Author: Sajjad Ali

KABUL: The Taliban have arrested Abdul Qadir Qanit, a prominent religious scholar and former head of the Council for the Protection of Religious and Jihadi Values. Media reports say that Qanit had recently appeared in Afghan media as a religious affairs expert, openly criticizing the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s education. His arrest is seen as part of a broader crackdown on individuals who challenge the regime’s policies. In a concerning development, the Taliban have issued a list of approved analysts for media outlets, instructing them to invite only those individuals for commentary. This initiative aims to suppress independent thought and…

NEW YORK CITY: Canada’s Foreign Minister, Mélanie Joly, has called on the international community to hold the Taliban accountable for their systematic oppression of women and girls in Afghanistan. Addressing the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Joly condemned the Taliban’s increasingly restrictive policies, which have barred women from public life and denied girls access to education. “The Taliban continue to impose inhumane rules against women and girls, making them invisible and robbing young girls of their fundamental right to an education,” she stated. “How is that respecting human dignity? They need to be held accountable.” During her…

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi  met with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman and discussed political situation and constitutional amendments. to congratulate him on his unopposed election as Amir of the party. During their discussion, Naqvi extended his best wishes to both Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hydari, acknowledging their crucial roles in promoting parliamentary supremacy and democratic values. Naqvi described Maulana Fazlur Rehman as a “smart, resourceful, and visionary political leader,” commending his principled approach to politics. He also recognized Maulana Fazl as the most senior politician in the country, highlighting his significant influence in…

ANKARA: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has called on the United Nations General Assembly to recommend the use of force if the UN Security Council fails to halt Israel’s ongoing attacks in Gaza and Lebanon. This statement follows Israel’s recent ground invasion of Lebanon and its designation of three communities—Metula, Misgav Am, and Kfar Giladi—as a “closed military zone.” Erdogan invoked the 1950 “Uniting for Peace” resolution, asserting that the General Assembly could intervene if the Security Council’s permanent members—Britain, China, France, Russia, and the U.S.—are unable to maintain international peace due to their disagreements. As a NATO member, Turkey has…

TOKYO: Japan’s parliament has elected Shigeru Ishiba, the leader of the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), as the country’s new prime minister. The decision was made on Tuesday, following Ishiba’s selection as party leader last Friday, succeeding Fumio Kishida, who stepped down earlier in the day to enable a smooth transition. Kishida, who took office in 2021, resigned amid a series of scandals that had plagued his administration, creating an opportunity for new leadership. Ishiba has announced plans to call a parliamentary election for October 27, stating, “I believe it is important to have the new administration get the public’s…

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has announced the ongoing registration of IP addresses and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to ensure uninterrupted internet access throughout the country. This initiative is available for freelancers, businesses, and foreign embassies operating in Pakistan. The PTA emphasized that registering VPNs will help users maintain smooth internet services and secure connectivity. Foreign missions have been urged to register their VPNs with the PTA promptly to avoid any disruption in service. The registration process is free of charge and is expected to be completed within two to three days after verification by the internet service provider.…

ISLAMABAD: The National Highways Authority (NHA) has announced a substantial increase in toll taxes for highways and motorways, effective October 1, 2024. This decision aims to achieve a revenue target of Rs102 billion by the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year, a significant rise from the Rs64 billion collected in 2023-24. The toll hikes will affect several major routes, including the Lahore-Abdul Hakeem Motorway (M3), Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad-Multan Motorway (M4), Multan-Sukkur Motorway (M5), D I Khan-Hakla Motorway (M14), and the Mansehra Expressway. Under the new toll structure, motorists on the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway (M1) will see fees increase from Rs350 to Rs460.…

ISLAMABAD: The annual elections for the Supreme Court Bar Association are scheduled for October 31. Candidates interested in running must submit their nomination papers by October 5, with the scrutiny of these submissions taking place on October 8. If candidates encounter issues during the scrutiny process, they have until October 10 to file appeals. Those wishing to withdraw their candidacy can do so until October 17. A finalized list of candidates will be publicly displayed on October 19. These elections are crucial for the legal community, as they determine the leadership and future direction of the Supreme Court Bar.

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) has officially extended the deadline for filing income tax returns for the financial year 2024 to October 14. This decision comes in response to numerous requests from various trade bodies, Tax Bar Associations, and the general public. In a notification, the FBR stated, “In exercise of powers conferred under Section 214A of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001, the Federal Board of Revenue is pleased to announce that the deadline for filing Income Tax returns for Tax Year (TY) 2024, originally set for September 30, 2024, has been extended to October 14, 2024.” The…

BEIRUT: Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s final message was posted on his social media account on X before he was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. In his last post, he wrote, “I may not stay among you for a long time. Procedures have been devised so that we are prepared.” On Saturday, Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah’s death and vowed to continue their struggle against Israel. Earlier, Israel announced that it had targeted and killed the Hezbollah leader in an airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, marking a significant blow to the group amid ongoing Israeli attacks. Following recent…