Author: newsdesk

  • Counter Terrorism agents arrests two alleged members of ISIS from Khanewal, Punjab

    Counter Terrorism agents arrests two alleged members of ISIS from Khanewal, Punjab

    The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) is claiming that they have arrested two members from ISIS after a raid in Khanewal city, Punjab.

    The spokesperson of the CTD revealed that the suspects were preparing for attacks on the important installations and worship places. The team also recovered banned literature, weapons, and hand grenades.

    Further investigation is still underway.

    A new wave of terrorism is hitting cities across Pakistan from the beginning of the year, 2022 after a ceasefire was unilaterally ended by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

    Last month, terrorists targeted Lahore with a bomb blast at a famous crowded marketplace, New Anarkali. Three people died including one child and several were injured in the attack.

    Recently attacks occurred in Balochistan on a Wednesday evening resulting in four soldiers embracing martyrdom and killing 15 terrorists. Terrorists tried to enter a security forces’ camp from two locations. The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attacks.

    Similarly, an incident occurred on January 28, when 10 soldiers embraced martyrdom after terrorists attacked a security forces’ check-post in Balochistan’s Kech district.

  • AGP wants Punjab’s special medical board to examine Nawaz’s health reports

    AGP wants Punjab’s special medical board to examine Nawaz’s health reports

    The office of the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) on Thursday requested the Punjab government to place fresh medical reports on the health of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif before a nine-member medical board for examination and further evaluation, reports Dawn.

    The provincial government has been requested to place the document, issued by Dr Fayaz Shawl from Maryland, United States (US), before the nine-member medical board with a request to examine it and evaluate the “known and reported facts and public activities” of Mr Sharif to form an opinion, if any, on this subject, said a one-page letter issued by Secretary Khalid Khan Niazi with the approval of AGP Khalid Javed Khan. The letter has been addressed to Punjab Home Secretary Zafar Nasrullah Khan.

    In its letter to the Punjab government, the AGP’s office explained that the request for placing Nawaz’s health reports before the special medical board was made in view of the January 11 decision of the federal cabinet wherein the AGP’s office had been directed to initiate proceedings for apparent violation of the undertakings given by Nawaz and his younger brother Shehbaz before the Lahore High Court (LHC).

    Earlier this week, Hussain Nawaz, son of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif, lashed out at the government and said that neither Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan nor his party members have any say when it comes to Nawaz’s health. 

    Hussain while speaking on Geo News‘ programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, responded to the questions on why the medical reports of Nawaz Sharif are not being sent to Pakistan and why was the family sending a doctor’s opinion and not legitimate reports for the medical boards to examine. “We don’t need it, Dr Shawl is a world-renowned doctor. Whatever he says is enough,” responded Hussain.

  • Mohammad Hasnain’s bowling action declared illegal

    Mohammad Hasnain’s bowling action declared illegal

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a statement on Mohammad Hasnain after a test conducted on his bowling action at the ICC’s accredited testing centre in Lahore on January 21 and the report reviewed and verified by Cricket Australia’s (CA) independent expert found his bowling action to be illegal.

    “The PCB today received a formal and detailed report from Cricket Australia on Mohammad Hasnain’s assessment test, which stated his elbow extension for his good length delivery, full-length delivery, slow bouncer and bouncer exceeded the 15-degree limits,” the statement read.

    “The PCB has discussed the report with its own bowling experts and is confident that the problem can be resolved. The PCB will now appoint a bowling consultant who will work with Mohammad Hasnain so that he can rectify his bowling action and be ready for a reassessment,” it added.

    “Mohammad Hasnain is an asset for Pakistan and one of the very few bowlers to consistently click 145kmp. As such, and keeping his future and Pakistan’s interest at the forefront, the PCB, on the recommendation of the HBL PSL 2022 Technical Committee, has decided he will not be allowed to continue to participate in the HBL Pakistan Super League.”

    The report further added: “Instead, he will use this time to work with the PCB-appointed bowling consultant to modify his bowling action so that he can apply for a reassessment and become eligible to return to international cricket as quickly as practically possible.”

    “As per the Illegal Bowling Action Regulations, until Mohammad Hasnain clears his reassessment, he will remain suspended from bowling in international cricket.”

    According to the ICC’s regulations on illegal bowling actions, the PCB can allow him to continue bowling in their domestic tournaments but it would seem unlikely. In 2016, the board prevented Mohammad Hafeez from bowling in the PSL after his action was found to be illegal.

    Hasnain had picked up three wickets in the PSL so far, while conceding runs at 8.44 runs per over for Quetta Gladiators.

  • After lawyers, journalists also resort to violence after alleged rigged election

    After lawyers, journalists also resort to violence after alleged rigged election

    The National Press Club (NPC) elections were held on January 28. The group, ‘Journalist Panel’ swept the National Press Club (NPC) elections held for the year 2022 by securing all 11 executive posts.

    However, opponent panels boycotted the vote count, alleging massive vote fraud, and asked for conducting a vote count under police supervision.

    The election results turned into a violent situation at Islamabad Press Club. The winning journalist panel got into a fight with all other groups.

    All other groups argued that the election was rigged and rigging was the reason the journalists’ panel won.

    In the video, the journalist can be seen creating a ruckus and having a physical fight.

    As per reports, the video of the alleged rigging has come to the surface. It was for the first time that the votes casted were counted in the presence of police in the Islamabad Press Club.

    Apart from a large number of independent contenders, there were four panels in the contest, but the competition was between the Journalist panel and the alliance of three PFUJs and three former Presidents of the Azad Journalist Panel.

    In December 2019, a violent protest by lawyers at Lahore’s Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) occurred, during which three patients lost their lives.

  • Taliban fighters no longer allowed to carry weapons in amusement parks

    Taliban fighters no longer allowed to carry weapons in amusement parks

    Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid announced on Wednesday that Taliban fighters will no longer be allowed to carry their weapons in amusement parks in Afghanistan.

    In a tweet, Mujahid said, “Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate are not allowed to enter amusement parks with weapons, military uniforms and vehicles. They are obliged to abide by all the rules and regulations of amusement parks.”

    Taliban fighters have spent most of their lives in a 20-year insurgency against the United States (US) and its backed government in Afghanistan.

    After their takeover, Reuters spoke to Taliban fighters and they revealed that they had never been to Kabul until the Taliban took control of the capital [Kabul] on August 15. Some were eager to visit amusement parks before returning to duties around the country.

    In October, some pictures of the Taliban with machine guns in an amusement park went viral on social media.

  • ‘Bquate SAC’ company claims Coke studio’s song ‘Alif Allah, Jugni’ on YouTube

    A popular Coke Studio season 3’s song, Alif Allah sung by Arif Lohar and Meesha Shafi has been claimed by an unknown company called ‘Bquate SAC’. The producer of season 3, Rohail Hyatt has requested YouTube to help in reclaiming the song on his Twitter.

    Hyatt shared the screenshot from his Youtube channel along with his tweet and wrote, “With much controversy over copyright infringement recently, here I am with a claim on YouTube. A company called Bquate SAC has claimed Jugni and even after disputing it, they retain their claim.”

    Previously, Hyatt disputed the claim with this song however they again reclaimed the song. It was claimed by this unknown company after 11 years of the song’s release.

  • Pat Cummins hopes ‘close to a full-strength’ squad to tour Pakistan

    Pat Cummins hopes ‘close to a full-strength’ squad to tour Pakistan

    Australia’s Test captain Pat Cummins is confident that a near full-strength squad will tour Pakistan as only a few players have security concerns for the forthcoming tour.

    According to the Australian Associated Press (AAP), Cummins is optimistic, while also acknowledging the pre-tour preparations made by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

    “I think we’ll get close to a full-strength squad. There is still a little bit of more work to do,” he said.

    “We have received a lot of information and it has been great. All the pre-tour security and biosecurity work has been done and it’s been fantastic,” he added.

    Australia’s red ball captain also revealed that the majority of the players are confident in the tour’s continuation, while the others are concerned about security. Cummins, on the other hand, is committed to back his teammates if anyone withdraws.

    “There are a couple of players still keen to get a bit more information but everyone is really pumped and feeling relatively comfortable,” he said.

    “If anyone doesn’t make the tour it is absolutely okay, we will back them for sure,” he added.

    Earlier, Australia’s pacer Josh Hazelwood had said that he will not be surprised if a few players will miss Pakistan tour.

    Meanwhile, it is worth mentioning that Australia’s historic tour to Pakistan comes after a gap of 24 years and is set to begin on March 3. The tour is comprised of three Test matches that will be contested in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore, followed by a three-match ODI series from March 29 to April 2. On April 5, a single T20I will be played to conclude the tour.

  • Pakistani bride takes internet by storm, wears Indian designers to all wedding festivities

    Pakistani bride takes internet by storm, wears Indian designers to all wedding festivities

    A Pakistani bride named Neha has taken the internet by storm for her different function looks at her mega-wedding.

    From Manish Malhotra to Sabyasachi, Tarun Tahiliani, and Abhinav Mishra, this bride wore all A-list Indian designers and lived her dream Bollywood fairytale wedding.

    Photographer and Videographer Sara Idrees, shared pictures of the bride as she was the photographer who covered the wedding.

    Her first look was from her Mayoun. She wore a yellow lehenga choli by Sabyasachi.

    Her second look was a sparkling Abinav Mishra’s creation at another wedding event.

    Her Mehndi look was of a quintesssential Sabyasachi bride. She was seen wearing a red and green lehenga choli.

    For her Barat she chose to wear, designer Tarun Tahiliani.

    For her reception, she chose a glamorous Manish Malhotra attire.

  • TRAILBLAZER: HUM TV’s cinematic tribute of blockbuster serial ‘Parizaad’

    TRAILBLAZER: HUM TV’s cinematic tribute of blockbuster serial ‘Parizaad’

    The finale screening of drama serial was held in Lahore last week and it was attended by the ensemble cast and crew of the show.

    Parizaad

    The grand screening was attended by prominent industry veterans like Sania Saeed and Resham apart from the stellar ensemble cast of the play headlined by Ahmad Ali Akbar, Naumaan Ijaz, Saboor Aly and Ushna Shah.

    What made the event special was the press conference after the screening, in which the cast and makers of the show spilled candid details.

    Ahmad revealed that he initially refused the drama but later agreed to do it after reading the entire script and it made him cry.

    Have a look at the pictures:

    Produced by Momina Duraid, the masterpiece has been directed by Shahzad Kashmiri of Yaqeen Ka Safar fame.

  • PM Khan visits China, ‘pitch book’ prepared to convince China to invest in Pak

    PM Khan visits China, ‘pitch book’ prepared to convince China to invest in Pak

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has left for China on a four-day official on Thursday to attend the ceremony of the Olympic Games Beijing 2022 where he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang. PM Khan is accompanied by a high delegation including China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Special Assistant Khalid Mansoor.

    Prime Minister Office (PMO), in a tweet, said, “The visit would mark the culmination of celebrations commemorating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between and with more than 140 events organized to showcase the resilience of the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.”

    This visit would be PM Khan’s fourth visit to China. Previously, he went on a two day (October 8-9) visit to China in 2019, before the Covid pandemic.

    Prior to the premier’s departure, cabinet members who are accompanying him termed this visit to China of great significance.

    Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi revealed that many Chinese companies are “desirous” of investing in Pakistan. According to him, the visit will further expand bilateral relations and promote high-level exchanges.

    Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin stated that it is a “very important” trip politically and economically. He added that China would be asked to relocate some of its required industry needs to Pakistan.

    Meanwhile, National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf stressed that the trip is important in regards to solving the Afghan crisis. He said that the issue will be discussed during the visit as well.

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, while highlighting the years of friendship between both countries, said “Pak-China relations are deeper than the oceans and higher than the Himalayas.”

    Planning Minister Asad Umar said the trip has come at a “very important time”. A special book has been prepared which will explain why Pakistan is a prime destination for investment and will be presented to the Chinese leadership, Umar shared via Twitter.