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  • Cher is coming to Pakistan on Nov 27 to see Kaavan off

    American music sensation Cher, who has long been campaigning for Kaavan’s release will reportedly be arriving in Pakistan on November 27 to see the elephant off.

    According to a report in Gulf News, Cher is arriving in Islamabad on November 27 to see Kaavan off as he leaves for Cambodia, where he will spend the rest of his life in a wildlife reserve. The singer says that it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and that she “will sob” when she sees him for the first time.

    Earlier, the singer had revealed that she had composed two songs for Kaavan.

    “Can’t wait to sing to him on way to Cambodia,” Cher had said in a tweet.

    36-year-old Kaavan is being relocated to a wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia for retirement after the Islamabad High Court in May this year ruled that the Margazhar Zoo is not fit for animals. Kaavan has spent most of his life in a small enclosure with meagre shelter, and the last eight years alone after his companion elephant Saheli died. The court’s decision came after a four-year global campaign, backed by Cher. He is set to fly out of Pakistan on November 29 on a Russian cargo plane, specially chartered for his transportation.

    Kaavan’s travelling crate

    “All arrangements have been made, a Russian plane has been chartered that will land at Rawalpindi’s military (Chaklala Airport) in the morning of November 29, the same evening Kaavan will depart the Marghazar Zoo at 3 PM in VIP protocol paying his last regards to the city where he was brought as a calf from Sri Lanka in 1985. Kaavan was brought up at the same Marghazar Zoo. Here he had a female companion Saheli who later died of gangrene in 2012,” shared Director of the Four Paws Project Dr Amir Khalil. Four Paws International, the global animal welfare organisation in collaboration with another animals’ rights group, Free the Wild, has raised funds for the relocation of the elephant from Pakistan to Cambodia.

    “Now at the age of 36, Kaavan is leaving for yet another home into retirement,” added Dr Khalil.

    Meanwhile, Islamabad Zoo on Monday gave a farewell party to Kaavan which was attended by the public and government officials. The party was held right outside Kaavan’s enclosure and also included performances by Haroon, Natasha Baig, Khumaariyan and Arieb Azhar.

    Speaking at the farewell, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said: “It is a sad but the right step to send off the animal to a sanctuary where it will be in a much bigger space and with its own kind.”

    PTI Senator Faisal Javed Khan, who was also at the event, tweeted: “Sorry and farewell to Kaavan as our dearest (from childhood) is off to Cambodia.”

    Later, President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi also paid a visit to Islamabad to bid farewell to Kaavan.

    During his visit, President Alvi said that he hopes that Kaavan finds happiness in Cambodia.

  • FBR suggests Rs10 health tax on pack of cigarettes

    The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has proposed a Rs10 health levy on each packet of cigarettes. The proposal has the potential to encourage current smokers to quit, FBR believes.

    Before devising policy formulation, FBR has sent its proposal to the Law Ministry seeking legal advice if the suggestion falls into the jurisdiction of the federal government or not in the aftermath of the 18th Amendment.

    FBR officials say they are awaiting the response of the ministry and after receiving the advice, they would move forward accordingly.

    Read more – Over 1,200 children start smoking every day in Pakistan

    Last year, an approval was granted for the same tax by the cabinet. The anti-tobacco lobby has been advocating imposition of the levy as the price increase would discourage consumption, especially among children and youth.

    Tobacco companies, on the other hand, say this could cause a revenue loss worth Rs20 to Rs24 billion to the national exchequer per year.

  • PM approves law for chemical castration of rapists

    PM approves law for chemical castration of rapists

    The federal cabinet has approved a law that proposes chemical castration as a punishment for convicted rapists.

    In a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday, the Ministry of Law and Justice presented a draft of an anti-rape ordinance. The draft proposes a fast-track trial in rape cases, effective involvement of women in matters pertaining to gender-based violence, maintaining a database of serial rapists, and witness protection.

    During the meeting, the prime minister said the government will not tolerate any lax attitude in the implementation of anti-rape laws and added that the safety of all citizens was the utmost priority of the government. The premier said the legislation will be clear and transparent with strict enforcement. He said the rape survivors will be able to register complaints without fear, adding that the government will protect their identity.

    During the meeting, some ministers also proposed public hanging for rapists, but the premier postponed this suggestion for another time.

    According to PM’s aide Senator Faisal Javed, the government needs to bring tougher laws to curb crimes against women. He said the new proposed legislation will be presented before parliament for approval.

    It may be noted here that Pakistan reported over 120 rapes from Oct 12 to Nov 24, according to a tally kept by The Current. Legal experts say that the rape conviction rate in Pakistan can be as low as 2 per cent, so instead of bringing harsher punishments, the government must focus on strengthening its criminal justice system to punish such crimes.

    From Oct 12-Nov 24: 123 rape cases and 11 death

    “The conviction rate drops even lower in cases where a minor has been raped. That is one of the reasons that rape is rarely reported,” the experts observed. They blamed social stigma attached to sex crimes and the ‘abhorrently misogynistic attitude’ of many police officials for the underreporting of rape cases.

  • Attack on CTD office foiled, suspected bomber killed

    The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) foiled a terrorist attack on CTD Police Station Burki Road, Lahore, as it neutralised a would-be suicide bomber who tried to blow up the building.

    A police guard on duty shot the alleged suicide bomber when he did not stop for identification, a CTD spokesperson said. He said the terrorist fired at the check post, but the guard on duty shot him down in retaliatory fire. The alleged terrorist wanted to carry out a suicide attack on the police station; however, timely action by the security officials foiled his plan, the CTD official said.

    The suicide bomber was wearing a suicide vest and had two hand grenades and a handgun in his possession. The bomb disposal squad defused the suicide jacket and took into possession the weapons. It also collected evidence for forensic evaluation.

    No information was given about his identity by the police. Meanwhile, the police have started an investigation and were trying to trace his collaborators.

    Following the attempted attack, the security forces started a search operation after cordoning off the area.

  • Man watches ‘Bigg Boss’ as doctors perform brain surgery on him

    Man watches ‘Bigg Boss’ as doctors perform brain surgery on him

    An Indian man from Andhra Pradesh reportedly watched reality TV show Big Boss to stay awake during a brain surgery. Doctors at a private hospital in the state’s Guntur district conducted the rare and critical open-brain surgery, in which the patient had to be kept awake.

    According to reports, as the doctors performed the surgery on the 33-year-old patient named Vara Prasad, he watched Bigg Boss and the 2009 Hollywood sci-fi movie Avatar.

    While three surgeons removed a recurrent glioma (a type of tumor), the man enjoyed the show followed by the Hollywood sci-fi movie Avatar on a laptop.

    While further details of the surgery are not specified, pictures of the operation were shared on social media channels, with many users wondering how this was possible.

    However, in a similar incident, in January, Dagmar Turner, a professional violinist played her violin while undergoing a critical brain procedure.

  • Nawaz welcome to attend mother’s funeral in Lahore, govt says

    Nawaz welcome to attend mother’s funeral in Lahore, govt says

    The government on Tuesday dismissed the impression of placing restrictions on the arrival of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his sons — Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz — and former finance minister Ishaq Dar for the funeral of Begum Shamim Akhtar, the mother of Sharif brothers who passed away in London on Sunday.

    Nawaz has been living in London since November last year when he was released on conditional medical bail for his treatment abroad. Dar, on the other hand, has taken self-exile in the United Kingdom after his removal from the post of Finance Minister in 2017 following the emergence of allegations of accumulation of assets beyond means against him. Both of them are wanted back home in multiple cases of graft and abuse of power

    Speculations arose after the sudden demise of Akhtar, who had travelled to London in February to live with her son, whether or not Nawaz and Dar will return to attend the funeral.

    Later on Sunday, Nawaz’s daughter and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz, in a tweet, said she had advised her father not to return because of what she claimed was the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government’s vendetta against the Sharif family.

    “They are welcome to come to Pakistan and attend the funeral,” Minister for Information Shibli Faraz said on Tuesday.

    In a tweet, Faraz warned the opposition party of trying to politicise the matter. “The narrative of state suppression is deliberate propaganda and an attempt to politicise this issue. Who are you trying to fool?”

    Meanwhile, arrangements are being made to bring the body back to Lahore within a couple of days to be buried next to the grave of her husband, Mian Sharif, at the family’s Jati Umra residence.

  • Uzair Jaswal drops new single ‘Yaadaan’ ft. Minal Khan

    Uzair Jaswal drops new single ‘Yaadaan’ ft. Minal Khan

    Uzair Jaswal just dropped a new single Yaadaan, the music video of which features Minal Khan. And like most of his songs, this one is also about heartbreak.

    According to the singer, “Yaadaan is a song about heartbreak. It’s a nostalgic journey down memory lane. Bittersweet, just how life is.”

    In the music video, Uzair can be seen reminiscing about lost love. The video shows Uzair and Minal first as a happy couple but their love story ends up having a sad ending.

    The video has been directed by Adnan Aslam and Umair Mushtaq, while the vocals and guitars were recorded by Sarmad Ghafoor.

    Prior to the release of the single, there was a lot of buzz surrounding it after Jaswal posted pictures with Minal on Instagram, with fans speculating whether the two celebrities were starring together in a drama or a music video.

    Jaswal is a Pakistani singer, songwriter, and actor who has been making waves in the Pakistani music scene. He was also the youngest Coke Studio’s sensation. Meanwhile, Minal has gained popularity with of her recent drama Jalan in which she perfectly portrays the evil and narcissistic sister, Nisha.

  • Examination centres in Quetta violate COVID-19 SOPs

    Students in Quetta were forced to appear in BA and BSc examinations with no heater arrangements.

    A video doing the rounds on social media shows that no COVID-19 standard operating procedure (SOPs) were followed at the examination centers. SOPs including social distancing and wearing of masks were overlooked.

    Furthermore, very few students can be seen wearing masks in the examination center.

  • Mubasher Lucman wants Pakistan to establish ties with Israel

    Mubasher Lucman wants Pakistan to establish ties with Israel

    A day after the reports of a secret meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, journalist and anchorperson Mubasher Lucman urged the Pakistani state to revisit its foreign policy and “establish diplomatic ties with Israel”.

    The anchorperson who appeared on an Israeli news channel to supposedly comment on the controversy surrounding the latest push of Arab countries to normalise ties with Israel said that it was time for Pakistan to be “friends with everyone”, including Tel Aviv.

    https://twitter.com/TeamMLucman/status/1328780163283226624

    According to Lucman, Pakistan needs to put itself first and stop fighting for the rights of other nations — Palestinians in this case. “I am one of those people who believe both countries should shake hands and establish diplomatic ties,” said Lucman, as he went on to call Israel a “vibrant country”.

    The journalist also undermine the struggle for self-determination of the Palestinian people, while trying to play down the atrocities committed by the Israeli troops against the Palestinian people. “People in Pakistan do not know much about Israel, except that it is a zionist state carrying out ‘whatever it is doing against Palestinians’”.

    “The Israeli nation is a great nation in their own way. They are fighters, they are survivors,” said Lucman, comparing it with Pakistan which is a “great country in its own right with many accolades”.

    Lucman also commented on a recent media reports that claimed Pakistan was being pressurised by the US and another Muslim country to recognise Tel Aviv. He said: “If Israel and Pakistan ever ever have to shake hands, it must not be due to a third party, it must be directly. We don’t need to be subservient to anyone, be it the US or Saudi Arabia.”

    He also said the “animosity between Pakistan and Israel” existed for over 70 years now, and both states needed to educate their masses if things have to “progress” from this stage to the next.

    Earlier this month, Prime Minister Imran Khan said Pakistan would not accept Israel unless Palestinians get their right to self-determination. He also told a journalist that US outgoing President Donald Trump and a Muslim country wanted Pakistan to accept Israel, which it cannot do.

    MBS-NETANYAHU MEETING:

    On Monday, Netanyahu allegedly met MBS in Saudi Arabia, which observers see a step towards recoginsation of Tel Aviv by Saudi Arabia. There has been widespread speculation, within Israel and the US, that Washington may push for other Arab states to follow suit before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in.

    However, the reports of the meeting were denied by the Saudi foreign minister. “I have seen press reports about a purported meeting between HRH the Crown Prince and Israeli officials during the recent visit by @SecPompeo. No such meeting occurred. The only officials present were American and Saudi,” Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud wrote on Twitter on Monday.

  • Mahira Khan, Dr Sania Nishtar among BBC’s ‘100 women of 2020’

    Mahira Khan, Dr Sania Nishtar among BBC’s ‘100 women of 2020’

    A proud moment for Pakistan as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Dr Sania Nishtar and Mahira Khan make it to BBC’s ‘100 women of 2020‘ list.

    According to BBC, the list includes “100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2020”.

    “This year 100 Women is highlighting those who are leading change and making a difference during these turbulent times,” said the publication.

    Writing about Mahira, BBC said: “Mahira Khan is no ordinary actress – she is outspoken against sexual violence, refuses to endorse skin-lightening creams and supports the fight against racism. She wants to tackle social issues in her native Pakistan by changing the narrative in films and on TV.”

    “Mahira is a national goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, raising awareness of the plight of Afghan refugees in Pakistan. She’s been a firm favourite with audiences ever since starting out as an MTV video jockey (VJ) in 2006. Mahira is also a devoted mother to her 11-year-old son,” it added.

    Mahira Khan with son Azlan

    Similarly, talking about Dr Nishtar, BBC wrote: “Dr Sania Nishtar is a leader in global health and sustainable development. Since 2018, she has been spearheading the transformative Ehsaas Poverty Alleviation programme, which has improved the livelihoods of millions of Pakistanis by providing mobile banking and savings accounts, and other basic resources.”

    “As SAPM on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Sania has helped to empower the masses by taking the necessary first steps toward the development of a welfare state in Pakistan.”

    Explaining the process behind the selection, BBC stated: “The BBC’s 100 Women team drew up a shortlist based on names gathered by them and suggested by the BBC’s network of World Service languages teams. We were looking for candidates who had made the headlines or influenced important stories over the past 12 months, as well as those who have inspiring stories to tell, achieved something significant or influenced their societies in ways that wouldn’t necessarily make the news. The pool of names was then assessed against this year’s theme – women who led change – and measured for regional representation and due impartiality before the final names were chosen.”

    The list also includes Sanna Marin, who leads Finland’s all-female coalition government, Michelle Yeoh, star of the new Avatar and Marvel films and Sarah Gilbert, who heads the Oxford University research into a coronavirus vaccine. Meanwhile, one name on the list has been left blank as a tribute to countless women “around the world who have made sacrifices to help others”.