Author: newsdesk

  • Eid ul Azha: Karachi woman sells cows at a cattle market

    Eid ul Azha: Karachi woman sells cows at a cattle market

    A woman, Ayesha Ghani has been selling sacrificial cows in Karachi’s cattle market ahead of Eid-ul-Azha 2020.

    Karachi’s cattle market at Super Highway is one of the most prominent cattle markets in the country and the 21-year-old is breaking stereotypes by selling the sacrificial animals at the cattle market

    According to details, Ghani lives in Karachi and goes to the market every day, selling at least 36 of her cows, bulls and calves on sale, with a price ranging from PKR 130,000 to PKR 700,000.

    “I have raised these animals at home on my own. That’s why I have a special affection towards them”, said Ayesha Ghani.

    Ghani also sells animals online on her social media sites  ‘Desi Cows’.

    “Most buyers are looking for animals available at economical prices, while prices have increased this year due to inflation,” she said, adding that the business has affected this year amid coronavirus outbreak.

    “I have been an animal lover all my life. However, this is the first time that I am personally selling animals in the market,” she said.

    Ghani hoped that women would get encouraged to see her and get more involved in this work. However, the challenges that she faces being a woman, standing in a male-dominated market are “bound to surface at first”.

    “After all, girls do face a lot of difficulties in our society but I have taken the first step and hope to see more women and girls stepping forward,” Ghani said.

    “Today, women are second to none and they should not consider themselves inferior to anyone. We can progress in every field,” she added. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBxfzSMOFjk
  • Rubina Ashraf returns home after battling COVID-19 for almost two months

    Rubina Ashraf returns home after battling COVID-19 for almost two months

    Rubina Ashraf is back home after battling COVID-19 in the hospital for almost two months. The actor tested positive for the virus on June 2 and was hospitalised on June 6.

    In an Instagram post, Ashraf’s daughter Minna Tariq shared the happy news and pictures of her mother back home.

    “To the smile, I thought I’ll never be able to see again, the hands I thought I’ll never get to kiss again,” wrote Minna in her post. “My beloved Amma fought for a month and came back to us. Each day I prayed to Allah to give me the most precious thing back. Looking at how each day she would fight back to come to us was the most beautiful feeling.”

    “This time not only taught me to care for her more but to know I am nothing without her,” she continued. “This picture and post is mostly to thank all the people who prayed for her, her fans who always messaged and asked about her and wished her well. Please keep her in your prayers.”

    Rubina also thanked her fans for praying for her in this difficult time.

    A couple of weeks ago, Minna had shared that her mother was still fighting the virus and was in the hospital.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CBvwxqGJD1f/

  • Shaan hits out at those criticising Gen Asim Bajwa, Pak Army

    Ever since the assets of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s special assistants were made public, people have been questioning how Special Assistant to the PM on Information and Broadcasting in honourary capacity Lt General Asim Bajwa acquired his wealth.

    Read more – ‘A son of the soil’: Mehwish Hayat, Shaan respond to Musharraf verdict

    Shaan stood up in defence of the official and said that he stands with him “for keeping the future of Pakistan secure and prosperous”. Shaan received a lot of flak for his comments following which he hit out at “bikay huway Twitterbaz (sold-out Twitterati)” for spreading paid propaganda.

    Later Shaan engaged with Twitter users and strongly defended the Pakistan Army and the PTI-led government.

    When someone suggested he leave the film industry and go fight on the border, Shaan replied: “My AK47 is my camera”.

    Ending his arguments, Shaan requested his followers to also fight against the dangers that lurk.

    This is not the first time Shaan has been embroiled in a debate on social media. Earlier, the actor had sparked controversy after he criticised the government for airing Turkish historical series Diriliş: Ertuğrul on PTV.

  • Punjab University set to establish climate research lab as HEC approves Rs100 million funds

    Lahore’s Punjab University (PU) is going to set up a climate research laboratory to look into accelerating climatic changes in the country, for which the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has approved Rs100 million funding.

    As per the details, the lab will run under the supervision of Department of Space Science Director Ziaul Haq while Sahida Adeela Batool will act as the co-principal investigator along with faculty members such as Khalid Mehmood and Salman Tariq.

    Ziaul Haq explained that “climatic change can trigger social inequalities and also increase social factors that lead to conflicts, displacement, changes in migration pattern and instability in the country”.

    “If proper measures aren’t taken in time, extreme weather events like temperature rise, flooding, drought, yield reduction, the spread of infectious diseases, deforestation and water scarcity will hit Pakistan.”

    He further explained that “the purpose of establishing the lab is because Pakistan does not possess high technical, professional and financial capacity to adapt, prevent or lessen the adverse impacts of climate change”.

    Satellite data and GIS analysis can provide cheap easy to adopt alternatives for the locals to adapt so that climatic changes can be prevented in due time.

  • After PTA’s ban on PUBG and Bigo, Supreme Court hints at blocking YouTube in Pakistan

    Amid Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) ban on popular online multiplayer game PUBG and social networking application Bigo besides a “final warning” to TikTok, the Supreme Court (SC) has reportedly hinted at banning YouTube in Pakistan.

    According to The Express Tribune, the apex court, while hearing the case of one Shaukat Ali involved in a sectarian crime, objected to unregulated content on social media, particularly comments regarding the judiciary, the armed forces and the government.

    We have no objection to freedom of expression, remarked Justice Qazi Muhammad Amin. “Our salaries are paid from the money of the people, they have the right to raise questions on our decisions and our performance,” he said. “But the Constitution also grants us the right to privacy,” added Justice Amin.

    He remarked that family members of the judiciary come under scrutiny on YouTube and referred to a decision announced a day earlier, which was discussed on the platform and asked whether the PTA and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had taken notice of such happenings on the platform where judges were mocked and embarrassed.

    A PTA official told the court that the PTA cannot remove objectionable content but can only report it.

    READ: Final warning to TikTok as PTA plans to ban it over vulgar content

    YouTube is banned in many countries, said Justice Mushir Alam, who was also on the bench. He asked whether anyone would dare post content against the United States (US) or the European Union (EU) on the platform.

    Justice Amin asked how many people had been prosecuted for such crimes while Justice Alam noted that social media was regulated through local laws in many countries.

    People are incited against the judiciary, the government and the armed forces, remarked Justice Amin.

    The court then issued notices to the attorney-general of Pakistan (AGP) and the Foreign Ministry on the matter.

    Pakistan’s digital space has been frequently restricted and is monitored closely through laws such as the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 as well by the federal agencies PTA and FIA.

  • Govt to automate petroleum sector for end to artificial shortages

    Govt to automate petroleum sector for end to artificial shortages

    The Petroleum Division has tasked energy and technology experts to carry out a technical assessment for the automation of the petroleum sector.

    With the help of technology, an automation system will be created that will record real-time data of petroleum products’ daily sales.

    The structured and organised real-time data will also help streamline the fuel supply countrywide which would make oil-sector self-sufficient, and save billions on its annual petroleum import bill.

    The government of Pakistan is working on a strategy to revamp the oil and gas sector of the country.

    The primary function is to supply uninterrupted fuel across Pakistan by recording daily sales of oil depots and petrol pumps along with increasing the technical and professional capacity of the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA).

    According to the officials of the Petroleum Division, they have drafted a bill that will legally bind oil depots and petrol pumps to allow the government to record daily sales once signed into law.

    Oil depots and petrol pumps will have no choice but to follow as in case of refusal, OGRA would be legally authorised to seal the disputing depots and pumps and cancel their licences.

    “The government will not approve the attitude of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) from now on and will put an end to the issue of artificial fuel shortage once and for all,” an official said.

  • KYA BOLA? (Jul 22): ‘Noon League pr aitebaar nahi’ to ‘Baadal mein chaand nahi’

    KYA BOLA? (Jul 22): ‘Noon League pr aitebaar nahi’ to ‘Baadal mein chaand nahi’

    Following are some snippets that stood out from Urdu newspapers on July 22, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.

    ‘Noon League pr aitebaar nahi’

    It was reported by Daily Jang senior leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Aitzaz Ahsan has said, “Noon League pr aitebaar nahi, apni party ko bhi raaye doonga k in se bach kr rahein.”

    The statement 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.

    ‘Lagta hai NDMA khatam krna parrayga‘

    According to Daily Jang, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed, while hearing the coronavirus suo motu case, has said,“NDMA arbon rupay kaisay kharch kr raha hai? Lagta hai idaara khatam karna paray ga.”

    The Supreme Court (SC) was criticising the National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) failure to ensure transparency in expenditures pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic and locust control.

    ‘Baadal aur chaand’

    It has been reported by Daily Dunya that Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad chaudhary has said, “Baadal hain tou chaand kaisay nazar aaye ga? Ruet App pr dekhein, chaand nazar ayega.”

    His statement came as the tussle between the Science & Tech Ministry and the Ruete Hilal Committee, which is now witnessed at least twice every year over moon-sighting methods, began on Tuesday. Zilhaj moon was not sighted and Eidul Azha is to be celebrated on August 1 in Pakistan.

  • Zobia Meer Case: Man’s wife responds to allegations

    The wife of Arsalan, the man who was seen beating and abusing his mother in the video, has responded to allegations of physical and verbal abuse.

    Taking to social media, Arsalan’s wife posted a video and said that the allegations her sister-in-law and mother-in-law have made are false. She said that her husband has asthma and she is six months pregnant.

    “My mother-in-law attacked my husband’s private parts which made him unconscious. She also attacked my private parts as she wanted to abort my child,” said the woman in the video.

    She also alleged that her mother-in-law beat her daughter and that Zobia Meer did not share the complete video.

    The woman further said that the mother and daughter broke their cars, hid their jewellery, ID cards and other papers.

    “They broke things in my room and even hid my daughter’s milk,” she added.

    According to the woman, Zobia is her husband’s half-sister and that the property that Zobia claimed they ran away with is in her husband’s name.

    Late Tuesday night, a video of a man beating and abusing his mother went viral on social media. Rawalpindi police registered a case against the culprit after the social media users including journalists, celebrities and social activists condemned the incident and demanded justice from the authorities.

  • Supreme Court criticises NDMA over lack of transparency in expenditure

    Supreme Court criticises NDMA over lack of transparency in expenditure

    The Supreme Court (SC) has criticised the National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) failure to ensure transparency in expenditures pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic and locust control.

    A five-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed, heard the coronavirus suo moto case, during which the CJP suggested abolishing the NDMA over the authority’s failure to explain its expenses.

    NDMA has yet to submit crucial documents, observed the CJP. “Where are the documents permitting imports of machinery from Al-Hafeez Crystoplast (Pvt) Ltd?” he asked. The CJP also inquired why the documents have not been submitted despite directives being issued thrice in this regard. Where are the details pertaining to chartering the aircraft and its payments, he asked further.

    The director of NDMA maintained before the court that the authority did not import machines from Al-Hafeez company.

    The owner of the company has yet to appear, noted the CJP. The real issue is non-compliance with customs and other laws, he remarked.

    Meanwhile, Justice Ijazul Hasan noted that the cost of the machinery has not been disclosed in the documents.

    Over Rs10.7 million was paid for the charter, observed the CJP. How were the payments made according to the charter agreement, he asked. How can someone give this much cash in Karachi, asked the CJP.

    Where are the documents pertaining to imports of vaccine and the medicines, asked the CJP

    The relevant authorities will have to satisfy the court, said the Attorney General.

    The CJP observed that it appeared that the NDMA would have to be abolished as its chief has failed to provide explanations.

    Perhaps a lot has gone wrong and attempts are being made to cover up, observed the CJP. Should contempt of court notices be issued to the NDMA chief, he asked.

    The institutions of the country should be run in a transparent manner, said the chief justice.

    The NDMA was given a free hand and hefty amounts to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, said Justice Hasan. The authority is answerable to the court and the people, he added.

    The NDMA is acquiring planes and machinery for locust control, noted the CJP. Transparency will have to be ensured through documents and not just verbal statements, he remarked, adding that it was not comprehensible how billions of rupees were being spent.

    From corona to floods to locusts, everything has been handed over to the NDMA, remarked Justice Hasan. But the NDMA’s admin member himself does not know anything, he added.

  • Son allegedly beats mother for property, cash

    Son allegedly beats mother for property, cash

    Late Tuesday night, a video of a man beating and abusing his mother went viral on social media. According to details, the man thrashed his mother for property and cash.

    The man’s sister Zobia Meer, who shared a video on social media, revealed all the details of the incident and said that she and her sister reported that violent act to the police but they released their brother an hour later. She added that they are trying to register an FIR but the police is not helping them in this matter.

    The video sparked outrage on social media and many journalists, celebrities, social activists and other members of the civil society condemned the incident and demanded justice for Meer and her mother.

    Ali Rehman Khan, Ushna Shah, Hamza Ali Abbasi and Armeena Khan also Tweeted to condemn the incident.

    https://twitter.com/ArmeenaRK/status/1285701130358587392?s=20

    https://twitter.com/AbbaxiObaid/status/1285695893186977793?s=20
    https://twitter.com/taimoordanish31/status/1285695945259257860?s=20

    Rawalpindi police registered a case against the culprit after the video went viral.

    Zobia Meer and her mother told all the details in a live session with Waqar Zaka.