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Situationer: PPP’s gubernatorial gambit ‘pays off’

IN sacking Kamran Tessori as Sindh governor, it is not just that the ruling PML-N has bowed to pressure from its coalition partner, the PPP. Rather, it appears that Mr Tessori had outlived his usefulness to those who brought him into office, as his “sacrifice” is being viewed as part of a larger gambit aimed at reshaping the Constitution and the resource distribution fram­ework between the provinces and the federation, rather than merely antagonising the MQM-Pakistan. For context, the Muttahida-nominated Mr Tessori was rem­oved from his office last week, and the PML-N replaced him with its senior leader, Nehal Hashmi, who took oath as governor on Friday. Mr Tessori was not a senior member of the MQM-P when on the advice of the Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan Democratic Move­ment (PDM) government in October 2022, then-president Arif Alvi app­ointed him the governor of Sindh. Insiders say Kamran Tessori was already on ‘borrowed time’, as PML-N had informed MQM-P of its decision to re...
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Eid holidays on 20th, 21st notified; first special train departs today

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decl­ared March 20 and March 21 as public holidays for offices on the occasion of Eidul Fitr, according to a cabinet division notification issued on Sunday. “The prime minister has been pleased to dec­lare March 20 and 21, 2026 (Friday and Sat­urday) as public holidays on the occasion of Eidul Fitr, both for offices obse­rving five- and six-day workweeks,” the notification stated. Meanwhile, Pakistan Railways has decided to operate four special trains ahead of Eid from major stations to various destinations. The first will depart from Lahore for Karachi on Monday (today), the second will set off from Quetta for Rawalpindi on Tuesday, the third will depart from Karachi for Peshawar on March 17, and the fourth train will head from Karachi for Lahore on March 18. The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Rese­arch Commission (Supa­rco) has forecast that Eidul Fitr is expected to fall on March 21 as the chances of sighting the Shawwal moon on March ...
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Trump administration slams CNN over Iran war coverage

• Pete Hegseth calls reporting ‘patently ridiculous’ • Thompson says network will keep reporting ‘the truth’ WASHINGTON: The Pentagon and White House slammed CNN over its Iran war coverage on Friday — with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth saying he looked forward to an ally of President Donald Trump taking over the news network. Hegseth spent part of a news conference on US military operations against Tehran criticising the media and CNN in particular, urging for what he called an “actual patriotic press”. The former Fox News host was particularly incensed by a story the channel ran suggesting Washington had underestimated Iran’s ability to disrupt global oil traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. “Patently ridiculous,” Hegseth told reporters, before adding: “The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better.” David Ellison is the head of Paramount Skydance, which is set to complete a landmark takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, the current owner of CNN , after beating Netfl...
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Federal Constitutional Court sets aside Class-IV appointments at Karak DHQ Hospital

ISLAMABAD: Expressing serious concern over a disquieting state of affairs in public appointments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Friday ordered a departmental inquiry against delinquent officials of the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Karak to discourage such irregularities in the future. Headed by Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, a two-judge FCC bench also set aside the appointments of several Class-IV employees at DHQ Hospital Karak and ordered a fresh recruitment process to be completed within two months. The FCC had taken up a set of appeals filed by Muhammad Bilal and others against the May 22, 2025, restraining order issued by the Bannu Bench of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) against these appointments. “It becomes evident that the case in hand exposes a deeply disquieting state of affairs in the realm of public appointments, giving rise to competing claims over the same public posts and leaving the fate of two distinct groups of individ...
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Law enforcers kill 6 terrorists in Lakki Marwat operation: CTD

PESHAWAR: The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) killed six terrorists during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat on Friday, according to a press release issued by the CTD. The press release said the operation was carried out in the Shagai area within the limits of the Gambila police station on the reported presence of terrorists there. It added that the terrorists opened fire on the CTD team as they approached their location, following which the law enforcers fired in retaliation. The firing continued for around 40 minutes, the press release said, adding that six terrorists were found dead in the ensuing search operation. The press release said the process of identifying the slain terrorists was under way, following which action would be taken against their facilitators and associates. Four Kalashnikovs with magazines and ammunition, two 9mm pistols, eight hand grenades and an improvised explosive device was found in the possession of the ter...
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Gunman dead after attack on Michigan synagogue

An unidentified shooter was killed on Thursday after exchanging gunfire with security in an attack on a synagogue on the outskirts of Detroit, Michigan, police said. Police said the gunman was dead following the attack on the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield. Law enforcement officers flooded the area soon after the incident, amid heightened tension nationwide over the US-Israeli war on Iran. “At least one individual came to the temple,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard told reporters. “Security saw him, engaged him in gunfire. “Nobody at the moment has been confirmed to be hurt except potentially the shooter,” Bouchard added. “We’re looking to see if it was more than one person.” Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer condemned the attack on the Temple Israel synagogue. “This is heartbreaking,” she said. “Michigan’s Jewish community should be able to live and practice their faith in peace. Antisemitism and violence have no place in Michigan,” she said. The she...
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Reparations, guarantees only ‘off-ramp’, says Pezeshkian

• Iranian president acknowledges proposals by Pakistan, Russia to de-escalate • PM’s aide says Islamabad continues to stand by Riyadh ‘no matter what’ ISLAMABAD: Iran’s president has demanded “reparations” and “firm international guarantees against future aggression”, calling this the only way to end the war “ignited by the Zionist regime [of Israel] & US”. The demand was articulated by Masoud Pezeshkian in a late-night tweet on Wednesday, where he referred to his conversations with the leaders of Pakistan and Russia. The missive came after PM Shehbaz Sharif spoke to President Pezeshkian to quietly explore prospects for a ceasefire aimed at ending the conflict, which is now entering its second week. In his tweet, the Iranian president said he had “reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to peace in the region”, adding that the only way to end the was “recognising Iran’s legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm int’l guarantees against future aggression”. Diplomatic sour...
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