10:00 pm Headlines on 24Digital

♦ Elections in Punjab will now be held on May 14, declares Supreme Court: CJP Bandial pronounces the verdict, annulling ECP’s March 22 decision to forward poll date: Describes ECP’s move as illegal and unconstitutional: Apex court rules ECP has no power to change election date: Orders federal govt to provide Rs21 billion poll expenses to ECP by April 10: Warns of action in case of funds non-provision: Centre to meet security requirements for elections: Court will continue to hear KP election matter: Orders Punjab govt to fully cooperate with ECP so that it can fulfil its constitutional responsibilities: Directs Punjab govt, chief secretary and IG police to provide complete security plan by April 10: Says Justice Isa’s decision does not affect current bench

♦ Federal cabinet rejects SC decision regarding Punjab polls on Many 14; Cabinet declared the SC’s verdict a minority decision and said that the implementation of a rejected case and minority decision could not be implemented

♦ PM terms SC decision over polls another judicial murder on April 4; Equating the two decisions, the premier said today, justice was murdered and it is highly regrettable

♦ Nawaz Sharif says a reference should be filed against three judges in judicial council; Says doctrine of necessity has even been invented for dictators and now efforts are being made to bring one person (Imran Khan) back to power

♦ Maryam says Parliament to stop SC's 'facilitation' constitutionally; Says federal cabinet's rejection is not enough; Says no worries about disqualification on contempt of court again

♦ PPP starts Punjab polls preparations after SC's verdict; Faryal Talpur calls a Zoom meeting of all seven divisions of Central Punjab tomorrow (Wednesday); PPP calls core committee meeting

♦ SC’s decision will make matters worse: Nazeer Tarar: Says Pakistan can’t afford any constitutional, political crisis

♦ State Bank increases interest rate by 100 bps to 21%; MPC noted that inflation in March 2023 rose further to 35.4 per cent, and is expected to remain high in the near term

♦ World Bank cuts Pakistan’s GDP forecast; World Bank sharply lowered Pakistan’s current-year growth forecast, saying the country’s economic growth prospects have weakened due to tighter financial conditions and limited fiscal space

♦ Six-judge SC bench overturns Justice Isa’s ruling on suo motu powers

♦ Court adjourns plea against freezing assets of Shehbaz Sharif’s family till April 27

♦ CJP ‘stops’ SC registrar from leaving office for now

♦ JUI moves PHC for Imran’s disqualification

♦ Anti-terrorism court extends Imran’s interim bail till April 13: ATC dismisses PTI chairman’s plea for exempting him from appearance in case of vandalism, torture of police: LHC seeks reply from Pemra for banning Imran’s speeches

♦ Punjab CM reviews ‘Drip and Shift’ approach for cardiac patients: Committee formed for allotment of govt houses from Punjab CM’s quota; CM Naqvi inquires after woman injured at free flour centre

♦ ZAB’s 44th death anniversary being observed; PPP holds ceremony to commemorate the 44th death anniversary of former Prime Minister and Pakistan People’s Party leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto at Naudero 

♦ Bilawal urges PM to file reference over Bhutto’s judicial murder; Terms “judicial murder of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto” as a black spot in the justice system of the country

♦ Rana Sanaullah hints at imposing emergency: Says separate elections will lead to anarchy: Govt sticks to its full court stance: Urges CJP to show sagacity while pronouncing verdict: Says govt hopes for the best

♦ Expired medicines worth millions disposed of in Layyah

♦ Huge fire rips through China camp at Dasu power project site

♦ Pakistani rupee tumbles to historic low against US dollar

♦ ADB warns inflation to worsen in Pakistan in rest of 2023: Projects country’s GDP growth at 0.6% in 2023, 2% in 2024: Finds industrial growth decelerating: Economic recovery rests on resuming robust reforms: Lists devastating floods, ballooning inflation, current account deficit, forex crisis as main reasons: Deficit to shrink if IMF programme revived

♦ Steel Mills workers stage protest sit-in

♦ Pakistan name squad for New Zealand T20s, ODIs; Shaheen had missed five Tests and three ODIs against England and New Zealand post the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 as he was completing his rehabilitation following a knee injury

♦ Panic as another leopard spotted wandering in Margalla hills

♦ Girls to play night cricket tournament in Karachi

♦ Ex-world champion Amir Khan handed two-year ban for doping

♦ China says Tsai-McCarthy meeting will 'further damage' Sino-US relations

♦ Trump due in court to face historic criminal charges