The federal government has decided to legislate on the Supreme Court's jurisdiction on suo motu notices and the powers of the chief justice to constitute benches among others. Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, while speaking to the media, said that a parliamentary committee will be formed on judicial reforms. Sanaullah also warned of imposing governor's rule in Punjab if his entry into the province was restricted. Also read: Sanaullah threatens governor's rule in PunjabMeanwhile, Supreme Court Bar Association, High Court Bars of all provinces, Pakistan Bar Council, and members and nominated members of Judicial Commission have also demanded to limit the powers of Supreme Court in their joint resolution. They said that Article 175A and Article 209 of the Constitution should be amended so that the forum for appointment and removal of judges can be one and judges, bar, administration and parliament are all equally represented in it.

Gallery: Star Tribune All-Metro Sports AwardsThe Star Tribune All-Metro Sports Awards gala was held Wednesday night at Allianz Field.

He said Captain Muhammad Sarwar sacrificed his life in Kashmir in 1948 while defending the country. “Captain Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed bravely and gallantly fought the enemies of the country,” he said. The president prayed for the elevation of ranks of the soul of Captain Muhammad Sarwar and of all other martyrs. FAMILY OF LATE MOUNTAINEER JOHN SNORRI CALLS ON PRESIDENTFamily members of late Icelandic mountaineer John Snorri Sigurjonsson called on President Dr Arif Alvi here on Wednesday. The president observed that late mountaineer John Snorri was a renowned mountaineer and passionate about the sports.

The ongoing downfall of the greatest batter Virat Kohli is reprehended by every other cricketer. He is being criticised for not showing up his performance when his team needed it. Many retired cricketers attributed the decline of Kohli because of his ego and attitude. Whilst his decline, Pakistan Captain Babar Azam came forward backing Kohli in a viral tweet to which Kholi responded with gratitude and best wishes. Moreover, there must be a bilateral series between the two nations which will further promote the sportsmanship among the two nations.

The three-judge bench also held that the deputy speaker misinterpreted the apex court order on Article-63A related to the defection clause and “subverted the Constitution”. As the hearing resumed earlier today, the counsel representing Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari, Irfan Qadir, and the counsel for Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Farooq H Naek, boycotted the SC proceedings. The proceedings began with a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial presiding over the hearing. The chief justice, however, told Naek that he had done well in assisting the court on Monday and permitted him to take his seat. Read more: PML-N denounces top court verdict on Punjab CM poll as 'murder of justice'

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday was appointed as Special Assistant to Prime Minister. His position will be equal to that of a federal minister. It is pertinent to note that Atta Tarar is also a dynamic leader and deputy secretary general of the party, he has also served as the interior minister and spokesperson of the Punjab government in the cabinet of former Punjab chief minister Hamza Shahbaz.

ISLAMABAD: The nation was indebted to soldiers who laid down their lives for the security of the motherland, said President Dr. Arif Alvi on Wednesday. In his message on the 74th martyrdom anniversary of Captain Raja Muhammad Sarwar, the first recipient of Nishan-i-Haider honour, the president paid rich tribute to the “brave son of the soil”. “Captain Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed bravely and gallantly fought the enemies of the country,” he said. The president prayed for the elevation of ranks of the soul of Sarwar and all others who followed suit over the period of time. His only son, also a soldier, and a daughter are settled in his native Sangoori village of Gujar Khan.

Earlier in the first Test, Pakistan had chased down a venue record 342-run target in last week’s first Test of the series which was also played at the same venue. On Tuesday, Sri Lanka were pegged back in their second innings after a 27-run opening stand between makeshift opener Niroshan Dickwella and Oshada Fernando. Naseem Shah removed Dickwella with Mohammad Rizwan taking the catch behind the stumps. Sri Lanka took tea at 109 for four, an overall lead of 256. Yasir Shah held firm for his 26 off 97 balls before becoming Ramesh Mendis’ fifth wicket of the innings, Yasir was the last man to go.

It is almost impossible to erase institutional memory. Ownership of state land was transferred to the people under the ‘Law of Homestead’. Any citizen could lay claim on one square mile of unclaimed state land under this law. In the end institutional memory prevailed over the might of the ‘muscle’. If the current Azadi Movement succeeds, which is most probable, it must be followed by massive ‘Institutional Rebuilding’ to ensure continuity of freedom and People’s Power.

Singapore has given former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa permission to stay in the island nation for an additional 14 days. A short-term visit pass given to Rajapaksa when he arrived on a private visit two weeks ago has been extended, according to two different sources in Singapore and Colombo who both had knowledge of the situation. The Singaporean government claimed he was there on a private visit and had not received asylum. “It is my belief he may eventually consider returning to Sri Lanka but there is no definite political or other stance on this,” Sri Lankan government spokesperson Bandula Gunwardena said on Tuesday. Rajapaksa left the nation and resigned, and six-time prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected president after winning a parliamentary vote.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has reiterated that early elections under a new election commissioner are the only way out of the deepening economic and political crises in the country. The PTI chief insisted that the country had the right economic indicators when he was in power and he had warned the “powerful quarters” about it. He also took the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to task for its opposition to the electronic voting machines. Commenting on the top court’s verdict, Imran said Hamza Shehbaz was illegally made the chief minister of the province. By virtue of the order, PML-N’s Hamza Shehbaz lost his status of the "trustee" chief minister.

I cannot forget that Arif Nizami was a workaholic from a very young age. Arif Nizami was an honest, brilliant and brave man. Later Musharraf invited Majid Nizami to his office and complained about Arif Nizami. Majid Nizami told Musharraf that if Arif would not have expressed his opinion the way he did then I would have reprimanded him. Lahore has lost one of its gentle and popular citizens after the demise of Arif Nizami.

The government has raised taxes on the already over-taxed banking industry in the budget for 2022-23 starting July 1. During the last financial year, the banks were being taxed at the rate of 35% plus 4% super tax i.e. What the government has actually done is that they have considered 39% (35% tax rate + 4% super) as the base tax rate and have then applied 10% super tax, thus making it 49%. Whereas, the government should have considered 35% as the base tax rate of last year and then should have applied the super tax of 10% to make it 45% and not 49%. Since banks were already paying 4% super tax, an additional 6% tax should have been further imposed to take it to 45%.

Gas prices for export-oriented sectors increased by up to 80pcThe incumbent government has increased gas prices for the the export industry by up to 80pc. The rate of gas per mmBtu for the export-oriented sector has been increased by Rs530 and has been fixed at Rs1,350 per mmBtu from Rs820. The rate for general industry has been increased from Rs850 per mmBtu and now has been fixed at Rs1,550 per mmBtu. He further said that the government is still providing gas to the export-oriented industries at the concessional rate. The spokesperson said the government has allocated Rs40 billion for the subsidies to the export-oriented industries so that they can compete in the international market.

LAHORE – Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF) has named the selection committee to pick the national team to feature in the World Road Championship to take place from September 18 to 25 in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. “The selection committee is headed by PCF Secretary Moazzam Khan Klair and the trials will be held in Punjab and Sindh,” said a spokesman of the PCF here on Monday. He said four members Pakistan team, comprising two male and same number of female riders, will take part in the mega event. The other members of the selection committee of Punjab trials are Adnan Ahsan Khan, Nusrat Khan, Nazakat Ali and Ms Maham. Javed Khan, Ishtiaq Mobeen and Jan Alam will assist chairman selection committee in Karachi.