Author: newsdesk

  • ‘Govt will be removed in a democratic way, will take to streets on February 27’: Bilawal Bhutto

    ‘Govt will be removed in a democratic way, will take to streets on February 27’: Bilawal Bhutto

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that the government forcibly passed the anti-people mini-budget in ‘the dark of night’.

    Talking to the media along with former Prime Minister (PM) Yusuf Raza Gilani, Bilawal Bhutto said that they protested inside and outside the Parliament against the mini-budget. They were promised that tax will not be imposed on a few items, but that was false as well.

    “The people of Pakistan are demanding that we take to the streets against this government and our CEC has decided that we will take to the streets on February 27,” added Bilawal.

    Bilawal Bhutto further said that they had talked about removing the government in a democratic way and also talked about a no-confidence motion.

    The PPP chairperson further said that the mini-budget was also passed in the dark of night and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) bill was also forcibly passed by parliament, after which the SBP will no longer be accountable to parliament.

  • Twitter lauds ‘Referee’ Canadian High Commissioner in girls’ ice hockey match in Hunza

    Twitter lauds ‘Referee’ Canadian High Commissioner in girls’ ice hockey match in Hunza

    Several pictures and videos of an ice hockey match played by young girls in Hunza’s Altit are circulating on Twitter and one thing that caught most Twitterati’s attention was Canadian High Commissioner Wendy Gilmour refereeing the match. The pictures have led to praise for the Canadian diplomat for encouraging winter sports in Pakistan and advocating for female athletes.

    Pamir Times, a community news portal of Gilgit and the surrounding mountain areas, shared pictures and videos of the ice hockey match on Twitter, making note of the high commissioner refereeing the match.

    Taking to Twitter, Gilmore called it “an amazing match”. She congratulated Altit’s Sports Club And Rising Federation for organising the fourth Winterlude festival. Addressing the young players from Hunza and Chitral she said “my colleagues and I had a blast!”

    Pakistani Twitter was flooding the post with love and praise. They were thankful to the High Commisioner for coming and promoting winter sports, especially for girls.

    https://twitter.com/seeyabasad/status/1482480145889964035?s=20

    https://twitter.com/OmarBinMuaz1/status/1482710749902356480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1482710749902356480%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1189267

    As per Radio Pakistan, Gilgit Baltistan Minister for Tourism and Culture Raja Nasir Ali Khan, while addressing the inaugural ceremony of ice hockey and ice skating competitions in Hunza, had said the government is focusing on promoting winter sports in the area.

    The minister assured that strenuous efforts are being made for the inclusion of Hunza ice hockey teams in international competitions.

  • Pak business community gives widow of Sri Lankan national Priyantha Kumara aid, PM Khan appreciates

    Pak business community gives widow of Sri Lankan national Priyantha Kumara aid, PM Khan appreciates

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has appreciated the efforts of the Sialkot business community and Rajco Industries to provide aid to the widow of Priyantha Kumara who was beaten to death and burnt by a mob in Sialkot on the basis of blasphemy.

    In a tweet, PM said, “I want to appreciate the Sialkot business community for transferring $100,000 to the account of Priyantha Kumara’s widow and Rajco Industries for transferring monthly salary of $ 1667 to her account – which they will do for 10 yrs.”

    Kumara’s family including his wife and children reside in his hometown in Sri Lanka. He used to work in Rajco Industries as a general manager and had been living in Pakistan since 2010.

    Rajco Industries reportedly has sent the financial aid of $100,000 (Rs17.6m) and the salary of $1,667 (Rs293,260) for the month of December 2021 to Kumara’s window.

    Last month, media reports had said that the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) raised the amount of $100,000. The chamber President Mian Imran Akbar said they are taking appropriate steps to prevent such incidents in the future. He also ensured the safety and security of foreign employees and businessmen.

    Following this, Special Assistant to PM Dr Shahbaz Gill tweeted: “The funds and salary are committed by Rajco Industries for next 10 years and announced by Honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan have been transferred to the account of Widow of deceased Sri Lankan Manager Mr Priyanatha Khumara in Sri Lanka”.

  • Several people killed in Yemen capital by a Saudi Arabia led airstrike

    Several people killed in Yemen capital by a Saudi Arabia led airstrike

    Saudi Arabia launched an airstrike in the capital city of Yemen, Sanaa which killed about 14 people in a residential building in a response to an attack on Abu Dhabi on Monday.

    Saudi Arabia state media said that the coalition has begun airstrikes against strongholds and camps in the capital city belonging to the Houthi rebel group.

    The strike targeted the home of a former military official which killed him, his wife and son, other family members, and some unknown casualties.

    On the other side, the deputy minister for the Houthi administration tweeted that the coalition strikes killed a total of 20 people.

    According to the Houthi media channel, the airstrike attack damaged the building, killed at least a dozen people, and several people were wounded as well.

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is backing Saudi Arabia in a war with Yemen that has been going on for the last seven years.

    On Monday, three petrol tanks blew up near a storage facility of an oil giant company, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in Abu Dhabi. A fire also erupted in a construction area at the Abu Dhabi airport.

    These attacks have been claimed by the Iran-backed rebel group, Houthi in Yemen.

    Pakistan also condemned the attacks on the UAE by saying, “violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the UAE and pose a grave threat to the regional peace and security”.

    The statement issued on Monday by the Foreign Office called for an immediate end to these attacks. It also offered condolences to the families of the victims of the attack including one Pakistani.

  • Karachi cop involved in groom’s killing commits suicide

    Karachi cop involved in groom’s killing commits suicide

     A policeman allegedly involved in the killing a newly-married man for resisting a mugging committed suicide to avoid arrest during a police raid. He has been identified as Farzand Ali Jafri who was posted at the Investigation Wing of Karachi’s District West in Karachi.

    According to the police, the suspect killed himself by shooting at his own head to avoid arrest during a police raid.

    On January 17, it was reported that four people, including a policeman, had been arrested for killing a youth, Shah Rukh, in front of his mother and sister on Kashmir Road. 

    The media reports said these arrests were made in Surjani Town, Gulshan-e-Maymar and other areas.

    “The accused shot himself in the head and died on the spot,” according to the police.

    The tragic death became a top trend on the social media as it followed several incidents of street crime in the city. 

  • Throwback video: Kangana says ‘Chullu Bhar Paani Mein Doob marna chahiye’ after Deepika’s dedication

    Throwback video: Kangana says ‘Chullu Bhar Paani Mein Doob marna chahiye’ after Deepika’s dedication

    A 2014 story about a verbal battle between Kangana Ranaut and Deepika Padukone is doing the rounds again. In an old video, Kangana is seen talking about Deepika and saying that how unjust it was that an award was given to an undeserving person.

    Their rivalry dates back to an award show in 2014 when Deepika Padukone won the Best Actress award for Happy New Year. In her acceptance speech, the actress dedicated her award to Kangana Ranaut for her performance in Queen. Kangana, however, didn’t win any award.

    According to Hindustan Times it didn’t go well with Kangana who took a dig at her in an interview said, “Usko Happy New Year ke liye award mila, usko chullu bhar paani main doob marna chahiye Happy New Year ke liye aap award le kaise sakte hain?”

    Check out the video here:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_Ytzy2dLnc

    Kangana Ranaut continued and said, “Aap socho, thoda toh common sense hona chahiye. Ek bande ki Queen film ayi hai aur Deepika ko Happy New Year ke liye award mil raha hai.”

    In 2014, Deepika Padukone dedicated her award for ‘Happy New Year’ to Kangana Ranaut for her performance in Queen at the stage and said, “Thank you for this award, but I believe that this year belonged to Kangana. So, Kangana, this one’s for you.”

  • ‘Khattak did good things’, PM Khan all praise for Khattak days after fight

    ‘Khattak did good things’, PM Khan all praise for Khattak days after fight

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan praised Defence Minister Pervez Khattak while addressing the inaugural ceremony of establishing a special technology zone in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Haripur on Monday.

    The premier’s remarks come days after a verbal squabble between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership, Khattak, and PM Khan himself.

    “When Pervez Khattak was chief minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa he did a lot of good things like [launching] health card scheme,” the premier remarked.

    PM Imran Khan lauded Khattak and said that his decisions resulted in the development of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which would have “long-lasting effects and time will prove it,”

    Talking about the initiative taken by the PTI-led government for the health sector, known as the “Naya Pakistan Sehat Card”, the premier said that Khattak was the one who had come up with the idea in 2013.

    Last week, PM Khan and Khattak had an exchange of bitter words during a parliamentary party meeting chaired by the premier himself.

    It was reported that Pervez Khattak said in the meeting that, “we have made you the prime minister.”

    “Gas is banned in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, we generate gas and electricity and we are the ones who are suffering,” said Khattak, adding, “We will not be able to get votes if this is your attitude.”

    Khattak told media persons after the meeting that he neither talked harshly to the prime minister nor hurled any threat of not voting for PM Khan.

    “No one spoke harshly, I spoke for my right,” said Khattak.

  • ‘Islamabad on alert’ as interior minister warns of more terror incidents

    ‘Islamabad on alert’ as interior minister warns of more terror incidents

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

    The warning has come forward after a gun battle, in which militants [who were shot dead] opened fire on a police check-point in the vicinity of the Karachi Company police station, G 9 Markaz Islamabad. The incident resulted in a policeman’s death and two injuries.

    The martyred police official has been identified as Head Constable Munawwar.

    “This was not an incident of dacoity or theft. Terrorists opened fire on police officials. This is a signal for us that terror incidents have started taking place in Islamabad,” the minister added.

    However, Rasheed revealed the authorities had tracked down the “sleeper cell” of the terrorists.

  • ECP releases list of 150 lawmakers for not filing asset details

    ECP releases list of 150 lawmakers for not filing asset details

    The membership of 150 lawmakers from across the country, including some cabinet members, has been suspended by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for not filing their statements of assets.

    The ECP on Monday released a list of MNAs, senators, and MPAs of the four provincial assemblies who failed to file their statements of assets and liabilities, as well as those of their spouses and dependents, for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2021. These statements have to be filed every year by Dec 31.

    In the 100-member Senate, the membership of three lawmakers has been suspended, including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Dr Musadik Malik, Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Dr Sikandar Mandhro, and Balochistan Awami Party’s (BAP) Prince Ahmed Umer Ahmedzai.

    Among the MNAs who have been suspended as members of the lower house are cabinet members Farrukh Habib, Noor ul Haq Qadri, Hammad Azhar, Shafqat Mahmood, and Dr Fehmida Mirza.

    The prominent MNAs who failed to fulfill their constitutional obligation are former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain, Ghulam Bibi Bharwana, Rana Mohammad Qasim Noon and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.

  • Shaheen Afridi on controlling his anger during a match

    Shaheen Afridi on controlling his anger during a match

    Pakistan Cricket team frontline pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has recently talked about controlling his anger on the pitch during a match. Fast bowlers are known for their aggression and newly appointed Lahore Qalandars captain shared how he controls his anger after being given a leadership role.

    Talking to the media after a training session for the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) seventh edition, Shaheen said: “I must maintain my composure while working diligently to enhance my performance. If my performance improves, I will then be able to speak to others regarding their performance.”

    The 21-year-old speedster stated that as a captain, he makes sure that the entire team follows suit. “The responsibility increases,” he said, adding that while there is no pressure, the responsibility must still be taken up by the captain.

    “I am receiving a lot of assistance from Muhammad Hafeez. He is a senior member of the team. I ask him and learn what is favourable for me,” said the fast bowler.

    Speaking about the Lahore Qalandars’ pre-camp, Afridi stated that the camp was helpful because it allowed him to gain a better understanding of the players and their personal qualities, as well as to better understand him.

    Meanwhile, Afghan star Rashid Khan while talking to a private news channel, said that he is excited to play under Afridi’s leadership. “I will try to help him control his emotions during the match since he is also a Pathan,” he said.

    Rashid further added: “I will guide him on the field using my experience of leading Afghanistan in the past.”

    Last year in December, the pacer was appointed as the captain of the PSL franchise Lahore Qalandars ahead of the seventh edition of the league.