A district and session court in Islamabad has rejected petitions submitted by incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, seeking suspension in the Iddat case filed against them.
Judge Afzal Majoka announced the reserved verdict today. On February 3, a local court sentenced PTI founder Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to seven years in prison on a plea filed by Bushra Bibi’s former husband, Khanwar Maneka.
On Thursday, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar stated that Pakistan should respond tit-for-tat to the recent US House of Representative resolution demanding a probe into the February 8 elections.
“In response to them, we will also bring about a resolution. We must show our sovereignty, we must show our unity, we must show that we mean business. This [resolution] makes no sense,” exclaimed the senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader addressing the floor of the National Assembly today.
Earlier this week, the US House of Representatives, in an overwhelming majority, voted to demand an investigation into the rigging allegations of Pakistan’s general elections this year.
The move triggered a strong response from Islamabad, with the Foreign Office saying it “stems from an incomplete understanding of the political situation and electoral process in Pakistan”.
Punjab’s Information Minister Azma Bukhari, alongside Minister of Minority Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora, announced the approval of the first-ever Sikh Marriage Act by the provincial assembly on Wednesday.
This new legislation will be made effective immediately. The milestone act will recognize and facilitate Sikh marriages within the province.
Minister of Minority Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora expressed gratitude towards Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for championing minority rights. He highlighted the recent Easter grant to 10,000 families and efforts to engage with Sikh and Hindu communities through legislative reforms.
Reflecting on the significance of the Sikh Marriage Act, the minister of minorities underscored ongoing efforts to draft similar legislation for Hindu marriages and outline a roadmap for future initiatives.
Along with this Act, the Punjab cabinet approved Rs. 400 billion Kisan Card project and “Apna Ghar Apna Chhat” project, set to inaugurate on August 14 with plans to construct 100,000 houses across Punjab.
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has offered talks to incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan to resolve political differences.
During his address to the National Assembly (NA), the PM emphasized the importance of unity and cooperation in leading the country towards economic growth and political stability.
“In my first speech, I stressed the importance of the Charter of Democracy. Now, it is imperative that we agree on a Charter of Economy,” said PM Shehbaz.
“If their [PTI] founder is facing troubles [in jail], then I reiterate: come, let’s sit down and talk,” Shehbaz Sharif said during his speech in the National Assembly (NA).
Talking about the February 8 polls, PM Shehbaz said: “We joined the parliament despite the [rigged] polls. The sort of slogans that were raised during my first speech will always be remembered as a dark chapter in the history books.”
Movie star Mehwish Hayat is always dogged by questions about marriage , even though the superstar has a decorated career to talk about.
She has talked about why she hasn’t gotten married yet, saying she hasn’t found a man who meets her standards.
In a viral video clip from an interview, Hayat shared her thoughts on marriage and the kind of husband she wants.
Hayat started her career early and focused all her energy on it, not thinking much about marriage.
However, she has clear ideas about what she wants in a partner.
“I always put myself first before getting involved with anyone. I am Mehwish Hayat, and I deserve someone who matches my personality and standards,” she said.
Hayat mentioned that while looks and complexion don’t matter to her, she prefers taller men. She wants a man who is masculine and has a strong presence.
“I want my future husband to be a mix of Humayun Saeed and Fahad Mustafa, with qualities from both actors,” Hayat added.
She admitted she hasn’t met such a person yet, which is why she hasn’t married.
“The truth is, I haven’t found anyone who fits my ideal, and that’s why I’m still single,” she concluded.
A new German citizenship law has been enacted, requiring those seeking citizenship to acknowledge that Israel has a “Right to Exist.”
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said on Wednesday, “Anyone who shares our values and makes an effort can now get a German passport more quickly and no longer has to give up part of their identity by giving up their old nationality. But we have also made it just as clear: anyone who does not share our values cannot get a German passport.”
She confirmed that new questions on the topics of anti-Semitism, the right to the existence of an Israeli state and Jewish life in Germany have been added to the citizenship test.
German Chancellor Olaf Schulz made dual citizenship a key point of his election campaign and promised to reduce the time it takes for new citizens to obtain a German passport to five years in his election campaign of 2021.
The first generation of immigrants was not allowed to have dual citizenship. However, rising anti-Semitism, increasingly divisive debates about Israel’s genocide in Gaza, and the popularity of anti-immigrant, far-right politics led to a revision of the citizenship law.
In December last year, the East German state of Saxony-Anhalt made it mandatory for those who want to become German citizens to recognise Israel’s right to exist.
Talat Hussain was a legend in Pakistan. His work in art and culture will continue to inspire future generations. He was not only a great actor but also a wonderful teacher who shared his knowledge with young artists. Talat Hussain recently passed away after a long illness, leaving his fans and friends heartbroken. Many have prayed for his soul and remembered him as a great asset to the country.
Today marks a month since Talat Hussain’s passing. His daughter, actress Tazeen Hussain, shared loving and beautiful memories of her late father.
Take a look at these beautiful memories:
“As a month passes, I come to terms with the fact that you have moved on. We all do, slowly. So, here’s reliving some of the crazy moments we shared with you in recent months. I know you are with the one who loves you the most. But hey, we love you too ❤️❤️❤️… and don’t you forget that, Abu jee!”
Balochistan Home Minister Ziaullah Langau on Wednesday stated that Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) have been working together to carry out terrorist attacks in Pakistan with Indian support.
Security forces have recently apprehended two key militant commanders – TTP’s Nasrullah alias Maulvi Mansoor and Idrees alias Irshad.
“Confession footage” was also recorded in which Nasrullah alias Maulvi Mansoor in which he went into details about a January 2024 plan according to which BLA would help him cross the Pak-Afghan border via Spin Boldak town.
“Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud and Mufti Muzahim said we and our friends [RAW] have three objectives in establishing a foothold in Balochistan,” he said.
The three objectives were, “Sabotaging CPEC projects, including targeting Chinese citizens; carrying out kidnapping for ransom to play up the matter of enforced disappearances so that intelligence agencies can be defamed; and spreading anarchy and frustration among the people by fomenting terrorist activities in Balochistan.”
Bolivia’s army chief was arrested on Wednesday after sending soldiers and tanks to take up position in front of government buildings in what President Luis Arce called an attempted coup.
The troops and tanks entered Plaza Murillo, a historic square where the presidency and Congress are situated, in the afternoon, prompting global condemnation of an attack on democracy.
One of the tanks tried to break down a metal door of the presidential palace.
Surrounded by soldiers and eight tanks, the now-dismissed army chief General Juan Jose Zuniga said the “armed forces intend to restructure democracy, to make it a true democracy and not one run by the same few people for 30, 40 years”.
AFP reporters soon saw soldiers and tanks pulling back from the square. The uprising lasted about five hours.
Later Wednesday, Zuniga was captured and forced into a police car as he addressed reporters outside a military barracks, footage on state television showed.
“General, you are under arrest,” Deputy Interior Minister Jhonny Aguilera told Zuniga.
“No one can take away the democracy we have won,” Arce said from a balcony of the government palace in front of hundreds of supporters.
Earlier he had urged “the Bolivian people to organise and mobilise against the coup d’etat in favour of democracy”, in a televised message to the country alongside his ministers inside the presidential palace.
He also swore in new military leaders, firing Zuniga.
Right before he was arrested, Zuniga told reporters that the president had told him to stage an uprising, thus triggering a crackdown that would make him look strong and boost his sagging approval rating.
At a meeting Sunday, the general said, Zuniga asked Arce “So we bring out armored vehicles?” He said the president answered, “Bring them out.”
Arce’s instructions were to “stage something to raise his popularity”, the general said.
Former president Evo Morales wrote on X that “a coup d’etat is brewing” and also urged a “national mobilisation to defend democracy”.
Bolivia is deeply polarised after years of political instability and the ruling Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) is riven by internal conflict between supporters of Arce and his former mentor Morales.
Morales, who was Bolivia’s first Indigenous president, was extremely popular until he tried to bypass the constitution and seek a fourth term in office in 2019.
The leftist and former coca union leader won that vote but was forced to resign amid deadly protests over alleged election fraud, and fled the country. He returned after Arce won the presidency in October 2020.
Since then a power struggle has grown between the two men, and Morales has increasingly criticised the government and accused it of corruption, tolerating drug trafficking, and sidelining him politically.
Six months ago, the Constitutional Court disqualified Morales from the 2025 elections, however, he is still seeking nomination as the MAS candidate. Arce has not said whether he will seek re-election.
Zuniga appeared on television on Monday and said he would arrest Morales if he insisted on running for office again in 2025. “Legally he is disqualified, that man cannot be president of this country again,” he said.
Since that interview, rumours have swirled that Zuniga was on the verge of being dismissed.
The US administration of Joe Biden said it was keeping a close eye on events in Bolivia and “calls for calm”, according to a spokesperson for the National Security Council.
Condemnations of the troop movements also poured in from across Latin America, with leaders of Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela calling for democracy to be respected.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wrote on X: “I am a lover of democracy and I want it to prevail throughout Latin America. We condemn any form of coup d’etat in Bolivia.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday called for “respect for democracy and the rule of law,” in a message on X.
The Organisation of American States (OAS) said the international community would “not tolerate any form of breach of the legitimate constitutional order in Bolivia”.
Divisions in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have gotten stronger as 21 members have hinted at making a forward block over party’s inability to secure founder PTI Imran Khan’s release from prison, Geo News reported on Wednesday.
The dissenting group also “conveyed a message” to Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan to start serious efforts to free the incarcerated former Prime Minister.
The problem emerged when several PTI leaders refused to attend the parliamentary party’s session earlier this week.
The 27 lawmakers were in favour of stepping down from the assembly, while 21 considered forming a forward block, according to Geo News.
PTI leader Shandana Gulzar has told Geo News, “Resignations would be a better option if we cannot take the PTI founder out of jail.”