Author: newsdesk

  • Govt drops petrol bomb, average car’s 35 litres now costs Rs 5,600 per litre

    Govt drops petrol bomb, average car’s 35 litres now costs Rs 5,600 per litre

    The government has increased the price of petrol by Rs12.03/litre, diesel Rs9.53/litre, kerosene Rs10.08/litre and light diesel oil (LDO) by 9.43/litre. The new rates will be effective from today (February 16) and will be revised at the end of the month.

    As per the press release issued by the Government of Pakistan’s Finance Division, the prime minister has considered the recommendation to increase the prices of petroleum products in line with changes in the international oil prices.

    The previous price of petrol was Rs147.83 per litre.

    According to Reuters, oil prices jumped to a seven-year high on Monday when the United States (US) warned that Russia could soon invade Ukraine.

    Russia is one of the world’s largest oil and gas producers, and fears that Russia could invade Ukraine have driven the rally in oil closer to $100 per barrel, a level not seen since 2014.

    Last month, PM Imran Khan rejected the summary of increasing prices of petroleum products in the public interest.

  • Is Hamza Shehbaz going to be JKT’s new best friend? PML-N claims contact with Jahangir Tareen group

    Is Hamza Shehbaz going to be JKT’s new best friend? PML-N claims contact with Jahangir Tareen group

    Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz said: “We are in contact with everyone (including the Jahangir Khan Tareen group) as our sole target is removing Imran Khan.”

    When asked about Minis­ter for Water Resources Moonis Elahi’s statement that his party (Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid) stood with Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, Hamza said: “The Opposition is working on its plan to send the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government home and it will succeed.”

    The Jahangir Tareen group held a meeting at the residence of the chief minister’s former adviser, Awn Chaudry.

    In a conversation with the media after the meeting, disgruntled PTI leader Jahangir Tareen said that the political meeting was important in light of the current political situation in the country.

    Shedding light on the meeting, Tareen said that the current political situation and inflation came under discussion.

    “Politicians keep contact with each other, and these contacts will continue to exist,” he added. He also said that the politicians would consult each other on the country’s situation.

    Talking about the no-confidence motion, Tareen said: “No discussions regarding the no-trust motion took place as it’s too early to talk about it.”

  • After Karnataka, Hijab conflict begins in India’s Uttar Pradesh

    After Karnataka, Hijab conflict begins in India’s Uttar Pradesh

    The dispute concerning the banning of the hijab has reached India’s large and populous state, Uttar Pradesh. A group of young men distributed a memorandum to college officials on Monday.

    They insisted that the administration of Dharma Samaj College implement a complete ban on the hijab in its premises. The college is located in the Aligarh district.

    The College Chief Proctor, Mukesh Bharadwaj, while talking to Reuters said, “Two years ago the same issue was raised and it has been raised again. We do not allow any type of religious uniform and we have a civil code of uniform for everyone.”

    He further added, “There is a changing room for girls and they can change their dress there before attending class.”

    He said, “We are investigating the matter.”

    The tension arose when the Indian state, Karnataka, banned religious clothes in government schools and colleges in February amid a controversy over the hijab and saffron scarves.

    Various incidents have been reported in the state when hijab-clad students were denied entry to college campuses over a fear of clashes with people belonging to the Hindutva ideology.

    Recently, the Muskan Khan incident has grabbed attention from all over the world. Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai spoke out regarding the incident as well as various Pakistan government ministers.

    Scholar and Professor Noam Chomsky also condemned the growing hatred against Islam and compared the brutal situation of IoK to Israeli forces occupying Palestine and blamed Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s right-wing Hindu nationalist regime for it.

  • Hrithik Roshan’s ex-wife praises his rumoured girlfriend, says she’s ‘super coool’

    Hrithik Roshan’s ex-wife praises his rumoured girlfriend, says she’s ‘super coool’

    Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan’s ex-wife Sussanne Khan has praised his rumoured girlfriend Singer and Actor Saba Azad for her performance.

    Sussanne recently attended Saba’s gig in Mumbai and shared a picture on her Instagram stories, writing: “What an amazing eve! You are super coool and supremely talented.”

    Screenshot of Sussanne Khan’s story

    Later, Saba thanked Sussanne in an Instagram story, where she wrote: “Thanks my Suzie. So so happy you were there last night.”

    Screenshot of Saba Azad’s story

    Rumours about Hrithik Roshan and Saba Azad dating surfaced after they were pictured together at a Mumbai eatery twice a week.

    Saba Azad has starred in films like Dil Kabaddi and the 2011 movie Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge. She was also a part of the Netflix anthology Feels Like Ishq. She is currently seen in the web series Rocket Boys, which is streaming on SonyLIV.

  • Osman Khalid Butt, Meesha Shafi shocked and disappointed over acquittal of Qandeel Baloch’s brother

    Osman Khalid Butt, Meesha Shafi shocked and disappointed over acquittal of Qandeel Baloch’s brother

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday acquitted the prime suspect and brother of model Qandeel Baloch, Waseem Azeem, in her murder case, abolishing the life imprisonment awarded to him by a sessions court.

    The LHC’s Multan bench cancelled life imprisonment of the accused after witnesses deviated from their statements in the trial court and Qandeel’s mother submitted a reconciliation agreement stipulating parental pardon.

    In 2016, Muhammad Waseem was arrested after he confessed to killing Qandeel Baloch, 26, for posting what he called ‘scandalous’ pictures on social media. The case became Pakistan’s most high profile “honour killing” of recent years.

    Actor Osman Khalid Butt tweeted, “Qandeel Baloch’s murderer walks free today after serving less than six years of his life sentence. He is on record admitting to drugging and murdering his sister. Someone please make this make sense to me.”

    He went on to comment, “We are in the concluding stages of a high-profile and incredibly brutal murder case even now – how does this ruling inspire any confidence (except to the guilty) in our judicial system? Six years – and an anti-honour killing Bill – later, we’re back to square one.”

    Osman concluded with, “This is not the first time sentences for heinous crimes have been reduced or overturned. Why do these loopholes still exist in our judicial system whereby murderers can eventually walk free?”

    Singer Meesha Shafi also spoke about Waseem’s acquittal. “So Qandeel Baloch killed in cold blood,” the popular singer tweeted, adding, “Her father, who tried to pursue justice above and beyond his means.. passed away. Her murderer, her brother, alive and roaming free once again. We’re living in the opposite world.”

    During the hearing on Monday, defending lawyer Sardar Mehboob argued before LHC Justice Sohail Nasir that the father of the model and complainant had passed away, adding that the witnesses had also deviated from their statements in the trial court.

    He said the sessions court had ignored the settlement reached between the parties. After hearing the arguments, the court acquitted Waseem by cancelling his life imprisonment. “He has been fully acquitted”, his lawyer Mehboob told AFP, without giving further details. The court order has yet to be made public.

  • Karachi Kings spinner Imad Wasim fined for breaching PSL Code of Conduct

    Karachi Kings spinner Imad Wasim fined for breaching PSL Code of Conduct

    Karachi Kings’ former captain Imad Wasim has been fined five per cent of his match fee for breaching Level 1 one of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Code of Conduct during his team’s clash against Islamabad United at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Monday.

    Read More – Quetta’s Jason Roy fined for breach of code of conduct

    The incident happened in the first over of the match when Imad Wasim used inappropriate language after dismissing opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who had earlier hit him for a couple of sixes. Wasim was found to have violated Article 2.5 of the PSL Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel.

    While he also celebrated in a teasing style when he got the wicket of Islamabad captain Shadab Khan.

    The Article relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon his/her dismissal during a PSL Match”.

    Meanwhile, Imad admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed to be imposed by the match referee Ranjan Madugalle and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.

    The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Asif Yaqoob and Richard Illingworth, third umpire Rashid Riaz and fourth umpire Nasir Hussain.

  • TV host Iqrar-ul-Hassan accuses Intelligence Bureau of torturing him

    TV host Iqrar-ul-Hassan accuses Intelligence Bureau of torturing him

    Television host and journalist Syed Iqrar-ul-Hassan on Tuesday accused officials of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) of detaining him, members of his team, and subjecting them to extreme torture.

    Pictures of Hassan in bloodied, torn-up clothes, receiving medical treatment on a hospital bed were shared on Twitter. Later, journalist Waseem Badami shared pictures and videos of him visiting Hassan at the hospital.

    Talking about the incident, Iqrar said that he and his team members were “stripped naked, blindfolded and tortured for exposing the corruption of an IB inspector”. He alleged that IB officials also shot videos of him after stripping him and his team members naked.

    Speaking with ARY News, a channel where he works and hosts his show TV programme  ‘Sar-e-Aam’, Iqrar said that an officer of IB was taking bribe at the gate of the agency’s office and “we tried to report him to the high-ups, but senior IB officer Rizwan Shah manhandled the ‘Sar-e-Aam’ team and kept beating us”.

    “We were treated as a mole working for a foreign country,” he added.

    Hassan claimed he and his team were held hostage for more than three hours. “I got almost 8-10 stitches on my head due to the torture”.

    He said a few members of his team were even given electric shocks to “sensitive” body parts. “I want to bring [to light] the video we shot at the IB office, but I learned that it has been discarded by the agency officials.”

    Following the incident, Deputy Director General IB Iftikhar Nabi Tunio issued a notification suspending five officials “for mistreatment of ARY News team and mishandling the situation”, reports Dawn.

    The suspended officers were Syed Mohiuddin Rizwan (Director, BPS-19), Mehmoob Ali (stenotypist), Inam Ali (stenotypist), Rajab Ali (sub-inspector) and Khawar.

    Hassan responded to the development, saying: “I am thankful to the federal government for taking prompt action and suspending five officers involved in the incident.”

  • Man rapes 87-year-old bedridden woman in India

    Man rapes 87-year-old bedridden woman in India

    A man has been arrested for allegedly raping an 87-year-old bedridden woman in Delhi, India. As per the local police, the incident happened on Sunday (February 13). As per the Indian media, the accused allegedly raped the woman and fled with her mobile phone. When the elderly woman questioned the man, he said that he worked for a gas company and that he had been called for some work.

    The daughter of the raped woman found her mother injured and called the police.

    “They (victim and daughter) are senior citizens and live alone. I came to Delhi and found that the police told them that they shouldn’t pursue the case because of their age and it would be stressful for them. The police registered a theft case and didn’t even inform us. Her (victim) granddaughter works in Canada and she can’t be here immediately. We are all worried. The police don’t care. Aunty is unsafe in her own home,” the relative of the victim said while talking to an Indian news outlet.

    In a tweet, the Delhi Police said, “The case of sexual assault of elderly lady in Tilak Nagar has been solved. Culprit in this blind case nabbed within 16 hours. Victim’s mobile phone was recovered from him. Accused lives in nearby locality and works as a sweeper.”

  • Fakhar Zaman kisses and tells: reveals reason behind flying kiss in PSL match

    Fakhar Zaman kisses and tells: reveals reason behind flying kiss in PSL match

    Pakistan cricket team’s hard-hitting batter Fakhar Zaman has revealed why he blew a flying kiss in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022 match against Quetta Gladiators after he scored his sixth 50-plus score.

    Zaman grabbed the attention of all his fans when he sent a flying kiss after completing his half-century.

    Fans were quick to notice Fakhar’s actions and kept speculating the story behind the “flying kiss celebration”. However, the star batter revealed that the celebration was as per the instructions of his son, Zain.

    In a video shared by the Lahore Qalandars’ official Twitter handle, Fakhar said: “The flying kiss was for my son Zain. He sent me a voice note along with a video of a cartoon where a character sends a flying kiss. He had asked me to do this for him when I score a half-century.”

    “I sent the voice note to Shaheen Afridi, Rashid Khan, and Haris Rauf and did the celebration for my son. Zain was watching in the stands when I did the celebration and was covering his face,” Fakhar said.

    Speaking about Qalandars’ performance during the ongoing season, Fakhar urged fans to keep on supporting the team.

    “Keep supporting Lahore Qalandars,” he said, adding that Qalandars’ fans are happy with their performance.

    “We will try our best to make our fans happy. Ups and downs are part of the game, so always support us.”

    Fakhar Zaman has been exceptional in the ongoing seventh edition of the PSL, scoring five half-centuries and a ton. The left-handed batter is currently the top scorer of the PSL.

  • PM Khan says his five-year term will be successful if he ends poverty

    PM Khan says his five-year term will be successful if he ends poverty

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Tuesday launched Raast person-to-person payment system for instant digital transactions.

    PM Khan, while addressing the audience, said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) got a second chance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) because the party ended poverty in the province.

    “After five years, we were given a chance again in a province which provides a second chance to no one. A report of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) suggested that KP ended poverty the fastest,” said the premier, adding that we were given votes again because we ended poverty.

    “I will consider myself successful by the end of 2023 when my tenure is evaluated if I have ended poverty and lifted the poor,” said PM Khan.

    Sharing features of Raast, the premier said it would create ease for the common man, especially those who were afraid of going to banks because now they would be able to transfer money instantly through their mobile phones.

    In addition, the digital payment system would bring people into the formal economy, he said. “A country progresses when the saving rate increases, we have amongst the lowest,” he said, adding that people would have to become part of the formal economy if the country was to progress and the tax to GDP (gross domestic product) ratio would have to be increased.

    PM Imran said the government was reaching more people to bring them into the tax net, warning defaulters, “We are about to reach you because we are getting data very quickly.”

    Raast is part of Prime Minister Imran’s Digital Pakistan vision to include the poor segments of society in the formal economy. It has been developed by the SBP in collaboration with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Karandaaz, Pakistan.