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  • Shor sharaba in Zaman Park: Aitzaz Ahsan’s sisters approach court to complain against Imran

    Shor sharaba in Zaman Park: Aitzaz Ahsan’s sisters approach court to complain against Imran

    Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan’s sisters have approached different forums to complain about “the disruption, road and traffic blockade and loud music at night time”, caused by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan outside his residence in Zaman Park which has affected his neighbours’ sleep, writes Umar Cheema for The News.

    “They started with Imran Khan. On February 14, Dr Shireen Zafarullah and Mrs Nasreen Khalid Chima wrote the first letter to him on February 14 to inform him about ‘huge and unacceptable intrusion into our privacy being caused by the show outside your home.’ Their father, Chaudhry Muhammad Ahsan, constructed the ancestral home in Zaman Park in 1933 well before Imran’s family was allotted the house in Zaman Park after the Partition. Ali, the son of Aitzaz Ahsan, also lives in that house besides the children of sisters of Aitzaz,” reads the article.

    The sisters complained about the constant noise from the loud music which lasts till 4am every night.

    Not getting any response, both sisters filed an application on March 8 against the illegal encroachment outside Imran Khan’s home. The application was addressed to Chief Secretary of Punjab, Inspector General of Police, Lahore Commissioner and SHO of Race Course Police Station. However, no action was taken by the Punjab government.

    Finally, they moved the Lahore High Court, which didn’t entertain the petition either. A one-member bench of Justice Asim Hafeez said they should locate a Justice of Peace to pursue this matter.

    The sisters have also written to the chief justices of the Supreme Court and Lahore High Court to take notice of the problems they are facing in Zaman Park.

  • NO suspension of arrest warrants, Islamabad court told Khan

    NO suspension of arrest warrants, Islamabad court told Khan

    An Islamabad court has rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s plea which sought suspension of non-bailable arrest warrants of Khan in the Toshakhana case.

    Additional District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal on Thursday gave the verdict that the warrants could not be suspended on the basis of an undertaking.

    On Tuesday, the former ruling party moved Islamabad High Court (IHC) requesting it to suspend Khan’s non-bailable arrest warrants in the Toshakhana case, but the high court asked Khan to approach trial court.

    Currently, the situation at Khan’s Zaman Park residence is relatively calm following the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) orders of stopping the police operation till 10am today. But later, the court clarified that it has not stopped police from executing the arrest warrants and asked PTI to resolve the matter.

  • Ferrari drives into trouble with controversial post featuring Masjid-e-Nabvi

    Ferrari drives into trouble with controversial post featuring Masjid-e-Nabvi

    Ferrari, a prominent supercar manufacturer, faced significant criticism after a social media post promoting its event in Jeddah was received poorly.

    The post included an edited image of a Ferrari model pictured in front of the Masjid-e-Nabwi, a sacred site in Islam, instead of the intended location, Jeddah.

    This post was met with widespread disapproval on various social media platforms, with many individuals accusing the company of insensitivity and disrespect towards the Muslim community.

    Some users even called for a boycott of Ferrari products. It remains unclear whether Ferrari was aware of the importance of the location to the Muslim community or if this was an inadvertent mistake.

    While some social media users made light of the situation by praising the beauty of the site, the majority of the comments were critical.

    Responding to the massive backlash from the Muslim community, Ferrari promptly removed the post from its Twitter and Instagram accounts, as well as deleted the image from its website to prevent further complications.

  • Trans activist Shahzadi Rai shares video of extremists stalking her home

    Trans activist Shahzadi Rai shares video of extremists stalking her home

    Prominent Karachi-based transgender activist Shehzadi Rai shared a triggering video on her Twitter page of two men stalking her home. In the clip the men be seen turning away when they spot the camera. Rai wrote in a tweet that she was terrified for her life, because the men were threatening her with bottles of acid.

    People tagged the Sindh police in replies to help Rai.

    The Current reached out to Rai for a statement, and she revealed that she did not know why the men were stalking her. Rai also shared that this was the fourth time these men had appeared outside her house, and that she was going to the police to get them arrested.

    Member of the Provincial Assembly Sindh Sharjeel Memon condemned the incodent on Twitter and asked Rai to send him relevant details.

    Rai later revealed in a video uploaded to her Twitter account that she was present at the Shahar E Faisal police station and called for better protection of the khwajasara community by the police.

    Rai also shared a picture of the police case filed against her stalkers and thanked the Sindh Govt for understanding the sensitivity of the situation by deploying police forces outside her home

  • PSL 8 final rescheduled to Saturday as PCB anticipates rain in Lahore

    PSL 8 final rescheduled to Saturday as PCB anticipates rain in Lahore

    In light of the adverse weather forecasted for the next few days, the Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to move the HBL PSL 8 final from Sunday, March 19 to Saturday, March 18. The match will take place at the Gaddafi Stadium, with Sunday and Monday serving as backup days.

    According to Najam Sethi, Chair of PCB Management Committee, the HBL PSL 8 is a significant event for all the teams, who strive to make it to the final and win the Supernova Trophy. Cricket fans eagerly anticipate this momentous occasion as well.

    Given the available information about the bad weather forecast, it is a prudent and proactive decision to make use of the off-day and play the final on Saturday. This way, two reserve days will be available in case the match cannot be completed or played on Saturday, rather than the traditional one day.

    The PCB has consulted with the Play-off teams, who are in agreement with the decision to reschedule the final.

    Additionally, the cricket board assures fans that there will be no inconvenience caused by the change. Tickets purchased for Sunday’s match will remain valid for the rescheduled final on Saturday.

  • Another Record for Rizwan as he gets 500 runs in PSL season 8

    Another Record for Rizwan as he gets 500 runs in PSL season 8

    Call him the Hit Man, or the Little Master, wicket-keeper Muhammad Rizwan just keeps piling on the records. The batting maestro has reached another milestone by scoring 500 runs for the third time in Pakistan Super League (PSL).

    Rizwan first scored 500 runs in PSL 6, then repeated the fear with 546 runs in PSL 7. Now he has again scored the 500 runs in the ongoing edition of Pakistan’s largest league.

    The wicket-keeper is becoming a brand day by day as per the saying of furious Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar “He who can speak and play well together can become a brand.” And Rizwan can do both.

    Rizwan is the first player to score 500 runs three consecutive times in the Pakistan Super league (PSL).
    The Sultans captain, who was the opening batter in the game, hit 10 boundaries and four sixes, staying on the pitch throughout the game.

    Since his debut in PSL in 2016, Rizwan has played in 70 matches, accumulating 1,962 runs in 59 innings. He has hit one century (during the ongoing season) and 16 fifties.

    Rizwan also has 178 fours and 45 sixes to his name.

  • Pakistan’s nuclear and missile programmes will not be compromised for IMF deal, says Finance Minister

    Pakistan’s nuclear and missile programmes will not be compromised for IMF deal, says Finance Minister

    During a session of the Senate on Thursday, Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar stated unequivocally that there would be no compromise on the country’s nuclear and missile programs. The assurance came in response to questions posed by PPP Senator Raza Rabbani, who had raised concerns about the delay in Pakistan’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Rabbani had suggested that the delay might be due to pressure being exerted on Pakistan’s nuclear program.

    In response to Rabbani’s questions, Dar stated that the delay was not due to any action by the current government, but rather to the fact that the IMF had requested that certain friendly countries fulfill commitments they had made to support Pakistan. According to Geo, Dar promised that once the staff-level agreement and the Extended Fund Facility program were finalized, the details would be posted on the finance ministry’s website.

    Dar also expressed his belief that Pakistan’s nuclear program was a matter of national security and emphasized that no one had the right to tell Pakistan what range of missiles or nuclear weapons it could have. He argued that the country’s nuclear and missile programs were essential for deterrence and for guarding Pakistan’s national interests.

    The delay in the IMF agreement has been a cause for concern, as it is seen as critical to taming a balance-of-payments crisis. The agreement, which was approved by the IMF in 2019 and is worth $6.5 billion, includes $1.1 billion that would be released once the agreement is signed. Dar had previously blamed the delay on the previous government, which he said had failed to meet commitments and created a trust deficit. Despite the delay, Dar stated that Pakistan was “very close” to signing the agreement.

  • Imran Khan says COAS General Asim Munir is behind Zaman Park operation

    Imran Khan says COAS General Asim Munir is behind Zaman Park operation

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has once again accused the establishment of interfering in politics, emphasising that nothing happens in the country without the permission of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir.

    In an interview with Voice of America, Khan said, “This government is totally dependent on the establishment, nothing can happen without their consent.”

    Talking amidst the chaos happening right outside of his home at Zaman Park, he said, “It is too big a step for a government which has no legitimacy, no roots in this country, no moral authority. The only reason they are there is because of the establishment.”

    He went on to say that the establishment is one man and that man is the army chief. “He makes the decision. Whatever he says is followed”, added Khan.

    Since the ouster, Khan has been blaming the institution for removing him from power, naming ex-army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa multiple times in public.

    On March 3, the PTI chief said that he is ready to hold talks with the COAS for the sake of the country, claiming that the army chief considers Imran his enemy.

  • Pakistan faces second-highest food price inflation in South Asia: World Bank report

    Pakistan faces second-highest food price inflation in South Asia: World Bank report

    According to the World Bank’s “Food Security Update,” the consumer price inflation for food items in Pakistan in February 2023 on a year-on-year basis was 45.1 per cent, which is the highest in South Asia after Sri Lanka, which experienced 54.4 per cent inflation.

    The report further states that domestic grain and wheat flour prices remained volatile across South Asia at the beginning of 2023, and were well above their year-earlier levels. Specifically, in Pakistan, wheat flour prices in January 2023 reached record highs and were 20 to 140 per cent higher year on year.

    The high prices of food items have been attributed to several factors, including generally stagnant production since 2018, stock losses and disrupted trade flows due to the 2022 floods, high agricultural input and transportation costs, and high headline inflation, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

    The report noted that India, Bangladesh, and Nepal experienced year-on-year consumer price inflation for food prices of 6.2 per cent, 7.8 per cent, and 5.6 per cent, respectively, in January 2023. Rice production increased in 2022 in several countries, including India, despite reductions in Pakistan and Tanzania, according to the report.

    The US Department of Agriculture predicts a 4.5 per cent contraction in rice shipments due to a decrease in exports from Pakistan, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam, which will more than offset an increase from India. Moreover, domestic food price inflation remains high around the world.

    According to Brecorder, the latest month between October 2022 and February 2023, for which food price inflation data are available, shows high inflation in almost all low- and middle-income countries, with inflation levels above 5 per cent in 94.1 per cent of low-income countries, 86 per cent of lower-middle-income countries, and 87 per cent of upper-middle-income countries, with many experiencing double-digit inflation.

    Furthermore, about 87.3 per cent of high-income countries are experiencing high food price inflation, and the countries affected most are in Africa, North America, Latin America, South Asia, Europe, and Central Asia, according to the report.

  • After being routed by Sultans Qalandars captain Afridi blames ‘Qudrat ka nizam’ for defeat

    After being routed by Sultans Qalandars captain Afridi blames ‘Qudrat ka nizam’ for defeat

    Lahore Qalandars collapsed in spectacular fashion on Wednesday night, registering the lowest total in the history of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

    Opening season 8 with a cracking start, Lahore Qalandars were on the Top of the Points table, seemingly well on their way to the finals.
    Showing complete team performance in every match and thrashing all opponents one by one, the seemingly invincible Qalandars were routed in the all-important match with Multan Sultans.

    Shaheen Afridi, the skipper of the Qalandars wants to assess where they went wrong before eliminator two on Friday.

    “We lost wickets quickly, and we will look into what went wrong and prepare for the next game as we still have a chance. When the main batters get out early, there is pressure on the lower-order batters,” he said.
    Observing that a single good catch or run-out can win a game, Afridi promised to work on weaknesses.

    “It is Qudrat ka Nizam. The wind started to blow, and Cottrell got the ball to swing. This is Qudrat ka Nizam,” added Shaheen Afridi in the post-match chat.

    Playing 11
    Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Mirza Tahir Baig, Abdullah Shafique, Sam Billings (wk), Hussain Talat, Sikandar Raza, David Wiese, Rashid Khan, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan.

    Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan (wk/c), Usman Khan, Rilee Rossouw, Kieron Pollard, Tim David, Khushdil Shah, Anwar Ali, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Sheldon Cottrell, Ihsanullah.