Islamabad: Former Supreme Court judges Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah have received substantial commuted pension payments following their resignation after the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment. According to credible sources, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah was paid more than Rs160.1 million, while Justice Athar Minallah received over Rs154 million in commuted pension amounts upon their exit from the apex court. Sources further disclosed that both retired judges are also drawing hefty monthly pensions. Justice Athar Minallah is receiving more than Rs1.22 million per month, while Justice Mansoor Ali Shah’s monthly pension stands at over Rs1.13 million. Officials…
Author: Aslam
Islamabad: The federal cabinet has once again approved the postponement of the scheduled local government elections in Islamabad. According to a private TV channel, a brief meeting of the federal cabinet was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. During the meeting, the decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases (CCLC) in its sessions held on December 3 and December 30 were formally endorsed. Sources revealed that the cabinet discussed new legislation related to local government elections in the federal capital. The Chief Commissioner Islamabad briefed the cabinet in detail on matters concerning the conduct of…
Islamabad: Pakistan has surpassed India in public optimism regarding peace and economic prosperity, according to the latest Global Economic Gallup Survey, which assesses public expectations at the start of 2026. The survey, conducted across 60 countries, indicates that Pakistan has outperformed both India and the global average on key indicators, including overall hope, economic outlook, and expectations for global peace. According to the findings, 51 percent of Pakistanis expressed optimism about the coming year, resulting in a net positive hope score of 31 percent—one of the strongest results recorded for the country in recent decades. On the economic front, 53…
New York: Zohran Mamdani has made history by becoming New York City’s first Muslim mayor, after taking the oath of office on the Holy Quran. The newly elected mayor also holds the distinction of being the first South Asian–origin and first African-descended mayor of the city. According to details, the 34-year-old Democratic leader assumed office in a highly symbolic ceremony held shortly after midnight at a long-abandoned subway station beneath City Hall. During the ceremony, Mamdani placed his hand on the Holy Quran and formally took charge of his responsibilities as mayor. This marks the first time in New York…
Islamabad: The Government of Pakistan has announced a significant reduction in petroleum product prices at the start of the new year, providing much-needed relief to the public. The newly notified rates are being described as the lowest so far in 2025. The decision comes in response to a sharp decline in global crude oil prices, prompting the government to pass on the benefit to consumers. According to the official notification, the revised prices will remain effective for the next 15 days. Under the new rates, the price of petrol has been reduced by Rs10.28 per litre, bringing the new price…
In a region long accustomed to sharp rhetoric and diplomatic deadlock, even the smallest gestures can carry disproportionate weight. The brief and informal interaction between Pakistan’s Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, and India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar in Dhaka may not alter the trajectory of Pak-India relations overnight, but it is nonetheless noteworthy. The encounter occurred on the sidelines of the funeral of former Bangladeshi prime minister Khaleda Zia, where both leaders were present to pay their respects. According to reports, Dr Jaishankar walked over to Ayaz Sadiq’s seat, exchanged a handshake, and shared a…
KARACHI: Tensions escalated in Karachi following an alleged assault on YouTuber Rajab Butt during a court appearance, as police registered a fresh case against several lawyers for allegedly attacking the Station House Officer (SHO) of the City Court police station during subsequent protests. The situation deteriorated after lawyers protested the registration of a case over the alleged beating of Rajab Butt inside the court premises. On Wednesday, a First Information Report (FIR), a copy of which is available with Dawn, was registered on the complaint of City Court SHO Jahangir Bhutto, accusing lawyers of manhandling him and disrupting official duties.…
KARACHI: The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has introduced a facial recognition-based biometric verification system to facilitate citizens who face difficulties with fingerprint authentication, particularly senior citizens and individuals suffering from medical conditions. According to a NADRA spokesperson, the initiative has been launched in line with directives issued by the Prime Minister and the Interior Minister to modernize and strengthen Pakistan’s identity verification framework. As part of this move, amendments have been made to the National Identity Card Rules, expanding the legal scope of biometric verification to formally include facial recognition technology. NADRA has confirmed that it is fully…
Lahore: India, in another display of military aggression, has announced large-scale air force exercises near the Pakistani border, raising concerns over regional peace and stability. According to reports, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) declaring extensive aerial drills in the Kutch region of Gujarat, located close to Pakistan’s border. The airspace will remain closed to international commercial flights from January 20 to January 21 to facilitate the exercises. Indian media sources report that frontline combat aircraft, including Rafale jets, Sukhoi-30 MKI, Jaguar fighters, and other advanced platforms, will participate in the drills. The exercises…
Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi has announced the termination of a joint defense agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), ordering all Emirati military forces stationed in Yemen to leave the country within 24 hours. According to Arab media reports, Rashad Al-Alimi stated that Yemen would also impose a complete air, land, and sea blockade across all ports and border crossings for 72 hours. The decision comes amid rising tensions following a limited air operation conducted by the Saudi-led military coalition, which reportedly targeted Mukalla Port. The Saudi-led coalition said the airstrike was aimed at stopping foreign…
