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Displaced Palestinians take the coastal Rashid Road to return to Gaza City as they pass through Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday.—AFP JERUSALEM: Israel and Hamas have accused each other of undermining negotiations for a truce in Gaza and a hostage release deal, although the talks have not collapsed. While Hamas-backer Iran was preparing to launch hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel in retaliation for a deadly Damascus strike, the Palestinian group announced on Saturday that it had delivered its response to the latest ceasefire proposal. Without explicitly rejecting the draft deal, Hamas reiterated its longstanding demands for a permanent ceasefire and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, which Israeli officials have repeatedly opposed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instead reiterated his determination to launch a ground invasion of Rafah, the last city in Gaza yet to face such a fate and which Israel insists is Hamas’s last ...

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday castigated the recently-formed PTI-led grand opposition alliance, saying that some politicians are hatching a conspiracy against the country under pretext of poll rigging claims. The former foreign minister made these remarks while addressing a public gathering at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh in connection with 45th death anniversary of former prime minister Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Lambasting the opposition alliance, Bilawal Bhutto said that some politician wanted to launch Pakistan National Alliance (PNA) II – referring to a nine-party alliance launched in 1977 against the Bhutto-led government. “Due to those conspiratorial politicians, the country faced ten years of dictatorship [Gen Ziaul Haq’s tenure] and even today such politicians are doing the same which is a threat to the country,” he noted. He pointed out that many forces did not believe in democracy and used to hatch conspiracies but President Asif Ali Za...

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has sought a list of employees who were recruited on the basis of political affiliation in the board, ARY News reported on Sunday, citing sources. Besides seeking employees list, sources told ARY News that the PCB chairman also asked for the current posts and salary details of such individuals working for the board. Sources added that education credentials of all those who were recruited “without rules and regulations” will be checked. Meanwhile, the process of making the list has already started and important decisions can be expected by next week. It is pertinent to mention here that Mohsin Naqvi was elected unopposed as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman in February. Earlier, Mohsin Naqvi announced plans to upgrade three major stadiums in Pakistan ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. National Bank Stadium Karachi, Gaddafi Stadium Lahore and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will be upgraded before the commencement of t...

ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistanis are reportedly on board the Israel-linked container ship seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, with the Foreign Office raising the issue with Tehran for their release, ARY News reported on Sunday. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Saturday seized a container ship “related to the Zionist regime (Israel) in the Gulf,” state media reported a day earlier. “A container ship named ‘MCS Aries’ was seized by the Sepah (Guards) Navy Special Forces by carrying out a heliborne operation,” IRNA state news agency reported. It added that the operation took place “near the Strait of Hormuz”, a waterway vital to world trade, and “this ship has now been directed towards the territorial waters” of Iran. Vessel tracking websites, vesselfinder.com and marinetraffic.com, say MSC Aries is a Portuguese-flagged container ship. Both sites give its last reported position as in the Gulf. The surging tensions come against the backdrop of the six-month war waged by Israel against Pales...

Iran launched dozens of drones at Israel on Saturday but they will take hours to reach their targets, Israel’s military said, an attack that may trigger a major escalation between the regional archenemies, with the U.S. pledging to back Israel. Two security sources in Iraq said dozens of drones had been spotted flying from Iran toward Israel over Iraqi airspace in what Iranian Press TV called “extensive drone strikes” by the Revolutionary Guards. Iran has vowed retaliation for what it called an Israeli strike on its Damascus consulate on April 1 that killed seven Revolutionary Guards officers including two senior commanders. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the attack. U.S. President Joe Biden, who on Friday warned Iran against attacking Israel after saying such a scenario appeared imminent, has pledged to stand with Israel against Iran, the White House said. A retired Israeli general, Amos Yadlin, told the country’s Channel 12 news that the Iranian drone...

ISLAMABAD: Implementing the orders of International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to block the SIM cards of nearly 2 million individuals involved in tax evasion, ARY News reported on Saturday. Sources told ARY News that FBR chairman has greenlighted the blocking of SIM cards of tax evaders dispatched instructions to relevant officials. The FBR has identified 1.8 million tax evaders. Sources claimed that the FBR also has the authority to disconnect electricity connections, besides blocking SIM cards of non-filers. Meanwhile, special powers have been given to 145 district tax officers across the country in this regard. Action will be taken under Section 114-B against non-filers and tax evaders. Sources added that the FBR had previously sent notices to such individuals, but returns were still not filed. After detailed discussions between authorities, the decision to block SIM cards has been finalised. Earlier in January, it was reported that the...

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday reaffirmed Pakistan’s continued support and partnership with the Muslim World League (MWL). The prime minister made these remarks while talking to Secretary General of Muslim World League Abdulkarim Al-Issa who called on him in Islamabad today. The premier welcomed Dr. Abdulkarim Al-Issa and thanked him for visiting Pakistan on the occasion of Eid ul Fitr. He appreciated the valuable contributions and services of Dr. Abdulkarim Al-Issa for promoting the true image of Islam around the world. He also acknowledged the critical role of Muslim World League in developing unity among the Muslim Ummah, advocating for Muslim causes around the world and in spreading the message of peace, tolerance and inter-faith harmony. PM Shehbaz conveyed his best wishes and prayers for the health and long life of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz as well as for the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. He under...