Zainab

The US carried out several strikes on Iranian missile and air defence systems and targeted small speed boats of the IRGC at several locations around the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported on Sunday, citing a senior US official. Iran's Fars says Revolutionary Guards targeted US rocket launcher systems in Kuwait in drone operation. Trump says Hormuz open to commercial traffic US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz is open to commercial traffic as CENTCOM said US forces are 'prepared' to ensure freedom of navigation. Trump's comments were made during an interview on NBC's Meet the Press. The Strait of Hormuz is open to all vessels and US military forces are "positioned and prepared" to ensure freedom of navigation, US Central Command said, a day after US and Iranian forces exchanged fire and Iran said it had closed the vital waterway. US strikes Iran, Tehran says Strait of Hormuz closed, Gulf states hit The US military lau...

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has written a detailed letter to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, strongly urging the federal government to defer its decision to withdraw tax exemptions for the merged districts and Malakand Division. In the letter, the Chief Minister described the move as a clear deviation from the commitments made by the federal government at the time of the merger of the former FATA into K-P. He warned that the step could seriously undermine public confidence in the merger process. Afridi emphasised that the people of K-P are not opposed to taxation. "They fully support a fair, equitable, and sustainable tax system to strengthen Pakistan's economy," he stated. However, he clarified that the core issue is not the imposition of taxes but the premature withdrawal of exemptions that were promised as part of the merger agreement. The Chief Minister reminded the Prime Minister that the merger of the former FATA was carri...

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday proposed that the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) either complete the Lyari Elevated Expressway project on its own or execute it under a public-private partnership (PPP) The committee, which met under the chairmanship of Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, held a detailed discussion on the Lyari Elevated Expressway project and stressed the need for its early completion to ease traffic congestion caused by container movement in Karachi. During the meeting, National Highway Authority (NHA) officials briefed the committee that a South Korean company had estimated the project's cost at Rs164 billion, while the NHA's own estimate stood at Rs88 billion. The officials said the Korean firm had also proposed constructing the expressway using a steel bridge. KPT officials informed the committee that the Korean side had now estimated the total cost of the project at Rs300 billion, while the NHA's latest estimate was approximat...

The Lahore High Court's Rawalpindi Bench has issued its detailed verdict against the proposed cancellation of a no-objection certificate (NOC) and demolition of construction on 102 kanals and 14 marlas of land linked to the controversy over issuance of an NOC for a service area before the inauguration of the Rawalpindi Ring Road. The court held that in a civilised society, citizens must have confidence that promises and approvals given by the government and its institutions will be honoured, and that the government cannot backtrack on its decisions. It also described the conduct of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) as irresponsible and ordered that the NOC remain valid. Justice Jawad Hassan disposed of a petition filed by citizen Mazhar Rahim Awan. According to the petitioner, he had obtained all required NOCs from the RDA and other relevant authorities for a service area, petrol pump, commercial buildings and right of way on both sides of the Ring Road over 102 kana...

Pakistan urged restraint from both sides on Wednesday after a fresh round of hostilities between the United States and Iran threatened to undo weeks of efforts to achieve peace through the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The interim ceasefire agreement signed between Washington and Tehran — under the mediation of Pakistan — was intended to provide a 60-day window for negotiations on a permanent agreement, but indirect talks in Qatar ended last week with no sign of headway and the US military unleashed a new wave of strikes against Iran on Tuesday. Iran subsequently said it had targeted US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait and that it had shot down a US MQ-9 drone attempting to interfere in the operation. Bahrain's army ​later said it had thwarted Iranian attacks. Trump has since threatened a new volley of attacks tonight. In a response issued today on the situation, the Foreign Office (FO) said: "Pakistan expresses its deep concern at the escalation in...

Earlier in the day, United States President Donald Trump had warned Iran of strikes tonight. Iran says Trump understands 'language of force better’ Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said earlier that Trump "apparently understands the language of force better" after he threatened further attacks against Tehran. Trump's remarks "from insulting the Iranian nation to threatening further attacks" were "not a sign of strength, but an admission of the failure of a policy that for years has been built on force, sanctions, and threats", Gharibabadi said on X. He said that policy "failed to bring the Iranian nation to its knees". "With the criminal and murderous Trump, one must speak in his own language," Gharibabadi said. "Apparently, he understands the language of force better." Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency reported late on Wednesday night that air defences were engaging what it described as “...

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The Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI) has initiated departmental action over the HIV outbreak among children at Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital, suspending two doctors, removing a dispenser and issuing show-cause notices to 37 doctors, nurses and other medical and administrative staff as investigations intensify into the incident that has left 78 children diagnosed with HIV. According to an official notification, Dr Amanullah Memon and Dr Huma Aman have been suspended with immediate effect and directed to report to the SESSI head office.  The inquiry committee has accused both doctors of negligence, maladministration and violations of medical protocols. Dispenser Basharat Khan has also been removed from his duties, while 37 employees have been served show-cause notices and directed to submit their replies within 14 days. Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital is the same facility where dozens of children were allegedly infected with HIV due to the use of reused or unsafe s...

Multiple users, a majority of whom appear to be PTI supporters, have been sharing an image on social media platforms TikTok and X since June 7, 2026, purportedly showing incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan being transported in a wheelchair by law enforcement personnel at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims).  However, the photo is AI-generated. Imran has remained incarcerated in Adiala jail while facing multiple legal cases. In early 2026, concerns over his health intensified after his legal team reported that he had developed central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), resulting in significant vision loss in his right eye. The former prime minister was subsequently taken to Pims in Islamabad for an eye examination and follow-up treatment under government supervision. The hospital later stated that he was clinically stable. At the same time, PTI leaders and Imran’s legal team continued to demand treatment at a hospital of their choice and access for his personal physic...

The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved the “first-ever” four-year Haj policy and plan, instructing authorities to complete digitisation of the operation to ensure “better” facilities for pilgrims, state-broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the meeting of the federal cabinet today, where the participants were given a detailed briefing on the latest long-term Haj policy. The cabinet members were told that the new policy was designed to improve operations and provide better facilities to pilgrims, and standard operating procedures and other regulatory frameworks would be developed for its implementation. Furthermore, amendments would be made to it, as needed, to keep it aligned with Saudi laws and regulations. To ensure affordability, the cabinet also approved the introduction of a Shariah-compliant savings scheme to enable aspiring pilgrims to benefit from a savings plan for performing Haj in the future. The meeting was apprised that under the ...

The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said late on Tuesday night that a search and rescue operation was underway after an aircraft of K2 Airways with five crew members aboard was reported missing off the coast of Karachi. In a series of posts on X, the PAA said a K2 Airways Boeing 737 cargo flight was en route from Sharjah to Karachi at 2118 PST when it reported a navigational system issue and was promptly guided by the Karachi Area Control Centre. "However, at time 2121 PST, aircraft was observed on radar rapidly descending and with rapid heading change, subsequently radar contact and communication was lost approximately 155 nautical miles west of Karachi," the PAA said. It added that a rescue coordination centre was activated and a coordinated search and rescue operation was launched at sea through various agencies to locate the missing aircraft, which had five crew members on board. According to officials, the causes of the accident will be determined after the i...

The military's top brass on Monday expressed a resolute commitment to undertake all necessary measures to ensure the availability of Pakistan’s "rightful share of water" amid tensions with India over the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). For more than six decades, India and Pakistan amicably managed the Indus River system through the IWT transboundary water-sharing agreement signed on September 19, 1960. In April last year, India suspended the treaty in the wake of the Pahalgam attack. Last week, Pakistan held an IWT seminar at which the political leadership pledged a robust defence of Pakistan’s rights under the treaty through all available legal and diplomatic means, warning that any attempt to deprive the country of its share of water would have “profound consequences for regional peace and security”. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir presided over the 276th Corps Commanders’ Con...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied reports on Sunday that the US had restricted Israeli military operations in Lebanon. "I heard it was said in the media that President Trump asked not to act against terror tunnels in Lebanon. This is a legend, fake news. He didn't say anything to me about it, and I didn't ask him. We operate according to our considerations," Netanyahu said during a weekly Cabinet meeting. His remarks contradicted an earlier report by Israel's public broadcaster KAN late last month that Israel had provided US officials with detailed intelligence on alleged Hezbollah tunnels in the Ali al-Taher Heights in southern Lebanon in an effort to obtain US approval for military operations in the area. The report suggested Israel sought a US green light to continue its military activities in Lebanon, contrary to Netanyahu's assertion that Israeli military decisions are made independently. Turning to Gaza, Netanyahu said there would be n...

  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi directed authorities on Friday to identify and develop new tourist destinations in Kolai-Palas and Allai to unlock the immense tourism potential of Hazara Division. Chairing a high-level review meeting at the Chief Minister’s House, CM Afridi reviewed progress on development initiatives, law and order, governance, public service delivery, and grievance redressal across the division. He stressed that tourism promotion remains a top strategic priority of the provincial government. The meeting was informed that Rs500 million has been earmarked under the Khushhal Hazara Package specifically for tourism development projects. CM Afridi instructed concerned departments to ensure high-quality facilities and hospitality for both domestic and international tourists, noting that “tourists serve as ambassadors of the province’s positive image.” He also directed the formulation of dedicated traffic management plans to ensure smooth move...

  The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday laid down important legal principles for lower courts adjudicating disputed love marriage cases, ruling that a registered nikahnama or even a woman's earlier harassment petition cannot, by themselves, conclusively establish a valid marriage where allegations of abduction, coercion or forced marriage are raised. The court held that judges must go beyond documentary evidence and determine whether the woman's consent was free, voluntary and completely free from coercion. It directed trial courts to examine how the alleged relationship originated, whether the parties genuinely knew each other and whether the circumstances supported a claim of consensual marriage. The LHC further ruled that where the parties are strangers from different localities, courts are under a legal obligation to inquire into the genesis of the alleged love relationship before accepting a plea of consensual marriage. Justice Anwaar Hussain of the LHC's Bahawalpur Be...