Author: newsdesk

  • Farm-worker gang raped infront of husband in Sahiwal

    Farm-worker gang raped infront of husband in Sahiwal

    A female farm worker was gang-raped by two unidentified armed suspects in front of her husband during a robbery near Arifwala.

    The farm is owned by Muhammad Aslam who lives with wife and children while his farm workers reside in the staff quarters of the farmhouse along with their families.

    The unfortunate incident happened on the night between Wednesday and Thursday when the two armed robbers woke up the residents of the house, seized their mobile phones and locked all the men, women, and children in one of the rooms.

    The robbers took a worker’s wife with them to lead them to cash and other valuables in the house, but the woman resisted. The suspects assaulted her and locked her in another room.

    After completing the robbery, the suspects raped the worker’s wife while forcing him to watch.

    The police registered a case on the complaint of Muhammad Aslam.

    The robbers escaped with 50,000 cash, a motorcycle and two fertilizer bags, as per the FIR registered by the victims. The robbers reportedly threw the mobile phones near the farmhouse.

    Dawn reports that Saddar Police Arifwala conducted a forensic analysis of the crime scene and took the gang-rape victim to THQ hospital, where a medical report confirmed rape.

    DNA samples have been collected.

    District Police Officer Tariq Walayat sent an investigation team, headed by SP Investigation Shahida Noreen, to investigate the matter.

    Previously, a woman was gang-raped in Hafizabad in front of her husband and three-year-old daughter.

  • We can block VPNs in Pakistan, says Chairman PTA

    We can block VPNs in Pakistan, says Chairman PTA

    Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Major General Retired Hafeez ur Rehman, has said that Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) can be blocked nationwide, but doing so may harm businesses.

    While giving a briefing on telecommunication issues to the a Senate Standing Committee, he said, “The government is allowing VPNs, after which unauthorized VPN in Pakistan will not work.”

    Talking about controversial content on social media, the PTA chairman said, ” If any post is against the laws of Pakistan, we close the social media platform on the request of the government. Blocking a specific post is impossible.”

    Earlier, he said that PTA will unblock X (formerly Twitter) the day the government allows it.

    The government of Pakistan banned X in February during elections. Users can access it only by using VPNs.

  • No immediate relief in sight for high electricity costs, experts warn

    No immediate relief in sight for high electricity costs, experts warn

    Experts have little hope for a reduction in Pakistan’s high electricity prices. The government has turned electricity and petroleum products into revenue sources, and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) face no performance checks or contract revisions, they said, adding that it gives the generators unchecked freedom.

    Experts discussed the issues with DAWN at a seminar titled Pakistan Energy Crisis and IPPs: How Overbilling Impacts Quality of Life and Pathways to Solution, held at the Applied Economics Research Centre (AERC), University of Karachi on Thursday.

    Experts highlighted that over-billing and high electricity costs have become a crisis, adversely impacting poor and middle-income households. This crisis affects their spending on health, education, food, and transport.

    AERC Assistant Professor Dr. Aamir Siddiqui stated that electricity charges are unlikely to decrease soon because the government uses petrol and electricity as revenue sources. With around 100 IPPs and numerous suppliers in the country, electricity prices should at least be stable, but they continue to rise.

    He also noted that Pakistan generates more power than needed, yet load shedding persists. Despite this, the government is not addressing the quality and services of IPPs or revising their contracts, even though payments are made in dollars or equivalent exchange rates.

    Dr. Muhammad Saber, Principal Economist at the Social Policy and Development Center in Karachi, stated that electricity rates will not decrease until the government prioritises public welfare over its own interests. He pointed out that many contracts with IPPs were signed without considering public benefit, and even IPPs not supplying electricity receive timely and full payments.

    AERC Assistant Professor Dr. Fauzia Sohail mentioned that the residential sector is the largest consumer of electricity, followed by the industrial sector. Low and middle-income households are particularly affected by over-billing. Rising electricity charges force people to cut spending on essentials like health, education, food, transport, and housing. This not only adversely impacts these amenities but also drives some low-income individuals below the poverty line, especially in Karachi.

  • ‘Why bully her?’ Sabeena Farooq slams targeting of Khalil-ur-Rehman’s daughter

    ‘Why bully her?’ Sabeena Farooq slams targeting of Khalil-ur-Rehman’s daughter

    Social media has been buzzing since Wednesday after a sex tape of controversial screenwriter Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar with the woman who orchestrated his honey trap went viral.

    While the misogynistic writer was called out on different platforms for hypocrisy, actress Sabeena Farooq took time out to urge people not to target Qamar’s family, especially his daughter.

    The ‘Kabli Pulao’ actress took to Instagram to write, “We ask this to ourselves and everyone almost every day. Is there no humanity left? What does KRQ’s daughter have to do with his actions? Why bully her? It can have an impact on her for life. Why do we take so much pleasure in watching other people’s misery?”

    Sabeena ended her message by asking people to stop blaming children for their parents’ actions and vice versa.

  • Social media rallies behind Imane Khelif as racism over Muslim boxer turns ugly

    Social media rallies behind Imane Khelif as racism over Muslim boxer turns ugly

    Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has become the center of a racist attack after her opponent Angela Carini of Italy quit their match while crying, just 46 seconds into the first round.

    The two women exchanged just a few punches before Carini’s helmet was dislodged. She refused to shake Imane’s hands and cried on her knees in the ring. Later, she said that she quit after experiencing intense pain in her nose. Notably, she said that she had not refused to fight Imane.

    The match led to an uproar among right-wing Western conservatives, including Harry Potter author JK Rowling and Elon Musk, who instantly resorted to calling Imane a man because she had failed an unspecified test in the World Boxing Championships last year. The governing body said she had “elevated levels of testosterone.”

    Imane Khelif childhood pictures

    Social media was quick to rally to Khelif’s defence, pointing out that she had been competing as an amateur since years and had been defeated by women before this match.

    Users shared childhood pictures of the Algerian sportswoman, showing her in girl’s clothing and pigtails. Others pointed out that Algeria is a conservative Muslim country where women cannot have gender reassignment surgeries and transgenderism is legally barred.

    Nida Kirmani wrote that the episode proved that black and brown athletes face immense racism.

    Algerian Football Media account called her a “superwoman”.

    Another account called out Rowling and pointed out that Khelif just has elevated testosterone, something she was born with.

    Others called out Carini for crying about being hit in a boxing match.

  • Buzz around ‘Front Man’ and new ‘Squid Game’ seasons intensifies

    Buzz around ‘Front Man’ and new ‘Squid Game’ seasons intensifies

    Netflix has announced that the popular Korean series ‘Squid Game’ will have a third season, while also confirming that Season 2 will start on December 26 this year.

    In a statement released on Thursday, Netflix said that the show will end with season 3 in 2025.

    The show’s creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, said, “It’s been almost three years since Season 1 was a big hit around the world. I’m very excited to tell you that Season 2 will start soon and that we will also have a third and final season.”

    Hwang also shared some details about the new seasons. “Seong Gi-hun, who wanted revenge at the end of Season 1, comes back to the game. Will he get his revenge? The Front Man will be a tough opponent again. Their intense fight will continue in Season 3, which you will see next year.”

    He added, “I’m happy to see how the story of ‘Squid Game’ has grown. We will do our best to make the final seasons exciting. I hope you’re looking forward to what’s coming.”

    Netflix had already announced a second season for the smash hit in June 2022. The new seasons will bring back characters Gi-Hun and The Front Man.

    As the countdown to Season 2 begins, excitement is higher than ever. Fans can look forward to an emotional rollercoaster full of suspense, mystery, and surprising twists. The deadly games will return with even higher stakes, promising a thrilling experience.

    Beyond the action, ‘Squid Game’ has always offered deep social messages, and Season 2 is expected to continue exploring these themes. The final chapter promises to be as exciting and thought-provoking as the earlier seasons.

    Watch the trailer here:

  • Kia Aima Baig mulk chor kar jaa rahi hai?

    Kia Aima Baig mulk chor kar jaa rahi hai?

    Kia Aima Baig mulk chor kar jaa rahi hai?

    Singer Aima Baig recently surprised her fan base with a series of stories on her Instagram account, hinting at her leaving Pakistan. Fans were left worried and confused, thinking she was leaving the country for good.

    Aima has now clarified that the speculation was not true.

    “I’m not actually leaving Pakistan, it’s just an extended trip. As an artist, I have to live out of a suitcase, but my roots are still here,” she said.
    Aima Baig has calmed her fans’ concerns and informed them that she won’t be leaving Pakistan’s music industry in the near future with her clarification.

  • Foreign Office changes statement; removes ‘Israel’ from condemnation of Ismail Haniyeh assassination

    Foreign Office changes statement; removes ‘Israel’ from condemnation of Ismail Haniyeh assassination

    In an unusual development, the Foreign Office (FO) Pakistan on July 31st re-issued its press release condemning the assassination of Hamas’s Ismael Haniyeh, expunging the word “Israel”.

    Both press releases were issued on the same day; however, in the last paragraph of the initial press release, it was written, “Pakistan views with serious concerns the growing Israeli adventurism in the region.”

    First statement:

    Later, it was changed to “Pakistan views with serious concerns the growing adventurism in the region,” redacting the word “Israel” from its statement.

    Updated statement:

    Social media noticed the correction instantly and reacted with suspicion, with most questioning the intent behind FO Pakistan’s move.

  • 108 people die in July in terrorist attacks

    108 people die in July in terrorist attacks

    An Islamabad-based think tank has revealed that terrorist violence surged across the country in July following a slight decline in June.

    The Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) reported that 79 militant attacks took place in July, resulting in 108 deaths and 71 injuries.

    Attacks rose by 14 per cent, while deaths surged by a staggering 80 per cent, and injuries increased by nine per cent from June.

    In response to the rising violence, security forces intensified their operations and killed at least 50 terrorists in July, a 56 per cent increase from June.

    Most of the terrorist attacks occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and its merged tribal districts (formerly FATA), with 36 attacks reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in the deaths of 60 people and 27 others injured. In the tribal districts of the province, 30 people died in 26 attacks.

    In Balochistan, 12 terror attacks resulted in 12 deaths and 24 injuries. Sindh experienced five attacks, leading to 6 deaths and two injuries.

    A significant development in July was the arrest of Al-Qaeda leader Aminul Haque by Punjab’s counter-terrorism unit on July 18.

    Security forces also killed 6 key commanders of the outlawed TTP in various operations based on secret information. This included Najeeb alias Abdul Rahman and Ashfaq alias Muawiya in the Tirah Valley of Khyber tribal district, Irfanullah alias Adnan in Bajaur, Shah Faisal in the Diamar district of Gilgit-Baltistan, and Noor Rehman in North Waziristan and Peshawar, where the shadow governor of the banned TTP was also targeted.

  • Can Danish Taimoor move like SRK? Watch the video to find out

    Can Danish Taimoor move like SRK? Watch the video to find out

    Renowned actor Danish Taimoor recently channeled Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan by striking his iconic arm pose in a sunflower field in the UK.

    In a reel shared on his Instagram on Tuesday, Taimoor was seen recreating the signature pose, accompanied by SRK’s song ‘Main Yahan Hoon’ from the Bollywood movie ‘Veer Zara.’ He captioned the post, “Good memories are the timeless treasures of the heart.”

    Watch the video here:

    The video quickly went viral, amassing over 5 million views and thousands of likes and comments from fans who dubbed Taimoor the “King of Pakistan,” drawing comparisons to Bollywood’s Shah Rukh Khan.

    Ayeza Khan also shared a gallery of photos from their trip, captioning it, “Sunflower field vibes, feeling like we’re in a Yash Raj movie song!”