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  • ‘PM Khan to make significant changes in cabinet within two weeks’: Fawad

    Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (PM) on Political Affairs Shahbaz Gill have revealed that PM Imran Khan would soon make changes in the federal and Punjab cabinets by including allied parties’ members, reports Dawn.

    While talking to the media outlet, Chaudhry stated that “the premier will make significant changes in the federal cabinet within two weeks”. It has been reported that PM Khan is expected to make changes in five ministers of state, i.e. ministries of defence, planning, education, energy and overseas Pakistanis.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will include leaders from its two major coalition partners — the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).

    BAP’s Kauda Babar told Dawn that his party had demanded at least four federal cabinet seats.

    The news has come at a time when the Opposition is gearing up to bring a no-confidence motion against PM Khan in the National Assembly (NA). They recently approached the MQM as well as the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) to support them.

    The government has recently given appreciation certificates to the ten ministers who performed better than others. However, those who were not included in the list are reportedly unhappy.

  • PM launches Scholarship Complaint Portal for students

    PM launches Scholarship Complaint Portal for students

    Prime Minister Imran Khan launched the Scholarship Complaint Portal for students across the country today. The core purpose of the newly launched portal is to help students with their problems as quickly as possible. The portal will also ensure transparency and merit in the award of scholarships.

    At the launching ceremony of the portal in Islamabad, PM Khan said that a panel of academics will monitor the portal and new subjects and disciplines will be added for scholarships as per market demand, Radio Pakistan reported.

    The portal will be linked to the Prime Minister’s Citizen Portal and the Prime Minister’s Office will ensure that concerns of students are resolved in a timely manner.

    Minister for Federal Education Shafqat Mahmood also addressed the ceremony. He said the government has increased the number of scholarships for postgraduate and undergraduate students, which is unprecedented in the history of Pakistan.

  • Two alleged rapists killed in encounter by police

    Two alleged rapists killed in encounter by police

    Police claimed killing two robbers suspected to be involved in an alleged gang-rape of a teenage girl in Surjani Town a few days during a shootout on Wednesday.

    The teenager was raped by four men, who barged into her house on Sunday night and locked other family members in a room after robbing valuables.

    Karachi District West Police said on Wednesday that two alleged rapists were killed in a police encounter.

    SHO Haji Sanaullah said the encounter occurred when the two fired gunshots at a mobile. The cops returned fire, killing both suspects on the spot. They seized two pistols, a cell phone and a motorcycle after the exchange of fire.

    SHO Sanaullah said the suspects were the same who had allegedly gang-raped the teenage girl during a burglary in Surjani Town a few days ago. He said the victim’s family had identified the culprits.

  • Wasim Akram clarifies what he was saying to Babar Azam

    Wasim Akram clarifies what he was saying to Babar Azam

    After a huge amount of criticism on social media, former Pakistan pacer and Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Karachi Kings’ president Wasim Akram responded to the backlash and has clarified what exactly he was saying to captain Babar Azam in the match against Multan Sultans.

    Read More – ‘Aap log dil bura na kareyn’: Babar Azam’s father comes to son’s defence

    Taking to Twitter, Akram wrote: “Hello! Surprised to see reactions on my talking to Babar at the boundary last night. What I was saying was ‘why our bowlers are not bowling yorkers or slower ones offside off’. Nothing else.”

    He further added that Babar is a “wonderful boy” and has tried his best.

    Wasim Akram said that he asked Babar about what he will have for dinner.

    Earlier, a video of Wasim and Babar was doing the rounds on social media, in which the veteran cricketer can be seen talking harshly to the Pakistan skipper.

    Meanwhile, it is pertinent to mention here that Kings lost their eighth consecutive match by the hands of Multan Sultans at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Wednesday.

  • ‘Aap log dil bura na kareyn’: Babar Azam’s father comes to son’s defence

    ‘Aap log dil bura na kareyn’: Babar Azam’s father comes to son’s defence

    Following Karachi Kings’ eighth consecutive loss at the hands of Multan Sultans on Wednesday at the Gaddafi Stadium, people severely criticised Babar Azam for his performance and his form in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022. Babar’s father defended his son and requested fans not to lose hope in him.

    Azam Siddique, who is always bucking his son up regardless of how well or otherwise he performs, opened up on the matter in his latest Instagram post, but with a positive mindset.

    Siddique admitted that Babar is out of form these days, but said that the star cricketer of the nation never panics.

    “He neither stops working hard nor does he despair of Allah’s mercy.”

    Siddique said that Babar is trying his best but it is known that even the best of the best sportsmen get out of form.

    He said that they are content with God’s will and pray that may the Almighty restore Babar’s form soon before the national squad faces Australia in the upcoming home series.

    Siddique also consoled Babar and Karachi Kings’ fans not to get disheartened, assuring that the cricketer is working as hard as he did in the past and will get into form very soon.

    The ill-fated Kings’ were eliminated from the title race of the PSL’s seventh edition after their seventh consecutive defeat, handed down to them by Islamabad United on Sunday.

    The franchise broke their own unwanted record after losing by seven wickets against Sultans last night.

  • ‘Ban Aurat March’: Religious Affairs Minister tells PM Khan to allow no one ‘to mock Islamic rituals’

    ‘Ban Aurat March’: Religious Affairs Minister tells PM Khan to allow no one ‘to mock Islamic rituals’

    Federal Minister for Religious and Minority Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri has written a letter to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan asking to put a ban on the Aurat March.

    Qadri, in a letter to the premier, wrote that March 8 should be observed as “International Hijaab Day” rather than Aurat March.

    The federal minister further stated that no one should be permitted to mock Islamic rituals, values, or the wearing of Hijaab on Women’s Day by organising Aurat March or any other event.

    It is pertinent to mention here that every year on March 8, the world observes “Women’s Day” while women activists and other organisations in Pakistan refer to this day as Aurat March.

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman, taking to Twitter and sharing the letter from the federal minister to the PM Khan regarding the ban of Aurat March, questioned: “What will you prove by banning Aurat March?”

    “International Women’s Day is named after women of all classes. International Women’s Day aims to raise awareness in the society against gender stereotypes and prejudices against women,” said the PPP leader.

    “You are conspiring to deprive women of their freedom and rights on International Women’s Day,” tweeted Rehman.

  • Monal restaurant management breaks closure seal to enter premises

    Monal restaurant management breaks closure seal to enter premises

    Monal, a restaurant in Islamabad, which was sealed through a court order, was broken into on Wednesday. Management of the restaurant, which included 70-80 employees, broke a padlock seal and entered the premises of the site on February 16, reports Samaa News.

    Employees reached the site in the morning and asked the Wildlife department workers not to intervene.

    While talking to Samaa News, a Wildlife management board representative, monitoring the closure, said, “They told us that the Supreme Court has ruled in favour of the restaurant and allowed them to resume activities.”

    The authorities asked restaurant employees to produce a court order but they refused and broke the padlock seal into pieces.

    After breaking into the restaurant, employees started adjusting seats and tables.

    According to the representative, they had never stopped the restaurant staff to look after their items which were left there and we cooperated with them fully.

    On January 11, Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered Islamabad’s Chief Commissioner to seal the Monal Restaurant in Margalla Hills National Park.

  • Swimmer dies in fatal shark attack

    Swimmer dies in fatal shark attack

    A swimmer died after being bitten by a shark at a beach in suburban Sydney, Australian authorities said, marking the first fatal shark attack in the city in nearly 60 years.

    An eyewitness told local television that he had been fishing off nearby rocks when he saw a man wearing a wetsuit and swimming across the bay get dragged underwater by a large shark in an attack that lasted several seconds.

    “Some guy was swimming and a shark came and attacked him vertically,” witness Kris Linto, told Nine.

    “We heard a yell and turned around — it looked like a car had landed in the water, a big splash, then the shark was chomping at the body and there was blood everywhere.”

    Another witness estimated the shark was 4.5 metres in size.

    “When he went down, there were so many splashes,” the witness, who had been fishing on rocks nearby, told ABC.

    It was the first fatal shark attack in Sydney since 1963, data shows.

    Lifeguards will patrol the beaches looking for further shark sightings.

    Emergency services arrived in the area of Buchan Point, Malabar, around 4:35pm local time on Wednesday, following a report of a shark attacking a swimmer in the water, according to New South Wales police. Officers found human remains in the water.

    “Officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command, with assistance from the Marine Area Command and Surf Life Saving NSW, attended and located human remains in the water,” it said.

    An NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said paramedics were called to Little Bay. “Unfortunately, this patient had suffered catastrophic injuries and there was nothing paramedics could do.”

  • Bill Gates reaches Pakistan on first-ever visit

    Bill Gates reaches Pakistan on first-ever visit

    Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), has arrived in Pakistan for a one-day visit. Gates will meet with Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi. He will also visit the National Command and Operation Centre headquarters. Gates will pay a visit to the COVID-19 treatment facility in Chak Shahzad.

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan, in a tweet, said, “It’s a pleasure to welcome Mr Bill Gates on his first-ever visit to Pakistan. Planned engagements include a review of progress on polio eradication; visits to NCOC and Ehsaas program as well as meeting the President, the PM and health leadership of the provinces.”

    Last year in October, Gates, in a telephonic conversation with Imran Khan, praised Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate polio and at the same time, pledged his continued support against the disease so that no child in Pakistan is affected by the disease in the future.

  • Twitterati angry at Wasim Akram for shouting at Babar Azam in match against Multan

    Twitterati angry at Wasim Akram for shouting at Babar Azam in match against Multan

    A video clip from the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) match between Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans is circulating on Twitter in which Wasim Akram can be seen going harsh on Babar Azam at the boundary line in the last over against Sultans where Karachi’s defeat was obvious.

    Twitter users were disappointed to see the all-format captain of Pakistan being treated like this by Akram. Angry social media users schooled the former cricketer for this behaviour.

    Former cricketer Rashid Latif took to Twitter and said: “Kaptaan ghabrana nahi hai! Our support with you. @babarazam258 hold your head high.”

    On Wednesday at the Gaddafi Stadium, Kings won the toss and opted to bat first. After the early loss of Babar, Sharjeel Khan and Joe Clarke added 72 runs for the second wicket. The team managed to set a decent total of 174 runs.

    But Multan’s skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Shan Masood’s partnership gave a strong start to the chase but by the time Shan (45 off 41) was dismissed by Mir Hamza in 15th over, the asking rate had climbed past 13 runs per over.

    Rizwan (76 off 56) upped the game after Shan’s departure with five fours in a space of seven balls. But the skipper departed on Jordan’s counterattack.

    It came down to 29 off the last 12 balls. Khushdil Shah played a series of sensational shots off Jordan as the experienced English bowler conceded 20 runs with Khushdil hitting two sixes and one four.

    The match was finished by a magnificent strike by Rilee Rossouw over mid-wicket off the third ball of the final over bowled by Umaid as Sultans finished the match with three balls to spare. Sultans ended-up scoring 71 runs off the last 27 balls.

    Rizwan grabbed Player of the Match award for his magnificent 76 runs.

    Meanwhile, it is pertinent to mention here that this is a new PSL record by Karachi Kings. They’ve lost nine consecutive matches in the league. Eight this year and one last year. This is the longest losing streak of any team in the PSL. The previous one was eight matches between two editions by Lahore Qalandars.