Author: i2wtc
Police officers stand as they use tear gas to disperse supporters of TLP during a solidarity march for Gaza in Lahore on October 10, 2025. Photo: Reuters LAHORE: The Punjab government on Friday reaffirmed its decision to send a summary to the Centre recommending a ban on the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and announced stricter action against those spreading hate content online. Titled “Punjab cabinet approves ban on TLP,” a press release was issued to the media – apparently aimed at creating a misleading impression that the government had moved to suspend the operations of the province’s third-largest vote-getting party, even…
ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has proposed sending a technical assistance mission to Pakistan to investigate reasons behind a whopping $16.5 billion to $30 billion trade data discrepancy and recommend corrective measures. Sources told The Express Tribune that the IMF offered to send the mission during the recently concluded talks for the second review of the $7 billion bailout package. However, the Pakistani authorities were not receptive to the proposal and have not yet given their consent, the sources added. Authorities argued that they did not need the IMF’s involvement to determine the causes behind the huge discrepancy, saying…
Premier tasks provinces, federal govt with ensuring swift repatriation amid escalating tensions with Kabul Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting on the repatriation of Afghan refugees in Islamabad on Oct 17, 2025. — Photo by Online Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ruled out on Friday any further extension for Afghan refugees “illegally” residing in Pakistan, directing provincial governments and relevant authorities to ensure their “swift and dignified” repatriation. Chairing a high-level meeting on the matter, Shehbaz said Pakistan has “borne the burden long enough” and that “those without valid visas will have to return home”. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif…
A modified Long March-6 carrier rocket carrying a new satellite group blasts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China’s Shanxi Province on Oct. 17, 2025. The satellite group, which will constitute the Spacesail Constellation — a commercial Chinese low-orbit satellite network, was launched at 3:08 p.m. (Beijing Time) and entered its preset orbit successfully. (Photo by Wang Yapeng/Xinhua)TAIYUAN, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) — China sent a new satellite group into space on Friday from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China’s Shanxi Province.The satellite group, which will constitute the Spacesail Constellation — a commercial Chinese low-orbit satellite…
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad handed over on Friday more than 30 Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) workers to the police for 14-day physical remand in connection with recent demonstrations by the religio-political party across Punjab. Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain accepted the investigation officer’s (IO) request for 14-day physical remand for identification parade. Read: TLP’s Saad Rizvi ‘shot, injured’, Muridke SHO martyred The detained suspects are accused of damaging public property and violent rioting in different cities across Punjab. TLP crackdown The governments in Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) have launched a crackdown against TLP, sealing several of the party’s offices and…
Azma Bokhari says government and state have decided to deal firmly with the group Police officers stand as they use tear gas to disperse supporters of TLP during a solidarity march for Gaza in Lahore on October 10, 2025. Photo: Reuters The Punjab cabinet has approved imposing a ban on Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan and forwarded a summary to the federal government for further action. It was announced by Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari while addressing a press conference in Lahore on Friday. She revealed that the Punjab cabinet has approved the ban on TLP and sent the case to the federal…
A Z-20T helicopter performs during the 7th China Helicopter Exposition in north China’s Tianjin Municipality, Oct. 17, 2025. The exposition opened on Thursday in north China’s Tianjin Municipality, featuring an expanded low-altitude economy exhibition area and debuting multiple military helicopters, civilian helicopters and other low-altitude aircraft. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)A Z-20T helicopter performs during the 7th China Helicopter Exposition in north China’s Tianjin Municipality, Oct. 17, 2025. The exposition opened on Thursday in north China’s Tianjin Municipality, featuring an expanded low-altitude economy exhibition area and debuting multiple military helicopters, civilian helicopters and other low-altitude aircraft. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo)A Z-20T helicopter performs during the…
Encroached land. PHOTO: NNI/FILE KARACHI: The demolition of vacated houses at the Northern Bypass Afghan Refugee Camp continued smoothly on Thursday, following the repatriation of Afghan refugees from the area. Under the supervision of the Malir Development Authority’s Anti-Encroachment Department and with the presence of heavy police contingents, more than 200 empty houses were demolished during the day. Officials said the operation is proceeding without resistance, and structures identified for demolition will be cleared by Friday. They added that viral videos on social media – showing encroachers marking and occupying empty homes in the settlement – prompted swift action from…
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, attends the Viva Technology conference at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris on June 16, 2023.Gonzalo Fuentes | ReutersTop proxy advisor Institutional Shareholder Services is recommending that Tesla investors vote against a pay plan for CEO Elon Musk that would grant him nearly $1 trillion more in stock.The “mega performance equity award” to Musk, designed to retain the CEO long-term, “has an astronomical grant value conditioned upon far-reaching performance targets that, if achieved, would create enormous value for shareholders,” ISS wrote on Friday.Tesla’s 2025 annual shareholder meeting and proxy vote is scheduled for…
KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has dismissed claims of an extremely cold or record-breaking winter across Pakistan, stating that scientific data and climatic patterns do not support such forecasts. The PMD said that meteorological instruments and sea-level conditions linked to La Nina clearly contraasually severe winter in Sindh or other parts of the country. From a technical perspective, the overall intensity of the winter season is expected to remain moderate. In response to unverified reports and social media content, the PMD explained that winter forecasts for December to February are prepared using verified systems operated in collaboration with the…