Author: newsdesk

  • ‘All that’s left for them now is to murder me – but I’m not afraid to die’, writes Imran Khan

    ‘All that’s left for them now is to murder me – but I’m not afraid to die’, writes Imran Khan

    Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan wrote an op-ed for The Telegraph on May 2, blaming the military establishment for oppression, election rigging and trying to upend his political party PTI.

    “The military establishment, under the direct guidance of Gen Asim Munir, the chief of army staff, has tried every tactic to decimate my party’s presence from the political environment of Pakistan,” wrote Khan.

    The former Prime Minister also said that even though the electoral symbol of a cricket bat was taken from PTI “the people came out and voted overwhelmingly for candidates supported by my party, the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI).”

    Khan emphasized that PTI supporters were “falsely accused” of attacking military installations on May 9 2023 because it was used “as a pretext for a crackdown” on PTI workers.

    “Military leadership has been subjected to overt criticism at a level unseen before in our history. The government is a laughing stock,” stated Khan.

    He also expressed regret over the “sorry state of judicial affairs” in the country and warned that the country is going on “the same path it trod in 1971, when it lost East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.”

    Naming the COAS General Asim Munir publicly, he wrote:

    “The military establishment has done all they could against me. All that is left for them is to now murder me. I have stated publicly that if anything happens to me or my wife, Gen Asim Munir will be responsible. But I am not afraid because my faith is strong. I would prefer death over slavery.”

  • PCB to send women cricket team to Kakul for fitness

    PCB to send women cricket team to Kakul for fitness

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to send the women cricket team to Kakul military camp for fitness.

    The players will be sent to the Pakistan Military Academy Kakul in July.

    This will be the first time that Pakistani women cricketers are being sent to Kakul instructors for fitness enhancement. The one-month fitness and skills camp will be attended by 15 women cricketers at a time.

  • Official anthem of T20 World Cup released

    Official anthem of T20 World Cup released

    The official anthem of International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup 2024 has been released.

    ‘Out of this World’, released on the official ICC Instagram account, sung by Grammy Award winning singer Sean Paul and Soca superstar Kes.

    The anthem features several athletes including Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chandrapal, Stephanie Taylor and Usain Bolt.

    ICC T20 World Cup will start on June 2 in USA and West Indies.

  • SBP-held forex reserves rise by $25 million to reach $8 billion

    SBP-held forex reserves rise by $25 million to reach $8 billion

    The foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) increased by $25 million on a weekly basis, reaching $8 billion as of April 26, according to data released on Thursday.

    Despite this modest increase, the country’s total liquid foreign reserves, including holdings in commercial banks, remained at $13.3 billion, with net foreign reserves held by commercial banks totaling $5.3 billion.

    While the central bank did not specify a reason for the uptick, the slight increase comes after a recent dip.

    Last week, the central bank’s reserves had declined by $74 million, causing them to fall below the $8 billion mark.

    This decline had raised concerns about the stability of Pakistan’s foreign exchange position.

    Meanwhile, Pakistan’s financial stability received a boost from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which disbursed $1.1 billion in the final tranche of the $3 billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) on Tuesday.

    This funding follows approval by the IMF’s Executive Board and is expected to be reflected in the SBP’s reserves for the week ending May 3, 2024.

    Despite these recent inflows, Pakistan faces ongoing challenges in maintaining a robust foreign exchange reserve.

    The country is heavily reliant on external financing, and fluctuations in reserve levels can impact economic stability.

    As the central bank works to stabilise its reserves, the broader economy remains sensitive to changes in external funding and currency exchange rates.

  • Pak Suzuki cuts Swift prices by up to Rs710,000

    Pak Suzuki cuts Swift prices by up to Rs710,000

    Pak Suzuki Motor Company has recently announced a significant reduction in prices for its Swift variants, marking what the company terms a “limited time offer.” The decision comes amidst considerations of prevailing market dynamics.

    According to the official announcement released by the company, effective May 1, 2024, the promotional retail sales prices for Suzuki Swift have been revised.

    Notably, this adjustment aims to make the Swift models more accessible to consumers.

    Under the new pricing scheme, the Swift GL MT is now priced at Rs4,336,000, reflecting a notable decrease of Rs85,000 from its previous rate of Rs4,421,000.

    Similarly, the Swift GL CVT is set to be available at Rs4,560,000, marking a substantial decline of Rs159,000 from its former price of Rs4,719,000.

    The most significant price reduction is observed in the Swift GLX CVT variant, which has seen a substantial drop from Rs5,429,000 to Rs4,719,000, translating to a decrease of Rs710,000.

    Importantly, the revised retail prices include Federal Excise Duty (FED) and Sales Tax, while they exclude Advance Income Tax, as outlined in the official notice.

    This move by Pak Suzuki Motor Company underscores its commitment to adapt to market conditions and provide value to customers through competitive pricing strategies.

  • Saudi crackdown on anti-Israel social media comments intensifies

    Saudi crackdown on anti-Israel social media comments intensifies

    In recent months, Saudi Arabian authorities have arrested a growing number of citizens for criticising Israel on social media.

    This surge in arrests comes amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which has triggered widespread condemnation and protests across the Middle East.

    According to a report by Bloomberg, among those detained is a high-ranking executive involved in Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s economic development initiatives, including the ambitious Vision 2030 project.

    Another detainee is reported to have urged Saudi citizens to boycott American brands operating in the Gulf Kingdom, while a third is a media figure who publicly stated that Israel should never be forgiven for its actions in Gaza.

    A source close to the Saudi government, who requested anonymity, stated that these arrests are driven by concerns about national security and the potential influence of pro-Iranian groups in Saudi Arabia.

    However, there are no official figures indicating how many individuals have been arrested since the Israeli offensive in Gaza began on October 7, 2023.

    The crackdown on dissent coincides with efforts by the United States to broker a deal for the normalisation of ties between Riyadh and Tel Aviv.

    During a recent visit to Saudi Arabia, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that negotiations have brought both parties “potentially very close to completion.”

    However, Saudi Arabia has repeatedly emphasised that it will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel until an independent Palestinian state is recognised.

    Meanwhile, Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza has had devastating consequences.

    According to the Wafa news agency, more than 34,500 Palestinians have been killed and over 77,000 wounded since the start of the conflict.

    The United Nations reports that 85 per cent of Gaza’s population has been internally displaced due to the violence, and 60 per cent of the enclave’s civilian infrastructure has been severely damaged or destroyed.

    Critical shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies have compounded the humanitarian crisis.

    Israel has been accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In January, the World Court issued an interim ruling ordering Israel to halt genocidal acts and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza’s civilians.

    South Africa, which initiated the case against Israel, has since accused the country of disregarding the court’s ruling. Israel has denied all allegations against it.

    As tensions continue to rise, the arrest of Saudi citizens for criticising Israel reflects the broader geopolitical complexities in the region.

    The outcome of US-led negotiations and the humanitarian situation in Gaza will likely have significant implications for the future of Saudi-Israeli relations and the stability of the Middle East.

  • Foreign Office laments German envoy incident at AJ Conference

    Foreign Office laments German envoy incident at AJ Conference

    Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Thursday expressed regret over the incident faced by German Ambassador Alfred Grannas during an event in Lahore.

    Last week, the German envoy was heckled and booed by pro-Palestine protestors over Germany’s complicity in Israel’s genocide against the people of Gaza.

    In the footage, it could be seen that the activist shouted, “Why your country is brutally abusing the people speaking for the rights of Palestinians,” addressing the German envoy.

    However, Ambassador Grannas, who was visibly taken aback, began shouting while asking the protesters not to shout. He also gestured at the students while waving his left hand in the air, asking them to “go out”.

    Mumtaz also rejected allegations of former advisor to Prime Minister Shehzad Akbar’s claims that he was attacked by the state of Pakistan.

    “We categorically reject the allegations made by Shahzad Akbar against the state of Pakistan, its institutions and agencies. These claims are baseless and politically motivated. As we have said in the past safety and security of Pakistani nationals, wherever they are, are a matter of priority for Pakistan,” said the FO spokesperson during her weekly press briefing.

    She reiterated that Pakistan does not have a policy of targeting citizens abroad. Baloch said several dissidents are living in foreign countries but Pakistan has never engaged against them.

    Even though, “Some of them have (even) maintained links with terrorist entities inside Pakistan,” the spokesperson said.

    On April 29, Akbar served a copy of his legal action to the Pakistan High Commission in London. It names several Pakistan government officials as responsible for the attack.

    Akbar had initiated legal action against the Pakistani government over an acid attack in 2023 that left him “scarred for life”.

  • Bella Hadid stops modeling: ‘I won’t pretend anymore’

    Bella Hadid stops modeling: ‘I won’t pretend anymore’

    Supermodel Bella Hadid is stepping back from her glamorous career and starting afresh in Texas with her partner, Adan Banuelo.
    “After 10 years of modeling, I realized I was putting so much energy and love into something that, in the long run, wasn’t necessarily giving back to me,” Hadid told Allure magazine, as reported by ‘The Hollywood Reporter’.

    She explained that her life in Texas is different now, with a strong group of friends. She said that she enjoys her time with them without feeling the need to overdo it when getting ready for a night out.

    “For the first time now, I’m not putting on a fake face. If I don’t feel good, I won’t go. If I don’t feel good, I take time for myself… And I’ve never had the opportunity to do that or say that before,” she said.

    Hadid emphasized that when people see her in pictures and say she looks happy, she genuinely is. “I am feeling better; my bad days now were my old good days,” she added.

    Over the past year, Hadid has been quietly working on her mental and physical health. She has opened up about her battle with Lyme disease on social media and has shared that she is “finally healthy.”

  • ECP once again raises concerns over PTI’s intra-party polls

    ECP once again raises concerns over PTI’s intra-party polls

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has raised concerns over the recent intra-party polls of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The electoral body asked PTI to submit a response in written form.

    The PTI’s political future is at risk as the ECP raised concerns that the party is holding central meetings without intra-party polls.

    The ECP asked how various PTI party organisations are working if the intra-party polls have not been held for five years. It was the opinion of the commission that PTI has no structure and no electoral symbol.

    It also objected to the PTI’s new intra-party elections. After the initial hearing on April 30, they told the PTI to submit its response

  • Why have PIA flights to UAE been suspended?

    Why have PIA flights to UAE been suspended?

    Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has issued travel guidelines for passengers planning to travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as air operations to Dubai and Sharjah have been severely affected by heavy rains.

    In response to the adverse weather conditions in the UAE, a PIA spokesperson told Samaa News that air operations of various airlines, including PIA, will remain suspended until further notice. Some flights of the national airline are experiencing delays and cancellations due to the inclement weather, he added.
    Passengers booked on affected flights are advised to contact the PIA call centre for updates and information regarding their travel arrangements. PIA remains dedicated to providing timely assistance and support to its passengers during this challenging period, the spokesman said.

    Two-day holiday in Dubai

    In view of the forecast of rain on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the United Arab Emirates, Thursday and Friday have been declared holidays in the educational institutions of Dubai.