Author: newsdesk

  • Shehbaz Sharif’s third try at budget speech a fail

    Shehbaz Sharif’s third try at budget speech a fail

    National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser adjourned the NA session minutes after it started on Wednesday as the treasury members continued their protest for the third consecutive day to disrupt Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif’s budget speech.

    Shehbaz, surrounded by sergeants, tried to deliver his speech amid sloganeering but was cut short.

    Meanwhile, Qaiser repeatedly called on the parliamentarians to be seated but eventually adjourned the session after an object was thrown at the speaker’s dais.

    “I will not conduct this House (NA) until both the government and the Opposition [settle their matters],” said Qaiser before walking out, adjourning the session till tomorrow (Thursday).

    Shehbaz, during his speech, condemned yesterday’s incident and said it was Qaiser’s duty to maintain the sanctity of the House and run it in accordance with the law.

    “I am saddened by your helplessness,” he said, alleging that the behaviour of treasury members had been authorised by Prime Minister Imran Khan himself.

    “It was your duty to stop this,” added Shehbaz.

    Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar claimed in a tweet that the Opposition had attacked him within minutes when the session started. He added that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Muhammad Akram Cheema was also injured by a bottle thrown at him.

    “Worried by the economic improvement and popular budget, the opposition wants to run away from discussion on the budget in the House by engaging in confrontation,” added Asad.

    Spokesperson for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the Opposition was again insulted by the government benches.

    “They [government] want to attack the parliament and the system. They want to attack the Speaker’s seat,” added Marriyum.

  • No-confidence motion to be moved against NA Speaker Asad Qaiser

    No-confidence motion to be moved against NA Speaker Asad Qaiser

    The Opposition has decided to jointly move a no-confidence motion against National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser, after two days of ruckus in the National Assembly.

    The decision of tabling a no-confidence motion against Qaiser was reached when Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto met in the NA earlier today to discuss the way forward after yesterday’s session.

    In this regard, the joint Opposition leaders also agreed to form a committee that would be tasked with tabling the motion. However, the names of its members are under consideration.

    The Opposition members said that Tuesday’s session was the darkest day in the history of democracy, with the Speaker failing to fulfil his constitutional, legal, democratic, and parliamentary responsibilities.

    “Asad Qaiser is not qualified to fulfill this duty,” said one of the Opposition members.

    The Opposition demanded that a parliamentary committee be established with equal representation from treasury and Opposition benches to probe the ruckus that had transpired in parliament.

  • ‘Gaaliyaan dena Punjab ka culture hai’: Shaikh Rohale Asghar

    ‘Gaaliyaan dena Punjab ka culture hai’: Shaikh Rohale Asghar

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Shaikh Rohale Asghar justified using expletives during yesterday’s National Assembly session as it’s “part of Punjab’s culture”.

    On being questioned by a reporter about yesterday’s ruckus in the National Assembly and the use of abusive language, Rohale said, “Gaaliyaan dena Punjab ka culture hai” (Using expletives is part of Punjab’s culture).

    Shaikh Rohale Asghar is one of the seven MNA’s who have been banned from entering the National Assembly due to their role in Tuesday’s violence. He’s a long-time PML-N stalwart from Lahore.

    Twitter reacted to Asghar’s comment.

  • PML-N blames PM Imran of being responsible for ruckus in the National Assembly

    PML-N blames PM Imran of being responsible for ruckus in the National Assembly

    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) accused Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan of being responible for yesterday’s ruckus in the National Assembly (NA). Khaqan alleged that after the PM was called ‘Donkey King’, he tasked the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentarians to heckle the Opposition. Khaqan revealed on Express News‘ talk show, ‘Kal Tak with Javed Chaudhry’ that a PTI member told him this. Khaqan termed the ruckus as an attack on the parliamentary system.

    Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Khaqan asked for Speaker Asad Qaiser’s resignation. He said that ministers were using filthy language in front of the Speaker but he couldn’t do anything. “If the Speaker had any respect he should have resigned in protest if he can’t do anything.”

    “The NA Speaker has failed to deliver. He had already lost our trust and now has lost his government’s as well.”

    Khaqan further said the Speaker himself has said he cannot do anything as he is “under pressure”.

    https://youtu.be/Hub–QYT7-w
    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Express News

    PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal also accused the PM of conspiring against the Opposition. “[Asad] Qaiser was asked by the Prime Minister that when our [government] ministers were heckling the Opposition, why did he adjourn the session.”

  • Muslim women can now perform Hajj without a male guardian

    Muslim women can now perform Hajj without a male guardian

    In a landmark move, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj has allowed women to perform the annual holy pilgrimage, scheduled to be held in July this year, without a male guardian (mahram).

    “Those wishing to perform Hajj will have to register individually. Women can register without a mahram (male guardian) along with other women,” the ministry said in a tweet.

    “In light of what the whole world is witnessing with the coronavirus pandemic and the emergence of new variants, the relevant authorities have continued to monitor the global health situation,” the ministry said. This year’s Hajj will only be limited to Kingdom’s nationals and residents due to the ongoing pandemic. “Those wishing to perform the Hajj must be free of chronic diseases and be vaccinated.” The ministry added that pilgrims should be between the ages of 18 and 65, reports Aljazeera.

    This news comes a few days after Saudi Arabia allowed women to live independently without male consent after a legal amendment. Over the last few years, the Kingdom has seen numerous reforms on women’s social freedoms, in a campaign headed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. 

    In April this year, Saudi authorities hired women to work in frontline positions at the Grand Mosque.

    In 2020, new penalties were announced against abusing women.

    In 2019, a new amendment allowed women aged 21 and above to apply for passport and travel without a male guardian’s approval.

    In 2018, Saudi women officially earned the right to obtain drivers licenses.

  • Dharmendra and Hema Malini converted to Islam for love

    Dharmendra and Hema Malini met for the first time when they were shooting for the film Tum Haseen Main Jawan, and they both were playing leading roles in the movie, and reportedly they both fell in love during the shoot of the movie.

    At that time Dharmendra was married to Prakash Kaur with whom he has sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol. The actor converted to Islam in 1979 to marry Hema Malini as per Times of India, so that he could marry Hema Malini and be allowed to have two wives, and to legitimize his second Marriage which he couldn’t do as a Hindu man.

    They both tied the knot in 1980. The duo have two children together Esha Deol and Ahana Deol. According to Indian media, Dharmendra changed his name to Dilawar Khan and Hema changed her name to Aisha.

    The iconic reel and real life pair has never discussed their conversion in media.

    Dharmendra wished a fan Eid Mubarak in 2020 on his twitter account.

  • ‘Kuch badtamiz log thappar deserve kartay hain’: Sonya Hussyn

    Sonya Hussyn recently appeared on Geo News’ sports show, Jashan-e-Cricket hosted by Shahzad Iqbal. When the host asked Sonya about her opinion on Special Assistant to the Punjab Chief Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan’s slap incident with PPP MNA Qadir Khan Mandokhail, Sonya replied that some people deserve to be slapped.

    “When you appear on TV then you have some responsibility to behave well. If someone deserves it then it’s alright but one should not disrespect women, for instance, Khalil Sahab disrespected women. When you are on a media platform then you should keep your personal views aside and talk responsibly,” she said.

    Firdaus Ashiq Awan accused PPP MNA of verbally harassing her and slandering her father.

  • Covid-19 vaccine shortage is temporary, says Dr Faisal Sultan

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan while addressing a press conferences said that the government has secured sufficient vaccine doses in the month of June to ramp up the vaccination drive in the country, Associated Press of Pakistan has reported.

    “There are more than 2,000 vaccination centres in the country and the number of visitors varies. So there may be a shortage of vaccines in some centres,” he said, adding that the shortage of vaccine in some centres is only temporary.

    Dr Faisal further said, “We have two million doses available and vaccination will continue to protect citizens from carrying coronavirus.” He assured that the vaccine situation would improve after June 20 as more vaccines would reach Pakistan by then.

    As per the national tally on Wednesday, total active Covid-19 cases were 39,905, while 1,038 more people tested positive for the deadly virus and 2,016 people recovered from the disease during the last 24 hours.

  • Seven lawmakers banned from entering National Assembly

    Seven lawmakers banned from entering National Assembly

    National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser has banned the entry of seven lawmakers into the Parliament House over the use of foul language during the budget speech of Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif.

    The order released by Asad Qaiser stated that, on June 14 and 15, 2021 during the speech of Shehbaz on Budget 2021-22, “the conduct of seven lawmakers was grossly disorderly as they violated the rules despite repeated direction of the Chair, they interrupted proceedings of the House.”

    The seven lawmakers are Ali Gohar Khan Baloch (PML-N), Chaudhry Hamid Hameed (PML-N), Sheikh Rohale Asghar (PML-N), Faheem Khan (PTI), Abdul Majeed Khan (PTI), Ali Nawaz Awan (PTI), and Syed Agha Rafiullah (PPP).

    “These members are required not to enter into the precincts of the Parliament House till further orders,” said the notification.

    Asad Qaiser also said that the “non-parliamentary attitude adopted by members from the government and the Opposition benches and objectionable language used by them is condemnable and disappointing”.

  • Web designer names his son HTML

    Web designer names his son HTML

    A newborn in Philippines was given a very unique name by his father who is a web designer by profession.

    A Facebook post that has gone viral announced the birth of a newborn who is introduced to the world with his name Hypertext Mark-up Language Rayo Pascual or HTML for short.

    The newborn’s aunt has reportedly introduced her nephew as ‘HTML’ through a Facebook post.

    As per reports, the child’s web developer father Mac Pascual has chosen the unusual name to honour his profession.

    Pascual told a local news site Inquirer.net that unusual names run in his family, explaining that his own name is short for Macaroni 85.

    He told that one of his sisters’ official names was Spaghetti 88 and her two children are called Cheese Pimiento and Parmesan Cheese, though they go by Chippy and Peewee for short.

    Read More: Student names Emraan Hashmi, Sunny Leone as parents in admit card

    HTML was born healthy, weighing 4.9 pounds. The infant’s mother said that she is pleased to welcome her child and said relatives were happy with the choice of name.

    HTML’s aunt shared a picture of the newborn on Facebook with the caption ‘Welcome to the world HTML.’