Author: newsdesk

  • Zahir Jaffer’s parents knew Noor Mukadam was being held hostage: Islamabad High court

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has rejected the bail applications submitted by Zahir Jaffer’s parents, Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Jaffer, in the Noor Mukadam murder case. The IHC, in the order, has said that Zahir’s parents knew that Noor Mukadam was being held hostage by their son, Geo Urdu has reported.

    The IHC t wrote in its judgment that despite having information, Zahir’s parents did not inform the police. The guard has also stated that he had informed Zakir Jaffer.

    “Asmat and Zakir will stay in jail until the case trial is completed,” Justice Aamer Farooq ruled. He also directed the trial court to complete the trial within eight weeks.

    Read more- ‘It is very hard to imagine a life without her’, Noor Mukadam’s sister demands justice

    Noor was found murdered at a residence in Islamabad’s upscale Sector F-7/4 on July 20. Her death sparked national outrage, including protests and candlelit vigils across the country.

  • ‘ECB announcement to visit Pakistan a welcome step forward’: Fawad

    ‘ECB announcement to visit Pakistan a welcome step forward’: Fawad

    Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has said that the announcement by the English Cricket Board (ECB) to visit Pakistan next year is a welcome step.

    Taking to Twitter, Fawad said that he would like to thank stars of the cricketing world, diplomatic community, media and cricket lovers around the world for their support for Pakistan Cricket. Fawad Chaudhry has taken the opportunity to claim it a victory for the nation as he tweeted, “Yet again Pakistan has emerged as a strong and resilient nation.”

    Earlier today, after a prolonged silence, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has finally apologised for cancelling Pakistan’s scheduled tour.

    England had to play two T20Is at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on October 13 and 14.

    Read More – ‘Mujhe afsos hai, England’s tour not cancelled over security’: British High Commissioner

    ECB Chairman Ian Watmore, in his first public comments since the ECB pulled out its scheduled tour to Pakistan, offered an apology for last week’s late withdrawal.

    According to a sports journalist Alison Mitchell, Ian has said that the Board took advice on security and player welfare (British High Commissioner confirmed security advice hadn’t changed, despite NZ incident). “The board took the decision based on its own judgments & it didn’t go out to wider consultation.”

    She shared that he said: “We need to rebuild our relationship with Pakistan. This was not the right time, we will do whatever we can regarding Pakistan’s scheduled tour next year.”

    Watmore also confirmed that the decision was not made by the players and said no wider consultations were held. “The board took the decision based on its own judgments and it didn’t go out to wider consultation. Had we decided to go forward with the tour, we’d have had to put the proposals to TEPP (the body that represents England players) and the PCA, but it didn’t reach that point.”

  • ‘Reality of alleged video a matter between Muhammad Zubair and Allah’: Maryam Nawaz

    ‘Reality of alleged video a matter between Muhammad Zubair and Allah’: Maryam Nawaz

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz, in a statement, said that the PML-N leader Muhammad Zubair has been receiving threats for a long time, reports Geo News.

    “What the reality of the alleged video is, is a matter of Muhammad Zubair and Allah but Muhammad Zubair will remain my spokesperson,” says Maryam Nawaz.

    Earlier this week, Muhammad Zubair’s leaked video, where he is allegedly seen in compromising acts with women, went viral on social media.

    The former governor of Sindh has categorically denied the video and termed it to be a “new low in politics” along with claiming that the video is “fake and doctored”.

    “Whoever is behind this has done an extremely poor and shameful act. I have served my country with honesty, integrity and commitment. Will continue to raise my voice for betterment of Pakistan,” Zubair wrote on Twitter.

    https://twitter.com/Real_MZubair/status/1442237405432463364

  • Government announces reopening of cinemas in eight cities of Pakistan

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has announced that cinema halls and multiplexes will reopen in eight cities of Pakistan from October 1st.

    The decision was taken in the meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special initiatives Asad Umar. It was decided in the meeting that that Covid related restrictions will be eased in the cities that have achieved the targeted vaccination rate. The cities who have targeted vaccination rate includeds, Gilgit, Skardu, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Quetta, and Peshawar.

    “We are relaxing restrictions in these eight cities from October 1,” Asad Umar said in a press conference. “The rest of the cities and districts will have to implement on the same restrictions that are currently in place, till October 15,” he added.

  • Students protest against ‘mismanaged’ MDCAT

    Students from across the country are protesting against the management of the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) for conducting ‘mismanaged’ Medical and Dental College Aptitude Test (MDCAT).

    Students claim that there were administrative problems during the test. The software and hardware used by PMC for the exams had malfunctioned. They claim that the servers used for the exams were frequently down.

    The protesters want the Pakistan Medical Commission to conduct the MDCAT again on a single day across the country.

    https://twitter.com/BeSyed_/status/1443121616314159107?s=20

    As per reports,  PMC called the students for negotiations after which a five-member delegation held a meeting with the PMC management. However, they could not reach any decision and students are still protesting.

    Students plan to march towards PM House today (Wednesday) at 6pm to stage further protests.

  • ‘Ongoing negotiations between US and Pak for airspace’: US General

    ‘Ongoing negotiations between US and Pak for airspace’: US General

    The United States Central Command (Centcom) Chief, General Frank McKenzie said that the United States (US) and Pakistan were involved in ongoing negotiations over the use of a vital air corridor to access Afghanistan, reports Dawn.

    “Over the last 20 years we’ve been able to use what we call the air boulevard to go in over western Pakistan and that’s become something that’s vital to us, as well as certain landlines of communication,” he said.

    “And we’ll be working with the Pakistanis in the days and weeks ahead to look at what that relationship is going to look like in the future.”

    “We estimated an accelerated withdrawal would increase risks of regional instability, the security of Pakistan, and its nuclear arsenals,” Chairman of the Joint Chief General Mark Milley told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

    “We need to fully examine the role of Pakistan sanctuary,” the general said.

    “I believe Pakistan’s relationship with the Taliban is going to become significantly more complicated as a result of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan,” said General McKenzie.

    However, in June, Prime Minister Imran Khan said, Pakistan will “absolutely not” allow the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to use bases on its soil for cross-border counter-terrorism missions after American forces withdraw from Afghanistan.

  • Environmental activist Greta Thunberg mocks world leaders for being ‘blah, blah, blah’ on climate action

    Environmental activist Greta Thunberg mocks world leaders for being ‘blah, blah, blah’ on climate action

    Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg mocked and criticised world leaders — including US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister (PM) Boris Johnson — over their promises to address the climate emergency, dismissing them as “blah, blah, blah”.

    While addressing the Youth4Climate summit in Milan, she said, “When I say climate change, what do you think of? I think jobs. Green jobs. Green jobs,” referring to Biden’s speeches on the climate crisis.

    Referring to a speech by French President Emmanuel Macron, she said, “We must find a smooth transition towards a low carbon economy. There is no Planet B. There is no Planet Blah. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.”

    She quoted statements by Boris Johnson: “This is not some expensive, politically correct, green act of bunny hugging”, and PM Narendra Modi’s: “Fighting climate change calls for innovation, cooperation and willpower” but said that science did not lie.

    “Build back better. Blah, blah, blah. Green economy. Blah blah blah. Net zero by 2050. Blah, blah, blah. This is all we hear from our so-called leaders. Words that sound great but so far have not led to action. Our hopes and ambitions drown in their empty promises,” she added.

    https://twitter.com/GretaThunberg/status/1442860615941468161?s=20

    Climate justice activist Vanessa Nakate from Uganda, Thunberg and hundreds of other young people from across the world attended the summit. The event was held two days before dozens of ministers gather in Milan for a meeting before the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow at the end of October, reports CNN.

    Greta is an 18-year-old young environmental activist who became famous in 2018 when she skipped school for a strike against climate change.

  • Wedding cards should mention only ‘Covid vaccinated guests’ allowed, Punjab issues notification

    The Punjab government has said that wedding invitation cards should mention that only “vaccinated guests” will be allowed to participate in a wedding. A notification by the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department on Tuesday says that unvaccinated people will not be permitted to enter wedding halls across the province.

    The notification also says that all the staff of the wedding halls would have to display “fully vaccinated” badges while discharging their duties.

    The provincial government has also made vaccination a requirement for those seeking various services in the private and governmental sectors. As per the notification, international travelers arriving in Pakistan would have to be fully vaccinated by October 31.

    In the last 24 hours, Pakistan has recorded 1,560 new cases of Covid-19.

  • Captain Safdar on ‘video leaks’, urges people with films ‘to own it’

    Captain Safdar on ‘video leaks’, urges people with films ‘to own it’

    Journalist Gharidah Farooqi shared a video of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader, Captain Safdar, on Twitter, where Safdar is seen commenting on ‘video leaks’.

    The date of the video is unclear but talking to The Current, Farooqi said, “even if old, it’s most relevant today”.

    In the video, Captain Safdar said, “Don’t be scared people, films [compromising videos] will not do anything.”

    “A film has been made on everyone once in their life. Say it with courage, yes there is a film, own it and ask [them to] bring it on, and then everyone will sit calmly,” said Safdar.

    Earlier this week, PML-N leader Muhammad Zubair’s leaked video, where he is allegedly seen in compromising acts with women, went viral on social media.

    The former governor of Sindh categorically denied the video and termed it to be a “new low in politics” along with claiming that the video is “fake and doctored”.

  • Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq says he did not suffer a heart attack

    Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq says he did not suffer a heart attack

    Former captain of Pakistan cricket team Inzamam-ul-Huq has clarified that he did not suffer a heart attack, as widely reported by the media.

    Inzamam, in a video message, thanked all the people across the world who had prayed for him — fans, former and current cricketers, and commentators.

    “It felt very nice being remembered, so I wanted to thank everyone,” he said.

    The former batsman said that he did not suffer a heart attack; he had gone to the doctor for a “routine checkup”.

    “They recommended an angioplasty and during the procedure, they said my artery is blocked and a stent is needed,” he explained.

    Inzamam said he gave his go-ahead, and then a procedure was done, which was a success and he is alright now.

    He said he stayed at the hospital for 12 hours and is now home.

    The batsman urged everyone to immediately go to the doctor whenever they suspect anything wrong with their health.

    “The doctors told me that had I delayed going in, I could have suffered damage,” he said.

    Inzamam’s manager had earlier today said that he had been discharged from the hospital after undergoing successful angioplasty surgery at a Lahore hospital.

    Following the news of his illness, Sachin Tendulkar, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Hassan Ali and others had wished Inzi a speedy recovery.