Author: newsdesk

  • Gold price in Pakistan witnesses marginal increase of Rs200 per tola

    Gold price in Pakistan witnesses marginal increase of Rs200 per tola

    On Thursday, the domestic market witnessed a rise in the per tola rate of 24 karat gold, with an increment of Rs200. 

    According to the All Sindh Sarafa Jewellers Association, the price for 10 grammes of 24 karat gold also surged by Rs200, reaching Rs216,300.

    Additionally, both the per tola and 10-gramme silver prices experienced an increase of Rs171, reaching Rs185,442.

    Internationally, the cost of gold rose by $5, reaching $2052. At 0942 GMT, spot gold exhibited a 0.4 per cent increase, reaching $2,031.83 per ounce.

    Simultaneously, US gold futures demonstrated a 0.4 per cent rise, reaching $2,036.60.

    In other markets, silver saw a 0.6 per cent increase, reaching $23.01 per ounce, palladium gained 0.9 per cent, reaching $1,007.80, and platinum exhibited a 0.2 per cent rise, reaching $920.58.

  • Two judges in a row: Future Chief Justice, Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan resigns

    Two judges in a row: Future Chief Justice, Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan resigns

    The second-most senior judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan has resigned after removing himself from the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).

    Journalist Azaz Syed took to X (former Twitter) and wrote, “Breaking: A future Chief Justice, Justice Ejaz ul Ahsan also tenders his resignation. Now rostrum of future chief justices will also be changed. Ejaz ul Ahsan isb neither a judge now nor a future CJ.”

    The move comes after earlier this week, Justice Mazahar Naqvi also tendered his resignation. The resignation was allegedly triggered by an open meeting of the Supreme Judicial Council.

    Senior Journalist Matiullah Jan tweeted what he believes, is the reason for Justice Ijaz’s resignation.

    The council was held under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa on a complaint against Justice Mazahar Naqvi, in which Justice Sardar Tariq, Chief Justice of Lahore High Court Justice Amir Bhatti, and Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court Naeem Akhtar Afghan participated. However, Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan did not attend the council meeting.

    In the meeting of the Supreme Judicial Council, no one appeared in the council on behalf of former judge Mazahar Naqvi, on which the Chief Justice questioned whether Justice Mazahar Naqvi’s lawyer Khawaja Haris, or his juniors were present.

    The Chief Justice spoke to the Attorney General that did you receive Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan’s resignation. The Chief Justice directed the Attorney General to read out the resignation, on which he read out the resignation of the former judge.

    The Chief Justice of Pakistan said that the article under which the resignation was given should be read, on which the Attorney General read out Article 179.

    The Chief Justice asked if the Council could act without Justice Ijaz or will it be the next senior judge. The attorney general said that the council must include a senior judge.

    Justice Qazi Faez said that Justice Ijaz-ul-Hasan has resigned from joining the council and the next senior judge is Justice Mansoor Ali Shah. It then has to be ascertained whether Justice Mansoor is available or not.

    The Chief Justice directed the Secretary of the Council to find out the availability of Justice Mansoor and said that if Justice Mansoor is available, then the Council will sit again.

    Under Clause three of Article 209 of the Constitution, if there is no judge in the Council, the next senior judge can be included.

    Later, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah joined the council in place of Justice Ijaz-Ul-Ahsan and the council stopped the council meeting until the availability of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah.

  • Video: Former Brazilian legendary footballer Ronaldo refuses to recognize Virat Kohli

    The former Brazilian legendary footballer Ronaldo is unknown to the Indian cricket team’s star batsman Virat Kohli.

    Social media star Darren Jason (YouTube-IshowSpeed) asked former footballer Ronaldo some questions during a meeting, one of them was do you know Virat Kohli?

    Responding to Darren’s question, Ronaldo said, “No, I don’t know him.”

    However, Darren then told him that he is a cricketer, to which Ronaldo replied that he might not be that famous here in Brazil.

    Darren Jason then told Ronaldo that Kohli is as famous as Babar Azam, while he showed the former footballer a picture of Kohli, and Ronaldo said yes.

  • Zayn Malik teams up with AUR for the collaboration we have all been waiting for

    Zayn Malik teams up with AUR for the collaboration we have all been waiting for

    The Pakistani music band ‘AUR’ has shared a video on their Instagram to announce a collaboration with famous Pakistani-origin singer Zayn Malik. AUR and Zayn are reportedly releasing a music video together.

    In the video The members of AUR, Rafay, Osama, and Ahad, are shown together, and in certain parts of the video, Zayn Malik is seen singing in a recording room.

    The Pakistani music band shared the video with the caption ‘soon,’ suggesting that
    song will be coming soon. Zayn Malik also confirmed this in his Instagram story.

    AUR gained popularity a few months ago with their song ‘To Hai Kahan.’

  • ECP challenges Peshawar High Court’s Verdict on PTI’s ‘Bat’

    ECP challenges Peshawar High Court’s Verdict on PTI’s ‘Bat’

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has moved the Supreme Court to challenge the recent Peshawar High Court (PHC) verdict that declared void ECP’s ruling of “unconstitutional” intra-party polls and revoking the party’s iconic bat electoral symbol.

    The ECP, in its plea submitted to the apex court, asserted that the PHC decision should be declared illegal, citing non-compliance with the Election Act in the conduct of PTI’s intra-party elections.

    This move follows a detailed review of the PHC decision,
    with sources indicating that the electoral body had explored various options during a meeting, ultimately deciding to appeal the ruling in the Supreme Court.

    Anchor person Kamran Khan said, “Free and Fair Elections Ball is now in the Supreme Court’s Hands: Unfortunately, the Election Commission of Pakistan is determined to remove the PTI’s election symbol, the Bat. Furthermore, the ECP has not complied with Peshawar High Court’s judgment regarding the PTI’s party certificate on its website.”

    Minutes before the ECP’s plea, the PTI took legal action by filing a contempt of court petition against the ECP. The PTI contended that despite the PHC orders, the ECP had failed to upload the certificate regarding the PTI’s intra-party elections on its website, which the party argued amounted to contempt of court.

    X (formerly Twitter) user Muhammad Anas wrote, “Petition of contempt of Court has been filed in Peshawar High Court against the ECP. ECP didn’t notify the Bat as an election symbol of PTI violating the Court orders.”

    Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja and other ECP members are named as respondents in the PTI’s contempt plea.

    In response to the PHC’s decision, PTI’s chief election commissioner, Niazullah Niazi, personally submitted a certified copy of the PHC verdict to the ECP.

    The PHC, in its ruling, declared the ECP’s decision of December 22, 2023, as illegal and without jurisdiction, directing the ECP to publish the PTI’s intra-party polls certificate on its website. The court affirmed PTI’s entitlement to the bat symbol under relevant sections of the Election Act 2017 and Election Rules 2017.

    The ECP’s challenge in the Supreme Court sets the stage for a legal confrontation, with implications for the PTI’s participation in the upcoming general elections. The time-sensitive nature of the issue adds complexity, as the deadline for Returning Officers to allocate poll symbols to candidates is January 13, posing a challenge in the event of a symbol change.

  • PKR gains 2 paisa to close at Rs281.11 against US dollar

    PKR gains 2 paisa to close at Rs281.11 against US dollar

    The Pakistani rupee sustained its upward trend against the US dollar for the seventh consecutive session, exhibiting a slight 0.01 per cent appreciation in the interbank market on Thursday. 

    According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the Pakistani rupee concluded at Rs281.11, marking an increase of Rs0.02. 

    In the preceding session, the rupee recorded a marginal gain, settling at Rs281.13 against the US dollar.

    Comparatively, the PKR experienced a decline of Rs1.47 against the Euro, closing at Rs308.63 compared to the previous value of Rs307.16. 

    The British Pound strengthened by Rs1.79, concluding at Rs358.77 in contrast to the previous day’s Rs356.98. 

    The Swiss franc witnessed an increase of 63.72 paisa, closing at Rs330.49 versus Rs329.85 from the prior session.

    Against the Japanese yen, the PKR gained 0.63 paisa, concluding at Rs1.9333 compared to Rs1.9396 a day ago. 

    On a global scale, the US dollar remained stable as traders awaited US inflation data to assess the validity of rate-cut predictions. 

    The dollar, which had experienced a decline in the latter months of 2023 following signals from the Federal Reserve indicating an end to rate hikes, has since stabilised in early 2024 as traders factored in substantial cuts.

  • Musician AR Rahman shares painful journey battling suicidal thoughts

    Musician AR Rahman shares painful journey battling suicidal thoughts

    Renowned Indian musician and singer AR Rahman has shared a startling personal revelation, revealing that he contemplated suicide multiple times during his youth.

    Speaking at the Oxford Union Debating Society, Rahman revealed that when had thoughts of suicide in his youth, his mother told him to live his life for others. If he could switch his mindset and do that, that would dispel negative thoughts.

    Rahman expressed gratitude for his mother’s advice, and said it the ‘most beautiful counsel’.
    Rahman also stressed the importance of living for others, saying it was essential.

    “I took my mother’s advice seriously, whether it’s composing music for someone, writing, or buying food for those in need,” Rahman said, “acts like these, even just smiling at someone, are what give us reasons to live.”

    Rahman does not talk much about spirituality and religion, and addressing that perception, he said, “Bad times come in the life of every human being but we have to live. Go, this world is mortal and we don’t know when where we will be and everyone understands spirituality according to their beliefs and ideology.”

  • 11 members of a family murdered: case registered against murdered daughter’s father-in-law

    11 members of a family murdered: case registered against murdered daughter’s father-in-law

    A murder case of 11 members of the same family has been registered in Lakki Marwat and the uncle of the deceased has nominated the father-in-law of one of the deceased daughters in the case.

    The murders took place in the Takhtikhel area of Lakki Marwat district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

    According to the authorities, the uncle, Umar Gul, has claimed that the daughter-in-law of the accused father-in-law, Madar Khan came to her home after a fight within the family. Khan apologised for the fight and entered the home of his daughter-in-law as a guest, on the pretext of solving the matter. He spent the night with the family.

    Umar Gul stated that Khan shot and killed 11 family members after feeding them poisoned food.

    According to the police, two men, two women and six children are among those killed.

    Efforts are being made to arrest Madar Khan, according to Geo News.

  • Waqar Zaka registers political party, wants Bat as symbol

    Waqar Zaka registers political party, wants Bat as symbol

    Show host and YouTuber Waqar Zaka has registered his own political party, Technology Movement Pakistan (TMP), and it is now recognized by the Election Commission (ECP). This means TMP can actively participate in the upcoming elections in February. Waqar Zaka has said he wants to focus on boosting the Information Technology (IT) sector in the government.

    Journalist Asad Ali Toor took to X and shared a petition written by Waqar Zaka to the Election commission of Pakistan where Zaka has demanded the electoral symbol of the ‘bat’ or ‘laptop’, which is currently available in the list of electoral symbols of Election Commission.

    TMP’s manifesto has 13 key points that address important societal and cultural issues.

    Some important points from Zaka’s manifesto:
    • Urgent Action to Change Teachers

    • Incorporating Artificial Intelligence into Agriculture

    • Equip Courts with Technology

    • Favorable Business Climate for Growth

    • Export-Driven Growth

    • Promotion of the Independent Worker Economy

    • Prioritize Healthcare

    • Emphasis on Women’s Empowerment

    • Modernizing Pakistan’s Madrassas

    • Systematic Educational Support

    • Complete Legislative Autonomy

  • Lahore: Man kills brother-in-laws for taking his wife home without his permission

    Lahore: Man kills brother-in-laws for taking his wife home without his permission

    A man killed two of his brothers-in-law in Hanjarwal, Lahore over a ‘personal dispute’, ARY News reported on Wednesday, citing police sources.

    As per reports, a man named Fahad married a sister of the deceased brothers, out of their own free will, but the brothers took their sister back to her home.

    Enraged, Fahad along with his accomplices, allegedly shot and killed his two brothers-in-law Muzammil and Mudassir when they were at work, at a milk shop.

    Father of the slain brothers said that he had only two sons and five daughters and both sons were killed. The police has shifted the bodies of the victims to a hospital for their post-mortem after collecting evidence from the crime scene.

    The police said that teams have been formed to arrest the accused after registration of the case.