Blog

  • Dubai crown prince calls Dubai-based Pakistani rider to thank him for his ‘act of goodness’

    Dubai crown prince calls Dubai-based Pakistani rider to thank him for his ‘act of goodness’

    A Pakistani delivery rider won the heart of Dubai’s crown prince after a video of him removing concrete blocks from a busy street went viral. He was seen in the viral video removing two fallen concrete bricks from busy traffic.

    Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum then shared the video on his official Twitter account in an attempt to locate the man.

    “An act of goodness in Dubai to be praised. Can someone point me to this man?”

    Later, he commented on his own tweet saying that the “good man” has been found.

    The crown prince called Abdul Ghafoor to thank him.

    “Hello, this is Sheikh Hamdan,” were the first words when he called Pakistani expat Abdul Ghafoor on Sunday.

    “I could not believe my ears,” an elated Abdul Ghafoor told Khaleej Times. He was out for a delivery when the call came. “The Dubai Crown Prince thanked me for what I had done. He also said that he was out of the country right now and promised he would meet me as soon as he was back.”

    “To be honest, I’m still in disbelief that the Sheikh wanted to speak to a common man like me,” said Abdul Ghafoor. “He is really a great leader.”

  • PTI foreign funding case: ECP says PTI received prohibited funds

    PTI foreign funding case: ECP says PTI received prohibited funds

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in its verdict on Tuesday unanimously ruled that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) did indeed receive prohibited funding and issued a show-cause notice to the party.

    A three-member ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja announced the verdict in a case filed by PTI founding member Akbar S. Babar. Akbar filed the case on November 14, 2014. The verdict was reserved on June 21.

    The ECP said that the party, in violation of the Constitution, had received funds from 34 foreign entities. The party received funds from the United States, Australia, and the UAE. The ECP added that 13 unidentified accounts also surfaced during the probe in the PTI funding case.

    It says that PTI Chairman Imran Khan submitted a false Nomination Form I. The PTI chairman kept accounts hidden, which the ECP said is a violation of the Constitution, and the affidavit provided regarding party accounts was also false.

    The commission noted that “the party knowingly and willfully received funding from Wootton Cricket Limited, operated by business tycoon Arif Naqvi. The party was a willing recipient of prohibited money of $2,121,500”.

    ECP Verdict on PTI’s foreign funding case is attached below;

    ECP-VERDICTDownload

    The ECP said that the party knowingly and willfully also received donations from Bristol Engineering Services (a UAE-based company), E-Planet Trustees (a Cayman Island private registered company), SS Marketing Manchester (a UK-based private company), PTI USA LLC-6160, and PTI USA LLC-5975 which were hit by prohibition and in violation of Pakistani laws.

    The ECP went on to say that the party had only owned eight accounts before the commission and declared 13 accounts to be unknown. “The data obtained from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reveals that all the 13 accounts disowned by the PTI were opened and operated by senior PTI management and leadership at [a] central and provincial level.”

    The PTI chairman submitted Form-I for five years (between 2008-2013), which was found to be “grossly inaccurate on the basis of the financial statements obtained by this commission from SBP and other material available on record”.

    “Imran Khan for the five years under review has filed submissions that were grossly inaccurate and wrong. Even during the course of scrutiny and hearing by this commission, the PTI continued to conceal and withhold complete and full disclosure of [the] source of its funds.”

    The demand for an announcement of the verdict in this important case increased following an explosive story by the Financial Times, revealing the sources of funding of the PTI.

    Read more: PTI foreign funding case: New revelations in Financial Times spark another controversy

    Khan persistently has been demanding CEC Raja’s resignation, accusing him of being biased towards the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

    Read more: What did Bushra Bibi and Khan do after losing the no-confidence motion? Imran reveals all

    Addressing his party members at PTI’s national council meeting in Islamabad on August 1, Khan called for a protest outside the ECP office in Islamabad on Thursday, August 4, to demand CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja’s resignation.

    PTI foreign funding case: ECP to announce verdict tomorrow

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced that its verdict on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s foreign funding case will be announced tomorrow (Tuesday, August 2) at 10am.

    Earlier it was reported by Daily Jang that after eight years ECP might announce its verdict this week in the PTI foreign funding case.

    ECP officials revealed that the investigations into international money-laundering have been completed.

    “PTI is only harming itself by filing a judicial reference against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja,” said ECP officials. They said that during the hearing of this judicial reference, certain matters that were earlier “hidden from public view would be revealed”. They further claimed that the judicial reference against the Election Commission of Pakistan and the CEC “is an attempt to create a smoke screen ahead of the verdict” by “blackmailers” who are part of an international money-laundering ring.

    The officials further said that ECP will not bow to any “blackmailing and will not come under any pressure”, clarifying that the ECP has no bias toward any political party.

    The development has come forward after an investigative report published in Financial Times revealed new details about PTI’s foreign funding.

    After the FT report, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that the coalition government, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), met ECP officials and urged them to release the verdict on the foreign funding case.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has also repeatedly urged the ECP to announce its verdict in the long-delayed case.

  • What did Bushra Bibi and Khan do after losing no-confidence motion? Imran reveals all

    What did Bushra Bibi and Khan do after losing no-confidence motion? Imran reveals all

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has revealed that a day after losing the no-confidence motion, he and Bushra Bibi decided to rest and watch a movie. “In the evening, we were watching a movie when I saw on my phone that the public is out on the roads”.

    Addressing his party members at PTI’s national council meeting in Islamabad, he said seeing the public made him happy. He further said that being PM was extremely difficult as every other day some new issue pops up and that he did not take a day off while he was in office.

    Protest on Aug 4

    Khan has called for a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) office in Islamabad on Thursday (August 4) to demand Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja’s resignation.

    The former prime minister said that he wanted electronic voting machines (EVMs) for free and fair elections, accusing “CEC Sikandar Raja of sabotaging them in every way possible.”

    He said that during the recently-held Punjab by-polls, his party’s biggest concern was rigging but “despite multiple attempts, it emerged victorious”.

    The PTI chairman also claimed that the government has lost its credibility both nationally and internationally. “It has fallen to an extent that the army chief has to now request for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan. Can you imagine?”

    He was referring to the reports of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa reaching out to US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman last week for help in securing an early loan dispersal from IMF.

  • ‘More power to her’: Inspiring story of female rider delivering food

    ‘More power to her’: Inspiring story of female rider delivering food

    A LinkedIn user named Fizza Ijaz recently posted about receiving her order from a female KFC rider, Meerab.

    Meerab belongs to Lahore and is currently pursuing a degree in fashion designing.

    “Today I ordered KFC in Lahore and received a call from a female saying: ‘Hello, I am your rider speaking’,” the post read.

    “I got so excited that I stood outside the gate to receive her and we (my friends and I) spoke to her for a good 10 minutes about many things including her pursuits, passion and bike riding skills. Meet Meerab from Youhanabad, Lahore.”

    “She is pursuing an undergraduate degree in Fashion Designing and does her night duty as a KFC rider to cover her fees. She intends to remain a rider for another 3 years until she graduates post which she plans to launch her own Fashion Brand!”

    The post has received over 50,000 likes and over 1,500 comments.

    Meerab’s university fees are paid by the KFC Female Higher Education Scholarship Programme.

    Asma Yusuf, KFC Pakistan’s Cheif People Officer (CPO), commented, “Thank you so much for the shoutout Fizza Ijaz Meerab makes us so proud! She’s not only a KFC Pakistan Dame Rider but is also continuing her education journey with the KFC Female Higher Education Scholarship Program. Indeed, there’s no force stronger than a woman who has decided to rise.”

  • ‘Stop making a mockery of family’: Chaudhry Shujaat asks Pervaiz Elahi to return home

    ‘Stop making a mockery of family’: Chaudhry Shujaat asks Pervaiz Elahi to return home

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Monday asked Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to return home.

    “At our residence, my room is on one side, while the other side belongs to Pervaiz Elahi,” the former premier said during a press conference on Monday.

    They are trying to divide the family

    “They are trying to divide our family,” he said while speaking about the ongoing conflict within the party. Shujaat advised Elahi to “stop making a mockery of our family”.

    Regarding his sons and their involvement in political matters, the PML-Q leader — who was recently removed from his party position following the letter controversy during the CM’s election — said: “Attempts are being made to defame my sons, they have taken all decisions after consulting me and I am proud of them.”

    He further added that those who levelled allegations against him and his sons have no standing.

    Shujaat blamed the politicians after Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa intervened in the economic matters of the country by contacting United States officials and requesting an early dispersal of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) funds.

    “Why was there a need for the army chief to interfere?” Shujaat questioned.

    It is impossible to remove Shujaat from his party head position

    Federal Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema said that he will only leave his position when Shujaat asks him to do so.

    “It is impossible to remove Shujaat from his party head position,” Cheema said, referring to the unanimous decision taken by the PML-Q central working committee to remove Shujaat and Cheema from their party positions.

    “Shujaat is the founder of the party and provincial offices have no authority to remove him,” he maintained, adding that this is not how parties work.

  • Asia’s first monkeypox death reported in India

    Asia’s first monkeypox death reported in India

    India confirmed the death of a 22-year-old man from monkeypox in the southern state of Kerala. The death is India’s as well as Asia’s first death from the disease, reports Reuters. This is the world’s fourth known fatality from the disease.

    Kerala’s revenue minister K Rajan said that the government isolated 21 people who had come in contact with the young man. He further said that the deceased displayed fatigue and fever.

    According to the state’s Health Minister Veena George, the man’s family told the authorities that he had tested positive for monkeypox in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before returning to India.

    The Indian federal health ministry stated that they had formed a task force to monitor monkeypox cases across the country.

    Last month, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak of monkeypox a global health emergency. No case of monkeypox has been reported in Pakistan. However, 78 countries had reported more than 18,000 cases of monkeypox.

  • Miftah assures to address the issues of business community

    Miftah assures to address the issues of business community

    Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has assured the business community that their problems related to electricity bills and taxation will be resolved soon.

    He made this announcement during a meeting at the Finance Division with a Markazi Tanzeem-Tajaran Pakistan delegation led by its president, Muhammad Kashif Chaudary.

    Miftah tweeted on Sunday that he would meet with business leaders to discuss their concerns. “The Prime Minister has also called me and instructed me to ensure that small traders are completely satisfied with the new tax law,” Ismail tweeted.

    According to him, the government will exempt stores with invoices of less than 150 units from the tax in an effort to appease small enterprises.

    The government would charge Rs3,000 to retailers who are not registered with the FBR, and neither tax notices nor FBR officers’ visits to their stores will be made.

    Additionally, a new fixed income and sales tax scheme for small business or retailers was suggested. The coalition government in power declared in the budget for 2022–2023 that fixed income and sales taxes would also be collected in addition to electricity bills.

    The amount of this tax, according to Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, will range from Rs3,000 to Rs10,000.

    According to Kashif Chaudary, the business sector is crucial to the nation’s economic growth. Ismail also acknowledged the situation and gave his word that the government will take every necessary action to assist and support the neighbourhood.

    Previously, the business community urged that the federal government immediately stop collecting the “fixed tax” through electricity bills.

    Hasnain Khurshid Ahmad, president of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that the government has been able to collect sales tax from Rs3,000 to Rs20,000 through power bills, which is incomprehensible to local business owners.

    The forced system of “fixed” sale tax on commercial power metres, which did not distinguish between small and large firms or godowns, was a reflection of the government’s anti-business policies and amounted to the economic murder of the community of merchants, according to Khurshid.

  • PM Shehbaz visits flood-hit Balochistan, orders immediate compensation

    PM Shehbaz visits flood-hit Balochistan, orders immediate compensation

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif reached Quetta on a day-long visit on Monday, August 1, to oversee the relief operations in the flood-affected areas of Balochistan and ordered immediate compensation to the flood affectees.

    PM Shehbaz, who visited Balochistan for the second time in three days, said that he has directed the authorities to ensure that the relief amount of Rs1 million is provided to the heirs of those who lost their loved ones because of the floods within the next 24 hours.

    “During my visit here and to other camps, I have been told the people are not being provided food and water […]. People clearly said they were not getting any food and water and when I asked them how were they managing, they said they had to send someone back home to fetch food,” said PM Shehbaz.

    “It is extremely unfortunate that these camps are without food and water.”

    Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo was also present there and assured the prime minister that action would be initiated against those responsible.

    “They are all suspended and action will be taken against them,” he assured the PM.

    Read more: Will anyone save Balochistan?

    “The federal government has announced Rs1 million in compensation and the provincial government has already disbursed Rs1 million,” said Shehbaz, adding that a compensatory amount of Rs200,000 would be given for a partially damaged house and Rs500,000 for a completely damaged house.

    He said loopholes had been identified regarding the lack of a record-keeping system at camps and stressed addressing the issue at the earliest.

    Earlier today, the premier reached Quetta to visit the flood-affected areas in Chaman. He was briefed on the rescue and relief efforts by Chairman National Disaster and Management Authority (NDMA).

    PM Shehbaz Sharif asked the NDMA and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to pace up relief and rescue operations to facilitate the victims and conduct a joint survey of damaged houses and crops.

    Read more: Balochistan floods: 136 people dead, 13,000 homes damaged

    The death toll from the devastating floods is now at 136.

  • Instagram to halt TikTok-like features after severe backlash

    Instagram to halt TikTok-like features after severe backlash

    Instagram has announced that it is suspending the rollout of new features to its app following an online backlash from users, influencers, and celebrities.

    Updates to Instagram are believed to be due to the growing popularity of its competitor “TikTok” which comprises videos rather than still images.

    Celebrity sisters Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner also posted on social media this week urging the company to “make Instagram Instagram again” and stop trying to be like TikTok.

    The slogan came from a Change.org petition that had more than 229,000 signatures as of Thursday night. “Let’s go back to our roots with Instagram and remember that the intention behind Instagram was to share photos, for Pete’s sake,” the petition reads.

    Toni Tone, writer and content creator, posted how frustrated she was with the modifications and how Instagram was so much more reasonable when she received content from the people she preferred to follow.

    Instagram head Adam Mosseri responded to the controversy earlier this week by posting a video on Twitter saying the features are a work in progress, testing with a small number of users. But after some backlash, he later said in a series of tweets that he wanted to “continue supporting photos.”

    New features included recommended video content, styled like rival app TikTok. Meta, Instagram’s parent company, said it wants to “take the time” to get the transition right.