Author: newsdesk

  • Alleged audio clip of Maryam Nawaz giving instructions to private news channels leaked

    Alleged audio clip of Maryam Nawaz giving instructions to private news channels leaked

    An alleged audio clip of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has been leaked on social media in which she can be heard talking to someone on phone. During the telephonic conversation the PML-N Vice President can be heard saying, “I talked to Mir Shakeel Sb [owner of Geo News] personally,I told him that are showing facts from both sides, instead you should tell people Imran Khan lied without any verification, and Imran Khan not only repeated this lie but also made ten other things.”

    She further said that she told Mir Shakeel that he has to do it [to push her narrative], and he [Mir Shakeel] did it.

    Maryam further said that she told Mian Amir Mahmood [Owner of Dunya News] the same, and he replied “Aap Dekhein me krta kia hun iske saath” [Now see what I do with him.]

    Earlier, another audio clip of Maryam went viral on social media in which Maryam Nawaz can be heard saying, “We have given many chances to Samaa News. The kind of news Samaa [airs] and the way its anchor Nadeem Malik is, we can no longer work with the channel. So we are not giving any ads to Samaa.” ”Samaa News, Channel 92, ARY News, and Channel 24 will not get any ads from us [PML-N],” said Maryam.

    Read more- Maryam Nawaz admits to blocking ads, media bodies urge govt to not use adverts to control editorial policy

    Maryam on November 25, confirmed the authenticity of her viral audio clip but the date of the clip is still not known, whether it was when PML-N was in government or opposition.

  • Those who chant ‘vote ko izzat do’ bought votes for Rs2,000: Fawad hits at PML-N over a leaked video

    Those who chant ‘vote ko izzat do’ bought votes for Rs2,000: Fawad hits at PML-N over a leaked video

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday said those who chant “vote ko izzat do” (give respect to vote) slogan bought votes for Rs2,000 for the upcoming by-election in Lahore.

    His comments come in relevance to the viral video in which workers of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) can be allegedly seen distributing cash among the voters of the Lahore constituency. The video surfaced days ahead of the by-election in Lahore’s NA-133 constituency scheduled for December 5.

    https://twitter.com/SHABAZGIL/status/1464717252846964739

    Addressing a public gathering Fawad said, “I hope that when the offices of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would open on Monday, they would take notice of the matter and would ask the PML-N how getting votes by distributing money was a service to democracy and giving respect to the ballot.”

    Taking a jibe at PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz, Fawad said that she and her husband Captain (retd) Mohammad Safdar should bid adieu to politics, further adding that whenever their case was about to be heard in courts, they leaked fake videos to pressure judges and state institutions.

    “Maryam Nawaz had said she did not own any property in London and even in Pakistan but after Panama Leaks, we came to know that she owned property worth billions not only in Pakistan but also abroad. We repeatedly ask them to show receipts, else there are only two options: to return the money or go to jail,” said Fawad.

    The video created an uproar in the political arena, as PML-N and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders accused each other of trying to buy votes in the constituency.

    Later on Sunday, Returning Officer (RO) Syed Basit Ali wrote separate letters to the Punjab Police chief, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Lahore deputy commissioner, and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), drawing attention and seeking more information about the persons seen in the video clips to take action against them.

    The lower house seat from Lahore fell vacant due to the death of PML-N MNA Pervaiz Malik, who died on October 11 due to heart-related complications.

  • Sajal Aly opens up on special moments with Sridevi and Janhvi, responds to Sonam

    Actor Sajal Aly is currently basking in the glory of her latest big-screen outing, Khel Khel Mein.

    The Yeh Dil Mera star opened up on working with Sridevi in her Bollywood debut Mom, and the bond that she shared with her family including actor Janhvi Kapoor.

    In an exclusive conversation with The Current, Sajal said that she is aware of her popularity in India and feels lucky when co-star Sridevi’s daughter Janhvi and Punjabi Indian actor Sonam Bajwa praise her work publicly.

    “I think I’m very lucky. When I did ‘Mom’ with Sridevi Ji in India, I had a chance to build a relationship with her family on a personal level. We did not have a professional dynamic with each other,” as there was a personal element in their equation.

    Speaking further about her connection with the Dhadak diva, she mentioned that the entire experience became more meaningful as her mother and the English Winglish star passed away one after the other after she wrapped the film.

    “Only a few days after my mom passed away, Sri ma’am also passed away. But I feel that her love and the memories will always remain with me,” concluded Sajal.

    The Aangan diva also got candid about her favourite film and television serial.

    READ MORE: Janhvi Kapoor, Sonam Bajwa awestruck by Sajal Aly’s look in Atif Aslam’s ‘Rafta Rafta’

  • ‘Pakistan or India?’: Sania Mirza finally puts the banter to rest by revealing who she supports

    Indian tennis player Sania Mirza and her cricketer husband Shoaib Malik were seen engaging in a cute banter over which side Mirza supports: India or Pakistan.

    During the recording of programme ‘Time Out with Ahsan Khan’, the host asked Mirza what is the worst question any journalist or any host has asked her.

    She replied, “One question that I am asked all the time, which is very bad and stale and I don’t want to be asked again is, “Who do I support when India is playing against Pakistan?”

    In a video, Malik can also be seen teasing his wife over this. He questioned Sania: “One second, this is not over yet. Who do you support when India and Pakistan play?”

    Sania in a witty reply questioned her husband back and asked him who he supports during India versus Pakistan tennis matches.

    Playing safe, the all-rounder said: “Of course I support my wife,” while adding that he loves his country.

    Mirza instantly said, “Same,” while requesting not to ask her this question again.

    The star tennis player is currently in Karachi.

  • ’Squid Game Smuggler’ sentenced to death in North Korea

    ’Squid Game Smuggler’ sentenced to death in North Korea

    North Korea announced a death sentence to a man who smuggled and sold copies of the popular South Korean Netflix web series, ‘Squid Game’ which is banned in North Korea.

    The authorities caught seven high school students watching the worldwide hit Korean show, reports the RFA.

    A copy of Squid Game was smuggled from China into North Korea and was sold through the USB flash drives containing the Korean show.

    One of the students who bought the banned show was sentenced to life imprisonment whereas other students, who watched the pirated show received five years of hard labour.

    In schools, administration including teachers were also fired and exiled to isolate parts of the country to work in mines.

    According to analysts, there is a hard censorship policy in North Korea under the Supreme Leader, Kim Jong Un to ‘prevent the influence of capitalist countries.’

    A new law which is officially named “Law on the Elimination of Reactionary Thought and Culture,” was passed in North Korea last year to curb the impact of the outer world. It carries a maximum penalty of death for viewing, possessing, or delivering ‘capitalist content’, especially from South Korea and the United States of America (USA).

  • Risk of New Variant Omicron, Pakistan imposes travel ban

    Risk of New Variant Omicron, Pakistan imposes travel ban

    The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) has imposed a complete travel ban from red zone African countries and Hong Kong on Saturday evening after the emergence of a new Covid variant, Omicron.

    NCOC tweeted the notification in which six South African countries and Hong Kong are included in category C due to Omicron.

    A complete ban has been imposed on every direct and indirect flight with immediate effect.

    Earlier, the United Kingdom (UK) already imposed the travel ban from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, and Eswatini unless travellers are the UK or Irish nationals.

    Head of NCOC, Asad Umar took to Twitter to urge the people of Pakistan how important it is to get vaccinated.

     

  • Deadly Omicron-new variant of Covid, raises alarm

    The new variant of the coronavirus was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) from South Africa on November 24. It was declared a new variant “of concern” and named it Omicron, reports the BBC.

    On Friday, this variant was identified as the B.1.1.529 infection which was collected from a specimen on November 9. The cases in the majority of the provinces of South Africa were found to be increasing drastically. Only 24 per cent of the population of South Africa received the vaccination. The situation in the southern Africa region is alarming as the new variant, Omicron also emerged in Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong, and Israel.
    “This variant has been detected at faster rates than previous surges in infection, suggesting that this variant may have a growth advantage,” the WHO said in a statement.

    Several countries banned or restricted travel to and from southern Africa including Australia, Japan, India, Iran, and Brazil. United Kingdom (UK) also restricted travelers from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, and Eswatini unless they are UK or Irish nationals.

    Experts also claimed that it is too early to confirm the impact of the variant on vaccinated people and the rate of transmission.

    United States of America (USA) Infectious Disease Chief Dr Anthony Fauci said, “Until it’s properly tested. We don’t know whether or not it evades the antibodies that protect you against the virus.”

  • ‘Negativity ka contract’: Usman Mukhtar blasts troll for inappropriate comment on wife Zunaira

    ‘Negativity ka contract’: Usman Mukhtar blasts troll for inappropriate comment on wife Zunaira

    Actor Usman Mukhtar is currently riding high on the success of Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay. The talented star responded to a netizen for a mean comment about his wife Zunaira Inam on his official Instagram handle.

    The social media user asked him if he will be working on any new project or his wife hasn’t green lit any venture for him as of yet, to which the Sabaat hero replied by asking her if she has signed a contract of spreading negativity.

    Zunaira and Usman got married in October 2021, with a series of events in Islamabad.

    He recently hosted Zunaira’s first birthday after marriage.

    Zunaira
  • Why ‘big names’ don’t play PSL, furious Ramiz asks management

    Why ‘big names’ don’t play PSL, furious Ramiz asks management

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja and the franchises’ owners had a heated argument during a meeting recently to discuss about the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) season seven, reported Samaa.

    Read More – Shahid Afridi reportedly to play for Quetta Gladiators in PSL 2022

    The seventh edition of the league is all set to begin in mid-January next year, with drafts of the league expected to take place in the second week of December.

    The chairman had a heated exchange with the franchises owners, where Raja called them ‘intruders’.

    “PSL is our home and you guys are intruders,” a source inside the board quoted the PCB chairman. “You have destroyed windows and doors of our house.”

    Quetta Gladiators owner Nadeem Omer replied that PSL is because of the franchises. “We are the investors of the league,” he said. “We have six successful seasons of the league and it is our home.”

    The PCB chairman asked players’ accusation and management committee member Imran Ahmed Khan that why renowned T20 cricketers like Australia’s Maxwell and other don’t play PSL.

    “We have invited them many times, but they refuse to play in Pakistan,” he replied.

    The board and the franchises owners disagreed over the salary cap set by the body for the upcoming edition of the league. Ramiz had asked the franchises to increase the salary cap to $1.2 million from $0.95 million.

    However, the franchises after a detailed argument with the PCB chief managed to keep the salary cap at $0.95 million for the PSL7.

  • Federal ministers hold Sindh responsible for food inflation

    Federal ministers hold Sindh responsible for food inflation

    The federal government on Friday criticised the Sindh government for ‘poor governance’ with ministers holding it responsible for food inflation in the country, reports Dawn.

    The criticism came from the government after Prime Minister Imran Khan had claimed the Centre would uplift 14 districts under the Rs444 billion Sindh Development Plan.

    Meanwhile, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry blamed the Sindh government for rising food inflation in the country, alleging that the “Sindh government has left the people of the province at the mercy of mafias”.

    He said when sugar price went up to Rs150 per kilo, the Sindh government stopped supplying sugar cane to mills and later blocked stocks of sugar from reaching the markets. He said prices of food and grocery items were still higher in Sindh as compared to other provinces.

    However, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), which rules Sindh, slammed the federal government for criticising the provincial government.

    PPP spokesman Faisal Karim Kundi asked: “Why does Imran Khan worry so much about Sindh?”

    He claimed that Sindh was the only province where free treatment was being given for cancer, heart ailments, liver and kidney ailments.

    “If nothing is being done in Sindh, then why do people from across the country travel to Sindh to avail free medical treatment,” he questioned.