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  • Afghan Ambassador’s daughter released after being held hostage in Islamabad: Afghan Foreign Ministry

    Afghan Ambassador’s daughter released after being held hostage in Islamabad: Afghan Foreign Ministry

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan released a statement stating: “On July 16, the daughter of the Afghan Ambassador to Islamabad, Ms Silsila Alikhil, was ‘abducted’ for several hours and ‘severely tortured’ by unknown individuals on her way home.”

    After being released from being held hostage, the Ambassador’s daughter was taken to the hospital.

    “The [Afghan] Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the Government of Pakistan to take immediate necessary actions to ensure full security of the Afghan Embassy and Consulates as well as the immunity of the country’s diplomats and their families in accordance with international treaties and conventions,” read the statement.

    Responding to media queries in this regard, the Spokesperson of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the daughter of the Afghan ambassador was “assaulted while riding a rented vehicle”.

    According to the statement, the Islamabad Police launched a thorough investigation while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant security authorities are closely in contact with the ambassador and his family. The Afghan Ambassador’s security has been beefed up. “It is reiterated that the safety and security of the diplomatic missions, as well as the diplomats and their families, is of utmost importance. Such incidents can and will not be tolerated,” says the statement by the Foreign Ministry.

    According to the medical report tweeted by journalist Ghulam Abbas Shah, the police brought in Ms Silsila. There were rope marks on her wrist and ankle.

    Journalist Mubashir Zaidi tweeted, “She [Silsila Alikhil] was thrown after 5 hours with her hands & feet tied. A tissue paper & rupees 50 note with the message ‘your turn is next’ and ‘communist’ tied to her dupatta.”

    Journalist Salman Masood tweeted that senior Pakistani officials are dismissing the claims of the Afghan foreign ministry and have dubbed the alleged abduction as a “baseless accusation to defame Pakistan”.

    There has been no official statement released by Pakistan’s Foreign Office at the moment.

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Sherry Rehman condemned the incident.

  • Mahira, Sanam and Momal bond like BFFs at a grand wedding in Karachi

    Mahira, Sanam and Momal bond like BFFs at a grand wedding in Karachi

    It’s the wedding season in the tinsel town as Sultana Siddiqui’s grandson is about to the knot soon, several A-list celebrities gathered at their recent events. Actresses Mahira Khan, Sanam Jung and Momal Sheikh spent some quality time together.

    The trio captured their special moments. Sanam posted a special picture of the three leading ladies on her Instagram handle.

    Also being seen with them is the morning show host and actress Nida Yasir. The ceremony was held in Karachi.

  • Emmy nominations: Oprah’s tell-all interview with Meghan and Harry, Netflix’s ‘Indian Matchmaking’

    The 73rd annual Emmy nominations were announced on July 13. Among other nominations, Netflix’s Indian Matchmaking has also been nominated in the ‘Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program category’.

    Throwing light on the highly controversial Indian (and Pakistani) matrimonial matchmaking culture, the Netflix original stirred a debate about the regressive elements in the regions traditional process of finding a spouse. The show trended at number four on Netflix Pakistan in July last year.

    In addition, Oprah Winfrey’s tell-all interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has been nominated in the ‘Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series’ category.

    In their interview with Oprah, Meghan and Harry made several shocking revelations about their life as senior members of the royal family, including harrowing discussions in the royal family about the colour of their son’s [Archie] skin, losing royal protection and the pressures that led the Duchess of Sussex to contemplate suicide.

    The prestigious Emmy Awards will broadcast on Sunday, September 19.

  • ‘They had the best time of their lives’: Ayeza Khan shares daughter’s extravagant birthday celebrations 2.0

    ‘They had the best time of their lives’: Ayeza Khan shares daughter’s extravagant birthday celebrations 2.0

    Ayeza Khan celebrated her eldest daughter Hoorain’s sixth birthday and went big on décor for her celebration party. She took to social media to share her feelings and birthday’s visuals with her fans.

    The Mere Paas Tum Ho actress hosted another party for her daughter as per her wish, ” to do a play date with all her friends” at an outdoor location in Karachi. The Laapata diva shared the event’s pictures on her Instagram.

    Read More: Danish and Ayeza channel their inner child on daughter’s barbie themed birthday

    On the work front, Ayeza will be seen next in Laapata opposite Sarah Khan and Ali Rehman Khan.

  • Delta variant dominant worldwide, deaths surge among unvaccinated people: Officials

    Delta variant dominant worldwide, deaths surge among unvaccinated people: Officials

    The Delta variant of Covid-19 is now the dominant strain worldwide, accompanied by a surge of deaths around the United States (US) almost entirely among unvaccinated people, US officials said on Friday.

    US cases of coronavirus are more than 70 per cent over the previous week and deaths are up 26 per cent, with outbreaks happening in parts of the country with low vaccination rates, US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky said during a press briefing.

    “This is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” Walensky said, adding that 97 per cent of people entering hospitals in the US with Covid-19 are unvaccinated.

    The Delta variant, which is significantly more contagious than the original variant of the virus, has been reported around 100 countries globally and is now the dominant variant worldwide, top US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said.

    Read More: Study reveals Pakistanis prayed for India during Covid-19 crisis

    “We are dealing with a formidable variant” of Covid-19, Fauci said.

    Walensky has urged the unvaccinated people to get Covid-19 shots and said Pfizer Inc’s and Moderna Inc’s vaccines have proven to be especially effective against the Delta variant.

    She said people should get the second dose of the vaccine even if they have passed the recommended window of time for receiving it.

  • Pakistan receives more than 1.2 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine

    Pakistan has received more than 1.2 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine as part of the global COVAX initiative, Express Tribune has reported.

    Sajid Shah, spokesperson of the Heath Ministry, told The Express Tribune that more than 1.2 million doses of the vaccine have reached Islamabad.

    In May, Pakistan received first shipment of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

    During the last 24 hours, Pakistan administered 513,292 doses of the vaccines. So far, 22,735,993 doses have been administered in Pakistan.

    Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Friday said unvaccinated people were seven times more likely to contract the coronavirus than those inoculated.

  • 15 Chinese officials to investigate Dasu bus tragedy: Sheikh Rasheed

    15 Chinese officials to investigate Dasu bus tragedy: Sheikh Rasheed

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said that 15 Chinese officials have been included in the ongoing investigation of the Dasu bus tragedy in which 13 people, including nine Chinese nationals, were killed, reports Dawn.

    Addressing a press conference, Rasheed said, “The investigation of the event is at its final stages and the highest institutions of Pakistan are investigating it. Fifteen individuals from China have been included [in the investigation] as well.”

    “We completely reassure the Chinese government that these culprits, hidden hands and enemies of CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) and China-Pakistan friendship will never be forgiven at any cost,” he added.

    Nine Chinese nationals and three Pakistanis lost their lives on Wednesday. Chinese workers and accompanying Pakistani staff were proceeding to their workplace for an ongoing project, as per a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). 

    China had announced that it was sending a team to Pakistan to deal with the aftermath of the incident. “Today China will send a cross-departmental joint working group to Pakistan to help with relevant work,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian had said at a media briefing in Beijing.

    A team comprising of 15 Chinese officials has reached Pakistan to probe into the Dasu bus tragedy.

    Chinese ambassador to Pakistan has visited the site of the shuttle bus explosion near the Dasu Hydropower plant to investigate the cause, together with the Pakistani military and a Chinese team.

  • Sabeeka Imam questions Azaan Sami’s casting in Sajal-Yumna starrer despite ‘zero acting experience’

    Supermodel Sabeeka Imam has questioned Azaan Sami Khan’s casting in drama seriel Ishq-e-Laa co-starring Sajal Aly and Yumna Zaidi.

    “So it seems like you need zero onscreen acting experience and you could also debut with both the AMAZING Yumna and Sajal,” she wrote.

    “Mujhe bhi itni hi achi LUCK chahiye where I don’t have to earn it or prove myself first & it just gets handed to me on a plate,” she added.

    Sabeeka after recieving the criticism on her tweet said, “Aap log humein bura bhala kahen to woh sab theek hai lekin main as an artist koi opinion doon to main “jealous”? Salman Khan ki baat sach hai… “main karoon to saala character dheela hai.”

    Earlier actor Muneeb Butt also claimed that he thinks, Azaan is a product of nepotism.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Azaan Sami Khan will make his acting debut alongside Yumna Zaidi and Sajal Aly in Ishq-E-Laa. Directed by Amin Iqbal, the script is penned by the veteran writer, Qaisera Hayat of Alif Allah Aur Insaan fame.

  • CSS aspirant commits suicide

    CSS aspirant commits suicide

    A young woman who had moved to Lahore to study for the Central Superior Services (CSS) exam died by suicide, the police said Friday according to The News.

    The woman was a resident of Multan. The police said the 25-year-old left a note in her room where her body was found hanging from a ceiling fan.

    She left a letter in her room dated July 13, stating that she was losing her life and that her existence was nothing but a burden and failure, the police said. The letter said she would miss her father.

    According to the police, a forensic team has collected samples from the victim’s flat. Her family has refused to have an autopsy conducted.

    The Central Superior Service exam is conducted by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) Islamabad for recruitment into the federal government. The demanding exam has often been heavily criticised for its poor passing percentage ratio seen for years.

  • ‘No music, photography in Tirah Valley,’ local clerics allegedly issue new rules

    Local clerics in the Tirah Valley in Khyber district have issued a new set of restrictions for tourists. The new set of rules include a prohibition on taking photographs and videos in the area, Samaa has reported. In addition, tourists will not be allowed to hold any musical progamme in Tirah Valley and will not be allowed to carry a music system.

    These rules have been issued by clerics belonging to the Afridi Tribe.

    “If any harm comes [to people] in case of any violation, you will be responsible for it,” the letter issued by the clerics state.

    As per Samaa, “Journalists in the area said that the letter was not fake, but the clerics do not own it because they want to avoid legal action.”

    Waseem Riaz, the district police officer, told Samaa that he had called the clerics to the police station but they all distanced themselves from the directives.

    Earlier, a case was filed against the people who organised a music and dance event in Hunza’s Gojal for spreading obscenity.