COVID-19 claimed 19 more lives across the country during the past 24 hours, taking the death toll from the disease to 6,692.
According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 660 fresh infections emerged during this period, lifting the national tally of cases to 324,744. As many as 26,670 new tests were conducted over the previous 24 hours.
There are a total of 9,378 active cases of the coronavirus as 308,674 patients have recovered from the virus.
Sindh has reported 142,348 cases so far, followed by Punjab that reported 101,936 cases while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 38,779, Balochistan 15,717, Islamabad 18,309, Gilgit-Baltistan 4,091 and Azad Jammu and Kashmir 3,564.
In a special session, the NCOC hinted that drastic steps including the closure of all services will be taken to curb the spread of the virus as the public is not complying with the SOPs.
“NCOC is closely monitoring the situation. If there is no improvement in SOPs compliance, the NCOC will have no choice but to revert to strict measures leading to re-closures of services,” said the centre, in a statement.
Earlier, Minister for Planning and Development and Chairman NCOC Asad Umar had said that daily COVID-19 death rate witnessed a spike of 140 percent last week as compared to the mortality rate recorded a few weeks back.
Last week daily covid mortality was 12. This is a 140% increase vs few weeks back. We are collectively committing a blunder by recklessly ignoring all sop’s & the results have started to show. If we do not change our current path we will lose both lives and livelihoods
Sana Javed and Umair Jaswal have made it official. The couple made hearts flutter with pictures from their nikkah, which reportedly took place in Karachi Tuesday night.
The couple look absolutely stunning in their wedding finery and glowed. While Jaswal donned a self-worked white sherwani, Sana wore a pale peach outfit with gold detailing.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGk8jIkhEqc/
Umair’s brother Uzair Jaswal also shared a picture of the ‘baraati boys’ from the nikkah.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGky-QeAURR/
Friends and members of the entertainment industry including Feroze Khan, Bilal Abbas Khan, Ayesha Omar, Aiman Khan and Sadaf Kanwal congratulated the newlyweds on their social media post.
Meanwhile, Natasha Ali Lakhani of Natasha’s Salon revealed that she did Sana’s makeup for her big day.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGmO4z7DEEx/
Umair and Sana had sparked rumours of a relationship in December last year, when Umair thanked Sana for his birthday cake and giving him ideas for his next bike.
Senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Waleed Iqbal, who is also the grandson of 20th-century poet and philosopher Allama Iqbal, has threatened to hit former Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senator Mukhtiar Ahmed Dhamrah with a glass on live television.
As per the details, the two, along with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Khurram Dastgir, had appeared on senior journalist and analyst Nasim Zehra’s show when a war of words turned ugly after Iqbal was told to shut up.
Speaking of Capt (r) Safdar’s “inappropriate” arrest for raising political slogans at the mausoleum of Quaide Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Iqbal quoted Bilawal as saying that it did not merit the door of PML-N leader’s hotel room being knocked down.
“Does he not get it? Let’s see how he reacts if someone does this at the tomb of his grandfather [ex-prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto] or mother [ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto],” a visibly annoyed Iqbal said, which was met by a “bakwas band karein [shut up]” from the PPP leader.
“You can’t talk about Bilawal’s grandfather. Talk about the topic at hand,” an angry Dhamrah told Iqbal, leading to an on-air spat between the two.
It took an uglier turn when Iqbal picked up a glass and threatened to hit the PPP leader with it had he been present in the studio and not appearing via videolink.
WATCH VIDEO:
پی ٹی آئی رہنما ولید اقبال آن فائر ، لائیو شو کے دوران عاجز دھامرا کو مارنے کیلئے گلاس اُٹھا لیا!!
As the controversy surrounding the arrest of Capt (r) Muhammad Safdar rages on, army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has ordered a probe into the alleged abduction of Police IG Mushtaq Mahar by the Sindh Rangers.
According to a statement shared by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Gen Bajwa has directed Karachi Corps commander to “immediately inquire into the circumstances to determine the facts and report back as soon as possible”.
The probe announcement by the army chief came after Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari demanded that Gen Bajwa take notice of the incident.
Bilawal said that every police officer in Sindh, from a station house officer to senior police officers, were wondering who had “surrounded IG Sindh Mushtaq Mahar’s office at 2am on Sunday night”.
“Who were the two persons who went inside the IG’s house at 2am and where was our IG taken at 4am in the morning?” he asked.
SINDH POLICE DEMORALISED:
The pressure inflicted on the police to arrest Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader has demoralised the provincial police. In a leave application to the government, the IGP along with a dozen officers sought two-month leave over the treatment meted out to their department.
This move prompted a visit of Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah and PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to the IG House. It seems that the visit was fruitful as the police high-ups decided to postpone their leave plan for 10 days. They said the decision was taken “in the larger national interest” and pending the conclusion of the inquiry into how the arrest of PML-N leader Mohammad Safdar unfolded.
ARREST OF CAPT SAFDAR:
Safdar was arrested from his hotel room in the early hours of Monday from his hotel room for raising slogans at the mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, and jumping over the grill surrounding the grave. The Sindh government led by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had distanced itself from the matter soon after the arrest.
Afterwards, the Sindh police tweeted that the arrest was lawful, but the tweet was deleted soon after it was put up. But after few hours, the tweet was updated again, wherein the police said that Safdar was arrested as per law.
One of Bollywood’s most iconic films Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is celebrating 25 years. The lead actors of the film – Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol – got nostalgic about the film and changed their Twitter display names to Raj Malhotra and Simran, their characters from the movie.
25 years!!! Filled with gratitude towards you for loving Raj & Simran, with all your heart. This always feels special. #DDLJ25@yrfpic.twitter.com/HHZyPR29f9
Every 90s desi kid has seen the film multiple times and to celebrate the film’s silver jubilee, The Current brings to you five things you (probably) did not know about the film.
1. SRK initially refused to play the role of Raj
SRK, who is also know as the ‘King of Romance’, reportedly did not want to be part of the project because he just couldn’t connect to the character of Raj Malhotra.
“Raj was unlike anything I had done before,” the actor had said. “There were films like Darr, Baazigar and Anjaam, in which I had portrayed negative characters. Also, I always felt that I wasn’t cut out to play any romantic type of character. So, when I was presented with the opportunity by Adi [director Aditya Chopra] and Yash Ji of essaying the role, I was excited to work with him but had no idea how to go about it and also if I would be able to do it well.”
He further shared: “Actually, I always felt Adi’s love for me made him cast me. I found the character endearing and sweet in the right way — the-over-the-topness is my contribution. It was one of those roles that I realised can do with me using a version of my real self so you might see some quirks, habits and mannerisms that were true to my off-screen persona, especially the sense of humour part.”
Khan also said that he is very shy around women and did not know how he would pull off the romantic scenes in DDLJ.
“I was told by many people that I looked unconventional, very different from what the perception of a leading man was. I did feel, maybe, not being handsome enough or as they called it then ‘chocolatey’ would make me unsuitable for romantic roles. Also, I am very shy and awkward with ladies, and I did not know how I would say all the loving, romantic bits,” he had said.
2. Kajol thought that Simran was a “little boring”
Kajol, while talking about her character Simran had confessed that she had found her to be a “little boring”.
“I thought Simran was a little boring, to be honest, but I recognised her”, the actor said. “I realised there is a lot of Simran in almost everybody we know, there is always that wanting to do the right thing in someone. A lot of people don’t do the right thing but we always want to do that. You want to get that approval; you want to get that feeling of you are approved of and that you are doing something right in the world. So, yes Simran was like that. I thought she was just cool, a little old-fashioned but cool.”
3. The film was made on a budget of INR 4 crores
The film, which was also shot in Europe and London, was made on a budget of INR 4 crores. Though it doesn’t seem like a lot by today’s standards, it was a pretty hefty amount back in the day. However, the money was well spent as the film went on to collect Rs 89 crores in India and INR 13.5 crores in the overseas market in the year of its release i.e. 1995.
4. Raj and Simran’s car ride through Zurich had a special backseat guest
SRK and Kajol weren’t the only two enjoying a ride through Zurich in the former’s cherry red convertible. Director Aditya Chopra, who wanted to monitor the scene closely, was actually lying across the car’s backseat during all the romantic scenes.
5. It is the longest running film in the history of Indian cinema
DDLJ is the longest-running film in the history of Indian cinema. The film is still being shown at the Maratha Mandir theatre in Mumbai.
As a leave request to the Sindh government by the high-ups of the provincial police strengthened the claim that the IG was detained by the Sindh Rangers for the arrest of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Capt (r) Safdar, senior journalist Hamid Mir took a dig at journalist Kamran Khan for trying to refute his claim about the police chief’s detention on the basis of “irrefutable sources”.
ہاں جی! کچھ کہیں گے آپ یا نہیں؟ آپکے ناقابل تردید ذرائع نے کل مجھے بھی فون کیا تھا اور وہی کہا جو آپ نے بغیر تصدیق کئے لکھ مارا میں نے انکو جو جواب دیا تھا وہ ذرا انہی سے پوچھ لیجیئے اور آئندہ اپنے ان ذرائع کے کہنے پر میری خبر کی تردید مت کیجئے گا https://t.co/UtLfbTb24b
The tweet by the Geo News anchorperson came on the heels of a news report which revealed that the high ranking officers of the service have sought a 60-day leave. An application signed by AIG Special Branch Imran Yaqoob, a copy of which is available with The Current, said that he submitted the request for leave after the police high command was “ridiculed and mishandled” leading to the demoralisation of all ranks of the Sindh Police.
In his recent tweet, Mir was referring to a statement made by Kamran Khan wherein he contested his claim about the detention of IG Mushtaq Mahar by the Rangers to force him to sign Safdar’s arrest warrants.
Following the arrest of Safar, Mir had tweeted: “Unfortunate incident. Sindh Govt informed PML-N leader Muhammad Zubair that IG [insector general] Sindh was kidnapped by Rangers at 4 in the morning he was brought in sector commander’s office where addnl IG was already present and were forced to issue the orders for the arrest of Cpt Rtd Safdar [sic],” Mir claimed in a tweet.
At this, Kamran Khan, who is an anchorperson at Dunya News, said that the IG was “fully onboard with the arrest”. Maintaining that internal rifts were affecting the affairs of the joint opposition’s Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), Kamran Khan had quoted sources as saying that all claims regarding the IG’s arrest were not true.
Alluding to the application by the Sindh police officials, Mir asked Khan that what does he have to say about it now. He went on to advise him not to “refute his future reports” on the basis of the so-called “irrefutable sources”. “These irrefutable sources also called me with this claim, but go and ask them what I told them,” he said.
A day after it was reported that Sindh police was pressurised to register a case against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Capt (r) Safdar, high ranking officers of the force have sought a 60-day leave.
According to reports, several senior officers, including Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mushtaq Mahar, have decided to go on leave.
The officials also include the additional inspector general (AIG) of Karachi, Special Branch AIG and several deputy inspector generals (DIGs).
An application signed by AIG Special Branch Imran Yaqoob, a copy of which is available with The Current, says that he submitted the request for leave after the police high command was “ridiculed and mishandled” leading to the demoralisation of all ranks of the Sindh police.
A day earlier, soon after the “inappropriate” arrest of Capt (r) Safdar from his hotel room in Karachi, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) led Sindh government had distanced itself from the development.
Amid criticism aimed at alleged rifts among the ranks of the joint opposition — the PPP purportedly going after allied PML-N — it was claimed that the provincial police chief had actually been forced to go after Capt (r) Safdar.
Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday reportedly took notice of the incident.
“Taking notice of Karachi incident, COAS has directed Karachi Corps commander to immediately inquire into the circumstances to determine the facts and report back as soon as possible,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
Gujranwala police have booked Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Rana Sanaullah, Khurram Dastgir, and Imran Khalid Butt for allegedly trying to run over police officials after they asked the politicians to stop their vehicle.
The first information report [FIR] was registered on the complaint of a sub-inspector at Satellite Town police station. According to the FIR, four PML-N supporters attending the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) Gujranwala public meeting on October 16 attempted to hit the police personnel with their vehicle.
Earlier in the day, Gujranwala police booked at least Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) members over violation of coronavirus SOPs during its power show in the city last week.
The case registered at the Civil Lines police station against the PDM workers alleged that the political workers flouted measures put in place to contain COVID-19 and also blocked roads.
Last week, the joint opposition held its first rally in Gujranwala as it kicked off its anti-government drive. The rally was termed by the opposition a resounding success, but the government called it a flop show.
Police had also booked over 100 people, including internet service providers, sound system organisers and residents in at least seven FIRs [First Information Reports] for violating coronavirus guidelines ahead of the gathering in Gujranwala.
Claim: Bilawal Bhutto said eggs are PKR 200 per kilo
Fact: Bilawal Bhutto’s video was doctored to make it sound like he confused the duodecimal system and the metric system
In the aftermath of a Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) power show in Gujranwala, a video of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has been making rounds on social media platforms and Whatsapp groups.
In the video, the PPP chairman has seemed to get the metric and duodecimal (dozenal) systems confused. In the video, while taking a dig at the rising inflation, Bilawal purportedly said that ‘eggs are being sold for Rs200 per kg and potatoes Rs100 per dozen’ due to the poor economic policies of the government.
But did Bilawal really say that? No.
A fact-check ran by The Current revealed that the PPP chief has said no such words and video circulating on social media websites was altered to humiliate the opposition leader. In the original video, Bilawal said the due to poor economic policies of the government, people were forced to pay Rs200 for a dozen eggs, Rs100 for a kilogramme of potatoes’ and so on.
The fake video was shared by pro-government supporters who took jibes at the PPP chief for mixing the metric system with the duodecimal system. It garnered many views on Facebook and Twitter and was shared hundreds of times on the Whatsapp groups.
A crime reporter of ARY News, Iqrarul Hassan also swallowed the bait and posted the video on his Twitter account. He, however, removed the video and issued an apology after it was revealed that the video was fake. Iqrar said he couldn’t tell whether the video was fake because the mic was in front of Bilawal’s face.
ابھی بلاول صاحب کی ایک ویڈیو پوسٹ کی جس میں وہ انڈے فی کلو، آلو اور ٹماٹر فی درجن کہتےہوئے دکھائی دئیے۔ بعد ازاں علم ہوا کہ کسی نےکلو اور درجن کے الفاظ تبدیل کر کے، ویڈیو کو ایڈیٹ کیا تھا۔ چہرے کےآگےمائیک ہونےکے باعث میں جج نہیں کر سکاسو اپنی نالائقی تسلیم کرتے ہوئےمعذرت خواہ ہوں
In another attempt to stifle the press freedom, the authorities in India-occupied Kashmir have sealed the office of Kashmir Times, one of the oldest newspapers in the occupied region, for “speaking out” against the government.
The Estates Department sealed the office, which is located in the press enclave in the main city Srinagar. The move prompted a strong response from the editor of the newspaper, who termed it a vendetta.
Today, Estates Deptt locked our office without any due process of cancellation & eviction, same way as I was evicted from a flat in Jammu, where my belongings including valuables were handed over to “new allottee”. Vendetta for speaking out! No due process followed. How peevish! pic.twitter.com/J5P0eKxvbx
Anuradha Bhasin said the government’s action was a “vendetta for speaking out” while noting that no process of law was followed. “No eviction notice was served on us and neither was there any formal communication,” the Press Trust of India quoted her as saying.
On her Twitter handle, she wrote: “Today, Estates Dept locked our office without any due process of cancellation & eviction, same way as I was evicted from a flat in Jammu, where my belongings including valuables were handed over to ‘new allottee.’ Vendetta for speaking out! No due process followed. How peevish!”
Reporters without Borders (RSF) termed the act an attack on press freedom.
“The office of The Kashmir Times, one of the most respected newspapers of the region, has just been sealed by the local govt after its editor AnuradhaBhasin was recently manhandled. @RSF_inter is appalled by this new attack on press freedom in the valley,” it said.
