Pakistan shuts primary schools for a week in Lahore due to dangerous air quality

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Dangerously poor air quality on Monday forced Pakistani authorities in the cultural capital of Lahore to close primary schools for a week, government officials said, after the air-quality index hit a record high over the weekend. The measures in Lahore were...

Pakistan's Punjab province shuts schools for 2 days to contain protests over alleged on-campus rape

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Authorities in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province shut all schools and universities for two days on Friday in an attempt to contain the spread of protests by students over an alleged on-campus rape. The closures in Pakistan's most populous province affect an...

Pakistani police fire tear gas at protesting students as anger spreads over alleged on-campus rape

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani police fired tear gas and charged at student protesters who ransacked a college building Thursday, as anger spread over an alleged on-campus rape, prompting the government to shut schools, colleges and universities for two days. Tensions have been...

Students are injured in clashes with Pakistani police over reports of an on-campus rape

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — More than two dozen college students were injured in clashes with Pakistani police over reports of an on-campus rape of a young woman, officials said Wednesday. The students were hurt on Monday and Tuesday in the eastern city of Lahore in Punjab province...

Pakistan’s transgender community gets a ride-sharing service for safety

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s transgender community has gotten its first ride-sharing service in the latest effort to protect trans people from discrimination and harassment, the business's founder said on Wednesday. The new ride-share was launched over the weekend in the...

Traders observe a daylong strike across Pakistan to protest rising costs and new taxes

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Traders in Pakistan went on strike Wednesday, shutting down their businesses in all major cities and urban areas to protest a rise in electricity costs and new taxes imposed on shop owners. The government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has steadily raised...

Pakistani judge acquits a man over spreading misinformation that sparked riots in UK

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A Pakistani judge on Monday acquitted a man who was charged with spreading misinformation that helped spark widespread rioting in the U.K. earlier this month, officials said. The decision came less than a week after Farhan Asif, a 32-year-old web developer,...

Pakistan authorities charge man with cyber terrorism over misinformation that sparked riots in UK

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Authorities in Pakistan on Wednesday arrested and charged a man with cyber terrorism for his alleged role in spreading misinformation that led to widespread rioting in the U.K. earlier this month. The suspect was identified as freelance web developer Farhan...

Pakistani police charge a man with cyberterrorism for allegedly spreading misinformation that contributed to UK riots

Pakistan suffers internet slowdown as government denies setting up a national firewall

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — People in Pakistan reported much slower internet over the past several days with some experts on Monday estimating its speed falling to less than half its usual capacity at times. The problem has affected millions of users, disrupting businesses and drawing...