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  • Bilawal ‘hopes’ PML-N hasn’t ‘struck a deal’

    Bilawal ‘hopes’ PML-N hasn’t ‘struck a deal’

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has hoped that the prolonged stay of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif in London with his brother and convicted former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, and the “silence” of the latter’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz, are not because a deal has been struck.

    “Every political party has a role to play. I hope that all this is not part of any deal or understanding. Everyone should make efforts to fulfil the wishes of the people of Pakistan. As the PPP chairman, I am here in the country and will not run away,” Bilawal said in an exclusive conversation with Dawn, to a question regarding rumours that Maryam was not issuing any statements because of some kind of understanding with the establishment for her to leave the country despite the cases against her.

    When asked about reports of a “London plan” due to the presence of some prominent personalities in the United Kingdom, Bilawal said he did not know anything. “I believe these are conspiratorial talks. Only the people of Pakistan should be decision-makers.”

    He also expressed ignorance about any possible agreement between Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and the establishment at the time of the party’s sit-in in Islamabad in October last year, saying that his party had categorically stated even during the sit-in that it would not support any such agreement nor would it back any kind of deal in future to oust the rulers.

  • Mahira Khan, Mehwish Hayat pay homage to late Naeemul Haque

    Pakistani actors Mahira Khan and Mehwish Hayat have expressed deep grief over the sad demise of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) co-founder and leader Naeemul Haque.

    Khan took to Twitter to remember Haque who passed away on Saturday after a long battle against cancer. “My mother recalls Uncle Naeem carrying his wife in his arms when she was very ill, took care of her like a baby. Now reunited [sic],” she tweeted.

    The Load Wedding actor, Mehwish Hayat, also tweeted about Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s late aide. She expressed grief over Naeem’s passing and said each time they met, his words of encouragement proved invaluable.

    Haque was one of the founding members of the ruling PTI. He was admitted to a private hospital in Karachi where he breathed his last on Saturday.

    PM Imran said he was shocked to learn about the passing of one of his oldest friends.

  • Govt offices: Punjab bans WhatsApp

    Punjab government has banned any action leading to or resulting in the sharing of official documents through WhatsApp by government offices over the risk of confidential information being potentially leaked to irrelevant persons.

    According to a notification issued on February 14, the order of banning WhatsApp use has been issued by the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) in light of a decision taken in a meeting of the Cabinet Division on January 31.

    With regard to the orders, the Punjab commissioner of Overseas Pakistanis Commission, the Punjab Government Servants Housing Foundation MD, the Anti-Corruption DG and Punjab Procurement Regularity Authority MD have been sent a letter. Moreover, all section officers, law officers and state officers have also been informed about the orders, according to which, the ban will be implemented immediately.

    The provincial authorities had earlier received complaints that authorities in government departments were using WhatsApp to execute day-to-day matters pertaining to office work as documents were being exchanged on the messaging service. WhatsApp groups had been formed for this purpose and documents were reportedly being leaked.

    According to The Express Tribune, as per the new SOPs, official files will be delivered to the department concerned following the customary practice. Keeping in view the situation, an old procedure will be followed in government offices and SOPs will be followed accordingly.

  • Facebook CEO shares views on social media regulations

    Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Facebook, has said that the social media giant is working to counter online election interferences, Business Recorder reported.

    According to reports, Mark, while speaking at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, said that so far there were no well-defined rules to regulate social media, however, the subject had been brought to debate for privacy and security reasons.

    Read more: WhatsApp reaches 2 billion users

    In his opinion, social media should be regulated with a system somewhere between the existing rules used for telecommunication and media industries.

    “Right now there are two frameworks that I think people have for existing industries – there’s like newspapers and existing media, and then there are the telecommunication type models, which is ‘the data just flows through you’, but you’re not going to hold a telecom responsible if someone says something harmful on a phone line.”

    Read more: PTI’s new social media laws: Are you in some sort of danger?

    “I actually think where we should be is somewhere in between,” he said.

    Facebook and social media giants including Twitter and Alphabet’s Google have come under increasing pressure to better combat governments and political groups using their platforms to spread false and misleading information.

    Read more: The inconvenient truth about Pakistan’s economy

    Mark maintained he had employed 35,000 people to review online content and implement security measures to counter fake news and privacy protection.

  • Islamabad’s Mithas hits a fluffy spot

    Islamabad’s mushrooming restaurant scene comes in small areas. The market at E-7 is home to a few different restaurants: a burger joint, steaks, the food of Hunza and Mithas, a restaurant that serves pretty much everything.

    As The Current’s food reviewer, when they came to Islamabad to interview me, it made sense to do it over food. We walked around, checking out a few restaurants, and settled on trying out the breakfast menu of Islamabad’s Mithas.

    Mithas is an Italian restaurant but like most restaurants in Pakistan, it has a mixed menu of different cuisines.

    We sat outside the rather large space, on a sunny Islamabad afternoon. Even though the table was shaky, which can be rather annoying, as if you’re eating at sea, the server was friendly and helpful. We ordered the eggs and a Chicken Tarragon.

    Spinach Feta omelette

    It is incredibly difficult to get a souffle omelette right. Mithas came incredibly close with their Spinach and Feta souffle omelette. It was baked to perfection but the cheese was decidedly feta but most likely a mozzarella. Even though it looked perfect, it tasted a little dry. But getting this is one is so tricky that it was a good attempt.

    The hash browns and sausage could’ve easily been taken off the plate. The hash browns were tasteless and the sausage was overcooked and chewy and five pieces of white bread were too much.

    Scrambled eggs on toast

    The scrambled eggs were a strong creamy blend of ease and the toast they were served on was a perfect compliment. I wondered if they were making their own bread but this one in excellent option.

    I was a little confused with the Chicken Tarragon. Fresh tarragon is incredibly difficult to find in Pakistan and this was made using a dried form of the herb, which is why the taste didn’t really come through. The sauce was thick – a little too much – but it covered the chicken nicely. A good option at the restaurant but not the best.

    Chicken Tarragon

    Mithas is a good addition to Islamabad’s food scene and we sat there for a few hours nursing our coffee and having a good chat in true Islamabad feel.

  • Tunisian woman bicycles to Makkah in 53 days

    Tunisian woman bicycles to Makkah in 53 days

    A Tunisian national, Sara Haba, has reached Makkah on a bicycle in 53 days.

    Covering a distance of more than 3,000 kilometers, she started off from her home country Tunisia and cycled for over 53 days to Makkah.

    Haba toured across the deserts in Egypt and Sudan and shared her journey on Instagram and YouTube using the hashtag #cyclingtomecca.

    In one of her Instagram posts she wrote, “A lot of headwinds as I never experienced, a lot of sand and a lot of emptiness which made it unable for me to refill water and food. And when the loaded bicycle wasn’t killing my lower body, it was challenging my arm strength.” 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B6jMjBdHBHb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Haba tributes to her bicycle named Merzouga as that was her biggest support system throughout the journey. Merzouga can be translated to “grace with blessing” in African Arabic.

    In another of her posts, Haba wrote that cycling to Saudi Arabia was not as difficult as it seemed to be. “And as unbelievable as it may sound and despite all my apprehension about cycling here, Saudi Arabia has been so far the easiest country to cycle since I began this journey.” 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B7ZIl1vnRFo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    As she kept her followers updated with her journey, Haba met several supporting cyclists on her journey. They also wrote supportive messages for her on Instagram.

    “A special thanks to each person who has crossed my way, smiled to me, shown me the way, filled my bottles with water, offered me a fruit, shared their house with me, presented me to their family and friends, cycled with me even for 10km, cried with me and make me part of their lives. I didn’t expect anything of all what happened,” she added.

  • Fawad Chaudhry explains why PM Imran didn’t attend Naeemul Haque’s janaza in Karachi

    Fawad Chaudhry explains why PM Imran didn’t attend Naeemul Haque’s janaza in Karachi

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Naeemul Haque passed away on Saturday, losing his long battle with cancer at the age of 70. The senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader was admitted at a private hospital in the city where he breathed his last. Haque had been battling cancer for the last two years.

    Haque was laid to rest in Karachi’s Gizri Graveyard on Sunday. While a number of PTI members were present at the funeral, PM Imran’s absence caused uproar considering how close the two were and the fact that Haque was one of the founding members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI).

    Following the criticism on social media, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry explained and clarified why PM Imran and other senior members of the party were missing.

    Earlier, Special Assistant to the PM for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan had shared that a special prayer meet will be held for the deceased at the PM House in Islamabad.

    The funeral prayer, led by former senator Maulana Tanveerul Haq Thanvi, was held at Ayesha Masjid in DHA. Senior leaders of the PTI including Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Deputy Speaker National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri, Governor Sindh Imran Ismail, Asad Umar and many others attended the funeral prayer.

    Leaders associated with MQM-Pakistan, PPP, PML-N among other officials were also present at the last rituals.

    PM Khan had expressed his grief over the death of his friend on social media.

  • Michael Jackson’s nephew is impressed by Pakistan’s hospitality

    Michael Jackson’s nephew is impressed by Pakistan’s hospitality

    American singer and musician Jaafar Jackson is currently in Pakistan on his first visit and is blown away by the hospitality.

    In an interview, Jackson shared that he is visiting Pakistan with China-Pakistan Investment Corporation and its founding board member, Zeeshan Shah.

    He said that he visited two universities in Islamabad. Sharing his experience he said: “It was incredible interacting with the students. They were all so kind, talented and I love how passionate they are with what they are doing.”

    The singer said that it “feels incredible” to be here in Pakistan.

    “Everyone in the country has been so kind, welcoming and sweet. So, it means a lot to me and I look forward to coming back here, doing a show and interacting with more people. I have enjoyed every second of my trip,” he said.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B8fSJA1gORR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Jaafar is the second youngest son of legendary singer Jermaine Jackson and is the King of Pop, Michael Jackson’s nephew. His last single Got Me Singing was a hit with 5.2 million views on YouTube.

    He also shared that he has been working on an album which will release in the summer.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Lk2Bf2ZaUo
  • Imran’s aide, Naeemul Haque, passes away at 70

    Imran’s aide, Naeemul Haque, passes away at 70

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Naeemul Haque passed away in Karachi on Saturday, losing his long battle with cancer at the age of 70. 

    The senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader was admitted at a private hospital in the city where he breathed his last. Haque had been battling cancer for the last two years.

    PM Imran Khan took to Twitter to share how devastated he was over the death of his friend.

    Senior PTI leaders, including Fawad Chaudhry and Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, also paid tribute to Haque.

    OBITUARY:

    A banker and businessman by trade and one of the co-founders of the PTI, Naeem was instrumental in promoting positive change in Pakistan as part of the party’s ideology.

    Born on July 11, 1949 in Karachi, Naeem completed his M.A. in English Literature from University of Karachi (1970) and then pursued LLB from Sindh Muslim Law College Karachi (1971). He practiced law with Khalid Ishaq before joining Jamil Nishtar’s team at the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP). As a young banker, he was part of the team that established the NBP branch at UN Plaza in New York City, after which he moved to London in 1980 as a merchant banker for Oriental Credit Limited.

    Naeem had thirty-five years’ of cumulative experience in banking, finance, corporate sector and law in Pakistan, London and New York. During his career, he also served as an Advisor/Managing Director of Aero Asia Airlines, Chairman & CEO Metropolitan Steel Corpand Managing Director, Credit & Leasing Corporation.

    During his professional stint in London in early 1980s, he became close friends with Imran Khan, who used to play county cricket at that time. Imran would frequently visit Naeem and his wife, Nazli Jamil (“Nazo”). Naeem and Imran Khan became especially close friends when the latter developed a debilitating stress fracture in 1983, and Naeem famously gave his exercise bike for Imran’s recuperation.

    Naeem was driven by the purpose to serve Pakistan and believed that positive change could only be brought about in the country through a democratic, political system. In 1984, he joined Air Marshal Asghar Khan’s Tehreek Istiqlal party in London and moved back to Karachi a couple of years later to setup his leasing company business and pursue political aspirations. In the post-Zia ul Haq era, he contested the 1988 elections from Tehreek Istiqlal ticket in Orangi. Even though he lost the election, he continued his interest in politics and kept a breast of economic related matters.

    In 1996, he became one of the five founding members of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) along with his close friend Imran Khan. As a trusted aide, he helped Imran Khan manage the party affairs and overcome the election setbacks of 1997 and 2001. After the death of his wife in 2008 from a bout of cancer, Naeem fully devoted his life to PTI, where he become the Central Information Secretary and President of Sindh. He is credited with organizing the huge December 25, 2011 jalsa in Karachi that helped establish PTI’s popularity as a national party.

    In 2012, Naeem moved to Islamabad as Chief of Staff to the PTI Chairman and an integral part of the PTI Core Committee leading into the elections of both 2013 and 2018. He worked extremely hard and directly with Imran Khan in organizing the party at the grass roots working across the board with workers and part office bearers. He also intermittently served as the Information secretary of the party during this period playing an important part on the party’s communication strategy.

    In January 2018, eight months before the general elections, Naeem was diagnosed with blood cancer. Like a true party loyalist, he soldiered on, working long hours prior to the elections while undergoing treatment. Never one to shirk from important causes and managing people and operations, he remained at the forefront. As member of the PTI core committee he was an accessible, approachable and was popular among the workers. When the 2018 victory finally came to PTI, he was appointed a Special Assistant on Political Affairs to the PM and was involved in a number of initiatives ranging from housing scheme, party operations, SDGs and appointments to name a few.

  • Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter Princess Beatrice is in Pakistan for a ski trip

    Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter Princess Beatrice is in Pakistan for a ski trip

    Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter and Prince Andrew’s daughter Princess Beatrice of York is currently in Pakistan for a skiing trip.

    According to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s official Instagram account, she met with him early Saturday morning along with Jose Maria Aznar (Former Prime Minister of Spain), Matteo Renzi (Former Prime Minister of Italy), Zia Chishti and Frederico Rigoni. Special Assistant to the PM for Overseas Pakistanis Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari and Ali Jehangir Siddiqui were also present during the meeting.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B8lJUolH701/

    Bukhari also welcomed the entourage to Pakistan.

    A member of the British royal family, Princess Beatrice is the elder daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York. She is ninth in the line of succession to the British throne, followed by her sister, Princess Eugenie. The princess is expected to get married to her fiance Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi on May 29 at Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace with a reception at Buckingham Palace afterwards.

    Beatrice’s visit comes months after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge William and Kate visited Pakistan. The couple on their whirlwind trip to the country explored Lahore, Islamabad and Chitral.