Author: newsdesk

  • Govt may challenge Musharraf’s death penalty verdict: Babar Awan

    Govt may challenge Musharraf’s death penalty verdict: Babar Awan

    Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader and promi­nent lawyer Babar Awan has claimed that the government was examining the option of challenging the conviction of former military ruler Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf, Dawn reported.

    According to the details, Babar during a press conference said that if it deemed appropriate, the PTI government could file an appeal while the convict could also challenge the decision of the special court.

    He also rejected the argument that the government being the complainant in the high treason case could not file an appeal.

    Awan recalled that former premier Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif had been disqualified on a federal government complaint and the government went in appeal after the change of regime, adding that the treason case against Musharraf had been filed by the former prime minister (PM) with the consultation of his brother, but they both were silent on the conviction.

    The PTI leader cited the case of slain PM Benazir Bhutto who had been convicted while she was abroad, saying that an appeal on her behalf was taken up by the then Chief Justice Irshad Hasan Khan who held that the appeal of a person convicted in absentia could be heard in his/her absence.

    Babar said that the appeal had been taken up and the judgement set aside.

    He also insisted that nobody should think of a clash between institutions as the government of PM Imran had a resolve to run the institutions within their constitutional and legal framework preserving their honour and dignity.

    A special court trying the ex-preisdent last week sentenced him to death for imposing a state of emergency on November 3, 2007, adding that it had found him guilty of high treason in accordance with Article 6 of the Constitution of Pakistan.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Is Mansha Pasha the perfect girl for Jibran Nasir?

    EXCLUSIVE: Is Mansha Pasha the perfect girl for Jibran Nasir?

    Jibran Nasir and Mansha Pasha got engaged in an intimate afternoon ceremony in Karachi. The couple glowed as they exchanged rings, making our hearts flutter.

    Read more: IN PICTURES: Jibran Nasir and Mansha Pasha get engaged

    But is Mansha the perfect girl for Jibran? Jibran’s mother in an exclusive interview with The Current revealed the perfect girl for Jibran.

    When asked what sort of girl would complement Jibran, his mother said, “Someone who has a lot of patience. He has a lot of mood swings.”

    She added that Jibran needs to be more responsible and know “ghar kay kaam” if he wants to get married.

    Watch video:

    No one really knows when Jibran and Mansha got together but people starting shipping the couple after their dance from Faiza Saleem’s wedding went viral on social media.

    The two were also spotted together at the premiere of Mansha’s Laal Kabootar sparking rumours.

  • PTA warns WhatsApp users of a possible malware attack

    PTA warns WhatsApp users of a possible malware attack

    The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication
    have directed the WhatsApp users to follow Pakistan Telecommunication
    Authority’s (PTA) instructions to avoid malware attacks.

    As per reports, the PTA has advised the
    public to keep WhatsApp and device Operating Systems updated to avoid these
    malware attacks.

    WhatsApp accounts are being hacked by a malware attack, the ministry had already released an advisory for federal government officials on the problem, to minimize the possibility of any infection.

    WhatsApp is one of the most used messaging apps with almost 1.5 billion active users around the world but now users will have to update their devices if they wish to use the app.

  • Happy News from 2019

    Happy News from 2019

    Opening of the Kartarpur Corridor – November 2019

    Prime Minister Imran Khan’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly – September 2019

    The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit Pakistan for the first time – October 2019

    The Ministry of Science and Technology introduces an app for moon-sighting

    CN Traveller lists Pakistan as the best holiday destination for 2020

    Mehwish Hayat’s speech when receiving a Pride of Performance Award in Oslo

    Malala features on the cover of Teen Vogue

  • Imran now an international puppet: Bilawal

    Imran now an international puppet: Bilawal

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) cheif Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday took a jibe at Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and called him an “international puppet” for reportedly having succumbed to pressure from Saudi Arabia and cancelling his trip to Malaysia.

    Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah had last week quoted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying that Pakistan had decided to stay away from the recently concluded Kuala Lumpur summit because of Saudi Arabia’s threats of economic sanctions.

    The statement had come amid claims by media outlets that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had “pressurised and threatened” Pakistan to refrain from participating in the summit that was attended by hundreds of government officials, businessmen, representatives of civil societies and experts from different sectors across the Muslim world.

    Besides Erdogan, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani were among the Muslim world leaders who attended the summit hosted by Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohammad. Meanwhile, Riyadh had rejected claims that Islamabad was told not to participate.

    With the PPP chief continuing to taunt the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for being “selected to power” and PM Imran for being “powerless”, he has now said that the premier “is not just a puppet of Pakistan, but also that of another country”.

    Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Bilawal also announced that he would not appear before the Nat­ional Accountability Bureau (NAB) on December 24, saying the call-up notice served to him by the anti-corruption watchdog is “unconstitutional and illegal”.

    NAB had summoned the PPP chairperson for a second time this month in the fake bank accounts and money laundering case on December 24.

    According to Dawn, Bilawal accused the government of creating obstacles in his party’s plans to observe late former PM Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary on December 27, and also called out the Imran administration for “preventing a son from observing the death anniversary of his mother” by not yet issuing permission to hold the death anniversary observance ceremony.

    “I will become even more dangerous if I am arrested. Arrest me if you can,” the PPP chief maintained as he criticised the government for “selective accountability” and for attempting to “pressurise the opposition”.

  • Noor Jehan and her famous grandchildren

    Noor Jehan and her famous grandchildren

    Noor Jehan was and will always remain one of the most iconic stars of Pakistan but did you know that her grandchildren are famous in their own right? Here are the top four.

    1. Ahmed Ali Butt

    The actor/comedian is Noor Jehan’s daughter, Zille-Huma’s son, and has made his name in the film industry as being the ‘funny guy’. He started his career with the band Entity Paradigm (EP), with then lead singer, actor Fawad Khan. He started acting in the early 2000s and was part of a popular television show Jutt and Bond. He has been the host of the Lux Style Awards and is also acting in movies.

    2. Natasha Khalid

    Daughter of Noor Jehan’s daughter Mina Hasan, Natasha is a famous make up artist based in Karachi and owner of Natasha’s Salon. Her salon’s Instagram account has one million followers.

    3. Sikander Rizvi

    Popular restaurateur, Sikander Rizvi is one of Karachi’s eligible bachelors. Owner of Xanders, Flo and partner in Evergreen, he runs successful restaurants in the city. He also dabbled in modeling and acting and was seen in photo shoots with actor Ayesha Omar.

    Modeling with Ayesha Omar

    4. Sonia Jehan

    Sonia is also a Pakistani actress, her latest stint being in Ho Maan Jahan. She is also in the bollywood film, My name is Khan as the religious American Muslim professor, Haseena. She produced Mira Nair’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist, which is based on a book by Pakistani author, Mohsin Hamid.

  • Japan opens doors for trained Pakistani labourers

    Japan opens doors for trained Pakistani labourers

    Islamabad and Tokyo have signed a memorandum of cooperation, under which trained Pakistani labourers would be provided with employment opportunities in Japan, Profit reported.

    The agreement was signed in the presence of Special Assistant to PM on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Zulfiqar Bukhari, Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan Kuninori Matsuda, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood and other high-level officials.

    “The newly signed memorandum will help the trained Pakistani labourers get employment in Japan,” said a statement issued by the ministry. “This is a major milestone that will further enhance bilateral ties between both countries.”

    Addressing the ceremony, the Japanese envoy termed the agreement a “special occasion” for both nations, saying that it would play a key role in strengthening the existing ties between Pakistan and Japan.

    “Japanese language and technical expertise are essential for employment in Japan; the country needs approximately 340,000 trained labourers,” he added.

    Speaking on the occasion, Zulfiqar Bukhari highlighted that 65 per cent of the Pakistan population was below the age of 35, adding that employment opportunities were present in 14 sectors of Japan.

    He urged the youth to especially focus on the information technology sector citing future needs.

    On December 20, the Japanese ambassador had met Zulfiqar Bukhari for a pre-discussion on the agreement which is signed on Monday (today).

    According to a statement issued by the ministry, the two sides had discussed a wide range of issues related to trade, tourism and manpower.

    The envoy had informed that Japan would build a network, in collaboration with language universities in Pakistan, and carry out 3 to 6 months language proficiency course with e-learning facilities for far-flung areas so as to accommodate the maximum number of Pakistanis to work in Japan.

    Acknowledging their diligence and social conduct, the ambassador showed his highest gratitude towards 25,000 Pakistanis residing and working in Japan.

  • PML-N stalwart Ahsan Iqbal arrested

    PML-N stalwart Ahsan Iqbal arrested

    Senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday.

    The anti-graft watchdog had earlier summoned Iqbal for recording his statement in a multi-billion-rupee case pertaining to the controversial Sports City Project in Narowal.

    It was the second time in two months that NAB had summoned the PML-N leader to seek details of his income and expenditures.

    According to Dawn, the opposition leader, who is accused of using funds of the federal government and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) for the sports city, had already replied to a questionnaire given to him by the bureau in connection with the same case.

    The PML-N leader had said he had submitted documents related to his income and expenditures to NAB Rawalpindi.

    He claimed that he had nothing to do with the case as the project had been launched in 2009 during the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government when he was not a federal minister.

    He said that before Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) came to power, the project was 90 per cent complete, but the present government had turned it into ruins.

    “In fact NAB should take those people to task who are responsible for the destruction of a national asset,” he added.

    The PML-N leader said that when he became a federal minister, the NSC project was in the doldrums and like many other stalled projects, the PML-N government revived it and took it to near completion.

    Meanwhile, analysts have expressed concern over the arrest, saying that Iqbal was the sole PML-N leader commenting on former military ruler Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf’s death sentence in the high treason case.

  • The Meray Paas Tum Ho Memes you don’t want to miss

    The Meray Paas Tum Ho Memes you don’t want to miss

    19 episodes in, the memes are breaking the internet, with the “Mehwish slap” being the most recently popular ones.

    Ouch.

    It all began with ‘toxic Danish’, who loved his wife so much it seemed kind of suffocating.

    Toxic Danish?

    And then came the ultimate ‘do takkay ki aurat’ memes.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B4aX41ZliCo/?utm_source=ig_embed
    Rings true for most

    And with the entry of Hina Mani, the memes didn’t stop.

    To Rumi’s role of matchmaking.

    As episode 20 teaser reveals a big twist, let’s see what the Pakistani social media world comes up with next.

  • Saudi Arabia sentences five to death for killing Khashoggi

    Saudi Arabia sentences five to death for killing Khashoggi

    A court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced five people to death for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year, the public prosecutor has said.

    Khashoggi, a prominent critic of the Saudi government, was killed inside the kingdom’s consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul by a team of Saudi agents.

    The Saudi public prosecutor said it was the result of a “rogue operation” and put 11 unnamed individuals on trial; Saud al-Qahtani, a former high-profile Saudi royal adviser, was investigated but not charged and was released.

    The murder of Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, triggered Saudi Arabia’s biggest diplomatic crisis since the 9/11 attacks as world leaders and business executives sought to distance themselves from Riyadh.

    The CIA concluded that the country’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, ordered Khashoggi’s assassination. The crown prince denies involvement, but told US TV last month that he took “full responsibility as a leader in Saudi Arabia”.

    The prosecutor said three more people in the case had been sentenced to jail terms totalling 24 years.