Desk Report

PM seeks timeline for PIA privatisation – Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday sought a final implementation schedule for the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Chairing a high-level meeting on the airline’s privatisation and the restructuring of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the PM directed the Ministry of Privatisation to present the schedule about the PIA’s privatisation in two […]

10 still in race for three Senate seats after scrutiny – Pakistan

QUETTA: The Election Commission of Pakistan accepted the nomination papers of 10 out of 12 candidates after scrutiny for by-election on three Senate seats from Balochistan. The three seats fell vacant after the resignation of Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, Mir Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti of the Pakistan Peoples Party and Prince Omer […]

Concept of caretaker setup negates parliamentary democracy, senators say – Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Senators on Wednesday noted that the concept of a caretaker setup negates the essence of parliamentary democracy. At the very outset of the Senate proceedings soon after adoption of a motion seeking to dispense with the requirement of question hour during the remaining sittings of the current session, Senator Saadia Abbasi of PML-N called […]

Nawaz’s sons to surrender in three corruption cases – Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Both sons of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif have approached the accountability court, seeking the suspension of their arrest warrants in three corruption references related to the Panama Papers, enabling them to surrender before court on March 12. Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz, through their counsel Qazi Misbahul Hassan, filed an application in the […]

AI tools generate misleading election images: researchers – World

• Midjourney performs worst, generating misleading images in 65pc of tests• EU looks to AI, advanced data analytics to swiftly detect cyberthreats NEW YORK: Image creation tools powered by artificial intelligence from companies including OpenAI and Microsoft can be used to produce photos that could promote election or voting-related disinformation, despite each having policies against […]

SC issues historic mea culpa on Zulfikar Bhutto’s trial – Pakistan

• Opinion says proceedings against former PM ‘unfair’, lacked due process, both at trial and appeal stage• Verdict cannot be undone as it has attained finality, but acknowledging past mistakes can help move forward, nine-judge bench observes• Detailed reasons will identify major constitutional lapses ISLAMABAD: After a delay of over 44 years, the Supreme Court […]

Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinets sworn in – Pakistan

MEMBERS of the provincial cabinet of Punjab take oath of office in a ceremony held at the Governor’s House in Lahore, on Wednesday.—Courtesy PML-N LAHORE / PESHAWAR: Newly elected members of the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinets were sworn in on Wednesday. In Lahore, Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman administered oath to the 18-member cabinet of […]

Chinese FM urges US to honor commitments on bilateral ties

BEIJING: The United States should take an objective and rational view of China’s development, and match its words with actions to honor the commitments on China-US relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Thursday. Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the country’s annual legislative session, Wang said China-US relations bear on the well-being of […]

SC issues historic mea culpa on Bhutto’s trial – Pakistan