Author: newsdesk

  • No one, including Gen (r) Asim Bajwa, above law: Alvi reacts to corruption allegations against CPEC chairman

    No one, including Gen (r) Asim Bajwa, above law: Alvi reacts to corruption allegations against CPEC chairman

    President Arif Alvi has said the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) should take notice of corruption allegations against former chief military spokesperson and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Chairman Asim Saleem Bajwa as no one is above the law.

    https://twitter.com/SpotlightAajtv/status/1364265897221791745

    The president made these comments in response to a question by Aaj TV host Munizae Jahangir over rampant corruption in Pakistan. The president said that Pakistan has suffered due to corruption over the past 70 years, adding that his government’s focus should be on curbing corruption. “I am very serious about it; it is very painful for me,” the president said.

    At this, the host asked about allegations against Gen Bajwa, saying the opposition has accused the government of refusing to take action against the ex-general despite graft allegations. The president responded that if the general is accused of corruption then there should be a probe against him.

    “Who will launch this investigation?” asked Jahangir. “NAB [National Accountability Bureau] should,” Alvi responded.

    “No one is above the law, even Prime Minister Imran Khan,” Alvi said, adding that as the president of Pakistan he will never endorse corruption.

    The president also talked about defence budget, saying this has strengthened Pakistan over the years. “The budget has decreased compared to inflation,” the president claimed.

    “In principle, you agree that parliament should debate the defence budget and that everyone accused of corruption, whether it is a bureaucrat, a politician or a general, must be held accountable,” the host asked. “I fully agree [with you],” said the president, adding that parliament is the supreme authority to discuss such matters.

  • Ambani plans to make the world’s biggest zoo in India

    According to Indian Mangazine The Week, owner of Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani, is planning to make the world’s biggest zoo and animal sanctuary in Gujrat, India. This is the pet project of the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, Anant Ambani.

    The zoo and animal sanctuary will be set up on 280-acre land will be named as, “Green Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Kingdom”.

    Moreover, the animal venture, which also includes a rescue center to support the local government, is scheduled to open in 2023. The project was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic last year but this year, work is being done as fast as possible.

    The zoo and animal sanctuary will have close to 100 different species of animals from India and across the world. The African lion, cheetah, jaguar, Indian wolf, Asiatic lion, pygmy hippo, orangutan, lemur, fishing cat, sloth bear, Bengal tiger, Malayan tapir, gorilla, zebra, giraffe, African elephant and the Komodo dragon are expected to be the part of the zoo.

    As per, Al Jazeera Mukesh Ambani is world’s 12th richest person of the world.

    Three month ago, Mukesh Ambani became a grandfather after his son Akash and daugther-in-law Shloka Mehta welcomed a baby boy.

  • Sheheryar Munawar encourages self-grooming for men

    Sheheryar Munawar encourages self-grooming for men

    Pakistani actor Sheheryar Munawar has shed some light on self-grooming for men and encouraged men to look after themselves.

    Taking to Instagram, Munawar wrote: “Because there’s a Harry in all of us.”

    “Sharing this with all of you because I strongly believe in the idea behind the product/campaign ; men grooming/taking care of themselves,” he added.

    Talking further about it, the Parey Hut Love actor wrote: “Growing up, I was often picked on for grooming/taking care of myself, since it’s always been considered an effeminate trait and not manly. Here’s a little attempt at empowering all the men out there. It’s cool to give a shit, it’s cool to care and most importantly, it’s cool to take care of yourselves.

    “Also, on a separate note, if we expect the women in our lives to always take care of themselves then why not return the favour ? We owe it to them and ourselves to do so,” he added.

    An Instagram user commented on his post that it is cool to be effeminate as well. To which he replied, “Arshad, It’s cool to be whatever you want to be, without the fear to be judged.”

    Earlier, when he was shooting an advertisement for this self-care product, Sheheryar talked about his brush with COVID-19, his motorbike accident and how everything resulted in him going into depression.

  • Daska by-polls: RO proposes re-polling at 14 stations over discrepancies in results

    Daska by-polls: RO proposes re-polling at 14 stations over discrepancies in results

    Daska (NA-75) by-polls Returning Officer Athar Abbas has proposed re-polling at 14 stations, saying the presiding officers were seemingly involved in tampering with the final result.

    During his appearance before the Election Commission of Pakistan committee on Tuesday, Abbas said that the initial investigation has revealed that the presiding officers manipulated the result. The ECP has taken up a plea filed by PML-N candidate from the constituency Nousheen Iftikhar. The five-member bench which heard the case was headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.

    According to the PML-N candidate, she got 5,000 votes from the contested polling stations against PTI leader Ali Asjad Malhi’s 6,705 votes. The number of rejected votes was 139 and turnout remained at 45.16 per cent.

    Whereas, the form-45 sent in by presiding officers after a delay of six hours showed that the vote gap between the PML-N and PTI candidates was 9,263 instead of 1,705. The form puts the number of rejected votes at 1,731 and the turnout at 75.34pc.

    The RO’s report quoted by Dawn said at least 20 presiding officers went missing for an entire night after the vote count at their station. It added that the presiding officers also appeared before the ECP panel after much delay.

    “The replies of almost all the presiding officers were stereotype that they were able to complete the counting process by 10 to 10.30pm and started back journey to the office of returning officer on the transport provided by the Election Commission and in escort of police but due to fog, they reached the office of returning officer at about 4.30am and most of them stated their phone batteries were low and they were having no chargers, in response to the questions that they were supposed to send snapshots of the result of the count through WhatsApp but they did not do the same,” the report read.

    As per the report, there was no discrepancy in the record of three out of 23 polling stations from where the presiding officers had disappeared. The returning officer has proposed re-polling at 14 polling stations were there was a marked difference between the number of polled votes in two different sets of form-45.

    On Friday, at least two people were shot dead as a result of firing at the polling place. Both the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had alleged irregularities during the by-election on the National Assembly seat in Daska. Subsequently, the ECP withheld the results, saying it suspected irregularities in 20 polling stations.

    The commission had said results of the NA-75 constituency were received with “unnecessary delay”, adding that it tried to contact the presiding officers several times but with no success.

    In the backdrop of these allegations, the PM, in a series of tweet on Monday night, reaffirmed his pledge to hold transparent elections in Pakistan. “Have always struggled for fair & free elections. So even though there is no legal compulsion to do so before ECP announces results, I would request our PTI candidate to ask for re-polling in the 20 polling stations Opposition is crying hoarse over in the Daska NA 75 by- election,” Imran had tweeted.

  • UAE eatery launches world’s most expensive biryani with 23-karat gold

    UAE eatery launches world’s most expensive biryani with 23-karat gold

    An Indian origin restaurant in Dubai has launched the world’s most expensive biryani worth Rs 43,300.

    The world’s most expensive biryani, ‘The Royal Gold Biryani’ is a gold-garnished biryani with a 23-karat edible gold topping and is prepared by the restaurant Bombay Borough UAE.

    ‘The Royal Gold Biryani’ is made from three different types of rice including biryani rice, qeema rice, and white, saffron-infused rice. Its weight is about three kilograms.

    Adding to its unique flavor, it also has small potatoes, boiled eggs, mint leaves, roasted cashews, pomegranate seeds, and fried onions in it. 

    This is followed by a variety of grilled meats, such as skewered kebabs made from Kashmiri rams, spare ribs of lambs from old Delhi, Rajput chicken kebab, Mughlai koftay and malai [creamy] chicken roast.

    ‘The Royal Gold Biryani’ is served with a variety of sauces, curries and raita, as well as nihari, Jodhpuri curry, specialty almond sauce mixed with a raita made from pomegranate seeds and edible golden leaves.

    According to Bombay Borough, ‘The Royal Gold Biryani’ is priced at INR19,707, which is equivalent to about AED1,000 or PKR43,300. Not only that but it’s also served in a large gold plate and is available at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

    Although open to pre-bookings, the cooks at the Bombay Borough UAE say ordering on the spot “will take up to 45 minutes for us to prepare, but we will make sure you have the meal of a lifetime”.

  • UK councillor suspended for attending wedding in Pakistan amid COVID

    UK councillor suspended for attending wedding in Pakistan amid COVID

    The United Kingdom’s Labour Party has suspended Whalley Range councillor Aftab Razaq for violating coronavirus protocols after he attended a wedding in Pakistan.

    BBC reported that photos were shared on Facebook last weekend allegedly showing Manchester City Councillor Aftab Razaq at the celebration in the city of Kharian. Under the current COVID-19 rules in the UK, it is illegal to travel abroad for holidays and other leisure purposes.

    Councillor Pat Karney, secretary of Manchester Labour, explained that he would “thoroughly investigate the matter”. He told BBC that the Labour group had seen the photographs but “despite their best efforts”, they have not been able to contact the Whalley Range councillor who was vaccinated against COVID in Jan 2021.

    “All Manchester councillors must rigorously abide by Covid regulations and we will take action against any individual who does not,” Karney told BBC.

  • Peshawar Zalmi chase down 194 with an over to spare

    Peshawar Zalmi has chased down 194 runs with an over to spare, beating Multan Sultans with six wickets in the fifth fixture of Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) sixth edition at the city’s National Stadium.

    After putting 193-4 on the board, thanks to James Vince’s 84 and Mohammad Rizwan’s 41, the Sultans felt confident that they had enough on a pitch that had been favouring bowlers.

    Openers Kamran Akmal (37) and Imam-ul-Haq (48) provided a solid foundation, upon which Tom Kohler-Cadmore (53) capitalised and, when in the end some late hitting was needed, the young Haider Ali, chipped in with an unbeaten 24 off 8 to get his side over the line.

    With his much needed half century, Cadmore became man of the match.

  • Throwback: Shy Shahid Afridi?

    Throwback: Shy Shahid Afridi?









    *|MC:SUBJECT|*

    Hey, Good Morning *|MERGE1|*. It’s Tuesday, February 23rd.Today’s forecast calls for sunshine in major cities across the country. Seems like summer is already here. 

    Tuesday is the day to actually start the week. Monday’s are just to deal with the depression of the weekend ending. 

    Have a productive day!
     

     

    Laila-The Current 

    Morning Meme

    Lahore Qalandars win!

    PM endorses re-polling in 20 Daska polling stations amid rigging allegations

    PM Imran Khan has endorsed re-polling in 20 polling stations in NA-75 amid allegations of irregularities by the opposition and the Election Commission of Pakistan’s subsequent decision to withhold the election result.

    Read on

    Maryam Nawaz joins Pawri trend

    Maryam Nawaz has also joined in on the ‘Pawri Ho Rahi Ha’ trend and used it to call out alleged rigging reportedly carried out by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) during the NA-75 by-polls in Daska, Sialkot.
     

    Read On

    Lahore’s King Edward establishes new department  to accommodate Dr Yasmin Rashid’s daughter?

    It was alleged that King Edward Medical University established a sub-specialty within the maternity department for the sole purpose of accommodating Dr Ayesha Ali as an assistant professor of maternal-fetal medicine in grade 19. But is that true? We find out.

    Read On

    Hafizabad girl hires assassin to kill best friend for getting married

    According to reports, the victim was left critically injured after the hitman attacked her on the orders of her best friend. Yeh dosti hum nah bhoolain gay?

    Read On

     Throwback to Shy Afridi

    Throwback to the time when Shahid Khan Afridi was a young shy boy, invited for the first time on Anwar Maqsood’s show in 1998. Checkout the video.

    Watch

    Aashir Wajahat struggles to recreate ‘Pawri Ho Rai Hai’ meme

    Taking to Instagram, the Karachi Se Lahore star kid posted a video with the ‘Pawri Girl’ and wrote: “Dananeerr Karachi aye Aur Pawri na hou esa possible nahi (Dananeerr comes to Karachi and we do not pawri, that’s not possible.”

    Read On

    Missing out on news?

    PM Imran refuses to let Maryam go abroad and other top stories: Here is a recap of yesterday’s top stories.
     

    Watch DRF

    On this Day: 23rd February FIRST MASS POLIO VACCINATION

    An American virologist, Dr Jonas Sulk debuted the first polio vaccination drive in 1954. His first field tested was on the children of an Elementary School, which was a great success.

    Current Baba’s prediction

    Ajj kisi se argument krna will not be in you favor isliye aj kisi bhi kism ki behas se dor rahein!

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  • Shadab Khan to represent Manchester Originals in The Hundred league

    Pakistan’s T20I vice-captain, Shadab Khan, will be seen in action in the upcoming Hundred tournament in England this year.

    According to a sports journalist, the star all-rounder has been picked in the Hundred draft by Manchester Originals.

    Other big overseas names drafted for the Originals include Kagiso Rabada and Nicholas Pooran.

    Other than these, Harry Gurney, Jamie Overton, Tom Lammonby, Steven Finn, Colin Ackermann, Richard Gleeson, and Tom Hartley are the other players picked by the franchise.

    The inaugural Hundred tournament is scheduled later this year. It is pertinent to mention here that the 8-team tournament was to take place in 2020, however, it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation across the world.

    The teams includes Manchester Originals, Northern Superchargers, Birmingham Phoenix, Trent rockets, Welsh Fire, London Spirit, Oval Invincibles and Southern Brave.

    The opening match of the tournament will take place on July 22 between the Oval Invincibles and Manchester Originals at the Oval in London.

    Meanwhile, it is reported that the Pakistani skipper, Babar Azam is among the players in the highest reserve price bracket. While Shaheen Shah Afridi will also be playing in the tournament.

    The format of the game is:

    • 100 balls per innings
    • A change of ends after 10 balls
    • Bowlers deliver either five or 10 consecutive balls
    • Each bowler can deliver a maximum of 20 balls per game
    • Each bowling side gets a strategic time-out of up to two and a half minutes
    • A 25-ball powerplay start for each team
    • Two fielders are allowed outside the initial 30-yard circle during the powerplay
    • Teams will be able to call time-outs, as has been the case in the IPL since 2009
    • A simplified scoreboard is also proposed
  • Karachi police pop their rollerblades on to catch criminals

    Karachi police pop their rollerblades on to catch criminals

    Police in Karachi are deploying an armed rollerblading unit to curb theft and harassment on the teeming streets of the port city.

    Gliding in a circle with their weapons pointed inwards, and lifting and lowering the guns in unison, the 20-member unit clad in black undergoes rigorous training.

    “We felt we needed to come up with an innovative approach to control street crime,” said Farrukh Ali, chief of the unit, explaining that officers on rollerblades could more easily chase thieves on motorcycles through the city of 20 million.

    Ali conceded that rollerblading police could not be deployed across many parts of Karachi due to the poor road conditions and uneven footpaths, but said they would be sent to public places with a higher incidence of theft and harassment.

    “This is just the beginning,” said Aneela Aslam, a policewoman on the unit. “This rollerblading will really benefit us. With this training, we can reach narrow alleys very quickly where it is usually difficult to go.”

    Safety concerns were raised when initial footage of the Karachi unit’s training showed officers carrying heavier weapons, but Ali said the unit would only carry handguns, reducing the risk of bullets richocheting.

    The rollerblading police – who follow in the footsteps of similar units in Europe and elsewhere – are expected to begin officially next month, but they were recently spotted outside the venue of the Pakistan Super League cricket tournament.

    And they have already begun patrolling Karachi’s bustling beachfront.

    “Seeing them here in clean uniforms since the morning gives us a sense of security, as even in daytime, snatchings occur here,” said pedestrian Muhammad Azeem.