Author: newsdesk

  • Petrol price likely to go up by Rs13 today, price at Rs160 per litre

    Petrol price likely to go up by Rs13 today, price at Rs160 per litre

    Petroleum prices are expected to increase across Pakistan from today (Tuesday) in the wake of Russia-Ukraine hostilities, reports Geo News.

    The price of petrol and fuel are likely to increase by Rs13 per litre and diesel by Rs18 per litre. The current price of petrol is Rs147.83 per litre, the price of High-Speed Diesel (HSD) stands at Rs144.62 and Light Diesel Oil (LDO) at Rs114.54 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 fear that Russia could invade Ukraine has driven the rally in oil closer to $100 per barrel, a level not seen since 2014.

    However, no official notification by the government has been released yet.

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

  • Supreme Court orders ECP to decide schedule for KP LG polls’ second phase today

    Supreme Court orders ECP to decide schedule for KP LG polls’ second phase today

    The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take a decision by Tuesday (today) on the second phase of local government (LG) elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

    Initially, the second phase of LG polls in 18 districts of KP was to be held in the last week of January, but it was rescheduled by the ECP through a Dec 30, 2021 order on applications filed by local MNAs and MPAs.

    On Jan 20 this year, the ECP issued a notification announcing the holding of the second phase of LG elections in KP on March 27.

    But on February 1, the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) Abbottabad bench had, in a verbal order, postponed the elections after accepting petitions of residents of five districts of KP on the grounds that these districts were expected to remain under snow in the last week of March due to heavy snow accumulation and, therefore, it would not be possible to set up polling stations.

    During Monday’s hearing, KP Advocate General Shumail Butt opposed the new election schedule, saying the ECP had not consulted the province before issuing the new election date. 

  • Djokovic says he’s not anti-vax ‘but will sacrifice trophies if told to get jab’

    Djokovic says he’s not anti-vax ‘but will sacrifice trophies if told to get jab’

    Serbian tennis ace Novak Djokovic has said he was not against vaccination but would skip Grand Slam tournaments if he was forced to take the jab against Covid-19.

    Read More – Unvaccinated Novak Djokovic owns biotech firm developing Covid drug

    Djokovic, who is unvaccinated and according to Reuters, was deported from Australia after an 11-day rollercoaster experience involving two visa cancellations, two court challenges and five nights in two stints at an immigration detention hotel where asylum seekers are held.

    “Yes, that is the price that I’m willing to pay,” the 34-year-old Serbian told the BBC, adding that he was aware that he would not be able to travel to most tournaments in the world currently because of his unvaccinated status.

    The 20-times major champion is set to return to competitive action at an ATP tournament in Dubai next week for the first time since he was deported ahead of the Australian Open, this year’s first tennis Grand Slam.

    Another win at Melbourne Park, where Djokovic has won nine titles, could have taken him to a men’s record 21 major titles, but instead it was his long-time rival Rafa Nadal who stepped ahead by lifting the trophy last month.

    Read More – ‘Proud to share this era’: Roger Federer congratulates Rafael Nadal on winning 21st grand slam title

    Djokovic said he was ready to sacrifice his shot at the milestone over the “freedom of choice” but he was keeping an open mind about taking the jab in the future.

    “I was never against vaccination,” he said, adding that he took vaccines as a child. “But I’ve always supported the freedom to choose what you put in your body.

    “I understand that globally, everyone is trying to put a big effort into handling this virus and seeing, hopefully, an end soon to this virus.”

  • Zahir Jaffer presents videos of himself and Noor in court, blames Noor for a ‘drug party’ at his place

    Zahir Jaffer presents videos of himself and Noor in court, blames Noor for a ‘drug party’ at his place

    On Monday, during a hearing of the Noor Mukadam murder case, Zahir Jaffer’s lawyer presented a USB in court. Additional District and Sessions Judge (AD&SJ) Muhammad Atta Rabbani asked the lawyer what was in the USB to which the lawyer said that the USB contains videos of Noor and Zahir’s relationship.

    Zahir Jaffer has also submitted his statement in writing to the court.

    He stated: “I and Noor Mukadam were good friends and were in a living relationship with mutual consent for last many years. The same was in the knowledge of both the families and they never ever objected to it. Noor participated in our family functions and events and I also used to attend her family functions and events like a family member. Six months before the unfortunate occurrence, I and Noor were not on talking terms and suddenly July 18, 2021, Noor herself established contact with me and asked for arranging a drug party. She also wanted to invite her friends to the party.”

    He further said that he, along with Noor, left for the airport on July 19, as his flight was scheduled to leave but Noor insisted that they come back from the airport. She invited her friends to a party at his house on July 20.

    “I got under the heavy influence of drugs and all other participants including Noor were also under influence of heavy drugs, (the report of forensic histopathology verifies this fact which the prosecution itself relied on his evidence). I got out of my senses and after hours when I got my senses I was in a tied up condition in the lounge of my house. I made hue and cry on which some persons in police uniform and civil dresses rescued me. I came to know that Noor had been murdered by someone among the participants,” Zahir’s statement added.

    “A widespread negative campaign was started against me and my family by pseudo-social media activists and feminist liking organisations to achieve their nefarious designs and making money. My trial before the court is still pending but mock social media activists and self-styled feminists started demanding my hanging without providing me with the opportunity to prove my innocence through the legal course,” his statement further read.

    “I am also an acute patient of drug psychosis and have remained under treatment in Pakistan and abroad. During the trial, a number of times, requests were made to the trial court and prison authorities for my medical checkup and constitution of a board but the prison authorities due to the influence of Shaukat Mukadam and state machinery did not provide health facilities to the undersigned/accused.”

    The statement further added, “For what has been stated above, I and my parents are innocent in this case but due to influence of the complainant, the indulgence of state stakeholders I have been implicated in the case to usurp money.”

    People are expressing their anger over his statement:

  • A class nine student attempts suicide, jumps off school building in Lahore, severely injured

    A class nine student attempts suicide, jumps off school building in Lahore, severely injured

    A 14-year-old student jumped from the third floor of his school building in Lahore on Monday, and received a severe injury to the spinal cord.

    The student is in class nine and is enrolled in a private school in Township, Lahore.

    According to details, the student had a fight with an older student in class ten. The school administration decided to punish him by not allowing him to take the exam and asked him to stand outside the classroom during the examination.

    The student’s father accused a teacher of misbehaving with his son which forced him to take the extreme step of attempting suicide.

    He said, “The teacher told my son that his career is over.”

    The victim received an injury to the spinal cord and doctors are not hopeful for his recovery.

    The school principal, Ahsanullah Waqas took action by suspending two teachers. He said the punishment given to the student was a regular punishment given to misbehaving students.

    Notice of the incident has been taken by Chief Secretary Punjab and the school has been ordered to submit a response by February 16.

    According to the District Education Authority, a proposal was also in consideration to revoke the license or closure of the school.

  • Girl shoots man for harassing her

    Girl shoots man for harassing her

    A 20-year-old man was injured in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Mardan district after a teenage girl opened fire at him for allegedly harassing her, ARY News reported.

    According to the police,  the incident occurred in Katlang tehsil of Mardan district wherein a teenage girl opened fire on a youth, Abbas, who was harassing her for several days.

    The police have registered a case on a complaint of the girl’s brother.

    According to the FIR, the 16-year-old girl, whose identity is unknown, shooting the harasser in the chest and injured him.

    Police shifted the accused to a nearby hospital while further investigation is underway.

  • Rare meeting: Army Chief meets both President Alvi and PM Khan on same day

    Rare meeting: Army Chief meets both President Alvi and PM Khan on same day

     Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Bajwa on Monday met President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    It is rare for an army chief to meet both heads of the state and the government on the same day. The Prime Minister Office (PMO) in a statement said, “Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa called on Prime Minister Imran Khan today. Professional matters pertaining to Pakistan Army were discussed during the meeting”.

    The presidency, speaking about the meeting between COAS and the president, said, “During the meeting, the president was briefed about the professional preparedness and measure being taken by the security forces against the terrorist elements.”

  • Rawalpindi Qari allegedly stabs 12-year-old girl student to death

    Rawalpindi Qari allegedly stabs 12-year-old girl student to death

    A Qari allegedly stabbed a 12-year-old girl to death in Rawalpindi, as reported by Geo News. The perpetrator fled after committing the crime, but authorities apprehended him later that day with the murder weapon. The accused has been arrested along with the murder weapon.

    As per the police, the 21-year-old Qari named Adil from Abbottabad used to visit the victim’s house to teach her the Holy Quran. The victim’s parents had barred the Qari from coming to their home after the girl complained about him, saying that he was trying to do immoral acts with her.

    Adil followed the girl to her tuition centre and stabbed her in the neck with a sharp weapon.

    The police reached the scene as soon as they received information about the incident, gathered evidence and sent the girl’s body to the hospital for a postmortem.

    As per SP Rawal Babar Javed Joya, the accused confessed to the murder, saying that he killed her because the victim’s family was suspicious of him.

  • Seventh consecutive loss: New record for Karachi Kings

    Seventh consecutive loss: New record for Karachi Kings

    Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Karachi Kings has set a new record of losing in the history of PSL. This year, the Babar Azam-led Kings lost their seventh consecutive match against Islamabad United at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Monday.

    Read More – All you need to know about today’s PSL fixtures

    Chasing 192, Kings were given a boost when two key Islamabad United bowlers, Shadab Khan and Zeeshan Zameer, were forced off the field with injuries, leading to Asif Ali needing to bowl three overs, and taking two wickets in his first over.

    It was some generous fielding from United at the death and a spirited stand between Imad Wasim and Qasim Akram that even made this game a contest.

    It came down to a nail-biting final over from Waqas Maqsood, in which Kings needed eight. A boundary off the second ball brought it down to a run-a-ball, but two wickets took the game right down to the final delivery, off which the Kings needed two. Chris Jordan spooned it back to Waqas, who somehow dropped it, but managed to gather and effect a direct hit at the non-striker’s end.

    Jordan was inches short of the crease that would have guaranteed the Kings a Super Over, and United had just about a hold on to victory in a game they should have sealed long ago.

    Karachi remains without points after seven matches in the ongoing tournament. Before this, the unwanted record of most consecutive defeats in a single edition of PSL was with Lahore Qalandars. Qalandars were beaten in six consecutive games in the 2018 season of PSL.

  • All you need to know about today’s PSL fixtures

    All you need to know about today’s PSL fixtures

    The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is moving forward in full swing and is almost about to complete its second leg.

    Former PSL champions Peshawar Zalmi will be taking on Quetta Gladiators today at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore at 7:30pm.

    United are placed on the third position of the points table with eight points to their name as they have won four games from the seven they have played so far.

    Their last encounter with the Kings last night was a nail-biter but they managed to defend their total on the last ball.

    Meanwhile, Kings are at the last position of the points table with zero points, as they have lost all seven games played so far.