The government of Sindh on Tuesday decided to impose a new tax on the use of water in the province, Profit reported.
A draft of law comprising recommendations for the proposed tax has been prepared and the officials of local government department will brief the members of the provincial cabinet over the upcoming Sindh Water Tax Act in a meeting.
The draft of the law suggests Rs1 per litre tax on water, sources said. The tax will be recovered from the mineral water companies, according to sources.
Proposed tax will also be recovered from the soft drinks manufacturing companies, as per the report
The revenue generated by the proposed tax will be distributed among the Karachi Water Board and the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA).
Writer and director Khalilur Rehman Qamar, who is not new to controversy and is rather infamous for his misogynist views both on and off the screen, has abused journalist and rights activist Marvi Sirmed on live television.
According to the details, Qamar on Tuesday appeared on a talk show to discuss the aftermath of a petition against the forthcoming Aurat March being trashed by the Lahore High Court (LHC). The petition calling the march “un-Islamic” with a ” hidden agenda to spread vulgarity” was wrapped up by the court that said it couldn’t be banned under the law of the land.
“First of all, the court has barred them [women marchers] from using filthy slogans like ‘mera jism, meri marzi’ [my body, my choice],” Qamar can be heard as saying in a video clip of the show doing rounds over the internet, in reference to the court’s order that participants of the march should “refrain from hate speech and immorality”.
Attempting to launch a tirade against the phrase, Qamar can then be heard as criticising Sirmed for using such slogans, to which the journalist reacts with murmuring the same that had led to a war of words over the internet after the slogan went viral following last edition of the annual Aurat March.
While some say the slogan ‘mera jism, meri marzi’ is “vulgar” and is used by women marchers in “an attempt to westernise the Pakistani society”, the marchers themselves say it pertains to “the right of choice and that to safety of women and even minor girls who are subjected to sexual assault in this very society”.
“Don’t interrupt!” the writer tells Sirmed in a rather aggressive tone, to which the rights activist once again chants the same slogan but in a louder voice.
“What is there in your body? Who the hell are you? Go take a look at your body… no man spits on you,” Qamar adds while also abusing Sirmed who continues to repeatedly chant “mera jism, meri marzi“.
WATCH VIDEO:
Khalil Ur Rehman hurled expletives and profanities at @marvisirmed and the anchorperson didn’t even stop him?!
The third panellist, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) Senator Maulana Faiz Muhammad, and the host of the television show can in the meantime be seen requesting Sirmed to stop talking and hear Qamar out.
With netizens losing it over the remarks made by Qamar and also calling out the host of the show for doing nothing to stop him, here’s what the anchor has to say:
Peshawar Zalmi captain Daren Sammy has slammed rumours that implied that he has developed differences with the team owner Javed Afridi after he was rested for Monday’s game against Karachi Kings. Sammy asserted that no one can come between him and his ‘baby’.
I can’t believe that the media would think that my bro @JAfridi10 and I would ever have an issue. I’m actually laughing at this. Listen guys I love this man as my own brother. Are u guys serious @PeshawarZalmi is my baby and nothing comes between us. Absolutely nothing. pic.twitter.com/oRc5J5EiCN
Rumours of differences began to emerge after Sammy posted a cryptic tweet after he was rested for the game. Wahab Riaz captained the team in Sammy’s absence.
I’ve learnt that you are important until you’ve completed your role. #dealingwithhumans
Following Sammy’s tweet, reports emerged that Sammy was upset with the decision to rest him. Zalmi had replaced Sammy with Carlos Brathwaite. The decision was allegedly taken after Sammy’s struggled for form and fitness because of which Zalmi have descended to the fifth position on the PSL 2020 points table.
The decision to replace Sammy, however, did not work as well as the management expected. Brathwaite managed to score only 8 runs and Peshawar lost the match.
Shoaib Akhtar, on the other hand, claimed that Sammy had a falling out with Afridi. Shoaib extended his support towards Sammy whom he termed a hero. Akhtar also commented that Shahid Afridi was also once part of the team.
However, last week, Sammy and Afridi were spotted cruising on the streets of Islamabad.
Look who’s driving this time in Islamabad. One & only @darensammy88 . Thank you for bringing this day of festivity (PSL) to Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/Ezxm8i7H8o
Later in the day (Tuesday), Zalmi head coach Mohammad Akram also held a media talk in Rawalpindi in which he refuted the resports and revealed that it was his decision to rest Sammy against Karachi, adding that Sammy, too, was in agreement that he needed rest.
The head coach explained that resting players is nothing new, also saying that Sammy was given a break to “work on his form and fitness”.
Meanwhile, Sammy has become the first international cricket player to receive the highest civilian award and honorary citizenship of Pakistan for his contribution to the development of cricket in the country.
President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi will confer both the citizenship and award, the ‘Nishane Pakistan’, on March 23.
Former New Zealand cricketer, Grant Elliott, who made PSL history with his iconic bat drop during the second edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017 may not be making any sixes on the field for Lahore Qalandars this year but he’s definitely winning the Dubsmash game and is having a blast in Pakistan with his fellow commentators Azhar Ali and Fakhre Alam.
Watch the video to see what we’re talking about.
In case your memory needs a refresher, here is his epic bat drop moment.
James Louis Lipton passed away and Pakistan’s actor Mahira Khan penned a heartfelt note for the departed soul. Turns out that Mahira Khan is a diehard fan of the American writer, lyricist, and actor. The actress took to Twitter to share an emotional tribute.
Heart just sank!! Thank you James Lipton for a show I have watched and rewatched (still watch) for as long as I can remember. ‘What would you like God say to you when you enter the pearly gates of heaven?’ Rest In Peace♥️ https://t.co/p5oyjKOS50
James Louis Lipton was the executive producer, writer, and host of the Bravo cable television series ‘Inside the Actors Studio‘. He founded and hosted the show for 25 years interviewing many and celebrities of the years.
Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules 2020 suspended when more than 100 rights organisations and individuals boycott consultation with government, DAWN reported.
The right groups in a statement said that the government had refused to elaborate on the legal status of the rules, so “any consultation is merely token to deflect criticism and not a genuine exercise to seek input.”
According to the report, when Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Amir Azeem Bajwa was approached to seek clarification, he said: “The rules are expected to be improved/amended suitably at the end of the consultation process. Implementation of [existing] rules has been suspended.”
This Monday, the PTA chairman-led committee that the IT minister formed following the premier’s instruction from consultation with stakeholders. Additional Secretary of IT Eazaz Aslam Dar, Digital Pakistan head Tania Aidrus and the focal person on digital media Dr Arslan Khalid are committee members.
On the contrary, the Federal Minister for human rights Dr shireen Mazari and barrister Ali Zafar are also expected to be a part of the process.
According to the press release of PTA, the committee decides to initiate an open consultation with all stakeholders including civil society, human and digital rights groups.
PTA further added that a questionnaire seeking input from all stakeholders shall be posted on its official website.
PM’s focal person on digital media Arslan Khalid said all proceedings would be “inclusive” and done in a “transparent” manner. “The rules have not been implemented. Prime Minister Imran Khan has clearly instructed for robust and broad-based consultations before any rules can be put into place,” he told Dawn.
Claim: Former CJP Saqib Nisar’s daughter in law wore an outfit made by an Indian designer for her Valima
Fact: Former CJP Saqib Nisar’s daughter in law wore by Élan’s Champs-De-Patchouli collection launched in 2017 and another outfit by Dr Haroon.
Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar’s son Najam Saqib tied the knot in a grand wedding over the weekend. For the unacquainted, Nisar was the mastermind behind the Prime Minister and Chief Justice of Pakistan Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand Dam Fund. His son’s wedding had a string of events including a qawali, mehndi, baraat and valima.
Pictures from the events soon went viral on social media and reports began to circulate that Nisar’s daughter-in-law was wearing a Rs 1.5 crore outfit by Indian designer Anita Dongre on the valima. The Current did some digging and it turns out that the reports are incorrect because the bride, Rida wore an outfit by Élan on her valima. It was from the brand’s Champs-De-Patchoulicollection launched in 2017.
Élan’s bridals start from Rs 10 lakhs.
The bride’s makeup was done by Mariam Khawaja while Irfan Ahson did the photography.
Meanwhile, Rida wore a red outfit by Dr Haroon on her baraat.
NADRA, PTA spokespersons reject claims against their respective departmentsas data leakmakes headlines
In a massive breach of privacy, personal and sensitive data of millions — if not hundreds of millions of Pakistanis — has been leaked over the internet as blame game continues between the authorities concerned with none of them willing to take the fall for the divulgence.
According to the details, multiple smartphone applications and websites, one of which is Sim Database Online, are hosting millions of Pakistani telecom users’ sensitive data such as their Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) numbers, names and even residential addresses, all of which can be accessed by simply entering the victim’s mobile number.
Not only does the web-based application further goes on to reveal other mobile numbers registered in the name of the privacy breach victim, but also claims to be providing services such as mobile phone tracking.
A screen grab of ‘Sim Database Online’
“Such applications have been around for quite some time now and most probably are the reason behind the recent spike in number of identity theft incidents in Pakistan,” sources told The Current, adding that leaks of government-held databases remain the biggest contributor to identity theft-related crimes in the country, around 50,000 of which were reported in 2019 alone.
Some groups on Facebook are also offering information regarding driving licences, current location, call details and even criminal records associated with any CNIC numbers if you pay them, sources claimed. “You can even dig out the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) family trees associated with a CNIC for a few hundred rupees.”
They went on to claim it wasn’t just Pakistanis’ confidential data that was being hosted by such web applications. “Sensitive personal information of Afghans and Indians can also easily be accessed through these websites, but there appears to be no urgency among authorities of the three countries to protect their citizens,” they claimed.
When asked if NADRA or the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) were to be held responsible for the leak, they blamed the latter, saying the watchdog had failed to keep an eye on what the country’s telecommunication companies were doing with sensitive data of their customers.
“How else do you the inboxes of so many people get flooded with text advertisements?” sources questioned, alleging that a data archive of registered telecom users was leaked online in August 2017.
“The archive contains information about registered mobiles users of Pakistan categorised by their telecom companies. It is publicly available and contains personal information recorded to verify SIM cards. Despite the leaked information being brought to light by many, the data remains available.”
Speaking to The Current, an information technology (IT) expert said that e-governance came with a set of standards across the world. “If you give access to someone, you have to follow these standards and maintain a certain security level. But unlike the rest of the world… where they have emergency response teams to investigate such issues, Pakistan has had no such probes I know of.”
“Instead of having teams that react to such incidents, we need certain proactive measures,” the IT expert said, adding that privacy over the internet was a right of the users, and most identity theft-related crimes could be linked to data leaks associated with government bodies over the years.
NADRA & PTA:
When approached, NADRA spokesperson Faik Ali told The Current that there was no truth to the claims being made regarding the role of the authority in the data leak as it very carefully managed the sensitive registration database of all citizens.
“NADRA has nothing to do with it,” he said and also rubbished claims regarding a data breach from two years ago.
“We had in 2018 also denied accusations of leakage of voters’ data ahead of the general election,” he said, adding that it was also clarified by the authority in a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). “There has never been a data breach in the history of NADRA and we have never shared any citizen’s data with anyone.”
Faik also reiterated NADRA’s commitment to protect sensitive data of all citizens come what may.
PTA Public Relations Director Khurram Mehran, on the other hand, rejected all claims regarding the watchdog’s alleged inability to protect the data of telecom networks’ customers, saying that no telecommunication companies were involved in releasing confidential information of their customers.
He, however, said that action would be taken against any company if evidence to support such claims is there.
To a query, the PTA spokesperson further said if there were any such cases, they were to be dealt under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) provisions by the agency concerned, as they were cybercrime cases.
Repeated attempts were made to contact the chairperson of Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunication, Rubina Khalid, but she was unavailable.
Despite being an annual event, every year when the date of the Aurat March approaches, people begin to lose their calm and begin to target the march, its organisers and women in general. This year, the march’s posters were torn down and a petition was filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) against the march. The petitioner had claimed that the march was ‘anti-state’ and ‘anti-Islamic’. However, the LHC disposed of the petition.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator and senior member Sherry Rehman, while condemning the outrage against the march, slammed JUI-F’s Maulvi Faiz Muhammad who had remarked that “Mera jism meri marzi azaadi nahi, awargi hai (My body, my choice is not freedom, it is obscenity).”
Rehman not only defended the march but also slammed Maulvi Faiz for his comments on the march.
Human rights lawyer, Nighat Dad took to Twitter to support the powerful response.
It is pertinent to mention here that the PPP, including Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari, has thrown its weight behind the march and are supporting it.
Minister for Human Rights, Shireen Mazari also tweeted her support for the march.
Our govt is committed to ensuring an end to discrimination against & harassment of women & has put in place programmes, policies & legislative measures to empower women & girls.
The Aurat March is scheduled to take place on March 8 to commemorate International Women’s Day. Last year, women from all across Pakistan came together to participate in the march.
Ayyan Ali was arrested at Islamabad airport on March 14, 2015 for travelling with $500,000 and later, a currency smuggling case was filed against her for allegedly trying to smuggle money to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Ayyan spent four months in Adiala Jail and her name was also put on the Exit Control List (ECL). However, she was granted bail in July 2016. She flew to Dubai after the court ordered the removal of her name from ECL.
Meanwhile, in November 2018, Ayyan had promised to return with a bang and had shared an update regarding her ongoing cases.
