04-03-2024 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s newly formed parliament has elected Shehbaz Sharif as prime minister for a second term. He defeated a rival supported by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The move comes three weeks after an inconclusive general election that was marred …

29-02-2024 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Pakistan detained a journalist Monday, the second within a week, while domestic access to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, remained disrupted for a 10th consecutive day. The crackdown comes amid widespread electoral fraud allegations following …

26-02-2024 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies KARACHI: Pakistan’s equity market responded positively to a power-sharing agreement between two major political parties this week, as the uncertainty surrounding the formation of a new government dissipated, making the stocks close the weekend trading session with a five percent gain …

25-02-2024 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE/ KARACHI: Hundreds of supporters from Pakistani Islamist parties rallied to protest against what they say were blasphemous remarks by the country’s Chief Justice. The protest call, by various religious and political groups led by hardline Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) whose …

24-02-2024 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE/ KARACHI: In Pakistan, the internet has become a battleground. Not one fought with tanks and missiles but with throttled bandwidth and targeted shutdowns. Less than two months into 2024, Pakistan’s 128 million internet users have repeatedly been plunged into …

23-02-2024 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE/ KARACHI: The deal between two Pakistani parties to form a coalition government will be based on conditional support from one of them, the Pakistan People’s Party, that will review decisions on a case-by-case basis, a top PPP official said …

21-02-2024 By SJA Jafri ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE/ KARACHI: Two political parties in Pakistan have reached a formal agreement to form a new government following an election mired in controversy. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) will be backed by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in a new administration, they jointly announced. Both …

14-02-2024 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE/ KARACHI: Pakistanis still do not know which party will form their next government or who their next prime minister will be four days after the hotly-contested general elections. Despite former PM Imran Khan’s detention and the many hurdles thrown …

13-02-2024 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies ISLAMABAD/ RAWALPINDI/ LAHORE: When Nawaz Sharif, the three-time former prime minister, emerged on the balcony of his party’s headquarters in Lahore on Friday night, fireworks went off as he was given a rousing welcome by the crowd of nearly 1,500 people. …

12-02-2024 By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report + Agencies Papua New Guinea’s prime minister has hailed ties with “big brother” Australia in a historic and closely watched speech in Canberra. James Marape’s address to Australia’s parliament – the first by a Pacific Island leader comes as Australia and China race …