Author: newsdesk

  • PSO reportedly planning to buy Telenor to expand its business beyond oil

    PSO reportedly planning to buy Telenor to expand its business beyond oil

    Pakistan State Oil (PSO) is reportedly conducting due diligence on the Pakistani operations of a Norwegian telecommunications operator, in response to Telenor’s plans to sell its Pakistani operations valued at around $1 billion. Pending regulatory approval, PSO has expressed interest in acquiring Telenor Pakistan and Easypaisa, following the completion of bidding documentation and due diligence.

    Easypaisa, a leading mobile wallet, mobile payments, and branchless banking services provider, boasts a significant customer base of nine million monthly active users. Launched in 2009 as a money transfer service through Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) channels, Easypaisa introduced a mobile app in 2016, offering a broad range of financial transactions. Telenor Microfinance Bank owns Easypaisa, and jointly, Telenor Group most recently launched a debit card on January 17, 2023.

    According to Mettis Global, Telenor Pakistan’s decision to exit the market stems from heavy taxation on the telecommunications industry and the policies of the Pakistani Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which have significantly reduced its revenues. Although Telenor Pakistan has faced operational losses for the past three years, there is no certainty that discussions regarding the sale of its Pakistani operations will result in a transaction.

    For PSO, the potential acquisition of Telenor’s operations in Pakistan aligns with its efforts to expand its business beyond traditional oil and gas. If successful, the acquisition could enable PSO to diversify its revenue streams and leverage Pakistan’s growing digital payments market.

  • Hamza Ali Abbasi is coming back to television dramas with ‘Jaan-e-Jahan’

    Hamza Ali Abbasi is coming back to television dramas with ‘Jaan-e-Jahan’

    Great news for fans of The Legend of Maula Jatt. After Hamza Ali Abbasi won accolades for his performance as the manacing Noori Nath, Abbasi is making his way back to television screens.
    The actor took to his Instagram page to announce his next project ‘Jaan-e-Jahan’ which will air in 2023.
    The drama will be produced by Samina Humayun Saeed, written by Rida Bilal and directed by Qasim Ali Mureed.
    The actor wrote:

    “Happy to introduce you to the captivating world of our upcoming project ‘Jaan-e-Jahan’ written by Rida Bilal, directed by Qasim Ali Mureed, starring Hamza Ali Abbasi and many more. Produced by Samina Humayun Saeed and Sana Shahnawaz coming soon on a TV screen near you!!”

    There was previous speculation that Abbasi was leaving the television industry when he announced in a Youtube video that he was taking an indefinite hiatus from showbiz.
    However, in 2020, the ‘Maula Jatt’ actor revealed during a game show ‘Kasooti Online’ that he was not done with his career, and still had two more projects under his belt.

  • Non-bailable warrants issued for Imran Khan Toshakhana case; bail granted in prohibited funding, terrorism cases

    Non-bailable warrants issued for Imran Khan Toshakhana case; bail granted in prohibited funding, terrorism cases

    An Islamabad court has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case.

    The district and sessions court heard the Toshakhana case where Khan’s lawyer Ali Bukhari and Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) lawyer Saad Hasan were present in court. The hearing of the case was conducted by judge Zafar Iqbal.

    Khan’s lawyer informed the court that PTI chief will not be able to appear in the court today. Bukhari requested the court to adjourn the hearing for five days. The court had repeatedly asked Khan to appear at the hearing. However, Khan failed to do so, citing his injured leg and security reasons.

    The Election Comission of Pakistan’s (ECP) counsel opposed the request, saying the PTI chief did not want to appear before the court. “It is not the court’s concern how far the party head is travelling from to reach the court.”

    He pointed out that Imran could also appear before that court if he was coming to the judicial complex.

    The PTI lawyer said his client could come to the court when he was free of the other two cases within the judicial operational timings.

    “He should also come here as indictment is pending. Once indicted, he can head to the other courts,” the judge responded.

    Khan arrived at Islamabad’s judicial complex on Tuesday afternoon to attend two separate hearings of prohibited funding and terrorism cases filed against him.

    Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) Judge Raja Jawad Abbas approved Khan’s interim bail until March 9 in the terrorism case, while banking court Judge Rakhshinda Shaheen confirmed bail for the PTI chief in the prohibited funding case.

    Khan was required to appear in person in four different cases in Islamabad courts today. The foreign funding case is in a banking court and the terrorism case is in an anti-terrorism court located inside the judicial complex, while Toshakhana and attempted murder cases will be heard at a sessions’ court in F-8 Kacheri.

    A large number of PTI workers entered the judicial complex with Khan’s entourage, knocking down its gate and creating chaos as the former Prime Minister’s car arrived at the Complex.

    Security arrangements at Sector G-11 of the Judicial Complex were disrupted as PTI workers removed all barriers. Meanwhile, security has also been tightened at the F-8 kachehri.

    Islamabad Police also took to Twitter and said, “A suspicious person was identified in the crowd. The man was wearing a camouflage jacket and a black cap and was near Imran Khan’s car. People are requested not to form a crowd. Otherwise tear gas can be used.”

    The banking court postponed the proceedings scheduled for all the cases against Khan, citing security concerns. 

    The court had summoned the PTI chief to appear before it today in the prohibited funding case.

    An anti-terrorism court granted interim bail to the PTI chair in the terrorism case filed against him after countrywide protests following his disqualification in the Toshakhana reference.

    ATC judge Raja Jawad heard the case and granted bail till March 9.

  • While Twitter praises Sar-e-Rah for encouraging empathy, Maria B claims it’s actually ‘spreading destruction’

    While Twitter praises Sar-e-Rah for encouraging empathy, Maria B claims it’s actually ‘spreading destruction’

    Sar-e-Rah dropped its most anticipated episode this Saturday which explored the struggles of a transgender boy who tries to gain acceptance from his family by studying hard.
    The episode delved into how Sarim (played by Muneeb Butt) is bullied by his step-mother and brother a because of the fact that he is an intersex man, who is regularly pushed away from spending time with them. However, Sarim and his father have a close bond, who encourages him to work hard and is the only one who embraces his true nature rather than hiding it away.
    In a scene that is gaining praises on Twitter, the father and Sarim are sitting near a beach where he teaches his son that there is no shame in wanting to be feminine, and he can choose to be whatever he likes because it won’t diminish his father’s love for him.
    Prominent transgender activist Mehrub Moiz Awan praised this scene for its ‘beautiful message’.

    ‘What a beautiful message! Who wrote this scene?’ she wrote.

    Actress Iffat Omar also sent praises to this scene

    Many users praised the way this episode depicted the relationship between the father and son, as portrayed by Nabeel Zafar and Butt’s moving acting. They lauded the show for handling a tabooed in a delicate manner, and showing how important it is for parent’s to empathize with and support their children.

    “The relationship between Sarang & his father is beautiful in #SarERah this week. This father is honest with his son, loves & supports him – what every child needs, but particularly those struggling against society. Nabeel Zafar & Muneeb Butt are brilliant,” one user wrote.

    Another user praised how the show was uplifting the minorities that it depicted on screen:

    “Best thing about #SareRah is that its not depressing. There is always hope and light at the end and thats what makes it special.”

    In a time when censorship overrules freedom of thought, and many drama creators refuse to engage with the audience they are creating stories for, this user praised Sar-e-Rah for taking a bold step in crafting unique stories that tackled social issues in a sensitive but thorough manner.

    “#SareRah @arydigitalasia a breath of fresh air,every minute worth spent. Meticulously crafted stories reflect talent, passion and time spent to study each one. Brought alive by superb acting,a rare positive take on negative social issues,absolutely no loose ends.”

    Unfortunately this message did not resonate with everyone, as harsh critics like fashion designer Maria B once more stepped up to criticize the drama for promoting vulgarity and encouraging the acceptance of the transgender community. On her Instagram stories, the fashion designer said:

    “So this is how you sell your soul…well done Pakistan.

    So this kid is intersex??? And instead of following sharia and getting corrective help to become male or female, his DAD is telling him to be gender fluid!!! Like transgenders.

    Now will you wake up Pakistan??

    Is the agenda still not clear? Lannat on all the people who sold their souls and will contribute to the destruction of our kids.”

  • Ask Nadeem Umer to remove Sarfaraz Ahmed as captain of Quetta: Shahid Afridi

    Ask Nadeem Umer to remove Sarfaraz Ahmed as captain of Quetta: Shahid Afridi

    Former captain and all-rounder Shahid Afridi has shown concern on consecutive defeats of Quetta Gladiators. Talking on a TV show, Afridi said that Sarfaraz Ahmed has to step down as captain of Quetta Gladiators.

    He said that Sarfaraz should play only as a team member and focus on his own performance first to manage the pressure upon him. Afridi added that the responsibility for Quetta’s consecutive defeats lies on team management who has no alternative captain.

    Responding to a question about Sarfaraz’s performance, Afridi cited an example from Islamabad United and said: “There should always be a player standing by on the bench who can take the place if the team falls short of any player.”

    “This strategy is nowhere to be seen in Quetta Gladiators”, he added.

    The former star cricketer also mentioned that several changes had been made in the team.

    While citing another example from Karachi Kings, he said that the team is not performing exceptionally well, however, its captain Imad Wasim can be seen performing and leading his team.

    The captain’s performance has an important role in the team’s performance, Afridi emphasised.

    He further added that Sarfaraz has played a number of matches for Pakistan and he performed very well in those matches.

    “Prior to the start of the league, I had talked to Nadeem Umar. He asked me for some advice. I had said the same then: Remove Sarfaraz Ahmed as captain of Quetta as soon as possible but keep him as a team member so that as a player he could perform well and he could absorb the pressure of his own performance and enjoy his game-play’.”

    Quetta Gladiator squad for PSL 8
    Mohammad Nawaz, Iftikhar Ahmed, Jason Roy, Mohammad Hasnain, Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Naveen ul Haq, Umar Akmal, Will Smeed, Naseem Shah, Odean Smith, Mohammad Hafeez, Umaid Asif, Muhammad Zahid, Abdul Bangalzai, Aimal Khan, Martin Guptill, Omair Bin Yousuf, Qais Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Dwaine Pretorius (partial replacement for Odean Smith), Will Jacks (partial replacement for Jason Roy), Nuwan Thushara (partial replacement for Naveen ul Haq)

  • SC crisis continues as Justice Faez Isa refuses to hear cases, summons court registrar over changes in benches

    SC crisis continues as Justice Faez Isa refuses to hear cases, summons court registrar over changes in benches

    Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Yahya Afridi of the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) have taken notice of the procedure for scheduling hearings in the apex court, summoning Registrar Ishrat Ali to appear before them.

    The court summoned the registrar to appear before the two Justices along with all records, stating that there is no “transparency” in his office.

    The development came after Justice Faez Isa, the second senior most judge in the court, found his bench changed in the morning from what it was yesterday. The future Chief Justice said that the cases whose files he had read yesterday had been changed while the judge who was with him on the bench had been changed too.

    “I am a judge of the Supreme Court, I have also been the Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court for five years. We want transparency, if the registrar transfers the case from one bench to another, how will there be transparency,” Justice Isa asked.

    Faez Isa also said that it seems that a registrar is more powerful than a judge like him. “I cannot hear the cases dated 2010 because the registrar appoints the cases for hearing. Can I call the registrar and ask that put up such-and-such case before the bench?”

    The honourable judge asked the registrar what is the policy of assigning cases. “On April 2, 2022, the court ordered the registrar to fix the procedure for fixing cases, there is no such thing as transparency in fixing cases in the registrar’s office.”

    Ishrat Ali said that cases are set for hearing only with the approval of the Chief Justice of Pakistan. Justice Yahya Afridi then asked that Justice Hasan Rizvi was on ​​the bench, why did the bench change. “What is the procedure for fixing cases?”

    Former President of the Supreme Court Bar, Amanullah Kunrani said that people are tired of asking but our cases are not taken up.

    Justice Faez Isa asked the registrar that why was Justice Yahya Afridi and his bench changed? “Changing the bench without informing raises suspicions in the public mind,” said Isa.

    The Registrar said the Chief Justice’s staff officer verbally instructed that the roster must be changed. Justice Isa said he apologises that he cannot hear his cases today due to the sudden change of bench.

    He also said that a judge’s oath and code of conduct require equal treatment. “Article 10A is included in the fundamental rights, which says that there must be legal reasons for changing the bench.”

    “Arbitrary decision was made by making a bench of will, the dignity of the judiciary will be lower due to lack of transparency. Transparency requires that the case which was entered first should be heard first,” said Justice Isa.

  • Man who couldn’t read or write as a teenager becomes sociology professor at Cambridge

    Man who couldn’t read or write as a teenager becomes sociology professor at Cambridge

    Jason Arday, who was diagnosed with autism and global developmental delay as a child, has become the youngest black professor at Cambridge University. Ardy couldn’t read or write until he was eighteen, and only started speaking at 11 years of age. Arday has revealed that as a child, he was told that he will need to live at an assisted living facility. However, he refused to let the diagnosis break his spirit, writing ‘Work at Oxford or Cambridge’ as one of his life goals on his mom’s bedroom wall.

    Speaking to the BBC, Arday recalled how reading about Nelson Mandela’s struggles and later witnessing South Africa win the 1995 Rugby World Cup made him determined that if he “didn’t make it as a football player or a snooker player,” then he would “save the world.”

    Arday spoke to The Times about the numerous rejections he received from academia because he didn’t have a mentor who taught him how to write.
    “Everything I submitted got violently rejected. The peer review process was so cruel, it was almost funny, but I treated it as a learning experience and, perversely, began to enjoy it.”
    Eventually, he completed two masters degrees from the University of Surrey and later recieved his PhD from Liverpool John Moores University in 2016.
    “A lot of academics say they stumbled into this line of work, but from that moment, I was determined and focused — I knew that this would be my goal. On reflection, this is what I meant to do,” Arday revealed to The Times.
    With his position as a Sociology Professor at Cambrdige, Arday said that he hoped to find more ways people from marginalized backgrounds can find acceptance in academia.
    “My work focuses primarily on how we can open doors to more people from disadvantaged backgrounds and truly democratize higher education,” he said.

  • PSL 8: Lahore Qalandars destroy Islamabad United by 110 runs

    PSL 8: Lahore Qalandars destroy Islamabad United by 110 runs

    Lahore Qalandars continued their winning streak on Monday, thrashing Islamabad United in the 16th fixture of PSL 8 by 110 runs at the Gaddafi stadium Lahore.

    Choosing to bat first, Qalandars set a massive target of 201 runs with the help of a sensational knock by young player Abdullah Shafique. Islamabad United’s strong batting lineup was eviscerated by Qalandars’ bowling attack, knocking them out in just 13.5 overs by conceding only 90 runs and a thrilling bowling display from David Wiese and Sikandar Raza.

    United, on the other hand, were left to revisit their planning.
    Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, who had the stumps flying against Peshawar Zalmi in his first over a day earlier, did not bowl another classic against United.
    In reply to the huge total, United could not establish a productive partnership after Gurbaz and Munro put up 56-2 in the powerplay.
    Zaman Khan gave Lahore a much-needed breakthrough after openers Colin Munro and Gurbaz (23) helped Islamabad make a good start.

    Zaman delivered a slow short bowl that was mistimed by Gurbaz and Fakhar Zaman took a blinder to send the Afghan batter back to the pavilion.

    Soon after Gurbaz’s departure, Shaheen introduced David Wiese, who got the better of Colin Munro, reducing Islamabad to 54-2.

    The left-handed batter scored 18 runs off 14 balls.

    In the next over, fiery pacer Haris Rauf struck as he sent Rassie van der Dussen (3) packing.

    Wiese delivered again as he sent Islamabad’s skipper Shadab Khan (4) back to the pavilion after a successful review.

    In a bid to shore up the run rate, Asif Ali went for a six but ended up getting caught by Haris off Rashid Khan.

    Wiese added to Islamabad’s miseries by trapping Azam Khan for an lbw. The wicket-keeper batter, who scored 96 runs against Quetta Gladiators in their previous match, was sent packing after he scored only four runs.

    The wizard Rashid claimed his second scalp of the evening by bowling out Tom Curran (10).

    For Lahore, Wiese claimed three wickets, while Rashid and Raza took two scalps each. Zaman and Haris secured a wicket each.

    Playing XI for both teams

    Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Tahir Baig, Abdullah Shafique, Sam Billings (wk), Hussain Talat, Sikandar Raza, David Wiese, Rashid Khan, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan

    Islamabad United: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Colin Munro, Rassie van der Dussen, Shadab Khan (c), Azam Khan (wk), Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Tom Curran, Abrar Ahmed, Zeeshan Zameer, Hasan Ali

  • Iran: Hundreds of schoolgirls poisoned to stop them from getting education

    A top Iranian health official informed the semi-official said on Sunday that a recent wave of widespread illnesses at girls’ schools in Iran were brought on by intentional poisoning using “chemical chemicals.”

    Iran’s deputy education minister, Younes Panahi , on Sunday said that , “It was found that some people wanted all schools, especially girls’ schools, to be closed.”

    “It has been revealed that the chemical compounds used to poison students are not war chemicals, and the poisoned students do not need aggressive treatment, and a large percentage of the chemical agents used are treatable,” he told a press conference.

  • Twitter users collectively agree that the chemistry in ‘Mujhe Pyar Hua Tha’ is at its peak

    Twitter users collectively agree that the chemistry in ‘Mujhe Pyar Hua Tha’ is at its peak

    ARY drama serial ‘Mujhay Pyar Hua Tha’ aired its 12th episode last night and Twitter users have collectively agreed that there’s no jori that deserves more praises than Maheer and Saad.
    In the episode, we witness the couple begin their married life together and slowly open up to each other. What is wholesome is how despite the fact that their marriage was arranged at the last minute, Saad still assures her that he would never restrict her to living the way he wants and will respect her wishes as he did as a friend before.

    We also witnessed some light husband and wife banter between the two, which has made fans declare that no one has served chemistry in the past like the way Hania Amir and Wahaj Ali are. Have they defeated ‘Humsafar’s’ long-held topslot?

    We have to agree with the rest of Twitter that Saad is one of the finest male leads we have watched on television screens. A caring and compassionate man who is gentle to the women in his life? Is kind and selfless to his lover, despite the fact that she may not be on the same page as him, but promises not to impose his feelings or force her into marrying him? Respects the fact that Maheer loves someone else and assures her that he will help her, regardless of the pain he feels? Print this in history books please.

    And we’re particularly marking down the days until the next episode releases because it looks like Maheer and Saad will be serving more couple goals, and keeping us singles crying in our sleep.