Author: newsdesk

  • Gen Faiz Hameed got Sikandar Sultan Raja appointed: Nadeem Afzal Chan

    Gen Faiz Hameed got Sikandar Sultan Raja appointed: Nadeem Afzal Chan

    In an interesting development, former Member National Assembly (MNA) Nadeem Afzal Chan has revealed that ex-spymaster General (retd) Faiz Hameed had influenced the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of Pakistan in 2020.

    Appearing on the Hum News programme FAISLA AAP KA, Nadeem Afzal Chan stated that the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, on the suggestion of General Faiz Hameed, appointed Sikandar Sultan Raja as CEC of the Election Commission Pakistan. 

    “PTI initially approved the name of Fazal Abbas Maken for CEC, upon which all political parties, including Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and PPP, had a consensus,” the former Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Coordination said.

    Chan stated that the government withdrew Fazal Abbas Maken’s name for the CEC post following Maiken’s “refusal to fulfil the demands and needs” that were put forth by the former DG ISI General Faiz Hameed.

    “I will remain free and fair in elections,” Afzal Chan quoted Maiken’s reply to Faiz Hameed.

    PTI government, on January 24, 2020, appointed Sikandar Sultan Raja, a retired bureaucrat, as Chief Election Commissioner for a five-year term.

    Responding to General Faiz Hameed’s demands that were put before Fazal Abbas Maiken, Chan specified that the demands were intended to “favour PTI in Form 47.”


    Imran Khan then forwarded the name on January 15, 2020, in a letter to President PML-N Shahbaz Sharif. 

    The then Premiere suggested the names of three former federal secretaries — Jamil Ahmed, Fazal Abbas Maken and Sikandar Sultan Raja.

    However, former Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif proposed former Attorney General Irfan Qadir, Nasir Mehmood Khosa, brother of former chief justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa, and Akhlaq Ahmed Tarar, a former federal secretary, for the top poll body slot.

    Nadeem Afzal Chan further stated that Imran Khan was also against the appointment of Babar Sattar and Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri as judges.

  • New photos ignite rumors of Veena Malik’s marriage

    New photos ignite rumors of Veena Malik’s marriage

    Actress Veena Malik recently sparked rumors of marriage by sharing a bridal picture on her Instagram. 

    Veena can be seen in a bridal outfit with her face hidden, captioned “Yes, finally.” She also tagged an individual named Shehryar in the story.


    In response, Shehryar shared a picture of himself in a white shirt and black pants, with his face also hidden, and tagged Veena Malik. 


    Veena had previously announced, “I am going to get married and will soon reveal my bridge groom’s face.”


    Veena Malik, who married businessman Asad Bashir Khattak in Dubai in 2013 and has two children from the marriage, ended the relationship after three years citing incompatibility. 


    She has now hinted at a new relationship with Shehryar Chaudhry, an Islamabad-based businessman.


    Fans are eagerly awaiting further details as Veena Malik has not yet confirmed whether the pictures are from an actual wedding or a photoshoot.

    Earlier, Actress Veena Malik’s long standing feud with religious cleric Mufti Qavi has shifted into the fifth gear with the actress’ allegation that he secretly monitors actresses. 

    “Mufti Qavi secretly monitors all the actresses. He knows everything about everyone,” Veena said. 

    Malik then said that the controversial cleric once told her, “You possess beauty and charm.”

    She also talked about other matters including participation in Bigg Boss, and failed marriage.

    She said, “In the past, I enjoyed working on the Indian reality show Bigg Boss, but I never understood why people still criticize me for it. I even received threats after the show. Before becoming a part of the show, there is a written contract, that clearly states that there will be 56 cameras inside and 56 cameras outside the house at all times. It is their choice what to show and what not to show.”

    Answering the podcast host’s question about Mufti Qavi, she said, “Mufti Qavi secretly watches all the actresses and all their shows. He once told me, ‘You have beauty too.’ So, I asked him, ‘How do you know that I have beauty and charm?’”

    “The way I was shown in Bigg Boss, how did Mufti Qavi know all that? That was the question I asked him then, upon which he got angry.”

    She also said, “If honor and humiliation are in the hands of a human being, they will not take a minute to ruin your life, I don’t understand how people can be so hard-hearted.”

    Mufti Qavi once criticized her in the past and said, “Veena Malik can watch Bigg Boss with her children?”

    She replied, “My children are well aware of my work and they can see everything with me.”

  • South Africa responds to the rumours of hosting Champions Trophy

    South Africa responds to the rumours of hosting Champions Trophy

    Reports carried by Indian media outlets have claimed that Champions Trophy 2025 could shift from Pakistan to South Africa as India yet again creates a rift with the host country on where its matches are to be played. 

    Now, the South African Cricket Board’s stance on the issue has come to light.

    According to Samaa, sources in the South African Cricket Board have said that it is unaware of the rumors that Champions Trophy will be shifted to South Africa. No contact has yet been made with South Africa on the matter. There is no option for the South African Board to hold the Champions Trophy at such short notice.  The Indian media has brought South Africa into the fray to influence Pakistan’s hosting. The South African Board can’t hold the Champions Trophy in a short time.

    Sources said that there has been no discussion on the South Africa option in the ICC yet. The issue of shifting the Champions Trophy to South Africa in 2009 was different. The host of the 2009 Champions Trophy was Pakistan. Back then, Board members had expressed concerns over security. 

    In the current situation, all important board members’ teams have visited Pakistan. No country, including England, Australia, or New Zealand, expressed any concerns or reservations before coming to Pakistan. The Indian media has completely abandoned the idea of shifting the Champions Trophy to South Africa. The ICC has not yet considered this matter.

    India has refused to participate in Champions Trophy 2025, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is standing firm, creating problems for the ICC.

    Earlier, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sought answers to important questions in a letter written to the head of the International Cricket Council (ICC) after India refused to come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.

    The PCB wrote a letter to the ICC on Tuesday after India refused to come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.

    According to Geo, vital answers have been sought in the letter written by the PCB to the head of the ICC.

    The PCB has asked the ICC when exactly did the Indian Cricket Board inform them that the Indian cricket team will not be able to participate in the Champions Trophy, which will be held in Pakistan. PCB has also asked whether the Indian Cricket Board has informed the ICC in writing about its refusal. The PCB has also asked the next question: if India has refused in writing to come to Pakistan, then what are the reasons for it. 

    PCB asked the ICC for a copy of the Indian Cricket Board’s written notice so that the reasons on the basis of which the decision was taken can be reviewed.

  • Man heckles Khawaja Asif, threatens with ‘knife attack’ at London ground station

    Man heckles Khawaja Asif, threatens with ‘knife attack’ at London ground station

    An unknown man intercepted Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and threatened him with a “knife attack” at London ground station, a social media video showed on Wednesday.

    Geo News quoted its sources as having confirmed the heckling and mistreatment of the seasoned politician near Heathrow Airport on Tuesday. The suspect, who recorded the video, hurled abuses and threatened the defence minister.

    The PML-N government reportedly took notice of the incident, instructing the Pakistan High Commission in London to contact British Transport police for the probe. 

    Khawaja Asif is currently in London on a private visit where he also met PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and his daughter and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

    Flanked by the defence minister, Nawaz told his supporters in London that such individuals had been “trained and groomed” to chase the people.

    Regretting the misbehaviour and calling the party stalwart a “fighter”, the former prime minister lamented the individual who hurled abuses at him saying, “This is their fate”. 

    Khawaja Asif, in a statement, said that the process of reporting the threatening incident was in progress. “A camera was also installed there. I do not know the person who threatened me,” he said.

    A couple of weeks ago, a chasing and heckling incident took place with former chief justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa whose vehicle was attacked by the supporters of a political party at London’s Middle Temple.

    PML-N leaders Marriyum Aurangzeb and Hina Pervaiz Butt were also harassed and heckled by people in London in the past. 

     

     

  • Security forces neutralise 12 terrorists in separate operations in KP, Balochistan: ISPR

    Security forces neutralise 12 terrorists in separate operations in KP, Balochistan: ISPR

    As many as 12 terrorists, including a high-value target, were killed in multiple operations conducted by security forces in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the military’s media affairs wing said on Wednesday.    

    According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), four terrorists, including a high-value target, were sent to hell during an exchange of fire with security forces in Balochistan’s Kech district.

    Security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the general Balgatar area of Kech district on the reported presence of terrorists.

    “During [the] conduct of the operation, after an intense fire exchange between own troops and the terrorists, four terrorists including a high-value target, terrorist ring leader Sana [alias] Baru were killed,” the statement said.

    Per the ISPR, Baru was a focal recruitment agent, “especially suicide bombers, for the so-called Majeed Brigade in Kech District and was highly wanted by law enforcement agencies.

    Separately, security forces conducted an operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Miranshah district and killed eight terrorists.

    According to the ISPR, on 12-13 November 2024, security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in the general area of Miran Shah, North Waziristan District on the reported presence of khawarij.

    “During the operation, security personnel engaged the terrorists, where “eight khawarij were sent to hell, while six khawarij got injured”.

    “A sanitisation operation was underway to eliminate any other “khawarij” in the area. Security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country,” the ISPR statement added.

  • PTA rolls out new registration portal for VPN users

    PTA rolls out new registration portal for VPN users

    After a controversy over blocking virtual private networks (VPNs) and growing public anger in Pakistan, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Wednesday rolled out a streamlined process for legitimate users to register their VPNs.

    The move came days after the national regulator started the process of blocking unregistered VPNs in the country to regulate internet security and ensure the safety of users.

    VPNs are widely used around the world to access content that may be inaccessible or blocked for internet users in their home country. In Pakistan, VPNs are frequently used to access X, among other restricted websites.

    The PTA held a consultation session on the VPN registration framework yesterday. Representatives from the Ministry of IT & Telecommunication (MoIT&T), the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and the Pakistan IT Association (P@SHA) attended the session.

    According to a statement issued by the PTA, the session aimed to foster a secure environment for the IT and e-commerce sectors in Pakistan.

    “The PTA introduced a streamlined VPN registration process, allowing legitimate users to register their VPNs through a new online platform at ipregistration.pta.gov.pk,” the statement further said.

    The regulatory authority claimed that this simplified framework “supports uninterrupted access for IT companies, freelancers, and other stakeholders, reinforcing PTA’s commitment to Pakistan’s expanding digital economy”.

    During the session, participants also addressed concerns about the potential use of VPNs for illegal activities.

     

  • Bad news for first T20 Pak-Aus match

    Bad news for first T20 Pak-Aus match

    The Pakistan Vs Australia T20 series is going to start tomorrow (Thursday) but the fate of the first match has become uncertain.    

    The first T20 match of the three match series between the Kangaroos and the Green Shirts is scheduled to be played in Brisbane tomorrow, but now there are significant chances of rain marring the proceedings. 

    The match is scheduled for 1 pm tomorrow, Pakistan time. 

    The Brisbane Meteorological Department has predicted rain from 1 pm tomorrow and has said that there is a possibility of downpours throughout the day along with a light breeze.

    Pakistan got off to a rollicking start at the beginning of the tour by defeating Australia in the ODI series by 2-1, a feat they repeated after 22 years.

  • PC Board rejects Rs10bn bid for PIA, floats new proposals

    PC Board rejects Rs10bn bid for PIA, floats new proposals

    The Privatisation Commission (PC) Board on Wednesday rejected the latest bid for the national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), presenting new proposals for the airline’s privatisation.

    New proposals will now be forwarded to the cabinet committee and the federal cabinet for approval.

    The Blue World City consortium, the only bidder, had placed a bid of Rs10bn against the minimum price of Rs85.03bn. The Shehbaz-led government had pre-qualified six groups in June, but only the real estate development company participated in the final bidding process.

    The decision to reject the lowest bid and new proposals came during a meeting chaired by Privatisation Minister Abdul Aleem Khan. Several privatisation initiatives were reviewed and key recommendations were approved.

    The minister stressed that all privatisation efforts, including those for PIA, must adhere to legal protocols while prioritising the national interest.

    “The final decision on the privatisation of institutions like PIA rests with the cabinet committee and steps must be taken to enhance future bidding processes, Khan maintained.

    The minister also directed officials to expedite the privatisation of PIA and other public entities and emphasised the importance of learning from the current PIA privatisation process to improve future efforts.

    There are some media reports that the federal government is also working on a new plan for privatisation, which involves the sell-off of the cash-strapped national carrier to either Qatar or Abu Dhabi under a government-to-government (G2G) agreement.

    It is worth mentioning that the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government and local business community have also shown interest in buying the PIA.

  • ICC releases new ‘visual identity’ of Champions Trophy

    ICC releases new ‘visual identity’ of Champions Trophy

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the new ‘visual identity’ of the Champions Trophy.

    The video released reveals the logo of the Champions Trophy 2025 Pakistan, while the ICC has also released the new typographic logo of the Trophy brand.

    The famous truck art of Pakistan is featured in the video, depicting a visual identity that represents the event logo and other graphic elements.

    The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy will return to Pakistan next year after an eight-year gap since the last tournament held in 2017.

    The Women’s Champions Trophy will be held in Sri Lanka in 2026.

    Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sought answers to important questions in a letter written to the head of the International Cricket Council (ICC) after India refused to come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.

    The PCB wrote a letter to the ICC on Tuesday after India refused to come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.

    According to Geo, vital answers have been sought in the letter written by the PCB to the head of the ICC.

    The PCB has asked the ICC when exactly the Indian Cricket Board informed them that the Indian cricket team will not be able to participate in the Champions Trophy, which will be held in Pakistan. PCB has also asked whether the Indian Cricket Board has informed the ICC in writing about its refusal. The PCB has also asked the next question: if India has refused in writing to come to Pakistan, then what are the reasons for it? 

    PCB asked the ICC for a copy of the Indian Cricket Board’s written notice so that the reasons on the basis of which the decision was taken can be reviewed.

    What is your response to the Indian Cricket Board’s refusal to send the team PCB in the letter PCB has asked. 

    After getting answers to all these questions, the Pakistan Cricket Board will take legal advice and guidance from its government so that the next course of action can be formulated.

    If India really does not send its cricket team to Pakistan and the ICC accepts India’s refusal, then Pakistan will not play any match with the Indian cricket team during the Champions Trophy under any circumstances.

    Earlier, there were reports that PCB is taking a tough stance on the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision not to send its team to the Champions Trophy in Pakistan: considering a ‘minus-India’ formula in response.

    The PCB has decided to use examples from the 1996 and 2003 World Cup in its initial stance to adopt a tough stance against India.

    However, Indian media reports are claiming that the Champions Trophy will be shifted to South Africa if Pakistan rejects the hybrid model.

    The decision will be made at the board meeting, where a poll will be necessary for transferring the Champions Trophy from Pakistan.

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) is awaiting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) response to an email sent on Friday, and ICC’s next course of action will depend on the PCB’s reaction, the report said.

  • Two organisations willing to buy Imran’s sister’s plaster cast with his sign, says Noreen Khanum

    Two organisations willing to buy Imran’s sister’s plaster cast with his sign, says Noreen Khanum

    Noreen Khanum Niazi, sister of the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, has stated that two organisations have approached her to purchase her plaster cast signed by her brother. 

    Speaking to journalists on Tuesday after a hearing of the ToshaKhana case, Noreen Khanum said that both the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) expressed interest in purchasing the autographed plaster cast.

    Responding to a journalist’s question about whether she would sell the cast to them or gift it to them, Noreen Khanum Niazi said: “Obviously, I will give it as a gift as both organisations belong to my brother,” noting that If Khan’s organisation auctioned the plaster for charity, “it would be great.”

    She said, “It was me who asked my brother to give his autograph on my wrist’s plaster cast.”

    On November 6, during Noreen Khanum’s meeting with her brother at Adiala Jail Rawalpindi, Imran Khan had signed the cast on her wrist twice. 

    After meeting with Imran Khan, she mentioned that half the plaster cast would go to Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, and the other half would go to the National University of Modern Languages (NUML).

    Earlier, Imran Khan’s signed plaster cast had been preserved by YouTuber Sami Ibrahim, who termed it an “achievement and memorial.”

    Former PM Khan was arrested from his residence in Zaman Park, Lahore, shortly after his conviction in the Toshakhana case in August last year and has been in jail since then on multiple charges.

    Currently, he is held in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail under high security and with B-class facilities due to his status as a former prime minister.