Author: newsdesk

  • Dawn photographer beaten up by Rangers in Karachi

    Faysal Mujeeb, a photographer working for Dawn, was beaten up by Karachi Rangers for covering Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Yaum-i-Shuhada event.

    The event was held near ‘Nine Zero’, formerly the headquarters of the MQM led by its founder leader, Altaf Hussain.

    According to Mujeeb, he was covering the event. He recalled that the relatives of slain MQM activists had started arriving at the venue, ‘Yaadgar-i-Shuhada’ on Thursday morning and were laying rose petals on their graves, reports Dawn.

    He stated, “Some of the people present there started raising slogans in favour of Hussain, which prompted Rangers and they started detaining them. I and another media worker, Mehboob Ahmed Chishti, were also picked up.”

    Mujeeb said that he proved his identity as a press photographer and that he was on the duty assigned to him by Dawn. However, he said, the Rangers personnel did not listen to him and started beating him up and his camera and mobile phone also got smashed during the episode.

    “They kept me in detention for about an hour and subjected me to severe thrashing. I was set free only after a Rangers officer came and got my identity verified from his sources,” he revealed.

    Several organisations and journalists condemned the act.

  • 40 camels disqualified from beauty pageant for using botox

    A “beauty pageant” in Saudia Arabia has disqualified 40 camels from the contest after it emerged that their owners used botox and other cosmetic supplements to beautify the animals. The contest is a highlight of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, where $66m (£45m) in prize money is at stake.

    According to the report, camels are judged on the basis of physical attributes, including long droopy lips, a big nose and a nicely-shaped hump.

    Judges employed some advanced technology to figure out whether the animals are naturally beautiful or have their features been artificially enhanced, the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

    All the camels participating in the contest were first taken to a hall where professional experts inspected their external appearance and movements to check out if they were healthy.

    Later on, samples were taken from the animals for examination, while their torsos, necks, and heads were scanned with X-ray and 3D ultrasound machines.

    Twenty-seven contestants in the cup for Majaheim camels alone were unfit for having stretched body parts and 16 were put out for receiving injections, according to SPA. The owners of camels in Saudi Arabia have been caught enhancing their animals’ looks for a beauty contest.

    The organisers of the pageant, the Camel Club, mentioned that they were “keen to halt all acts of tampering and deception in the beautification of camels” and promising to “impose strict penalties on manipulators”.

    They described how Botox was injected into camels’ lips, noses, jaws and other parts of their heads to relax muscles; collagen fillers were used to make their lips and noses bigger; and hormones were given to boost muscle growth.

    Rubber bands were also used on animals to make body parts bigger than normal to stop the flow of blood, they said.

    Some 33,000 camel owners from as far away as the US, Russia and France are participating in the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, which is the largest in the world and lasts 40 days.

    As many as 100,000 tourists are also expected daily at the event.

  • Anushka Sharma has a message for her new neighbours Vic-Kat

    Anushka Sharma has a message for her new neighbours Vic-Kat

    Bollywood’s newly wedded couple Katrina kaif and Vicky Kaushal are the talk of B-Town. Many celebrities and people from the entertainment industry are sending love to the couple. Actor Anushka Sharma also has a message for Vic-Kat.

    Taking to Instagram stories, the PK star congratulated the couple, saying: “Congratulations to both you beautiful people! Wishing you guys a lifetime of togetherness, love and understanding.”

    The actor further said that she is glad that they are finally married. “Also glad that you are finally married so that now you can move into your house soon and we can stop hearing construction sounds.”

    As per the Indian media, Katrina and Vicky will move into a sea-facing apartment in Mumbai’s Juhu, and the newlyweds will have another celebrity couple Anushka and Virat Kohli as their neighbours.

    The couple tied the knot in a traditional Indian wedding ceremony and took their seven pheras on Thursday afternoon.

  • Zardari case records went missing seven years ago during transportation

    Zardari case records went missing seven years ago during transportation

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday noticed that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has challenged the acquittal of former President Asif Ali Zardari without obtaining the original record of the case, reports Dawn.

    A two-member bench comprising of Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah and Justice Aamer Farooq was hearing NAB’s appeal against the acquittal of Zardari in a case.

    NAB Additional Prosecutor General Jahanzaib Khan Bharwana informed the bench that the original record of the reference had gone missing.

    The court noted that it took NAB seven years to realise that the appeals were filed without possessing the original record.

    Bharwana told the court the record had gone missing while it was being transported from the Lahore High Court to the Supreme Court.

    Justice Aamer Farooq questioned, “Please, tell us whether the anti-corruption watchdog is interested in pursuing its appeal or not?” reports The News.

    Farooq said that NAB’s cases do not have any substance, adding, “NAB’s job is to hold corrupt people accountable. Now it is time to hold it accountable.”

    CJ Minallah said NAB should now admit it had made a mistake by filing these references since it did not have proof against the former president.

    “And if indeed, there were no proofs, then the court will also take action against the former bureau chairman in whose tenure these cases had been filed,” said IHC CJ.

    Justice Minallah asked whether the NAB officials had any idea what cost the country’s economy had to pay for their rash steps. “Truth of the matter is that the bureau had failed to satisfy the accountability court with respect to allegations against Zardari,” he added.

  • Malala Yousafzai sends love to Katrina, Vicky on their wedding

    Malala Yousafzai sends love to Katrina, Vicky on their wedding

    Nobel laureate and women’s education rights activist Malala Yousafzai has congratulated Bollywood celebrity couple Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal on their wedding.

    Katrina and Vicky tied the knot at the Six Senses Fort Barwara in Rajasthan on Thursday. The couple shared stunning pictures from the wedding event with a heartfelt caption.

    Malala wished the couple by commenting under the Dhoom 3 star’s post followed by heart emojis.

    India media has reported that the wedding was attended by 120 guests including, Neha Dhupia, Kabir Khan, Gurdas Mann and others.

  • US embassy nominates ASP Amna Baig for prestigious award

    US embassy nominates ASP Amna Baig for prestigious award

    United States embassy has nominated Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Amna Baig for International Women of Courage award. She was nominated during an event held to mark the 30th anniversary of the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign, hosted by US Embassy Charge d’affaires Angela P Aggeler.

    Amna Baig is in charge of the law enforcement’s Gender Protection Unit – a government initiative to facilitate women and transgender individuals in their fight against discrimination and injustice. 

    The award recognises women from around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality, and women’s empowerment.

    “Even though gender-based violence is pervasive, it is not inevitable,” Charge d’affaires Aggeler said at the event. She also added that it was in this spirit that the embassy nominated ASP Baig for the award.

    “It can and must be prevented. This is why we take this time each year to reinvigorate our efforts against gender-based violence and to call for greater collective and individual action to prevent and respond to all forms of violence against women.”

  • Railway uses 53 acres land to illegally build housing society

    Pakistan Railways used its land of 53 acres to construct the housing society for its employees which was allocated for railway purposes only, reports The Express Tribune.

    On Monday, it was revealed during the hearing of Sindh High Court that the land was primarily given for railways purposes but it turned to real estate against all regulations to provide accommodation to their employees.

    The petition was heard by a two-judge bench headed by Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput. Sindh Additional Advocate General Barrister Sheharyar Mehar informed about the government’s decision to the court.

    Shehryar Mehar said that the land consisting of 53 acres was given to the Railways for railway purposes but they did not use the land for the given purpose.

    Mehar added, “The Supreme Court has declared that railway land can only be used for the railway system.”

    He added, “We are taking back the land in the light of the decision of the Supreme Court.”

    Sindh High Court has ordered a reply from Pakistan Railways Corporation Housing Society and others on the response from the Sindh Government regarding usage of land which is adjacent to Safari Park in Gulistan-e-Jauhar.

    The next hearing will be held on December 21.

  • Afridi, Vince move to Quetta, Azam Khan moves to Islamabad

    Afridi, Vince move to Quetta, Azam Khan moves to Islamabad

    The reports of former captain Pakistan cricket team Shahid Afridi being moved to Quetta Gladiators were circulating on social media and now the news has been confirmed by the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) page and franchise Quetta Gladiators. It’s going to be the fourth PSL team for the 41-year-old after he last played for the Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans and the Peshawar Zalmi. In the previous edition, he was a part of the Sultans, who won their maiden PSL title under the leadership of Mohammad Rizwan.

    For the Gladiators, Afridi is most likely to play under Sarfaraz Ahmed’s captaincy. The upcoming edition may well be his last season in the T20 championship. The former Pakistan all-rounder wished to sign off from the PSL after guiding the Gladiators through to title glory.

    “I am excited to join Quetta Gladiators, a side that has had a roller-coaster ride in the past few events despite winning the title in 2019. In my final HBL PSL event, it will my dream and wish to sign off with another HBL PSL trophy after tasting success with Peshawar Zalmi in 2017.

    “HBL PSL is an event that encourages and inspires a player to give his very best. I will use the same motivation to help my team and put in performances that can help us achieve our event objectives,” Afridi said on PSL’s official website.

    Along with Afridi, England’s James Vince has also been traded from the Sultans to the Gladiators. Iftikhar Ahmed, who played for Islamabad United in last edition, will play alongside newly traded Vince and Afridi in the Gladiators.

    Young wicket keeper-batter Azam Khan, who represented the Gladiators last season, will play for United in the upcoming season. The PSL draft is scheduled to take place at the High Performance Centre in Lahore on Sunday, December 12.

  • Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ends ceasefire with Pakistan

    Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ends ceasefire with Pakistan

    Taliban militants in Pakistan declared an end to a month-long ceasefire. Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) accused the government of breaching terms, including a prisoner release agreement and the formation of negotiating committees.

    A statement issued by the TTP gave out details of the six-point agreement that it said it had reached with the government under the protection of the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” (IEA) on October 25, 2021.

    According to the statement, the government not only failed to implement the decisions reached between the two sides but the security forces conducted raids in Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, Swat, Bajaur, Swabi, and North Waziristan and killed and detained militants.

    “Under these circumstances, it is not possible to extend the ceasefire,” the TTP said.

    Official sources had earlier said that both sides had agreed to initiate “formal talks” and had finalised five names of negotiators each. The government’s negotiating team included two senior civil officers with good experience of having served in conflict zones. While the TTP said it had formed a five-member committee for negotiations, the government, it appears, took time to notify the committee.

  • ‘Har waqt tension’: When Shaista Lodhi and Sunita Marshal gave tough time to Faysal Qureshi on sets

    ‘Har waqt tension’: When Shaista Lodhi and Sunita Marshal gave tough time to Faysal Qureshi on sets

    Actor Faisal Quraishi is currently promoting is latest drama serial, Dil-e-Momin costarring Madiha Imam and Momal Sheikh. The Qaid-e-Tanhai star stated recently that working with married actresses who have children can at times become a challenge.

    “Most actresses get married and are investing time in bringing up their children and some actresses working on sets are keeping a check on their kids. It is always difficult for girls because they have other responsibilities.” said Faysal.

    The Fitoor star added that Iqra Aziz is very talented but after the birth of their child Kabir, she has stopped working however Yasir is constantly working even after they have welcomed a child. “Until actresses aren’t married, they are normal.

    “I was recently working with Sunita Marshall and I always found her worried about her kids on the set. When I was working with Shaista, she also shared that she had a hard time focusing on her job since her kids were always on her mind, ” added the Bashar-e-Momin hero.

    Waada (2016)

    Hence he prefers working with single actresses.

    He also cited Sunita Marshal’s example that while shooting, she was mentally occupied with her children’s activities.

    Faisal qureshi & sunita marshal | Pakistan fashion week, Bridal couture week, Asian bridal wear

    He also mentioned that his Baba Jani costar Savera Nadeem was also always focusing on her phone to take children’s updates.

    Mera Yaqeen: A massive letdown by Sarmad Khoosat

    In the interview, Faysal also lashed out at actresses for uploading chunks of the dramas on social media platforms, he said that some people are very obsessed with social media. “Some actresses upload almost half the drama on Snapchat”.

    He concluded by saying that he can bet that Madiha Imam will also stop working after a child.

    Read More: ‘Iqra stopped working after marriage, Yasir didn’t’: Faysal Qureshi makes striking revelations