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Senior PML-N leader Senator Mushahid Ullah Khan is "severely ill," said the party's MPA Hina Pervaiz Butt. In a tweet, Butt urged people to pray for the senator's swift recovery, terming him a "precious asset" for the party. "I would request you all to pray for the swift recovery of PML-N's precious asset Senator Mushahid Ullah, who is severely ill right now," she tweeted. ن لیگ کے قیمتی اثاثہ سینیٹر مشاہد اللہ صاحب جو اس وقت شدید علیل ہیں، آپ سب سے درخواست ہے کہ ان کی صحتیابی کیلئے دعا کریں۔اللہ ان کو جلد از جلد صحتیاب کرے آمین ?? — Hina Parvez Butt (@hinaparvezbutt) December 27, 2020   PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz also took to Twitter and referring to the senator as an "inimitable" person, prayed for his health. May Allah SWT bless @Mushahidullahkh you with absolute and speediest recovery. You are inimitable and an asset for us and Pak. May you live long. — Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) December 28, 2020 Ma...

Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmed emphasised that the Pakistan Army was "not involved" in the country's politics in the past nor would it be in the future. Speaking to the media , he questioned why the leaders of the opposition's Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) did not take the name of Gen Ziaul Haq when they talked about the alleged role of the army in politics. "They polished Ziaul Haq's boots. They are a product of General Headquarters gate number four. Pakistan Army is a great army. It was not in politics, is not and will not be in politics. It was with democracy, is with and will be with democracy." He was referring to the PDM's power show in Larkana a day earlier in which PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that the opposition had united on PDM's platform to rescue the country from the government's alleged inefficiencies and will together make efforts to end "the business of selected and selection". PM...

The Pakistan Navy conferred the honourary rank of lieutenant to renowned cricketer Fakhar Zaman in a bid to acknowledge his achievements in the sport as well as his association with the Navy. According to a statement issued by the Director-General Public Relations of the Pakistan Navy, the Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi conferred the honorary lieutenant title upon Zaman during a special epaulette award ceremony held at the Naval Headquarters in Islamabad. Fakhar Zaman is a former Pakistan Navy serviceman. He joined the navy in 2007 as a sailor with the operations branch. During the early years of his service, his excellent cricketing skills were spotted after which he represented the Pakistan Navy in several cricket tournaments. According to the statement, Fakhar's performance in the game remained exceptional throughout his time in the team and he earned numerous laurels for the Pakistan Navy. In 2012, he made his international debut in cricket whi...

Taking aim at the opposition parties, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday those pointing fingers at state institutions for political gains can never be champions of democracy. Talking to Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan, who called on him today in Islamabad, he said all pillars of the state are working within their respective domains for development of the country. Prime Minister Khan underscored that strengthening institutions is vital to a strong and vibrant democracy. Mr Awan termed the government’s policies for economic stability and control of COVID-19 key successes. Billing opposition leaders as merchants of darkness, he said they have no future in the country’s politics. On Saturday, the premier had severely criticised opposition parties for what he termed their “double standards” and self-serving politics. Addressing a ceremony after laying the foundation stone of different projects including the university in Chakwal’s Balkassar, 500-bed hospital, law co...

Pakistan is looking to increase its share in the Afghan market by 60-65%. At the moment, Islamabad possesses 43% of the total imports in the neighbouring country. According to a news reports , the government has finalised a trade and investment for the landlocked Afghanistan after taking the General Headquarters (GHQ) on board. Under the plan, trade routes between the two countries would remain open despite subversive activities from militants across the divide, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood confirmed. In the past, trade routes were shut when there was any disruption in the bordering area, damaging exports to Afghanistan. After Kabul diversified its import regime, some of Pakistan's share in the Afghan market went to Iran and India. Dawood said the country's exports tumbled from $2.6 billion in 2010-11 to $877 million, adding that the incumbent government was now geared to increase exports worth up to $1.2 billion in the curren...

Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has called the next meeting of the alliance on January 1 in Lahore. Sources say the anti-government Opposition will meet at the residence of PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz in Raiwind. The meeting is scheduled for 1pm. PDM has demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan till January 31 and in case of no resignation, it has announced a long march. Sources said that the meeting will consider the future strategy of the PDM, resignations of lawmakers and the issue of the long march. Various political leaders of PDM addressed crowds gathered on Sunday at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh in Larkana to commemorate the 13th death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. The 11-party Opposition alliance has once more asked Prime Minister Imran Khan "to step down" or face the movement's long march to Islamabad with the aim to "dethrone him". PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that i...

Not even a broken toe could stop New Zealand's pace attack from dominating day three of the first Test against Pakistan on Monday, but their efforts to quickly wrap up the innings were stalled by a late century stand from Mohammad Rizwan and Faheem Ashraf at Mount Maunganui. On a day disrupted by intermittent showers and an unseasonal hail storm, the Black Caps pace foursome took five for 50 in the first two sessions before Pakistan rallied to be all out for 239 at stumps, 192 in arrears. Rizwan and Ashraf provided a face-saving partnership for Pakistan with 107 for the seventh wicket before the former was run out for 71 by a smart underarm throw from Mitchell Santner at square leg. Ashraf soldiered on to a career-best 91 before he was the last wicket to fall. When Pakistan resumed the day at 30 for one, Abid Ali and nightwatchman Mohammad Abbas were more intent on batting long rather than run gathering — especially with a question mark over the workload for the injured Neil ...