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  • Usman Mirza Case: Court issues non-bailable arrest warrant against victims

    Usman Mirza Case: Court issues non-bailable arrest warrant against victims

    A district and session court in Islamabad has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant on Tuesday against the victim couple in the Usman Mirza harassment case after they did not appear in the court hearing.

    Judge Mohammad Ata Rabbani expressed anger over the absence of the couple in court. On this account, the non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against the couple on the orders of the judge.

    However, the lawyer representing them pleaded that both victims are out of the city and it would take three hours to reach the court.

    The court has dismissed the hearing till January 19, 2022 (today).

    Last year, a video of Usman Mirza harassing a couple went viral on social media which created an outrage across the country. The following day Islamabad police arrested Usman Mirza who is the prime suspect in the case.

    Recently at the time of hearing on January 11, the female victim refused to identify any of the accused and said she does not want to pursue the case and a journalist reported that the couple has reportedly taken one crore rupees from Usman Mirza.

    READ MORE: State will prosecute Usman Mirza case despite victims refusal to give statement

    She also told the court that she did not want to appear for subsequent hearings in the case. However, the judge told her that she would have to appear and adjourned the hearing for January 18.

  • ‘[PTI leaders] spent winter nights in heated bedrooms,’ Maryam blasts govt, says no rift in party

    ‘[PTI leaders] spent winter nights in heated bedrooms,’ Maryam blasts govt, says no rift in party

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday rejected the claims of the government of having a forward bloc within the party and said that the government was fabricating such stories to divert attention from its incompetence.

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday claimed that four PML-N leaders were “hell-bent on removing the party supremo Nawaz Sharif from the party.”

    Addressing a gathering in Lahore, Fawad said that there is a “rat race going on among senior PML-N members as to who would lead the party next,” adding that, “four top-most party leaders want to remove PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in a bid to take over the party’s leadership.”

    When asked about the reported attempt by her party leaders to replace the PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, Maryam said that Fawad’s statement was a way to hide from the questions of media about rising inflation and the government’s inabilities that led to the recent Murree tragedy.

    She said that after the death of tourists, instead of providing a balm to the wounds of the bereaved families, the inconsiderate ministers and government machinery started victim-blaming.

    Criticising the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leadership who used to make fun of PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam said, “Instead of following his example and borrowing the boots from him, they [PTI leaders] spent winter nights in the heated bedrooms of their official residences, maintained on public expense while tourists were dying in the snow.”

  • ‘How can you say that?’: Kinza Hashmi claps back at Osama Tahir for his recent confession

    ‘How can you say that?’: Kinza Hashmi claps back at Osama Tahir for his recent confession

    Actor Osama Tahir was recently asked in an instagram Q&A session that why doesn’t he works in a television serial with A-list actress Kinza Hashmi, to which the Neeli Zinda Hai star replied that Kinza doesn’t likes her.

    He also added a sad emoji.

    Kinza was quick to repost his story and added that “How can you say that?” The Ishq Tamasha diva also added emoticons symbolising a sense of shock.

    The duo have earlier worked together in a serial.

    Earlier in June 2021, when the Uraan star appeared on Geo’s Jashan-e-cricket, the host Shahzad Iqbal asked her to choose the best cricketer amongst four players. The options included, Imad Wasim, Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab khan, Kinza chose Babar in terms of his talent and cricketing skills over others.

    On the work front, Kinza recently garnered praise for her performance in Geo’s telefilm, Ruposh.

    ALSO READ: Video: Kinza Hashmi dance her heart out at Saboor’s bash on peppy Bollywood tracks

  • Coke Studio’s ‘Tu Jhoom’ not an original melody?

    Coke Studio’s ‘Tu Jhoom’ not an original melody?

    The grand showcase of Coke Studio season 14, featuring the iconic Naseebo Lal and legendary Abida Parveen kicked off on January 14.

    Tu Jhoom is a song about a conversation about letting yourself go, opening your heart and understanding that you are enough and nothing will be gained by running after worldly things.

    The song rapidly gained fame among the masses leaving everyone captivated with the lyrics and its soothing melody.

    Tu Jhoom has been credited as written by Adnan Dhool, composed and mixed by Xulfi, arranged and produced by Xulfi and Abdullah Siddiqui. However, according to The Express Tribune, Nirmala Maghani, an up-and-coming singer from Umarkot would like to differ to some aspects of the credits list.

    As per a news report published in The Express Tribune, Maghani claimed that the melody of the song Tu Jhoom has been lifted from a sample she had sent to Xulfi back in June 2021, while eyeing a slot as featuring artist in Coke Studio 14.

    Xulfi didn’t reply to any of her messages, which she thought was expected from such a senior musician being suddenly reached by a singer he doesn’t know via WhatsApp. But the moment she heard Tu Jhoom she realised that one of the melodies she had sent had been used in the song without any acknowledgment.

    Speaking with Tribune, Maghani said, “The melody is exactly the same. I have been calling Xulfi since I heard the song and after a day he finally responded by saying I didn’t even download your audio file, which isn’t true because all my messages were received with blue ticks.”

    Maghani stressed the point that all she wants is recognition and due credit for her work and nothing else. “It’s about recognition of my work and being acknowledged for it, nothing else.”

  • Pakistan pacer Mohammad Hasnain’s bowling action reported

    Pakistan pacer Mohammad Hasnain’s bowling action reported

    Pakistan pacer Mohammad Hasnain’s bowling action has been reported and he will undergo a test on his bowling action after it was reported by the umpires in the Big Bash League (BBL).

    Hasnain ended a five-game debut BBL stint for the Sydney Thunder where he took seven wickets. He will undergo the test at the ICC-accredited biomechanics laboratory in Lahore, as reported by ESPNCricinfo.

    During his last game against Sydney Sixers, he bowled a bouncer to Moises Henriques when the batter replied to Hasnain, “nice throw mate”.

    After Henriques couldn’t play the bouncers, he accused Hasnain of chucking.

    Hasnain picked up 7 wickets at an average of 15.71 at an economy rate of 6.00 in 5 matches he played in the tournament. Hasnain was remarkable on his debut as he bowled a maiden and picked up three wickets in his first over in the competition.

    The 21-year old is set to represent Quetta Gladiators in the upcoming PSL 2022. If his action is adjudged illegal then he will be unable to play for the Gladiators.

  • Forward bloc in PML-N: Will Nawaz Sharif be replaced by another party member?

    Forward bloc in PML-N: Will Nawaz Sharif be replaced by another party member?

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has claimed that four Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders were “hell-bent on removing the party supremo Nawaz Sharif from the party.”

    Addressing a gathering in Lahore, Fawad said that there is a “rat race going on among senior PML-N members as to who would lead the party next,” adding that, “four top-most party leaders want to remove PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in a bid to take over the party’s leadership.”

    The federal minister even claimed that the four members he was referring to “even went out to meet someone and confessed that since Nawaz had treated the country in a bad manner, they should instead be given a chance to lead the party.”

    When asked for names Fawad said that their names will soon be out and that the four of them sit in the front row.

    Energy Minister Hammad Azhar took to Twitter and asked the PML-N leadership to show courage and come forward with their ambitions.

    “It is a good thing that there are four members in the Noon League who have the courage to consider themselves more qualified and entitled to lead than the Sharif family,” said Hammad.

    “However, they should express this commitment openly, not behind closed doors. Will you spend your whole life in fear?” tweeted Hammad.

    Confirming what Fawad had said, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s Special Assistant on Capital Development Authority (CDA), Ali Nawaz Awan, while speaking on Geo News programme, ‘Captial Talk’ said, “The entire city is talking about [replacement of Nawaz Sharif.]”

    I will name two members [out of the four hinted by Fawad] Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Khawaja Asif,” said Awan.

    Prior to this, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed had hinted on a minus Sharif leadership and said, “They [Opposition] want that the hand [protecting] Imran Khan should be on their head as well,” adding, ” this hand can be on their [Opposition] neck but never on their head.” Rasheed’s words hint towards the establishment.

    “I would like to say a historical sentence that all four Sharif’s are minus from the politics of Pakistan,” said Rasheed.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda, while speaking on ARY News programme, ‘Off the Record’ was questioned about the four names who wanted to replace Nawaz Sharif.
    “Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ayaz Sadiq, Ahsan Iqbal, and Miftah Ismail are the names who wish to replace Nawaz,” said Vawda.

    Anchorperson Kashif Abbasi asked Vawda as to where did the above-mentioned people go and whom did they meet? Vawda said, “Any door can be knocked, one can go and meet anyone.

  • Sindh bans meals in public transport amid Omicron upsurge

    Sindh bans meals in public transport amid Omicron upsurge

    A notification issued by the Home Department, Government of Sindh, on Tuesday says that “in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 3(1) of the Sindh Epidemic Diseases Act, 2014 (The Sindh Act VIII of 2015) is pleased to impose ban on serving of meals / snacks in domestic air travel and public transport within the territorial jurisdiction of the province of Sindh with effect from 17 January 2022 and till further orders”.

    The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Saturday banned the serving of meals on domestic flights in line with the directives of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) to curb the spread of Omicron variant of coronavirus in the country while Sindh has also banned meals in public transport.

    The NCOC decided to extensively engage with provinces, especially with the Sindh government, for necessary measures to tackle the rising disease.

    The Sindh Home Department empowered the deputy commissioners, additional deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, Mukhtiarkars, as well as the transport department and police officers not below the rank of inspector to take legal action against any violation of the direction.

  • Boxer Muhammad Waseem talks about how he was forced to ‘bribe’ the Pak Boxing Federation

    Boxer Muhammad Waseem talks about how he was forced to ‘bribe’ the Pak Boxing Federation

    Pakistan Professional Boxer Muhammad Waseem has made a shocking revelation about how he was forced to pay a bribe to the Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF).

    In an interview with Daily Scoop TV, Waseem talked about the tournaments he has won and about where he did his training. He also revealed that he was forced to sign an agreement with the federation’s president in order to get the nod for his contract with Korean Promoter Andy Kim.

    As per the deal, 20 percent of whatever money Waseem earned, from prize money, monthly allowance or anything else, went to the federation.

    “Fraud and deception are commonplace in all facets of life in Pakistan,” said Waseem. “When I found the Korean Promoter, he [Andy Kim] told me that he would be happy to sign contract with me and help me become a professional boxer. But he said that he wanted to have a chat first with the President of Pakistan Boxing Federation and only then could he share the contract with me.”

    “When I approached the federation’s president, he asked me to sign a contract with him as well. I didn’t have any other option but to accept. I could not say no to him because then it was likely that my talent would also go to waste. So, I agreed to it and they even took my thumb impression. It happened here in Karachi,” he added.

    Waseem, who recently won the World Boxing Council (WBC) silver flyweight title for a second time, also lamented the lack of support for local boxers in Pakistan.

    “Unfortunately, in Pakistan not much attention is paid to sports other than cricket. I have reached a point in my career, thanks to Allah Almighty, where I don’t need any help or sponsorship from anyone in Pakistan,” he said. “But there are so many fighters of Pakistan, from Lyari, Quetta and elsewhere, whose talents have gone to waste. They didn’t get an opportunity like I did. If they had gotten similar opportunities, they would have been giving interviews now as well.”

    The boxer also urged parents to allow their children to play and participate in different games. He said that they take sports as a non-serious thing but they should also let their children play sports. He said this is the reason why Pakistan is behind in sports.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Waseem has 12 wins in his professional boxing career, eight through knock-outs, and only one defeat.

    Celebrities like Fakhr-e-Alam and director Nabeel Qureshi called out the boxing federation while Alam urged the authorities to take notice of this fraud.

  • ‘Govt will be removed in a democratic way, will take to streets on February 27’: Bilawal Bhutto

    ‘Govt will be removed in a democratic way, will take to streets on February 27’: Bilawal Bhutto

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that the government forcibly passed the anti-people mini-budget in ‘the dark of night’.

    Talking to the media along with former Prime Minister (PM) Yusuf Raza Gilani, Bilawal Bhutto said that they protested inside and outside the Parliament against the mini-budget. They were promised that tax will not be imposed on a few items, but that was false as well.

    “The people of Pakistan are demanding that we take to the streets against this government and our CEC has decided that we will take to the streets on February 27,” added Bilawal.

    Bilawal Bhutto further said that they had talked about removing the government in a democratic way and also talked about a no-confidence motion.

    The PPP chairperson further said that the mini-budget was also passed in the dark of night and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) bill was also forcibly passed by parliament, after which the SBP will no longer be accountable to parliament.

  • Twitter lauds ‘Referee’ Canadian High Commissioner in girls’ ice hockey match in Hunza

    Twitter lauds ‘Referee’ Canadian High Commissioner in girls’ ice hockey match in Hunza

    Several pictures and videos of an ice hockey match played by young girls in Hunza’s Altit are circulating on Twitter and one thing that caught most Twitterati’s attention was Canadian High Commissioner Wendy Gilmour refereeing the match. The pictures have led to praise for the Canadian diplomat for encouraging winter sports in Pakistan and advocating for female athletes.

    Pamir Times, a community news portal of Gilgit and the surrounding mountain areas, shared pictures and videos of the ice hockey match on Twitter, making note of the high commissioner refereeing the match.

    Taking to Twitter, Gilmore called it “an amazing match”. She congratulated Altit’s Sports Club And Rising Federation for organising the fourth Winterlude festival. Addressing the young players from Hunza and Chitral she said “my colleagues and I had a blast!”

    Pakistani Twitter was flooding the post with love and praise. They were thankful to the High Commisioner for coming and promoting winter sports, especially for girls.

    https://twitter.com/seeyabasad/status/1482480145889964035?s=20

    https://twitter.com/OmarBinMuaz1/status/1482710749902356480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1482710749902356480%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1189267

    As per Radio Pakistan, Gilgit Baltistan Minister for Tourism and Culture Raja Nasir Ali Khan, while addressing the inaugural ceremony of ice hockey and ice skating competitions in Hunza, had said the government is focusing on promoting winter sports in the area.

    The minister assured that strenuous efforts are being made for the inclusion of Hunza ice hockey teams in international competitions.