By Riaz Hussain PESHAWAR: Journalists in Pakistan continued to face violence, intimidation and legal pressure during 2025-26, raising concerns about press freedom and the safety of media workers, according to a new report by Islamabad-based media rights organisation Freedom Network. The report documented 78 incidents involving journalists between October 2025 and August 2026, including the…
By Riaz Hussain Pakistan: For 45-year-old Batoor Khan, finding work is a daily struggle, and building a family remains an unaffordable dream. Living with his sister, the daily-wage labourer earns less than Rs900 on days he finds employment, with no guarantee that work will be available the following day.Some months, Khan manages to find work…
By Riaz Hussain SWABI: The hujra (guest house) of Abdul Karim Tordheer, a member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly from PK-51, was allegedly raided by unidentified armed men late Tuesday night, with reports that his brother, Abdul Nasir, and three security guards were abducted from the premises. According to sources, the armed men arrived at…
Riaz HussainPESHAWAR: Formal negotiations between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the fourth review of the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the third review of the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) are expected to begin as Pakistan faces a mixed economic picture.The IMF mission, led by Iva Petrova, is expected to…
By Shamsul Haq Relations between the world’s two largest economic and military powers, China and the United States, have in recent years been marked by rivalry, mistrust and periodic confrontation. Against this backdrop, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States from September 23 to 25 carries considerable diplomatic significance. The central question,…
By Riaz Hussain PESHAWAR: For Pakistan, a crisis thousands of kilometres away in the Middle East could eventually show up at petrol stations, on electricity bills and in the prices of everyday goods.Growing tensions around two of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints — the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait — are…
Riaz Hussain MARDAN: Police in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province foiled a grenade attack on a police post in Mardan district, killing the suspected attacker and leaving three police officers with minor injuries, officials said. The attack took place at at the Sari Behlol police post, which falls within the jurisdiction of Takht Bhai police…
By Shamsul HaqAt a time when the country is witnessing growing anticipation over two major political movements — the Jamaat-e-Islami’s long march towards Islamabad on September 20, announced by its Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman against the petroleum levy, and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s already announced September 27 long march demanding an end to its founder Imran…
By Muhammad Younas and Islam Gul BARA, Khyber District, — Twice uprooted by conflict, tens of thousands of children from Pakistan’s Tirah Valley are now facing a growing health crisis in displacement, battling measles, malaria, skin infections and gastrointestinal illnesses as an overstretched health system struggles to cope. For families who fled their homes earlier…
Riaz HussainPeshawar: Despite a decline of more than two percent in international crude oil prices amid hopes of a possible US-Iran agreement and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Pakistan has increased domestic petroleum prices, raising diesel by Rs2.40 and petrol by 39 paisa per litre with effect from Tuesday. Following the latest revision,…
