Author: newsdesk

  • British Home Secretary slammed for calling pro-Palestine demonstrations ‘hate marches’

    British Home Secretary slammed for calling pro-Palestine demonstrations ‘hate marches’

    Suella Braveman, Home Secretary of UK, has said that the thousands of people taking to the streets after the largest massacre of Jews post holocaust are, “chanting for the erasure of Israel from the map,” emphasizing that they are “hate marches”.

    She was speaking to the media after an emergency meeting called by Rishi Sunak over growing terror fears in the region. She reiterated her demand for “police to show zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism.”

    The shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called out her statement as irresponsible citing, “use of careless rhetoric makes the job of the police much harder”.
    Previously, she urged the police to clamp down on any attempts to use flags, songs or swastikas to harass or intimidate the Jewish community. Her statement was also seen as a harsh response to the most famous chant of these marches, “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

    Former Cabinet Minister Saeeda Warsi lambasted the home secretary by saying that “she never misses the opportunity to create a culture war”.

    Braveman is being widely criticised over her remarks. Left-wing politician David Osland posted on X, writing, “British National Party’s protest as hate march or is this word reserve for those demanding peach for Palestine?”

    Netizen, Howard Beckett, reminded the world that she called a “protest against the ongoing murder of over 3000 children a hate march”.

    UK has seen massive protests and marches in support of Palestine but the stance of the Government is hostile and provocative against the marchers. Nearly a hundred arrests have already been made while five have also been charged with offences.

  • LUMS students grill PM Kakar with tough questions

    LUMS students grill PM Kakar with tough questions

    Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar visited Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) on Monday in Lahore to attend a special session with students.

    PM Kakar interacted with students of top universities in the country during the session, stating that he always felt happy when he interacted with the youth of Pakistan, terming them “energetic” and “a source of stimulation” for senior people.

    However, the audience was ready to grill him with tough questions.

    One student asked the purpose of Kakar’s visit to the university.

    Another student chastised the caretaker Premier for his late arrival. Kakar reached the venue fifty minutes late for the session.

    However, Kakar did not appear bothered by the tough questions from the students.

    His visit to LUMS is trending on X (previously Twitter), and videos of the session are going viral on different social media platforms.

  • ‘Depression is not being away from God’: Anoushey Ashraf, Zara Noor Abbas encourage followers to recognise mental illness

    ‘Depression is not being away from God’: Anoushey Ashraf, Zara Noor Abbas encourage followers to recognise mental illness

    After the tragic news of Maulana Tariq Jameel’s son passing away in what is being said was suicide, celebrities are urging their followers to recognise the importance of taking care of their mental health. Asim Jameel, the younger son of the Maulana, passed away after shooting himself with a gun at his ancestral home in Tulamba.

    Social media was left heart broken after Yousef Jamil confirmed to the press that his brother Asim had passed away from suicide. Now more public figures like Zara Noor Abbas want people to understand that depression should be recognised as an illness.

    “For all those who say that depression happens because of deen say duri, please take the example of Maulana Tariq Sahab’s son who was suffering from it even though he had a house full of religious activities and his father being such an honoured religious scholar,” the actress penned.

    “Please understand that depression is real like any other illness,” Zara stressed to her followers. “It sucks everything out of you. Please seek help and support for it. My heart goes out to the family of the deceased. May Allah grant him Jannah and peace after all.”

    Actress and VJ Anoushay Ashraf slammed the common assumption that depression happens when people are away from God, and spoke about how it should be recognised as a medical issue.

    “I hope those celebs who unknowingly but hurt fully speak about how depression is being away from Allah (SWT) realise that it’s very much a medical issue. Many troubles and issues in life can perhaps be because of your disconnect with the higher being, I get your viewpoint but depression is a ‘real’ sickness and disease. It’s not being away from God, it’s being ill. Very ill in such cases.”

  • Director Hassan Askari passes away from cancer

    Director Hassan Askari passes away from cancer

    Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un

    Acclaimed Pakistani director Hassan Askari has passed away at the age of 78 in Lahore. He was suffering from cancer and had been admitted to Shaikh Zayed Hospital.

    During his career, Hassan directed more than 60 Punjabi and Urdu films, including the hits Toofan, Salakhain, Sher Dil, Talash, Dil Kisi Ka Dost Nahi, Doorian, Qanoon and Tere Pyar Mein.

    The Pride of Performance winning director was the first filmmaker to introduce the concept of the popular Punjabi hero Maula Jatt and his gandasa with his film Wehshi Jatt (1974), years before Maula Jatt was adapted on the big screen.

    Speaking about Askari’s demise, Punjab Minister of Information and Culture Amir Mir expressed sorrow while acknowledging his services for the Pakistani film industry. He said Hassan Askari had directed many phenomenal films during his career and no one else in the industry could compete with him.

    Secretary Information and Culture Daniyal Gillani offered condolences on the in a tweet on X (formerly Twitter) writing:

    “Saddened to hear about the passing of the legendary film producer, director, and writer Muhammad Hassan Askari. His contributions to Urdu and Punjabi cinema, with classics like “Salakhain,” “Wahshi Jutt,” and many more, will always be remembered. His legacy will continue to inspire many in the world of cinema. Allah darjaat buland farmaye. Ameen!”

    Director of the crime thriller film ‘Javed Iqbal’ Abu Aleeha expressed his sorrow on the passing of Hassan Askari on his X account.

  • ‘Brain-eating’ amoeba causes two deaths in a week in Karachi

    ‘Brain-eating’ amoeba causes two deaths in a week in Karachi

    Sindh Health Authorities have reported two deaths within a week from Naegleria Fowleri, also known as brain-eating amoeba, in Karachi. The death toll has reached 10 victims this year.

    The latest victim is a 22-years-old student of North Karachi. Earlier in the week, a 45-year-old succumbed to the amoeba in the same locality. The two deaths have raised alarm bells both in the locality and the city.

    The student fell ill with high fever, headache and vomitting. His condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to hospitalisation in ICU. He tested positive for Naegleria, dying within four days on October 29.

    The symptoms of the two patients were similar but both had no history of swimming to suggest that they contracted the germs via nasal passage, as reported by the health department. The surveillance coordinator of the town has asked to collect samples from the area to detect the presence of the amoeba.
    Health Services Karachi Director Dr Abdul Hamid Jumani has however stressed the importance of chlorination at different levels in the water supply system. Not just that, the seepage in the pipelines should be corrected at once to avoid contamination of water.

    Water tanks at home need to be cleaned regularly and hygiene should be maintained. Experts suggest that water tanks should be cleaned once a year and a 20-gramme tablet is enough for a 100-gallon tank for 15 days.

    The infection caused by Naeglaria Fowleri is fatal in 98 per cent of cases. Contaminated water is its natural habitat. The medical term used for the disease is Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis. Among the 100 cases reported in 11, years only two survived; one for three months and the other is alive till date.

  • Four labourers from South Punjab were killed in Turbat Balochistan

    Four labourers from South Punjab were killed in Turbat Balochistan

    Four labourers, along with a police official, have been killed while one has been injured in the Nasirabad area of Turbat, Balochistan, in an attack on a police station by unidentified persons on Tuesday. The authorities have declared the attack terrorist activity.

    All the labourers killed in the attack were from district Muzaffargarh, South Punjab.

    According to police, dead bodies were transferred to the Teaching Hospital in Turbat.

    Caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai condemned the incident and said that it was a terrorist attack.

    The killing marks the second incident of targeted attacks on labourers from South Punjab in Balochistan.

    Earlier this month, at least six laborers  from Shujabaad were killed in Turbat city. The labourers were sleeping in an under-construction building when they were attacked.

  • More than 90,000 Afghan refugees leave Pakistan via Torkham

    More than 90,000 Afghan refugees leave Pakistan via Torkham

    Following the federal government’s decision to send undocumented foreigners back to their countries, more than 90,000 Afghan refugees have voluntarily returned home via the Torkham border.

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Interior Department has set up temporary camps in Peshawar, Haripur and Khyber district for repatriation of illegal Afghan refugees.

    From November 1, illegal foreigners will be arrested and transferred to camps, after which they will be sent to Afghanistan via Torkham.

    The temporary camp in Peshawar reportedly has a capacity of housing 2,000 people, while food and water will be provided along with medical aid. Special security arrangements have also been made in the temporary camp.

    On the other hand, the Department of Home Affairs has also established a ‘control room’ from where the process of return is being monitored. A helpline has also been launched, on which guidance can be provided in case of other problems besides identification of illegal foreigners.

    The number of Afghan refugees residing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is more than 900,000, while visas were issued to 116,418 Afghans this year.

  • Court declares Sheikh Rashid’s Lal Haveli sealing decision null and void

    Court declares Sheikh Rashid’s Lal Haveli sealing decision null and void

    In a decision that favoured former interior minister Sheikh Rashid, the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench on Monday instructed the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) to remove seals from Lal Haveli, the home of the Awami Muslim League (AML) leader.

    The Lal Haveli is a famous building at Bohar Bazar in Rawalpindi, it serves as the political office of AML.

    In a decision, Mirza Waqas Rauf announced the decision to seal the haveli null and void.

    ETPB sealed Lal Haveli last month, stating that Rashid’s property papers were not right. On September 21, ETPB, with help from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and police, removed the people living there.

    The AML chief’s nephew, Sheikh Rashid Shafiq, said in a video message that the haveli is registered in the name of Sheikh Siddique. All information related to property has been given to the deputy commissioner Rawalpindi, Rashid Shafiq added.

    Responding to a question, the former interior minister said that the “40 days in chilla (isolation)” made him a new “Sheikh Rashid”

  • Possibility of three changes in Pakistan team against Bangladesh

    Possibility of three changes in Pakistan team against Bangladesh

    Pakistan cricket team will play its seventh match today against Bangladesh in the ICC World Cup. After a string of losses, there is a possibility of three changes in Pakistan’s playing XI.

    According to sources, Fakhar Zaman will return in the match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Zaman was suffering from a knee injury, but is likely to be included in the team instead of Imamul Haq. Salman Ali Agha will be fielded instead of all-rounder Muhammad Nawaz, who has scored only 81 runs in 5 matches and has taken only two wickets. If Salman Ali Agha is fielded, it will be his first World Cup match.

    Vice-captain Shadab Khan, who suffered a concussion in the previous match, may be rested for the match against Bangladesh. The team management is considering giving him full rest this week, while Usama Mir can be a part of the final XI in his place. Usama Mir replaced Shadab in the match against South Africa.

  • ‘You call yourself a philanthropist?’: Twitter users roast Selena Gomez over tone-deaf view on Gaza genocide

    ‘You call yourself a philanthropist?’: Twitter users roast Selena Gomez over tone-deaf view on Gaza genocide

    Hollywood actress and singer Selena Gomez was slammed by social media users online after her neutral take on the ongoing Gaza genocide. Al-Jazeera reports that intense bombing continue to target Gaza with the death toll already crossing 8000 including more than 3000 children.

    Selena, whose Instagram following stands at 430 million, shared a statement on her stories writing she was heartbroken to witness the horror, naming neither Palestine nor Israel:

    “I’ve been taking a break from social media because my heart breaks to see all of the horror, hate, violence and terror that’s going on in the world. People being tortured and killed or any act of hate towards any one group is horrific. We need to protect all people, especially children and stop the violence for good.”

    The last comment, “I wish I could change the world. But a post won’t,” triggered outrage.

    “selena gomez is being so stupid right now. she is downplaying her massive following and being hypocritical. if a post can’t help change the world why call yourself a philanthropist?? why post about mental health, blm, womens rights, american elections etc etc” a user wrote.

    Many compared the ‘Only Murders In The Building’ actor’s response to the Ukraine war to this, criticising her for not considering brown lives as important as white ones.

    Others criticised the actress for responding in the same tone-deaf manner in 2016 when she was criticised over her silence on the Black Lives Matter protests.

    Many criticised the statement for being incredibly tone-deaf, pointing out the actress was privileged enough to take a break from social media during the genocide but people in Gaza couldn’t turn away from the violence.