Author: newsdesk

  • ‘A dark day’: PTI reacts to Maryam Nawaz’s acquittal

    ‘A dark day’: PTI reacts to Maryam Nawaz’s acquittal

    Following the verdict of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) acquitting Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Thursday (today), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have said that today is, “Another dark day in the history of Pakistan”.

    PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter to say that “The country’s institutions have lost the trust of the public”.

    “Beyond any doubt, it is another dark day in the history of Pakistan”, he added.

    Another PTI leader and former Energy Minister Hammad Azhar claimed that “PML-N itself seems to be a bit embarrassed after today’s ruling”.

    In a tweet, PTI Secretary-General Asad Umar made a claim that “Imran Khan’s government was removed so that imported government leaders could get their cases dismissed”.

    The former ruling party leader Babar Awan said, “Jitna bara daku, itni bari kursi“. (The bigger the thief, the bigger the chair). He added, “The jail department would teach lessons about the Sharif family to prisoners so that they can get NRO II as well.”

    The verdict:

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) acquitted Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (retd) Safdar in the Avenfield reference, nullifying the conviction handed to them in 2018 by an accountability court.

    After the victory, Maryam said that she was thankful to Allah for making Nawaz and herself proud today. She also took a jibe at PTI Chairman Imran Khan, telling him that he is a “helpless” person now and whether or not he decides to answer for his deeds, history will ensure that he answers for it.

  • Video: women fall into pit as floor collapses

    Video: women fall into pit as floor collapses

    A video has gone viral on social media in which a group of girls can be seen falling as the dance floor collapses underneath their feet.

    According to reports, the incident took place in Brazil at a family gathering.

    Footage of the frightening accident shows the women forming a small circle with their arms wrapped around each other as they danced to a song at a birthday party on Saturday.

    In the video, the women were dancing to the song Tem Cabaré Essa Noite by Nattan and Novaldo Marques.
    The 38-year-old Gabriela Carvalho told the Brazilian news site G1 that as they were dancing at her grandmother’s house, they felt the ground tremble.

    ‘Then when we really fell for good, that’s when I realized the seriousness of the situation,’ she said.

    ‘It was horrible. I thought we weren’t going to come back,’ she said. ‘We really dived. I even thought that it was going to stop at another place as we went down.’

  • Gen Bajwa told Imran Khan that it is not safe to talk at PM House, says Fawad

    Gen Bajwa told Imran Khan that it is not safe to talk at PM House, says Fawad

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry said that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa had informed former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan multiple times that the PM House is unsafe for important conversations.

    “The army chief told Imran Khan that the points that what we discuss here is recorded and leaked later on,” he said, adding that, “General Bajwa had said Nawaz Sharif stepped out of PM House when he wanted to talk to him about some vital issue.”

    The PTI leader said that it is unacceptable for PM Office to be hacked, regardless of who is premier — whether Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif or Imran Khan.

    Fawad said he doesn’t support the PM’s telephones being tapped.

    Fawad’s comments come after several audio leaks of PM Shehbaz Sharif along with federal minister were leaked.

    On Wednesday, September 28, an audio of Khan was leaked as well.

    Khan can be heard talking about the alleged foreign conspiracy against him with his then principal secretary Azam Khan.

    He tells Azam Khan: ‘Iss par hi khelna hai’, without mentioning the name of the United States, and they then discuss how to form a team on the issue.

    The “cipher” lies at the heart of PTI’s claim that the US plotted with individuals within Pakistan to remove Khan from office. It is based on then-envoy Asad Majeed’s meeting with State Department employee Donald Lu.

  • Naseem Shah tests positive for Covid-19

    Naseem Shah tests positive for Covid-19

    Before the crucial seven-match T20I series against England at home, fast bowler Naseem Shah has tested positive for COVID-19, according to Geo Super.

    The bowler is presently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, and will not be available for the final two Twenty20 internationals against England.

    Shah was recently admitted to a hospital for treatment after experiencing a high fever, where his dengue test was also done, but it was later discovered that he has a chest infection, which has led to further problems.

    Yesterday, it was reported that the right-arm pacer was diagnosed with pneumonia, and he may miss the remainder of the ongoing series, while also casting doubts on his participation in the forthcoming tri-nation series in New Zealand and the T20 World Cup in Australia.

    “Naseem Shah’s participation in the upcoming matches and departure to New Zealand with the squad will be decided after seeing his medical reports,” a cricket board official said in a statement.

    The management decided that Naseem should recuperate ahead of the tri-nation series in New Zealand and the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, therefore he has only participated in one of the four games.

    In the just-finished Asia Cup 2022 in the UAE, Naseem Shah made his T20I debut. There, he put up an amazing bowling performance, capturing seven wickets in five games with an economy rate of 7.66.

  • Maryam Nawaz, Capt Safdar acquitted in Avenfield case

    Maryam Nawaz, Capt Safdar acquitted in Avenfield case

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday acquitted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (retd) Safdar in the Avenfield reference, nullifying the conviction handed to them in 2018 by an accountability court.

    A two-member bench, comprising of Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, presided over today’s hearing during which the court heard arguments from both sides.

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif was handed 10 years as jail time for owning assets beyond known income and one year for not cooperating with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Meanwhile, Maryam was given 7 years for abetment after she was found “Instrumental in concealment of the properties of her father” and one year for non-cooperation with the bureau.

    Safdar was given one year jail time — for not cooperating with NAB, and aiding and abetting Nawaz and Maryam.

    Congratulating Maryam and Capt Safdar, PM Shehbaz tweeted, “The edifice of lies, slander & character assassination has come crumbling down today.”

    “Maryam Nawaz’s acquittal in the Avenfield Reference is a slap in the face of so-called accountability system that was employed to target Sharif family,” tweeted the PM.

    Maryam also received a phone call from her father, she congratulated him for the win.

    Later, talking to the media, Maryam said that she was thankful to Allah for making Nawaz and her proud today.

    Maryam asked PTI Chairman Imran Khan what would he do now as he has been proven “a liar” and “a conspirator”, while Nawaz has come out on top.

    Maryam told Khan that he is a “helpless” person now and whether or not he decides to answer for his deeds, history will ensure that you answer for it.

    In response to a question that the case was registered against her before PTI came into power and that some other powers were behind it, Maryam said: “Who was the beneficiary of all this? Had Nawaz remained here, then even in three lifetimes, Imran could not have come into power.”

  • Mawra Hocane rings in 30th birthday with her ‘special’ people, oozes glamour

    Mawra Hocane rings in 30th birthday with her ‘special’ people, oozes glamour

    Actor Mawra Hocane shared adorable pictures of her fancy 30th birthday celebrations on her Instagram handle.

    The ‘Jawaani Phir Nahi Aani 2’ star, who marked her special day in the presence of her close ones, including her alleged boyfriend, Ameer Gilani in Lahore.

    With a 10-picture birthday picture dump, Hocane wrote, “Best Birthday eve with the Best ever!!!! ☀️”

    The Sammi star looked absolutely gorgeous in a silver midi dress curated by the celebrity designer Hamza Anwar as she posed with her family and friends in front of a balloon backdrop at the homely celebrations. She styled the look with strappy stilettos and statement earrings while keeping the makeup simple and dewy, and her hair tied up in a high ponytail.

    Hocane’s elder sister Urwa was also spotted at the affair.

    On the work front, Mawra was last seen in Hum TV’s Qissa Meherbano Ka opposite Ahsan Khan and Zaviyar Nauman Ijaz.

  • Pakistan’s big cities likely to get 5G coverage in 2023

    Pakistan’s big cities likely to get 5G coverage in 2023

    In 2023, Pakistan intends to launch 5G service in three of its major cities.

    The government has predicted that by 2025, 4 per cent of Pakistan’s internet users will be able to use 5G technology, while 65 per cent of the connections will be enabled on 4G technology, according to an official document of the Ministry of Information and Telecommunication (MOITT), a copy of which is available with WealthPK.

    According to The Nation, the Global System of Mobile Communications (GSMA) predicted that by the end of 2022, more than 50 per cent of consumers in Pakistan would have a 4G connection. Although accurate, these predictions are still three years behind the trend of the global average.

    Although Pakistan’s percentage of 4G connections is substantially lower than that of the rest of the area when compared to the global average, it is predicted to increase more quickly. The adoption of 5G is expected to increase starting in 2023, although it will still only represent a relatively small part of connections in the years that follow.

    Although mobile broadband in Pakistan is constantly expanding, there is still much space for improvement. Mobile penetration and subscription rates are rising steadily. Total mobile and mobile broadband (MBB) customers was at 195 million as of August 2022 and 123 million as of that same month.

    The penetration of mobile and MBB has reached 84 per cent and 51 per cent, respectively. Over the previous few years, MBB users have become a larger percentage of all mobile subscribers.

  • Dress according to cultural, national morals, wear undergarments: PIA

    Dress according to cultural, national morals, wear undergarments: PIA

    Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has made it compulsory for its air crew to wear undergarments. The airline has instructed its crew to wear undergarments while wearing plain clothes.

    The memo was sent to PIA General Manager Flight Services, Aamir Bashir.

    “It has been observed with great concern that a few cabin crew tend to dress casually while traveling intercity, staying in hotels and visiting various offices. Such dressing leaves a poor impression on the viewer and portrays a negative image of not only the individual but also of the organisation,” reads the internal memo of the airline.

    “The clothing worn by males and females should be in accordance with our cultural and national morals,” the guideline read.
    The supervision of flight attendant attire has been made necessary for grooming instructors and senior shift in-charges.

  • FBR must collect Rs120 billion in two days to meet monthly target of Rs684 billion

    To reach its monthly goal of Rs684 billion by the end of the current month, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) must collect approximately Rs120 billion in the final two days of September.

    The FBR’s preliminary revenue collection as of September 2022 was over Rs565 billion compared to the target of Rs684 billion, representing a shortfall of over Rs119 billion.

    To reach the monthly goal of Rs684 billion, the FBR needed to collect about Rs60 billion every day during the final two days of September 2022, according to Brecorder.

    The government would be forced to implement emergency collection measures, such as imposing a sales tax on petroleum items, if the FBR is unable to meet the monthly target of Rs684 billion. To avoid taking emergency revenue measures, the FBR has increased efforts to reach the desired revenue collection objective.

    The tax collecting system currently has a difficult task ahead of it: achieving the assigned revenue collection target of Rs684 billion in September 2022.

    In order to maximise revenue collection, tax authorities have developed a plan in conjunction with the chief commissioners of the LTOs and heads of MTUs.

    The final day to pay advance tax instalments was September 25, and the majority of the corporate sector had already paid their owed advance tax instalment by that date.

    The FBR examined the big tax offices’ and medium tax offices’ revenue results via the video link. The meeting also covered the potential reduction in income collection under a few heads as a result of the severe floods.

    In comparison to the target of Rs483 billion, the FBR had tentatively collected net revenue of Rs489 billion for August 2022, representing an increase of Rs6 billion.

    In comparison to the set revenue collection target of Rs926 billion during the first two months of July and August in 2022–2023, the FBR has collected Rs948 billion. The Board has so far surpassed the specified target in the current fiscal year 2022–2023 by Rs22 billion.

    The FBR collected net revenue of Rs489 billion during August 2022, exceeding the objective of Rs483 billion compared to Rs448 billion collected during the same period last year, according to provisional figures.

  • ‘You expect govt to provide condoms too?’, Indian officer snaps at girl asking for sanitary pads

    ‘You expect govt to provide condoms too?’, Indian officer snaps at girl asking for sanitary pads

    An Indian Administrative Service (IAS) IAS officer in India’s Bihar city is receiving criticism for giving a reply to a girl who asked if they can be provided with sanitary napkins.

    A video in which the IAS officer Harjot Kaur Bamhrah is purportedly seen and heard responding has gone viral on social media.
    “When the government is providing us school uniforms, scholarships and so many other things, why can’t it provide Whisper [a brand of sanitary pads] of ₹20-30?” asked the school girl from the IAS officer.

    “There is a need to change the mindset. Why [should] the government provide you everything free? Tomorrow you’ll say the government can provide jeans and why not some beautiful shoes thereafter? And eventually, at the time of family planning, you will expect government to provide Nirodh [brand of condom] too,” he replied

    When the student reminded her that people’s votes make the government, the officer snapped: “This is height of stupidity. Don’t vote, then. Become Pakistan. Do you vote for money and services?”

    Another student complained about a broken bathroom door at her school, to which the officer replied: “Tell me, do you have separate toilets at your home for males and females? If you keep asking for a lot of things at different places, how will it work?”

    The officer heads the state’s Women and Child Development Corporation, which organised the function on Tuesday in partnership with Unicef and other organisations.