Author: newsdesk

  • PTI’s Aleem Khan resigns as minister to maintain neutrality of his ‘news channel’

    PTI’s Aleem Khan resigns as minister to maintain neutrality of his ‘news channel’

    Punjab Minister of Food Abdul Aleem Khan has resigned from the provincial cabinet headed by Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab, Usman Buzdar.

    Aleem took to Twitter to announce his resignation and tweeted, “I am grateful to them [government] for accepting my request. I am sending my resignation to CM Buzdar.”

    He revealed that he has met with Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and persuaded him that it is important for him [Aleem] to resign.

    “In today’s meeting with the PM, I have persuaded him that in order to maintain neutrality with regard to my news channel Samaa News, it is necessary for me not to hold any government post. Therefore, accept my resignation as Punjab Minister of Food,” tweeted Aleem.

    After the alleged audiotape of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, Samaa News, a private news channel ran a news story, claiming that CJP Nasir’s clip appeared to be “pieced together” from two of his own speeches.

    In September, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) leader Aleem Khan officially became the owner of Samaa News.

  • National Geographic’s green-eyed ‘Afghan Girl’ evacuated to Italy

    National Geographic magazine’s famed green-eyed girl, Sharbat Gula, has been evacuated to Italy, the country’s Prime Minister (PM) Mario Draghi’s office announced on Tuesday, reports Reuters.

    The office said it had responded to pleas from non-profit organisations working in the war-torn country to help her leave and “travel to Italy as part of the wider evacuation programme in place for Afghan citizens and the government’s plan for their reception and integration”.

    Gula’s famous picture was taken by a United States (US) photographer Steve McCurry in a Pakistan camp in 1984, which was the front cover of the National Geographic magazine. She said she first arrived in Pakistan as an orphan, some four or five years after the Soviet invasion in 1979.

    Pakistan arrested Gula for forging a national identity card and she was deported back to Afghanistan in 2016. At that time, former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani welcomed her.

    In September, Rome said it had evacuated almost 5,000 Afghans after the Taliban seized power in August.

  • Islamabad Court Chief Justice says remarks about retired judges, ex-CJP not contempt of court

    Islamabad Court Chief Justice says remarks about retired judges, ex-CJP not contempt of court

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah observed on Friday, that remarks about retired officials did not warrant contempt of court charges, even if they were made against a former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP).

    Justice Minallah made the observation during a hearing to decide the maintainability of a petition, filed by Advocate Kulsoom Khaliq, seeking contempt proceedings against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Maryam Nawaz and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for trying to scandalise the judiciary through their statements against the former CJP Saqib Nisar.

    On November 15, Abbasi demanded that a suo motu notice be taken against Nisar after the former chief judge of Gilgit-Baltistan Rana Shamim accused Nisar of being involved in denying bail to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Maryam ahead of the 2018 general elections.

    Abbasi, questioning the lawmakers, said, “If Mian Nawaz Sharif can go to jail, why can’t Mian Saqib Nisar?”

    IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah said in his written order that a judge who ceases to hold a judicial office “attains the status of a private citizen”.

    “Such a person is no more a member of the ‘Court’ in the context of Article 204 of the Constitution nor under the Ordinance of 2003,” Justice Minallah wrote.

    “It remains open to a retired judicial officer to seek remedies available in a court of law. However, the offence of contempt is not attracted in the case of a retired judge because after retirement the latter attains the status of a private citizen,” wrote Justice Minallah.

    He insisted that judges were open-minded about criticism, saying, “Judges hold a very high position and they should welcome criticism.”

  • Misbah speaks out against haters saying team doing better without him

    Misbah speaks out against haters saying team doing better without him

    Former Pakistan Captain and Coach Misbah-ul-Haq has blasted haters for saying that the Pakistan cricket team is performing better after he resigned as the head coach just before the T20 World Cup.

    Read More – Pakistan wins T20 series in Bangladesh

    Misbah, while talking to the media on Muslim Gymkhana’s annual match occasion said: “Well done to those who think that the team has started to perform better after my departure. I am also happy to see the Pakistan team winning.”

    “We all want Pakistan to perform better,” he added.

    About Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez’s future, he said: “The cricketers themselves can make a better decision regarding their future. They know better how long they can play for the national team and play their part in victories.”

    As Pakistan started their two-match test series against Bangladesh today, Misbah stated that Pakistan’s Test side is strong and can beat the Tigers at their home.

    “The team is performing well under Babar Azam’s captaincy, the credit goes to him. While Saqlain Mushtaq is managing the players really well,” Misbah added.

    To replace Misbah and bowling coach Waqar Younis, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appointed Saqlain Mushtaq as interim head coach and Matthew Hayden and Vernon Philander as consultant coaches for the mega event.

  • PTI’s Ali Zaidi criticises Sindh govt, offers to take over Karachi Zoo

    PTI’s Ali Zaidi criticises Sindh govt, offers to take over Karachi Zoo

    Minister for Maritime Affairs, Ali Haider Zaidi, took to Twitter to express his frustration with the Sindh government over the tragic death of a rare white lion at the Karachi Zoo.

    Karachi Zoo is pathetic. Sindh government has destroyed it as their whole system is marred by corruption,” tweeted Zaidi.

    He further expressed that if the local government is incompetent to administrate the zoo, then the Maritime Affairs Ministry can take over it under one of its port foundations and turn it into top habitat for wildlife.

    Earlier the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) dismissed Khalid Hashmi, the senior director of the Karachi Zoological Garden, from his position. He was replaced by Mansoor Qazi on Thursday, reports Samaa News.

    The proclamation was issued by the Metropolitan Commissioner, Afzal Zaidi. It is reported that Qazi holds the position for the second time.

  • TV channel production operator commits suicide after being fired

    TV channel production operator commits suicide after being fired

    Muhammad Faheem, a former employee of a private media news organisation, has committed suicide after being fired from his job. Muhammad Faheem was a “production operator,” according to his press card circulating on social media. As per journalist Waqar Satti, Muhammad Faheem after being fired from his job, started working as an auto rickshaw driver. Later, he committed suicide due to continuing financial problems

    As per a news report, he had earlier also attempted to commit suicide three times. Faheem was found hanging from a fan. The deceased had six children and was the only breadwinner in the family.

    As per a video posted by friends of the deceased, Faheem, in a Facebook status a month earlier, wrote, “I’m Faheem and I need a job.” He also mentioned his contact details in the status.

    The reporter, who made the video, showed the place where the suicide happened, talked to one of Faheem’s daughters, who told him that they would go a week without having food. Faheem was in 70 thousand rupees debt.

    Pakistan ranks 145 out of 180 countries, according to an annual press freedom index report issued in 2020 by Reporters Without Borders. The South Asian nation was listed 142 in the 2019 ranking.

  • Zartaj Gul fights with PTI’s Amin Aslam, leaves UN Glasgow conference

    Zartaj Gul fights with PTI’s Amin Aslam, leaves UN Glasgow conference

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (PM) on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam and Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul Wazir allegedly got into an argument during the United Nations (UB) Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, revealed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Member National Assembly (MNA) Riaz Fatyana.

    During a session of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Fatyana alleged that the argument between Zartaj and Aslam made the former leave the conference and return to Pakistan.

    He also alleged that the 18-member delegation of the Ministry of Climate Change sat idle at the conference, undertook no activity, and “wasted money”.

    Malik Amin Aslam rubbished Fatyana’s allegations, saying that Zartaj Gul had left the conference midway to head for the joint session of the parliament.

    “Riaz Fatyana has lied before the Public Accounts Committee,” he said. “Not even a single rupee of the government was spent at the conference. It was organised completely by foreign donors,” he added.

    “PTI lawmaker had arrived at the conference via an NGO’s sponsorship and had demanded official protocol,” said Aslam.

    “The party should investigate Fatyana,” he added.

  • Gautam Gambhir claims death threats from Pakistani student, ISIS

    Gautam Gambhir claims death threats from Pakistani student, ISIS

    Former Indian cricketer and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Gautam Gambhir has allegedly claimed that he has been receiving death threats via email. Security has been tightened outside the parliamentarian’s house after he filed a complaint. Gambhir alleged that he and his family had received threats from ISIS Kashmir.

    Read More – Twitter user who sent rape threat to Kohli’s daughter is Indian, not Pakistani

    As per an Indian media outlet News 18, Delhi police said that the emails were generated in Karachi, Pakistan. They were created by a young man named Shaheed Hamid, about 20-25 years of age. He is a student at Sindh University in Karachi.

    A second mail included an attachment of a video shot outside Gambhir’s family home. “We intended to kill you, but you survived yesterday. If you love the life of your family, stay away from politics and the Kashmir issue,” it said.

    Police sources said they haven’t found any major motive behind the threats.

    The video sent was from YouTube, possibly uploaded by a Gambhir supporter in November 2020, they revealed.

    Read More – Gautam Gambhir avoids Delhi sun, ‘uses look-alike to campaign for polls’

    The investigation into the matter is ongoing and the findings will be shared with central intelligence teams for further follow-up.

    Gambhir had also approached the Delhi police two years ago, alleging death threats to him and his family from an international phone number.

  • ‘Roads should be made like Katrina Kaif’s cheeks, Hema Malini old’: Rajasthani Minister under fire

    ‘Roads should be made like Katrina Kaif’s cheeks, Hema Malini old’: Rajasthani Minister under fire

    Newly appointed Rajasthan’s Minister Rajendra Singh Gudha has courted controversy after saying that roads in his constituency should be made like “Katrina Kaif’s cheeks”.

    Attacking the minister over his bizarre comments, BJP spokesperson Ram Lal Sharma said, “Giving such a statement about women is indecent. The Chief Minister should take strict action. Culture and tradition of Rajasthan have not been such that a person sitting on a constitutional post gives such a statement.”

    Ahem! Katrina Kaif just revealed what's more 'important' in her bedroom - view pic - Bollywood News & Gossip, Movie Reviews, Trailers & Videos at Bollywoodlife.com

    Singh while addressing a public gathering in Jhunjhunu district said, “Roads should be made like Katrina Kaif’s cheeks.”

    In the purported video from the event, he was heard saying that roads should be like the cheeks of Hema Malini but added that the Baghban diva is “too old”. He then went on to say roads should be like “Katrina Kaif’s cheeks”.

    Hema Malini Age, Husband, Children, Family, Biography & More » StarsUnfolded

    Earlier in 2005, Lalu Prasad Yadav received backlash when he had promised to make Bihar’s roads as smooth as Hema Malini’s cheeks. Madhya Pradesh law minister PC Sharma brought back the analogy in 2019 when he said the state’s pothole-ridden roads would soon be made “pretty” like the Dream Girl star’s cheeks.

  • Video: Sarah, Falak capture Alyana’s first ‘flying’ experience, share special moments from Turkey

    Video: Sarah, Falak capture Alyana’s first ‘flying’ experience, share special moments from Turkey

    Celebrity couple Sarah Khan and Falak Shabir are currently vacationing in Istanbul Turkey. The Zindagi duo shared their special moments while travelling on their social media handles.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBn-jfr-ykg

    Adding to Alyana’s list of firsts, is her debut plane ride with her parents.

    This is their first family trip together.

    Falak recently expressed his amusement at a photo of Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal circulating the internet that is actually a doctored version of Sarah and Falak’s wedding picture.