Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul has staged a walkout on live television to protest the “disgusting” remarks of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah against her.
In a clip of the show from earlier this week, the minister can be seen expressing her disgust over what the JUI-F leader said regarding her in Pashto, in a video that went viral on Tuesday. “Such people, who do not respect women, should be boycotted by the society,” Gul tells the host of the private media outlet’s talk show before walking out in protest.
She can also be heard urging media outlets to not invite people like Hamdullah to their talk shows, regretting that the JUI-F leader had spoken about a respectable woman such as herself, who was respected by men even in her conservative constituency of Dera Ghazi Khan.
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“I don’t know if you know Pashto. But I didn’t say anything like that. She is like a sister to me. I have sisters and daughters… all women are like sisters to me,” Hamdullah tells the host after Gul’s walkout, when the anchorperson gives him a chance to explain his position and apologise if he had made those remarks.
“The mood in which I spoke, I state under oath, I didn’t speak in a way as if I disrespect her,” Hamdullah responded. “Why would I? What issue do I have with her?
“But despite all this… if she was hurt, then I apologise for that,” the JUI-F leader said. “I would not disrespect her even if she abused me.”
The anchorperson praised the JUI-F leader for apologising to Gul. He, however, politely asked Hamdullah to quit the show as well.
Meanwhile, sources informed The Current that Gul’s strong reaction had come in response to Hamdullah mocking her in a viral video, saying that his smile was great too. In an interview last month, Gul had praised Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, saying that “the world knows of his killer smile that pulls people out of crises”.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has sought the help of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to present monitoring reports regularly, as Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan directs for a large-scale crackdown on smuggling of edibles and other commodities, The News reported.
According to reports, the premier has asked the Interior Ministry, law enforcement agencies of the federal and provincial governments, and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to collectively take action against the menace of smuggling. He has also directed the Interior Ministry to present a report on related measures and a comprehensive strategy on the matter within 48 hours.
He emphasised that keeping in view the recommendations of the task force formed to combat smuggling, short-term, medium-term and long-term measures should be initiated.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting, presided over by PM Imran and attended by Minister for National Food Security Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister for Planning Asad Umar, Adviser to the PM on Commerce and Trade Abdul Razak Dawood, interior and national food security secretaries, and acting FBR chairman among other senior officials.
The meeting took stock of the demand and supply of essential commodities and their prices with particular reference to their smuggling. The report on progress so far made on the establishment of markets at the western border was also presented at the meeting. The PM directed accelerating the pace of establishment of markets and observed that because of smuggling of food items, common man was facing difficulties.
“The menace of smuggling is causing losses worth billions to the national economy. Combating this menace is in national interests,” he contended, adding that prices of food items must be brought down by up to 20 per cent.
The premier also made it clear that no negligence would be tolerated with regard to smuggling.
IMF’s new report “Women in the Labour force: The role of fiscal policies” highlights an average of 2pc rise of the female workforce in Pakistan and 1pc decrease in India, DAWN reported.
According to the IMF’s staff report, women in most countries do not have the same opportunities to participate in economic activities as men have. This gender inequality has reduced to a good extent, but the average of female labour participation is below the male rate.
Globally, about on-quarter of countries experienced a decline in female force participation. Countries such as India and Sri Lanka facing an average annual decrease of one per cent between 1990 and 2018, whereas Pakistan, Peru and Spain experienced an average annual increase of 2pc.
The report also says “Many countries have adopted fiscal policy measures to promote gender equality since the mid-1980s. Countries use tax and expenditure policies to address gender inequality and the advancement of women in areas such as education and economic empowerment. Fruthermore, in 2018, at least 80 countries have used gender-responsive fiscal policy interventions to reduce gender inequality.
Women’s economic empowerment is the key to growth and productivity. Greater participation of women in the labour force also brings greater diversity that can foster new ideas for production and management, boosting aggregate productivity.
As the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) gears up to host Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in Lahore, traders have said that strict security measures, such as sealing off markets and roads to facilitate the movement of the teams, are being taken by the government, which would ultimately cause a loss of at least Rs23 billion to local businesses every day, Profit reported.
According to traders and office bearers at Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), they are not against cricket matches as these activities “are very encouraging and aid in improving the image of the country”, but the closure of Liberty Market and others in surrounding areas for just one day will cause losses worth around Rs23 billion.
“We are frequently in contact with the government and are also putting forth proposals to make a long-term strategy that can help the business community and locals,” the reported quoted them as saying during a press conference at LCCI on Tuesday.
The LCCI president was of the view that revival of international cricket in Pakistan was a healthy sign and would promote a soft image of the country, but economic activities carried equal importance, therefore, the government should make a plan in consultation with all stakeholders to hold sporting events without affecting businesses.
He maintained that during cricket matches in the recent past, Liberty and other markets, as well as restaurants adjacent to the Gaddafi Stadium, were shut down, resulting in significant losses to businesses, not only to the traders, but also daily wagers.
The LCCI president said that the business community was ready to cooperate with the government to ensure all necessary security measures during these matches, but they also wanted that adjacent markets and restaurants not be forced to remain shut because, on top of all the losses, it would create the impression that security conditions are not normal yet.
“A state-of-the-art luxurious hotel should be built as soon as possible within the premises of Gaddafi Stadium Lahore for guest teams because it is the only solution to address all concerns,” he added.
The 8th Lahore Literary Festival is going to be in full swing from Friday Feb 21st to Sunday Feb 23rd. This year’s schedule seems particularly promising with the inclusion of Nobel Prize Winner for Literature, Orhan Pamuk who has a massive fan following in Pakistan. They also include book launches, and notable personalities like Middle East expert and author, Vali Nasr, Nigerian writer Oyinkan Braithwaite, and Mughal historian Audrey Truschke.
The Current’s picks for the sessions are:
“I’m most excited to meet Orhan Pamuk and get a chance to get my collection of Pamuk books signed by him. He’s a beautiful writer, his books are complicated but rewarding, tales of human nature, love, murder and how our culture defines us. He will be the star attraction this year at the LLF and I will definitely be attending the opening ceremony on Friday morning.
I’m also looking forward to the launch of HalaGula children’s books. The session is on Saturday at 2:45PM-3:45PM and is the launch of new children’s books in Urdu. There isn’t anything fun and exciting in children’s reading available in Urdu, so this will be a welcome addition – Marium Chaudhry, Founder
The Herald, one of Pakistan’s oldest magazines has recently discontinued
A session with journalists Tehmina Ahmed and Talat Aslam will be coming together with ex-HRCP chairman Dr I A Rehman — none of whom ever shied away from raising their voices even against military dictatorships — discuss the latest rough patch media industry in Pakistan has hit under PTI rule. Moderated by Razeshta Sethna, former Senior Assitant Editor of the Herald, the panel is titled ‘Speaking Truth to Power’, the panel is likely to discuss the recently ceased Herald and Newsline. I’m also going to be attending ‘Hum Dekheingay’ . In this session, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, poet Zehra Nigah and historian Nomanul Haq will discuss with moderator Salman Akram Raja how Marxist poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s writings are transcending borders and languages to fire people’s movements, as recently seen in India – Abdullah Zafar, Political Editor
I am interested in ‘Bigotry Brigade: Where is India headed?’ which will be on 4PM-5PM on Saturday. This session will be quite interesting. All the panelists are excellent, especially historian, Audrey Truschke, who has written a book on Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, which negates the Indian narrative of an evil Muslim ruler. I am interested in India’s descent into extremism as it is quite disheartening to see a secular country like India with a population of more than a billion people turn to Hindutva – Mehmal Sarfraz, Co-Founder
’55 Lawrence Road: Memories of a Jewish Family that left Pakistan in 1973′ is an intriguing title for a session. I am expecting the session will revolve around how Jewish families lived in Pakistan well after partition and why and how they migrated out of the country. I am particularly interested to know how they lived and how active their synagogues were as most of them in Pakistan are no longer active. The session is at 1:30-2:30 on Saturday and has famous architect, Nayyar Ali Dada, Pakistani-born journalist, Hazel Kahan and Pakistani film director Shireen Pasha – Saman Shafiq, Entertainment Editor
I’ts not just that our founder, Marium is a part of this session but ‘Digital Trumps Print?’ will be a session where print and T.V. journalists will discuss the challenges of change that come with the digital media transformation of Pakistan. It will be interesting to see old school journalists like Arif Nizami and Samaa’s owner Zafar Siddiqi talk about what digital media means to them at a time of slit-throat competition. The session is on Sunday from 11:15am-12:15am – Fahad Malik, Data and Tech Sub-Editor
Mahira Khan will be attending the LLF on Sunday
It will be illuminating for me to be a part of the session ‘ Pakistan’s brave new cinema’ where two renowned women of Pakistan, actress Mahira Khan and journalist Fifi Haroon, will discuss the future of cinema and how it can create awareness on sensitive issues in the country. The session is on Sunday from 2:45PM-3:45PM – Urooj Ali, Lifestyle Sub-Editor
Nazish Jahangir, who is currently popular as Shameelabhabhi in Geo’s Kahin Deep Jalay recently took to social media to talk about the importance of a digital detox to gain back your mental sanity.
The actor wrote on Instagram: “Sometimes it is important to hibernate for a while, just log off from all these apps and spend time in solitude, read books, watch remaining episodes of your favorite TV series.”
She told that she did the same recently and is back to face yet another Monday.
“I am ready to start off this week with a smile on my face and my head held up high and I want you all to do the same,” she wrote.
Nazish motivated people to remember that “you’re braver than you believe and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
Last Monday, she took to Instagram to talk about mental health. She wrote in a detailed post that depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety were real. She revealed that she had been suffering from PTSD for the last 10 years.
Born and raised in Islamabad, Nazish began her career in 2015 when she took part in a play by Anwar Maqsood. However, it was not until 2017 that she made her television debut with the drama serial Bharosa. Following that, Nazish was part of several popular dramas including Alif Allah Aur Insaan, Tohmat and Kamzarf. Meanwhile, Nazish is also set to make her big-screen debut this year with Lafangay alongside Sami Khan, Mani and Saleem Mairaj.
Amidst the current protests in India, a Muslim couple tied the knot at the site of anti-CAA protest in Chennai on Monday, February 17.
The couple had a unique wedding ceremony while holding anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) placards in hands that read: “No CAA, NPR, NRC.”
Sumayya and Shahin Shah decided to get married at the site of a protest in the capital of Tamil Nadu. Their marriage was solemnized by an Imam among the crowd of protesters. Sumayya wore a bright red saree with heavy zari work while the groom, Shahin Shah, wore a maroon jacket.
The couple received a warm welcome from the crowd and they received gifts and cash presents.
The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 was passed by the Parliament of India on 11 December 2019 and has caused an uproar in India and sparked protests across the country.
Under the CAA 2019, religious minorities that have taken refuge in India till 2014 are eligible for citizenship. However, the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB 2019) makes it a point to exclude Muslims. The law requires Indian Muslims to prove their origins in India otherwise they stand to lose their citizenship.
500 thousand dollars cash (7 crore, 72 lakhs rupees) is what the Pakistan Super League winners will take home this year and the runner-up will get 200 thousand dollars (3 crore, 90 lakh rupees).
The league, in a press release, shared that the total prize money is one million dollars and 4,500 dollars (6 lakhs 95 thousand rupees) have been set for each man of the match award after each match.
80 thousand dollars (one crore 23 lakhs) will also be distributed among the best batsman, player of the tournament, and ‘for the spirit of cricket’ award. Other prizes include best catch, best run-out and most sixes.
The 5th PSL will begin from Feb 20th in Karachi. There will be 34 matches in total, with nine matches in Karachi, 14 in Lahore, eight in Rawalpindi and three in Multan.
The six-team tournament will be held across four venues with Karachi staging nine matches, Lahore 14 matches, Rawalpindi eight and Multan three matches.
In the opening match defending champions, Quetta Gladiators will take on two-time former winners Islamabad United at the National Stadium in Karachi.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is here for a four-day visit to Pakistan.
Guterres landed in Islamabad on Sunday. Talking to the media he said that “One of the main purposes of my visit is to spotlight the real Pakistan with all its possibility and potential.”
The UN chief spoke at an international press conference titled 40 years of Afghan Refugees Presence in Pakistan: A New Partnership for Solidarity, where he praised Pakistan for being the world’s second-largest refugee-hosting country.
He also met Mahira Khan, who was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador in November and is working with the UN Refugee Agency. Guterres took to twitter and thanked Mahira Khan and all Pakistanis for their support.
As we mark 40 years of Pakistan’s solidarity with Afghan refugees, it was a pleasure to meet @Refugees Goodwill Ambassador @TheMahiraKhanI thank her and all Pakistanis for their extraordinary support. pic.twitter.com/wsdsSestCk
Khan retweeted Guterres and wrote: “It was a pleasure meeting you as well. Looking forward to a lot more work alongside my fellow Pakistanis and @Refugees @antonioguterres.”
Before the appointment, Khan visited Afghan refugees in Peshawar in 2018 as part of a high-profile UN delegation. She has also spoken up for the needs of more than 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur and the Kartarpur Corridor on Tuesday during his four-day visit to Pakistan. Minister of Religious Affairs Pir Noorul Haq Qadri accompanied the him on the Kartarpur visit.
Mr. Guterres took to twitter to appreciate Pakistan’s efforts for peace and inter-faith harmony.
I was honoured to visit Pakistan’s newly opened Kartarpur Corridor – a corridor of hope, connecting two key Sikh pilgrimage sites.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur
“This is the best symbol that we can give for a world in peace and for a world in which there is mutual respect and there is the acceptance of what is different. Recognising diversity is a blessing, is a richness…not a threat. When we see in so many parts of the world fighting in the name of religion, it is necessary to say that religions unite us for peace and the best symbol is this [Kartarpur] shrine,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
