Author: newsdesk

  • ‘A great loss to journalism’: Politicians and journalists extend condolences on the demise of Arshad Sharif

    ‘A great loss to journalism’: Politicians and journalists extend condolences on the demise of Arshad Sharif

    The killing of senior journalist Arshad Sharif late Sunday night has sent shockwaves across the country. Kenyan authorities have confirmed that the renowned television anchor was killed by local police, in what they have said was a case of mistaken identity.

    According to reports, the journalist left Pakistan in August for Dubai. It is unclear when did he go to Kenya.

    Following the tragic news, politicians, journalists extended condolences and expressed shock at the sudden demise of the leading newsman.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif wrote in a tweet, “I am deeply saddened by the shocking news of journalist Arshad Sharif’s tragic death. May Allah SWT grant him a place in Heaven. My deep condolences and prayers for the bereaved family.”

    President Dr Arif Alvi termed Arshad’s death as “A great loss to journalism and Pakistan”. In a tweet, he extended his condolences on the journalist’s death.

    Former Prime Minister and Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, too turned to Twitter to express his shock, stating that that today the entire nation mourns Arshad Sharif’s death. He said, “Shocked at the brutal murder of Arshad Sharif who paid the ultimate price for speaking the truth – his life. He had to leave the country & be in hiding abroad but he continued to speak the truth on social media, exposing the powerful.”

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo spoke to the media in London. About Arshad’s death, he said, “I am really saddened by the news”.

    Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari condemned the killing and extended his deepest condolences to “his family and loved ones”.

    Former Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari shared a Quranic verse through her Twitter account.

    More politicians and senior journalists including Arshad’s colleagues expressed their shock on Twitter when the news broke out in the early hours of Monday.

  • Indian CEO of Google celebrates Diwali by watching highlights of Pakistan-India match

    Indian CEO of Google celebrates Diwali by watching highlights of Pakistan-India match

    Google CEO Sundar Pichai celebrated Diwali by watching highlights of Pakistan-India match that took place on October 23.

    “Happy Diwali! Hope everyone celebrating has a great time with your friends and family. I celebrated by watching the last three overs again today, what a game and performance #Diwali#TeamIndia#T20WC2022,” he tweeted.

    He also gave a sarcastic reply to a Pakistani cricket fan who suggested him to re-watch first three overs

    After a nail-biting match, the Indian cricket team managed to defeat Pakistan by four wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

    A crucial partnership between Indian master batsman Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya sailed India to victory. Before Pandya’s (40) dismissal, he and Kohli (82) shared scored 113 runs off 78 balls.

    At the end of the match, India stood at 160 with the loss of eight wickets. Kohli was awarded the Man of The Match award.

    On Pakistan’s side, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Nawaz took two wickets each, while Naseem Shah was able to get one.

  • High court says Imran Khan is not restricted from contesting in future elections

    High court says Imran Khan is not restricted from contesting in future elections

    After the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict de-seating Imran Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) approached Islamabad High Court (IHC) to challenge the commission’s decision to disqualify him.

    On Monday, the high court rejected Imran Khan’s request to suspend the ECP order instantly in the Toshakhana reference on the basis of which he had been disqualified.

    However, IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah observed that Khan had not been barred from contesting in future elections, adding that he “won’t face any problems” to contest in the NA-45 (Kurram-I) by-election. The by-election is scheduled to be held on October 30.

    Moreover, CJ said that Khan’s disqualification by the ECP is only to the extent of the seat he was notified on.

    During the hearing today, Khan’s lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar said that his client had been disqualified ahead of the by-election in Kurram and a stay order is needed because the PTI chairman is contesting from the seat.

    The IHC chief justice then observed, “Imran Khan is not disqualified for that election”, adding that he would not face any problems in this regard.

    Justice Minallah also pointed out that the ECP’s detailed judgment is not available yet.

    The chief justice observed that it is normal practice to issue a detailed judgment later.

    “Wait for the [written] verdict. This is a routine matter. The Election Commission is not delaying it,” he stated.

    On October 21, ECP in a consensus verdict, disqualified former Prime Minister Khan and ruled that he is no more a member of the National Assembly (NA) in Toshakhana reference.

    Khan was disqualified under Article 63(1)(p) for misdeclaration.

  • Celebrities react to journalist Arshad Sharif’s demise

    Celebrities react to journalist Arshad Sharif’s demise

    Journalist Arshad Sharif died in Kenya after being shot, according to his wife Javeria Siddique.

    She wrote, “I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist @arsched today, as per police he was shot in Kenya. Respect our privacy and in the name of breaking pls don’t share our family pics, personal details and his last pictures from hospital.”

    A-list celebrities took to their social media handles to express grief and shock on Arshad’s demise.

    Actors like Sajal Aly, Muneeb Butt and Mariyam Nafees shared their thoughts on the unfortunate incident.

    Kenyan police report:

    According to a Kenyan police report, Arshad was traveling with a man they claim was his brother Khurram Ahmed. The police was tipped off about a stolen car outside an electrical shop. The owner of the car had left his son in the car. When he came back, he found that the car was missing and his son had been abducted. The police traced the car and when they found the car, they state that Arshad and Khurram Ahmed did not stop the car. They were fired upon and when the car was stopped, Sharif had died from a gun shot wound to the head. According to the police report, the car was fired upon nine times.

    According to Arshad’s former employer ARY News, “Police in Kenya have confirmed his death and have opened an investigation into the accident which likely involved a gun attack.”

    He leaves behind five children. The family has asked the media and the general public to refrain from making assumptions and disseminating rumours regarding Arshad Sharif’s death.

    According The Star, a credible news outlet and one of the biggest in Kenya “Arshad Sharif was shot in the head and killed by police after he and his driver allegedly breached a roadblock that had been set up to check on motor vehicles using the route.”

    “They were driving from Magadi town to Nairobi when they were flagged down at a roadblock being manned by a group of police officers, police said.”

    “According to police, at the roadblock, there was a call for police to intercept a car similar to the one they were driving following a carjacking incident in Pangani area, Nairobi where a child was taken hostage.”

    “And a few minutes later, Sharif’s car emerged at the roadblock and they were stopped and asked to identify themselves,” reads the news report.

    “They allegedly failed to stop and drove past the roadblock.”

    “This prompted a brief chase and shooting that left Sharif dead. Their car rolled and his driver was injured and taken to hospital.”

    “He later told police he and his slain colleague were developers and were headed for a site in Magadi.”

  • US dollar may drop to Rs210 in November

    US dollar may drop to Rs210 in November

    Considering expected inflows from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Pakistan’s deletion from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list, the currency is projected to strengthen versus the US dollar this week.

    According to The News, this week in the interbank market, the local currency dipped by 0.89 per cent in value against the dollar. However, thanks to encouraging news from the ADB and FATF, the local currency increased to Rs220.84 during the last trading session.

    According to the analysts, assistance from multilateral creditors during the floods would help boost foreign exchange reserves and strengthen the local currency.

    The State Bank of Pakistan’s foreign exchange holdings as of October 14 totaled $7.59 billion, or nearly one month’s worth of imports.

    According to Tresmark, a terminal that tracks real-time pricing of financial markets, the rupee is predicted to trade at 216 to the dollar in the coming 10 days and 210 to the dollar in the coming 30 days.

    “This is because of ADB-related inflows of $1.5 billion in the coming week and $2 billion of inflows in the first week of November. Of course, this would not have been possible without the finance minister’s undervalued rupee mantra,” Tresmark said in a client note.

    Six months from now, though, would be the rupee’s true test, it was said.

    Analysts predict that the US interest rate will surpass 5 per cent (a level last reached in 2008) and that the dollar will continue to rise.

    Markets expect the Indian Rupee to be at 95 per dollar, the Bangladesh Taka to be at 115 per dollar, and the Yuan to continue declining, despite the fact that major currencies all have a bearish tendency. Although the dollar’s strength is an issue, the global recession continues to be of much greater concern.

    A 15-20 per cent decline in exports and a 5 per cent decline in remittances are anticipated by economists, even if the current account deficit (CAD) for September was practically at breakeven.

    They continued, saying that maintaining the economic winter would need sustained import compression and additional economic deceleration.

    Due to lower letters of credit being settled during the previous week, the rupee somewhat declined. According to market estimates, only around 50 per cent, or roughly $600 million, has yet to be processed.

  • Arshad Sharif’s former employer ARY News says ‘he was martyred in a gun attack’

    Arshad Sharif’s former employer ARY News says ‘he was martyred in a gun attack’

    Journalist Arshad Sharif died in Kenya after being shot, according to his wife Javeria Siddique.

    She wrote, “I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist @arsched today, as per police he was shot in Kenya. Respect our privacy and in the name of breaking pls don’t share our family pics, personal details and his last pictures from hospital.”

    Kenyan police report:

    According to a Kenyan police report, Arshad was traveling with a man they claim was his brother Khurram Ahmed. The police was tipped off about a stolen car outside an electrical shop. The owner of the car had left his son in the car. When he came back, he found that the car was missing and his son had been abducted. The police traced the car and when they found the car, they state that Arshad and Khurram Ahmed did not stop the car. They were fired upon and when the car was stopped, Sharif had died from a gun shot wound to the head. According to the police report, the car was fired upon nine times.

    According to Arshad’s former employer ARY News, “Police in Kenya have confirmed his death and have opened an investigation into the accident which likely involved a gun attack.”

    He leaves behind five children. The family has asked the media and the general public to refrain from making assumptions and disseminating rumours regarding Arshad Sharif’s death.

    According The Star, a credible news outlet and one of the biggest in Kenya “Arshad Sharif was shot in the head and killed by police after he and his driver allegedly breached a roadblock that had been set up to check on motor vehicles using the route.”

    “They were driving from Magadi town to Nairobi when they were flagged down at a roadblock being manned by a group of police officers, police said.”

    “According to police, at the roadblock, there was a call for police to intercept a car similar to the one they were driving following a carjacking incident in Pangani area, Nairobi where a child was taken hostage.”

    “And a few minutes later, Sharif’s car emerged at the roadblock and they were stopped and asked to identify themselves,” reads the news report.

    “They allegedly failed to stop and drove past the roadblock.”

    “This prompted a brief chase and shooting that left Sharif dead. Their car rolled and his driver was injured and taken to hospital.”

    “He later told police he and his slain colleague were developers and were headed for a site in Magadi.”

    Condolences poured in from politicians after Arshad’s death.

    Imran Khan

    Former Prime Minister (PM) and Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ImranKhan has also expressed his grief over the death of senior journalist Arshad Sharif.

    “Shocked at the brutal murder of Arshad Sharif who paid the ultimate price for speaking the truth – his life. He had to leave the country & be in hiding abroad but he continued to speak the truth on social media, exposing the powerful. Today the entire nation mourns his death,” he wrote in a tweet.

    The former PM in his tweet demanded a “proper judicial investigation”.

    “A proper judicial investigation must be instituted to examine his own statements plus evidence that other sources have. We have descended into a state of brutality, unknown in civilised society, indulged in by the powerful against those who dare to criticise & expose wrongdoings,” Khan added in his tweet.

    “My prayers and condolences go to his grief stricken family.”

    ISPR

    The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has expressed grief over the tragic death of the senior journalist.

    “May Allah grant patience to the family members of Arshad Sharif in this hour of sorrow,” the ISPR statement added.

    President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif have expressed their grief.

  • ‘Would have dated him if he wasn’t taken’: Sonam Bajwa reveals her overwhelming love for Fawad Khan

    ‘Would have dated him if he wasn’t taken’: Sonam Bajwa reveals her overwhelming love for Fawad Khan

    Actor Sonam Bajwa is currently ruling the Indian Punjabi film industry and recently even created waves in Bollywood with a stellar song.

    The talented artist has often expressed her fondness for Pakistani artists like Sajal Aly and dramas like Mere Paas Tum Ho, and once again she has shared overwhelming admiration for Pakistani superstar Fawad Khan. She even termed the Zindagi Gulzar Hai star as her crush.

    The Guddiyan Patole star said, “I have a huge crush on Fawad Khan, I would have asked him for dating but since he’s married, so, I won’t do that, I don’t keep eye on married people”.

    Last year in an interview with  BBC Asian Network’s Haroon Rashid, the Carry On Jatta 2 actress said, ” I am the biggest, biggest fan of Sajal Aly, she is phenomenal and I feel so happy sharing that I’ve learned so much from her, she’s extraordinary and I think you’d agree.

    Sajal Ali Carrying Desi Look | Reviewit.pk

    She’s the best actress and the finest actress of our times and I really look up to her”.

  • ‘No shame in going down while putting up a valiant fight’: Politicians react to Pakistan’s defeat

    ‘No shame in going down while putting up a valiant fight’: Politicians react to Pakistan’s defeat

    After a nail-biting match, the Indian cricket team managed to defeat Pakistan by four wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

    A crucial partnership between Indian master batsman Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya sailed India to victory. Before Pandya’s (40) dismissal, he and Kohli (82) shared scored 113 runs off 78 balls.

    At the end of the match, India stood at 160 with the loss of eight wickets. Kohli was awarded the Man of The Match award.

    On Pakistan’s side, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Nawaz took two wickets each, while Naseem Shah was able to get one.

    While there is disappointment over the Green shirts’ defeat, Pakistani politicians have come forward to support them.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif praised the “brilliant effort” by the team, saying it was a “great game”.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President, Maryam Nawaz, was of the view that “there’s no shame in going down while putting up a valiant fight”.

    “The match was an absolute cliffhanger and could’ve gone anywhere. Buck up Boys and gear up for the next fight!,” she said in a tweet.

    Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry praised Kohli who nearly scored a century. In a tweet, Chaudhry also asked the Indian PM Narendra Modi to let the Indian cricket team come to Pakistan.

    Apart from these politicians, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, PTI’s Senator Faisal Javed, PML-N’s Hina Parvez Butt, and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Saeed Ghani applauded Pakistan’s performance and wished them good luck for the upcoming T20 World Cup matches.

  • Pak Vs. Ind: Umpires come under fire for giving no-ball in last over, fans call it cheating

    Pak Vs. Ind: Umpires come under fire for giving no-ball in last over, fans call it cheating

    After India’s thrilling four-wicket victory against Pakistan in a heart-stopping T20 World Cup match, which took place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in front of 90,000 exuberant fans on Sunday, fans and experts were left perplexed by a few on-field decisions.

    Virat Kohli led a 160-run chase that proved challenging after India were reduced to 31 for 4 with the score at 82 runs without loss.

    The most crucial gear in India’s T20 machine, Hardik Pandya, scored 40 runs off 37 balls in a 113-run partnership. The pair carried the contest into the decisive over as it was close.

    When Pandya holed out off Mohammed Nawaz’s bowling with 16 needed off the final six balls, Dinesh Karthik faced his first delivery and took a single because the crossover rule was not in effect.

    After some discussion, the on-field umpires ruled that Nawaz’s delectable full-toss, which was hit for a six over square leg with 14 needed off three balls, was a no-ball.

    By that point, Nawaz, the inspiration behind Pakistan’s Super 4 success in the Asia Cup, had lost his composure.

    Ravichandran Ashwin hit the most significant boundary of his career after Nawaz bowled a wide and Karthik was stumped by a quick-thinking Mohammed Rizwan.

    The umpire’s decision to grant three byes rather than declare a dead ball after Kohli was bowled on a free hit left the spectators with a bitter taste.

    It should be noted that ICC rules and regulations permit runs on a dismissal off a free hit. Only after it is firmly placed in the bowler’s or wicketkeeper’s hands does the ball officially cease to exist.

    Former Australian cricketer Brad Hogg tweeted: “Why was no ball not reviewed, then how can it not be a dead ball when Kohli was bowled on a free hit.”

    Fans criticised it as cheating, while some threw the law book at the umpires. Here are some tweets:

    https://twitter.com/dadu_charger/status/1584157853644120064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1584157853644120064%7Ctwgr%5Ebb3d2eb969eeab1446a962b758d6a65419401606%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.freepressjournal.in%2Fsports%2Find-vs-pak-umpires-come-under-fire-for-giving-no-ball-in-final-over-fans-call-it-cheating

    Additionally, there were tweets stating that commentator Nasser Hussain commented that “Umpires made some weird decision in favour of India today, but maybe we should keep quiet and not upset the ICC and BCCI,” which triggered another controversy on Twitter and angered fans even more.

    After some time, Nasser clarified, saying that he had not said anything like that and that the fake quotes should be deleted.

  • Close-up photo of ant’s face wins photography competition

    Close-up photo of ant’s face wins photography competition

    A Lithuanian photographer took home a prize in a Nikon photography competition for his remarkable shot of an ant’s face. Wildlife photographer Eugenijus Kavaliauskas presented his highly magnified ant photo at the 2022 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition.

    His submission was one of the 57 selected “Images of Distinction”. The picture of the ant’s face, magnified five times under a microscope, won one Nikon item valued at $35.
    The goal of the competition is to showcase the craft of microscopic photography while encouraging participants to record minute details that the human eye cannot notice.
    The picture of the ant has gone viral on social media, with many terming the ant’s face “demonic” and something straight out of a horror movie.

    The ant in the close up had red eyes and what appeared to be golden fangs .The photographer said that there are no horrors in nature.

    Meanwhile, the top place for this year’s photography competition went to an image of the embryonic hand of a Madagascar gecko, taken by Grigorii Timing of the University of Geneva.