Author: newsdesk

  • Video: Umar Gul cries talking about close friend’s death

    Video: Umar Gul cries talking about close friend’s death

    Former fast bowler Umar Gul cried uncontrollably while talking about bitter memories during an interview.

    Talking to host Fakhar e Alam on ‘A Sport HD”, former fast bowler Umar Gul could not control his emotions while talking about the death of a close friend.

    The former speedster said, “I became friends with Kaleem in 2004, he was very close to me. When he saw me, he understood what is in my heart. Kaleem died in a traffic accident two days before Eid in the first year of Corona outbreak in Pakistan.”

    Video Credit: ARY

    “I used to come to Karachi only for him, he was not in Karachi so I decided to take retirement. I have not even mentioned this to my wife till today.”

    Umar Gul said, “It has been a month since I came to Karachi for the operation. During this time I did not ask any friend to go out. I still miss my friend a lot. After this accident my life changed, everything has gone from my heart, I don’t want to come to Karachi anymore because I have many memories here.”

    In October 2020, Umar Gul took retirement from all forms of cricket after a 20 year long career.

  • Director Imtiaz Ali worries about reaction from Amar Singh Chamkila’s first wife at film screening

    Director Imtiaz Ali worries about reaction from Amar Singh Chamkila’s first wife at film screening

    Renowned Indian film director, producer and screenwriter was worried about the reaction from the first wife of Punjabi singer Amar Singh Chamkila at the film screening of the biopic made on the musician’s life. According to a source that talked to Indian media outlet Zoom, Imtiaz Ali was concerned over the film’s reception among the singer’s close relatives, especially his first wife.

    Imtiaz Ali said, “Chamkila’s family attended the screening. His first wife, Gurmail Kaur, and Amarjot, along with Chamkila’s son Jaiman Chamkila and daughters were all present. As I watched the film, Chamkila’s first wife sat beside me. I wondered about the sensitive scenes in the movie and if I should retreat before she felt uncomfortable or reacted in any way.”

    The director expressed happiness with how Chamkila was portrayed, as they hoped the audience would like it.
    He said, “I could have judged him for many things he did, but I chose to leave it as it is in the film. It’s actually a credit to the family that they understood.”
    The film’s cast features Diljit Dosanjh as Amar Singh Chamkila and Parineeti Chopra as his wife Amarjot, based on the real-life story of Chamkila and his wife, a singer known for lewd lyrics who was assassinated at a traditional Akhara (event) in 1988 in Punjab. They were shot, along with two other members of their group, as soon as they got out of the car they used to reach the venue.

    The killers remain unknown to this day.

  • Suspension of internet during general elections was restriction on freedom of expression: Report

    Suspension of internet during general elections was restriction on freedom of expression: Report

    In its latest annual report, the Freedom Network states that the shutdown of mobile networks and suspension of the internet during the February 8 general elections was a restriction on access to information and freedom of expression.

    The report further highlights that e-safety and personal data protection bills will pose a threat to Pakistan’s digital economy.

    If the bills are passed, it will oblige Google, Facebook, X and YouTube to provide Pakistani users’ data upon demand by Pakistani authorities, institutionalizing forced censorship.

    Moreover, according to the report, four journalists were killed in Pakistan in 12 months, whereas 104 incidents of harassment of journalists were reported, and more than 70 legal notices were sent to more than 200 journalists and bloggers.

  • Pakistani cricketers refuse to display betting ads on County Cricket shirts

    Pakistani cricketers refuse to display betting ads on County Cricket shirts

    Pakistani cricketers refuse to display betting and gambling advertisement on their shirts in County Cricket.

    County has signed a two-year deal with Dafa Bet as an official partner, under which the betting company will put ther logo on shirt collars of the players in all three formats.

    Dafa Bet had sponsored Pakistan cricket many times under the name of Dafa News by resorting to surrogate advertising, but after the strictness of the government, surrogate advertising has been stopped in domestic cricket and Pakistan Super League (PSL).

    National cricketers had already made their position clear to county authorities. Pakistani cricketers in all teams are away from surrogate advertising, alcohol, pork or adult entertainment advertising.

    The English cricket board and counties take care of the religious sentiments of foreign players, refusing to advertise controversial content, but with no cuts in pay. In the past, many players from other countries have also refused to advertise with alcohol and gambling companies, South Africa’s Hashim Amla was the foremost among them.

  • Hapless KP government paid Rs 5 crore to TTP for freeing abducted judge

    Hapless KP government paid Rs 5 crore to TTP for freeing abducted judge

    Sessions Judge Shakirullah Marwat, who was abducted by unidentified kidnappers on Dera Ismail Khan’s Tank Road, returned home safely on Monday. However, senior journalist Azaz Syed has revealed that the “Judge was released after the KP government paid five crores to terrorists as extortion.”

    According to Syed, “The Marwat clan played a positive role in getting the hostage back, especially, Sher Afzal Marwat.”

    He said the Marwat clan reached the “shadow governor of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)” and they initially demanded seven crores but settled on five crores as the extortion payment.

    Azaz Syed asserted that this is the most unfortunate circumstance that the provincial government was held hostage by the banned TTP and the group has appointed their representatives or shadow governors in every district.

    The journalist remarked that this is an extremely alarming situation that the TTP is operating so freely in DI Khan and can abduct a serving judge.

    He said, “They’re extorting the common people there as well.”

  • Imam Masjid killed by unknown men in India

    Imam Masjid killed by unknown men in India

    Unknown persons entered a mosque and allegedly tortured and killed the imam in Ajmer, India.

    The 30-year-old imam of the mosque, Mohammad Mahir, was allegedly tortured and killed by three masked men, according to Indian media.

    Police say that the killing took place on Saturday morning when the Imam was present in the mosque along with a few students. The suspects allegedly entered the mosque and assaulted the imam with sticks and then fled, as per the local police.

    The imam succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. The reasons for the murder have not yet been revealed. However, suspects are being identified with the help of the CCTV camera footage of the area.

    A case has been registered under Section 302 of the incident. “This is a case of senseless violence, and we are utilising all available technical and investigative resources to identify the perpetrators,” said Ajmer SP Devendra Kumar Bishnoi.

  • PTI’s Shehzad Akbar set to take legal action against Pakistani government over acid attack in UK

    PTI’s Shehzad Akbar set to take legal action against Pakistani government over acid attack in UK

    Former federal minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member Shehzad Akbar is taking legal action against the Pakistani government in the UK after he got injured in an acid attack that left him “scarred for life,”  Geo News reported on Monday.

    On November 26, 2023, an unknown person threw acid on the former federal minister’s face when he opened his door to a visitor at his home in Royston town, England.

    His slamming the door shut and his glasses saved him from going blind.

    On Monday afternoon, Akbar submitted a copy of his legal action to the Pakistan High Commission in London. The document directly accuses multiple officials of involvement in the attack.

    The PTI member also claimed in a document that the government of Pakistan is responsible.

    Akbar sent the Pakistani government a letter outlining the claim that he intends to bring against it at the High Court in London.

  • Maulana Fazl backs PTI in NA speech

    Maulana Fazl backs PTI in NA speech

    Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, in his first speech in the National Assembly, criticised the ruling government, the recent general elections of February 8, civil bureaucracy and the establishment.

    Fazl emphasized that Pakistan was created through the democratic struggles of the people, “Neither bureaucracy nor establishment has a role in the creation of the country.”

    Maulana took the sitting assembly to task asserting, “Is this a parliament of representatives of the nation or a setup arranged by the establishment?”

    He also said this is the first kind of election in which the losers are upset and even the winners are not satisfied.

    The JUI-F leader also supported Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Asad Qaiser’s demand for granting the right to the latter’s party to organise public gatherings, terming it the Imran-founded party’s “constitutional right”.

    Fazl said that his party raised objections to the previous 2018 general elections as well, terming it similarly “fraudulent”.

  • Amir Khan gets permission to reopen boxing academy in Islamabad

    Amir Khan gets permission to reopen boxing academy in Islamabad

    Pakistani-born British boxer Amir Khan has said that his Islamabad-based boxing academy will reopen after a month.

    In a video message posted on X (formerly Twitter) Amir said, “Thank you! The gym is now back with us, thank you to the Pakistan army and Pakistan government for helping to fix the issue. The gym will be active in June for boxers to train and compete.”

    He said, “The gym has been cleaned and now we have to buy the necessary machinery after which the gym will reopen and the youth will be able to learn here.”

    Amir Khan inaugurated the Boxing Academy at Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad in 2016 which was operational till 2022.

    Earlier, Amir Khan expressed disappointment over the closure of the boxing academy and said that one hundred thousand dollars that he had invested had been lost.

  • KIA Stonic EX+ price slashed by Rs1.5 million in Pakistan

    KIA Stonic EX+ price slashed by Rs1.5 million in Pakistan

    Lucky Motor Corporation (LMC) has announced a significant reduction in the price of the KIA Stonic EX+ in Pakistan, a move that comes amid sluggish sales for the popular car model.

    The company, presenting the price cut as a “celebratory limited-time offer,” revealed on Monday that the new price for the Stonic EX+ is Rs4,767,000—a substantial drop of Rs1,513,000 from its previous cost of Rs6,280,000.

    The announcement closely follows the recent price reduction of KIA’s compact SUV, the Sportage, which saw a decrease of up to Rs300,000.

    This sequence of price adjustments indicates a possible market trend towards more affordable pricing in response to consumer demand and purchasing power in Pakistan’s automotive sector.

    LMC’s official statement noted that the price reduction is part of the company’s celebration of five years of CKD (completely knocked down) operations in Pakistan. The company expressed gratitude for customer support and explained that the price revision is intended to mark this milestone.

    “As we complete 5 years of our CKD operations, we are filled with gratitude for your unwavering support and thank you for your help in achieving this significant milestone in Pakistan. To mark this occasion, we are thrilled to introduce a celebratory limited-time price offer on our beloved Kia Stonic,” the statement read.

    However, industry experts suggest that the price drop might be driven by sluggish sales and lower offtake of the vehicle, rather than purely by celebratory reasons.

    The timing of the price revision, coming on the heels of another significant price reduction, raises questions about the broader market dynamics and the company’s strategy to boost sales.

    The new pricing for the KIA Stonic EX+ is set to take effect on April 29, 2024, and customers will likely watch closely to see if this move leads to a resurgence in the vehicle’s popularity in the Pakistani market.