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  • ‘Inhumane’: SC says ‘mentally-ill’ death row prisoners cannot be executed

    ‘Inhumane’: SC says ‘mentally-ill’ death row prisoners cannot be executed

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday commuted the death sentences of three “mentally-ill” prisoners to life imprisonment, saying executing a person who doesn’t understand the rationale behind their punishment is “inhumane” and doesn’t meet the ends of justice.

    The apex court announced this verdict on a point whether or not mentally ill death-row prisoners can be executed. The pleas were filed on the behalf of Kanizan Bibi, Imdad Ali and Ghulam Abbas who have spent 30, 18 and 14 years on death row, respectively, while exhibiting acute symptoms of mental illness, reported Dawn.

    A five-judge bench, headed by Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik, comprising Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah gave this verdict at SC’s Lahore registry.

    In its verdict, the apex court that not every mental illness shall automatically qualify for an exemption from carrying out the capital sentence.

    “This exemption will be applicable only in that case where a medical board, consisting of mental health professionals, certifies after a thorough examination and evaluation that the condemned prisoner no longer has higher mental functions to appreciate the rationale behind the sentence of death awarded to them,” the judgement stated.

    “It is with the developing nature of medical science that scope of these terms may also evolve. Therefore, we are of the view that a limited definition of the terms ‘mental disorder’ or ‘mental illness’ should be avoided, and the provincial legislatures may […] consider to appropriately amend the relevant provisions of mental health laws to cater for medically recognised mental and behavioral disorders as notified by the World Health Organisation.”

    The top court also barred the use of “stigmatic labels”, like “unsound mind”, “lunatic” and “insane” to refer to the prisoners who suffer from mental disorders.

    “Latest legislations all over the world do not use such terms. Therefore, we consider it appropriate to direct that the terms ‘unsoundness of mind’ and ‘unsound mind’ occurring in Pakistan Penal Code, the Criminal Code of Procedure and the Prison Rules be substituted with term ‘mental disorder’ or ‘mental illness’.

    “The term ‘lunatic’ wherever it occurs shall also be substituted appropriately,” the judgement stated.

  • ‘Jald mulaqat ho gee’: Cengiz Coşkun hints he will visit Pakistan soon

    Cengiz Coşkun, popularly known as Turgut Alp from Dirilis: Ertuğrul has signed up as the brand ambassador of Dr Fazeela Abbasi’s first-ever men’s exclusive skincare line. Dr Fazeela is Hamza Ali Abbasi’s sister.

    Announcing the news on social media, the Turkish star said that he was excited to be representing the brand and hinted that he will be visiting Pakistan soon.

    “l am excited to announce that l will be endorsing the first-ever men’s exclusive skincare line by Dr Fazeela as a brand ambassador,” wrote Coşkun alongside a picture of the two. “Jald mulaqat ho gee.”

    Dr Fazeela also shared the news on Instagram, writing: “Announcing the pioneer launch of the first-ever men’s exclusive skincare line in Pakistan and Gulf with Cengiz Coşkun as the face of the DFA brand.”

    Earlier in September 2020, the Turkish actor had also been signed as the brand ambassador on J. Fragrance.

    Diriliş: Ertuğrul has been trending in Pakistan ever since its first episode aired on PTV Home in Ramzan 2020. Pakistanis are loving the drama series and it has become a sensation in the country. According to some estimates, millions of people have tuned in to watch the show on PTV and YouTube.

    Read more – ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul’ star Cengiz Coşkun says he has been receiving marriage proposals from Pakistan

    Recently, several Turkish actors from the super hit series Diriliş: Ertuğrul have visited Pakistan for different purposes. From Engin Altan Düzyatan (Ertuğrul Bey) to Cavit Çetin Güner (Dogan Alp) and Celal AL (Abdur Rehman Alp), almost every prominent actor from the drama series has visited different cities of the country. Fans had been eagarly awaiting Coşkun’s visit and it appears that they will not have to wait much longer.

  • Lawyer accidentally turns on kitten filter during virtual case hearing

    Lawyer accidentally turns on kitten filter during virtual case hearing

    A Texas court hearing over Zoom went viral after a lawyer accidentally activated a cat filter and then couldn’t turn off.

    In the Zoom meeting, one of the lawyers, Rod Ponton, became a fluffy white kitten in a moment. Mr Ponton’s head appeared as a cat alongside the two men in suits.

    In the video, Judge Roy Ferguson asked the lawyer if he wanted to turn of the filter.

    “Can you hear me, judge?” Mr Ponton responded as a kitten.

    “I can hear you. I think it’s a filter,” the judge replied.

    “It is, and I don’t know how to remove it,” the lawyer said in response.

    Later, in a phone interview with The New York Times, the lawyer talking about the incident said: “If I can make the country chuckle for a moment in these difficult times they’re going through, I’m happy to let them do that at my expense.”

    Mr Ponton added that his secretary – whose computer he was using for the call – was “embarrassed” by the mistake.

    But the whole incident took less than a minute before he figured out how to deactivate the filter and return to business.

    “My older and less humorous face popped up, and we continued with the hearing,” he said.

    Judge Ferguson shared the video clip on Twitter with the caption: “These fun moments are a by-product of the legal profession’s dedication to ensuring that the justice system continues to function in these tough times. Everyone involved handled it with dignity, and the filter lawyer should incredible grace. True professionalism all around.”

  • Ex-CM Khattak, NA speaker tried to buy votes, says former MPA from leaked video

    A former member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Ubaidullah Mayar has admitted to taking Rs10 million in bribe ahead of the Senate elections in 2018 on the “directives of then chief minister Pervaiz Khattak”.

    A day earlier, a video of lawmakers had emerged wherein the MPs were seen taking loads of cash to sell their votes in the election that were held in March 2018.

    In a response to this video, Mayar said the PTI government had paid Rs10 million to all the MPAs and then recorded it on camera secretly. He said the video was shot at the residence of then KP Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser — the custodian of the National Assembly now.

    Khattak and Qaiser paid “us money and asked to vote for their candidates”. “At that time, Pervez Khattak had formed a committee of 17 MPAs and asked us to vote for them, paid us the money, and promised to give us party’s tickets,” he alleged in a conversation with Geo.

    He said that he even went to the [Peshawar] High Court in relation to the matter, adding that he “stands by [his] statement and is “not afraid of anyone.”

    Responding to a question regarding two people from another party who could be seen taking money in the video, Mayar said that “Pervez Khattak had promised to make them ministers if they joined the PTI”, adding that the “promise was later fulfilled”. He said that he was asked to return the money on the suspicion that he did not vote for PTI’s candidate.

    After the allegations of horse-trading, Mayar was expelled from the PTI by party chairman Imran Khan. He had then joined the Pakistan People’s Party.

    QAISER, KHATTAK REJECT ALLEGATIONS:

    In response to the allegation, NA Speaker Asad Qaiser said that the video was not shot at Speaker House in Peshawar.

    In 2019, Imran Khan had told [the party] about several PTI MPAs selling their votes for money, he said, adding that the entire party had decided to take action against the lawmakers involved in the controversy. “Statements like these are only an attempt to divert action from the actual issue,” he said, referring to the statement by Mayar. 

    In a press conference on Wednesday, former CM Khattak also rubbished the claims made by Mayar. He said the house where the dealing took place was not the Speaker House. “It’s a house somewhere in Islamabad and I was not present at the scene,” he said, distancing himself from the controversy.

    ‘LEAKED VIDEO’:

    On Tuesday, the video first released by ARY News showed lawmakers belonging to the now ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) counting bundles of cash and then stashing the same in a bag.

    The video showed how, during the critical period, loyalties were switched by PTI’s 20 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lawmakers, all of whom were reportedly expelled by the party’s central leadership after an investigation. The money was dished out in Feb-March 2018, it was reported.

    It may be noted that the damning video comes at a time when Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan expresses aims to hold Senate elections through open ballot in 2021 in a bid to eliminate horse-trading. Defending his party’s move to hold the elections through open ballot, the premier had last week spoken of bribes paid to buy loyalties, revealing that he himself had been offered some.

    He had further revealed that 20 members of the KP Assembly belonging to the PTI, likely the ones from the video, were paid Rs50 million each during the last Senate polls to vote in favour of certain candidates.

    On February 6, President Dr Arif Alvi signed Elections (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 that will pave way for the organisation of Senate elections through open ballot.

  • Horse-trading: KP law minister resigns over leaked video

    Horse-trading: KP law minister resigns over leaked video

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Law Minister Sultan Mohammad Khan stepped down from his post on Tuesday hours after a leaked video, purportedly recorded in Feb 2018, showed him taking money ahead of the Senate polls.

    After the video made it to the mainstream media, KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan tweeted that he had asked the law minister to resign over his appearance in the video along with other lawmakers.

    Subsequently, the provincial minister quit the cabinet, saying he felt “it was his moral duty and obligation to withdraw from the cabinet and offer my resignation”. He also expressed the hope that “justice will be done” and that he would be able to clear his name.

    ‘LEAKED VIDEO’:

    On Tuesday, the video first released by ARY News showed lawmakers belonging to the now ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) counting bundles of cash and then stashing the same in a bag.

    The video showed how, during the critical period, loyalties were switched by PTI’s 20 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lawmakers, all of whom were reportedly expelled by the party’s central leadership after an investigation. The money was dished out in Feb-March 2018, it was reported.

    It may be noted that the damning video comes at a time when Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan expresses aims to hold Senate elections through open ballot in 2021 in a bid to eliminate horse-trading. Defending his party’s move to hold the elections through open ballot, the premier had last week spoken of bribes paid to buy loyalties, revealing that he himself had been offered some.

    He had further revealed that 20 members of the KP Assembly belonging to the PTI, likely the ones from the video, were paid Rs50 million each during the last Senate polls to vote in favour of certain candidates.

    On February 6, President Dr Arif Alvi signed Elections (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 that will pave way for the organisation of Senate elections through open ballot.

  • National Bank to close branches in Bangladesh, Afghanistan

    National Bank to close branches in Bangladesh, Afghanistan

    The National Bank of Pakistan has decided to shut down its branches in Bangladesh and Afghanistan due to financial losses.

    According to reports, the NBP officials said that the government will shut down three branches in Bangladesh situated in Sylhet, Chittagong, and Dhaka along with some branches in Afghanistan.

    According to details, the NBP branch in Sylhet has been facing financial losses for the past eight years and that it would be shut down by the end of this year. The State Bank of Pakistan has approved the decision to close the branch down in Sylhet, while the remaining two in Bangladesh will also be closed soon.

    On Monday, the Senate’s Standing Committee of Finance and Revenue directed the National Bank of Pakistan to submit details of non-performing loans.

    Citing non-performing loans as reason, the NBP officials had informed the committee that the bank has closed two branches in Bangladesh and Afghanistan due to continuous losses, while more will be shut down soon.

    The meeting was further informed that 23 branches of the bank were established in various countries.

  • Modi, Abhinandan spotted in Shehzad Roy’s new music video

    Modi, Abhinandan spotted in Shehzad Roy’s new music video

    Shehzad Roy is not one to keep it subtle. From social issues to the lack of infrastructure and utilities in Pakistan, the singer and musician aptly uses social media to raise his voice and create awareness.

    Read more – Shehzad Roy has the funniest response to a Twitter marriage proposal

    Known for his timeless songs like Laga Reh, Roy has returned to the music industry with yet another masterpiece. Titled Kon Kis Ka Aadmi Hai, the song highlights Pakistanis curiosity to know who is working for whom and their habit of making assumptions rather than seeking the truth.

    The most plausible aspect of Roy’s songs in their ability to address serious issues with a touch of humour. Kon Kis Ka Aadmi Hai adds elements of hip hop and street dance to an otherwise simple song which features Roy performing with a guitar.

    Most interestingly, the song manages to mention Modi and the current farmers’ protest in India, the capture of Wing Commander Abhinandan by Pakistan, and the two-faced nature of people, all of whom have some sort of agenda to fulfil.

    The cherry on top in the video directed by Faisal Qureshi is the presence of Roy’s son, Sikandar Alam Roy, on drums followed by his punchline at the end of the song. Pakistan-based Australian artist Gabrielle Brinsmead also makes a special appearance in the video with a Cello.

    The song has been gathering praises from its listeners who definitely seem enthusiastic about Roy returning to the world of music with yet another powerful song.

    https://twitter.com/Fay_Seen/status/1359057961797173255?s=19

  • Kevin Pietersen mocks Team India after Chennai loss against England

    Former England player Kevin Pietersen on Tuesday mocked Team India after their humiliating defeat in Chennai against England, reminding them of the warning he had issued to Virat Kohli’s men pertaining to their Test series against Joe Root-led side after their glorious win at Gabba last month.

    “India, yaad hai maine pehele hi chetawani di thi ke itna jasn na manaye jab aapne Australia ko unke ghar pe haraya tha (India, remember I warned you earlier not to celebrate too much when you defeated Australia at their home),” he tweeted after India suffered their second defeat at home under the captaincy of Kohli, losing to England by 227 runs in the Test series opener. 

    https://twitter.com/KP24/status/1359059768082579456?s=19

    Earlier, after the series win in Gabba last month, while most took to social media to congratulate India for their impressive win, Pietersen had tweeted: “India – yeh aitihaasik jeet ka jashn manaye kyuki yeh sabhi baadhao ke khilaap hasil hui hai. Lekin, asli team toh kuch hafto baad aa rahi hai jisse aapko harana hoga apne ghar mein. Satark rahe , 2 saptaah mein bahut adhik jashn manaane se saavadhaan rahen (India – Celebrate this historic victory, as you achieved it against many hurdles. But, the real team is coming after two weeks, that you have defeated in your home. Be cautious, beware of celebrating too much in 2 weeks).”

    https://twitter.com/KP24/status/1351501549013504001?s=19

    India was set a target of 420 in the final innings in Chennai but lost Rohit Sharma early in the chase. The reverse swing of James Anderson, ably assisted by left-arm spinner Jack Leach combined to take seven wickets between themselves helped England fold India for just 192 runs. 

    The win helped England take a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series while denting India’s hope of reaching the World Test Championship final. 

  • Zoya Nasir slams troll for giving Christian Betzmann ‘criminal advice’

    Zoya Nasir slams troll for giving Christian Betzmann ‘criminal advice’

    Celebrities across the world are no stranger to trolling. Though most of them tend to ignore the trolls and social media hate, there are times when they give it back to them.

    Read more – Ayesha Omar claps back at troll criticising her choice of outfit

    The latest victim of social media trolling is Zoya Nasir, who recently received some scathing comments after she congratulated YouTuber Christian Betzmann for converting to Islam.

    “Welcome to peace Christian,” Zoya had written alongside a picture of herself and Betzmann. “May Allah give you all that you desire and more. Ameen.”

    Commenting under the picture, a social media user Anum Ashraf Khan wrote: “Welcome to peace? Kisi ka deen kharab kar kay you want to live at peace? Shame on you, you poor soul. He should be ashamed of himself and should commit suicide.”

    Replying to the comment, Zoya said: “I have three questions for you. What’s your objection and what right of objection do you have here when the entire world is happy? Would you say this to our faces, rather than behind your cowardly keyboard’s safety?”

    “What would you do and how would you feel if (Allah forbid) he decided to listen to you and actually followed your criminal advice?,” questioned Zoya. “I hope you realise the kind of responsibility you have here.”

    Later, the actor went to bash the user further in her Instagram stories, writing: “Let’s give her a huge round of applause for what she thinks she achieved here.”

    “This very woke woman left a criminal and heinous advice for Chris,” said Zoya.

    “Mostly Pakistani media personalities have thick skins, so we are alright,” she continued. “But what if this woman is dropping the same hate to someone [who is] emotionally weak and decided to act upon it?”

    “Does she even realise this? Does anyone?,” she concluded.

  • VIDEO: Man attacks Municipal Officer with cow dung in Sanghar

    VIDEO: Man attacks Municipal Officer with cow dung in Sanghar

    An angry citizen of Sanghar threw a bag of cow dung on the personal assistant to the chief municipal officer of the city.

    As per reports, the man complained that there were huge heaps of trash lying in different areas of the city and the government did not pay any attention to the problem.

    “These people should get a taste of their own medicine,” said the man.

    After the attack, PA Noor Muhammad Nizami hit the man and refused to work until the man was arrested.

    “We will not work until an FIR is registered against him,” said Nizami.

    “I was sitting in my office working when a group of people suddenly entered my office and threw this dirt on me,” stated Muhammad, adding that the attackers gripped him by the collar of his shirt.

    A case has been registered against four men.