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MUZAFFARABAD: Authorities in India-held Kashmir on Sunday repatriated a man and his son to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), a day after the duo had inadvertently crossed the Line of Control (LoC) from Abbaspur sector of Poonch division, officials said. Abdul Hameed, 55, and his son Abbas, 34, were watering their cattle at a water channel close to their Polas Kakuta village at about 1:30pm on Saturday when they reportedly strayed into the territory under Indian occupation and were taken into custody by the Indian soldiers. Fellow villager Muhammad Hussain, 60, who was behind them saw this happening and reported it to the Pakistan army personnel stationed in the rear, an administration official told Dawn from the area by telephone. According to him, the army contacted their counterparts across the divide for repatriation of the inadvertent crossers, following which the duo was returned by the Indian authorities via Tetrinote-Chakan Da Bagh crossing point on Sunday evening. Assistant co

WASHINGTON: Classified documents — released recently by a US airman — show that Pakistan, and some other nations, have been quietly distancing themselves from the United States on key issues like Ukraine. The documents, published by The Washington Post and other US media outlets, include two Pakistani memos warning policymakers not to annoy China to maintain links with the United States. In one of the memos, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar argues that Pakistan can “no longer try to maintain a middle ground between China and the United States.” The internal memo was sent to official recipients in Pakistan in March. Titled “Pakistan’s Difficult Choices”, the memo cautions Islamabad should avoid giving the appearance of appeasing the West. It warns that the instinct to preserve Pakistan’s partnership with the United States would ultimately sacrifice the full benefits of the country’s “real strategic” partnership with China. Leaked memos featuring PM Shehbaz,

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has asserted that Pakistan holds its brotherly relations with Iran in very high regard, ARY News reported. He was talking to Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini who called on him in Islamabad. The Finance Minister extended compliments on successful completion of his tenure in Pakistan. He highlighted deep rooted cordial relations between Pakistan and Iran based on age old common religious and cultural similarities. Dar also highlighted economic outlook of the country and said that despite economic challenges, the country is destined to progress and development. Ishaq Dar lauded the Ambassador’s contributions in enhancing and cementing the decades old brotherly ties and fostering economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Appreciating the tenure of the Iranian Ambassador in Pakistan, the Finance Minister bid farewell to him and extended best wishes and good luck on behalf of people and government

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Sunday that the audio leaks have exposed the character of former chief justice Saqib Nisar, ARY News reported. Rana Sanaullah was commenting on the leaked audio conversation of Saqib Nisar’s son Najam Saqib with a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate. He said in a statement that the audio leaks exposed the character of Saqib Nisar. He alleged that in Nisar’s son leaked audio conversation, he allegedly demanded Rs150 million bribe for a party ticket. READ: AUDIO LEAK OF SAQIB NISAR’S SON: PTI PROBES ISSUANCE OF TICKET TO ABUZAR He blamed PTI of the recent wave of terrorism in the country. Sanaullah alleged that ‘terrorists’ were invited to return as citizens by the PTI government. He further claimed that terrorism is not existing in Punjab. “When Imran Khan concluded his 126-day sit-in, [former premier] Nawaz Sharif telephoned him to jointly formulate a strategy to eliminate terrorism.” The interior minister further alleged that terror

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has launched a probe into the issuance of a party ticket to a candidate Abuzar Chadhar after the leaked audio of former chief justice Saqib Nisar’s son, ARY News reported on Sunday. After the purported audio leak of Saqib Nisar’s son Najam Saqib, PTI launched a probe into the issuance of a party ticket to Abuzar Chadhar in PP-137. In a Twitter message, Fawad Chaudhry said that the allegation of bribery turns out to be false after the scrutiny. He requested the court to uncover the real faces behind the fake audio leak. READ: SAQIB NISAR WARNS KHAWAJA ASIF ‘TO STAY WITHIN LIMITS’ He demanded a thorough probe into handing over leaked audio conversations and videos to a specific media group. Chaudhry also demanded to expose the responsible persons involved in leaking the audio conversations and videos. چھان کے بعد پیسے دینے کا الزام جھوٹ نکلا ہے ، عدالت سے درخواست ہے جعلی آڈیو جاری کرنے والے اصل چہرے بے نقاب کئے جائیں اور تحقیقات کی جائیں کہ ایک خاص م

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Fawad Chaudhry claimed on Sunday that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) stopped the political party from organising a rally on Labour Day, ARY News reported. In a statement, Fawad Chaudhry said that ECP barred PTI from holding a public rally on May 1 (Labour Day) which is a surprise move. He added that May 1 is globally observed as Labour Day to express solidarity with the labourers. He said that political parties across the globe organise rallies on Labour Day. Chaudhry slammed the commission by saying that ECP is performing all tasks except for elections. He criticised ECP for banning the PTI rally and sending notices to its leaders. “Every move of the election commission is exhibiting partiality towards Imran Khan and banning PTI’s rally is illegal.” The PTI president demanded the chief election commissioner (CEC) immediately withdraw the ‘illegal ban’ on PTI rallies in Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar. ECP, in a notice to Imran K

HONG KONG: China is mulling to allow single women access to in-vitro fertility (IVF) treatment legally in a private clinic as it tries to slow its demographic decline. The changes mean unmarried women can take paid maternity leave and receive child subsidies previously only available to married couples. This has benefited women like Chen Luojin, a 33-year-old divorcee living in Chengdu, the capital of the southwestern Sichuan province, which legalised registration of children by unmarried women in February, something China is considering implementing nationwide to address record low birth rates. She is now 10 weeks pregnant. “Becoming a single parent is not for everyone, but I’m happy with the decision,” said Chen. Some provinces have already legalised registration of children by unmarried females “Equally, getting married or not is for each individual to decide. We have liberalised the policies here and I know a lot of single women are doing IVF.” Concerned about China’s first

ISLAMABAD: Another group of 97 Pakistani nat­io­nals evacuated from Sudan arrived in Karachi on Saturday as people continue to flee the war-torn country which the UN chief said “is falling apart”. This brought the total number of evacuated Pak­is­tanis to 357, as 260 lan­ded in Karachi a day ago . The group was flown from Jeddah to the Jinnah International Airport via a C-130 aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force. The government of Pakistan will continue to facilitate the safe return of stranded Pakistanis, the Foreign Office spokesperson said. According to a PAF press release, as per the direction of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, PAF’s transport aircraft successfully carried out evacuation missions “with complete professionalism and determination” to bring their Pakistani brothers and sisters to safety immediately. ‘Sudan falling apart’ As war continued to ravage the country, UN chief Antonio Guterres threw his support behind mediation efforts. “My appeal is for

QUETTA: Amid the ongoing tussle between the executive and the judiciary , leaders of the legal fraternity have advised all institutions to work within their constitutional limits and asked lawyers to stand by the Consti­tution and not any particular class. They said that being the superior judiciary, the Supreme Court needs a lot of caution and as an institution, it should not become weak. Addressing the National Lawyers Convention organised by the Balochistan Bar Council (BBC) at the Balochistan High Court here on Saturday, they expressed concern over political and constitutional crises in the country and said the democratic system today is in danger and the judiciary is working as a “tool for undemocratic powers”. “Therefore, it is important that lawyers play a strong and stable role and move forward in the national interest. It has been an honour that the lawyers of Balochistan have taken the initiative, be it constitutional crisis, martial law or the supremacy of parliament in t

LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to continue negotiations with the government regarding the framework for elections of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) within the bounds of the Constitution, ARY News reported on Saturday. The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by party chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan at his residence in Lahore’s Zaman Park. The PTI negotiation committee – comprising Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Fawad Chaudhry and Senator Ali Zadar – was also present in the meeting. During the meeting, sources told ARY News that the negotiation committee tabled the details of two meetings held with the government delegation. Meanwhile, a difference of opinion emerged following the raid of PTI president Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s house. However, sources claimed, majority of the participants opined that the talks with the government should continue despite the ‘illegal’ raid on Elahi’s house. The participants were of the view that such raids and

Funeral prayers of three Pakistani soldiers – martyred while fighting terrorists in Lakki Marwat – were offered at their respected hometowns, ARY News reported on Saturday. According to the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Naib Subedar Taj Mir, 40, a resident of Nowshera district; Havaldar Zakir Ahmed, 38, a resident of Abbottabad district; and Sepoy Abid Hussain, 29, a resident of Dera Ismail Khan district were laid to rest with full military honours. A large number of serving, retired military and civil officials attended the funeral prayers. It is pertinent to mention here that the Security forces conducted a successful operation and killed seven terrorists in the vicinity of the Lakki Marwat police station. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the security forces, while fighting gallantly, repulsed three attacks by terrorists on different locations in the Lakki Marwat district. A motorcycle-borne suicide bomber exploded himself n

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday demanded the dissolution of national and provincial assemblies before May 14 amid talks with the government on date for holding general elections of Punjab Assembly, ARY News reported. Addressing the PTI workers and supporters, the former prime minister said that his party would be ready to move forward with the negotiations if the government dissolves the national and provincial assemblies before May 14. Imran Khan reiterated that his party does not want to delay the elections, stressing that “we will not accept polls after the budget”. “If the hope of elections ends, then Pakistan could face a worse situation than Sri Lanka. I am not frightening you; I am just expressing my opinion,” he added. The PTI chief further said that the government was saying that first, it would pass the budget, and then hold the election, saying that this shows the incumbent rulers’ ‘ill-intention’. He also announced to hold ral

ISLAMABAD: To address concerns over the exercise of digital census, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) after a detailed briefing to ministers, lawmakers and leaders of political parties on Friday decided in principle to extend digital census for another 15 days. PBS spokesperson Sarwar Gondal told Dawn the digital census, previously scheduled to conclude on April 30, would be extended till May 15. To work out an operation plan during the extended days, he said, the bureau would hold a meeting with chief secretaries on Saturday (today). “We will present the request of the political parties in a meeting of census monitoring committee,” he added. Need for the extension was felt after it emerged during the exercise that Karachi and Lahore populations showed little increase since the 2017 census. PBS asks political parties to identify areas not covered by enumeration teams The PBS at the briefing requested political parties to identify the areas that had not been covered by cen

The federal government has failed to complete the digital census process once again and made an extension for the fifth time, ARY News reported on Friday. After another extension, the digital census process will be concluded on May 15 now. The population census was due to be concluded in early April but it was extended four times earlier. Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said that the seventh population census and first digital census of the country is underway. He said that some political parties raised objections to the digital census and the government invited the stakeholders to brief them. He added that it seems that all people from far-flung areas were not counted and houses in some areas are being spotted through Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO). The latest extension was made to reach the remaining people not counted in the census. Iqbal said that the government will remove the fault lines and appealed to the nati

LAHORE: The anti-corruption establishment (ACE) team along with police contingents raided former Punjab Chief Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Pervaiz Elahi’s house in Lahore, ARY News reported on Friday.  It was learnt that nine persons including a woman were arrested by ACE during the raid. However, the names of the arrestees were not disclosed yet. The ACE team along with police contingents led by the superintendent police (SP) Model Town raided Pervaiz Elahi’s house in Lahore. A large number of senior lawyers were present at the PTI president’s house at the time of the raid. READ: JAIL ADMIN REFUSES TO RELEASE ALI AMIN GANDAPUR DESPITE BAIL Later, the police tried to enter the house after jumping from the wall and some officials attempted to break the main gate. The police officials faced resistance while attempting to enter the house as people from inside the residence pelted stones at them. The contingents also include the personnel of anti-riot force

Iran’s intelligence ministry on Friday accused foreign “enemies” and dissidents of fomenting fears over suspected poisonings of schoolgirls , saying its investigation found no actual poisoning. The wave of suspected attacks has affected thousands of schoolgirls and provoked public anger , after months of protests against Iran’s clerical rulers following the death of a young woman held by police for allegedly flouting strict hijab rules. “The enemies’ role in fuelling this crisis is certain and undeniable. Individuals, groups and Western media [especially in Persian language] … have focused on this in the past few months, as well as foreign politicians and international bodies,” said a ministry report carried by state media. “In field findings and laboratory investigations … no toxic substance able to cause poisoning was observed … and there have been no deaths or long-term physical conditions,” the report said, blaming mischievousness and mass hysteria among students. The report ac

A man became a hero after a video of him saving a child hanging from a building went viral on social media. Watch ARY News live on  live.arynews.tv     The viral video on the micro-blogging application Twitter showed the child hanging from a building’s window by its head. The man, seeing the child, climbed the building after seeing the child in trouble.  The man grabbed hold of the legs of the little one that fainted because of exhaustion. He placed a stool under the child’s legs to save him from strangulation.   The child regained consciousness by placing a second stool under the little one’s feet. After the child did it, his parents freed their son by pulling him through the bars. Amazing men pic.twitter.com/WOQNoFP8ZB — Tansu YEĞEN (@TansuYegen) April 26, 2023 It is pertinent to mention that people have risked their own lives to save children in the past. Related – Viral video: Man saves child from approaching truck Earlier, railroad worker Mayur Shelkhe lifted a chil

ISLAMABAD: In an arduous evacuation mission, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) successfully brought back 259 stranded Pakistanis from conflict-hit Sudan. “Second Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aircraft has landed back at Karachi after successfully completing evacuation mission from Sudan,” the state news agency reported. The C-130 Hercules carrying 110 Pakistanis from conflict-hit Sudan took off this afternoon from Jeddah while earlier today, Pakistan Air Force Airbus also evacuated 149 stranded Pakistanis and landed at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi. READ: 149 PAKISTANIS EVACUATED FROM SUDAN ARRIVE IN KARACHI In line with the directives of PAF’s senior leadership, Pakistan Air Force transport aircraft are conducting arduous evacuation missions to bring back fellow countrymen who were stranded in war-torn Sudan. The transport fleet of the Pakistan Air Force has always been at the forefront to respond to the call of the Nation during natural disasters and calamities. Pakistan’s embas

ISLAMABAD: PDM chief Mau­lana Fazlur Rehman on Thursday reiterated that his JUI-F would not be part of any negotiations with the opposition PTI and announced a mass contact campaign to be launched across the country soon. The remarks came hours before the government comprising the PDM and PPP held first round of parleys on the initiative of Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani with Imran Khan-led PTI on the issue of elections. “We stand by our position that we are not in favour of negotiations with PTI,” the Maulana said, adding adding that calling for consultations among the politicians is the job of Election Commission. “I wonder why the [Supreme] Court has got into this debate of 90 days,” he asked rhetorically. Says JUI-F will soon kick off countrywide mass contact drive; expresses surprise over decline in population of urban Sindh Talking to media after a meeting of JUI-F’s Central Working Party, he said, “We do not call the Supreme Court’s decision of holding elections in Punjab

• Blaze in Lahore-bound Karachi Express linked to short circuit • Railways minister says sabotage can’t be ruled out, orders inquiry SUKKUR/LAHORE: At least seven people were killed and four children went missing after a coach on a moving passenger train caught fire overnight in Sindh’s Khairpur district, officials said on Thursday. Railways official Mohsin Siyal confirmed the number of casualties and said that the train, which was on its way from Karachi to Lahore, caught fire near the Tando Masti Khan village. He said six people were killed in the blaze, while an old woman died when she jumped from the window of the moving train. Police surgeon Dr Abu Talib said the bodies of six victims were “unidentifiable” and would be handed over to the families after DNA tests. The bodies were shifted to the Civil Hospital, Khairpur. Railways officials in Sukkur told the media that they found three burnt bodies in Coach 4, where the blaze erupted, whereas two teenage victims were found in

Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman scored a match winning century as the side registered a five-wicket win over New Zealand in the first ODI on Thursday. The Kiwis, sent to bat first, scored 288-7 in their 50 overs on the back of Daryl Mitchell’s century. He struck a maximum and 11 boundaries on his way to 115-ball 113. Opener Will Young chipped in with a half-century as he made 86 from 78 balls with the help of eight fours and two sixes in PAK vs NZ first ODI. Pacer Naseem Shah was the pick of Pakistan bowlers as he returned with outstanding figures of 2-29 in 10 overs. Fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf also took two wickets. Pakistan chased the 289-run targe t with nine balls to spare with the left-arm batter stealing the show. Fakhar Zaman struck 117 off 114 balls. His knock included 13 fours and a six. He put on a 124-run opening stand with left-handed batter Imam-ul-Haq. The latter made 60 from 65 balls with five fours and a maximum to his name. Skipper Babar Azam

LAHORE: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has allotted election symbols to candidates including PML-N leaders Maryam Nawaz and Hamza Shehbaz ahead of the Punjab elections, ARY News reported on Thursday. The ECP issued the list of election symbols of candidates belonging to 10 out of 30 constituencies in Lahore today. Election symbols were also allotted to Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz senior vice president and chief organiser Maryam Nawaz and PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz. READ: PUNJAB POLLS: MARYAM NAWAZ TO CONTEST ELECTION FROM GUJRANWALA It was learnt that Maryam Nawaz and Hamza Shehbaz will contest the Punjab elections as independent candidates. The commission allotted election symbols to 34 candidates including 28 independent candidates in the PP-144 constituency, whereas, 27 candidates including 21 independents got election symbols in PP-145. In March, it emerged that Maryam Nawaz decided to contest the upcoming elections for Punjab Assembly from Gujranwala. READ: HAM

QUETTA: The Consul General (CS) of Germany in Karachi Dr Rudiger Lutz visited the headquarters of Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Balochistan and lauded the department’s flood relief operation in the province.   During the visit, Director-General (DG) PDMA Naseer Ahmad Nasir briefed the German Consul General Dr Rudiger Lutz on efforts of the department during coronavirus pandemic, floods and urban flooding. Speaking on the occasion, Naseer Ahmed Nasir pointed out that Pakistan especially Balochistan was severely affected due to climate change. “Record torrential rains and floods are clear evidence of climate change”, he noted. The German Consul General was also briefed on ‘timely planning’ of PDMA and relief operations. “Balochistan government, despite its limited resources, is actively carrying out emergency-related projects”, he added. Dr Rudiger Lutz also visited department’s control room and was briefed on coordination. He also visited the Provincial Emergen

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Thursday approved four summaries of the Petroleum Division about the renewal and grant of Exploration and Production (E&P) licences in Attock and Chakwal in a bid to accelerate oil and gas exploration activities in the country, ARY News reported. Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar presided over the ECC meeting. The meeting was attended by Power Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman and others. The ECC accorded its approval to the following summaries of Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division): – Extension in renewal of Bhal Syedan Development and Production Lease (D&PL) covering an area of 16.41 sq kms located in District Attock, Punjab w.e.f. 1st January, 2022 till 10th April, 2024 in favour of M/s OGDCL (Oil & Gas Development Company Ltd). -Declaration of Commerciality (DOC), approval of Field Development Plan (FD

SUKKUR / DERA MURAD JAMALI: Six members of the Anti-Terrorist Force of Baloc­histan Police, including a sub-inspector, embraced martyrdom while two others suffered injuries in a shoot-out with kidnappers at the Chand water channel in the jurisdiction of Mouladad police station in Jacobabad on Wedn­esday, police said. A Jacobabad-based band of criminals, known as Mitho Shah gang, had kidnapped Furqan, the son of rice mill owner Aslam Soomro from Balochistan and brought him to the Mouladad area. Furqan Soomro was waylaid in the Kashmirabad area of Jaffa­rabad, while returning to Usta Mohammad town from Jacobabad on Tuesday night, police said. According to police, SSP Hasnain Iqbal came to Jacobabad from Jaffarabad along with a team. SSP Jacobabad Dr Sumair Noor Channa along with a large contingent of police also reached there to support the Balochistan police. Balochistan police team was trying to recover son of mill owner from Sindh-based gang Balochistan police then launched the

ISLAMABAD: Despite over 63 per cent power generation from domestic cheaper fuels and unprecedented increase in base tariff in recent months, the ex-Wapda distribution companies (Discos) have moved to charge about Rs10 billion in additional fuel cost to their consumers at the rate of Rs1.174 per unit in May. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has accepted the tariff petition filed by the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) on behalf of the Discos and has called a public hearing on May 3 to see if the proposed increase in tariff is justified in line with monthly fuel cost adjustment (FCA) mechanism. On approval, the Discos would charge an additional amount of about Rs9.93bn from their consumers for electricity consumed in March despite a healthy 63.5pc contribution from domestic cheaper fuels. The increase in FCA is despite the base average tariff has gone up by more than Rs7 per unit besides a series of surcharges and a reduction in the cost of import fuels l

ISLAMABAD: For the first time in the country’s history, Pakistan on Wednesday decided to surrender government’s remaining Hajj quota to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) due to a shortfall of applications because of rising inflation, ARY News reported, citing sources. Sources told ARY News that a quota for Hajj pilgrimage was still available in the country for the first time in country as shortage of dollars and rising inflation stopped Pakistanis from applying for Hajj. In this regard, the government has decided to surrender government’s remaining Hajj quota to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). However, sources said that the final decision to hand back the Hajj quota will be made by the federal cabinet. Read More: First Hajj flight to take off on May 20 Sources further claimed that the authorities also mulled giving the official Hajj quota to the private operators after low applications turned out for the government scheme. However, this option would mean the private operators will hav

BANNU: In a horrific incident, a man in Bannu committed suicide after killing his four children due to ‘financial crisis’, ARY News reported on Wednesday. According to details, the incident was reported in Bannu’s Domail area, wherein the man – identified as Kaleemullah – allegedly killed his four children and committed suicide. In a statement, Kaleemullah’s brother said that the man had no enmity with anyone, adding that he used to run a tyre puncture shop and was mentally disturbed due to the ‘financial crisis’. READ: KARACHI MAN ATTEMPTS SUICIDE AFTER POISONING WIFE, CHILDREN OVER POVERTY Meanwhile, police officials have recovered a pistol and a motorcycle from the crime scene. The police have registered a case against the deceased husband under section 302 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). In the FIR, his wife claimed that Kaleemullah was mentally unstable and was taking medication. from ARY NEWS https://ift.tt/srNzqWx https://ift.tt/iUrt1VW

ISLAMABAD: Signs of a breakthrough in negotiations between ruling coalition and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have emerged as the former has contacted Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani to break the existing political impasse, ARY News reported on Wednesday, citing sources. Sources told ARY News that federal ministers and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Azam Nazeer Tarar and Saad Rafique have contacted Senate Chairman for talks with opposition – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The ministers proposed to constitute five-member committees of opposition and government from upper house of Parliament. They also sought place in Parliament House for negotiations, sources claimed. Sources further claimed that Senate Chairman will write a letter to the opposition and apprised it of government’s proposal. Meanwhile, sources added, Sadiq Sanjrani has contacted PTI leaders Shahzad Waseem and Asad Umar following the government’s recommendation. Moreover, PML-N leader Sardar Ayaz Sadiq

ISLAMABAD: Two lawmakers of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) engaged in a verbal faceoff during the National Assembly (NA) session, ARY News reported on Wednesday. PML-N lawmakers Murtaza Javed Abbasi and Javed Latif engaged in a heated debate during the National Assembly (NA) session, with both sides using abusive language. However, the situation was diffused with the intervention of Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, Attorney General Naseer Tarar, Kamar Zaman Kaira, and Agha Rafique Ullah, who separated two party leaders. Sources told ARY News that the argument broke out when Federal Minister Javed Latif was not allowed to speak in the house. Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that the government cannot violate the Constitution by issuing funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for holding general elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Supreme Court’s (SC) orders. Speaking on the National Assembly (NA) floor, the finance minister lambast