Author: newsdesk

  • Social media furious at motorways closures, internet slow down

    Social media furious at motorways closures, internet slow down

    Netizens are furious at what they claim is an internet slowdown and motorway closures as Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) prepares for a protest in D Chowk today and tomorrow in Lahore.

    Most of Islamabad’s entrances and exits have been closed with containers.

    Geo News reports that Motorway M1 has also been closed. Metro bus service in Rawalpindi is also suspended while private educational institutions shifted to online classes in the twin cities today.

    The entrance of the red zone have also been closed by placing containers in Faizabad, Sector I-8, IJP Double Road and Margalla Road.

    Containers were also delivered to Murree Road, Islamabad Expressway Sangjani, Sector G-11 Chowk, Golra Mor, 26 No. Chongi Band and Taxila.

    Security has also been put on high alert in Rawalpindi by the administration with 4,000 personnel and officers deployed.

    Metro bus administration says the bus service will remain suspended from Rawalpindi Sadar to IJP Road, while the metro bus will be restored from IJP Road to Pak Secretariat.

    A number of twitter users posted video of nails being spread across the road claiming it was done to halt people from travelling.

    In Lahore, people are facing slow internet. Meanwhile, sources privy to The Current told us that Motorway entrance in Lahore has been closed as well.

    Journalist Aleena Farooq Sheikh posted on Instagram the statement of Mohsin Naqvi, who is seeking an apology from people for any inconvenience and stated that he should seek an apology from all the Pakistanis.

    A user commented that the government has made the country into “Containeristan”.

    Some also expressed their disappointment over the lack of internet and the closure of the motorway.

  • Hania Aamir or Ayeza Khan? Who will be the ‘Perfect Fit’ for Maryam Nawaz’s role?

    Hania Aamir or Ayeza Khan? Who will be the ‘Perfect Fit’ for Maryam Nawaz’s role?

    Everyone has their favorite actors for different roles. Some want actors who can bring the character to life, while others look for someone who resembles the character.
     
    In an episode of Say It All with Iffar Omar, Nadeem Baig talked about who he thinks would be perfect for acting in a political film.
     
    The host asked, “We are making a film on politics, and we are casting our current and past politicians. Now, who will play Mr. Bhutto?”
     
    Nadeem Baig replied, “He had such an enigmatic personality, I am just thinking, which actor has a personality like Bhutto’s. I think if I was casting, I would like to cast late Mohammad Ali because his personality fits.”
     
     Taking about late Shaheed Benazir Bhutto,

     “I would like to cast Mehwish Hayat,”  Baig said.
     
    When asked about who he would cast to play Maryam Nawaz, Baig said, “I would go for Hania Aamir.”
     
    The discussion continued with the host asking about Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s role, and Baig selected Bilal Abbas.
    Talking about Asif Ali Zardari (President of Pakistan), Nadeem Baig said,  “I would like to cast Sajid Hassan maybe.”         
     
     
    Lastly, when the host asked about the role of the current Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shahbaz Sharif, Nadeem said, “Shahbaz Sharif is someone who is very cute and has a fun, childlike vibe. I would probably like to cast someone like Aamir Khan for the role of Shahbaz Sharif because he has that cuteness too.”

  • Islamabad complete seal ho gya, Lahore ma Rangers pohanch gai

    Islamabad complete seal ho gya, Lahore ma Rangers pohanch gai

    As Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) prepares for what it has said will be peaceful protests in Islamabad, the federal capital has been entirely sealed off, including major roads.

    The local administration of Islamabad has imposed section 144 while mobile phone services have been suspended in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, and all link roads have also been blocked. Security is on high alert, and double-layer containers have been put on the Faizabad bridge, Geo News reported.

    Barbed wires have been placed at D Chowk Islamabad, and additional police and rangers have also been deployed; Capital police have arrested three individuals from D Chowk till now.

    Precariously, the Islamabad expressway has been sealed in various locations. The metro bus in Rawalpindi has also been suspended till further notice. And Motorcycle pillion riding is also banned.

    Punjab Interior Ministry has also imposed section 144 in Rawalpindi, Attock and Sargodha. Rangers have been called in at Lahore, Rawalpindi and Attock.

    A notification issued by the Punjab Interior Ministry stated that three company services of Rangers have been requisitioned for October 5 in Lahore.

    Lahore’s entry points have also been halted with containers including Babu Sabu interchange, Thokar Niaz Baig, and Lahore Sialkot motorway.

  • Netizens react hilariously to Ali Muhammad Khan’s post on 63-A verdict

    Netizens react hilariously to Ali Muhammad Khan’s post on 63-A verdict

    Social media users criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senator Ali Muhammad Khan for a tweet he posted after the Supreme Court’s October 3 decision to withdraw the 2022 verdict on the interpretation of Article 63-A of the constitution.

    In a major relief to the government, the Supreme Court on Thursday accepted a review petition against its 2022 verdict regarding the defection clause under Article 63-A.

    In its 2022 verdict, the SC had ruled that votes of elected members of the parliament that are against the parliamentary party’s decision should not be counted in voting.

    The PTI senator took to X (formerly Twitter), to post, “Horse Trading ”.

    Social media was taken aback at the short post. “Ali Khan sb; I urge you to take action and lead protests instead of focusing on tweets only! You were once looked upto by so many; now your allegiance is being questioned?! Please stand up for the people before people eventually stand up against all!”

    Another PTI-affiliated account commented: “Taqreer ready rakhen janab.”

    One X user quoted his tweet, writing, “Qazi just reversed his decision after this tweet.”

    And one user wrote, “Is say ziada mehnat tu yeh baal straight krnay main lga deta hai.”

  • ‘Bugging device found in bathroom after Netanyahu meeting,’ reveals Boris Johnson

    ‘Bugging device found in bathroom after Netanyahu meeting,’ reveals Boris Johnson

    Former Prime Minister (PM) of Britain Boris Johnson has disclosed that after meeting with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a bugging device was found in his bathroom of the foreign office.

    Boris Johnson wrote in his memoir, “Unleashed”, that in 2017, when he was Britain’s Foreign Secretary, Israel’s PM went to the bathroom after meeting with him; when he came out, the security discovered the listening device which Netanyahu had used during their meeting, The Telegraph reported.

    Johnson further wrote, “Thither Bibi repaired for a while, and it may or may not be a coincidence, but I am told that later when they were doing a regular sweep for bugs, they found a listening device in the thunderbox.”

    The former Tory MP said Mr Netanyahu had excused himself during talks at his old office to use the washroom, described as “a secret annex… a bit like the gents in a posh London club.”

    It should be mentioned here that in 2019 the United States (US) accused Israel of placing cellphone surveillance devices near the White House and other key locations in Washington, DC.

  • Ex-President Dr Arif Alvi’s clinic sealed in Karachi

    Ex-President Dr Arif Alvi’s clinic sealed in Karachi

    A dental clinic operated by former President of Pakistan and PTI leader Dr Arif Alvi was sealed by the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) in Sindhi Muslim Cooperative Housing Society for running a“commercial operation in a residential building”.

    A notice posted on the entrance of the clinic states that “the premise of the subject plot is hereby sealed on account of unauthorized construction.”

    Dawn reports that the SBCA spokesman confirmed the notice calling it a “routine job” from the officials.

    A team led by one of the Sindh Building Control Authority’s assistant directors visited the clinic on Thursday evening, stopped the staff from performing their regular activities, sealed the clinic, and put a notice outside the premises.

    PTI Karachi spokesperson Fauzia Siddiqi termed the SBCA action a “vendetta” against the party from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and its ally in Sindh, the Pakistan Peoples Party.

    PTI’s official account reacted to the news by blaming it on the PPP government: “These fascist moves really show the ugly side of People’s Party’s politics, completely exposing their fake claims of standing for democracy and human rights.

    The former President’s son Awab Alvi took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their side of the story in which he claimed that first, a motorcyclist without a number plate surveyed the area and then a group of people arrived, claiming to be from Sindh Healthcare commission asking to be allowed inspection of the clinic but they left. Eventually, by night a team of “heavy handed thugs arrived” claiming to be from SBCA and sealed the clinic after a heated argument.

    As per Awab, the clinic has been operational since 1992, and if there had been a violation, they could have easily responded to a notice. He termed the decision to be a result of Dr Arif Alvi’s recent aggression in a press conference in Lahore against the “Supreme Court’s shameful judgment on 63-A” and meeting “incarcerated PTI leaders”.

  • Hajra Yamin’s future husband must have one very important quality

    Hajra Yamin’s future husband must have one very important quality

    We all know what we want in a life partner. Some people want a supportive spouse, others want someone who can give them space and many others want someone who can provide for them.

    Hajra Yamin knows what she wants in a life partner and its a vital quality.

    During her appearance on Sohail Javed Podcast, she was asked, “When you look at someone, do you ever think whether they’d make a good father for your children or not?”

    Hajra replied, “No, no I mean, when you look at someone, after some time, this thought definitely crosses my mind, will this person be a suitable father? A good, suitable father a good father, you know this is what crosses my mind now. I guess, I don’t know. But then again, you can’t control timing, and I’m one of those people who is very attached to her own independence and freedom.”

    “One of the questions that goes through my mind is that you’re thinking about a family, I guess. I don’t know. But then again, you can’t control timing, and I’m one of those people who is very attached to her own independence and freedom.”

  • Lucky Ali wants to visit Pakistan

    Lucky Ali wants to visit Pakistan

    Indian singer Lucky Ali, the son of Bollywood’s late comedy maestro Mehmood, wants to visit Pakistan.

    In a tweet posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, the singer wrote, “Hoping to get a visit visa to Pakistan to visit my relatives and see my mothers ancestral village Bhera.”

    Lucky Ali’s mother, Madhu Kumari, was the younger sister of Indian film giant Meena Kumari. Madhu, who’s real name was Mahliqa, was born in Bhera, Sargodha, to Ali Bux and Iqbal Begum. Ali’s parents met when he started teaching tennis to Meena.

    Underneath Lucky Ali’s tweet, many Pakistanis welcomed him, including some from Bhera who offered him a stay at their house.

  • PTI leadership fears seven lawmakers may change loyalties

    PTI leadership fears seven lawmakers may change loyalties

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has voiced concern that some of their Members of National Assembly (MNAs) might change their loyalties towards the ruling coalition government amidst constitutional amendments.

    In a background briefing on Thursday, PTI party officials claimed that they had “lost confidence” in seven of their lawmakers in the National Assembly and added that steps are being taken to ensure that they do not change their allegiance to the incumbent government, Dawn News reported.

    Responding to yesterday’s Supreme Court verdict over the 63A review case declaring that defected lawmaker vote would be counted, PTI officials said, “We have decided that our legislators will not attend any session of parliament until Oct 25.”

    PTI officials further disclosed that two coalition government MNA’s are in touch with the opposition party, who had given assurances that they would stay away from parliament when constitutional amendments were tabled.

    “PTI legislators cannot imagine changing their loyalty because of the pressure of the workers,” they concluded.

  • Pakistan’s forex reserves surge by $1.17 billion, reaching highest level since April 2022

    Pakistan’s forex reserves surge by $1.17 billion, reaching highest level since April 2022

    The foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) increased by $1.17 billion in one week.

    Despite the fact that the latest ‘surge’ is due to a loan, the SBP’s reserves are currently at their highest level since April 2022.

    According to data from the central bank for the week ending September 27, Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves rose by more than 12 per cent as compared to the previous week, hitting $10.7 billion.

    This increase is mainly due to a $1.03 billion loan received from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme.

    Moreover, the country’s net reserves climbed by $1.11 billion, or 7.46 per cent, compared to the previous week, reaching $15.98 billion.

    However, reserves held by commercial banks fell by $58.3 million, or 1.09 per cent, in the same period, now standing at $5.28 billion.

    Since the start of the current fiscal year, SBP-held reserves have grown by $1.31 billion, or 13.98 per cent. In the current calendar year, reserves have increased by $2.48 billion, or 30.17 per cent.