Author: newsdesk

  • Pakistani director Parmesh Adiwal embraces Islam

    Pakistani director Parmesh Adiwal embraces Islam

    Renowned Pakistani director Parmesh Adiwal recently embraced Islam. Previously belonging to the country’s Hindu community, Adiwal has directed popular projects such as Punjab Nahi Jaungi and Ishrat Made In China, where he served as the co-director.

    But his talent doesn’t stop there! He’s also directed music videos, including the OST of the drama serial Masters, and worked with amazing artists like Amjad Sabri, Maya Khan, Sarah Khan, and Urwa Hocane. Not to mention his iconic TV commercials.

    The ace director shared photos from his Umrah experience on Instagram, where friends and colleagues like Feroze Khan and Humayun Alamgir offered support. Parmesh Adiwal’s Muslim name is Muhammad. His friend has shared a picture of the director from Khana Kaaba.

  • Tribunal declares Imran Khan ineligible to contest polls from NA-122 Lahore

    Tribunal declares Imran Khan ineligible to contest polls from NA-122 Lahore

    An election tribunal established at the Lahore High Court (LHC) has validated the returning officer’s (RO) decision to dismiss Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s nomination papers from the NA-122 constituency in Lahore.

    The lawyer of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) argued before the tribunal that Imran Khan is not eligible to contest the election and his proposer didn’t reside in the constituency.

    Justice Tariq Nadeem of the appellate tribunal announced the decision after hearing all the parties.

    On December 30, 2023, Imran Khan’s nomination papers were rejected for National Assembly (NA) seats from Lahore and his home town, Mianwali.

    The former prime minister and PTI founder had submitted nomination papers from Lahore’s NA-122 and Mianwali’s NA-89 for the upcoming polls set to take place on February 8, 2024.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mian Naseer raised objections to Imran Khan’s nomination papers, mentioning that the PTI founder is disqualified for five years in Toshakhana case, and the ECP found him guilty of corrupt practices under Section 167 of the Elections Act, 2017.

    After viewing the objections, the RO rejected the nomination papers of the former prime minister.

  • Four crores looted from bus passengers in Rawalpindi

    Four crores looted from bus passengers in Rawalpindi

    Four crore rupees were looted late in the night from passengers in a bus on Chakwal road, reports 24 Pakistan.

    The late-night robbery was been committed in Dhok Amb area of Jatli police station in Rawalpindi.

    The robbers looted all the passengers on the bus, travelling from Peshawar to Lahore, on Suhawa Chakwal Road after the vehicle had to exit the Motorway at Balaksar Interchange due to intense fog.

    A passenger named Daniyal informed the police over the phone that he was a cattle trader who was going to Lahore from Peshawar by public transport bus. The robbers fled the scene.

    Passengers on the bus were mostly cattle traders travelling from Peshawar to Lahore to buy cattle.

    Police were told that seven robbers, riding in a Toyota Corolla, blocked the bus before looting the passengers.

  • Overseas remittances to Pakistan soar to $2.4 billion

    Overseas remittances to Pakistan soar to $2.4 billion

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) revealed that the inflow of overseas workers’ remittances reached $2.4 billion in December 2023, marking a notable 5.4 per cent increase from the previous month’s $2.25 billion, according to data released on Wednesday.

    On a yearly basis, December’s remittances exhibited a robust growth of 13.4 per cent, totaling $2.1 billion compared to the same period in the previous year.

    These remittances continue to play a pivotal role in sustaining Pakistan’s external account, fostering economic activity, and supporting the disposable incomes of remittance-dependent households.

    Despite the December upswing, the cumulative workers’ remittances for July-December FY24 recorded a decline of 6.8 per cent Year-on-Year (YoY), amounting to $13.43 billion.

    This decrease amounted to $982.8 million compared to the $14.42 billion reported in the corresponding period of FY23.

    Saudi Arabia

    Overseas Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia led the remittance surge in December, contributing $577.6 million. This figure marked a 6 per cent increase from the previous month and over 9 per cent higher than the same month in the previous year.

    United Arab Emirates (UAE)

    Remittances from the UAE witnessed a marginal monthly increase of nearly 2 per cent, rising from $411.8 million in November to $419.2 million in December. Year-on-year, these remittances surged by almost 27 per cent.

    United Kingdom (UK)

    December saw an uptick in remittances from the United Kingdom, totaling $368 million—a 7.5 per cent increase compared to November 2023.

    European Union (EU)

    Remittances from the European Union demonstrated substantial growth, rising by 19 per cent YoY and 6 per cent on a monthly basis, reaching $284.9 million in December 2023.

    United States (US)

    Overseas Pakistanis in the United States sent $263.9 million in December 2023, reflecting an 8.5 per cent YoY increase.

    This breakdown underscores the significance of remittances from various regions, contributing to Pakistan’s economic resilience amid global challenges. 

    The upward trajectory in December bodes well for the nation’s economic prospects as it navigates through the fiscal year.

  • Bat is back for PTI

    Bat is back for PTI

    The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has restored Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) election symbol ‘bat’ after hearing PTI’s petition against the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision revoking the party’s election symbol and declaring its intra-party polls “unconstitutional”.

    A two-member bench of the PHC was hearing PTI’s writ petition challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision declaring the intra-party election as null and void and revoking their symbol of a cricket bat, a sign that depicts the party’s founder, Imran Khan’s career in the sport.

    In its verdict, the court termed the ECP’s decision “incorrect”.

    A two-member PHC bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Arshad Ali announced the verdict today. 

    A day earlier, the court heard the arguments by the counsels of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the PTI.

    Earlier today, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Barrister Gohar Khan, said that the party is withdrawing its plea seeking the ‘bat’ symbol from the Supreme Court (SC), adding that the party is hopeful that Peshawar High Court (PHC) will give a favourable decision in the matter.

    “Today, our petition was fixed at the Supreme Court, but we have withdrawn it,” he said while talking to media outside the apex court, adding that the decision from PHC will be issued in the party’s favour.

    Earlier, the PHC had accepted ECP’s review petition and restored the electoral authority’s ruling on intra-party polls and election symbol of the PTI.

  • A-Sports buys TV rights for PSL Season 9

    A-Sports buys TV rights for PSL Season 9

    A-Sports has bought the TV rights of Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 9 for six billion and 30 crore rupees, Samaa has reported.

    According to the details, A-Sports bid six billion and 30 crore rupees, Ten Sports made a bid of 5 billion and 28 crore rupees, while PTV tried to get PSL rights for 5 billion and 25 crore rupees.

    A-Sports will now own TV rights for two years.

    The bid for TV rights of PSL started at four billion rupees. Blitz has acquired digital PSL rights with a bid worth 1 billion and 90 crores.

  • Grades 9 and 10 to have fewer subjects

    Grades 9 and 10 to have fewer subjects

    Lahore Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) announced the reduction of one subject each for matric and ninth classes.

    In a report, Geo’s Ummay Farwa talked to the spokesperson of the board who said that for the session 2024-2026, only ninth-standard students will take Islamic Studies exams, while matric students will appear for the Pakistan Studies examination.

    The report elaborates that marks for Islamic Studies have been increased from 50 to 100, while the same applies to Pakistan Studies. Since the marks have been moved up, the Punjab Textbook Board has been asked to print books in line with the development, it added.

    Moreover, BISE Lahore has also announced that Punjab Matric Exams for 2024 will begin on March 1.

  • Missing persons commission taking salaries in lacs, haven’t solved 2,297 cases from 2011-2023: missing persons report

    Missing persons commission taking salaries in lacs, haven’t solved 2,297 cases from 2011-2023: missing persons report

    A report submitted on orders of the Supreme Court by the Missing Persons Commission has said that most of the cases of missing persons have been reported by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa followed by Balochistan.

    A total of 2297 cases of missing persons are pending while members of the commission as well as the heads are all being paid hefty salaries. The report was presented in front of the two-member commission for missing persons constituted by the Interior Ministry on the Supreme Court’s directions. It is headed by Justice (R) Javed Iqbal while the second member is the former inspector general of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Sharif Virk.

    According to the information extracted by Samaa’s Sohail Rashid via Auditor General Pakistan, the highest number of 3,485 cases of missing persons were reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, followed by the enforced disappearance of 2,752 citizens from Balochistan.

    The report states that the reason behind the said disappearances in KP was extremism, war, and deaths in drone attacks. Moreover, moving to another country without informing one’s family owing to a war-like situation was also a reason behind the said disappearances, as per the commission.

    Furthermore, 744 production orders were issued to produce the missing persons, while only 52 were executed. The 692 production orders issued by the commission were not even implemented by the relevant authorities, the commission reported.

    The police and sensitive institutions filed 182 requests for revision of the production orders, the report says, adding that out of the unimplemented production orders, 503 were from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

    From March 2011 to December 2023, 4,413 missing persons returned home, while 994 were incarcerated in various detention centres and 644 imprisoned in different jails of the country.

    From March 2011 to December 2023, bodies of 261 missing persons were found, according to the commission, which also dismissed 1,477 cases it categorized as non-enforced disappearances.

    The commission further says that the disposed of cases involved kidnapping for ransom, personal grudges or willful disappearances.

    Moreover, 260 cases from Punjab, 163 from Sindh, and 1,336 from KP are still pending in the commission as well as 468 cases from Balochistan, 55 from Islamabad and 15 from Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

    According to the report, the monthly salaries of the 35 officers and employees of the Missing Persons Commission are more than Rs1.5 million. Commission chief, Justice (r) Javed Iqbal receives a monthly salary of Rs674,000, while that of Zia Parvez, a member of the commission, is Rs829,000, as per the report.

    Commission member Justice (r) Amanullah’s salary is over Rs1.1 million, while that of Sharif Virk is Rs263,000.
    The Supreme Court has sought a response from the federal government within 20 days of receiving the report of the missing persons commission.

  • No more NAB cases against Sharif Family

    No more NAB cases against Sharif Family

    National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) Executive Board, chaired by the NAB Chairman, approved the closing of an investigation into the Sharif Trust case involving Sharif’s family including Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif.

    The meeting convened on January 1 to approve the closure of corruption cases, including those against PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and his family.

    The meeting approved shutting down six corruption cases, notably a 24-year-old case against Nawaz Sharif and his family in the Sharif Trust case. This decision brings relief to the former premier and his family members.

    Among the closed cases was an inquiry into Islamabad Inspector General Akbar Nasir in the Safe City corruption case. Additionally, the board decided to conclude the investigation into the Park Enclave Housing Society, involving officers of the Capital Development Authority (CDA). Another inquiry against federal officers for alleged preferential recruitment was also approved for closure.

    Furthermore, the NAB board approved to close an inquiry against Shahid Malik and Shahbaz Yasin Malik, the CEO of Hilton Pharma.

    The investigation into the Sharif family regarding the Sharif Trust Case was initiated on March 31, 2000, based on allegations of receiving funds through illicit means, lack of audits, misappropriation of funds, and benami property acquisition by the Sharif family in the name of the Trust.

    The Panama Papers Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report, submitted to the Supreme Court, had criticized NAB for delays in the investigation and urged prioritization.

    Under the recently amended National Accountability Act 2002 by the previous PDM government, the NAB has concluded the Sharif Trust investigation under Section 31-B.

    This decision by the NAB’s Executive Board marks a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings against the Sharif family, as they receive a respite from multiple longstanding corruption cases.

  • Interbank closing: PKR continues winning streak, settles at Rs281.22

    Interbank closing: PKR continues winning streak, settles at Rs281.22

    The Pakistani rupee (PKR) extended its upward trend against the US dollar for the fifth consecutive session, gaining 0.02 per cent in the inter-bank market on Tuesday.

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported that the rupee concluded at Rs281.22 after a rise of Re0.06. In the preceding session on Monday, the rupee had experienced a slight increase, settling at Rs281.28 against the US dollar.

    On a global scale, the US dollar took a pause in its rally on Tuesday, with traders expressing confidence in multiple Federal Reserve rate cuts this year.

    This optimism is based on the belief that the slowdown in US inflation is significant.

    Meanwhile, in the cryptocurrency realm, bitcoin maintained its position near the highest level since April 2022, driven by growing expectations of the imminent approval of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETF).

    These market movements were influenced, in part, by the New York Fed’s recent Survey of Consumer Expectations, revealing that US consumers’ short-term inflation expectations in December reached the lowest level in almost three years.

    A key reading on US inflation is scheduled later in the week, offering additional insights into the Federal Reserve’s potential room for interest rate adjustments this year.

    Futures currently indicate the pricing in of nearly 140 basis points worth of easing by the Fed in the coming year.

    Against a basket of currencies, the US dollar experienced a slight decline of 0.08 per cent, settling at 102.22, following a 1 per cent increase in the previous week.