Stories by Hassan Belal Zaidi

Pakistan basks in glory after brokering landmark US-Iran rapprochement

• Trump, Pezeshkian and Shehbaz sign historic deal ‘ahead of schedule’ • PM drops plan to fly to Switzerland after signing...

Published 19 Jun, 2026 06:56am

After Ali Larijani, what comes next?

The political and military veteran was seen as one of few who could have built consensus for an eventual de-escalation.

Updated 18 Mar, 2026 07:49am

A fierce battle between water and fire

By Sunday afternoon, around 16 hours after the Gul Plaza fire broke out, firefighters are still playing "whack-a-mole" with the blaze.

Updated 19 Jan, 2026 09:41am

Gul Plaza fire leaves Karachi families counting hours, clinging to ‘final messages’

Firefighters were able to douse the blaze after 24 hours; six dead, more than 50 people missing.

Updated 18 Jan, 2026 11:27pm

Trump’s peace plan: An end to the war, or the basis for restarting negotiations?

From the Palestinian perspective, the terms seem to largely align with Israel’s vision and fail to safeguard their interests.

Published 30 Sep, 2025 08:02am

Amnesty declares Israeli actions in Gaza ‘genocide’

Landmark report says speed and extent of damage to infrastructure totally without precedent in the 21st century.

Updated 05 Dec, 2024 11:01am

UN acknowledges Afghan strides in stability, ending corruption

Monitoring report details Hibatullah Akhundzada’s efforts to consolidate power, lifts veil from intrigues within Taliban ranks.

Updated 13 Jul, 2024 08:21am

‘TTP now largest terror group in Afghanistan’

UN monitoring report says banned outfit enjoys backing of Taliban regime, support from Al Qaeda.

Published 12 Jul, 2024 07:26am

COMMENT: How rancorous fans marred World Cup’s ‘must-see’ clash

With aggressive chants and abuses, some Indian spectators made no efforts to conceal their derision for the Pakistani players.

Updated 16 Oct, 2023 08:32am

Art, literature can’t be termed ‘obscene’ sans holistic review: SC

Court restrains Pemra from acting against media houses without opinion from council of complaints.

Updated 13 Apr, 2023 09:29am

SOUNDCHECK: OLD NEW IDEAS

If the Urdu single Nazar is anything to go by, 2023 could very well belong to Poor Rich Boy

Published 19 Feb, 2023 07:11am

Remembering Oct 8, 2005: The day the earth shook

On this day a decade earlier, Pakistan was hit by one of the worst natural calamities to have hit the region.

Updated 08 Oct, 2018 03:29pm

Ministers launch anti-judiciary tirade in NA

PML-N leaders accuse judiciary of having different standards for Nawaz than for his opponents.

Updated 20 Dec, 2017 07:48am

Govt again fails to maintain quorum in NA

This is the third time a session was delayed due to lack of minimum number of members required to keep house in order.

Updated 14 Dec, 2017 08:34am

Agriculture lobby opposes move to abolish maize duty

ISLAMABAD: Agriculturalists from the ruling party pre-emptively criticised the government over the “expected...

Published 13 Dec, 2017 07:11am

PM to allay lawmakers’ concerns over Fata law

Govt urges opposition to hold off protests till the premier can explain the challenges facing the Fata reforms.

Updated 13 Dec, 2017 07:38am

FOOTPRINTS: THE MIGRATION GAME

“Welcome to the chicken farm,” says law enforcement tra­in­­er Dave Newton as he walks the audience through a...

Published 08 Dec, 2017 07:00am

living colours: ‘If you persist with war, you only get more war’

After being plagued by a deadly civil war for the better part of a century, the South American nation of Colombia ...

Published 16 Nov, 2017 07:22am

FBR poised to act against those named in Paradise Papers

Each person issued a notice will have 15 days to answer the questions posed by tax authorities.

Updated 08 Nov, 2017 01:01am

‘Paradise Papers’ expose ex-PM Shaukat Aziz’s offshore holdings

Rex Tillerson, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Noor of Jordan, three former Canadian PMs also named in fresh leaks.

Updated 07 Nov, 2017 07:37am