loader

Daily Briefs


Photo : Dawn

05-06 February 2024, Monday| Vol 5, No.19

Campaigning window closes tonight, says ECP



Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari urged the people to vote for ‘arrow,’ the PPP symbol

PR Daily Brief | PR Team

In Brief
PAKISTAN ELECTIONS 2024
PR Exclusive Update #62
Campaigning window closes tonight, says ECP
On 6 February, Dawn reported that a senior official of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) stated that as per the country’s election laws, the campaigning window would close on the night of 6 February. He also cautioned that those breaching the law may have to face two years imprisonment. According to section 182 of the Elections Act 2017: “No person shall convene, hold or attend any public meeting, or promote or join in any procession, within the area of a constituency or, in the case of the Senate election, a Province, during forty-eight hours ending at midnight following the conclusion of the poll for any election in that constituency or Province.” Given this, political parties in recent days amped up their election campaigns, visiting different constituencies and addressing the public during party rallies. (Iftikhar A. Khan, “Last steps to polls as campaigns end tonight,” Dawn, 6 February 2024)
 
TikTok takes steps to combat misinformation ahead of elections
On 5 February, TikTok stated that it would help combat misinformation and uphold election integrity on its platform in order to ensure a safe environment for information. TikTok in a statement said: “Building on its robust global framework to combat misinformation, TikTok is collaborating with internationally recognised fact-checking organisation Agence France-Presse (AFP) as its fact-checker to specifically address the Pakistani electoral context.” It would also work with Pakistani local community partner organisations to “identify potential misinformation and take action on it.” The app launched the Pakistan Election Center, a hub to provide authoritative information regarding the elections in English and Urdu. Aside from this, education content and in-app guides would be used to raise awareness, while customers would benefit from a user-centric approach through tools that would allow them to report misleading content. (Shazia Hasan, “TikTok shares measures to uphold poll integrity,” Dawn, 6 February 2024)
 
Kakar highlights the need for parties to remain democratic
On 5 February, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar emphasized that political parties should not only improve their performance to gain political space in Pakistan, but also elect their leaders democratically to preserve the country’s overall democracy. For this, the youth should participate in politics and direct their energies toward bolstering Pakistan’s democracy. Kakar stated that this was important as “the idea of democracy was facing many challenges in Pakistan due to different reasons and weaknesses in the structure of the civil institution.” (“PM urges democracy within parties,” The Express Tribune, 6 February 2024)
 
Maryam Nawaz vows to resolve Murree’s crisis if PML-N wins
On 6 February, The Express Tribune reported that the PML-N’s senior vice president, Maryam Nawaz, addressed a political rally at Murree, Punjab. In her speech, she promised to provide the city the “highest development” if the PML-N were to win. Reiterating the party’s election pledges as stated in its manifesto, Nawaz emphasized the importance of making decisions that would affect future generations. This would include a reduction in electricity bills by 20-30 per cent, securing a six per cent rate of GDP, reaching USD 60 billion in exports, and decreasing poverty to 25 per cent. She asserted that the PML-N had “decided to ease the difficulties of Murree's people by serving them day and night.” (“Support Lion to resolve crises,” The Express Tribune, 6 February 2024)
 
Editorial in Dawn states that the new government will need a “cogent counterterrorism policy”
On 6 February, an editorial in Dawn titled “Terrorism challenge” stated that following the forthcoming general election, the newly elected administration would have the “briefest of honeymoon periods” because its priority would be developing a “cogent counterterrorism policy.” According to the editorial, attacks on the Chaudhwan police station in Dera Ismail Khan on 5 February that killed ten police officers demonstrated that terrorist acts are still occurring and that they specifically target law enforcement and the military. The editorial described the challenge as “two-tiered,” involving securing Pakistan by not allowing “terrorist outfits to establish themselves,” and preventing “militants from creating sanctuaries in Afghanistan.” It also advised the new government, along with the security establishment and provincial set-ups, to come up with a “failsafe plan” for security in KP and Balochistan. Without tackling terrorism, “economic stability and social cohesion will be very difficult to achieve.” (“Terrorism challenge,” Dawn, 6 February 2024)

PR Exclusive Update #61
Bilawal Bhutto says elections will witness a “rain of arrows”
On 4 February, in a political rally at Hyderabad, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari urged the people to vote for ‘arrow,’ the PPP symbol, while strongly criticizing his opponents. He asked people to note vote for the ‘lion,’ the symbol of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), saying to voters: “You just get PPP won [elections]. I will handle this lion.” He criticized the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and advised the people not to vote for their electoral symbol ‘kite,’ as they endorsed “anti-Pakistan slogans.” Zardari further asked people not to vote for independent candidates who are backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). Additionally, Zardari brought up the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) party, calling on people to not vote for them as they had allegedly divided the country on religious lines. He concluded his speech by thanking the people for electing PPP in local elections and said: “There will be a rain of arrows on February 8.” (“Days before polls, Bilawal unleashes 'arrows' at all political rivals,” The News International, 4 February 2024)
 
Increase in military presence in Rawalpindi till elections end
On 5 February, Dawn reported that the Rawalpindi police had given out a detailed security and contingency plan to protect 5,490 polling booths across the region. In the plan, the police asserted that they would be deploying around 12,783 police officials and 4,390 military and paramilitary officials to safeguard the polling stations. The regional police officer of Rawalpindi, Syed Khurram Ali, said that the troops would “work alongside the Rawalpindi police to strengthen security until the elections are completed.” Of the 5,40 polling booths in the city, 694 have been categorized as highly sensitive, 1,371 as sensitive, and 3,425 as normal. As per the plan, 580 CCTV cameras will be installed in highly sensitive polling booths, and a control room with a monitor will also be set up. According to Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP): “Pakistan armed forces/civil armed forces shall assist in the provision of a secure environment by deploying in Quick Reaction Force mode and outside the selected “most sensitive” polling stations from Feb 5 to Feb 10 to assist the ECP in the conduct of free, fair and transparent elections.” (Mohammad Asghar, “Over 7,300 police officials to protect polling stations in Pindi,” Dawn, 5 February 2024)
 
PTI and AML candidates refused permission to conduct public meetings by Rawalpindi district administration
On 5 February, according to Dawn, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) candidate Shehryar Riaz, and Awami Muslim League’s (AML) candidate Sheikh Rashid, were denied permission by the Rawalpindi district administration to conduct public meetings in NA-56. Riaz highlighted that other political parties, including the JI and PML-N, had been given permission to hold public meetings. He said that despite receiving permission to hold public meetings in NA-56 from 4 to 6 February, the administration stated: “In view of the existing security threat spectrum, the backdrop of the law-and-order situation, and consequently, upon the recommendation of law enforcement agencies, police departments and the District Intelligence Committee, the application has been rejected.’ (Aamir Yasin, “Shehryar Riaz, Sheikh Rashid refused permission to hold public meetings,” Dawn, 5 February 2024)
 
PPP leader vows to meet the “needs” of the people of Talagang
On 4 February, while addressing a public gathering at the Government High School in Talagang, Punjab, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari vowed that he would acknowledge the issues faced by the residents of Talagang, and asserted that his party would bring prosperity to the area. In his speech, he promised to resolve their “needs such as the water issue, road network, transportation, and district development,” as he was “aware that the people of Talagang are looking towards” him. Zardari further said that the PPP had issued Benazir Income support cards for the underprivileged, and pointed out that during his tenure, the government had increased the wages by 100 per cent. He added: “I know very well the plight of the poor. Poverty has increased twofold compared to my time in power.” (Nabeel Anwar Dhakku, “Zardari pledges to redress woes of Talagang residents,” Dawn, 5 February 2024)
 
Internet service to be restricted in sensitive polling stations in Balochistan
On 4 February, Balochistan’s caretaker Information Minister, Jan Achakzai, stated that the internet service would be restricted in the sensitive polling booths of the province on 8 February, due to the recent spike in terrorist attacks. In a statement on X, Achakzai said: “Ensuring the safety and security of ordinary citizens is of utmost importance, as there is a concern that terrorists may exploit social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and other similar channels for communication purposes.” The areas with restricted access would include Turbat, Mach, and Chaman. This decision was taken despite the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) announcement last week, where it clarified that no internet service and communications outage would occur on 8 February. Pakistani lawyer Jibran Nasir said that this decision set a “dangerous precedent” for the future and was “a direct attack on the freedom of expression of all Pakistanis regardless of what part of the political spectrum they belong to.” (“Elections: Balochistan decides to 'restrict' internet service in sensitive polling booths,” The News International, 5 February 2024)
 
ECP failed to meet variation in population with less than ten per cent, reveals report
On 4 February, the Free & Fair Elections Network (Fafen) released a report stating that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had failed to meet the legal requirement of keeping the variation in the population to less than ten per cent in a total of 135 constituencies. Fafen said: “Equality of population among the constituencies in an assembly also needs to be adhered to in the spirit of Section 20 (3) of the Elections Act 2017 (Principles of Delimitation), which restricts the population variation to 10 per cent.” The report revealed that the disparities in the voting was in part due to the presence of Afghan, Behari, Bengali and Burmese populations in certain geographical pockets. The report concluded by stating: “The ECP may dwell into specific reasons in an effort to ensure the principle of equal suffrage in its true spirit.” (Rizwan Shehzad, “In 135 constituencies ECP fails to ensure less than 10% population variation,” The Express Tribune, 5 February 2024)
 
Editorial in The News International accuses parties of “playing the usual tricks”
On 5 February, an editorial in The News International by Shakeel Ahmad Ramay titled, “Manifestos, economy and bluffing,” stated that the manifestos of the political parties should be based on two things: “past performance and future programmes.” According to Ramay, the past performance of a party is completely ignored during their election campaigns, and they could be held accountable in “the absence of data.” He argued that political parties like Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) PML-N gave promising statements; however, none of these programmed can be “materialized.” With 40 per cent of the population living under the poverty line, “circular debt will shoot up in no time.” Additionally, as “stagflation has captured the economy” the editorial questioned whether the PPPP and PML-N would actually provide free electricity. Ramay thus reiterated that even though “manifestos promised to accelerate growth and put the economy back on track,” promising to achieve this in the short-run was “unreal.” Ramay stated that Pakistan has developed a habit of “wasting opportunities for pity political interests.” ‘The country is still unable to exploit the full potential of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and Ramay asserted that parties should be “mindful” that this is the “age of information.” (Shakeel Ahmad Ramay, “Manifestos, economy and bluffing,” The News International, 5 February 2024)
 
Ballot papers printed and ready to be delivered
On 5 February, Dawn reported that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had completed printing 260 million ballot papers for 859 National Assembly (NA) and Provincial Assembly (PA) constituencies. The ECP spokesperson, Syed Nadeem Haider, asserted: “Except for around a dozen districts, the delivery of ballot papers to district returning officers (DROs) has been completed and in the remaining districts, the ballot papers will be delivered today.” In the 2018 general elections, around 220 million ballot papers were printed and 800 tonnes of special security papers were used; in 2024, 2,170 tonnes of paper were used to print 260 million ballot papers. Haider said that when compared to the previous elections, more papers were printed due to the surge of election candidates. Another ECP official stated that the printing of ballot papers began on 14 January and ended on 3 February. (Iftikhar A. Khan, “ECP to complete ballot papers’ delivery today,” Dawn, 5 February 2024)


POLITICS
Pakistan’s COAS reaffirms resolve on Kashmir Solidarity Day
On 5 February, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Syed Asim Munir, visited the Line of Control (LoC) on Kashmir Solidarity Day, reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to respond with full national resolve and military strength to any aggression or violation of its territorial sovereignty. He commended the troops’ readiness and effective response to Indian ceasefire violations and condemned India’s alleged state-sponsored terrorism targeting Pakistani citizens. Munir stated: “Pakistan Army is well versed with the full threat spectrum and is perpetually ready to respond effectively.” Additionally, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, Pakistan Occupied Kashmir’s Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, and the COAS visited Muzaffarabad, and “acknowledged that the fortitude, resilience and unwavering faith of Kashmiris in the face of unabated brutality of Indian occupation forces” in Jammu and Kashmir had been “exemplary,” according to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR). The ISPR’s statement additionally condemned India for allegedly “attempting to change the demography” of Jammu and Kashmir. (“In LoC visit, COAS reiterates resolve to defend territorial sovereignty,” The News International, 5 February 2024)

ECONOMY
Tyre dealers urge government action against tyre smuggling
On 6 February, The Express Tribune reported that tyre dealers and manufacturers urged the government to combat tyre smuggling, emphasising its detrimental impact on the local industry and consumer safety. With an annual tyre consumption of 14.5 million, only 25 percent is domestically produced and ten percent legally imported, while the remainder is sourced illegally. According to tyre manufacturers, smuggled tyres cost the national exchequer over PKR 70 billion annually, affecting local businesses. Smuggled tyres flood markets, jeopardising quality and public safety. The CEO of Ghandhara Tyre & Rubber Company Limited, Hussain Kuli Khan, said that smuggled tyres are usually of “inferior quality” and are cheaper, incentivising people to buy them “without knowing the repercussions.” In 2023, the Collectorate of Customs Enforcement (CCE) confiscated over 55,000 smuggled tyres worth roughly PKR 540 million in Karachi. Khan explained that the devaluation of the rupee had led to a reduction in the import of tyres and a subsequent “heavy influx of smuggled tyres.” He called on the government to “reassess the data on items imported through the Afghan Transit Trade.” (“‘Smuggled tyres cause annual losses of over Rs70 billion’,” The Express Tribune, 6 February 2024; “Smuggled tyres posing big threat to local industry,” Business Recorder, 6 February 2024)
 
OGRA increases gas tariffs amidst financial shortfall
On 6 February, The News International reported that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) increased Sui Northern gas tariff by 35.13 percent and Sui Southern by 8.57 percent from 1 January 2024, aiming to cover a PKR 98 billion shortfall till 30 June 2024. This marked the second hike in 2023-24. The OGRA suggested earlier on 2 February to increase the gas price by 23.16 per cent per Metric Million British Thermal Unit (MMBTU). The IMF required the Pakistan government to implement the gas review implementation on a biannual basis to combat the PKR 1,250 billion worth circular debt, and thus the OGRA is bound to announce the gas tariff biannually. The caretaker government will review the OGRA’s determination, and failure to respond within 40 days would lead to an automatic enforcement of the new tariffs. (Khalid Mustafa, “OGRA hikes gas tariff,” The News International, 6 February 2024)

IMF delays endorsement of Pakistan’s economic proposals
On 5 February, the IMF withheld immediate endorsement of Pakistan’s interim government’s proposals to reduce industrial electricity prices, settle circular debt, and include Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) debt in public debt. The IMF sought more details on the proposals’ economic and political viability and questioned the government’s haste, especially with regard to PIA’s debt settlement plan. Additionally, the IMF scrutinised plans to reduce industrial tariffs and the circular debt reduction strategy. Two meets with Pakistani authorities concluded without firm decisions, and the IMF indicated that further consideration would be given post-elections. The interim government wants to implement these proposals before exiting office, but the IMF raised concerns about shifting burdens. (Shahbaz Rana, “IMF tepid to interim govt proposals,” The Express Tribune, 6 February 2024)
 
Pakistan’s exports to China surge by 46 per cent in the first seven months of FY 2023-24
On 5 February, the Business Recorder reported that as per data released by the caretaker Federal Minister for Commerce and Industries, Gohar Ejaz, Pakistan’s export of goods and services to China witnessed a notable increase of 46 per cent during the first seven months of the current fiscal year (2023-24) compared to the corresponding period last year. The overall exports to China reached USD 1.724 billion, showing a significant rise from the previous year’s USD 1.180 billion. Ejaz led discussions with Chinese counterparts to enhance economic ties and improve the balance of trade. The efforts resulted in increased exports to China. (“Jul-Jan exports to China up 46pc YoY,” Business Recorder, 5 February 2024)
 
ECP bars caretaker government from PIA privatization
On 5 February, The News International reported that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) barred the caretaker government from proceeding with the privatization of the state-owned Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Citing Section 230 of the Elections Act, the ECP directed the government to provide all relevant documents related to the privatization program for review. The section prohibits caretaker governments from making “any decision or a policy that may have an effect on or pre-empt the exercise of authority by the future elected government.” The government was instructed to refrain from taking any further steps, including signing agreements, until the commission makes a decision under Section 230. (“ECP bars caretaker govt from privatising PIA,” The News International, 5 February 2024)
 
Editorial in Business Recorder calls for “long and painful” process of economic reforms
On 5 February, an editorial in Business Recorder titled “Worst economic crisis“ cited the World Report 2024 by Human Rights Watch, which highlighted the adverse impact of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) austerity measures and subsidy removal in Pakistan. The report pointed to the “worst economic crisis” in 2023, attributing it to harsh IMF conditions, demanding increased revenue amid tight fiscal and hawkish monetary policies. The cycle of dependence on IMF programs with upfront conditions poses challenges for the democratic government post the 8 February election. The editorial raised a few key concerns with regard to IMF programmes, such as “harsh upfront conditions,” conditions, the requirement of “tight” fiscal policies and “hawkish” monetary policies, and the fact that Pakistan cannot escape the cycle until it “initiates even more painful reforms.” With a low tax-to-GDP ratio and a large impoverished population, the editorial highlighted the “urgent” need for reforms, that may lead to a “long and painful process” but are necessary as they are the “only alternative to a complete, quick, capitulation.” These reforms, as suggested by the editorial include expanding the tax basket, acknowledging that the poor have paid for “the elite siphoning of their taxes,” and structural reforms. (“Worst economic crisis,” Business Recorder, 5 February 2024)

PROVINCES
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Women candidates brave patriarchal challenges in Kohistan elections
On 6 February, Dawn reported that despite facing significant social and cultural barriers, women candidates in Kohistan are contesting the upcoming elections, challenging entrenched patriarchal norms. The Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is notorious for gender-based violence, child marriage, and an extremely low female literacy rate. Three of the four women who have entered the election race are backed by the PTI, while the fourth is an independent candidate who is affiliated with the PTI. One of the candidates, Tehmina Faheem, stated: “Women here are overwhelmingly blind to their rights. Because of the society’s patriarchal structure, I and other female contestants vying for the upcoming elections can’t directly mix [with the public] to solicit votes even within our gender.” Another candidate, Shakeela Rabbani, described Kohistan’s patriarchal system as a “stage drama meant for men, by men,” where women “play the role of extras.” The candidates, however, face opposition from clerics issuing fatwas against women’s participation in politics. On these lines, the chair of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), Nilofar Bakhtiar, took the matter of the fatwa to the Election Commission of Pakistan for “immediate remedial measures to ensure a hostile free environment for women contenders.” (Nisar Ahmad Khan, “Undeterred by fatwa, Kohistan’s women candidates make history,” Dawn, 6 February 2024)
 
Punjab: PTI alleges harassment and raids on election offices in various constituencies ahead of polls
On 5 February, the PTI alleged that the Punjab police raided PTI election offices and harassed party workers in various constituencies. Incidents included sealing the election office of PTI nominees, harassing women workers, abducting a high court lawyer, and raiding houses of party leaders and supporters. A PTI spokesperson questioned where the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would “take notice of this fascism.” On the same day, the family of PTI President Parvez Elahi said that the Zahoor Elahi House in Gujarat had been broken into by the police, who demanded documents of nominations of polling agents as well as the list of polling agents. Elahi’s daughter asserted: “Such tactics cannot stop the victory of PTI candidates in Gujrat.” (Mansoor Malik & Waseem Ashraf Butt, “Police raids on PTI offices, leaders’ houses continue across Punjab,” Dawn, 6 February 2024)

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Voters launch “Pani Do, Vote Lo” campaign to address water crisis
On 5 February, The Express Tribune reported that in underdeveloped areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), residents took matters into their own hands by launching the “Pani Do, Vote Lo” campaign, which prioritizes resolving the severe water crisis over political promises. Frustrated with politicians’ empty pledges, locals demanded immediate action to address water scarcity, a longstanding issue plaguing their communities. The founder of the campaign, Akhtar Ali Shinwari, explained that the incumbent officers “refused to bat an eye” despite locals taking up the water crisis cause, and thus the campaign was initiated. A local worker in KP added that although contesting politics in KP make “tall claims of resolving the issue of the people and improving their quality of life,” KP still faced issues relating to water, electricity and gas supply, and the provision of education and health. (Wisal Yousafzai, “‘Pani Do, Vote Lo’ campaign gains momentum,” The Express Tribune, 5 February 2024)

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Inauguration of Chitral Economic Zone marks industrial progress
On 5 February, Business Recorder reported that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government celebrated a significant achievement in industrial development with the formal inauguration of the Chitral Economic Zone. The state-of-the-art Industrial Facilitation Office Building was also unveiled during the ceremony at Gang Ghereth near Drosh in district Chitral. The caretaker Minister for Industries, Dr Aamer Abdullah, highlighted the project's potential as a game changer for Chitral's economic development. He emphasised industrialization as crucial for progress, expressing support for further easing the zone's development process. The Chitral Economic Zone, spanning 40 acres with an additional 1.72 acres acquired, is strategically positioned for success due to its accessibility through the Lowari Tunnel and proximity to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. (“ Chitral Economic Zone inaugurated,” Business Recorder, 5 February 2024)
 
SECURITY
Grenade attacks target election offices across Balochistan 
On 5 February, multiple grenade attacks targeted the election office of PPP candidate Mir Ali Hassan Zehri, injuring three children. Additional blasts damaged school buildings in Kharan, while a motorcycle explosion targeted a senior police officer on 4 February in the same town. In Panjgaur, individuals opened fire at the house of the President of the Balochistan National Party-Awami (BNP-A), Mir Asad Baloch, as well as the house of PPP candidate Sabir Baloch. Over 40 grenade attacks were reported across ten districts in Balochistan over the last few days, targeting various party camps. (Saleem Shahid, “Grenade attack on PPP election office in Hub injures three children,” Dawn, 6 February 2024)

Militant attack targets Chodwan police station ahead of general elections
On 5 February, militants attacked the Chodwan police station in Dera Ismail Khan, killing ten police officers and injuring six. Regional Police Officer Nasir Mehmood confirmed the casualties, stating that over 30 terrorists launched the assault from three directions, briefly seizing control of the station and resulting in “an exchange of fire for over two-and-a-half hours.” Security concerns have risen in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which have been witnessing multiple attacks in recent days in the run up to the general elections. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar condemned the attack, saying that it failed to “undermine” the Pakistani “resolve to maintain law and order.” Former President Asif Ali Zardari emphasized the need of implementing the National Action Plan to eliminate terrorism. (Zahid Imdad, “10 cops martyred, 6 injured in attack on police station in DI Khan,” Dawn, 5 February 2024)

EXTERNAL
Pakistan navy rescues Indian seamen
On 5 February, a spokesperson for the Pakistan Navy said that the navy, with assistance from the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, rescued nine Indian seamen aboard the disabled Ocean Tug SAS-5 near the Indian coast. The tug, heading to Sharjah from Debhol, Maharashtra, faced an electrical generator failure. After a distress signal received from the tug on 4 February, the Pakistan Navy and the Agency initiated a search operation. The Pakistan Maritime Security Ship (PMSS) KASHMIR successfully repaired the tug and provided medical aid, water, and meals. The tug then resumed its voyage to Sharjah. (“ Pak Navy rescues nine Indian seamen,” The News International, 6 February 2024)

Pakistan, Russia, China, and Iran jointly protest Taliban’s inability to control terrorist activities in Afghanistan
On 4 February, The Express Tribune reported that following a conference in Kabul on 29 January, representatives from Pakistan, Russia, China, and Iran quietly registered a joint protest with the interim Afghan Taliban government, expressing concerns about the perceived failure to control terrorist activities within Afghanistan. The initiative for the joint protest originated from Pakistan, aiming to present a united front to influence the Taliban to address the matter. Despite China and Russia not taking a harsh public stance, private concerns persist over terrorist activities on Afghan soil. China considered the Afghan- based East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) as a security threat, while Russia and Iran expressed concern over a potential regional spillover of terrorist activities in Afghanistan. Pakistan has been increasingly vocal in urging the Taliban to fulfil commitments and prevent the use of Afghan soil by terrorists. China’s recent decision to accept the Taliban’s full-time ambassador in Beijing is a step which Pakistan hopes would help China to persuade Afghanistan to address Pakistani concerns. (Kamran Yousaf, “Four countries quietly protest with Afghan Taliban on terror activities,” The Express Tribune, 4 February 2024)
 
Fifth tranche of humanitarian aid sent to Gaza amid ongoing crisis
On 4 February, Pakistan dispatched a fifth tranche of humanitarian aid, including winterized tents, tarpaulins, and blankets, to Gaza via a Pakistan Air Force C-130. The aid, aimed at addressing urgent humanitarian needs, will be received in Al-Arish, Egypt, before delivery to Gaza. Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated: “This ongoing support underscores Pakistan's continued commitment to addressing urgent humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza.” (“Pakistan sends 5th tranche of humanitarian aid to Gaza,” The News International, 4 February 2024) 

 

Pakistan on Twitter

"Show the walls of oppression more, this wall is going to fall, Imran Khan and we are together, this path is the path of honor, we are the believers of Karbala, we will be the foremost among the sacrificers, Imran Khan of Allama Raja Nasir Abbas."
-Waqas Jutt

“The biggest propagandist ever in Pakistan’s history, Mr. Imran Riaz Khan, is back with his propoganda. The “true” source of information for pti supporters.”
-Saad Kaiser

“The people will no longer allow the agents of old politics to divide them. The Pakistan Peoples Party is the only political party that stands for all Pakistanis, regardless of ethnicity, religion, caste, or belief. Stand with us and vote Teer on 8th February and choose to end the politics of division, violence, and hate.”
-BilawalBhuttoZardari

“On this Kashmir Solidarity Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to peace and justice. Together, we stand in solidarity with the people of Kashmir, advocating for their rights and a peaceful resolution to the longstanding issue”.
-Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan

Also read...

Dr Niaz Murtaza, ‘Poll manifestos
Dawn, 6 February 2024
“Elections can rejuvenate nations if they are fair, parties present strong ideas and teams to the masses competitively and the winners have a strong mandate to take the country forward. Thursday’s polls may be among our most rigged, more so after Imran Khan’s dubious convictions last week. Opinion polls suggest a hung assembly. Thus, we may have a rigged and weak new government. This leaves the issue of whether parties have strong ideas and teams. To convince discerning voters, party manifestos must present an in-depth analysis of why people suffer on account of major issues and the best way of addressing them permanently. In the current scenario, where we face huge economic and security challenges and, with the rest of the world, the impact of climate change, there must be a special focus on these areas. I reviewed the 2024 manifestos of the PTI, PML-N and PPP on such key points. All three were issued days before the elections, reflecting the limited role ideas play in our polls as against catchy slogans and patronage flows. But all are better than their 2018 iterations in terms of length, presentation and coverage. This is especially credible for the PTI, which has the longest and most comprehensive one, despite the state crackdown it faces. The shortest is the PML-N’s, much of it wasted on large Sharif photos. It is bereft of any in-depth analysis of the root causes of our long-term or current problems, jumping straight into sectoral promises. The PTI’s and PPP’s contain preambles that mention inequities as a root cause of our problems and reflect on our economic and security problems. As expected, the PTI’s reflects heavy religious ideology, but without linking it to concrete policies. The PPP’s reflects no ideology despite its pro-poor rhetoric, its socialist origins nixed long ago.”

Irfan Ali Larik, ‘Concerted efforts needed to fix persistent national issues
The Express Tribune, 6 February 2024
“The May 9 events in the country were unfortunate in every sense and the PTI leadership is rightly in the dock. Having misjudged the situation, they subsequently failure to come up clean in the matter. The lack of political insight on the part of the top PTI leadership has turned the tide against the party which has lost political space and accommodation. However, the resultant state action against the party and its leadership in the wake of the May 9 events is not proportionate either. Whether one likes it or not, the fact remains that PTI is still the most popular political party in the country and enjoys support across all sections of society. If that had not been the reason, the party would not have been denied its traditional election symbol for the upcoming general elections. Our political history testifies the fact that no efforts aimed at sidelining the political leadership have ever worked. There is every possibility that the current efforts aimed at discrediting PTI and its leadership will also end up in the same manner.The national interest calls for the security establishment and PTI sitting together to sort out the issues in an amicable manner. The ongoing confrontation will only make things worse both in short and long terms. The establishment’s interference in political matters has over the years proved counter-productive. Political leadership of the country also needs to act in a responsible manner and learn to resolve political differences through debate and dialogue rather than be part of conspiracies to destabilise their political opponents.”

Maleeha Lodhi, ‘What to watch for on Feb 8
Dawn, 5 February 2024
“Pakistan goes to the polls this week in an exceedingly fraught atmosphere marked by uncertainty about the future. In the country’s 12th general election a record number of 128.5 million voters will decide who forms the next government. Punjab, of course, has more voters 73.2m than those in the other three provinces put together, which makes it the battleground province that will determine the outcome of the national election.There are 5,113 candidates in the contest for 266 general seats of the 342-member Lower House in the country’s first-past-the-post system. A total number of 12,638 candidates are in the run for assembly seats in the four provinces. There are 313 female contenders for National Assembly seats, the highest ever, but still only 6pc of the total, while 568 female candidates are in the race for provincial assembly seats. The average turnout in the last two general elections was around 52pc. In the past four elections it ranged between 51pc (2018), 53pc (2013), 44pc (2008) and 41pc (2002). In the 1990s, which saw four elections in quick succession starting with the one in 1988, turnout averaged 42pc, except in 1997 when it fell to 36pc. In general, turnout usually dropped when people felt their vote would make no difference to the outcome or that the election was ‘pre-determined’. This time if turnout is very low it could indicate a lack of confidence in the election’s integrity and thus undermine the legitimacy of the result.”

Saira Samo, ‘Commitment to progressive policies
The Express Tribune, 5 February 2024
“Asif Zardari’s chant of ‘Pakistan Khappay’ and the somber events of December 27 leave a lasting impact on country’s political history. The day marks the tragic assassination of Benazir Bhutto, a leader whose legacy shaped the PPP and whose vision was to follow the political manifesto of her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Roti, Kapra aur Makan a tribute to the party’s commitment to democratic principles. When Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan from years of self-imposed exile in London, it stirred hope for betterment, carrying with her a powerful slogan aimed at turning dreams into reality after a prolonged absence. She aspired to restore true democracy, boldly declaring that “democracy is the best revenge”.On the fateful day of December 27, 2007, as she addressed a gathering in Rawalpindi, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation. However, the enemies of democratic ideals rejoiced in muting the voice of liberation. Unfortunately, the day took a grievous turn as Benazir Bhutto, the champion of democracy, was assassinated. This event, while confining personal loss to her family, dealt a severe blow to the nation’s political history, manifesting not only the silencing of a beloved leader but also leaving an irreparable void for democratic idealists.”

Enem Ali Abbas, ‘Make your vote count
The News International, 5 February 2024
"Elections in Pakistan are mostly influenced by voters’ emotions. The 2024 general elections see voters fuelled with a drive for revenge. This shows that our voting patterns lack objective reasoning regardless of our education and the circle we move in. The irony is that voters stuck in the said pattern blame ‘biryani politics’ – supporters attend parties’ jalsas to eat a plate of biryani for free. If ‘woke people’ can opt for a revenge vote, how can the same ‘woke lot’ blame the biryani vote? Plus, there are no biryani votes in reality. These food plates just represent two things about Pakistanis: the socio-economic plight of the majority and our love for food. Therefore, the argument against biryani votes is not only derogatory but also exposes the fault lines in our woke culture, which is now calling for a revenge vote. While the PPP can tap into the revenge vote from PTI supporters, the PML-N has opted for a different communication strategy. The political crisis which is attributed to the PDM coalition government has done no significant harm to the PML-N’s loyal vote bank, but it has led to the loss of seasonal votes which seem more influenced by the politics of revenge. The party which is confident about ruling the country should not just bank on loyal votes; extra seasonal votes can eventually strengthen its chances of forming a stable government."

 





“Ideas play a limited role in the manifestos of the three main parties.”
-An opinion in Dawn, ‘Poll manifestos?

Other Daily Briefs

25 July 2024, Thursday | Vol 5, No.154

Growth and Investment in Pakistan: Four Takeaways

22 July 2024, Monday | Vol 5, No.152

Imran Khan says no to any deal with the PPP

22 July 2024, Monday | Vol 5, No.152

Imran Khan says no to any deal with the PPP

19 July 2024, Friday| Vol 5, No.150

Health and Nutrition in Pakistan: Four Takeaways

18 July 2024, Thursday| Vol 5, No.149

Education in Pakistan: Four Takeaways

17 July 2024, Wednesday| Vol 5, No.148

Public Debt in Pakistan: Five Takeaways

15 July 2024, Monday| Vol 5, No.146

Climate Change in Pakistan: Five Takeaways

12 July 2024, Friday| Vol 5, No.144

TTP dominates Pakistan's discourse again

5 July 2024, Friday| Vol 5, No.142

PM Shehbaz Sharif at SCO

4 July 2024, Thursday| Vol 5, No.141

Inflation in Pakistan: Five Takeaways

3 July 2024, Wednesday| Vol 5, No.140

SIC’s reserved seats case hearing divides judges

29 June 2024, Saturday| Vol 5, No.137

Azm-i-Istehkam: Pakistan's ambassador asks US for

26 June 2024, Wednesday| Vol 5, No.134

PM expects “good news” from IMF

24 June 2024, Monday| Vol 5, No.132

The Continuing Controversy over Reserved Seats for SIC

New political party “Awaam Pakistan” I Second case of mob lynching in two months over blasphemy allegations

Punjab budget 2024-25: Prioritising Health and Initiatives

20 June 2024, Thursday| Vol 5, No.129

Sindh Provincial Budget 2024-25: Urban and Political

12 June 2024, Wednesday| Vol 5, No.122

Pakistan Economic Survey 2023-24 highlights "modest recovery"

11 June 2024, Tuesday| Vol 5, No.121

Tax suggestions: Internal inputs vs IMF recommendations

7 June 2024, Friday| Vol 5, No.118

Sharif's China Visit: Day Three

6 June 2024, Thursday| Vol 5, No.117

Sharif's China Visit: Day Two

5 June 2024, Wednesday| Vol 5, No.116

Sharif's China Visit: Day One

3 June 2024, Monday| Vol 5, No.114

Increase in PSDP proposed after shortfall in FY24

30 May 2024, Thursday| Vol 5, No.111

Dasu Hydropower Project: A Profile

28 May 2024, Tuesday| Vol 5, No.109

Pakistan observes 26th anniversary of its nuclear tests

27 May 2024, Monday| Vol 5, No.108

Pakistan supports 'One China' policy, says PM Sharif

25 May 2024, Saturday| Vol 5, No.107

Defamation Bill in Punjab: Who is opposing it and why?

24 May 2024, Friday| Vol 5, No.106

State of Media in Pakistan (PR Review-III)

23 May 2024, Thursday| Vol 5, No.105

Pakistan and Turkmenistan to fund TAPI pipeline project

22 May 2024, Wednesday| Vol 5, No.104

Pakistan to launch communication satellite with Chinese help

20 May 2024, Monday| Vol 5, No.102

State of Media in Pakistan (PR Review-II)

14 May 2024, Tuesday| Vol 5, No.97

Protests in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir: What and Why?

11 May 2024, Saturday| Vol 5, No.95

“Downside risks remain exceptionally high,” says IMF

3 May 2024, Friday| Vol 5, No.88

PTI's Election White Paper calls for Judicial Probe

16 April 2024, Tuesday| Vol 5, No.73

MQM-P warns of protests against crimes in Karachi

08 April 2024, Monday| Vol 5, No.66

Rising Street Crimes in Karachi

06 April 2024, Saturday| Vol 5, No.65

Sharif announces decision to personally review security SOPs

05 April 2024, Friday| Vol 5, No.64

Naeem becomes the new party chief of JI

02 April 2024, Tuesday| Vol 5, No.61

PTI intends to form a grand opposition alliance

26 March 2024, Tuesday| Vol 5, No.56

‘Fake news’ is a major challenge, says PM Shehbaz

5 March 2024, Tuesday | Vol 5, No.38

20 PTI activists granted post arrest bail in 9 May riot

22 February 2024, Thursday| Vol 5, No.32

MQM-P demands four portfolios in the federal cabinet

20-21 February 2024, Wednesday| Vol 5, No.31

PPP and PML-N reach a consensus for government formation at the centre

19 February 2024, Monday| Vol 5, No.30

Fafen calls on the ECP to conduct audit of election results

16 February 2024, Friday| Vol 5, No.28

36 per cent newcomers for the National Assembly

15 February 2024, Thursday| Vol 5, No.27

PML-N gains more lawmakers

10 February 2024, Saturday | Vol 5, No.23

Pakistan Elections, Two Days After: What do the numbers say?

09 February 2024, Friday| Vol 5, No.22

PTI-backed independents gain ground in preliminary results

05-06 February 2024, Monday| Vol 5, No.19

Campaigning window closes tonight, says ECP

30 January 2024, Tuesday| Vol 5, No.16

PPP raises concerns over the test trial of new EMS

24-25 January 2024, Thursday| Vol 5, No.14

PML-N is Punjab’s favorite: IPOR survey

23 January 2024, Tuesday| Vol 5, No.13

Nawaz Sharif promises “economic overhaul” if elected

18 January 2024, Thursday| Vol 5, No.10

All set for the general elections, says CEC

17 January 2024, Wednesday| Vol 5, No.9

PTI to face challenges in maintaining control over members

13 January 2024, Friday| Vol 5, No.7

PTI releases list of candidates for elections

05 January 2024, Tuesday | Vol 5, No.4

Imran Khan indicted for contempt | MQM-P unveils manifesto

02 January 2024, Tuesday | Vol 5, No.2

PTI candidates appeal against rejection of nomination papers

01 January 2023, Monday | Vol 5, No.1

PML-N leader criticizes rivals

30 December 2023, Saturday | Vol 4, No.261

Election Commission to challenge the PTI symbol reinstatement

29 December 2023, Friday | Vol 4, No.260

Army to provide necessary assistance for election

28 December 2023, Thursday | Vol 4, No.259

PML-N requests public feedback on its election manifesto

27 December 2023, Wednesday | Vol 4, No.258

PHC order ignites discussion around legal procedures

20 December 2023, Wednesday | Vol 4, No.255

ECP’s reserves judgment in PTI’s party symbol case

19 December 2023, Tuesday | Vol 4, No.254

PTI tries AI-generated Imran Khan

13 December 2023, Wednesday| Vol 4, No.251

The US reaffirms itself as Pakistan's ally

12 December 2023, Tuesday | Vol 4, No.250

PPP accused of killing MQM-P party workers

11 December 2023, Monday | Vol 4, No.249

Pakistan’s army chief leaves for inaugural visit to the US

29 November 2023, Wednesday | Vol 4, No.247

Pakistan summons Hafiz Gul Bahadur to return to Pakistan

28 November 2023, Monday | Vol 4, No.246

Protests against the authorities continue

25 November 2023, Saturday | Vol 4, No.244

Pakistan elected as vice chair of UNESCO Executive Board

23 November 2023, Thursday | Vol 4, No.242

Pakistan applies to join BRICS, seeks Russia’s support

22 November 2023, Wednesday | Vol 4, No.241

Chaman border closure upon month-long protest

17 November 2023, Friday | Vol 4, No.237

Possibility of more IMF loans, says Finance Minister

16 November 2023, Thursday | Vol 4, No.236

Pakistan set to bag USD 700million from IMF

15 November 2023, Tuesday | Vol 4, No.235

PTI demands justice as Imran approaches his 100-day detention

14 November 2023, Tuesday | Vol 4, No.234

Bilawal Bhutto rejects “selected government”

PR Evening Brief | 13 November 2023, Monday | Vol 4, No.233

PML-Q on merger with PML-N

11 November 2023, Saturday | Vol 4, No.232

Bilawal on the distinguishing between terrorists and refugees

09 November 2023, Thursday | Vol 4, No.230

Nawaz to court BAP to strengthen PML-N

08 November 2023, Wednesday | Vol 4, No.229

Sindh suspends deportation of illegal migrants by one day

01 November 2023, Wednesday | Vol 4, No.228

NCHR petition against the forced repatriation plans of Pakistan

30 October 2023, Monday | Vol 4, No.226

Sindh government needs PKR 2 billion to repatriate migrants

28 October 2023, Saturday | Vol 4, No.225

UN calls on Pakistan to stop deporting Afghan refugees

27 October 2023, Friday | Vol 4, No.224

Centers for illegal immigrants

25 October 2023, Wednesday | Vol 4, No.222

PIA: Spokesperson expresses fear of closure

23 October 2023, Monday | Vol 4, No.220

Chaman border protest intensifies over visa and passport rules

18 October 2023, Wednesday | Vol 4, No.216

Anwaarul Haq Kakar holds bilateral talks at BRF in Beijing

14 October 2023, Saturday| Vol 4, No.216

Saudi Arabia finds 12,000 phony Pakistani passports

11 October 2023, Wednesday | Vol 4, No.213

PIA approved for privatization as all legacy liabilities parked

07 October 2023, Saturday | Vol 4, No.210

Criticism against government's repatriation plan

05 October 2023, Thursday | Vol 4, No.208

Discos to be provided to the private sector by interim in

30 September 2023, Saturday | Vol 4, No.205

'Twin bombings' targeting a mosque in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

28 September 2023, Thursday| Vol 4, No.203

Protests in Balochistan by BNP-M

26 September 2023, Tuesday| Vol 4, No.201

PTI women leaders rearrested

25 September 2023, Monday| Vol 4, No.200

Anchor Riaz is finally ‘home’ after 4 months

21 September 2023, Thursday| Vol 4, No.197

UAE bans meat imports from Pakistan

20 September 2023, Wednesday| Vol 4, No.196

Bilawal demands “Level Playing Field” from PML-N

19 September 2023, Tuesday| Vol 4, No.195

Pakistan rejects claims of selling arms to Ukraine for IMF bailout

16 September 2023, Saturday| Vol 4, No.193

Torkham border reopens after eight- day closure

15 September 2023, Friday| Vol 4, No.192

Torkham border crossing set to reopen

13 September 2023, Wednesday| Vol 4, No.190

US Envoy’s visit to Gwadar Port

08 September 2023, Friday| Vol 4, No.186

Supreme Court Bar Association resolution on civilian supremacy

07 September 2023, Thursday| Vol 4, No.185

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Terrorist attack in Chitral kills sixteen

06 September 2023, Wednesday| Vol 4, No.184

Supreme Court debates retrospective amendments to NAB law

02 September 2023, Saturday| Vol 4, No.181

Ten main economic threats, identified by the Finance Ministry

01 September 2023, Friday | Vol 4, No.180

Election Commission of Pakistan prepares for upcoming polls

30 August 2023, Wednesday| Vol 4, No.178

Imran Khan Rearrested

29 August 2023, Tuesday| Vol 4, No.177

PTI urges Supreme Court for timely general elections

28 August 2023, Monday | Vol 4, No.176

Protests against the Power bill

26 August 2023, Saturday | Vol 4, No.175

Nawaz's Return: The debate from

21 August 2023, Monday| Vol 4, No.170

PTI leader remanded and Asad Umar 'missing' in cipher case

19 August 2023, Saturday| Vol 4, No.169

ECP: Transparent elections prioritized over timely elections

18 August 2023, Friday | Vol 4, No.168

Composition of Pakistan’s new Cabinet

17 August 2023, Thursday | Vol 4, No.167

Internal debate within the PML-N on Nawaz’s return

16 August 2023, Wednesday | Vol 4, No.166

On Elections: Supreme Court to the Election Commission of Pakistan

2 August 2023, Wednesday | Vol 4, No.158

PTI withdraws membership of 22 leaders

29 July 2023, Saturday | Vol 4, No.155

Names shortlisted for caretaker PM

27 July 2023, Thursday | Vol 4, No.154

Pakistan and Russia on Black Sea Grain initiative

25 July 2023, Tuesday | Vol 4, No.152

‘Non-Partisan’ Interim set-up for PPP

24 July 2023, Monday | Vol 4, No.151

PML-N onboard for Ishaq Dar as Interim PM, PPP disagrees

20 July 2023, Thursday | Vol 4, No.148

IMF’s staff report on Pakistan

19 July 2023, Wednesday | Vol 4, No.147

National Counter Violent Extremism Policy 2022 to be amended

17 July 2023, Monday | Vol 4, No.145

Iran and Pakistan to deepen security cooperation

11 July 2023, Tuesday | Vol 4, No.140

Supreme Court rejects the IPP plea to ban PTI

10 July 2023, Monday | Vol 4, No.139

PM Sharif condemns campaign threatening army chief

07 July 2023, Friday | Vol 4, No.137

Lahore court acquits Nawaz Sharif for a 34-year-old case

04 July 2023, Tuesday I Vol 4, No.134

Ishaq Dar points that PML-N wants Nawaz Sharif’s rule

30 June 2023, Friday I Vol 4, No.131

PDM leaders meet in Dubai on IPP

29 June 2023, Thursday I Vol 4, No.130

Upcoming elections to decide the coalition strategy

28 June 2023, Wednesday I Vol 4, No.129

Jahangir Tareen will be the IPP's candidate for Prime Minister

16 June 2023, Friday I Vol 4, No.120

Pakistan and Belgium discuss on strengthening the ties

15 June 2023, Thursday I Vol 4, No.119

IPP accused of plagiarizing their party name

14 June 2023, Wednesday I Vol 4, No.118

Chaos in Senate over federal budget debate

09 June 2023, Thursday I Vol 4, No.115

 IPP Party launch with PTI defectors

07 June 2023, Wednesday I Vol 4, No.114

US administration engages with Pakistan on regional security

02 June 2023, Friday I Vol 4, No.110

Detention of PTI workers is unconstitutional, says LHC

01 June 2023, Thursday I Vol 4, No.109

Pakistan’s Political Crisis: PR Daily Updates: Day 22

31 May 2023, Wednesday I Vol 4, No.108

Imran Khan believes PTI deserters forming "Kings Party"

27 May 2023, Saturday I Vol 4, No.105

Day 17 Pakistan’s Political Crisis: PR Daily Updates

25 May 2023, Thursday I Vol 4, No.103

Day 15 Pakistan’s Political Crisis: PR Daily Updates

20 May 2023, Saturday I Vol 4, No.99

Sindh government demands early local government elections

17 May 2023, Wednesday I Vol 4, No.96

The NSC approves the trial of rioters under the Army Act

10 May 2023, Wednesday I Vol 4, No.91

Omar Cheema arrested during a raid by ACE at dawn

27 April 2023, Thursday I Vol 4, No.82

NA Speaker writes a letter to CJP on behalf of Parliament

25 April 2023, Tuesday I Vol 4, No.80

PML-N demands the resignation of CJP over audio leaks

22 April 2023, Saturday I Vol 4, No.79

NA forces the halted Practice and Procedure bill into law

21 April 2023, Friday I Vol 4, No.78

President approves amendments to Tax Law Bill 2023

12 April 2023, Wednesday I Vol 4, No.69

PAC takes stock of audit of public entities by AGP

10 April 2023, Monday I Vol 4, No.68

Polls fund issue to be consulted with the Parliament

08 April 2023, Saturday I Vol 4, No.67

Justice Minallah notes garners support and criticism

06 April 2023, Thursday I Vol 4, No.65

PBS: Digital census sees 90 per cent completion

04 April 2023, Tuesday I Vol 4, No.63

Elections: Three-member bench to deliver the verdict today

01 April 2023, Saturday | Vol 4, No.61

Meeting of the government allies

22 March 2023, Wednesday I Vol 4, No.59

Imran Khan agrees to participate in multi-party conference

14 March 2023, Tuesday I Vol 4, No.55

Imran Khan kicks off election campaign in Lahore

10 March 2023, Friday I Vol 4, No.53

Punjab and KP: Elections affected by logistic requirements

08 March 2023, Wednesday I Vol 4, No.51

Centre ready to answer PPP's concerns over digital census

02 March 2023, Thursday I Vol 4, No.46

Split Verdict: Supreme courts orders timely elections

27 February 2023, Monday I Vol 4, No.43

The new ‘Austerity Measures’

16 February 2023, Thursday I Vol 4, No.39

The Director-General of IAEA lands in Pakistan for a two-day visit

13 February 2023, Monday I Vol 4, No.36

Federal Health Ministry begins polio vaccination drives

9 February 2023, Thursday I Vol 4, No.33

LHC suspends the acceptance of 43 PTI MNAs resignation

7 February 2023, Tuesday I Vol 4, No.32

Federal reschedules APC meeting 

6 February 2023, Monday I Vol 4, No.31

Pervez Musharraf died at the age of 79 in Dubai

4 February 2023, Saturday I Vol 4, No.30

Imran Khan will not attend the All Parties Conference

2 February 2023, Thursday I Vol 4, No.28

Islamabad Police arrests Awami League leader Sheikh Rashid

27 January 2023, Friday I Vol 4, No.23

PDM huddle: Asif Zardari, Fazl calls on PM Shehbaz

25 January 2023, Wednesday I Vol 4, No.22

Sindh: PPP’s modest edge in local polls shrinks further

23 January 2023, Monday I Vol 4, No.20

Sindh: PML-N offers to bridge the gap between JI and PPP

20 January 2023, Friday I Vol 4, No.17

Nawaz Sharif comments on Punjab assembly dissolution

18 January 2023, Wednesday I Vol 4, No.15

National Assembly speaker accepts resignation of 34 PTI lawmakers

17 January 2023, Tuesday I Vol 4, No.14

Sindh: PPP wins the majority of the seats in the LG polls

12 January 2023, Thursday I Vol 4, No.9

Elahi passes the no- confidence test in the assembly

10 January 2023, Tuesday I Vol 4, No.7

PTI leaders get arrest warrants in contempt case by ECP

09January 2023, Monday I Vol 4, No.006

Pakistani Rupee falls to 0.31 per cent

03 January 2023, Tuesday I Vol 4, No.002

NSC states Afghan government should deny safe heavens to TTP

28 December 2022, Wednesday I Vol 3, No.285

Political parties urge Imran Khan to return to parliament

23 December 2022, Friday I Vol 3, No.281

SBP’s forex reserves plunge to 8-year low

21 December 2022, Wednesday I Vol 3, No.279

Punjab Assembly Speaker terming the Governor's demand illegal

20 December 2022, Tuesday I Vol 3, No.278

Lahore High Court allowing time for Imran Khan to file a rejoinder

19 December 2022, Monday I Vol 3, No.277

Imran Khan announces the date of assembly dissolution

15 December 2022, Thursday I Vol 3, No.274

ECP ensures equal representation of women in the panel

14 December 2022, Wednesday I Vol 3, No.273

ECP begins steps to remove Imran Khan as the PTI chairman

12 December 2022, Monday I Vol 3, No.271

opposition protesting in National Assembly over Swati's arrest

10 December 2022, Saturday I Vol 3, No.270

PTI gets notice from ECP regarding the change in party amendment

6 December 2022, Tuesday I Vol 3, No.266

National Flood Response and Coordination Centre shuts down

3 December 2022, Saturday I Vol 3, No.264

Senators claims parliament was never allowed to talk with the TTP

2 December 2022, Friday I Vol 3, No.263

Forex reserves dropping to 4.2 per cent to USD 7.498 billion

1 December 2022, Thursday I Vol 3, No.262

ECP reporting a four per cent drop in the gender gap

29 November 2022, Tuesday I Vol 3, No.261

Senate Committee passes the Corporal Punishment Bill

25 November 2022, Friday I Vol 3, No.258

Foreign exchange reserves plummeting to USD 7.8 billion

22 November 2022, Tuesday I Vol 3, No.255

Imran Khan summoned for Toshakhana case hearing

19 November 2022, Saturday I Vol 3, No.253

NAB going to probe into Toshakhana reference against Imran Khan

17 November 2022, Thursday I Vol 3, No.251

Default risks reaching the maximum measure

16 November 2022, Wednesday I Vol 3, No.250

Imran Khan vilifying the Chief Election Commissioner

12 November 2022, Saturday I Vol 3, No.247

Imran Khan gets tightened security

7 November 2022, Monday I Vol 3, No.242

PTI to resume long march from Wazirabad

31 October 2022, Monday I Vol 3, No.240

Imran Khan declares talks with government are underway

28 October 2022, Friday I Vol 3, No.238

ISI and Army question PTI in a joint presser

27 October 2022, Thursday I Vol 3, No.237

PTI to reach Islamabad with the Azadi march on 4 November

19 October 2022, Wednesday I Vol 3, No.231

National Assembly passing nine bills despite lack of quorum

18 October 2022, Tueday I Vol 3, No.230

Imran Khan admitting to backchannel negotiations

11 October 2022, Tuesday I Vol 3, No.224

Interior Ministry claims to have resolved audio leaks issue

4 October 2022, Tuesday I Vol 3, No.218

Imran Khan sets a Long March date in October

29 September 2022, Thursday I Vol 3, No.214

Chinese nationals targeted in Karachi, one person killed

23 September 2022, Friday I Vol 3, No.210

UN to hold a donors’ conference to raise funds for Pakistan

22 September 2022, Thursday I Vol 3, No.209

Imran Khan announces PTI's movement for "Haqeeqi Azaadi"

21 September 2022, Wednesday I Vol 3, No.208

Federal Shariat Court to hear petitions challenging transgender law

9 September 2022, Friday I Vol 3, No.198

UN Secretary-General arrives in Pakistan amid flood devastations

7 September 2022, Wednesday I Vol 3, No.196

WHO warns of worsening humanitarian situation in Pakistan

31 August 2022, Wednesday I Vol 3, No.194

ECC approves disbursement of Rs 103 billion for flood victims

19 August 2022, Friday I Vol 3, No.187

COAS meet with US CENTCOM chief

16 August 2022, Tuesday I Vol 3, No.184

Government set to dispatch letter of intent to IMF

12 August 2022, Friday I Vol 3, No.183

National Assembly hold Minority Convention for the first time

11 August 2022, Thursday I Vol 3, No.182

Raid on Gill's driver's house 'legal,' says ICT police

6 August 2022, Saturday I Vol 3, No.179

ECP issues notice to Imran Khan, fixes hearing for 23 August

5 August 2022, Friday I Vol 3, No.178

PTI withdraws case against CEC

2 August 2022, Tuesday I Vol 3, No.175

PTI received funding from prohibited sources, says ECP

1 August 2022, Monday I Vol 3, No.174

The country's economic challenges are temporary, says FM

30 July 2022, Saturday I Vol 3, No.173

CJP releases audio of JCP meeting

23 July 2022, Saturday I Vol 3, No.167

Hamza Sharif takes oath as chief minister of Punjab

20 July 2022, Wednesday I Vol 3, No.164

Ruling coalition vows to save the Punjab government

18 July 2022, Monday I Vol 3, No.162

Landslide victory for PTI over PML-N

2 July 2022, Saturday I Vol 3, No.154

PTI to hold rally from Rawalpindi to Islamabad

29 June 2022, Wednesday I Vol 3, No.151

National Assembly completes budgetary proceedings

27 June 2022, Monday I Vol 3, No.149

PM promises to restore the role of provinces in the NAP

3 June 2022, Friday I Vol 3, No.129

Imran warns of a civil war: PPP and PML-N condemns

31 May 2022, Tuesday I Vol 3, No.126

Government and TTP agree on an indefinite ceasefire

25 May 2022, Wednesday I Vol 3, No.121

Police clash with PTI workers

21 May 2022, Monday I Vol 3, No.119

FM Bilawal promises to strengthen Sino-Pak cooperation

30 April 2022, Saturday I Vol 3, No. 102

Punjab: Hamza Shehbaz takes oath as chief minister

28 April 2022, Thursday I Vol 3, No. 100

Prime Minister Shebhaz Sharif orders for the review of NAP

26 April 2022, Tuesday I Vol 3, No. 98

Finance minister positive on cooperation with IMF

20 April 2022, Wednesday I Vol 3, No. 93

PM Shehbaz Sharif meets with COAS Bajwa

19 April 2022, Tuesday I Vol 3, No. 92

PM Shehbaz Sharif's 34-member cabinet takes oath

18 April 2022, Monday I Vol 3, No. 91

PM Shehbaz Sharif finalises federal cabinet

16 April 2022, Saturday I Vol 3, No. 90

PPP's Raja Pervaiz Ashraf elected NA speaker

14 April 2022, Thursday I Vol 3, No. 88

PM Sharif promises to address Karachi’s development

13 April 2022, Wednesday I Vol 3, No. 87

PM Shehbaz Sharif meets coalition leaders

7 April 2022, Thursday I Vol 3, No. 82

Supreme Court resumes hearing on NA deputy speakers ruling

4 April 2022, Monday I Vol 3, No. 79

Imran Khan de-notified as prime minister

2 April 2022, Saturday I Vol 3, No. 78

Establishment gave me three options, says PM Khan

25 March 2022, Friday I Vol 3, No. 71

NA session adjourned until 28 March

24 March 2022, Thursday I Vol 3, No. 70

OIC concludes meeting, adopts 70-point Islamabad Declaration

22 March 2022, Tuesday I Vol 3, No. 68

Broadsheet CEO apologises to Nawaz  

21 March 2022, Monday I Vol 3, No. 67

NA Speaker summons no-confidence motion for 25 March

19 March 2022, Saturday I Vol 3, No. 66

PTI supporters enter Sindh house after hours of protesting

17 March 2022, Thursday I Vol 3, No. 64

PPP accepts PDM’s invite to join the long march

16 March 2022, Wednesday I Vol 3, No. 63

PDM reschedules long march towards Islamabad

15 March 2022, Tuesday I Vol 3, No. 62

PDM announces long march towards Islamabad

9 March 2022, Wednesday I Vol 3, No. 57

PPP’s march reaches Islamabad

4 March 2022, Friday I Vol 3, No. 53

PDM and PPP reaches consensus on snap elections

2 March 2022, Wednesday I Vol 3, No. 51

PM Khan meeting with PML-Q leadership

28 February 2022, Monday I Vol 3, No. 49

PPP begins long march against PTI government

26 February 2022, Saturday I Vol 3, No. 48

PTI to hold long march against PPP

25 February 2022, Friday I Vol 3, No. 47

PM Khan meets with President Putin

24 February 2022, Thursday I Vol 3, No. 46

PM Khan to meet President Putin during a two-day official visit

21 February 2022, Monday I Vol 3, No. 43

Zardari and Fazl to meet as part of the PPP-PDM alliance

16 February 2022, Wednesday I Vol 3, No. 40

Bilawal approves the route plan for the long march

15 February 2022, Tuesday I Vol 3, No. 39

COAS meets with President and PM on the same day

14 February 2022, Monday I Vol 3, No. 38

Shehbaz visits Chaudhry Shujaat after 14 years

5 February 2022, Saturday I Vol 3, No. 31

IMF demands six more requirements in its detailed report

4 February 2022, Friday I Vol 3, No. 30

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Two Police officers killed in Nowshera

1 February 2022, Tuesday I Vol 3, No. 27

Gilani resigns from the post of the opposition leader in Senate

31 January 2022, Monday I Vol 3, No. 26

PTI to hold march against PPP government in February

29 January 2022, Saturday I Vol 3, No. 25

Four security personnel killed in Bugti landmine blast

26 January 2022, Wednesday I Vol 3, No. 22

PDM's plan for a long march to Islamabad on 23 March

19 January 2022, Wednesday I Vol 3, No. 16

Bilawal offers conditional possibility of working with the PDM

14 January 2022, Friday I Vol 3, No. 12

Mini-Budget passed through National Assembly

13 January 2022, Thursday I Vol 3, No. 11

PDM to discuss option of no-confidence on 25 January

10 January 2022, Monday I Vol 3, No. 8

Over 500 families rescued in Murree

4 January 2022, Tuesday I Vol 3, No. 3

Violence-related casualties increased in 2021, says report

28 December 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No. 336

Search for new chairman for National Accountability Board begins

27 December 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No. 335

Benazir Bhutto: 14 years after her assassination 

24 December 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No. 334

Senate passes resolution against Sialkot lynching, extremism

17 December 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No. 330

33 more suspects arrested in Sialkot lynching incident

15 December 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 328

Nacta formulates first-ever policy to counter violent extremism

14 December 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No. 327

Government asks ECP to frame a timeline for implementation of EVMs

13 December 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No. 326

18 more arrested for involvement in Sialkot lynching case

10 December 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No. 324

TTP ends ceasefire with government

09 December 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No. 323

PM unveils Naya Pakistan Card Initiative

08 December 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 322

PDM keen on holding its long march on Pakistan Day

03 December 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No. 318

Joint opposition to boycott national security committee meeting

02 December 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No. 317

NSA Moeed meets with Russian counterpart Nikolai in Moscow

25 November 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No. 311

NA committee chair disallows vote on NAB amendment bills

24 November 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 310

Cabinet establishes committee on EVMs for 2023 elections

19 November 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No. 308

Senate passes journalist protection bill and NAB bills

18 November 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No. 307

Opposition indicates no-trust motion against NA Speaker

16 November 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No. 305

Government calls for joint parliamentary session

13 November 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No. 303

Speaker invites opposition for talks 

12 November 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No. 302

Extended Troika meets in Islamabad

11 November 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No. 301

Opposition questions TTP talks in Senate

10 November 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 300

Supreme Court resumes hearing of APS attacks

09 November 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No. 299

ECP releases another report on Daska by-poll

08 November 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No. 298

Government lifts ban on TLP

03 November 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 295

TLP allowed to contest elections under deal with the government

02 November 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No. 294

Deal with TLP only solution to ward off bloodshed, says PM Khan

1 November 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No. 293

Three reports outline shrinking space for press freedom

27 October 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 289

PM Khan appoints Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum as new DG ISI after interviews

25 October 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No. 287

Jam Kamal Khan Alyani resigns as chief minister

23 October 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No. 286

Three police men killed in clashes with TLP protesters

22 October 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No. 285

FATF decision to retain Pakistan on the grey list.

21 October 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No. 284

TLP protests for the release of Rizvi

20 October 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 283

Balochistan MPAs to move no-trust motion against CM Kamal in assembly

19 October 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No. 282

PDM to start nationwide agitation from 20 October

11 October 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No. 276

Lowest number of COVID-19 cases in a single day

07 October 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No. 272

Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum appointed as new chief of ISI

06 October 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 271

Controversy brews over the appointment of NAB chief

30 September 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No. 266

Senate alarmed over anti-Pakistan bill moved in US Senate

27 September 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No. 263

Statue of Mohammad Ali Jinnah destroyed in Gwadar

22 September 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 258

Government and Opposition agree to set up a panel for poll reforms

21 September 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No. 257

Government fails to make Urdu official language, says Supreme Court

20 September 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No. 256

Fazl asks Islamabad to immediately recognise the Taliban government

16 September 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No. 253

Government and media agree to form a body for PMDA review

15 September 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 252

If govt is not behind PMDA, it should take its notice, says PFUJ

14 September 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No. 251

COAS warns against hybrid threats

11 September 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No. 248

PDM to boycott joint parliament session

10 September 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No. 247

Opposition parties blame each other for PDM’s disintegration

09 September 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No. 246

Bilawal asks for parliament debate on Afghanistan, CPEC attacks

08 September 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 245

Cabinet reiterates plan to use EVMs in 2023

07 September 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No. 244

CCI decided to includes hydel power in renewable energy targets

03 September 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No. 241

PTI asks ECP to deploy army during cantonment polls

02 September 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No. 240

Mohsin Dawar launches Nationalist Democratic Movement

01 September 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 239

PM launches Pak-ID mobile app for computerised National Identity Card

31 August 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No. 238

Shehbaz and Bilawal's support to the media

30 August 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No. 237

PDM holds power-show in Bagh-i-Jinnah, Karachi

26 August 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No. 233

ECC approves import of sugar, wheat

25 August 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 232

PPP welcomes PDM activities in Karachi, says Bilawal

24 August 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No. 231

PM directs all provinces to implement Single National Curriculum

23 August 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No. 230

PML-N to back no-trust move if PPP presents workable idea

21 August 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No. 229

FDI inflows to Pakistan drop by 39 per cent in July 2021

20 August 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No. 228

Another Woman, Another Attack, but Same Questions

19 August 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No. 227

The debate on the Pakistan Media Development Authority

16 August 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No. 224

Pakistan on Taliban’s takeover

14 August 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No. 222

Foreign exchange reserves to make a new record, says SBP Chief

12 August 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No. 220

The increase in car sales

11 August 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 219

Pakistan sees a decline in remittance

10 August 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No. 218

Pakistan in the Olympics

09 August 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No. 217

Blast in Quetta's Serena hotel

07 August 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No. 215

Sharif, UK and the Visa issue

06 August 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No. 214

“AJK’s” new Prime Minister

05 August 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No. 213

Pakistan’s narrative on Kashmir

04 August 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 212

Pakistan has other options, says NSA Moeed Yusuf

03 August 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No. 211

The backlash against Aurat March

02 August 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No. 210

Decoding the Sialkot by-elections

30 July 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No. 207

The Digital Pakistan Policy

29 July 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No. 206

Pakistan’s urban flooding problem

28 July 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 205

Pakistan’s move towards Central Asia

27 July 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No. 204

Civilian causalities hit record level: UNAMA Report

26 July 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No. 203

The "AJK" elections

24 July 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No. 202

Pakistanis trend #JusticeForNoor

22 July 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No. 200

Pakistan’s IPP Saga

20 July 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No. 199

The “AJK” elections

17 July 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No. 196

Pakistan caught in the crosshairs of Afghan government

15 July 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No. 194

Targeting of Chinese investment in Pakistan

14 July 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 193

Pakistan's “I am not Malala” narrative

13 July 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No. 192

Pakistan's Debate on Afghan Fallouts

12 July 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No. 191

The problems of Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline

10 July 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No. 189

PM's meeting with Balochistan lawmakers

09 July 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No. 188

Will not impose complete lockdowns, says Planning Minister

08 July 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No. 187

The problem of gender-based violence in Pakistan

07 July 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 186

Understanding Pakistan’s water shortage

06 July 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No. 185

The TLP debate in Pakistan

05 July 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No. 184

Pakistan, China and Xinjiang: Deciphering Imran's statement

03 July 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No. 182

The return of the PDM

02 July 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No. 181

Child soldiers in Pakistan: A never-ending ordeal

30 June 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 179

Pakistan in between China and the West

29 June 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No. 178

Pakistan's current Afghan narratives

28 June 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No. 177

Roshan Digital Account and the rising remittances

26 June 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No. 175

Pakistan and the FATF: Still in grey

25 June 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No. 174

Evolving Pakistan-Turkey Axis

24 June 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No. 173

From Musharraf to Imran Khan: Victim Blaming across the leaders

23 June 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 172

The Single National Curriculum debate in Pakistan

21 June 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No. 170

Electoral Reforms: Good idea, bad strategy

19 June 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No. 168

The electoral reforms bill & the domestic debate

18 June 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No. 167

Budget 2021-22: Mapping the domestic response

16 June 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 165

National Assembly witnesses fistfights and profanities

15 June 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No. 164

Shireen Mazari accuses India of Nuclear Smuggling

09 June 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No. 158

Analysing the problems of Pakistan Railways

08 June 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No. 157

Beyond the CPEC: Expanding Chinese footprints in Pakistan

02 June 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No.151

Media organisations oppose a proposal for regulatory authority

01 June 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No.150

Police in Peshawar fire tear gas, baton charge govt teachers

26 May 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No.144

Govt will not provide US bases in the country, says Qureshi

25 May 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No.143

Pakistan and US NSAs meet in Geneva

21 May 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No.139

70 years of Pakistan-China friendship

20 May 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No.138

Qureshi calls for joint action to end Palestine crisis

19 May 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No.137

PBS releases the 6th Population and Housing Census 2017

13 May 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No.133

COAS meets with the US Charge d' Affairs

11 May 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No.131

COAS Gen Bajwa meets with President Ghani

08 May 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No.128

FIA stops Shehbaz from flying abroad 

07 May 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No.127

Speaker sets up committee for poll reforms

06 May 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No.126

Pakistan’s third COVID-19 wave

05 May 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No.125

COAS Bajwa arrives in Saudi Arabia

04 May 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No.124

PM Khan urges OIC to vehemently counter Islamophobia

01 May 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No.121

TLP files appeal against the ban 

30 April 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No.120

Authorities raid Bashir Memon’s Cooking Oil Mill

29 April 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No.119

Government keen on seeing Balochistan prosper, say PM 

28 April 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No.118

Record number of COVID-19 deaths in a single day

27 April 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No.117

SC accepts Justice Isa's review petitions

26 April 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No.116

Province ask for army’s assistance in enforcing SOPs

24 April 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No.114

Army called to assist in the COVID-19 situation

23 April 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No.113

TTP claims responsibility for the Quetta blast

22 April 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No.112

Punjab govt places 214 TLP activists under the Fourth Schedule

21 April 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No.111

No intention of lifting the ban on TLP, says PM

20 April 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No.110

TLP chief Saad Rizvi released from jail

16 April 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No.106

French embassy asks its citizens to leave Pakistan

15 April 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No.105

Government decides to ban TLP

14 April 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No.104

Law enforcement agencies begin clearing TLP protesters

13 April 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No.103

Violence erupts over TLP chief’s arrest

12 April 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No.102

Daska by-poll generally transparent, says Fafen 

10 April 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No.100

Re-polling for NA-75 Daska begins

09 April 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No.99

Pakistan commits Rs1.27tr in taxes with IMF

08 April 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No.98

Pakistan and Russia agree to boost defence ties

05 April 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No.95

PDM issues show-cause notice to PPP and ANP

03 April 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No.93

PDM splits as five parties move to form a separate bloc

01 April 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No.91

Divide deepens within the PDM

31 March 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No.90

Government raises USD 2.5 billion from international market

30 March 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No.89

PM replaces Hafeez Shaikh over inflation

29 March 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No.88

COVID-19 test positivity rate surpasses 11 per cent

26 March 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No.85

Yousuf Gilani declared as opposition leader in the Senate

25 March 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No.84

PDM leaders agree to keep alliance together

22 March 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No.81

PPP, PML-N disagree on Senate opposition leader nomination

20 March 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No.79

Government to promulgate ordinances to fulfill IMF conditions

18 March 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No.77

PPP says no post-resignation strategy was given by the PDM

17 March 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No.76

PDM postpones long march amid differences over mass resignation

16 March 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No.75

Government demands resignation of CEC and ECP members

15 March 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No.74

Government offers to hold talks on electoral reforms

13 March 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No.72

PDM to challenge election of Sanjrani as Senate chairman

12 March 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No.71

Chaos marks beginning of elections to the Senate chairman

11 March 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No.70

Supreme Court rejects PTI plea to suspend re-polls in Daska

09 March 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No.68

Pakistan observes Aurat March across cities

06 March 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No.65

Imran secures vote of confidence in National Assembly

04 March 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No.63

Senate elections conclude, Imran to seek vote of confidence

03 March 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No.62

Polls underway for 37 Senate seats

02 March 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No.61

Political temperatures rise as Senate elections close in

01 March 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No.60

Senate polls will be held through secret ballot, says SC

27 February 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No.58

Ready to resolve issues with India through dialogue, says Imran

26 February 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No.57

FATF to keep Pakistan on 'grey list' till June

24 February 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No.55

Pakistan, Sri Lanka discuss trade cooperation and regional security

23 February 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No.54

Military dismisses rumours about appointing new ISI chief

22 February 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No.53

By-elections turn controversial and violent

19 February 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No.50

ECP rejects 25 nomination papers after scrutiny

18 February 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No.49

SC pushes for proportional representation in Senate

16 February 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No.47

Remittances cross USD two billion for seventh consecutive month

15 February 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No.46

Navies conducts counter-terrorism demonstrations at Aman-2021

13 February 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No.44

FO claims Pakistan made progress on remaining FATF items

12 February 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No.43

Justice Isa should not hear cases involving PM, says the CJP

10 February 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No.41

Legal fraternity extends support to lawyers; condemns CDA

9 February 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No.40

Lawyers storm into chamber IHC’s Chief Justice

05 February 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No.36

National Assembly turns chaotic amid open vote debate

04 February 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No.35

Pakistan begins nationwide vaccination drive

03 February 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No.34

Pakistan rolls out COVID-19 vaccines

02 February 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No.33

Government passes CPEC Authority bill

30 January 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No.30

US seeks custody of Omar Sheikh

29 January 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No.29

Supreme Court orders release of Omar Sheikh

28 January 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No.28

Former ISI chief had links with RAW since 2008: Defence Ministry

27 January 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No.27

Cabinet to table bill to hold open vote in Senate elections

25 January 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No.25

Government, opposition to meet today

23 January 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No.23

Oppositions demands new head for Broadsheet inquiry committee

22 January 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No.22

ECP rejects open hearing of cases

21 January 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No.21

Pakistan conducts another test of Shaheen-III

20 January 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No.20

PDM holds protests outside the ECP

19 January 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No.19

Cabinet constitutes committee to probe Broadsheet scandal

18 January 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No.18

PDM to discuss ECP protests plan today

16 January 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No.16

Vaccines will be procured in first quarter, says SAPM

15 January 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No.15

Govt permits PDM to stage protest outside the ECP office

14 January 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No.14

PTI blames agents in foreign funding case

13 January 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No.13

Broadsheet revelations vindicate struggle against elite, says PM

11 January 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No.11

India stalling progress of Mumbai attack case, says FO

09 January 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No.9

Slain miners finally laid to rest

08 January 2021, Friday I Vol 2, No.08

Pakistan successfully tests Multi-Launch Rocket System: ISPR

07 January 2021, Thursday I Vol 2, No.07

PM promises to visit mourning Hazaras in Quetta

06 January 2021, Wednesday I Vol 2, No.06

Supreme Court directs ETPB to rebuild Hindu Shrine in KP

05 January 2021, Tuesday I Vol 2, No.05

Hazara mourners refuse to bury Mach victims

04 January 2021, Monday I Vol 2, No.04

Militants kill 11 Shia Hazara coal miners

02 January 2021, Saturday I Vol 2, No.02

PDM raises the pitch; targets the Establishment

30 December 2020, Wednesday I Vol 1, No.214

NA speaker told to accept resignations from the opposition

29 December 2020, Tuesday I Vol 1, No.213

Govt ready for dialogue with the opposition, except Fazl, Maryam

23 December 2020, Wednesday I Vol 1, No.212

Govt approves the 6th National Census-2017

21 December 2020, Monday I Vol 1, No.210

Pakistan asks UN to forcefully condemn the attack on UNMOGIP

18 December 2020, Friday I Vol 1, No.208

Qureshi's UAE visit

17 December 2020, Thursday I Vol 1, No.207

Imran Khan reiterates his support for the Afghan talks

16 December 2020, Wednesday I Vol 1, No.206

PTI rejects ultimatum for PM’s resignation

12 December 2020, SaturdayI Vol 1, No.204

Cabinet Reshuffle: Portfolios of three ministers changed

11 December 2020, Friday I Vol 1, No.203

PM asks the opposition to rethink conducting rallies 

08 December 2020, Tuesday I Vol 1, No.200

Nawaz to make a ‘decisive speech’ at the Lahore rally

07 December 2020, Monday I Vol 1, No.199

Pakistan’s surging second COVID-19 wave

04 December 2020, Friday I Vol 1, No.198

EU retains ban on PIA flights

01 December 2020, Tuesday I Vol 1, No.195

PDM stages another power show in Multan

28 November 2020, Saturday I Vol 1, No.194

Qureshi talks about Kashmir and the India dossier at the OIC

27 November 2020, Friday I Vol 1, No.193

FO says Kashmir issue is a permanent item on OIC agenda

26 November 2020, Thursday I Vol 1, No.192

Pakistan shares dossier on India with the UN

25 November 2020, Wednesday I Vol 1, No.191

Asad says COVID-19 numbers worsening, urges SOPs compliance

24 November 2020, Tuesday I Vol 1, No.190

Pakistan to set up a new intelligence committee chaired by DG-ISI

23 November 2020, Monday I Vol 1, No.189

PDM calls for the end of PTI’s “puppet rule”

20 November 2020, Friday I Vol 1, No.188

Imran Khan’s maiden visit to Afghanistan

19 November 2020, Thursday I Vol 1, No.187

PDM may present its reforms as legislation in Parliament

18 November 2020, Wednesday I Vol 1, No.186

PDM rejects Center’s move to ban public meetings

16 November 2020, Monday I Vol 1, No.184

GB Polls: PTI becomes the single largest party

13 November 2020, Friday I Vol 1, No.183

Maryam softens stance, says will talk to the Army

12 November 2020, Thursday I Vol 1, No.182

Survey predicts PTI’s victory in GB elections

11 November 2020, Wednesday I Vol 1, No.181

Army takes action against the officials from the ISI and Rangers

10 November 2020, Tuesday I Vol 1, No.180

COAS and DG-ISI to brief the Parliament

09 November 2020, Monday I Vol 1, No.179

On Gilgit-Balitistan elections

06 November 2020, Friday I Vol 1, No.177

Farmers protest in Punjab

04 November 2020, Wednesday I Vol 1, No.175

FO rejects Indian Defence Minister’s remarks on GB

03 November 2020, Tuesday I Vol 1, No.174

Maulana Fazlur calls for a PDM meeting

30 October 2020, Friday I Vol 1, No.172

Pakistan criticizes the Indian media

29 October 2020, Thursday I Vol 1, No.171

"We gave India a bloody nose and it's still hurting" says DG ISPR

28 October 2020, Wednesday I Vol 1, No.170

Pakistan observes 'Kashmir Black Day'

27 October 2020, Tuesday I Vol 1, No.169

Quetta Rally and the PDM

26 October 2020, Monday I Vol 1, No.168

PDM's strong rally in Quetta

24 October 2020, Saturday I Vol 1, No.167

Do More, says the FATF to Pakistan

23 October 2020, Friday I Vol 1, No.166

Pakistan's Gender Gap

22 October 2020, Thursday I Vol 1, No.165

The "Karachi incident" spirals

21 October 2020, Wednesday I Vol 1, No.164

"Who surrounded Sindh Police Chief's house," asks Bilawal Bhutto

20 October 2020, Tuesday I Vol 1, No.163

FM Qureshi meets with Hekmatyar

19 October 2020, Monday I Vol 1, No.162

PDM's second big rally in Karachi

17 October 2020, Saturday I Vol 1, No.161

PDM's first rally takes off to a great start in Gujranwala

16 October 2020, Friday I Vol 1, No.160

PDM's first rally set to take off

15 October 2020, Thursday I Vol 1, No.159

Pakistan's pre-conditions for a dialogue with India

14 October 2020, Wednesday I Vol 1, No.158

Pakistan re-elected to the UNHRC

13 October 2020, Tuesday I Vol 1, No.157

Pakistan and the FATF's Grey List

12 October 2020, Monday I Vol 1, No.156

Maulana Adil Khan laid to rest in Karachi

09 October 2020, Friday I Vol 1, No.154

Khalilzad in Pakistan to discuss Afghan peace

08 October 2020, Thursday I Vol 1, No.153

Pakistan to experience muted economic recovery

07 October 2020, Wednesday I Vol 1, No.152

20-point 'code of conduct' to promote sectarian harmony

06 October 2020, Tuesday I Vol 1, No.151

A five-year development programme for the Gilgit- Baltistan

05 October 2020, Monday I Vol 1, No.150

The next FATF meeting on Pakistan

02 October 2020, Friday I Vol 1, No.148

Targeting Nawaz Sharif and the PML-N

01 October 2020, Thursday I Vol 1, No.147

On Pakistan Democratic Movement's rally:

30 September 2020, Wednesday I Vol 1, No.146

PM Imran Khan wants to bring back Nawaz Sharif at the earliest:

29 September 2020, Tuesday I Vol 1, No.145

Shahbaz Sharif's arrest causes an upheavel:

28 September 2020, Monday I Vol 1, No.144

Abdullah Abdullah in Pakistan for a three days visit:

25 September 2020, Friday I Vol 1, No.142

The Fallouts of the All Parties Conference:

24 September 2020, Thursday I Vol 1, No.141

Establishment and the PML-N:

23 September 2020, Wednesday I Vol 1, No.140

For the US, the priority in Pakistan is to advance human rights :

22 September 2020, Tuesday I Vol 1, No.139

One day after the All Parties Conference:

21 September 2020, Monday I Vol 1, No.138

Nawaz Sharif goes on an offensive and talks about

19 September 2020, Saturday I Vol 1, No.137

Kashmir will be the focus of PM Khan’s UN address, says FO

18 September 2020, Friday I Vol 1, No.136

Pakistan’s Persisting Polio Problem:

17 September 2020, Thursday I Vol 1, No.135

The need for a twin strategy in south Balochistan:

16 September 2020, Wednesday I Vol 1, No.134

A non-bailable arrest warrant for Nawaz Sharif:

15 September 2020, Tuesday I Vol 1, No.133

The CPEC march continues:

11 September 2020, Friday I Vol 1, No.130

Pakistan and the SCO

10 September 2020, Thursday I Vol 1, No.129

Accountability Court declares Nawaz Sharif as an absconder

09 September 2020, Wednesday I Vol 1, No.128

Federal-Provincial divide over Karachi increases

07 September 2020, Monday I Vol 1, No.126

On Karachi, PPP and PTI divide comes to open

05 September 2020, Saturday I Vol 1, No.125

Kashmir in the UN and Pakistan

02 September, Wednesday I Vol 1, No.122

Court directs Nawaz Sharif to appear before the court

01 September, Tuesday I Vol 1, No.121

Rains and Floods continue to haunt Pakistan

26 August 2020, Wednesday I Vol 1, No.116

"General Bajwa stabilized Pak-Saudi ties"

24 August 2020, Monday I Vol 1, No.114

Pakistan, China and J&K

22 August 2020, Saturday I Vol 1, No.113

Pakistan and China pledge to safeguard common interests

20 August 2020, Thursday, Vol 1, No.111

The tragedy of Scientists from Pakistan's minority communities

19 August 2020, Wednesday, Vol 1, No.110

"Pakistan can never recognise Israel," says Imran Khan

18 August 2020, Tuesday, Vol 1, No.109

PTI's two-year report card

15 August 2020, Saturday, Vol 1, No.107

Pakistan's Palestine Dilemma

14 August 2020, Friday, Vol 1, No.106

Pakistan at 73: Celebrating the Independence Day

13 August 2020, Thursday, Vol 1, No.105

COAS Gen Bajwa to visit Saudi Arabia soon

12 August 2020, Wednesday, Vol 1, No.104

Government and opposition agree on six FATF bills

10 August 2020, Monday, Vol 1, No.102

The FATF divides within Pakistan

09 August 2020, Sunday, Vol 1, No.101

Pakistan This Week

08 August 2020, Saturday, Vol 1, No.100

National Assembly clears two FATF bills, but blocks one.

07 August 2020, Friday, Vol 1, No.99

Govt decides to lift restrictions as COVID cases decline

06 August 2020, Thursday, Vol 1, No.98

Pakistan's continuing Kashmir frenzy

05 August 2020, Wednesday, Vol 1, No.97

Pakistan's new Map of J&K

04 August 2020, Tuesday, Vol 1, No.96

Kashmir obsession in Pakistan

31 July 2020, Friday, Vol 1, No.94

Two FATF bills passed in the National Assembly

30 July 2020, Thursday, Vol 1, No.93

Religiosity in Pakistan: From Creeping to now Galloping

29 July 2020, Wednesday, Vol 1, No.92

Opposition parties attempt to come together

28 July 2020, Tuesday, Vol 1, No.91

Pakistan's internal debate on Kulbhushan Jadav

26 July 2020, Sunday I Vol 1, No.89

Pakistan This Week

23 July 2020, Thursday, Vol 1, No.86

On the abduction of a Journalist in Islamabad

19 July 2020, Sunday I Vol 1, No.82

Pakistan This Week

17 July 2020, Friday, Vol 1, No.80

The licences are not fake but only dubious

16 July 2020, Thursday, Vol 1, No.79

On building Diamer-Bhasha dam in Gilgit-Baltistan

15 July 2020, Wednesday, Vol 1, No.78

On Af-Pak Transit Trade

12 July 2020, Sunday, Vol 1, No. 75

Pakistan This Week

11 July 2020, Saturday, Vol 1, No.74

FATF action plan to be completed at the earliest: Shaikh

08 July 2020, Wednesday, Vol 1, No.71

Return of Lal Masjid Maulana

07 July 2020, Tuesday , Vol 1, No.70

Female Literacy in the Pashtun tribal regions

06 July 2020, Monday, Vol 1, No.69

The problem with Pakistan Railways

02 July 2020, Thursday, Vol 1, No.65

The Curious case of "Minus One" Formula in Pakistan

30 June 2020, Tuesday, Vol 1, No.63

BLA claims the attack on Stock Exchange in Karachi

28 June 2020, Sunday, Vol 1, No.61

Pakistan This Week

27 June 2020, Saturday, Vol 1, No.60

PTM accepts the dialogue offer, but wants CBMs

24 June 2020, Wednesday, Vol 1, No.57

Reviewing Pakistan's Space Programme

23 June 2020, Tuesday, Vol 1, No.56

Imran Khan says he was against the idea of lockdown

21 June 2020, Sunday, Vol 1, No.54

Pakistan This Week

20 June 2020, Saturday, Vol 1, No.53

Budgets presented in KP, and in Gilgit-Baltistan

19 June 2020, Friday, Vol 1, No.52

PTI tries to get the BNP back into coalition,

18 June 2020, Thursday, Vol 1, No.51

Baloch partner of the PTI government leaves the coalition

15 June 2020, Monday, Vol 1, No.48

The PTI government invites the PTM for a dialogue

14 June 2020, Sunday, Vol 1, No.47

Pakistan This Week

13 June 2020, Saturday, Vol 1, No.46, Special Brief

Pakistan Budget 2020-21: The First Cut

12 June 2020, Friday, Vol 1, No.44, Special Brief

Pakistan’s Economic Survey 2019-20

07 June 2020, Sunday I Vol 1, No.38

Pakistan This Week

05 June 2020, Friday, Vol 1, No.36

Highest COVID Spike

04 June 2020, Thursday, Vol 1, No.35

Imran receives a briefing at the ISI HQ

03 June 2020, Wednesday, Vol 1, No.34

Covid cases spike and Lahore becomes the epicentre

01 June 2020, Monday, Vol 1, No.32

Drivers of Karachi Violence

30 May 2020, Saturday, No 1, No.30

Gwadar port ready for the Afghan goods

29 May 2020, Friday, Vol 1, No.29

Pakistan remembers 28 May Nuclear Tests

24 May 2020, Sunday, Vol 1, No.24

Pakistan This Week

22 May 2020, Friday, Vol 1, No.22

The missing girls of Pakistan

21 May 2020, Thursday, Vol 1, No.21

Locusts threaten Pakistan's food security

17 May 2020, Sunday, Vol 1, No 17

Pakistan This Week

15 May 2020, Friday, Vol 1, No.15

Disregard for SOPs peaks Covid-19 cases

14 May 2020, Thursday, Vol 1, No 14

Violence in Afghanistan and the Media in Pakistan

12 May 2020, Tuesday, Vol 1, No 12

Smart Lockdown, SOPs vs Social Realities

9 May 2020, Saturday, Vol 1, No 9

Record COVID-19 spike in a single day;