Author: newsdesk

  • ‘Come back to the parliament for Pakistan’s progress’: Sanaullah tells Khan

    ‘Come back to the parliament for Pakistan’s progress’: Sanaullah tells Khan

    Interior Minister Rana Sanullah has asked Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to come back to the parliament so that the “country can move forward”.

    “If you don’t do this, you will be responsible for everything including inflation, economic turmoil and political turmoil. Stop being stubborn and come do politics instead,” he asserted at a press conference on Friday in Islamabad.

    Sanaullah also said that when politicians sit together, deadlocks are broken and decisions are changed.

    “I’ve seen my leaders amend their decisions after arguments and discussions,” he remarked, in what was seen as a government effort to offer an olive branch to Imran Khan.

    ‘There is a threat’: Sanaullah advises Khan to postpone long march headed to Rawalpindi on Nov 26

    Sanullah also advised Khan to postpone his party’s long march in Rawalpindi on November 26 (Friday).

    “Imran Khan should have delayed this march but he is stubborn and still wants to come to Rawalpindi.

    “I reviewed a meeting and all intelligence agencies have alerted me that any terrorist outfit can take advantage of this march. There is a threat to Imran himself,” he told the members of the press.

    Khan won’t get an election date from Rawalpindi: Sanaullah

    Sanaullah also stressed that Khan won’t get a date for fresh elections from Rawalpindi, where the General Headquarters of the armed forces is located.

    “I want to tell Imran Khan sahab that there is no purpose for this long march now. You say that you are coming to Rawalpindi for an election date. Imran Khan, you won’t get a date for elections now. The establishment won’t give you an election date […] if someone had to give in to your blackmailing, you would have a date […] but the establishment as an institution is standing firm on the decision that it won’t step out of its constitutional role,” Sanaullah emphasized.

    He further said that if Imran wanted a date for elections he should “become a politician” and meet his political opponents. “Meet Zardari, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Akhtar Mengal, Khalid Magsi, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui […] discuss the elections with them […] you can even meet Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif, they won’t refuse,” he advised the former Prime Minister.

  • Peshawar SHO announces he will resolve issues according to Sharia

    Peshawar SHO announces he will resolve issues according to Sharia

    Abdul Ali, Station House Officer (SHO) of Shahpur Police Station in Peshawar, has announced that he will resolve issues reported to his station according to Sharia.

    In the video, he can be heard saying that he will not let eunuchs or dancers be invited to marriage ceremonies, there will be a complete ban on fireworks and aerial firing in marriage ceremonies and strict action will be taken against violations.

    “If there is any issue in the area, i will take fatwa from the madrassa and tell people openly how it works,” he said while talking to Geo News.

    SHO Abdul Ali told Geo that he did not say anything wrong in the video.

  • ‘Stop glorifying abusers’: Netizens criticise ‘Lux Style Awards’ for awarding Feroze Khan as ‘Best Actor (Popular)’

    ‘Stop glorifying abusers’: Netizens criticise ‘Lux Style Awards’ for awarding Feroze Khan as ‘Best Actor (Popular)’

    Actor Feroze Khan won the ‘Best Actor (Popular)’ award at the 21st Lux Style Awards on Thursday. Although Feroze wasn’t present at the event, his elder sister Humaima Malick received the award on his behalf.

    This announcement has created a stir on social media as netizens were fumed with anger and disappointment.

    Earlier this week netizens expressed their disappointment with Khan’s nomination. On Wednesday, the organisers reacted to the backlash over Feroze’s nomination in the Best Actor category.

    The Lux Style Awards (LSAs) will not exclude Feroze Khan from their list of nominees despite widespread criticism, including from Oscar-winning director Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy.

    Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy Returns Her Lux Award After Feroze Khan's Nomination

    In a statement released on Wednesday night, the awards said, “The Lux Style Awards submissions are received from artists and channels as part of an open call for entries for consideration in the awards. All shortlisted nominations, for the Viewer’s Choice Category of the LSA 2022 are a result of exclusive viewer voting without any intervention by the Awards.

    “As part of our third party, the independent and transparent voting process, which is audited end to end by PricewaterhouseCoopers, LSA cannot participate in short-listing, vetting or excluding any submissions or nominations.”

  • Suzuki resumes Swift GLX CVT bookings ‘for a limited time only’

    Suzuki resumes Swift GLX CVT bookings ‘for a limited time only’

    Production and sales at Pak Suzuki Motor Company (PSMC) are picking up speed. The automaker just announced the reopening of bookings for its overall lineup of vehicles on its official Facebook page.

    The best kei car-selling company is also accepting reservations for the Suzuki Swift’s top and most expensive GLX CVT model, according to Pak Suzuki’s official Facebook page. Without providing a specific date, the automaker claimed that the offer is only valid for a short period of time.

    Sales for PSMC also slightly increased last month. This, along with the aforementioned factors, may signal the company’s turnaround from a protracted slump. Even so, the Swift GLX CVT’s Rs3.76 million price tag makes it difficult to sell.

    The new Swift GL CVT Limited Edition model sits below the GLX CVT model and offers a few extra conveniences over the GL CVT model. These features include a center armrest between the passenger seats and a rear top spoiler.

    The Limited Edition variant of Swift costs Rs3,450,000, which is only Rs30,000 more than the Swift GL CVT standard model. The increased cost represents a premium for the added improvements in the Limited Edition variant.

  • Faisal Vawda disqualified for one term after apologising to SC

    Faisal Vawda disqualified for one term after apologising to SC

    The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan on Friday barred former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda from contesting in any poll before the next general elections.

    The apex court disqualified Vawda under Article 63(1)(c) of the Constitution, under which a legislator loses membership of parliament for one term only. As such, he will remain disqualified till 2023 and is eligible to contest the next general or Senate elections.

    Vawda apologised to the court unconditionally and accepted that he misstated about his dual nationality.

    In his apology letter after the hearing, the ex-federal minister admitted that he was not eligible for contesting in elections after admitting that he had submitted a fake affidavit.

    The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Umar Ata Bandial, admonished Vawda for misleading everyone for the last three years. He asked the former lawmaker to apologise before the court and resign from his Senate seat.

    “If you apologise before the court with good intentions, then your disqualification will be limited to five years. In case you do not resign, then the court will proceed under Article 62(1)(f).”

    At this, the former PTI leader said that he apologises unconditionally and that he “did not” intend to submit a false affidavit. Vawda also said that he would accept any punishment that the court doles out.

    A day earlier, the court told Vawda to confess that he submitted a forged affidavit or else he will be disqualified for life.

    Vawda had challenged his disqualification in the Supreme Court after ECP barred him from holding public office in a dual nationality case.

    ECP disqualified Vawda as a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) and ordered him to withdraw the notification appointing him as senator for concealing his dual nationality.

    Supreme Court says Vawda will be disqualified for lifetime if he doesn’t confess to forgery

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan has on Thursday given former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and ex-senator, Faisal Vawda, an option that could soften his disqualification sentence.

    The top court heard the petition against Vawda’s lifetime disqualification from running or holding public office for concealment of his dual nationality.

    “If Vawda confesses to submitting a forged citizenship affidavit then he will be disqualified for one term; however, if the politician does not, then it will be for a lifetime,” the court said.

    A three-member bench headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial heard the petition. The court also ordered Vawda to bring forth a certificate proving his renunciation of US citizenship in the next hearing.

    “Vawda should admit his mistake and be disqualified under 63(1) C, otherwise the court shall proceed with the case under 62(1) F,” the Chief Justice said before warning that there was enough material before the court to disqualify Vawda “for life”.

  • PM Shehbaz Sharif leaves for Turkiye on two-day official visit

    PM Shehbaz Sharif leaves for Turkiye on two-day official visit

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has left for Turkiye on Friday morning for a two-day official visit.

    According to a Foreign Office (FO) statement, the Premier will “jointly inaugurate the third of the four Milgem Corvette ships for the Pakistan Navy, PNS Khaibar, at the Istanbul Shipyard”.

    Prior to his departure, the premier tweeted that the inauguration of the third Milgem Corvette ship represented the deepening defence cooperation between the Turkiye and Pakistan.

    “High-level exchanges are a defining feature of our partnership,” he stated. “Our bilateral ties have entered a new era of strategic partnership under the leadership of President Erdogan.”

    The PM went on to say that the two countries were on a course to “unpack the full untapped potential of the relationship”, adding that high-level exchanges were a “defining feature” of the partnership between the two countries.

  • Islamabad police announces traffic diversion plan ahead of PTI long march

    Islamabad police announces traffic diversion plan ahead of PTI long march

    The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police released an alternative traffic plan on Friday ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march in Rawalpindi on Saturday.

    The traffic on both sides of Murree Road has been diverted at Faizabad, according to ICT police.

    Therefore, it is possible to access Rawalpindi from Islamabad through the old airport road and stadium road.

    In addition, both Express Chowk and NADRA Chowk are entirely blocked off from accessing the Red Zone. As an alternative route, Margalla Road, Ayub Chowk, and Serena Chowk can be used.

    Islamabad’s other routes are all accessible to traffic.

    Residents are urged to dial the helpline number 15 in case of any emergency.

    Every kind of public gathering in the federal capital, including those in and near the Red Zone, is now subject to Section 144. However, the permit to hold the rally is only given if the proposed routes are followed.

  • Passing marks for matric, inter to be increased to 40 in desperately needed upgrade

    Passing marks for matric, inter to be increased to 40 in desperately needed upgrade

    The nationwide committee of chairmen of the educational boards IBCC) on Thursday approved the implementation of the new “10-point grading system” at the matric and inter levels across the country, Express Tribune has reported.

    IBCC Secretary Ghulam Ali Malah while talking to the media outlet said, “Existing grading system at the inter [grade XII] and matric [grade X] levels is being abolished and replaced by a 10-point system across the country by 2025.”

    The term “F” or “Fail” would be replaced with a new term “U” meaning unsatisfactory, Malah said. He added that students getting marks between 96 per cent and 100 per cent will get an A-plus, where as an A-minus will be given for 91 per cent to 95 per cent marks.
    Other grades format will include “A” or “Remarkable” for 85-90 per cent marks; “B++” or “Excellent” for 80-85 per cent marks; “B+” or “Very Good” for 75-80 per cent marks; “B” or “Good” for 70-75per cent marks; “C” or “Fair” for 60-70 per cent marks; “D” or “Satisfactory” for 50-60% marks; “E” or “Sufficient” for 40-50 per cent marks.

    The meeting also decided that matric and intermediate examination will be held in April and May.

  • What is new army chief Asim Munir like? This is what Twitter has to say

    What is new army chief Asim Munir like? This is what Twitter has to say

    Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Asim Munir has been officially appointed as the new Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of Pakistan after President Dr Arif Alvi signed the summary on Thursday evening.

    Following the development, the new army chief separately met Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and President Alvi.

    Lt- Gen Munir entered the service via the Officers Training School (OTS) programme in Mangla, and was commissioned into the Frontier Force Regiment. He has been a close aide of the incumbent COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa ever since he commanded troops in the Force Command Northern Areas as a brigadier under him.

    He was later appointed Director General Military Intelligence in early 2017, and in October next year was made the ISI chief. However, he was replaced soon by Lt- Gen Faiz Hameed within eight months, reportedly on the insistence of the then Prime Minister, Imran Khan. He was posted as Gujranwala Corps commander for two years, before being moved to the GHQ as Quartermaster General.

    Well, this is the information that we know so far but Twitterati has some interesting details as well.

  • Imran Khan can now travel after plaster is removed from his leg

    Imran Khan can now travel after plaster is removed from his leg

    Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, has been given the green signal to travel by his medical team ahead of the Rawalpindi rally scheduled for November 26.

    Khan’s physician, Dr Khalid Niazi, has said that the plaster on Khan’s fractured leg has been removed while the wounds on the upper part of Khan’s lower right limb have almost healed. However, the wounds on the lower part of the leg will take another week to heal completely.

    He added that Khan can now wash his leg and put weight on it as well. The doctors also allowed Khan to travel but with the caveat that he needs to be careful.

    The doctors told the media that they have removed one leg band from the former premier’s injured leg while leaving the other one loose.

    In an address, Imran Khan said he would go to Rawalpindi on November 26 and reveal a new plan for his Haqeeqi Long March movement.

    On November 3, Imran Khan survived an assassination attempt on day seven of PTI’s ‘Haqeeqi Long March’ as his container moved through Punjab’s Wazirabad.