Category: Uncategorized

  • Man fined for illegally hunting rare bird in Parachinar

    Man fined for illegally hunting rare bird in Parachinar

    The Environment Ministry of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has fined a man Rs 40,000 for illegally hunting a rare pheasant in Parachinar.

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam, shared the news on social media, saying that “PTI believes in wildlife preservation through strict enforcement of the new Wildlife Protection Act.”

    He lauded authorities for apprehending and penalising the person for his crime within a day of illegally hunting this “rare and beautiful Monal Pheasant”.

    https://twitter.com/IsbZooFriends/status/1324018955330224130?s=20

    According to details, the Himalayan Monal is a pheasant native to Himalayan forests and shrublands. It is native to the KP province and has been recorded in Kaghan, Palas Valley, and Azad Kashmir. The main threat to the species is poaching, as the crest is valuable. It is thought to bring status to its wearer and is a symbol of authority.

    Read more – Rare striped hyena rescued in DI Khan

    Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain and senior PML-N leader Khawaja Asif condemned the act of illegal hunting the rare bird.

    “So upsetting,” said Fawad, while Asif called the act “despicable”.

  • US Elections 2020: Jemima, Greta Thunberg troll Trump

    With the results of the US Elections 2020 yet to be announced, people are killing time and anxiety by turning to jokes and memes. Jemima Goldsmith, who has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump and his policies, trolled him by sharing the White House version of ‘Mujhe Kyun Nikala‘ — a phrase coined by Nawaz Sharif.

    In the video shared by Jemima, a man who looks like Trump can be seen sitting on an inflatable exercise ball, surrounded by a group of children. Another man, who resembles vice-president Mike Pence, seems to be pulling Trump off the exercise ball while the Trump impersonator yells that he doesn’t want to go.

    https://twitter.com/Jemima_Khan/status/1324452569566109697?s=20

    Similarly, Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg trolled the president over a tweet of his in which he called for the vote count to be stopped.

    Responding to the latter’s tweet, the teenage climate activist used Trump’s own words against him.

    “So ridiculous, Donald must work on his anger management problem, and then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Donald, Chill!” wrote the 17-year-old.

    Thunberg finally got her revenge against Trump after he criticised Time magazine’s decision to name her ‘Person of the Year’.

    Meanwhile, earlier in 2016, Jemima dressed up as Melania Trump being groped by her husband, Donald Trump, for the UNICEF Halloween Ball in London. Jemima decided to pull over the anti-Trump costume after a video of Trump got leaked in which he was explicitly talking about groping women and making horrifying statements over abuse.

    As counting votes continues in critical swing states in the US, Trump has been spreading misinformation and demanding that vote counting stops.

  • Twitter reacts to ‘Pornhub popup’ during CNN’s live coverage of US election

    In a rather awkward incident, a Pornhub popup has allegedly appeared during CNN’s live coverage of the United States (US) presidential election.

    According to the details, as the neck-and-neck race for the key to the White House between Democratic challenger Joe Biden and American President Donald Trump stretches over four days now, someone at CNN seems to be in dire need of a distraction.

    A video doing rounds over the internet shows senior American journalist Wolf Blitzer commenting on the endless counting of votes in Pennsylvania while news anchor John King, who is said to not have slept for more than six hours since Tuesday, stands on the other side of the studio, in front of a big interactive screen.

    It isn’t later that King notices what is being claimed to be a Pornhub popup on the screen. A quick gesture and the alleged porn site label, perhaps visited at that moment by someone in the editorial office, disappears.

    The anchor is then seen giving someone a “death stare”, leaving netizens wondering if he knew who it was.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    https://twitter.com/PatrickSikler/status/1324645655055400961

    Here’s what Twitterati have to say about the episode:

    https://twitter.com/titancrising/status/1324658856396529665

    While some weren’t as amused…

    …some also said that the video was “fake“.

    https://twitter.com/lewiswake/status/1324655345369796609

    What do you think? Let The Current know in the comments

  • Nearly $1 billion stolen from a bitcoin wallet

    Nearly $1 billion stolen from a bitcoin wallet

    Nearly $1 billion dollars were reportedly moved from a bitcoin wallet that has been inactive since 2013. It remains unclear whether the transaction was done by the real owner of the wallet or if someone stole it after breaching the password.

    According to bitcoin records, more than 69,369 BTC, which are worth approximately $975 million, were moved over the past 24 hours. Alon Gal, CTO of security firm Hudson Rock was the first person to report the transaction.

    “Unbelievable, someone was able to crack the password of the bitcoin wallet I reported on only a short time ago and spend the $1,000,000,000 that was inside it,” said Gal.

    He added that “it is unclear if the real owner of the account did the transaction or someone managed a to hack and steal it, which is unlikely”.

    There are speculations that the real owner might have moved the amount in the wake of recent reports, pointing out that his wallet was being used by hackers.

    This wallet was supposedly inactive since 2013.

    Analysts believe that the funds came from sales on Silk Road, the underground market that deals in illegal services and goods.

  • After hundreds of train accidents, casualties in two years, PM says ‘role of railways crucial for Naya Pakistan’

    After nearly 200 major and minor train accidents that have caused hundreds of casualties since the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) took reins of the country in 2018, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said that the role of Pakistan Railways is “crucial” in the journey to Naya Pakistan.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the Hassan Abdal Railway Station in Attock, the premier underlined that across the world, trains were a cheap and comfortable way to travel.

    “Railways are important because it’s a commute for the poor and common people of Pakistan,” he said.

    “Unfortunately, we did not develop the railway system provided by the British,” PM Imran said, adding that for the first time, the largest investment to Pakistan Railways was coming through the ML-1.

    ML-1 or Main Line 1 is one of the four main railway lines in Pakistan. The Karachi-Peshawar Railway Line begins from Karachi City station or Kiamari Station and ends at Peshawar Cantonment Station. The total length of this line is 1,687 kilometers with 184 railway stations.

    The line serves as the main passenger and freight line of the country as it is used by 75% of both sorts of rail traffic. It is currently undergoing a six-year Rs886.68 billion upgrade and renovation as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with average rail speeds expected to be doubled to 160 kilometers per hour upon completion.

    The premier said the journey from Karachi to Lahore through ML-1 would come down to seven hours, and the project “will be an important step towards self-reliance”.

    Railways would play an important role in Pakistan’s economic development, he remarked.

    RAILWAYS SINCE 2018:

    While the premier has highlighted the significance of railways for the materialisation of his dream of a new Pakistan, it merits a mention that a significant spike in train accidents over the past two years has further marred the department’s safety record.

    According to Dawn, over 100 train-related incidents, including some fatal accidents took place in 2019 besides 111 incidents of engine failure within the first five months of the year alone.

    These come on top of minor derailment incidents at least one of which is reported every week with the last reported three weeks ago near Ghotki in Sindh.

    Here’s a list of major untoward incidents involving trains since 2018…

    September 16, 2018:

    Nine bogies of the Peshawar-bound Khushal Khan Khattak Express from Karachi derailed near Attock. 20 passengers were injured.

    September 27, 2018:

    Another Peshawar-bound train derailed in which 11 bogies overturned in Sehwan, Sindh.

    December 18, 2018:

    At least 12 children were injured as a passenger train crashed into a school van near Narowal in Punjab. Local witnesses said the accident happened due to dense fog and because the gate at the crossing was left open.

    June 9, 2019:

    As many as 23 bogies of a Karachi-bound freight train derailed in Sukkur.

    June 20, 2019:

    Three people were killed when a passenger train collided with a stationary cargo train in Makli Shah near Hyderabad.

    July 11, 2019:

    A Quetta-bound train collided with a cargo train near Sadiqabad in Punjab, killing 24 people and injuring over 100 others. The accident was later found to be caused by a delay in switching the train tracks.

    October 31, 2019:

    Fire engulfed a train near Rahim Yar Khan in Punjab, killing 65 people. The cause of the incident was discovered to be a gas explosion. A canister had been carried by passengers to cook on the train amid the authorities’ failure to keep a check on the travellers’ luggage.

    February 28, 2020:

    At least 19 people were killed when a train collided with a passenger bus near Sindh’s Rohri.

    July 3, 2020:

    At least 20 people died and ten others were injured when Shah Hussain Express collided with a bus near Sachcha Sauda Railway Station in Sheikhupura. Most victims were members of the Pakistani Sikh community.

  • PM accused of seeking Justice Isa’s removal, action against Geo’s Mir Shakil

    PM accused of seeking Justice Isa’s removal, action against Geo’s Mir Shakil

    A day after two Supreme Court judges criticised the federal government over a “mala fide” reference against Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Prime Minister Imran Khan has been accused of seeking lawyers’ help for the removal of Supreme Court judge Qazi Faez Isa.

    The claim was made by former Supreme Court Bar Association chairman Yasin Azad in a comment to Voicepk.net.

    Azad said the prime minister had met a delegation of the lawyers last month, wherein he allegedly asked them to help him get rid of Justice Isa. He alleged that Justice Isa’s free-spirited attitude “upsets” the government.

    During the meeting, the PM also vowed to teach Mir Shakilur Rehman, the owner of Geo, a lesson. Shakilur Rahman is behind bars in a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for over six months now in a case pertaining to allotment of plots 34 years ago.

    The media mogul was called to the NAB office in Lahore in March for submitting his answers to the questionnaire attached with a call-up notice and was subsequently arrested. A reference has also been filed against him and other accused by the NAB chief earlier this year.

    NAB has come under increasing criticism for acting against the critics of the Imran Khan-led government during the past couple of years.  

    On July 20, 2020, Pakistan’s Supreme Court, in an 87-page decision, ruled that NAB had violated the rights to a fair trial and due process in the arrest of two opposition politicians, Khawaja Saad Rafique and Salman Rafique, whom the NAB detained for 15 months without reasonable grounds.

    NAB, however, says it is independent in its decision-making process.

  • Pakistanis win the US elections with memes and jokes

    Pakistanis win the US elections with memes and jokes

    Barring the fact that a change in the White House may require a shift of policy in Islamabad and Pakistan will have to rethink its diplomatic ties with the US, Pakistanis are making the most of the US Elections 2020 with what they do best – making memes.

    As US citizens and Presidential candidates wait with bated breaths for the results, Pakistanis have been sharing memes and jokes on social media. From Trump asking ‘Vote ko izzat dou‘ to Biden saying ‘Mein Inko Rulaun Ga‘, Pakistani Twitter is lit with memes that are bound to tickle your funny bones.

    Check out some of the funniest memes below:

    https://twitter.com/thepakimon/status/1324199320351084545?s=20
    https://twitter.com/SuspendedBila/status/1324003390502948865?s=20
    https://twitter.com/SuspendedBila/status/1324258087755255809?s=20

    Read more – ‘Relax, it happens,’ former senator of ‘grape’ fame tells Donald Trump

    Some netizens got creative with photoshop.

    Which meme is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below.

  • Over 14,000 unlicensed drivers penalised in Islamabad

    As many as 14,489 motorists driving cars or riding bikes without a license have so far been fined by the Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) in 2020.

    According to an ITP spokesperson, the department is currently on a mission to ensure vehicular discipline and take strict action against motorists who neglect traffic rules. He added that the fine tickets are issued not as a punitive measure, but to enable citizens to respect traffic laws and contribute to road safety.

    The reports suggest that the police department has also started an awareness campaign to sensitise motorists to the importance of traffic laws. The authorities are aiming to control illegal activities like driving without a licence, one-wheeling, careless driving, risky stunts, and ensuring lane discipline.

    ASSP (Traffic) Farrukh Rasheed said that the ITP personnel will continue their efforts to ensure road safety in the capital. In his statement, he urged people to cooperate with the ITP to make Islamabad accident-free.

    In a bid to curb vehicular tragedies, the Road Safety Council of Pakistan (RSCP) has been established to ensure the prevention of road accidents, through the dissemination of information and coordination with various relevant departments to lessen the risks associated with on-road commutes.

    RSCP Chairman Irfan Baloch has said that the main objective of the council is to reduce traffic crashes and injuries by generating awareness about road safety and build a sense of responsibility in people.

    “We want to save precious lives through the prevention of road traffic accidents, and we strongly believe that all road crashes are preventable.”

  • Pakistan reacts to Indian claims of taking Kartarpur Gurdwara’s management away from Sikh body

    Pakistan reacts to Indian claims of taking Kartarpur Gurdwara’s management away from Sikh body

    Pakistan has firmly rejected the “baseless and fallacious” claims made by the Indian government against the Kartarpur Corridor, and the same have also been rejected by the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC).

    In a statement, Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri has said that the malicious propaganda by the Indian government is simply an attempt to malign the peace corridor initiative.

    “The malicious propaganda by the Indian government is simply an attempt to malign the peace corridor initiative by casting mischievous aspersions against the interests of the Sikh community and to detract attention from the reprehensible violation of human rights of minorities in India,” he said.

    The FO said that it was no more than an Indian attempt to cast damaging accusations against the interests of the Sikh community and to detract attention from India’s own reprehensible human rights violations of minorities in India.

    Chaudri added that the PSGPC is responsible for carrying out rituals in Gurdwara Sahiban, including Kartarpur, as per Sikh Rehat Maryada.

    “Any insinuations regarding ‘transferring’ the affairs of Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib from the PSGPC to the Project Management Unit (PMU) are not only contrary to the facts but are also aimed at creating religious disharmony by the Hindutva-driven government in India,” the FO spokesperson said.

    “The PMU, under the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), has simply been created to facilitate the committee in this regard,” he added.

    Chaudhri said that the Sikh community from all over the world remains greatly appreciative of the efforts made by Pakistan to complete the Kartarpur Corridor project in record time and for the excellent arrangements made to facilitate the pilgrims.

    “India would be well advised to take steps to protect its minorities and their places of worship, rather than feigning misleading and sham concerns for the rights of minorities elsewhere,” he said.

    INDIAN CLAIMS:

    India had on Thursday “highly condemned” Pakistan’s then alleged decision to transfer the management of the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara from PSGPC to a separate trust, saying the move ran against the religious sentiments of the Sikh community.

    The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said India received representations from the Sikh community expressing grave concern over the decision to transfer the management and maintenance of the gurudwara from the PSGPC to the administrative control of the ETPB.

    KARTARPUR SAHIB:

    Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is located in Pakistan’s Narowal district across Ravi, about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine.

    In November last year, the two countries threw open a corridor linking Dera Baba Sahib in Gurdaspur in India with Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan, in a historic people-to-people initiative.

    The move was lauded by members of the Sikh community from all across the globe.

  • Karachi man requests court to legalise hashish in public interest

    Karachi man requests court to legalise hashish in public interest

    A man has approached the Sindh High Court, asking it to decriminalise carrying and smoking small quantities of hashish in the public interest.

    The petitioner had requested the court that people be allowed to carry 10 grammes of hashish (chars) on their person. “What kind of a petition have you brought? Do you want everyone to start smoking chars?” responded Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, visibly perturbed by the plea.

    At this, petitioner Ghulam Asghar Saeein informed the bench that several countries in the world have decriminalised hash.

    “If you want to smoke hash then go to those countries, it is not allowed here,” responded Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, as he dismissed the petition.

    “It will increase the country’s income and revenue,” said the petitioner at the judge’s questioning. “We do not want such money, as there are legitimate ways to increase income,” responded the judge.

    Many Pakistanis are surprisingly open to using cannabis, with the spongy, black hash made from marijuana grown in the country’s tribal belt and neighbouring Afghanistan the preferred variant of the drug, said AFP news agency in a feature on the use of hashish in Pakistan in 2017.

    Whereas alcohol is explicitly forbidden in Islamic scripture, hash seemingly straddles a theological gray zone, which could explain its popularity in the country.

    Even if most observant Muslims in Pakistan scoff at the idea of drinking, a prod into their feelings on marijuana often triggers a wry smile followed by a trite maxim about how good it makes food taste or how restful sleep can be after a toke.

    People have been smoking hash on the subcontinent for centuries.
    It predates the arrival of Islam in the region, with reference to cannabis appearing in the sacred Hindu Atharva Veda text describing its medicinal and ritual uses.

    According to a 2013 UN survey, cannabis was the most widely consumed drug in Pakistan with around four million users, representing 3.6 per cent of the population – a figure that has drawn scepticism in a country where reliable data can be hard to come by.