Author: newsdesk

  • ‘If I am forced out of the office, I will be more dangerous’: PM Khan

    ‘If I am forced out of the office, I will be more dangerous’: PM Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Sunday warned the Opposition said, “If I exit the government, I will pose a greater threat to you. Right now, I am sitting quietly in my office and watching the drama unfold. But if I take to the streets, you will have nowhere to hide.”

    PM Khan’s remarks came while answering callers’ questions, during the telecast of the fifth ‘Aap Ka Wazir Azam Aap Ke Sath’, a town-hall-style broadcast where the premier takes questions from the public and responds back to their queries.

    ‘I am waiting for you [Nawaz Shahrif]… please come back’: Khan

    PM Khan called on former PM Nawaz Sharif to come back to face the cases against him, saying: “I am waiting for you… please come back.”

    ‘I do not consider Shehbaz Sharif an Opposition leader, he is a criminal’: PM Khan

    PM Khan lashing out at the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership, said that he was willing to talk to the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), but he would never sit down with Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif — even for dialogue on key national issues.

    “The office of the Opposition leader has respect, but I do not consider him (Shehbaz Sharif) an Opposition leader, rather he is someone who has committed serious crimes against the country,” he said.

    ‘My party will complete its current term and also win another full term’: PM Khan

    PM Khan was confident that he and his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would not only complete their current term in office but would also win another full term, adding that the nation stood behind him, as he knew the people better than the Opposition did.

    “The reason why people came out for me was that I was trying to get back their looted wealth. You are only trying to cover your own [corruption],” he said.

    “The people recognise your true face now and whatever you have done with this country over the last 30-35 years. You need to understand that the lava is simmering. Once people take to the streets, they only need to be pointed in your direction, and you’ll see everyone of them running off to hide in London,” he said, addressing the Opposition.

    ‘Inflation only problem that gives me sleepless nights‘: Prime Minister Khan

    In response to a caller’s question, he admitted that inflation was the only problem that gave him sleepless nights.

    Insisting that inflation was a global phenomenon that had taken a toll on developed economies like the United States and the United Kingdom as well, he blamed the price hike of commodities on the disruption in the supply chain caused by the pandemic.

     “The biggest challenge we face today is inflation and the rising prices of commodities. I am well aware and cognisant of the issues being faced by the common man due to rising prices.”

    The prime minister said that the corporate sector has made a profit of Rs980 billion and “I would call them and ask them to increase the salaries of their staff because you have never made such a profit before today.”

    Chastises media, judiciary for protecting mafias: PM Imran Khan

    Chastising the media for not presenting a full picture of what was happening on the economic front, PM Khan accused journalists of only painting what he called a ‘bleak’ picture of the economy. Terming certain journalists ‘mafias’, he said they were merely trying to advance the agenda of the Opposition and never projected the achievements of the government.

    The prime minister called on the judiciary to be “merciful to the people” and not to support “mafia and cartels”.

  • Riz-wins T20I Player of the Year Award, Fatima Sana is Emerging Player of the Year

    Riz-wins T20I Player of the Year Award, Fatima Sana is Emerging Player of the Year

    Pakistan’s wicket-keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has been named the ICC men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year for 2021, while a young female cricketer of the Pakistan women’s cricket team Fatima Sana has been named ICC women’s Emerging Player of the Year.

    Rizwan, who also won the PCB’s Most Valuable Cricketer of the Year award recently following a stellar year, scored 1326 runs in 29 T20Is at an average of 73.66 and a strike rate of 134.89. He was also responsible for 22 dismissals behind the stumps in the format.

    At the Men’s T20 World Cup, where Pakistan lost in the semi-finals, Rizwan finished as the third-highest run-getter with 281 runs in six matches. In 2021, Rizwan also became the first batter to touch the 1000-run mark in a calendar year in T20Is, and the 2000-run mark in T20s.

    On the other hand, Pakistan’s Fatima Sana, a seam-bowling allrounder, was named ICC Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year. Sana, 20, claimed 24 wickets and scored 165 runs in 16 games across ODI and T20I cricket in 2021.

    https://twitter.com/PCBofficials/status/1485466852700700673?s=20

    Apart from playing West Indies at home, she also toured South Africa and the West Indies, and played the Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe. Her most eye-catching performance came in an ODI in Antigua in July, when she hit an unbeaten 28 off 19 and then took her maiden international five-wicket haul to help Pakistan to a win.

    Twitter was flooded with the congratulatory messages for both cricketers

    PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja congratulated Rizwan on a “well deserved achievement”. He lauded the cricketer, saying:

    “Your humility, attitude and hard work defines you,” and wished more laurels and success to him.

    Meanwhile, PCB’s official Twitter account also posted a congratulatory tweet for Rizwan.

    Srilankan cricketer Dimuth Karunarathna, Pakistani all-rounder Shadab Khan and many took to Twitter to congratulate Rizwan.

    Senator Faisal Javed Khan also congratulated “Pakistan’s star cricketer” on Twitter. He also congratuled Fatima in another tweet.

    Taking to Twitter, Rizwan said that the journey has just started.

    While Fatima said that she is honoured, humbled and overwhelmed.

  • Justice Ayesha Malik takes oath, becomes first woman to be SC Judge

    Justice Ayesha Malik takes oath, becomes first woman to be SC Judge

    Justice Ayesha Malik has taken oath as the Judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan. With her appointment, she has become the first woman of the country to reach the apex court.

    Her swearing-in ceremony was held at the apex court today. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed administered the oath to her.

     Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice-President Maryam Nawaz has lauded Ayesha Malik’s appointment.

    Senator Shibli Faraz has termed her appointment as the “historic moment” in the judicial history of Pakistan.

    President Arif Alvi on Friday gave final approval of her elevation. The Judicial Commission of Pakistan had on January 7 approved the elevation with a vote of five for and four against after a heated discussion on whether judges should be appointed based on merit or seniority.

  • New Zealand PM cancels own wedding due to Omicron restrictions

    New Zealand PM cancels own wedding due to Omicron restrictions

    New Zealand Prime Minister (PM) Jacinda Ardern has cancelled her own wedding as the nation imposes new restrictions in the wake of the Covid-19 Omicron variant.

    The prime minister was rumoured to be planning to marry her longtime partner Clarke Gayford.

    “My wedding will not be going ahead,” she said.

    In a briefing, Ardern said, “I just join many other New Zealanders who have had an experience like that as a result of the pandemic and to anyone who’s caught up in that scenario, I am so sorry.”

    She also urged citizens to get booster and reduce contact with others to avoid the spread.

    In a video, she was asked by a reporter how she felt about the postponement of her wedding, Ardern replied: “Such is life.”

    The “red setting” of the country’s pandemic response includes heightened measures such as mask-wearing and limits on gatherings which will go into effect on Monday.

    The latest curbs come after nine cases of Omicron were detected in a single family that flew to Auckland for a wedding earlier this month.

  • New terrorist wave

    New terrorist wave

    A new wave of terrorism seems to be gripping the country in recent months, with the Lahore blast being the latest in a series of attacks that have targeted security forces, policemen, and civilians. From Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Balochistan, from Sindh to the capital city to the heart of Punjab, there is a rise in such attacks across the country.
     
    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief Moazzam Jah Ansari told Dawn and Geo News that the Islamic State group’s Khorasan chapter (IS-K) is a different and bigger threat than even the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Coming from the police chief of a province that has been one of the worst victims of terrorism in the country, his statement should raise alarm bells for the state. Pakistan has given immense sacrifices in its war against terrorism – 70-80,000 people lost their lives at the hands of terrorist attacks. The APS attack is a tragedy that can never be erased from our memories. Our security forces and police officials have fought bravely against terrorist outfits and now for terrorism to make a comeback, it is even more important that the state should build a consensus on this issue and tackle the hydra of terrorism.
     
    A study conducted by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Study (PICSS) says that the rise in militant attacks in Pakistan coincided with the Afghan Taliban’s military offensive and their eventual takeover of Kabul. Many had been pointing out to the Pakistan government that a government that does not believe in the rule of law and does not abide by any international covenants cannot bring any stability in the region and will in fact lead to instability in the neighbouring countries when Pakistan was celebrating the takeover of Kabul by the Afghan Taliban.
     
    With the withdrawal of the US and NATO troops from Afghanistan, the fall of Kabul and the rise of the Afghan Taliban were inevitable. However, the support that they got from Pakistan has led to many problems, including the tensions between the US and Pakistan when it comes to diplomatic ties. But the most critical consequence of the new government in Afghanistan is the rise of militant outfits who are rearing their heads once again in neighbouring Pakistan.

    The rise of the Afghan Taliban has given new ideas and strength to militant outfits that had gone underground since the security forces defeated the TTP and crushed other terrorist outfits some years ago. We hope that the state will not let them wreak havoc with the country’s future again. Pakistan needs peace and stability, not chaos. 

  • Alert issued after Lahore and Islamabad terror attacks

    Alert issued after Lahore and Islamabad terror attacks

    The Interior Ministry of Pakistan has issued a notification on Saturday in which it directed the Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) to exercise “extreme vigilance”.

    The notification alert has asked LEAs of all provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan to tighten security measures to prevent any unforeseen terror attacks.

    “… In view of recent terrorist attack in Anarkali Bazar, Lahore and threat posed by activities of anti-state elements, all provincial and special area governments/Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) are requested to exercise extreme vigilance and be on alert to deal with any untoward situation,” the notification said.

    On January 17, militants opened fire on a police checkpoint in the vicinity of the Karachi Company Police Station in Islamabad. The incident resulted in a policeman’s death and two injuries. The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility.

    After this incident, Interior Minister, Sheikh Rasheed has also warned of more terrorism-related incidents in Islamabad and said that the capital’s police and other forces are on alert.

    However, another terror attack on January 20 took place in which terrorists targeted the famous Anarkali market in Lahore. Three people died and 28 people got injured in the Lahore bomb blast. An investigation is still underway.

    Sheikh Rasheed also faced criticism from the Opposition for rising terrorism activities in the country. One of the senators from the Opposition commented that he “not seen the interior minister in the House for any briefing during the last nine months”.

  • ‘Can’t go through it again’: Ahad Raza Mir makes revelation on ‘Yeh Dil Mera’

    ‘Can’t go through it again’: Ahad Raza Mir makes revelation on ‘Yeh Dil Mera’

    Actor Ahad Raza Mir responded to a fan on twitter who expressed a desire of seeing him in Yeh Dil Mera’s sequel.

    The hit drama also starred Sajal Aly and Adnan Siddiqui in primary roles.

    Yeh Dil Mera - Wikipedia

    On the fan’s desire of a sequel, the Aangan star stated that he cannot go through the project all over again. He played a character with grey shades in the HUM TV production.

    Walking down the memory lane, the Mom star, Sajal recently spilled how Ahad had asked her hand in marriage on the sets of Aangan.

    “We had just got engaged when we started working in Aangan together. He had proposed to me and I had told him that he needed to reach out to my family. The very next day, I had fallen ill and Ahad’s mother had come to take care of me for three days. My father had been very surprised but my sister told him that Ahad’s family were thinking of marriage. Once I got better, Ahad’s parents came to Lahore, met my family and we got engaged.”

    Sajal Aly details big wedding proposal from Ahad Raza Mir
  • Man sentenced to jail for defending Sialkot lynching

    Man sentenced to jail for defending Sialkot lynching

    A 27-year-old man, Muhammad Adnan, was sentenced to jail for a year and a fine of Rs 10,000 on Friday by the Gujranwala Court of Anti-Terrorism for justifying the brutal incident of Sialkot lynching on his YouTube channel.

    Adnan uploaded the video regarding the murder and lynching of Priyantha Kumara Diyawadana in Sialkot, where he defended the incident and also incited violence and hatred.

    A complaint was lodged against Adnan by Assistant Sub-Inspector Mubarak Ali on December 5, 2021, at Ringpura Police Station for inciting violence and provoking public sentiments.

    Judge Natasha Naseem announced the verdict against the culprit in the Anti-Terrorism Court on Friday.

    On December 3, 2021, Priyantha Kumara Diyawadana, a Sri Lankan national who was working as a manager since 2010 in a Sialkot factory, was dragged outside, killed, and then burnt by a violent mob.

    The police had arrested more than 100 people involved, and one of the main culprits, Farhan Idrees, was immediately arrested. He felt pride in the murder he committed while giving interviews to local news channels.

  • Only vaccinated individuals will be allowed to enter mosques: NCOC

    Only vaccinated individuals will be allowed to enter mosques: NCOC

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) issued a notification on Saturday with new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for mosques and other places of worship. NCOC, during a meeting today, revised the SOPs amid a sharp increase of Covid-19 cases in the country.

    Following are the new restrictions for mosques:

    • Only fully vaccinated individuals will be allowed to mosques/worship places
    • Masks have been made mandatory in places of worship
    • Carpets to be removed
    • 6 feet distance to be maintained
    • Elderly, people with flu-like symptoms, and children to offer prayers at home
    • Short sermon for Jumma prayer
    • Minimal attendance for prayers
    • Doors and windows of mosques to stay open for ventilation.
    • It is better to perform wudhu at home

    On January 21, Pakistan reported the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the country since the Covid-19 pandemic began. In 24 hours, 7,678 cases were reported.

  • Wasim Akram is the most difficult bowler, reveals former Indian captain Azharuddin

    Wasim Akram is the most difficult bowler, reveals former Indian captain Azharuddin

    Veteran cricketer and former captain of Indian cricket team Mohammad Azharuddin recently hosted a question-and-answer (Q&A) session on Twitter and revealed that former Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram is the most difficult bowler he has ever faced.

    Pakistani journalist Shiraz Hassan asked: “Who is the most difficult bowler you ever faced? And one from Pakistan?” Azhar replied: “Wasim Akram is the most difficult bowler I have ever faced.”

    Earlier, Azharuddin tweeted to ask him questions related to cricket.

    “Ask me a question if you need cricketing advise. Happy to answer today,” he tweeted.

    An Australian cricket page has shared a memory of Akram’s brilliant performance on this day in Australia. “Coming to the crease at 5-90 on January 22, 1990, Akram drove and cut his way to his first Test century, a brilliant 123 against Australia at Adelaide Oval in a drawn match where he also hit fifty and took a 5-fer in the first innings,” the page captioned the video.

    Shaniera Akram also took to Twitter to laud her husband.

    Known as the “King of Reverse Swing” or the “Sultan of Swing”, Akram is regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of cricket. The 55-year-old left-arm pacer has taken 502 One-Day Internatinal wickets and 414 wickets in Tests for Pakistan.