Category: Uncategorized

  • British journalist claims Shehbaz Sharif still hasn’t filed a lawsuit

    British journalist claims Shehbaz Sharif still hasn’t filed a lawsuit

    British journalist, David Rose of Daily Mail, has once again denied receiving any lawsuit from former Punjab chief minister and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif against his story exposing alleged theft of earthquake relief funds.

    “Hello Pakistani friends. A lot of you have been asking if Shehbaz Sharif has commenced a lawsuit against me and my newspaper yet. He hasn’t [sic],” he tweeted.

    Resharing his July 14’s story, the journalist wrote, “Sources tell me that investigation by NAB [National Accountability Bureau] and the Asset Recovery Unit into allegations against Shahbaz Sharif have continued with some vigour since my article was published. This may explain why he hasn’t filed a lawsuit: they have been keeping him busy.”

    Shehbaz had earlier claimed having served a legal notice to the newspaper on July 26, alleging it was a “politically motived” report. He had also shared a copy of the legal notice on Twitter.

    The tweets had come after a series of indirect spats between Shehbaz and Rose over Twitter following the latter’s news story according to which British authorities had decided to initiate a probe into the funds worth millions of Pounds that were sent to the Shehbaz-led Punjab government as aid for quake victims.

    The Daily Mail UK report claimed that the paper was given exclusive access to some of the results of a high-level probe ordered by the government of Pakistan and it was also able to interview key witnesses held on remand.

    One of the witnesses had claimed that he laundered millions on behalf of Shehbaz’s family from a nondescript office in Birmingham without attracting suspicion from Britain’s financial regulators.

    The paper had also alleged that Shehbaz and his family were embezzling tens of millions of pounds of public money and laundering it in Britain.

  • Sarmad Khoosat begins shoot on ‘Kamli’ with Saba Qamar

    Sarmad Khoosat begins shoot on ‘Kamli’ with Saba Qamar

    High after the success of his film Zindagi Tamasha, which won a standing ovation at the Busan International Film Festival, ace filmmaker Sarmad Khoosat is all set to start shooting his next film Kamli at various locations in Pakistan. The film starres Saba Qamar in the lead.

    Speaking to Variety, Sarmad revealed: “A tragic love story at heart, the film is going to be a fresh mix of a rustic setting captured in a contemporary, universal sensibility.”

    “Unlike other films of the genre, Kamli is not only going to depict the vibrancy and humour of rural Punjab but also its poetic lyricism and love-lore in an international film aesthetic,” he added.

    The film which is expected to release in Summer 2020 will feature Sania Saeed and Hamza Khwaja along with Saba.

    Meanwhile, Khoosat’s Zindagi Tamasha had its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival and was received positively. It will release in Pakistan in January 2020.

    Speaking about Zindagi Tamasha, Khoosat said, ”What was most important to me was exploring the idea of tolerance. Tolerance not just to others (to allow people to exist the way they are) but also tolerance to self – and this is where the concept of shame, need for approval, etc. come in to play,” said Khoosat. “I have been in situations where I have felt I should have been more tolerant of others and more accepting of my own self.”

    Sharing his thoughts on the evolving Pakistani film industry, Khoosat said, “The mainstream is governed by commerce, but very interesting parallel cinema has also made its space – films like Moor (which was also screened at Busan), Cake, Laal Kabootar, and even my first film Manto. The challenge remains financial support for genres beyond comedy or romance.”

    On the ban on Bollywood in Pakistan, Sarmad remarked, “The absence of Indian films has highlighted just how promising the Pakistani industry still is.”

  • Fraud marriage: Groom gets robbed by bride

    Fraud marriage: Groom gets robbed by bride

    A groom was taken to hospital after his bride robbed him of his valuables eight days after their marriage in Lodhran district of Punjab.

    Habib Rehan made a woman, named Naheed Akhtar a friend on
    the mobile phone. She proposed to him for marriage, which he accepted and the
    two ended up tying the knot.

    After eight days of their marriage, she vanished, stealing his cash, jewelry and other valuables. A case has been registered against the woman on the complaint of the man. As per reports, twelve cases have been reported involving the woman marrying men and then looting them.

    Earlier this year, a 70-year-old groom was deprived of
    his valuables by his bride on the first night of their marriage. The
    shocking incident took place in Sargodha.

    Ghulam Mustafa, 70, alleged that his wife gave him a
    glass of milk contaminated with sedatives on the night of their marriage and he
    doesn’t remember what happened afterward. When he woke up, his valuables were
    stolen and his wife was not at home.

  • Secrets of Lahore ft. Jahangir Tomb

  • Pakistan owes China more money than it owes the IMF

    Pakistan owes China more money than it owes the IMF

    Pakistan needs to repay China more than double the amount it owes the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the next three years, Al Jazeera reported.

    According to the details, the country owes $6.7 billion in commercial loans to China over the three years through June 2022, according to the IMF, which this year approved a new program to bail out Pakistan from an economic crisis.

    On the other hand, the country needs to pay the multilateral lender $2.8 billion in the same period.

    “The borrowing picked up after the Belt and Road started,” said Hafiz Faizan Ahmed, head of research at Karachi-based Optimus Capital Management Pvt.

    He added, “A bulk of the Chinese lending happened about two years ago when dollar reserves were dwindling, so the government kept borrowing and borrowing.”

    Pakistan, one of the biggest beneficiaries of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, has been borrowing from Beijing to tide over a financial crisis.

    Still, the money was not enough to completely bridge the financing gap and pushed the country to knock at the IMF’s doors.

  • PTI leader resigns after Jahangir Tareen forced him to change party’s constitution

    Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Central Additional Secretary-General Abu Hassan Ansari has resigned after developing differences with former secretary-general Jahangir Tareen over the party’s constitution, Dawn has reported.

    As per reports, Hassan is the author of the PTI party constitution 2019. He was being forced by Tareen, who holds no official position in the party, to alter the constitution as per his recommendations. The two also had arguments in the past during several party meetings.

    Reports further reveal that Hassan believes that Tareen has taken over the party. “Although Tareen has spent his money for the party, we all spent our time and money for the PTI,” he was quoted as saying.

    Hassan
    submitted his resignation to PTI Chief Organiser Saifullah Niazi,  However, no decision has been taken on the
    resignation as Prime Minister Imran Khan has told the party’s members that he
    will take up the matter after his return from China.

  • NAB ‘creating hurdles’ in execution of govt decisions: report

    NAB ‘creating hurdles’ in execution of govt decisions: report

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is creating hurdles in the implementation of some of the federal cabinet’s decisions, a report presented to Prime Minister Imran Khan has revealed, Express Tribune reported.

    According to the details, the report reveals that the federal cabinet had decided to hold talks with the LNG terminal firms in its meeting held in October last year and the Ministry of Finance and Petroleum had to talk with these companies on profit rates.

    However, these talks could not move forward because NAB is holding an inquiry against an LNG terminal company and they have to wait while the inquiry is underway.

    The report also said that all the LNG terminals are fully functional right now and any action can disturb the situation.

    After the consultation, the federal cabinet decided that the talks with the LNG terminal companies should be postponed till the completion of the inquiry.

    The federal cabinet in a recent meeting had proposed to reopen agreements with LNG companies, however, Minister of Law Farogh Naseem opposed the proposal and said that new investors will hesitate to invest if the agreements were reopened.

  • How eating three dates every day can benefit your mind and body?

    How eating three dates every day can benefit your mind and body?

    Healthy for the body and mind dates are considered to be a healthy indulgence. Dates are the delicious snack for any time of day. If you develop the habit of eating three of these soft and yummy fruit every day for one week, you may benefit your mind and body.

    Long-Lasting energy

    Dates contain the
    natural sugars, glucose, fructose and sucrose that will help you boost your
    energy quickly whenever you need it. Dates contain other healthy components
    like fiber, potassium, magnesium, vitamins, and antioxidants that will maintain
    energy levels. So instead of having harmful energy drinks, you can have dates
    to increase your energy.

    Reduced risk of colon
    cancer

    Along with ensuring that food moves through the digestive system at a healthy rate, dates also make sure the gut itself is healthy and free from harmful bacteria. When the digestive system and gut are working well then so is the colon, resulting in a reduced risk of colon cancer.

    A study conducted by
    the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences found that those who consumed
    dates had enhanced colon health because dates increased the growth of good
    bacteria, preventing the growth of colon cancer cells.

    Improved digestive
    health

    Dates improve your digestive system because of the fiber. In just a one-cup serving, you will get 12 grams of fiber. That’s 48 percent of your recommended daily intake. Fiber can benefit your digestive health by averting constipation.

    A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that people who consumed seven dates per day for 21 days showed improvements in stool frequency compared to when they did not eat dates.

    Help you cope with
    stress

    Dates contain Vitamin B6 that can improve the performance of the brain by helping the body make serotonin and norepinephrine. Serotonin (a compound present in blood platelets) regulates mood and norepinephrine (an organic chemical that functions in the brain) helps your body deal with stress.

    Research has shown that low levels of Vitamin B6 are linked to depression. When your brain is clear from stress, and in a good mood, then it is sharp and ready to learn.

  • Bewafa: Women come forward, relating to the storyline

    Bewafa: Women come forward, relating to the storyline

    Though only four episodes of ARY’s latest drama Bewafa have aired, it has created a huge stir in social media groups. Women are discussing how relevant and real the drama is.

    And it is.

    The drama is a great, and refreshing, watch after the ajeeb saas bahu dramas with unreal twists (the brother’s wife marrying another brother concept is just TOO MUCH). This one seems to stay true to its basic concept – why and how people cheat.

    Finding messages on her husband’s phone that shouldn’t be there

    Ahaan, played by the stellar Ali Rehman Khan, is a successful IT guy and his wife Kinza played by Naveen Waqar starts off not being the shakki sort but soon starts to seriously doubt her husband’s fidelity. And for good reason since Ahaan is becoming way too friendly with his co-worker Shireen played by Ushna Shah. Shireen proclaims her love for Ahaan in a voice note that Kinza hears and is OBVIOUSLY not happy about it. Ahaan tells Shireen off initially but then kind of likes talking to her too.

    Justification to Kinza and presents from Shireen

    Women are loving the drama because it shows, simply and starkly, how cheating can affect a family and how it, sometimes, begins. In groups, women are discussing how the same thing has happened with them or someone they know; men AND women first engaging in an emotional affair, which develops into something else. Women tend to blame the cunning and ambitious Shireen, who is developing a full game to get to Ahaan; but she isn’t the only one to blame. Ahaan is also changing her name on his phone to a guy’s name to talk to her so Kinza won’t get jealous. He is lying to Kinza to go out with Shireen on lunch dates. Kinza, with her incredibly jealous and controlling behaviour is also driving Ahaan away.

    The drama also shows how this issue can affect the mental health and well being of a child since Kinza and Ahaan have a son who is old enough to understand that something is not right. He asks his father if he is bringing another wife, showing how tough suspicion and an affair can be on a full family unit.

    Ushna and Ali have acted brilliantly in the drama, fully engaging with the realistic role they are playing. Naveen’s portrayal of the suspicious wife could be a lot better since she seems to exude only one emotion – distrust. Her acting is a little wooden at times, making the viewer wonder if she is even invested in the relationship.

    The drama is definitely one to watch – and will be the one to discuss long after its finale.

    Are you watching the drama? How do you like it?

  • Women banned from being part of JUI-F’s ‘Azaadi March’

    Women banned from being part of JUI-F’s ‘Azaadi March’

    The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) has decided to not allow women to attend its October 27 anti-government march towards Islamabad.

    According to reports, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman wrote to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) informing them of the decision to not include women in the upcoming Islamabad sit-in. The reason behind this decision has not yet been shared.

    The JUI-F chief is preparing to take down the government with his Azaadi march and has said the march would only end when the government falls.

    Speaking at a press conference, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said: “The entire country will be our battleground,” adding that people from all over the country will be joining the march.

    It is important to note than in the past Maulana Fazlur Rehman has been very critical of women’s participation in Prime Minister Imran Khan’s PTI jalsas. He had compared PTI sit-ins to mujras.

    Meanwhile, in 2015 Maulana Sahab had asked the armed forces to launch a military operation against women wearing jeans all over Pakistan saying that the immodesty of women is the cause behind earthquakes, inflation and other kinds of disasters. He went on to say that if a woman is not covered like a ‘sack of flour’ she is a mobile weapon of mass destruction for her state.