The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has raised concerns over the Peshawar High Court (PHC) order against the appointment of a returning officer (RO) in PK-91 Kohat-II. According to the sources of The News, “it is becoming difficult” for electoral authorities to conduct polls with multiple emerging challenges.
The electoral body showed concerns during the ECP meeting on Wednesday and decided to file a petition in the Supreme Court (SC) against the PHC order rejecting the appointment of Irfanullah as RO for PK-91 Kohat-II.
As per the report, ECP decided to move to SC after consulting with legal experts from the commission.
“The meeting noted that following the PHC order, the very constituency is now technically without a returning officer. In these circumstances, it is becoming difficult for the Election Commission of Pakistan to conduct elections,” sources said, referring to the commission’s huddle here at its secretariat after having received the provincial high court order.
According to Article 218, it is the constitutional authority of the electoral body to conduct free, fair, and transparent elections in the country, and all the state institutions are bound to support the ECP to make polls possible.
The Commission reviewed the matter and decided to hold another meeting on Thursday (today) prior to taking a decision in relation to the PHC order.
The head of the Provincial Public Health Lab, Dr. Hasnain Javed, has said that pneumonia is spreading in Punjab as dry cold and smog persist.
In a conversation with Geo News, Dr. Hasnain Javed said that viral and bacterial pneumonia are spreading through the people, adding that patients affected by pneumonia are crowding emergency rooms and OPDs. heart, kidney, diabetes, and liver patients are more susceptible as they have weaker immune systems.
Dr. Hasnain Javed said that Pakistan is among the 13 countries where pneumonia occurs every year, asking citizens to immediately get chest X-rays and blood tests for breathing problems.
The interim health minister Dr. Jamal Nasir says that pneumonia has spread more this time than last year, stressing that so far many patients of pneumonia have come to the hospitals and gotten treatment in time.
Meanwhile, medical experts say that both children and the elderly are suffering from pneumonia, such people should stay in a warm room.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected a request by Australia’s Big Bash League’s (BBL) request to extend the No Objection Letter (NOC) of Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, and Zaman Khan.
BBL was informed of the decision not to extend the NOC of the three players, key Pakistan squad members for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand starting January 12.
If the PCB had accepted the Big Bash League’s request, Haris, Usama, and Zaman could have played three additional matches. According to the NOC issued by the PCB, these players were allowed to play the BBL till December 28.
Diplomats like Maliha Lodhi had predicted that 2023 was going to be a “world of uncertainty” and that proved somewhat true. The world witnessed a hotchpotch of events where at one end a positive step was taken to restore peace in the Middle East when China brokered a deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia but Israel’s war on Gaza made everything fall apart.
Apart from the man-made conflicts, nature also lashed out with climate change emerging as a dark reality the world can no longer ignore.
Earthquake in Syria and Turkey
Early in the year, a ferocious earthquake in Syria and Turkey cost more than 67, 000 lives, a staggering number. It hit southern and central parts of Turkey and northern and western parts of Syria on the morning of February 6. Thousands of buildings were destroyed with the severe magnitude 7.7 quake and aftershocks that struck Antakya within hours. It is estimated to be the most severe earthquake in Turkey since 1939.
Iran and Saudi Arabia’s friendship mediated by China
In an unexpected turn of events, China mediated a deal between arch-enemies Saudi Arabia and Iran in March, earlier this year, surprising the world. The thawing of relations was termed a major blow to the overpowering role of the USA in the region and was dubbed a “wave of reconciliation”.
Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi for the first time post the deal on the sidelines of the joint Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on December 9, 2023, a moment for the history books.
Titan submarine
The tragedy of the Titan submarine came at a point when the world was witnessing the humongous tragedy of the immigrant boat disaster in Greece. In the first one, five men of rich backgrounds lost their lives in an adventurous pursuit while in the latter, 80 people died, and more than 500 went missing in the sea as the over-crowded ship sank.
The glaring irony sent shockwaves all around the world where a group paid billions of dollars for their death in the name of seeing an archive deep in the sea and the other died by getting suffocated by being cramped in the basement of a ship. The illegal immigrants were denied entry in Greece and due to overloading, it sank. The incident also pointed towards the core racism in the world because the victims were largely brown Asians and Africans while the white population was saved by the authorities.
Barbenheimer The Barbenheimer phenomenon marked the revival of cinema post-covid that engulfed the world in a frenzy.
Two big-budget movies were coming out on the same day. One was Christopher Nolan’s directorial Oppenheimer, based on the life of the American scientist, the head of the Manhattan Project, and the creator of the Atomic Bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer. Even though it was about a scientist and the makers were expecting it to attract a niche audience, the movie did great business. The other was the Greta Gerwig directorial Barbie, a live-action, musical based on the life of the famous fictional doll. The audiences had high expectations of how it will be presented and they were not disappointed as the movie went on to break records. The release of the two movies activated the meme brigade to the point that a new pop-culture reference came to life in the form of Barbenheimmer.
Israel’s War on Gaza
The war that shook the world was the siege of Gaza by Israel. On October 7 Hamas invaded Israel and took at least 236 hostages. Israel retaliated in what is being called a disproportionate response. The genocide of the poor Gazans has not ended till now with the death toll nearing 21,000 after 80 days of war whereas the Israeli deaths remained at 1200. A short-term truce provided a little break for the return of hostages but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to not stop. Massive protests across the world saw the tide of public opinion turn towards Palestine.
GAZA CITY, GAZA – OCTOBER 23: A woman holding a girl reacts after Israeli airstrikes hit Ridwan neighborhood of Gaza City, Gaza on October 23, 2023. (Photo by Ali Jadallah/Anadolu via Getty Images)
During the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) meeting, chaired by Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, five development projects were given approval, totalling Rs13 billion, according to a press release.
The meeting focused on projects within the information technology, health, and physical planning and housing sectors.
Under the Ministry of Information, two projects were presented. The first, “Upgradation of Transmission Network & Replacement of Optical Fibre Cable, AJK & Gilgit Baltistan (revised),” with a budget of Rs2 billion, received approval from the CDWP.
The second project, “Prime Minister’s Initiatives Support for IT Startups, Specialised IT Trainings, and Venture Capital (revised),” with a budget of Rs5 billion, was also granted approval.
Furthermore, two projects from the Ministry of Law and Justice were considered and approved. The first involves the “Construction of Litigants Facilitation Centre for Litigants and Lawyers in Sector G-10/1, Islamabad,” with a budget of Rs1.86 billion. The executing agency and financing source for this project is the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
The second project presented was the “Establishment of 93-No District Courts in Mauve Area G-11/4, Islamabad (revised),” with a budget of Rs2.23 billion.
A project focused on skill development internships, the “Ba-ikhtiyar Naujawan Internship Program Balochistan,” worth Rs1.85 billion, was also approved by the CDWP. Notably, this project is fully funded through a World Bank loan.
The Pakistani rupee sustained its upward trajectory against the US dollar for the 11th consecutive session, exhibiting a 0.06 per cent appreciation in the interbank market on Wednesday.
According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the rupee concluded at Rs282.20, reflecting an increment of Re0.17.
In the preceding session on Tuesday, the rupee had achieved a marginal gain, settling at Rs282.37 in relation to the US dollar.
Concurrently, there has been a notable surge of 200 per cent in the cumulative borrowing by the federal and provincial governments for budgetary support from the domestic banking system in the current fiscal year (FY24).
Internationally, the US dollar encountered continued pressure on Wednesday, while the euro flirted with a four-month pinnacle.
This trend emerged as market expectations of an imminent interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve gained traction. The restrained week, marked by global holiday absences until the New Year, is anticipated to witness subdued trading volumes.
The dollar index, gauging the US currency against six counterparts, stood at 101.54, just below the five-month low of 101.42 recorded last week.
The index is poised for a 1.9 per cent decline in 2023, following two consecutive years of robust gains driven by the Fed’s rate hikes to combat inflation.
The recent weakening of the dollar is attributed to market anticipation of forthcoming rate cuts by the Fed in the coming year, diminishing the allure of the greenback.
The uber popular ‘Mannat Murad’ is Geo’s latest hit with a fervent following. People are especially invedted because it stars Iqra Aziz and Talha Chahour together, both firm fan favourites. The show is about problems in a big family and how sometimes people end up in marriages they didn’t really want. A preview for the next episode has everyone talking. Murad slaps Mannat to make his mom happy, and then Mannat slaps him back.
Yes, you read that right.
The scene has generated a lot of buzz on social media.
Here is how people are reacting to Murad and Mannat slapping each other:
Some celebrated Mannat standing up for herself and wished it would happen in real life.
Reality of how unforgiving society is towards women, making 100 excuses for men, regardless of “class.” Murad hits Mannat, it’s acceptable. She hits him, he’s disgraced. Mannat’s own family is equally appalled. #MannatMurad highlights troubling double standards. #PakistaniDramaspic.twitter.com/OoCLetXXUe
Murad ko wo bolna chahiy tha jo wo actual mn sochta hy, na k sirf mannat ki good books mn aa kr accept hony k liy #MannatMuradpic.twitter.com/Io2ZJRJOSq
One of the drama which seriously needs to be checked before airing is #MannatMurad .. what a girl was Mannat before marriage and what Murad has made her ..
Violence is sadly a common sight in Pakistani dramas, and often, it’s women who bear the brunt of it. While we don’t endorse violence, it was a relief to witness a woman standing up for herself. It’s crucial to understand that violence doesn’t solve problems, and it’s wrong no matter who is involved. It will be intriguing to see how ‘Mannat Murad’ addresses this issue and whether Mannat will be treated the same way male characters typically are when they resort to violence against their wives.
On Wednesday, the gold price in Pakistan experienced notable gains, with the 24-karat gold increasing by Rs1,000 per tola, reaching Rs220,600.
The Karachi Sarafa Association reported a gain of Rs857 for the 10-gramme 24-karat gold, priced at Rs189,129, while the 10-gramme 22-karat gold stood at Rs173,369.
It’s worth mentioning that 24-karat gold had risen by Rs2,500 per tola the previous week.
Additionally, silver prices saw an uptick today, with 24-karat silver and 10-gramme 24-karat silver gaining Rs30 and Rs25.72, respectively, being sold at Rs2,680 and Rs2,297.66.
Internationally, spot gold is currently trading at $2,066.85, marking a 0.04 per cent increase, while spot silver is at $24.13, reflecting a -0.25 per cent change.
Notably, fluctuations in global prices, coupled with shifts in the interbank exchange rate of the Pakistani rupee, impact the domestic gold market.
The PKR is maintaining its winning streak against the US dollar, trading at PKR 281.98/282.37 per USD in its 11th consecutive session.
At least 26 madrassa children lost consciousness after eating stale food in the suburbs of Islamabad.
According to the police, the children of the Bhara Kahu madrassa had eaten stale food in the night, leading to acute food poisoning.
Police said that the children were taken to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital overnight in a critical condition, reports Geo.
According to hospital sources, the children were sent back to the seminary after medical assistance and gastric lavage.
Hospital sources further said that all the children are out of danger, while the police said that the management of the madrassa is being interrogated.
Punjab Inspector General (IGP) Dr. Usman Anwar has said that there is a serious threat to the law and order situation in the upcoming general elections, set to take place on February 8, Samma reported on Wednesday.
The IGP talked to media after the inauguration of an art exhibition at Alhamhra Art Gallery, where he said that the police maintained the law and order situation during the festivities of Muharram and Christmas.
“Many terrorist activities were foiled due to the conviction of the police,” he said.
Usman Anwar stated that the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) is working on threats in Punjab, adding that police arrested 60 per cent of people last year who were involved in the May 9 riots.
The IGP also claimed that the transfers and postings in the police department are being done at the direction of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
