Author: newsdesk

  • Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan slams Chahat Fateh Ali Khan’s music

    Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan slams Chahat Fateh Ali Khan’s music

    Chahat Fateh Ali Khan became a social media star after his song ‘Bado Badi’ went viral, gaining 28 million views. Even though YouTube remove his song on copyright claims, he re-uploaded it on Instagram, leading to concert invites and interviews. However, not everyone is happy with him, including singing maestro Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan.

    Shafqat told ‘Gup Shab’ host Vasay Chaudhry, “I feel disheartened seeing this. Because of Chahat Fateh Ali Khan, our singers are being mocked. Many still think he’s a singer and say, he has a new song. Please understand that he’s making fun of our country’s music and singers. I blame our people; they prefer cheap entertainment and appreciate a strange, comedic artist over a genuine one. There will be consequences in the future, and they’ll realize their mistake.”

  • NEPRA wants fixed charges on electricity bills from July

    NEPRA wants fixed charges on electricity bills from July

    The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has decided to impose a new electricity tariff by imposing monthly fixed charges for residential consumers from July 1, ARY News reported.

    NEPRA has proposed fixed charges of Rs200-1,000 a month in electricity bills, which the government has yet to approve.

    As per the proposal, domestic consumers using 301-400 units a month will pay Rs 200 per month from July 1, 2024, while those using 401-500 units will pay Rs400, and end electricity consumers consuming 501-600 are to pay Rs600.

    The residential consumers who use the 601-700 units will pay Rs800 a month, and those who use above 700 units will pay Rs1,000 a month.

    Residential consumers using the ToU (time of use) meter will also pay Rs1,000 fixed charges a month.

    Commercial consumers having load less than five kilowatt will also pay Rs1,000 a month as fixed charges. However, users consuming loads of five kilowatt and above will now pay Rs. 2,000 from the existing Rs500, an increase of 300 percent.

    Currently, the total cost of electricity unit comprises 72 percent fixed charges and 28 percent variable charges, according to ARY News.

    After Budget 2024-25, the federal government added Rs. 5.72 per unit in power tariff.

    NEPRA had already announced that the average electricity tariff would rise to Rs. 35.50 per unit from the current Rs. 29.78.

  • Babar Azam, others signed by Canada’s Global T20 League

    Babar Azam, others signed by Canada’s Global T20 League

    A number of Pakistani cricket players including skipper Babar Azam have signed contracts with Canada’s Global T20 League.

    Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi will represent Toronto Nationals in the Global T20 League, Iftikhar Ahmed will be part of Bengal Tigers Mississauga while Muhammad Amir, wicketkeeper-batsman Muhammad Rizwan and captain Babar Azam will play for the Vancouverites.

  • Bushra Ansari has a funny request for Humayun Saeed

    Bushra Ansari has a funny request for Humayun Saeed

    Bushra Ansari is equally humourous on screen and off. Proof of this fact was the funny request she made to Humayun Saeed, showing she loves to keep things playful.

    She appeared as a guest in the ‘Zabardast’ show hosted by Wasi Shah, where she revealed hilarious things.
    “I’ve stopped Humayun Saeed from calling me ‘Aapa’. My husband is younger than him, so he should refrain from calling me ‘Aapa’ from now on,” she said with a deadpan expression.

    “I actually don’t mind being called ‘Aapa’, people say it with respect, and it’s better than being called Madam all the time,” she added later. “I was just joking around, it’s what I do.”
    Recently, Bushra Ansari admitted that she had married Iqbal Hussain, disclosing the couple’s long-term relationship. She is also part of upcoming drama ‘Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum’

  • UAE to allow abortion in cases of rape, incest

    UAE to allow abortion in cases of rape, incest

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will now legally permit abortion in cases of rape and incest for the first time.

    Under a cabinet resolution, abortions will be permissible in cases where pregnancy stems from rape or incest, contingent upon the incident being reported and validated by public prosecution, and if the fetus is under 120 days old.

    The new resolution states that abortion will be allowed “if the pregnancy is the result of intercourse with a female against her will, without her consent, or without adequate volition” or “if the person who caused the pregnancy is an ancestor of the woman or one of her mahram [ineligible for marriage] relatives”.

    The aims of the new legislation is to safeguard women’s health and well-being, legally tackling the handling of the aftermath of these incidents and allowing abortions to be conducted without endangering the woman’s life.

    Under current UAE law, abortions are only allowed when there is a risk to the mother’s life or serious abnormalities in the fetus.

    The new changes to the UAE’s abortion laws includes permitting emergency abortions without requiring spousal consent.

  • Infant’s body stolen from Lahore graveyard

    Infant’s body stolen from Lahore graveyard

    Lahore police have detained three people, including a security guard, after the disappearance of an infant’s body from the Miani Sahib graveyard a day after the burial.

    Police investigation says that the body of the three-month-old baby was removed from the grave by unknown persons a few hours after the burial on April 23.

    The child’s father, Abdul Rahman, saw the burial shroud emerging from the grave the next day and informed the police, reports The News.

    After this, the police registered a case against unknown persons.

    Five individuals were nominated by the complainant.

  • Meher Bano Qureshi has emotional birthday message for father ‘Qaidi 805’

    Meher Bano Qureshi has emotional birthday message for father ‘Qaidi 805’

    Meher Bano Qureshi, a member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the daughter of incarcerated senior party leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi, took to X (formerly Twitter) to emotionally wish her father on his birthday on Saturday.

    Shah Mahmood Qureshi is currently imprisoned in Adiala Jail for cases related to May 9 event; however, the Islamabad High Court acquitted him in the Cipher case earlier this month.

    Meher Bano wrote to her father, “Happy Birthday Baba @SMQureshiPTI ♥ Not a day goes by that we don’t miss you. We thank you for your sacrifice. It is because of you that we hold our heads high and it is because of you that we will never give up fighting for our Pakistan. Inshallah this too shall pass and every single prisoner of conscience will return home to their families soon. Love you & miss you.”

    Earlier this week, Zain Qureshi, who is the son of Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that he expects his father would be released from prison after Eid ul Azha.

    “This is my second Eid without my father. He has offered the greatest sacrifice.” I’m hoping he’ll be released from jail after Eid,” Zain told journalists in Multan following Eid prayers.

  • Forced activation of feeders backfires on PTI, Rehman Baba grid station not restored

    Forced activation of feeders backfires on PTI, Rehman Baba grid station not restored

    The Rehman Baba grid station in Peshawar experienced a major technical fault after feeders were forced to remain operational by PTI leaders and their supporters, Geo News reported.

    According to the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO), power supply to 32 feeders from the grid station was disconnected after they were forced to continue.

    The spokesperson stated that at 2 o’clock that day, protesters forcibly entered the grid station and switched on the feeders.

    The angry protesters reportedly verbally abused the PESCO staff and confiscated their mobile phones.

    A PESCO team is currently engaged in repair work. Restoring electricity may take hours, and consumer issues are escalating due to ongoing protests.

    Previously, Fazal Elahi, PTI Member of the Provincial Assembly, entered the Rehman Baba Grid Station and restored power to 10 feeders.

    While earlier this week, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur visited the Dera Ismail Khan grid station following unannounced load shedding of electricity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He issued a clear threat to the federal government, stating that if power supply to the National Grid from the province is reduced, he will halt it. Gandapur further criticised WAPDA for mistreating the province, accused government officials of holding positions through electoral fraud, and asserted that the federal government is neglecting its responsibilities.

  • Mohsin Naqvi slammed for enjoying Waheed kabab while law and order deteriorates

    Mohsin Naqvi slammed for enjoying Waheed kabab while law and order deteriorates

    Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has been harshly criticised by social media for posting a Tweet about Karachi’s famous Waheed Kabab while the law and order situation deteriorates across the country.

    On Friday afternoon, Naqvi took to X (formerly Twitter) to write: “Just had an extraordinary dinner at Waheed’s on Burns Road, Karachi! The dhaaga kebabs were simply divine. A huge thank you to Minister Ali Hassan for the fantastic company and making the evening memorable.”

    He also added a photo of himself at the famous food vendor.

    The tweet was flooded with quote RTs and replies reminding him of incidents that had happened in quick succession.

    Digital rights activist Usama Khilji wrote:
    “People being lynched to death from police custody – police arresting people for qurbani on Eid – and the tone deaf interior minister of Pakistan is posting about how he enjoyed divine kababs in Karachi. Resign @MohsinnaqviC42 if you can’t do your job.”

    Economist Uzair Younus didn’t mince his words either, writing, “Part-time interior minister having a meal while an entire community in the country was prevented from celebrating Eid.

    A man was also lynched over a blasphemy allegation.

    To top it off, part-time PCB chairman oversaw a catastrophic World Cup campaign for men’s cricket team.”

    Other netizens also asked him to do his job.

    In a post, one of the X users wrote, “You are Interior Minister and internal peace and security is your responsibility. Just wanted to remind you that”.

  • T20 World Cup: West Indies defeates USA by 9 wickets

    T20 World Cup: West Indies defeates USA by 9 wickets

    West Indies has defeated USA by 9 wickets in Super 8 stage match of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

    The West Indies team won the toss and decided to field first.

    First inning:

    Batting first, American batsman Andres Goss scored 29 runs, Nitish Kumran 20 and Milind Kumar scored 19 runs.

    West Indian bowler Ruston Chase and Andre Russell also managed to get 3 wickets while Alzari Joseph got 2 wickets and Gadakesh Moti got 1 wicket.

    Second inning:

    The West Indies team won by completing the target of 129 runs given by the United States in 10 overs and 5 balls for the loss of one wicket.

    On behalf of West Indies, Shai Hope remained not out by scoring 82 runs while Nicholas Pooran scored 27 runs.

    Harmeet Singh took one wicket for USA.