Author: newsdesk

  • ‘Princess Diana’s wedding inspired me to pursue fashion’: HSY

    ‘Princess Diana’s wedding inspired me to pursue fashion’: HSY

    Fashion maestro Hassan Sheheryar Yasin, popularly known as HSY, recently appeared as a guest on Ahmed Ali Butt’s podcast, ‘Excuse Me,’ where he reminisced about his younger days and discussed his fashion inspirations.

    Hassan Shehryar Yasin recalled spending time in a women’s hostel with his mother, where he would enter and exit through the window because children were not allowed to stay with their mothers in the hostel.

    “I was so scared of being caught that I didn’t speak for two months,” he said.

    When Hassan started working abroad at the young age of 12, he realised that having money would lead to a better life.

    “I’ve had many different jobs. I worked at a petrol station, a burger shop, and even carried bricks at construction sites,” he remembered.

    Talking about his journey to becoming a fashion designer, HSY reveals that Princess Diana’s wedding played an important role in inspiring him.

    “I watched Princess Diana’s wedding with my mom and loved her dress. I thought, ‘That’s what makes someone famous.’ I wanted to make clothes like that too. I even made tissue paper dresses for my sister. That’s how my dream of becoming a fashion designer started,” he said.

    HSY deems his first fashion show as “a turning point” in his career.

    He auditioned in Lahore in 1994 and got selected. “It was a dream come true,” he says.

    “I rose to fame quickly, but I don’t attribute it to any special talent or skill. I believe it was pure luck and divine blessings that got me where I am today. I’m just grateful for the opportunity to do what I love,” HSY believes.

  • After major relief by SC, trouble for Khan in May 9 case

    After major relief by SC, trouble for Khan in May 9 case

    A day before the Supreme Court granted major relief to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the reserved seats case, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) affirmed the allegations of Imran Khan’s involvement in the May 9 conspiracy against the state in its verdict.

    Senior journalist Ansar Abbasi has stated that while Friday’s SC verdict was a major political victory for PTI and Khan, the verdict by ATC Lahore is a major setback for them.

    Lahore’s anti-terrorism court has become the first judicial forum to uphold that Imran Khan and senior PTI leaders hatched an anti-state conspiracy on May 9.

    Justice Khalid Arshad of the ATC Lahore upheld the prosecution’s view that Khan, in collusion with PTI’s top leadership, was involved in a conspiracy and war against the state on May 9 of last year.

    The court also rejected Khan’s bail application while pointing out that the court was not convinced by founder PTI’s allegation that he was being targeted with politically motivated case.

  • No intention to form government with PPP, says Barrister Gohar Ali Khan

    No intention to form government with PPP, says Barrister Gohar Ali Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has said that the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision on reserved seats put a dead stop to predictions of a ban on PTI, ARY News reported.

    Khan told journalists that his party has no intention of forming a coalition government with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

    “This option was also available to us on February 09,” Barrister Gohar remarked.

    “We will act as a strong opposition party,” the PTI chairman said.

    Gohar Khan also clarified that the party’s top leadership didn’t decide anything about the no-confidence motion.

    “The option of talks still is open,” Gohar stated.

    Previously, the top court on Friday announced its verdict about reserved seats and allowed PTI to obtain their reserved seats in National and provincial assemblies.

  • Does Yashma Gill admire Babar Azam? 

    Does Yashma Gill admire Babar Azam? 

    When actresses and cricketers interact, it creates pure magic. Fans often wonder if they exchange messages. This topic has been in the spotlight lately, with many wondering if cricketers send messages to actresses and if actresses respond.
    Recently, actress Yashma Gill appeared on ‘Elaichi’s The Fahad Ansari Show’. During the podcast, host Fahad Ansari asked, “Who is your favourite cricketer among the national players?”
     
    “I like Babar Azam because he represents Pakistan on the international stage and is one of the world’s best batsmen,” Yashma replied.

    She praised Babar’s performance and declared his success to be Pakistan’s success.

    Talking about messages from cricketers to actresses, Yashma said, “I have never encountered a situation where any actress informed me about receiving messages from cricketers. Personally, I have never received any messages from cricketers, nor have I ever initiated any communication with a cricketer. I have never had any conversations with cricketers or had the opportunity to meet any of them so far.”
    Discussing friendships with players on the national cricket team, “You can be friends with cricketers; why not? They are talented and represent our country with pride. I don’t want to be friends with Babar Azam, but if we do become friends, there is no harm in it.

  • Two ICC officials resign over T20 World Cup mismanagement

    Two ICC officials resign over T20 World Cup mismanagement

    Two key International Cricket Council (ICC) officials have resigned over the mismanagement during the T20 World Cup 2024.

    According to media reports, Head of Events Chris Tetley and GM Marketing and Communications Claire Furlong have resigned from their posts ahead of the ICC Annual Meeting starting on July 19 in Colombo.

    Both resigned in the midst of demands for an investigation, but the world cricket body did not issue any statement regarding the resignations.

    The World Cup, held in the USA and West Indies, was reportedly marred by several complaints from board members. ICC director Pankaj Khimji called for an inquiry into the over budgeting and increased expenditures of the T20 World Cup. He sent a letter to all board members requesting a review and audit, resulting in a number of resignations.

    According to the report, substantial sums of money were spent during the T20 World Cup, leading to decreased revenue. The USA, as co-host, observed the event as a spectator, while all responsibilities rested with ICC officials, including those appointed for T20 USA. CEO Brett Jones had a close relationship with Chris Tetley.

    Media reports suggest that this matter will be discussed in detail at the ICC annual meeting and that an investigation into the budget is possible.

  • Omar Ayub calls for initiating treason case against CEC Sikandar Raja

    Omar Ayub calls for initiating treason case against CEC Sikandar Raja

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan has called for the invocation of Article 6 (Guilty of high treason) against the members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) because they misinterpreted the Constitution, leading to the removal of the party’s electoral symbol—the bat.

    His remarks came after the recent Supreme Court verdict granting PTI reserved seats for women and minorities—a right previously revoked by the ECP.

    “I congratulate the entire Pakistan on this auspicious day and the entire legal team,” Ayub said, hailing the Supreme Court’s ruling in a press conference.

    He also stated that the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, Sikandar Sultan Raja, and four other members of the ECP should resign from their offices immediately.

  • CJP Isa doesn’t want extension in his tenure, says Azam Nazeer Tarar

    CJP Isa doesn’t want extension in his tenure, says Azam Nazeer Tarar

    Law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has said on Saturday that Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa informed him that he doesn’t want to stay the top judge longer than his current term, Geo News reported.

    Tarar said on Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ that CJP told him in the presence of the Attorney and General that he doesn’t want an extension in his tenure.

    “I told him (CJP) no such thing is happening at all,” Azam Nazeer said, adding that the CJP then praised him for clarifying the issue.    

    Tarar also said that he told the CJP about pension reforms, which comprised a recommendation to increase the age of retirement by two years, applying to all the sectors.

  • Naseem Shah’s NOC rejected for ‘The Hundred League’

    Naseem Shah’s NOC rejected for ‘The Hundred League’

    The National team fast bowler Naseem Shah did not receive a No Objection Letter (NOC) for The Hundred League.

    Naseem Shah had a contract with Birmingham Phoenix in the league, for which an NOC was applied to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). However, his NOC was rejected by the board for workload management and as a precautionary measure against injuries.

    The cricketer has been informed.

    The bowler had faced fitness problems last year, and with the World Test Championship being a crucial match, he is a cricketer of all three formats.

    Naseem Shah was included in the Hundred League’s most expensive category, with a price tag of 1 lakh 25 thousand pounds (4.5 crore PKR).

  • PTI Wins: What does the Supreme Court verdict mean?

    PTI Wins: What does the Supreme Court verdict mean?

    In a significant political and symbolic win for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), a thirteen-member bench of the Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the party has the legal and constitutional right to reserved seats.

    It was Justice Mansoor Ali Shah who, with his announcement of the 8-5 majority verdict, dismissed the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) order that had upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) ruling denying reserved seats to the Sunni Ittehad Council, which was backed by PTI.

    Geo News reported that eight Justices, Justices Athar Minallah, Shahid Waheed, Muneeb Akhtar, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Ayesha Malik, Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi, and Irfan Saadat Khan supported the verdict.

    The Supreme Court, in its verdict today, declared that a party’s lack of electoral symbol does not affect its legal rights to participate in an election.

    The Supreme Court also stated that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ‘misinterpreted’ its January 13 verdict of taking away PTI’s bat symbol and they never ruled that PTI could not participate in the elections.

    “PTI was and is a political party, which secured general seats in the national and provincial assemblies in the general elections of 2024,” emphasised the verdict.

    The ruling said that PTI should present a list of eligible candidates for the reserved seats to the electoral body within 15 days after the verdict.

    TIMELINE

    On 13 January 2024, the Supreme Court upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to revoke PTI’s electoral symbol ‘bat’. PTI leadership called the decision “unfair and damaging to democratic constitutionalism.”

    Following this landmark decision, PTI members contested the general elections as the party-backed independent candidates with their own allotted electoral symbols.

    Following the February 8 elections, PTI-backed independents won the highest number of seats, making history in the country.

    To get the reserved seats according to proportional representation, PTI-backed independents joined the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) because the laws dictated that only a political party could be eligible for the allocation of reserved seats.

    The SIC then approached the ECP on February 21 seeking allocation of reserved seats. However, the PTI suffered a setback after the electoral body, citing the party’s failure to submit its list of candidates, denied allocating the reserved seats to the SIC via its 4-1 majority verdict on March 4.

    The party then approached the Peshawar High Court on March 6, which, in yet another setback to the party, upheld the electoral body’s decision on the matter in its March 14 ruling.

    Subsequently, on April 2, the SIC moved the SC seeking to set aside the PHC verdict.

  • Gold price surges by Rs2,200 per tola amid renewed interest in investment

    Gold price surges by Rs2,200 per tola amid renewed interest in investment

    On Friday, the price of 24-karat gold in Pakistan increased by Rs2,200, bringing the total to Rs249,000 per tola. This rise follows the release of the US inflation report for June, which indicated the lowest price gains since 2021, sparking renewed interest in gold as an investment.

    Currently, the local price is about Rs2,800 lower than its actual cost, a discrepancy attributed to the reduced purchasing power of consumers.

    According to the Karachi Sarafa Association, the price of 24-karat gold is recorded at Rs213,477 per tola for a 10-gramme unit, reflecting a rise of Rs1,886 per tola. Meanwhile, the price of 22-karat gold has also seen an increase, now priced at Rs195,687 per 10-gramme.

    In contrast, silver prices in the domestic market have remained stable, with 24-karat silver being sold at Rs2,900 per tola and Rs2,486 per 10-gramme.

    On the global front, spot gold has levelled off after surpassing $2,400 per ounce, buoyed by the cooler-than-expected US inflation figures, which have raised hopes for an interest rate cut. On Thursday, gold closed 1.9 per cent higher, marking its most significant gain since March.

    The recent inflation data revealed the slowest growth in core consumer prices, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure, since 2021.

    This development has led traders to anticipate a September rate cut, with expectations for at least two quarter-point reductions in 2024, according to Bloomberg. Such lower borrowing costs are generally favourable for bullion, which does not yield interest.

    Gold’s current rally, which has seen a 17 per cent increase this year, is supported by strong demand from central banks, geopolitical tensions, and increased purchases from Chinese consumers, as the metal approaches its all-time high of $2,450.07 set in May.