ISLAMABAD - Pakistan yesterday demanded plebiscite in held Kashmir under the United Nations resolutions. On the Right to Self-Determination Day, the foreign minister emphasized the significance of the Right to Self-Determination Day for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He underscored the UN’s commitment to a free and fair plebiscite in the region, a promise made in 1949 that still remains unfulfilled. He pointed to the recent developments, including a controversial Indian Supreme Court verdict, as further undermining the right to self-determination. FM Jilani urged the international community, especially the United Nations, to fulfil their promises and take necessary measures to enable the people of Jammu and Kashmir to exercise their right of self-determination.

ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan Shah Mehmood Qureshi were cleared to take part in the Feb 8 polls by various election tribunals (ET), on Friday. The nomination papers of Mr Qureshi and his son Zain Qureshi were rejected on the grounds that they had not filed certificates about agricultural income tax. Prominent among those declared eligible to contest the polls were Muhammad Atif Khan (NA-22, PK-59 Mardan), Shahram Tarakai, Mahmood Jan, Mujahid Khan, Iftikhar Mashwani and Ameer Farzand Khan. The election tribunal of LHC accepted the nomination papers of Rai Hammad Aslam Kharl (PP-192). Meanwhile, Omer Ayub Khan and Babar Nawaz Khan withdrew their appeals against each other.

North Andover, MA (01845)TodayCloudy this morning. A few snow showers developing during the afternoon. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 30%..TonightPeriods of snow. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph.

Students faced lots of difficulty when they faced power struggles. Every document is now generated through computer, which means that power supply should be round the clock. The office barrier asked him to wait more because, since early morning, this office has faced power issues. Our government offices must have a power supply, which ensures that our common people will not face more hurdles in the documentation phase of documentation. Like the healthcare sector, this education sector must have an ongoing power supply or have a periodic supply in the office.

The Supreme Court (SC) reserved its decision on Friday in the matter related to the re-examining of the lifetime disqualification of lawmakers under Article 62 (1) (f) of the Constitution. A seven-member larger bench of the apex court resumed hearing a set of petitions to determine the disqualification period of lawmakers. The bench is presided over by CJP Qazi Faez Isa and comprises Justice Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali. This legislative move adds a layer of complexity to the matter that the Supreme Court is now set to unravel. He began his arguments by stating that the Samiullah Baloch case led to a disconnect between Article 62 and 63 and added that two different considerations prevail as the language of Article 63 is different from that of Article 62.

The schedule for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 was announced by the official broadcaster Star Sports on Friday. The Semi-finals of the event will be played on June 26 and 27 in Guyana and Trinidad respectively while the climax of the World Cup will take place in Barbados on June 29. This will be the first time since 2010 that a T20 World Cup, which was won by England, will be hosted in the West Indies. On the other hand, this is the first time an event as big as the World Cup will be hosted by the US. England are the defending champions after clinching the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, beating Pakistan in the final.

Indian Navy commandos have boarded a hijacked Liberian-flagged vessel in the Arabian Sea and are now carrying out "sanitisation" operations, the navy said on Friday, without elaborating. An Indian Navy warship intercepted the MV Lila Norfolk on Friday afternoon, less than a day after the navy received news that it had been hijacked off Somalia's coast in the North Arabian Sea. The Indian navy has increased its surveillance of the Arabian Sea after a recent spate of attacks in the region. The hijacking of commercial ships and attempted hijackings by suspected pirates near the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea regions resumed in December after a six-year lull. Earlier this week, the navy said it had investigated a large number of fishing vessels and boarded vessels of interest in the North and Central Arabian Sea.

PHOTO: REUTERSPakistan’s exports of copper and articles made from the metal to China have increased in recent years and in the first 11 months of 2023 rose 9%, crossing the $1 billion mark, according to officials. Pakistan Embassy Commercial Counsellor in Beijing Ghulam Qadir told the China Economic Net (CEN) that Pakistan’s government was keen to boost copper and associated product exports to China. He pointed out that exports of copper had increased and anticipated that the value of shipments would rise further owing to the production and demand for refined copper products. Qadir said that the Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC), one of the major players in the Chinese copper industry, was active in Pakistan and was crucial for the Saindak copper mining project, which was started in 1995. Pakistani copper exporter Awais Mir, who is the Chairman of DEA group, told CEN that it was due to increased investment by Chinese companies with local Pakistani firms and higher demand for copper products in China after Covid-19.

In a candid conversation on Mooroo Podcasts, Humaima Malick opened up about the pervasive issue of moral policing, shedding light on the criticism she and her family often endure from online detractors. The star shared, "They'll say, 'Tell your brother, look at what he's doing.' Stressing the importance of recognizing everyone as distinct individuals, Humaima pointed out, "We're individuals, okay? What a frustrated population" she stated, highlighting the frustration and toxicity behind online criticism. Now, after my treatment, this has become really, really better.

Accountability goes hand in hand with democracy and serves to strengthen democratic norms by deterring corruption through checks and balances. Islamabad High Court’s restoration of disqualification to ten years for people convicted under the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) is a good step in upholding the accountability regime. Earlier, in a case, the disqualification period was reduced to five years which was in contrast with the NAB’s regulations. The restoration of the ten-year disqualification period emphasises the court’s commitment to upholding the integrity of anti-corruption measures. This legal development underscores the judiciary’s role in maintaining the efficacy of accountability laws and indirectly boosting people’s trust in the electoral process.

Weather Alert...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 1 PM EST SATURDAY... * WHAT...Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations of up to one inch and ice accumulations from a light glaze to one tenth of an inch. * WHERE...McDowell, Wyoming, Northwest Raleigh and Northwest Fayette Counties. * WHEN...From 1 AM to 1 PM EST Saturday. Additional information can be found at https://www.weather.gov/rlx as well as on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

For the last two weeks, I unfortunately had to closely interact with the health care system in Lahore from one private hospital to another. But sadly, the privileged minority is also quite frustrated with the accessibility to good standards especially when they come with such a heavy price. When the patient was discharged, we were billed for consultation fees of the main consultant for visits he had not even made to the patient. The nightmare continued as she was shifted to another hospital where in all fairness if the hospital conditions were relatively better, we had to be involved at every step of the surgery or involvement. We can’t keep looking towards others to lead but have to take that first step ourselves.

P K Mishra: Need effective public policy to make India developed nationIndia's growth story is at a structurally higher path, but it faces domestic and international challenges. To become a developed nation by 2047, India needs a transparent, accountable, and effective public policy. The principal secretary to the prime minister also participated in Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra. Viksit Bharat Sankalp yatra endsThe Viksit Bharat Sankalp yatra concluded in Prayagraj with the aim of informing people about the BJP-led Union government's welfare schemes. “The reforms and initiatives of government of India in the last nine years have set the base for making India a developed nation by 2047.

NEW DLHI: PK Mishra , principal secretary to PM Narendra Modi, on Thursday said India is at an inflection point due to the initiatives taken by government over the last few years.“Among economies and among rating agencies there is a feeling that the Indian growth story is at a structurally higher path. However, on this journey we will face a number of challenges both domestic and international.India has many strengths and opportunities that can help it overcome these challenges and achieve its vision,” Mishra said in his Convocation address at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research in Mumbai.He said that for India to become a developed nation, the country needs a sound public policy that is transparent, accountable and ef fective. “The reforms and initiatives of government of India in the last nine years have set the base for making India a developed nation by 2047. They have created conditions for faster and more inclusive growth, better governance and enhanced social welfare,” he said.Articulating the PM’s approach to economic development, Mishra said India needs to continuously innovate and reinvent to remain competitive and grow in this fast-changing world.He called upon researchers to help policymakers assess the needs and preferences of citizens, evaluate the impact of interventions and design policies that responsive, inclusive and sustainable.While in Mumbai, the principal secretary to prime minister also participated in Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, where nearly 1,500 people participated.

In an exciting development for Star Wars fans, Daisy Ridley's iconic character Rey is set to grace the big screen once again in a new installment of the beloved franchise. The forthcoming film will be directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy who charmed everyone with Ms Marvel, marking a historic moment as Sharmeen becomes the first woman and first person of colour to helm a Star Wars feature film. While female directors have made their mark in Star Wars television projects, the film domain had yet to embrace their talent until now. Details surrounding Ridley's return to the Star Wars’ universe are relatively scarce, but it is known that the storyline will pick up with Rey in the aftermath of the events depicted in 2019's The Rise of Skywalker. Here’s the feminist director of the next Star Wars film saying that her goal is to “make men uncomfortable.”This movie is destined to be Disney’s biggest flop yet.