A woman has been arrested by the Tandlianwala City Police in Toba Tek Singh after she threatened to falsely accuse neighbours of desecrating the Quran.
Under the First Information Report (FIR) filed under Section 211 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 16 of the Punjab Maintenance of the Public Order Ordinance 1960 , 21 complaints claimed the woman was a drug dealer. According to Dawn, when the culprit was confronted by local residents about her alleged activities, she threatened to desecrate the Holy Quran and blame the neighbors and ignite violence within the community.
According to witnesses, the woman threatened to falsely implicate her neighbours in the Quran desecration case in the Jaranwala incident that took place on August 16.
Police have arrested the woman and shifted her to the Faisalabad district jail.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) caretaker government, under the leadership of caretaker Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan, recently convened a significant cabinet meeting. During this gathering, attended by cabinet members, the chief secretary, additional chief secretary, and administrative secretaries, the pivotal topic of discussion was the Health Card scheme.
During a press conference, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Health, Riaz Anwar, said that due to escalating expenses, the full benefits of the Health Card scheme would now be exclusively available to beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Programme. The financial liability associated with the scheme had surged from Rs30 billion to Rs39 billion, leading to a proposal to potentially discontinue the programme.
The cabinet subsequently approved a set of reforms for the Health Card initiative. Under these reforms, individuals with an income of up to Rs37,000 will be required to cover 25 per cent of their medical expenses. This contribution will be calculated based on data from the Benazir Income Support Programme, ensuring that those with higher incomes contribute to their healthcare costs.
While the poor and underprivileged will continue to receive free healthcare services, access to free facilities at the emergency ward will be extended to everyone. Importantly, it was clarified that the Health Card programme itself would not be terminated; instead, it would persist in serving the underprivileged.
According to Samaa, this shift in focus is a response to budgetary constraints, as the expenses of KP’s Health Card programme rose from Rs30 billion to Rs39 billion.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) grilled former First Lady, Bushra Bibi, for over two and a half hours during the investigation of the Toshakhana case.
Bushra Bibi has been accused of keeping a bracelet, earrings, a chain, a pendant and two rings from state gifts while her husband Imran Khan was the Prime Minister. She has also been charged with keeping a watch and gold and diamond jewellery during the same time period, not getting their value assessed fairly or submitting them to the Toshakhana.
Bushra Bibi appeared before NAB Rawalpindi office where a team questioned her for over two and a half hours.
Bushra Bibi is currently on bail in the Toshakhana case, after Judge Abul Hasnat of an accountability court granted her bail in the Toshakhana case till September 12, in exchange of surety bonds worth Rs5 lacs.
A case has been registered against feudal lord, Ali Raza Arain by the Model Town police in Burewala, Punjab, for raping his maid for several months, then forcing her to get an abortion when she got pregnant. According to Express Tribune, Arain raped his maid on gunpoint, recording a video of the act. He allegedly continued to rape her for several months, blackmailing her by threatening to upload the video on social media.
In the First Information Report (FIR), the survivor said she got pregnant after several months of repeated sexual torture. She was then forced to get an abortion. The survivor filed a case with the Model Town police after which an FIR was registered against Arain.
The news follows a string of cases of househelpers being abused and tortured by their employees. On July 25, Rizwana, a child domestic helper was beaten by Somia Asim, the wife of a civil judge. In her official statement given to the police on August 18, the survivor recounted how she was beaten with sticks, iron rods and other objects.
In Sindh, the case of a 10-year-old domestic maid, Fatima, grabbed headlines when the child was found dead at the home of a spiritual pir. An autopsy conducted after exhumation of the child’s body showed extensive proof of rape and beatings. Pir Asad Ali Shah, the main suspect, remains in police custody.
Bollywood legend Saira Banu joined Instagram on July 7, where she has since shared some memories of her relationship with the late icon Dilip Kumar, who passed away in 2021 after a prolonged illness. The veteran actor, who starred in films like ‘Padosan’, ‘Junglee’ and ‘Shaadi’, shared a wholesome story, one in which she proposed to her thespian husband.
In a lengthy caption on her Instagram account, the actress said that during the shoot of ‘Shagird’, she approached the late director Nazir Hussain and cheekily requested him to ask Dilip Sahab to work with her, or marry Saira.
“I turned to Nazir Sahab and with a mischievous smile on my face asked him for a favour! ‘You are working with Dilip Sahab, Oh! you are so lucky enough to be working with Dilip Sahab, please request him that Saira is dying to work with him and if he doesn’t do this then ask him to marry me!’.”
Nazir Hussain was at first dumb struck, Bano wrote, but then began laughing. He later travelled to Madras to relay Saira’s request to the late icon.
“Dilip Sahab,” wrote the ‘Padosan’ actress.”I am told gracefully smiled and acknowledged my cheeky message, to probably cover his embarrassment—-although I think you could have knocked him down with a feather!”
When the shoot for the song ‘Kanha’ was finished, Dillip visited her mother and grandmother and asked them for her hand in marriage.
After extensive negotiations prompted by widespread protests against soaring electricity bills, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reportedly granted approval to a relief proposal targeting consumers with monthly electricity consumption of up to 200 units, allowing authorities to implement an installment-based billing system, according to sources cited by Geo News.
Sources indicated that the final authorisation for implementing the installment billing system will require approval from the federal cabinet.
Approximately 4 million electricity consumers are expected to benefit temporarily from this initiative.
Regrettably, the interim government’s proposal to extend relief to consumers using up to 400 units of electricity per month was rejected by the IMF. This decision means that approximately 32 million consumers would have benefited if the proposal had been accepted.
Additionally, sources disclosed that the IMF stressed the importance of combating electricity and gas theft while also focusing on improving revenue collection.
Furthermore, the sources revealed that the IMF had requested an increase of 45 to 50 per cent in gas tariffs, effective from July 1. However, the approval of this tariff hike remains contingent upon federal cabinet approval.
In response to persistent protests by citizens and traders who have taken to the streets to denounce the steep increases in power bills and additional taxes, the caretaker government led by Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar in Islamabad has been actively engaging with the IMF to secure immediate relief for electricity consumers in the economically challenged nation, where the populace is grappling with soaring inflation.
It is crucial to note that Pakistan is currently operating under an IMF programme, making any relief or subsidy subject to IMF approval.
Social media users were over joyed when after seven long years, Korean stars Gong Yoo and Lee Dong-Wook reunited in a commercial for SK Enmove. The duo, who are known to be good friends and have publicly supported each other’s projects, rocked to stardom with their 2016 drama ‘Goblin’, one of the best K-dramas to come out so far. Gong Yoo plays the immortal guardian Kim Shin and Lee plays the Grim Reaper Wang Yeo, who agrees to help him.
The Korean heart-throbs broke social media a few days ago when they hinted at the collaboration with a polaroid shared on their Instagram accounts.
We have to agree with fans that after falling in love with ‘Goblin’, this was truly a treat to witness.
gong yoo and lee dong wook smiling and giggling at each other was not in my 2023 bingo card but i accept this wholeheartedly i love them so mcuh pic.twitter.com/b5982f0GSG
The official Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) handle recently confirmed that the news circulating on various social media platforms regarding the ban of Rs5,000 banknotes is fake.
In a recent post, MoIB stated, “Disseminating #FakeNews is not only unethical and illegal but it is also disservice to the nation. It is the responsibility of everyone to reject irresponsible behavior.”
Disseminating #FakeNews is not only unethical and illegal but it is also disservice to the nation. It is the responsibility of everyone to reject irresponsible behavior. Reject #FakeNewspic.twitter.com/bfrLn0b2Io
The fake letter circulating on social media falsely claims, “Effective Date: The ban on Rs5,000 currency notes will take effect on September 30, 2023. From this date onwards, these notes will no longer be legal tender.
Exchange and Deposit: Citizens and financial institutions are encouraged to exchange or deposit their Rs 5000 notes at authorized banks and financial institutions until the specified deadline. After September 30, 2023, the notes will only be accepted at designated government offices and central banks.”
This is not the first time such news has gone viral on social media regarding the discontinuation of Rs5,000 notes. Similar false reports have surfaced in the past, and reputable news channels have later clarified that no such action is being taken.
Is ‘Aurat Card’ even a thing now? Apparently actor Humaima Malick claims it is, implying that it helps women get away with causing trouble.
The wife of the late controversial television host Amir Liaquat, Bushra Iqbal, was a guest on a recent podcast where she addressed her husband’s leaked video scandal. Bushra said that honour is not just important for a woman, but for a man as well.
“Honour is not just a woman’s. A man has honour as well. Had this happened to a woman, the entire country would have been out on the street, burning things. But a woman had done this. Men and women are kept equal. God has not kept the level of punishment different in the Quran.”
The videos were allegedly leaked by the late television host’s third wife Dania Shah, who claimed in May 2022 that she was several beaten and forced to make sexual videos to send to people abroad.
In the videos, Amir Liaquat could be seen in a compromising state, unclothed as he walks around a room.
Dania Shah was arrested from her home in December 2022, and later released in 2023 after her lawyer argued that the phone number that had leaked the videos did not belong to the woman.
Actress Humaima Malick has backed Bushra Iqbal’s comment by sharing the clip where the widow speaks about honor, and in the caption of her Instagram stories she wrote: “Waqai Aurat Card is too easy, a man is also a human being.”
We are completely in favor of Bushra Iqbal’s views that no person, whether man or a woman, should be publicly humiliated with their personal videos but Humaima Malick trying to claim that this only happened because the ‘Aurat Card’ exists is extremely disappointing, and proof of how easily women are bunched up in a whole as culprits to blame for the actions of a single person.
There is no proof that the person responsible for the video leak was a woman. If the ‘Aurat Card’ did exist then more women, like Humaima Malick’s brother’s ex-wife Syeda Aliza, could have benefitted from such a thing as ‘Aurat Card’, because then she wouldn’t have had to suffer from domestic violence during her marriage to Feroze Khan, Humaima’s brother.
For an actor to publicly claim the ‘Aurat Card’ exists in a country like Pakistan, where more women are beaten, tortured by family members and very few cases are brought to the light, proves how little it takes to side against all women. Nothing is done for those who are consistently clamoring for justice. It’s incredibly dissapointing to witness such a sexist mindset among women.
Sajal Aly is by far one of the best actors the Pakistani entertainment industry has ever produced. Her older dramas still garner praise from people who are just now getting to see the actor’s filmography. Recently, an X user responded to a tweet quoting a powerful paragraph from Trevor Noah’s book ‘Born A Crime’ where his mother talks about how men love breaking down women and molding them to their tastes, by sharing a clip from Aly’s old drama ‘Rangreza’.
In the clip, Sajal’s character is seen shutting down her father, tired of him mistreating her mother all these years. The video has received praise from social media, with people blown away by the powerful monologue, some of them stating that they had underestimated the actress for so long.
Pakistani dramas rare depict daughters who refuse to go down the sati savitri trope, standing up to their abusive dads to let him know that their misbehavior is not acceptable. Social media users were enthralled by Sajal’s powerful performance.
I love the type of roles Sajal Ali has taken on recently. Full unapologetic, powerful roles. She’s kinda taken over the baton from Saba Qamar https://t.co/92n7EKb6TS
Every time I see @Iamsajalali act, I RISE in love of her freakishly exceptional craft once again. She is a generational talent, only one of her like, matchless, flawless & impregnable. She is here to conquer to world ❤️#SajalAlyhttps://t.co/3s5B04uIGx
Never getting over this performance of Sajal’s. Everytime I come across a scene of hers from O Rangreza, I’m left in awe. Sassi is and will always be a . One of my all time favorite characters. https://t.co/VYMZ9dz2SQ
