LHC says Nikahnama alone cannot prove valid marriage in forced marriage disputes

Court says judges must examine a relationship’s origins and whether a woman’s consent was freely given LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday laid down important legal principles for lower courts adjudicating disputed love marriage cases, ruling that a registered nikahnama or even a woman’s earlier harassment petition cannot, by themselves, conclusively establish a…

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SBP reserves climb $611m to $16.5b

Total deposits stand at $22.1b; gold jumps Rs9,100/tola as global rally gains pace on US employment report KARACHI: The central bank’s foreign exchange reserves recorded a healthy increase during the week ended June 24, 2026 as they rose $611 million to reach $16.53 billion. The increase was mainly driven by government inflows from multilateral institutions,…

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As America turns 250, museums and parks fight to preserve the country’s troubled history

For many historians, academics, concern is not celebration of founding era but what they believe is being left out People walk past the President’s House Site in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., May 1, 2026. REUTERS/Hannah Beier A few minutes’ walk from Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, where the nation’s founding ideals were debated and declared, another part of…

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SBP scraps remittance fee incentive scheme

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has discontinued the Telegraphic Transfer Charges Incentive Scheme (TTCIS) with effect from July 1, 2026, ending the reimbursement mechanism under which banks were compensated for waiving telegraphic transfer charges on eligible home remittance transactions. In a circular issued on Thursday, the central bank said the scheme stood withdrawn…

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PTA says internet services return to normal after SMW5 submarine cable repaired

Regulator says it remained in close coordination with Transworld Associates (TWA) throughout the disruption ISLAMABAD: Internet services across Pakistan have returned to normal after a fault in the SEA-ME-WE 5 (SMW5) international submarine cable system was repaired, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said on Friday. PTA said on Thursday that it was monitoring disruption to…

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India fuelling regional instability to deflect from domestic challenges: security official

Says India has evolved into a ‘police state,’ where freedom of expression and press remain under state control ISLAMABAD: A senior security official briefed media influencers on India’s regional posture and internal developments, saying New Delhi was attempting to divert attention from its domestic challenges by pursuing policies aimed at creating instability across the region,…

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Tariff cut threatens two-wheeler localisation

LAHORE: The government’s decision to reduce the completely built-up unit (CBU) tariff on two-wheelers while maintaining the same tariff for completely knocked-down (CKD) units and parts may prove to be counter-productive for the auto industry in the absence of a structured, time-bound roadmap, say industry stakeholders. According to the new tariff applicable from July 1,…

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El Nino set to be strong, UN warns

Forecasts rapid strengthening between July and September, raising risk of drought, heatwaves, heavy rain El Nino warms surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. PHOTO: AFP El Nino will quickly develop into a strong event between July and September, fuelling the likelihood of extreme weather, the United Nations’ weather and climate agency…

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Ministry asked to resolve KE guarantee issue

ISLAMABAD: K-Electric has been served a gas supply disconnection notice on account of breach of guarantees, prompting the country’s economic managers to call for speedy resolution of the issue. Sources told The Express Tribune that the matter was taken up in a recent meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC). Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz…

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