Author: newsdesk

  • ‘Kisi media walay ko elections mein doubt hai to apni biwi ko bataye, awam ko nahi’: Chief Justice

    ‘Kisi media walay ko elections mein doubt hai to apni biwi ko bataye, awam ko nahi’: Chief Justice

    Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Qazi Faez Isa, issued a firm warning to the country’s media during a hearing of multiple pleas seeking timely elections within 90 days of the dissolution of the assemblies.

    “If media raises suspicions about the elections, they will be committing a violation of the constitution,” he remarked, adding that journalists cannot simply grab a microphone and say there are doubts about the elections.

    “An anchor or reporter cannot raise doubts about whether the elections will happen or not,” he stated.

    Faez Isa warned that if rumors or speculations are spread about the elections, action will be taken by PEMRA.

    The head of the apex court stressed that, “Media outlets should know that they do not have the right to lie. Media freedom has been granted in the constitution.”

    He further said that if a media person has suspicions about the elections, he will not tell the public, but he can tell his wife.

    The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the government to ensure the conduct of general elections on February 8, a day after President Arif Alvi and Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja unanimously agreed on the aforementioned date during a meeting held at the President’s House.

    A three-member bench headed by CJP Isa and comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan heard the case.

    The court, in its order, mentioned that the notification of the general election date has also been issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), stating that no party has any objection to holding elections on February 8.

    Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa asked everyone in the courtroom as well as the Attorney-General for Pakistan, Mansoor Usman Awan, if they had any objection to the election date, but all replied in the negative.

    “After all the requirements are fulfilled, the Election Commission should announce the election schedule,” CJP Isa said.
    The chief justice said: “Elections will definitely be held on February 8, God willing.”

  • KP government launches first Mental Health institute

    KP government launches first Mental Health institute

    The caretaker setup in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa led by Chief Minister Azam Khan inaugurated the first-ever Institute of Mental Health Sciences in the provincial capital Peshawar on Thursday.

    The landmark project has incurred a total cost of Rs2.52 billion. The larger plan includes an emergency unit, OPD, ICU, a psychiatric unit, family counseling, and a rehabilitation centre among other facilities. It will start with providing OPD services and will move on to add other services in later stages.

    In the inaugural ceremony, the Chief Minister spoke about the facilities offered by the institute and the courses on various areas concerning mental health offered there. He emphasised the growing need for understanding and treating mental illnesses that are rampant globally and the opening of one of its kind institute is a step in the right direction. He promised that the state-of-the-art institute will provide facilities for the treatment of mental illnesses and all services related to mental health.

  • Canadian PM Trudeau under fire for his son’s ‘headless’ halloween costume

    Canadian PM Trudeau under fire for his son’s ‘headless’ halloween costume

    Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is under fire by netizens for his son’s pictures in a “headless” halloween costume, as people are reminded of the ongoing bombing in Gaza.

    The headless costume showing a decapitated head in hand is a classic halloween costume which his youngest son Hadrien wore for the halloween. This provoked internet users to point out that more than 3,500 children have been killed in Israel’s bombing of the Gaza strip.
    People deemed it to be inappropriate in times like these and from a leader like Trudeau who is so keen to be politically correct.

    A user wrote under Trudeau’s post, “tone-deaf”.

    Another user suggested that the PM should dress up as an Israeli Soldier because the halloween they’re living is a reality, thanks to Canada’s terrifying support for one of the bloodiest, settler-colonial occupations that practices all war crimes in Palestine, including ethnic cleansing, extermination, and displacement.

    Social researcher, Jelena Mitrovic slammed him for showing no respect to the killed kids of Gaza.

    This is not for the first time that Justin Trudeau has earned flak from the internet. School pictures of the Premier in halloween costume dressed as a black Aladdin got him into trouble, for which he had to apologise later. One user Jay Nelson reminded the world about that.

  • Six people killed in DI Khan blast

    At least six people have been killed and 20 injured after a blast in Dera Ismail Khan targeting a police van on Friday.

    Law enforcement authorities have confirmed that gunshots were also heard after the blast.

    Caretaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Information Minister, Firdous Jamal Shah, stated that the blast took place in Tank Adda near a police van, confirming that 22 injured people were being shifted to hospital.

    There are two police officials and two women among the injured, the minister confirmed.

    “Those elements involved in the explosion and terrorism will be brought to justice,” assured the minister.

    Two blasts occurred last month in KP and Balochistan on the day of Eid Milad un Nabi — the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

  • Did Indian bowler Muhammad Shami avoid sajda?

    Did Indian bowler Muhammad Shami avoid sajda?

    Indian team’s fast bowler Mohammad Shami took five wickets while bowling brilliantly in the match against Sri Lanka. After taking the fifth wicket, the bowler looked like he was about to prostrate (do sajda) but then stopped. A video of the moment has gone viral on social media.

    In the 33rd match of the World Cup played yesterday at the Wakhande Stadium in Mumbai, India qualified for the semi-finals by defeating Sri Lanka by a huge margin of 302 runs in a one-sided match.

    Shami, expressing happiness after taking the fifth wicket, first looked to the sky and then sat down on the ground in a position that resembled prostration. Social media users expressed their views on the bowler’s intentions.

    Here are some reactions on social media;

  • ‘Sickening’: social media criticises McDonald’s Mauritius after insensitive Halloween post

    ‘Sickening’: social media criticises McDonald’s Mauritius after insensitive Halloween post

    McDonalds is facing a worldwide boycott after the fast food giant’s Israeli franchise provided free food to IDF soldiers while the Israeli army bombarded Gaza. Now the company’s Mauritius franchise has come under fire after it posted what users thought was an insensitive Halloween picture.

    In the now deleted image, fries dripping with ketchup are positioned to resemble a bloody hand. The caption reads: “Forget the freights. Savour the flavours!”

    Social media users expressed their outrage.

    Previously, the McDonald’s franchise in the UK was criticised for hiding the replies in their comments demanding the organisation to withdraw their support for Israel.

  • Government announces public holiday on November 9

    Government announces public holiday on November 9

    The federal government has announced a public holiday on November 9 on account of Iqbal Day.

    “November 9, Thursday, will be a public holiday across the country,” said a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Friday.

    November 9 is celebrated as Iqbal Day nationwide in honour of Dr. Allama Mohammad Iqbal’s birthday, marking his 146th birth anniversary this year.

    Allama Iqbal played a vital role in encouraging millions of Muslims across the subcontinent to struggle for their separate homeland, where they could live freely.

    The day would begin with mosques holding special prayers for the advancement and well-being of Pakistan.

    Dr. Iqbal, born on November 9, 1877, in Sialkot, is widely recognised as the ‘Poet of the East’ in Pakistan and various other regions around the world.

    Iqbal was an acclaimed poet and philosopher.

  • Army gets more land for ‘agriculture’

    Army gets more land for ‘agriculture’

    The Pakistan Army is set to start agriculture farming on 41,000 acres of land in South Waziristan’s Zarmalam area.

    Peshawar Corps Commander Lieutenant General Sardar Hasan Azhar Hayat has said that the army was determined to increase agricultural farming in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as per Geo News.

    Lt Gen Hayat said the army has prepared a farming plan on 41,000 acres of land that had been barren for years.

    The officer was of the view that there is a vast opportunity for investment in minerals, hydropower, agriculture, and tourism in KP that can help boost the province’s resources.

    The three-star officer said the army has worked together with the civil government to bring investment in minerals, agriculture, hydropower, and tourism to the province, which is yielding positive results.

    The Pakistan Army’s decision has sparked mixed reactions among locals and experts, with some expressing concerns over the potential implications for the region.

    The move, which involves the cultivation of 41,000 acres of land, has raised questions about the long-term impact on the area’s ecosystem and implications for local communities.

    Critics argue that the project’s scale could lead to significant land and water resource depletion, impacting the livelihoods of communities dependent on the land.

    Additionally, there have been concerns about the army’s increasing involvement in civilian sectors, with some experts cautioning against potential overreach and the need to ensure civilian oversight in such initiatives.

    On October 1st this year, The Pakistan Army launched the first agriculture project under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to make barren lands cultivable in South Waziristan.

    The pilot project launched in the Zarmalam district of South Waziristan oversaw 1,000 acres of barren land made suitable for cultivation.

    The Pakistan Army’s decision has sparked mixed reactions among locals and experts, with some expressing concerns over the potential implications for the region.

    The move, which involves the cultivation of 41,000 acres of land, has raised questions about the long-term impact on the area’s ecosystem and the implications for local communities.

    Critics argue that the project’s scale could lead to significant land and water resource depletion, impacting the livelihoods of communities dependent on the land.

    Additionally, there have been concerns about the army’s increasing involvement in civilian sectors, with some experts cautioning against potential overreach and the need to ensure civilian oversight in such initiatives.

  • Allegations levelled on Zaka Ashraf for misuse of authority

    Allegations levelled on Zaka Ashraf for misuse of authority

    A member of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee has leveled accusations against Chairman PCB Zaka Ashraf, including abuse of office and serious wrongdoing.

    According to a report carried by well-known website ESPNcricinfo, PCB management committee member Zulfiqar Malik has written an email against Zaka Ashraf to the management committee, copies of which have been sent to PCB Patron-in-Chief, Prime Minister of Pakistan and Ministry of Inter-Provincial Co-operation.

    Zulfiqar Malik’s email against Zaka Ashraf comes at a time when his four-month tenure as Acting Chairman of PCB is coming to an end a few days later, on November 4.

    In the e-mail against the Chairman, it is said that:

    • Zaka Ashraf failed to meet his statutory requirements to run the day-to-day affairs of the Board.
    • Zaka Ashraf ignored the orders of the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Communication and did not conduct board elections under which the permanent chairman of the board was to be elected.
    • Zaka Ashraf also did not provide his certificates which are mandatory for Chairman PCB.
    • Zaka Ashraf allowed his son Chaudhry Muhammad Khan to interfere illegally in the affairs of the board.
    • Zaka Ashraf misused the office of PCB Election Commissions against his opponents and conducted bogus elections in regions.

    Zulfiqar Malik wrote in his email “He noted some serious wrongdoings and illegalities in the recent tenure of Zaka Ashraf which I consider necessary to bring on record. I want to disassociate myself from illegal and wrong decisions without making them.”

    A member of the management committee said that Zaka Ashraf took some long-term decisions which he had no control over, such as the appointment of the chief selector at Rs 25 lakh per month for 3 years, several directors, consultants, officials, etc. Appointment of committees, approval of multiple projects, massive expenditure, expensive appointment of legal counsel, and removal of several officials are clear violations of the mandate of the Management Committee.

    Zaka Ashraf said that he took all the decisions according to the board’s constitution and the board also defends these decisions.

  • Kya Shahid Afridi ko koi Khush Khabri milnay wali hai?

    Kya Shahid Afridi ko koi Khush Khabri milnay wali hai?

    Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar approached national team former captain Shahid Afridi to consult about the Pakistan cricket team performance in the World Cup 2023 and other PCB issues.

    In the meeting Shahid Afridi talkwd about his association with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in the future, the performance of the team in the World Cup and grooming future cricketers for the international level.

    Talking about the details of the conversation with the Prime Minister, Afridi said, “On Thursday, I received a call from Prime Minister Office and I had to go Islamabad. Talking on cricket issues with him was a great pleasure for me, he looked keen about better training in future of grooming cricketers so that they can make themselves and their country proud”.

    He said, “The Prime Minister ask me to play a role in PCB but I have sought some time to take this decision.”

    It should be noted that the tenure of Zaka Asharf as PCB’s chairman will end on November 4.