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  • TV host Iqrar-ul-Hassan accuses Intelligence Bureau of torturing him

    TV host Iqrar-ul-Hassan accuses Intelligence Bureau of torturing him

    Television host and journalist Syed Iqrar-ul-Hassan on Tuesday accused officials of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) of detaining him, members of his team, and subjecting them to extreme torture.

    Pictures of Hassan in bloodied, torn-up clothes, receiving medical treatment on a hospital bed were shared on Twitter. Later, journalist Waseem Badami shared pictures and videos of him visiting Hassan at the hospital.

    Talking about the incident, Iqrar said that he and his team members were “stripped naked, blindfolded and tortured for exposing the corruption of an IB inspector”. He alleged that IB officials also shot videos of him after stripping him and his team members naked.

    Speaking with ARY News, a channel where he works and hosts his show TV programme  ‘Sar-e-Aam’, Iqrar said that an officer of IB was taking bribe at the gate of the agency’s office and “we tried to report him to the high-ups, but senior IB officer Rizwan Shah manhandled the ‘Sar-e-Aam’ team and kept beating us”.

    “We were treated as a mole working for a foreign country,” he added.

    Hassan claimed he and his team were held hostage for more than three hours. “I got almost 8-10 stitches on my head due to the torture”.

    He said a few members of his team were even given electric shocks to “sensitive” body parts. “I want to bring [to light] the video we shot at the IB office, but I learned that it has been discarded by the agency officials.”

    Following the incident, Deputy Director General IB Iftikhar Nabi Tunio issued a notification suspending five officials “for mistreatment of ARY News team and mishandling the situation”, reports Dawn.

    The suspended officers were Syed Mohiuddin Rizwan (Director, BPS-19), Mehmoob Ali (stenotypist), Inam Ali (stenotypist), Rajab Ali (sub-inspector) and Khawar.

    Hassan responded to the development, saying: “I am thankful to the federal government for taking prompt action and suspending five officers involved in the incident.”

  • Man rapes 87-year-old bedridden woman in India

    Man rapes 87-year-old bedridden woman in India

    A man has been arrested for allegedly raping an 87-year-old bedridden woman in Delhi, India. As per the local police, the incident happened on Sunday (February 13). As per the Indian media, the accused allegedly raped the woman and fled with her mobile phone. When the elderly woman questioned the man, he said that he worked for a gas company and that he had been called for some work.

    The daughter of the raped woman found her mother injured and called the police.

    “They (victim and daughter) are senior citizens and live alone. I came to Delhi and found that the police told them that they shouldn’t pursue the case because of their age and it would be stressful for them. The police registered a theft case and didn’t even inform us. Her (victim) granddaughter works in Canada and she can’t be here immediately. We are all worried. The police don’t care. Aunty is unsafe in her own home,” the relative of the victim said while talking to an Indian news outlet.

    In a tweet, the Delhi Police said, “The case of sexual assault of elderly lady in Tilak Nagar has been solved. Culprit in this blind case nabbed within 16 hours. Victim’s mobile phone was recovered from him. Accused lives in nearby locality and works as a sweeper.”

  • Fakhar Zaman kisses and tells: reveals reason behind flying kiss in PSL match

    Fakhar Zaman kisses and tells: reveals reason behind flying kiss in PSL match

    Pakistan cricket team’s hard-hitting batter Fakhar Zaman has revealed why he blew a flying kiss in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022 match against Quetta Gladiators after he scored his sixth 50-plus score.

    Zaman grabbed the attention of all his fans when he sent a flying kiss after completing his half-century.

    Fans were quick to notice Fakhar’s actions and kept speculating the story behind the “flying kiss celebration”. However, the star batter revealed that the celebration was as per the instructions of his son, Zain.

    In a video shared by the Lahore Qalandars’ official Twitter handle, Fakhar said: “The flying kiss was for my son Zain. He sent me a voice note along with a video of a cartoon where a character sends a flying kiss. He had asked me to do this for him when I score a half-century.”

    “I sent the voice note to Shaheen Afridi, Rashid Khan, and Haris Rauf and did the celebration for my son. Zain was watching in the stands when I did the celebration and was covering his face,” Fakhar said.

    Speaking about Qalandars’ performance during the ongoing season, Fakhar urged fans to keep on supporting the team.

    “Keep supporting Lahore Qalandars,” he said, adding that Qalandars’ fans are happy with their performance.

    “We will try our best to make our fans happy. Ups and downs are part of the game, so always support us.”

    Fakhar Zaman has been exceptional in the ongoing seventh edition of the PSL, scoring five half-centuries and a ton. The left-handed batter is currently the top scorer of the PSL.

  • PM Khan says his five-year term will be successful if he ends poverty

    PM Khan says his five-year term will be successful if he ends poverty

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Tuesday launched Raast person-to-person payment system for instant digital transactions.

    PM Khan, while addressing the audience, said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) got a second chance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) because the party ended poverty in the province.

    “After five years, we were given a chance again in a province which provides a second chance to no one. A report of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) suggested that KP ended poverty the fastest,” said the premier, adding that we were given votes again because we ended poverty.

    “I will consider myself successful by the end of 2023 when my tenure is evaluated if I have ended poverty and lifted the poor,” said PM Khan.

    Sharing features of Raast, the premier said it would create ease for the common man, especially those who were afraid of going to banks because now they would be able to transfer money instantly through their mobile phones.

    In addition, the digital payment system would bring people into the formal economy, he said. “A country progresses when the saving rate increases, we have amongst the lowest,” he said, adding that people would have to become part of the formal economy if the country was to progress and the tax to GDP (gross domestic product) ratio would have to be increased.

    PM Imran said the government was reaching more people to bring them into the tax net, warning defaulters, “We are about to reach you because we are getting data very quickly.”

    Raast is part of Prime Minister Imran’s Digital Pakistan vision to include the poor segments of society in the formal economy. It has been developed by the SBP in collaboration with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Karandaaz, Pakistan.

  • Petrol price likely to go up by Rs13 today, price at Rs160 per litre

    Petrol price likely to go up by Rs13 today, price at Rs160 per litre

    Petroleum prices are expected to increase across Pakistan from today (Tuesday) in the wake of Russia-Ukraine hostilities, reports Geo News.

    The price of petrol and fuel are likely to increase by Rs13 per litre and diesel by Rs18 per litre. The current price of petrol is Rs147.83 per litre, the price of High-Speed Diesel (HSD) stands at Rs144.62 and Light Diesel Oil (LDO) at Rs114.54 per litre.

    According to Reuters, oil prices jumped to a seven-year high on Monday when the United States (US) warned that Russia could soon invade Ukraine.

    Russia is one of the world’s largest oil and gas producers, and fear that Russia could invade Ukraine has driven the rally in oil closer to $100 per barrel, a level not seen since 2014.

    However, no official notification by the government has been released yet.

    Last month, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan rejected the summary of increasing prices of petroleum products in the public interest.

  • Supreme Court orders ECP to decide schedule for KP LG polls’ second phase today

    Supreme Court orders ECP to decide schedule for KP LG polls’ second phase today

    The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take a decision by Tuesday (today) on the second phase of local government (LG) elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

    Initially, the second phase of LG polls in 18 districts of KP was to be held in the last week of January, but it was rescheduled by the ECP through a Dec 30, 2021 order on applications filed by local MNAs and MPAs.

    On Jan 20 this year, the ECP issued a notification announcing the holding of the second phase of LG elections in KP on March 27.

    But on February 1, the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) Abbottabad bench had, in a verbal order, postponed the elections after accepting petitions of residents of five districts of KP on the grounds that these districts were expected to remain under snow in the last week of March due to heavy snow accumulation and, therefore, it would not be possible to set up polling stations.

    During Monday’s hearing, KP Advocate General Shumail Butt opposed the new election schedule, saying the ECP had not consulted the province before issuing the new election date. 

  • Djokovic says he’s not anti-vax ‘but will sacrifice trophies if told to get jab’

    Djokovic says he’s not anti-vax ‘but will sacrifice trophies if told to get jab’

    Serbian tennis ace Novak Djokovic has said he was not against vaccination but would skip Grand Slam tournaments if he was forced to take the jab against Covid-19.

    Read More – Unvaccinated Novak Djokovic owns biotech firm developing Covid drug

    Djokovic, who is unvaccinated and according to Reuters, was deported from Australia after an 11-day rollercoaster experience involving two visa cancellations, two court challenges and five nights in two stints at an immigration detention hotel where asylum seekers are held.

    “Yes, that is the price that I’m willing to pay,” the 34-year-old Serbian told the BBC, adding that he was aware that he would not be able to travel to most tournaments in the world currently because of his unvaccinated status.

    The 20-times major champion is set to return to competitive action at an ATP tournament in Dubai next week for the first time since he was deported ahead of the Australian Open, this year’s first tennis Grand Slam.

    Another win at Melbourne Park, where Djokovic has won nine titles, could have taken him to a men’s record 21 major titles, but instead it was his long-time rival Rafa Nadal who stepped ahead by lifting the trophy last month.

    Read More – ‘Proud to share this era’: Roger Federer congratulates Rafael Nadal on winning 21st grand slam title

    Djokovic said he was ready to sacrifice his shot at the milestone over the “freedom of choice” but he was keeping an open mind about taking the jab in the future.

    “I was never against vaccination,” he said, adding that he took vaccines as a child. “But I’ve always supported the freedom to choose what you put in your body.

    “I understand that globally, everyone is trying to put a big effort into handling this virus and seeing, hopefully, an end soon to this virus.”

  • Zahir Jaffer presents videos of himself and Noor in court, blames Noor for a ‘drug party’ at his place

    Zahir Jaffer presents videos of himself and Noor in court, blames Noor for a ‘drug party’ at his place

    On Monday, during a hearing of the Noor Mukadam murder case, Zahir Jaffer’s lawyer presented a USB in court. Additional District and Sessions Judge (AD&SJ) Muhammad Atta Rabbani asked the lawyer what was in the USB to which the lawyer said that the USB contains videos of Noor and Zahir’s relationship.

    Zahir Jaffer has also submitted his statement in writing to the court.

    He stated: “I and Noor Mukadam were good friends and were in a living relationship with mutual consent for last many years. The same was in the knowledge of both the families and they never ever objected to it. Noor participated in our family functions and events and I also used to attend her family functions and events like a family member. Six months before the unfortunate occurrence, I and Noor were not on talking terms and suddenly July 18, 2021, Noor herself established contact with me and asked for arranging a drug party. She also wanted to invite her friends to the party.”

    He further said that he, along with Noor, left for the airport on July 19, as his flight was scheduled to leave but Noor insisted that they come back from the airport. She invited her friends to a party at his house on July 20.

    “I got under the heavy influence of drugs and all other participants including Noor were also under influence of heavy drugs, (the report of forensic histopathology verifies this fact which the prosecution itself relied on his evidence). I got out of my senses and after hours when I got my senses I was in a tied up condition in the lounge of my house. I made hue and cry on which some persons in police uniform and civil dresses rescued me. I came to know that Noor had been murdered by someone among the participants,” Zahir’s statement added.

    “A widespread negative campaign was started against me and my family by pseudo-social media activists and feminist liking organisations to achieve their nefarious designs and making money. My trial before the court is still pending but mock social media activists and self-styled feminists started demanding my hanging without providing me with the opportunity to prove my innocence through the legal course,” his statement further read.

    “I am also an acute patient of drug psychosis and have remained under treatment in Pakistan and abroad. During the trial, a number of times, requests were made to the trial court and prison authorities for my medical checkup and constitution of a board but the prison authorities due to the influence of Shaukat Mukadam and state machinery did not provide health facilities to the undersigned/accused.”

    The statement further added, “For what has been stated above, I and my parents are innocent in this case but due to influence of the complainant, the indulgence of state stakeholders I have been implicated in the case to usurp money.”

    People are expressing their anger over his statement:

  • A class nine student attempts suicide, jumps off school building in Lahore, severely injured

    A class nine student attempts suicide, jumps off school building in Lahore, severely injured

    A 14-year-old student jumped from the third floor of his school building in Lahore on Monday, and received a severe injury to the spinal cord.

    The student is in class nine and is enrolled in a private school in Township, Lahore.

    According to details, the student had a fight with an older student in class ten. The school administration decided to punish him by not allowing him to take the exam and asked him to stand outside the classroom during the examination.

    The student’s father accused a teacher of misbehaving with his son which forced him to take the extreme step of attempting suicide.

    He said, “The teacher told my son that his career is over.”

    The victim received an injury to the spinal cord and doctors are not hopeful for his recovery.

    The school principal, Ahsanullah Waqas took action by suspending two teachers. He said the punishment given to the student was a regular punishment given to misbehaving students.

    Notice of the incident has been taken by Chief Secretary Punjab and the school has been ordered to submit a response by February 16.

    According to the District Education Authority, a proposal was also in consideration to revoke the license or closure of the school.

  • Girl shoots man for harassing her

    Girl shoots man for harassing her

    A 20-year-old man was injured in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Mardan district after a teenage girl opened fire at him for allegedly harassing her, ARY News reported.

    According to the police,  the incident occurred in Katlang tehsil of Mardan district wherein a teenage girl opened fire on a youth, Abbas, who was harassing her for several days.

    The police have registered a case on a complaint of the girl’s brother.

    According to the FIR, the 16-year-old girl, whose identity is unknown, shooting the harasser in the chest and injured him.

    Police shifted the accused to a nearby hospital while further investigation is underway.