Author: newsdesk

  • Nawaz Sharif’s close aide Chaudhry Nisar refuses to join PTI

    Nawaz Sharif’s close aide Chaudhry Nisar refuses to join PTI

    Estranged Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party member and former Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan revealed that he will not join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) despite his meeting with Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, according to Daily Jang.

    “Nisar will neither return to PML-N nor work under Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, hence will maintain his independent status,” said the news outlet’s sources.

    On Wednesday, PM Khan said that he met Chaudhry. “I have had an association with him [Chaudhry] for the last 40 years,” he revealed, adding that Nisar will be “taking all political decisions himself”.

    Jang report further reveals that Chaudhry was offered chief ministership of Punjab when PTI came to power. However, at the time, Nisar refused it and thought that in an assembly, where the PML-N is in the Opposition, he would not be able to speak against PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif.

  • More than 88,000 children died in Punjab health facilities

    More than 88,000 children died in Punjab health facilities

    According to an official report, 1,000 pregnant women and more than 88,000 newborns and children under the age of five died in Punjab’s basic health units (BHUs) and rural health centres (RHCs) in 2021, Asif Chaudhry reports for Dawn.

    The report is prepared by the Punjab government’s Planning and Development Board on the Integrated Reproductive Maternal Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition programme (IRMNCH). The Punjab government launched the programme at primary-level healthcare facilities to reduce maternal, newborn, and child morbidity and mortality, promote family planning services, and improve women’s and children’s nutritional status.

    “These are alarming figures requiring immediate and serious attention of the project [IRMNCH] team and other stakeholders,” the report says.

    The report further states, “1,000 maternal deaths were reported to the IRMNCH programme in 2021, that is quite a high figure considering the public health significance and sensitivity of this issue.”

    In addition, during 2021 in Punjab, 25,208 deaths of under-five children were reported to the IRMNCH programme “These included 13,706 neonatal, 8,045 infant and 3,457 under-5 children’s deaths,” the report said.

    In addition to these deaths, there were 62,813 stillbirths reported in Punjab in 2021.

  • ‘Taliban didn’t keep their promise’: Malala reacts to closing of girls’ high schools in Afghanistan

    ‘Taliban didn’t keep their promise’: Malala reacts to closing of girls’ high schools in Afghanistan

    Nobel Laureate and Women’s Education Rights Activist Malala Yousafzai has reacted to the closing of girls’ high schools in Afghanistan. Taking to Twitter, Malala wrote, “I had one hope for today: that Afghan girls walking to school would not be sent back home. But the Taliban did not keep their promise. They will keep finding excuses to stop girls from learning – because they are afraid of educated girls and empowering women.”

    She also used the hashtag #LetAfghanGirlsLearn

    The Taliban administration yesterday announced that girls’ high schools in Afghanistan will be closed, and no female child above the sixth grade will be allowed to attend school. The announcement came only a few hours after they reopened for the first time in nearly seven months.

    Read more- Taliban close girls’ high schools

  • Australia’s squad for ODI, T20 arrives in Lahore

    Australia’s squad for ODI, T20 arrives in Lahore

    Australian team of 14 members for One Day International (ODI) and T20 matches has arrived in Lahore. According to details, the team landed at Allama Iqbal International Airport on a chartered flight.

    Three ODIs and one T20 match are scheduled between Pakistan and Australia which will start by next week. The squad will start training on Sunday for the ODI Series. The ODI series will start from March 29.

    According to the Australian Cricket Board, Aaron Finch will lead the squad, while David Warner, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitch Starc, and Glenn Maxwell will not be part of the squad for International ODIs and one T20 match.

    Kane Richardson who got injured last week will be replaced by Ben Dwarshuis.

    Australia’s ODI and T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Ben Dwarshuis, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.

    Last week, Pakistan also announced its squad for ODIs and one T20 match. Babar Azam will lead the team in both series.

  • Actor Charlie Sheen admits to having sex with 25 people while being HIV positive

    Actor Charlie Sheen admits to having sex with 25 people while being HIV positive

    American actor Charlie Sheen has appeared in films like Platoon (1986), Wall Street (1987), Young Guns (1988), The Rookie (1990) and popular sitcoms like Two and a Half Men.

    He has won several awards and nominations for his work. However, more than his films he made headlines for his alcohol drug abuse and marital problems. He even went on to admit that he had been diagnosed with HIV and had s*x with 25 people without telling them his health condition.

    Charlie Sheen Once Admitted Having S*x With 25 People Without Telling Them He Was HIV Positive

    In 2015, Charlie revealed he is HIV positive in an interview with Matt Lauer. The 56-year-old actor had said that he made the revelation to end a smear campaign and extortion efforts.

    Sheen said, “It’s a hard three letters to absorb. It’s a turning point in one’s life. I have to put a stop to this onslaught, this barrage of attacks and of sub-truths and very harmful and mercurial stories that are about me, threatening the health of so many others that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

    Charlie Sheen also confided about his health condition with a few people he thought could be trusted but they broke his confidence. He had to pay more than $10 million to keep the illness a secret. By announcing the illness the actor hoped to put an end to it.

    Sheen said, “What people forget is that that’s money they’re taking from my children. I trusted them and they were deep in my inner circle, and I thought they could be helpful. My trust turned to their treason. That’s my goal. That’s not my only goal. I think I release myself from this prison today.”

    Charlie Sheen further revealed that he told his ex-wives Denise Richards and Brooke Mueller about his HIV diagnosis. He even informed about the illness to his eldest daughter. However, later during a conversation with Piers Morgan at a London Town Hall event, the actor admitted having had s*x nearly 25 people but insisted on not having an unprotected s*x.

    The Hollywood actor said, “I never did. I wouldn’t do that to someone, I would not. The only times I didn’t tell them was because the last 25 times they used it against me and used my medical condition for their own folly and financial gain.”

  • FIA arrests suspects from Faisalabad for blackmailing US girl who committed suicide

    FIA arrests suspects from Faisalabad for blackmailing US girl who committed suicide

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested two people in Faisalabad after a girl in the United States (US) committed suicide because of the ‘obscene content’ shared by them, ARY has reported. However, as per Dunya, three suspects have been arrested in this case.

    According to the FIA, the suspects blackmailed the girl by sharing content concerning her with her classmates. “As a result of this, the girl committed suicide in the United States,” said FIA.

    According to details, the arrested individuals met the teen on social media and obtained her pictures and videos. As per the agency, the US embassy has formally requested that the suspects be prosecuted.

  • ‘Early elections can also be called in the country’: Sheikh Rasheed

    ‘Early elections can also be called in the country’: Sheikh Rasheed

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed on Thursday said that Pakistan might move towards early elections, also adding that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan would defeat the Opposition’s no-confidence motion.

    During a press conference, Rasheed told disgruntled members of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that “switching parties won’t earn them any good”, saying that “turncoats must also keep in mind that early elections can also be called in the country”.

    “I want Pakistan and democracy to progress. The situation in the country is moving towards betterment with every passing day,” said Rasheed.

    Rasheed claimed that the country would get “good news” from this point onwards.

    “Let me tell you with the responsibility that nobody is going anywhere,” the minister emphasised, saying he met Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar who is firmly standing with Imran Khan.

    “He is also not going anywhere,” Rasheed said regarding Buzdar.

    Rasheed said that he was not in touch with disgruntled PTI leader Jahangir Khan Tareen — whose group has not made it clear whether they will support the PM or not.

    “Jahangir Tareen is a good man, may God bless him with good health,” he said.

    Rasheed said PM Khan would hold a “historic” jalsa in Islamabad on March 27.

    PM Khan, in a video message today, invited the nation to join him on March 27 to reinstate the government’s stance against the “dacoits” ruling Pakistan for the last 30 years.

    The premier urged the Pakistanis to stand with the right side.

  • Cricket fans can now buy Pak-Aus match tickets online, priced between Rs. 500 – 4,000

    Ticket prices for the much anticipated one day matches between Pakistan, Australia have been revealed. The three-match one-day international and a T20I will be played at Gaddafi Stadium from 29 March to 5 April.

    Tickets for the three-match one-day international and T20I are now available for sale. Tickets are also available online at https://pcb.bookme.pk and as well as from the nearest M&P Courier outlets.

    Tickets for ODIs range from PKR 500 to PKR 3,000, while tickets for one-off T20Is have been priced from PKR 500 to PKR 4,000.

    These prices are in line with PCB’s commitment to make tickets affordable for Pakistan cricket fans.

    Payments can be made using Easypaisa/ Jazzcash/ creditcard/ Nift options, while https://pcb.bookme.pk/ helpline number is 03137786888. 

    At the time of entering the Gaddafi Stadium on match days, fans will have to show their Covid-19 immunisation certificates and valid CNICs.

    Ticket prices for 29 March, 31 March and 2 April ODIs

    Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis Enclosures – PKR3,000

    Fazal Mahmood, Imran Khan Enclosures – PKR2,000

    Rajas and Saeed Anwar Enclosures – PKR1,500

    Abdul Qadir, AH Kardar, Javed Miandad and Sarfraz Nawaz Enclosures – PKR1,000

    Hanif Mohammad, Imtiaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Majid Khan, Nazars, Quaid, Saeed Ahmad, Zaheer Abbas Enclosures – PKR500

    Ticket prices for 5 April T20I

    Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis Enclosures – PKR4,000

    Fazal Mahmood, Imran Khan Enclosures – PKR3,000

    Rajas and Saeed Anwar Enclosures – PKR2,500

    Abdul Qadir, AH Kardar, Javed Miandad and Sarfraz Nawaz Enclosures – PKR1,000

    Hanif Mohammad, Imtiaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Majid Khan, Nazars, Quaid, Saeed Ahmad, Zaheer Abbas Enclosures – PKR500

  • Airblue staff asks parents to leave 13-year-old son with Down Syndrome at airport, allows him to travel later

    Airblue staff asks parents to leave 13-year-old son with Down Syndrome at airport, allows him to travel later

    Airblue airline refused to allow a child with Down Syndrome to board a plane. The incident took place on March 13 at Peshawar Airport.

    The Karachi-based family of 11 members, including a Down Syndrome child was boarding a plane when the ground staff refused to fly with a differently-abled child.

    “I recently boarded a flight of Airblue (PA 603) from Peshawar to Karachi and I would like to share my shocking experience. My son, 13, a child with Down’s Syndrome, who is quite well behaved and mannered by nature and has travelled by air as well as other transportation for up to 15 hours at a time without giving us any hindrance was also accompanying me on the flight,” Samina Mahmood, the mother of the child, said in a Facebook post.

    “Just as we were boarding, a ground staff member asked me that as my child has special needs (as Down’s persons are often identifiable facially) would he misbehave on the plane or cause any other trouble? I was confused as to why she asked me this at all but reassured her my boy won’t be a problem. She then informed a superior of hers, and the superior officer outright told me that I will have to leave my child here at the airport as they will not allow him to board the plane because he might be a nuisance,” she added.

    “One of our ground staff checked on the child as he made some loud noises,” the airline stated as per Samaa. “As per SOP staff inquired if he was feeling good to travel,” the statement added.

    The airline further said that parents “took offense” and the staff member “apologised” there and then. “The family boarded and travelled,” it added. The airline said that an “apology call” was made to the passenger and they were assured that the airline will “improve on training and service level” of staff further.

  • Supreme Court to take up presidential reference on Article 63-A today

    Supreme Court to take up presidential reference on Article 63-A today

    The Supreme court (SC) will take up the presidential reference seeking opinion on Article 63-A of the Constitution – which deals with the disqualification of parliamentarians over defection – at 1pm on Thursday, reports Dawn.

    A five-member bench of the SC comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial will head the bench, which also includes Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, Justice Munib Akhtar, and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail.

    Earlier, on Monday, a two-member bench of the apex court comprising CJP Bandial and Justice Akhtar took up the presidential reference and declared that a larger bench would hear the case.

    Justice Faez Isa “perplexed” over CJP Bandial’s decision to hear the presidential reference

    The senior-most judge of SC Justice Faez Isa has said that he is “perplexed” over CJP Bandial’s decision to hear the presidential reference for the interpretation of Article 63-A together with the SCBA petition over the no-confidence motion.

    In a three-page letter to the top judge, dated March 22, Justice Isa has questioned multiple legal aspects along with the formation of a larger bench “without the inclusion of senior-most judges”.

    “On 19 March 2022, a two-member bench headed by yourself and an hon’ble judge 8 in seniority, heard CP No. 2/2022 in Court on a Saturday, despite the filing of the petition on Thursday. On the said date it was ordered that CP No. 2/2022 be heard ‘along with a Reference, if any, that is filed under Article 186 of the Constitution and the petition and the proposed reference were ordered to be fixed together for hearing. I am perplexed as to how a matter which had not been filed was ordered to be fixed for hearing,” the letter said.

    Justice Isa further stated that the apex court rules demand that the constitution of a bench is done fairly and as per the law, referring to Article IV of the Code of Conduct, which says:

    “[…] a judge must avoid all possibility of his opinion or action, in any case, being swayed by any consideration of personal advantage, either direct or indirect.”

    “The Constitution specifically recognises the most senior Judge of the Supreme Court (including in Article 175A(3) and Article 180), and with seniority comes responsibility, which must not be shirked. The most senior Judge also ensures the continuity of the Supreme Court as an institution,” Justice Isa wrote.

    Better if the assembly’s fight is fought inside the assembly: CJP Bandial

    Justice Bandial on Monday heard a plea filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) about the lawful proceeding of the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly (NA).

    During the hearing, which was attended by three bigwigs of the Opposition — PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and Jamiat-e-Ulema-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, SCBA counsel argued that NA Speaker Asad Qaiser summoned the session 17 days after the submission of the no-confidence motion. However, according to Article 95, the session has to be called within 14 days.

    He further argued that the no-confidence motion could not be adjourned before voting. To this, CJ observed that it is an “internal matter” and it would be “better if the assembly’s fight is fought inside the assembly”.

    According to Justice Munib, a member’s individual vote has no “status”. Justice Munib Akhtar said after joining a political party, a member’s vote is considered a “collective” right.

    SCBA writes a reply to the apex court

    On Thursday, the SCBA submitted a written reply to the apex court ahead of today’s hearing in accordance with the court’s directives.

    In its reply, the SCBA said that the votes of MNAs “cannot possibly be construed as a collective right of a political party”, citing Article 95 of the Constitution, which deals with the procedure to bring in a no-confidence motion against the prime minister.

    Fawad Chaudhry responds to SCBA’s reply to the apex court

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter and reacted to SCBA’s response.

    Fawad said, “Reading SCBA’s answer, it seems that Supreme Court bar body is a subsidiary of Noon League,” says Fawad Chaudhry, adding, “Ordinary lawyers are dissatisfied with the role of lawyers’ organisations and the defeat of this group in the Lahore Bar elections is the result of the lawyers’ reaction.”

    Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Jawed Khan had submitted the reference seeking the SC’s opinion on Article 63-A of the Constitution on March 21.