Author: newsdesk

  • Fact check: Islamabad Police confirm elderly protester is safe, debunking suicide rumours

    Fact check: Islamabad Police confirm elderly protester is safe, debunking suicide rumours

    In the midst of ongoing nationwide protests against escalating electricity bills, rumours of a tragic incident have emerged, capturing the attention of social media users and news outlets alike. A post that quickly gained traction depicted an elderly man, purportedly driven to despair by soaring electricity prices, who tragically took his own life by jumping off a bridge in Rawalpindi.

    The accompanying image showed the man lying on the road, an electricity bill resting on his chest. However, an investigation by the Islamabad Police has since confirmed that these claims are false.

    The viral post elicited an outpouring of sympathy and concern from prominent social media figures and digital news platforms, who shared the purported tragedy with deep sadness. However, as the post gained momentum, it also caught the attention of the Islamabad Police. Responding to the viral news, the authorities swiftly addressed the situation, clarifying that the incident as portrayed never occurred.

    In an official statement, the Islamabad Police stated, “The case of an elderly citizen jumping from a bridge has been circulating on social media. However, there is no truth to this news. While the elderly citizen did fall during the protest, he later safely returned home. Videos of this incident went viral among citizens on social media platforms. It’s important for citizens to refrain from disseminating such false information and instead report any suspicious activities by calling 15.”

    This incident serves as a reminder of the critical role that accurate information plays in shaping public perception and understanding of events. As protests continue to unfold across Pakistan, staying vigilant against the spread of unverified news is paramount to upholding the integrity of the ongoing discourse.

    Read more: Taxes in your electricity bill: What Pakistanis are paying and what for?

    It is crucial for both individuals and media outlets to exercise responsible reporting, ensuring that the facts are presented accurately and without distortion.

  • Jaranwala and Sargodha incidents were a foreign conspiracy: IG Punajb

    Jaranwala and Sargodha incidents were a foreign conspiracy: IG Punajb

    Inspector General Police, Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar has claimed that no incident like Jaranwala and Sargodha will happen in Punjab again, asserting that the police have “broken the network” of a foreign intelligence agency and the two incidents were “a conspiracy against Pakistan”.

    Punjab Police has uploaded a 4-minute long video on X (formerly Twitter) in which Dr. Usman Anwar explains in detail what led to the two gruesome incidents. He is apparently referring to human rights organisations.

    He pointed out that Christian women were treated badly in the neighbouring country and as a result, a resolution was presented in the European Union condemning the atrocities on Muslims and Christians. Concerns were also raised in North America.

    This was followed by a series of strange incidents like the Jaranwala tragedy and then the desecration of the Holy Quran and conspiracy to harm the minority communities by inciting people started taking place — all to divert the world’s attention.

    “We need to understand this conspiracy and thwart it. More than 2500 police personnel in plain clothes have been deployed to suppress the evil elements, and such elements will be dealt with iron hands.”

    He also added: “We will not let pakistan become a scapegoat for the great injustice that was done across the border”
    IG Punjab has not named any country or intelligence agency as of yet but he assures he will “not let attention be diverted from the rapes and deaths and human rights violations” in Pakistan.

  • Massive ancient forest discovered 630 feet down sinkhole in China

    A recent scientific expedition ushered in the discovery of an ancient hidden forest located within a sinkhole in China.

    The secret forest is located more than 600 feet inside a sinkhole that is situated within karst bedrock near a village in Leye County, Guangxi Zhuang.

    The sinkhole is apparently one of at least 30 in the country. The researcher found three different cave entrances on May 6.

    The sinkhole is 492ft (150m) wide and has a volume of more than five million cubic metres. While the entire network of caverns is approximately 1,004ft (306m).

    Zhang Yuanhai, a senior engineer with the Institute of Karst Geology of China Geological Survey, spoke with Xinhua news agency. According to him, the sinkhole contains an incredibly well-preserved and primitive forest with trees stretching as high 130ft (40m) tall.

    https://twitter.com/dw_environment/status/1526934382157520896?s=20

    Chen Lixin, leader of the Guangxi 702 expedition, told Live Science that he “wouldn’t be surprised to know that there are species found in these caves that have never been reported or described by science until now”.

  • Tuesday 11AM to decide Khan’s fate as court to announce the Toshakhana appeal verdict

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will resume hearing today of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s petition seeking suspension of sentence by the trial court in the Toshakhana case.

    A two-member bench, comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, is hearing the case, and in today’s hearing, the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) lawyer Amjad Parvez will give his arguments, as he was not present in the last hearing on Friday because of health reasons.

    On the request of his assistant lawyer, the court postponed the hearing until today (Monday). Due to the lawyer’s unavailability, the court also instructed the electoral authorities to make other arrangements.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) attorney, Latif Khosa, finished his arguments in the last hearing.

    The IHC will announce the verdict tomorrow (Tuesday) at 11am.

    Earlier, Judge Humayun Dilawar sentenced Imran Khan to three years imprisonment and fined him one lakh rupees. According to the judgement, “Charges of misdeclaration of assets have been proven against the PTI chairman.”

  • BCCI president Roger Binny, vice president Rajeev Shukla to visit Pakistan

    BCCI president Roger Binny, vice president Rajeev Shukla to visit Pakistan

    Roger Binny President of BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) will travel to Pakistan as board representative to attend the official PCB’s dinner to memorialize the hosting of the tournament.

    Chairman PCB Zaka Ashraf sent an official invitation to all higher officials of BCCI(Board of Control for Cricket in India) on August 15, with all participating teams including BCCI confirming their attendance.

    After returning from Sri Lanka Binny and Vice President Rajeev Shukla will travel to Pakistan via Wagah Border. After that, they will attend the Pakistan-India fixture in Palle Kele.

    Binny’s confirmation to travel to Pakistan will come at a time when both sides of the border are quarreling on serval matters. The Government of Pakistan ended this uncertainty by giving the clearance to PCB to travel to India for the World Cup 2023.

    Read More: Pakistan’s World Cup 2023 cricket kit unveiled

    It is likely that both members will attend the match on 3 or 5 September in Gaddafi Stadium during their two-day visit.

    Pakistan is hosting the Asia Cup but will be the venue for only four out of 13 matches due to ‘security concerns’ of the Indian team.

    India and Pakistan are placed in the same group as Nepal. Pakistan and India could play a maximum of three games if they met in the finals of Asia Cup 2023.

  • Ban on abayas in state-run schools in France

    The French education minister has imposed a ban on students, prohibiting them from wearing abayas in state-run schools. The ban will be imposed from the next academic year starting September 4.

    France has always prohibited religious manifestations in state schools and government spaces as they “violate secular laws”.

    Ban on abayas has been implemented after months of debate over the attire worn in schools.

    Education Minister Gabriel Attal, while talking to France’s TF1 TV, said: “When you walk into a classroom, you shouldn’t be able to identify the pupils’ religion just by looking at them,

    “I have decided that the abaya could no longer be worn in schools.”

    With an increasing number of students wearing abayas, the political divide has widened as the right-wing parties are pressing for a ban while the left-wing is advocating for the rights of Muslim women and girls.

    “Secularism means the freedom to emancipate oneself through school,” added Attal. He believes that abaya is “a religious gesture, aimed at testing the resistance of the republic toward the secular sanctuary that school must constitute.”

    France implemented a strict ban on religious signs in schools back in the 19th Century which included Christian symbols like large crosses. The purpose was to eliminate any Catholic influence on public education. Now that people from other religions have a significant presence in French society, the laws have been updated and are targeted at the Muslim headscarf and Jewish kippa.

    France first imposed a ban on headscarf in state-run schools in 2004 while full face veils were banned in public in 2010.

  • Pakistan’s World Cup 2023 cricket kit unveiled

    Pakistan’s World Cup 2023 cricket kit unveiled

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled the national cricket team’s ICC World Cup 2023 kit in Lahore today (Monday). The kit is named ‘Star Nation Jersey’, which has a star and Pakistan flag on the chest side.

    Here is the design of Pakistan cricket team’s World Cup 2023 kit:

    Which one is your favourite design from all jerseys that Pakistan cricket team wore for cricket World Cups over the years? Here are the designs of all jerseys:

    You can pre-order the new World Cup 2023 jersey from PCB’s official online store.

    Read More: Arshad Nadeem becomes first Pakistani to win silver medal at World Athletics

    Pakistan’s schedule for the ICC World Cup 2023:

    October 6 – vs Netherlands in Hyderabad

    October 10 – vs Sri Lanka in Hyderabad

    October 14 – vs India in Ahmedabad

    October 20 – vs Australia in Bengaluru

    October 23 – vs Afghanistan in Chennai

    October 27 – vs South Africa in Chennai

    October 31 – vs Bangladesh in Kolkata

    November 4 – vs New Zealand Bengaluru (Day match)

    November 11 – vs England in Kolkata

    The day matches will start at 10:00am Pakistan Standard Time (PST) while all other matches will be day-night fixtures starting at 01:30pm (PST).

  • TV, 29 books, four pillows and so much more: list of things provided to Khan in jail

    TV, 29 books, four pillows and so much more: list of things provided to Khan in jail

    The details of a report submitted to the Supreme Court (SC) regarding the facilities available in Attock Jail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, who was arrested after his conviction in the Toshakhana case, have come to light.

    On the orders of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Atta Bandial, the Attorney General submitted a report to the apex court regarding the facilities provided to the PTI Chairman in jail.

    The report states that Chairman PTI has been kept in the most secure high observation block in Attock Jail and the adjoining barracks of Chairman PTI have also been kept vacant.

    Chairman PTI is kept in a barrack measuring 9 by 11, the wall of the washroom of Chairman PTI is 6 feet high and the size of the washroom is 7 by 4. The walls of Khan’s washroom have also been plastered and distempered. 

    The report states that being a prisoner of a better class, Chairman PTI has also been given the facility of mattress, air cooler, four pillows, a table and a chair. Apart from this, Imran Khan has also been provided with four English translations of the Holy Quran and 25 historical books.

    The Attorney General’s report states that Khan has been provided with a 21-inch TV and a daily newspaper; he is also provided with staff for the check-in barracks, washrooms and cleaning of clothes, and additional 54 officers have been assigned duty in jail for his security.

    The report states that according to the law, the prisoner’s family can meet for two to three hours on Tuesday, while the prisoner’s lawyers can meet for two to three hours on Wednesday. Khan’s wife and lawyers have met him three times. Chairman PTI is examined by a team of five doctors.

    It also states that Imran Khan is served desi chicken cooked in desi ghee on his request and is also provided mutton prepared in desi ghee.

    The PTI chief has been provided better class facilities in jail, the report stated, adding that the suspect has been given all the facilities according to the jail manual, rules and law.

    Imran Khan is allowed to walk in the corridor in front of the jail, as per the report.

  • ‘Bijli k mehngay bills ki handi PDM hakoomat ny pakai’, says Saira Bano

    ‘Bijli k mehngay bills ki handi PDM hakoomat ny pakai’, says Saira Bano

    Senior leader of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Saira Bano, has asked in her video why parties who have been in government for the past 16 months, are calling for protests against high electricity bills, terming the action “incomprehensible”.

    The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government is responsible for inflation as well as the “handi” of high electricity bills, Bano stated.

    She further said in her video that every citizen is facing difficulty paying their electricity bill, stressing that the situation is the same for rich and poor in Pakistan due to inflation.

    On the other hand, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has directed party workers to take part in the protests against exorbitant electricity bills and become the “people’s voice,” Geo News has reported.

    Secretary General (SG) of PPP, Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari, instructed workers on Sunday to protest at the union council and tehsil levels.

    According to Nayyer Bokhari, every citizen of the country is worried about the electricity bill. He further added, ” PPP workers should become the voice of the people and start protesting against inflated electricity tariffs”.

    The protests started across the country because of exorbitant electricity bills, with protesters demanding a reduction in their electricity bills as well as the removal of extra taxes on utility bills. The protesters also mentioned that they would not pay their bills if their demands were not met.

    Earlier, the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) announced on Saturday that it would stage a protest against the exorbitant electricity bills.

    Read More: PM Kakar sets 48-hour deadline for relief plan amid electricity bill protests

    Addressing a seminar in Lahore, JI Ameer Sirajul Haq lashed out at political opponents and the caretaker government, saying, “The caretaker government is following the footsteps of the previous governments in terms of taking wrong decisions for the sake of the country.”

  • Shah Rukh Khan endorses a gaming app and protests erupt outside his home, security increased

    Shah Rukh Khan endorses a gaming app and protests erupt outside his home, security increased

    Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan’s recent endorsements were met with severe backlash from the public, including an NGO which felt the actor was encouraging younger minds to play online games. The actor recently endorsed a gaming app A23, an online platform, for which a commercial was released in which the ‘Pathaan’ actor said “Chalo saath khelein’.

    Protests followed and were led by the NGO Untouch Youth Foundation, which called for celebrities to be held accountable for promoting online gaming apps which could ‘corrupt their minds of the youth of India’. Demonstrations were held outside Mannat house, SRK’s residence, and police officials were deployed in case of security threats.

    In an official statement, the organisation said they were calling for a protest against gaming apps like Zuppee, Jungly Rummy, and called out actors who endorsed these products.

    “Famous actors and actresses work in these advertisements and they are working towards misguiding society. The protest will be held outside Shah Rukh Khan’s Mannat bungalow on behalf of Untouch India Foundation.”

    The president of Untouch India Foundation, Krishchandra Adal, said:

    “The new generation is involved in playing Junglee rummy. If someone is playing Junglee rummy or gambling outside, the police arrest them, but big Bollywood stars promoting online games are misleading the young generation. The Bollywood stars also know it is wrong, but they are getting money so they are promoting them. We make these stars famous by watching their movies and spending our money on them. We demand these advertisements to stop. These apps are illegal, we can not find them on Google, but these apps are uploaded on private websites.”