Pakistan to try 33 supporters of former Premier Imran Khan in military courts over recent violence
May 26, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s government said Friday that 17 more supporters of Imran Khan would be tried in military courts over recent anti-government violence, bringing the overall number of followers of the former prime minister facing military tribunals so far to 33.
Pakistani journalist, supporter of former Prime Minister Imran Khan goes missing, second in 2 weeks
May 25, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — A prominent Pakistani television journalist known for his public support of former Prime Minister Imran Khan has gone missing, the police, his family and his employer said.
Sami Abrahim's disappearance was first announced in a police tweet late Wednesday, hours after he went missing.
Pakistan’s ex-premier Imran Khan softens demand for snap vote amid crackdown on party
May 24, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s embattled former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday softened his year-long demand for early elections and said he is forming a committee for talks with the government to end the country's lingering political turmoil.
Pakistan’s Imran Khan presses legal fight, gets protection from arrest in multiple terrorism cases
May 23, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday pressed his legal battle before a court in the capital, Islamabad, which granted him protection from arrest until early next month in several cases including terrorism charges for inciting violence.
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani authorities Monday arrested a key associate of former Prime Minister Imran Khan just hours after she was released from custody as authorities pressed on with a crackdown on Khan's supporters.
G20 delegates begin meeting in disputed Kashmir, with region’s intense security largely out of view
May 22, 2023 GMTSRINAGAR, India (AP) — Delegates from the Group of 20 leading rich and developing nations began a meeting on tourism in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Monday that was condemned by China and Pakistan, as authorities reduced the visibility of security in the disputed region’s main city.
Pakistan’s Imran Khan dials down campaign of defiance, allows police search of home for suspects
May 19, 2023 GMTLAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan dialed down his campaign of defiance on Friday, saying he would allow a police search of his home over allegations that he was harboring suspects wanted in recent violence during anti-government protests by his supporters.
Top leaders of Pakistan, Iran inaugurate border market in their first meeting in 10 years
May 18, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — The top leaders of Pakistan and Iran on Thursday inaugurated the first border market as relations warm between the two countries, officials said.
Located in the remote village of Pashin in Pakistan's southwestern Baluchistan province, the marketplace is the first of six to be constructed along the Pakistan-Iran border under a 2012 agreement signed by the two sides.
Pakistani police surround Imran Khan’s home, claim former leader is hiding suspects in recent riots
May 18, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Police surrounded the home of former Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday, claiming he was sheltering dozens of people allegedly involved in violent protests over his recent detention.
Government supporters call for Pakistani chief justice to quit over releasing ex-Premier Imran Khan
May 15, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — More than 20,000 supporters of Pakistan's government converged on the country's Supreme Court on Monday, in a rare challenge to the nation's judiciary. The demonstrators demanded the resignation of the chief justice for ordering the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a graft case.
Pakistan leader says those involved in violence following Khan detention will face terrorism trials
May 13, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan's prime minister said Saturday that authorities would go after those involved in violent protests following the detention of his predecessor, Imran Khan, including prosecution in anti-terrorism courts.
Pakistani court frees former Prime Minister Imran Khan
May 13, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan left a high court in Islamabad on Friday after being granted broad protection from arrest in multiple legal cases against him. The ruling struck a blow to the government in a stand-off that has sparked days of rioting by Khan's followers and raised the specter of widespread unrest in the country.
ISLAMABAD (AP) — The arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan earlier this week has shown how quickly his fervent loyalists can mobilize in large numbers.
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, whose arrest on corruption charges earlier this week sparked a wave of violence across the country by his supporters.
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan is witnessing a wave of violence following the arrest of popular opposition leader and former Prime Minister Imran Khan on corruption charges.
Pakistan deploys troops to halt unrest after ex-Prime Minister Khan is ordered held on new charges
May 11, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s government called out the military Wednesday in areas roiled by deadly violence following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was dragged from a courtroom and ordered held for another eight days on new corruption charges that outraged his supporters and deepened the country’s political turmoil.
Reluctant critic China urges Afghan changes on women’s roles
May 10, 2023 GMTBEIJING (AP) — China on Wednesday called on Afghanistan to reform its radical policies excluding women from education and public life and “adopt a more resolute attitude in combating terrorism.”
Pakistan’s ex-PM Imran Khan arrested, sparking violence
May 10, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested and dragged from court Tuesday as he appeared to face charges in multiple graft cases, a dramatic escalation of political tensions that sparked violent demonstrations by his angry supporters across the country.
Pakistan, Afghan Taliban agree to boost trade, lower tension
May 8, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan and Afghanistan's Taliban-appointed government have agreed to boost trade and lower tensions along their border amid a surge in militant attacks on security forces, officials said Monday.
After attacks on Chinese, Pakistan pledges more security
May 5, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — The Pakistani president on Friday assured Beijing’s top diplomat that his country will boost security for all Chinese nationals working on multi-billion dollar projects in cash-strapped Pakistan.
Today in History: May 3, Margaret Thatcher elected
May 3, 2023 GMTToday in History
Today is Wednesday, May 3, the 123rd day of 2023. There are 242 days left in the year.
UN summit in Qatar on Afghanistan ends, another planned
May 2, 2023 GMTDOHA, Qatar (AP) — A closed-door summit on Afghanistan ended Tuesday in Qatar without any formal acknowledgment of the Taliban-run government there, though the United Nations' chief said they would hold another meeting in the future.
Pakistani lawmakers back PM in confidence vote in Parliament
April 27, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Lawmakers from Pakistan's ruling party overwhelmingly backed Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif's government in a confidence vote in Parliament on Thursday — a show of hands intended to halt speculations that he was losing support amid a major economic crisis.
Pakistan-held Kashmir elects Imran Khan ally as new chief
April 20, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — A lawmaker from the party of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan was elected to the top post in the Pakistani-administered section of Kashmir Thursday, officials said.
Local lawmakers elected Anwarul Haq to replace Tanveer Ilyas, who was removed as the territory's chief last week by a court for insulting judges.
Traffic collision kills 7 police officers in Pakistan’s SW
April 16, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — A head-on traffic collision in Pakistan's southwest killed seven police officers who were returning home for the Eid holidays, an official said.
They died at the scene of the crash on a national highway in the Khuzdar area of Baluchistan province on Saturday night, according to police official Fahad Khoso.
Court in Pakistan-held Kashmir removes Imran Khan’s protégé
April 11, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — In a blow to Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, a top court in the Pakistani-administered section of Kashmir on Tuesday removed his protégé and head of the local government from office.
Pakistan denies Israel trade after businessman’s export
April 3, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan on Sunday denied rumors of trade with Israel following a Jewish businessman’s tweet about successfully exporting food samples to Jerusalem and Haifa.
Fishel Benkhald, a Pakistani Jew based in the southern port city of Karachi, went viral for tweeting about his first kosher food shipment to Israel.
Pakistani charity boss slams govt for Ramadan stampedes
April 2, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — The head of Pakistan’s largest charity slammed the government on Sunday after at least 23 people died during stampedes to get free food during the holy month of Ramadan.
Cash-strapped Pakistan launched an initiative to distribute free flour among low-income families to ease the impact of record-breaking inflation and soaring poverty during the holy month.
Pakistan ups security as 11 killed in Ramadan food stampedes
March 30, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan on Thursday boosted security after 11 people were killed in stampedes at free wheat distribution centers for the poor since the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan last week, officials said.
Pakistani Taliban target police, kill 4 in roadside bombing
March 30, 2023 GMTPESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Militants in Pakistan targeted the country's police force in two attacks in a volatile northwestern province on Thursday, killing four officers and wounding six, officials said.
Pakistan says it will skip US democracy summit amid turmoil
March 28, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan announced Tuesday it will not participate in this week's U.S.-led Summit for Democracy, a move seen in part as an effort by the impoverished Islamic nation to assuage longtime ally China, which was not invited.
Another Pakistan court protects ex-PM Imran Khan from arrest
March 27, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Another Pakistani court on Monday ruled in defense of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, granting him protection from arrest as lawsuits mounted against him. Police have charged the ousted premier with incitement to violence in several cases when his followers clashed with security forces this month.
Pakistani ex-PM Khan sets out economic rescue plan at rally
March 26, 2023 GMTLAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan led a rally in the eastern city of Lahore in the early hours of Sunday, setting out his ideas to revive the country’s spiraling economy and accusing the government of lacking a rescue plan.
Pakistani court grants protection to Imran Khan from arrest
March 24, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — A Pakistani court on Friday shielded from arrest former Prime Minister Imran Khan until at least next week, amid a roiling political crisis that has pitted the celebrity politician against the current government and spilled over into street protests.
Pakistan court grants Imran Khan bail in terrorism cases
March 21, 2023 GMTLAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A Pakistani court on Tuesday granted former Prime Minister Imran Khan a weeklong bail in two new cases in which he faces terrorism charges, officials said. The ruling gave the embattled ousted premier and now popular opposition leader another brief reprieve from arrest.
Pakistani police arrest scores more Imran Khan supporters
March 20, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani police on Monday arrested scores more supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan for attacking officers over the weekend outside an Islamabad court where the ousted premier was to appear on graft charges, officials said.
Pakistani police file terrorism charges against ex-PM Khan
March 19, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Police in the Pakistani capital filed charges Sunday against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, 17 of his aides and scores of supporters, accusing them of terrorism and several other offenses after the ousted premier's followers clashed with security forces in Islamabad the previous day.
Pakistani court suspends arrest warrant for ex-PM Imran Khan
March 17, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — A top Pakistani court on Friday suspended an arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Imran Khan, giving him a reprieve to travel to Islamabad and face charges in a graft case without being detained.
Pakistan court rejects ex-PM Khan’s plea to suspend warrant
March 17, 2023 GMTLAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A Pakistani court on Thursday rejected a petition from former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s lawyers to suspend a warrant for him to appear in court in a graft case linked to his term in office — a development that increases the likelihood of another police attempt to arrest the ousted premier.
Foreign minister says Pakistan in `perfect storm’ of crises
March 10, 2023 GMTUNITED NATIONS (AP) — Pakistan’s foreign minister said Thursday his country is facing “a perfect storm” of troubles — an economic crisis, the consequences of catastrophic flooding, and terrorism “that is once again rearing its ugly head” as a result of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
Pakistani court orders arrest of former premier Imran Khan
February 28, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — A Pakistani court on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Imran Khan, as the cricket star-turned-politician called on his supporters to keep up protests amid a roiling political crisis.
Italy migrant tragedy death toll over 60; dozens missing
February 28, 2023 GMTSTECCATO DI CUTRO, Italy (AP) — The death toll rose to at least 63 in the migrant tragedy off Italy's southern coast after rescue crews recovered several more bodies Monday, driving home once again the desperate and dangerous boat crossings of people seeking to reach Europe.
Afghan refugees in Pakistan protest delay in US resettlement
February 26, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Hundreds of Afghan refugees facing extreme delays in the approval of U.S. visas protested in Pakistan's capital on Sunday, as an American program to help relocate at-risk Afghans fleeing Taliban rule stalls.
2 Pakistani brothers home after release from Guantanamo
February 24, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Two Pakistani brothers held by the United States at Guantanamo Bay detention facility for two decades were freed and returned home on Friday to be reunited with their families, officials said.
Pakistani ex-PM Imran Khan’s supporters rally, taunt police
February 22, 2023 GMTLAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Hundreds of supporters of Pakistan’s former prime minister on Wednesday defied a ban on rallies in a commercial area of the city of Lahore, taunting police and asking to be arrested en masse.
Pakistan defense minister in Kabul over shut border crossing
February 22, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan's defense minister was in Afghanistan on Wednesday, meeting with officials there in an effort to resolve this week's closure by the Taliban administration of a key border crossing between the two neighboring countries, officials said.
Pakistan, Afghan Taliban trade fire at border crossing
February 20, 2023 GMTPESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani border guards and Afghan Taliban forces traded cross-border fire on Monday morning, officials said, a day after Afghanistan's Taliban rulers closed the Torkham border crossing amid increasing tensions between the two neighbors.
Taliban claim attack on police in Pakistan’s Karachi, 7 dead
February 18, 2023 GMTKARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — Militants launched a deadly suicide attack on the police headquarters of Pakistan's largest city on Friday, officials said, as the sound of gunfire and explosions rocked the heart of Karachi for several hours.
Poor Pakistanis worry IMF bailout measures risk stark future
February 17, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Saddique Shah, a 53-year-old construction worker, sat along a sidewalk with his fellow workers on the outskirts of the capital Islamabad, his head hung low as he worried.
What if he failed to find work Friday, for the second day in a row, just as Pakistan considers a tax hike amid looming economic troubles?
Pakistan set for tax hikes in return for massive IMF bailout
February 14, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Cash-strapped Pakistan will impose new taxes of 170 billion rupees this month in a bid for massive bailout, officials and analysts said Monday, even as they warned the new taxes could accelerate the country's spiraling inflation.
Military: Forces raid hideout, kill 12 Pakistani Taliban
February 8, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Security forces acting on intelligence raided a hideout of Pakistani Taliban insurgents along the border with Afghanistan, triggering an intense shootout that left 12 militants dead, the country's military said Wednesday.
Hundreds attend funeral of Pakistan’s ex-President Musharraf
February 7, 2023 GMTKARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan's former President Pervez Musharraf was buried Tuesday in his family's hometown, the southern port city of Karachi, a day after a special plane transported his body from the United Arab Emirates where he died on the weekend.
Officials: Plane carrying Musharraf’s body lands in Pakistan
February 6, 2023 GMTKARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — A special plane transporting the body of Pakistan's former president Pervez Musharraf from the United Arab Emirates arrived in Karachi on Monday amid tight security, immigration officials said.
Pakistan blocks Wikipedia, says it hurt Muslim sentiments
February 6, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s media regulator said Monday it blocked Wikipedia services in the country for hurting Muslim sentiment by not removing purportedly blasphemous content from the site. Critics denounced Islamabad’s action, saying it was a blow to digital rights.
Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan martial ruler in 9/11 wars, dies
February 6, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup and later led a reluctant Pakistan into aiding the U.S. war in Afghanistan against the Taliban, has died, officials said Sunday.
Pakistani troops kill 2 militants in raid near Afghan border
February 3, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani troops on Friday raided a militant hideout in a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban militant group, in the country's northwest and near the border with Afghanistan, the military said.
Pakistan PM warns of ‘tough time’ to fulfill IMF conditions
February 3, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan's prime minister on Friday warned of a “tough time" as his government struggles to comply with conditions set by the International Monetary Fund for the next tranche of the country's bailout package.
Militant who killed 101 at Pakistan mosque wore uniform
February 2, 2023 GMTPESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — A suicide bomber who killed 101 people this week at a mosque in northwestern Pakistan had disguised himself in police uniform and did not raise suspicion among the guards, the provincial police chief said Thursday.
Taliban asks Pakistan not to blame them for violence at home
February 1, 2023 GMTISLAMABAD (AP) — Afghanistan's Taliban-appointed foreign minister Wednesday asked Pakistani authorities to look for the reasons behind militant violence in their country instead of blaming Afghanistan.
Peshawar, the city of flowers, becomes epicenter of violence
February 1, 2023 GMTPESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan’s Peshawar was once known as “the city of flowers,” surrounded by orchards of pear, quince and pomegranate trees. It was a trading city, situated at the gates of a key mountain valley connecting South and Central Asia.