Order says public appointments not to be made on subjective preference but through a process of merit, accountability ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) ruled on Thursday that the appointments to important public offices must demonstrably conform to constitutional standards of fairness, transparency, institutional integrity, and merit-based governance. “Public authority cannot be exercised on undisclosed…
Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, May 18, 2026. REUTERS Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that Iran and Oman will jointly manage the Strait of Hormuz in line with international law. In remarks carried by Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB citing Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen TV, Araghchi said Iran and Oman, as…
. WASHINGTON: John Bolton, a prominent critic of US President Donald Trump who once served as his national security adviser, will pay a fine of $2.25 million to settle charges of mishandling classified documents, three sources said on Thursday.Bolton will plead guilty to one count of retaining classified information based on his diary entries at a court hearing…
First IAEA report since February shows little change despite war VIENNA: The UN nuclear watchdog sent a report to member states on Thursday with no major changes to its assessment of Iran’s nuclear programme, despite three months of US-Israeli war with the stated aim of preventing Iran from building an atomic bomb.In its first report…
RAWALPINDI: Security forces killed four terrorists affiliated with the Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij in two separate intelligence-based operations (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing said on Thursday. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces conducted an IBO in Dera Ismail Khan district following reports of terrorist presence. “After…
GILGIT: With the election clock ticking down and political temperatures rising sharply across Gilgit-Baltistan, the contest has entered its most charged phase, where campaigning was in full swing, rival parties locked in intense mobilisation, and every corner of the region – from remote valleys to busy town centres echoing with slogans, rallies, and last-ditch efforts…
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the review petition filed by convicted murderer Zahir Jaffer against his death sentence in the Noor Muqaddam murder case, upholding the judgments of the lower courts. A three-member bench headed by Justice Hashim Kakar announced the short order, ruling that the arguments advanced by the convict did not…
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addresses a ceremony marking the 250th Independence Anniversary of the United States in Islamabad. Photo: Express ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said Pakistan and the United States were moving beyond a traditional diplomatic partnership towards a broader relationship rooted in people-to-people links, education, investment and shared economic opportunity, as…
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday categorically rejected media reports claiming that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar shared intelligence regarding Iran’s nuclear programme with the United States, describing such assertions as “entirely baseless” and aimed at undermining ongoing diplomatic efforts. Responding to a question during his weekly Foreign Office briefing, spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said,…
Backs resolution seeking to halt military action in Iran Trump hits back at four ‘bad’ Republicans, calls vote KUWAIT CITY/ DUBAI/BEIRUT: The US House of Representatives has backed a resolution seeking to halt American military action in Irana symbolic move that deals a political blow to President Donald Trump as efforts to find…