Page 115 - Pakistan

Pakistan among world's worst performers in internet access: Report

Pakistan in 2022 remained among the world's worst performers in terms of internet access and digital governance, according to a report released on Monday. Titled "Pakistan's Internet Landscape 2022", the report was released by Bytes For All -- a human rights and advocacy organisation -- which explores in detail the relationship between human rights and information and communication technologies in Pakistan last year. In terms of internet access and overall governance, Pakistan made some gains, but in the context of the world, the country remains among the worst performers, even within just Asia, according to the report. It highlights that despite an increase in internet penetration, approximately 15 per cent of the population still lacked access to the internet and mobile or telecom services. Add to this a lack of inclusivity and digital literacy, one of the biggest global gender gaps in access and a struggle to stay online due to load-shedding and blackouts brought on by an energy

1 prisoner dead as Pakistan set to release 199 Indian fishermen on Friday

Pakistani authorities are expected to go ahead with its goodwill gesture to release on Friday 199 Indian fishermen arrested for allegedly fishing illegally in the country's waters, despite the death of an Indian civilian who was to be repatriated with them. Kazi Nazir, a top police official in the jail and corrections department in Sindh, said that they had been told by relevant government ministries to prepare for the release and repatriation of 199 fishermen on Friday. These fishermen will be sent to Lahore and handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border. Currently, these fishermen are lodged at the Landhi jail here. He said the goodwill gesture process appeared on the course although an Indian civilian prisoner, Zulfiqar, who was to be repatriated with the fishermen died in a hospital in Karachi on Saturday due to an illness. "According to officials at Landhi jail the Indian prisoner had complained about high fever and chest problems and his condition deteriorated last

Pakistan govt reassures China on security as terror attacks increase

Chinese-funded projects were being targeted by militants that resulted in increased attacks on China nationals across Pakistan

Rajnath approves posting of women officers of Territorial Army along LoC

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the posting of women officers of the Territorial Army (TA) with Engineer Regiments of the Territorial Army along the Line of Control

Elections in country will take place on same day: Pakistan's Shehbaz Sharif

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif here on Saturday said elections in Pakistan will take place on the same day, Dawn reported

Amid fiscal woes, private dealers in Pakistan turn to Iran for cheaper fuel

Amid reeling economic crisis and shortage of foreign exchange reserves, Private dealers in Pakistan have turned to Iran for less expensive fuel as the country's inflation rate has hit historic highs

IMF negates cash-strapped Pakistan govt's claim of meeting loan conditions

The IMF has rejected the cash-strapped Pakistan government's claim that it has met all the conditions to reach an agreement with the global financial body to release funds under an already agreed loan facility, according to a media report. The International Monetary Fund signed a deal in 2019 to provide USD 6 billion to Pakistan on fulfilment of certain conditions. The plan was derailed several times and the full reimbursement is still pending due to insistence by the donor that Pakistan should complete all formalities. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar have repeatedly claimed that Pakistan met all the prior conditions agreed for reaching a staff-level agreement and there was no reason for holding back the agreement. The Express Tribune newspaper reported that it got a statement from the fund on Friday, negating the claim made by the government with respect to meeting all prior actions necessary to complete the 9th review. The IMF continues to work with

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Court rejects Imran Khan's request to dismiss defamation case against him

A Pakistani court on Friday turned down the request of former prime minister Imran Khan to dismiss a Rs 10 billion defamation lawsuit against him filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The sessions court directed Premier Sharif to present evidence against Khan in the next hearing on May 20. The case has been pending for the last six years. In Friday's proceedings, Khan's counsel argued that the defamation suit filed by Sharif is liable to be dismissed. The premier's counsel, however, opposed the application, arguing the defendant filed the application only to delay the suit proceedings and frustrate the process of the court.' He said Khan had already lost his right to defend the lawsuit through an order passed by the trial court in November last year. The defendant had no right to file such applications to hinder the process of the adjudication of the suit, he said. Additional District & Sessions Judge Muhammad Irfan Basra after hearing the arguments from both sides observed the

Pakistan's Ex-PM Imran to face indictment on May 10 in Toshakhana case

An Islamabad court on Friday announced that it will indict former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan on May 10 in a case in which he allegedly hid the proceeds from the sale of state gifts. The Toshakhana case was filed against Khan last year after the Election Commission of Pakistan ruled that he failed to declare the funds he received after selling the gifts given by foreign dignitaries. A toshkhana is a treasure house where gifts that are received as honour from foreign dignitaries are stored. Khan, 70, has challenged the maintainability of the case but Additional Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar of the sessions court dismissed the pleas and objection regarding the jurisdiction after hearing arguments by the lawyers.

India and Pakistan take veiled swipe at each other at SCO meeting

India and Pakistan on Friday took a veiled swipe at each other at a SCO meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar demanding tough action against cross-border terrorism and his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari calling for not getting caught up in "weaponising terrorism for diplomatic point-scoring". In his address at the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) here, Jaishankar said the channel of finances for terror activities must be blocked without any distinction even as Bhutto Zardari raised the issue of "violation of international law" which was seen as an apparent reference to Kashmir. The SCO norms do not allow raking up bilateral issues and the two foreign ministers did not name any country and made the comments indirectly. Chairing the conclave, Jaishankar said taking the "eyes off terrorism" would be detrimental to the security interests of the grouping and that when the world was engaged in facing the Covid-19 .

Arrested DRDO scientist was in touch with Pakistani agent since 2022: ATS

A scientist of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) who was arrested two days ago for allegedly providing confidential information to a Pakistani intelligence agent was in touch with her since 2022, an official said here on Friday. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested Pradeep M Kurulkar (59) in Pune on Wednesday under the Official Secrets Act, following which a court there remanded him in the ATS's custody till May 9. He had been honeytraped by the woman agent, as per the investigators. Kurulkar, who held the position of director in a DRDO establishment in Pune, had been removed from his post recently after investigation into his alleged links with a Pakistani agent began, the ATS official said. The woman agent of a "Pakistani Intelligence Operative" contacted the accused through WhatsApp in September 2022, and since then they were in contact through WhatsApp voice messages and video calls, he said. During interrogation Kurulkar admitted that he

Pakistan may pay for discounted Russian crude in Chinese currency: Report

Pakistan may use Chinese Yuan to pay for the 750,000 barrels of discounted Russian crude oil set to be imported in June, a media report said on Thursday, as the cash-strapped country struggles with high external debts. Pakistan placed its first order for discounted Russian crude oil last month, a decision expected to provide some relief to the people already hit by skyrocketing inflation. Pakistan will pay the price of crude most probably in China's currencyYuan and the Bank of China may play its role for transactions, a senior official of the Energy Ministry told The News International newspaper. However, the official refused to divulge the fine details about the mode of payment and the discount, stressing that it was not in the country's interest. Russia also does not want to disclose the details, fearing backlash from the other countries buying oil directly from Moscow, the official said. Russia will provide URAL crude in the test cargo, and most probably, Pakistan Refinery Limi

Bhutto-Zardari calls for collective approach by SCO to combat terrorism

Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday called for a collective approach by the SCO to combat terrorism and not get caught up in "weaponising terrorism for diplomatic point scoring". His remarks at the India-hosted conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Goa came shortly after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorism, must be stopped. "... We firmly believe that there can be no justification for terrorism and it must be stopped in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism," Jaishankar said, in an apparent reference to Pakistan's support to terrorist activities against India. Bhutto-Zardari in his address said terrorism continues to threaten global security and that collective security of our peoples is our joint responsibility. "Let's not get caught up in weaponising terrorism for diplomatic point scoring," he said, in comments seen as a veiled dig at ...

Bilawal must give answer on atrocities on minorities in Pak: AISC Chair

All India Sajjadanashin Council Chairman Naseeruddin Chishti on Friday asked Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to comment on the recent killings of minorities in Pakistan, in the latest incident of which eight teachers were shot dead. Bhutto-Zardari is in Goa to attend the foreign ministers' meeting at a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation conclave. Chishti condemned atrocities against minorities in the neighbouring nation and said the Pakistan minister should set his house in order before asking others to do so. Bhutto-Zardari has been critical of minority violence in India, blaming Hindutva ideology of the present government for it. "Don't teach others what you can't do yourself. This goes for foreign affairs Minister of Pakistan Bilawal Bhutto. He should first answer on the recent killings of minorities in Pak. We strongly condemn the atrocities committed against minorities," Chishti said. Eight school teachers were killed on Thursday in two separate incidents of .

Pakistan likely to pay for importing Russian crude in Chinese currency

The shipping cost of the Russian oil has also been estimated somewhere at $15 per barrel, but it will be finalised after it arrives at the Pakistan port

In major relief to Imran Khan, Pak court extends his bail pleas in 9 cases

In a major relief to Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan, the Islamabad High Court here on Thursday extended his bail pleas in nine cases after he appeared in-person following a warning by the court. On April 18, the IHC extended Khan's bail in eight cases - including those of violence outside the Federal Judicial Complex - till May 3. On Wednesday, the court asked him to attend the hearing while granting one-day extension in bail pleas in nine cases. Khan on Thursday appeared before a two-member Islamabad High Court bench headed by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, which had warned him that it may cancel his interim bail over his persistent absence from hearings. After hearing the multiple pleas, the court extended protective bail for 10-day in seven cases about violence outside the Federal Judicial Complex in Islamabad. The court also directed Khan to appear before the relevant district court during this period for permanent bail. The court also extended bails until May 9 in th

Terror attacks in Pakistan increased to 48 in April, 68 dead, 55 injured

Pakistan witnessed a slight increase in the number of terror attacks in April with a total of 48 incidents, which led to 68 deaths and 55 injuries, according to a new report

Pakistan planning to hold provincial, national elections at the same time

Khan wants to hold snap elections but the ruling coalition planned to complete the government's term, which would mean national elections in October

Chinese FM to visit Pakistan for strategic talks this week: Report

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang will travel to Pakistan this week on a maiden visit during which he will hold strategic talks with the country's top officials and is expected to attend a trilateral meeting involving Afghanistan, according to a media report. The Chinese leader would land in Islamabad on May 5 immediately after attending the SCO Foreign Ministers' Meet 2023 in India. Dunya News channel reported quoting sources that the Qin would hold strategic talks with Pakistani officials during the visit on May 6. Pakistan and China are also expected to hold a trilateral meeting with Afghanistan to discuss the regional situation. The moot would be held in Islamabad and it would be attended by interim Afghan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. A UN Security Council committee on Monday agreed to allow the Muttaqi to travel to Pakistan from Afghanistan next week to meet with the foreign ministers of Pakistan and China, diplomats said. Muttaqi has long been subjected to a travel b