose prices should be

A woman was martyred and nine other including women and children injured when Indian army resorted to unprovoked firing at the Line of Control (LoC) in Shahkot sector on Monday. In a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Indian forces as usual deliberately targeted civilian population, resultantly a woman was martyred and nine others including two women and three children sustained injuries. Pakistan Army troops gave befitting response and targeted Indian army post that initiated fire on civil population. In 2018, the Indian forces have carried out more than 330 ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and the Working Boundary, resulting in the martyrdom of 14 innocent civilians and injuries to 65 others. This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed more than 1970 ceasefire violations.

More than 700,000 Rohingya refugees are currently struggling with day-to-day survival at camps on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. Their much-discussed repatriation is not possible at the moment, but what will 2019 bring? In August 2017, Myanmar's army torched Rohingya villages and killed hundreds of civilians as retribution for Muslim Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) rebel attacks on police and army posts. According to the UN refugee aid organization UNHCR, some 700,000 Rohingya fled across the border into Bangladesh as a result. There they joined some 300,000 Rohingya that had fled to Bangladesh prior to that, some even decades before. The new arrivals spoke of atrocities: displacement, murder and rape. The UN called it "ethnic cleansing." Myanmar's government has denied the accusations to this day. An independent investigation of the area with all sides participating has yet to take place. Ongoing emergency situation Most refugees have been in the camps for

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Monday denied allegations that the federal government is seeking a power shift in Sindh at the expense of PPP, clarifying that the PTI is merely seeking the resignation of Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. "All we demand is the resignation of Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah," Chaudhry said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad. "We never said that governor rule should be imposed in Sindh. Media did report it as such but then it has its own way of dealing with issues. "We have decided [not to endorse] the impression that we are changing the government in Sindh. All we say is that Murad Ali Shah should be relieved of his post. Our two ministers had also tendered resignations when charges against them had materialized." "The mandate for this change is with the Sindh Assembly representatives, and I am glad that they are amping up the pressure on the chief minister [to resign]."  

Former world squash champion Jansher Khan advised all young players to focus on their fitness to win international events. The squash legend said lack of fitness was the main reason why Pakistani players could not make the most of the numerous international events at home by winning titles. “Our players are skillful and there is a need to work on their fitness,” said Jansher. “I have been witnessing Pakistani players don’t have the stamina and speed, essential for winning mega international events,” he said. Jansher said more work should be put in players’ coaching and a higher number of qualified coaches should be involved in the game to groom players. “If our players want to be champions, they have to focus on their fitness. They have to give their full time to game,” he said. Jansher said it was commendable for Pakistan to host several international events this year. He said that current prime minister of the country, Imran Khan who himself has been a sportsman and the arm

The 13th National Women Handball Championship begin in Faisalabad from today. The championship is being organised by Higher Education Commission under the auspices of Pakistan Handball Federation. The event which will be played at Agriculture University Faisalabad and Women University Faisalabad, will continue till 4th of next month.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) heard the case against appointment of Shahbaz Sharif as Chairman of PAC. IHC has reserved the verdict on maintainability of a plea against the appointment of Shehbaz Sharif as chairman of the Public Accountability Committee. The verdict is likely to be announced today. The petitioner’s counsel contended that a big problem has emerged in the parliamentary history of the country. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that Shehbaz Sharif is innocent until the case is proved against him in the court. “It is an internal matter of the parliament. The constitution calls for assuring supremacy of the constitution,” he remarked.” He asked the petitioner to approach the elected representative of his constitution for its resolution in the parliament. “It is a political matter. We cannot ignore Article 69 of the Constitution,” he remarked. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani remarked that the speaker has the authority to call any assembly member.

Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Monday has met Prime Minister Imran Khan ahead of his Karachi visit. During the meeting, both leaders discussed strategy for consultation with allies in Sindh. On the occasion, PM Imran assured to resolve the issue of people living in the province. It is to be mentioned here that Fawad Chaudhry is scheduled to visit Karachi to initiate his ‘mission Sindh’ where he is expected to meet prominent politicians. The information minister will attempt to persuade Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) leaders and put forth the government’s point of view. Furthermore, he will also conduct meetings with Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Ghaus Baksh Mahar, Ameer Baksh Bhutto, Ayaz Lateef Palijo and many other politicians. He will return to Islamabad on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Imran Khan Sunday made a surprise visit to Polyclinic Hospital of the federal capital and inquired about the facilities for the patients. The prime minister who was accompanied by Minister for Health Amir Mehmod Kiani and Special Assistant to PM Iftikhar Durrani, asked from the hospital administration regarding the provision of medicines to the patients and other facilities. He also inquired after the health of the patients under treatment at the hospital. He took a round of various sections of the hospital and got briefing from the administration about the facility. The prime minister lauded the performance of the hospital for efficient arrangements and provision of medical facilities to the people. He directed the administration to keep up providing quality medical care to the people. While taking notice of the aged building of the hospital, the prime minister directed for its facelift and improvement of the infrastructure. Similarly, on Thursday, the prime min

Saudi Arabia's Assistant Minister of Defence Muhammad Bin Abdullah Al-Ayesh called on Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Rawalpindi on Monday. During the meeting matters of mutual interest, regional security and enhanced bilateral defence cooperation came under discussion.

Turkey's president vowed that his country would continue to destroy terrorists as Ankara did in the past. Speaking at his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party meeting in Istanbul, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkish forces have successfully carried out two counter-terrorist operations in Syria۔ Operations Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch  to eradicate the presence of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists near Turkey’s borders.

In Sindh, Pakistan Rangers have made elaborate security arrangements to maintain law and order and avoid any untoward incident on the eve of New Year. Rangers Spokesman said snap checking and mobile patrolling have been increased in Karachi and interior Sindh. There will be complete ban on aerial firing and display of any kind of weapon on the occasion.

Supreme Court (SC) on Monday has summoned Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi for placing names of 172 people on Exit Control List (ECL). During the hearing of money laundering case, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar asked why the federal government has included names of 172 accused in ECL. Name of second biggest province’s chief minister was also placed on the list, he added. The top judge said that this step is against the individual freedom that is the right of every citizen. The court has also summoned Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) chairman in personal capacity. Meanwhile, Joint Investigation Team (JIT) lawyer Faisal Siddiqui told that the team has suggested to file National Accountability Bureau (NAB) reference against the accused. JIT neither proved anyone guilty nor declared anyone innocent, he added. Earlier, JIT report revealed that Omni group established 11 fake companies to operate 16 accounts in Summit Bank, eight i

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has ruled out imposition of Governor Rule in Sindh. He said the government is neither going to impose Governor rule in Sindh nor abolish 18th amendment. The Information Minister said Pakistan People’s Party should replace someone else with Murad Ali Shah as Chief Minister of the province because his name has appeared in the JIT report on fake bank accounts case. He said all allegations against Asif Ali Zardari are documented, urging PPP and PML-N to support transparent investigation in this regard.

Minister for National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination Aamir Mehmood Kiani says twenty-five million Health Insurance Cards would be distributed among poor and needy people by beginning of next month. Addressing a public meeting in Rawalpindi, he said the government is taking revolutionary steps for promotion of health sector in the country. He said five new state-of-the-art hospitals would be built in the twin cities to lessen the patients’ load on existing hospitals.

Polling for the by-election for Balochistan Assembly constituency PB-26 Quetta-III, is underway today. The polling started at 8am and will continue till 5pm without any break. There are 57,675 registered voters in the constituency who will exercise their right of vote today. The seat fell vacant after the Hazara Democratic Part y (HDP) candidate Ahmed Ali Kohzad, who had won general elections on July 25, was disqualified by Election Commission of Pakistan for being an Afghan national. According to an election commission spokesperson, 49 polling stations have been set up, of which 28 are for men, 19 for women and two are for both. All polling stations have been declared ‘sensitive’. Strict security measures will be in place during the by-poll. At least 1,443 police officials along with FC personnel will be deployed to maintain peace during the by-poll.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has appreciated the campaign launched by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority to increase tax collection in the province. He was talking to Finance Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Taimur Khan Jhagra, who called on him in Islamabad. Taimur Khan briefed the Prime Minister on the steps taken by the provincial government to improve economic condition of the province. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan along with Health Minister Aamir Kiani paid a surprise visit to Polyclinic Hospital in Islamabad and inquired about the facilities for patients. He also inquired about health of under treatment patients in the hospital. The Prime Minister lauded performance of the hospital for efficient arrangements and provision of medical facilities to the people and directed the administration to keep up providing quality medical care.

The Supreme Court will hear the long-running mega money laundering and fake bank accounts case on Monday, a week after a Joint Investigation Team held the Zardari and Omni groups responsible in its report. A two-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar has summoned replies from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, party president Asif Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur and other high-profile individuals named in the JIT report. The JIT in its report had recommended NAB cases and freezing of assets of the Zardari Group and its front companies. The report had also suggested that all the persons involved in money laundering be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL). In view of the JIT findings, the federal government on Friday released a list of 172 suspects whose names were placed on the no-fly list. The list included Bilawal, Zardari, Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, presidents of a number of local banks, and other former mi

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto on Sunday responded to the prime minister’s “hue and cry” remark by saying that it is the cries of the poor which will topple the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government. PM Imran Khan on Friday had said that “since yesterday have been hearing hue and cry from Sindh,” in an apparent jibe aimed at the PPP whose leaders are facing an inquiry in relation to fake accounts. Bilawal, taking to Twitter, said that indeed Sindh is raising the hue and cry but that these complains are a result of gas loadshedding in Sindh, which “produces the most gas”, as well as blocking of water to the province. “Sindh is complaining because agriculture and industries are being destroyed,” he said. He then went on to threaten the PTI that these complaints are quickly snowballing into a “huge roar” which would eventually topple the government. The two parties came face to face after the PTI started hinting at a leadership change in the provincial

The accountability court on Sunday has released the detailed verdict in Flagship Investment reference case, comprising of on 80 pages, against Nawaz Sharif in which the former prime minister had been acquitted. Judge Mohammad Arshad Malik signed the 80-page verdict in the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) corruption reference. In the verdict, Judge Mohammad Arshad Malik said that the NAB could not establish former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s relationship with 16 companies in the corruption reference. However, announcing the verdict in the Al-Azizia/Hill Metal Establishment (HME) case, the judge convicted Nawaz Sharif and awarded him seven years’ imprisonment and fined him as well. The defence counsel may apply for an attested copy of the judgment on Monday. On December 24, Nawaz Sharif had given seven years of jail time in Al-Azizia Reference Case. Although, Accountability Court has acquitted Nawaz Sharif in Flagship Investment Reference. According to details, Nawaz Shar

Prime Minister Imran Khan will depart for two-day official visit to Turkey on Thursday at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During his first visit to Istantul after taking office, the prime minister will discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and over all security situation of the region with Turkish leadership. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Minister for Planning Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtyar and Adviser to the Prime Minister Abdul Razak Dawood. Imran Khan will also address a business forum, and hold several meetings with Turkish businessmen and potential investors during his stay at Ankara. The premier’s visit will reinforce the historic ties between the governments and the people of the two brotherly countries. The visit will also help to explore new vistas of cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the area of economic, trade and commercial relations.

As the political situation getting tense in Sindh Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan discussed various issues with Grand Democratic Alliance’s (GDA) Member National Assembly (MNA) Sardar Ali Gohar Mahar regarding the current political situation in the country. According to PTI’s spokesperson PM Imran telephoned him and expressed concerns over the uncertain political scenario in Sindh and accepted Mahar’s invitation to visit Ghotki. Moreover, the PM is expected to hold key meetings with influential politicians in Sindh.On the other hand, special assistant to PM Iftikhar Durrani said that a change of leadership in Sindh was inevitable, stressing the need for ‘a new chief minister’ who was not under investigation. “The provincial government of Sindh was used to launder money, and Murad Ali Shah acted as the facilitator to money launderers and the Zardari Group while he was the chief minister and finance minister,” he remarked. In a reply to a question, he asserted that the accountabili

Provincial Minster Nasir Ali Shah has brushed aside media reports that claimed the Sindh’s Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah being removed from his post. He was talking to media on Sunday. The minister said Murad Ali Shah will remain the chief minister of Sindh and the news of a forward bloc are baseless. He said people are not happy with the PTI government and wanted to get rid of. We can make a big upset in the province if our leadership allowed us, he added. Shah said the chief minister is enjoying 100 percent confidence of his leadership, adding that we will submit our reply to the court of law and prove the JIT report wrong. The minister said putting the name of PPP’s leadership on the ECL will be meant to block the development and progress of Sindh province.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has called for a special meeting to discuss the current political scenarios that have engulfed the prominent party leaders. According to sources, the meeting is deemed to discuss over the JIT Report and inclusion of names of prominent PPP Leaders in the Exit Control List (ECL). The meeting is scheduled to commence in the evening at Bilawal House Karachi today. Sources stated that PPP Leaders will prepare certain strategies to counter the issues that may arise after prominent party leaders were made part of ECL. Also, they’ll prepare a reply to the JIT report submitted in Supreme Court regarding the infamous Mega Money Laundering Scam. PPP Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari himself will be chairing the session where central and provincial leaders will be taking part in the session. Legal experts have also been summoned in the special meeting held today at Bilawal House Karachi. Big decisions are expected to be made in today’s meeting of Pakistan People

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Syed Khursheed Shah on Sunday said that the arrest of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would be a dangerous game, one that would create ripples in the country. Speaking to media in Islamabad, Shah said Prime Minister Imran Khan is creating uncertainty and a crisis situation in the country. “He [Imran Khan] has done nothing except arrest politicians. He is being asked to do things which no other politician would do.” Responding to a question regarding Bilawal’s arrest, Shah said that a lot of courage is needed to arrest him. “It is not possible to arrest him but nothing certain can be said about this government.” "There is no need for in-house change in Sindh because the cases have been made on the bases of assumptions and it is not possible to impose governor’s rule in the province,” the senior PPP leader said. “There is no place for it in the constitution. Governor rule can only be imposed through martial law.” The former opposition le

Punjab minister Aleem Khan said on Sunday that the Pakistan Peoples' Party will meet the same fate in Sindh as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz went through in Punjab. Speaking to different delegations at his office, Khan said that the people who looted Sindh will have to be accountable and the PPP president Asif Ali Zardari will fail in his attempt to play the 'Sindh card'. The PTI leader said that those who had the penchant to level accusations against others have been exposed in front of the people of Pakistan. "Rather than giving answers on the JIT findings they are hiding away," he said. Khan sarcastically remarked that PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif should be happy that his 'Ali baba and forty thieves' are being taken into account. The Sharif family should prepare a barrack for Zardari now, he added. The PTI minister’s remarks came a day before Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry is scheduled to visit Karachi to meet the party leaders amid reports

Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed on Saturday inaugurated the Pakistan Post Mobile Application during a ceremony held at ECO Postal Staff College in Islamabad. The mobile application will provide services like complaint handling, track and trace, e-commerce, delivery, parcel collect, complaints, tariff, post office locations, postcodes and all relevant information about postal services. Highlighting accessibility of Pakistan Post with its staff strength, footprints and over a century old legacy and credibility, the federal minister said, “Our postmen visit almost every household of the country, including areas beyond anyone's reach.” Saeed announced that a pilot project for microfinance loan disbursement will be launched through Pakistan Post. The department also intends to enter the e-commerce business, he added. “Pakistan Post has the capacity and commitment to deliver for online vendors for their cash on delivery products with proof of de

The deferred oil facility with Saudi Arabia should be complete and ready for signature in January as a revised draft agreement has been sent to Riyadh, a well-placed source in the finance ministry, while the talks with the UAE on the same facility have not yet yielded a draft agreement. “We have almost finalised the details of the agreement with Saudi Arabia at the technical level,” the source said, adding that the remaining issues will be sorted out by the second week of January. Once the draft has been agreed at the technical level, it will be signed by the ministers of both countries. The first meeting on the deal at the technical level was held in Islamabad in October. As per proposed agreement, Pakistan will receive up to $3 billion worth of oil with payment deferred for 365 days in the first year of the agreement in 2018. The Saudi Fund for Development will act as a third party in the agreement. How the deal works Pakistan based refineries will place orders with Saudi Ar

Adviser to Chief Minister of Sindh on Law Murtaza Wahab on Sunday denounced putting names of prominent politicians on the Exit Control List (ECL) following the ongoing investigation in money laundering cases by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), particularly against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. Reportedly, he spoke to the media during his visit to Layari area of Karachi. “Those who are talking about making a forward bloc in the Sindh Assembly should be reminded that their government has a lead of only four votes in the parliament,” he said. He termed the results of 2018 General Elections as false and ‘stolen’, and claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government could not resolve core issues of the general public in the first five months of its tenure, rather it has triggered ‘tsunami’ in the country. “How can you change chief minister of Sindh?” he asked, adding that inquiries were also being conducted against Prime Minister Imran Kha

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, while hearing a petition alleging that water is being stolen from the River Ravi and Abasia Link Canal by India, ordered the Punjab Irrigation Department Secretary Syed Ali Murtaza on Sunday to submit a report on the matter by January 4. "Why is India stealing our water?" the Justice Nisar enquired, asserting, "We will not let India steal Pakistan's water." He added that the court would "not allow water to be stolen from poor farmers from the Abasia Link Canal." He explained that stealing water from them was "synonymous to sucking their blood". The chief justice asked if the Punjab government was aware of whether India was stealing water from the Ravi river, and if so, what steps had been taken to remedy the situation. The secretary, Murtaza, replied that water was not being stolen by India, to which the chief justice ordered that an operation be conducted by the Irrigation Department and pol

The New Year is expected to dawn with a heavier tax burden for Pakistanis as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) prepares a summary for the imposition of additional Rs155 billion taxes from January 2019. The FBR in its supplementary bill draft has recommended an increase in the tax duty on imported luxury cars, and uniformity on General Sales Tax on all items. The department has also recommended an increase in sales tax from 5 percent to 22 percent. The FBR has suggested a decrease in the customs duty on the raw materials to be used in the export-oriented industries. Finance Minister Asad Umar, earlier, presented the supplementary finance bill in the National Assembly in September, announcing cuts in planned development spending and a tax increase for higher earners. "The country stands at the same place where it was after five years," the finance minister had lamented, adding that the fiscal deficit might reach to 7.2 per cent [2,900 billion rupees] in FY19. Umar had

Voting began on Sunday in Bangladesh's contentious parliamentary elections, seen as a referendum on what critics call Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's increasingly authoritarian rule. Hasina's main rival is former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, the leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), deemed ineligible by a court from running for office because she is in prison for corruption. The two women have been in and out of power and prison for decades. In Zia's absence, opposition parties have formed a coalition led by Kamal Hossain, an 82-year-old Oxford-educated lawyer and former member of Hasina's Awami League party. The election campaign has been marred by allegations from the opposition of arrests and jailing of thousands of Hasina opponents. At least a dozen people were killed in campaign-related clashes. Both sides are hoping to avoid a repeat of 2014, when Zia and the BNP boycotted elections and voter turnout in the South Asian nation of 16

Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, in a telephonic conversation on Saturday, spoke to Grand Democratic Alliance’s (GDA) Member of National Assembly (MNA) Sardar Ali Gohar Mahar regarding current political situation in the country. According to PTI’s spokesperson, the PM expressed concerns over the uncertain political scenario in Sindh and accepted Mahar’s invitation to visit Ghotki. Moreover, the PM is expected to hold key meetings with influential politicians in Sindh. On the other hand, special assistant to PM Iftikhar Durrani said that a change of leadership in Sindh was inevitable, stressing the need for ‘a new chief minister’ who was not under investigation. “The provincial government of Sindh was used to launder money, and Murad Ali Shah acted as the facilitator to money launderers and the Zardari Group while he was the chief minister and finance minister,” he remarked. In a reply to a question, he asserted that the accountability process was a part of democratic norms , and

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday has arrived in Qatar on-one day official visit. At the airport, he was received by high officials of the Qatri Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Pakistan Embassy in Doha. During his a day long visit, Qureshi is expected to meet Qatari Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud and other top Qatari leadership. The foreign minister is expected to discuss the Afghan peace process, bilateral relations and other important regional and global issues. Speaking to media before departing for Qatar, Qureshi said that "Pakistan enjoys close relations with Qatar and it is an important country in the Middle-East." He added that there is a large Pakistani community in Qatar and there are many investment opportunities in the country. "We will further build on our previously held talks," the foreign minister said. On December 23, Qureshi embarked on a whirlwind

Bangladesh’s telecoms regulator has ordered mobile operators to shut down high-speed mobile internet services until midnight on Sunday, the day of a national election. The measure is effective immediately, a spokesman for the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission said on Saturday. “The decision has been taken to prevent rumors and propaganda surrounding the vote,” Zakir Hussain Khan said.

Three Vietnamese tourists and an Egyptian guide were killed and at least 10 others injured when a roadside bomb blast hit their tour bus on Friday less than 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from Egypt’s world-famous Giza pyramids, authorities said. The bombing is the first deadly attack against foreign tourists in Egypt for over a year and comes as the tourism sector, a vital source of foreign currency revenue, recovers from a sharp drop in visitor numbers since the country’s 2011 uprising. No immediate claim of responsibility was reported. Militants, including those linked to Daesh, are active in Egypt and have targeted foreign visitors in the past. At least nine Vietnamese tourists were injured, as well as the Egyptian driver, according to official statements. The tourists were heading to a sound and light show at the pyramids, which they had visited earlier in the day, said Lan Le, 41, who was also aboard the bus but unhurt. “We were going to the sound and light show and then suddenl

Former president Asif Ali Zardari said on Saturday that there was no need for the authorities to put him on the Exit Control List (ECL) as he had already submitted his passport at the time of applying for bail. "I have to be buried at the Garhi Khuda Baksh and give and I am answerable to Bhutto and Benazir after death," the Pakistan Peoples' Party co-chairperson said in a gathering at Kashmore. "They just want to create drama but rest assured it won't affect the party's voter," adding, "we want you to stay but what else we can do if you are up to ending the political institutions. We are fighting for our people." The former president said that in the country 71-year history establishment did not treat well people who worked for the national progress but it doesn't matter to him as he is not scared. Zardari called his opponents 'deaf and dumb', adding that they toppled late Benazir Bhutto's government twice, martyred her bu

Chief Minister (CM) of Balochistan Jam Kamal on Saturday called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and discussed with him security situation of the province, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). During the meeting, the chief minister appreciated efforts of Pakistan Army towards provision of enabling security environment for execution of socio-economic development projects as part of Khushal Balochistan programme, the ISPR said in a statement. On the occasion, the COAS said that maintaining security situation of Balochistan was focus of Pak Army, adding that the progress of Pakistan was linked to peace, stability and progress of Balochistan, the statement read. General Bajwa said fencing of Pak-Afghan border and enhanced security coordination on Pak-Iran border shall further improve the security situation, it added.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday recommended the Supreme Court to close the case filed by the late air chief Air Marshal Asghar Khan. The FIA submitted a report in the SC today which stated that there is "not enough evidence to continue investigating" the case. “There are contradictions in the statements of the witnesses,” the report said. Furthermore, the report stated that the case is more than 25 years old and no record of bank transactions could be found. "Politicians who were accused of taking money have also denied the allegations," it further read. A day earlier, the apex court announced that it will hear on December 31 (Monday) the case of the former air chief pertaining to the distribution of Rs 140 million among political parties ahead of the 1990 general elections. The case On October 19, 2012, the Supreme Court issued a 141-page verdict, ordering legal proceedings against Gen (retd) Aslam Beg and Lt Gen (retd) Asad Durrani in a