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US court blocks visa suspension scheme for Pakistan, 74 other countries

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WASHINGTON: A US judge on Friday found that a Trump administration policy to block the issue of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries, including Pakistan, went beyond Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s legislative power.

U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan ruled the policy announced by the State Department in January was “patently unlawful” and violated federal immigration law, which expressly divested the secretary of state of responsibility over processing of immigrant visas by consular personnel.The Policy is a blatant abrogation of this statutory structure, she said, and it categorically precludes the issue of immigrant visas depending upon the nationality of the applicant.

The suspension, which went into effect in January, was imposed by the State Department for applicants from Latin American countries like Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay; Balkan countries like Bosnia and Albania; South Asian countries Pakistan and Bangladesh; and applicants from many countries in Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

The State Department said those applicants were “at a high risk for becoming a public charge and recourse to local, state and federal government resources in the United States.” The department did not immediately return a request for comment on the verdict.

The verdict was made by Vargas, an appointee of Democratic former president Joe Biden, in a complaint filed by immigrant rights groups Catholic Legal Immigration Network and African Communities And for those who are seeking immigrant visas and for U.S. citizens who are petitioning for immigrant visas for family members from the selected nations.

President Donald Trump has launched an aggressive assault on immigration that he says is intended to improve domestic security.

Rights groups believe the crackdown has breached free expression and due process rights and has created a hazardous environment, especially for ethnic minorities, who have voiced concerns about racial profiling.

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Bangladesh open to joining Pakistan-Saudi-Turkiye defence framework: Envoy

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Bangladesh has said it is willing to consider joining a cooperative economic or defence framework with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.

Bangladeshi media quoting an interview with Bangladesh’s Adviser for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir said Dhaka viewed positively the potential of entering an economic or defence framework with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey.

Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia to set up political, military mechanisms for coordination under defence pact: Ankara

Humayun Kabir said the country would review the topic keeping in mind Bangladesh’s national interests, changing global economic environment and advancements in international commerce.

Bangladesh was establishing practical bilateral connections with Pakistan as part of its usual diplomatic activity, he said.

He said efforts were also underway to increase economic and people-to-people contacts between Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi media reported that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will soon visit Saudi Arabia at the invitation of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

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PIMS hospital publishes statement on treatment of Imran Khan

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The administration of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) published a statement Friday about the treatment of the former prime minister Imran Khan, who was jailed but brought immediately from Adiala Jail late Thursday nite to the health facility.

The statement said the PTI founder was taken to the PIMS hospital on the intervening nite of August 20 and 21 and evaluated by the physicians. Two ophthalmologists from Shifa Hospital also checked him.

The statement stated an expert from PIMS hospital conducted a complete assessment of the PTI founder. He was then examined by a panel of PIMS doctors who prepared his medical fitness report.

PIMS administration said the details of the medical report could not be revealed in conformity with the judgement of the Supreme Court.

PIMS administration claimed that the anonymity of the patient and the directives of the Supreme Court would be fully maintained and the secret contents of the medical report would not be disclosed.

Earlier on Friday, Attaullah Tarar claimed PTI founder Imran Khan was transferred to hospital for a complete medical examination under proper security precautions after a Supreme Court judgement.

In a statement posted on X, Tarar stated Khan had been brought to hospital overnight between August 20 and 21, 2026.

He said the team of qualified experts including specialists of ophthalmology, cardiology and general medicine carried out a thorough assessment of the former prime minister and deemed him medically fit.

“During the entire process of medical examination and treatment, Khan was accompanied by her sister Uzma Khan,” Tarar stated.

Khan was sent returned to Adiala Jail at roughly 5:00am on August 21 after the medical treatments were completed, the ministry added.

Earlier this week, Pakistan’s Supreme Court had ordered the government to transfer Khan from jail to hospital.

The three-judge bench ordered that Khan be transferred to the Shifa Hospital in the federal capital within the next 48 hours.

The government had filed a review petition but the the Supreme Court Registrar’s Office objected the review petition and returned it.

The Registrar’s office said the petition was filed with incomplete record.

The Islamabad chief commissioner through the Islamabad attorney general filed the plea for review of the Supreme Court’s interim ruling of August 18.

The government contended that the order for shifting Imran Khan to hospital was outside the court’s jurisdiction and required re-consideration.

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Salman Agha confesses bad form of Rizwan, Saud Shakeel and himself

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Pakistan Test cricket team skipper Salman Ali Agha has admitted that he, Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel have been having form issues and added that the performances of all three players are a worry.

Salman Ali Agha, following the team’s loss in the first Test, at a press conference remarked that Pakistan’s failure to maintain consistency will be a key factor in their inability to win in England.

He said any team in cricket can bounce back on any given day and Pakistan have the capability to bounce back but they could not execute their plans in the first Test.

Pakistan are currently playing a three-match Test series against England as part of the ICC World Test Championship. England lead the series 1-0 after winning the first Test at Headingley, Leeds by an innings and 103 runs on August 21, 2026.

The second Test match will start on 27 August 2026 at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London while the final match would be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham from 9 to 13 September. For tour team arrangements, Pakistan will try to rebound back from their crushing defeat in Leeds.

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