Pakistan team management has decided to enter the field with full strength and use its World Cup combination in the upcoming series against England.
Haris Rauf and Usman Khan are strong candidates for inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad in place of Hassan Ali and Saim Ayub respectively.
Fast bowler Naseem Shah will also make a place in the playing eleven, while the option of adding a spinner is also being considered.
The final decision will be taken in consultation with Gary Kirsten, who is scheduled to join the squad tomorrow. The first T20 between Pakistan and England will be played in Leeds on May 22.
Haris Rauf and Usman Khan did not get a chance in the series against Ireland.
On Saturday, gold prices in Pakistan saw a significant rise, mirroring the upward trend in the international market.
According to the All Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA), the price of gold per tola reached Rs248,100, marking a single-day increase of Rs3,100.
Similarly, the price of 10-gramme gold surged to Rs212,706, reflecting a gain of Rs2,658.
This spike in local gold prices is in line with the international gold rate, which rose to $2,414 per ounce, inclusive of a $20 premium, after a $30 increase during the day.
Silver prices also experienced an uptick, with rates reaching Rs2,850 per tola, an increase of Rs120.
It is noteworthy that last month, gold prices in the local market hit a record high of Rs252,200 per tola. Despite this recent surge, gold prices showed a decline of Rs600 per tola on Friday.
These fluctuations highlight the volatile nature of the precious metals market, influenced heavily by global economic trends and investor sentiment.
Inspector General Police Azad Kashmir Sohail Habib Tajik has been removed from the post and directed to report to the Establishment Division days after violent protests ended in AJK.
The Establishment Division announced in a notification that Abdul Jabbar has been appointed IG Azad Kashmir Police in place of Sohail Habib Tajik, reported Geo News.
Abdul Jabbar, an officer of Grade 20, was previously posted in FIA.
Earlier in the week, during protests against expensive electricity and taxes in Azad Kashmir, several protesters and police personnel were injured in clashes while a sub-inspector was also killed in firing.
Foreign students including Pakistanis are being targeted by locals in the aftermath of a fight with Egyptian nationals in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. As per news circulating on students WhatsApp groups, three students have died, many have been subjected to violence while 20-25 have been kidnapped but none of this has been confirmed by the Pakistani Embassy.
Many posts on social media had claimed multiple fatalities of Pakistani students.
However, the Pakistani embassy, citing the Kyrgyz government, has denied such rumours. However, it confirmed reports of “light injuries” to a number of students from Pakistan.
Videos of students in Bishkek subjected to mob violence emerged on Friday night, sending alarm bells ringing all over social media and mainstream media.
Pakistani medical students are in danger here in Bishkek , Kyrgyzstan.
There was a fight between Egyptians and local Kyrgyz people, but it’s being wrongly blamed on Pakistani students.
Now, Kyrgyz locals are attacking Pakistani hostels where over 1000 students live in each… pic.twitter.com/odmOzJE0dV
A Facebook user posted about his sister being stranded in the hostel but later rescued.
Mohammad Abdullah, a Pakistani medical student in Bishkek, told Geo News that the dispute started due to the harassment of the Egyptian students by Kyrgyz students.
According to Muhammad Abdullah, riots broke out after Egyptian students reacted against Kyrgyz students. Since then, locals are attacking foreign students all over Bishkek.
Talking to ARY News student, Rizwan Gul, claimed that the mob that attacked the hostels of Pakistani students took 20-25 male students away while the female students were beaten up by them. He said that they have been sent the kidnapped students’ videos where they all were made to sit together on the floor. He also stressed that all students are hiding in a corner to protect themselves while they can see that local police are standing around the hostel but not rescuing them. Pakistani embassy has also just released an emergency number on X but no official can be seen on ground.
Rizwan also informed Geo News that the hostel of International Medical University houses 1000-1500 medical students at the moment.
Hasan Zaigham, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, took to X and urged all Pakistanis in the capital to “remain indoors until the situation return [sic] to normal”.
He added that his office is liaising with local authorities to ensure students’ safety and posted numbers for an emergency helpline.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday said the reports of mob violence against Pakistani students in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek were “extremely concerning”.
However, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch shared a post from the Pakistani Embassy’s X account of emergency helpline numbers. “Amb Zaigham & his team are available on these emergency numbers (both numbers on WhatsApp). They have responded to hundreds of queries by students and their families,” she wrote.
Suspects held by the local police
As case is registered against the suspects as per local media.
As many as 29 people were said to have been injured in the brawls with 15 people being taken to various hospitals — including a Pakistani national who suffered from a fractured jaw and was visited by Krgyz Minister of Health Alymkadyr Beishenaliev.
The Kyrgyz media reported that the protesters earlier refused to disperse, instead more people gathered at the spot after which the authorities detained several of them for violating public order.
As per 24.kg, the situation was “stable” and “under control”.
‘The Chronicles of Umro Ayyar.’ The film, which is categorized as an adventure fantasy, draws inspiration from the epic story of Tilism e Hoshruba. As he journeys through time and fantastical worlds, the story narrates the exciting exploits of the fabled trickster hero ‘Umro Ayyar.’
In addition to the animated movie, Ingenuity Productions is developing the 3D animation series ‘Science Voyagers’ in which a curious child sets out on time-traveling escapades to meet the greatest scientists in history. ‘Umro Ayyar’is directed by Syed Arsalan Ali and Haris Bashrat. The story is written by Zafar Abdullah, BinMasoodFarid and Talha Abdur Rahim. Haris Basharat who is also the proudcer of ‘Umro Ayyar, said, “We aim to showcase the Pakistani animation industry’s potential globally. We believe that the film’s impressive visuals and storyline will engage audiences worldwide,”
The search for genuine connection and overcoming selfishness, however, is a deeper message that cuts through the fantasy veneer and speaks to audiences of all ages. The path taken by ‘Umro Ayyar’ turns becomes a monument to the strength of forming relationships that cut over barriers of race, gender, class, age, and personality.
In addition to the animated movie, Ingenuity Productions is developing the 3D animation series ‘Science Voyagers.’ In this series, a curious child sets out on time-traveling escapades to meet the greatest scientists in history.
Furthermore, the business is recognized for creating two 2D animated series: Yolki and Hatch, which centers on early development, and Aria and the Magic Jungle, which emphasizes environmental awareness.
A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Islamabad to Toronto was diverted back to Karachi on Friday after a technical fault was noticed by the captain only four hours into the journey.
The Boeing 777 with 268 passengers onboard was scheduled to take off from Islamabad International Airport at 2:15 pm on Friday, but departed an hour late. When flying over Russia the pilot noticed a technical issue and decided to head back.
PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan said that PIA flight PK-781 was diverted back to Karachi after it developed a technical fault, reported Dawn. He said that after the issue was detected, the plane landed in Karachi around 1 am on Saturday.
The spokesperson claimed that the technical problem with the aircraft was minor, but the captain preferred to return back, rather than to continue the long flight over the Atlantic.
The decision to bring the aircraft back to Karachi was made due to better arrangements at the engineering base and availability of spare parts, he said.
Arrangements to receive the flight at Karachi Airport were said to be in place and the passengers were accommodated at the airport hotel. The flight is now scheduled to depart for Toronto at 1pm today (Saturday).
The aircraft, bearing registration number AP-BGZ, had previously reported the same fault, according to Dawn.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan said on Friday that he will write a letter to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir not for his personal benefits but for the sake of the country.
Talking to journalists at Adiala jail during the hearing of the £190 million case, Imran praised Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, calling him a courageous person.
Khan also questioned why the petitions of PTI workers regarding May 9 are not being heard.
The Interior Ministry on Thursday revealed that over Rs 927 million have been spent on the makeover of the National Parliament infrastructure over the past five years, ARY News reported.
According to the report, the interior ministry said that Rs 108 million was spent on renovation in 2019-20.
Over Rs 171 million in 2020-21, Rs 286 million in 2021-22, Rs 302 million in 2022-23, and Rs 60 million was spent on the renovation in 2023-24.
The National Parliament is made up of the Senate (Upper House) and the National Assembly (Lower House).
Last year, ex-Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani also constituted a parliamentary committee to rename the building to something that aligns with Pakistan’s cultural heritage.
In a new development, prisoners across the province of Punjab have demanded the same special facilities provided to founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan in Adiala Jail.
The inmates penned a letter to Punjab prisons inspector general expressing their desire to be given the same amenities as Imran Khan.
In the letter, concerns were expressed about the “open violation” of the Prison Rules 1978 regarding the services available to the former Prime Minister.
Khan is currently incarcerated in a better-class (B-class) facilities prison at Adiala Jail under high security due to his status of being a former ruler of the country.
Geo News reported that there is a dedicated kitchen for preparing Khan’s meals and he occupies two of the seven special cells, typically accommodating 35 prisoners. The remaining five of the cells remain vacant for security reasons.
The details, stated in a report submitted to the Lahore High Court by a jail superintendent last month, also include that Khan uses a yard equipped with exercise machines and other amenities for his daily walks and recreational activities.
