Already a two-time Tour winner, Vingegaard is the clear favourite for the Giro, with Pogacar sitting out this year’s edition, and the Dane has been in great form this season.

The 29-year-old, who rides for Visma-Lease a Bike, has won two prestigious stage races in Paris-Nice and the Tour of Catalonia this year and his powerful climbing abilities are ideally suited to a typically tough route over three weeks.

Vingegaard is also gunning to become just the eighth man to complete the triple crown of the Giro, Tour and Vuelta a Espana, one of the few feats that Pogacar is yet to accomplish.

Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, Felice Gimondi, Alberto Contador, Vincenzo Nibali and Chris Froome are the seven riders to have won all three Grand Tours.

When asked by the Gazzetta dello Sport whether winning all three Grand Tours before Pogacar was a source of motivation, mellow Vingegaard simply said “no”.

“Completing the treble is a goal for me and that’s it, because it would mean making a little bit of history,” said Vingegaard in an interview published on Wednesday.

“He’ll do it eventually, it’s just a matter of time. Tadej might be the best ever, but I’ve beaten him before and I’m confident I can do it again.”

Vingegaard is the top name in a strong field which, however, will be missing the entire podium from last year’s thrilling edition won by Simon Yates, who retired in January.

Pogacar’s UAE team-mate Isaac del Toro, who conceded what would have been a first Grand Tour win to Yates in the penultimate stage, is sitting out the Giro this year in order to make his Tour debut.

‘UNPREDICTABLE’ GIRO

Richard Carapaz, meanwhile, is still recovering from surgery to remove a perineal cyst and will not take part in a race in which the first three stages will be held in Bulgaria, with the finish in Rome on May 31 after 3,468km of racing.

Joao Alemeida is also out of action with a viral infection, meaning that Adam Yates and Jay Vine will lead UAE’s bid in Del Toro and Pogacar’s absence.

The peloton will take on a punishing trip around Italy which contains seven summit finishes and an intriguing individual time trial in stage 10, a 40.2km charge along the Tuscan coast which could prove crucial.

“I think the Giro is more unpredictable. You need to be ready every day because more than in other races you can find surprises anywhere,” added Vingegaard to Gazzetta.

Another surprise for Vingegaard could come in the shape of Giulio Pellizzari, the Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe leader, who on home turf will give hope to Italian fans that one of their own will win a Grand Tour for the first time since Nibali’s 2016 Giro win.

Pellizzari was sixth in the Giro and Vuelta last season, and one of the sport’s most promising young climbers seems to have taken another step forwards this year. The 22-year-old warmed up for the Giro with his first stage race win at last month’s Tour of the Alps, and he finished third in both Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour of the Valencia Community this year.

“From June 1 last year, when the Giro finished, I started to think about the next one because I already wanted to come back for more,” Pellizzari said recently.

Pellizzari, who has 2022 winner Jai Hindley on his team, is probably the best hope for this year’s Giro not becoming a one-man show for history-hunter Vingegaard.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

The 39-year-old faces a “middle-range” drink-driving charge, court documents showed, after allegedly being more than twice the legal limit in Sydney in April.

Warner — one of Australia’s best-known sportsmen — is accused of being at the wheel of a van and stopping short of a random testing site, before being breath-tested, arrested and taken to a police station.

“I can indicate that David will be accepting responsibility for drink-driving,” defence lawyer Bobby Hill told reporters outside court, according to public broadcaster ABC. “So many of us make those poor decisions. I think what’s important is accepting and being accountable for those poor decisions,” he said.

Warner’s lawyer argued that the case showed the risk people take when trying to assess whether they have drunk too much.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a tradesman, a doctor or one of the best opening batsmen in the world, that danger exists for every one of us.”

Former international opener Warner, who captains Sydney Thunder in the domestic Big Bash League, did not appear in court and has not entered a plea, local media said.

Court documents showed the next hearing was set for June 24.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

The England captain is set to face Worcestershire in a second division County Championship match starting on Friday.

The all-rounder suffered a freak injury when he was hit in the face by a ball during a net session while coaching academy players in February.

Stokes, 34, who suffered a groin strain during England’s recent 4-1 Ashes humbling in Australia, had to undergo reconstructive surgery.

Durham coach Ryan Campbell said Stokes could open the bowling at New Road in the absence of West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach.

“He’ll be bowling for us, 100 percent,” Campbell told Britain’s Press Association news agency. “In one of the innings he might even go with the new ball, that’s in our thinking.

“We won’t expect him to bowl a million overs, it will be probably be around 20 to 25 overs for the game, but once he gets into the battle it’s hard to get him out of it.”

England’s international season starts with a three-Test series against New Zealand at Lord’s commencing on June 4.

Stokes enjoyed a revival as a Test-match bowler last year, taking 33 wickets at just over 23 apiece.

England have struggled to fill the position of opening bowler since the retirements of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes but Stokes’ recent injury record counts against using him in that slot.

Campbell underlined his plan was designed to benefit Durham rather than England.

“We’ve made it very clear, Stokesy is here as a member of our team to help win a game of cricket for Durham, not to get ready for England,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

The sweeping crackdown over alleged betting-related offences caught up officials from three franchises and a domestic cricketer.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) ad hoc committee head Tamim Iqbal said they had acted swiftly to “set an example”.

“If we wanted to, we could have dragged this thing for another two or three months,” Tamim told reporters. “But the only thing our board said was that if we have enough evidence — execute.”

The board said domestic cricketer Amit Mojumder and Sylhet Titans manager Rezwan Kabir Siddique were charged with violating the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption code.

Chattogram Royals manager Md. Lablur Rahman and Noakhali Express co-owner Md. Towhidul Haque Towhid were charged with failing to cooperate with investigators and obstructing the probe.

All four, who have been provisionally suspended, have 14 days to respond to the allegations.

Separately, the BCB said it had banned another Chattogram Royals official, Saminur Rahman, from participating in any board-sanctioned cricket activity for alleged corrupt practices in the BPL.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

According to the PCB, the Australian squad will arrive in Islamabad on May 23. The opening ODI will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on May 30, while the second and third matches will be held at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on June 2 and 4, respectively. All matches will start at 4:30pm local time to avoid the peak afternoon heat.

The revised timing is expected to provide some relief to spectators, particularly in Lahore where most enclosures at the Gaddafi Stadium remain without shades. During the summer season, spectators can comfortably occupy only the seats in the western-end enclosures, while the eastern-end stands remain exposed to direct sunlight at the start of play.

Despite recurring complaints, the PCB has shown little interest in installing shades over all enclosures. Spectators have continued to face inconvenience during rain and extreme heat since the stadium was revamped in 2025 for the ICC Champions Trophy. During rain interruptions, fans are often forced to leave their seats and gather beneath the stands for shelter.

This will be Australia’s first bilateral ODI series in Pakistan since March-April 2022. The visitors had earlier toured the country in January-February this year for a T20 International series, which Pakistan won 3-0 at the Gaddafi Stadium. Australia also featured in the Champions Trophy, recording a notable five-wicket win over England in Lahore.

The forthcoming series carries significance for both teams as they prepare for the 2027 ODI World Cup, to be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in October next year.

Australia, the defending world champions, will seek to fine-tune their preparations against a strong Pakistan side, which has traditionally enjoyed success in home ODI conditions. Pakistan, meanwhile, will view the series as an important opportunity to test combinations and build momentum ahead of the global event.

Cricket relations between Pakistan and Australia have improved steadily in recent years after a prolonged period of limited bilateral engagement because of security concerns.

Pakistan’s successful hosting of the T20I series earlier this year and the Champions Trophy highlighted improved security arrangements and infrastructure, encouraging greater international participation.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

“This initiative is a step towards transforming talent discovery into a transparent, inclusive and merit-driven national system,” Yasir said, adding that the NTIVS had been designed to ensure that “no talented athlete is left unnoticed due to lack of access or opportunity.”

He said a key feature of the system was its emphasis on documentation and accountability, including mandatory performance footage, verifiable achievements and written feedback at every stage of the process.

“The initiative also aims to develop a national talent database to support long-term planning and resource allocation for sports development,” he added.

The PSB recently launched the NTIVS, describing it as a digital, merit-based initiative aimed at providing a transparent and structured pathway for young athletes to be identified and assessed for national-level opportunities.

According to a PSB press release, the initiative add­resses a long-standing gap in Pakistan’s sports structure, where aspiring athletes often depended on informal channels, personal contacts or limited exposure to gain recognition. Through the NTIVS, the PSB aims to institutionalise a fair and documented mechanism enabling talented individuals to present themselves for evaluation purely on merit.

The system is open to Pakistani nationals aged between 12 and 25 in all PSB-affiliated sports, excl­uding cricket. Applications can be submitted online through the PSB website in both Urdu and English without any fee, and entries will be accepted throughout the year.

Under the programme, applications will first und­ergo screening by an independent panel of experts, after which shortlisted candidates will be referred to the relevant national sports federations for technical evaluation and trials.

Final selection decisions will remain with the resp­ective federations, while the PSB will act as a facilitator to ensure transparency and procedural integrity.

The PSB said physical evaluation camps would be organised at designated cen­tres in Islamabad, Lah­ore, Karachi, Peshawar, Que­tta, Muzaffarabad, Gil­g­it and Skardu to ensure access for athletes from remote and underserved areas.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

DHAKA: Babar Azam will be absent when Pakistan don the Test whites for the first time since October last year as they take on Bangladesh in the first fixture of their two-Test series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium here on Friday.

The batter, whose return to Test cricket was highly anticipated after he displayed serious form in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) season, injured his left knee on the eve of the series opener, the country’s cricket board said later.

“Pakistan batter Babar Azam will not be available for the first Test match against Bangladesh due to an injury in left knee,” a press release by the Pakistan Cricket Board read. “The team’s medical panel is currently assessing his condition. Further updates will be shared in due course.”

Babar’s absence leaves the number four position vacant, increasing the chances of uncapped Abdullah Fazal and Azan Awais’s debut. The duo was picked in the Pakistan Test side following impressive runs in the domestic circuit over the past two years.

One of the two will likely open along with Imam-ul-Haq and the other may feature at three while Shan fills up the number-four slot.

The debutants, therefore, will be exposed to Bangladesh’s pace battery, which includes the increasingly dangerous Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam and Taskin Ahmed, on a green surface.

Pakistan skipper Shan Masood, however, believes his team has the ability to tackle all kinds of conditions at play.

“I think we’ve brought a squad of 16 that is a very well-rounded squad — a squad that can play in most conditions,” he said during the pre-series press conference on Thursday.

“Now it’s about playing 10 days of good cricket and hopefully whoever plays the best cricket will end up winning the series.”

The last time Pakistan faced Bangladesh in Tests, history was written — the latter registering their first ever win against Pakistan in the format before going on to complete a 2-0 series whitewash in Rawalpindi two years ago.

Shan may have brushed aside any talk of revenge, but the memory of Bangladesh’s stunning show will hang heavy as Pakistan seek redemption.

“We’re not going to look for the word revenge,” Shan said. “What’s important for us is our process and how we play the game. The desire for us is, when we get into winning positions, we want to be the side that finishes games off and plays a good brand of cricket.”

Pakistan haven’t finished off games from winning positions consistently over the past two years, which have seen their Test stocks nosedive — the side finishing ninth, seventh and fifth in their three World Test Championship campaigns.

The ongoing WTC cycle started with a win at home against South Africa before the Proteas levelled the series 1-1. But with Pakistan placed fifth on the championship table, there is hope this campaign would end with a place in the final.

“For us it starts with tomorrow and playing good cricket,” Shan said. “Hopefully if we do that consistently, maybe we can fulfil our bigger dreams. Every cricketer and every team has dreams of playing finals and playing for trophies, but for now it’s about playing Bangladesh in Bangladesh and making sure that we offer ourselves up really well to the challenge ahead.”

Shanto eyes big runs

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, meanwhile, made no secret of his ambitions, insisting his side must post big first-innings totals to give their potent pace attack the platform to take 20 wickets.

“The important thing is scoring runs. If we score 400 in 80 overs, no problem. If someone takes 120 overs, I also have no problem,” Najmul told reporters. “So the runs are important.”

Najmul believes his fast bowlers hold a slight edge over Pakistan’s attack.

“In the pace bowling department, I would say both teams have good pace attacks,” he said. “But if you ask me, I would say our pace bowling attack is maybe slightly ahead, if I look at the last few years and how they have been bowling.”

Shan politely pushed back.

“We’re not going to dwell on comparisons. They’ve got their qualities, we’ve got our qualities,” he said, while also acknowledging the quality of the Bangladesh attack. “We’re relishing the occasion of facing a good attack and hopefully getting some runs against them.”

Bangladesh have bolstered their batting with the inclusion of attacking opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim, while Taskin Ahmed returns from injury to strengthen an already experienced pace unit alongside the exciting Nahid Rana.

Shanto wants Tanzid to play his natural game.

“The way he plays ODI and T20 cricket, I want him to play the same way,” Najmul said.

Squads:

Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Amite Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Litton Das (wicket-keeper), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nahid Rana, Nayeem Hasan, Shadman Islam, Shoriful Islam, Taijul Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Taskin Ahmed

Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Salman Ali Agha, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Ghazi Ghori, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

Last year almost all the leading players signed two letters to the four Grand Slam bosses demanding an increase in prize money, payments into a player welfare fund to improve retirement and maternity benefits, as well as involvement in decisions that affected them.

The letters set a target of a 22-percent share in tournament revenue, which would bring the majors in line with the nine combined 1000-level events run by the ATP men’s tour and the women’s WTA tour.

But Sinner told reporters at the Italian Open in Rome that the players were no nearer an agreement with the organisers of Wimbledon and the French, US and Australian Opens.

“It’s more about respect. Because I think we give much more than we are getting back. It’s not only for the top players; it’s for all of us players,” Sinner said. “It’s not nice that after one year we are not even close to conclusion of what we would like to have.”

On Monday women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka said that she was ready to boycott the Grand Slams in order for the players to force organisers’ hands.

Those comments came after players said in a statement that last month’s announcement by the French Open of a 9.5-per cent prize money rise was not good enough.

It said that a 14pc increase in revenue last year only led to the total prize purse going up by 5.4pc, reducing the players’ share to 14.3pc.

Sinner coyly suggested he may back players pulling out of Grand Slam tournaments in the future.

“Of course, we talk about money, but the most important is respect, and we just don’t feel it. I think we players, we are a bit disappointed also of the outcome of Roland Garros, for example. So let’s see what’s coming,” added Sinner.

“So I do understand players talking about boycott because it’s somewhere we also need to start. Now it has been a very long time with this. Then we see in the future.”

Sinner will begin his bid for a record-extending sixth consecutive Master 1000 title against one of Sebastian Ofner or Alex Michelsen on Saturday.

The Italian, a four-time Grand Slam winner, is on a 23-match winning streak and is red-hot favourite for singles victory in front of his home fans, with rival Carlos Alcaraz injured.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

ROME: Jasmine Paolini launched her Italian Open title defence on Thursday by battling back from a set down to beat France’s Leolia Jeanjean 6-7(4/7), 6-2, 6-4.

Home hope Paolini is bidding to become the first Italian woman to retain the title in Rome, but started slowly at the Foro Italico.

The world number eight turned on the afterburners after going behind following an error-strewn first set, comfortably turning around the match to secure a spot in the third round, where she will meet Elise Mertens.

Paolini’s compatriot Matteo Berrettini fell at the first hurdle, 6-2, 6-3, to Alexei Popyrin, a defeat which will see the former Wimbledon finalist drop out of the top 100 in the men’s rankings.

Greece’s Stefanaos Tsitsipas was also ousted following a 4-6, 6-7(4/7) loss against Thomas Machac.

Coco Gauff, who lost to Paolini in last year’s final, made short work of Tereza Valentova in the reigning French Open champions’ opening match of the tournament.

American star Gauff beat Valentova 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 34 minutes in front of a sparsely-populated centre court.

Earlier, eighth seed Mirra Andreeva — who lost the Madrid Open final against Marta Kostyuk — needed just over an hour to beat Antonia Ruzic 6-1, 6-0 and advance to the third round.

China’s Zheng Qinwen also booked her spot in the next round as she defeated Cristina Bucsa of Spain 7-6(8/6), 6-2 in one hour and 35 minutes.

Elise Mertens, Linda Noskova and Sorana Cirstea also advanced with straight set victories.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

The match will be played at the Icahn Stadium with a 1445 local kick-off time.

The Dutch have already arranged a friendly at Rotterdams Feijenoord Stadium against Algeria on June 3 and will depart for the US the day after, heading to New York for a training camp between June 5-8.

On June 9, they will head to their base camp in Kansas City, the Dutch FA added.

The Netherlands open their Group ‘F’ campaign against Japan in Dallas on June 14, followed by Sweden in Houston on June 20 and Tunisia in Kansas City on June 25.

Uzbekistan have qualified for their first World Cup and take on Colombia, Portugal and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Group ‘K’.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

The Melbourne Arts Precinct, which manages the square, had said it would stop hosting the big-screen events because of the risk posed by unruly fans, who have used flares in the past.

Jacinta Allan, premier of the state of Victoria, intervened to reverse the ban, which had been condemned by the country’s football chiefs.

“I disagree with the decision, and I am overturning it,” Allan said. “There’s always a risk of bad behaviour from a few stupid people at every public gathering, but police and security will be on site and there will be zero tolerance for it. The World Cup should bring us together, not keep us apart.”

Football Australia had condemned the ban, saying it would rob fans of the chance to follow their team together.

The Socceroos begin their World Cup against Turkey in Vancouver on June 13, followed by games against US six days later and Paraguay on June 25.

Melbourne Arts Precinct director Katrina Sedgwick said she “welcomed” the state’s decision to help provide a safe site for watching the World Cup in Federation Square.

“We look forward to seeing the Socceroos back on the world stage, and on the Big Screen next month,” she said in a statement.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

Capped 49 times and a veteran of two World Cup campaigns, Sule also won the Champions League with Bayern Munich in 2020.

Sule was set to leave Dort­mund as a free agent but said a knee injury in a match against former side Hoffenheim made him rec­o­nsider his playing future.

In a statement released by Dortmund on Thursday, Sule said he feared he had torn his ACL for a third time.

While he was later cleared of the injury, the defender said: “it was a thousand per cent clear to me that it was over. I went to the shower and cried for 10 minutes.”

Sule won the Bundesliga five times and lifted two German Cups in addition to the 2020 Champions League title, all with Bayern.

His senior international career kicked off with a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

He went on to play at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups as well as the 2020 Euros which were played in 2021.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

Shoaib progressed without striking a ball in the second round as his Canadian opponent Adam Farag-Cao retired due to abdominal issues when trailing 6-1.

The Pakistani’s passage keeps local singles hopes alive heading into the quarter-finals.

Earlier, top seed Samir Hamza Reguig of Algeria dismissed 46-year-old Aqeel 6-4, 6-3. Aqeel had made history earlier this week as the oldest player ever to win an ITF professional match.

Russian Nikita Ianin, who lost to Shoaib in last week’s Leg-1 final, overcame Pakistan’s Muzammil Murtaza in a tight contest, winning 7-6(9/7), 6-4.

In doubles action, Muzammil found consolation by reaching the semis alongside Kazakh partner Grigoriy Lomakin. The pair defeated Britain’s Carl Holder and Germany’s Stevan Popovic 6-3, 7-5.

Other second-round singles results saw Turkey’s Kerem Yilmaz battle past Russia’s Ivan Iutkin 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, while Kazakhstan’s Grigoriy Lomakin beat Russia’s Uladzislau Tarasevich 6-3, 7-5. Edoardo Cherie Ligniere of Italy downed China’s Fumin Jiang 6-2, 6-3, and Sweden’s Arvid Nordquist cruised past Popovic 6-1, 6-3.

In doubles quarters, the Turkish pair of Melih Anavatan and Mert Naci Turker came from behind to defeat Pakistan’s Mikaeel Ali Baig and Ahmad Nael Qureshi 2-6, 6-3, 10-6. Russian pair Nikita and Andrei Kunitsyn advanced via walkover.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

Ousmane Dembele’s goal after three minutes set PSG on their way, while Bayern could not get the better of the French side’s organised defence until Harry Kane’s leveller deep in second-half stoppage time.

The French side will face Arsenal in the May 30 showcase game in Budapest after the London club’s 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday secured a 2-1 aggregate win.

Bayern, hoping to reach their first Champions League final since 2020, saw their treble hopes dashed and can now only add the German Cup to their Bundesliga crown this season.

“The character we showed against a team like Bayern is so positive,” said PSG coach Luis Enrique, who has guided the team to back-to-back Champions League finals.

“We’re so happy to reach a second Champions League final in a row. It was very intense. Very difficult. They play football at the highest level. Both teams are similar, we love to press higher. We are very happy,” he said.

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said he was “already motivated” for a tilt at next season’s Champions League as he digested the narrow defeat.

“I’m already motivated for next season. I know how hard it is to win this prize and I know how much depends on details,” said the 40-year-old. “I’m convinced we’ll take another step next season.”

Joshua Kimmich, who was part of Bayern’s treble win in 2020 and is one of six squad members to have won the Champions League, told reporters that this was the best version of Bayern he had seen.

“Sitting there in the dressing room, I have the feeling that it is still possible to win the Champions League with this team — just not this season,” he said.

“This is the strongest season we’ve played to date, stronger than previous seasons, even better than the treble season,” he added. “We are on the right path.”

Dembele gave PSG a dream start before Michael Olise and Luis Diaz narrowly missed the target with shots from the edge of the box.

As Bayern upped the ante PSG threatened again but keeper Manuel Neuer came to the Bavarians rescue in the 33rd minute, palming Joao Neves’ header wide to keep Bayern in the game.

His PSG counterpart Matvei Safonov responded with a superb save of his own, stopping Jamal Musiala’s low drive from close range a minute before the break.

It was initially one-way traffic after the interval with PSG again sitting back, but threatening on the counter-attack.

With the hosts, who needed two goals, growing more desperate, PSG found more space in the second half and went close through Desire Doue and Kvaratskhelia late in the game.

Bayern’s top scorer Kane, who had hardly had a look-in, found just enough space to drill in a stoppage-time equaliser, scoring for a seventh consecutive game in the competition.

But his 55th goal across all competitions this season for Bayern came too late as the hosts ran out of time.

“We can’t always win with magic or extraordinary play. Today we had to defend a lot but we defended very well,” said Doue.

The display of defensive solidarity and solidity was led by the immense Willian Pacho, the Ecuadorian who remarkably won all six of his duels on the pitch.

Warren Zaire-Emery was magnificent filling in at right-back in the absence of the injured Achraf Hakimi, and the 20-year-old France midfielder has been perhaps PSG’s player of the season.

Can they repeat

Now PSG are the first team since Liverpool in 2019 to reach back-to-back finals in the competition, and a win over Arsenal will see them become only the second side in the Champions League era to retain the title.

The only team to have achieved that feat so far remains Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid of 2016 to 2018.

Enrique can now join Zidane, Pep Guardiola, Bob Paisley and Carlo Ancelotti in winning the European Cup as a coach for the third time — he also won it with Barcelona in 2015.

“We have a magnificent young team in which everyone gives everything, and we have the best coach in the world,” said PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi with the beaming smile of a man who probably cannot believe just how successfully the club have moved on from the era of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi.

Luis Enrique has transformed Dembele into a Ballon d’Or-winning centre-forward and has helped make the thrilling Kvaratskhelia the best player in this season’s Champions League.

Meanwhile, after the triumph Parisian authorities remanded in custody 95 people, including nine minors, following unrest in the French capital.

Another 14 minors outside of Paris were also remanded in custody after celebrations turned violent following PSG’s draw.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

Competitors from Russia and Belarus had been banned from international competition following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, although some were permitted to compete as neutrals.

Russians will still only be able to compete under the neutral banner, on an individual basis, and only if they have not actively supported the conflict.

The IOC executive board released a statement saying that it “no longer recommends any restrictions on the participation of Belarusian athletes, including teams”.

“The IOC reaffirms that athletes’ participation in international competition should not be limited by the actions of their governments, including involvement in a war or conflict.”

The lifting of IOC “restrictions” opens the door to independent federations now formally implementing it.

However, this new policy should allow for a Belarusian delegation to compete at the Los Angeles Summer Olympics in 2028 when they will be present at the opening ceremony and included in the medal table.

The IOC said that the timing of the statement recognised that the qualification period for the 2028 Games begins this (northern hemisphere) summer.

At the last two Olympics in Paris 2024 and the Milan-Cortina Winter Games in February, Belarusians competed alongside Russians as “Individual Neutral Athletes”, stripped of their national colours and in small numbers — there were 17 in Paris and seven in Italy.

“The situation relating to the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) is different from that relating to the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus,” said the IOC in their statement.

While the ROC has been suspended since autumn 2023 for having placed the sports organisations of four occupied Ukrainian regions under its authority, the IOC also said that fresh concerns have recently arisen regarding the Russian anti-doping system.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

The state dubbed this conflict ‘Marka-i-Haq’, marking Pakistan’s success against Indian unprovoked aggression and its propaganda war.

In a dangerous escalation, New Delhi launched deadly air strikes in Punjab and Azad Kashmir on May 7. Pakistan retaliated by downing five Indian planes in air-to-air combat, later raising the tally to seven.

The second day of active conflict, in the words of the DG ISPR, marked a “serious provocation”, with drones targeting major population centres.

While Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar alluded to a conversation between the Pakistani and Indian NSAs, the DG ISPR said a day later that no direct communication had taken place.

Regardless, firing across the LoC had continued overnight, while Indian cities witnessed blackouts as part of a nationwide civil defence drill.

In the second part of this illustrated timeline, Dawn retraces the decisive moments that unfolded on May 8, shaping the news cycle at the time.

May 8

INDIA sends 25 Israeli-made Harop drones into Pakistan — all of which the military said it intercepted.

FLIGHTS from major airports remain largely suspended: around 27 Indian airports closed, while air space over Pakistan is also affected.

NATIONAL Assembly witnesses rare unity as treasury, opposition benches align, PTI expresses clear support for the armed forces.

FM DAR and DG ISPR held joint presser to debunk New Delhi’s attempt to “falsely implicate Pakistan” in attacks on Indian Punjab province.

INFORMATION Minister Tarar refutes “fake and concocted stories” about India downing F-16 and JF-17 jets, as well as claims of a Pakistani pilot being in Indian custody.

DRONES fall in major urban centres of Karachi and Lahore, resulting in scores of deaths and casualties. Drone also falls near Rawalpindi cricket stadium, where PSL matches were being played.

INDIAN Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar claims it is not their “intention to escalate the situation”, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh suggests that New Delhi is willing to engage in dialogue.

SECRETARY of State Marco Rubio makes separate phone calls to Indian and Pakistani leaders; Vice President JD Vance says neighbours’ conflict “fundamentally none of our business”.

PAKISTAN state media claims inflicting heavy damage to Indian battalion headquarters in occupied Kashmir.

All photos AFP / file

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

KARACHI: As international oil prices continued their downward movement amid ongoing Middle East de-escalation talks, bulls managed to tighten their grip over the market for the fourth straight session despite a volatile start at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Thursday.

The market drew its strength from strong investor interest in cement scrips, followed by fertiliser, E&P and banking sectors.

Topline Securities Ltd said the local bourse opened on a positive note, carrying forward the bullish momentum from the previous session as the benchmark index climbed to an intraday high of 1,569 points.

However, profit-taking during the mid-session triggered volatility, trimming a significant portion of the early gains and dragging the index to an intraday low of 163 points.

Index gains 1,189 points despite profit-taking

Despite the volatile trading pattern, the market displayed notable resilience and settled firmly in positive territory at 172,894 points, posting a gain of 1,189 points, or 0.69 per cent.

Index-heavy stocks, including United Bank Ltd, Fauji Fertiliser Company, Lucky Cement, Oil and Gas Development Company, and Mari Energies, remained the key drivers of the rally, collectively contributing 735 points to the benchmark index.

Investor participation weakened from the previous session as total trading volume decreased 17.9pc to 987 million shares and traded value declined 16.34pc to Rs52.7 billion. Bank of Punjab emerged as the volume leader, with 86 million shares.

The finance minister’s overnight remarks at the launch of the Rs120 million Capital Market Development Fund, outlining the economic outlook, boosted investor sentiment. He emphasised the need to strengthen capital markets, promote local investment, achieve self-reliance, and implement key energy sector reforms, while noting that Pakistan’s economy continues to move in a positive direction despite regional and economic challenges.

He noted that Pakistan’s stock market had demonstrated resilience during challenging times, reflecting growing investor confidence in the country’s economic direction.

According to Arif Habib Ltd, the market’s trajectory depends on the outcome of ongoing developments. The US awaits Iran’s response to its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, expected in the coming days through mediator Pakistan. The US proposal involves a moratorium on Iran’s uranium enrichment and the lifting of sanctions.

On the corporate front, Millat Tractor Ltd, which rose 4.14pc, notified that it is evaluating EV bike production in Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

Brent crude futures settled down 1.2 per cent or $1.21 at $100.06 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures settled down 0.28pc or 27 cents at $94.81. Both benchmarks had earlier declined by as much as $5 a barrel on optimism that Washing­ton and Tehran were moving toward a limited, temporary agreement to halt their conflict.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has announced that the number of registered companies in Pakistan has reached 294,101.

The SECP also set new daily incorporation records during the same period, registering 300 companies on April 27, a figure surpassed just days later when 340 companies were incorporated on April 30.

This milestone reflects growing investor confidence in Pakistan’s economic outlook, signals a decisive and accelerating shift toward a documented, formal economy, and underscores significant improvements in the commission’s operational efficiency and service delivery capacity.

Geographically, Punjab remained the hub of business activity, accounting for 2,093 of new registrations, followed by the Islamabad Capital Territory with 719, Sindh with 600, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 325, Gilgit-Baltistan with 276 and Balochistan with 69.

It included 2,415 private limited companies, followed by 1,542 single-member companies, while registrations of limited liability partnerships (LLPs) and other categories totalled 125 companies. The information technology and e-commerce sector continues to serve as the primary engine of corporate growth, leading the monthly registrations with 832 new incorporations.

The registration of new companies was from 22 different countries, with China emerging as the leading foreign investor with 95 shareholders.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

State-run Pakistan LNG Ltd (PLL) received a total of seven bids: three cargoes for May 12-14 and four for May 24-26, in response to its urgent tenders floated a day earlier. For the first cargo, PetroChina bid $17.69 per mmBtu, BP Singapore $17.28, and Vitol Bahrain $17.84. For the second cargo (May 24-26), TotalEnergies offered $16.98, OQ Trading $18.58, SOCAR Trading $17.21, and PetroChina International $17.49.

PLL floated urgent tenders on Wednesday on a 36-hour notice for the import of two LNG cargoes for delivery between May 12-14 and May 24-26 amid rising temperatures and a power shortfall.

Qatar, Pakistan’s long-term LNG supplier, had been reluctant to send LNG-loaded cargoes stranded in the Gulf due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Qatar’s three LNG cargoes meant for Pakistan had earlier returned from Hormuz due to security reasons.

In April, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) had notified a massive 19-22 per cent increase in the price of regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) to $12.50-$14 per million British thermal units for sales at the distribution stage by the two Sui gas companies for March.

The increase was mainly due to a surge in terminal charges amid lower import volumes and an uptick in import prices, the dataset from the authority showed.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

The SBP has been heavily buying dollars to bolster its reserves and meet external payments.

However, it looks difficult for the SBP to meet the $18bn target after the UAE sudden decision to withdraw its $3.5bn held in the SBP account, while $1.4bn was paid upon the ma­t­urity of the Eurobonds.

The country’s overall re­serves stood at $21.29bn, including $5.442bn held by commercial banks during the week ended April 30.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

According to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), the finance minister, in a meeting with LCCI President Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol, appreciated the comprehensive proposals submitted by the chamber for the 2026-27 budget.

Aurangzeb acknowledged the chamber’s constructive role in highlighting the challenges faced by the business community. He directed the Director General of the Tax Policy Office, Dr Najeeb Ahmed Memon, to review the budget proposals presented by the LCCI.

The minister told the LCCI president that refo­rms in the FBR are aimed at minimising human interaction, facilitating taxpayers and improving the overall business environment in the country.

He said the consultations with business community would continue on a regular basis to ensure effective stakeholder engagement in economic policymaking.

Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI president said that consistent engage­ment between the government and private sector is essential for restoring business confidence, promoting industrial growth and achieving sustainable economic stability.

The LCCI budget proposals called for an end to policy instability caused by frequent SROs and shifting tax interpretations, terming unpredictability as one of the major reasons behind de-industrialisation. The chamber also urged the government to reduce the cost of doing business, which it said is currently 22 to 30 per cent higher than competing regional economies.

It proposed introduction of a sector-wise tariff structure to protect domestic industries operating under significantly higher costs than regional competitors. It also demanded restoration of a simple and predictable Final Tax Regime (FTR) for exporters and the introduction of a fixed tax regime for traders to broaden the tax base.

Among other proposals, the LCCI stressed timely payment of tax refunds with compensation for de­lays, a reduction in withholding tax disparity between manufacturers and commercial importers, a revision of Section 113 for low-margin sectors, and a review of Section 7E to encourage documented investment.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: In a move to encourage lending to the housing sector, the government has decided in principle to grant commercial banks significant powers to take over mortgaged houses in the event of default, after a cumulative 90-day notice period.

The proposed foreclosure law to amend “The Financial Institutions (Recovery of Finances) Ordinance 2001”, currently under review by the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, provides that where a customer defaults on payment of mortgage dues, the financial institution may issue three notices of 30 days each, “demanding payment of the outstanding mortgage amount”.

“In case of default in payment by a customer after service of the final (third) notice, the financial institution may proceed with the sale of the housing unit, provided that all notices have been duly served upon the mortgagor, who has remained in default of payment of mortgage dues or any part thereof.”

NA panel warns against banks’ 90-day takeover powers

The standing committee, which met on Thursday with Syed Naveed Qamar in the chair, raised serious reservations about the drastic conditions, which appear to favour commercial banks over customers.

The committee “expressed concerns over provisions that could potentially grant banks excessive powers in the foreclosure process,” it said in a written statement at the conclusion of the meeting.

Members of the panel emphasised that while an effective legal framework was essential to promote mortgage financing and safeguard the interests of lending institutions, adequate legal protections and due process must also be ensured to protect borrowers from arbitrary or unfair actions.

After detailed deliberations, the committee deferred the bill to its next meeting, directing the secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Works to circulate the revised draft to all members for further review and input before its finalisation in the next meeting.

Mr Qamar said that affordable housing finance must genuinely serve deserving low-income families through transparent, accountable, and inclusive mechanisms, and stressed the urgent need for robust foreclosure and recovery laws to strengthen Pakistan’s underdeveloped mortgage finance sector and enhance financial institutions’ confidence in expanding long-term housing finance.

The federal secretaries of finance, housing and works, and law and justice, also briefed the committee members on the Prime Minister Apna Ghar Programme (PM-AGP), its implementation framework, and proposed reforms relating to housing finance and foreclosure laws.

Housing Ministry Secretary, retired Captain Mehmood Ahmad, told the meeting that the PM-AGP was a subsidised housing finance initiative aimed at enabling low and middle-income families to own homes, while promoting economic activity and revitalising the construction sector. Approved in August 2025 and revised in March, the scheme offers financing of up to Rs10 million for first-time homeowners at a fixed markup rate of 5pc, repayable over 20 years with a 90:10 financing ratio.

As of April 30, 2026, a total of 25,304 applications had been received, of which 8,990 applications involving Rs37.154bn were approved, while Rs5.071bn had been disbursed to 1,845 beneficiaries.

The meeting was also informed that Pakistan’s housing finance sector remained underdeveloped, with mortgage financing contributing only 0.3pc to the GDP and 0.56pc to total private sector credit.

The government had, therefore, set a target of financing 500,000 housing units over the next four years, requiring an estimated Rs3.2tr in financing.

Responding to a question, Finance Secretary Imdadullah Bosal said the government did not have Rs3.2tr in fiscal space, but, given the prime minister’s priority initiative, the funding would have to be

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

Testifying before the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, SBP Governor Jameel Ahmed confirmed that the central bank had purchased about $27bn from the market over the past three years, including $4.5bn so far this year, to boost foreign exchange reserves. He said the expected $1.2bn IMF disbursement would take foreign exchange reserves beyond $17bn by the end of the current fiscal year, enough for three months of import cover.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said Pakistan had received regulatory approval from China the previous night for the inaugural launch of the Panda bond, already delayed by more than four months. He said the bond would be launched in the Chinese capital market within 10 days.

He added that despite challenges, Pakistan had been able to raise $750m through a Eurobond from the international capital market last month.

The minister said Pakistan was on track to achieve its key fiscal targets through prudent fiscal management, impro­ved external account performance, and measures aimed at enhancing investor confidence and macroeconomic stability.

He reported that Pakistan’s import bill had increased owing to expensive petroleum imports. He said the combined additional impact of war risk premium, insurance, and oil prices was no more than $1bn a month and that the overall current account would remain in surplus.

Mr Aurangzeb said exports had increased not only in April but also during the first 10 months of the fiscal year. Remittances from overseas Pakistanis and IT exports were also showing sustained growth.

“Despite the Middle East crisis, we are on track to achieve fiscal, primary and current account targets even if the current trend continues,” he said, adding that reserves would cross $17bn by the end of the fiscal year as an additional $260m was expected under Roshan Digital Pakistan.

While presiding over the committee meeting, Syed Naveed Qamar acknowledged these indicators but observed that the concern was that such achievements were coming at the expense of slowing economic growth.

The finance minister said it had been his consistent stance to pursue sustainable economic growth policies.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

“IMF analysis suggests that extreme cyber-incident losses could trigger funding strains, raise solvency concerns, and disrupt broader markets,” the lender warned in a new report.

The study’s authors highlighted the risks posed by the highly interconnected nature of the global financial system, with advanced AI models able to “dramatically reduce” the time and cost of exploiting vulnerabilities.

The warning comes weeks after AI company Anthropic cautioned that its yet-to-be-released “Mythos” model was incredibly adept at finding and exploiting such weaknesses.

The model was particularly efficient at identifying vulnerabilities that developers and users had been previously unaware of. In the hands of hackers, such so-called “zero-day” vulnerabilities are considered particularly dangerous.

On Wednesday, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett told Fox News that an “all-government” and private sector effort was being made to test the model and ensure it does not cause harm to US businesses or government.

A day earlier, the US government announced a policy shift in which it would have access to tech giants’ new AI models to evaluate them before they are released. The IMF warned that emerging and developing countries, “which often have more severe resource constraints, may be disproportionately exposed to attackers targeting regions with weaker defenses.” The risks, the authors said, were systemic, cut across sectors and came with the threat of contagion, with the reliance on a small number of platforms and cloud providers likely to increase “the impact of any single exploited weakness.” “Defenses will inevitably be breached, so resilience must also be a priority, specifically to limit how far incidents spread and ensure rapid recovery,” the report said.

IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva warned last month that the global financial system was not ready for the cybersecurity threats posed by AI.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

Seven of the injured were in critical condition with serious head injuries and have been referred to Larkana.

According to police, the coach was travelling from Kharan to Larkana when the driver lost control of the vehicle due to speeding. The coach overturned into a seasonal stream between the Sawandi and Barija areas along the M-8 highway.

“We have received four bodies, which include a woman and a baby, and 26 people are injured in the hospital,” a police officer said. Authorities said the cause of the incident was speeding.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

QUETTA: The Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has postponed a planned protest after receiving assurances from Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti to resolve disputes over alleged raids on religious seminaries through negotiations, the party announced on Thursday.

The decision followed a meeting between CM Bugti and JUI-F Provincial Emir Senator Maulana Abdul Wasey at the senator’s residence, aimed at de-escalating tensions that led to a strike by the party a day earlier. The chief minister was accompanied by ministers from coalition parties.

“We have discussed the issues in detail and decided to resolve all matters thr­ough negotiations,” Maulana Wasey said at a press conference after the meeting.

He confirmed the protest has been postponed until May 20 after CM Bugti pledged that “such situations would not be allowed to arise again during his tenure”. Maulana Wasey said the party is ready to discuss the registration of seminaries under the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

The JUI leader concluded that nothing in politics is final, and matters are resolved through dialogue and consultation.

Separately, speaking to the media, CM Bugti described the talks as productive and reiterated his government’s support for the religious institutions.

“Religious seminaries are an important part of society, and the government will continue to provide every possible support for their development and improvement,” he said.

He explained that the Madrasa Registration Act, already passed by the national parliament, will now be presented in the Balochistan Assembly.

CM Bugti said he and his coalition partners had requested a 10-day period from the JUI-F to consult their respective party leaderships on the proposed provincial legislation.

He expressed hope that the issue would be settled through mutual understanding and that consensus-based legislation would be passed in the assembly.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Calling women and children the “frontline responders” to Pakistan’s recurring natural disasters, speakers at Breathe Pakistan on Tuesday urged that they be given a central role in policymaking to address the escalating environmental crisis.

The demand came during the 11th session of the international climate change conference “Unequal Burdens, Shared Futures: Reframing Climate Action Through Equity”.

Panelists argued that those most vulnerable to climate shocks are not just victims but are actively adapting with remarkable resilience and possess critical knowledge for future planning.

Addressing the session, PPP lawmaker Sharmila Faruqui highlighted the lack of official direction, noting the climate crisis isn’t fully integrated into crucial sectors like health, education, housing, and social safety networks.

She also noted there was a lack of data regarding the most vulnerable populations that live the realities of climate change.“Vulnerable communities women and children were the ones who are the least represented at the decision-making tables,” Ms Faruqui said.

She added that climate change was not just a humanitarian crisis but also an equity crisis and recalled the 2022 and 2025 floods that increased the inequalities for women after the water receded in affected areas.

The all-female panel discussion was moderated by Pernille Ironside of Unicef Pakistan, who commented that climate shocks were increasing, straining health systems and disrupting learning for

children.

Fahmida Khan, deputy country representative for UN Women Pakistan, delivered a fiery speech and said that the women and girls of Pakistan carry the heaviest load of a fire they did not ignite.

She called for the “right systems” to be built to include women and girls within the processes of making and implementing policy documents.

“It will take a political heart and a will to really engage women and girls at every step, no matter whether it was the PSDP, ADP, or PC-1,” she declared.

“Stop treating women, girls and youth’s inclusion as a favour and start treating that as a condition of survival.”

The conference’s youngest speaker and youth advocate Fatima Faraz urged for youth-led climate initiatives and platforms for young voices.

She called on youth to identify and address local climate issues using indigenous knowledge, underlining their crucial role as climate change directly impacts their future.

“Youth have greater responsibility to fight the climate change as it was directly impacting our future,” she stressed.

Zeba Sathar, director for the Pakistan Population Council, stressed the importance of data for solutions and shared worries about the country’s insufficient accurate data, echoing earlier concerns by Faruqui.

A stark warning from the World Health Organisation was presented, with estimates projecting 5 million deaths globally between 2030 and 2050 due to climate-driven malnutrition, heat stress and other related factors.

Ellen Mpangananji Thom, the deputy representative for WHO Pakistan, emphasised the importance of improving hygiene and waste disposal, including hospital waste and called for climate-resilient designs and enhanced surveillance for climate-sensitive diseases, like increased dengue and malaria post-floods.

She highlighted individual responsibility in health protection through being informed and simple measures like wearing masks during pollution, reducing heat exposure, and avoiding mosquito bites.

Uzma Yousuf, Cambridge’s country director, emphasised providing children universally with quality educational material and research on environmental challenges.

Meanwhile, Shehzad Roy, founder of Zindagi Trust, criticised the lack of political will to address climate change.

He pointed out that 400-600 million gallons of waste are dumped into water bodies and urged government action to regulate industrial and domestic waste, emphasising wastewater treatment.

Mr Roy questioned why effective climate solutions remain unimplemented, noting the isolation and non-inclusivity of policies.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

The assurance from Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister came in a telephone call to PM Shehbaz, and during their warm and cordial conversation, both leaders held a “productive exchange of views on the current regional situation”, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

Both sides also reaffirmed their “strong commitment to facilitating ongoing efforts to ensure lasting peace in the Middle East”, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Thursday passed a resolution paying tribute to the “exemplary sacrifices, courage and dedication” of the country’s armed forces, security institutions and the entire nation for the protection of Pakistan’s sovereignty, national dignity and security on the first anniversary of last year’s military conflict with India, titled Marka-i-Haq by the state.

“This House salutes the armed forces of Pakistan for their professionalism and in-timely strategy in foiling the nefarious designs of the enemy in Marka-i-Haq and Operation Bunyanum Marsoos,” stated the resolution passed by the Senate with a majority vote.

The House also lauded the “wise leadership” of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari and their efforts in promoting “national unity and highlighting Pakistan’s stance at the international level effectively”.

“This House pays tribute to the services of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for his bold leadership, military strategy and extraordinary service for the defence of the country,” it said, adding that the army chief had strengthened the morale and professional capabilities of the armed forces and national security.

‘India pleaded’

Similarly, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said India had “pleaded for a ceasefire” through the US during last year’s conflict, adding that Pakistan only agreed to a truce after “teaching them a lesson”.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Naqvi said he was an eyewitness to the ceasefire process. “We received calls for hours [for a ceasefire], but we first wanted to teach them a lesson,” he added.

He said India had contacted Washington “several times” and US President Donald Trump played a key role in the truce.

“India would need a long time to reach the level at which we were last year,” he remarked.

The minister said the government would not allow “chaos and protests” and was working on “hardening state policy” to improve internal stability and the economy.

‘Indian hegemony shattered’

Meanwhile, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan had shattered the dreams of Indian hegemony in South Asia in just a few hours, referring to Marka-i-Haq.

The minister was speaking at a ceremony organised by the Press Association of the Supreme Court (PAS) at the SC building to mark the first anniversary of the conflict.

He said it was not only that India’s Rafale fighters “simply fell, but its pride also crashed to the ground”.

He added that when Pakistan retaliated by launching missiles, the enemy was defeated within a few hours.

“Pakistan has long advocated that its yearning for peace should not be mistaken for weakness, a principle it ably demonstrated during last year’s Operation Bunyanum Marsoos,” the minister said while appreciating the initiative taken by the PAS.

He referred to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer to hold a joint inquiry into the perpetrators of the April 2025 Pahalgam incident in Indian-held Kashmir as a masterstroke, adding that it was New Delhi, not Islamabad, that was spreading terrorism. To substantiate this, the minister cited the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada and the arrest of Indian spy Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav in Balochistan in 2016.

“The Indians are misleading their own nation by projecting their internal issues outward and blaming neighbours for terrorism,” he said.

“We have demonstrated in clear terms that when it comes to the defence of Pakistan, the entire nation becomes united as we stand be­­hind our forces like a wall of steel,” he added.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026