Author: newsdesk

  • Pakistan declines United States invitation to Democracy Summit

    Pakistan has turned down an invitation by the United States (US) to the summit for democracy which was going to be held virtually from December 9-December 10.

    The Pakistan Foreign Office thanked the United States for the invitation to participate in the Democracy Summit. According to the statement issued by the Spokesperson. Pakistan said that they would engage with the country on a wide range of issues “at an opportune time in the future.”

    The statement further added that Pakistan is committed to promoting democracy, eradicating corruption, and safeguarding the human rights of all our citizens.

    “We value our partnership with the U.S. which we wish to expand both bilaterally as well as in terms of regional and international cooperation. We remain in contact with the U.S. on a range of issues and believe that we can engage on this subject at an opportune time in the future,” he added.

    The statement concluded, “Pakistan will, meanwhile, continue to support all efforts aimed towards strengthening dialogue, constructive engagement, and international cooperation for the advancement of our shared goals.”

    According to the official website of the State Department, President Biden will be hosting the virtual meetings on December 9-December 10. He will discuss issues regarding democracy with leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector.

    The statement stated, “The summit will focus on challenges and opportunities facing democracies and will provide a platform for leaders to announce both individual and collective commitments, reforms, and initiatives to defend democracy, and human rights at home and abroad.”

    The summit will be based on key important points which include defending against authoritarianism, addressing and fighting corruption, and promoting respect for human rights.

    In this summit, leaders will be persuaded to share their policies and plan of action for reforms and initiatives to curb the issues that meet the goals of the summit.

    Pakistan is being criticised by some for not attending the summit, with people saying that Pakistan has refused to attend because President Biden has not called PM Khan since he came to power.

    Afghanistan has not been invited to the summit and India’s PM Modi will be attending and speaking about commitment to democracy

  • Shadab Khan reveals his wedding date, Babar Azam’s number in a tell-all Q&A

    Shadab Khan reveals his wedding date, Babar Azam’s number in a tell-all Q&A

    Pakistan’s right-arm spinner Shadab Khan recently hosted a question and answer (Q&A) session on his Instagram. The prodigious turner of the ball answered to some interesting questions. From his wedding date to Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam’s phone number, Shadab had hilarious responses to the questions.

    A fan asked the young cricketer that when is he getting married? Answering to the question, he said: “The question is good but I don’t have the answer.”

    One of the netizens asked Shadab to share his number. Not only his but the fan also asked for Babar Azam’s number as well.

    Replying to the fan, he said: “Bhai q nahe abhi bhajta houn. (Why not brother. Sending in a while.)”

    Another fan said: “Where does Babar Azam live?” He jokingly replied: “I am not completely sure about it but I think he lives in his home.”

    One of the fans asked that where does the 23-year-old cricketer live? He said that he lives in Rawalpindi. While another one asked for the exact location, Shadab sarcastically said: “Will be sending you the full address, it shall be easy for you.”

    One of the question was hilarious as it read: “Plz marry me bhai.” Shadab laughed at it and replying, he said: “Brothers and sisters can’t marry each other.”

    Another fan said: “Rishta dhoondein aap k liye. (Should we find a ‘rishta’ for you?).”

    While thanking his fans for the concern of his marriage, Shadab said: “I have realised that all of you are so much concerned about my marriage. Thank you for your interest.”

    One of the fans asked about his thoughts on Babar Azam’s maiden Test wicket and his bowling. He said that “Babar is trying to take our place (in the team) but he did really well.”

    Babar Azam took his maiden Test wicket on Wednesday as Pakistan clinched the two-match Test series against Bangladesh in Dhaka on the same day. Pakistan white-washed the hosts with an exquisite victory of 2-0.

    The Test team has flown back home and are set to play against West Indies in Karachi, starting from December 13.

  • Nawaz is against Pakistan says Zardari, Shehbaz lashes back

    Nawaz is against Pakistan says Zardari, Shehbaz lashes back

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shehbaz Sharif has criticised Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari for his remarks against Mian Nawaz Sharif.

    “Zardari Sahib’s statement about Mian Nawaz Sharif is unfortunate. Mian Sahib’s unwavering commitment to Pakistan has always been unquestionable. Zardari sb. knows the conditions in which MNS had to go abroad. We should refrain from such remarks & work for [the] greater good of [the] country,” tweeted Shehbaz.

    Without taking Nawaz Sharif’s name, Asif Zardari had accused PML-N chief of being against Pakistan. “They are against my homeland. Those who don’t wish to die in my homeland, what can they do?”

    Zardari said, “We belong to this land and we will die here.” The former president was addressing a media talk on Monday in Lahore.

    On Sunday (December 5), PML-N’s Shaista Pervaiz Malik defeated PPP candidate Aslam Gill in Lahore’s NA-133 by-polls. Shaista Malik secured 46,811 votes while Gill’s votes were 32,313.

  • CM Buzdar ‘imitates’ Shehbaz Sharif, pays surprise visit to own office

    CM Buzdar ‘imitates’ Shehbaz Sharif, pays surprise visit to own office

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar paid a surprise visit to his own office, where he inspected the attendance, pace of file work, and disposal of summaries. He directed the staff to observe office timings and official discipline, reports Mansoor Malik for Dawn.

    Buzdar paid a “surprise visit” to the tourism office and transferred the additional secretary “for being absent from duty” while not being aware that the officer held the additional charge of the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) Managing Director (MD).

    Tourism Department additional secretary Kalsoom Saqib was meeting an official delegation of civil officers, undergoing training at NIPA for their promotion from BS-18 to BS-19, at her MD TDCP office, when the chief minister “raided” the tourism department.

    The chief minister conducted a “surprise visit” to the head office of the tourism department on Tuesday morning and made administrative secretary retired Capt Mushtaq Ahmad and additional secretary Kalsoom Saqib Officer on Special Duty (OSD).

    The report published in Dawn suggests that some officials say Buzdar has tried to imitate former CM Shehbaz Sharif by making “surprise raids” on government offices and suspending senior officers but has so far failed to set an example.

    Soon after her transfer, Kalsoom took to her Facebook and posted her transfer order alongside a group photo with the trainee officers outside her MD TDCP office. She wrote in her post: “What a day when you are made OSD for being on duty. These are strange times but got absolutely bizarre today.” She also thanked her team at the tourism department, stating: “Nonetheless it was a great opportunity to do my bit for putting Tourism on the map. Great team, whom I will always adore.”

    A senior officer in the CM office, maintaining anonymity, told Dawn that either the CM office was unaware or the information of Kalsoom holding an additional charge was “deliberately kept secret to embarrass the chief minister”.

  • Sialkot Bar refuses legal representation to mob lynching suspects

    Sialkot Bar refuses legal representation to mob lynching suspects

    The Sialkot District Bar Association has refused to take up the case of suspects in Sri Lankan national Priyantha Kumara’s lynching case, reports Dawn. The decision was made in the meeting held by the association on Wednesday. The association also expressed its grief over the sad incident.

    The eight suspects in the case were brought before a Gujranwala anti-terrorism court yesterday. The court remanded them in police custody for 13 days. As per court’s order, the suspects will have to appear in court again on December 21. The suspects were arrested with the help of CCTV footage. So far, 345 Rajco Industries’ employees have been detained and taken to an undisclosed location for questioning.

    The last remains of Priyantha Kumara, were transferred to Sri Lanka on December 6.

    Read more- Sri Lankan manager Priyantha Kumara’s remains transferred from Lahore to Colombo

    Priyantha Kumara was tortured to death on December 3 by a mob after being accused of blasphemy. Prime Minister Imran Khan has condemned the incident and has said that justice will be served.

    Read more- ‘He was a really innocent man’: Wife of Sri Lankan manager asks Pakistan for justice

  • VIDEO: Babar Azam’s maiden Test wicket, celebration

    VIDEO: Babar Azam’s maiden Test wicket, celebration

    Pakistan cricket team clinched the two-match Test series against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Wednesday despite the fact that two days were washed out due to rain. Sajid Khan’s outstanding 12 wicket-haul was the highlight of the match but Pakistan skipper Babar Azam’s maiden Test wicket was the cherry on the top.

    Azam in the second innings bowled two overs, took a wicket, and only conceded a run with an economy of 0.50.

    The captain picked up the wicket of Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who scored 14 off 70 balls.

    Miraz tried to sweep Babar’s delivery and missed the ball, which touched his pad as a result. Pakistani fielders appealed for LBW, but the on-field umpire declared it not out.

    However, Babar straight away went up for the review, which clearly showed the impact was in line, and the ball clearly hitting between the leg and middle stump, which forced the umpire to reverse his decision to out as the entire Pakistani team became ecstatic.

    The Pakistan team was all excited to see their skipper pick up his wicket, while Babar himself was all smiles.

    The wicket was an important one as well for Pakistan as Shakib al Hasan and Mehidy continued to defy Pakistan’s bowling and were looking in a position to deny the visitors a win.

    Pakistan whitewashed Bangladesh 2-0 in the Test series, breathing life into a rain-hit Test match that was otherwise headed for a certain draw.

    Pakistan team is headed home and all set to play the next series against West Indies on the home grounds.

  • Pakistan detects first suspected case of Omicron variant

    Pakistan detects first suspected case of Omicron variant

    The first suspected case of Omicron variant has been detected in Pakistan. The case was detected on December 8 in a 57-year-old female patient, who is unvaccinated.

    Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho said a genomic study is being conducted, which will confirm the exact variant but she added that for now, getting both doses of the vaccine is the best precaution. The minister also said that the patient had no travel history.

    Dr Pechuho also said it would take between one to two weeks for the genome study to take place.

    As per the World Health Organization, the new variant has so far been found in 57 countries.

  • Islamabad Chief Justice says no need to investigate audio recordings if evidence is not brought to court

    Islamabad Chief Justice says no need to investigate audio recordings if evidence is not brought to court

     The Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court (IHC), Athar Minallah on Wednesday remarked that why the court should investigate a case when the concerned appellants didn’t bring any audio before the bench, reports The News.

    The court was hearing the inquiry commission to probe into the alleged video of former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar.

    The Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Javed said the petition has been filed under Article 199-C of the Constitution.

    “Why are people choosing only one prime minister and coming to court as their proxy? Thousands of people were sacked. No video in their respect came. It is a proxy war. Today everyone is saying he has two videos and he has four videos. This is the season of harassing and pressurising judges,” said AGP.

    “Sometimes an audio, sometimes some concocted affidavit is released,” the attorney general said, referring to an affidavit by former Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Judge Rana Shamim in which he accused ex-CJP Nisar of colluding to deny bails to Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz before general elections 2018.

    “If a facility is given to one PM, then why was it not given to Bhutto,” asked the AGP.

    Salahud Din Ahmed, president SHCBA, said the AGP was holding bar associations responsible for every case. “See the statements given by Prime Minister Imran Khan against the judiciary and judges. It is now being said to either do accountability of the last 70 years or not at all to divert attention.”

    The petitioner argued that the judiciary was being made controversial through different tactics and the court could stop this practice by probing the allegations against judges. At this, the attorney general responded that all matters of the past could be sent to parliament. “One appeal against conviction in the Avenfield Reference is being heard in this court. That one appeal has perplexed the entire judiciary,” Khalid Javed added.

    While acknowledging that those whose cases would be affected by the alleged audiotape had not approached the court, Ahmed said his stance was that courts were being made controversial. The judiciary could stop that from happening by ordering an inquiry, he added.

    The IHC chief justice observed that any audio or video could be constructed in today’s age of advanced technology. “Anybody can make audio and ask for an investigation. The court remarked if we declare the petition seeking an investigation into audio maintainable, then what will be the impact on the pending appeals?”

    Justice Minallah noted, however, that the matter of the affidavit was different because the person concerned — Rana Shamim — had himself approached the court. “You’re unsure yourself about the [authenticity of] the audiotape you’re mentioning. A commission can be formed when there are grounds. The people who have cases [which could be affected by it] have not brought the audiotape to the court. Why should we [take action]? Is there anyone to take ownership of the audiotape?” he questioned.

  • Filmmaker Samar Minallah Khan wins Best Short Film for documentary

    Filmmaker Samar Minallah Khan wins Best Short Film for documentary

    Pakistani Filmmaker, Samar Minallah Khan won a top award, the Best Short Film for her Out Swing documentary, at the 7th Sport Film Festival Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

    The announcement of the winner was announced on the official Twitter of the film festival where she was lauded for her amazing work.

    https://twitter.com/SFFRotterdam/status/1468321290058674176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1468321290058674176%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1188968

    Filmmaker, Minallah also took to Twitter to share her accomplishment with her friends as well.

    The documentary, Out Swing tells a story about a committed coach who gives training to young girls who show interest and strength in learning the sport. The girls belong to traditional families where the youngest girl, who is a nine-year-old, wants to overcome her anxiety through school and cricket.

    Out Swings means something that moves away from the lines of bowling in cricket terminology. This technique comes often with a risk of wide throws but sometimes it gives wonderful results of being a game-changer.

    The documentary is filmed in the outskirts of Islamabad which shows the daily life of those school girls who want to do what they like for their comfort.

    Samar is also known for raising her voice against female violence. Another documentary, Swara –A Bridge over Troubled Waters, was based on a forced marriage that gained international recognition.

  • ‘Yeh hai tabdeeli?’: Yasir Hussain calls out PM Imran Khan for public stripping and attack on four women

    ‘Yeh hai tabdeeli?’: Yasir Hussain calls out PM Imran Khan for public stripping and attack on four women

    Four women in Faisalabad were stripped naked and were beaten by locals on the accusation of theft on Monday, in Bawa Chak Market where dozens of people locked the women inside an electric shop. The women allegedly came there to drink water.

     A first information report (FIR) was registered and the suspects have been charged under sections 354-A (assault or use of criminal force against a woman and stripping her), 509 (insulting modesty or causing sexual harassment), 147 (punishment for rioting) and 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of an offence committed in prosecution of common object) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

     “They continued to beat us for around an hour and made our videos in naked condition,” the complainant said in FIR, as reported by Dawn.

    “The suspects committed gross injustice by stripping us, dragging us through the market and torturing us and strict action should be taken against them,” the complaint’s statement read in the FIR.

    As per reports, no one stopped people from beating the women and many were making videos from their phones. After the video went viral, the police took action against the accused people and arrested five people.

    Actor and writer Yasir Hussain took notice of the incident and shared his take on Instagram stories.

    The Jhooti actor also questioned PM Imran Khan that is this the change that he promised to the citizens?

    Earlier the Bulbulay diva Ayesha Omar has responded to the incident on her social media handle.

    On the work front, Yasir is set to release his directorial debut Koel starring Mansha Pasha and Fahad Sheikh.

    Aaj Entertainment to air new drama serial 'Koel' soon - Life & Style - Aaj.tv

    Read More: ‘Sick mentality, no country for women, must introspect’: Adnan Siddiqui strongly reacts to Faisalabad incident

    Read More: Ayesha Omar reacts to public stripping and violent attack on four women in Pakistan