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Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday heard the Punjab government’s appeal against the acquittal of Sanam Javed in the May 9 riots case. During the proceedings, the court remarked that if injustice is being done, the High Court cannot simply turn a blind eye. The Punjab government’s counsel argued that Sanam Javed had filed a petition against her remand in the Lahore High Court, which allegedly exceeded its authority by acquitting her from the case altogether. Justice Hashim Kakar noted that the court had already issued instructions in such cases to be decided within four months, questioning why the trial…

Gulf issuers, including Saudi Arabia’s $925 billion sovereign wealth fund, are working on a round of bond offerings, according to sources, braving debt markets despite recent turmoil ignited by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. Markets have been volatile since Trump announced sweeping tariffs on April 2, even after he rolled most of them back, as investors struggle to gauge where his policies are headed. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is seeking to raise between $1.5 billion and $2 billion with a sukuk, or Islamic bond, in coming weeks, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter.…

The Balochistan Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BBISE) has announced the postponement of intermediate examinations by three weeks, just one day before the exams were set to begin. According to an official notification issued on Monday, the Intermediate (FA/FSc) examinations, which were scheduled to commence on Monday, April 22, will now be rescheduled. New dates for the exams will be announced soon. Board officials stated that the decision was made due to unforeseen administrative reasons, although no further details were provided.

The upward trend in cement prices continued across Pakistan last week, with notable regional variations according to the latest figures released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). For the week ending April 17, 2025, northern Pakistan recorded an average cement price of Rs 1,425 per bag, representing a 0.95% increase from the previous week’s rate of Rs 1,411. Meanwhile, southern regions bucked the trend with a marginal decrease of 0.20%, bringing prices down to Rs 1,384 from Rs 1,387. The city-specific breakdown reveals Lahore commanding the highest cement prices nationwide at Rs 1,497 per bag. Bahawalpur follows closely at…

The journey of 67,000 Pakistanis to perform Hajj through private operators has seemingly become an impossible mission. The final date for issuing visas, according to the Saudi deadline, was April 18. Private Hajj operators have blamed the Saudi government for the delay, claiming they had sent the payments before the deadline, but the Saudi software system crashed. The Pakistan Ulema Council has urged the Prime Minister to take notice of the issue and appeal to the Saudi government for special consideration. SAMAA’s Osman Javed Malik reports from Islamabad. According to the Saudi deadline, the final date for visa issuance was…

A significant development has emerged in the case of a seven-year-old girl who was tragically kidnapped and killed on Easter Day, as the main suspect was shot dead during a police operation. According to police, the suspect, identified as the girl’s maternal uncle, was arrested from the Mandra area late last night by a special police team. He was reportedly known to have a history of drug addiction. Following his arrest, the suspect was taken to Mureed Phatak for the recovery of the suspected murder weapon. However, during the operation, unknown assailants opened fire on the police party. In the…

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has warned that if the federal government does not halt the controversial canals project, his party may consider withdrawing support—but emphasized that they do not wish to take such a step. “Let’s talk. Dialogue is the only way forward,” he said during an appearance on SAMAA’s show Red Line with Talat. Murad Ali Shah recalled that a certificate from IRSA (Indus River System Authority) had been secured even during the caretaker setup in the past. “We don’t want another interim government to make decisions that later lead to endless disputes,” he said. “The PML-N…

Alphabet’s Google (GOOGL.O) needs strong measures imposed on it to prevent it from using its artificial intelligence products to extend its dominance in online search, a U.S. Department of Justice attorney said as a trial in the historic antitrust case began on Monday. The outcome of the case could fundamentally reshape the internet by unseating Google as the go-to portal for information online. The Justice Department is seeking an order that would require Google to sell its Chrome browser and take other measures to end what a judge found was its monopoly in online search. Prosecutors have compared the lawsuit…

DUBAI: “It’s always flattering to receive compliments on my looks, but I hope viewers also pay attention to the dialogue, acting, and drama that bring the story to life,” said Fawad Khan at the music launch of his much-anticipated Bollywood film Abir Gulaal. Speaking about his co-stars, Fawad added: “I’ve been fortunate to work with many talented heroines. While beauty is one aspect, what truly matters is their inner grace and character, which enrich the collaboration.” The music launch, held at the iconic Dubai Mall, was a star-studded affair attended by the film’s cast, including Vaani Kapoor, and the crew…

At a high-level symposium titled “Jointly Build the China-Pakistan Community with a Shared Future”, Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, alongside top Pakistani officials and experts, commemorated the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s landmark 2015 visit to Pakistan. Ambassador Jiang reviewed a decade of achievements under CPEC, emphasizing strategic trust, development gains, cultural and educational ties, robust security cooperation, and global collaboration through platforms like the UN and SCO. He proposed five priorities for future cooperation, aligning BRI with Pakistan’s development goals and reaffirming China’s role as Pakistan’s top FDI source. Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch termed the relationship resilient and forward-looking, noting…