Saturday, September 12th, 2026
Referendum on new provinces subject to parliament’s nod: Rana Sanaullah
ISLAMABAD, SEP 12: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Saturday said that a referendum on the creation of new provinces will be held if approved by a joint session of parliament. During his interaction with journalists in Lahore, Sanaullah said that parliament was the best forum for discussing the creation of new provinces. His remarks echoed those of Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, who said that parliamentary debate on the creation of new provinces would be held in October. “The matter ofRead More
England secure historic whitewash against Pakistan with Edgbaston victory
Powered by half-centuries from Jordan Cox and captain Joe Root, England defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in the third and final match to complete a historic 3-0 whitewash in the Test series. The home team, chasing just 130 to win, were in deep trouble when openers Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay were dismissed in the opening over but Root (62) and Cox (59) saw them home. The eight-wicket victory meant England inflicted a whitewash defeat on Pakistan for the first time on their home soil. The Three Lions had alsoRead More
BRICS nations call for ‘maximum restraint’ in Middle East
NEW DELHI, SEP 12: Members of the 11-nation BRICS group including China, Russia, Iran and India called for calm in the Middle East, in a joint statement issued Saturday at a summit in New Delhi. “We express deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in Middle East/West Asia and, recalling our respective national positions, call for exercising maximum restraint, as well as avoiding actions that could further aggravate the situation,” said the statement. The statement also condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure and nuclear facilities. “We express serious concern overRead More
Trump says Hormuz concerns will ‘work out just fine,’ Iran war will end after midterms
WASHINGTON, SEP 12: President Donald Trump repeated on Saturday that he believed the war with Iran will end after US midterm elections in November and that oil prices will tumble once it does. “I think very soon. I think it’ll be probably right after the mid-terms. They’re trying to hold out as long as they can to complicate the election. But I think people are wise to it,” Trump told reporters in Dublin. “When that happens, oil prices will come tumbling down.” He also added that everything would “work outRead More
CDA teams clear fallen trees, drain rainwater after Islamabad downpour
ISLAMABAD, Sep 12: The Capital Development Authority (CDA), Environment Wing and Islamabad District Administration promptly cleared fallen trees and branches from roads and drained rainwater following heavy rainfall in the capital last night. The timely measures helped restore traffic flow on affected roads and ensured smooth movement of citizens, according to a statement issued here on Saturday. CDA Sanitation Department teams inspected major roads, intersections, underpasses and rain-affected areas and took immediate steps to drain accumulated water and remove debris. The Environment Wing teams also remained active in clearing fallenRead More
Experts call for more funding for UN human rights system
ISLAMABAD, Sep 12: Experts and former diplomats have called for urgent and sustainable funding for the United Nations human rights system, warning that a lack of resources is weakening efforts to protect people in occupied territories and conflict-hit regions. Speaking at a seminar hosted by the World Muslim Congress on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, the speakers said financial constraints were affecting the ability of the UN human rights mechanisms to monitor violations, document abuses and ensure accountability. The speakers expressed particular concernRead More