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  • LGS Harassment: Senate Committee takes notice, invites parents to attend meeting

    Senate Human Rights Committee has taken the notice of sexual harassment incidents at the Lahore Grammar School and will hold a meeting in this regard on July 22.

    Senate Human Rights Committee Chairperson and PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar shared details of the meeting and said that “parents of the students who were concerned with the way investigations have progressed so far” can also attend the meeting.

    The agenda of the meeting will be to brief the Senate body on the incidents and the actions taken after the allegations by the Punjab Education secretary, LGS principal, and Lahore DPO.

    Speaking to The Current about the matter Senator Khokhar said, “[These incidents are] deeply disturbing. One wonders where we are headed as a society with crimes of sexual assault and harassment on the rise.”

    He added: “[We are] waiting to hear from the authorities and the outcome of their investigations so far, whether cases have been registered against offenders and whether any action has been taken by the education ministry or school for incidents like this not to happen again.”

    Read More – Meesha Shafi extends support to victims of harassment at Lahore school

    On June 28, dozens of girls came forward with accounts of harassment and inappropriate behaviour by teachers at LGS 1A1 Ghalib Market Branch. The management of the school, including female teachers, also came under fire for brushing the matter under the carpet for years. It is pertinent to mention here that most of the girls studying at the school were minors at the time.

    Such incidents had reportedly been going on for the past four or five years and the victims had been reporting the matter to the admin and their teachers. However, they took no action and resorted to victim-blaming. Strict action was only taken after the girls shared their ordeal on social media and the matter became public.

    According to details, students have come forward and shared their experiences of being harassed by three teachers namely Aitezaz Rehman Sheikh, Umer Shareef and Zahid Iqbal Warraich. All three teachers were fired soon after the allegations surfaced.

    Following the uproar on social media, Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari had said that she has taken serious notice of the allegations. The Punjab government had also said that they will hand exemplary punishments to the perpetrators and make an example of them.

  • Opp announces APC to get rid of govt, again

    Opp announces APC to get rid of govt, again

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have announced to hold an ‘All Parties Conference’ (APC) after Eidul Azha in order to discuss strategies to “get rid of this government”.

    Addressing a joint press conference, PPP’s Qamar Zaman Kaira and PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal said that a coordination committee meeting will be held this week to discuss the APC agenda.

    The presser was held after a meeting between PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and a three-member PML-N delegation at Bilawal House, Lahore. The PML-N delegation included Iqbal, Khawaja Saad Rafique and Ayaz Sadiq, while PPP’s Kaira, Chaudhry Manzoor and Hasan Murtaza also attended the meeting.

    Addressing reporters, Kaira said that opposition parties will “complete our homework” before Eidul Azha and discuss strategies to oust the government in the APC.

    “The opposition feels that Pakistan will face several external and internal dangers [if] this government remains in power,” Iqbal said. “[Considering] what is happening in our region, we need internal unity but this government only has a vengeful agenda with which it is disintegrating the country.

    “In this situation, the country’s two biggest opposition parties agree that to get rid of this incompetent government will be representative of this country’s 220 million people.”

    Ahsan also criticised the government for trying to introduce a law that is “twice as bad” as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in order to put an end to terror financing and comply with Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) guidelines. The law, he said, would allow authorities to arrest a suspect for 90 days without getting a remand and the detention can be extended without allowing the suspect to obtain a bail.

    “FATF members are not telling Pakistan to turn the country into a fascist state through legislation [to stop terror financing],” the PML-N MNA said and added that the move was “defaming FATF, the international community and the United Nations”. He said that while the opposition was in favour of compliance with FATF guidelines, it would not allow the government to curb individual rights and freedom.

    He accused the government of making people’s lives difficult by pushing them into poverty, throttling the media and isolating the country in the international community.

    In response to a question regarding Maryam Nawaz’s participation in the upcoming meetings, Iqbal said that “no one has played as huge a role in public mobilisation than” the former premier’s daughter. He added that she will play her role when it came to public mobilisation.

    Separately, Ahsan Iqbal, in a conversation with The Current, said that the APC would provide opposition parties a chance to present a unified stance on how to bring change in the government, which the entire opposition believes has thoroughly been exposed for its “incompetence and making irreparable damage to country’s economy and governance”.

    “A joint opposition coordination committee comprising of senior leaders from all parties has been formed to work out options for the APC to be meaningful,” he said.

  • Private schools’ association demands reopening of schools from Aug 15

    Private schools’ association demands reopening of schools from Aug 15

    The All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association (APPSCA) has announced the reopening of private schools from August 15 across the country rejecting the Federal Government’s decision to reopen them in September.

    In a press conference, the association said that students had to go through an educational loss because schools have been shut down for the past six to eight months.

    The APPSCA president, Hidayat Khan, added that the virus has slowed down and that cases are also decreasing.

    He added that the association had tried to negotiate with the government but they did not listen. Khan warned that if the government does not listen to them, they will march to protest against the government. He also strongly criticised the federal government and called it incompetent.

    “We will open schools in line with the SOPs. Madrassas have been opened, and they have even conducted examinations,” he added.

  • VIDEO: Journalist Matiullah Jan goes missing

    VIDEO: Journalist Matiullah Jan goes missing

    Journalist Matiullah Jan, who is a vocal critic of the government among other quarters, has gone missing from Islamabad, his family said on Tuesday, according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).

    According to Jan’s wife, Kaneez Sughra, who was speaking to Independent Urdu, his car was found with keys still inside.

    Jan was due to appear in the Supreme Court (SC) this week after it took suo motu notice of a contemptuous tweet by the journalist.

    Amnesty International South Asia called for authorities to “establish [Jan’s] whereabouts immediately”.

    In a tweet, the organisation said it was “extremely concerned for the fate and wellbeing” of the journalist, who it said has been the subject of “physical attacks and harassment for his journalism”.

    Meanwhile, a CCTV footage showed Jan’s car being intercepted. It also showed a scuffle breaking out between the journalist and the reportedly armed men who took him away.

    He can also be shown throwing his phone away, which a woman was seen handing over to one of the unidentified men.

    Federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz, later in the day, said the government was aware of the abduction and efforts were underway for the journalist’s safe return. The development was also confirmed by Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari, who said that she was in contact with the capital city’s police in this regard.

    Chief justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), on the other hand, has reportedly taken notice of the abduction and directed authorities to present Jan before the court on Wednesday.

  • KYA BOLA? (Jul 21): Foreign Ministry’s $25,000 for bathroom decor to ‘Peeth mein chura ghonpnay wala Shehbaz’

    KYA BOLA? (Jul 21): Foreign Ministry’s $25,000 for bathroom decor to ‘Peeth mein chura ghonpnay wala Shehbaz’

    Following are some snippets that stood out from Urdu newspapers on July 21, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.

    Foreign Ministry’s approval of $25,000 for bathroom decor

    It has been reported by Daily Jang that the Foreign Ministry has approved $25,000 for the decor of bathroom of Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations (UN). An amount of $50,000 has already been spent on the renovation of the official’s residence.    

    ‘Judges ko phone kr k marzi k faislay lenay walay‘

    Daily Jang has quoted Federal Minister for Communication Murad Saeed as saying,“Judges ko phone kr k marzi k faislay lenay walay humein jamhooriyat ka dars de rahay hain.”

    ‘Peeth mein chura ghonpnay wala Shehbaz’

    According to Daily Jang, Punjab Information Minister Fayazul Hasan Chohan has said, “Barray bhai aur bhateeji ki peeth mein chura ghonpney walay Shehbaz Sharif pr Bilawal aitebaar krnay se hichkacha rahay hain.”

    His statement came as PML-N President and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday spoke to each other over the phone and discussed the prevailing political situation and the possibility of holding an All Parties Conference (APC) after Eid.

  • PML-N leader apologises for Gul Panra’s viral video at state residence

    PML-N leader apologises for Gul Panra’s viral video at state residence

    Local politician and PML(N) leader, Arbab Khizer Hayat has apologised for Gul Panra’s viral music video, shot at a state-owned residence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

    In a detailed clarification, Hayat said that he took Panra to the official residence as a family member where she recorded a Tik Tok dance video and aired it on social media, sparking controversy.

    “On July 17, 2020, I went to District Landi Kotal to visit different historic sites in the area along with my family members,” said Hayat in his clarification statement. “Among the family members, I also had singer Gul Panra who joined us for the journey and we visited Michni Fort.”

    He added that while visiting the area, he contacted Assistant Commissioner Khyber, Muhammad Imran and requested permission to have refreshments at his official residence. After refreshments, the family members began visiting the premises and inadvertently entered the residence from a back door, where the singer recorded a dance video, which later went viral.

    Hayat said all that had happened without his knowledge and permission, so he sought apology from the quarters concerned for the singer’s mistake.

    After the video went viral on social media, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan had ordered a probe into to the matter.

    According to reports, the KP chief ordered an investigation into Panra’s video after it was reported that part of the TikTok video was shot at the Deputy Commissioner Khyber District’s bungalow in Landikotal. CM Khan also questioned who allowed the singer to enter the state-owned property. He asserted that action will be taken against those who allowed Panra access to the government building.

    The committee formed to investigate the issue was led by the provincial home secretary and had been ordered to submit the report within 24 hours.

    Earlier, the singer also shared pictures from her trip to Landikotal.

    https://twitter.com/IamGulPanra/status/1284605793959063553?s=20

    Panra shot to fame after she sang Man Aamadeh Am with Atif Aslam in Coke Studio Season 8. Some of her most popular Coke Studio songs include the rendition of Nazia Hasan’s Hawa Hawa and Rasha Mama.

    VIDEO: ‘TikTok girl Hareem Shah spotted at PM Secretariat,’ claims journalist

    This is not the first time a TikTok video has shown an internet celebrity walking around an official building. Prior to Panra, Pashtun singer Sofia Kaif was seen walking around what reports claim is the official residence of CM Mahmood Khan. Before Sofia, who had reportedly been invited as a singer to the ceremony at the CM House, Hareem Shah, had also been spotted walking around the Foreign Ministry’s office in a TikTok video.

    Meanwhile, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has issued a “final warning to Tik Tok to put in place a comprehensive mechanism to control obscenity, vulgarity and immorality through its social media application.”

  • Final warning to TikTok as PTA plans to ban it over vulgar content

    Final warning to TikTok as PTA plans to ban it over vulgar content

    The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a final warning to popular Chinese social networking app TikTok over obscene and immoral content as it banned live streaming application Bigo over similar concerns raised by the general public.

    TikTok allows users to make video clips, lip sync to songs and create short videos, and has time and again been criticised over the quality of content amid unparallel popularity among Pakistanis.

    Last week, a civil miscellaneous application was filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) demanding an immediate ban on TikTok, Dawn reported.

    The petitioner said the app was a “great mischief of modern times” and had become a source of spreading pornography for the sake of fame and ratings on social media.

    According to a statement released by the PTA late on Monday night, complaints were received from different segments of society against immoral, obscene and vulgar content on social media applications particularly TikTok and Bigo.

    “PTA had issued necessary notices to the aforementioned social media companies under law to moderate the socialisation and content within legal and moral limits, in accordance with the laws of the country,” the statement said.

    The PTA said the response of these companies was “not satisfactory”.

    “Therefore, in exercise of its powers under PECA, the PTA has decided to immediately block Bigo and issue a final warning to TikTok to put in place a comprehensive mechanism to control obscenity, vulgarity and immorality through its social media application,” the statement said.

  • PM Imran refuses to accept Aamir Liaquat Hussain’s resignation

    PM Imran refuses to accept Aamir Liaquat Hussain’s resignation

    Televangelist and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker in the National Assembly, Aamir Liaquat Hussain, has claimed that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has rejected his resignation letter.

    “After a long meeting with PM Imran Khan, my four-page resignation was rejected. I opened my heart told the PM everything. The PM hailed my efforts for raising my voice for Karachi’s issues and said thinking about the public was the role of an elected leader,” he tweeted on Monday.

    Earlier in the day, Hussain had posted on social media that he was on his way to the PM House to submit his resignation.

    Last week, he had announced resigning as an MNA from Karachi over prolonged unannounced power outages in the port city.

    “I confess that I am a helpless MNA of Karachi. I am unable to provide electricity to the people of my city. I cannot see the people of my city suffer. I will ask the prime minister for time and submit my resignation,” he had said.

    A spike in power outages is spelling misery for a major chunk of the metropolis’ residents with some areas having interrupted electric supply for weeks now.

    This, however, is not the first time that the PTI MNA has been in the news for being upset at his party.

    In 2018, a month after the general election, reports had emerged of differences between Hussain and the PTI after he had expressed anger with the party over failure to invite him to a dinner hosted at the Governor’s House.

    According to reports, Liaquat left a WhatsApp group comprising PTI Sindh’s leaders over the issue.

  • Pakistani carpenter becomes model in Saudi Arabia after pictures go viral

    Pakistani carpenter becomes model in Saudi Arabia after pictures go viral

    Pictures of a 24-year-old Pakistani carpenter living in Saudi Arabia went viral on social media making his dream of becoming a model come true.

    According to media reports, Muhammad Waqas who went to Saudi Arabia four years ago always wanted to become a model. But, he did not expect to succeed.

    “I came to Saudi Arabia four years ago to work as a carpenter. And, I never thought of becoming a model in advertising,” said Waqas.

    However, a social media post by his friend changed his life.

    “One day I saw my friend [Faisal] editing the photos of a photo session. I told him that since childhood I have wanted to work in this field but in Pakistan, I did not get the chance, so my friend suggested and took a picture of me and sent it to the relevant person,” he added.

    A screenshot of Waqas’s friend asking to get the youngster a chance in the modeling industry went viral on social media.

    https://twitter.com/tamimi1_1/status/1278368438747095041?s=20

    A Twitter user took the screenshot and posted it on social media. In the tweet, which has gotten over 33,000 likes so far, user @tamimi1_1 asked agencies looking for models to get in contact with him.

    “Brands who want this handsome man to model for them, contact me,” @tamimi1_1 wrote.

    And soon Waqas was offered modeling opportunities. Waqas also posted his pictures, modelling for a waist-coat making company on Twitter.

    Here are a few pictures of Waqas.

  • Mohammad Amir to join Pakistan squad in England

    Mohammad Amir to join Pakistan squad in England

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday said that fast bowler, Mohammad Amir, who had initially pulled out of England tour, will join the Pakistan squad following the birth of his second daughter last week.

    According to the board, the white-ball specialist and masseur Mohammad Imran underwent COVID-19 tests on Monday and they must register two negative results before they can join the squad in England.

    “If their first tests return negative, they will be moved to a bio-secure environment in Lahore where their second tests will be conducted on Wednesday, with the expected departures over the weekend,” the PCB said.

    Meanwhile, Shoaib Malik’s departure has been delayed until the second week of August after India extended the ban on international flights until July 31, which, in turn, has delayed a planned family reunion. The board had allowed Malik to meet with his family, including wife Sania Mirza and son Izhaan Mirza, before joining the team. The board added that when Malik joins the squad for the T20I series, which starts on August 28 in Manchester, the team management will release a player.

    On the other hand, all-rounder Khushdil Shah, who fractured his thumb, will miss the first test against England. Khushdil has been ruled out for up to three weeks after injuring his left thumb while batting during Saturday’s training session in Derby.

    Abid Ali also survived a scare after being struck on the helmet while fielding at forward short-leg during an intra-squad match on Sunday.

    “Abid is absolutely fine and will be available to resume training on Wednesday following Tuesday’s rest day,” team doctor Sohail Saleem said. “He underwent a precautionary CT scan which has also returned normal.”

    The three-test series begins in Manchester on August 5, with the last two matches scheduled in Southampton.

    Beginning on August 28, Pakistan will also play three Twenty20 Internationals against England with Manchester hosting all the matches.