Author: newsdesk

  • ‘I am captain who brought neutral umpires’: IK on whether he wants military out of politics or not

    ‘I am captain who brought neutral umpires’: IK on whether he wants military out of politics or not

    Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said that he is the one who in the entire history of the game, brought in a neutral umpire to get fair results.

    Khan was talking on TRT World’s “The Newsmakers” with Andrea Sanke, when the anchor asked, “You want the military out of Pakistan’s politics, or do you want the military on your side in Pakistan’s politics?”

    Khan replied: “Let me say one thing. In the two hundred year history of test cricket, and international cricket, I am the captain who brought the neutral umpires. I am the one who actually brought in the neutral umpires in cricket because we wanted a fair result.”

    “You must understand, for me right now, the most important thing in Pakistan is how do we get out of the quagmire, how do we get out of this situation”, he stated.

    During the interview, Khan again mentioned the names of PM Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Major General Faisal Naseer as the minds behind the assassination attempt on his life. “We are governed by criminals”, Khan said.

    He reiterated that he wants an independent investigation. “We are a popular party in Punjab but we couldn’t get a case registered against them because the provincial police refused,” he told the host.

    “If they turned out to be innocent in the investigation so it’s fine. At least it’s my right, they almost killed me”, Khan said.

    He claimed that all the investigative agencies in the country are under these three people [Shehbaz, Sanaullah and Faisal Naseer].

    About Naveed, the gunman who shot at the former Prime Minister, Imran Khan said, “After 20 minutes of the incident, a man appears and says that I shot Imran”.

    Khan raised a question: “Who brought him on television? Police are not allowed to do this unless a proper investigation is carried out.”

    Stressing that he was more determined now, Imran Khan said that he was expecting something to happen. “I predicted this four months ago that there was a plot against me,” he said.

    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former prime minister and a senior leader of the ruling coalition, also spoke with The Newsmakers and called the allegations levelled by Khan tragic. “It is a tragedy that a person of Imran Khan’s stature, who served as the prime minister of the country, would stoop so low to accuse the [sitting] prime minister and intelligence officials of being behind this shooting,” he said.

    Abbasi said the shooting took place in a province that Khan’s PTI party controls and called for an investigation to ascertain the motivation behind this shooting. “The shooter has been arrested and the truth should come out. I think for Imran Khan to speculate and try to gain political points out of this is something that is very much not acceptable,” Abbasi said.

    Imran Khan rejected Abbasi’s statement, saying he does not need popularity gained by accusing others.

    Khan called on the Chief Justice (CJ) of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial to be “more assertive” when it comes to dispensing justice.

    “Justice persists when every person, even the most powerful, is brought under the rule of law. I, as the head of a province, can’t get the three people to be investigated, imagine what the situation will be for the common man,” he said, adding that PTI’s movement for “real struggle” demanded rule of law.

  • Aur humara meme game shuru: the best of the best Pak match memes

    Aur humara meme game shuru: the best of the best Pak match memes

    Pakistan has defeated New Zealand by seven wickets to reach their first T20 World Cup final since winning the competition in 2009.
    Pakistan restricted New Zealand to 152-4, before reaching their target with five balls to spare as the skipper banished his Super 12 blues with 53 from 42 deliveries in an opening stand of 105 from 76 balls with Mohammad Rizwan (57 off 43).

    Pakistan reaching the final after a not-so-good start has triggered a meme fest on Twitter. Have a look at the memes:

  • Twitter to roll out new ‘Official’ badge for prominent accounts

    Twitter to roll out new ‘Official’ badge for prominent accounts

    When it debuts its new $8 service with the blue verification badge, billionaire Elon Musk’s social media platform Twitter will introduce an ‘Official’ tag for select verified accounts, including prominent media outlets, celebrities and authorities, its early stage products executive Esther Crawford said on Tuesday.

    Twitter’s safety and integrity chief, Yoel Roth, stated that the business delayed the introduction of the new Twitter Blue subscription product until after the US midterm elections on Tuesday due to concerns about impersonating public people.

    According to those familiar with the situation, fake government accounts are a common issue on Twitter around the world. Crawford stated that the “Official” badge will not be for sale and will only be available to administrations, significant media outlets, businesses, company associates, and other prominent personalities.

    A Reuters story states that the social networking site Twitter will launch a new $8 premium subscription option. According to Esther Crawford, the company’s early-stage products executive, the major media organisations and governments will be among the Twitter accounts that are verified and so referred to as “Official” on Twitter.

    Those who subscribe to Twitter Blue, a new subscription service that won’t really verify user identities, will be able to get blue checks.

    Even though the official label won’t be offered for sale, select accounts will get it, and it won’t be accessible to all. Governments, private companies, trade associations, large news organisations, and some other public personalities will be allowed to have it.

  • Suggestions are being made to govt to let COAS Bajwa continue

    Suggestions are being made to govt to let COAS Bajwa continue

    Suggestions are being made to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) by “certain elements” to convince Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa to continue as the head of the armed forces, reports The News.

    According to the newspaper’s sources, a suggestion was given to the government to give an extension to the incumbent army chief, and dissolve the government so that an interim government could form which would then continue for six to seven months.

    However, it has been reported that the party has said “no” to these options. PM Shehbaz and his senior party leadership insist on completing the term of the present assemblies and holding the next elections in October-November 2023. According to the party, the appointment of the COAS is at the discretion of the Premier and key military appointments would be made as per the law and Constitution.

    It is pertinent to mention that COAS Bajwa is set to retire by the end of November, a time frame that he has reportedly verbally confirmed multiple times.

    It was also reported a few weeks ago that Imran Khan, former Prime Minister and Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been seeking the continuation of the incumbent army chief until the new elections are called.

    In an interview with Kamran Khan on Dunya News, Khan suggested that COAS Bajwa, be given an extension in his tenure of service.

    Talking about the possibility of appointing a new Army Chief, Khan said, “There can be a provision in relevance to the selection of the new COAS. When the next government comes, they can appoint a new COAS.”

  • Pakistan has sufficient petrol and diesel to meet domestic demand: Petroleum Division

    Pakistan has sufficient petrol and diesel to meet domestic demand: Petroleum Division

    The Petroleum Division said on Tuesday that the country has sufficient petrol and High-Speed Diesel (HSD) in stock to meet domestic demand after allowing Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to recover Rs10 per litre on HSD for the next two months (November-December 2022) by raising the premium limit to $15 per barrel.

    The OCAC had cautioned the federal government about a likely shortage of petrol and HSD in the coming days due to limited imports and limited local availability.

    According to the OCAC’s letter to the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), the gap is due to limited supply and excessive premiums on fuel stocks on the international market.

    The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), led by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, approved the summary proposed by the Ministry of Energy on Friday (Petroleum Division).

    The ministry aimed to secure sustainable HSD imports for November-December 2022 by loading the country’s risk factors of $6 bbl, with an upper limit premium of $15 to the OMCs for pricing computation.

  • Rida Isfahani breaks silence on her leaked video, reveals culprits

    Rida Isfahani breaks silence on her leaked video, reveals culprits

    In November 2016, a private video of actor Rida Isfahani got leaked and went viral on social media. The controversy affected her career in a huge way and she lost out on work. Now the artist has discussed the matter on Nadir Ali’s podcast for the first time.

    Allegedly her ex-fiancé, who was DOP betrayed her and leaked her private moments.

    Rida Isfahani - Biography & Dramas List

    Rida said, “I would discuss it with you because you respect women. If your trust is breached, then it means it is the end of humanity. I would say it’s Allah who gives respect and who reveals your bad side in front of others, sometimes, the punishment comes early because Allah doesn’t want someone special to fall astray.”

    She added, “Well, my trust was broken by my fiancé. I convinced my parents for him. My mindset was conservative as I wanted to be with one person. I had a relationship with DOP. He wasn’t even wealthy, he proposed to me and I accepted. After three years of my engagement, he leaked my pictures when I was in the US. People urged me to do a press conference but I didn’t as it was his deed, this is my tragedy and it will go to my grave with me. People don’t forgive and keep accusing you for your past and I have been facing this. I was also cut down from projects after this. I contacted him through agencies after this because I was clueless at that time, his act was bad, I will be embarrassed in front of my loved ones who never said a bad word to me after this tragedy, they were so hurt.”

  • Oculus creator makes VR headset that actually kills users if they die in the game

    Oculus creator makes VR headset that actually kills users if they die in the game

    Palmer Luckey, a virtual reality pioneer and the developer of Oculus – now better known as a part of Facebook’s Meta – created a VR device that will actually kill the player if they lose the game.

    NerveGear, Luckey’s murderous headset, looks like a Meta Quest Pro coupled with three explosive charge units located above the screen.

    The charges are aimed at the user’s forebrain, and if they detonate, they will entirely demolish the user’s skull.

    Wearing a NeveGear VR headset, players start Sword Art Online, a new game based on the Japanese anime and book of the same name.

    Luckey described the ‘killer’ VR on his blog:

    Today is November 6th, 2022, the day of the SAO Incident.  Thousands of VRMMORPG gamers were trapped by a mad scientist inside a death game that could only be escaped through completion.  If their hit points dropped to zero, their brain would be bombarded by extraordinarily powerful microwaves, supposedly killing the user.  The same would happen if anyone in the real world tampered with their NerveGear, the virtual reality head-mounted display that transported their minds and souls to Aincrad, the primary setting of Sword Art Online.

    The players must battle their way through a 100-floor dungeon in order to escape a lunatic scientist’s virtual reality.

    Don’t get too thrilled or scared because the killer VR headset is not yet available for purchase.

    Luckey sold Oculus, the underpinning of Mark Zuckerberg’s march to the metaverse, to Facebook in 2014 for $2 billion.

  • Iqbal Day: President, PM share messages

    President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in separate messages commemorated the birth anniversary of Pakistan’s national poet, Allama Muhammad Iqbal.

    The two figureheads of the state urged the nation to make a pledge to achieve the Pakistan that was dreamt of by Iqbal, a place of peace, political forbearance and brotherhood, Radio Pakistan has reported.

    The President in his message said that we pay homage to Allama Iqbal for giving the idea of a separate homeland for the Muslims of subcontinent, where they can lead their lives in accordance with their religious, social and cultural values and without fear and intimidation of the majority.

    The Prime Minister in his message urged the nation to carry out self-accountability whether they have succeeded to safeguard Iqbal’s Pakistan which came into being consequent to the remarkable struggle and sacrifices of hundreds of thousands of people.

    A traditional change of guard ceremony was also held at Mazar-e-Iqbal in Lahore.

  • PM Shehbaz writes letter to CJ asking to form judicial commission to investigate attack on Imran

    PM Shehbaz writes letter to CJ asking to form judicial commission to investigate attack on Imran

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has written a letter to Chief Justice (CJ) Umar Ata Bandial to request him to form a judicial commission to investigate the attempted assassination on Imran Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    The premier said that the investigation of the incident was being “mishandled” and in its aftermath a “derogatory campaign” had been launched against the leadership of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and state institutions.

    Putting forward five questions before the SC, Shehbaz Sharif has asked which law enforcement agencies were responsible to provide security to Imran’s convoy. He also questioned whether security protocols and other SOPs were put in place to secure the convoy and whether these protocols were adhered to. “What are the facts of the incident itself,” the letter says.

    “Whether law enforcement agencies and administrative authorities complied with the prescribed investigation, evidence collection, and handling procedures following the incident,” reads the letter.

    The last questions were: “Whether the investigation into the incident is being deliberately impeded? If yes, by which actors and why? Whether the shooting was a result of a criminal conspiracy hatched to assassinate Imran or the act of a lone shooter? Who are the actors responsible in either scenario?”

    PM’s letter to CJ about Arshad Sharif’s death

    In another letter to the SC, PM Shehbaz — who is currently in Egypt—wrote a letter to CJ Bandial and sought the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the death of slain journalist Arshad Sharif.

    The journalist was killed in a “mistaken identity” case last month in Kenya by local police.

    The Premier suggested the CJ focus on five questions — through which procedure did Arshad Sharif go abroad in August 2022? Who facilitated Sharif’s departure abroad? Was any federal or provincial agency aware of any threat to Sharif? Was any organisation or administration aware of any threat to Sharif? If Sharif’s life was in danger, what steps were taken to save him? What were the circumstances, and reasons under which Sharif went to Kenya from UAE? What is the truth behind the shooting incident in which Sharif died?

    The premier asked the chief justice to form a commission comprising all the justices of the SC. He also assured the apex court that the federal government would provide full support to the commission.

  • ‘My wife was sobbing uncontrollably’: Azam Swati told Human Rights Cells of SC

    ‘My wife was sobbing uncontrollably’: Azam Swati told Human Rights Cells of SC

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Azam Swati has submitted an application to the Human Rights Cell of the Supreme Court (SC), requesting to “safeguard sanctity, honour, privacy and respect of the Senator after the leak of him and his wife’s private recorded video.”

    In the petition, it is stated that the “applicant brought the honorable court’s attention towards this most inhuman and unethical incident.”

    Swati narrated the incident including details of how he got to know about the video when an unknown number sent the clip to his wife. He said that the “main part of the video is genuine and it was taken when the couple was staying in Quetta.”

    After watching the video, Swati said, “My wife called me after watching, remembering and confirming the details of the video. She was sobbing uncontrollably and was hardly able to utter any words.”

    Moreover, the senator named Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Assistant Director Ayaz, D.G, FIA, DGC Faisal Naseer and Brig. Fahim and others “who are involved in committing the heinous crime, violation of human rights, privacy and dignity of man.”

    He said that the people who were involved in his earlier custodial torture had sent this private video to his wife and son to blackmail him.

    ‘What happened to you is very tragic’: CJP Bandial to Azam Swati

    On November 8, during the hearing of PTI chief Imran Khan’s contempt of court case in SC, when Swati appeared before the court, Chief Justice (CJ) Umar Ata Bandial spoke to him that “What happened to you is very tragic”.

    The Chief Justice corrected Swati that he had never stayed in the rest house of the SC, to which Azam Swati replied, “Yes, you are right, I had stayed in Quetta Federal Lodge.”

    “Your case is ongoing in Human Rights Cell. The court is careful in this matter, the case will be seen according to the law,” said the CJP.

    Swati asked whether he can show the alleged video to anyone other than the judges. To this, the CJ directed Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to remove the alleged video of the senator To this, the PTI leader said that “The video that will be removed may not be the one that was sent to me”.

    The same day Swati said that he will show the recorded private video of him and his wife to the SC and will tell the court which clips of the video are fabricated and which are real.

    Talking to media outside of the apex court, Azam dismissed the FIA assessment of the video as being “fake and edited”.

    “Why did we [me and my wife] say that the recorded video is of Quetta,” the senator added.

    Moreover, the senator appealed to CJ for justice. He also urged the Chairman of the Senate, Sadiq Sanjrani, to follow the constitution.

    Prior to this, Swati had alleged that the video was recorded when he and his wife had visited Quetta where he stayed at the Supreme Court Judicial Lodges. According to Swati, Chairman Sanjrani had arranged his stay. However, the SC issued a clarification stating that Senator Azam Swati “Never used/stayed in Supreme Court Judges Rest House at Quetta”, adding that according to the Balochistan Special Branch, Swati stayed at the Balochistan Judicial Academy (Judicial Complex Quetta), which is not under the SC’s control.

    Chairman Sanjrani had also issued a statement where he condemned the video and also said that he provided Swati and his wife with the best and safest accommodation as guests in Quetta.

    Pointing fingers towards FIA’s Assistant Director Ayaz Khan, the senator said General Headquarters (GHQ) should summon him [Ayaz] so that he can reveal the truth “that on whose orders he arrested me and raided my house.”

    Earlier, Chairman Sanjrani formed a 14-member special committee to probe the alleged “obscene video” of Swati.

    On November 5, Swati broke into tears during a press conference, alleging that he and his wife were secretly recorded in a room and he was informed about it by his daughter.