Category: Uncategorized

  • Step down in five days, Bilawal warns Khan

    Step down in five days, Bilawal warns Khan

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has given an ultimatum to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan. The PPP leader said that the prime minister himself should decide about his fate within five days, otherwise “we will decide his fate”.

    “I want free and fair elections immediately. The PM has only two options: resign or face no-confidence move,” Bilawal told a charged crowd as he makes his way towards the federal capital.

    “Imran Khan’s presence is harmful to the country and the people, and the democratic process of a no-trust move has been adopted to remove him from the office,” said the PPP leader.

    “The people have shown their lack of confidence in this government. Now, it is time for the parliamentarians to show it too,” he added.

    “This is the last chance for the coalition partners to withdraw their support for the Imran Khan-led regime and absolve themselves of their three years of sin they had committed by supporting this incompetent and selected regime.”

    Bilawal reiterated, “It was because of the pressure of the march that the government had to bring the prices down.”

  • ‘Historic moment in Pakistan cricket,’ says PCB CEO Faisal Hasnain as Pakistan and Australia series kicks off

    ‘Historic moment in Pakistan cricket,’ says PCB CEO Faisal Hasnain as Pakistan and Australia series kicks off

    After 24 years, Pakistan and Australia are playing the first Test match of the PakvsAus series today (March 4) in Rawalpindi. Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat. Team Australia arrived in Pakistan on Sunday (February 27) for their first tour since 1998 and will play three Tests, three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and a T20I.

    “The pitch looks nice so we’ll try to put runs on the board,” said Pakistan skipper Babar Azam. He also predicted that our spinners would play a key role in the first match of the three-Test series.

    Babar Azam and Pat Cummins are leading their sides in the first Test of the three-match Benaud-Qadir ICC World Test Championship series match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) CEO Faisal Hasnain said in a press conference today (Friday) that Pakistani cricket fans have waited 24 years for this moment. He expressed gratitude to the Australian Cricket Team for their tour to Pakistan.

     Naseem Shah has been included in the squad for the first Test against Australia after bowler Haris Rauf tested positive for Covid-19.

    Test squads for Rawalpindi match

    Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah

    Australia: Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

    Test schedule:
    • 1st Test, Rawalpindi: March 4-8
    • 2nd Test, Karachi: March 12-16
    • 3rd Test, Lahore: March 21-25
  • Oil companies warn govt of fuel shortage in Pakistan

    Oil companies warn govt of fuel shortage in Pakistan

    Oil marketing companies and refineries have reportedly expressed serious concerns and warned of a fuel crisis in the country after the government’s announcement of a relief package, according to Geo News.

    In a meeting between Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and the petroleum division, several questions have been raised regarding petroleum prices. They argued that how can they sell petroleum products at cheaper prices when they are buying them at an expensive rate from the international market. They asked, “who will pay the price difference?”

    According to the secretary of petroleum, the government is preparing a price adjustment mechanism and the government will pay later. Till then, oil marketing companies and refineries should bear the price difference.

    In response to this, oil marketing companies and refineries said that the situation doesn’t seem to be sustainable as the country can face an interruption in the supply of petroleum products.

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, in an announcement on Monday, said that the government has slashed petrol, diesel prices by Rs10 per litre and electricity prices by Rs5 per unit as part of a series of measures to bring some relief to the public. He also promised that the government will not increase the prices of these commodities till the next budget, which will be announced in June.

  • ‘Logon ko yeh bhi nahi pata k woh namaz main Allah sy kya mangtay hain’: PM Khan

    ‘Logon ko yeh bhi nahi pata k woh namaz main Allah sy kya mangtay hain’: PM Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said that the youth of Pakistan does not know the actual reason as to why was Pakistan made.

    PM Khan said, “I realised this that our kids and youth does not have a complete understanding as to why was this country [Pakistan] made. Why did Allah say in the Quran to follow Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)? People don’t even know what do they ask from Allah when they offer namaz.” The premier’s words came during an address at the National Rehmatul-Lil-Alameen Authority event.

    “I was born in a Muslim household, but I came towards Islam through my life experiences. This was made possible as I saw two different cultures. I saw the Western culture thoroughly. But the actual change came within me when I read about the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).”

    The premier went on to say that if you want to see a society gets destroyed when you accept corruption and evil happening within it.

    “We accepted corruption with our country. You throw flowers at the corrupt. One ran away from the country, after lying and big journalists are saying that we should allow him to give a speech,” said the premier.

    “The lawyers said to lift the ban off him and allow him to contest in the elections again,” said the premier alluding to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif.

    “A nation whose character is not great cannot become great, only by following the principles of justice and a welfare state can a nation make its place,” said PM Khan.

  • Pakistan chooses not to vote in the UNGA session to censure Russia

    Pakistan chooses not to vote in the UNGA session to censure Russia

    In the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) emergency session on Wednesday, Pakistan abstained from voting to censure Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

    Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram delivered a speech, in which he said, “Pakistan is committed to the fundamental principles of the UN Charter: self-determination of peoples, non-use or threat of use of force, sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, and pacific settlement of disputes.”

    “We hope the talks initiated between representatives of the Russian Federation and Ukraine will succeed in bringing about a cessation of hostilities and normalisation of the situation,” he said while adding that Pakistan supports all efforts to provide humanitarian relief to civilians in the affected areas.

    The ambassador stated that Pakistan was more concerned about the safety of Pakistani citizens and students in Ukraine.

    The session was called by the UN which demanded that Russia should stop fighting and urged it to immediately withdraw its military forces from Ukraine.

    141 member states voted in favour of the resolution. Besides Russia, four other countries voted against the resolution. While India, Bangladesh, China (one of the five permanent members) abstained.

    Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) received a letter from top diplomats of 22 countries on Tuesday, urging Islamabad to support a UNGA resolution, reports Dawn.

  • Nawaz Sharif gives green signal to kick out PM Khan, PPP agrees to early elections

    Nawaz Sharif gives green signal to kick out PM Khan, PPP agrees to early elections

    Former Prime Minister (PM) and leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif has given a green signal to the Opposition on the issue of a no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan.

    The success of the no-confidence motion raises the possibility of a consensus among the three main Opposition parties for immediate elections, reports Geo Urdu.

    Nawaz Sharif has given a green signal to Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and former president Asif Ali Zardari to bring a no-confidence motion against Imran Khan.

    The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was adamant about completing the constitutional term instead of holding immediate elections and the coalition parties of the government had also given a charter of demands to complete the constitutional term.

    The deadlock in the Opposition over the no-confidence motion against PM Khan has ended and PDM has persuaded the PPP to hold immediate elections.

    Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) leader and official spokesman for PDM Hafiz Hamdullah said that the joint Opposition would submit the no-confidence motion in the next 48 hours.

    According to Maulana, the Opposition will make a final decision regarding submitting a vote of the no-confidence motion in the next two to three days.

  • No-confidence to be submitted in 48 hours: PDM

    No-confidence to be submitted in 48 hours: PDM

    Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) leader and official spokesman for the Pakistan Demo­cratic Movement (PDM) Hafiz Hamdullah said that the joint Opposition would submit the no-confidence motion in the next 48 hours.

    The development emerged after PDM chief and JUI-F head Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s talks with reporters regarding the no-confidence motion.

    According to Maulana, the Opposition will make a final decision regarding submitting a vote of the no-confidence motion in the next two to three days.

    PDM chief termed the upcoming days “important”. He claimed they have the numbers required for the success of the no-confidence motion. However, he revealed that it has not been decided yet whether they would bring the no-confidence motion against National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser or Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    It is pertinent to mention that in order to bring in-house change against PM Khan, the joint Opposition needs the support of 172 Members of the National Assembly (MNAs). For the no-confidence motion against the NA’s speaker and deputy speaker, the Opposition would need simply a majority in the Lower House.

    Moreover, Maulana said that it seems that the “umpires” [establishment] are neutral. He declared that the Opposition is not seeking any support from the establishment, rather they want them to stop supporting the government.

    An insider told Dawn when the Opposition is 100 per cent about the success rate of the no-confidence motion, only then they will table it. He said it is true that some of the government’s own people are in contact with the Opposition but they still don’t have sufficient numbers.

  • Man murders wife, sends dead body with 10-year-old child in rickshaw

    Man murders wife, sends dead body with 10-year-old child in rickshaw

    A man in Lahore allegedly tortured his wife to death over a personal dispute and sent her body to her family in an auto-rickshaw, along with her minor daughter.

    Nisar married Anjum 15 years ago and the couple was living in Lahore’s Tauheed Park. As per details, Nisar tortured Anjum to death and then packed her body. He then hired a rickshaw to transport her body. He also sent their 10-year old daughter, who was alive, to his wife’s family.

    CCPO Lahore Fayyaz Ahmad Dev has also taken notice of the incident.

    Read more- Video: Two women allegedly kill house help, hide body in a cardboard box

    Last month in February, the body of a female, who was working in a house was discovered in a cardboard box by police in Kahna. In CCTV footage found by the police, two women — Bushra and her daughter Irum — were seen dragging a cardboard box, which allegedly contained the victim’s body.

  • Harshvardhan Rane announces ‘Sanam Teri Kasam 2’, will Mawra Hocane be a part of it?

    Harshvardhan Rane announces ‘Sanam Teri Kasam 2’, will Mawra Hocane be a part of it?

    After six years of its release, Bollywood actor Harshvardhan Rane has announced the sequel to his romantic drama Sanam Teri Kasam starring Pakistani actress Mawra Hocane.

    The Indian star announced it on his Instagram handle. “Sanam Teri Kasam 2 in 2022. YOU made it happen, yes you! #STK2,” he wrote.

    Reportedly, the sequel will go floors in September-October this year. 

    Mawra will not be starring in the film owing to the political tensions between India and Pakistan. Indian government banned Pakistani artists in 2016 after Uri Attacks.

    For the unversed, Sanam Teri Kasam was helmed by Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru.

    Recently Harshvardhan opened up about his personal struggle in an interview.

    “I come from a humble family. I ran away from home at the age of 15-16 with just Rs 200 in my pocket. So, I don’t really have that thing where I am writing cheques for charity. My mind works in that direction where I think of converting my possession for someone’s benefit. In the past, I have auctioned my outfits from films for charity — the money was used for orphan girls whose parents had died of HIV. During the lockdown, people were scrambling for medical resources, and I wanted to help them. So, I sold my bike. In retrospect, the bike had a purpose, because it helped many souls.”

  • Insights: Fawad-Sanam wrap up Zee5’s ‘supernatural fantasy with a family reunion’

    Insights: Fawad-Sanam wrap up Zee5’s ‘supernatural fantasy with a family reunion’

    Actors Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed have reunited for a Zee5 show 10 years after Zindagi Gulzar Hai that pushed the duo to superstardom in Pakistan.

    Their yet-to-be-titled web-series has just wrapped up filming. Their project is being helmed by Asim Abbasi, who also directed Churails and feature film Cake.

    Fawad Khan Sanam Saeed

    According to Variety, the show is a blend of magical realism and supernatural fantasy with a family reunion. Humsafar actor Khan is seen in a role of a single parent who tries to be the father that his own father wasn’t. Saeed, who recently starred in Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam, bears otherworldly secrets in the show and takes it upon herself to heal and bring everyone together.

    The pair posted some behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot a few months ago. Khan had described the story as a “genre-bending saga of familial traumas and reconciliations, a tale of love and loss set in a world of magic and mystique.”

    The series, which blends magical realism and supernatural fantasy with a family reunion, is helmed by critically acclaimed director Asim Abbasi who also directed Zindagi’s first Pakistani original “Churails” and the feature film “Cake.”

    Khan plays a single parent who, with his son, tries to be every bit the father his own father wasn’t. Saeed plays the central female character in the series. Harbouring otherworldly secrets, she takes it upon herself to heal, and make whole, everyone who surrounds her.

    The series was shot on location in Karachi and the picturesque Hunza valley.

    “This is a very personal project for me. The shoot which spanned over five months has been the most challenging experience of my life but also the most rewarding,” Abbasi said. “The ensemble have done a beautiful job, and given some career best performances. While we have had many eventful days shooting for the series, the last day of the shoot was particularly action-packed. I remember the car we were supposed to shoot with didn’t work, so we used my personal car instead. During the shot, Fawad really had to burn the rubber, as he had to do a u-turn on a single lane road. It was a perfect shot but now I need new tyres.”