Author: newsdesk

  • Court sends Azam Swati on two-day physical remand for tweeting against senior military officials

    Court sends Azam Swati on two-day physical remand for tweeting against senior military officials

    Senator Azam Khan Swati of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was sent on a two-day physical remand in another case regarding controversial tweets after being arrested early Sunday morning.

    Swati was detained by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for the second time after a new case was registered against him for making controversial tweets against General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Major General Naseer.

    The FIA had requested Swati’s physical remand for eight days. Swati was taken into custody from his farmhouse located in Chak Shahzad, Islamabad.

    Reacting to the arrest of the senator, PTI Chairman Imran Khan tweeted that he was “shocked”.

    “I am shocked and appalled at how rapidly we are descending into not just a banana republic but a fascist state. How can anyone not understand the pain and suffering Senator Swati underwent with custodial torture and blackmailing video of him and his conservative wife sent to his family?” asked Khan on his party lawmaker’s arrest.

    Khan said that Swati’s “justifiable anger and frustration at the injustice meted out to him especially the doors of Supreme Court remaining closed to him despite over a fortnight of appeals by senators in support of him”.

    “So he tweets and is arrested again. Everyone must raise their voice against this state fascism,” said the PTI chief.

    Swati hurled cuss words at outgoing Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and used offensive language against Major General Faisal Naseer.

    The PTI senator called out the name of Major General Naseer and threatened him that he would have to pay the price.

    “I will go against Major General Naseer at every platform. I will use every legal and moral forum against him,” Swati said in a social media post.

    Last month, FIA took Swati into custody from his home in Islamabad and presented him before a court after he tweeted against General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    The senator has been granted bail in the case against surety bonds worth Rs1 million.

  • More than five women killed every hour by someone in their family: UN

    More than five women killed every hour by someone in their family: UN

    More than five women or girls were killed every hour by someone in their own family in 2021, it was revealed in a United Nations (UN) and UNODC report on femicide released on Nov 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

    Of all the women and girls intentionally killed last year, some 56 per cent were killed by intimate partners or other family members (45,000 out of 81,000)*. The data suggests that the home is not a safe place for women.

    UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous said: “Behind every femicide statistic is the story of an individual woman or girl who has been failed. These deaths are preventable—the tools and the knowledge to do so already exist. Women’s rights organizations are already monitoring data and advocating for policy change and accountability. Now we need concerted action across society that will fulfill women’s and girls’ right to feel and to be safe, at home, on the streets, and everywhere.”

    UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly said: “No woman or girl should fear for her life because of who she is. To stop all forms of gender-related killings of women and girls, we need to count every victim, everywhere, and improve understanding of the risks and drivers of femicide so we can design better and more effective prevention and criminal justice responses. UNODC is proud to launch the 2022 femicide study with UN Women to galvanize global action and salute the efforts of women’s rights organizations around the world to end this crime.”

  • NAB summons real estate tycoon Malik Riaz to reveal £190 million settlement

    NAB summons real estate tycoon Malik Riaz to reveal £190 million settlement

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has asked real estate magnate Malik Riaz and close aides of PTI Chairman Imran Khan to appear before court on December 1 in a case relating to a £190 million (Rs50 billion) settlement.

    According to Profit, the owner of Bahria Town Malik Riaz was asked to appear before a joint investigation team of the anti-corruption watchdog on December 1 at 11 am at the bureau’s Rawalpindi headquarters, according to a NAB letter.

    “Call-up notice to the persons acquainted with facts of the case under section 19 of the National Accountability Ordinance-1999, inquiry against holders of public office and others qua misuse of authority, financial gains and criminal breach of trust in recovery of crime proceeds received from the UK and illegal sealing of its record,” the notice stated.

    It claimed that Ali Riaz Malik and others had entered into an out-of-court settlement agreement with Britain’s National Crime Agency for the repatriation of funds to the government of Pakistan following an investigation into allegations of abuse of power, financial gain, and criminal breach of trust.

    Imran and his wife were accused by Rana Sana Ullah of getting substantial amounts of land from Bahria Town property owners.

    Malik Riaz has been demanded to provide full records regarding the acquisition of 458 kanals in Tehsil Sohawa, the agreement by which Bahria Town donated land to Al Qadir Trust along with revenue documents, and information regarding any other property that he or any of his relatives transferred in favour of Al Qadir Trust or any of its trustees.

    Unverified reports claim that Imran Khan’s wife serves as one of the trustees. The real estate tycoon was informed that disobeying this notification could result in legal repercussions under NAO 1999.

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah revealed a secret arrangement between the NCA and Malik Riaz’s family members (referred to as “the counter parties”) in June of this year.

    In order to defend the real estate company in a case involving money laundering, he had charged Imran Khan and his wife of collecting Rs5 billion and hundreds of kanals of land from Bahria Town.

    A £190 million settlement offer that includes a UK property, 1 Hyde Park Place, London, W2 2LH, was accepted by the NCA in December 2019. All of the money, which had a value of almost £50 million, ended up in Malik Riaz’s blocked accounts.

  • ‘Shaheer isn’t negative’: Syed Jibran reacts to backlash on his character in ‘Daraar’

    ‘Shaheer isn’t negative’: Syed Jibran reacts to backlash on his character in ‘Daraar’

    Actor Syed Jibran has cleared the air regarding his character in Geo Entertainment’s drama serial Daraar, in his recent interview with BBC.

    Jibran addressed his character by saying, “I feel like Shaheer is not a negative character. It is, in fact, very good that our stories have evolved in such a way that the traditional hero-heroine and villain situations are less common.”

    He added, “A character does not have to spread either good or bad. My character in Daraar is going with a similar story. He’s a great guy in the beginning but he is also troublesome later.”

    He further explained why he doesn’t think Shaheer is a problematic character. “Most of the time, when a man has any illicit relations with other women, he is not sincere with his wife and doesn’t pay attention to her. However, we have shown that Shaheer is a perfect husband and an ideal son-in-law. He’s a great brother but he is also very calculated with his acts. He can also be so cruel that his public image echoes perfection, but the vices and weaknesses in his personality also shape him.”

  • Saad Rafique directs PIA to install mobile charging points in aircraft

    Federal Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique on Saturday directed Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to install charging stations for electronic devices in their aircraft.

    The minister also instructed the national flag carrier to make seats more comfortable for the passengers. In addition, it was advised to install a flight entertainment system in the aircraft.

    Officials were directed to review its current branding as well.

    “Special arrangements should be made for cleaning the washrooms,” he added.

    The directions were issued after a meeting headed by Saad Rafique, which was attended by officials from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), the Airport Security Force (ASF), and the PIA.

    The aviation minister hopes that the upgrades will boost customer service standards.

  • Hate in our society: Man kills friend over transgender friendship

    Hate in our society: Man kills friend over transgender friendship

    A man in Hairpur shot dead his friend over his alleged friendship with a transgender person, Shahid Tabassum has reported for 24 News. As per details, the man shot his friend Hassan Shah in a guest house, after a heated exchange between both. The victim died on the spot and local police shifted the body to the morgue.

    The incident occurred in the premises of the Police Station City. The transgender person is yet to be identified.

    The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of 2018 ensures basic rights for the people belonging to the marginalised community.

    The act was enacted in the year 2018 to guarantee transgenders equal rights to Education, basic health facilities , issuance of CNICs and passports and giving them a right to vote and contest elections.

  • Varun Dhawan opens up about crushing on Sania Mirza, reveals special moment with her

    Varun Dhawan opens up about crushing on Sania Mirza, reveals special moment with her

    Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan recently made a revelation about his former feelings for Tennis star Sania Mirza. The Judwaa 2 star stated that he had a huge crush Sania when he was a crew member on an ad film that featured Mirza.

    Varun recalled, “I was working for Mad Productions, Mukul Anand’s team and I was working on an ad that featured Sania Mirza. We had to get 300 shoes. I went to Linking Road and rented 300 shoes. I had this huge crush on Sania Mirza at the time. She asked me for an apple. And I got this apple.”

    He re-enacted the trembling he felt as he gave her mother the apple for Sania, and added, “I was giving her like I said Aunty… apple. Her mother thought I was crack or something. So she asked who told you to bring this apple?’ Luckily Sania came and said I want the apple. I got like ₹5000 for it, to get the shoes, and also maybe the apple.”

    As of today, Varun is married to Natsaha Dalal, whereas Sania Mirza is hitched to Pakistani veteran cricketer Shoaib Malik.

    Who is Natasha Dalal? How she and Varun Dhawan met? This is the complete timeline of their relationship | GQ India
    Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza officially divorced now? - Daily Times

    The Badlapur star is currently promoting his horror-comedy film Bhediya, helmed by Amar Kaushik.

  • Committee asks PTI’s Murad Saeed to submit Arshad Sharif’s laptop

    Committee asks PTI’s Murad Saeed to submit Arshad Sharif’s laptop

    A fact-finding committee that is currently investigating the murder of senior journalist Arshad Sharif has asked Murad Saeed, leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, (PTI) to provide the slain newsman’s laptop to the committee on November 28.

    Geo News has reported that the fact-finding committee has written to Saeed that, “During the proceedings of the finding team it has come on record that you are in possession of the Apple MacBook of deceased senior journalist Arshad Sharif. Therefore you are requested to provide the device of the deceased enabling the fact-finding team to ascertain the facts.”

    The committee has also requested Saeed to cooperate.

    In his letter to the FIA fact-finding committee written on November 21, Saeed expressed reservations and refused to cooperate.

    ”The mother of Shaheed Arshad Sharif has already expressed her reservations and expressed dissatisfaction over the govt of Pakistan’s handling of the matter”, Saeed wrote.

    However, he said that he is “willing to appear before the judicial commission constituted by the august SC and present all the information he has with respect to the matter.”

    Earlier this month, the fact-finding committee summoned Murad Saeed and ex-member of PTI, Faisal Vawda.

    Saeed also said that he knew who was threatening the slain journalist in Pakistan, forcing him to flee the country.

    On October 23, Sharif was killed by local police in Kenya in what they said was a case of “mistaken identity”.

  • Federal Minister Hina Rabbani likely to attend FIFA World Cup

    Federal Minister Hina Rabbani likely to attend FIFA World Cup

    Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar, is expected to attend the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in Qatar in the first week of December.

    According to The News, the dates for her trip are still being finalised. Earlier this week, Ambassador of Qatar in Islamabad Saoud Abdulrahman Al-Thani called on Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to extend an invitation from his Qatari counterpart to watch the World Cup.

    Pakistan’s Foreign Office had received the invitations before the World Cup started with the inauguration being attended by world leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

    According to the newspaper, it is important for Pakistan to show solidarity with a fellow Muslim state which was the first to hold the World Cup and which is being attacked by the West over alleged human rights records.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif showed solidarity with Qatar in the face of western media onslaught, tweeting, “Unfortunate that Qatar is being subjected to a barrage of propaganda as host of FIFA World Cup. It should be rather commended for wonderful arrangements for the mega event and being a promoter of global peace and development. Pakistan stands in solidarity with HH Emir and the people of Qatar.”

  • Fact check: Google is not suspending Play Store in Pakistan but users won’t be able to buy apps with mobile balance

    Fact check: Google is not suspending Play Store in Pakistan but users won’t be able to buy apps with mobile balance

    Online rumours claiming that Pakistani Android users will be unable to use Google Play Store services are false and misleading, as users will be able to download and use free apps.

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) stopped paying $34 million to international tech companies in order to reduce the outflow of dollars, so Android users in Pakistan won’t be able to purchase paid apps through mobile carrier billing.

    Carrier payments, or a method by which mobile users pay for paid apps using their mobile credits, will no longer be available.

    According to details, the SBP has halted payments totaling $34 million to foreign service providers, which would prevent mobile customers in Pakistan from accessing paid services through the Google Play Store.

    Details indicate that the SBP terminated Direct Carrier Billing (DCB). As a result, the payment to foreign service providers, including Google, Amazon, and Meta, has been suspended. It is important to note that Pakistani customers may only pay for applications or paid services with credit or debit cards.