Author: newsdesk

  • President Alvi wants elections in November

    President Alvi wants elections in November

    President Arif Alvi will likely defy the opinion of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the law ministry as he is reportedly contemplating announcing the date for the next general elections, sources familiar with the development have said, reported Kamran Yousaf for The Express Tribune.

    It is expected that the president will write another letter to the ECP, suggesting a date in November for the elections. The sources said that President Alvi was in conversation with his legal team and was advised that an act of parliament could not override the provisions of the Constitution and that parliament might have amended the Election Act 2017 but the Constitution was clear that polls would have to take place within 90 days.

    “Based on that opinion, the president will communicate the election date to the Election Commission soon,” a source revealed.

    Previously, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja decided that he would not meet President Dr. Arif Alvi for a discussion on fixing the date for the general elections. After a recent amendment to existing laws, fixing the date for the election is at the discretion of the ECP.

    The CEC called a meeting of the commission last week to talk to its members about the matter of fixing the date before taking a formal position. It is not the ECP’s responsibility, according to the law, to consult with the president on this matter. “The law is very clear about it. The President has cited the wrong article for this purpose.”

    Alvi had invited Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, for a meeting on August 23 or 24, to fix an appropriate date for holding the general elections.

  • Bride and groom leave their wedding ceremony to meet Babar Azam

    Bride and groom leave their wedding ceremony to meet Babar Azam

    Every cricket fan worth their salt would go crazy at the opportunity to meet their favorite player, even if they are in the middle of their own wedding.

    A bride and groom reached the National Stadium in Multan to meet Pakistan’s ace batsman Babar Azam.

    A video of the two is going viral on social media in which the bride, wearing a lehnga, and the groom, wearing a Sherwani, reached the stadium along with their relatives.

    The couple stood outside the stadium to meet Babar Azam but unfortunately their wish did not come true.
    We hope Babar takes time out to visit them soon.

  • Mansha Pasha, Saboor Aly, Komal Aziz condemn attack on makeup artist Bryan

    Mansha Pasha, Saboor Aly, Komal Aziz condemn attack on makeup artist Bryan

    Prominent models like Mushk Kaleem, Javeriya Hanif have called out Robina Khan for the assault by her husband on Nabila Salon makeup artist Bryan William, after he refused to carry her personal belongings while she was busy with the shoot. The makeup artist released a statement on his official Instagram account, saying he had been dragged from the second floor to the ground floor by four to five armed gunmen, and was beaten by the model’s husband without even having a conversation about what had happened.

    Nabila Salon also condemned the incident on their official account, stating that they would only work with professionals who value the safety and importance of their makeup artists.

    Now, other actresses have also stepped forward to condemn the attack and defend Bryan William for simply doing his job. Actress Mansha Pasha took to Instagram to share that she had worked with the makeup artist on many occasions, and was shocked by the display of “blatant gundaghardi”.

    “It horrifies me to think that someone would think themselves so superior that they would resort to violence. No matter what the disagreement: that is just blatant ghundaghardi and there is no place for it in our work.”

    The ‘Idiot’ actress then went on to share the statement Robina Khan gave in defence of her attack, and slammed her excuse:

    “You just proved him right by your actions. Mother wife whatever is not excuse for any of this.”

    Actress Saboor Aly also came to the defence of Bryan William by resharing his statement on her social media account, sharing her grief over the brutal violence inflicted on the makeup artist:

    “There’s no justification for physical or verbal abuse. I’m so sorry you went through this. Just know you’re Amazing, my favorite and I love you so much.”

    Actress Komal Shah shared a picture of Robina’s husband, Mujtaba Shah, who had beaten the makeup artist.  “Another day in Pakistan where ‘rich men’ with daddy’s money think they can do whatever the hell they want,” she wrote.

  • Election Commission adamant about ensuring timely elections

    Election Commission adamant about ensuring timely elections

    After completing consultations with political parties, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday announced that the delimitation process will be finalised by November 30. 

    A statement issued by the electoral body said the purpose of reducing the duration of the delimitation process is to ensure elections are held as early as possible.

    The ECP also said that a date for the elections will also be announced keeping in view the schedule for the delimitation process, adding that the date was announced after deliberation with the parties. 

    A day earlier, the Election Commission said that polls would be held by mid-February at the most or by January end if the delimitation of constituencies is completed earlier. 

    The Election Commission has held consultations with political parties including Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Muttahida Qoumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Jamiat Ulema Islam-Faiz (JUI-F) and others regarding the road map to general elections. 

    On August 17, the ECP announced the schedule of new delimitations to be carried out as per the new census approved by the Council of Common Interest (CCI) last month. 

    According to the schedule, the new delimitation of the constituencies was expected to be completed in December. However, the date has now been shortened to November. 

    Earlier, the ECP schedule had shown that the fresh delimitation would take nearly four months. 

    Last month, the CCI meeting chaired by then-prime minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the final results of the 7th Population and Housing Census 2023 reporting the country’s population at 241.49 million with a growth rate of 2.55%.

    The CCI approval made it constitutionally mandatory for the ECP to hold elections following fresh delimitations in the light of the results of the 7th census.

    According to Article 51 (5) of the Constitution, the seats of the National Assembly to each province and the federal capital shall be allocated on the basis of population in accordance with the last preceding census officially published.

  • Parvez Elahi arrested again hours after being set free

    Parvez Elahi arrested again hours after being set free

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf President and former Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi has been arrested again after his brief release today.

    Islamabad Police arrested Chaudhry Parvez Elahi from Canal Road in Lahore, leaving with him for the federal capital. Earlier today, the Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to release Parvez Elahi, after the accountability watchdog’s decision to arrest the former chief minister of Punjab was challenged in court through a petition.

    After Elahi was brought before the court, LHC Justice Amjad Rafiq announced the decision, telling NAB at the hearing today that if Elahi is not produced today, the court will issue a warrant against the director-general of the accountability body.

    On the NAB prosecutor’s reply, Justice Amjad Rafiq said that there will be a complete inquiry, ordering Parvez Elahi’s immediate release.

    It should be noted that when Parvez Elahi first filed an application in the Lahore High Court, the court granted him bail in all cases. But against the decision of the single bench of the court, the Punjab government filed an appeal before a two-member bench, which suspended the decision of the single-member bench.

  • Advanced bag search machine installed at Karachi Airport

    Advanced bag search machine installed at Karachi Airport

    An advanced bag search machine has been installed at Karachi Airport. The installation of the machine was inaugurated by British high commissioner Jane Marriott.

    DGCA Khaqaan Murtaza and senior officials of Karachi Airport ASF were also present. Thr machine will additional security on flights to the UK and the rest of the world.

    Read More: Petrol price increased to historic high of Rs305.36 per litre

    The same machine will be installed at Lahore airport after Karachi. “This machine has been installed at the price of 60 million,” said the British High Commissioner.

  • Pakistan extradites man to Italy for daughter’s murder

    Pakistan extradites man to Italy for daughter’s murder

    A Pakistani-Italian man wanted for murdering his daughter has been arrested from his native village in Pakistan and extradited to Italy for trial.

    Geo reports that according to the Italian justice minister, Shabbar Abbas was arrested in November 2022 on suspicion of killing his 18-year-old daughter, Saman Abbas.

    Saman went missing in April 2021 after she refused to travel to Pakistan for an arranged marriage.

    The father’s arrest is considered as a “step forward to allow justice to run its full course after a horrific crime” , says Carlo Nordio, the Italian justice minister, in a statement.

    According to Geo News, teenage Saman was identified by dental records after human remains were found near her family home in the northern Italian town of Novellara more than a year after her disappearance.

    Prosecutors suspect Saman having a boyfriend angered her parents.

    They further allege she was killed when she visited her home to collect some documents after living nearby under the care of social services.

    The father, however, denies the murdering his daughter. Her uncle has also been extradited from France for the trial, along with two of her cousins.

  • PM Kakar nahi jantay kisko mil rahi hai muft bijli?

    PM Kakar nahi jantay kisko mil rahi hai muft bijli?

    Interim Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar recently gave a statement that only Wapda’s employees, including retired ones, get free electricity and there is no such facility available for anyone else including judges. This statement is factually incorrect.

    Truth is that not only utility bills (including electricity bills) of the serving judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are paid by the government, but the retired ones also get free electricity of up to 2000 units a month in case of an ex-SC judge and 800 units a month in case of a former high court judge, as per Ansar Abbasi’s report for Geo news.

    Not only this, the president and prime minister also enjoy free utilities including free electricity without any limits but in the case of the ex-president, he is provided 2000 units a month of electricity at the cost of taxpayers’ money.

    President’s Salary, Allowance and Privileges Act, 1975 as amended in 2018 says in Section 7 that the actual charges for electricity and gas consumption shall be paid in each year to the president. After retirement, the president also gets gas to the extent of monthly consumption of 10 HM3 and water, all paid by taxpayers.

    Chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) also enjoys similar facilities as those of a Supreme Court judge, including free electricity. There is no confirmation of what the prime minister has claimed about services’ chiefs.

    In October 2020, Justice Faez Isa and his wife released income tax and asset details in which it was clearly written that post-retirement benefits of a Supreme Court judge include 2000 units of electricity, 25 HM of gas, water and 300 litres of petrol per month.

    High Court Judges (Leave, pension, privileges) order 1997 not only talks about the payment by government for provision of electricity gas and water but also says in Section 28 that a judge on retirement and after his death, the spouse shall be entitled to certain benefits including 800 units of electricity per month as well as 25 HM3 of gas per month.

    All those quasi-judicial public offices including the offices of NAB chairman, federal ombudsman etc where retired judges, or retired civil servants are appointed, the residence utility bills are also paid from the public funds.

    According to a NAB document, “i) Chairman NAB shall be entitled without payment of rent to the use of a residence provided by the Government throughout his term of office maintained at Government expenses with all utilities to be paid on actual basis by the Government. ii) In case of non-availability of Government accommodation or the Chairman chooses to reside in a private residence, the expenses on maintenance and all utilities as per actual, will be paid by the Government, in addition to house rent allowance.”

  • Suspects granted bail in yet another housemaid torture case

    Suspects granted bail in yet another housemaid torture case

    A Rawalpindi court has granted bail to a husband and wife on Thursday, both of whom were charged with torturing their minor housemaid. The father of the eight-year-old told the judge that the case was filed over a “misunderstanding.”

    The couple, Bakhtawar and Alisher, were arrested after the child maid escaped their house and informed her family about the beating. According to The Express Tribune, the case registered by police included sections pertaining to cruelty to children and uprooting hair, attempted murder, illegal confinement and trafficking not included.

    However, on Thursday, when the accused appeared before Judge Meharun Nisa, a document of a ‘compromise’ between the two parties was also presented. It contained the thumb impression of the complainant, a labourer from Rahim Yar Khan.

    Additionally, the investigation officer (IO) presented a statement of the girl’s father who no longer wants to pursue the case.

    The Express Tribune reports that the girl and her father appeared in the court teary-eyed. The girl’s head was covered in a dupatta.

    The court concluded the case with the release of the couple against surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each.

    Victim under pressure

    Initially, before the arrest, the girl’s family admitted that she had been repeatedly tortured. Her medical reports also revealed bruises, dislocations and fractures.

    The couple allegedly even tried killing her by placing a polythene bag on the girl’s face.

    However, the family back tracking within the span of 24 hours of the couple’s arrest indicates pressure from the accused as well as the family.

    The Express Tribune highlights that according to sources within the police department, the accused bribed the Investigation Officer who then deemed the argument as weak. Additionally, the IO pressured the complainant ‘in a sweet way’ while also threatening him with arrest for letting his under-age daughter work.

    He also urged for an out-of-court settlement.

    He stated in the court that the case was based on a misunderstanding, and that the family no longer wanted to pursue the case.

    According to people present in the courtroom, as reported by The Express Tribune, the father clutched his daughter’s hand throughout the proceedings. “Now I am going back to Rahim Yar Khan with my daughter and we are never coming back,” he told The Express Tribune.

    The accused and the investigating officer, reportedly, came out of the court smiling.