Author: newsdesk

  • President Alvi sets April 9 as election day for Punjab and KP

    President Alvi sets April 9 as election day for Punjab and KP

    President Dr Arif Alvi has announced that elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) will be held on April 9.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Section 57(1) of the Elections Act, 2017 says that the president is entrusted to announce the election date after consulting the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)

    Earlier today, ECP said no to meeting President Alvi when he invited the commission to consult with him, citing that the matter of elections is sub judice.

    ECP says no to meeting with President Alvi

    On Monday, ECP, in a letter addressed to Alvi, has stated that the matter of deciding a date for elections is subjudice, hence, it cannot participate in a meeting on this issue with the president.

    The development comes days after Alvi wrote a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, inviting him for an “urgent meeting” to discuss and consult on the election date in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The meeting was set to take place today (Monday, February 20).

    Two federal ministers, Rana Sanaullah and Marriyum Aurangzeb, have defended the ECP.

    In a statement issued on Monday, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said the Presidency has become “Awan-e-Sazish” [centre of conspiracy], adding that the government will not allow it to become “Imran Khan’s Tiger Force”. She also advised Alvi against becoming a puppet of the former Prime Minister.

    Meanwhile, in a tweet, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah lambasted Alvi, stating that, “ECP is not your slave,” and adding that “Imran is now using the head of state [Alvi] for conspiracy”.

    President Alvi asks ECP for urgent meeting to consult on Punjab, KP’s election dates

    Earlier, in a letter to ECP, the president expressed displeasure over the “apathy and inaction” of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on not responding to his earlier letter as yet. The first letter was sent on February 8.

    The president stated that he had waited anxiously that the ECP would realise its constitutional duties to proceed and act accordingly, but was extremely dismayed by the commission’s “approach on this important matter”.

    The meeting will take place on February 20 (Monday).

    The president’s official Twitter account said that the two will discuss Section 57(1) of Elections Act, 2017 which details that the president is entrusted to announce the election date after consulting the ECP.

    Punjab and KP assemblies were dissolved in January to pave way for fresh elections.

    It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been asking for the elections since the ouster of their chairman Imran Khan as Prime Minister.

  • ‘How dare you’: Miftah Ismail gets furious at public event when asked about getting a BMW

    Former Finance Minister Miftah Ismail lost his cool and got furious at Karachi Literature Festival on Sunday when asked about allegedly obtaining a BMW when he was the minister a few months back.

    Responding to a question, the former minister responded by saying: “How can you say I had a BMW and accuse somebody like this? How dare you talk to me that I had a BMW?”

    Miftah noted that these “false” accusations led to people in jail.

    “I was in jail for five months without being guilty of anything so I don’t appreciate people telling me that I have done something wrong,” said the former finance czar.

    “My sister, wife and daughter cried when I was in jail so you should take it back,” Miftah told the person.

    Setting the record straight, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader also said he used to drive his personal car and bear fuel expense when he served as the finance minister.

    Miftah Ismail held the post of finance minister when the incumbent coalition government took charge in April. However, he was replaced by Nawaz’s close aide Ishaq Dar in September last year. Since then, it’s been speculated that some factions within the party are not happy with Miftah.

  • ‘Filthy’: Controversial question leads to sacking of COMSAT University lecturer

    ‘Filthy’: Controversial question leads to sacking of COMSAT University lecturer

    A visiting-faculty member from COMSATS University has been fired after students from the Electric Engineering department were shocked by the question they had received for their English Composition exam.

    The university administration released a letter addressing the question about incest, and revealed that the lecturer responsible for the quiz has been removed from his position.

    As the question went viral on Twitter, social media users expressed how horrified they were and called it a sign of the destruction of the education system in Pakistan.

    “This is the end of our education system. Such a curse #COMSATS is,” one user wrote.

    Journalist Shama Junejo shared that she had never seen such filth promoted this way

    “I have lived & studied in West since decades,my children have studied in UK since their childhood,I have never seen or read any such filth,what I read in this examination of COMSATS university to promote incest. Whoever designed it,is a sick bastard & must be removed immediately.”

    More twitter users called for strict action to be taken against the University lecturer who had designed this quiz.

  • Pakistan to implement separate gas tariffs for rich and poor

    Pakistan to implement separate gas tariffs for rich and poor

    Dr Musadik Masood Malik, the State Minister for Petroleum, has announced that the government of Pakistan will implement a new system of gas tariffs that will differentiate between the rich and the poor. The purpose of this measure is to provide relief to low-income citizens who struggle to pay their gas bills.

    According to Dr Malik, the government will apply “various slabs” for the poor that will be “three times less than those of rich using the same or more gas under the same slabs.” He made this announcement during a press conference at the Lahore Press Club on Sunday.

    In addition to this, the government will supply locally explored gas or the reserves to be explored in the future to gas-fired power plants for cheap energy generation. The goal of this measure is to bring down the electricity tariff for the public at large. According to Dr Malik, the cost of generating electricity through LNG is Rs26 per unit, while it is only Rs7 when plants are operated on indigenous gas.

    Dr Malik also pointed out that only 1,000 super-rich people have captured the country of 220 million people. He deplored the fact that Pakistan provides gas at a much lower cost of “just 70 cents” per MMBTU, compared to rich countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain, where the cost is $2, $3, and $4 per MMBTU, respectively.

    He also criticised the government’s policies for creating a divide between the rich and the poor. He blamed Prime Minister Imran Khan for turning Pakistan into two countries, one for the rich and the other for the poor. He stated that “one Pakistan is that where a poor man is sent to jail for stealing bread for his children while the other one is that where a man involved in stealing watches and diamonds worth billions of rupees is sitting in his home.” He also stated that “one Pakistan is for the poor seeking money for medicines, while in the other, the people have been importing billions of dollars’ worth of precious vehicles.”

    As a result, Dr Malik announced that the government has decided to tax the rich and the powerful, not the poor or the weaker ones. He stated that the government stands with the poor, which represents around 60 per cent of the population, and that they have either reduced or maintained the gas tariff for them. He maintained that “we are the poor, as we were with them in old Pakistan.”

  • 15 dead, 60 injured in bus accident near Kallar Kahar

    At least 15 people including women and children have died and over 60 were injured after a bus overturned on M2 near Kallar Kahar late on Saturday night.
    The bus was carrying wedding guests on its way to Rawalpindi. The brakes of the vehicle failed near Kallar Kahar, where the bus broke through road barriers and plowed into cars traveling on the other side of the road before overturning.
    Shortly thereafter, rescue and police personnel reached the spot and shifted the injured and the dead to a hospital. The death toll may rise as many of the injured are in critical condition.
    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief on the accident and ordered that the injured should be provided all possible relief.

  • IMF chief wants the poor people of Pakistan to be protected

    IMF chief wants the poor people of Pakistan to be protected

    In a recent interview with an international broadcaster, Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), called for Pakistan to distribute subsidies more fairly, redirecting resources from the wealthy to those in need. Georgieva urged the country to increase tax revenues from those who are making good money, both in the public and private sectors, to contribute to the economy.

    The IMF is keen for Pakistan to function effectively as a country and avoid dangerous levels of debt, which could lead to the need for debt restructuring. Georgieva expressed concern for the people of Pakistan, who have been devastated by floods affecting one-third of the population.

    The IMF has recommended that Pakistan broaden its narrow tax base, with only 3.5 million return filers out of a population of over 200 million. The lender has also called for the removal of untargeted subsidies and the redirection of resources towards the poor, including the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), for which the government has increased the allocation from Rs360 billion to Rs400 billion to protect the poorest from inflationary pressures.

    The IMF’s review mission has made it clear that Pakistan must undertake tax revenues from all those who possess income to contribute to the national kitty.

    Pakistan faces a looming balance of payment (BoP) crisis, with external debt servicing of $27 billion required in the next financial year. The ongoing IMF programme of $6.5 billion under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) is due to expire on June 30, 2023, and there is no possibility of any further extension in the ongoing EFF arrangement.

    The IMF could help Islamabad overcome the crisis by ensuring that the country can pay its debt obligations without plunging into default. The revival of the IMF programme will be a pre-requisite step for seeking any debt restructuring, so the government is currently focusing on it.

  • Imran is still being facilitated by traces that Faiz Hameed left: Maryam Nawaz

    Imran is still being facilitated by traces that Faiz Hameed left: Maryam Nawaz

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior Vice President and Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz, while talking exclusively to Geo News’ programme “Jirga with Saleem Safi” shed light on the ongoing political crisis and emerging differences between her and the party’s senior leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

    Claiming that the new setup in the establishment is neutral, Maryam Nawaz said that there are elements associated with Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed that are helping Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan because their interests are interlinked.

    She said that due to this support, Khan doesn’t appear before the court despite being called numerous times.

    Maryam deemed the content of the alleged audio leaks of former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as “bench fixing”.

    “I said long ago that bench fixing is happening. Elahi’s leaked audio is its evidence,” she stated.

    All set for elections, says Maryam Nawaz

    Reflecting upon the provincial elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab, which is the core demand of PTI, Maryam said that she and her party are all set for elections.

    When asked if the party was avoiding polls, Maryam stated: “Who said [we are] running away from elections? I am in front of the public and preparing for the polls.”

    She added that all the places that she has visited recently are a part of the election campaign. “We are preparing for the polls. Everyone wants a ticket from PML-N,” she claimed.

    The party’s chief organiser said that there is a list of people who wants PML-N’s tickets from all four provinces.

    Shahid Khaqan’s departure from PML-N would be an insult to me: Maryam Nawaz

    Addressing the rumours of a rift between her and former PML-N senior vice-president Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Maryam said that she had a detailed conversation with him for two and a half hours about his resignation.

    Maryam said that Abbasi’s departure from the party will be an “insult to me, not to him”; however, Khaqan told her that she is like a sister to him. “He wanted to give me some space. I will not let Abbasi go, nor is he going anywhere,” she maintained.

    Don’t believe in revenge: Maryam Nawaz

    When asked that there are apprehensions that Maryam might take revenge when she comes to power, the PML-N senior vice president said, “I don’t have to do anything, they already are suffering because of their own deeds.”

    She said that she doesn’t believe in revenge and won’t do what Khan’s government did in the past to her party. Moreover, she said that now both the establishment and Khan are busy exposing each other.

    Maryam assures Nawaz’s return

    Maryam again assured party followers that her father, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, will come back. She said: “This is Nawaz Sharif’s homeland and he will return to the country.”

    “Fake cases were lodged against him and he not only appeared before the law [judiciary] but also accepted the victimisation with dignity in the larger interest of the country,” she said.

  • New iPhone 15 Pro design leaks unveiled: USB-C port and titanium chassis

    New iPhone 15 Pro design leaks unveiled: USB-C port and titanium chassis

    Recent leaks of the New iPhone 15 Pro CAD have unveiled significant design changes from Apple’s previous generations. The most discussed upgrade has now been revealed through photographic evidence.

    Apple insider, Unknownz21, has shared a close-up image of what they claim to be the USB-C port on the iPhone 15 Pro, without the need for any imagination or rendering. Unknownz21 has a proven track record, having sourced an early version of iOS 14 months ahead of release.

    Aside from the USB-C port, the photo also reveals an unfinished brushed material on the phone that looks similar to titanium, indicating a possible replacement for the stainless steel chassis on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models. Additionally, the images display curvier edges, as previously leaked in recent iPhone 15 Pro renders.

    However, there is some bad news regarding the implementation of USB-C. It is expected that the performance of USB-C will differ significantly between the iPhone 15 Pro and standard models. Furthermore, Apple is rumored to include an authenticator chip that would control the use of USB-C ports. As seen with Lightning, this would require third-party cables and accessories to pass Apple’s MFi certification program, which could limit their performance or even prevent them from working altogether. This could result in additional costs for manufacturers and customers.

    Despite these potential drawbacks, 2023 is expected to be a significant year in the evolution of the iPhone. Apple is introducing changes to the chassis, display, ports, and buttons, as well as a new pricing structure that will differentiate between iPhone Pro and standard models. If you have been waiting to upgrade your iPhone, this could be the year to do so.

  • PML-N’s Attaullah Tarar raises questions over judge in Elahi’s alleged audio leak

    PML-N’s Attaullah Tarar raises questions over judge in Elahi’s alleged audio leak

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Interior Attaullah Tarar has raised questions over the alleged audio leak of former Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Pervaiz Elahi and lashed out at Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ghulam Mahmood Dogar.

    Tarar started off by saying that CCPO Dogar as Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operation was found guilty of land grabbing when Shehbaz Sharif was CM of Punjab. He said that at the time, Shehbaz removed him from his position and it was mentioned in the inquiry report that Dogar should never be appointed to a high-rank position in the future.

    Switching to Elahi’s alleged audio leak, the special assistant demanded action and asked why there is no inquiry against the judge.

    The audio conversations came to the surface on Thursday, released on the internet in three parts. In the first and second audio clips, a man believed to be Elahi can be heard saying that a specific judge of the Supreme Court should be appointed to hear the case of Elahi’s close aide, Muhammad Khan Bhatti. In the third clip, he can allegedly be heard talking to the same judge.

    On Friday the Supreme Court suspended the transfer order of Dogar as CCPO and forwarded the matter to another bench of the apex court