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  • President approves Practice and Procedure Amendments Ordinance

    President approves Practice and Procedure Amendments Ordinance

    President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has signed the Practice and Procedure Amendment Ordinance after the federal cabinet approved the bill.

    According to the ordinance, in the absence of a committee member, the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) will be able to nominate a judge as a committee member, The News has reported.

    The ordinance reads, “Each case and appeal will be recorded, and its transcript will be prepared, which will be available to the public, and each case will be heard on its turn; otherwise, reason will be given if the court hears case out of turn.”

    The ordinance also says that court benches will look into cases in light of fundamental human rights and public importance.

    The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) had passed the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act 2023 in a bid to ensure transparent proceedings within the apex court and to safeguard the right to appeal.

    However, Supreme Court’s eight member bench, which was chaired by the then Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, stayed the bill due to several petitions challenging it.

  • OST for ‘Baby Baji Ki Bahuwain’ is out now

    OST for ‘Baby Baji Ki Bahuwain’ is out now

    The popular drama ‘Baby Baji’ aired last year on ARY Digital, produced by iDream Entertainment.

    It had a star-studded cast with a plot centering around Baby Baji, played by Samina Ahmad, who is the head of the family and tries to keep her family together.

    The sequel, ‘Baby Baji ki Bahuwain,’ is now set to air on ARY Digital on September 23 in place of ‘Tark E Wafa’ which is about to end.

    The teasers for the show have already been released, and now, ARY Digital has released the OST.

    Fans have mixed responses following the release of the OST and teasers, with many already excited and waiting for the much anticipated season 2.

    Javeria Saud, who plays one of the main actors for the series, shared the song on her Instagram, in which Sunita Marshall, Javeria Saud, and Syeda Tuba lip-sync in the video.

    Saud will return as Azra to lead the family after Baby Baji, in efforts to correct her previous wrongs. She was depicted as the fiery eldest daughter-in-law in the previous season.

    Others in the cast include Jan Rambo, Asma Abbas Gill, Saleena Sipra, Rimha Ahmed, Saud Qasmi, Javeria Saud, Junaid Niazi, Fazal Hussain, Syeda Tuba, Sunita Marshall, Madiha Iftikhar, Hassan Ahmed, and more.

    The sequel is written by Saqib Ali Rana and directed by Tehseen Khan.

  • South Africa defeats Pakistan in three-match Women’s T20 Series

    South Africa defeats Pakistan in three-match Women’s T20 Series

    South Africa has defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in the third Women’s T20 World Cup match, winning the three-match series two to one.

    In the match played in Multan, Pakistan Women scored 153 runs for five wickets while playing first; Sidra Amin scored 37, Muniba Ali 33, and Fatima Sana scored 27 runs.

    In response, the South African women’s team achieved the target of 154 runs for two wickets in the 19th over. On behalf of South Africa, captain Woolwardt scored 45 runs, Anike scored 46 runs, and Aniri Dirksen scored 44 runs.

    The women’s teams of Pakistan and South Africa will reach Lahore today by a special plane, after which the South African women’s cricket team will leave for Dubai tomorrow.

    Pakistan Women’s team will leave for Dubai on Monday for the ICCT Twenty World Cup.

  • Woman sentenced to death for online blasphemy under PECA laws

    Woman sentenced to death for online blasphemy under PECA laws

    A Christian woman was senten­ced to death on Thursday for committing online blasphemy under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).

    Dawn reports that the woman is a mother of four. She had previously sought bail from both the trial court and the Islamabad High Court (IHC), but her bail applications got rejected by both.

    Judge Mohammad Afzal Majoka convicted the woman under Section 295 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Section 11 of PECA laws. While Section 295 strictly pertains to blasphemy laws, Section 11 of PECA laws deals with hate speech.

    The law states that “whoever prepares or disseminates information, through any information system or device, that advances or is likely to advance interfaith, sectarian, or racial hatred shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years or with a fine or with both”.

    Along with the death penalty, the court also imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on the woman.

    A private citizen by the name of Shiraz Ahmed lodged a complaint against the woman in the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) cyber crime wing. The case was then brought to the court.

    The first information report (FIR) states that the womam is accused of pos­ting blasphemous content about the Holy Prophet (PBUH) on social media in September 2020.

    However, FIA registered the case against her on July 29, 2021.

  • Zayn Malik hits the stage again with solo tour across UK and US

    Zayn Malik hits the stage again with solo tour across UK and US

    Singer Zayn Malik is going on his first solo tour, performing in the UK and US.

    He announced the tour during his appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday night.

    Zayn handed Jimmy a note that said: “Hey Jimmy, great to see you, mate. I’m going on my first-ever solo tour this autumn. Maybe after you’re done picking apples, you can come check out my Stairway To The Sky Tour across the US and UK. Let me know what date you want tickets for.”

    On Instagram, he shared the tour dates, thanking fans for their support and saying: “Can’t wait to enjoy great music together. This time I really mean soon – see you in 35 days….”

    Ticket sales start at 11 am on September 21, 2024. VIP key holders can access the pre-sale, which began on September 19.

    Fans will hear tracks from Zayn’s fourth studio album, ‘Room Under The Stairs,’ released on May 17. The tour will be held in smaller, intimate venues to showcase the album’s raw and stripped-back sound.

    The tour kicks off in the US on October 23 in San Francisco.

    For the past six years, Zayn has been working on his studio album ‘Room Under The Stairs’ at his home studio.

    This album marks his most personal release to date, reflecting where he is in life, while exploring the complexities of healing, stillness, and growth.

    He recently performed at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London, but this will mark his first time going on a large tour since leaving One Direction.

    The March performance in London was also the first time he has been on stage since he quit the boy band.

  • ‘World has progressed, where are we?’: Lahore High Court orders administration to allow PTI rally in Lahore

    ‘World has progressed, where are we?’: Lahore High Court orders administration to allow PTI rally in Lahore

    The Lahore High Court today has rejected appeals asking for suspension of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally in Lahore tomorrow.

    A three-judge bench heard the petitions filed in the LHC regarding permission for PTI’s rally in Lahore.

    Justice Tariq Nadeem, while talking to the Chief Secretary, stated, “Those who are ruling today were in opposition in the past, and when they were in opposition, they expressed their concerns. You [Chief Secretary] were in service then and now as well. We need to do good for our country; you should allocate a place for the rally in Punjab. And also allocate two or three places for the party rally in Lahore so people do not face difficulties.”

    Justice Tariq Nadeem lamented, “All the bureaucracy has left their work to be in the court today; the world has progressed so much. What message are we giving to the world?”

    Meanwhile, Justice Farooq Haider asked IG Punjab Police Dr Usman, “Is the police harassing the political workers of a party?”

    The IG replied that nothing of the sort was being done, and no such instructions had been issued to the police.

    The LHC rejected appeals to stop the rally and directed the Lahore Deputy Commissioner to decide the venue for the party’s rally by 5 PM today.

  • Viral Korean Olympic shooter scores first acting role as assassin

    Viral Korean Olympic shooter scores first acting role as assassin

    South Korean pistol shooter Kim Ye-ji, whose skill and nonchalance won the internet at the Paris Olympics, has landed her first acting role — as an assassin.

    The 32-year-old took silver in the women’s 10m air pistol in July and her ultra-calm demeanour, combined with her wire-rimmed shooting glasses and baseball cap, turned her into a worldwide online sensation.

    As videos of her shooting went viral, she drew praise from celebrities such as Elon Musk.

    “She should be cast in an action movie. No acting required!” Musk wrote on his social media platform X at the time.

    Now she will play an assassin in “Crush”, a spinoff short-form series of the global film project “Asia”, a spokesperson for Seoul-based entertainment firm Asia Lab told AFP on Friday.

    Kim will star alongside Indian actress and influencer Anushka Sen, the company said in a separate statement, saying it was excited to witness “the potential synergy that will arise from Kim Ye-ji and Anushka Sen’s new transformation into a killer duo”.

    Since winning silver, a short clip showing Kim at the Baku World Cup in May has gone viral, spawning fan art, endless memes and multiple edits setting the clip to K-pop.

    Kim signed with a South Korean talent agency in August to assist her in managing her extracurricular activities and she has since been featured in a magazine photoshoot for Louis Vuitton.

  • ‘September 21 rally is do-or-die for PTI,’ declares Imran Khan

    ‘September 21 rally is do-or-die for PTI,’ declares Imran Khan

    Founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan on Thursday declared the party’s pre scheduled rally to be held in Lahore on September 21 a do-or-die event.

    Speaking to journalists at Adiala jail Rawalpindi, the former Prime Minister said, “The Constitution gives us the right to assemble,” he said, warning that jails will be filled if PTI gets barred from holding the Lahore rally.

    He stated, “I ask the nation to come out for their future on September 21 in Lahore.”

    Citing the judiciary’s role in society, Khan remarked, “The Supreme Court (SC) is the last institution from which people have expectations. If the SC is also destroyed, Pakistan will become a banana republic.”

    Responding to the government’s proposed constitutional amendments, he stated, “To destroy the Supreme Court is to destroy democracy, and to destroy democracy is to destroy freedom. When freedom is destroyed, people become slaves.”

    Lambasting President Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, Khan said that both will flee again and stressed that everyone is aware of their money which is lying abroad.

  • Emmad Irfani has a brotherly bond with Fahad Mustafa in real life

    Emmad Irfani has a brotherly bond with Fahad Mustafa in real life

     
     Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum is currently one of the biggest hit dramas in Pakistan, and it is being widely praised for its character development.
     
    Emmad Irfani and Naeem Butt appeared as guests on BBC Urdu recently, where Irfani talked about his off-screen experience.
     
    Emmad said, “Off-screen, we were like a family. Javed Sheikh sahab would bring food, Bushra jee would bring food, and sometimes Badar, our director, would bring food as well. And I’m not exaggerating, but Fahad and I developed a brotherly bond off-screen. Maybe that’s also a factor that the audience is seeing on-screen, the camaraderie we built off-screen is probably showing up on-screen as well.”
     
    On the hand, Naeema Butt, who plays Rubab, is not only getting attention for her acting but also for her long hair.

    “I’ve always faced this issue in the industry because of my long hair, and I’ve been told several times that I should cut my hair short in order to look more modern and since it’s simpler to style. Still, I never really followed that advice because, whether I’m in Pakistan or New York, my hair is very special to me”, Naeema Butt added.
     
    Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum is written by Farhat Ishqtiaq and directed by Badar Mehmood. It airs on ARY Digital on Monday and Tuesday at 8:00 PM.

  • ICC delegation pleased with Champions Trophy arrangements in Pakistan

    ICC delegation pleased with Champions Trophy arrangements in Pakistan

    A delegation of the International Cricket Council (ICC) has expressed satisfaction with the arrangements for the Champions Trophy scheduled to be played next year in Pakistan after visiting the country.

    The five-member ICC delegation has expressed complete satisfaction with the arrangements for the Champions Trophy scheduled next year after visiting Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi stadiums.

    Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi met the ICC delegation (including Senior Manager of Events Sarah Edgar, Security Manager David Musker, and other representatives) to discuss preparations for the mega event. The delegation visited the three stadiums.

    On this occasion, Chairman PCB assured the ICC delegation that upgrade work will be completed before the mega event and fool-proof security arrangements would be made for all the teams.

    He said, “Organizing the ICC Champions Trophy tournament in Pakistan is an honour. As big as this tournament is, we are finalizing the arrangements accordingly. Players of all teams will enjoy cricket in a peaceful and safe environment. With the upgrade, the stadiums will have international standard facilities, and the fans will enjoy the cricket matches even more than before.”

    The Champions Trophy is scheduled in February of next year in Pakistan. This will be a 50-overs format with eight teams participating. All the teams have confirmed their participation except India.

    According to Indian media, the team will visit if their government allows them to travel.