Author: newsdesk

  • 80 per cent of people want us to leave government alliance due to rising inflation: Faisal Sabzwari

    80 per cent of people want us to leave government alliance due to rising inflation: Faisal Sabzwari

    Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Senator Faisal Sabzwari while speaking on Geo News programme, ‘Jashn-e-Cricket’, said that 80 per cent of people want them to leave the government alliance.

    “Due to rising inflation in the country, 80 per cent of people want us to leave the government alliance,” said Sabzwari.

    Faisal Sabzwari advised the incumbent government not to panic, adding that his party has not received any signal yet to leave the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi while speaking on  Geo News programme, ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’, said that the government is not worried about any motion and “we completely trust our allies and partners stand with the government”.

    “I’m sending a clear message to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) that their meetings to depose the prime minister are nothing more than table talk,” said Qureshi.

    It is worth noting that the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met MQM-P delgation.

    Addressing a press conference along with MQM-P Deputy Convenor Amir Khan and other party members, Shehbaz said, “Today’s ally can become tomorrow’s rival.”

    Meanwhile, Amir Khan said, “The kind of problems people are facing because of the federal government in the provincial capital, we are facing the similar kind of torture and oppression in Sindh because of them.”

  • Faisal Vawda no more a Senator, ECP disqualifies in Dual Nationality Case

    Faisal Vawda no more a Senator, ECP disqualifies in Dual Nationality Case

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday disqualified Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Faisal Vawda as a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) over his dual nationality at the time of contesting the NA election on a Karachi seat in the 2018 general elections.

    The commission said Vawda had submitted a “false affidavit” when submitting nomination papers.

    The ECP also declared him ineligible for holding the seat of a senator and ordered to withdraw the notification appointing him as senator.

    However, Vawda can approach the Supreme Court (SC) against the verdict, said the ECP.

    ECP had reserved the verdict on Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MNA Qadir Khan Mandokhel’s plea seeking Vawda’s disqualification on December 23, 2021.

    During the last hearing, Mandokhel and Vawda had appeared before an ECP bench. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja had asked Mandokhel whether he wanted to present more documents or give additional arguments.

    Mandokhel had said it was the 30th hearing of the case but he could not get the answers to his questions. The PPP leader had said, “ECP has been issuing warnings for the last one-and-a-half years.”

    Mandokhel was of the view that Faisal Vawda had held United States (US) nationality at the time of filing his election nomination papers. He said that the concerned residing officer (RO) was not punished as he had rejected his papers instead of disqualifying Vawda.

    The PPP leader said that Vawda had falsely declared in an oath to the ECP that he did not hold any foreign nationality. The PTI leader had concealed his dual nationality during the scrutiny of his nomination papers, said Mandokhel.

    Vawda’s counsel rejected the allegations, saying that his client had never applied for another country’s nationality. He said Vawda was born in the US and that his client had cancelled his American passport.

    After hearing the arguments of both sides, the ECP reserved its verdict in Vawda’s disqualification case.

    The News reported in January 2020 that Vawda was a dual national at the time of filing his nomination papers to the ECP to contest the 2018 general elections. Vawda submitted his nomination papers on June 11, 2018, which were approved by the election body a week later on June 18, the report said.

    However, the Vawda applied for the renunciation of his nationality with the US consulate at Karachi four days after his nomination papers were approved act on June 22, 2018, the report revealed.

  • Pakistan announces squad for Test series against Australia

    Pakistan announces squad for Test series against Australia

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced 16 players and five reserves for the three Tests against Australia, which will be played in Rawalpindi (March4-8), Karachi (March 12-16) and Lahore (March 21-25).

    Test players who are not involved in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022 will assemble in Karachi on Wednesday, February 16, for a training camp that will be held at the National Stadium.

    From the series against Bangladesh, three changes have been made in the national squad.

    Haris Rauf, who was in the side for South Africa and Zimbabwe Tests in 2021, has returned to replace off-spinner Bilal Asif, while Shan Masood, who last played in New Zealand in the 2020-21 season, has taken over from Abid Ali, who is completing his rehabilitation after being diagnosed with Acute Coronary Syndrome. Yasir Shah has been added to the reserve pool.

    Chief selector Muhammad Wasim in a statement said: “We have opted for consistency for the important home series against Australia and changes have only been made where absolutely necessary. This is to give the boys confidence, reward them for their impressive performances in the longer version of the game in 2021 and continue to build the side for the future.”

    “These are the best available, most talented and in-form players in the domestic circuit. I am confident they will put up an impressive performance against a formidable Australia side,” he added.

    Test squad:

    Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hassan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, and Zahid Mahmood.

    Reserves players selected for the tour are Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Yasir Shah.

    Cricket Australia announced the full-strength squad for Pakistan tour on Tuesday. While squads for the limited-overs matches that will follow the Tests are yet to be named, the fact that no Test players have pulled out is a vote of confidence for the tour.

  • Big win for women: Senate passes child custody bill, after mother, ‘nani’ will get custody

    Big win for women: Senate passes child custody bill, after mother, ‘nani’ will get custody

    The Senate passed three bills on Monday, including the Guardians and Wards (Amendment) Bill 2020. The bill gives mothers the right of custody of minors in case of separation between parents. The ‘real’ mother’s right to custody of her children is addressed in section 19-A, which has been added alongside sections 19-B through 19-G.

    PPP Senator Farooq H Naek introduced the bill in the upper house of Parliament. Despite the government’s reservations over the non-inclusion of the Council of Islamic Ideology’s recommendations in the proposed legislation, it was passed by a majority vote.

    Naek said the proposed amendment bill would ensure custody of male and female children to divorcee/widow mothers, up to the age of seven and 16 years respectively.

    According to the bill, “In absence of the real mother, or if she renounces her right or her right is legally held to have lapsed, the custody of her son less than seven years of age and of her daughter who has not attained the age of puberty or 16 years shall vest successively in the female relatives in the following order: maternal grandmother however so high in degree, paternal grandmother however so high in degree, full sister, uterine sister, consanguine sister, full sister’s daughter, uterine sister’s daughter, consanguine sister’s daughter, mother’s sister and father’s sister.”

    “When none of the women, eligible for custody under sections 19A and 19B, are available or willing to accept it or such a woman is disentitled to Hizanat, the male relatives shall then become eligible for the custody of the child in the following order: father, maternal grandfather however so high in degree, paternal grandfather however so high in degree, full brother, uterine brother, consanguine brother, full brother’s son, uterine brother’s son and consanguine brother’s son.”

    The bill from the Senate, will now go to the National Assembly for a vote to be passed into law.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Ali Sethi reveals something special about ‘Pasoori’ and a truck

    EXCLUSIVE: Ali Sethi reveals something special about ‘Pasoori’ and a truck

    Coke Studio’s latest song features singers Ali Sethi and Shae Gill.

    The song ‘Pasoori’ is a fusion of pop and folk music. It makes you want to dance to its magical tune.

    ‘Pasoori‘ has been written by Sethi and Fazal Abbas, while the composition has been done by Sethi and Zulfiqar J Khan, popularly known as Xulfi. The music has been produced by Abdullah Siddiqui and Xulfi.

    The Current reached out to Ali Sethi and he revealed that the song is warm and familiar. “It makes one feel good.”

    Sethi revealed that he was driving back from Faisalabad, Punjab when he saw a quote written at the back of a truck, “Aag lavaan teri majbooriyan nu [ set fire to your worries]. I felt that this was such an amazing expression of the Punjabi language. This should be part of a song somehow.”

    Sethi said that this line made him think further about the combination of words that would be suited for the lyrical completion of the song. And that’s when the words, “Aan jaan di pasoori nu [the business of coming and going]” came to his mind.

    Sethi during the Behind the Scenes (BTS) of Coke Studio’s song Pasoori says that unfortunately, we live in a very polarised world. “Where borders and boundaries of all sorts have become more rigid.”

    Sethi during the BTS says that he is a modern-day gypsy living between Pakistan and United States (US). “It would be interesting to make a case for the alternative, which is the right to free movement of ideas and melodies through a song. Our music already embodies that alternative.”

    ‘Pasoori’ turns all angst into art, with its lyrics signifying the need to celebrate artistic self-expression.

  • Court sentences Hindu teacher to life in prison over ‘blasphemy’ charges

    Court sentences Hindu teacher to life in prison over ‘blasphemy’ charges

    A session court sentenced a Hindu teacher, Nautan Lal, to life imprisonment over charges of ‘blasphemy’ in Ghotki, a district in Sindh. He was fined Rs50,000 as well, reports SAMAA News.

    The verdict was announced by the additional session judge, Mumtaz Ali Solangi today. The court took two years to convict Nautan Lal who has been in jail since 2019 as an undertrial prisoner.

    According to the verdict, he is charged with Section 265-H of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

    A case was also registered against Lal under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). He was accused of passing derogatory remarks about the Holy Prophet P.B.U.H

    He was sent back to Central jail in Sukkur. His requests for bail have been rejected twice for the past two years.

    In September 2019, a video was circulated across social media in which an intermediate student claimed that the owner of Ghotki’s Sindh Public Higher Secondary School committed blasphemy.

    Member of Jamaat Ahle Sunnat, Mufti Adul Karim Sayeedi registered a blasphemy case against the school owner.

    However, teachers clarified that the Nautan Lal did not teach at the school but he just visited on that day. He used to teach Physics at Government Degree College Ghotki.

    A protest erupted in the town and a violent mob attacked the Hindu Temple in Ghotki and damaged its idols.

  • ‘Today’s ally can become tomorrow’s rival,’ says Shehbaz as PML-N meets MQM-P delegation

    ‘Today’s ally can become tomorrow’s rival,’ says Shehbaz as PML-N meets MQM-P delegation

    Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met the Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P) delegation.

    Addressing a press conference along with MQM-P Deputy Convenor Amir Khan and other party members, Shehbaz said that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan is not concerned about the problems of the people but is only “concerned about the Opposition”.

    “Today’s ally can become tomorrow’s rival,” said Shehbaz, adding that the delegation discussed all issues highlighted during the meeting with their party leadership in Karachi.

    “Life has become hard for the people due to additional taxes, rising electricity prices, etc,” said Shehbaz.

    “The kind of problems people are facing because of the federal government in the provincial capital, we are facing the similar kind of torture and oppression in Sindh because of them,” said Amir Khan.

    “There are no two opinions about the devastating economic conditions of Pakistan,” said Amir, adding that the MQM-P also has reservations regarding the rising inflation.

    “Inflation has become unbearable and a solution needs to be found as soon as possible,” asserted Amir.

    It is pertinent to mention here that MQM-P is one of the allies of the incumbent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

  • ‘Nothing compares to what Roy delivered for us,’ Shahid Afridi on Roy’s innings for Quetta

    ‘Nothing compares to what Roy delivered for us,’ Shahid Afridi on Roy’s innings for Quetta

    Former Pakistan captain of Pakistan cricket team Shahid Afridi, who is currently representing Quetta Gladiators in the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), praised Jason Roy’s magnificent 116-runs knock against Lahore Qalandars on Monday.

    Taking to Twitter, Afridi lauded the outstanding knock that steered the Gladiators to the victory in the 15th match of the PSL 7. The match was the last of the Karachi leg.

    “I have seen some amazing innings in the PSL, but nothing compares to what [Jason Roy] delivered for us,” the star all-rounder wrote.

    Roy, who played his first match of the PSL 7 last night, stormed himself into the record book as the batter smashed the second-fastest century of the PSL. He took just 49 balls to reach the triple-figures.

    In his astonishing inning, the right-handed batter smashed 11 boundaries and eight sixes. He also scored the third-highest individual score of the PSL history, scoring 116, led by the then Karachi Kings’ batter Colin Ingram, who scored an unbeaten 127 against the Gladiators.

    West Indian legend Sir Vivian Richards also praised the batter for his innings.

    Taking to Twitter, Roy wrote: “That one felt extremely special. Thank you to everyone for the kind words and support. @TeamQuetta @thePSLt20.”

  • ‘India should stop harassing journalists’: Human Rights Watch

    ‘India should stop harassing journalists’: Human Rights Watch

    Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released its report to address the unlawful arrest of journalists in Indian-Occupied Kashmir (IoK). According to the report, so far at least 35 journalists in IoK have faced police interrogation, raids, threats, physical assault, or fabricated criminal cases for their reporting.

    The recent arrest of Fahad Shah, an editor-in-chief of a leading Kashmir-based news site The Kashmir Walla, has led to condemnation from several journalism organisations including United States (US)-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

    South Asia director at Human Rights Watch (HRW) said, “Instead of ensuring justice for security force violations in Kashmir, the [Indian] government is more interested in silencing those who bring these abuses to light.”

    Ganguly also demanded Indian authorities in Kashmir to release Shah and all journalists, activists, and critics jailed on “politically motivated charges” and stop harassing them with draconian laws.

    Furthermore, HRW has stated a number of journalist names who are behind bars on baseless grounds. Last month, the police arrested another journalist at the Kashmir Walla.

    In September, the police raided the homes of four Kashmiri journalists and confiscated their phones and laptops. Not only this, the Indian authorities give threats to journalists with jail if their work criticises them and pressured them to self-censor, says the HRW report.

    It states that India has placed over 40 people, including 22 journalists, on lists to stop them from travelling abroad.

  • PM Khan, army chief reach Balochistan’s Naushki to spend a day with troops

    PM Khan, army chief reach Balochistan’s Naushki to spend a day with troops

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa arrived in Balochistan on Tuesday to pay tribute to the martyrs in Panjgur and Naushki.

    The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that the army chief will spend the day with troops and also meet those who repulsed the attack on February 2.

    “COAS will be given [a] detailed update on [the] security situation in the area and operational preparedness of the formation to counter terrorist activities,” it said, adding that the army chief will also “meet troops who participated in repulsing [a] terrorist attack on Feb 2.”

    It was reported that PM Khan will visit Naushki where he will be briefed about the operation against terrorists. The PM will meet Balochistan chief minister and the governor in Quetta and will preside over a meeting on security issues.

    On Saturday, the security forces had completed the clearance operations, which were launched after terrorists attacked their camps in Panjgur and Nushki districts on Wednesday evening.

    At least 20 terrorists were killed during the operations while nine security personnel embraced martyrdom, the military’s media wing had added.

    In Naushki, the ISPR had said, nine terrorists were killed while four security forces personnel, including an officer, embraced shahadat during the “shootout with terrorists while repulsing the attack”. In Panjgur, the security forces had repulsed the terrorist attack after an intense exchange of fire during which some terrorists fled the area, it had added.