Category: Uncategorized

  • 24-karat gold price increases to Rs211,100 per tola

    24-karat gold price increases to Rs211,100 per tola

    In a rebound from the significant dip in the previous session influenced by higher-than-expected US inflation data, the price of 24-karat gold in the local bullion market surged by Rs300, reaching Rs211,100 per tola on Thursday.

    According to the Karachi Sarafa Association, the cost of 10-gramme 24-karat gold witnessed a notable increase, reaching Rs180,984, marking a gain of Rs257 compared to the previous session.

    Conversely, the price of 10-gramme 22-karat gold experienced a decline, falling to Rs165,902.

    Silver prices, on the other hand, remained stable today.

    The 24-karat silver was reported to be trading at Rs2,580 per tola, while the 10-gramme silver was at Rs2,211.93.

    Internationally, the spot gold market showed signs of recovery, currently being traded at $1,993.75, registering a gain of $1.45 day-on-day.

    Notably, yesterday’s shock in the consumer price index (CPI) pushed gold prices below the $2,000 mark for the first time in two months.

    The disappointing US CPI data took investors by surprise, following a recent decline in price pressures that had fueled expectations of rate cuts later this year, as reported by Bloomberg.

    The likelihood of a rate cut in May dropped to about 32 per cent, down from around 64 per cent before the release of the inflation data, with less than 90 basis points anticipated for the remainder of the year.

  • PTI to form KP govt with Pervez Khattak’s Tehreek-e-Insaf-Parliamentarians

    PTI to form KP govt with Pervez Khattak’s Tehreek-e-Insaf-Parliamentarians

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to form the government with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-Parliamentarians (PTI-P) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). 

    PTI insiders told Geo News that Imran Khan has given permission to make an alliance with PTI-P in KP, led by Pervez Khattak.

    After Jamaat-e-Islami’s refusal, PTI decided to talk with Pervez Khattak and form an alliance. PTI-P has won two seats in the general elections.

    On the other hand, PTI has also nominated Ali Amin Gandapur for the position of Chief Minister (CM) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

  • Dead politicians come back to life for Indian elections

    Dead politicians come back to life for Indian elections

    Dead Indian politicians are coming back to life with the help of artificial intelligence as the election is around the corner in the country.

    As election campaigns are underway, certain political contenders are resorting to resurrecting dead politicians to appeal to the public. In January, M Karunanidhi, Indian writer and politician, made an appearance during a live assembly via projected screen, and congratulated his “82-year-old friend and fellow politician” TR Baalu on the launch of his autobiographical book.

    Karunanidhi, who died in 2018, has been resurrected thrice as of yet.

    Deep fake speeches have also been used to highlight his son’s achievements, MK Stalin, who is leading the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party.

    This development raises profound questions about the ethical and legal implications of using AI to resurrect deceased individuals and ascribe opinions to them.

    The decision to utilise AI for elections has multiple downsides such as lack of authenticity, ethics etc.

  • More voters, less turnout: FAFEN on Feb 8 polls

    More voters, less turnout: FAFEN on Feb 8 polls

    The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has reported that around 60.6 million Pakistanis voted in the country’s 12th general elections, held on February 8. This number was higher than 2018 elections, in which least 54.8 million citizens participated. The number this increased by 5.8 million voters, according to FAFEN post-election analysis report.

    The election watchdog reported that fewer people voted in the recent general polls compared to the total number of registered voters. In 2018, 52.1 percent of registered voters participated in the polls whereas this year, only 47.6 percent turned out to vote.

    The decrease in turnout, however, can be largely attributed to the increase in registered voters from 106 million in 2018 to 128.6 million in 2024. A considerable rise of 22.6 million registered voters between the 2018 and 2024 elections was highlighted in the report.

    The report suggested that the turnout might have been affected by several factors, including severe winter in some areas, concerns about violence and terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, and uncertainty regarding how the elections would be conducted.

    The analysis report on voter turnout reveals that KP had the lowest turnout. The report also notes that voter turnout varies across National Assembly (NA) constituencies, with Islamabad Capital Territory recording the highest turnout.

  • Need the government to give assurances that the army will not do business: CJ Isa

    Need the government to give assurances that the army will not do business: CJ Isa

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa has raised concerns over commercial activities being conducted on military land and sought assurance from the attorney general that the army would solely focus on defense-related matters, refraining from engaging in business ventures.

    The request came up during a hearing of a petition regarding commercial activities on military-owned land.

    CJP Isa highlighted instances where the army had ventured into business activities, including the establishment of marriage halls on military premises.

    The Chief Justice then sought assurance from the attorney general that the army would remain the “protector” and not do any business.

    “Can you get this assurance?” CJP Isa asked the attorney general. He also added that everyone should work as per their mandate.
    “The army should do its own work and courts will do their job,” said CJP Isa.

    In response, AGP Mansoor Usman Awan stated that as per principle, everyone should do their job.

    However, CJP Isa insisted on receiving a direct assurance from the attorney general regarding the military’s commitment to refrain from business activities.

    During the proceedings, the lawyer representing the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) intervened, shedding light on the dispute involving a building constructed on ETPB-owned land. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar remarked on the ETPB’s passive role during the building’s construction.

    CJP Isa underscored the necessity of investigating the involvement of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) in the construction process. He called for a thorough examination of assets belonging to SBCA officers above the rank of inspector, emphasizing the need for transparency.

    “The Karachi sub registry’s assets should also be audited by the FBR. The residents of demolished buildings should receive money from all assets beyond means,” said the CJP. He also added that the Sindh government would never do an inquiry on this.

    The DG informed the court that currently there are 1,400 employees with the SCBA out of which 600 are building inspectors and 300 are senior inspectors.

  • ‘PTI can talk to all parties to solve country’s problems’; Ali Muhammad Khan offers olive branch

    ‘PTI can talk to all parties to solve country’s problems’; Ali Muhammad Khan offers olive branch

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-supported independent candidates are currently leading in numbers after the recent general elections. However, the party’s leadership seems unsure about their stance on discussions with other political parties in the context of forming a government in Islamabad.

    A day earlier, former Prime Minister Imran Khan said that his party will not talk to mainstream parties, including, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).

    On the other hand, PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan said in an interview with Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ that PTI can talk with all political parties to solve the country’s problems, offering an olive branch as opposed to his party’s hard-line stance.

    “We have no personal fight with these parties,” Ali said pointedly, adding that PTI is ready to sit with other political stakeholders, as soon as “tomorrow morning”.

  • Sudden demise of budding tennis player shocks fraternity

    Young tennis player Zainab Ali Naqvi passed away on Monday, leaving the sports fraternity in shock.

    17-year-old Zainab from Karachi was in Islamabad to compete at the ITF Junior Tennis Championship.

    She had reportedly gone to take a shower after her match on Monday and was then found dead in the restroom.

    After not returning for a long while and not answering her grandmother’s calls, the staff broke into her room where she was lying unconscious. She was taken to Kulsum International Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

    “Zainab’s body was then shifted to the PolyClinic for autopsy before it was flown to Karachi. The real cause of death will be determined in the autopsy report but it apparently seems that it was a heart failure due to showering immediately after a hectic practice session.”, quotes Dawn.com

    “Zainab Ali Naqvi, a young tennis player who had come to Islamabad from Karachi to participate in the ITF Juniors Tournaments, passed away last night on 12th February 2024 in Islamabad,” stated the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF).

  • PPP likely to join federal government

    PPP likely to join federal government

    The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is likely to join the federal cabinet despite publically stating on Tuesday that the party will only support Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate for prime minister, Geo has reported on Wednesday.

    A day earlier, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto said that his party will only support PML-N in government formation and will not take ministries.

    In a press conference following the two-day Central Executive Committee meeting of the PPP, Bilawal stated that the party is open to offering support on specific issues and crucial votes for the Prime Minister candidate of Pakistan, aiming to facilitate government formation and restore political stability.

    “The PPP has decided that while we are not in a position to join the federal government ourselves, nor will we be interested in taking ministries in such a set-up, we also do not want to see political chaos in the country. We do not want to see perpetual crisis in the country,” he said.

    Asif Ali Zardari, the co-chairman of PPP, announced in a press conference later the same night, the formation of a six-party alliance for the next coalition government. He stated that they had decided to form the government together.

  • PPP is not interested to be part of government in centre, says Bilawal Bhutto

    PPP is not interested to be part of government in centre, says Bilawal Bhutto

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that his party is not interested in being part of the government in the centre. He also said that the PPP didn’t get a mandate and that “I’m not a candidate for Prime Minister.”

    The PPP Chairman said that PPP is not in a position to form a government at the centre, adding that PTI has said that it will not hold any talks with PPP, and PML-N is the only party that invited us to join the government at the centre.

    “We have decided that we are not in a position to be a part of the federal government. The former foreign minister said that we will not take ministries into the federal government, but we will vote for PML-N’s candidate for prime minister.

    He further said that we want the government formation to be completed soon and the country to come out of the crisis.

  • Why Ali Amin Gandapur should NOT be Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister

    Why Ali Amin Gandapur should NOT be Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister

    Imran Khan, former Prime Minister and founding Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has nominated former federal minister Ali Amin Gandapur as the party’s candidate for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s chief minister post.

    But his nomination has sparked outcry on social media in the light of the atrocious allegations against him.

    In 2017, eight men stripped and paraded a teenage girl in Garahmat village of Daraban tehsil in Dera Ismail Khan.

    The incident took place on October 27 when a 16-year-old girl was stopped by men as she was on her way home. They then stripped her naked and forced her to walk in the village for an hour.

    The girl screamed for help but was ignored by witnesses who were “scared” to help her.

    She was allegedly ‘punished’ for her brother’s actions who, three years prior, had allegedly entered into a relationship with a girl from the village.

    PTI MNA Dawar Khan Kundi wrote a letter to Imran Khan, pointing out Gandapur’s — the-then Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Minister — involvement in enabling the incident.

    “I visited the family a week before and they asked, in fact, requested me to make sure that Ali Amin Gandapur, revenue minister KP, may be forced and asked to withdraw his support for the criminals,” Kundi wrote in the letter, dated November 8.

    Gandapur denied the allegations and visited the girl’s family, ensuring them that he will arrange her marriage and take any financial responsibility needed.

    On the contrary, the girl revealed that during her statement admission to the police, she was “threatened” which hindered her in giving all the details.

    “When I started recording my statement, the police officer didn’t write it correctly. Instead, he wrote only what he wanted to”, Geo news quoted her as saying.

    While on one hand Imran Khan posted on X (formerly Twitter) with regard to FIR filed against the perpetrators and the arrests, he, nonetheless, deemed the allegations against Gandapur as false and instead announced that he would expel Kundi from the party.

    Apart from his involvement in the case, he also has a reputation for foul language. To quote an example, in one of his addresses to the public, in reply to one of Maryam Nawaz’s comments, “Jaisa moun waisay thapar”, he said that she shall get “slapped” for the insights he has on her.