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Business as usual in Islamabad despite PTI strike call

A strike call by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday failed to gain traction in Islamabad, as daily life remained largely unaffected across the federal capital. Business activities and public services continued as usual, with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) proceeding with its weekly Sunday bazaars as scheduled. Although public life remained operational, the Islamabad district administration took precautionary measures by suspending metro bus services, anticipating potential protests. This decision, however, caused inconvenience to some commuters. Despite PTI’s announcement to observe February 8 as a “Black Day,” transport terminals remained open, and traffic flowed normally across major roads in the city. Read More: PTI strike sees mixed response across K-P amid Feb 8 protest call Police personnel were deployed along key highways, and Safe City cameras monitored important routes, including Faizabad, Club Road, and Srinagar Highway. Authorities reported no incidents of roa...
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Sehwan thrums as Qalandar's devotees gather for 774th urs

The vibrant colours of festivity and devotion once again swept through Sehwan, the town that houses the revered shrine of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (RA). From streets lined with vendors to humble homes, the spirit of the saint’s 774th urs infused the air, drawing hundreds of thousands of devotees from across Pakistan and abroad. Dance, devotion, and trance rituals formed the heartbeat of the celebrations, while sports, literary events, and musical concerts reverberated through the town. At the centre of it all stood Qalandar’s shrine, bathed in night-time illuminations that lit up the skies. Langars offering free meals, milk, water, and soft drinks ran simultaneously across the town, welcoming Muslims and Hindus alike. حضرت لعل شہباز قلندرؒ کے 774ویں عرس مبارک کے موقع پر تمام عقیدت مندوں کو دلی مبارکباد۔ آپؒ کی تعلیمات محبت، رواداری، امن اور انسانیت کی خدمت کا لازوال پیغام ہیں۔ آج کے دور میں ہمیں قلندرؒ کی تعلیمات کو اپنی زندگیوں کا حصہ بنا کر معاشرے میں اتحاد اور بھائی چارے کو فروغ ...
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America's late-cycle moment

When Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates and one of the most influential figures in global finance, warns that the United States is approaching a phase of internal collapse, it is an elite admission that the system, which once appeared self-correcting, stable and permanent, is now struggling to reproduce its own legitimacy -- at home and increasingly abroad. For much of the post-war era, America’s domestic authority and global standing reinforced one another. Institutional coherence underwrote international credibility, while global dominance masked internal fracture. However, that alignment is now breaking down. As Washington’s ability to command consent within its own borders erodes, so too does the moral and political authority it once projected outward. In a recent essay drawing on his 2021 book Principles for Dealing With the Changing World Order, Dalio argues that the United States is moving from “Phase Five” of a long historical cycle defined by economic stress, institu...
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Fire erupts at factory in Karachi's Landhi Export Processing Zone

A fire broke out at a factory in Karachi's Landhi Export Processing Zone on Friday night, prompting a swift response from emergency services, government officials, and rescue teams. Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister for Rehabilitation Gianchand Esrani said in a statement that the Central Command and Control of Rescue 1122 was immediately notified, and fire and rescue teams, along with ambulances and fire brigade trucks, rushed to the site. Efforts to control the blaze are currently ongoing. “Ten fire brigade vehicles and two snorkel units are actively engaged in combating the fire using modern firefighting equipment,” Esrani said, adding that rescue teams were continuously working to protect lives and property. He also directed teams to maintain rapid and coordinated operations at the scene. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said fire tenders and snorkels were present on ground to tackle the situation with additional water bowsers also present. Another big challenge for our brave fire figh...
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CDA clarifies relocation of WWI memorial, denies demolition claims

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Thursday rejected reports suggesting the demolition of a World War I memorial, stating that the monument has been relocated as part of a conservation effort to ensure its long-term preservation, security and public accessibility. Earlier, media reports said the monument on Kuri Road, near Rehara village, was destroyed. In a statement today, the CDA said the memorial was carefully dismantled under established conservation protocols, with original bricks and materials preserved to allow accurate reconstruction at a new site. The authority maintained that the structure had deteriorated over time and that relocation was necessary to ensure its dignified upkeep and protection. "While the monument is not listed on the Department of Archaeology’s notified heritage inventory, the department was consulted and due process was followed," the CDA noted. It added that formal consent from the legal heirs was obtained before the relocation, includi...
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UN human rights agency in ‘survival mode’: chief

The United Nations human rights chief said on Thursday that his agency was “in survival mode” due to funding shortfalls, as he launched a $400 million appeal to tackle global rights crises in 2026. Volker Turk warned countries that at a time when global human rights are under significant assault, his office was facing dire funding shortages hampering its increasingly important and life-saving work. “Our reporting provides credible information on atrocities and human rights trends at a time when truth is being eroded by disinformation and censorship,” he told diplomats at the UN rights office headquarters in Geneva. “We are a lifeline for the abused, a megaphone for the silenced, and a steadfast ally to those who risk everything to defend the rights of others.” In 2025, the UN Human Rights Office’s regular budget — set by the UN General Assembly of member states — was $246m, but it ultimately received only $191.5m of that money. It also sought $500m in voluntary contributions, of which ...
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Ban on renting to bachelors ruled unlawful in Islamabad

The federal ombudsperson for protection against harassment in Islamabad has declared housing restrictions imposed on bachelors and single individuals as “illegal and unconstitutional.” Federal Ombudsperson Fauzia Waqar ruled that any policy preventing individuals from renting a residential property is unlawful. The decision came while adjudicating a complaint filed by a woman who was refused a rental home solely on the basis of her single status. According to the ombudsperson’s findings, basic utilities such as electricity and water were deliberately disconnected in an attempt to harass the female tenant. Read More: Govt approves 85% increase in house rent ceiling for federal employees The ruling emphasised that marital status or gender cannot legally justify denying an individual the right to rent a house. The ombudsperson stated that such discriminatory restrictions violate fundamental constitutional principles, including equality, human dignity, and the freedom to reside. The observ...
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