Author: newsdesk

  • Nawaz Sharif meets Chaudhry Shujaat after 15 years

    Nawaz Sharif meets Chaudhry Shujaat after 15 years

    In a significant political development, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head Nawaz Sharif visited Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain at his residence after a gap of almost 15 years.

    According to the sources of Geo News, the meeting lasted for almost 40 minutes, with both leaders discussing the possibility of a political alliance for the upcoming general elections on February 8 next year.

    PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and other leaders, including Maryam Nawaz, Rana Sanaullah, Ayaz Sadiq, and Azam Nazeer Tarar, also attended the huddle.

    PML-Q leaders Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain, Salik Hussain and Shafay Hussain were also in the meeting.

    The gathering occurs amidst heightened political engagement, with parties actively conducting election campaigns and forming electoral alliances to strengthen their position in the polls.

    Nawaz, a three-time former prime minister, came back to the country in October after nearly four years of exile in London. His return was aimed at energising his supporters in preparation for the elections.

    Earlier, the PML-N supremo succeeded in wooing electables from Balochistan to join his party ranks and also forged an electoral alliance with  Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).

  • Govt’s Hajj 2024 scheme fails to attract enough applications

    Govt’s Hajj 2024 scheme fails to attract enough applications

    Journalist Rana Ghulam Qadir has published a report in The News about the shocking drop in the number of applications submitted for the Hajj 2024.

    The report states the last date for receiving Hajj applications is approaching. The Ministry of Religious Affairs said on Tuesday that the number of applications received in five days from November 27 to December 5 was disappointing. One week is left till the ending date.

    The number of Hajj quotas under the government scheme is 89,605. Out of this, the quota of the sponsorship scheme has been fixed at 25,000. According to the ministry, the number of Hajj applications received in the last ten days is 12,600.

    Out of them, 800 have come under the sponsorship scheme while the remaining one comes under the regular scheme.

    In the past, a large number of applications was submitted in the initial days, but this year the number is very low. There is a possibility that there may not be a required number of applications as per the Hajj quota, especially since the target of the sponsorship scheme seems difficult to achieve.

    Officials of the ministry said that if the target is not met by December 12, the deadline will be extended.

    One reason for the low demand is inflation and the other reason is that Hajj is in June and the ministry is already moving six months in advance. The ministry sought the applications early so that Hajj arrangements could be improved.

  • Reference case against Justice Mazahar: Application filed to separate Justice Ijaz from Judicial Council

    An application asking to separate Justice Ejazul Ahsan from the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) on the issue of a complaint against Supreme Court (SC) Justice Mazahir Naqvi in the SJC has been filed.

    Mian Dawood Advocate filed a constitutional petition in the SC in which the Federal Government and the Secretary SJC have been made parties, while the order sheet of the case of former CCPO Ghulam Mehmood Dogar is also attached to the petition.

    It has been argued in the petition that Justice Ijaz should be removed from the council hearing the complaint against Justice Mazahar, and another senior judge should be made a part of the SJC in his place.

    It has been said in the petition that the reference to corruption and misconduct against Justice Naqvi is under hearing in the Judicial Council. On the complaint of the petitioner, the Judicial Council has issued a second show cause notice to Justice Mazahar. In relation to the Ghulam Mahmood Dogar case, Justice Ijaz was part of the bench that heard the case; therefore, legally and in principle, no judge who heard the case of Ghulam Mahmood Dogar can be a member of the Judicial Council.

    It has been further stated in the petition that Justice Ejazul Ahsan being a member of the SJC is against Articles 10A and 9 of the Constitution. Justice Ejaz will not be able to meet the demands of justice in the council.

  • Pakistani singer Omer Nadeem calls out T-Series, Sonu Nigam for plagiarising song ‘Aye Khuda’

    Pakistani singer Omer Nadeem calls out T-Series, Sonu Nigam for plagiarising song ‘Aye Khuda’

    T-Series is once again at the centre of controversy with another artist calling out the music house and Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam for plagiarising a Pakistani song.

    Omer Nadeem took to his Instagram account to call out Sonu for stealing his 2009 track ‘Aye Khuda’. He shared two videos in a post, one of Sonu’s recent track and the other one of his track.

    “I’ve reached a point in my life where I couldn’t care less about these things,” wrote the singer. “But hey, if you’re going to do it, at least toss a little credit to the OG track. If you’re gonna pull this off, could’ve at least done it with some finesse. Huge fan of Sonu Nigam, but let’s be real, this is light years away from the real deal.”

    Fans are criticising T-Series for once again ripping off Pakistani artists. Actress Armeena Khan was among them as she called out the Bollywood singer for stealing tunes.

    This is not the first time T-Series has been accused of plagiarism. Previously, singer Farasat Anees called T-Series a “disgrace” for copying his popular track ‘Biba’. The singer shared clips from both songs on his Instagram account and expressed his thanks to Indian fans who supported him.

  • ‘Soul of my soul’; Bereaved grandfather comforts injured children in Gaza hospitals

    ‘Soul of my soul’; Bereaved grandfather comforts injured children in Gaza hospitals

    A few days back, a video of a Gazan grandfather bidding goodbye to his dead granddaughter went viral. In the video, the man, who’s two grandchildren were killed by Israeli airstrikes, kisses the little girl and hugs her as he calls her the “soul of my soul”.
    What touched hearts across the world was Khaled’s relationship with his granddaughter Reem.

    The grandfather, Khaled, is now volunteering in hospitals in Gaza. He can be found comforting other children who have been injured from Israeli air strikes. Many of the patients are severely wounded, having no access to adequate medical facilities because Israel has blocked aid into Gaza.

  • Governor House wedding shoot triggers furious debate on social media

    Governor House wedding shoot triggers furious debate on social media

    Renowned journalist Saleem Safi shared a TikTok video on Tuesday on X (formerly Twitter) of a newlywed couple in wedding attire running around the Governor House for their wedding photoshoot. He criticised the KP governor for allowing such practices.

    Safi later shared the response of Governor Haji Ghulam Ali where he was defending the practice as something that has been happening for a long time. The media in-charge to KP Governor Maaz Fida issued a clarification, explaining that governor house has always been open to the public for wedding photo shoots, with the condition that they obtained prior permission. In a post shared by Saleem Safi, the screenshot of the clarification, Fida dismissed the news of any film shooting taking place in the governor house.

    He said, “Public’s governor’s public governor house is just as accessible to newly married couples as it is for anyone else”. He said that the video doing rounds on social media is of such a couple that had formally obtained permission for the photoshoot.

    Fida added that there used to be a fee for such photo shoots, which was abolished by Ghulam Ali when he became the governor. He said that a specific portion of the governor house is open for such photo shoots and anyone can obtain the facility.

    Safi counter-criticized the Governor’s statement by saying that if this is the case then would couples from lower strata of society be allowed to have their photoshoots in there.

    The interaction has divided social media where some are defending the practice while others are criticising the fact that romantic photoshoots mar the sanctity of the place.

    Some X users found this funny enough to make memes on it.

    It is important to note that renting out public properties for a nominal fee for photo shoots or events is a common practice, all across the world and in Pakistan as well. In March 2020, the then-Governor Punjab, Chaudhry Sarwar, had also approved renting out the Lahore Governor House estate for commercial activities to generate operational expenditures.

  • Minor child worker Rizwana discharged from hospital, handed over to Child Protection Bureau

    Minor child worker Rizwana discharged from hospital, handed over to Child Protection Bureau

    Rizwana, the 13-year-old minor house help assaulted by her employers, has been discharged from hospital and handed over to the Child Protection Bureau.

    Talking to the media after recovery, Rizwana claimed to be very happy, stating that everyone took good care of her; “I was not well at first, but the doctors and nurses took good care of me”, she said.

    According to the hospital administration, Rizwana has been discharged from the General Hospital and handed over to Child Protection Bureau Chairperson Sarah Ahmed.

    Rizwana, a young domestic worker beaten up by the wife of a civil judge in Islamabad, was under treatment in Lahore General Hospital since five months. Rizwana was brought to Lahore General Hospital from Sargodha with injuries on her head, face and back.

    According to the medical report, due to lack of timely treatment, Rizwana’s wounds were infected with worms, the girl had 15 injury marks on her body including her head and her internal organs were also affected.

  • Toshakhana Case: Court rejects Imran Khan’s withdrawal petition

    Toshakhana Case: Court rejects Imran Khan’s withdrawal petition

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday rejected the plea of former prime minister Imran Khan to withdraw his petition challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision on his disqualification in the Toshakhana case.

    On October 28, 2022, the former Pakistan. Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief filed a plea against his disqualification by the electoral body. He filed another petition on January 18, 2023, to withdraw his appeal against ECP.

    Imran Khan requested the withdrawal of his plea from IHC as the matter is pending before Lahore High Court (LHC).

    Justice Aamer Farooq announced the verdict, reserved on September 13, today, after hearing the arguments of all parties.

    The ECP disqualified Imran Khan on October 21, 2022, under Article 63(1)(p). The electoral watchdog said in its verdict that the PTI founder is not a member of the National Assembly anymore, and he is disqualified for making “false statements and incorrect declaration”.

    The decision of Khan’s disqualification was taken by the five members’ bench, and the ECP stated that Imran was found involved in corrupt practices, including submitting a false affidavit.

  • Khumar: Navigating Love Across Class Divides

    Khumar: Navigating Love Across Class Divides

    The Pakistani drama Khumar is a captivating series broadcast on Har Pal Geo. The drama focuses on the lives of two central characters, Hareem and Faiz, played by Neelam Muneer and Feroze Khan respectively. The plot revolves around the male and female protagonists, who fall for each other, but matters take unexpected turns.
    It’s the first time we get to see Feroz Khan and Neelam Muneer together on TV. Plus, Khan is making a comeback to the Pakistani television industry after taking a break.

    Khumar is a heartwarming tale that explores the challenges of love amongst social class differences. The story follows Faiz and Hareem, individuals from contrasting backgrounds whose lives become intertwined by destiny. Faiz, born into privilege, silently supports Hareem’s struggling family, creating a one-sided love affair.
    An ultimate love story will be shown, where status will not be an issue, but time will be a problem. The theme of the whole play can be put above that if your timing is not perfect, reveal your love and tell your partner that you really love him/her.

    The drama delves into the complexities of societal expectations and hurdles faced by Hareem, who strives to meet her family’s needs. Faiz’s love for Hareem remains a secret due to disapproval from his mother. However, an unexpected event shakes their lives, raising questions about the impact of societal gaps on their love.
    The drama’s first two episodes garnered tremendous support from fans, with the debut episode reaching over seven million views and the subsequent one crossing five million views.

    Will Faiz be able to persuade his mother to accept Hareem? Can the couple overcome their diverse backgrounds and create a joyful life together? This timeless love story unfolds against a backdrop of challenges, keeping audiences engaged in the pursuit of love across societal divides.

  • PCB unhappy with injured Shadab Khan walking out on teammate’s shoulder

    PCB unhappy with injured Shadab Khan walking out on teammate’s shoulder

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed displeasure over how an injured Shadab Khan was carried off the field on the back of a fellow cricketer. Shadab Khan sprained his leg during a National T20 match in Karachi. A video surfaced online, showing him being carried out on the shoulders of his teammate.

    PCB is reportedly puzzled as to why Shadab was carried by his teammates instead of being carried out on a stretcher despite all necessary medical facilities being available at the United Bank Limited (UBL) Sports Complex in Karachi.

    The Board is very concerned about the actions of the Rawalpindi team management. An inquiry has been started while PCB is considering issuing a show cause notice to the team management responsible for the incident.

    The incident took place two days ago during a match between Rawalpindi and Sialkot at the UBL Sports Complex, raising questions over the decision to carry Shadab Khan on the back of his teammate while adequate medical equipment, including a stretcher, was readily available at the ground. The PCB is investigating the matter.