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  • Taliban threaten to go after Aurat March participants

    Taliban threaten to go after Aurat March participants

    The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has threatened rights activists, who organised peaceful demonstrations to mark International Women’s Day in the country, accusing them of blasphemy and promoting obscenity.

    Read more – ‘Ek hee dafaa sari aurton ko ban ker do’: Meesha Shafi defends Aurat March

    The proscribed Afghanistan-based militant group’s statement followed a flurry of falsified images and doctored video clips on social media that suggested participants in the March 8 protests had insulted Islam, which they denied.

    “We want to send a message to those organisations who are actively spreading obscenity and vulgarity,” the statement said, addressing the marchers. “Fix your ways, there are still many young Muslims here who know how to protect Islam and the boundaries set by Allah.”

    Conservative groups held demonstrations on Friday in several cities to demand that the government prosecute the march organisers for blasphemy, and they threatened vigilante action.

    Messages spread on social media, in some cases shared by journalists and politicians with millions of followers, included false allegations that the French flag was waved at the Women’s Day march, while doctored video and audio showed participants chanting slogans viewed as blasphemous against sacred religious figures.

    ‘MALICIOUS CAMPAIGN’

    “Each and every one of these allegations are completely false and part of a malicious campaign to silence women from speaking out about their rights,” the march organisers said in a statement.

    The Women’s Democratic Front, a leftist group founded in 2018 and one of the organisers of the march, said their flag — with red, white and purple stripes — had been misrepresented as the French flag, which has blue, white and red stripes.

    Pakistan has seen violent nationwide protests against France over issues such as the blasphemous Charlie Hebdo cartoons and restrictions on the veil there for Muslim women.

    Hassan Abbas, a security expert at the National Defense University (NDU) in Washington, told Reuters that the Taliban statement should be a “wake-up call” for authorities.

    “[It is aimed at] creating fear, gaining the sympathy of religious radicals and recruiting extremists in urban centres of Pakistan,” he said.

  • COVID-19: Here’s what you can and cannot do amid lockdown in Punjab

    COVID-19: Here’s what you can and cannot do amid lockdown in Punjab

    Amid a drastic rise in COVID-19 cases in Punjab, the provincial government has decided to reimpose numerous restrictions in different districts of the province.

    Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar tweeted an update on the new restrictions, saying that COVID-19 cases, especially the UK variant, were spreading across the province rapidly.

    “According to the advice of health experts, starting from Saturday night, we have decided to implement strict coronavirus SOPs in districts with over 5% positivity rate for the next 15 days,” he wrote.

    Later, the Punjab health department issued a notification listing restrictions across the province.

    “The positivity rate in some cities is constantly rising and third wave is looming, which poses a serious and imminent threat to public health,” read the notification, adding that the restrictions are being put in place under the Punjab Infectious Diseases (Prevention and Control) Act 2020.

    Meanwhile, here’s what you can and cannot do during the lockdown:

    • All commercial activities, establishments and markets will close by 6 pm on weekdays and completely closed on weekends.
    • This excludes medical services, general stores, bakeries, milk and meat shops, tire puncture shops, fruit and vegetable shops, tandoors, petrol pumps, oil depots, LPG outlets and filing plants, agriculture machinery workshops and spare parts shops, printing press, call centres (with 50% staff and no public dealing).
    • Complete ban on indoor and outdoor dining in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Gujrat and only takeaway/ home delivery will be allowed in these cities. Only takeaway and home delivery from restaurants will be allowed.
    • Wedding halls are to remain closed in Lahore, Rawalpindi. Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Gujrat from March 15. Only outdoor functions will be allowed with a maximum of 300 guests.
    • Parks will close at 6 pm.
    • Offices are to follow a 50% work from home policy.
    • Cinemas and shrines will stay closed.
    • Indoor gatherings have been banned. Outdoor gatherings are allowed with a maximum of 50 people in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Gujrat and 300 persons (outdoor) in the rest of the province for a maximum of two hours.
    • Sports and all cultural activities will still be banned.
    • Industrial activities and establishments are exempt from these restrictions

  • KRL Stadium renamed to Shoaib Akhtar Cricket stadium

    The Khan Research Laboratory (KRL) cricket stadium has been renamed and will now be known as Shoaib Akhtar cricket stadium. The initiative was taken to honour the world’s fastest bowler that Pakistan has produced.

    Rashid Latif, who is a former Pakistan Cricket Team wicketkeeper-batsman, and now a cricket analyst announced the news on Twitter and shared pictures of the ceremony, which had Akhtar and other former cricketers in attendance.

    Congratulatory messages flooded in soon after the news was announced. Famous cricket commentator and TV presenter, Dr Nauman Niaz, congratulated Akhtar and termed it a well-deserved honour.

    Akhtar was the fastest and bowler and had a notorious reputation. Many have labelled his bowling ‘scary’ due to his fearless, aggressive, and unparalleled performance on the field.

  • Netizens angry after Lahore university allegedly expels students for public proposal

    Netizens angry after Lahore university allegedly expels students for public proposal

    A university in Lahore has allegedly expelled two students for a public proposal followed by a hug, according to a notification circulating on social media.

    As per details, the notification dated March 12 states that the two students, who can be seen in the video, “were involved in gross misconduct and violation of university rules and were called to appear before the special disciplinary committee [but] failed to appear.”

    The notification further said that both students are “debarred from entering premises of University of Lahore and all its sub-campuses.”

    Soon after the notification went viral social media, students and other users stepped in to defend the couple and trolled the university over the decision.

    https://twitter.com/DennisCricket_/status/1370313907911282693
    https://twitter.com/theabubkr/status/1370068830718980096

    https://twitter.com/MFraz72159347/status/1370332304476884995

    The Current made multiple attempts to contact the university administration but were unable to get through.

  • 60-year-old man climbs electric pole after children object to second marriage

    60-year-old man climbs electric pole after children object to second marriage

    A 60-year-old man in India climbed up an electric pole to protest against his children who opposed his second marriage.

    As per reports, Sobran Singh, who hails from Rajasthan, India climbed a pole of high-tension wires to convince his children for second marriage. Singh, who has five children and several grandchildren wanted to get married for the second time but his family was against it.

    Villagers gathered near the electric pole and tried to convince Singh to come down but he did not listen to anybody.

    Singh even grabbed a high-tension wire and threatened to commit suicide. Luckily, there was no electricity running in the high tension line at that time.

    Singh’s family called the local sub-station about the incident after which the electricity department cut the power in the area.

    After about an hour, a local youth climbed the pole and convinced the elderly man to come down.

    When he was asked whom he wants to marry, he said, “Get me married to anyone. I just want a companion.”

    Singh’s wife died four years ago and he currently lives with his three sons.

  • VIDEO: Umar Gul recites Azaan in baby daughter’s ear

    VIDEO: Umar Gul recites Azaan in baby daughter’s ear

    Pakistani bowler Umar Gul shared a delightful video on Friday in which he can be seen reciting the Azaan in his newborn daughter’s ear – which is a ritual practiced by Muslims around the globe when their children are born.

    Taking to Instagram, Gul shared the video with a caption that read: “Giving Azaan again in my little princess’s ear! This feeling is just out of the world.”

    “Alhamdulillah for all His Blessings,” he added.

    On March 8, Gul had announced the birth of his third child.

    “Allah has blessed us again with his Rehmah! Baby Zainab is finally home and baby and Mama are both in good health,” the cricketer had written on Twitter.

    “May Allah bless her with long and healthy life, full of love and blessings,” he added.

  • ‘Kiskay vote ko izzat dein,’ asks Samina Peerzada

    ‘Kiskay vote ko izzat dein,’ asks Samina Peerzada

    Samina Peerzada, in a recent tweet, expressed her confusion over the recent Senate Elections.

    Referring to Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz’s (PML-N) slogan “Vote ko izaat do,” Samina wrote: “Kis kay vote ko izat dein (Whose vote should we respect)?”

    Earlier, the veteran actor had said: “Kya hum vote jorr torr karnay kay lie detay hain ya mulk ki behtari kay lie (Do we vote for manipulation or for the betterment of the country)?”

    Earlier on Friday, before the voting for the Senate Chairman began, senators Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Dr Musadik Malik of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) stated that they found spy cameras in the polling booth in Senate. Senator Khokhar and Dr Musadik, in a series of tweets, posted pictures of cameras they found and a series of allegations started on Twitter by Mustafa, Malik and Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry.

    While the government alleged that the opposition installed the camera to create a ruckus, the Pakistan Democratic Movement accused the government of installing them to tamper votes. Senator Mustafa alleged that Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani was seen leaving the Senate building early morning at 5:30 am on the eve of the elections.

    It is still unclear who installed the cameras but it is worth mentioning that the elections for Senate chairman and deputy chairman are critical for both the government and the opposition.

    Meanwhile, government’s candidate for the Senate chairmanship Sanjrani won after getting 48 votes, beating Gilani with a lead of six votes.

  • Fake Aurat March Video: APOLOGIZE!

    Fake Aurat March Video: APOLOGIZE!









    *|MC:SUBJECT|*

    Hey, *|MERGE1|*. It’s March 12th. Residents of Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar, take out your umbrellas because today’s forecast calls for rain. ? It will be sunny in Karachi and Quetta. 

    Peshawar High Court has banned TikTok until “unacceptable” content is removed. What do you think of the ban? Inbox me and let’s have a conversation. ?

     

    Laila-The Current 

    THAT’S THE TEA

    “Maidan chorh kay bhagne walun mein Se nahi hun”?

    During PTI’s core committee meeting, PM Imran Khan has said that he is not among those who “would leave the battleground”. 

    He further said, “The objective of PDM’s long march is not to provide any relief to the masses but to seek an NRO.”

    PM’s statement comes ahead of PDM’s intended long march later this month. 
     

    Race for the Senate

     The election of the Senate Chairman and Deputy Chairman is today and analysts say it’s too close to call: who will win the Senate — PDM’s Gilani or the government’s Sajrani? Will be a real nail-biter for political buffs today. 

    Read On

    Apologize to Aurat March?

    Aurat March has faced backlash over a doctored video, which was being widely circulated on social media. Now after evidence has come out that the video was doctored, people on social media are calling for an apology from the ones who uploaded and quoted the doctored video. 
     

    Read On

      Shahroz Sabzwari responds to Yasir Hussain?

    In a recent interview with a local media outlet, when Yasir was asked to name an actor who should have stayed on television instead of doing films, the actor named Shahroz Sabzwari.
    Jispe Shahroz has responded saying Yasir is entitled to his opinion and if you ask me mine, I will say that I respect all the actors around me.

    Read On

      Asal mai royi” – Raqeeb Se’s Sakina | Hadiqa Kiani | The Current Top 5

    Every time I cried on-screen, the tears were real,” says Hadiqa Kiani on Raqeeb Se. Watch The Current Top 5 Drama Review to know how the actor used this drama to battle her past. Are you liking Sakina’s character in Raqeeb Se?

    Watch

    On This Day: 12th March

      PASSING OF OBJECTIVES RESOLUTION

    Today on this day, the First Constituent Assembly of Pakistan passed the Objectives Resolution under the administration of Liaquat Ali Khan, embodying the main principles on which the constitution of Pakistan was to be based. It clearly laid down the nature and objectives of the state and all doubts about the ideology of Pakistan. 

    Current Baba’s prediction

     This could end up to be an uninteresting and boring day, apne mood ko theek rakhne ke lie you will have to do something interesting. Maybe update your play list??‍♀️

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  • Punjab government to reimpose COVID restrictions to curb virus spread

    Amid a drastic increase in COVID-19 cases in Punjab, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has announced that Covid-related restrictions will be reimposed in the province.

    “Coronavirus, especially the UK- variant is spreading alarmingly in some cities of Punjab,” stated the Punjab CM, adding that strict SOP’s will be implemented in regions where positivity rate is more than 5 percent, for the next 15 days, starting from Saturday night.

    According to the notification, indoor weddings and dining will be banned in those regions, whereas educational institutes, parks, shrines will be closed in areas with high positivity rate. In addition to that, markets will close at 6pm.

    CM Buzdar further added that a detailed notification in this regard will be issued by health department later.

    Buzdar added that he has advised the health department to speed up the process of vaccination for old age citizens.

    The notification was issued after CM Buzdar chaired the meeting of the cabinet committee for the eradication of corona and expressed concern over the increase in the number of patients in Lahore and other districts, reported APP.