azad kashmir goes
|

Azad Kashmir goes to polls under revised schedule following civil unrest

ByJustpaste.in

Voting has commenced in the Mirpur division of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) for the first phase of the region’s general elections, following weeks of political instability and civil unrest.

The election commission announced a three-phase schedule across 45 assembly constituencies after campaign activities were severely disrupted by protests led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a civil rights movement recently banned under anti-terrorism laws.

The unrest primarily stems from JAAC’s demand to abolish 12 legislative seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan, which the group contends allow mainstream Pakistani political parties to improperly influence local government formation.

While the AJK Supreme Court ruled that these reserved seats hold constitutional protection and cannot be removed by executive decree, security remains high across polling areas, with officials warning of strict legal measures against any attempts to disrupt the voting process.

Following the Mirpur phase, voting for the Muzaffarabad division and refugee constituencies will take place on August 2, concluding with the Poonch division on August 10.

Similar Posts

  • |

    Sabat Batin surprises fans with wedding announcement

    ByJustpaste.in

    Pakistani singer and songwriter Sabat Batin has tied the knot, sharing the happy news of his nikah with fans and followers on social media. The singer took to Instagram to announce the special occasion, posting a series of pictures from his nikah ceremony. The photographs offered fans a glimpse into the intimate celebration, with Sabat and his bride dressed in elegant traditional outfits in shades of maroon and rust. In the pictures, the newlyweds can be seen posing for a photoshoot in a lush green setting. While Sabat’s face is clearly visible, his bride’s face has been concealed with a sunflower emoji in the image shared online, keeping her identity and privacy away from the public spotlight. Soon after Sabat announced his marriage, congratulations began pouring in from fellow celebrities, musicians, models and fans. The singer’s industry friends took to the comments section to express their happiness and send their best wishes to the newly married couple. Singer Nimra Mehra congratulated Sabat, writing, “MashaAllah! Congratulations Sabat.” Model Sabeena Jabar also reacted to the post by expressing her happiness through heart emojis. Actor and singer Aashir Wajahat joined the celebrations as well, congratulating the singer and his bride. He wrote, “MashaAllah, my brother. Many congratulations to both of you,” reflecting the warm response from Sabat’s friends and colleagues in the entertainment industry. The wedding announcement has also attracted attention from Sabat’s growing fan base, many of whom were quick to congratulate the singer on beginning a new chapter of his life. Sabat Batin hails from Faisalabad and has established a distinct identity in the Pakistani music scene through his blend of Punjabi, Urdu and Hindi music. His musical style and collaborations have helped him build a growing audience both in Pakistan and across the region. The singer gained considerable recognition through his collaboration with British Punjabi rapper Rickstar on the song “Gal Sun.” The track became particularly popular among listeners in India and managed to gain significant attention despite restrictions on Pakistani content in the country. “Gal Sun” eventually reached number 62 on Spotify India’s charts, while at the height of its popularity, the song reportedly crossed more than 120,000 streams per week. Its success further helped Sabat reach audiences beyond Pakistan and strengthened his position as an emerging name in South Asian music. Sabat has also collaborated with Rickstar on several other popular tracks, including “Aitbaar,” “Ve Sajna,” “Bulbul,” “Duniya Jaal” and “Yaad Rahi.” These songs have contributed to his growing reputation for experimenting with different languages and musical influences. With his latest announcement, Sabat Batin is now entering a new phase of his personal life. While fans continue to celebrate his nikah, the singer’s social media post has given followers a rare glimpse into the private milestone. The warm wishes from celebrities and fans reflect Sabat’s growing popularity within the entertainment industry, as audiences eagerly look forward to more music from the newly married singer.

  • | |

    Six non-local workers killed in Kech

    ByJustpaste.in

    Six non-local workers have been killed by militants linked to Fitna al-Hindustan in the Nasirabad area of Kech district, Balochistan, according to security sources. The sources said militants initially abducted six workers and killed another worker, identified as Javed, on July 27. The attackers later killed all six abducted workers, bringing the total number of victims in the incident to seven. The deceased workers have been identified as Muhammad Arshad, Muhammad Taimur, Muhammad Parvez, Muhammad Wazir, Muhammad Amjad and Muhammad Yahya. According to security officials, four of the victims came from Punjab, while two belonged to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The workers had reportedly been employed on development projects in Balochistan. Their deaths have raised fresh concerns about the security of workers from outside the province who travel to Balochistan for employment and infrastructure projects. Security sources also recalled a separate incident in Mashkel, Balochistan, where militants recently killed five non-local workers. The victims in that attack were also reportedly working on development-related projects. The latest killings come amid continued security challenges in parts of Balochistan, where militants have repeatedly targeted civilians, security personnel and workers involved in development activities. Security forces have been conducting operations against militant groups in various parts of the province.

  • |

    Pakistan, US move closer to finalising reciprocal trade framework

    ByJustpaste.in

    Pakistan and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to finalising a reciprocal trade framework at the earliest, signalling significant progress in negotiations aimed at strengthening bilateral trade, investment, and long-term economic cooperation. The renewed commitment was expressed during a virtual meeting held on Wednesday between Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer. The two sides reviewed the progress made by their negotiating teams and discussed the remaining steps required to conclude the proposed agreement. According to an official statement, both countries acknowledged that negotiations have advanced substantially in recent months and reiterated their shared determination to complete the reciprocal trade framework as soon as possible. During the meeting, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb referred to the recent discussions held in Washington, D.C., and appreciated the constructive approach adopted by both negotiating teams. He said the steady progress reflects the mutual commitment of Pakistan and the United States to deepen economic ties and expand commercial cooperation. The finance minister stressed that maintaining the current momentum in negotiations is crucial for Pakistan’s broader economic agenda. He noted that a stronger trade and investment partnership with the United States would support Pakistan’s export-led growth strategy, improve economic resilience, attract foreign investment, and create new business opportunities for companies in both countries. Aurangzeb also highlighted the importance of continued collaboration with the US Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank), saying enhanced financial cooperation could facilitate trade, encourage investment, and strengthen business-to-business engagement between the two countries. On the US side, Ambassador Jamieson Greer acknowledged Pakistan’s consistent engagement throughout the negotiation process and appreciated the progress achieved on key labour and regulatory reforms. He particularly welcomed Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen compliance with international labour standards, including measures related to preventing forced labour. The US trade representative reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to advancing bilateral trade discussions and expressed confidence that the remaining issues could be resolved through continued technical-level consultations between the two sides. Finance Minister Aurangzeb emphasised the need for close coordination between officials from both countries and called for accelerated technical discussions to build on the progress already achieved. He said timely completion of the agreement would open new avenues for economic cooperation and strengthen long-term bilateral relations. Both delegations expressed satisfaction over the pace of negotiations and agreed to continue regular engagement to finalise the outstanding elements of the reciprocal trade framework. The officials reaffirmed their shared objective of concluding the agreement in the near future, paving the way for stronger trade, investment, and economic collaboration between Pakistan and the United States.

  • Govt probes drug price hikes

    ByJustpaste.in

    The Pakistani government has asked pharmaceutical companies to explain steep increases in the prices of deregulated medicines after concerns over rising healthcare costs. According to sources the prices of some deregulated medicines have increased by as little as 76.8% and by as much as 1,621%, prompting government action. The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has issued show cause notices to 37 pharmaceutical companies that raised the prices of certain medicines by more than 50%. Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said he had directed officials to issue notices to the companies. They have been asked to explain why they increased medicine prices by such large amounts. Sources said that 12 of the 37 companies have already submitted replies regarding price increases for 35 medicines. Two companies have requested more time to respond. However 23 companies have not yet replied to the notices. Reminder notices have now been sent to them. Officials say the government will decide its next steps after reviewing responses from all the pharmaceutical companies.

  • | |

    Saima Noor’s epic transformation breaks the internet

    ByJustpaste.in

    Veteran Pakistani actress Saima Noor has become the centre of attention on social media after videos showcasing her remarkable fitness transformation and youthful energy went viral. The 58-year-old actress was seen performing intense workout routines, including squats, kettlebell swings and other strength-training exercises. Her dedication to fitness drew widespread praise from fans, who admired her stamina, strength and disciplined lifestyle. Other viral clips also showed Saima Noor visiting a salon, where many social media users noticed her visible weight loss and refreshed appearance. Fans described the actress as “evergreen” and applauded her youthful looks. Some users jokingly remarked that the videos appeared so impressive they looked as though they had been created using artificial intelligence (AI). The renewed attention also brought back clips from Saima Noor’s earlier interviews, in which she spoke openly about her fitness journey and commitment to a healthy lifestyle. The actress revealed that there was a time when she felt she had become overweight, prompting her to make significant lifestyle changes to improve her health and overall well-being. Saima Noor said she does not follow strict or complicated diet plans. Instead, she prefers eating balanced meals in moderate portions and has incorporated intermittent fasting into her daily routine. She credited regular exercise, mental well-being and a disciplined lifestyle for helping her regain her fitness, boost her energy levels and maintain a healthy, youthful appearance.

  • |

    Millions flock to Spain, Iceland for rare total solar eclipse

    ByJustpaste.in

    A total solar eclipse is set to darken skies across parts of Europe on August 12, drawing millions of travellers to witness the rare event. Spain and Iceland have emerged as the top destinations for eclipse chasers this week. This marks the first time the path of totality has crossed mainland Europe since August 1999. The rarity of a total eclipse passing over such densely populated regions has sparked massive international interest. Hundreds of thousands of visitors have been flocking to Spain to experience the celestial event alongside local residents. What makes Spain’s viewing especially unique is that totality will occur just before sunset, with the Sun hanging low on the western horizon. As a result, millions across northern Spain, Zaragoza and the Balearic Islands will witness a dramatic “sunset eclipse”. This will mark the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Spain in more than a century. Spain’s Secretary of State for Science, Juan Cruz, expressed excitement over the milestone. He said he hopes the event inspires a new generation of astrophysicists, calling it a genuinely special moment for the country. Spanish authorities are preparing for roughly six million visitors travelling across the eclipse’s path. The scale of anticipated tourism reflects just how rare and significant this celestial event is considered. Iceland has also been swept up in the excitement, expecting around 80,000 visitors for the occasion. The path of totality will stretch across western Iceland and eastern Greenland, offering viewers a dramatic backdrop of rugged fjords under late-afternoon Arctic light. Visitors along Iceland’s westernmost coast will experience totality at 5:44 pm local time, as the Moon’s shadow moves steadily eastward. Those in the far western regions will see totality last up to two minutes and 13 seconds, while other areas will experience a shorter period of darkness. NASA is also playing a role in the event, deploying a high-altitude WB-57 aircraft from Iceland to track the Moon’s shadow. Additional NASA-funded teams will launch specialised weather balloons to study how the sudden darkness and cooling affects the lower atmosphere. With millions gathered across two very different landscapes, this eclipse is shaping up to be one of the most significant astronomical events of the decade.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *