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  • After Punjab, KPK assembly also approves motion against ECP chief

    After Punjab, KPK assembly also approves motion against ECP chief

    A day after Punjab Assembly, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly on Monday also approved a motion expressing no-trust in Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja.

    The development was shared by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) official Twitter handle.

    The resolution demanded immediate general elections in the country and called for the ECP members and CEC to step down.

    Punjab Assembly approves motion for ECP chief’s resignation

    On Sunday, the Punjab Assembly (PA) approved a motion today on Sunday calling for CEC Sikandar’s resignation.

    This development came after PTI candidate Sibtain Khan was elected the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly.

    The session of the provincial assembly began with newly-elected PA Speaker Khan administering the oath to his deputy, Wasiq Qayyum.

    Later, PTI Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Syed Abbas Shah presented the motion against Sultan. After the motion was approved, the Assembly was adjourned till August 15.

    PTI Information Secretary Farrukh Habib issued a statement on Saturday and said the party had prepared to file a disqualification reference in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against the CEC. He said the CEC met PDM leaders after reserving a judgment in the prohibited funding case.

    “By doing so, the chief election commissioner violated his oath, the code of conduct as well as his constitutional duty,” he added.

    In an address to his supporters, PTI Chairman Imran Khan expressed his complete lack of trust in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and CEC Raja. Khan accused the ECP of supporting former Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Hamza Shehbaz.

  • Govt may cut petrol price by Rs11 per litre today

    Govt may cut petrol price by Rs11 per litre today

    The price of petrol may be reduced by Rs11 per litre by the government, according to sources privy to the matter.

    According to Dawn, the cost of petrol is anticipated to drop by Rs11 per litre, while the cost of high-speed diesel is anticipated to rise by Rs8 per litre. Petrol is currently available for Rs230 per litre.

    The tax on petrol is expected to surge by Rs5 per litre and the tax on diesel, kerosene, and light diesel by Rs10 per litre, as per reports.

    However, the Ministry of Finance will reveal a price revision today, and the new rates will take effect on August 1.

  • Will anyone save Balochistan?

    Will anyone save Balochistan?

    Continuous rain isn’t showing its mercy to the people of Balochistan, adding to their sorrow. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Balochistan yesterday to oversee the relief work being done in the province during the heavy monsoon rains. More than 120 people have lost their lives while 6,000 houses have been completely damaged and over 10,000 partially damaged. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, “Troops are busy in rescue, and relief efforts apart from providing medical care and opening up communication infrastructure.”

    Occasional rain kept pouring on in different cities of the province, exposing the already neglected Balochistan to more tragedy. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, Kalat received 50mm of rain, followed by Chaman with 26mm and Ziarat with 21mm during the said period. Rainfall was also reported in Muslim Bagh, Sibi, Mastung, Dalbadin, Khuzdar, Lasbela and Barkhan in the last 24 hours. According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), at least 127 people have died in rains and floods in the province since June 1. Some of those deaths were reported in parts of the province in the last 24 hours.

    Every year, Pakistan witnesses floods and heavy rains destroying infrastructure. Are the ones responsible for running the country well aware that Pakistan finds itself in this vicious cycle every year but are we prepared? The answer: no. The authorities do not wake up unless floods swamp provinces, people die, families lose their livelihoods, jobs, animals, homes, and above all, their loved ones.

    The plight of Balochistan makes one wonder, why doesn’t our government plan ahead? Why don’t management authorities take preemptive measures? Why can’t we realise that the loss of life is replaceable? Will anyone really see how families have lost their loved ones, how water has washed away life itself? But what’s even scarier is how little we are doing to change this. We hope that our authorities do better. Better as leaders, caretakers, policy-makers, and above all, as humans. The plight of Balochistan is an awakening call for all. The sooner our leaders wake up, the better. Balochistan has been neglected for decades. The people of Balochistan deserve better.

  • Hitler’s watch sold for $1.1m

    Hitler’s watch sold for $1.1m

    A wristwatch that is believed to belong to Adlof Hitler has been sold for $1.1m (Rs264 million) to an anonymous bidder at an auction in the United States.

    The watch is believed to have been given to Hitler in 1933. It bears a swastika, Nazi eagle and has initials AH engraved on it. The product catalogue mentioned that this watch was presented to Adlof Hitler possibly as a birthday present in 1933, the year he became the chancellor of Germany.

    Adolf Hitler led Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1945 and orchestrated the systematic mass murder of nearly 11 million people – six million of whom were killed because they were Jewish.

    Jewish leaders condemned the auction ahead of the sale at Alexander Historical Auction in Maryland. The Chairman of the European Jewish Association said that it helped those who idealise the Nazi Party.

    However, the Alexander Historical Auctions said that its aim was to preserve history.

  • Aima Baig, Sahir Ali Bagga collaborate for KPL 2 anthem

    Aima Baig, Sahir Ali Bagga collaborate for KPL 2 anthem

    The much-anticipated official hymn for the second edition of the Kashmir Premier League (KPL), which will take place from August 11 to 25, was unveiled on Saturday.

    The anthem, which is sung by superstar singers Aima Baig and Sahir Ali Bagga, also includes notable Pakistani athletes, including Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Sharjeel Khan, and Azam Khan.

    The KPL administration also took sure to promote Kashmiri music in the writing of the song and included some magnificent images of the magnificence of the valley.

    The opening match of the second KPL season will take place on August 11 at Muzaffarabad Cricket Stadium, while the championship game will follow on August 25 at the same location.

    Fans of cricket will be able to watch some of Pakistan’s most well-known cricketers, such as Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Amir, and Sharjeel Khan, play in the KPL this year as icon players.

  • Signing of declaration of finality of Prophethood (PBUH) for nikkah made mandatory in Punjab

    Signing of declaration of finality of Prophethood (PBUH) for nikkah made mandatory in Punjab

    The Punjab local government and community development department has issued updated Form-II of nikkahnama that makes it mandatory for the bride and groom to sign declaration on the belief of finality of Prophethood (PBUH) with immediate effect.

    The notification directs all the secretaries of union councils to provide the amended nikkahnama containing the declaration of finality of Prophethood (PBUH) to all nikkah registrars.

    The law states, “If any person to whom a licence has been granted under this rule contravenes any of the conditions of such license, he shall be punishable with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees or with both.”

    If a nikkah registrar does not use the updated Form-II, a disciplinary action will be taken against the concerned UC secretary.

    The Punjab cabinet approved the amendment in March this year. The amendment was approved in the 51st provincial meeting of former chief minister (CM) Punjab Usman Buzdar’s cabinet.

  • Honda raises car prices by up to Rs1.45 million

    Honda raises car prices by up to Rs1.45 million

    Following the footsteps of Toyota and KIA, Honda Atlas Cars Limited (HACL) has increased the price of its vehicles. The automaker has attributed the biggest increase to growing raw material prices and the weakening of the local currency against US dollar.

    The revised pricing go into effect on July 30, 2022. They apply to all orders placed beginning on July 30, 2022, and further forward.

    All orders that are due by August 2022 or for which full payment was received by July 29, 2022, will be subject to the previous pricing.

    Here are the new prices for all variants from Honda:

    Variant Old Invoice (Rs) New Prices (Rs) Difference (Rs)
    City 1.2L MT 3,264,000 4,049,000 785,000
    City 1.2L CVT 3,389,000 4,199,000 810,000
    City 1.5L CVT 3,589,000 4,439,000 850,000
    1.5 L Aspire MT 3,729,000 4,609,000 880,000
    1.5 L Aspire CVT 3,899,000 4,799,000 900,000
    Civic 1.5T M-CVT 5,549,000 6,799,000 1,250,000
    Civic Oriel 1.5T M-CVT 5,799,000 7,099,000 1,300,000
    Civic 1.5T RS LL-CVT 6,649,000 8,099,000 1,450,000
    BR-V 1.5 iVTEC S 4,249,000 5,299,000 1,050,000
    Latest Honda Car Prices in Pakistan

    It is worth noting that these hikes from Toyota and Honda are the biggest price increase in the auto market’s history. Honda’s premium sedan Honda Civic is now priced as high as Rs8.1 million.

    Additionally, the base trim of the Honda City now starts at more than Rs4 million, which has the general public in disbelief.

    Experts predict that the Pakistani rupee will most likely decline even further, which suggests that the price of cars may witness more revisions in the coming months.

  • Eight models raped during a music video shoot

    Eight models raped during a music video shoot

    A group of armed men stormed a music video shoot and raped eight models in Johannesburg, South Africa. The horrific incident took place in a small town called Krugersdorp, situated in the West of Johannesburg.

    Out of the 20 suspects, three have been arrested by the police so far.

    The group attacked the models as they were setting up the set for the shoot.

    According to the police, the women were aged between 18 and 35. One of the survivors was raped by 10 men and another by eight.

    “It appears that they (the suspects) are foreign nationals,” said the police, adding that they are illegal miners in South Africa.

    South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had ordered the police minister to make sure the perpetrators were “apprehended and dealt with”.

  • Sindh Police launches operation against fake government number plates

    Sindh Police launches operation against fake government number plates

    Sindh police has launched an operation against motorists using bogus green and blue government license plates. The police will monitor different roads in Karachi and punish anyone found running a vehicle with a fake or unauthorised registration plate.

    Following the Inspector-General’s (IG) directives, Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon Sindh Police have started a campaign against those who have phoney green and blue number plates on their cars.

    The IG gave the go-ahead to commence a crackdown on bogus green and blue license plates on July 25, but monsoon rains caused the operation to be postponed.

    According to the IG, it is illegal and punishable by law to use a blue or green number plate on a private car. He stated that all district police officers have been told to conduct strict operations against fake license plates.

    Following the IG’s directives, the Traffic Police started conducting spot checks on Muhammad Ali Jinnah Road in Karachi.

    A recent report from ARY News claims that a speeding vehicle that was using a phoney green license plate attempted to run over a traffic police officer when it was pulled over for inspection.

  • Religious minorities allotted sites for burials, cremation

    Religious minorities allotted sites for burials, cremation

    The National Assembly (NA) was told that all religious minorities living in Islamabad have been allotted burial sites, reports Dawn.

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah informed the House about this development. He said that all religious minorities have been given cremation grounds and graveyards in the capital.

    About the Hindu community, he said that they have been given grounds in the H-9 sector of the capital. The Buddhist community also has its cremation grounds in this sector.

    Other religious minorities including Christians, Baháʼís and Ahmadis have their graveyards in the same sector.

    The House was told that there is no demand for new sites but if the religious communities will demand more sites, it will be allotted to them.