Category: Lifestyle

The lifestyle of millennials is underreported in our mainstream media. The Current’s lifestyle news covers social events and issues that are unique.

  • Monal restaurant management breaks closure seal to enter premises

    Monal restaurant management breaks closure seal to enter premises

    Monal, a restaurant in Islamabad, which was sealed through a court order, was broken into on Wednesday. Management of the restaurant, which included 70-80 employees, broke a padlock seal and entered the premises of the site on February 16, reports Samaa News.

    Employees reached the site in the morning and asked the Wildlife department workers not to intervene.

    While talking to Samaa News, a Wildlife management board representative, monitoring the closure, said, “They told us that the Supreme Court has ruled in favour of the restaurant and allowed them to resume activities.”

    The authorities asked restaurant employees to produce a court order but they refused and broke the padlock seal into pieces.

    After breaking into the restaurant, employees started adjusting seats and tables.

    According to the representative, they had never stopped the restaurant staff to look after their items which were left there and we cooperated with them fully.

    On January 11, Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered Islamabad’s Chief Commissioner to seal the Monal Restaurant in Margalla Hills National Park.

  • Swimmer dies in fatal shark attack

    Swimmer dies in fatal shark attack

    A swimmer died after being bitten by a shark at a beach in suburban Sydney, Australian authorities said, marking the first fatal shark attack in the city in nearly 60 years.

    An eyewitness told local television that he had been fishing off nearby rocks when he saw a man wearing a wetsuit and swimming across the bay get dragged underwater by a large shark in an attack that lasted several seconds.

    “Some guy was swimming and a shark came and attacked him vertically,” witness Kris Linto, told Nine.

    “We heard a yell and turned around — it looked like a car had landed in the water, a big splash, then the shark was chomping at the body and there was blood everywhere.”

    Another witness estimated the shark was 4.5 metres in size.

    “When he went down, there were so many splashes,” the witness, who had been fishing on rocks nearby, told ABC.

    It was the first fatal shark attack in Sydney since 1963, data shows.

    Lifeguards will patrol the beaches looking for further shark sightings.

    Emergency services arrived in the area of Buchan Point, Malabar, around 4:35pm local time on Wednesday, following a report of a shark attacking a swimmer in the water, according to New South Wales police. Officers found human remains in the water.

    “Officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command, with assistance from the Marine Area Command and Surf Life Saving NSW, attended and located human remains in the water,” it said.

    An NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said paramedics were called to Little Bay. “Unfortunately, this patient had suffered catastrophic injuries and there was nothing paramedics could do.”

  • [VIDEO] Muslim man builds Hindu Temple in India

    [VIDEO] Muslim man builds Hindu Temple in India

    A Muslim businessman, Mohammad Naushad Sheikh, constructed a Hindu temple to promote communal harmony in the district of Jharkhand, an Indian state.

    The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god, Lord Krishna. He spent his own money of over Rs. 60 lakh (Pakistani rupees) on the construction.

    On Sunday, while speaking to the Indian news agency, ANI, he said, “I had a dream in 2019 to establish this temple. Today this temple has been completed.”

    Hindu ritual, Jalabhishek (offering of water) to Lord Krishna was held in the temple on February 14.

    He further added that this temple is the symbol of unity.

    “I have nothing to do with politics and cast. I would like to give the message of unity and oneness of God, to Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and Christian,” he added.

  • Getting direct with Australia: PIA to fly directly down under for the first time

    Getting direct with Australia: PIA to fly directly down under for the first time

    The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced plans to launch two weekly flights to Australia, cutting travel time to and from the country by around one-third, The News reports.

    PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez says that if it (flights to Australia by a Pakistani carrier) happens, it would be happening for the first time.  He said that PIA has conducted a feasibility study, which concluded that it would be beneficial to the airline.

    PIA intends to operate two weekly flights from Karachi and Lahore to Sydney at first. Later, it might also include Islamabad.

    Flights might commence in late March or early April, according to the national carrier. The airline, however, has yet to receive authorisation from the Australian aviation authority.

    Direct flights would shorten a traveler’s flight duration to 12:30 hours and 13 hours, if one is going to Australia or coming to Pakistan respectively.

    Because there are no direct flights between Pakistan and Australia, passengers must travel for 34 to 35 hours with stopovers, which adds to their travel time.

    “Every airline must touch their hub before flying on to their destination,” stated Nadeem Sharif, Chairman of the Travel Agents Association of Pakistan (TAAP). “There may be eight-hour layovers or even overnight stays, which adds to the travel time.”

    He added that, for example, if a person travelling to Australia via Qatar Airways from Pakistan, he or she must first fly to Doha, Qatar Airways’ hub, and then be carried to Australia from there. Similarly, when a person travels from Australia to Pakistan, the same thing happens.

    PIA’s fleet is expected to grow from the current 29 to 49 by 2026, comprising 16 wide body, 27 narrow body and 6 turbo propeller aircraft. PIA’s share price increased by 1.24 percent on Tuesday to Rs4.09.

  • Lahore’s River Ravi among most polluted rivers in the world

    Lahore’s River Ravi among most polluted rivers in the world

    The water flowing through River Ravi has been found to be among the most polluted in the world, reports Dawn.

    A study, which is part of the University of York-led Global Monitoring of Pharmaceuticals Project, measured the presence of 61 pharmaceuticals in 258 rivers around the world. More than 1,000 test sites in over 100 countries provided samples for the study. More than a quarter of the 258 rivers sampled had “active pharmaceutical ingredients” present at a level deemed unsafe for aquatic organisms.

    Waterways in Lahore, Bolivia, and Ethiopia are among the most contaminated, according to the study while rivers in Iceland, Norway, and the Amazon rainforest fared best.

    Pollution of the world’s rivers by medications and pharmaceutical products, according to the research, constitutes a “threat to environmental and global health”.

  • Sikh trader injured in robbery attempt in Peshawar, community protests outside hospital

    Sikh trader injured in robbery attempt in Peshawar, community protests outside hospital

    A Sikh trader, Pepinder Singh, was shot and injured during a robbery attempt at a hakeem’s shop in Peshawar, reports The Express Tribune.

    The robber was fleeing the crime scene after stealing cash and other valuables. When Singh resisted the robbery attempt, the thief opened fire. People around the shop caught the robber and handed him over to the police.

    Singh was rushed to the Lady Reading Hospital in critical condition. Fortunately, he survived a bullet injury. The members of the Sikh community gathered outside the hospital to protest against the incident.

    Sikh community leader, Dr Sahib Singh said that Pepinder Singh was targeted but now his condition is out of danger. He also stated that Singh was shot in the foot.

    While talking to The Express Tribune, Superintendent of Police (SP) Saddar Circle, Farhan said that the police reached the crime scene and arrested the accused.

    He revealed that a passer-by also sustained some injuries in the robbery incident but added that it is too early to say why the accused opened fire on Singh.

    According to the police officials, the accused has been identified as Ahmad who is a resident of Peshawar. He is a drug addict and also involved in other criminal activities.

    Last year in October, a similar incident happened when unidentified men shot down a Sikh hakeem near Charsadda Bus Stand in Peshawar.

  • VIDEO: Muslim man praised in India for saving trapped Hindu girl

    VIDEO: Muslim man praised in India for saving trapped Hindu girl

    A video is making rounds on social media in which a man can be seen risking his life to save a girl who was trapped under a moving g train in Bhopal.

    As reported by Indian media, the incident took place on February 5. A girl, Sneha Gaur, was passing under a parked goods train and suddenly, the train started moving. When Sneha got trapped under the train, she started screaming

    A Muslim man named Mohammad Mehboob, who works as a carpenter, was rushing to a furniture factory when he saw Sneha Gaur trapped under a train.

    As the train started moving, Mohammad slid onto the tracks past the wheels to reach Sneha and ensured that she stayed down without hitting the moving wagons.

     “On February 5 evening, I was returning from the Golden Mosque after namaz on a two-wheeler. We were getting late for the furniture factory so we crossed the goods train to stand on the railway track but one of my friends was crossing it by lying down under the goods train. A young woman followed him but suddenly the goods train started moving and the woman got stuck,” said Mohammad Mehboob while talking to Indian media.

    “She panicked and people tried to tell her to lie down between the tracks but she did not understand what to do. I decided to save her and entered the track by crawling down. I held her hand and asked her to lie down silently. As many as 26 bogies passed over us. After the train passed, we stood up and the girl left without saying anything,” he added.

  • After Karnataka, Hijab conflict begins in India’s Uttar Pradesh

    After Karnataka, Hijab conflict begins in India’s Uttar Pradesh

    The dispute concerning the banning of the hijab has reached India’s large and populous state, Uttar Pradesh. A group of young men distributed a memorandum to college officials on Monday.

    They insisted that the administration of Dharma Samaj College implement a complete ban on the hijab in its premises. The college is located in the Aligarh district.

    The College Chief Proctor, Mukesh Bharadwaj, while talking to Reuters said, “Two years ago the same issue was raised and it has been raised again. We do not allow any type of religious uniform and we have a civil code of uniform for everyone.”

    He further added, “There is a changing room for girls and they can change their dress there before attending class.”

    He said, “We are investigating the matter.”

    The tension arose when the Indian state, Karnataka, banned religious clothes in government schools and colleges in February amid a controversy over the hijab and saffron scarves.

    Various incidents have been reported in the state when hijab-clad students were denied entry to college campuses over a fear of clashes with people belonging to the Hindutva ideology.

    Recently, the Muskan Khan incident has grabbed attention from all over the world. Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai spoke out regarding the incident as well as various Pakistan government ministers.

    Scholar and Professor Noam Chomsky also condemned the growing hatred against Islam and compared the brutal situation of IoK to Israeli forces occupying Palestine and blamed Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s right-wing Hindu nationalist regime for it.

  • Man rapes 87-year-old bedridden woman in India

    Man rapes 87-year-old bedridden woman in India

    A man has been arrested for allegedly raping an 87-year-old bedridden woman in Delhi, India. As per the local police, the incident happened on Sunday (February 13). As per the Indian media, the accused allegedly raped the woman and fled with her mobile phone. When the elderly woman questioned the man, he said that he worked for a gas company and that he had been called for some work.

    The daughter of the raped woman found her mother injured and called the police.

    “They (victim and daughter) are senior citizens and live alone. I came to Delhi and found that the police told them that they shouldn’t pursue the case because of their age and it would be stressful for them. The police registered a theft case and didn’t even inform us. Her (victim) granddaughter works in Canada and she can’t be here immediately. We are all worried. The police don’t care. Aunty is unsafe in her own home,” the relative of the victim said while talking to an Indian news outlet.

    In a tweet, the Delhi Police said, “The case of sexual assault of elderly lady in Tilak Nagar has been solved. Culprit in this blind case nabbed within 16 hours. Victim’s mobile phone was recovered from him. Accused lives in nearby locality and works as a sweeper.”

  • Zahir Jaffer presents videos of himself and Noor in court, blames Noor for a ‘drug party’ at his place

    Zahir Jaffer presents videos of himself and Noor in court, blames Noor for a ‘drug party’ at his place

    On Monday, during a hearing of the Noor Mukadam murder case, Zahir Jaffer’s lawyer presented a USB in court. Additional District and Sessions Judge (AD&SJ) Muhammad Atta Rabbani asked the lawyer what was in the USB to which the lawyer said that the USB contains videos of Noor and Zahir’s relationship.

    Zahir Jaffer has also submitted his statement in writing to the court.

    He stated: “I and Noor Mukadam were good friends and were in a living relationship with mutual consent for last many years. The same was in the knowledge of both the families and they never ever objected to it. Noor participated in our family functions and events and I also used to attend her family functions and events like a family member. Six months before the unfortunate occurrence, I and Noor were not on talking terms and suddenly July 18, 2021, Noor herself established contact with me and asked for arranging a drug party. She also wanted to invite her friends to the party.”

    He further said that he, along with Noor, left for the airport on July 19, as his flight was scheduled to leave but Noor insisted that they come back from the airport. She invited her friends to a party at his house on July 20.

    “I got under the heavy influence of drugs and all other participants including Noor were also under influence of heavy drugs, (the report of forensic histopathology verifies this fact which the prosecution itself relied on his evidence). I got out of my senses and after hours when I got my senses I was in a tied up condition in the lounge of my house. I made hue and cry on which some persons in police uniform and civil dresses rescued me. I came to know that Noor had been murdered by someone among the participants,” Zahir’s statement added.

    “A widespread negative campaign was started against me and my family by pseudo-social media activists and feminist liking organisations to achieve their nefarious designs and making money. My trial before the court is still pending but mock social media activists and self-styled feminists started demanding my hanging without providing me with the opportunity to prove my innocence through the legal course,” his statement further read.

    “I am also an acute patient of drug psychosis and have remained under treatment in Pakistan and abroad. During the trial, a number of times, requests were made to the trial court and prison authorities for my medical checkup and constitution of a board but the prison authorities due to the influence of Shaukat Mukadam and state machinery did not provide health facilities to the undersigned/accused.”

    The statement further added, “For what has been stated above, I and my parents are innocent in this case but due to influence of the complainant, the indulgence of state stakeholders I have been implicated in the case to usurp money.”

    People are expressing their anger over his statement: