NATIONALThree men have been sentenced under the Official Secrets Act after being arrested in an intelligence-based operation over alleged spying for India’s RAW. The accused were from Narowal, Bahawalpur and District Neelum in Azad Kashmir.
PoliticsPTI has announced a public rally in Mardan on the directions of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the event will be held on April 19 to demonstrate support for the PTI founder.
NATIONALImaan Mazari has moved the Supreme Court seeking suspension of her 17-year sentence in a case related to social media posts. Her petition says the Islamabad High Court did not fix her suspension plea for hearing and challenges the trial court order on multiple legal grounds.
WorldThe ICRC said it is deeply concerned after a strike hit a Lebanese Red Cross centre in Tyre and a volunteer died following a drone strike in Bint Jbeil. Lebanon’s state news agency and Israel’s military gave differing accounts of the Tyre incident.
WorldDonald Trump said people from Iran had contacted the US seeking a deal, as Washington began a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. Britain and France said they would not join the blockade and instead discussed a separate multinational mission.
WorldAn Israeli air strike killed at least four Palestinians in central Gaza as mediators met Hamas leaders in Cairo to shore up a fragile ceasefire. Fighting also intensified on Israel’s northern border with a new assault on Bint Jbeil in south Lebanon.
NATIONALFinance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb sought World Bank and IFC support on debt management, capital markets and social protection during meetings in Washington. He is attending the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings 2026.
LAHOREThe Lahore High Court has restored the federal government’s 2022 policy regulating foreign funding for NGOs and NPOs, setting aside a 2024 single-bench ruling. The court held that policy-making in this area falls within the executive domain.
WorldThe UN has urged the United States and Iran to continue constructive engagement after talks in Islamabad ended without a deal. The world body said there is no military solution to the Middle East conflict and called for the ceasefire to hold.
NATIONALThe Met Office has forecast heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds in upper parts of Pakistan from April 16 to 19. It has also warned of possible landslides, flash floods, hailstorms and damage to weak structures and crops.
WorldOman signalled late February that diplomacy with Iran was close, with terms on uranium limits and IAEA verification. Less than 24 hours later, US-Israel strikes began, killing senior officials and escalating to Strait of Hormuz closure.
SportsThe DP World ILT20 has announced that its fifth season will run from November 22 to December 20, 2026, with the final in Dubai. The six-team tournament will feature 34 matches.
