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  • ‘Isko katein’: Maryam Nawaz asks anchor not to question her about Nawaz’s Toshakhana purchases

    ‘Isko katein’: Maryam Nawaz asks anchor not to question her about Nawaz’s Toshakhana purchases

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President and chief organizer Maryam Nawaz recently gave an interview to anchorperson Mansoor Ali Khan in March. The wide-ranging interview, released in two parts, covered contentious topics, including Sharif family rivalries, economic challenges and arch-rival Imran Khan. However, an unedited leaked clip of the interview has surfaced on the internet on Monday and it shows a question Maryam Nawaz did not want to talk about.

    In the leaked video clip, the PML-N Vice President can be seen interrupting the journalist in response to a question regarding a car purchased by her father Nawaz Sharif from Toshakhana while he was the Prime Minister. Maryam said that she is not aware of the law regarding purchase of vehicles from the official state registry. She further requested the anchor to not add this question to the final version of the interview.

    Twitter users have all kinds of opinions about the video clip, some criticising Maryam Nawaz for interrupting the journalist, some criticising Mansoor Ali Khan for compromising on his journalistic values, while some are having fun by making memes. Have a look at some of the tweets:

    https://twitter.com/LifeWasGoodd/status/1645404164296417280

    The Current reached out to Mansoor Ali Khan, however the anchorperson refused to comment, saying that he will give his stance in his ‘next vlog’.

  • Gold price soars to an all-time high of Rs217,700 per tola amid economic tensions

    Gold price soars to an all-time high of Rs217,700 per tola amid economic tensions

    The price of gold has soared to an all-time high following a significant slump in the rupee against the dollar, with the country struggling to secure external financing. The data released by the All-Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association (APSGJA) shows that the price of gold (24 carats) has spiked by Rs3,100 per tola and Rs2,656 per 10 grammes, settling at Rs217,700 and Rs186,643 respectively.

    The gold rush is in line with the movement of the rupee, which has fallen 2.44 or 0.85 per cent against the US dollar in the interbank market, and an increase in weekly inflation. Inflation has shot up 0.92 per cent week-on-week and 44.49 per cent year-on-year during the seven-day period that ended on April 6th. Prices of sugar and chicken have surged due to Ramzan, and hoarding has caused a likely uptick in inflation.

    Gold is often seen as a hedge against inflation, increasing in value as the purchasing power of the dollar declines. Plus, it’s the season of Ramzan, which brings with it a surge in demand for the precious metal. Investors’ attention has shifted towards gold as economic tensions continue to rise, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reviewing external financing commitments from friendly countries before it releases bailout funds. The delay in the revival of the program has negatively impacted the currency market, which is boosting demand for gold.

    The APSGJA also noted that the price of gold in Pakistan is Rs5,000 per tola “undercost” compared to the Dubai market. Thus, the Pakistani gold market is cheaper than the global market. Meanwhile, silver prices in the domestic market have also jumped to historic highs, increasing by Rs30 per tola and Rs25.72 per 10 grams to settle at Rs2,480 and Rs2,126.20, respectively.

    In the international market, the price of gold dropped $6 per ounce, settling at $2,002. Nevertheless, gold’s rise in Pakistan is set to bring a lot of excitement to the local market.

  • Islamophobia? Imam stabbed while leading Fajr prayers in American mosque

    Islamophobia? Imam stabbed while leading Fajr prayers in American mosque

    An imam was stabbed during Fajr prayers in Paterson, New Jersey, on Sunday, Geo has reported. The attacker was apprehended by worshippers present at the scene. The imam, Elnakib, is presently receiving medical treatment for a punctured lung and is in stable condition, as per local officials.

    “Imam Sayed Elnakib was stabbed during the first prayer of the day, around 5:30am, at Omar Mosque in south Paterson while the congregation was kneeling for prayer,” said mosque spokesperson Abdul Hamdan.
    Reportedly, the individual accused of the attack was present among the 200 worshippers praying at the mosque on Sunday.

    Mayor Andre Sayegh of New Jersey said that he paid a visit to the imam, who was in a better condition than before. Sayegh disclosed that Elnakib was receiving medical attention for a punctured lung, and that the attacker has been arrested, though the reason behind the attack is not yet evident.

  • ‘Domestic violence is not a personal issue’: Social media slams Ushna Shah for justifying support for Feroze Khan

    Actor Ushna Shah has been in hot waters in the past few days after she shared a picture of herself with controversial actor Feroze Khan at a gym on Instagram. She quoted a hadith that called for Ramzan to be a month of mercy and forgiveness. In her next post, she recalled the death of controversial televangelist Amir Liaqat, and asked her followers not to pass quick judgement that could lead to people committing irreversible acts.

    Feroze Khan has been accused of domestic violence and neglect by his former wife Aliza Sultan. The two divorced in 2022, after multiple celebrities including Oscar winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, and actor Sarwat Gilani rallied behind her.

    In November, Feroze Khan was criticized for leaking the personal phone numbers and home addresses of ten celebrities -including Mira Sethi, Osman Khalid Butt and Yasir Hussain- who had declared that they would take action by suing Khan for emotional and mental trauma.

    On Saturday, Shah once more defended her stance by sharing a detailed statement on Twitter, where she called herself a “human sympathizer” rather than an “abuser sympathizer”.

    Shah went on to reveal that as someone who became the target of unfair bullying, like the backlash to her Indian lehnga that Shah wore on her Mehndi, she didn’t think that social media users should abuse a person and their families for something they “allegedly did”.

    “The backlash at my choice to wear the supposed ‘Indian style lehnga’ and dance at my own wedding, was prime example. So when hundreds and thousands of people abuse a person for whatever they allegedly did and abuse their families relentlessly, day and night, non-stop, I know what that can do and it isn’t fair punishment.”

    https://twitter.com/ushnashah/status/1644702178458710017?s=20

    Shah’s statement has received extensive backlash on social media for refusing to recognize how problematic her stance to support Khan is, and for being an abuse apologist.

    One Twitter user wrote:

    “Sympathizing with a human who is an alleged abuser/involved in domestic violence is basically being an abuser apologist. “even if the alleged criminal was found guilty” so u r telling me that a guilty criminal shouldnt have to face the consequences. also what even’s w the lehnaga.”

    “Pakistani celebrities are hypocrites,” another user wrote.

    https://twitter.com/peesho444/status/1644992794442993665?s=20

    “Why is it always ”let’s forgive abuser Muslim m3n because it’s Ramzan”, that man has literally brutalized his wife, you are not only a domestic violence apologist but a traitor to your own women class, using your privilege to disregard the voices of numerous DV women victims,” another user wrote.

    https://twitter.com/auratsoch/status/1644970742549819393?s=20
  • We will not compromise on hosting Asia Cup 2023 at any cost; Najam Sethi lauds Pakistan’s stance over India controversy

    We will not compromise on hosting Asia Cup 2023 at any cost; Najam Sethi lauds Pakistan’s stance over India controversy

    Asia Cup 2023 is scheduled to be played in Pakistan, however, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has continuously pressurised Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to pick a neutral venue for the tournament, stating that they will not send their team to the neighbouring country.

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi has lauded Pakistan’s stance in a recent interview on Geo TV. Talking to Yahya Hussaini, Sethi said that Pakistan will never compromise on hosting over any controversy.

    “We will hold a dialogue and if conditions are not in our favour, we will withdraw from the tournament,” the head of the PCB said.

    Revealing that four to five meetings have already been held with Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and BCCI, Sethi said that PCB is ready to provide solutions:

    “We asked them that don’t you see the international teams coming to Pakistan. Its clear that there is no security concern, perhaps you are concerned about your security. We will provide fool proof security to your team.

    Even if you are not ready to come then tell us the main reason. We will consider your opinion and provide solutions. But they are not ready to talk and are just saying we will not travel to Pakistan, our government will not allow us.”

    Najam Sethi further elaborated that Pakistan had asked if there is any letter from the Indian government. “Show that in the meeting or to media, then both countries will solve the issue diplomatically but they are not showing any letter,” he stressed.

    He said that a hybrid model has been proposed for Asia Cup.

    “We proposed that if India will not want to play in Pakistan that they can play in another country but we are the host and we will decide which country they will play in. We consider their opinions and suggestions but the decision is all ours.

    We have done all the work and logistics. We are just waiting for their call. If they signal a green light to hybrid model that we will play; if they create more hurdles, then we will definitely show the red card,” he warned.

  • UK organisations want Home Secretary to apologise for racist, Islamophobic allegations against British Pakistanis

    A group of healthcare professionals have demanded that England’s Home Secretary Suella Braverman issue an apology to British Pakistanis for levelling baseless accusations of racism, Islamophobia and other falsehoods against them, endangering their safety in the UK, Murtaza Ali Shah has reported for Geo.

    Several healthcare organizations, comprising a significant number of healthcare professionals from diverse backgrounds, have appealed to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to acknowledge the unfounded and discriminatory accusations made by the Home Secretary, connecting Pakistanis to sexual grooming gangs, despite contradicting evidence from the government.

    During an interview with Sky News last week, Braverman claimed that British Pakistani men were involved in child abuse rings or networks that specifically targeted vulnerable white English girls.

    “(We see) a practice whereby vulnerable white English girls – sometimes in care, sometimes in challenging circumstances – being pursued, raped, drugged, and harmed by gangs of British Pakistani men, who work in child abuse rings or networks,” Braverman said while speaking to the news channel.

    These professionals have cited a Home Office-commissioned report from 2020, which stated that “research has shown that white individuals are the most common perpetrators of group-based child sexual exploitation,” and that it could not be determined that any specific ethnic group was significantly overrepresented.

    The letter further states, “We demand an apology from the Home Secretary and an honest commitment to meaningfully tackling this vital issue which has ruined the lives of thousands of young people. We must also remind the Home Secretary that words have consequences; in 2014, Boris Johnson’s comments on women in niqabs resembling letterboxes directly resulted in a 375% increase in hate crimes targeting Muslim women.”

    “Language that empowers racist hate crime has no place in modern British society. We urge the Home Secretary to reflect on her grossly irresponsible framing of this complex and serious issue and commit to working with members from all communities to address the urgent issue of CSE together. A retraction of her statement and apology is sought.”

    Earlier, Pakistan’s foreign office also criticised Suella Braverman for “discriminatory and xenophobic” comments.

  • Shehbaz, Bilawal heap glowing praises on golden jubilee of the 1973 Constitution

    Shehbaz, Bilawal heap glowing praises on golden jubilee of the 1973 Constitution

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on the occasion of golden jubilee of the 1973 Constitution, took to Twitter and said that the ‘sacred document had weathered many storms over the past 50 years and held the federation together.’

    “The nation today commemorates the Golden Jubilee of the 1973 Constitution, a sacred document that has weathered many storms over the past 50 years & held the federation together. We pay our rich tribute to the framers of the Constitution for their political foresight,” tweeted the PM.

    “Constitution of Pakistan continues to be central to shaping our national character, identity & future trajectory. Time has come to place Parliament at the core of national life both in letter & spirit. Rules of the game framed in light of the Constitution show us the way forward.”

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that April 10 has always been a historic day for Pakistan.

    “It is the day in 1973 when we got our constitution. In 1986 SMBB received her historic welcome in Lahore. It is the day in 2022 when for the first time VONC was successful; selected was rejected & ejected by parliament,” tweeted Bilawal.

    The National Assembly (NA), under the leadership of Speaker Raja Pervez Asharf, is all set to celebrate 50 years of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973.

    The month-long celebrations are set to commemorate the country’s charter with a series of events that will commence on April 10. The celebrations will be followed by a joint session of the Parliament, scheduled for 2pm.

  • ‘Never seen such a thing’: Armeena Khan slams PML-N for sharing photo of her holding her baby

    Actor Armeena Khan has slammed Pakistan Muslim League Noon (PML-N) for harassing her by sharing a picture of her with her newborn daughter from the party’s media Twitter account. Khan had defended people’s right to call out politicians, in response to the viral video where a woman was seen trolling Maryam Nawaz. The actress wote that freedom of speech was an essential right, because in Pakistan people are kidnapped for holding politicians accountable.

    “Had this happened in Pakistan, the selfie lady would’ve ‘disappeared.’ ;),” wrote Khan. “I’m glad we have such freedoms in the U.K where we hold our politicians to account. If you’re going to live on British soil then it is OUR rules. We have freedom of speech.”

    https://twitter.com/ArmeenaRK/status/1645020915124649985?s=20

    In response to this comment, an account associated with PMLN shared a picture of Khan with her daughter with a huge cross drawn around it, with the caption saying “How will the sick minded youthias train the coming generation and the fifth generation youthia will be at the lowest level.”

    Khan slammed PMLN supporters for harassing her by what she said was an attempt at invading her personal life, especially by targeting her daughter, saying that she had never seen such a vile act committed by a political party before.

    “Maryam Nawaz hates babies I guess. Poor thing couldn’t take it with her thin skin so sent her official goons to harass a private citizen of another country. I’ve never seen such a thing before from a mainstream political party before,” Khan tweeted.

    https://twitter.com/ArmeenaRK/status/1645059402242686978?s=20

    Khan’s husband, Fesl Raza-Khan critcised PML-N and demanded that the political party send them an apology for targeting their daughter.

    “PMLN leadership, you are responsible for this account. You have posted a photo of my infant, just to troll my wife, thus crossing all bounds of decency. My daughter & I have no interest in PK politics. But as a Father I will protect my child. Apologise immediately,” he wrote.

    Twitter users criticised PMLN politicians for refusing to condemn this heinous act, and for choosing to stoop so low to even target an infant child of a critic. Because political opinions aside, choosing to target the personal life of an individual is completely wrong and demonstrates how classless and disgraceful your morals are.