Traders on the floor of the Karachi Stock Exchange.—Reuters Photo

KARACHI: Pakistani stocks ended lower on Friday as investors braced for the possibility of fresh political instability, traders said.

The Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) benchmark 100-share index ended 0.27 per cent, or 41.37 points, lower at 15,039.18, on volume of 15.79 million shares.

“Investors are being cautious ahead of the Supreme Court hearing next week,” said Mohammad Sohail, chief executive at Topline Securities.

Engro Corp was the biggest winner, gaining 3.01 per cent to close at 96.50 rupees.

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf is due to appear before the Supreme Court on Aug 27 over his failure to comply with orders to reopen corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

The move, another twist in a long-running standoff between the government and the judiciary, could lead to further political turmoil.

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Plugging the gap
06 May, 2024

Plugging the gap

IN Pakistan, bias begins at birth for the girl child as discriminatory norms, orthodox attitudes and poverty impede...
Terrains of dread
Updated 06 May, 2024

Terrains of dread

Restored faith in the police is unachievable without political commitment and interprovincial support.
Appointment rules
Updated 06 May, 2024

Appointment rules

If the judiciary had the power to self-regulate, it ought to have exercised it instead of involving the legislature.
Hasty transition
Updated 05 May, 2024

Hasty transition

Ostensibly, the aim is to exert greater control over social media and to gain more power to crack down on activists, dissidents and journalists.
One small step…
05 May, 2024

One small step…

THERE is some good news for the nation from the heavens above. On Friday, Pakistan managed to dispatch a lunar...
Not out of the woods
05 May, 2024

Not out of the woods

PAKISTAN’S economic vitals might be showing some signs of improvement, but the country is not yet out of danger....