Author: newsdesk

  • Imran Khan accused of spreading criminal conspiracy in May 9 cases

    Imran Khan accused of spreading criminal conspiracy in May 9 cases

    An Anti-terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore has approved a ten-day physical remand of founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan in cases related to May 9 violence.

    In the written order issued by Judge Khalid Arshad of ATC, the investigating officer has stated that Khan asked his party workers to attack military installations across the country in case he was arrested.

    Khan has also been accused of spreading criminal conspiracy through modern technology devices.

    The investigating officer requested a physical remand for voice-matching polygraphic and photogrammetric tests.

    The court ordered that Imran should be produced in court through video link on July 25.

  • Adnan Siddiqui talks about Humayun Saeed’s funny comment on his roles 

    Adnan Siddiqui talks about Humayun Saeed’s funny comment on his roles 

    The dynamic duo of Pakistani television, Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui, consistently captivate audiences with their on-screen chemistry.  

    Recently the two A-listers appeared as guests on ‘Fuchsia Magazine’, where both discussed professional insecurities. 
    “Adnan used to quietly take the good roles,” Humayun said.

    Adnan responded by explaining, “If there are three production houses, I pick the role I want from the one that isn’t Humayun’s. At Humayun’s production house, they choose the role for me. Despite this, we never felt insecure or jealous professionally. There was never any bitterness in our relationship. We never thought like that.”  

    While talking about Meray Paas Tum Ho,
    Saeed said, “I create dramas for the people, with characters that reflect Pakistani society. Mere Paas Tum Ho showcased middle-class life and achieved unprecedented ratings in the Pakistani drama industry. MPTH had an unmatched impact and became extremely famous. Mehwish’s character wasn’t presented negatively; any lady in her circumstances has the right to move on. In my opinion, I would have acted similarly. Danish was not he right partner since, as a character, he did not satisfy his wife’s desires. I became sympathetic to Danish by the end.”  

    Humayun and Adnan have worked together in dramas like Ishq Junoon, Deewangi, Mehndi, and Mere Paas Tum Ho.  Currently, there are starring in Gentleman, which airs on Green Entertainment’s every Sunday at 8:00 p.m.

  • Former Sri Lankan Under-19 cricket captain shot dead

    Former Sri Lankan Under-19 cricket captain shot dead

    Former Sri Lanka Under-19 cricket team captain Dhammika Niroshana was reportedly shot dead at his residence late on Tuesday night.

    According to media reports, the former captain was home with his wife and two children when the incident occurred.

    Police have sent the body for autopsy while further investigations are underway. He has been killed with a 12-bore gun; the police reached the spot as soon as the incident was reported.

  • Gandapur defiant: ‘No one can dare to ban PTI’

    Gandapur defiant: ‘No one can dare to ban PTI’

    As the federal government finds little support amongst allies for its recent controversial move to ban the single largest party in the National Assembly by number of seats, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur clapped back at the government saying, “No one can dare to ban the PTI.”

    The statement was said in a press conference in Peshawar yesterday while visiting the supreme Command Post Kohati Gate with the Peshawar commissioner, the KP Assembly speaker, the CCPO, and others to review security arrangements for Muharram processions.

    Gandpur remarked that the current rulers “stole the mandate” to get into power referring to the ruling coalition federal government.

    “They are talking about banning a political party [PTI] that secured the highest number of votes,” said the Chief Minsiter criticising the government.

  • Faith-healer arrested for raping teenaged girl

    Faith-healer arrested for raping teenaged girl

    Faisalabad’s Chak Jhumra police on Monday arrested a so-called faith healer who allegedly raped the 16-year-old daughter of his disciple. The girl was reportedly working at his residence.

    A city police spokesperson said a police team arrested the suspect in a raid on a place in Faisalabad where he was hiding.

    Police say that the girl, the daughter of a follower of the suspect, was left at his house to work as a house-help.

    The victim told the police that the suspect had been raping her for the last four months.

    Her medical examination also revealed that she was pregnant.

    Dawn reports that Punjab Women Protection Authority (PWPA) chairperson Hina Pervez Butt visited the survivor on behalf of the chief minister.

  • Slanty, Snackers, Twitch declared unfit for consumption

    Slanty, Snackers, Twitch declared unfit for consumption

    The Sindh Food Authority (SFA) has ordered a private company to immediately withdraw 11 packaged snacks from the market after a laboratory test declared them “unfit” for human consumption.

    “— Slanty Vegetable, Snackers Hot Masala, Snackers Pizza, Twitch Classic, Potato Sticks, Cheese Ball Masala, Cheese Balls Cheese, Kai Korean Hot, Kai Spicy Mala, Kai Mala Wok and Kai Korean Kimchi have been found by examination not fit for human consumption,” told SFA Director General Muzamil Hussain Halepoto to Imtiaz Ali from Dawn.

    Mr Halepoto directed the management of the said company to withdraw the products from the market within three days.

    He asserted that after the deadline, legal action would be taken against the company.

    He said around two and a half months ago, the said company had submitted 24 products for registration. The SFA had submitted its samples to the Food Testing Laboratory established at the Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Karachi, which had declared 11 of them unfit for human consumption.

    The products were submitted for testing on March 6.

    “It was found by examination of the test reports dated April 19 that the products did not meet the minimum required safety and quality standards and, therefore, were not fit for human consumption and pose a potentially significant health hazard to the public and it is also a serious violation of the law and regulations,” said the letter addressed to the private firm on Monday.

    The SFA chief has issued an order for “initiating full food recall” against the products.

    The DG’s order also provides a ‘remedy’ to the accused person /company. “If it feels aggrieved by such order, (the company/person) may pursue appropriate remedy i.e. appeal under relevant law of the said Act to the SFA Board within a period of one week,” says the letter.

    Halepoto called for other provincial food authorities to look into the issue in their respective jurisdiction for the safety of public health.

  • Processions underway across Pakistan amid tight security as mobile services remains disabled

    Processions underway across Pakistan amid tight security as mobile services remains disabled

    Ashura Muharram processions are being held nationwide today to commemorate the great sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and Karbala martyrs.

    On the day of Hazrat Hussain’s (RA) martyrdom in Karbala by the Yazidi army, funeral gatherings are being organised in various cities, and processions are being conducted.

    Stringent security arrangements have been implemented across the country, with mobile phone services also shut down in many cities.

    Karachi:

    The main procession of 10th Muharram started from Nishtar Park in Karachi and is proceeding along its traditional route, passing through MA Jinnah Road, Tibet Center, and concluding at Hussainia Iranian Kharadar.

    Mobile phone services are disrupted in several areas of the city today, and there is a prohibition on double riding of motorcycles, display of weapons, use of helicams, and flying drones in the city.

    Lahore:

    The main Ashura Day procession in Lahore commenced from Nisar Haveli within Mochi Gate and will culminate at Karbala Game Shah this evening.

    Mobile phone services will remain suspended today only in procession and assembly areas throughout Punjab.

    Peshawar:

    Twelve processions have been initiated from different Imam Bargahs in Peshawar, with the first procession commencing from Imam Bargah Syed Ali Shah Rizvi.

    Security for the processions involves 14,000 deployed police officers, bomb disposal units clearing procession routes, and closure of cellular and mobile phone services along all procession routes.

    Quetta:

    In Quetta, mobile phone services are suspended, and double riding of motorcycles is prohibited. The main procession will follow designated routes and conclude at Imam Bargah Hazara Nasirabad before Maghrib prayer.

    Islamabad:

    The main Ashura Day procession in Islamabad began from Imambargah Colonel Maqbool and will conclude at Imambargah Al-Padiq following designated routes.

    In Rawalpindi, the Ashura Day procession started from Imambargah Ashiq Hussain Teli Mohalla, with partial suspension of mobile phone services in surrounding areas.

    Mobile phone and internet services have been shut down in Muzaffarabad on Ashura Day.

  • Pakistan will visit New Zealand next year for white ball series

    Pakistan will visit New Zealand next year for white ball series

    The Pakistan cricket team will visit New Zealand next year for a white-ball series, during which they will play 5 T20Is and 3 ODIs.

    New Zealand Cricket has released the white ball series schedule against Pakistan.

    The white ball series between Pakistan and New Zealand will occur from March 16 to April 5 2025. The first T20 of the series will be played in Christchurch on March 16, followed by the second in Dunedin on March 18.

    The third T20I will be played in Auckland on March 21, the fourth in Tauranga on March 23 and the fifth T20I in Wellington on March 26.

    The ODI series will be played in Napier, Hamilton and Tauranga on March 29, April 2 and April 5.

    Cricket New Zealand also confirmed they are playing the Champions Trophy in Pakistan in their season schedule.

    Apart from this, New Zealand also confirmed the tri-nation tournament in Multan before the Champions Trophy.

  • Five detectives, two dogs get abducted while searching for thief

    Five detectives, two dogs get abducted while searching for thief

    Five detectives searching for a thief were abducted in Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa along with two sniffer dogs.

    According to the police, the abduction occurred in Malazai, a suburb of Tank. The kidnappers have demanded a ransom of 100 million rupees for the release of the hostages.

    DPO Tank Abdul Salam Khalid told Geo News that a person named Noor Ali had hired a private company from Kohat to investigate a petty robbery incident at a house.

    The team, along with two Khoji dogs, were abducted by unknown armed men when they were on their way to Kohat after the investigation.

    Among the hostages, Shoaib Khan, Rafiullah, and Rais Khan belong to Kirk, while Shahid Aziz Bhatti and Majid Ali Okara are residents of Punjab.

    According to the DPO, the investigation team was called without informing the police, who have now started investigating the incident.

  • BBC slammed for misleading headline about Israeli army dogs attacking Palestinian man

    BBC slammed for misleading headline about Israeli army dogs attacking Palestinian man

    British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), known for its support of Israeli war crimes, is yet again under fire for a misleading headline that portrayed the killing of a Palestinian man with Down’s Syndrome as a “lonely death”.” In contrast, he died after being attacked by a dog trained by the Israeli Defence Forces.

    The details of the report outline Mohammed Bhar’s killing. His mother told BBC that he was left to die by Israeli soldiers after being brutally attacked by the IDF’s dog. His parents later found his decomposed body on the street.

    However, the caption on X said, “The lonely death of Gaza man with Down’s Syndrome.”

    Netizens lambasted the choice of words, morphing the whole incident into a mere lonely death instead of a murder.

    A user quoted Middle East Eye for its appropriate headline, saying, “Gaza: Palestinian with Down syndrome ‘left to die ‘ by Israeli soldiers after combat dog attack.” The tweet read, “This is the headline a real news organisation would write. Why would you try to sanitise a brutal attack on a disabled man?”

    Another user stressed that BBC is not a credible source anymore because it avoids at all cost to hold Israel accountable. “An embarrassment for a national broadcaster,” he asserted.

    This is not a lonely death; it is a violent murder, another user emphasized.

    “You mean he was separated from his family, deliberately mauled by an IDF attack dog within earshot of them and left to die. His parents found his decomposing body later. That’s called murder,” a user named Natalie Holme Elsberg tweeted.

    In one of the responses, BBC was criticised for the choice of words. “Lonely? Strange adjective to describe the death of someone who was murdered by an armed gang.”