Author: newsdesk

  • KP government wants harsher sentences for those convicted in Mashal Khan case

    The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday accepted for hearing a set of appeals by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government seeking to enhance the sentences of the convicts involved in the 2017 lynching of Mardan university student Mashal Khan, reports Dawn.

    Additional Advocate General (AAG) for KP Nisar Khan, told Dawn that the appeals were filed against the November 2020 verdict in which the Peshawar High Court had commuted the death sentence awarded to primary accused Imran Ali in Mashal Khan lynching case, but maintained the jail terms handed down to 32 others.

    Mashal Khan, a 23-year-old student of the Department of Mass Communication at Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, was lynched by a mob and shot over allegations of blasphemy on April 13, 2017.

    In June 2017, a 13-member joint investigation team concluded that the allegations of blasphemy against Mashal Khan were unfounded and were used as a pretext to incite a mob against him.

  • Follow up: What happened in the Usman Mirza case?

    Follow up: What happened in the Usman Mirza case?

    Usman Mirza is prime suspect in couple harassment case. A video of Usman Mirza and his friends went viral on social media in which they were torturing and assaulting a couple in Islamabad. Moreover, the accused persons continued blackmailing the couple after filming the couple in which they were forced to have sexual intercourse at gunpoint.

    Soon after the details were revealed, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan directed the police to ensure justice. However, recently the case has taken an unexpected turn. The following is the brief timeline of the incident which has created a debate on media platforms.

    July 6: A video of Usman Mirza harassing a couple went viral on social media which created an outrage across the country.

    July 7: Usman Mirza was arrested by Islamabad police.

    August 2: Mirza filed a bail plea but was rejected by Islamabad High Court (IHC) and he was sent to Adiala Jail till September 10.

    September 27: The police submitted a challan in the court, in which victims’ statements were recorded.

    September 28: Indictment of at least three suspects, including Mirza.

    October 3: Initiation of legal proceedings against the suspects.

    January 10: The lawyer of the victim reported that the victims’ mobile phones were switched off. Reports that victims had been paid off.

    January 11: On the day of the hearing, the female victim refused to identify any of the accused and said she does not want to pursue the case.

    She also told the court that she did not want to appear for subsequent hearings in the case. However, the judge told her that she would have to appear and adjourned the hearing for January 18.

  • Karachi Eat 2022 will be held this weekend despite 20 percent positivity rate in city

    Karachi Eat 2022 will be held this weekend despite 20 percent positivity rate in city

    The annual food festival, Karachi Eat 2022 will be held at the Beach View Park in Clifton from Friday till Sunday this month. The organisers are hopeful that the festival will be held according to schedule. They are not intending to cancel the event despite the covid positivity rate increasing to 20 percent in Karachi.

    East River, which is responsible for public relations and digital media of the festival, has taken strict precautionary measures to ensure SOPs compliance for the crowd. They have also uploaded the mandatory instructions on their official Instagram for people who want to attend the food festival.

    According to the Head of Special Projects Amna Saleem, people will receive booster shots of Pfizer at the festival in partnership with HANDS, a Non-Governmental organisation (NGO). It is also mandatory to wear masks and carry your vaccination certificate.

    The company has arranged an online ticketing system and partnered with TicketWala this time to avoid overcrowding at the ticket booth.

    Meanwhile, the Covid positivity rate has increased to 20 percent in Karachi which is an alarming situation. Until now, 1,223 cases of coronavirus of omicron variant are confirmed in the city.

    According to the Sindh health ministry, “The ratio of Omicron variant being reported in Karachi has reached 95 percent.”

  • ‘So hateful’: Ahmad Ali Butt, Anoushey Ashraf school Sakina Samo for remarks on Humayun Saeed

    ‘So hateful’: Ahmad Ali Butt, Anoushey Ashraf school Sakina Samo for remarks on Humayun Saeed

    Actor Humayun Saeed has been roped in to play Dr Hasnat Khan, Princess Diana’s love interest in Season five of the hit Netflix series The Crown.

    Journalist Hasan Zaidi confirmed the news last night after speculations had risen that actor Fawad Khan would be seen as Dr Khan in the Netflix drama.

    “Was holding back the information until Netflix officially came on the record but, since speculation was rife, it’s only a matter of time”, Zaidi tweeted.

    Senior actor and director Sakina Samo took to her twitter handle to condemn the choice of casting by the Netflix makers.

    She suggested the name of Humsafar star Fawad Khan in place of Humayun.

    On the contrary former host and actor Noor Bukhari disagreed with the Dobara diva. She stated that the Meray Paas Tum Ho star is the best choice for the film.

    Now actor Ahmad Ali Butt has shared his opinion on Sakina’s remarks.

    Host and actor Anoushey Ashraf also agreed to Ahmad’s point and cheered Humayun for bagging the part.

    Photos: Ahmad Ali Butt, Humayun Saeed, Anoushey Ashraf/Instagram
  • Cricketer Yasir Shah declared innocent in rape case

    Cricketer Yasir Shah declared innocent in rape case

    Pakistan Test Cricketer Yasir Shah has been declared innocent and cleared from the rape case of a 14-year-old girl registered at Islamabad’s Shalimar police station after the complainent admitted that the cricketer’s name was wrongly added in the First Information Report (FIR).

    As per details, the victim said Shah’s name was added to the FIR due to a misstatement.

    The SHO Shalimar police station said that the cricketer has nothing to do with the assault case.

    In December last year, the Islamabad police registered a case against Yasir for his alleged involvement in aiding the rape and harassment of a 14-year-old girl. The complainant alleged that Yasir’s friend, Farhanuddin, raped her at gunpoint and also filmed an obscene video of her.

    “The national cricketer and his friend also threatened her to share the video on social media,” the FIR said.

    She claimed that Yasir also warned her of embroiling her in a case if she approached the police. The FIR further stated that Yasir also used his influence to coerce the minor to marry his friend, Farhan.

    Earlier on Monday, Shah’s friend escaped from the Islamabad’s district and sessions court after his pre-arrest bail application was rejected in the sexual assault case.

    Later, the cricketer issued the statement on his social media saying: “The truth has been prevailed. Alhamdulillah! The harassnment case against me has been dismissed with the support and prayers of my fans. family and PCB”

    He also stated that he dealt the case through the courts of law to expose the truth.

  • ‘SaveMonal’ trends on Twitter after restaurant sealed by the court

    ‘SaveMonal’ trends on Twitter after restaurant sealed by the court

    Twitter has responded to the sealing of Monal restaurant in Islamabad with the trend #SaveMonal after the Islamabad High Court directed the police to seal the premises.

    Monal is an icon of Islamabad for tourists and the sight seeing. However, the court ruled that the restaurant was made on illegal land and needed to be sealed. The court also ordered capital authorities take control of the Margalla Greens Golf Club, which is also built on encroached land, declaring the military’s claim to 8,000 acres of Margalla Hills National Park to be illegal.

    While the authorities fulfilled the court orders, netizens flock to Twitter and #SaveMonal started trending on the same day.

    According to reports, the restaurant provides employment to 700 families. Fearing unemployment, the Monal staff started protesting on the streets.

    People on social media are expressing their sorrow over the news and many have started to reminisce their wonderful time spent at the location.  

    Others pointed out the economic downsides of sealing Monal restaurant.

  • What can the govt do, will have to go to IMF again if exports don’t increase, says PM Khan

    What can the govt do, will have to go to IMF again if exports don’t increase, says PM Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 14th International Chambers Summit 2022 organised by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that tax collection and exports are the main drivers of boosting the economy.

    Saying that Pakistan has an “improving economy”, PM Khan said that all economic indicators were showing upward trends despite inherited economic crunch and the impact of Covid-19.

    “Will have to go to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) again if we do not enhance our exports,” said PM Khan.

    “In the past, no attention was paid to these sectors of the economy which are vital for wealth creation. The exports sector was stagnant in the past, but the incumbent government is providing all facilitation to the exporters,” he said.

    “We realise that people are worried, there is imported inflation in our country, dollar rate has gone up due to smuggling of dollar to Afghanistan, still Pakistan is a cheap country, US President Joe Biden has also been criticised by Donald Trump on inflation in the country.”

    PM Khan said commodity prices have increased all over the world and Pakistan also imported inflation which hurt its people badly but asked what the government could do in the circumstances.

    Claiming that the steps taken by his government to combat coronavirus and keep businesses open were being followed by United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson. “We did not let people die due to Covid-19 and lockdowns,” he added.

    The prime minister said corruption would assume the role of cancer. “Corruption is a symptom of lack of rule of law in society. Our fight is for the rule of law in Pakistan. It is a difficult one because of different cartels and mafias which do not want the rule of law,” he said, terming it a jihad against the mafias to secure the future of the country.

    Contrary to the claims, Pakistan lost $250m worth of textile exports in December 2021 when the gas supply was suspended for 15 days in the Punjab textile sector. Executive Director of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), Shahid Sattar also confirmed the loss of millions of dollars by saying that it will “never be recovered.”

  • Ramiz Raja to propose ICC four nation T20I ‘super series’ including Pakistan, India

    Ramiz Raja to propose ICC four nation T20I ‘super series’ including Pakistan, India

    Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ramiz Raja has said that he will be proposing to Internation theal Cricket Council (ICC) a four nation T20 International series which will include Pakistan with the ‘Big Three’ of cricket — India, Australia and England.

    Taking to Twitter, Ramiz wrote: “Hello fans. Will propose to the ICC a Four Nations T20i Super Series involving Pak Ind Aus Eng to be played every year, to be hosted on rotation basis by these four.”

    Chairman PCB said that this series can be played on a rotational basis by these four nations and profits can be shared on percentage basis.

    He further wrote: “A separate revenue model with profits to be shared on percentage basis with all ICC members, think we have a winner.”

    Pakistan and India faced each other in the group stage of the T20 World Cup in UAE, where the Babar Azam-led emerged victorious by 10 wickets. It was Pakistan’s first win against India in the ICC World Cups.

    Pakistan dominated the group stage and reached the semi-final without any hassle. However, the national side lost to the eventual champions Australia in the semi-final.

  • ‘Dil jeet liya, biggest star’: Ushna Shah opens up on special travel experience with Shahid Afridi

    ‘Dil jeet liya, biggest star’: Ushna Shah opens up on special travel experience with Shahid Afridi

    Actor Ushna Shah met the star cricketer Shahid Afridi on a flight as she had been on her way to Lahore where she will take part in the shooting of her forthcoming film.

    The Parizaad diva further said she will play a leg-spinner in the upcoming movie.

    “On a flight with Shahid Afridi bhai. Hands down the biggest star in Pakistan yet so humble,” said the Balaa star in a tweet.

    “Blessed me with encouragement & duas & SO gracious & kind to everyone who would come up to him, especially children.”

    She concluded her tweet by saying, “Lala ney dil jeet liya.”

    Ushna recently filmed an advertisement with Bollywood director Anurag Kashyap and veteran actor Saba Faisal in Belarus.

    'Gangs of Wasseypur' fame Anurag Kashyap ropes in Ushna Shah, Saba Faisal in his next biggie

    ALSO READ: ‘Bunch of bullies, abuse’: Ushna Shah hits out at trolls for accent shaming

    ALSO READ: ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ fame Anurag Kashyap ropes in Ushna Shah, Saba Faisal in his next biggie

  • ‘The cars are mine too’: Parizaad fame 60 crore mansion’s real owner revealed, wants to sell

    ‘The cars are mine too’: Parizaad fame 60 crore mansion’s real owner revealed, wants to sell

    HUM TV’s hit serial Parizaad is garnering high television ratings and digital views, reasons being its large production, stellar star-cast, great storyline, and excellent performances.

    The house is owned by Usman Zafar Cheema and it is located in Gulberg Green, Islamabad. Regarding his house, Mr. Cheema revealed that he is selling it as he is moving to his new house. He also revealed the price, which is no doubt absolutely shocking for some people.

    Gulberg Green Islamabad is where the house is located, and it was built in 2018. The house is of 10 kanals. With a large footprint, it has 14 rooms. Most of the area is used for numerous sitting areas and corridors. After the show was aired, the owner claims that people now flock to his house to pay him a visit. He claimed that there is even a YouTube video with a map guide to his house.

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    The house is now on sale and is worth 60 Crores.

    TV Drama Review: Parizaad, A Commentary on Our Society's Obsession with Beauty - Youlin Magazine