Fazl rules out joining govt, calls mandate 'fake'
ISLAMABAD : Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday announced that his party will not become part of the current government, which he described as possessing a “fake mandate,” and will continue to function as an opposition force. Addressing a public gathering, Maulana Fazlur Rehman criticized the Election Commission, claiming it has become a puppet body executing pre-determined results instead of genuinely preparing election outcomes. The JUI leader emphasized that his party works to uphold the constitution and the rule of law, not for personal power. He criticized the present government, saying it was created through alliances rather than public mandate, and called for real majorities to emerge from citizens’ votes. Maulana Fazlur Rehman also welcomed newly joined party workers, asserting their inclusion would strengthen the “Caravan of Freedom” and promote political awareness and democratic consciousness across Pakistan.
Source:The Patriot
February 09, 2026 07:18 UTC
T20 World Cup: Mohsin Naqvi to consult PM Shehbaz as ICC pushes for Pakistan-India match
LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has decided to approach Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding Pakistan’s participation in the match against India at the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at the request of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The ICC is actively trying to persuade Pakistan to agree to play India in the tournament. In this connection, talks are currently underway in Lahore between ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khawaja and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Sources said that during the meeting, the PCB chairman focused on addressing what he described as unfair treatment toward Bangladesh. Meanwhile, the Emirates Cricket Board has formally approached the PCB, requesting Pakistan to review its decision.
Source:The Patriot
February 09, 2026 07:18 UTC
Entire country rejected PTI's call for wheel-jam strike: CM Sindh
KARACHI : Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Sunday said that the entire country has rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) call for a wheel-jam strike, Dunya News reported. Speaking to the media, Murad Ali Shah said that despite it being Sunday, traders kept their shops open. Murad Ali Shah urged the political forces to avoid protest politics and come to parliament, saying that democracy must not be harmed under any circumstances. Murad Ali Shah further said that the Gul Plaza tragedy has saddened everyone. He said that measures must be taken to prevent such incidents [Gul Plaza fire] in the future.
Source:The Patriot
February 09, 2026 07:18 UTC
US magazine exposes BLA's terrorist strategy
WASHINGTON :The US magazine “The National Interest” has exposed Balochistan Liberation Army’s (BLA) evolving terrorist tactics and its cross-border networks. According to “The National Interest” report, terrorism has become a low-cost, high-fear model. Pakistan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and China have all designated the BLA as a terrorist organization. The report further revealed that the United States needs to focus on network-based terrorism, and that a joint counterterrorism strategy has become unavoidable. Intelligence sharing, financial tracking, and legal enforcement are identified as key counterterrorism tools.A coordinated counterterrorism framework involving Pakistan, Central Asia, and the United States is now essential.
Source:The Patriot
February 09, 2026 07:18 UTC
Kite flying will remain banned after end of Basant Fes
LAHORE : Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Sunday said that the ban on kite flying will remain in place after the conclusion of the three-day Basant Festival. She stated this while chairing a special video-link meeting was held in the provincial capital Lahore. Expressing satisfaction over the arrangements and security measures for Basant, she said that today is the final day of the Basant Festival, kite flying will be stopped after 5:00am today (Monday), and the ban on kite flying will continue after the end of the Basant Festival. The Punjab Chief Minister further stated that the cooperation citizens of Lahore during the Basant Festival has been commendable. She congratulated the people for full compliance with safety SOPs during Basant celebrations, praising their role in making the festival both joyful and secure.
Source:The Patriot
February 09, 2026 07:18 UTC
From Workshops to World Stage
The recent visit of a high-level Bangladeshi delegation to Pakistan Railways’ Mughalpura Workshop marks far more than a ceremonial exchange of shields and handshakes. It signals a deliberate attempt by Islamabad and Dhaka to re-anchor their relationship in practical, forward-looking economic and technical cooperation. From rolling stock manufacturing to maintenance, training, and technology transfer, the sector provides a natural framework for sustained bilateral interaction. The detailed briefing by Chief Mechanical Engineer Nasir Khalili, along with the presentation of Pakistan Railways’ technical capabilities, offered the visiting delegation a firsthand view of what cooperation could realistically look like. For Pakistan, this engagement fits well with its broader goal of revitalizing Pakistan Railways and positioning it as a regional service provider rather than merely a domestic utility.
Source:The Patriot
February 08, 2026 23:19 UTC
Aishwarya Rai's loving birthday message t
Bollywood iconic star Aishwarya Rai has put an end to ongoing divorce rumours by sharing a heartfelt birthday message for her husband, Abhishek Bachchan, on his 50th birthday. Taking to social media, Aishwarya posted a childhood photograph of Abhishek along with affectionate emojis and a warm message. Many admirers expressed happiness at seeing the couple’s bond, calling them a “perfect pair” and saying the post reflected genuine love. Fans of the former Miss World flooded social media with birthday wishes for Abhishek Bachchan, describing Aishwarya’s message as heartfelt and touching. Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan were married in 2007 and have appeared together in several films.
Source:The Patriot
February 08, 2026 15:21 UTC
ICC delegation set to arrive in Pakistan amid India match impasse
An International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation is set to arrive in Pakistan within hours to address the situation following Pakistan’s decision to boycott the match against India in the ongoing T20 World Cup. According to sources, the ICC delegation, including the vice chairman, has been assigned the task of persuading the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to reconsider its stance. The ICC has specifically tasked the vice chairman with initiating dialogue with the PCB chairman in order to reach a consensus on the Pakistan-India match issue, sources revealed. During their visit, the delegation will engage in detailed discussions on all aspects of the matter with the PCB chairman and senior officials. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Chairman Ameen Islam has also arrived in Lahore, where he will participate in an emergency meeting of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) with the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Source:The Patriot
February 08, 2026 15:21 UTC
Noman Ijaz responds to Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar's harsh words
Karachi: Pakistan’s famous actor Noman Ijaz gave a polite response to writer and director Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar’s harsh and sharp comments against him. Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar had recently said on a private channel that he personally dislikes and hates Noman Ijaz. Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar had used harsh words about Noman Ijaz, which had sparked a lot of discussion on social media. In response, Noman Ijaz, while talking on a private TV program, said that everyone has their own opinions and only Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar can best explain why he said so. Noman Ijaz added that he is a public figure, not a public asset, so inappropriate comments on his personal life and family should be avoided.
Source:The Patriot
February 08, 2026 15:21 UTC
Special clothing made for athletes at the Winter Olympics
Adidas has developed a special suit for the Winter Olympics that keeps athletes warm from the inside out. The ClimaWarm system looks like a regular tracksuit, but inside it are several heating pads that are specifically designed to keep key muscles warm. The aim is to help athletes maintain the right body temperature even after completing a warm-up. Adidas has been working on a system of this type for several years, according to Margarita Riccolella, director of athlete performance at Adidas. At the 2012 London Olympics, it introduced similar devices for track cyclists to “achieve the right muscle temperature for effective power output.”Now Adidas has developed a new version of the suit specifically for the Winter Olympics, so that athletes can better cope with the specific challenges of achieving world-class performance in sub-zero temperatures.
Source:The Patriot
February 08, 2026 15:21 UTC
Historic milestone in Pakistan's pharma industry
The process of aligning the pharma industry with international standards is ongoing under the comprehensive framework of SIFC. Hai Noon Laboratories recently laid the foundation stone of the first FDA and EU standard-compliant plant under “Project Force”. The aim of the project is to provide a modern and effective pharmaceutical manufacturing facility of world-class standards and expand effective access to local and global markets. This progress by Hai Noon Laboratories is an important step for the development of the domestic pharmaceutical industry and promotion of export prospects. The launch of world-class greenfield pharma projects with the support of SIFC is giving a new dimension to industrial development and competitiveness.
Source:The Patriot
February 08, 2026 15:21 UTC
First National Polio Campaign of 2026
Today is the sixth and final day of the first National Polio Eradication Campaign of 2026, in which more than 44.1 million children have been vaccinated across the country. According to the National EOC, more than 22.9 million children have been vaccinated against polio in Punjab. About 7.1 million children have been vaccinated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. More than 14 million children have been vaccinated in Sindh, while about 2.324 million children have been vaccinated in Balochistan. The National EOC says to contact the polio team, call 1166 or send a WhatsApp message to 03467776546.
Source:The Patriot
February 08, 2026 15:21 UTC
Pakistan decides to participate
Pakistan will participate in the first meeting of the Gaza Peace Board after it formally decided to participate in the first meeting of the Gaza Peace Board. Sources said that the meeting will be held on February 19 under the chairmanship of US President Donald Trump, and the Prime Minister or Deputy Prime Minister from Pakistan will represent the country in the meeting. The meeting will discuss the situation in Gaza, measures related to peace and stability and the future course of action. Diplomatic sources said that Pakistan’s participation is being described as an important part of diplomatic efforts to establish peace in the region and resolve the humanitarian crisis.
Source:The Patriot
February 08, 2026 15:21 UTC
CM Maryam commends Lahorites for following
LAHORE : Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz praised the Lahorites for adhering to safety SOPs during the Basant festival. CM Maryam said that the city’s residents upheld the government trust. In a statement, Maryam Nawaz added that Lahore was vibrant and lively today, and its citizens played a key role in ensuring a safe Basant celebration. She added that the “Safe Basant” model adopted in Lahore could serve as an example for other cities in the country. Maryam Nawaz also highlighted that 200 mobile clinics and 21 field hospitals were deployed across different areas to ensure public safety.
Source:The Patriot
February 08, 2026 15:21 UTC
World Bank reiterates support
The World Bank has reiterated its support for Pakistan’s 10-year development program. Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met with World Bank Managing Director Anna Bajrada on the sidelines of the annual Al Wala Conference for Emerging Market Economies in Saudi Arabia, where key economic issues and opportunities facing emerging economies are discussed. On this occasion, Anna Bajrada reiterated the World Bank’s full support for Pakistan’s $20 billion 10-year development program and stressed the importance of effective and timely implementation to maximize the positive development impact of the program. The Federal Finance Minister expressed his commitment to close cooperation with the World Bank and assured that the relevant federal ministries would provide full support. He also emphasized that the active role and cooperation of provincial governments is essential to ensure better coordination and timely implementation.
Source:The Patriot
February 08, 2026 15:21 UTC