Author: newsdesk

  • ‘Arresting Moonis Elahi is out of the question’: NAB denies Pervaiz Elahi’s allegations

    ‘Arresting Moonis Elahi is out of the question’: NAB denies Pervaiz Elahi’s allegations

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday denied allegations of receiving orders to arrest Moonis Elahi, Minister for Water Resources, and son of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader and Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

    NAB has said that all speculations about a rumoured inquiry against the politician are baseless.

    “Arresting PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi is out of the question,” said NAB in a statement.

    Elahi, while speaking on HUM News programme “Hum Meher Bokhari Kay Sath”, alleged that they were still receiving threats and being blackmailed. “A week ago they said to NAB to arrest Moonis.”

    Elahi further said, “The government 100 per cent lacks wisdom and understanding. The prime minister has a great desire for revenge, which is evident from the fact that he puts everyone in NAB and FIA. This is not how you govern.”

  • ‘Maulana, you are acting like Maula Jutt. You will have to pay the price,’ warns Sheikh Rasheed

    ‘Maulana, you are acting like Maula Jutt. You will have to pay the price,’ warns Sheikh Rasheed

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Wednesday warned Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman that he would have to “pay the price” if the joint Opposition’s move to overthrow Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan pushes the country into anarchy.

    “[The] Opposition should fear lest this no-confidence motion pushes the country towards destabilisation,” Rasheed said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.

    “We will not touch you, but if you disturb the law and order, then we will not spare you,” warned Rasheed.

    The minister said that it’s the first time Maulana Fazl has become furious and is playing the role of Maula Jutt.

    “It’s a shame. You have huge respect as a religious leader but the language you are using is not highlighting the principles of Islam.”

    “If it causes civil war and anarchy in the country, you’ll have to pay for it.”

    Rasheed said that PM Imran Khan will be benefitting even if he loses or wins in the vote of no-confidence against him as his popularity among the masses has increased massively during the last three weeks.

     Rasheed said that all members of parliament will be protected ahead of the voting on the no-confidence motion.

  • Facebook joins rival social media platform TikTok

    Facebook joins rival social media platform TikTok

    Giant social media platform, Facebook has joined its rival social media platform, Tiktok. The company created its official account last week which reached more than 18k followers. It is verified now but has not uploaded any videos on the account.

    A Facebook spokesperson also confirmed the Facebook account on Tiktok to a news agency Adweek.

    He said, “Brands leverage a variety of channels, including some of our social media platforms, to reach and engage with the people using their products and services every day. Our intent with establishing a brand presence and cultivating a community on platforms like Tiktok or others is no different.”

    Facebook has an official account on Twitter as well which is also a rival platform.

    Metaverse recently introduced reels on Instagram which has an audience from 150 countries. The company has already announced monetisation features for advertisers on the platform.

    Tiktok also has a verified account with 26 million followers on Instagram.

  • NCOC decides to lift all covid related restrictions

    NCOC decides to lift all covid related restrictions

    Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar, in a tweet, said that in a meeting of the National Command Operation Center (NCOC), the decision to lift all the Covid-19 related restrictions has been made.
    However, the vaccination restriction will not be lifted. “It was decided in the NCOC meeting today to lift all restrictions except the vaccination restrictions. All those who are not vaccinated must get fully vaccinated so that they can avoid all restrictions. We will continue to monitor disease patterns closely & take action if needed,” the tweet read.

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (PM) on National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination, Dr Faisal Sultan on March 12 annouced that the government has decided to shut down the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC).

    Read more– Govt to close the National Command and Operation centre: Dr Faisal Sultan

    According to Dr Sultan, PM Khan himself is expected to formally announce the shutting down of NCOC by the end of next month. He said that the responsibilities of the NCOC will be carried out by the National Institute of Health.

  • ‘Sari zindagi nappy change kartay rahainge kya, bachay ko neechay utarainge tu seekhe ga’: Pervaiz Elahi

    ‘Sari zindagi nappy change kartay rahainge kya, bachay ko neechay utarainge tu seekhe ga’: Pervaiz Elahi

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has said that it is important to put the baby down and let him/her learn to walk on its own.

    Without naming any names, the PML-Q leader said that “the work carried out on the government’s behalf never allowed it to learn things for itself.”

    “The child will learn to walk only when you put him down,” he said metaphorically. “Would you keep on changing nappies all his life?”

    Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi, while speaking on HUM News programme “Hum Meher Bokhari Kay Sath”, said that PM Khan was “100 per cent” in trouble because of the no-confidence motion against him.

    “The government 100 per cent lacks wisdom and understanding. They are going door to door, this is indication enough how troubled they are.”

    He further went on to share PML-Q’s grievances with the government. He said that all we have been showing is loyalty to the government and in return, all that is coming from their side is “dushmani“.

    The PML-Q leader said that they were still receiving threats and being blackmailed. “A week ago they said to NAB [National Accountability Bureau] to arrest Moonis [Minister for Water Resources and Pervaiz Elahi’s son].”

    Elahi said that he has already been offered Punjab’s chief ministership as well as electoral alliance — including seat-to-seat adjustment — by the Opposition alliance but the government has yet to make that offer.

    Elahi said: “We are waiting to see what the government has to offer. Maybe the government might do the same.”

     “The government 100 per cent lacks wisdom and understanding. The prime minister has a great desire for revenge, which is evident from the fact that he puts everyone in NAB and FIA. This is not how you govern,” he added.

    Elahi said that all that the government has done is ruin its relations with everyone. Without taking the PM’s name, the PML-Q leader said, “He has spoiled his relations with his own people as well. It is because of his own people that they are so worried. Tongue is one thing that can make or break things forever.”

    Elahi said that the Opposition alliance has the support of “more than required” lawmakers to pass the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan in the National Assembly, warning that there are “plenty of surprises in store”.

    Talking about establishment, Elahi said, “DG ISPR has said on record that the establishment has nothing to do with politics, we are neutral in this. But did you see how he [PM] defined neutral, and said animals are neutral. Who was he saying this to?”

    He urged the government to move first and call off its planned political gathering for March 27, saying that it would put pressure on the Opposition to do the same.

  • Fear of clash between Govt, Opposition, PCB considering moving T20I, ODIs to Lahore from Pindi

    Fear of clash between Govt, Opposition, PCB considering moving T20I, ODIs to Lahore from Pindi

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering moving the ODI’s and one T20I match to Lahore from Rawalpindi, considering the changing political situation in the capital, reports Geo News. The first ODI is scheduled to be played on March 29.

    The “changing political scenario and chance of a conflict-like situation” is causing PCB to make alternative plans for the series.

    However, PCB has yet to make a decision and has yet to cancel the hotel reservation in Islamabad, where both teams must check-in on March 26, when they come back from the Lahore test match, scheduled to take place this week.

    “All the four white-ball matches will be shifted to Gaddafi Stadium where teams are set to play the final Test of the series starting from March 21 in case the political situation in Islamabad stays the same till March 20,” a PCB official said.

    “If there is a marked change in the volatile political situation in Islamabad, we would stay with our original schedule and that is to organise all white-ball matches (from March 29-April 5) including three One-Dayers and one-off T20 at the Pindi Stadium. Otherwise, these matches will be shifted to Lahore.”

    “We cannot take even one percent risk when it comes to the safety and security of both teams. Though the room booking at a leading hotel in Islamabad is intact, there is a growing possibility that the matches will now be held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on the same dates. The hotel where teams stayed for the first Test and would be staying for limited-overs matches falls within the red-zone where political parties are planning all these activities. So, no change in the political situation in Islamabad by March 20 means all the four limited-overs matches will be shifted to Lahore.”

    If the schedule is not changed the matches will be played in Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

  • Turn in Pak-Russia friendship? Pakistan sends humanitarian aid to Ukraine

    Pakistan’s government has sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine to support the country’s war-torn citizens. The government of Pakistan sent the aid upon the request of Ukraine.

    Medicine, electromechanical equipment, winter beds, and food items are among the relief supplies. More than 15 tonnes of assistance will be delivered by two planes.

    https://twitter.com/appcsocialmedia/status/1503803860565078027?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1503803860565078027%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftribune.com.pk%2Fstory%2F2348119%2Fpakistan-dispatches-humanitarian-aid-to-ukraine

    The Ukrainian Ambassador received the relief supplies from Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Qureshi said that Pakistan has always acted as a responsible and peace-loving country. He added Pakistan has stood by the international community during disasters.

    20 days have passed since the war began. More than 2.8 million people have left Ukraine.

    Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the Ukraine crisis left many, thinking that Pakistan is taking sides in the conflict, but the recent development of sending aid to Ukraine presents a different picture.

  • Ranbir Kapoor reveals his process for iconic ‘Rockstar’ character, ‘It can be dangerous’

    Ranbir Kapoor reveals his process for iconic ‘Rockstar’ character, ‘It can be dangerous’

    Film Rockstar remains one of the most influential yet impactful films in Ranbir Kapoor’s career as his character Jordan follows a very dark path due to his past. However, in real life, Kapoor earlier claimed that he never had heartbreak and to connect with his character, the actor shared how he was trying to look for one.

    The 2011 musical romantic film which was written-directed by Imtiaz Ali, featured Nargis Fakhri along with Moufid Aziz, Aditi Rao Hydari, Piyush Mishra, Shernaz Patel, Kumud Mishra and Shammi Kapoor in supporting roles.

    During the promotions of Rockstar, Ranbir  revealed the reason behind agreeing to work in the film and how he connected with his character, Jordan. As per SBS, RK said, “In a very strange, bizarre way, I’ve never gone through heartbreak in my life. I know it’s a terrible feeling and I understood Imtiaz’s point of view, what he is trying to say through the film.”

    Ranbir Kapoor further shared, “This character is a Jaat [a colloquial term used in India to connote a particularly wild, untamed person]. We did preparation to understand his life: where he comes from, the people he hangs out with, and the way he walks and the way he talks—all the physical attributes of this person. But I think what really connects me to this character was he was looking for heartbreak and somehow so I am.”

    “The second half of this film is when he goes through a phase of self-destruction, of actual electricity flowing inside him and being short-tempered and being angry. I’m not that [person] so I resort to something they say is acting. You start building that. But [that process] can be dangerous because sometimes it is a fine line. I don’t want to become that person. I respect my fans. I try and sign every autograph book that comes before me. Jordan wouldn’t do that.”

    He is actually a jatt boy from Delhi, a lower class jatt boy who lives in Pitampura. Now that boy comes from a different stratum of society, somebody who I haven’t met in my life. So, it is very hard for me to first get into his skin, physical appearance.

    Imtiaz Ali (director of the film) and I went and spent a lot of time with a jatt family in Delhi. I guess as an actor it is very important for me to observe them, I can pick up certain nuances.

    This is part method. These are superficial things like learning to play guitar because I am playing a musician. I mean that’s my job as an actor. If I don’t do these things, the audience will never believe me. There will be a sense of disconnect.

    But I think more than that my process is really marrying the director’s mind because if a director has written a story, he knows it better than anybody. Yes, you bring in your own talent, experiences. But I think Imtiaz has been so gracious by sharing his experiences to help me as an actor to put in my work.

    I think every film comes with different experiences, and challenges. You approach every role differently.

    For example, for ‘Rocket Singh Salesman of the Year’, I never felt the need to prepare to be a salesman. I thought that is there in the script and that will come. I think that character reflected goodness, he was a good guy. So, what I did was I went to golden temple and I spent a night there all by myself because I thought I would get to know the Sikh culture well. There is a sense of very positive feeling you get, when you wake up there in the morning, when you see people doing seva, how they tie their turban, it’s a big deal for them.

    So, every film has different ways that as an actor how you can connect to a character and what you can put to it.

    On the work front, Ranbir Kapoor has a number of interesting projects lined up, that includes, Brahmastra, Animal, Shamshera with Luv Ranjan’s untitled film with Shraddha Kapoor.

  • ‘The greatest’, Babar Azam scores Test century after two years

    ‘The greatest’, Babar Azam scores Test century after two years

    Though Pakistan’s victory is uncertain in the second match between Pak and Australia, Pakistan’s cricket team captain Babar Azam is in action today.

    Azam scored a Test century after a gap of two years in the match.

    The Pakistani skipper completed the century in the 78th over, as soon as he hit the ball, the crowd and his teammates lauded the skipper for his “epic” century.

    https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1503708175861747716?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1503708175861747716%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geo.tv%2Flatest%2F405334-pak-vs-aus-babar-azam-scores-first-test-century-after-two-years

    The Pakistani skipper completed a century in the 78th over and as soon as he hit the ball, the crowd and his teammates lauded the skipper for his “epic” century.

    Currently, Pakistan is chasing a 506-run target with Babar at the crease and opener Abdullah Shafique with 8 wickets at hand.

    Pakistan has only a day (tomorrow) to win.

    Several tweets have been posted to praise the cricket star.

  • Pakistanis prefer to sink with me than support the ‘three stooges’: PM Khan

    Pakistanis prefer to sink with me than support the ‘three stooges’: PM Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Thursday called the Opposition leaders Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president Shehbaz Sharif, and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari the “three stooges”, referring to a classic American program. He told party members the Opposition’s no-trust move was a “blessing” as it had “lifted” the entire party and now all ready to ready for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally.

    Addressing the Pakistan Overseas Convention in Islamabad he said, “When the people saw the faces of the three stooges — they decided against supporting them and expressed their desire to go down with [me],” PM Khan.

    I challenge media, economists, and Opposition parties to debate with govt over performance

    PM Khan challenged media organisations, economists, and Opposition parties to debate with the government over its performance in the last three and half years, saying that “nobody served Pakistan as we did”.

    “[Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana] Fazlur Rehman sold religion for 30 years,” he thundered. “In my 3.5 years, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has said you cannot disrespect Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) in the name of freedom of expression. [Canadian Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau has given a statement [against Islamophobia]. This has happened for the first time.”

    The premier said there had been a debate at the United Nations and a resolution would be passed against Islamophobia, adding that it was “because of us” and how the government raised the matter at different forums.

    The premier said that the Opposition parties had been taking turns in governing Pakistan during the last 30 years but the PTI government would “prove” that it had built the nation.

    They cannot defeat us: PM Khan

    The premier said he and his team were always trying to figure out ways to reduce the impact of inflation on the masses, but after the Opposition’s no-confidence motion, the focus shifted to mainstream politics rather than inflation.

    PM Khan said neither of the three parties — PPP, PML-N, and JUI-F — worked at the grass-root levels and did “actual politics”, while the PTI struggled for more than two decades to get to where it is today. “They cannot defeat us.”

    “Nawaz became the chief minister through General Jilani; Shehbaz, who used to give bribes to get his work done, Zardari became the president by ‘showing’ a fake paper; Fazl has been selling the religion from the last 30 years,” he said.

    If they are the ones to save Pakistan, it is better to drown with Imran Khan

    “I was thinking of how the country changed suddenly in 10 days, inflation was forgotten and my entire party was lifted.”

    All the Opposition politicians used to call each other corrupt, he said, thanking them for coming together so the nation could see that “if they are the ones to save Pakistan, it is better to drown with Imran Khan”.

    The premier said that PTI had risen from the grassroots which is why the Opposition parties could not compete with it.

    Fallen into captains trap

    PM Imran Khan said the Opposition leaders were under the “false impression that the people had forgotten their corruption”, but they were wrong as now, they had fallen into the “captain’s trap”.

    “I predict that not only is their no-confidence motion going to fail, but they will taste defeat in the 2023 general elections as well,” he said, foreseeing his party’s triumph in the polls.

    PM Khan said due to the corruption of the politicians, the country had become a “slave” to the foreign powers. “When our then prime minister [Nawaz Sharif] met then US president Barack Obama, his legs were shaking as he was cautious against saying something his ‘master’ might feel bad”.

    “Because they know [those countries] can catch their [corrupt Pakistani politicians’] money laundering whenever they want,” the prime minister said.

    Not anti-US, UK and India

    “You [Nawaz and Zardari] should have at least said that no law in the world allows anyone to play the role of judge, jury, and executioner,” he said, stressing “never have I been anti-American, anti-Britain or anti-India”.

    “I pray that a sensible leadership comes into power in India so that we can hold talks with them after revoking the August 5, 2019, decision on Kashmir.”

    Only an uneducated man would be against a country, he elaborated, adding that he was against their policies. “I was against the war on terror from day one and I will remain so.”

    The premier said 100 drone strikes had been conducted in Pakistan during the governments of Nawaz Sharif and Zardari and PTI leaders had staged sit-ins to protest but “they had no shame”.

    He also mentioned India’s “Hindutva” policy, expressing the wish that a “better government” comes to power in the neighbouring country that would grant rights to Kashmiris.

    Pakistan military was the reason behind the country’s stability

    The Pakistan military was the reason behind the country’s stability, as he gave an example of other Muslim countries — Libya, Syria, and Yemen — where the situation was dismal.

    Noting that despite having differences with former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, PM Imran Khan lauded him and acknowledged that he was a self-reliant leader.