ISLAMABAD – A high-level delegation from Pakistan headed by Minister for State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar would attend the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Rawanda capital Kigali from 22-25 June. The official opening of meeting takes place on coming Friday which would be followed by the main high-level meetings. The CHOGM was due to take place in June 2020 but was postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto was to represent Pakistan in the meeting, but due to sudden hospitalisation of his grandmother, he nominated Hina Khar to represent Pakistan. Khar would give her speech at the conference and would also hold meetings with her counterparts on the sideline of the conference.

LAHORE – Chaudhary Aurangzaib, chairman Tehreek-e-Etihad, on Monday led a protest rally condemning BJP member’s blasphemous remarks. Only recently, Nupur Sharma, the national spokeswoman of Indian ruling party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made derogatory comments against Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), causing an uproar in the Muslim community across the globe. Chairman of the rising political party, PakistanAurangzaib has called for a protest against the atrocious act of religious intolerance by BJP’s member. He has been known to take the initiative of producing documentaries on Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). On June 12th, Aurangzaib led a protest rally from his Constituency NA-143, denouncing the act of Tauheen-e-Risalat by the BJP.

Judicial Magistrate East Hussain Memon on Monday ordered the secretary to form the medical board and fix a date for exhumation of Liaquat’s body for postmortem. The court also directed the authorities concerned to make all necessary arrangements in accordance with the law. Last week, the court had ordered the autopsy of the famous TV personality after a petition was filed demanding an autopsy. Also read: Court orders autopsy of Aamir Liaquat’s bodyDuring the hearing, attended by Liaquat's heirs and the government legal team, the public prosecutor stated that his heirs did not want a postmortem to be conducted as it would hurt their father’s “soul”. The police had also presented a report in court stating that the police surgeon could not ascertain the cause of death till an autopsy was performed.

By Andrew Vandiver and John MeiserIn recent years, over 15,000 additional Kentucky students have started attending a school other than a public school. As more families move toward non-public schools, Kentucky parents called on lawmakers to alleviate the cost of choosing these educational options. The Kentucky General Assembly responded by passing the Education Opportunity Account Act (“EOA Act”), which created a privately funded needs-based assistance program for Kentucky families to cover certain educational expenses. Despite the law’s strong support, Kentucky families were still blocked from obtaining the program’s great benefits. Kentucky non-public schools include a broad array of backgrounds and faith traditions.

Photo credit: Miikka Skaffari – Getty ImagesCelebs came through with Father’s Day content over the weekend, and Priyanka Chopra blessed everyone’s feed with a new pic of Nick Jonas and their baby daughter Malti. Pls prepare yourself because they’re wearing matching daddy-daughter sneakers and it’s all just v. v. sweet. Nick and Priyanka announced news of Malti’s arrival on January 21, releasing joint statements on Instagram that said, “We are overjoyed to confirm that we have welcomed a baby via surrogate. “After 100 plus days in the NICU, our little girl is finally home,” they wrote in a joint post. Mommy and Daddy love you.”Since then, Priyanka and Nick have only shared one other picture of Malti (well, the back of her head—they understandably want to protect her privacy) snuggling up with Priyanka and her mom:So happy for this sweet family!

MULTAN – Director Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) Dr Zahid Mahmood said that the current spell of rain would have a positive impact on cotton crop. In a statement on Sunday, Dr Zahid stated that the rain would help end blackness in cotton crop and it would improve the process of photosynthesis in the plants. Dr Zahid asked the farmers that in case of more rains in coming days, they should take necessary measures to save the cotton crop from losses. “Due to stagnant water in cotton field, the colour of cotton leaves start turning yellow. The water should not stay for 48 hours in the field, he said, adding that the farmers should train it out or make four feet trench deep and two feet wide trench.

Security forces on Sunday nabbed a high-profile terrorist during a raid in Karachi, recovering weapons from his possession as well. The accused belongs to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has been notorious for various high-profile terrorist attacks in the country. Ilyas had joined the TTP in 2012, and after committing terrorist attacks in Karachi, had fled abroad. During interrogation, he revealed some details about his accomplices, and the police are now conducting raids to apprehend them. It is worth mentioning here that the government had been negotiating with the TTP – the organisation Ilyas belongs to – put an end to the cross-border attacks from Afghanistan.

On Saturday, reports emerged that the Afghan Taliban has expressed optimism that the talks between the TTP and Pakistan government could succeed, in addition to the fact that an indefinite ceasefire has been agreed upon. Certain demands have been tabled by the TTP that cannot be accepted keeping in mind the national interests of the country and its citizens. The potential release of prisoners should also be made conditional upon the disbanding and liquidation of the TTP and facilitated through rehabilitation and reintegration programs. The government should also take advantage of the fact that families of TTP members are eager to be repatriated back to Pakistan. A deal in Pakistan’s interest will ensure that there is a complete disbandment and demilitarisation of the TTP.

Despite being bitten by the culture of denialism, the boundless compassion, patience, and optimism have become lifelong companions of the employees of the Punjab Emergency Service. Today, Rescue 1122 has become the nation’s most trustworthy trademark. Rationally, emergency workers are the everyday heroes who run towards danger when we need them the most in challenging times. Although the Punjab Emergency Service is overstretched yet its staff is working vigorously to keep us safe, protected, and healthy. We can already see that there is a powerful public narrative about the Emergency Service Rescue 1122 that is often overlooked.

KARACHI – The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Sindh police arrested a ‘most wanted’ terrorist of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Karachi, the security agency said in a news release on Sunday. The most wanted terrorist had been hiding in Saudi Arabia, the statement said. In a statement, the military’s media affairs wing had said that the militants had been actively involved in terrorist activities in the area. Meanwhile, on May 31, the government of Pakistan and TTP agreed on an indefinite ceasefire to find an end to the nearly two decades of militancy in the tribal border region. The previous PTI government and the TTP had agreed to a month-long ceasefire to hold talks last year.

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Sindh police arrested a “most wanted” terrorist of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Karachi, the security agency said in a news release on Sunday. Illegal weapons and ammunition were also seized from his possession, the CTD said. The most wanted terrorist had been hiding in Saudi Arabia, the statement said. In a statement, the military’s media affairs wing had said that the militants had been actively involved in terrorist activities in the area. The previous PTI government and the TTP had agreed to a month-long ceasefire to hold talks last year.

LAHORE – The Pakistan People’s Party Central Punjab will organise a ‘Jashn-e-Benazir’ programme to celebrate the 69th birth anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto Shaheed on June 20. PPP sources said on Saturday that the ceremony would be held at the Punjab Art and Culture Complex 1, Gaddafi Stadium. , here while Punjab Senior Minister Syed Hassan Murtaza would be the chief guest at the ceremony. Students from Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Punjab, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan would present a performance on the slogan of ‘Benazir Charon Soobon Ki Zanjeer’. A special poetry contest would also be held while the PPP minority wing would present a skit to pay tribute to BB Shaheed.

Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran has said that the country’s economic and political situation will “further deteriorate” if early elections are not held and added that the coalition government led by the PML-N is “burying all institutions”. A number of big screens were installed at major protest venues across the country to show the former premier's address. “Time was not ripe for ‘conspiracy’ to succeed as it would adversely impact the economy of the country,” Imran said he had told the neutral when he was the prime minister. I invite trade unions, professionals, doctors, engineers, clerks, and government workers to take to the streets,” the former prime minister had said in a recorded video message on Thursday. 'Imran’s inflation protest is against his own flawed policies’Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice-President Maryam Nawaz lashed out at former prime minister Imran Khan for holding protest against the incumbent government, blaming his previous regime’s “flawed policies” for runaway inflation.

KARACHI: The Sindh Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Sunday claimed to have arrested a “most wanted” terrorist of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from Karachi. According to the department, following a tip-off, the CTD and Rangers conducted a joint operation near Naurus Chowrangi in the SITE area. During the raid, the CTD arrested a man identified as Muhammad Ilyas along with illegal weapons and ammunition. In a statement, the CTD informed that the arrested accused was the most wanted terrorist of the banned outfit who had been hiding in Saudi Arabia. During preliminary investigation, the suspect confessed to investigators that he, along with his accomplices, had killed Sher Ahmed Khan in SITE area in 2013.

Rangers and the counter-terrorism department (CTD) in a joint operation on Sunday arrested a major Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader from the SITE area. According to details, one of the most wanted TTP leaders Muhammad Ilyas has been arrested in a joint operation by Rangers and CTD in Noras chorangi. A CTD spokesperson told that arms and ammunition have been confiscated from Ilyas, who is a close alliance of TTP leader Qari Shakirullah. The detained Muhammad Ilyas confessed to killing Sher Ahmed in the SITE area of Karachi in 2013. Ilaya shad joined the TTP’ Umer Mansoor group in 2012, and is being interrogated for numerous other cases too, the CTD spokesperson said.