4 mn readTehran and Islamabad have agreed to promptly finalize a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), as stated in a joint announcement on Wednesday, April 24, marking the conclusion of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s three-day official visit to Pakistan.
4 mn readSix judges from the Islamabad High Court expose alleged interference by intelligence agencies, citing coercion, surveillance, and intimidation tactics. Their letter to the Supreme Judicial Council reveals a concerning pattern, urging a thorough investigation to uphold judicial independence and ensure accountability.
3 mn readA tourist couple camping in Jharkhand’s Dumka district before heading to Nepal were brutally attacked. In a now-deleted Instagram video, they described being assaulted, robbed, and the woman raped by seven men. Police have arrested three suspects, with more sought after. The country’s poor record on women’s safety remains a concern, with reported cases of rape rising by 20% from 2021 to 2022.
3 mn readAn unknown attacker drove an explosives-laden vehicle into a convoy of Chinese engineers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, hours after Baloch rebels attacked a naval base in the Turbat area in Baluchistan province.
3 mn readFormer Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to jail for 14 years, marking the second consecutive sentence for the Ex-PM of Pakistan within a span of two days. The conviction is related to their unlawful gains from state gifts, which occurred just a week before a general election in which Imran Khan was not eligible to contest. This case is named the Tosha Khana Case (Gift House case).
3 mn readIndia’s Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced Budget 2024 on February 1st with significant focus over health, women and farmers along with an aim to boost the economy. She presented last budget under current administration before upcoming general elections. Factors such as youth and women empowerment, focus on farmers and poor, use of infrastructure and technology for productive outcomes and handling demographic challenges through high power committee, the budget included all possible segments. GDP is government, development and performance. We have delivered on development and have better managed the economy. We are bringing down the fiscal deficit despite very challenging times, she said. Simultaneously, the budget also hinted towards the India, Middle East, European Corridor (IMEC) project to be continued irrespective of trouble in Red Sea.
4 mn readThe State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has revealed its intention to introduce fresh currency notes incorporating upgraded international security features. Mr. Jameel Ahmad, the governor of the central bank, mentioned that the forthcoming notes will feature new serial numbers, designs, and advanced security elements.
3 mn readNepal has become first South Asian Country to register the same-sex marriage. On 14th of February, Trans woman Maya Gurung, 35 and Surendra Pandey, 27, a gay, got legally married at Dordi Rural Municipality of Lamjung district in Western Nepal, quoted Hindustan Times. same sex marriage is legal in Nepal since 2007, when Nepal’s Supreme Court stated that there can be no discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation whereas in 2015, constitution adopted clearly mentions the same. An organization called ‘Blue Diamond Society’ who is working for the rights of LGBTQ community in the country, released its statement via Press Trust of India. According to the information, President Sanjib Gurung said, ‘It’s a great pleasure to learn about this, it is a great achievement for us, the third gender community of Nepal. This is the first case not only in Nepal but also in the whole of South Asia, and we welcome the decision.’ Into the further addition, ‘There are many third gender couples living without their identities and rights and this is going to help them a lot’, reported PTI.
3 mn readPakistan’s election body ECP has denied the nomination of former Prime Minister Imran Khan to participate in the 2024 parliamentary elections. Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party alleges that authorities are preventing a majority of its candidates from taking part in the upcoming February elections.
3 mn readIf reports are to be believed, rules under Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) is ready to be notified before 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. Ever since the Act was passed at the end of 2019, it was under work due to extension of rules. The Act was passed on 10 December 2019 in Lok Sabha and days later in Rajya Sabha, after it was introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Upper House. The Act has been surrounded by controversies from the time it was out there. Described by The Wire, ‘The Act aims to provide citizenship to Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Christians purportedly fleeing persecution from India’s Muslim-majority neighbors; namely Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh’.
