Author: newsdesk

  • PTA files written request with TikTok to remove Hareem Shah’s videos

    PTA files written request with TikTok to remove Hareem Shah’s videos

    Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), in a written complaint, has requested TikTok to remove Hareem Shah and Sundal Khattak’s videos from the app.

    According to reports, the government has requested TikTok to remove videos posted by Shah and Khattak after they received complaints regarding their videos. A PTA spokesperson shared that they have written to TikTok to remove videos posted by the two women, though he denied receiving a request to suspend or delete Shah and Khattak’s accounts.

    The spokesperson explained that PTA wants TikTok to “defuse” the videos.

    Shah and Khattak became popular after they shared videos of themselves with high-profile people, including ministers and politicians, on the app. Those videos were widely shared on other social media apps as well. However, the two were thrust into the public eye after Shah shared a video of herself walking around a conference room at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). The video sparked a controversy prompting the government to order an inquiry into the matter.

    Read more – Everything you need to know about Tiktok star Hareem Shah

    Other videos of Hareem — featuring Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed and Punjab Information Minister Fayazul Hasan Chohan — had also gone viral on the internet with the claim that Rasheed had “also sent Hareem inappropriate videos”.

    “What about all those naked videos you used to send me have you forgotten about them?” Hareem can be heard as saying to the federal minister in one of the videos of their telephonic conversation, following which Rasheed abruptly disconnected the call.

    While the videos were removed by Hareem, it wasn’t later that they went viral over the internet, drawing mixed reactions. Amid all the criticism facing the internet star, Hareem on December 31 was reported to have left the country and applied for Canadian citizenship.

  • Islamabad bar moves to identify lawyers from Ahmadi community

    Islamabad bar moves to identify lawyers from Ahmadi community

    Members of Islamabad Bar Association have been directed to declare their faith on the finality of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) or face the suspension of their membership, in a move that is drawing strong reactions from both lawyers and the general public.

    According to The Express Tribune, the lawyers’ group has told its members to submit affidavits by the end of the ongoing month, failing which they would have their membership suspended and names posted on noticeboard.

    The notification in this regard comes in view of the decision taken by the General Body on December 6, 2019, while the report has quoted Association President Malik Zafar Khokhar as saying that “the purpose of seeking affidavits was not the suspension of non-Muslim lawyers from the association, but to identify the members of the Ahmadi community”.

    STRONG REACTIONS:

    Meanwhile, lawyers, as well as the general public, are strongly reacting to the notification.

    “Clearly Jinnah’s Pakistan remains a distant dream! His 11th August speech buried in heaps of paranoia, intolerance and bigotry,” tweeted Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, who is a member of the association.

    Here’s what others had to say:

    https://twitter.com/theRealYLH/status/1218447461397749761

    https://twitter.com/ShahidQuetta/status/1218287233603641345

    There has been no official reaction to the backlash.

  • Local hero Suleman Khan receives award for rescuing over 100 people stranded in the snow

    Local hero Suleman Khan receives award for rescuing over 100 people stranded in the snow

    Suleman Khan, a young man from Quetta’s Kachlak area, who helped more than 100 people stuck in snow-jammed roads has received an award from the Chief Minister of Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan for his selfless act of bravery.

    According to details, Suleman took out his Land Cruiser to help passengers stuck on Quetta-Zhob highway after the recent spell of heavy snowfall in the province. The 30-year-old hero took them to his home and offered them food and shelter. Not only this, he also pulled many cars out of the snow and helped people get fuel and even paid for it from his pocket.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan also took to twitter to appreciate him.

    “I did everything for the will of God. I saw that people were stuck because of the storm and had I not helped them, they probably wouldn’t have returned alive. I was trying to help them since 2 pm,” Khan said adding that rescue officials arrived around 12 am.

    Earlier this week, the Quetta-Zhob Highway was shut down due to heavy snowfall. The situation led to several cars being stranded on the road, with women, children and elderly passengers left helpless in the harsh weather without enough food supplies or clothing.

  • Senate divided on ‘how much rights should Pakistani women get’

    Senate divided on ‘how much rights should Pakistani women get’

    The Upper House on Friday stood totally divided on how much rights should be provided to women in Pakistan, but shared consensus on how they lagged behind as compared to men, as senators discussed the National Commission on Status of Women report, The News reported.

    Among those who participated in the discussion over the 2017 annual report by Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari on January 22 last year, were Mohsin Aziz, Mushtaq Ahmad, Walid Iqbal, Nuzhat Sadiq and Sherry Rehman.

    The widely-discussed issue of a Faisal Vawda, showing a long shoe, also echoed in the House after the Question Hour, when PML-N Senator Kulsoom Parveen raised the matter, wondering should the lawmakers stop appearing in TV talk shows, the way a sitting member of this House was ‘insulted’.

    She clarified that they had voted not for the boots but for the country’s key security institution, which was so dear to them. “Is the punishment of stopping the minister for a few days from appearing in talks shows is enough,” she asked.

    Senators Mohsin Aziz and Mushtaq emphasised during the discussion on the commission report that the women rights should not be seen through the Western lenses and cultural invasion. They insisted that awareness about women rights could not be promoted and drives pushed for their rights while sitting in five-star hotels; instead such events be held in rural areas to read and asses the ground realities.

    They said events in the name of culture in academic schools could not be allowed, which ran contrary to social and cultural values, enshrined in the Shariah. They supported women emancipation and lifting their status in the society, freeing them from the clutches of exploitation but not at the cost of values and honour. They also objected to certain slogans raised and inscribed on posters during drives for women rights last year.

  • Mother-daughter duo plays T20 match together

    Mother-daughter duo plays T20 match together

    The ongoing National Triangular T20 Women’s Cricket Championship at Karachi’s National Stadium saw a mother-daughter duo take to the field together.

    While daughter Kainat Imtiaz, a Pakistan international, donned the PCB Dynamites’ colours, her mother Saleema Imtiaz is carrying out match officials’ duties.

    Saleema was passionate about cricket and played it in the
    streets while growing up. She couldn’t play it on the grounds but it was her
    love for the cricket that brought her towards the profession of umpiring in
    2006.

    “Kainat is fulfilling my dream,” says Saleema. “My childhood dream was to represent Pakistan. She is not only a good daughter but also a great cricketer.”

    Kainat, who made her Pakistan debut in October 2010, said her mother inspired her to pursue this profession.

    “I feel proud when I look at my mom. She took up umpiring to fulfill her passion to be in the ground,” said the cricketer. “Growing up there was a lot of interest in cricket in my house as my both parents are sports instructors. They used to be at my school so all of my sporting activities have been under them right from the beginning.”

    The duo has not been involved in the same match played under the auspices of the PCB but Kainat has played with her mother as an umpire in local matches.

    “There is more pressure on both of us when we are involved in the same match,” says Kainat.

    “I have been umpiring since 2006 and I want to be in ICC’s umpiring panel. I wish to preside international matches and make a name for my country,” Saleema remarked. 

  • From Inzamam-ul-Haq to Babar Azam, here are all the Pakistani cricketers who have been part of ICC’s ‘ODI Team of the Year’

    From Inzamam-ul-Haq to Babar Azam, here are all the Pakistani cricketers who have been part of ICC’s ‘ODI Team of the Year’

    The International Cricket Council announced its ODI team of the year and Pakistan’s Babar Azam made it to the list, which also included (in batting order) Rohit Sharma (India), Shai Hope (West Indies), Virat Kohli (India, captain), Kane Williamson (New Zealand), Ben Stokes (England), Jos Buttler (England, wicketkeeper), Mitchell Starc (Australia), Trent Boult (New Zealand), Mohammed Shami (India) and Kuldeep Yadav (India).

    Babar was also part of the list in 2017.

    In the 2019 calendar year, Babar scored 1,092 runs in 20 ODIs at an impressive average of 60.66. He also scored three centuries and six half centuries. His centuries came against England at Trent Bridge (115), New Zealand at Edgbaston (101 not out) during ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and Sri Lanka at National Stadium (115).

    According to a press release by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), “Since the inception of the ICC awards in 2004, Babar Azam is the eighth Pakistan player to feature in the ICC ODI Team of the Year. Other Pakistan players to find their places in the teams of the year include Inzamam-ul-Haq, Rana Naved Ul Hasan (2005), Umar Gul (2009 and 2011), Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal (both 2012), Saeed Ajmal (2013), Mohammad Hafeez (2014), Babar Azam and Hasan Ali (2017).”

    Earlier, Nida Dar was named in the ICC T20I Women’s Team of 2019.

  • Animal cruelty at Karachi Zoo sparks outrage

    Animal cruelty at Karachi Zoo sparks outrage

    A picture of two crocodiles covered in paan and gutka published in The News serves as a reminder how poorly we treat animals in Pakistan.

    Journalist Zia Ur Rehman tweeted the picture published in the paper with the caption: “A sorry sight: crocodiles soak up the sun at the Karachi Zoo after paan and gutka-using visitors spat on them, leaving their bodies with blood-red spots.”

    Senator and PPP leader Sherry Rehman also commented that she was “shamed to see this.”

    Journalists Sanam Maher and Amber Shamsi also expressed their outrage on Twitter.

    Read more – Mashal Khan slams couple for using a lion cub as a prop for their wedding shoot

    Animal cruelty is not new in Pakistan. Torturing animals in zoos and otherwise under the disguise of fun is unfortunately also a common practise in the country.

    Last year, activist and lawyer Jibran Nasir tweeted pictures of a boy who used to post videos on social media while torturing kittens.

  • Imam discovers newlywed ‘wife’ is a man two weeks after wedding

    Imam discovers newlywed ‘wife’ is a man two weeks after wedding

    A newlywed Muslim man in Uganda was
    shocked after discovering that his newlywed spouse is a man.

    Mohammed Sheikh Mutumba met the ‘girl’ at the mosque in Kyampisi area, fell in love and wished-for marriage. The spouse, posing as Swabullah Nabukeera, was found to be a man after he was arrested for stealing a television set and clothes from Imam’s residence.

    According to the police, Nabukeera was first arrested under the assumption that he was a woman as he was wearing a hijab and sandals. When female police officers searched the suspect, they found that Nabukeera was actually a man. Police quickly informed the Imam that his wife was actually a man, identified as 27-year-old Richard Tumushabe.

    Upon investigation, the police discovered that Tumushabe had allegedly tricked Mutumba to steal his money by refusing to consummate their marriage for over two weeks.

    Tumushabe’s suspected aunt has also
    been arrested for assisting him in stealing money by setting up a fake wedding.

    While the aunt claims that she had
    no idea of her ‘niece’ posing as a man as she had never seen her before. Police
    have charged Tumushabe with theft and impersonation.

  • Ahad Raza Mir has the cutest wish for fiancé Sajal Aly

    Ahad Raza Mir has the cutest wish for fiancé Sajal Aly

    To say that Ahad Raza Mir and Sajal Aly are couple goals is perhaps an understatement. The two are adorable and leave fans swooning every time they come together.

    Sajal is celebrating her 26th birthday today (January 17) and fiance Ahad has the cutest wish for her.

    Sharing a never-seen-before picture, Ahad wrote, “Happy Birthday Sajal. You’re my favorite today, tomorrow and forever.”

    Awww. We’re not crying, you are!

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B7a8kKypr3W/

    Earlier in the day, Sajal’s mother-in-law to be and Ahad’s mother also wished her “best friend” with a cute picture and caption.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B7ZDPd1BLVN/?utm_source=ig_embed
  • Mashal Khan slams couple for using a lion cub as a prop for their wedding shoot

    Mashal Khan slams couple for using a lion cub as a prop for their wedding shoot

    Mashal Khan, popular for her roles in Suno Chanda and Thora Sa Haq, lashed out on a couple on social media for using a lion cub as a prop.

    In a social media post, the actor remarked that she was disgusted by the actions of the couple.

    “They do not exist to provide entertainment for sick, mentally inferior people like those in this picture,” Mashal commented.

    In the next post, she highlighted how the lion cub looks agitated and slammed the groom for smiling despite the fact that the lion cub is feeling irritated.

    The actor then appealed to her followers not to keep lions as pets. She explained how keeping them in captivity causes the animals great stress and affects their mental health which can also be dangerous for their owners.

    Mashal is a vocal advocate of animal rights and has often voiced her concerns on social media. She even did a campaign with RPK Critter Care and Animal Hospital which is Karachi’s first ever fully equipped 24/7 animal hospital.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B7GYwjJAibn/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/B7ThR1zA8_2/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/B7Tj6InAFoR/