Author: newsdesk

  • Passport delivery delayed due to shortage of ‘lamination paper’

    Passport delivery delayed due to shortage of ‘lamination paper’

    People waiting for their new passports will have to wait a bit longer. The Directorate General of Immigration & Passport has reportedly run out of lamination papers for new passports.

    As per Samaa, sources have said that the relevant authorities did not take timely measures to ensure a sufficient supply of lamination paper. Last week, there was no improvement in the supply chain, and there is now a fear that the printing and delivery of new passports will be affected across the country.

    One of the immediate consequences of the lamination paper shortage is an expected increase in the duration of passport delivery. For instance, the delivery of passports with a normal fee will likely be extended to approximately one month. This delay poses significant challenges for applicants across the country, especially those with urgent travel plans.

    Despite the alleged non-availability of lamination paper, the passport department continues to accept new applications, further fueling concerns that the number of pending passports will surge due to printing problems.

    As of now, the passport department has not issued an official statement on the matter, leaving many in the dark about when the shortage of lamination paper will be resolved and how long the delays will persist.

    The shortage of lamination paper is causing substantial disruptions in passport issuance, and it is vital for the authorities to swiftly address this issue and keep the public informed about their efforts to resolve the problem. The impact of this situation on individuals urgently needing to travel for various reasons underscores the urgency of resolving the issue promptly to minimize inconvenience for applicants.

  • Zaka Asharaf likely to attend Pakistan-India match

    Zaka Asharaf likely to attend Pakistan-India match

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf is likely to visit India to attend the Pakistan-India match on October 14 at Ahemadabad Stadium.

    According to PCB, an India visa has already been allotted for Zaka Ashraf and he may visit India in 2-3 days.

    Read More: Rizwan dedicates win to people in Gaza

    On the other hand, the efforts of PCB Management Committee have paid off. The Indian Embassy has started contacting Pakistani journalists for World Cup visas too, asking Pakistani journalists to immediately submit their passports for visas.

  • Sophie Turner, Joe Jonas reach temporary agreement on children’s custody

    Sophie Turner, Joe Jonas reach temporary agreement on children’s custody

    Celebrity couple Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas have reached a temporary agreement regarding the custody of their two daughters. The ‘Game Of Thrones’ actress made headlines when she sued the Jonas Brothers band member for taking possession of their children, and refusing to hand over their passports as per the previous deal made between the two.

    READ MORE; Sophie Turner sues Joe Jonas for custody of their daughters, says she found out about divorce through media

    However, People Magazine now reports that an interim consent order has been laid out for the couple’s two daughters. From October 9-21, the children will remain with Sophie as she travels through the US and England. And from October 21 till November 2, Joe will be given the responsibility of the children.

    After November 2, the children’s nanny will return the two daughters back to Turner to stay with them till November 22, after which they will live with Jonas once more. From December 16, the children will spend their holidays with Sophie till January 7.

    People further elaborates that both parities will submit a status report before December 23 which will outline the status of mediation between the two ex-spouses.

    Joe Jonas filed for divorce from Sophie on September 5 in Miami, claiming “the marriage between the parties is irretrievably broken.”

  • Court summons Sara Inam’s husband

    Court summons Sara Inam’s husband

    The district and sessions court in Islamabad has summoned Shahnawaz Amir on October 12 in Sara Inam’s murder case.

    Shahnawaz Amir, the husband of the murdered Sara I am, will record his statement at the court. The orders for the same were passed by Judge Azam Khan on Tuesday after recording the statements of the investigation officer and prosecution witnesses in the murder case.

    The son of politician and analyst Ayaz Amir, Shahnawaz Amir allegedly murdered his wife by smashing her head with a dumbbell.
    His testimony will be recorded under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), according to which the judge can question the suspect at any stage of the trial.

    “For the purpose of enabling the accused to explain any circumstances appearing in the evidence against him, the court may at any stage of any inquiry or trial without previously warning the accused, put such questions to him as the Court considers necessary, and shall, for the purpose aforesaid, question him generally on the case after the witness for the prosecution have been examined and before he is called on for his defence.”

    Investigation officer Habibur Rehman claimed that he did not fabricate any evidence nor commit any negligence.

    He said that Ayaz Amir and his wife, Samina Shah, were also mentioned as susoects in the FIR.

    According to the challan, Shahnawaz Amir told the police that the couple had a heated telephonic argument when Sara Inam did not send him money and that Amir divorced her on the call.

    When Sara Inam came to Islamabad from Abu Dhabi on September 22, she argued with him, asking him to return the money she sent him.

    He injured her after hitting her with a decoration piece after which Sara Inam “started making noise”. Amir then hit her a number of times on the head with the dumbbell.

    Habibur Rehman also said that the Police reached Farm House 46 in Chak Shahzad where the murder was committed after the registration of FIR.

    Sara Inam’s body was taken to the hospital for post-mortem and was kept in the mortuary because her parents were not in Pakistan.

    The police retrieved the blood-stained dumbbell, passports, nikahnama, and mobile phones from the room of the accused.

  • Last solar eclipse of 2023: Will the ‘Ring of Fire’ be visible in Pakistan?

    The second and last solar eclipse of 2023 will take place by the end of the first fortnight of the month of October.

    According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) the eclipse will start at 8:04 pm on Oct 14 and end at 1:55am on Oct 15.

    Unfortunately, it will not be visible anywhere in Pakistan.

    However, the eclipse will be visible in southwestern Mexico, countries in Central America, while also being visible in central Columbia and northern Brazil.

    Ring of Fire

    Solar eclipse happens when the moon is at or near its farthest point from Earth. This is how it appears smaller and does not block out the entire Sun when it passes in front of Earth, leaving behind a bright ring of Sun visible at the eclipse’s peak, creating the ring of fire effect.

  • World Cup 2023: Grand ceremony to be held before Pakistan-India match

    World Cup 2023: Grand ceremony to be held before Pakistan-India match

    A special program will be organized on the occasion of the India-Pakistan match in the Cricket World Cup 2023. According to Indian media, Indian superstars will participate in the program in Ahmedabad.

    Many film stars including senior Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth will attend the ceremony.

    Reports state that former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and singer Arijit Singh will also participate while the event will also feature a light show, fireworks, and dance performances.

    According to Gujarat Cricket Association Secretary Anil Patel, the special event will start around 12 noon in which 20 to 25 Pakistani journalists will also participate.

    Read More: World Cup 2023; India finally starts visa issuance for Pakistani journalists

    Anil Patel says that all arrangements have been completed for Pakistani journalists. Pakistan Cricket Board officials will also come to India to watch the Pakistan-India match.

    According to the Indian media, the Indian Cricket Board has decided to hold a special event for the fans on the occasion of the India-Pakistan match after not opting for an opening ceremony of the World Cup. Cricket fans had expressed disappointment over the absence of the opening ceremony in the World Cup.

    The match between Pakistan and India is scheduled to be played on October 14 at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium.

  • There is a painful history behind why supermodels Gigi, Bella Hadid support the Palestinian cause

    There is a painful history behind why supermodels Gigi, Bella Hadid support the Palestinian cause

    Supermodels sisters Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid have consistently been vocal about supporting the liberation of Palestine on their platforms, even going to the extent of attending public marches and donating to causes providing aid to war-torn cities in Palestine. Bella has also revealed in a 2021 podcast interview that her activism has cost her jobs and even relationships, but refused to abandon her support for a liberated Palestine.

    “I had so many companies that stopped working with me…I have friends that completely dropped me…I know my family enough, I know my own history enough. And that should be enough.”

    But there is a painful history behind why the Hadid sisters have continued to advocate for a free Palestine, even at the risk of losing their prolific careers. It involves their own family members who were expelled from Palestine during the 1948 Nakba. During this period, more than 70,000 Palestinians were removed or expelled from their homes located in the area that was to be declared the state of Israel.

    Bella and Gigi’s father, Mohammad Hadid spoke at the #ABtalks podcast about his experience, sharing that he was born in Nazareth, the city where Jesus Christ was believed to have been born. In the interview, the real estate developer said that his family had taken in Jewish refugees who came on a ship from Poland, who were rejected from several countries before arriving at the Haifa port, that Hadid said his great-grandfather had rebuilt during the Ottoman Empire.

    The Jewish refugees lived with Hadid’s family for two and a half years, after which Mohammad was born. The senior Hadid recalled when his mother came back to their home in Safad, they were told by guards to leave, and weren’t even allowing his mother to get a blanket to wrap her baby.

    Mohammad Hadid is the descendant of the Arab ruler of Northern Palestine Zahir al-Umar al-Zaydani, the Prince of Nazareth from his mother’s side.

    According to an article, the monarch was the first Arab ruler of Nazareth, Haifa and Jabba of Palestine to introduce a mandate that allowed Muslims, Jews and Christians to live in harmony under his rule. Today, his ancestors still live in Northern Palestine, where he is celebrated as a national hero.

    Alongside Mohammad Hadid, his children have spoken about the trauma of Nakba and called for a liberated Palestine. In 2022, Bella reshared a clip by Al-Jazeera detailing the significance of Nakba Day, and wrote that it was heartbreaking how elders are still not allowed to return to their homeland today.

    Alana shared a picture with her father holding the Palestinian flag and wrote they were remembering the trauma of 1948. Gigi shared the image and added hearts.

  • ‘I have passed all exams of life,’ Zardari tells ‘enemies’.

    ‘I have passed all exams of life,’ Zardari tells ‘enemies’.

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman and former president of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, has told his enemies that “elections are near” and he has passed all “exams of life”, Geo has reported.

    While addressing a dinner party given by PPP leader Ghulam Qadir Mari in Naushero Feroz district on Tuesday, Zardari said, “I was born in this land (Sindh), and I will continue to strive for the development of this land.”

    The PPP co-chairman also said that he is the son of soil and will always struggle for it.

    “The PPP has always served the people. I have struggled all my life, and my workers have also supported me,” said the former president, adding, “We know each other. Allah gave us the opportunity, so we served the people and this soil. I have to be buried in this soil. It is our duty to serve it.”

    The PPP leader also mentioned that he gave Pashtuns their separate identity, and by bringing the 18th Amendment, his party gave provincial service.

    Recounting the sacrifices of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, Zardari said, “Today, I am serving you, then Bilawal Bhutto will serve, as will Aseefa Bhutto. We are all with the people of Sindh.”

  • Another earthquake of 6.3 magnitude hits Afghanistan

    As per the United States Geological Survey, yet another earthquake occurred in Afghanistan at a shallow depth at around 5:10 am local time on Wednesday, with its epicenter about 29 kilometres north of the city of Herat.

    No casualties have been reported till now.

    According to the Associated Press, Ministry of Information spokesperson Abdul Wahid Rayan has said that at least 80 people have been injured and a landslide has blocked the main Herat-Torghundi highway.

    This is the second deadliest aftershock in the region after Saturday’s earthquake which destroyed 11 villages and has devastated 12,000 people. The death toll has exceeded 2,400 fatalities. Afghanistan is frequently hit by deadly earthquakes, but this weekend’s disaster was the worst to strike the war-ravaged country in more than 25 years.

    Rescue efforts are being hampered by poor infrastructure and lack of resources.

  • Rizwan dedicates win to people in Gaza

    Rizwan dedicates win to people in Gaza

    Records were left stranded in the dust as Pakistan created history on Tuesday night, chasing down the highest total in World Cup history against Sri Lanka.

    Pakistan chased a target of 345 and won the match against Sri Lanka by six wickets. Muhammad Rizwan, who battled severe cramps during the match, remained unbeaten on a 121-ball 131. He was declared Player of the Match. We hope we win the World Cup with these dedicated players in our team.

    Read More: Indian anti-minority lawyer targets a Pakistani over fake allegations

    Rizwan took to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday to celebrate the victory, dedicating it to people suffering a war in Gaza Strip, an already besieged area, that will now face a “total” blockade from Israel including a ban on food and water.

    “This was for our brothers and sisters in Gaza. Happy to contribute in the win. Credits to the whole team and especially Abdullah Shafique and Hassan Ali for making it easier. Extremely grateful to the people of Hyderabad for the amazing hospitality and support throughout.,” he wrote.