Category: Uncategorized

  • No chance of Nawaz Sharif’s arrest, says Ishaq Dar

    No chance of Nawaz Sharif’s arrest, says Ishaq Dar

    Senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and former finance minister Ishaq Dar has said that there is no chance of the party supremo Nawaz Sharif getting arrested on his return to Pakistan.

    In an interview with Asma Sherazi, Ishaq Dar said that Nawaz Sharif will arrive in Saudi Arabia and perform Umrah. After performing Umrah, the PML-N chief will reach Pakistan on October 21.

    He continued, “There is no chance of arresting Nawaz Sharif on his return as he will take protected custody and transit bail on return”.

    The former finance minister also mentioned that it’s a standard judicial practice to face the courts.

    Dar also stated that PML-N will clearly get a clear majority in the next election, and PML-N’s agenda is the recovery of the economy.

    The former finance minister said that the truth commission on the characters of Project Imran is included in our agenda, “however we do not want to take any action that smells of revenge,” he added.

  • ECP reserves decision on PTI election symbol

    ECP reserves decision on PTI election symbol

    A five-member bench headed by chief election commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja heard a petition filed by Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party’s (IPP) leader Auwn Chaudhry regarding the withdrawal of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) election symbol.

    During the hearing, Aun Chaudhry’s lawyer said that PTI should not be given the bat symbol, on which the CEC said that PTI has already been given the bat symbol.

    The Election Commissioner also said that the case related to the PTI election symbol is already under hearing in the ECP, to which one of the petitioner’s lawyers asked to link their application with the same case.

    Later, the ECP reserved its decision regarding the election symbol of PTI.

  • ‘Mayi Ri’ ends with mixed responses from fans

    ‘Mayi Ri’ ends with mixed responses from fans

    The drama ‘Mayi-Ri’ attracted widespread controversy on social media after it depicted an underaged girl being forcibly married to her cousin, later giving birth to a baby girl. However the drama has ended now, with main leads Ainy (Aina Asif) and Fakhar (Samar Jafri) choosing to end their relationship as he decides to go abroad for studies.

    Social media had mixed reactions to the ending. Many fans were happy to see a Pakistani drama deciding not to stigmatise divorce, showing Ainy empowered by her family to chase her dreams and complete her education on her own. In the last scene, Ainy gives a college graduation speech where she strongly advocates for the right of women to chase their dreams, revealing that she has set up a house with her mother called ‘Ayesha Home’ to help young children escape abuse.

    As pop culture writer Sadaf Haider wrote: “Mxed feelings about #MayiRi ending Congratulations on understanding Divorce can be be a blessing Allah has allowed it for a reason Big thank you to The writer for allowing Aini & Fakhir to move on from a child marriage And women supporting each other.”

    Social media users defended Ainy for divorcing Fakhir, working on her independence and following her own dreams. Users shared the clip of Ainy speaking at her college graduation ceremony, applauding the powerful stance the show took against child marriage.

    However, other social media users were disappointed at how Fakhir chose to run away from his responsibilities for wife and child to study abroad, calling this twist, “heartbreaking.”

    But for us, the best part of the drama was how divorce was not treated as a taboo, but as an empowering a step towards a woman’s future. We’re incredibly happy with the direction the show took, and hope more writers and producers take a page from their book, to show that it’s better to live alone than to live in an abusive marriage.

  • ‘Imran Khan can’t talk to his sons’: Jailer

    ‘Imran Khan can’t talk to his sons’: Jailer

    The incarcerated chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, has been denied permission to speak with his sons while in detention at Adiala Jail. The superintendent of the jail conveyed the decision to a special court during a hearing on Tuesday.

    Referring to security concerns and the specific nature of the cipher case under the Official Secrets Act, the jailer cited the two as the basis of his refusal to let Imran Khan speak to his sons.

    The presiding judge, Abual Hasnat, acknowledged the jail superintendent’s stance and requested the Adiala Jail’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) concerning telephone communication between inmates and their relatives. The case hearing has been adjourned until October 18, pending further review.
    It is pertinent to mention that Imran Khan is currently detained at Adiala Jail in connection with the cipher case, a transfer that was ordered by the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court after his initial incarceration at Attock Prison.

    Imran Khan and the PTI vice chairman, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, are facing charges related to the alleged deliberate mishandling of a diplomatic cipher. The special court announced that PTI leaders will be indicted in the cipher case on October 17.

  • Climate Change causing bird populations to deplete in Pakistan

    Climate Change causing bird populations to deplete in Pakistan

    In the tragic saga of climate change in Pakistan, it is not just humans but birds too that are affected.

    While the avian population has nothing to contribute to the phenomenon of climate change, they are paying the price for it with their lives. According to a State of the World’s Birds report, nearly half of all bird species are in decline with more than one in eight at risk of extinction.

    The situation is not any better in Pakistan. Not just the indigenous species are at risk but the ones migrating to the plains of Pakistan are severely decreasing as well. The research by wildlife expert Dr Azhar has come out at a time when the world is fighting with a challenge as magnanimous as global warming. Scientists have warned that if the temperature increases 3.5 degrees above the current one by 2100, almost 600-900 species would be killed off.

    A significant decrease in the number of birds in tropical regions has been noticed, including the endangered northern snowbird. Even the number of common sparrows is plummeting as declared by the International Convention for Conservation of Nature. For instance, a loss of three billion birds in North America alone posing a threat to biodiversity. Simultaneously, sparrows are being put on a ‘Red List’ in Greater London after a loss of 70 per cent of sparrows was recorded between 1994 and 2001.

    The reason it has not been done in Pakistan, as expressed by renowned ornithologist Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, is because nobody has actually attempted to count the number of these birds at present, implying that they are surely less than before. He warned that it is going to be even worse in the future because of the scarcity of food, changes in habitat, earlier egg-laying time, higher rate of disease transmission and frequent season changes.

    It is explicitly clear that birds’ populace is an indicator of the environmental health around us. The staggering decrease is alarming on many levels. It also demands extensive research and policy making to protect biodiversity. The areas may include the changing weather patterns disturbing the timing of migration to egg-laying and sizes and controlling extreme urbanization to provide for their natural habitats.

  • Husband kills wife for demanding divorce

    Husband kills wife for demanding divorce

    A man shot and killed his wife at his in-law’s house in Lahore after she asked for a divorce. Closed-circuit cameras recorded him opening fire and killing the woman.

    The incident took place in the area of Hanjarwal. Nasreen, who had been upset with her husband, Yusuf, and was staying at her parent’s house, had asked for a divorce a few days ago. The husband, in response, had refused.
    He then went to his in-laws house from Faisalabad, called his wife outside and then shot her dead.
    Relatives reveal that Nasreen was a mother of three children.

    Police have registered a case and started an investigation.

    SP Investigation Aqeela Naqvi says that the suspect is absconding since the incident but he will be arrested soon.

  • PM Kakar aims to make Hajj more affordable and comfortable for pilgrims

    PM Kakar aims to make Hajj more affordable and comfortable for pilgrims

    On Monday, Caretaker Prime Minister (PM) Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar issued a directive emphasising the provision of high-quality and affordable facilities for pilgrims during the Hajj without compromising the overall arrangements.

    During a meeting focused on the Ministry of Religious Affairs, he stressed the importance of ensuring that all necessary measures are taken to facilitate pilgrims in performing this significant religious ritual, as reported by the state news agency.

    The Prime Minister was briefed on the ministry’s performance, the actions taken for Hajj, and the preparations for the Hajj policy in 2024, according to a press release from the PM Office Media Wing.

    According to ARY News, the meeting was attended by Caretaker Minister for Religious Affairs Aneeq Ahmed and other ministry officials.

    In his address to the participants, the Prime Minister emphasised the need for rigorous oversight of private Hajj companies to ensure that pilgrims using private schemes do not encounter any difficulties. 

    He also requested the submission of the Hajj policy for approval by the federal cabinet.

  • ‘I believe in protecting every citizen’, Murtaza Wahab says in light of harassment cases

    ‘I believe in protecting every citizen’, Murtaza Wahab says in light of harassment cases

    On Friday, police arrested the suspect who sexually harassed a woman on a street in the Samanabad area of Karachi.

    The incident reportedly took place on October 5 while the accused was identified as Asif Ali.

    CCTV footage shows Ali harassing the woman, escaping the scene right after.

    After the video came to light, social media reacted, with people demanding the man be arrested immediately.

    A statement issued by the District Central Police said that the accused, a resident og Bhanguria Goth of Azizabad, has been arrested. He runs a mobile bakery service on a motorcycle.

    Moreover, the FIR of the incident was also lodged which included sections 294 and 354 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

    The Current spoke with Murtaza Wahab, Mayor of Karachi and a member of Pakistan People’s Party, in regards to the persistent harassment cases in the city.

    “As Mayor Karachi, I believe in protecting every citizen. Such incidents of sexual violence are horrific and shameful and will not be tolerated at all. The culprit in this video has been arrested. Police have also arrested another person for a similar offence,” he said.

    Similar incidents have taken place in the previous months.

    Earlier this month, a video showed a young man riding a motorcycle on Rashid Minhas Road harassing university students travelling in a bus.

    In July, a man stripped himself naked and sexually harassed a woman in broad daylight.

  • Dulha arrested for child-marriage in Faisalabad

    Dulha arrested for child-marriage in Faisalabad

    A groom has been arrested on the charge of child-marriage in Satyana area of Faisalabad.

    According to the local police, the accused had married a 10-year-old girl two weeks ago.

    The local police say that raids are being conducted in search of the young bride, while they are also searching for the nikah-khawan, witnesses, and the father of the bride — all of whom are to be arrested

  • Israel announces ‘complete siege’ on Gaza

    Israel announces ‘complete siege’ on Gaza

    Gaza Strip, an already besieged area, will now face a “total” blockade from Israel including a ban on food and water.

    On Monday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that authorities are to cut electricity and block food and fuel as part of “a complete siege” on Hamas-run Gaza which consists of a population of 2.3 million people — one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

    “We are putting a complete siege on Gaza … No electricity, no food, no water, no gas – it’s all closed,” Gallant said in a video statement.

    Israel-Hamas war

    On October 7, in an unexpected turn of events, Hamas fighters attacked Israeli bases and settlements.

    Hamas launched dozens of rockets into Israel as part of ‘Operation Al Aqsa Storm’ against illegal settlements in the occupied territory.

    From Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif gave a statement, stating, “Today the people are regaining their revolution,” he said in the recorded message, as he called on Palestinians from east Jerusalem to northern Israel to join the fight and “expel the occupiers and demolish the walls.”

    “We must set the earth on fire under the feet of the occupiers,” Deif added.

    He also claimed to have fired over 5,000 rockets into Israel.

    On the contrary, Israel has declared a “state of readiness”. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “We are at war and we will win”

    “Our enemy will pay the type of price which it has never known,” Netanyahu said in video statement.

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