Author: newsdesk

  • Supreme Court seeks record of housing scheme linked to Gen Faiz Hameed

    Supreme Court seeks record of housing scheme linked to Gen Faiz Hameed

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan has instructed Capital Development Authority (CDA) to provide a complete record of the illegal ‘Northridge Housing Society’ in the C-12 sector of Islamabad.

    The society, which infringes on the Margalla Hills National Park, is allegedly linked to former spymaster Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed, Dawn News reported.

    During the hearing of the contempt of court petition for violating the Supreme Court June 11 order, Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) counsel Barrister Umer Ijaz Gillani told the court, “As per my client’s instructions, the owner of the society has a very close relationship with Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed.”

    The apex court’s June 11 verdict ordered the relocation of the restaurants from the National Park in Islamabad, including Monal, within three months.

    Barrister Gillani cleared that he couldn’t prove the ownership as he didn’t have any documents.

    A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa ordered the CDA and Chief Commissioner to prepare the complete ownership record of the housing society.

  • ‘I haven’t quit acting’: Yashma Gill on Zakir Naik misunderstanding

    ‘I haven’t quit acting’: Yashma Gill on Zakir Naik misunderstanding

    Actress Yashma Gill recently addressed a misunderstanding involving Islamic scholar Zakir Naik and his presumption that she had left the entertainment industry.

    A gathering was held at the Governor House in Sindh, Karachi, on October 5, attended by many people, including Yashma Gill. During a Q&A session with Dr. Zakir Naik, who is currently visiting Pakistan, she shared that, “I had once drifted away from my faith but later returned to religion after listening to Dr. Naik’s statements and watching his videos.”

    Yashma Gill asked Dr. Zakir Naik, “When Allah has already written a person’s destiny, what control does a human have? If someone is doing right or wrong, who is responsible for it, since we believe that destiny is preordained, like a thief who steals?”

    In response, Dr Naik said, “Our sister says she was previously an actress and later became religious after listening to my statements. I congratulate you for returning to the right path from the film industry. It is difficult to leave the media’s trap, but Allah is guiding many people.”

    After the video of the event went viral, Yashma posted an Instagram story clarifying the situation. She wrote, “Last night, I had the opportunity to ask Dr. Zakir Naik a question, and I feel fortunate. I probably didn’t express myself properly due to the mic cutting out frequently and the noise from the crowd, which led to the misunderstanding that I had quit the entertainment industry.”

    She explained, “To clarify, I am still a part of the industry and continue to work as an actress. If you watch the video from the beginning, you’ll understand. I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I am trying to maintain a balance between my religion and career. I deeply value Zakir Naik’s thoughts, as he played a role in bringing me closer to my faith.”

    She added, “I apologize if my words hurt anyone’s feelings.”

    Later, Yashma posted another story addressing those asking why she didn’t correct Dr. Zakir Naik immediately. She wrote, “To those questioning why I didn’t correct Dr. Naik at that moment, my answer is that it would have been highly disrespectful to interrupt him.”

  • Dr. Zakir Naik criticised for complaining about PIA’s overweight charges

    Dr. Zakir Naik criticised for complaining about PIA’s overweight charges

    Religious scholar Dr Zakir Naik faced backlash over his statement regarding the complaint to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for not loading his overweight stuff “free” on the plane on his way to Pakistan from Malaysia.

    Speaking from the Governor House in Karachi, he was offended by recalling his tour to Pakistan and stated that the PIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) offered his a 50 per cent discount on his overloaded 500 KG baggage and questioned the Pakistan hospitality.

    He further said, “If I were in an Indian airport, they would even let me load 1000 KG of baggage free in the plane,” and confirmed he never paid overweight at an Indian airport.”

    Lambasting Pakistan authority, Zakir Naik stated, “I am a state guest in Pakistan, but my extra luggage was not loaded free.”

    Social media users Criticised Dr Zakir Naik over his complaint to PIA.

    One user wrote, “Enough of hospitality; serve Dr Sahab some food and say goodbye to him.”

    Another user wrote, “Clerics has lost his mind.”

  • Exchange rates: PKR gains 12 paisa against US dollar, Rs1.5 versus British Pound

    Exchange rates: PKR gains 12 paisa against US dollar, Rs1.5 versus British Pound

    The Pakistani rupee (PKR), on first trading day of the week, registered a marginal fall against the US dollar (USD).

    According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the PKR dropped 0.04 per cent or 12 paisa in the inter-bank market and closed Monday’s trading session at Rs277.64 against the USD.

    The currency market now seems a little stablised after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the fresh bailout programme and released the first tranche of around $1.1 billion.

    Globally, the US dollar extended a rally sparked by Friday’s strong US jobs data and an escalation in the Middle East conflict.

    During  the day, the PKR saw an intraday high of Rs277.75 and a low of Rs277.65.

    In the open market, exchange companies were buying the greenback for Rs278.25 and selling it for Rs279.84.

    This financial year, PKR has climbed by 69.89 paisa or 0.25 per cent against the USD. While the current calendar year has seen rupee gain 1.52 per cent or Rs4.22.

    Here is how the PKR performed today against other major foreign currencies:

    Currency Difference Today’s rate Previous rate
    British Pound 1.5 rupees 363.89 365.39
    Euro 1.47 rupees 304.48 305.95
    Japanese Yen 2.23 paisa 1.8727 1.895
    Swiss Franc 1.87 rupees 323.69 325.55
    UAE Dirham 3.18 paisa 75.55 75.59
    Chinese Yuan 1.77 paisa 39.56 39.54
    Saudi Riyal 4.3 paisa 73.92 73.88

    The British Pound dropped by Rs1.5, closing at Rs363.89 compared to last closing rate of Rs365.39.

    PKR gained Rs1.47 against the Euro and closed at Rs304.48 as compared to the Friday’s rate of Rs305.95.

    The Swiss franc dropped by Rs1.87, closing at Rs323.69.

    Against the Japanese Yen, PKR gained 2.23 paisa, closing at Rs1.8727.

    The Saudi Riyal closed at Rs73.92 with a gain of 4.3 paisa from its previous value of 73.88.

    The Chinese Yuan gained 1.77 paisa, closing at Rs39.56 against Rs39.54 from the previous session.

    The UAE Dirham gained 3.18 paisa from Rs75.59 a day ago to Rs75.55.

  • PTI turns against poet Ahmad Farhad for calling leadership ‘cowards’

    PTI turns against poet Ahmad Farhad for calling leadership ‘cowards’

    Poet Ahmad Farhad faced backlash from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and supporters after he criticised party heads for their absence during the Islamabad protests.

    Farhad has previously been vocal in favour of PTI and has written poetry for the party.

    Vehemently criticisingly PTI leadership on Sunday in an interview with journalist Ikram Raja, Farhad said, “PTI leadership are cowards, compromised. Not a single leader is present at D Chowk.”

    He said that protestors reached Islamabad D Chowk despite facing rubber bullets, baton charges, and tear gas shells, but PTI leadership disappointed them, adding, “lanat hu lanat hu lanat hu PTI leadership par.”

    Farhad’s statements led to PTI workers fiercely opposing him.

    He took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote that PTI leadership remained out of sight during protests but advised their followers to approach D Chowk; he added that PTI was an establishment puppet during their reign and now they are missing democracy and claiming their protests are revolutions.

    During a Twitter space hosted by Salman Khan, Salman Ahmad misbehaved with poet Ahmad Farhad.

    Farhad questioned the Chief Minister (CM) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) sudden disappearance from the Islamabad protests; Salman furiously answered, “Farhad is a puppet of the establishment,” and asked the poet to leave the space.

    Ahmad Farhad replied, “Salman Ahmad, you are an illiterate man.”

    Farhad wrote on X (formerly Twitter) “In Twitter space, it was not Salman Ahmad, the singer of the Junoon band, who misbehaved me but someone else who was out of his mind; please correct.”

  • Is Justin Bieber showing support for Gaza with his new look?

    Is Justin Bieber showing support for Gaza with his new look?

    Last year, global superstar Justin Bieber shared a post showing his support for Israel, but accidentally shared a photo of the destruction in Gaza. When netizens pointed out his mistake, he deleted his post.

    The Beauty and a Beat singer posted the picture on his Instagram story with the caption, ‘Praying for Israel’ just a day after the attack on October 7, 2023.

    However, just three days ago, Justin was spotted wearing a red-and-white keffiyeh, a symbol of Palestinian solidarity, while driving in Los Angeles.

    Since October 07 2023, over 41,000 people in Gaza have lost their lives and more than 96,000 have been injured in attacks.

  • PTI supporters are furious at Ali Amin Gandapur

    PTI supporters are furious at Ali Amin Gandapur

    The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, surprised everyone, including his party supporters, by making a sudden appearance on October 6 in the KP Assembly after he went incommunicado the previous day in Islamabad.

    PTI supporters on social media are enraged at party leaders, including Gandapur, for allegedly abandoning protestors on the streets.

    Gandapur was welcomed by a cheering crowd of MPAs and went on to narrate a mysterious tale.

    According to YouTuber Imran Riaz, Gandapur told him, “I hid in the KP House when the Rangers and Police attacked the building. A man (official) guided me to hide on the roof of a police vehicle, upon which I stayed for several hours.”

    Gandapur further told Riaz, “The man came again and told me to change location because another search operation would take place, so he instructed me to hide on another police vehicle’s roof, which was higher. It was nighttime by now.”

    “After the rain came to an end, I changed my clothes and started trekking through Trail 3 on Margalla Hills and reached Monal. I crossed over Margalla Hill, where the KP region begins, and stopped a car for a lift,” Gandapur told Riaz.

    According to Riaz, Ali Amin Gandapur travelled in a car from Haripur to Abbottabad, then towards Shangla to Swat Motorway and then crossing Mardan, he reached Kernel Sher Khan Interchange and went, despite all odds, to Peshawar.

    He then reached the KP Assembly, where he delivered his speech, but the majority of PTI supporters remained unconvinced and angry.

    One PTI supporter took to X, formerly Twitter, to write: “If all the TV channels are covering Ali Amin Ganapur’s speech right now, then it is evidence enough that He isn’t speaking for the general public but for the Generals instead!”

  • Fawad Khan returns to Bollywood opposite Vaani Kapoor in ‘Abir Gulaal’

    Fawad Khan returns to Bollywood opposite Vaani Kapoor in ‘Abir Gulaal’

     
    The wait is over for Bollywood cinema fans as heartthrob Fawad Khan is set to make his highly anticipated comeback, starring opposite Vaani Kapoor in a new film tilted ‘Abir Gulaal.’
     
    The film is directed by Aarti S. Bagdi and produced by Indian stories, A Richer Lens and Aarjay Pictures. The producers of the film are Vivek B Agarawal, Avantika Hari and Rakesh Sippy.
     
    The shooting of the film will take place in London in October and November.
     
    According to Variety, director Bagdi has said, “The film explores the journey of two individuals who unintentionally help each other heal, with love blossoming as an unexpected consequence.”
     
     
    Fawad Khan starred in Bollywood films ‘Khoobsurat’ (2014), ‘Kapoor & Sons’ (2016), and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016).

  • Mian Mansha says King Charles wants to visit Pakistan

    Mian Mansha says King Charles wants to visit Pakistan

    Pakistani billionaire and owner of Nishat Group, Mian Mansha, has told Murtaza Ali Shah that King Charles III of Britain wants to visit Pakistan.

    Mian Mansha and his wife Naz Saigol met King Charles at a reception held at St. James’s Palace before the Commonwealth Heads of State meeting.

    After the reception, the industrialist told Geo News in an exclusive interview that the members of the royal family are also aware of the problems that Pakistan is facing and that British King Charles wants to visit Pakistan. “I had a very good meeting with The King. I have met him before as well. I met The King in my capacity as the head of the British Asian Trust- Pakistan Chapter. The King always talks about Pakistan in a very positive and welcoming way. The King told me that he wanted to visit Pakistan and that he would. He told me that he spoke to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently. It was a very cordial meeting.

    Whenever I meet him, he speaks highly of Pakistan,” he shared.

    The business tycoon also shed light on other topics he discussed with the King in his capacity of being Chair of the British Asian Trust’s Pakistan Advisory Council, including women empowerment and the launch of the Pakistan Employment Impact Bond by the King’s charity, the British Asian Trust.

  • Kiran Ashfaq celebrates birth of baby girl

    Kiran Ashfaq celebrates birth of baby girl

    Former actress Kiran Ashfaq Hussain Dar, now married to political leader Hamza Ali Chaudhry, has welcomed a baby girl into her family.

    Kiran, who is also the ex-wife of actor Imran Ashraf, shared the happy news on Instagram, revealing that the baby will be named Khadija Ali and that she was born this month.

    Before this, Hamza Ali Chaudhry had already shared the news by posting a picture of himself with his mother and newborn daughter. Kiran has since re-shared several Instagram stories from her family and friends, although the baby’s face was not clearly visible in the posts.

    Fans have been congratulating Kiran on the birth of her daughter.

    Kiran was previously married to Imran Ashraf, who became famous for his role as ‘Bhola.’ The couple, who married in 2018, announced their separation some time ago. Kiran later married Hamza Ali Chaudhry, a lawyer and member of the PPP, in December 2023.