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  • ‘I was stripped naked’: Tayyaba Gul reveals during hearing on harassment complaint against ex-Chairman NAB

    ‘I was stripped naked’: Tayyaba Gul reveals during hearing on harassment complaint against ex-Chairman NAB

    Tayyaba Gul said on Thursday that Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, the Head of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances and former National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman, threatened to destroy her life. She made this revelation in front of the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

    “Javed Iqbal would tell me that he will destroy my life within a minute,” said Gul.

    “I met Iqbal during a meeting regarding missing persons,” she said, adding that when she asked him not to call her repeatedly, “he got angry”.

    “My number was written on the request filed for the missing person, and he [Iqbal] kept calling me time and again,” she said. “I recorded Iqbal because he was a very powerful official and I wanted to expose him,” she added.

    “My husband and I were arrested under the direction of the former chairman NAB. I was arrested by male officers and cannot even share the barbarity that I endured during the car ride.”

    Tayyaba Gul also revealed that on the orders of DG NAB Lahore Saleem Shehzad, she was stripped naked during a search operation and her nude videos were shown to her husband.

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    The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) summoned Justice (retd), Javed Iqbal, today (July 7) after allegations of sexual harassment resurfaced against him. The former NAB chief was summoned on the complaint of Tayyaba Gul. She had written a letter to the PAC chairman levelling harassment allegations against Iqbal.

    However, Justice (retd) Iqbal did not attend the PAC meeting.

    PAC Chairman Noor Alam Khan also raised the issue of the allegations made by human rights activist Amina Masood Janjua in Hamid Mir’s show ‘Capital Talk’ on Geo News.

    Ms Janjua revealed that when a woman went to the commission to inquire about her missing husband’s whereabouts, Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal said to her: “You are so beautiful. Why do you need a husband?”

    https://twitter.com/arshdchaudhary/status/1544359653550727168

    The same allegations were previously made by Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Manzoor Pashteen in 2018. He narrated the same incident while talking on Neo News‘ programme Khabar Kay Peechay.

  • President Alvi writes to PM Shehbaz on violence against journalists

    President Alvi writes to PM Shehbaz on violence against journalists

    President Arif Alvi has written a letter to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and expressed his concern at the pressure being put on journalists for voicing their opinion.

    “Recent events of violence against journalists reflect a mindset of intolerance, that has negative repercussions both on the future of democracy as well as freedom of expression as guaranteed by Article 19 in our constitution. Besides creating fear in Pakistan, such actions also come under international focus and tarnish the image of our country,” writes Alvi.

    “Among those killed were Mr. Aziz Memon and Mr. Nazim Jokhio. Mr. Matiullah Jan was abducted in broad daylight from a busy area of Islamabad. Mr. Asad Ali Toor and Mr. Absar were assaulted and injured by unidentified men. Mr. Ayaz Amir was attacked, humiliated, and bruised by unknown persons on the road during rush hours in the presence of many eyewitnesses in Lahore. Multiple FIRs have been registered against Mr. Sami Ibrahim, Mr. Arshad Sharif, Mr. Sabir Shakir, Mr. Imran Riaz Khan
    and Mr. Moeed Pirzada at various Police Stations in a number of cities across the country.”

    President Alvi stated that the law enforcement agencies may be directed to ensure the protection of journalists and media persons.

  • Hamza Shehbaz’s electricity relief package suspended by ECP till July 17

    Hamza Shehbaz’s electricity relief package suspended by ECP till July 17

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday suspended Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Hamza Shehbaz’s electricity relief package, “Roshan Gharana Programme”, which offers free electricity to households that consume up to 100 units till July 17.

    Hamza Shehbaz announced on Monday that the provincial government would bear the power cost of households consuming up to 100 units of electricity in a month.

    A three-member bench of the ECP headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja issued a stay order against the implementation of the CM’s announcement.

    The ECP sought a reply from the provincial chief executive on July 7.

    The reply submitted by Hamza’s counsel stated that the CM’s relief package is for the entire province except for the constituencies where the by-polls are being held.

    “No election is being staged in areas where Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO) supplies electric power,” Hamza’s counsel maintained.

    At this, CEC Sultan asked why Hamza held a separate press conference if the programme was already included in the budget.

    “The announcement garnered more reaction than the programme’s approval in the budget. There was no need to make a separate announcement for it if was already a part of the budget,” the CEC remarked.

  • Wimbledon 2022: Rafael Nadal beats Taylor Fritz despite injury concerns

    Wimbledon 2022: Rafael Nadal beats Taylor Fritz despite injury concerns

    After overcoming an abdominal ailment to defeat Taylor Fritz in a gripping match, Rafael Nadal gave no assurances that he would be able to show up for his Wimbledon semifinal match against Australian Nick Kyrgios on Friday.

    On Wednesday at Centre Court, Nadal was on the verge of quitting his match because of a physical issue, but he found the motivation to defeat Fritz in four hours and 20 minutes, according to Reuters.

    The Mallorcan would complete the calendar slam, a feat last accomplished in 1969 by Australian great Rod Laver, with a victory at the US Open at Flushing Meadows and a victory in his third Wimbledon tournament, his first on the well-kept grounds since 2010.

    However, the 36-year-old gave no assurance that he would be at Centre Court to continue his historic campaign.

    “I don’t know,” Nadal said when asked about his chances of playing the unseeded 27-year-old Kyrgios. “Honestly, I can’t give you a clear answer because if I gave you a clear answer and tomorrow another thing happens, I will be a liar.”

    When Nadal needed medical attention during his quarterfinal match against 11th-seeded Fritz, he acknowledged he had to change his style of play to keep playing. The Spaniard, though, thought about giving up several times throughout the competition.

    “I just wanted to give myself a chance. Not easy to leave the tournament, not easy to leave Wimbledon, even if the pain was hard,” the 22-time Grand Slam winner said. “I don’t know. I wanted to finish. I fought. Proud about the fighting spirit and the way that I managed to be competitive under that condition.”

    Before deciding whether to continue competing at the grasscourt Major, Nadal stated he was concerned about the knee and will get additional scans on Thursday.

    Nadal, who participated in and won the Roland Garros tournament while receiving painkiller injections before each match, said: “I am used to holding discomfort and playing with problems.” He only announced his participation in Wimbledon after receiving radiofrequency treatment for foot trouble.

    “Knowing that, when I feel something like I felt, that is because something is not going the proper way in the abdomen. But let’s see. I had these feelings for a couple of days. Without a doubt, today was the worst day, has been an important increase of pain and limitation,” he said.

  • The Minor case: Zaheer Ahmed gets protective bail till July 14

    The Minor case: Zaheer Ahmed gets protective bail till July 14

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) has granted protective bail to Zaheer Ahmed till July 14. Justice Aalia Neelum presided over a one-person LHC bench that heard Zaheer’s case on Thursday.

    According to Zaheer, The Minor married him of her own free will and he did not kidnap her.

    Zaheer’s lawyer claimed that they were concerned that the police may detain his client and asked the court to release him on protective bail so they could apply for interim bail at the concerned court.

    The Minor’s father Mehdi Kazmi asked the Sindh High Court to recover his daughter and has alleged that Zaheer Ahmed had kidnapped her.

    The petition submitted by The Minor’s father stated that his daughter was 13 years, 11 months, and 19 days old when she was kidnapped by Zaheer Ahmed.

  • Exclusive: Amin Iqbal reacts to Ali Abbas’ controversial confession about him

    Exclusive: Amin Iqbal reacts to Ali Abbas’ controversial confession about him

    Actor Ali Abbas’ acting career kicked off with director Amin Iqbal’s drama Meri Dulari opposite Yumna Zaidi on Geo TV. He weighed 86 kilos before stepping into TV and lost around 9 kilos to look the part.

    However Ali revealed on Nida Yasir’s morning show that on the first day of his shoot, the veteran director slammed him. According to the Meherposh star, Amin told him that he doesn’t look like a star and will never become one, also that he doesn’t have the qualities in him to be a leading hero. This incident dampened his confidence.

    Now in an exclusive interview with The Current while promoting his movie Rehbra, Amin Iqbal responded to Ali’s allegations. The Ishq-e-Laa maker said, “The judgement could be wrong at times as I am a human too but whatever I have said about someone, it has become true. There is a difference between being a star and being an actor.

    “I have introduced artists like Yumna Zaidi, Saba Qamar and Sameer Sohail from Lahore to the showbiz fraternity, even recently when I casted Azaan Sami Khan in Ishq-e-Laa, people scrutinised his casting in the play but respect and disrespect is in the hands of God.”

    “I know his father and grandfather personally and have had good terms with him.”

    Iqbal concluded by saying that now that Ali is in a better space career wise, it could be because of the remarks that Amin gave him early on his career as Abbas must have improved himself after it.

    Earlier this year Abbas appreciated his contemporary Ahmed Ali Akbar in an interview with Maliha Rehman.

    The Mere Apnay star stated that Ahmad has given a superlative performance in Parizaad and it makes him happy that underrated actors like him are now getting leading roles in mainstream projects.

    He added that at the time of Ehd-e-Wafa there was noise about him being sidelined in the play which starred bigger names like Ahad Raza Mir and Osman Khalid Butt alongside him.

    Ehd-e-Wafa emerged as a blockbuster in 2020 and starred an ensemble cast.

    The Fitrat star mentioned that he is the biggest fan of Naumaan Ijaz and takes inspiration from him while performing, especially from his performance in Mera Saeen.

    S1. Mera Saeein Episode 1 | Sunita Marshall | Noman Aijaz | Faysal Qureshi | ARY Digital - YouTube

  • Mullah Omar’s buried car found after 21 years

    Mullah Omar’s buried car found after 21 years

    The Taliban have discovered a white Toyota of Mullah Omar, the founding leader of the Taliban, which was buried 21 years ago. When the US forces invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as a response to the 9/11 attacks, Mullah Omar hid his personal vehicle by burying it.

    The car was discovered mostly unharmed and wrapped in plastic. However, the front mirror of the car was broken.

    Senior officials have demanded that the car should be placed in Kabul’s national museum.

    Omar died in 2013 reportedly due to illness. However, the news of his death was not revealed by the Afghan Taliban until July 2015.

  • Nadia Jamil opens up about being sexually abused in childhood, reveals healing process

    Veteran actor Nadia Jamil recently opened up on battling sexual abuse in childhood. The ‘Damsa’ actor took to her Twitter handle to share picture collages of herself from different years of life. “1st time I was sexually abused I was 4 yrs old, then 9, then 17/18,” she wrote along with the snaps on the micro-blogging site.

    “Its taken me years 2 fight deep depression, sadness, fear & a shame I had,” she revealed further. “No business feeling,2b where I am now. Healed.”

    The Damsa star took to her Instagram handle and wrote, “Off to beautiful @hunza_valley.pk. Stopped en route for a karak chai and met up with the amazing @venturer.pk team. My next adventure will have to be on a motorbike.”

    Additionally, the actor announced that she is just not ‘surviving’ anymore, but is ‘thriving’ in life, before concluding the tweet with “There is a way from the pain 2 peace. You are never alone.” In the end, Jamil extended her love to fans and followers.

    It is pertinent to mention that Nadia Jamil was diagnosed with cancer in 2020 as announced by the actor on her social media handles. She had developed stage one breast cancer with a grade three tumour.

    In 2021, Nadia Jamil confirmed that she is ‘officially cancer-free after a year-long battle with the illness. With a smiling picture of herself, she shared the happy news with her followers in a lengthy caption. “Officially cancer-free. All tests are cancer clear. Shukar Alhamdolillah,” she penned, before acknowledging all the love, prayers, and support.

    The Mere Aas Paas star also assured her fans that she will be regularly updating them about her trip. “Will keep sharing the many amazing people, foods and places I’m about to visit!” she said.

    Earlier in June, Nadia announced that she’s officially cancer-free, taking to Instagram to announce the happy news. “Officially cancer-free, all tests are cancer clear. Shukar Alhamdolillah,” she said, before thanking her fans and followers for their love, prayers, and support.

  • Husband kills wife for allegedly asking for children clothes on Eid

    Husband kills wife for allegedly asking for children clothes on Eid

    A man allegedly killed his wife for asking for clothes for their children to wear on Eid, reports ARY. The incident took place in Hafizabad.

    A man named Pervaiz allegedly killed his wife after she asked him to buy clothes for their children. The police reached the place of the incident and took the body of the woman in custody. Her body has been sent for medical examination.

    The father of the deceased has alleged that his son-in-law Pervaiz killed his daughter with the help of his brother.

    The police is investigating the matter.

    Read more- Man kills pregnant wife for saying ‘Mera Jism Meri Marzi’

    Earlier this year in March, a man in Lahore killed his wife for chanting the slogan “Mera Jism Meri Marzi”. Allah Ditta murdered 28-year-old Maimona, who was pregnant, by strangling her. He later tried to cover it up by burning her body and posing it as an accident.

  • Toyota to reveal Crown SUV 2022 next week

    Toyota to reveal Crown SUV 2022 next week

    Nearly 70 years after the initial vehicle went on sale, the Toyota nameplate for passenger automobiles, which was also the brand’s first to be exported to the United States, is ready to enter its 16th generation.

    It will forgo the standard sedan body form in favour of something resembling a high-riding fastback. Even the Japanese manufacturer rhetorically queries if the new Crown is a sedan or an SUV on its dedicated website.

    The updated model is anticipated to arrive in the United States in the summer of 2023, most likely as 2024MY. The world premiere is scheduled for July 15. It’s important to note that Toyota already increased the Crown lineup by launching the nameplate in China. It is utilised for premium versions of the Highlander SUV and Vellfire minivan rather than specific models.

    If the low-volume Century, which has a special status in the lineup and is only offered to VIPs, is excluded, the Crown has historically been Toyota’s flagship vehicle in its native Japan. Since sedans have lost favour in the Land of the Rising Sun, the next-generation vehicle will not resemble the current one at all, according to patent images.

    According to a recent report (connected to those patent images), the new model will measure 4,930 millimetres (194 inches) in length, 1,840 millimetres (72.4 inches) in width, and 1,540 millimetres (60.6 inches) in height.

    According to reports, the wheelbase is 2,850 mm (112.2 in) long, and the platform may be Toyota’s TNGA-K. There are plans for hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrains, as well as two- and four-wheel-drive versions.

    The company’s most costly vehicle in the lineup is expected to be the US-bound sedan/SUV, which is expected to cost around Rs11,428,488 ($50,000) before extras. A wholly electric derivative is anticipated for later in the product’s life cycle, according to sources familiar with the situation, but it’s not clear if the EV would be sold in North America.

    Reuters reported in April that Toyota planned to modernise the Crown sedan, retain it on the market in its home country alongside this new model, and make both of them in Japan.