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  • Lahore’s air quality reaches 981, normal air quality should be below 50

    Lahore’s air quality reaches 981, normal air quality should be below 50

    Lahore recorded the worst air quality in four years on Wednesday. An Air Quality Index (AQI) of 981 was recorded near the Mall Road, Samaa has reported. As per United States Environmental protection agency, the hazardous category indicates an AQI of 301–500. The ‘good’ category is 0–50, which is followed by ‘moderate’ at 51–100 while anything in the 101–301 AQI range is considered unhealthy.

    The AQI on Wednesday was recorded above 700 in most areas of Punjab’s capital. A level of 761 was recorded in Gulberg Town, 625 in Fatehpur, while the air quality in Model Town was recorded 591, Samaa reported.

    In November, Lahore was also ranked number one while Karachi ranked fifth among the top five cities with bad air quality in the world.

    Meanwhile, in November, Provincial Minister of Punjab for Environment Protection Muhammad Rizwan claimed that there has been no smog in Punjab, including Lahore, for the last two years.

  • Sri Lankan cricket legend Ranatunga thanks PM Khan for ensuring justice for Priyantha Kumara

    The former 1996 Cricket World Cup-winning Sri Lankan captain, Arjuna Ranatunga, thanked Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan for his efforts to find all those involved in the lynching of Priyantha Kumara and his support for the deceased’s family.

    Sharing the letter he wrote to the premier, Arjuna tweeted, “Thank you for all your efforts in bringing justice for the crime committed against Priyantha Kumara, and for the continued support and commitment toward his family.”

    The letter reads, “You [Imran Khan] have always been unwavering in facing challenges whether it be on the cricket field or the political arena. Since you’ve become the prime minister of Pakistan, you have been carefully addressing some controversial issues in the country.”

    Earlier this month, 49-year-old Kumara, a manager at Rajco factory in Sialkot, was lynched by a mob. The mob tortured him to death and later burnt his body.

    Following the news, PM Khan condemned the incident and ensured the punishment of those who were involved.

    A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against 900 workers of Rajco Industries and several arrests have been made.

  • Teenage son adds drugs to biryani, tortures, kills father for refusing pocket money

    A teenager in Lahore murdered his 50-year-old father for not paying him pocket money by electrocuting him to death. The two boys who also assisted him were his cousin and friend which took place in Johar Town, Lahore.

    According to the initial investigation of the police, which took place on Tuesday, the victim’s teenage son gave a drug-laced biryani to his father and then tortured him for “two to three hours.”

    The police said that he handcuffed his father and violently mistreated him through electrocution.

    Saddar Division Superintendent of Police (SP) Operations Hafeez ur Rehman Bugti said, “The three teenagers, including the son, plotted the murder.”

    Bugti added that the perpetrator wanted to inherit his father’s property as he would not pay him pocket money.

    The police have arrested all three accused including the deceased’s son, cousin, and his friend for the murder.

    The teenage boy is the only son of the victim, he added.

    The young son confessed his crime and also claimed that he murdered him because neither he was paying him pocket money nor letting him do a job.

    The body will be handover to a family after a postmortem.

  • Woman files FIR against her husband for selling newborn for two lakh

    Woman files FIR against her husband for selling newborn for two lakh

    A woman from Kohlu district, Balochistan has filed a First Information Report (FIR) against her husband for selling their 20-days-old daughter in exchange for Rs two lakh.

    In the report, it is stated that the complainant’s husband used to beat her after his second marriage and he kicked her out of the house. She was living at her brother’s residence when she gave birth to a girl, named Noor Bano.

    According to the complainant’s statement, her husband snatched the newborn from her brother’s resident in broad light on December 11.

    The complainant has five children (three boys and two girls) and with her husband.

  • Ben Affleck ‘hero-worships’ Robin Williams, wishes he had known him forever

    Hollywood celebrity and The “Good Will Hunting” Actor Ben Affleck said that Robin William’s impact on his life was undeniable.

    Williams was his inspiration and he hero-worshipped the late actor. Robin William was a Hollywood actor and comedian, known for his superb acting and comedy skills.

    “I loved Robin. He was the first person that I really met or knew who was, like, ‘famous’,” he said.

    The most impressive part about Robin Williams career is that he ruled the stage and got three Oscars in a row.

    “I mean, he did so much for us by believing in us and also by how warm and lovely and kind he was and collaborative.”

    Explaining Williams’ impact on him, Affleck said, “I wish I had known him my whole life.”

    “Growing up, I didn’t have that opportunity, but when I did meet him, I was a pretty young guy; I was 24. It made a massive impression on me and I thought, ‘Okay, that’s how you do this. I’m going to spend my life trying to live up to this example.’”

  • ‘Get Off’: Ushna Shah says stop watching TV, using fahash social media

    ‘Get Off’: Ushna Shah says stop watching TV, using fahash social media

    Actor Ushna Shah has said that people should stop watching television and use social media if they feel celebrities are responsible for spreading vulgarity.

    The celebrity said that people with ethics and morals who think of celebrities as being inferior and responsible for spreading vulgarity should stop watching television and stop using social media.

    Taking to Twitter, Shah wrote, “Show your gherat (honour) please.”

    Earlier, the Balaa star had advised parents to raise their children by themselves instead of relying on celebrities to do so.

    The celebrity posted a bit of rather angry, but important advice for parents whose children are old enough consume online entertainment content.

    She clarified that the private life of celebrities is none of other people’s business.

    Shah went on to say that if it is good enough for the children in the families to see the content, but not good enough for the parents, then don’t allow them to use Instagram or ban them from showbiz stars’ social media pages.

  • ‘PM Khan needed 30 lakhs and then 50 lakhs from PTI to run his home’, claims former PTI member, Fawad refutes

    ‘PM Khan needed 30 lakhs and then 50 lakhs from PTI to run his home’, claims former PTI member, Fawad refutes

    A former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member, Justice (retd) Wajihuddin Ahmed, recently claimed that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s monthly household expenses were once catered by PTI’s disgruntled leader Jahangir Tareen. He made the claim while speaking on Bol news’ programme ‘Tabdeeli’.

    Wajihuddin revealed that Tareen initially gave funds worth Rs3 million per month for Imran Khan’s household expenses, which was later increased to Rs5 million per month.

    Speaking further about the honesty of the premier, Wajihuddin said that the notion about Imran Khan being an honest man is “completely wrong”.

    “This belief is entirely false that Imran Khan is a [financially] honest man,” Ahmed said. “His condition is such that he hasn’t been running his household himself for years.”

    He further said certain people within the party would try to outdo each other in footing the bills for things like keeping Imran’s car fuel tank and “keeping his pocket full at all times”.

    Recalling the statement of another party member without revealing the name, Wajihuddin said, “The man who doesn’t even pay for his shoelaces, how can you call that man honest?”

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday, responding to the claims of retired Justice, called him a “buffoon”.

    “Such buffoons roam around trying to seek importance in media by making such allegations. These people are not even given respect in their own homes, therefore please do not give importance to them,” the minister told media persons.

    Special Assistant to PM for Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill rubbished Ahmed’s claim as “completely false and illogical”.

    “Whoever knows Imran Khan, knows his honesty and dignity. Wajih sahib often makes illogical remarks such as these in despair over being expelled from the party,” he tweeted.

  • ‘Pick me’: Namibia captain asks to be picked in PSL after Kamran Akmal backs out

    ‘Pick me’: Namibia captain asks to be picked in PSL after Kamran Akmal backs out

    After Kamran Akmal announced that he would not play in the 2022 Pakistan Super League (PSL), Namibian cricketer Gerhard Erasmus and Dutch player Maxwell O’Dowd took to Twitter to express their PSL ambitions.

    Kamran Akmal has decided not to play in PSL 2022 after being picked in the draft in the lowest category of players by his old team Peshawar Zalmi. The 39-year-old was moved down from the Diamond category to the Gold category by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). But he was eventually the last pick for Peshawar from the Silver category. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, the wicketkeeper-batter called it a “humiliation” and revealed he would not play in the tournament. ESPNCricinfo shared his quote on Twitter to which Namibian cricket captain Gerhard Erasmus replied that he would love to play in the PSL for free.

    “Pick me, I’ll be there for free, wrote Erasmus.

    Meanwhile, Netherlands cricketer Maxwell O’Dowd also retweeted the original post and expressed his desire to play in the tournament next year. He wrote, “Up for a swap!? I’ll gladly play!”

    On Monday, Akmal had said that it was also “an embarrassment”.

    “If it has to end like this, so be it, but I am not going to play with such humiliation,” he said.

    “This is an embarrassment. You don’t treat a player like this. With all the runs I have scored in the league, I deserve better,” he said in the interview.

  • ‘Pakistan will have no gas in years to come’: Fawad Chaudhry

    ‘Pakistan will have no gas in years to come’: Fawad Chaudhry

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday said that Pakistan will not have gas in the years to come.

    Fawad’s comments come after the cabinet meeting when he was talking to the media. He said that the gas reserves were depleting by nine per cent each year, therefore, there will be no gas available for people.

    He said people getting gas at cheaper rates in big cities should now change their habits. “This trend will not continue for long,” he added.

    Fawad highlighted that price of oil in the international market has declined. However, they haven’t been reduced much and an impact can be seen here. He, therefore, urged people to pray that the price of oil comes down globally.

  • Shehbaz or Maryam: Who will be PML-N’s candidate for PM slot in 2023, reveals spokesperson

    Shehbaz or Maryam: Who will be PML-N’s candidate for PM slot in 2023, reveals spokesperson

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Muhammad Zubair while speaking on Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, said that the party vice-president Maryam Nawaz has political ambitions hinting that she might be a candidate for the position of prime minter in the next general elections from PML-N.

    His comments come after former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had announced that Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif will be PML-N’s candidate for prime minister in the general elections of 2023.

    Khaqan made these comments during a political talk show on Dawn News, ‘Khabar Se Khabar’. He said as Maryam Nawaz was not illegible, it’s likely that the party president is nominated since he leads the party.

    “Shehbaz Sharif is our president and he will be our next candidate for prime minister,” said Khaqan.

    Responding to Khaqan’s comments, Zubair said that Khaqan was one of the most senior members of PML-N and that he could not challenge his statements.

    “It’s a long way to go, Nawaz Sharif is not illegible, both Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz are facing court cases. The situation isn’t clear yet. The future will tell who is illegible [to be a candidate],” said Zubair.

    PML-N leader further said, “I have been hearing the case hearing in Islamabad High Court (IHC), I do not have a legal background but I am100 per cent sure that Maryam Nawaz will get relief in her cases because there is no corruption against her.”

    Anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada further asked Zubair if Shehbaz Sharif will be the next nominee for the position of prime minister, to which he responded that Shahid Khaqan might have some knowledge as he has been in a place of leadership, he might have information on the matter.

    Khanzada said, “You are one of the closest leaders to Maryam Nawaz in the party, it is not possible that this interview [of Khaqan] came a day earlier and it is not possible that you have not conversed with Maryam Sahiba on this.”

    “I have not talked to Maryam Nawaz. She is busy with her son’s wedding. Having said that, there are no second thoughts on the leadership qualities and competence of Shehbaz Sharif. He has led upfront during the toughest of times,” responded Zubair.

    “I will not hesitate in saying that Maryam Nawaz has political ambitions. But along with that, she abides by party discipline. She will completely contribute to the electoral victory of PML-N,” added Zubair.