Author: newsdesk

  • Social media services once again down in Pakistan

    Social media services once again down in Pakistan

    Social media services are once again down in Pakistan. Users in different parts of the country are facing difficulties in accessing Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube and X.

    Several users have complained about the lack of access to social media, but no statement or reason has been released by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

    It should be noted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) has announced its virtual jalsa on social media today. Social media services were down last time on PTI virtual Jalsa and also on the fundraising program of PTI on social media a few days ago.

    The Government of Pakistan didn’t take notice of the sudden shutdown of social media from PTA.

  • In a first, man sentenced to three years in jail for marital rape

    In a first, man sentenced to three years in jail for marital rape

    In a legal first, a man has been sentenced to three years in jail after he was found guilty of having non-consensual sex with his wife, a punishable act under Section 377 (unnatural offences) of the Pakistan Penal Code, The News has reported.

    Additional Sessions Judge (South) Ashraf Hussain Khowaja announced the reserved judgment in Karachi after recording evidence and final arguments from both the defence and prosecution sides.

    He sentenced the convict named Javed to three-year rigorous imprisonment and ordered him to pay a Rs30,000 fine. If he fails to pay the fine, he would have to undergo an additional one month of simple imprisonment.

    “From a perusal of evidence brought at the trial by the prosecution, it appears that the victim has fully established a commission of sodomy with her by the accused being her husband,” the judge observed.

    “Though the victim/complainant contradicted some facts relating to the period of her stay with the accused, putting her signature on the memo of site inspection at PS, suffering from disease of piles and her age which are immaterial facts which would not be fatal to the prosecution case,” he added.
    The judge noted the medical evidence supported this version. On the other hand, he said the accused failed to establish “enmity” that her wife loved somebody else and therefore she implicated him falsely. The convict’s sisters who appeared as defence witnesses failed even to disclose the name of the alleged affair of the victim, he added.

    The victim testified that her husband would commit sodomy with her despite her attempts to stop him. About two months after their marriage, she informed her mother-in-law, who didn’t say anything to him, she said, adding that then she disclosed her ordeal to her sister and brother, after which she lodged an FIR against her husband on November 23, 2022.

    Advocate Bahzad Akbar of the Legal Aid Society, who represented the complainant, contended that sodomy falls within the definition of rape and marital rape in this case after an amendment brought to Section 375 of the Pakistan Penal Code in 2021.

    He said that the woman’s testimony and medical evidence corroborated the charges against the accused, requesting the judge to punish Javed as per the law.
    “I am not sure about other provinces but this is certainly the first such conviction over marital rape in Sindh following the amendment,” he told The News.
    He added there are no known convictions on charges of marital rape in the country. An FIR had been lodged under Section 377 of the PPC at the Chakiwara police station on the woman’s complaint.

  • ECP takes notice of attack on candidate’s election office in Lahore

    ECP takes notice of attack on candidate’s election office in Lahore

    Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja took notice of an attack on the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate’s election office in Lahore’s Sattoo Katla area.

    On Friday morning, the Lahore office of Manzar Abbas Khokhar, the candidate from the PPP, was targeted in an attack involving a Molotov cocktail (petrol bomb).

    “The banners on the gate were burned after catching fire from the petrol bombs while the attackers stole the chairs and other things,” added PPP’s spokesperson.

    He added that Khokhar’s son filed an application at the Township Police Station. The police said that they would take legal action against the attackers after investigating the matter.

    At the same time, the ECP’s spokesperson stated that they have received instructions to file a First Information Report (FIR) following a complaint lodged by the PPP.

    PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the attack, saying that targeting the election office of the candidate was “open terrorism.”

  • Did cricketer Sarfaraz Ahmed leave Pakistan?

    Did cricketer Sarfaraz Ahmed leave Pakistan?

    Reports of former Pakistan cricket team captain Sarfraz Ahmed leaving Pakistan and moving to London along with his family have turned out to be false.

    According to Geo News sources, there is no truth in the news of Sarfraz Ahmed leaving Pakistan. The former Captain is currently in London for a holiday and he is returning to Pakistan soon.

    Sources say that Sarfraz Ahmed will play Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the domestic league as well. Sarfraz Ahmed’s wife is living in London while his son is also studying in London.

    Close sources say that Sarfraz Ahmed made a comeback before and now he will make a comeback in the Pakistan team again.

    The news were circulating on social media that the former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed had left Pakistan.

    Here are some false news;

  • Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza had divorced before his marriage: Geo

    Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza had divorced before his marriage: Geo

    Former Indian tennis player Sania Mirza and Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik have divorced before his marriage, pictures of which he shared on social media on Saturday morning, Geo has said.

    Rumors that the two were divorcing had been circulating for a while. Sania Mirza often shared pictures of herself and her son on social media, but Shoaib Malik was not in those photos. Recently, Sania Mirza posted a message on social media, saying that both marriage and divorce are tough decisions.

    On the other hand, Shoaib Malik and actress Sana Javed announced their marriage on social media on Saturday. This has led to discussions on whether Sania and Shoaib are divorced or just separated. So far, there has been no official statement about their divorce.

    Geo has reported that Sania Mirza was unhappy with Shoaib Malik’s involvement with other women, and she ignored him for a long time. It is said that Sania Mirza decided to end their marriage when she could no longer tolerate the situation.

  • ‘Judge who is affected by criticism on social media violates his oath’: Justice Athar Minallah

    ‘Judge who is affected by criticism on social media violates his oath’: Justice Athar Minallah

    Supreme Court Justice Athar Minallah, addressed a seminar on the significance of freedom of expression on Saturday, shedding light on its historical context and impact on Pakistan’s trajectory.

    The seminar, a part of the second law bridge workshop on superior court reporting, provided a platform for Justice Minallah to share his insights on the intersection of freedom of expression and judicial independence.

    Expressing his concern over the potential influence of social media on judicial decision-making, Justice Minallah asserted the importance of maintaining judicial independence, stating that any judge swayed by social media violates his/her oath and called upon fellow jurists to remain resolute in upholding justice despite external pressures.

    Addressing the delicate balance between constructive criticism and trust in the judiciary, Justice Minallah emphasized that critics should retain faith in the legal system, considering it a litmus test for its strength.

    He welcomed constructive criticism while underscoring the need to strike a balance in fostering trust in the judiciary.

    Reflecting on the challenges of freedom of speech in the country, the Chief Justice traced the roots of censorship to historical actions following Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s speech on August 11, 1947. He stressed the necessity of balancing freedom of expression with responsible reporting to navigate these challenges.

    Sharing a personal anecdote from his early days as a judge, Justice Minallah recounted a case involving a 16-year-old accused of displaying a banner against a senior apex court judge.

    He highlighted the importance of judiciously addressing such incidents and cautioned against making blanket judgments without thorough investigations.

    “When the matter of the 18th constitutional amendment was raised, many forces were against it. A reporter asked me, what will the Supreme Court do about the 18th Amendment. I replied ‘In my opinion, the SC should not interfere in the constitutional amendment’,” he said.

    The apex court judge said he had said he would resign if the 18th amendment was annulled and the next day news was published that “Athar Minallah has threatened the court”.

    Citing former Ugandan president and the modern world history’s most brutal dictator, Idi Amin, Justice Minallah said, “A society is ruined, if someone gags freedom of expression like Idi Amin.”

  • Pakistan sees 18th straight month of decline in auto financing

    Pakistan sees 18th straight month of decline in auto financing

    In December 2023, automobile financing in Pakistan recorded a significant decline, reaching Rs251.25 billion, marking a 25.55 per cent year-on-year drop and a 2.26 per cent month-on-month decrease. 

    This contrasts with Rs333.747 billion in December 2022 and Rs257.06 billion in November 2023, as revealed by the latest central bank data.

    Notably, this marks the eighteenth consecutive monthly decrease in automobile financing, attributed to factors such as elevated interest rates, a surge in car prices, regulatory constraints on loan acquisition, and increased taxes on automobile imports and components.

    According to data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), consumer financing for house building reached Rs208.15 billion by the end of December 2023, reflecting a 3.17 per cent year-on-year decrease. 

    On a monthly basis, house building financing showed a marginal increase compared to the previous month’s Rs206.92 billion.

    Simultaneously, financing for personal use amounted to Rs244.41 billion, experiencing a 3.84 per cent year-on-year decline and a 0.64 per cent month-on-month decrease, indicating a challenging trend in the lending landscape for various purposes.

  • ECP releases postal ballots for February 8 elections

    ECP releases postal ballots for February 8 elections

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has started providing postal ballot papers as general elections are set to take place on February 8, draw nearer.

    The development was announced by the electoral body today.

    ECP confirmed that all eligible individuals can cast their votes by January 22 through the postal ballot paper.
    An application form for the postal ballot is also available on the ECP’s website.

    Through the postal ballot, the voter can send his vote to the District Returning Officer (RO).
    Pakistan’s upcoming general elections, scheduled for February 8, are witnessing extensive preparations by the ECP. The electoral body is actively working to guarantee comprehensive arrangements nationwide, aiming for a foolproof electoral process.

    To ensure strict security measures in place ahead of the polls, the ECP issued it’s “Code of Conduct for Security Personnel”, warning them against bias while being on election duty.

  • Quetta becomes even colder; Drizzle expected in Karachi

    Quetta becomes even colder; Drizzle expected in Karachi

    Cold weather has increased in different cities of Balochistan after rain spells while a drizzle is expected in Karachi tonight (Saturday). The cold wave in other parts of the country is likely to become stronger, the Meteorological Department has said, reports Geo.

    The coldest temperature during the last 24 hours was hit in Skardu, where the mercury dropped to minus 9 degrees Celsius.

    The federal capital, Islamabad, is shrouded in dense fog which is affecting the flight schedule. Three international flights to Islamabad have been grounded in Karachi and Lahore. Due to low visibility, more than 500 flights have been delayed in the first 20 days of 2024.

    The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy fog in the plains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Upper Sindh during the next few days. Karachi is likely to remain partially cloudy during the next 24 hours, while the possibility of drizzle has also been indicated at some places this evening. On Sunday and Monday, the city is expected to be partly cloudy and cool at night.

    The minimum temperature of the coastal city is expected to be between 13 and 15 degrees Celsius, while winds will continue to blow from the northeast and southwest in the city throughout the day.

  • Dear Shoaib and Sana, public marriages should have public closure

    Dear Shoaib and Sana, public marriages should have public closure

    Needless to say, today’s big story has hit some people hard — and harder hit are the ones who were taken by surprise. We still remember the time when Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza got married.

    Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza married in a traditional Muslim ceremony in Hyderabad, India in 2010, followed by a Valima ceremony in Sialkot, Pakistan. Izhaan, the couple’s first child, was born in 2018.

    The rumours of Sania and Shoaib’s separation were around for a long time, but nothing was confirmed. There was an ongoing debate on social media which spiked whenever they either stopped following each other or removed pictures from Instagram.

    On the other hand, Sana Javed and Umair Jaswal’s marriage was also under discussion as rumours of their separation were widely spread on social media. In November 2023, speculations about the couple’s separation gained traction as users observed that Sana Javed and Umair Jaswal had deleted all traces of their shared moments from their Instagram accounts.

    Recently, Sania posted a story on Instagram which stated, “Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard….Life will never be easy. It will always be hard. But we can choose our hard. Pick wisely.” And people felt for her, picking up that something was yet again, not okay. And she wasn’t able to fully express it, yet.

    Even now, stories are circulating through sources that Shoaib and Sania have divorced – with no comment by the reportedly former couple themselves

    We aren’t here to moral police two of our biggest superstars. But we would like to say, we expected that seasoned celebrities would show their fans a better, more respectful way to starting new chapters in their lives. Sania, Shoaib, Sana, Uzair, there are people who connect with them, follow them, want to be like them, which is why we would’ve appreciated an understanding of what’s going on.

    Sania, throughout this process, has said nothing. Amidst all this, Shoaib posts a picture with Sana, announcing his third marriage, and while we are happy for the new couple and their new beginning — we do have to ask — perhaps it might have been better to give their fan following who are invested in their lives, closure.