Author: newsdesk

  • Minar-e-Pakistan incident: Ayesha Akram says Rambo responsible, Rambo denies accusations

    Minar-e-Pakistan incident: Ayesha Akram says Rambo responsible, Rambo denies accusations

    The victim of Minar-e-Pakistan incident Ayesha Akram — in a supplementary statement — has nominated her associate Amir Sohail alias Rambo, for planning to go to Minar-e-Pakistan, Dawn News reported.

    Rambo in a video statement has said that he did not plan to go with Ayesha that day but that he went with her after someone else backed out. He continued by adding that what happened at Minar-e-Pakistan was neither his nor Ayesha’s fault.

    She also accused Rambo of making obscene videos of her and blackmailing her. “I have been giving half of my salary to him,” she said, adding that Rambo —along with one of his partners, Badshah — had been running a “TikTok gang”. Rambo has been arrested, Dawn reported.

    A video went viral on social media in August that showed a woman being sexually assaulted by a large group of men at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore on August 14, Pakistan’s Independence Day. The incident was later confirmed after a First Information Report (FIR) was registered. The incident sparked nationwide protests.

  • ‘Pakistan should be very proud of last 42 years of helping Afghan refugees’: Wendy Sherman

    ‘Pakistan should be very proud of last 42 years of helping Afghan refugees’: Wendy Sherman

    United States (US) Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, during an exclusive interview on PTV News programme ‘Shahrah-e-Dastoor’, said, “Pakistan should be very proud of 42 years of helping Afghan refugees and the US, as well as the world, was grateful for that,” reports Dawn.

    “It is an extraordinary system,” she said, commending Pakistan for continuously helping Afghan refugees.

    Sherman was also asked about her comments about relations between the US and Pakistan during her visit to India.

    In response to the question about Sherman’s comments where she categorically said, “It’s for a very specific and narrow purpose, we don’t see ourselves building a broad relationship with Pakistan,” Sherman clarified that by “specific steps” she meant that the purpose of her trip to Pakistan was to predominantly focus on the aftermath of events in Afghanistan and review bilateral relationships between the US and Pakistan.

    “The US and Pakistan have had longstanding relations for decades,” she said.

    She went on to say that “this is a time of great change in [this] region because of the events in Afghanistan”, and the US and the world were reassessing what the future would look like.

    She added that the US was glad that Pakistan had called for an inclusive government in Afghanistan and progress on this front should be made so as to “create a better life for the people of Afghanistan”.

    “And we also agree that humanitarian assistance [to Afghanistan] should continue,” Sherman said, sharing details of measures taken by the US for this purpose.

  • Netizens have polarising opinions on Waliya Najib, Faizan Sameer’s latest ‘intimate’ shoot

    Netizens have polarising opinions on Waliya Najib, Faizan Sameer’s latest ‘intimate’ shoot

    Model Waliya Najib recently shot for a clothing brand with influencer husband Faizan Sameer. The pair looked elegant in the pictures however a few netizens consider the shoot to be ‘too intimate’.

    In the photo-shoot the influencer-duo allure people with their vibe and charm.

    “Mr and Mrs extra,” wrote Hamare Dada Ki Wasiyat star.

    She also added: “Had such a great time working with #AsimJofa and the team, especially having my better half @faizan.Sameer next to me! Also, the outfit I wore has my whole heart!”

  • ‘Being a Muslim celebrity’s son has been his crime’: Simi Raheal slams Indian government

    ‘Being a Muslim celebrity’s son has been his crime’: Simi Raheal slams Indian government

    Veteran actor Simi Raheel has come in support of Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan after his arrest in a drug case. “Sadly the government is making an example out of the boy.”

    “Being a Muslim celebrity’s son has been his crime, this is to take away attention from the racial crimes in India,” she added.

    The Sabaat star also added that this is being used to take away the attention from racial crimes in India.

    Shah Rukh Khan’s 23-year-old son Aryan Khan was booked on October 2 in a rave party case. In a latest development, Mumbai court has sent Aryan Khan and other accused of the cruise ship drug raid case to Arthur Jail. Their bail plea has been denied.

    On the work front, Simi was last seen in Ruswai co-starring Sana Javed.

  • Video: Falak reveals daughter Alyana’s face, captures an emotional Sarah holding her for first time

    Video: Falak reveals daughter Alyana’s face, captures an emotional Sarah holding her for first time

    Falak Shabir has shared an exclusive video of his wife Sarah Khan holding their daughter Alyana for the first time.

    He added an emotional caption, “I’m convinced that mothers are superheroes, because they can handle anything the universe has to throw at them! Sarah, you’re not just a mother of my child but also the beat of my heart. I promise to love you and protect you and our daughter till the day I die.”

  • 5.28% of blood donors in Sindh infected with HIV, hepatitis, and other diseases

    5.28% of blood donors in Sindh infected with HIV, hepatitis, and other diseases

    The Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority (SBTA) has revealed that a total of 1,357 people were diagnosed with HIV in Sindh during the first eight months of 2021 after their blood samples were tested at the blood banks in 24 districts of the province, Waqar Bhatti reported for Geo News.

    “During the first eight months of this year, around 455,742 donors donated their blood at 166 blood banks in the 24 districts of Sindh, of which 1,357 donors were found to be infected with HIV, which amounts to 0.29% of the samples,” Dr Durre Naz Jamal, the SBTA director, revealed in a meeting of the provincial health department.

    “Of the 455,742 blood samples tested in the province, around 24,088 were found reactive or infected with either of five different diseases,” Dr Durre Naz said as she explained that 5.28% (24,088) of the donors were diagnosed with one or more infectious diseases and could not donate blood.
    Blood samples in Pakistan are screened for five infectious diseases — HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis, and malaria — to prevent recipients from having these diseases through blood transfusion but sometimes, unscreened blood is transfused to people as most of the blood banks lack the facility of nucleic acid testing (NAT), a molecular technique for screening the donated blood.

    The SBTA data presented to the provincial health minister revealed that 8,155 or 1.79% of blood donors in Sindh were infected with hepatitis B while 7,995 or 1.75% were infected with hepatitis C.

    In addition to that, as many as 6,142 blood donors were found to be infected with syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection. The percentage of the donors infected with syphilis was 1.34, Dr Durre Naz said, adding that 448 blood donors had also been found to be infected with malaria.
    According to the data presented to the health department, the highest number of blood donors infected with HIV were found in Karachi’s District East where 653 persons were found to have HIV in their blood, followed by District South of Karachi, where 431 blood donors were found to be infected with HIV.

    Similarly, Karachi’s District South had the highest number of blood donors infected with hepatitis B and C, where 2,603 donors were found to be infected with HBV and 2,923 blood donors with HCV.

    Directing the SBTA to strictly implement the screening system for safe blood transfusion across the province, Dr Pechuho said a dashboard of blood screening results should be immediately established to prevent the spread of diseases caused by blood transfusions.

  • VIDEO: Falak Shabir recites Azaan in daughter Alyana’s ear

    VIDEO: Falak Shabir recites Azaan in daughter Alyana’s ear

    Pakistani actor Sarah Khan shared a delightful video on Friday in which her husband Falak Shabir can be seen reciting the Azaan in his newborn daughter’s ear. It is a ritual practiced by Muslims around the globe when their children are born.

    Taking to Instagram, the Sabaat star shared the video with a Quranic verse.

    Earlier on Friday, the Zindagi singer had announced the birth of their daughter Alyana Falak.

    On the work front, Falak and Sarah were last seen together in music video Lagay Pyaari.

    People Are Loving The Teaser Of Falak Shabir's New Song
  • ‘ICC a politicised body, we need to reduce our dependence on it’: Ramiz Raja

    ‘ICC a politicised body, we need to reduce our dependence on it’: Ramiz Raja

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja has disclosed that 50 per cent of the board’s budget is based around the funds it gets from the International Cricket Council (ICC) whose “revenues are generated mainly from India”.

    Appearing before the Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial affairs on Thursday in Islamabad, Ramiz said it was time for PCB to reduce its dependence on funding from the ICC and start tapping the local market.

    “ICC is a politicised body divided between the Asian and Western blocs and 90 per cent of its revenues are generated from India,” the PCB Chairman said.

    Ramiz said the ICC had become more of an event management company and PCB would have to make its voice heard if it does not want a repeat of the cancellation of confirmed series by New Zealand and England.

    What New Zealand did was unacceptable because till now they have not shared any information with us on what led them to abandon the series in Pakistan. But they are now trying to reschedule the series, he said.

    Ramiz hinted of some good news regarding the postponed New Zealand series in a week’s time.

    He indicated that the New Zealand cricket board was working on a new schedule to tour Pakistan.

    Read More – Ramiz Raja ‘erroneously’ tweets about ECB chairman’s resignation, deletes later

    Senator Raza Rabbani suggested that Pakistan should now not play against New Zealand and refuse any series but Ramiz pointed out that this would not be possible as Pakistan was part of the international cricket community.

    The good thing is that they are working on something, which means they want to amend things with us, he said.

    The New Zealand cricket team had arrived in Pakistan on September 11 for the first time in 18 years to play three ODIs and five Twenty20 Internationals but left on September 19 without playing any match after their government and security agencies advised them to return home citing “security concerns”.

    Ramiz, in a candid briefing to the senators, also made it clear that he would unveil his plans for Pakistan cricket and the board in a week or 10-days’ time while in four weeks’ time he would have his team ready.

    Read More – New Zealand cricket chief open to rescheduling of abandoned Pakistan series

    “To me, it is simple if the national team cannot do well and win matches, it means that everyone in the board from the tea man to the top official have failed in their duties,” he said.

  • At least 1 million Afghan children at risk of starvation, warns UNICEF director

    At least 1 million Afghan children at risk of starvation, warns UNICEF director

    At least one million children in Afghanistan will suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year and could die without proper treatment, warned United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund’s (UNICEF) Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “Please help us,” she said.

    According to a report by CNBC, Fore implored the international community and wealthy nations to help avert further suffering after the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.

    “Nearly 10 million girls and boys depend on humanitarian assistance just to survive,” she said at a UN ministerial-level meeting on the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Afghanistan.

    Fore also emphasised UNICEF’s ability to operate in Afghanistan. She said, “UNICEF has been on the ground in Afghanistan for more than 70 years. We know what needs to be done for children. And we can get it done.”

    According to Fore, during the last week of August, UNICEF provided 4,000 severely malnourished children under five with life-saving therapeutic treatment.

    “Please help us. There has never been a more urgent time to stand with the children of Afghanistan and the people who serve them,” she said.

  • Top civilian, military leadership gather at PM House for NSC meeting

    Top civilian, military leadership gather at PM House for NSC meeting

    A meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) discussed matters of national security, the situation in Afghanistan, and other important issues on Friday, reports Dawn.

    The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and attended by senior cabinet members, Pakistan’s national security adviser, and the services and intelligence chiefs. However, the new director-general of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI) Nadeem Anjum was not there, as the official take-over takes a few days.

    PM Imran was given a detailed briefing on the evolving regional security situation, “particularly the recent developments in Afghanistan and their possible impact on Pakistan”, according to the statement issued by the Prime Minister Office (PMO).

    “The participants noted, with concern, the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and emphasised the urgent need for the international community to provide assistance to avert a humanitarian crisis,” the press release said.

    Committee members stressed that the evolving situation in the region was “extremely complex”, and that any instability in Afghanistan could have severe implications for Pakistan.

    “Agreeing with this view, the prime minister stressed the need for a coordinated policy effort,” the PMO said. It added that the premier issued directions for the establishment of a dedicated cell to synergise various streams of efforts on Afghanistan across the government, including international coordination for humanitarian assistance and effective border management to prevent “any negative spillover” into Pakistan.