Author: newsdesk

  • PTI intra-party polls: Barrister Gohar submits nomination papers for party chairman

    PTI intra-party polls: Barrister Gohar submits nomination papers for party chairman

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has submitted his nomination papers for the post of party chairman in the upcoming intra-party elections, days after Barrister Ali Zafar withdrew from the race for the position.

    If Gohar Khan is elected, it will be his second term as party chief, having previously served as PTI chairman after getting elected in intra-party polls conducted on December 2, 2023, as per The News.

    The development comes after the party’s announcement last week they it is holding fresh intra-party elections on March 3 after the Supreme Court upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) plea to uphold its decision declaring the PTI’s intra-party elections null and void due to administrative irregularities pertaining to its failure to adhere to its own Constitution and the provisions of the Election Act 2017 and Election Rules 2017.

    The party’s federal election commissioner, Raof Hasan, issued the election schedule, as February 25 was the last date to submit nomination papers for candidates who wanted to take part in intra-party elections.

    However, the final decision on nomination papers will be announced on February 27, and the polling will be held on March 3 at the PTI’s central office as well as provincial secretariats.

  • PSL 9: How can Lahore Qalandars qualify for playoff stage?

    Defending champions Lahore Qalandars have had a tough run after losing all five of their matches so far in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine. The two-time champions are currently at the bottom of the points table and their next match is against league leaders Multan Sultans in Lahore tomorrow. To remain in the hunt for the playoffs, Lahore will need to win all their remaining five matches and collect 10 points.

    The minimum number of points required to qualify for the play-offs has generally been 10. Peshawar Zalmi in 2023, Karachi Kings in 2021 and 2019 and Quetta Gladiators in 2018 qualified for the playoffs with 10 points, the lowest among the four teams that made it to the next round. Islamabad United qualified for the playoffs in 2022 with eight points and Peshawar Zalmi with nine points in 2020.

    So if we look at the PSL results of previous years, Lahore Qalandars should not lose all hope yet. Lahore will now play their next match against Multan Sultans at the Gaddafi Stadium on February 27, after which the defending champions will face Peshawar Zalmi at the Pindi Stadium on March 2. Lahore Qalandars will face Islamabad United at Pindi Stadium on March 6. On March 9, the teams of Lahore and Karachi Kings will face each other at the National Bank Stadium. On March 10, Lahore Qalandars will face Quetta Gladiators in their final match.

  • Maryam Nawaz elected as CM Punjab

    Maryam Nawaz elected as CM Punjab

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz has been elected as Punjab’s Chief Minister (CM) on Monday afternoon after Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) boycotted the electoral process in the assembly.

    Maryam, who has become the first-ever female chief minister in Pakistan’s history, won the elections after receiving the backing of 220 MPAs in the provincial assembly.

    Her opponent, Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) candidate Rana Aftab Ahmad, didn’t get any votes because his party boycotted the electoral process for CM.

    “The votes have been counted according to which Maryam has obtained 220 votes and SIC candidate Rana Aftab Aftab secured zero votes,” said Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan while presiding over the session.

  • Ali Amin Gandapur to contest independently for CM KP position

    Ali Amin Gandapur to contest independently for CM KP position

    Ali Amin Gandapur, a prominent leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and perhaps the next Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), has opted out of joining the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).

    Instead, he has chosen to contest independently for the top provincial post, backed by PTI members aligned with the SIC, as reported by The News on Monday.

    Following general elections, independent winners supported by PTI from KP have affiliated themselves with the SIC to secure designated seats for women and religious minority representatives.

    However, Gandapur, who secured victory from Dera Ismail Khan, will pursue the PTI’s provincial presidency and is actively involved in the party’s intra-party elections scheduled for March 3, having submitted his nomination papers accordingly.

    In parallel, Ali Asghar, another PTI member, has submitted his papers for the position of provincial general secretary, while Aqibullah Khan, nominated by PTI and the brother of senior leader Asad Qaiser, will compete for a KP Assembly office position under the SIC banner.

    The announcement of KP cabinet members is pending final approval from PTI’s founding chairman, Imran Khan, following extensive consultations. Additionally, the PTI is deliberating over several candidates for the deputy speaker position, with the chosen individual’s identity expected to be disclosed imminently.

    On the opposition front, parties have resolved not to concede ground to PTI and have declared intentions to nominate candidates for chief minister, speaker, and deputy speaker roles. The opposition plans to finalize consensus candidates following an imminent meeting.

    Abdul Jalil Jan, the spokesperson for Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), confirmed that neither Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nor Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have initiated talks with their party regarding the election of KP Assembly officials.

    With the inaugural session of the KP Assembly scheduled for February 28, the assembly will witness the swearing-in of newly elected members, followed by the election of the speaker, deputy speaker, and chief minister.

    Meanwhile, Ali Amin Gandapur expressed his commitment to democratic principles and serving the people during interactions with elected members, party workers, and various stakeholders.

    He expressed these views during meetings with the members-elect of the national and provincial assemblies, party workers and people from different walks of life, including scholars and lawyers, at the Speaker’s House.

    Gandapur spoke about improving the province’s law and order situation as well as adding health cards, langar khana, shelter homes and police reforms would be restored. He said that the people would be provided with a uniform education system, while the lack of resources would not be a hurdle in the completion of this great mission.

  • ASP Sheharbano to be awarded highest police award for exemplary courage

    ASP Sheharbano to be awarded highest police award for exemplary courage

    ASP Sheharbano Naqvi, who rescued a terrorised woman from a charged mob, is now being nominated for the highest gallantry award- the Quaid-e-Azam Police Medal.

    In a viral video circulating online, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shehrbano was seen trying to calm an angry crowd of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) supporters who were allegedly angry with a woman in a small restaurant. The woman was wearing a dress with Arabic letters printed on it. Without knowing what the letters meant, men around her got offended and accused her of blasphemy by wearing Quranic Ayats. ASP Shehrbano reached in time and saved the woman from the crowd.

    She was praised on social media for defusing the situation in a controlled manner.

    However, it is not the first time ASP Sheharbano has been praised for doing the right. In November last year, she became the face of a soft image of the Punjab Police when she, along with the IG Punjab Dr Usman Anwar, inaugurated a one-of-a-kind Pet Park in Lahore.

    She also made headlines for her compassion towards sniffer dogs of the police department who are now adopted after retirement instead of being euthanized.

  • ‘Speechless’; Celebs react to false allegations by mob against woman’s kurta

    ‘Speechless’; Celebs react to false allegations by mob against woman’s kurta

    A woman wearing a dress with Arabic writing printed on it was attacked by a violent mob on Sunday. Videos of the incident quickly spread online, showing the mob surrounding her while she was at a restaurant in Lahore’s Ichhra Market.
    Some people there accused her of having Quranic verses printed on her dress, which they found offensive. They were angry because of the Arabic writing on her dress, not knowing what it really meant. The dress actually has the word ‘sweet’ written on it.

    While some tried to protect the terrified woman her from the false accusations, the police came to control situation and took the woman home safely.
    Later, it was found that there were no Quranic verses on her dress, just Arabic words.

    Celebrities reacted to the news with shock and horror. Many expressed admiration for the female police officer who led the woman to safety.

    Here are some reactions:

  • Maryam Nawaz set to become Punjab’s First female CM today

    Maryam Nawaz set to become Punjab’s First female CM today

    The Punjab Assembly will likely elect new a chief minister of the province today (Monday). Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz is expected become CM Punjab as her party has the majority in provincial assembly after February 8 elections.
    Maryam Nawaz will be the first female chief minister of the province in history.
    The session has been summoned to meet at 11am and will be presided by newly-elected Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan.
    The PML-N has support of 224 MPAs in the provincial assembly.

    The candidate fielded by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), Aftab Ahmad Khan, who is a senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has the support of 103 MPAs. Maryam will face him as her opponent.
    Aftab has served as a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA thrice in the Punjab Assembly in 1988, 1993 and 2002. He joined PTI in 2013 and is now serving his fourth term.

  • PSL 9: Peshawar Zalmi defeats Lahore Qalandars by 8 runs in a thriller

    PSL 9: Peshawar Zalmi defeats Lahore Qalandars by 8 runs in a thriller

    In the twelfth match of the HBL Pakistan Super League, Peshawar Zalmi defeated the defending champion Lahore Qalandars by 8 runs after an interesting match.

    Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Afridi won the toss and invited Peshawar Zalmi to bat.

    Peshawar Zalmi’s innings

    Batting first at the invitation of Lahore, Peshawar Zalmi scored 211 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

    Opener Babar and Saim Ayub formed a brilliant partnership of 136 runs, with Saim scoring brilliant half-centuries. Babar scored 48 and Saim scored 88 runs.

    Apart from this, Romain Powell played a smoky innings of 46 runs off 20 balls, Asif Ali got out by scoring 6 runs while Mohammad Haris scored 12 runs and Walter remained unbeaten by scoring 2 runs.

    Shaheen Afridi took 3 wickets and Jahandad Khan took one wicket for Lahore Qalandars.

    Lahore Qalandars innings

    In pursuit of Zalmi’s target of 212 runs, the Lahore Qalandars team managed to score 203 runs in the allotted 20 overs.

    On behalf of Qalandars, van der Dusen scored the first century of HBL, PSL 9, he made a century with the help of 6 sixes and 7 fours, but even his 104 runs not out innings could not give Qalandars their first victory. .

    Apart from this, Shai Hope 29, Ahsan Hafeez 20 and Sahibzada Farhan scored 15 runs, Jahandad Khan 13, Fakhar Zaman 4 and Sikandar Raza scored 1 run.

    Naveen ul Haq dismissed 2 players for Zalmi, Luke Wood, Paul Walter and Salman Irshad took one wicket each.

  • Utility Stores to implement Rs7.492 billion relief package ahead of Ramzan

    Utility Stores to implement Rs7.492 billion relief package ahead of Ramzan

    The federal government is set to implement the Ramzan Relief Package, totaling Rs7.492 billion, through the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) starting March 4, 2024. This initiative aims to provide relief to targeted beneficiaries by offering subsidies on 19 essential items.

    The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet approved this decision based on a proposal from the Ministry of Industries and Production. The proposal sought approval for providing subsidies to targeted beneficiaries registered under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) with a net amount of Rs7.492 billion.

    Of this, Rs 5 billion was allocated in the current fiscal year 2023–24 for the Ramzan Relief Package 2024, with the remaining Rs 2.492 billion to be re-appropriated from the current fiscal year budget allocations for the Prime Minister Relief Package (PMRP).

    The ECC directed the Finance Division to release the full subsidy amount of Rs7.492 billion to ensure timely purchases and necessary arrangements for the availability of these items at USC outlets.

    With Ramzan expected to commence on March 11, 2024, the implementation date for the Ramzan Relief Package-2024 was proposed from March 4, 2024, until the last day of Ramzan.

    Since 1991, the government has been providing relief during Ramzan by selling 19 items at subsidised rates through USC outlets. For the fiscal year 2023–24, the federal government allocated Rs35 billion for subsidies on essential items, including Rs30 billion for PMRP and Rs5 billion for the Ramzan Relief Package 2024.

    The Ramzan Relief Package aims to provide maximum relief to the masses. Due to restrictions imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on untargeted subsidies, subsidies are provided to targeted beneficiaries registered under PMT-40 of BISP for the fiscal year 2023–24.

    The USC is currently serving 26.92 million households registered under PMT-40. To extend assistance to more beneficiaries during Ramzan-2024, it is proposed to provide subsidies on 19 items to targeted beneficiaries registered under PMT-60, reaching an additional 12.73 million households.

  • PSL 9: Multan Sultans defeats Quetta Gladiators by 13 runs

    PSL 9: Multan Sultans defeats Quetta Gladiators by 13 runs

    In the 11th match of Pakistan Super League 9, Multan Sultans defeats Quetta Gladiators by 13 runs.

    Quetta Gladiators won the toss and decided to bowl first against Multan Sultans.

    Multan Sultan’s inning

    Sultans scored 180 runs for the loss of three wickets in the allotted 20 overs, Reza Hendricks scored 72 runs, captain Mohammad Rizwan scored 51 runs.

    Apart from this, Usman Khan scored 14 runs and Tayyab Tahir scored 35 runs. Multan Sultans set Quetta Gladiators a target of 181 runs to win.

    Quetta Gladiator’s inning

    Quetta Gladiators scored 167 in the alloted 20 overs. From Quetta Gladiators, Khawaja Naffay scored 36 runs, Captain Rilley Rossow scored 30 runs, Saud Shakeel 24 runs and Sherfane Rutherford scored 21 runs.

    From Multan Sultan David Willy and Muhammad Ali took three wickets each, while Aftab Ibrahim took two wickets.