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  • Govt summons joint session of parliament on Nov 17

    The government has decided to convene the joint session of parliament on Wednesday, November 17, as it continues its efforts to persuade its allies — the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) — to rein in their support.

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry insisted that the government allies had expressed confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and assured him of voting in favour of the bills.

    “Reservations of the coalition partners have been removed and the government had unanimously decided to convene a joint session of the parliament on Wednesday,” said Fawad.

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said, “The allies have assured the prime minister that they will support all eight or 10 bills to be tabled in the joint sitting of the parliament.”

    Earlier, PML-Q on Sunday decided that it was parting ways with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and launching its campaign for the next general elections.

    The party’s parliamentarians noted that people were facing a hard time in making ends meet because of the government’s “negligence”.

  • Hardik Pandya opens up about ‘Rs5 crore watch’ seized by airport customs

    Hardik Pandya opens up about ‘Rs5 crore watch’ seized by airport customs

    Indian power hitter Hardik Pandya on Tuesday refuted reports that claimed two wrist watches worth Rs5 crore were seized from him at the Mumbai airport on his return from Dubai. He said that only one watch was worth Rs1.5 crore and had been taken for “proper valuation”.

    A report by news agency ANI on Tuesday said that two watches were seized by the Customs Department on Sunday night because Pandya allegedly did not have a bill for them.

    Denying the charges, Pandya posted a statement on Twitter saying, “I voluntarily went to Mumbai airport customs counter to declare the items brought by me and pay the requisite customs duty. Wrong perceptions have been floating around on social media regarding my declaration to customs at Mumbai airport, and I would like to clarify about what transpired.”

    “I had voluntarily declared all the items that I’d lawfully purchased from Dubai and was ready to pay whatever duties that needed to be paid. As a matter of fact, the customs department had asked for all purchase documents which were submitted; however customs is doing proper valuation for duty which I’ve already confirmed to pay,” he said.

    “The cost of the watch is approximately Rs1.5 crore and not Rs5 crore as per the rumours floating around on social media. I’m a law-abiding citizen of the country and I respect all government agencies. I’ve received all the cooperation from the Mumbai customs department and I’ve assured my full cooperation to them and will provide them with whatever legitimate documents they need to get this matter cleared. All allegations against me of crossing any legal boundaries are totally unfounded,” he added.

    The cricketer also said that he is a “law abiding citizen”, who respects all government agencies.

    Hardik was returning from Dubai after India wrapped up its stint at the T20 World Cup.

    According to ANI, Hardik Pandya’s brother, cricketer Krunal Pandya was also intercepted at the Mumbai International Airport over suspicion of being in possession of undisclosed gold and other valuables last year.

    Indian all-rounder Pandya is very much in the limelight for his hairstyle and body tattoo.

  • ‘Gone nuts’: Asad Siddiqui lashes out at ICC for snubbing Babar Azam

    ‘Gone nuts’: Asad Siddiqui lashes out at ICC for snubbing Babar Azam

    Actor Asad Siddiqui has lashed out at International Cricket Council (ICC) for not naming the captain of Pakistan Cricket team Babar Azam, as the player of the tournament.

    David Warner was named as the ‘Player of the Tournament’.

    The Zebaish star used his social media to express his anger, “How can you not give the player of the tournament award to Babar Azam, ICC has gone nuts man.”

    Babar’s campaign ended at the hands of Australia at the semi-final stage, but he sealed a historic 10-wicket win against India.

    He added three more fifties, meaning he sits tied with Matthew Hayden and Virat Kohli for the most half-centuries in T20 World Cup, while only Kohli and Tillakaratne Dilshan have scored more runs at a single edition.

    However, Babar Azam was named the skipper of ICC’s Team of the Tournament for the mega event. 

  • How would Shadab Khan look if he were a girl? Twitter has the answer

    How would Shadab Khan look if he were a girl? Twitter has the answer

    A picture has been circulating on social media of a girl who was spotted in the audience during the Pakistan vs Australia semi final which was played in Dubai last week.

    The girl in the picture resembles Pakistani spinner Shadab Khan, and some social media users are terming her as the cricketer’s doppelgänger.

    Have a look at the picture and the reactions:

    https://twitter.com/crackheadenerji/status/1459827088110895106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1459949177195147269%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es3_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.samaa.tv%2Fentertainment%2F2021%2F11%2Ftwitter-has-found-shadab-khans-woman-lookalike%2F
    https://twitter.com/Serene_Sarcasm/status/1460017499613892611

    Shadab Khan took four wickets in the Pakistan vs Australia semi final and gave 26 runs.

  • ‘A little disgusting’: Shoaib Akhtar takes a dig at Australia’s celebration after T20 World Cup win

    ‘A little disgusting’: Shoaib Akhtar takes a dig at Australia’s celebration after T20 World Cup win

    Former cricketer turned analyst Shoaib Akhtar has expressed his displeasure with the way the Australian team celebrated after their T20 World Cup win.

    Read More – ICC receives criticism for not naming Babar Azam T20 World Cup ‘Player of the Tournament’

    Akhtar took to his social media accounts to react to the viral video of Aussie stars Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis chugging beer from a shoe. The former cricketer reckoned it was a ‘disgusting way of celebrating’ their most recent accomplishment.

    He wrote: “A little disgusting way of celebrating no??”

    The Australian men’s cricket made history on Sunday, November 14, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium by clinching their maiden T20 World Cup title.

    The Aussie batters showcased exemplary batsmanship against a formidable Kiwi bowling attack to chase down a stiff total of 172 in the final clash.

    Mitchell Marsh starred with the bat for Australia with his unbeaten 77 and David Warner’s 53 off 38 balls helped the team down the Black Caps’ 173-run target. Marsh bagged Player of the Match award while Warner was awarded ‘Player of the Tournament’ award.

    The Rawalpindi Express was also present at the Dubai International Stadium to witness the final between the Aussies and Kiwis.

  • ‘Teeli lagayi’: Sheheryar breaks silence on trolling for touching Nawazuddin’s feet in viral video

    ‘Teeli lagayi’: Sheheryar breaks silence on trolling for touching Nawazuddin’s feet in viral video

    Actor Sheheryar Munawar opened up on his recent controversy with Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The Parey Hut Love star received polarizing response on a viral video in which he can be seen touching Nawazuddin’s feet.

    Sheheryar stated in his latest interview with a digital media organsiation, “It was a normal chit chat session where I was narrating him dialogue, I was talking to him and then Mahira urged to me to touch the feet of Guru Ji, and I said ‘why not?’, even Nawaz stopped me.”

    He expressed his disappointment, “As an actor you have to be on guard all the time which is so unfair, can’t I enjoy any of my moment within my private place.”

    “It was just a moment and we were having fun, I am Sindhi and it is in our culture, I touch the feet of my father, my senior Asim Raza, I touch feet of Nigah Ji too”.

    He concluded by saying that someone just cut a short clip, omitted all the scenario and tried to portray that particular moment in a negative manner

  • ‘My mother doesn’t know that Sumbal passed away’: Bushra Ansari makes shocking revelations

    ‘My mother doesn’t know that Sumbal passed away’: Bushra Ansari makes shocking revelations

    Veteran actor Bushra Ansari appeared on Waseem Badami’s show Har Lamha Purjosh on which she made some revelations about her sister Sumbal’s death.

    Bushra revealed that they still haven’t informed their mother about Sumbal’s death because she is too old, she might not be able to handle the truth. She also mentioned that they have told their mother that Sumbal is in America and the Mera Naseeb actor often pretends to be Sumbal and talks to their mother on the phone.

    Pakistan’s veteran actress Sumbal Shahid passed away due to Covid-19. According to the Pardes star, Sumbal tested covid positive, and was undergoing treatment in a hospital in Lahore where she was placed on a ventilator.

    The star graced in many dramas like Malika-e-Aliya, Ishqaaway and Takay Ki Ayegi Baraat.

    She was best known for her work in Golden Girls and was widely popular for her role in Dolly Ki Ayegi Baraat.

    Her last appearance was in the drama Nand with Shahroz Shabzwari and Minal Khan.

    It is pertinent to mention that Sumbul’s son Shiraz too passed away a year ago in a paragliding accident in Chitral. 

    Earlier in July 2021, she took to Instagram to share her response on the backlash from netizens over dancing with Azaan Sami Khan at a wedding, “I was in a deep grief from last 3 months and that loss is going to be in our hearts till our last breathe. Two days ago it was a family dholki and all my friends were there insisting me to get out of the stress and my sadness.”

    The Biquis Kaur star added, “But sad to see people’s reaction, they just want to see us unhappy because we are famous and specially when somebody is over a certain age, how pathetic. I am telling you this is the best age to enjoy life when you are done with all your duties and Alhamdullillah I have achieved so much in this age I don’t have any regrets if I am over 60”.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Bushra Bashir (@ansari.bushra)

    She continued by mentioning, “So this is a cheap weapon of telling elders that you are old and you have no right to be happy, why not ? I don’t understand why young kids feel insecure of older people,” the actress stated further. I m not answerable to any faceless troll because they never leave any one even after wearing hijab, so stop hurting people it’s also not allowed in Islam.

  • VIDEO: Man hires woman to slap him every time he uses Facebook

    Maneesh Sethi, the Indian-American founder and CEO of wearable device company Pavlok, once hired a woman to slap him every time he used Facebook to increase his productivity.

    In 2012, Mr Sethi wanted to increase his productivity, so he went to Craigslist to hire a person who would be willing to slap him every time he used Facebook while he should have been working.

    Craigslist is an American classified advertisement website with sections devoted to jobs, housing, for sale, items wanted, services, community service, gigs, résumés, and discussion forums.

     “I hired a girl on Craigslist to slap me in the face every time I used Facebook,” he explained in his blog, adding that the results of his experiment were surprising.

     According to the Pavlok CEO, he hired a woman named Kara for $8 an hour to slap him every time he diverted from his task — and his productivity increased rapidly to 98%. 

    A photo of Mr Sethi being slapped by Kara for opening Facebook recently resurfaced on Twitter and gained the attention of Elon Musk. 

    The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX responded to the picture with two fire emojis. The emoji is used to indicate something cool or awe-inspiring. 

  • ‘If Nawaz Sharif can go to jail, so can Saqib Nisar’: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

    ‘If Nawaz Sharif can go to jail, so can Saqib Nisar’: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

    “If Nawaz Sharif can go to jail, so can Saqib Nisar,” said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at a press conference in Islamabad.

    Abbasi was addressing the media along with Khawaja Asif after the claims of former Chief Judge (CJ) of the apex court of Gilgit Baltistan Rana M Shamim came to light. Justice Shamim, in a signed affidavit, wrote that he is a witness to the then Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar’s direction to a high court judge not to release Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz on bail at any cost before the 2018 general elections.

    “I pray that Nisar is not involved in this act. Getting involved in the country’s affairs is unconstitutional […] Nisar had visited hospitals and tried to build dams, thus we have to believe Rana Shamim’s statement,” said Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

    “Three people, including Rana Shamin and Saqib Nisar, are aware of the facts, but the people of Pakistan should also know the truth. If someone meddles with elections, so don’t we hold the right to question them?” he said.

    Khawaja Asif said that the PML-N would raise Shamim’s allegations in parliament, as he had recorded his statement “without any pressure”.

    Meanwhile, Saqib Nisar said he didn’t want to respond to the “white lies” of the ex-GB chief justice.

    “I have never spoken to anybody or any high court judge in connection to any matter related to Mian sahab,” he said.

    Nisar said that Shamim had asked him for an extension but he didn’t accept his request, adding that the ex-GB CJ had also complained to him about the same.

  • Babar Azam named captain of ICC’s Most Valuable Team of the Tournament

    Babar Azam named captain of ICC’s Most Valuable Team of the Tournament

    After leading Pakistan brilliantly in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, Babar Azam was named the skipper of ICC’s Team of the Tournament for the mega event. The announcement was made by the International Cricket Council (ICC) Monday after Australia won its maiden T20 World Cup title.

    As per details, players from six teams have been named in the Official ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Upstox Most Valuable Team of the Tournament. It is for the first time that no Indian cricketer is included in the squad announced by the cricket governing body.

    Opening batter David Warner, leg-spinner Adam Zampa and seamer Josh Hazlewood all make the cut for Australia after helping steer their side to their first-ever T20 World Cup title.

    There are also spots for England ace Jos Buttler as wicketkeeper, Pakistan’s Babar Azam as captain, New Zealand left-armer Trent Boult and Sri Lanka star Wanindu Hasaranga – the tournament’s leading wicket-taker – in the line-up.

    Read More – ICC receives criticism for not naming Babar Azam T20 World Cup ‘Player of the Tournament’

    The side was pulled together by a selection panel featuring commentators, former international players and journalists Ian Bishop (Convener), Natalie Germanos, Shane Watson, Lawrence Booth – of Wisden, the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday – and Shahid Hashmi of Agence France Presse.

    Commenting on the team, Ian Bishop said: “As with any team selection there will be varying opinions, and robust discussion on the final composition of the squad. The panel respects that, and we encourage the strong debate that will ensue.”

    He said that this team was incredibly difficult to select over such a highly competitive tournament and the selections were based predominantly on the Super 12 onward to the final.

    The team of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 (in batting order) is:

    David Warner (Australia) – 289 runs at 48.16

    Jos Buttler (wk) (England) – 269 runs at 89.66, five dismissals

    Babar Azam (Captain, Pakistan) – 303 runs at 60.60

    Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka) – 231 runs at 46.20

    Aiden Markram (South Africa) – 162 runs at 54.00

    Moeen Ali (England) – 92 runs at strike rate of 131.42, seven wickets at 11

    Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) – 16 wickets at 9.75

    Adam Zampa (Australia) – 13 wickets at 12.07

    Josh Hazlewood (Australia) – 11 wickets at 15.90

    Trent Boult (New Zealand) – 13 wickets at 13.30

    Anrich Nortje (South Africa) – nine wickets at 11.55

    Shaheen Afridi – seven wickets at 24.14

    Captaining the side at No 3 is Pakistan skipper Babar, who was the only batter to break the 300-run barrier throughout the duration of the competition.

    His 68 not out against arch-rivals India powered Pakistan to a memorable 10-wicket victory, while three further half-centuries in the Super 12 stages helped book his team’s slot in the semi-final against Australia.