Author: newsdesk

  • ‘We will vote for PML-N on our own terms’: Bilawal Bhutto

    ‘We will vote for PML-N on our own terms’: Bilawal Bhutto

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that his party will vote for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) “on our own terms.”
    “Progress [in talks] can only be made if ‘someone’ is willing to change their position […] We stand by our position and will not change it,” Bilawal said without naming PML-N.

    He spoke to the media outside the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday afternoon after attending the hearing of a presidential reference challenging the death sentence of his grandfather, former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

    Bilawal’s remarks come as the coordination committees of the PML-N and PPP are set to hold a sixth meeting today to reach an agreement over the formation of the future government after both parties failed to secure National Assembly (NA) seats in sufficient numbers to form their government in the Centre.

  • UC Chairman shot dead in Karachi over children dispute

    UC Chairman shot dead in Karachi over children dispute

    A UC Chairman was killed as a result of firing between two groups over the issue of children in Bhitaiabad, Karachi.

    The incident followed a fight among children in Bhataiabad Street No. 19, during which people from two groups fired at each other, as a result of which one person was killed and six people were injured, reports Geo News.

    According to the police, the deceased person was identified as Sabir Magsi, chairman of UC-9 from Pakistan Peoples Party.

    As soon as the incident was reported, a heavy contingent of police and rescue personnel reached the spot and shifted the injured to the hospital.

    Counselor Shaukat Nazir told the media that the victim was a businessman and had left behind a widow and two children. “The victim was with me sometime before the incident and was killed by a bullet in the neck,” he said.

    Shaukat Nazir further elaborated that the incident took place during a children’s fight. He asserted that the administration will take legal action after the burial.

  • Palestinian mother allowed to bring daughter to Canada two weeks after death

    Palestinian mother allowed to bring daughter to Canada two weeks after death

    Samar Elkhadour, a Palestinian woman who had been trying to get her daughter Jana out of Gaza, for the past several years. She finally got the call from Global Affairs Department of Canada allowing her daughter with special needs to immigrate to Canada, two weeks after her death. The news was featured in CBC Montreal News.

    Jana was born with severe cerebral palsy and was living with Samar’s in-laws in Gaza. Samar was living in Canada and was trying to get her daughter to join her as she dealt with Jana’s immigration process. Jana died on January 8 – four days after her 13th birthday – in Gaza, due to malnutrition and lack of medicine and two weeks later, Samar got the green light from the Canadian government to bring her but it was too late.

    Samar talked to host Debra Arbec in a show and spoke her heart out. She shared how she had hoped to give her daughter the comfort she deserved had she been allowed to move in with her family. She along with her husband and other children left Gaza back in 2017 as a refugee but the immigration bureaucracy in Canada did not help them at all. Back then, her daughter was relatively safe because the escalation was not spiking. However, after October 7, she decided to move her to a church because she thought she’d be safe there under international law. “What happened after that, the Church was surrounded by tanks and snipers and there were restrictions on the entry of food,” Samar related with teary eyes, “Jana could only have soft food and since it is a war, this is a privilege”. Her health deteriorated and because she was not given proper medication she passed away.

    When the interviewer asked about the time she got to know about the green light to bring her daughter to Canada, Samar replied, “I laughed, because it’s ridiculous. It was a child’s life at stake.”

    The two then went on to discuss the immigration process in Canada and Samar highlighted the double standards of the process especially with Palestinians. She stressed the immediate need of a ceasefire.

  • Senator Mushtaq Ahmed demands resignation from Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Raja

    Senator Mushtaq Ahmed demands resignation from Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Raja

    Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Senator Mushtaq Ahmed has demanded that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja resign from his post as he didn’t fulfil his responsibility to conduct free and fair elections in the country.

    While addressing the senate, he said that the February 8 elections were fake and that they will not accept the fake government as the result of these rigged elections.

    Senator Mushtaq Ahmed then accused the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of committing treason and suggested that the electoral body should apologise to the nation for its actions.

    “Legal proceeding should be carried out against the CEC under Article 6 of the constitution, for the ECP was given Rs 50 billion from the national exchequer but it failed to hold transparent polls,” he alleged.

    The JI senator also said that the money wasted in the name of elections should be returned and a case should be lodged against CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja.

  • Pakistan grapples with 23% surge in power generation costs amidst economic woes

    Pakistan grapples with 23% surge in power generation costs amidst economic woes

    In a startling development, the cost of power generation in Pakistan has surged by a staggering 23 per cent in January 2024, compared to the same period last year, reports the brokerage house Topline Securities.

    The average cost per kilowatt-hour (KWh) soared to Rs13.8, marking a significant increase from Rs11.20/KWh recorded in January 2023.

    The substantial hike in costs is attributed primarily to elevated expenses in power generation from gas and nuclear sources, which witnessed a spike of 43 per cent and 24 per cent, respectively, on a yearly basis. Moreover, the fuel cost for furnace oil (FO) also surged by 22 per cent year-on-year, according to data from Topline Securities.

    This surge comes as a severe blow to the populace, which is already grappling with high inflation and sluggish economic activity. Rising electricity bills have compounded the financial burden on citizens.

    In terms of power generation, Pakistan witnessed a marginal decline of over 2 per cent in January 2024 compared to the same period last year, with total generation amounting to 8,313 GWh (11,175 MW).

    The decline in power generation was predominantly due to a decrease in coal-based generation, which plummeted by 20 per cent year-on-year. Gas and wind power generation also witnessed declines of 10 per cent and 55 per cent, respectively.

    However, there was a 9 per cent increase in power generation on a monthly basis, indicating some fluctuation in the generation patterns.

    Coal emerged as the primary source of power generation in January 2024, constituting 23.4 per cent of the total generation mix, surpassing nuclear and RLNG (re-gasified liquid natural gas). Nuclear energy accounted for 20.8 per cent of the overall generation, while RLNG contributed 18.2 per cent.

    Renewable sources like wind, bagasse, and solar collectively made up a modest portion of the generation mix, indicating a potential for further development and investment in sustainable energy solutions.

    Overall, the surge in power generation costs coupled with a slight decline in generation highlights the challenges facing Pakistan’s energy sector and underscores the need for strategic measures to ensure an affordable and sustainable power supply in the country.

  • Agha Ali rushed to hospital after wrapping up show

    Agha Ali rushed to hospital after wrapping up show

    Well-known actor Agha Ali has appealed to his fans to pray for his recovery.

    He put up a photo on his Instagram story where he can be seen lying in a hospital bed with a drip hooked onto his arm. In the caption he wrote, “I finished the show even though I had a high fever, and then I went directly to the hospital.”
    He addressed his fans, saying, “I need your prayers.” Lastly, he thanked his fans and said, “No matter what, I’ll always do my best to improve.”

  • Why has Nasiruddin Shah stopped watching Bollywood movies?

    Why has Nasiruddin Shah stopped watching Bollywood movies?

    Veteran Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah recently shared that he’s stopped watching Bollywood movies, expressing disappointment with the repetitiveness of the stories.

    “I don’t like the same old stories at all, that’s why I stopped watching Hindi films,” he said in an interview. He pointed out that while Indian food is widely loved for its rich content, the same cannot be said for Hindi films. According to him, Indian films lack good content, causing even Indians living abroad to tire of them quickly.
    Shah advised Indian filmmakers to tackle serious topics responsibly, ensuring they reflect contemporary realities without facing censorship or bans. He cited examples of Iranian filmmakers and Indian cartoonist RK Laxman, who continued their work despite challenges from authorities. He emphasized the need for Bollywood to learn from such examples and elevate its storytelling.

  • ‘Meri Age, Meri Marzi’; Iffat Omar has had enough

    ‘Meri Age, Meri Marzi’; Iffat Omar has had enough

    In the entertainment world, women often get treated unfairly because of their age. Now, model Iffat Omar is speaking out against ageism, posting a video on Instagram wearing a lovely pink saree.
    In the caption, she wrote, “I’ll do what I want at my age, so you do your thing and stop telling me how to behave.” Known for her independence, she’s showing that it’s perfectly fine to be yourself, no matter your age.

    Iffat has also shared her views on feminism and politics in Pakistan, as well as her experiences in the media industry.
    She has also talked about the culture surrounding Urdu dramas in Pakistan. The ‘Berukhi’ actor mentioned facing criticism in Karachi for her Punjabi accent, limited Urdu skills, and not being fluent in English.

  • PPP hopeful of reaching consensus with PML-N on government formation

    PPP hopeful of reaching consensus with PML-N on government formation

    After the fifth meeting of the coordination committees of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) didn’t make much progress, the PPP still hopes they can agree on how to form the government in today’s meeting.

    Faisal Karim Kundi, PPP’s Information Secretary, topd Geo News that the party’s central executive committee’s decision is not to join the federal cabinet in the upcoming government.

    “[Our] experience with the PML-N during the 16-month alliance was not pleasant,” Kundi said while stressing that there’s no formula for holding the office of prime minister for three years and two years by either party’s candidates. 

    He also emphasised that the party has the right to compete for other constitutional positions.

    Bilateral talks between the PPP and the PML-N, after none of the parties was able to secure a simple majority in the February 8 polls, have dragged on for days, with the former maintaining its stance against being included in the cabinet, The News reported on Sunday.

    On Monday, both parties spent three hours in a meeting and were planning to meet again later in the day, but they decided to postpone it until Tuesday (today).

  • Trolls target Zara Noor Abbas for photo with husband

    Trolls target Zara Noor Abbas for photo with husband

    Famous Pakistani actress and model Zara Noor Abbas is getting a lot of negative comments from trolls for a sharing a photo with her husband, actor Asad Siddiqui.
    Yesterday, Zara posted a picture of herself hugging Asad.

    As usual, internet trolls criticised her for what they thought was a private photo.
    Some tried to school Zara that it’s important to keep special moments in your life private and not share everything on social media.
    Some people think the picture is inappropriate, while others think it looks fake.
    However, trolls have completely forgotten to take into account that Asad’s father passed away just a few days ago. The actor was devastated at his beloved father’s death. The photo appears to show Zara consoling her husband in a moment of sadness.

    Zara Noor Abbas got married to actor Asad Siddiqui in 2017.