Author: newsdesk

  • Boy kills mother for not allowing PUBG, hides body, calls friends over for party

    Boy kills mother for not allowing PUBG, hides body, calls friends over for party

    A 16-year-old boy in India allegedly shot dead his mother with his father’s pistol because she stopped him from playing PUBG. After murdering his mother, the boy called his friends over for a party. He kept the body of his mother in another room, turned on the AC and sprayed air-freshener to keep the smell out.

    As per the police, the boy killed his mother when she was asleep with her 10-year-old daughter lying next to her. He then allegedly threatened to kill his sister if she told anybody about the murder. They have both been placed in a juvenile detention centre.

    “The incident took place in Yamunapuram Colony under PGI police station area. The deceased used to live with her two children at the house. Her husband, who is a JCO (Junior Commissioned Officer), is currently posted in West Bengal. The 16-year-old boy was addicted to online game PUBG. He told us that his mother used to stop him from playing the game, this is why he killed her. The minor used the registered firearm of his father to kill the mother,” said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Qasim Abidi.

    The police said they found the woman’s half decomposed body and submitted it for a post-mortem.

  • Elimination, reduction of withholding taxes in budget 22-23

    On June 10, 2022, Pakistan will present its federal budget for 2022-2023. A number of new taxes measures are expected to be announced in the budget to raise additional income.

    It has been learned that a number of withholding taxes would be removed or lowered in the coming budget.

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will choose those withholding taxes that have lower revenue implications without jeopardising the goal of documenting as part of the budget planning process.

    According to Brecorder, to document future withholding transactions, a new Directorate-General for Synchronized Withholding Agents System would be developed.

    Withholding taxes cause inconsistencies will be reduced by the FBR, as all withholding taxes will be examined to see whether there are any distortions produced by income tax withholding, and adjustments will be made to correct them.

    This will be accomplished by making modifications to guarantee that all withholding tax received is either claimed or reimbursed in the return filed in response to the tax demand.

    Elimination of Taxes in budget 21-22

    The government had eliminated multiple withholding taxes, including the tax on royalty payments to residents during budget 21-22 such as cash withdrawals, banking tools, money transfers other than cash, tax collection from persons remitting funds abroad via credit, debit, or prepaid cards, tax collection on domestic and international air travel, mineral extraction, tax collection by a stock exchange registered in Pakistan, tax collection on marginal financing by NCCPL, CNG stations, and tax collection on certain petroleum products.

    Income Tax Ordinance

    The Income Tax Ordinance of 2001 contained 38 withholding tax measures. This large number of requirements adds to the complexity and places an excessive strain on different withholding agents to comply. It also has an impact on a country’s ease of doing business rating. In the last budget, 12 withholding taxes were eliminated in an effort to improve company ease and simplify tax rules.

    The Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) advocated that the withholding tax (WHT) structure be overhauled and reduced from its current twenty-six rates to just five for filers.

    Only inactive taxpayers should be subject to this tax. Alternatively, the 8% WHT rate on services is a minimum tax that applies regardless of the service provider’s actual taxable revenue. This tax effectively becomes an indirect tax, raising the cost of doing business for service providers; as a result, service tax should be flexible.

    Withholding Tax Regime

    The Withholding Tax Regime (WHT) is a worldwide phenomena, and it is the primary source of federal revenue received at the national level in Pakistan. The collection of withholding taxes, as well as the reliance on them, has increased throughout time. Various Withholding Taxes, which are distinguished by their adjustable and presumptive nature, collected Rs422(b) out of total Direct Taxes collection of Rs740(b) for the financial year 2012, accounting for 57 per cent of total Direct Taxes collection.

    Since the imposition of direct taxes by governments and taxpayers on two counts, the withholding tax regime has been a feature of the tax system in some form or another:

    1. The government receives revenue on a consistent basis throughout the year to fund its expenditures and operations.
    2. Provides taxpayers with the opportunity to pay down their debts in affordable installments.

    Many countries have been obliged to change their economies in recent years as a result of globalisation, in order to unify tax laws and align them with new trade and investment policies represented in free trade agreements. “Hang Together” is more relevant today than it has ever been. Neither countries’ borders nor their economies can be closed. Tax policies are also inextricably linked to foreign economies.

    Due to the requirement for an entity to oversee and manage the Withholding Tax Regime in such a competitive climate, the Directorate General of Withholding Taxes was established by the Finance Act of 2008 under section 230A of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001.

  • LUMS grad Foodpanda employee shot dead in federal capital

    LUMS grad Foodpanda employee shot dead in federal capital

    Qasim Awan, a graduate from LUMS and a Foodpanda employee, succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday. He was shot on Sunday.

    Awan was shot in a mobile snatching incident near F-9 park in the capital city. The robbers opened gunfire after Qasim resisted, reports suggest. Qasim remained in the hospital after the incident took place.

    Twitter users were quick to question the current government and its failure to protect citizens.

    https://twitter.com/cereal_twit/status/1534727163684995074?s=24&t=QhstoMvDn2ccUyOUy91n1Q

    The fact that the incident took place in the federal capital was also alarming, with many pointing out the widespread increase in crimes in allegedly safe cities like Islamabad.

    JusticeforQasimAwan trended as users mourned the loss of life.

    Qasim was the only son and brother of his grieving parents and two sisters.

  • PANAH suggests tobacco taxes be raised even higher

    PANAH suggests tobacco taxes be raised even higher

    Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) has proposed that the government increase tariffs on unnecessary and harmful tobacco products. Increased tobacco-related levies will lessen diseases and healthcare expenses while also helping to generate tax revenue.

    Sanaullah Ghumman, PANAH’s General Secretary, announced this at a news conference held by the Pakistan National Heart Association on Wednesday at a local hotel.

    Smoking, according to Sanaullah Ghumman, is not healthy for human health in any aspect, and it is the first step toward addiction. Health experts and civil society groups have also urged the Prime Minister to increase tobacco goods taxes.

    A significant number of health experts and civil society representatives attended the event. Tobacco kills 8 million people worldwide each year, according to a global study, and more than 1.5 million individuals in Pakistan lose their lives each year owing to smoking.

    On World Food Safety Day, PANAH proposed that tariffs on sugary drinks be increased as well, as these beverages are harmful to children and cause a variety of health problems.

    Sanaullah Ghumman spoke at the event, urging a 30 per cent rise in tobacco product taxes to protect minors from tobacco usage.

    “This will be a win-win situation for us,” he continued, “since it will lower the health burden while also dramatically increasing revenue”. PANAH, he claimed, had been educating the public about a variety of dangerous diseases, including heart disease and its causes, for 39 years.

  • Foreign national in Islamabad allegedly raped by own security guard

    Foreign national in Islamabad allegedly raped by own security guard

    A Foreign national in Islamabad has allegedly been raped by her own security guard, reports ARY. The incident took place in Islamabad’s G-6/4 area.

    According to media reports, the alleged rape survivor is an official working for an International Organisation. She went to the Aabpara Police Station to file a complaint against a security officer who she said had raped her at her home.

    The FIR states that the guard entered her bedroom and raped her. The suspect then fled the scene. Police is investigating the incident.

    The Current records the tally of rape cases that are reported in news outlets on a daily basis to highlight the alarming situation. We have used many different sources as listed. When will it stop?

  • Baseless propaganda, institution has right to take legal action against those involved: ISPR

    Baseless propaganda, institution has right to take legal action against those involved: ISPR

    Pakistan’s Military wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), has issued a warning and said that it reserves the right to take legal action against people involved in “peddling malicious allegations and blatant lies” against its leadership.

    ISPR’s warning comes in relevance to the claims made by journalist Shaheen Sehbai insinuating that former Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin was asked to switch sides and betray Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and help Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif. 

    Sehbai tweeted, “NEUTRAL EXPOSED: I am going to write soon about WHY the Chief Neutral, proved by Shaukat Tarin as Non-Neutral as he asked Tarin to betray Imran Khan and help Shehbaz, is so sensitive and DEAD SCARED about his remaining four months in office. Something fishy, intriguing, alarming, unpatriotic.”

    Tarin responded on Twitter: “I categorically deny what has been attributed to me by Shaheen Sehbai. I was never asked by anyone in the establishment to leave Imran Khan and join [the] Shehbaz Sharif government.”

    https://twitter.com/shaukat_tarin/status/1534536507872231424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1534536507872231424%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1693782

    The word ‘neutral’, used frequently by Imran Khan and his party, is seen as a reference to the military establishment.

    ISPR termed Sehbai’s remarks as baseless propaganda.

    “The insinuations by Shaheen Sehbai and some others on social media quoting the former finance minister are baseless propaganda,” an ISPR statement issued less than two hours after Tarin’s tweet said. “The same has also been duly rebutted by Shaukat Tarin himself.”

    “Peddling malicious allegations and blatant lies against the institution and its leadership to promote vested interests is condemnable and [the] institution reserves the right to take legal action against those involved,” it concluded.

    On Wednesday, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa presided over the 80th Formation Commanders’ Conference. 

    General Bajwa during the conference said that the Pakistan Army was a professional institution that shall always fulfill its responsibilities towards the security, integrity, and sovereignty of Pakistan as a sacred duty. 

  • Chaudhrys of Gujrat part ways as Hussain Elahi quits PML-Q

    Chaudhrys of Gujrat part ways as Hussain Elahi quits PML-Q

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) president and former prime minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s nephew Chaudhry Hussain Elahi has parted ways with the party. Hussain is the son of Shujaat’s younger brother Chaudhry Wajahat.

    Hussain tweeted, “I’ve always said my country is first for me, and keeping that in mind I have decided that my political journey with PMLQ must come to an end. Will be deciding my political future with Moonis Elahi but cannot be in a party that supports Shehbaz Sharif-led Imported Government.”

    Former federal minister Moonis Elahi also retweeted Hussain’s tweet, prompting speculations that there were differences within the party.

    Moonis retweeted a report by Dunya News claiming that a possible crack within the PML-Q definitely exists. The report states that one section of the party backs the PTI, while the other is in support of the PML-N.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday visited Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain at his residence in Islamabad.

    It is being reported that the two apparently discussed the forthcoming by-elections on 20 vacant seats of Punjab Assembly and the fiscal budget 2022-23 to be announced on Friday.

  • Babar Azam scores a century against West Indies, breaking Virat Kohli’s ODI record

    Babar Azam scores a century against West Indies, breaking Virat Kohli’s ODI record

    Pakistani skipper Babar Azam has surpassed Virat Kohli, the former Indian captain, as the fastest to 1000 ODI runs as a captain.

    On Wednesday night at the Multan Cricket Stadium, Pakistani captain Babar Azam made history by smashing a century against West Indies in the first ODI, his 17th in the 50-over format, to set a new record.

    He became the first Pakistani batsman to achieve 1000 runs. It took only 13 innings for the world’s number one ODI batsman to achieve this milestone.

    Kohli was the first captain to score 1000 runs in his 17th innings, followed by AB De Villiers (20 matches) and Kane Williamson (22 matches).

    Babar is also the only batsman in ODI history to score three centuries in a row twice. He previously accomplished this feat against the West Indies in 2016, but this time he did so with a century against the West Indies, followed by two hundreds in the second and third home ODIs in April of 2022.

    Babar’s third successive century in ODIs came against Australia in Lahore earlier this year, when he scored 114 and 105 to help Pakistan win the series. It’s worth noting that Babar is now ranked first in the ICC hitters rankings for T20Is and ODIs.

  • PTI Shibli Faraz questions Noor Alam Khan’s presence in meeting

    PTI Shibli Faraz questions Noor Alam Khan’s presence in meeting

    Chairman of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Noor Alam Khan ordered that senior officers of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) declare their assets along with those of their spouses, children, siblings, and parents within a month’s time, in a meeting held on July 7, 2022. The meeting was presided over by the acting Chairman of NAB, Zahir Shah.

    The directive ordered by the PAC chairman further required that details of perks, privileges, and employment terms of NAB officers also be declared publicly.

    Former Minister of Science and Technology Shibli Faraz opposed the directive and pointed to NAB’s ongoing inquiry against Khan. Faraz was of the view that chairman PAC should not have chaired the meeting altogether because there is an ongoing inquiry against him by the anti-graft watchdog.

    In the meeting, PAC chairman inquired whether the case against him under deliberation by NAB had concluded. He added that if the case is still ongoing, he will not preside over the meeting. The NAB chairman responded that the inquiry had not yet concluded. He went on to say that if Khan is found innocent, he will be receiving an apology letter. He further added that all those found innocent in the future will receive a letter of apology.

    PAC chairman, however, remained in the meeting till the end.

  • PPP, PML-N decide to contest together in Punjab by-election

    PPP, PML-N decide to contest together in Punjab by-election

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have decided to jointly contest the Punjab by-election which will be held on vacant seats of the Punjab Assembly (PA) next month.

    Punjab minister Attauallah Tarar confirmed the development to Dawn, saying, “The PML-N and PPP leadership agreed to jointly contest by-polls on 20 Punjab Assembly seats.”

    Earlier, PPP’s Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Hamza Shehbaz met on Tuesday in which other members of the parties also participated. The decision reportedly took place during the meeting.

    Zardari congratulated Hamza on assuming the CM’s office. According to The News, the two parties also discussed other issues related to cabinet expansion in Punjab and federal, water issues, petroleum prices, and the upcoming budget. Moreover, Zardari held a meeting to sort out his party’s differences with PML-N over desired ministries in Punjab.

    Currently, PPP has seven seats in the Punjab Assembly (PA) and they were promised four ministries and two adviserships. However, in the Punjab Cabinet, there are only two members of PPP, but they are inactive due to non-allocation of their portfolios.

    The polls will be on 20 vacant seats of the PA on July 17. The seats are vacant due to the disqualification of PTI’s Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs) by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) who switched sides and voted for Hamza as CM.

    It is pertinent to mention that out of the 20 seats, eight are from southern Punjab where the PPP has a strong foothold.