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By Muhammad Ameen Phulpoto I cannot shake the memory of a girl I saw recently—a child of fourteen—being married to a twenty-five-year-old divorced man. The scene was haunting. She stood silent and trembling, her small frame dwarfed by the heavy weight of a life imposed upon her. While girls her age worry about school projects, friendships, or the next chapter in a storybook, she was being ushered into adulthood before she had the chance to understand what it meant. The man she was forced to marry was known in the community for violence toward his former wife. Yet, despite this,…

By Komal Shabbir Coral reefs are among the planet’s most remarkable yet fragile ecosystems. Despite covering barely 0.09 per cent of the ocean’s surface, roughly 2.28 million square kilometres, they harbour an extraordinary wealth of life. More than a quarter of all marine species depend on these vibrant underwater cities, forming the backbone of oceanic biodiversity and providing critical ecosystem services, from coastal protection to fisheries that sustain millions of livelihoods. Yet these irreplaceable habitats are under siege. Pollution, overfishing, and the relentless advance of climate change have eroded the benefits that reefs provide by nearly half since the 1950s,…

There is, once again, a cautious glimmer of diplomacy between Tehran and Washington. Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, has signaled that Tehran is prepared to show flexibility in reviving a nuclear agreement — provided the United States lifts the web of sanctions that has tightened around the country for years. His message is neither flamboyant nor defiant. It is, rather, transactional: sanctions relief in exchange for nuclear restraint. Iran’s willingness to freeze enriched uranium, he argues, should be read not as capitulation but as proof that dialogue remains possible. The export of uranium stockpiles, he cautions, is a matter…

By Dr. Zafar Iqbal The results of the recent elections and referendum of February 2026 are now clear. But was this turnout truly reflective of public sentiment, or does it require deeper scrutiny, looking beyond the surface for a more rigorous assessment? Consider a scenario in which a once-dominant party, the Awami League, was absent from the assembly ballot paper. Yet in the referendum it was effectively present, represented by the ‘No’ option. That choice was openly embraced by Awami League supporters, and its imprint can be seen in the outcome. According to the Bangladesh Election Commission, the results of…

By Israr Ahmad Orakzai HANGU: The district administration held a meeting to review preparations for Ramazan, focusing on essential commodities, price control, and uninterrupted public services. The session was chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner Nasir Khan, following directives from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. It was attended by district officials, department heads, representatives from Wapda and the gas utility, market committees, and traders’ unions. Participants discussed measures to prevent hoarding, enforce official price lists, maintain traffic flow, improve sanitation, and address public complaints promptly. The additional deputy commissioner directed authorities to ensure continuous electricity and gas supply during sehri and iftar,…

By Abdul Qadir Mahesar DADU: The Model Criminal Trial Court has adjourned the hearing of the high-profile case concerning the murder of three members of the Chandio family to 20 February. During the proceedings, the family’s representative, Um-e-Rabab Chandio, appeared in court and later spoke to the media outside. She alleged that the suspects named in the case are linked to the ruling party and claimed that even the most powerful current authorities are backing elements involved in the killings. Um Rabab said she has remained steadfast in pursuing justice despite pressures from influential political and tribal figures attempting to…

By Aslam Shah KARACHI: The Karachi Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (KWSSIP), backed by the World Bank, is under fresh scrutiny amid allegations of financial irregularities, mismanagement, and a refusal by the current Project Director to investigate former senior officials. Sources allege that Project Director Ayesha Hamid has declined to authorize inquiries into former Project Director Usman Moazzam and associates, including Shakeel Qureshi and Muhammad Asif Khan. The transfers of these influential officers have sparked unrest within KWSSIP and the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC). Critics claim that nearly 50% of the Rs 672 billion allocated for reform…

By Rai Tajammal Bhatti FAISALABAD: Jhang Police have successfully solved a blind murder case, arresting the accused through professional investigation, timely action, and modern investigative methods. According to SP Investigation Rehman Qadir, the victim, Waqas alias Vicky, was stabbed to death on October 18 in the Kotwali police station area. Police immediately reached the scene, shifted the body for postmortem, registered a case, and launched a formal investigation. The accused, identified as Nadir Khan Pathan, admitted entering the victim’s house to steal a mobile phone. When confronted by Waqas, he stabbed him repeatedly, causing fatal injuries. SP Rehman Qadir praised…

By Wadood Mehsud SOUTH WAZIRISTAN UPPER: Tribal elders in South Waziristan Upper have accused local government officials of overseeing unlawful salary deductions from municipal staff. They demanded the immediate transfer of the assistant director and a transparent inquiry into the alleged irregularities. Speaking at a press conference at the Mehsud Press Club, Malik Nawab Sher, Malik Rahmatullah, Malik Karamat Ali, and Malik Gulistan said large-scale financial misconduct had undermined basic civic services in the district. They said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had appointed 114 sanitation workers across 57 village councils, along with 55 village council secretaries and 55 Class-IV employees,…