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  • Clashes over Mughal-era mosque survey in India leave three Muslims dead

    Clashes over Mughal-era mosque survey in India leave three Muslims dead

    Indian Muslim protesters clashed with police on Sunday, leaving at least three people dead. The riots erupted in Uttar Pradesh following a survey of the status of Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, investigating whether the 17th-century Mughal-era mosque was built on the site of a Hindu temple.

    Since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took over the government in India, the right-wing has become particularly active, with Hindu groups increasingly laying claim to several mosques they alleged were built on top of Hindu temples during the Muslim Mughal empire centuries ago.

    On November 14, a local court ordered a survey of the mosque after a Hindu activist filed an application claiming that the mosque, built during the reign of Emperor Babur, was originally a prominent Hindu temple dedicated to Kalki, the prophesied avatar of Vishnu.

    The survey team conducted an initial survey within hours of the court’s order. They then returned on the morning of November 24 for a second round of photography and videography.

    The survey began around 7:30 a.m. and proceeded peacefully for two hours until a crowd gathered and began raising slogans.

    The mosque is believed to have been built on the orders of the first Mughal emperor, Babur, and is recognised as a “historic monument” on the official website of the Sambhal district. Hindu activist Vishnu Shankar Jain claimed that Emperor Babur partially demolished the Hari temple and attempted to convert it into a mosque in 1529.

    The court order stated, “The submission of a report of the site might facilitate the court to adjudicate the suit”.

    The complainants in the lawsuit wrote that the mosque was a monument protected under Section 3 (3) of the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904 and that they were being “denied access” to the mosque.

    They also alleged that the site was a centuries-old Hari Temple dedicated to Kalki and had been “used forcibly and unlawfully” by the Jama Masjid committee.

    Zia-ur-Rehman Barq, a member of Parliament from Sambhal, who has opposed the survey on the grounds that the mosque was protected by The Place of Worship Act, 1991, appealed for peace after the violence. 

    While police claimed that protesters threw rocks at officers, prompting them to fire tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd, Zia-ur-Rehman promised to raise his voice against “police brutality” in the next session of Parliament.

    Initially, reports suggested that two Muslims were killed in the riots, but the Indian news platform The Wire later reported the number to be three.

    The three individuals from the local Muslim community who were killed in the firing incident were identified as Naeem, Noman, and Bilal.

    The Wire quoted a police official as saying that 15-20 police constables were injured in the stone-pelting incident.

    However, fifteen individuals, including two women, alleged to have thrown stones at the police from a rooftop, were detained during the violence.

    Several cars and a couple of motorbikes parked in the area were set on fire by the protesters.

    Additionally, Vishnu Shankar Jain, the lawyer representing the Hindu activists, stated that the survey was complete and that the advocate commissioner would submit the report to the court.

    Meanwhile, the police are searching for those involved in the stone-pelting using CCTV and drone footage. They intend to deal with the suspects under the stringent National Security Act (NSA), which allows for preventive detention to maintain national security and public order.

  • Aliza Sultan hits out at ex-husband Feroze Khan, his new wife

    Aliza Sultan hits out at ex-husband Feroze Khan, his new wife

    Aliza Sultan, ex-wife of actor Feroze Khan, recently posted an Instagram story that appeared to target him and his second wife, Zainab.

    In her post, Aliza expressed her frustration about taking care of their sick children alone, saying, “And when the child falls sick, they leave them at my door and run away.”

    In response, Feroze hinted on social media that Aliza was seeking attention, saying, “You want some attention? Do I make you a star?”

    Feroze and Aliza had two kids together, Sultan and Fatima, and despite their messy divorce in 2022, they’ve committed to co-parenting.

    Their children spend time with Feroze’s family, including his new wife, Zainab. Photos suggest they have a good relationship with her.

    Recently, Fatima visited Zainab’s clinic, and the pictures showed a positive experience, but Aliza’s recent comments implied that Feroze leaves the kids’ care to her when they are ill.

    This exchange has drawn more media attention to their already complicated situation.

    Feroze and Alizey’s separation

    Feroze Khan and Alizey Sultan’s separation was a highly publicized event that shocked the Pakistani entertainment industry. The couple, who had been married for four years, finalized their divorce in September 2022.

    Alizey Sultan made serious allegations against Feroze Khan, accusing him of physical and psychological abuse, infidelity, and blackmail. She claimed that their marriage was “utter chaos” and that she had endured immense suffering.

    While Feroze Khan confirmed the divorce, he refrained from commenting on the specific allegations, citing ongoing legal proceedings. He emphasized his commitment to co-parenting their two children and expressed respect for Alizey as the mother of his children.

  • Rishabh Pant becomes most expensive player in IPL history

    Rishabh Pant becomes most expensive player in IPL history

    Indian left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has created history in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, becoming the most expensive player. The auction of the best-performing cricketers in the first phase of the IPL was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

    Lucknow Super Giants bought the Indian wicketkeeper-batsman for 270 million Indian rupees in the auction, which is more than 88 crore Pakistani rupees.

    The successful bid for Rishabh Pant also surpassed the 260 million Indian rupees paid by Punjab Kings for Shreyas Iyer a few minutes earlier.

    Earlier, Delhi Capitals had offered 207.5 million Indian rupees under the Right to Match Card (RTM) to retain Rishabh Pant, but the huge offer of 270 million Indian rupees from Lucknow Supergiants forced Delhi Capitals to withdraw from the auction.

    Rishabh Pant has been a part of Delhi Capitals since 2016, but after this auction, he has now joined Lucknow Supergiants. Delhi Capitals had also given him the captaincy after Shreyas Iyer was injured during the 2021 session and was also retained as captain in the 2022 IPL.

    Pant made a comeback in the 2024 IPL after being seriously injured in a car accident in December 2022.

    Delhi Capitals retained him as captain, and in the 2024 season, he scored 446 runs for his team.

    Earlier, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc was the most expensive player in the IPL auction held on December 19, 2023. He was made a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders team for 247.5 million Indian rupees.

    Prior to Mitchell Starc, Australian player Pat Cummins was the most expensive player, whom Sunrisers Hyderabad added to their fleet for 200 million Indian rupees. Similarly, preceding Cummins was England all-rounder Sam Curran, who joined the Punjab Kings for 18.50 crore and became the most expensive player.

    Rishabh gave scooters to the locals who rescued him in a car accident


    In 2022, Rishabh Pant’s car met with an accident while going from Uttarakhand to Delhi, in which the cricketer sustained serious injuries, while two locals rescued him and shifted him to the hospital in time.

    The cricketer was treated in the hospital and returned to the field after about a year and a half.

    Now, Rishabh has gifted scooters to locals named Rajat Kumar and Neshu Kumar. The cricketer thanked them and said that this would remain a favour to him for the rest of his life, which he will never forget.

    He said that I was not able to thank everyone individually, but I was indebted to the two heroes, Rajat Kumar and Neshu Kumar, who tried their best to save my life after the accident.

  • Abdul Razzaq confesses his past love for this stage actress

    Abdul Razzaq confesses his past love for this stage actress

    Former Pakistan national cricket team all-rounder Abdul Razzaq has opened up about his past love, revealing that he had once fallen in love with a former stage actress and dancer, Deedar.

    In an interview, he recalled, “I had true love with actress Deedar; we had a very good friendship, and I wanted to marry her. I asked her to leave the stage and gave her 6 months to decide. I wanted her to leave the film industry and theatre dance because my family did not accept it, but Deedar refused to leave the stage, on which we preferred to end the relationship because it was difficult to adjust like this.”

    Former actress Deedar has also spoken about this, saying, “I was engaged to Abdul Razaq, but he did not want me to act. I wanted to work because I had started my career at that time. At that time, I was 15 years old, and he was 21 years old; our relationship did not work out, so we separated, but even today, whenever they meet at any event, we meet with respect,” she disclosed, 

    Deedar, born Sonia Idrees, is a Pakistani stand-up comedian, actress and former stage dancer. She is famous for her work in Punjabi dramas. Abdul Razzaq is a Pakistani former cricketer who played all formats of the game and is known as a gifted all-rounder.

  • 1st ODI: Zimbabwe defeat Pakistan by 80 runs under DLS method

    1st ODI: Zimbabwe defeat Pakistan by 80 runs under DLS method

    In the first ODI of the three-match ODI series, Zimbabwe defeated Pakistan by 80 runs using the Duckworth-Lewis method.

    The first match of the three-match ODI series between Pakistan and Zimbabwe was played in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, in which the host team set a target of 206 runs for Pakistan to win.

    In pursuit of Zimbabwe’s target of 206 runs, Pakistan’s batting line-up struggled, and six players on the national team were out for 60 runs. After 21 overs of the match, the match had to be stopped due to rain, and the game had to be ended due to continuous rain.

    Zimbabwe defeated Pakistan by 80 runs using the Duckworth-Lewis method.

    Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl against Zimbabwe; Faisal Akram made his debut for Pakistan.

    Zimbabwe were bowled out for 205 runs in 40.2 overs, with debutants Faisal Akram and Salman Ali Agha taking three wickets each.

    Haris Rauf dismissed one player while Abdullah Shafiq ran out a batter. In addition, Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Hasnain returned one player to the pavilion.

    Chasing a target of 206 runs, the national team had a disappointing start. Openers Saim Ayub scored 11, and Abdullah Shafiq returned to the pavilion after scoring one run. Kamran Ghulam could score 17 runs, while Salman Agha was out after scoring four runs.

    Pakistan’s fifth wicket fell for 49 runs, and the fifth player to be dismissed from the national team was Haseebullah, who was out for a duck.

    Pakistan’s sixth wicket fell for 58 runs, while Irfan Khan was bowled for seven runs. After that, after adding two more runs, the match had to be stopped due to rain. Captain Mohammad Rizwan remained unbeaten on 19 runs, while Aamir Jamal was present at the wicket with him but could not score any runs.

    Pakistan’s final XI included Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafiq, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan, Haseebullah, Salman Agha and Irfan Khan. In addition, Aamir Jamal, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain and Faisal Akram were also part of the final XI.

  • PTI marches on Islamabad as govt gears up to quash ‘decisive’ protest

    PTI marches on Islamabad as govt gears up to quash ‘decisive’ protest

    Scores of workers and leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are headed to Islamabad for the party’s much-hyped and “decisive” protest to seek the release of party founder Imran Khan, as the government gears up to quash the powershow. 

    Khan had on November 13 issued a “final call” for nationwide protests on Nov 24 (today), denouncing the “stolen mandate” of his party, unjust arrests of PTI workers and the 26th Constitutional Amendment by the “dictatorial regime”.

    With party leadership urging workers and supporters to join the march on the federal capital, thousands gathered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) — where PTI is in power — in the days leading to Nov 24 (Sunday) despite the Islamabad High Court (IHC) declaring the planned protest as unlawful.

    The court had also directed authorities to take all necessary measures to maintain law and order, prompting the federal government to seal the capital city and partially suspend mobile and internet services in major parts of the country. Intra-city road networks have also been shut down besides the closure of public transport and student hostels in Islamabad and parts of Punjab.

    However, PTI convoys from KP left for Islamabad early Sunday morning. MPAs and MNAs of their respective constituencies are leading their convoys and would join the rallies at Burhan near Hazara interchange, reports said.

    Heavy contingents of police and Rangers are present on GT Road and the motorway at Attock’s Hassanabdal to stop the convoys from reaching Islamabad.

    In a social media post earlier in the day, Islamabad police shared pictures of its personnel stationed at various points across the capital to “ensure the imposition of Section 144”, which prohibits public gatherings.

    PTI, on the other hand, shared pictures and videos of several convoys en route to the capital.

    Meanwhile, the Nat­io­nal Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) has issued an alert for possible terrorist attacks during PTI’s march towards Islamabad.

    According to reports, an alert was issued after “technical and human” intelligence gathered by the top counter-terror authority revealed that terrorists were planning “major activities” in big cities of Pakistan.

    The terrorists, whom the government and the military refer to as Fitna-al-Khawarij, will possibly target the PTI’s protest “for their vested interest”, reports said. Nacta has sugge­sted authorities ensure ex­t­reme vigilance and he­i­ghten security measu­res to prevent the att­ack.

    Besides taking strict security measures, the government has also vowed to suppress PTI’s powershow with full force, deploying tens of thousands of security personnel, sealing major roads and arteries of the federal capital, and launching a crackdown on leaders and workers of the opposition party.

    Sources told The Current that dozens of arrests have been made over the past 48 hours and the government has identified at least another 1,500 PTI workers who could be arrested to keep them from participating in the protest.

    All public sector hospitals in the federal capital have also been placed on high alert to meet any emergency situation.

  • Bushra Bibi urges people to join Nov 24 protest; skips it herself

    Bushra Bibi urges people to join Nov 24 protest; skips it herself

    After urging people to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) “decisive” Islamabad protest, Bushra Bibi, the wife of jailed party founder Imran Khan, won’t be attending the same herself.

    According to the former first lady’s spokesperson Mashal Yousafzai, she won’t be attending the “do-or-die” protest due to illness.

    PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, in conversation with a private media outlet, also confirmed that Bushra would not participate in the PTI demonstration due to ill health.

    It may be noted that the announcement comes amid severe backlash over a video message wherein the former first lady had hinted at Saudi involvement in her husband’s ouster.

    In a rare on-screen appearance, Bushra had on November 21 released a video message to urge people to take to streets for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) “decisive” Nov 24 protest. She had gone on to talk about her husband’s ouster as the prime minister.

    “The reason behind all powers standing against Khan hasn’t been told before. When Khan went to Madinah barefoot, Bajwa immediately started receiving calls about what kind of person he had brought [with him],” she said.

    According to Bushra’s allegations, Saudi leadership told Gen Bajwa that he had brought with him the “custodian of Shariah” at a time they were trying to “distance themselves from the Shariah system”.

    “After this, a smear campaign was launched against us, and [they] started calling Khan a Jewish agent,” the former first lady claimed.

    As the claims drew strong reactions from members of the government, PTI leaders and supporters alike – with only a few defending or clarifying Bushra’s remarks – her husband and party founder Imran Khan’s official account on X has posted an apparent clarification.

    “Bushra Bibi’s statement was deliberately taken out of context to draw our brotherly country KSA into a needless controversy. She didn’t mention Saudi Arabia at all. My government was toppled through conspiracies, all orchestrated by General Bajwa. I tried to have these investigated through the Chief Justice and General Tariq Khan, but General Bajwa did not allow that to happen. Bushra Bibi has no connection with politics; she only conveyed my message to the nation, as my wife, regarding the November 24 protest,” read the statement on X.

    Khan’s account also claimed that bilateral relations between Pakistan and KSA were at their best during his tenure and he personally shared “excellent” relations with the Kingdom. “I have excellent relations with Saudi Arabia. When I was attacked in Wazirabad, one of the first calls I received was through the embassy from HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”

    “Saudi Arabia has always stood by us in difficult times. Only two weeks prior to our government being toppled, we held a very successful OIC foreign minister’s conference in Islamabad, which would have been impossible to do had Saudi Arabia not supported and stood with us,” the statement added.

    Former prime minister (PM) Khan has been in jail since August last year without any access to the internet or his social media accounts. Posts on his official handles have time and again made headlines over confusion surrounding actual handlers of said accounts.

    PTI maintains that all statements on Khan’s social media are conveyed via his legal team after seeing him at Adiala Jail.

    Meanwhile, convoys led by top leadership of the PTI are currently en route to Islamabad from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) as the party decides to go forth with its plans to demand Khan’s release by taking to the streets.

    PTI’s march on Islamabad comes reportedly after talks with the government ended inconclusively. The federal government, in light of an Islamabad High Court (IHC) order and the upcoming visit of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to Pakistan, has denied PTI the permission to hold a protest rally in the capital.

  • Shaan Shahid’s shirtless post spark mixed reactions online

    Shaan Shahid’s shirtless post spark mixed reactions online

    Shaan Shahid’s shirtless post sparks mixed reactions online

    People are talking about actor Shaan Shahid’s latest shirtless fitness post, which has sparked varying reactions.

    He shared his fitness journey on Facebook, proudly showing off his toned body at the age of 50. While some fans admired his dedication to health and transformation, others were less kind.

    Comments on the post were a mix of praise and criticism, with some accusing the actor of showing off unnecessarily.

    A few users expressed shock, with one sarcastically calling it a “leaked video” and another questioning why Shaan felt the need to display his body.

    Amid the buzz, Shaan responded to the trolls by reposting his picture with a strong message:  

     “Men and women are created equal by the creator, yet both are given different gifts. Men are gifted with physical strength, while women are gifted with beauty, patience, fragility, strength, and modesty. As an artist of 50, it is my job to transform according to the script—I’m just doing my job,” he wrote.

    The Waar actor also emphasised his gratitude for good health, explaining that his goal was to inspire others his age to prioritize fitness.

    “The world we live in has given men the right to go shirtless, and while many may have issues with those rights, I didn’t create the society, I’m just a part of it. However, if someone wants to change it, they are welcome. I’m sure their post will get more viral than mine”, Shaan Shahid added. 

    Shaan’s bold response added to the debate, with some praising his honesty and others questioning his views on societal norms. Despite the mixed reactions, Shaan’s post sheds light on the ongoing scrutiny public figures face.

    Earlier, Shaan appeared as a guest on Coffee with Samaa, hosted by Naeem Hanif and Bushra Khan.

    The host asked, “Have you ever thought about working on the small screen or doing a major serial role in the future?”

    Shaan Shahid replied, “All these channels make dramas… I think Humsafar was initially offered to me, but at that time, I was very busy. I couldn’t do it.”

    Talking about the character he said:

    “The role Fawad played. I didn’t take it because I had already worked with Fawad before in Khuda Ke Liye. At that time, I had just come into the industry, and there was a band called EP. He used to make shows like Jutt and Bond. Then I met Shoiab Mansoor sahib on the set. Anyway, I felt that there is still a lot to be done in this field. We have already divided ourselves. If we don’t unite our strength and start listening to each other, it will become difficult to understand one another.” Shahid added.

  • Illegal housing societies struggle as Punjab cracks down on them

    Illegal housing societies struggle as Punjab cracks down on them

    Housing scheme developers and the owners of residential construction companies are currently witnessing their efforts going down the drain as Punjab cracks down on illegal housing societies (IHS). While Punjab’s crusade against the 600 illegal societies serves to displeasure them, it comes as great news for those that have been operating legally.

    This development comes as in the coming months, the real estate market could see large transfers of investments from IHS to genuine ones. This investment transfer to competitors could cause a spike in the land prices of legal societies.

    Experts believe there will be a twofold effect on land prices, which will effectively drive up the value of land in approved societies. Initially, the fall in the supply of legal land that can be purchased will cause land prices to rise. Furthermore, speculators who will identify the fall in supply will purchase land to reap the rewards of the rising values – thus driving up land prices again.

    Legal societies and investors with available capital who are forward-looking will be able to benefit immensely from the woes of those involved in unapproved and illegal societies.

    On the other hand, any party associated with the IHS will now have to pay a hefty price. This metaphor is quite literal for some as they will have to pay fines, financial penalties, and fees to get societies approved.

    Dawn News has reported that LDA teams have been able to retrieve 600 kanals from illegal occupants in various well-known schemes, such as Johar town and Sabzazar colony in Lahore.

    The stakeholders that are expected to be hit the hardest are owners of residential construction businesses. This is because the crackdown on unapproved societies will halt many construction projects.

    These project delays are expected to cause significant issues for builders as they have to pay their workers on a daily basis. When projects halt, many builders may find it difficult to afford the wages of their employees as their business will not have a healthy cash flow.

    The plight of the losers of this crackdown does not end there, however. The fact of the matter is that this crackdown will cause major issues for the 42 ancillary industries that provide raw materials to construction businesses.

    For example, as per Profit by Pakistan, the cement sector is projected to see a growth rate of 2.4 per cent in FY 2025. However, this figure may witness some downward revisions after construction projects get delayed or even halted in unapproved societies.

    In the coming months, the real estate sector could see some movement again in terms of prices. One thing is certain, though: Speculators will keep their eyes peeled for any such movements.

  • FACT CHECK: Helicopter carrying high-level govt delegation WAS NOT attacked in KP

    FACT CHECK: Helicopter carrying high-level govt delegation WAS NOT attacked in KP

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Law Minister Aftab Alam has rejected reports that a helicopter carrying a high-level delegation of the provincial government was attacked while travelling from Peshawar to Kurram district.

    Reports had earlier in the day claimed that a helicopter carrying KP law minister, chief secretary and inspector general of police was attacked while heading to Kurram to sort the security situation in the wake of Thursday’s deadly attack on passenger vans.

    “No incident of firing at helicopter took place and entire delegation is completely safe,” Aftab Alam told Geo News.

    Over 40 people, including three women, were killed in an attack when assailants opened fire on a passenger vans in Ochat area of Kurram district.

    The attackers targeted the convoy travelling from Parachinar to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s capital, Peshawar.

    The incident led to countrywide protests against the government’s failure to protect the people of the area amid serious security concerns. It also led to worsening of the conflict between two rival tribes Alizai and Bagan.

    Another 18 people were killed in overnight clashes on Friday night.

    Fake reports regarding the attack on a government helicopter came as Kurram Deputy Commissioner (DC) Javedullah Mehsud said efforts were being made to re-establish peace in the area.

    DC Mehsud and Sajid Hussain Turi, a former PPP MNA from Kurram, confirmed that a high-level meeting was underway in the district for peace efforts.