Author: newsdesk

  • Maryam accidentally tweets picture of Khadim Rizvi’s welcome, mistaking it for her own

    Maryam accidentally tweets picture of Khadim Rizvi’s welcome, mistaking it for her own

    In yet another faux pas, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has accidentally retweeted, and then deleted, a picture of welcome of the late Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) leader Khadim Rizvi, mistaking it for her own in.

    As per the details, Maryam retweeted the picture of Rizvi’s welcome at the anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore, falling for the claim that the rose petals-covered roads were from Daska where she arrived on Saturday ahead of a by-election in the NA-75 constituency.

    The election on February 19 comes after the seat fell vacant following the demise of the PML-N’s Syed Iftikharul Hassan Shah.

    “Alhamdulillah,” Maryam had written while retweeting the picture that can no longer be found on her Twitter.

    It wasn’t later when people, especially members of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), pointed out what was wrong with the tweet.

    Earlier, Maryam said that the by-election in Daska was not just an election but a “battle”.

    The PML-N has given ticket to late MNA Shah’s daughter Nosheen Iftikhar.

    In her speech, Maryam blamed the government for rising inflation in the country.

    “When their ministers are told that inflation has increased and people are dying of hunger, they say decrease your expenses,” the PML-N leader said, referring to Information Minister Shibli Faraz’s recent statement.

    She added that the government had promised to create 10 million jobs in Pakistan but not a single man in Daska got any job.

  • IN PICTURES: Shahid Afridi celebrates youngest daughter’s first birthday

    Shahid Afridi had the perfect Valentine’s Day.

    The former captain of the Pakistan Cricket team celebrated his youngest daughter Arwa’s first birthday on February 14 with an adorable pink and red-themed party. Lala shared pictures from the birthday on social media along with a heartfelt note.

    “Happy 1st Birthday to the youngest of my girls, Arwa,” wrote Lala in the caption. “MashaAllah you’ve brought our family so much happiness in such a short time.”

    “I pray Allah gives you and all our children the best of everything,” added the proud father.

    “Love you to the moon and back.”

    Afridi, who will be playing for Multan Sultans in this season’s Pakistan Super League (PSL), welcomed his youngest daughter in February last year.

  • Govt ‘tested tear gas on protesters’: Sheikh Rasheed draws flak over ‘cruel’ statement

    Govt ‘tested tear gas on protesters’: Sheikh Rasheed draws flak over ‘cruel’ statement

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed is under fire for making an insensitive statement regarding the use of tear gas against the government employees who were protesting at D-Chowk, Islamabad, last week for better wages.

    In a comment on the demonstration, while addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, Rasheed said that the government gave a 25 per cent pay raise to the protesters and used some “tear gas” as well because it was “necessary”.

    “We have already tested the teargas during the protest of government employees last week in Islamabad. The test was necessary as these teargas shells had not been used for a long time,” he said in a warning to the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

    Last week, one policeman was killed and multiple injuries were reported after the protest organised by the government employees in Red Zone turned violent. The government had used tear gas and baton-charge to disperse the protesters.

    The remarks were criticised by the opposition leaders, civil society, and journalists who termed them “cruel” and “insensitive”.

    Former Sindh governor Mohammad Zubair said that a statement like this “would mean immediate firing of the minister”. However, the current government is “shameless” so the minister will retain his portfolio.

    A Twitter user said that the statement by the minister was “quite shameful”.

    https://twitter.com/AmirChaudhry_/status/1360947901850075141

    Senior journalist Murtaza Solangi pointed out that “many people got injured during the exercise and a cop died too”.

    The current government “keeps stooping lower and lower”, commented activist Tooba Syed.

    The interior of minister of Pakistan says that it was important to use tear gas on the protesting employees, wrote another journalist.

    Another Twitter user called the statement of the minister “criminal”.

  • Prince Harry, Meghan Markle ‘overjoyed to be expecting their second child’

    Prince Harry, Meghan Markle ‘overjoyed to be expecting their second child’

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expecting their second child, their spokesman told British media in a Valentine’s Day announcement on Sunday. The child will be eighth in the line to the British throne.

    The couple released a black and white image of them under a tree, all smiles, with Markle, 39, showing signs of pregnancy. The photo was reportedly taken remotely via iPad by their friend and longtime photographer, Misan Harriman.

    “We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother,” the spokesman said, referring to the couple’s son. “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child.”

    The couple’s announcement on Valentine’s Day was a nod to Princess Diana, who 37 years ago on the same day, had announced that she was pregnant with Prince Harry.

    Meghan and Harry, 36, who is Queen Elizabeth II’s grandson, quit frontline royal duties in March last year and now live in California.

    The news follows Markle’s disclosure in The New York Times in November that she had suffered a miscarriage in July.

    A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “Her Majesty, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales and the entire family are delighted and wish them well.”

    The couple’s departure last year — dubbed ‘Megxit‘ by the British press — was a far cry from 2018 when they married in a ceremony at Windsor Castle watched around the world.

    The mood soured as reports circulated about a rift between Harry and his brother Prince William, second in line to the throne.

    Since leaving, they have launched several legal cases against news outlets alleging invasion of privacy — including one that ended on Thursday with a victory against Associated Newspapers in the UK.

    The cases have attracted criticism from some, as the couple are also launching themselves into the public eye with high-profile commercial projects.

    Last year they launched a non-profit organisation, Archewell, after giving up a “Sussex Royal” brand as part of the terms of their departure from frontline royal duties.

    They have started other ventures, including signing a deal with Spotify to produce podcasts that tell “uplifting and entertaining stories”. The couple also signed a contract, reportedly worth tens of millions of dollars with streaming giant Netflix to produce “impactful” films and series.

    Read more – Archie speaks publicly for the first time on Meghan, Harry’s first podcast

    Harry and Meghan’s announcement came days after Princess Eugenie, a granddaughter of the queen, gave birth to a baby boy.

  • UAE’s Hope returns with first image of Mars

    UAE’s Hope returns with first image of Mars

    The spacecraft Hope sent by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the orbit of Mars has returned with stunning pictures.

    The spacecraft entered into the orbit on Tuesday and made UAE the first Arab nation in history to create a scientific presence on the Earth’s near neighbour.

    The spacecraft was sent to study the weather and climate system and other areas of astronomy.

    The state of the art Hope is performing two jobs including capturing high-resolution pictures of the surface of Mars and acting as a telecommunications reply station for landed robots in contact with Earth.

    The picture is captured by Hope’s EXI instrument from the distance of 24,700 Kilometers (km) above the Martian surface on Wednesday, one day after entering the orbit of the Red Planet.

    “The transmission of the Hope Probe’s first image of Mars is a defining moment in our history and marks the UAE joining advanced nations involved in space exploration,” the mission’s Twitter account stated. “We hope this mission will lead to discoveries about Mars which will benefit humanity.”

    Hope is now orbiting around Mars as close as 1,000km from the planet and goes out to almost 50,000km.

    Hope will be carrying high-level research on Mars like monitoring how energy moves through the atmosphere from the bottom to the very top.

    Out of several, one of the main things Hope was to study is the leakage of hydrogen and oxygen neutral atoms in space.

    This research will open wonders that will help the scientists to understand how Mars has turned from a wet, water abundant planet to a cold and dusty ball.

    This coming week, it is the turn of the Americans. Their Perseverance rover reaches Mars on Thursday and will try immediately to land in a near-equatorial crater called Jezero.

  • VIDEO: CM Buzdar’s arrival in Cholistan straight out of a Hollywood movie

    VIDEO: CM Buzdar’s arrival in Cholistan straight out of a Hollywood movie

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar on Friday reached Cholistan in Bahawalpur via helicopter, with a 10-plus-vehicle motorcade receiving him at the landing site in the desert.

    Here’s a viral video of Buzdar’s convoy in Cholistan, which appears to be nothing less than one from a Hollywood flix.

    Earlier on Saturday, the provincial chief executive visited Tourism Development Corporation Punjab resorts.

    He inaugurated various development projects for Bahawalpur. He also participated in the ceremony of Cholistan Desert Rally 2021. He inaugurated TDCP Cholistan desert resort and double-decker bus service for the tourists for Bahawalpur. Usman Buzdar inspected the double-decker bus and purchased the first ticket worth Rs300.

    The route of double-decker bus includes SD High School, Commissioner House, DC Chowk, Bahawal Club, CMH Chowk, Museum, Central Library, BVH Hospital, Fawara Chowk, Noor Mehal, Ahmedpuri Gate, Darawar Gate, Farid Gate, Mori Gate, and zoo.

    Usman Buzdar announced to name after Civil Hospital Bahawalpur to Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi. Usman Buzdar said that tourism was very close to his heart, COVID-19 affected the tourist activities, now the same was being restored.

    He said that another promise made with the people of Bahawalpur had been fulfilled. Double-decker bus service was a gift for the citizens of Bahawalpur from PTI government. People would be able to visit tourist and historical places through this double-decker bus. Special rates had been fixed for the elderly and differently-abled people.

  • Azaan Sami Khan’s ‘Main Tera’ is the perfect Valentine’s Day song

    Azaan Sami Khan’s ‘Main Tera’ is the perfect Valentine’s Day song

    Azaan Sami Khan has released the title track of his debut album Main Tera, along with a music video just in time for the day of love. The song features Khan taking over the vocals and songwriting units for the first time. Meanwhile, the music video features Khan, alongside a newcomer Maheen Siddiqui.

    Backed by some serene visuals, the video shows us glimpses of the couple – Khan and Siddiqui – engaging in an adorable meet-cute.

    “It’s a very nostalgic ode to all the traditional, classic love stories that we, our parents and our grandparents have grown up watching,” says Khan while talking about the song. “It is a very simple, straightforward video. Rest assured, if you watch it in any part of the world, you still get what’s happening even if you don’t understand the language.”

    “It’s about the pure innocence of that first date or when you first interact with someone you like, and whenever you recount that feeling,” he explained.

    The music video of Main Tera has been directed by Ehteshamuddin, who has previously worked with the singer on Superstar.

    “It’s always an incredible experience working with him, and ever since Azaan started working on his album, he had wanted me to direct his first music video, despite me not having worked on music videos before. We’re really great friends and companions, and always learn a lot from each other. When two similar minds collide, it leads to great things,” said the director.

    The track is produced by Meghdeep Bose and features Baqir Abbas on flutes.

    Khan also performed a rendition of the track at the HUM Bridal Couture Week last week and garnered favourable reviews from the industry and fans alike.

    Sharing the pictures from the event, Azaan said: “I put a piece of my heart out there last night for all of you… zara khayal mera rakh lena.”

    Check out the song here:

  • Dilip Kumar’s nephew claims actor wanted to gift property in Peshawar to residents

    Dilip Kumar’s nephew Fuad Ishaque, who is based in Peshawar, has claimed that Dilip Kumar wanted to gift his property in Peshawar to the people of the city, Hindustan Times has reported.

    He further claimed that he has legal and proper power of attorney to the legendary actor’s property in Peshawar, adding that Kumar drafted the proper power of attorney in 2012.

    Ishaque further said that Kumar has great respect for the people of Peshawar and that the love and affection for his ancestral city has never diminished from his heart.

    In September 2020, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government announced its decision to buy and restore Kumar’s house located in Peshawar’s historical Qissa Khwani Bazaar – or Street of Storytellers. This announcement won the actor’s heart who took to social media to express his excitement. He also requested his fans residing in Peshawar to share photos of his ancestral house on Twitter.

    Not only Kumar but his wife, Saira Banu also appreciated the government’s move to conserve the actor’s house.

    Later, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mahmood Khan approved Rs 23.56 million to purchase the ancestral homes of Kumar and Raj Kapoor.

  • Akcent hints at making new PSL anthem after controversy

    Akcent hints at making new PSL anthem after controversy

    The official anthem of the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Groove Mera has stirred up a storm in the country. While some, including celebrities, have appreciated the song, others have strongly criticised the composition and choice of artists.

    After Shoaib Akhtar claiming he could have done a better job with the anthem, several fans have requested Romanian band Akcent to remake the song, in what appears to have become a tradition before the start of PSL every year.

    Responding to fans’ requests, the official account of Akcent said that the band might remake the PSL 6 song.

    In another comment, the band said that they might make the official anthem for the next edition of the PSL.

    Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday defended its decision to hire Naseebo Lal, Aima Baig and Young Stunners to perform the anthem, saying that the three artists were chosen as the board wanted to feature voices that were new and had not sung any PSL anthem before.

    Earlier, Akcent had also tweeted: “PSL 7 or PSL 8?”

  • ‘Shallow-minded approach exposed,’ says Hafeez after Sarfaraz criticises him

    Mohammad Hafeez has hit back Sarfaraz Ahmed after the latter criticised him for his recent statements.

    “Shallow minded approach exposed,” wrote Hafeez on Twitter. Though he did not specify who the tweet was directed towards, it is being speculated that the tweet was for Sarfaraz who had earlier called him out for spreading negativity.

    Earlier, Sarfaraz, while responding to Hafeez’s tweet, in which he had praised Mohammad Rizwan for his performance and “wondered” how long the batsman will have to prove himself, had said: “Hafeez Bhai, whoever has played for Pakistan from Imtiaz Ahmed, Wasim Bari, Tasleem Arif to Saleem Yousuf and from Moin Khan, Rashid Latif to Kamran Akmal and even Rizwan right now has always been number one for the country and have been respected accordingly.”

    Ahmed also said that everyone is behind Rizwan and hope he plays many more innings for Pakistan.

    “Aur ayende bhee jisko bhee chance milega wo Pakistan ke liye number one hee huga (And whoever is given a chance to play would be number one for Pakistan),” said Sarfaraz, adding: “We expect nothing but positiveness coming from an international player who has played so many games for Pakistan.”

    Later, replying to Sarfaraz’s tweet, Mohammad Amir who is currently feuding with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) management said: “You are also a number one wicketkeeper-batsman in Pakistan aur aap hi captain the jab team 2 saal team No 1 rahi in T20 or sab se bar kar Champions Trophy so you are [the] pride of Pakistan (You were the Captain when the Pakistan Cricket Team was the number one T20 team).”

    Meanwhile, social media users have set the internet ablaze with supporters from both sides weighing in their arguments, opinions and comments.

    https://twitter.com/ArfaSays_/status/1360483665139097602?s=19

    https://twitter.com/BhattyHuzaima/status/1359923993097113600?s=19
    https://twitter.com/JawadMjk/status/1360441641950187520?s=19

    https://twitter.com/CricHassan/status/1360369676598063105?s=19

    https://twitter.com/ammarkhi/status/1360489901704310784?s=19

    Later, Senator Faisal Javed Khan also stepped into the conversation, saying: “Easy boys. Let’s motivate each other and be united as they say unity is strength.”

    “When there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved,” he added.

    Later in a tweet, sports journalist Aliya Rasheed tweeted that PCB officials have talked to both of them and resolve their Twitter fight.