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  • 7-year-old girl raped, murdered in Karachi; body discovered at construction site

    7-year-old girl raped, murdered in Karachi; body discovered at construction site

    The body of a seven-years-old girl who was raped and killed, was discovered on Friday from a construction site near Mengal School in the Muslimabad colony of Landhi in Karachi, Dawn has reported.

    Malir SSP Irfan Bahadur, while talking to Dawn, said that the girl had gone missing on Thursday around 2 pm while her body was found on Friday.
    He also said that before taking more legal action, the police will wait for the physician’s reports.

    Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed, told Dawn that the body had extensive injuries all over the body, especially the head.

    To comply with legal requirements, the body of the minor was moved to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC).

    Almost 21,900 women were reported to have been raped in Pakistan from 2017 to 2021, Zahid Gishkori has reported for Samaa. The data has been compiled by SAMAA TV Investigation Unit (SIU) from the Punjab home department and Ministry of Human Rights (MoHRs).

    This meant that approximately 12 women were raped every day, or one every two hours, throughout the country.

  • Dubai-based watch company says they didn’t sell or buy Toshakhana gifts

    Dubai-based watch company says they didn’t sell or buy Toshakhana gifts

    Styleout Watches, a Dubai-based watch company, has rejected rumours about selling or buying Toshakhana gifts received by former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    Referring to the recent controversy regarding the luxurious Graff set which was gifted to Khan by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Styleout watches released a statement, stating, “We certify that we never bought or sold the Graff Mecca Map diamond MasterGraff Tourbillon minute repeater watch along with diamond cufflinks and round diamonds gent’s ring, as well as rose gold pen set with diamonds to any person.”

    “We were approached by an undisclosed person, to market this watch using our Instagram page,” Styleoutwatches said, adding that any information about the watch being sold for USD250,000 is “incorrect and baseless”.

    The company said that they reserve the right to sue and take legal action against anyone using their name and their brand to sell and market the watch.

    “What we did do is we got it for promotion and marketing reasons,” they said, adding that they took the watch from an undisclosed person, took pictures and posted it on social media to create attention and hype in 2019.

    “Then, we returned the watch to the person and whatever happened before or after, we don’t know,” he clarified. The company requested the people to keep them out of the matter.

    Earlier, rumours were circulating on social media that Styleout watches had sold the watch for 250k USD in 2019.

    On Tuesday, Dubai-based businessman Umar Farooq Zahoor revealed to Shahzeb Khanzada how he had bought the Graff set from Khan. He had bought the branded set through former accoun­ta­bility minister Shahzad Akbar and Farah Khan, a close aide of Imran’s wife Bushra Bibi. He said on the show that he had paid the equivalent of $2 million in cash for the set.

  • ‘Do I reinstall Facebook or Snapchat?’ Twitter users concerned over rumours of site shutting down

    Twitter goes through upheavals since Elon Musk’s takeover of the social media app, users have expressed extreme apprehension over rumors the app will shut down.

    The bird app has announced that its office buildings will be temporarily closed, effective immediately and that offices will reopen on Monday, November 21.

    Twitter employees were informed about the closure in a letter, but the company withheld an explanation.

    The statement comes as rumours circulate that employees were leaving after the new owner, Elon Musk, told them to sign up for “long hours at high intensity” or quit.
    After the recent development, rumors of the micro-blogging website shutting down have taken hold of the micro blogging app.

    Twitter users are sharing their concern over the expected shutdown of the site while others are sharing usernames of their handles on other social media sites and some are sharing memes.

    Have a look at the reactions:

    https://twitter.com/servinghun/status/1593546957653508097

  • Intelligence reports that Imran may be attacked again, IHC says

    Intelligence reports that Imran may be attacked again, IHC says

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday said that intelligence reports have identified that there may be danger of another attack on Imran Khan, former Prime Minister and Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    Chief Justice of IHC, Aamer Farooq, passed the remarks during the hearing of two merged petitions — PTI’s plea seeking a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for a protest sit-in in Islamabad and traders’ petition for ensuring the citizens’ rights to access the roads during the prolonged political demonstrations, reports Geo News.

    During the hearing, the police presented a report before the court, stating that there is a possibility of another bid on Imran Khan’s life during the protest.

    To this, the Chief Justice remarked that it is the government’s responsibility to address the issue.

    About the protest in Islamabad, Justice Farooq said the administration should take a decision on PTI’s request in accordance with the law and ensure that roads are not blocked. He also added that the government will decide on the venue for the PTI and where they can protest in Islamabad.

    During the hearing, the chief justice also noted the blockage of roads caused by PTI, stating, “You [PTI] blocked the GT Road, the motorway, and other important highways. You should also have shown some responsibility.”

    Earlier this month, the PTI chief survived an assassination attempt in Wazirabad during his party’s long march. Khan sustained multiple bullet injuries in his legs.

  • Saudi prince has immunity in Khashoggi murder lawsuit: Biden administration

    Saudi prince has immunity in Khashoggi murder lawsuit: Biden administration

    The Biden administration has said that Saudi Arabian Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has immunity from a lawsuit over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi — a Saudi-born US resident who wrote critical articles about Saudi rulers in The Washington Post.

    A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council said, “This is a legal determination made by the State Department under longstanding and well-established principles of customary international law. It has nothing to do with the merits of the case.”

    Moreover, the Justice Department of the country had “determined that defendant bin Salman, as the sitting head of a foreign government, enjoys head of state immunity from the jurisdiction of U.S. courts as a result of that office.”

    After the news, Khashoggi’s ex-fiancée Hatice Cengiz tweeted: “Jamal died again today”.

    Earlier, lawyers for the prince asked in a petition requesting a federal district court in Washington to dismiss the case, citing other cases where the United States has recognised immunity for a foreign head of state

    In 2018, Khashoggi was killed by Saudi agents in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, an operation that US intelligence believed was allegedly ordered by the crown prince who has repeatedly denied involvement in the past.

    When the incumbent US President Joe Biden took charge of the presidency, his administration made clear the president would avoid direct engagement with the crown prince and instead focus on his engagements with King Salman.

  • Sazgar introduces Pakistan’s first-ever locally assembled Hybrid SUV

    Sazgar introduces Pakistan’s first-ever locally assembled Hybrid SUV

    At a ceremony in Lahore, Sazgar Engineering formally unveiled the Haval H6, Pakistan’s first locally assembled hybrid electric vehicle (HEV).

    By doing this, the business has significantly surpassed its competitors. This is a huge milestone because not even the top automakers in Pakistan considered releasing a hybrid automobile.

    In a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), the company said, “We are pleased to inform you that the company has successfully assembled/ manufactured locally the first Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) of Pakistan and is being launched under brand ‘Haval’ as of November 17.”

    One of the four brands owned by the Chinese carmaker Great Wall Motors (GWM), “Haval,” reached the Pakistani market through Sazgar in early 2021.

    A 1.5 turbocharged engine in the Haval H6 generates 152 horsepower (HP) and 233 newton metres (Nm) of torque. With that, there is a motor producing 174 horsepower and 300 Nm of torque. Excellent efficiency, low fuel consumption, high performance, and light weight are the engine’s four standout qualities.

    The Haval H6 Hybrid SUV costs Rs9.75 million, yet the manufacturer charges Rs1.9 million for bookings.

  • Fact Check: Is the viral video of Shehbaz Sharif with UK lawyer legit?

    Fact Check: Is the viral video of Shehbaz Sharif with UK lawyer legit?

    Claim: A video of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (PM) in London is being shared on social media.

    Users are claiming that the video depicts the Premier sitting in a court in the United Kingdom (UK) where he and his son-in-law, Imran Ali Yousaf, are being panelised in the Daily Mail defamation case.

    Shehbaz Sharif had sued the Daily Mail in 2019 for an article which had suggested that he along with Yousaf “stole British taxpayers’ money” given to Earthquake Relief and Reconstruction Authority (ERRA) set up to help the victims of the 2005 Pakistan earthquake.

    In this particular video, the man sitting next to Sharif can be heard saying, “Mr Sharif misappropriated UK taxpayers’ money and particular government aid intended for the victims of the devasting 2005 earthquake in Pakistan.”

    Fact: The video is of a press conference held by Sharif himself in 2020, in which he formally launched a defamation suit against journalist David Rose and Daily Mail and Associated Newspaper Limited (ANL) — the publishers of Mail Online.

    The disclosure of formal court action was made at a press conference at the offices of British law firm Carter-Ruck by Alasdair Pepper and Antonia Foster, who are representing Shehbaz in his legal case against the paper. Shehbaz was present with his lawyers at the press conference where the announcement was made.

    The lawyer said that Carter-Ruck had decided to move the court after failing to get a substantive response from the newspaper despite several requests over a passage of several months. He said that in nearly seven months the Mail had refused to engage with Sharif’s lawyer.

    Pepper argued that the article in the Mail, followed by a social media campaign launched by journalist David Rose, was gravely defamatory for Shehbaz, carrying false allegations that he misappropriated UK taxpayers’ money in the form of aid intended for the victims of the devastating 2005 earthquake in Pakistan.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) official Twitter account also corrected the false claim and blamed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for spreading “lies”.

    Verdict: FALSE

  • Toyota IMC increases car prices up to Rs7 lac

    Toyota IMC increases car prices up to Rs7 lac

    Toyota Indus Motor Company has announced a massive price hike for Corolla and Hilux variants.

    The automaker blames rising manufacturing costs and the weakening rupee in a notification it has issued.

    Here are the new prices:

    Vehicle Old Invoice New Price Difference
    Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 CVT Rs4,789,000 Rs4,979,000 Rs190,000
    Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 CVT SE Rs5,279,000 Rs5,479,000 Rs200,000
    Toyota Hilux Rs8,449,000 Rs9,069,000 Rs620,000
    Toyota Hilux Revo G 2.8 R9,169,000 Rs9,839,000 Rs670,000
    Toyota Hilux Revo G 2.8 AT Rs9,609,000 Rs10,309,000 Rs700,000
    Toyota Corolla’s new prices

    Since January 2022, Toyota has raised the pricing of all of its vehicles by 32 to 7 per cent. Aspiring Toyota buyers are put into a worse situation by this additional price increase.

    These models are now more competitively priced with their top-tier competitors in their respective categories. Toyota may therefore be using decoy pricing to steer client spending into their more expensive items as one of its goals.

    IMC may also want to prepare customers for potential price increases that are even higher relative to those for the more expensive versions of these particular models.

    Regardless of what Toyota hopes to accomplish with this price rise, the cause is most likely the same: its operational loss of Rs3.3 billion in Q1FY23. From Rs5.42 billion in Q1FY22 to Rs1.29 billion in Q1FY23, Toyota’s sales revenue fell by 76 per cent. Toyota would have ended the quarter with a total loss if it weren’t for its Rs5.16 billion in other income.

  • Who should be the next army chief? PM consults Maulana Fazlur Rehman

    Who should be the next army chief? PM consults Maulana Fazlur Rehman

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has begun discussions with the senior leadership of ruling parties on the appointment of the new army chief, sources have revealed to Geo news.

    A report aired on the news channel has said that allied parties have fully mandated the Premier to make the nomination in accordance with established protocols.

    Sources said that the leader of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), Maulana Fazlur Rehman, called the prime minister to inquire about his health.

    The two leaders then discussed the state of the nation and the selection of the new army chief over the phone, according to sources.

    Maulana urged the PM to choose the new army head in accordance with established protocols. Sources have also revealed that co-chairman PPP, Asif Ali Zardari, who is in Islamabad, may meet with Shehbaz Sharif and Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

    Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), had also acknowledged that Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has the constitutional right to appoint the army chief but questioned if he can “morally” appoint the right person.

  • Twitter offices close as hundreds of workers resign, #RIPTwitter trends

    Twitter offices close as hundreds of workers resign, #RIPTwitter trends

    Twitter has announced that its office buildings will be temporarily closed, effective immediately and that the offices will reopen on Monday, November 21.

    Twitter employees were informed regarding the closure in a letter, but the company withheld an explanation for this.

    The statement comes as there are rumours that several employees were leaving after the new owner, Elon Musk, told them to sign up for “long hours at high intensity” or quit.

    Mr Musk stated that those who didn’t sign up by Thursday, November 17 would receive three months’ worth of severance money.

    The corporation said earlier this month that it will be laying off almost 50 per cent of its workers.

    The news that Twitter had temporarily closed its offices today coincided with indications that several employees had already left in protest at Mr Musk’s new contract terms.

    To announce their departure from the company, employees have begun tweeting using the hashtag #LoveWhereYouWorked and a saluting emoji.

    One former Twitter employee who wished to remain anonymous told BBC: “I think when the dust clears today, there’s probably going to be less than 2,000 people left.”

    They added that everyone in their team had been terminated.

    “The manager of that team, his manager was terminated. And then that manager’s manager was terminated. The person above that was one of the execs terminated on the first day. So there’s nobody left in that chain of command.”

    Around 7,500 people worked for Twitter before Elon Musk took over. Thousands of contract workers were also reportedly employed by the company, the majority of whom are believed to have been let go.

    Another person claimed that despite being ready to put in long hours, they had quit their job.

    “I didn’t want to work for someone who threatened us over email multiple times about only ‘exceptional tweeps should work here’ when I was already working 60-70 hours weekly,” they said.

    The richest person in the world acquired Twitter last month in a $44 billion deal, becoming the company’s CEO in the process.

    In response to a query on worries that Twitter was set to shut down after the notification about the closure of Twitter’s offices was sent, Mr Musk tweeted: “The best people are staying, so I’m not super worried”.