Author: newsdesk

  • Islamabad High Court orders govt to lift ban on PUBG

    Islamabad High Court orders govt to lift ban on PUBG

    The Islamabad High Court on Friday ordered the government to lift the ban on the popular online multiplayer game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), Geo reported.

    The decision to lift the ban was announced by Justice Amir Farooq while hearing a petition filed against the banning of the game. 

    The decision comes a day after the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had announced that PUBG will remain blocked in Pakistan. 

    In a statement released on Twitter, the telecom watchdog and internet regulator said it reached the decision to keep the game banned after a detailed hearing conducted at the PTA premises on July 9 on the directions of the Lahore High Court (LHC).

    It said the hearing was attended by other interested parties also.

    The PTA said it also approached the PUBG management to share data about PUBG sessions and users in Pakistan and controls in place by the company. The response from PUBG is awaited, it said.

    On July 1, the PTA announced the decision to temporarily suspend the PUBG game in the country after it received multiple complaints from different segments of society.

    The authority said it received numerous complaints against PUBG wherein it was stated that the game is addictive, wastage of time, and poses a serious negative impact on the physical and psychological health of the Children.

    According to recent media reports, cases of suicide attributed to PUBG game have also been reported.

    The LHC also directed the PTA to look into the issue and decide the matter after hearing the complainants.

    The authority had also solicited views of the public to reach any decision about the online game.

  • VIDEO: Ertuğrul’s doppelganger from Karachi goes viral

    VIDEO: Ertuğrul’s doppelganger from Karachi goes viral

    A doppelganger of Turkish actor Engin Altan Düzyatan, who played the role of Ertuğrul Ghazi in the superhit Turkish drama series Diriliş: Ertuğrul has recently been found in Karachi.

    Engin’s lookalike, identified as Mustafa Hanif, lives in Karachi and runs a YouTube channel through which he promotes tourism in the country.

    In a recent interview with a local media outlet, Hanif said that people in his office had seen Diriliş: Ertuğrul before it was aired in Pakistan.

    “I was often told that I look like the leading character of the series but I never paid much attention to it,” said the YouTuber. “When my own family started following the show and said the same, I watched it too and was stunned.”

    He further shared: “Recently, I went to the market without wearing a facemask and a few people recognised me and started talking to me.

    Mustafa also expressed his wish to visit Turkey to meet the cast of the show, including the lead character.

    Read More – Ertuğrul cast to visit Pakistan in Oct/Nov

    Dirilis: Ertugrul is being aired on Pakistan Television (PTV) with Urdu dubbing on the directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The show has gained immense popularity in a very short time and has set a new record of viewership in the country.

  • ‘Demolish illegal buildings’: Court orders sealing Navy’s elite sailing club

    ‘Demolish illegal buildings’: Court orders sealing Navy’s elite sailing club

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the Capital Development Authority (CDA) administration to seal the newly-constructed Navy Sailing Club, declaring the sports complex’s construction illegal.

    Two weeks ago, the CDA had served a notice to the navy for its allegedly illegal and unauthorised construction of the club and directed to immediately stop the construction of the building.

    During the hearing on Thursday, a board member told the court that the CDA had not issued any allotment letter for the land in question. To which, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah asked if the authority had taken any action to halt the construction. “We had issued notices to the Navy,” the CDA representative informed the judge.

    “What do you mean ‘you issued notices’,” asked Justice Minallah. “Demolish the illegal buildings,” he said.

    READ: Islamabad admin at odds with Navy over construction of elite sailing club

    Last week, the navy had clarified that the land in question was, in fact, allotted to it in 1994 for the development of a water sports centre. A statement issued at the time had asserted that navy divers are trained at the club who, then, take part in rescue operations in all four provinces and the federally administrative units, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir, as the club is the only such facility in the north of the country.

    Citing a 1994 order of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the CDA official informed the court that the permission to build the sports facility was granted by prime minister of the day, Benazir Bhutto.

    However, the judge ordered the CDA to seal the facility before the next hearing, saying in case the authority fails to comply, the court will summon Cabinet Secretary Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera. He also directed the issue to be presented before the cabinet.

    The judge wondered if the flagship military project was supported by any legal provision providing space for a purportedly commercial project.

    When a Pakistan Navy representative, who was present in the court, sought time to submit a response, Justice Minallah asked what did the navy need time for. “We respect you, appreciate your sacrifices and honour your martyrs but an illegal construction isn’t allowed,” he said.

    “Why are you defending something which is indefensible [according to relevant laws],” he questioned.

    “Islamabad is the country’s capital, not a tribal area. No one is above the law. Not even this court.”

  • KP launches e-challan system in Bajaur

    KP launches e-challan system in Bajaur

    In Bajaur district of erstwhile Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) now merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) the provincial government has introduced e-challan system to curb traffic violations.

    Reportedly, the system has been in practice since July 16 and more than 120 e-challans have already been served. 

    For now, eight traffic police officials are trained to handle the new system and they are assigned duties across Bajaur district. 

    The traffic wardens think that the new system is highly efficient, safe and flawless. However, many people are not familiar with it. Police officials are also working to spread awareness about the new system. 

    According to the district police officer (DPO) of Bajaur district, e-challan system enforcement in the area is an effort made to bring the dream of a digital Pakistan a step closer to its materialisation.”

    “This facility is ultimately for the convenience of the masses as they won’t have to visit a bank and wait in long queues to deposit challans. Now everything can be done digitally, which would save time and energy.”

  • Afghan girl shoots down two Taliban militants who killed her parents

    Afghan girl shoots down two Taliban militants who killed her parents

    An Afghan girl has shot down two Taliban militants who killed her parents and wounded several others with the AK-47 rifle

    The militants had captured the family home in the village of Griwa because the girl’s father supported the government.

    They had dragged the father and mother from the home before murdering them, local officials in Ghor province said.

    The girl, Qamar Gul, aged between 14 and 16, had taken the family’s AK-47 rifle and killed the two of the killers. The group denies any of its fighters died.

    Later, more militants came to attack the house but villagers and government troops fought them off.

    The girl and her younger brother were shifted to a safe place by security forces, Mohamed Aref Aber, spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP.

    Photos of Gul went viral on social media where people praised her for her bravery.

    https://twitter.com/Indian46899293/status/1285511798594998272?s=20

  • Punjab passes bill to protect Islam; crackdown on printing presses, publishers, book stores to follow

    The Punjab Assembly has passed the Punjab Tahaffuze Bunyade Islam Bill 2020, which Law Minister Raja Basharat says will prevent blasphemy of Holy Prophets (AS), Companions (RA) of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Ahle Bait (RA) and Umhatul Momineen (RA).

    According to the minister, it will also prevent blasphemy of holy figures of other religions and the holy personalities of all religions beside helping to eradicate sectarianism and religious hatred.

    The printing and publication of objectionable material have been prohibited under the bill that also bars publishers, editors or translators from printing or publishing any books and material that consists of photographs or pictures of suicide bombers, terrorists, except as required by law enforcing agencies for purposes of investigation.

    Moreover, the new law has also made it mandatory that “the blessed name of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) be preceded by the title Khataman Nabiyyin or Khatamun Nabiyyin followed by ‘Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam’ in Arabic text”.

    The law has also empowered Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) to visit and inspect the premises of printing presses, offices of publication houses and book stores.

    After the passage of the bill in the Punjab Assembly, Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said it was a historic one. “I am highly thankful to Almighty Allah on its passage. This bill will prove a milestone in the protection of Islam and its supremacy. The federation and provinces should follow us in this regard. A similar one should also be passed by Centre and all provinces, and enforced all over Pakistan. The Section Number 3/F of this bill should be Article 295 of Pakistan Penal Code 1860,” the speaker said.

    He also thanked National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser for taking personal interest in this matter while praising Hafiz Ammar Yasir as well as Opposition Leader Hamza Shehbaz among other provincial lawmakers who played their full role in the passage of the bill.

  • WWE legend The Undertaker joins TikTok

    WWE legend The Undertaker joins TikTok

    World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) legend The Undertaker shocked fans with a bombshell by creating an account on TikTok.

    He was away from social media for the longest time but then he joined Twitter two years ago, and Instagram just last year. After creating an account on TikTok, the legend has over 59,000 followers on the app despite not posting anything as of yet.

    Undertaker has preserved the nature of his character for the longest time and has a persona of a macho guy, that is why fans were stunned over the development given the content on TikTok doesn’t really go with the stature of his personality. Consequently, people started posting memes on Twitter.

    All in all fans were bewildered by Undertaker’s move to the social media app.

    Have something to add to the story? Share in the comments below.

  • KYA BOLA? (Jul 23): Bilawal gifting mangoes to Maryam Nawaz to ‘Siyasi Wali’ Fayazul Hasan Chohan

    KYA BOLA? (Jul 23): Bilawal gifting mangoes to Maryam Nawaz to ‘Siyasi Wali’ Fayazul Hasan Chohan

    Following are some snippets that stood out from Urdu newspapers on July 23, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.

    Bilawal gifts mangoes to Maryam Nawaz

    It has been reported by Daily Dunya that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has gifted mangoes to former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz

    The mango delivery comes at a time when the two largest opposition parties, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and PPP, are in talks to work out a strategy and take entire opposition on board to get rid of the current government. Maryam is one of PML-N’s vice presidents.

    ‘Mein apni he sarzameen pr marna chahta hun’

    In his column for Daily Jang, renowned senior journalist and analyst Saleem Safi has narrated his experience of being abducted from Afghanistan by Taliban in 1999. After his release, he was offered political asylum in the United States (US) and Norway but he said,“Mein apni he sarzameen pr rehna aur marna chahta hun.”

    ‘Mujhe siyasi wali tasleem kr lein’

    Daily Dunya has quoted Punjab Information Minister Punjab Fayazul Hasan Chohan as saying that, “Meri paishgoiyan sach saabit honay pr opposition mujhe siyasi wali tasleem kr le.”

    Fayaz had predicted that the PML-N and PPP would not be able to work together as seen in the past as well, and the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) believes that the opposition’s latest alliance for the ouster of the government has turned out to be futile amid differences between leadership of both the parties.

  • Pakistani businessman fined eight buffaloes for insulting indigenous groups in Malaysia

    Pakistani businessman fined eight buffaloes for insulting indigenous groups in Malaysia

    A Pakistani man has been fined eight buffaloes and eight gongs by a court on the Malaysian part of Borneo for insulting indigenous groups, an official said on Wednesday.

    The island is home to a kaleidoscope of tribes and, in the Malaysian part, special courts deal with indigenous laws and customs.

    According to reports, Amir Ali Khan Nawatay was ordered to pay the unusual fine by a native court in Sabah state after he pleaded guilty to making insulting comments about indigenous groups in May and June.

    Kota Marudu district chief Baintin Adun, who presided over Tuesday’s case, said recordings of the 50-year-old businessman’s comments had spread on social media, sparking a lot of rage.

    “We want to make this an example so other people don’t do the same thing again,” he said. “I want to appeal to the society that if there are misunderstandings or arguments, don’t mention another person’s race.”

    He did not reveal exactly what the Pakistani said. The businessman is a permanent resident of Malaysia, official news agency Bernama reported.

    Baintin said Amir had one month to pay the fine, or risked incurring a 4,000 ringgit ($940) fine or 16 months in jail, or both.

    Buffaloes and gongs are traditionally viewed as valuable items in indigenous communities in Sabah, and so can be used as a form of payment to settle grievances or even wedding dowries.

    Gong

    Race is a sensitive issue in multi-ethnic Malaysia, and Sabah is one of its most diverse states, with numerous indigenous groups.

    Borneo, shared between Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, is home to vast swathes of jungle and numerous exotic species.

  • Naya Pakistan: US report says Pakistan ‘most improved’ country in nuclear security

    Naya Pakistan: US report says Pakistan ‘most improved’ country in nuclear security

    A leading United States (US) non-proliferation watchdog has ranked Pakistan as the most improved in the security of those countries holding nuclear materials, improving its overall score by seven points.

    In its annual report, the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) said, “Pakistan’s improvements in the Security and Control Measures category are significant because strengthened laws and regulations result in durable boosts in Pakistan’s score as well as provide sustainable security benefits.”

    The NTI Nuclear Security Index is a public benchmarking project of nuclear security conditions on a country-by-country basis in 176 countries. Laura Kennedy, a former American diplomat, also commended Pakistan’s improvement in security ranking.

    “One welcome bit of news reported by #NTIindex is that #Pakistan ranked as most improved in security of those countries holding nuclear materials,” she tweeted.

    The report stated that the majority of Pakistan’s improvements are in the Security and Control Measures category because of its passage of new regulations. The country also improved in the Global Norms category.

    It said that Pakistan improved its score with the passage of time with eight points in 2014, two in 2016, and six in 2018 owing to new regulations for on-site physical protection.

    “In 2016, it passed new cybersecurity regulations. In 2018, it improved its insider threat protection. Its newest regulations mark a much larger shift.”

    The report further stated that Pakistan’s score improvement for regulatory measures is the second-largest improvement for regulations in the Index since 2012.

    Among countries with weapons-usable nuclear materials, Australia ranked first for the fifth time. It also ranks first in the sabotage ranking for the third time. Despite its repeated position at the top of the ranking, Australia continues to better its score, improving by +1 in both rankings.

    The report stated that among countries with weapons-usable nuclear materials, Canada and Switzerland tie for second, Germany is fourth, and the Netherlands and Norway tie for fifth.

    Among countries with nuclear facilities in the sabotage ranking, Canada, Finland, and the United Kingdom rank second, third, and fourth, respectively, and Germany and Hungary are tied for fifth.

    New Zealand and Sweden tie for first in the theft ranking for countries without weapon-usable nuclear materials, followed by Finland (third), Denmark and South Korea(tied for fourth), and Hungary and Spain (tied for sixth).

    In the ranking for 153 countries and Taiwan without materials, New Zealand and Sweden tie for first.