Women of “conservative” Balochistan have little space in the political, cultural, economic, or social fields. Conditions are even worse for Balochistan’s women in rural areas.
Surviving all these hurdles, Pari Gul Tareen has been posted as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Quetta Cantt. Tareen is the first woman in the history of the province to be appointed to this post.
She hails from the Pishin area of Balochistan and is the first woman in the province to join the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) after passing the Central Superior Services (CSS) exam.
CHANGING TIMES:
Tareen is, however, not the only one to have made the country proud in these changing times.
Nigar Johar had earlier this year been promoted by the Pakistan Army to become the first woman lieutenant general.
According to the military’s media wing, Johar, who hails from the Panjpeer area of Swabi district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), also holds the accolade for becoming the first woman surgeon general of the Pakistan Army.
Earlier, in 2017, Johar had become the third woman officer to reach the rank of major general.
Swabi has produced a number of generals, but it was the first time that a woman had reached the said army rank.
Mohammad Hafeez’s induction into Pakistan’s squad for the New Zealand tour has led to a rift between the all-rounder and cricketer-turned-commentator Ramiz Raja.
According to reports, the war of words got intensified after Hafeez stated that his 12-year-old son has better game awareness than Raja.
The episode began after Ramiz Raja showed disinterest over Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) backing experienced players and not giving enough chances to the youth ahead of the upcoming men’s T20 World Cup in India.
The former Pakistan cricketer asked senior cricketers like Hafeez to retire gracefully and give opportunity to the youngsters to showcase their skills on a stage like the upcoming World Cup.
Disagreeing to Raja’s views, Hafeez gave a controversial statement during a conversation with Cricket Pakistan.
“I acknowledge Ramiz [Raja] services for Pakistan cricket as a player. I respect his opinion but I have reservations over his cricketing sense and game awareness. If you talk to my 12-year-old son, even his game awareness is better than Ramiz Bhai,” Hafeez told Cricket Pakistan.
“If Ramiz bhai wants to continue saying such things to boost his YouTube channel, then I can’t stop him but I will continue to play for Pakistan as long as I’m fit and performing,” he further added.
Hafeez asserted that as long as he is fit and performing on the field, he deserves a place in the Pakistan dressing room.
“If I’m unable to meet the fitness and performance standards, or believe there is a better product ready for Pakistan, I’d happily leave. I’m very satisfied with my cricketing career,” Mohammad Hafeez said.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved the formation of the National Intelligence Coordination Committee for effective coordination among the over two dozen intelligence organisations in the country.
According to a report in Dawn.com, the committee will be headed by Inter-Services Intelligence chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed. According to the report, though the terms of reference of the body have yet to be finalised, the proposal for the body was submitted to the premier after a thorough discussion between the intelligence agencies.
The move is part of the long-awaited reform of the intelligence apparatus, which aims at clarifying the role of respective agencies, improving their coordination, and optimising their capabilities, said the report.
In past, the civilian government made multiple attempts to reform intelligence agencies, but to no avail, specifically due to differences over the leadership of the new body.
In 2008, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government placed the ISI and Intelligence Bureau (IB) under the “administrative and financial” control of the Ministry of Interior, but the notification was retracted following a backlash from the military officials.
Similarly, attempts by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government to reform the intelligence agencies of the country failed.
Meesha Shafi has shut down all rumours and reports that suggested that she would like to date Captain of the Pakistan cricket team Babar Azam.
In a story posted to her Instagram, Meesha shared a post by Babar Azam Fan Army which stated that the singer is a big fan of Azam’s, adding that Meesha would “love to date him”.
Rubbishing the claims, Shafi wrote: “I have no idea who this is or why it exists. It makes zero sense. 100% concocted out of thin air.”
“This quote is fabricated,” she added and requested Instagram to remove it.
Later, Meesha also shared that she received an apology from the Instagram account that posted the news and that she now “considers this ridiculous matter closed”.
This is a 100% fabricated, false and fake quote. I have received an apology from the Instagram page where this was first posted. And with this…. I consider this ridiculous matter closed! https://t.co/NSnB2CRuADpic.twitter.com/vVYO0lE8Hs
Sindh police have added rape charges in the FIR [first information report] against the purported husband of teenage Christian girl Arzoo Raja who married the minor after forced proselytisation.
Along with Syed Ali Azhar, six other people, including two lawyers and justice of peace, were also booked in the case. They have been charged under Section 3 (punishment for male contracting party), Section 4 (punishment for solemnising a child marriage) and Section 5 (punishment for parent or guardian concerned in a child marriage) of the Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Act.
Azhar has also been charged with Section 375 (v) (sexual intercourse with a minor) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
#ArzooRaja Case: Copy of Hon’ SHC Order: 1. Arzoo sent to shelter home with officer appointed for her physical & mental well being 2. “Ex-Husband” Azhar and his relatives not allowed to meet Arzoo. 3. Offence under 375(5) PPC added in FIR 4. Directions to arrest all absconders pic.twitter.com/oPd8KezryE
The brothers and a friend of the prime suspect were absolved of all charges for lack of evidence, whereas the kidnapping charge was also struck down following Arzoo’s denial, who has been sent to a shelter home by the court.
Meanwhile, a report in Geo News claimed that Arzoo Raja has tested positive for coronavirus and is in isolation at Panah Shelter Home.
CASE:
Prime suspect Ali Azhar allegedly abducted Arzoo from Karachi’s Muhalla Railway Colony West Camp Road locality on Oct 13, according to the family, which registered a kidnapping case on the same day. On Oct 15 police summoned them to the local station and showed them documents claiming that Arzoo was 18 years old and had willingly converted to Islam to marry Azhar.
Subsequently, a plea was filed in the Sindh High Court and the court allowed Arzoo Raja to stay with her alleged husband. However, following an uproar, a review plea was filed and the court ordered the formation of a medical board to determine the age of the girl.
The medical board report found out that the girl was a teenager, strengthening the family’s claims that their girl was abducted was forced to convert for marriage.
Twenty-five years ago, Princess Diana’s controversial BBC interview sent shockwaves through the royal family, in which she confessed that “there were three in the marriage”. That interview is now back in focus as season four of the hit series “The Crown” has everyone talking about the princess and her marriage. The series is featured on Diana’s character and the love triangle is one of the main storylines in the new season and the love for Diana is now renewed. Everyone wants more of the princess and for Pakistanis, how can we forget her visit to Pakistan?
She visited Pakistan more than once in her short life period – once in 1991, and then again in 1996 and 1997.
Princess Diana Visiting Kinnaird College For Women In Lahore, Pakistan in September 1991
In 1991, she made her first official solo trip to Pakistan. Her bodyguard at the time, Ken Wharfe, released a book about his experiences working for the Princess, in which he described her Pakistan tour as hugely positive.
“The headlines screamed that Diana had taken Pakistan by storm, that her visit had been a resounding success,” wrote Wharfe, “the tabloids predictably hailed her vociferously as the jewel in the royal family’s crown”.
Princess Diana in traditional attire during her visit to Pakistan
Her first visit lasted four days, in which she dined with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and visited various places including Badshahi Mosque and Kinnaird College, a family welfare center in Islamabad and Khyber Rifles in Khyber Pakhtunkhua.
Five years later, she returned to Pakistan at Imran Khan’s invitation for the fund-raising of Pakistan’s first charity cancer hospital, Shaukat Khanum. Diana was accompanied by Lady Annabel Goldsmith, the mother of Khan’s wife at the time, Jemima Khan. Diana spent the rest of her trip visiting sick children and attending other fundraising events.
Princess Diana with Imran Khan and Jemima Khan, infront of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital in Lahore
As a focal person in the construction of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, she visited Pakistan again to attend the opening ceremony of the hospital. This was her final trip to Pakistan, before her death in a tragic car crash in Paris.
Appearing as a guest on the latest season of the Netflix series My Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman, acclaimed American stand-up comedian Dave Chappelle opened up about his spiritual journey.
“I wanted to have a meaningful life, a spiritual life, not just what my hands can hold,” he said. “I felt like I’ve always had this notion that life should mean something.”
Chappelle, 47, revealed that his conversion came about through his visits to his local pizza shop as 17-year-old growing up in Washington, DC. He recalled that it was the positive vibes of the Muslim staff that caught his attention.
“The pizza shop was across from my house and it was, like, all these Muslim dudes that worked in there,” he said. “I used to go in there and crack jokes. And I am also a naturally curious guy and I would ask [the owner] questions about his religion and the guy was so passionate about it. It was very compelling. I liked the perspective of it.”
Chappelle also expressed his weariness surrounding the public discourse about Islam.
“It’s been presented in the public space in such a narrow and dismissive view,” he said. “It’s a beautiful religion. And the ideas in that religion are reflected in all the major Abrahamic faiths. You’ll see these ideas in both Christianity and Judaism, you know. It is the idea that this place does mean something, you know?”
In the interview, the actor also shared one of his favourite stories from Islamic history – the one which centered on the origins of Zamzam water.
“The thing that comforts me about it is the idea that all of this is from a singular source and the source is ultimately kind. And even though we may not understand the intentions of this source, we’re all connected and bounded by it”, he said.
Soon after Federal Minister for Education, Shafqat Mehmood announced that educational institutes across the country will be closed from November 26 to January 1 in a bid to control the COVID-19 spread, Pakistani social media was filled with memes as students rejoiced over the decision.
You can apply online for renewal of your machine readable passport if it has been expired.
What documents are required?
The following documents are required while applying for renewal of Machine Readable Passport through online passport service provided that your current passport is expiring within a period of seven months :
Color scanned copies of valid CNIC or NICOP or Smart CNIC or NICOP both sides
Color scanned copies of existing Passport (First two pages and one random page asked by system).
Color scanned copy of Valid Visa/ Aqama/ Residence Permit/ Asylum card/ Other Nationality Passport
For minors (less than 18)
The following documents are pre-requisite for issuance of passport to minors below 18 years:
Color scanned copies of valid NICOP or Smart card (both sides) or Computerized B- Form or Family Registration Certificate
Color scanned copies of mother and father valid National ID Cards (both sides)
Guardianship certificate/ court decision in case of separation.
Color scanned copy of minor’s attestation form ( available in the download tab).
Color scanned copy of Death Certificate if mother or father has passed away.
Color scanned copy of Valid Visa/ Aqama/ Residence Permit/ Asylum card/ Other Nationality Passport
Government employees
f the applicant is an employee of the Government of Pakistan, the following documents will be required:-
Color scanned copies of valid CNIC or NICOP or Smart CNIC or NICOP both sides
Applicant must provide No-Objection Certificate (NOC) in case he/ she is working as Government Officer/ Official, Armed forces Officers/ or employee of employee of Semi Government/ Autonomous Bodies/ Corporation. The NOC with be subject to confirmation/ verification by the department concerned.
Color scanned copies of existing Passport (First two pages and one random page asked by system).
Color scanned copy of Valid Visa/ Aqama/ Residence Permit/ Asylum card/ Other Nationality Passport.
Note:
Online portal is only for renewal of Machine Readable Passport. Following categories of passports cannot be applied through online portal.
New:
Issuance of Machine Readable Passport first time.
Modification:
In case applicants wants any changes in existing Machine Readable Passport i.e. name, father name, husband name, date of birth, caste, profession, dual nationality, marital status, religion and official to ordinary.
Reprint Exhaust:
In case applicant wants a new passport as all pages of previous passport utilized due to several visas/ frequent travelling.
Loss of Passport:-
In case applicant’s existing passport has been lost (misplaced and not in his possession) and they want a new passport.
In the above cases, the passport applicants are requested to approach nearest Pakistan Embassy/ High Commission/ Consulate General where MRP facility is available
How to upload documents?
You can upload supporting documents from the ‘Document’ tab in your e-Services Portal application session.
Before you start attaching files to your application, please remember:
There is a limit to the type and size of file that you can attach.
If you attach low quality scanned documents, it might slow down the processing of your application.
Type of files
We are able to accept the following types of files:
.JPEG
.JPG
.PNG
Size of files
We are able to accept the following sizes of file types:
Supporting document: 1MB
Fingerprint Form: 3MB
Photograph: 5MB
Naming tips
When naming your files to be attached to an online application only use numbers 0–9 and letters A–Z (upper and lower case), dashes ‘–’ and underscores ‘_’.
You must avoid using spaces ‘ ‘, periods ‘.’, ampersand ‘&’, hash ‘#’, star ‘*’, exclamation marks ‘!’, quotations ” “” and any other character that is not a letter, a number, a dash or an underscore.
How much will it cost?
How long will the Online Application Process take?
The Pakistan cricket team departed for their month-long tour of New Zealand in the wee hours of Monday. Upon arrival, the team will enter a two-week quarantine period in Lincoln in line with the New Zealand government’s COVID-19 protocols.
The 54-member squad includes 34 players and 20 officials.
Pakistan is scheduled to play three T20Is and two Tests during the tour. The T20 matches will be played on December 18, 20 and 22 whereas the two Test matches are scheduled to be played on December 26 and January 3.
According to details, the squad will be in isolation for the first three days after arriving in NZ. After the first phase of COVID-19 testing, the players will be divided into groups and all activities, including training, will continue in those respective groups.
During quarantine, there will be three rounds of COVID-19 tests and after 14 days, the squad will be allowed to move around freely.
Meanwhile, Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out of the tour to New Zealand after showing symptoms of COVID-19 before the squad’s departure. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), in a press release, confirmed that Fakhar has fever and is yet to recover in time for the Pakistan squad’s departure for the tour.
The board said the decision to withdraw Fakhar from the tour was made keeping the health of the rest of the squad members as a top priority.
“Fakhar has been isolated in the team hotel in Lahore as soon as his condition was detected and the PCB’s medical panel is now monitoring him,” stated PCB.
Earlier on November 11, Head Coach Misbah-ul-Haq had announced the 35-player squad for Pakistan’s tour to New Zealand.
