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  • ‘Such mean tactics can’t deter me from asking questions’: Matiullah reacts to rape comments by Journalists

    ‘Such mean tactics can’t deter me from asking questions’: Matiullah reacts to rape comments by Journalists

    Matiullah Jan has reacted to rape comments by Journalists. “Thanks everyone for massive support.Such mean tactics can’t deter me from asking Qs. For the record, allegations (now clarified as a joke) r rubbish & reflect upon anchors’ true nature. My offer stands – invite me to your live show & if I prove you wrong you quit journalism,” he wrote.

    Twitter has lashed out at Anchor turned YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan for making a crude rape joke regarding Senior Journalist Matiullah Jan. In the video clip, that has gone viral on social media, Imran Riaz Khan, Sami Ibrahim and Jameel Farooqui can be seen making insensitive comments about rape, while Matiullah Jan is also present.

    In the video, Imran Riaz Khan is asking Matiullah to pursue the case against his alleged rape in army barracks.

    https://twitter.com/asadkharal/status/1531174191323656193?s=21&t=4v5eGPSi5BD5EU1_AZeO9w

    Twitter users have lashed out at Imran Riaz Khan for ‘insensitive, condemnable, and unacceptable’, comments.

    Have a look at the Twitter reactions:

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    https://twitter.com/No_Xtra0rdinary/status/1531192420821618690
  • PM says ‘no question of cut in HEC budget’, two days after educationist raises issue in Op-ed

    PM says ‘no question of cut in HEC budget’, two days after educationist raises issue in Op-ed

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said there is no question of a cut in the budget of the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

    “There is no question of a cut in the budget of Higher Education Commission. I am aware of the negative effect that cuts have had on higher education during the past four years. I have given clear directions to Planning Commission & Ministry of Finance in this regard,” he wrote in a tweet.

    Two days before PM’s statement, an opinion piece was published in The News titled ‘Abandoning higher education‘ by Dr Ayesha Razzaque.

    “For the next fiscal year, the HEC requested a recurrent budget of Rs104 billion. However, a few days ago an official letter (dated May 23, 2022) from the Finance Division regarding the 2022-23 budget emerged. It directs the HEC to prepare a new budget for next year that fits into Rs30 billion, – less than a third of what was requested and less than half of this year’s Rs65.25 billion. Here I would like to acknowledge that Federal Minister for Planning and Development Dr Ahsan Iqbal has voiced his opposition to this news.”

    Dr Ayesha Razzaque took to Twitter to share PM’s statement.

    A thread by Dr Razzaque on the issue of HEC budget can be accessed here.

  • Honda Pakistan records 40 per cent increase in earnings

    Honda Pakistan records 40 per cent increase in earnings

    Honda Atlas Cars Limited (HACL) concluded the financial year with a 40 per cent increase in earnings, giving investors reason to be optimistic. This is despite several challenges including an ongoing chip shortage, rising commodity prices on overseas markets, hefty freight rates, and the rupee’s depreciation.

    “The result is below our expectations, which is mainly due to higher-than-expected distribution costs and effective tax rate,” Ismail Iqbal Securities auto sector analyst Muqeet Naeem stated.

    The automaker benefited from the fact that demand for four-wheelers remained high despite the problems.

    Honda purchasers appear to be unconcerned with price changes, preferring to purchase their preferred vehicles whenever they want, regardless of how much more expensive they are now than they were only two years ago.

    Prices have continued to rise at a rapid pace. There may also be a sense that prices will continue to rise. However, in a market known for “own money” or high premiums, continued demand despite price increases should not be surprising.

    The earnings per unit sold is a great marker of how quickly prices have risen. Honda sold 57 per cent more automobiles in MY22 than the previous year, which ended in March 21.

    The introduction of a new Civic generation considerably attributed to Honda’s sales growth.

    Not only have imports become more expensive as the PKR has depreciated against the greenback, but inflationary pressures on inputs and rising fuel prices have also contributed to cost increases. Revenue and cost per unit sold have generally increased in lockstep.

    As a result, despite strong demand growth, margins have fallen to 5 per cent.

    Other income, which consists of customer advances, has significantly bolstered the company’s profitability. Other income boosted the bottom line by 47 per cent in MY22, compared to 33 per cent the previous year. This also suggests that demand will continue to rise in the coming months.

    However, as lending rates continue to skyrocket, the company may lose demand from purchasers who plan to finance their vehicles through a bank.

  • Fact Check: Imran Khan falsely claims that PTI worker from Malakand was killed during Azadi March

    Fact Check: Imran Khan falsely claims that PTI worker from Malakand was killed during Azadi March

    Claim: A PTI activist from Mardan was killed last week as a result of Punjab police’s acts of brutality

    Fact: The banner showed images of Muhammad Zada Agra who was killed by drug smugglers in 2021

    During the PTI Workers’ Convention in Charsadda, Imran Khan raised a banner to tribute the two PTI workers which he alleged in this tweet were killed during last week’s processions. This tweet has 1,135 total Twitter interactions and was shared to 829,798 social media users on Twitter.

    He named these workers to be Faisal Abbas Chaudhry from Lahore and Syed Ahmed Jan from Mardan in his tweet and claimed that they both died as a result of police violence.

    During his speech, not only did he say the name of the second activist from Mardan was Syed Ali Shah, but the banner which he raised, showed an image which showed Muhammad Zada Agra, a journalist and social activist who was murdered in Sakhakot, his home city in Malakand, for Agra’s reporting and advocacy against local drug cartels, in 2021.

    Screenshot of the CPJ report on Muhammad Zada Agra’s killing in 2021

    Although Agra was a PTI supporter and a former district president of the Insaf Students Federation, the student wing of PTI, he was not murdered by the police or on the dictation of Rana Sanaullah, as Khan claims in his address.

    In fact, this Committee to Protect Journalists’ report explains that the Deputy Commissioner Malakand district police announced that the two men who killed Agra were confirmed to be associated with local drug smugglers after their arrest.

    Verdict: MISLEADING

  • Independent candidates take lead in Balochistan LG polls

    Independent candidates take lead in Balochistan LG polls

    Local Government (LG) polls are being held in 32 of 34 districts in Balochistan after nine years.

    As per unofficial results, independent candidates were leading on around 1,487 seats, while Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) won 260 seats.

    Unofficial results: Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) 213 seats, National Party (NP) 100 seats, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) 88, Balochistan National Party (BNP) 79, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) 58, BNP Awami 43, Awami National Party (ANP) 24, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) 23, Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) 18, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) 15 and Jamat-e-Islami (JI) 7, Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) 5 seats so far. Gwadar’s Haq Do Tehreek clinched 27 seats on the municipal committee out of the total 30.

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said democracy stands strengthened with LG elections in Balochistan.

    In a statement on Twitter Sunday, he said, “People’s active participation in polls shows their trust in state institutions to provide security & ensure smooth conduct of polls. I admire law enforcement agencies for their role.”

    Balochistan Chief Secretary Abdul Aziz Aqeeli said the elections were held in a peaceful, free, transparent, and impartial manner.

    Talking to the media on Sunday, he said voter turnout remained 60 per cent, the highest since the 1988 elections.

  • Khan says govt ‘to recognise Israel’, Israel’s president praises Pakistani delegation

    Khan says govt ‘to recognise Israel’, Israel’s president praises Pakistani delegation

    Israel President Isaac Herzog has said that he had had an “amazing experience” while meeting a Pakistan expatriate delegation living in the United States (US). Herzog referred to this visit as an example that showed him “great change” towards Israel’s ties with the Muslim world.

    Herzog said he received a delegation of Pakistani expats who lived in the US “together with other members of other countries in their region”.

    No change in govt’s policy on Israel: Foreign Office

    However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan categorically rejected the notion of any delegation from Pakistan visiting Israel.

    “The reported visit in question was organised by a foreign NGO that is not based in Pakistan,” the Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson said in a statement.

    “Pakistan’s position on the Palestinian issue is clear and unambiguous. There is no change whatsoever in our policy on which there is a complete national consensus.”

    The statement further added that Pakistan steadfastly supports the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination. 

    “The establishment of an independent, viable, and contiguous Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, in accordance with the relevant UN and OIC resolutions, is imperative for just and lasting peace in the region,” the statement added. 

    Govt going to accept Israel: Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan criticised the sitting government as the Pakistani expats delegation visited Israel. More criticism was hurled their way after Herzog praised the Pakistani-American delegation.

    Khan on Sunday criticising the government and alleged that it was going to recognise Israel.

    “This government will strike a deal with India to sell the people of Kashmir, and to top it off, they are also going to accept Israel,” he said while addressing the PTI workers’ convention in Charsadda.

    There was no Pakistan delegation visiting Israel: Anila Ali

    A 15-member delegation visited Israel to promote interfaith harmony. The trip was organised by the American Muslim and Multifaith Women’s Council and an NGO called Sharaka. Founder of the American Muslim and Multifaith Women Empowerment Council, Anila Ali, led the delegation.

    After Khan’s allegations, Anila tweeted: There was no #Pakistan delegation visiting #Israel.

    Pakistan does not recognise the state of Israel: Ahsan Iqbal

    Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal clarified no official or semi-official delegation from Pakistan met the Israeli president.

    “The participants in this delegation were Pakistani-Americans who have already provided an explanation in this regard,” the planning minister said in a tweet.

    Iqbal said the policy of the Government of Pakistan is clear — it does not recognise the state of Israel. “All our sympathies lie with brothers and sisters of Palestine.”

    Israeli President received a delegation of Pakistani expats

    “I must say this was an amazing experience. We haven’t had a group of Pakistani leaders in Israel in such scope. And that all stems from the Abraham Accords [a deal brokered by the United States in 2020 which saw normalisation of relations between Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain], meaning Jews and Muslims can dwell together in the region.”

    Israeli President Isaac was speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

    Pakistan refused to accept Israel as a sovereign state because of the Palestine-Israel conflict, and every government that came to power has endorsed this stance. Speculations were being created that the new government was in a way ready to recognise Israel as a sovereign state.

  • Daren Sammy receives Sitara-i-Pakistan

    Daren Sammy receives Sitara-i-Pakistan

    Former Peshawar Zalmi and West Indian captain Daren Sammy received Sitara-i-Pakistan award from the government of Pakistan.

    “Such a proud moment,” Sammy tweeted and shared a picture receiving the award.

    Daren Sammy wrote on his Intagram: “Cricket took me all over the world enabling me to see and play in some amazing places. Pakistan is definitely one of these places. A place that always makes me feel at home. It’s such an honor to have received this prestigious award( Sitara-I-Pakistan) from the Government and people of Pakistan. Thank you.”

    Peshawar Zalmi’s owner, Javed Afridi, also took to Twitter to congratulate Sammy on receiving the prestigious award.

  • World unites over Twitter debate that Swedes don’t let you eat if you are at their house

    World unites over Twitter debate that Swedes don’t let you eat if you are at their house

    A Twitter thread went viral recently in which people shared their experiences of visiting Swedish homes and not being served food.

    A question was posted on Reddit: “What is the weirdest thing you had to do at someone else’s house because of their culture/religion?”

    One of the users replied, “I remember going to my Swedish friend’s house. And while we we were playing in his room, his mom yelled that dinner was ready. And check this. He told me to wait in his room while they ate.”

    “I slept over a friends house. When we woke up, he said he was going downstairs for a few minutes. After about 15 minutes I go on the stairs to see wtf is happening and they are eating breakfast. They see me and tell me he has almost done and will be up there soon. I still think about it 25 years later,” another user replied.

    People on social media are finding this tradition a little “weird”. Have a look at some of the reactions:

  • 40-50 per cent hike expected in gas tariff

    40-50 per cent hike expected in gas tariff

    The government plans to hike the system gas tariff by up to 50 per cent as part of its efforts to gain access to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout.

    The Ministry of Energy anticipates the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) determining the revenue requirement for the coming fiscal year in June. As per The News, which cited sources, the tariff increase will take effect on July 1, 2022.

    Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), according to an Energy Ministry official, have suffered massive combined losses of Rs550 billion in recent years.

    Both are losing money since the system gas rate has not been raised in a long time. SNGPL is expected to lose Rs350 billion, while SSGC is expected to lose roughly Rs200 billion.

    OGRA will now calculate the system gas tariff under the modified OGRA statute. The IMF has encouraged the government to ensure that gas firms do not lose money as a result of the gas tariff’s stagnation, as well as to follow the modified OGRA law in its entirety.

    It’s worth noting that the government raised the price of petroleum goods by Rs30 per liter last week after the IMF stated that the bailout package would not be resumed unless the country ended petroleum product subsidies.

  • ‘Bushra jald chor degi’: Aamir Liaquat predicts Imran Khan’s divorce, curses him

    ‘Bushra jald chor degi’: Aamir Liaquat predicts Imran Khan’s divorce, curses him

    Former National Assembly member and television host Dr. Aamir Liaquat took to his Instagram handle to lash out at former PM Imran Khan.

    The Aalim Online host has held Imran responsible for his recent split with wife Dania Shah.

    He also accused Imran of paying Dania so that she seeks divorce from him. Aamir went on to predict Imran’s divorce, and predicted that Bushra Bibi will leave him.

    Earlier this month he reacted to the speculation about his potential marriage with journalist and former PM Imran Khan’s ex-wife Reham Khan.

    The Neelam Ghar host reacted to a netizen’s tweet that if he and Reham actually get married then they’ll have a son like Atta Tarar.

    Aamir replied that the answer will soon come from the skies. He also took a jibe at PTI by saying that there is justice on the skies and not Tehreek-e-Insaaf.

    The veteran host stated recently stated that sources from FIA have informed him that PTI’s social media team is behind his character assassination on social media to make Imran Khan happy as he was upset with Liaquat for ditching PTI at a crucial stage.

    Aamir also dragged Fawad Chaudhry’s name in the matter and stated that he overlooks the social media department.

    The Current reached out to Former focal person on digital media to former PM Khan, Dr Arsalan Khalid who dismissed these claims and exclusively said, “Aamir is so irrelevant that we don’t even think about him.”

    Prior to his seperation with Dania Shah, he published a video message against Khan.

    Aamir claimed that ever since Imran has met Russian President Vladimir Putin, he has become like him, adding adjectives like “stubborn, ill-mannered and rebellious.

    In call with Putin, PM Imran stresses coordinated approaches to evolving Afghan situation - World - DAWN.COM

    Last month the Aalim Online star posted a series of video in which he expressed his anger on PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s statement in which he called out politicians who left his political party.

    Aamir said that he is not a traitor, instead former PM Imran Khan is the traitor according to him. The veteran host also slammed PM Khan for dissolving the assembly.

    He posted another video with some aggressive remarks against his opponents.

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