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A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Ideas 9, organised a majlis for inter-sect and interfaith harmony by inviting people from different sects.
Religious scholars narrated the historic events that happened in Karbala.
Plants were distributed among the participants at the end of the event.
Claim: TikTokers are banned from public parks in Pakistan
Fact: A fake notification by the Parks and Horticulture Authority claimed TikTokers have been banned in public parks
Media outlets reported on Sunday, August 22nd, 2021 that the Punjab Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) has officially banned TikTokers in all public parks. A document was also circulated, stating that ‘we are a responsible authority expect responsible attitude from the public too…[Youtubers and TikTokers] will be taking permission and sharing the content of the video prior to any shoot from now onwards.”
However Azhar Mashwani, Focal Person of Digital Media to the Chief Minister of Punjab has clarified this statement, in a tweet. He, while calling the news a fake one said that “no such decision taken so far by Govt Currently TikTok is banned in Pakistan.”
Fake News
No such decision taken so far by Govt
Currently TikTok is banned in Pakistan https://t.co/W64ZUPgksb
— Azhar Mashwani (@MashwaniAzhar) August 23, 2021
The Current spoke to Mashwani and asked him about the official notification related to the ban which is circulating.
He stated that it is merely a suggestion by the Vice Chairman of PHA and it requires a lot of approval from the other high officials. We even asked him that if we go to a public park right now and make a TikTok video there would the authorities there allow us? He responded with a yes.
The notice has been making rounds on social media platforms since yesterday following the Minar-e-Pakistan incident in which Ayesha Akram, a TikToker survived a mass sexual assault on August 14.
No other official from PHA or Punjab Government has commented so far on the matter.
VERDICT: FALSE
Samar Khan has clarified her stance after a handful of people tried to dismiss her achievement.
The Current reached out to Samar after her audio clip was leaked on social media by a journalist Jamil Nagri in which she was allegedly being angry at the journalist and locals of Gilgit-Baltistan for dismissing her feat.
When we asked her about the area she covered on her bicycle and on foot, she said: “Around 15-20 per cent of the trek is paddled by me, in remaining parts I mostly dragged and lifted my bike, as there was hardly a trek for proper walk.”
When we questioned her about the leaked audio, she clarified: “It’s a leaked WhatsApp audio, where my response has been uploaded on Twitter by a local Balti Journalist Jamil Nagri, whose abuse on social media I was answering at that time. He, with his few friends, started mocking and abusing me on different platforms and the audio is more than this, but a specific chunk has been leaked to use it against me and to get sympathies by using GB (Gilgit-Baltistan) card and arousing emotions of the locals.”
“Being an athlete, I just rode my bicycle, which made these weak men insecure enough to play these games against me,” she added.
“I already released my statement on Twitter with an apology but still receiving life threats and abuse.”
Taking to Twitter, she wrote: “I take complete responsibility of my words but keep in mind it was a personal voice note intended for a single individual, so all of my F’s goes to him only, because nobody can bring here a single public post of mine which spreads hate between #GB.”
“I offer my apologies to Balti friends whose sentiments got hurt by my words. I am grateful for all the love I always received from GB. I wish the complete abuse would have been shared here instead of uploading a chunk from my response to manipulate people for personal sympathies,” she said in another tweet.
Khan has become the only female cyclist to reach the base camp of the world’s second tallest peak K2. She holds the title of the first Pakistani to summit Mount Kilimanjaro and the Biafo Glaciers in the Karakoram Range on a bike, has set a unique record by reaching the base camp of the savage mountain via cycle.
Earlier, Samar gave it back with the same dismissiveness.
The frightful mass sexual assault which took place on Independence day has shaken the women of this nation to its core. It has also made all Pakistani women comprehend that they are not safe even in broad light and ‘so called’ public areas. Don’t you think it is high time to take your decision into your own hands?
As an undergraduate student, since this incident, I am afraid that what will happen once university opens. So with this thought, I researched and came across some exciting and wonderful opportunities for women to study abroad for session 2022-23.
British Chevening scholarship
This fully-funded program enables Pakistanis to pursue a one-year Master’s degree in the United Kingdom (UK). They will cover your one visa application and even airfare travel costs to and from the UK, but you must have a two-year work experience. The last date to apply is November 2nd, 2021.
KAIST South Korea Scholarship
One of the top Public universities, The KAIST (Korean Advanced Institute Of Science and Technology) is ranked #39 in QS Global World. Your full tuition fee, living expenses (per month), and medical health insurance are guaranteed under this scholarship for 2022-2023. You can apply for any level, their eligibility criteria are pretty simple.
Fulbright program
The scholarship operates in more than 160 countries worldwide. Under this, approximately 4,000 foreign students receive Fulbright scholarships each year. Pakistanis can not only apply for studies, but for work purposes scholarships as well. The deadline is in April, don’t miss this out.
Türkiye Burslari Scholarships
A government-funded, competitive scholarship program, awarded to students and researchers to pursue full-time or short-term programs at the top universities in Turkey. As a Pakistani resident, you will be given some preferences. A great opportunity for students.
Hood College International Merit Scholarship
This college in the United States welcomes applications from qualified candidates holding a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, at least a 2.75-grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale or equivalent. It has multiple degree programs so one can apply to any.
According to the ‘Global Gender Gap Report 2021’ published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Pakistan ranked 153rd out of 156 countries on the gender parity index and seventh among eight countries in South Asia, only better than Afghanistan.
A newly-married couple in India received five litres of petrol as a gift at their wedding reception.
As per reports, a Tamil comedian named Mayilsamy gave an unusual gift to the couple. The images of the wedding ceremony and the gift have gone viral on social media platforms.
Mayilsamy went up to the stage to congratulate the newly-wed couple. He gifted them with two plastic cans filled with petrol. This gift was assumed to be Mayilsamy’s jibe at the increasing fuel prices in the country.
Read More: Ex-girlfriend shows up at wedding, groom marries both fiancée, girlfriend
Fuel prices had seen an all-time high across India when the rates were last hiked on July 17.
A grocery store turned into a snake rescue in Australia when a 10-foot-long non-venomous python slid through the racks to greet a woman customer.
The 25-year-old, Helaina Alati, was at a Sydney store on Monday when the snake slithered out.
Alati was not expecting a snake at the supermarket. But fortunately for both parties, Alati is a wildlife rescuer and familiar with snakes.
“I just turned my head and he was about 20cm from my face, just looking straight at me,” she told the BBC.
She did a double-take but stayed calm. No one else was around. Recognising it instantly as a diamond python, Alati knew it wasn’t poisonous as it protruded and flicked its tongue.
Read More: ‘Mr Bean called PM Khan’, viral memes make fun of PM office phone calls
“He was looking straight at me the whole time, almost like he was saying: ‘Can you take me outside please?’” she said.
After recording a video, Alati alerted staff and told them she could help them get it out.
She retrieved a snake bag from her home, returned to the store, “tapped him on the tail and he just slithered in”.
She then released it away from houses in bushland – a natural habitat for the species around Sydney.
The military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), has remembered the sacrifice of martyred Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas (Nishan-e-Haider) on his 50th death anniversary on Friday.
The DG-ISPR said in a Twitter message, “On 50th Martyrdom anniversary, we remember with reverence, bravery & supreme sacrifice of National Hero Pilot officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed, Nishan-e -Haider.
“In line of duty, Pilot offr Rashid Minhas lived up to great traditions of Pakistan Air Force defending the motherland.”
The brave son of Pakistan was born on February 17, 1951, in Karachi. He belonged to the famous Minhas clan of Rajputs.
His childhood fascination with aircraft and aviation led him to what he truly was destined for. Minhas embraced his true passion after school and earned a degree in military history and aviation history from the University of Karachi.
He was commissioned as a pilot in the Pakistan Air Force in 1971.
Minhas was taxiing towards the runway when a Bengali instructor pilot, Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman, signalled him to stop and then climbed into the instructor’s seat. The jet took off and turned towards India.
Minhas radioed PAF Base Masroor with the message that he was being hijacked. The air controller requested that he resend his message, and he confirmed the hijacking. Later investigation showed that Rahman intended to defect to India to join his compatriots in the Bangladesh Liberation War, along with the jet trainer.
However, Minhas did the only thing within his control and forced that plane to crash just 32 miles from the Indian border, deliberately sacrificing his life for the honour of Pakistan.
Minhas spent his early childhood in Lahore. Later, the family shifted to Rawalpindi.
Awarded with Pakistan’s top military honour Nishan-e- Haider, Minhas became the youngest man in history and the only member of the Pakistan Air Force to be honoured with this award for his valiant feat.
Titled a national hero, the Pakistan Air Force base at Kamra was renamed PAF Base, Minhas, often called Minhas-Kamra.
Prime Minister Imran Khan received telephone calls from world leaders this past week and PTI Official tweeted about the phone calls he received. World leaders called him to discuss the ongoing situation in Afghanistan.
Pakistani Twitter started making memes of the official PTI tweets, some making jibes that it was to lessen the blow that US President Biden had not called PM Khan yet.
We have collected some memes. Here are a few:
People are sharing several memes and the netizens also shared that Prime Minister did not receive any call from US President Joe Biden.
One of them shared that Imran Khan is requesting Joe Biden to call him but in response, he says “absolutely not”.
Earlier on the night of August 13, PM Khan, in a wide-ranging talk with foreign journalists at his residence, said he was not really “waiting” for a phone call from US President Joe Biden.
“I keep hearing that President Biden hasn’t called me. It’s his business. It’s not like I am waiting for any phone call,” he said in response to a question from a Reuters journalist.
The Karachi traffic police released the traffic diversion plan for the Muharram procession that will begin from Nishtar Park and end at the Imambargah Hussainian Iranian at Kharadar, Salis Bin Parwaiz reported for The News.
The traffic diversion plan is for Muharram 8, 9, and 10 when there will be different Muharram processions in the city.
On Muharram 8, the procession will pass through Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto Road, Father Jaminis Road, Mehfil-e-Shah Khurasan, MA Jinnah Road, Mansfield Street, Preedy Street, Tibet Chowk, MA Jinnah Road, Chand Bibi Chowk, Nishtar Road, Nigar Cinema, Altaf Hussain Road, Denso Hall, MA Jinnah Road, Kharadar police station and Bombay Bazaar to reach the Imambargah.
Muharram 9: a procession will start from Liaquatabad via Imambargah Martin Road to the Nishtar Park where a Majlis will be held. After the Majlis, the procession will start from Nishtar Park in the afternoon and then proceed to the Imambargah Hussain Iranian, Kharadar.
Read More: Police arrest man for stealing mobile phones during Muharram procession
The route will include Nishtar Park, Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto Road, Father Jaminis Road, Mehfil-e-Shah Khurasan, MA Jinnah Road, Mansfield Street, Preedy Street, Tibet Chowk, MA Jinnah Road, Boulton Market, Bombay Bazaar, Kharadar, Nawab Mahabbat Khanji Road and Hussainian Iranian Imambargah.
When the processions will start from Nishtar Park, all traffic coming from the city side will be diverted towards Soldier Bazaar Road (Bahadur Yar Jang Road), Coast Guard, Anklesaria Chowk to Jubilee or Nishtar Road.
Traffic coming from Nazimabad will be diverted from Lasbela towards Nishtar Road and the zoological garden to reach their destinations. The traffic coming from the Liaquatabad side will be diverted to Martin Road towards the jail side.
These vehicles will be allowed to proceed to Jail Road, Jamshed Road, Dadabhoy Noorji Road, Kashmir Road, Shahrah-e-Quaideen and Sharae Faisal to reach their destination.
All traffic coming from Stadium Road side will continue through New MA Jinnah Road. These vehicles will be diverted on Dadabhoi Noorji Road towards Kashmir Road, Society Light Signal, Shahrah-e-Quaideen and Sharea Faisal.
The traffic coming from the Super Highway and Gulberg side will be diverted from Liaquatabad No 10 towards Nazimabad No 2 and will proceed using Habib Bank Flyover, Estate Avenue Road and Sher Shah to Mauripur Road.
To return, these vehicles will take the same route. All kinds of traffic coming from the National Highway side will be diverted from Rashid Minhas Road towards Stadium Road, Sir Shah Suleman Road, Hassan Square, Liaquatabad No 10 and Nazimabad No 2, and will proceed via Habib Bank Flyover, Estate Avenue Road, Shershah to Mauripur Road. For the return journey, these vehicles will adopt the same route.
Traffic will not be allowed to proceed along the route of the procession from Gurumandir. These vehicles will be diverted to Bahadur Yar Jang Road. All the vehicular traffic coming from Shahrah-e-Quaideen will not be permitted to proceed towards Numaish, except the participants of the procession and those with stickers on their windscreens allotted from the traffic police, and diverted from the Society signal.
Traffic on MA Jinnah Road will not be allowed from Preedy Street, Aga Khan-III Road and Mansfield Street to proceed towards Saddar.
No traffic will be allowed to pass MA Jinnah Road-Preedy Street junction until the procession has passed the intersection. All kinds of traffic coming from the zoo and Aga Khan-III Road will be allowed till Anklesaria Hospital.