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  • Hospital attack case: Court rejects bail of Imran’s nephew for arriving late

    Hospital attack case: Court rejects bail of Imran’s nephew for arriving late

    An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday rejected the bail of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s nephew, Barrister Hassaan Khan Niazi, in the case pertaining to lawyers’ attack on Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) in Lahore last month.

    According to ARY News, Niazi turned up late for the hearing, irked by which, ATC Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta cancelled the former’s interim bail, regretting he showed up late despite being a lawyer.

    With Niazi then offering an unconditional apology and filing a new bail application, he and nine of his colleagues were granted bail until January 6.

    The bail was granted subject to submission of a surety bond worth Rs100,000.

    A group of more than 200 lawyers, who had an ongoing “tussle” with the doctors of the PIC, had stormed the hospital last month, vandalised property and damaged dozens of vehicles besides setting a police van on fire.

    At least 52 lawyers were arrested and dozens of others booked after the attack during which at least four patients lost their lives.

  • Indo-Pak war odds-on if soldiers are attacked in Kashmir again: report

    Indo-Pak war odds-on if soldiers are attacked in Kashmir again: report

    A transnational non-profit organisation, International Crisis Group, has warned that any militant attack on Indian forces in held Kashmir could set off an escalation between Pakistan and India, saying that pro-freedom militants were lying low in the troubled vallet, but they were still active.

    “India’s heavy-handed military operations in Kashmir over the past few years have inspired a new homegrown generation, whose ranks are likely to swell further after the latest repression,” read its report titled “10 conflicts to watch in 2020”.

    Indian fighter planes had violated Pakistani airspace after a pro-freedom militant attack that killed at least 40 paramilitary soldiers in Pulwama on February 19, 2019. In retaliation, Pakistan had shot down two Indian jets over Kashmir on Feb 27, and captured an Indian pilot as well. He, however, was released by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s government as a “gesture of peace”.

    The Crisis Group, which describes itself as “working to prevent wars and shape policies that will build a more peaceful world” , has warned that any Pulwama-like attack on Indian forces in Kashmir would precipitate Indian action against Pakistan.

    “In a worst-case scenario, the two nuclear-armed neighbours could stumble into war,” the report said.

    The Crisis Group asked New Delhi to lift the communication blackout and release political prisoners in the occupied valley, and asked Pakistan to take action against militants allegedly operating from its soil.

    It further urged the international community to push Pakistan and India for talks “before it is too late”.

  • VIDEO: ‘Mein ne jaan Allah ko deni hai’ haunts Afridi at National Assembly

    VIDEO: ‘Mein ne jaan Allah ko deni hai’ haunts Afridi at National Assembly

    The first session of the National Assembly on Wednesday was particularly harsh for Minister of State for Narcotics Control Shehryar Afridi as members of opposition parties trolled him for his statements regarding the case against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah Khan, amid the government’s failure to present any “substantial evidence” before the court.

    According to media reports, opposition members repeatedly called Afridi a “liar” and mocked his oft repeated sentence “Mein ne jaan Allah ko deni hai” when the minister got up from his seat to respond to a query regarding the development work being undertaken in the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

    PML-N MNA Shahnawaz Ranjha said that Afridi was his friend but “inhon ne jaan Allah ko deni hai”.

    The opposition’s criticism angered Afridi who responded by saying that some people would give their soul to Allah like Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), while some people would face God’s wrath like “Shimar and Firon”.

    He said that he would prove all allegations against him wrong if he was granted some time.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Interestingly, no person from the government benches — neither the PTI nor any of its coalition partners — came to Afridi’s defence as the opposition poked fun at the minister.

    Later, while speaking on the development in erstwhile FATA, Afridi informed the House that the budget for the merged tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) had been enhanced from Rs58 billion to Rs162bn.

    Afridi said that Rs62bn had been allocated to the KP government for the “recurrent and development budget” for erstwhile FATA.

    He said that Rs48bn had further been earmarked by the federal government according to its share of the National Finance Commission Award and released to KP, adding that the federal government had also released Rs10bn for the previous financial year 2018-19 to the KP government.

  • Ayeza Khan shares what her 2019 looked like

    Ayeza Khan shares what her 2019 looked like

    Ayeza Khan, who is currently riding high on the success of her ongoing drama, Meray Paas Tum Ho, took a trip down the memory lane and shared her fondest memories and highlights from 2019.

    Ayeza started the year with her birthday which was a celebrated on the beach with her family including husband Danish Taimoor. Her birthday is on January 15.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B6voWdPhwc9/

    Then she shared pictures from husband Danish’s birthday celebrations.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B6vozQSBHEm/

    Playing Zubi in Yaariyan was a high point of her career

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B6vrIXhh2RI/

    It was then time for daughter Hoorain’s birthday

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B6vrnLYheso/

    Ayeza then shared happy pictures of her family from Eid

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B6vsIGohzxz/

    Being Sehar in Thora Sa Haq was also a highlight from 2019

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B6vsi9QBdwU/

    As was being the alumni. Ayeza has completed her Bachelors from the Newports Institute of Communications and Economics, Karachi

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B6vtvNuBCMr/

    Ayeza also got a new house last year

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B6vuGIJBz2l/

    Her son, Rayan, turned two and the family celebrated with a grand circus-themed party

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B6vu31ZBemZ/

    How can anyone forget that 2019 was also the year she stepped into the role of Mehwish in Meray Paas Tum Ho

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B6vwJ56BmaT/

    Ayeza signed off the year with a heartfelt note in which she recounted how going for Hajj changed her life and strengthened her faith, adding that she is ready for the next year as well as the next decade.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B6vzE0Qhw5i/
  • Police to launch crime app, install alert button in Rawalpindi police stations

    Police to launch crime app, install alert button in Rawalpindi police stations

    Rawalpindi’s Regional Police Officer (RPO) Dr Sohail Habib Tajik has said that a crime App was being launched to facilitate citizens in registering complaints about any criminal activity, Dawn reported.

    According to the details, the RPO revealed this news while addressing a press conference at his office for the first time after assuming the charge.

    Dr Sohail also said that a “helper” button will also installed in police stations to facilitate citizens in registering complaints about any criminal activity in the city.

    In case of failing to get the police response, the complainant can press the helper button which will automatically forward an emergency call to all senior police officers. The button will generate a SOS message as soon as the complainant presses it.

    All senior officers, including the RPO, district and circle police officers, will receive the message at the same time, making it impossible for the police officials present at the police stations to ignore the complaint.

    The RPO said, “All available resources will be spent on the police force,” adding that he believe in transparency and want to get positive results by introducing community policing in the city.

    Dr Sohail also said that people were afraid of visiting police stations to lodge their complaints but the mobile app would help them approach the authorities without any fear.

    He further informed that a total of 400 police employees serving at residences and offices of police officers had been called back and posted to police stations to strengthen the police working more.

    RPO said that his top priority was to gain citizen’s confidence and to change public perception about police department.

  • Pakistan’s first blind civil judge gets married

    Pakistan’s first blind civil judge gets married

    Pakistan’s first blind civil judge Yousuf Saleem has tied the knot.

    Saleem changed Pakistan’s history when he challenged the Federal Civil Services system. He was rejected for the position of a civil judge despite being the topper because of his visual impairment.

    Former chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar took notice of the issue and after presiding in Saleem’s favour, the 25-year-old took the oath to be sworn in as a civil judge at Punjab Judiciary Academy on June 26, 2018.

    https://twitter.com/JHON_says/status/1212118656592695296

    A gold medalist from Punjab University, Saleem hopes to be the Chief Justice of Pakistan one day.

    Soon after the news spread, blessings and wishes began to pour in for the happy couple.

    https://twitter.com/__msalman/status/1212095694141562880

    Meanwhile, some negativity was also there.

    https://twitter.com/martyred_15/status/1212068192593555456
    https://twitter.com/GFadii/status/1212249817273032704
  • Billion Tree Tsunami: NAB detects Rs462 million loss to exchequer

    Billion Tree Tsunami: NAB detects Rs462 million loss to exchequer

    A loss of Rs462 million to the public exchequer has been detected by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as it conducted its initial inquiry into the Billion Tree Tsunami Project of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), The News reported.

    NAB Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal had authorised the inquiry against the flagship project in March last year.

    “The NAB regional office has recommended to the headquarters for upgrading the inquiry along with authorisation for separate investigations and six inquiries to unearth the mega scam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP),” the report said.

    Meanwhile, an officer was quoted as saying that NAB officials “had checked only 10 to 20 per cent of only one region out of three, which is the smallest region as compared to Hazara and Swat.

    In 2014, the then PTI-led KP government had started the Billion Tree Tsunami Project with Rs14.32 billion utilised for the project execution by the Forest Department.

    Allegations of ghost labour, misappropriation and embezzlement of daily wages, enclosures failure and payments against ghost plantations were received by the anti-graft body at its Peshawar bureau earlier.

    According to official documents, during the initial inquiry based on proceedings conducted so far, a loss of Rs462 million has been detected. The NAB reports further disclosed that due to the shortfall in the hectare-wise plantation area in Dera Ismail Khan, a loss of Rs80.044 million has been detected.

    The regional NAB office has recommended the headquarters to convert the ongoing inquiry into a proper investigation to probe the case. It further recommended four investigations against the divisional forest officer and others regarding misuse of authority, embezzlement, corruption and corrupt practices.

    Furthermore, six additional inquiries were also recommended against the officers and officials of the KP Forest Department and others regarding embezzlement, misappropriation, corruption, and corrupt practices in procurement of seeds, polythene bags, machinery, vehicles and office equipment in forest region 1, 2 and 3.

    While NAB sources were quoted as confirming that the matter is under scrutiny as per law, media has reportedly been requested to avoid speculations in this regard.

  • Mahira Khan wants more swift action against child rapists

    Mahira Khan wants more swift action against child rapists

    The brutal rape and torture of a 10-year-old student by a Madrassa teacher in Abbottabad’s Mansehra sparked national outrage.

    One of Pakistan’s most vocal actors, Mahira Khan took to Twitter to voice her concern and demanded the authorities to “make an example out of these monsters.” In her tweet, she also tagged the Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari.

    In response to her tweet, the minister said that the perpetrator has been arrested and that efforts are being made to prevent these horrendous crimes. She shared that the Zainab Alert Bill has been passed by the Standing Committee of Human Rights and that “much as we would like to simply catch these monsters and publicly punish them, the government has to go according to the law.”

    She also revealed that a “holistic policy on child abuse” is being prepared on the direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan and “within two weeks it should be ready with all stakeholders being taken on board.”

    Mahira thanked the minister for her response and requested for more swift action to be taken again such issues. She also asserted that more noise should be made so that “a loud and clear message should go out to these predators.”

    Other than Mahira, actor-activist Nadia Jamil has also been raising her voice on the matter of child sexual abuse.

  • Over 16,000 children born in Pakistan on New Year’s Day

    Over 16,000 children born in Pakistan on New Year’s Day

    The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) shared that an estimated 16,787 babies would be born in Pakistan on New Year’s Day.

    According to a statement by UNICEF, “Pakistani babies will account for 4.28% of the estimated 392,078 babies to be born on New Year’s Day.”

    Each
    January, UNICEF celebrates babies born on New Year’s Day, which is considered
    to be a lucky time for childbirth around the world.

    However, UNICEF reported that in 2018, 2.5 million newborns died before reaching one month old, around a third of them on the first day of life.

    “In 2018, 2.5 million newborns died in just their first month of  life. Among those children, most died from preventable causes such as premature birth, complications during delivery, and infections like sepsis. In addition, more than 2.5 million babies are born dead each year,” UNICEF said.

    According
    to the UN Agency, the world has seen amazing progress in child survival over
    the past three decades, lessening the number of children worldwide who die
    before their fifth birthday by more than half.

  • Hareem Shah controversy: Govt issues statement, drags religion into it

    Hareem Shah controversy: Govt issues statement, drags religion into it

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has broken its silence over the controversial video clips released by TikTok celebrity Hareem Shah last week, saying that technology brings many facilities “but it can also lead one to god’s wrath”.

    In a video doing rounds over the internet, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Information and Broadcasting (SAPM) Firdous Ashiq Awan can be seen parrying a question posed by a senior reporter regarding the videos that showed PTI ministers “flirting” with the TikTok celebrity and a friend of hers.

    She said that the society was facing many challenges “like crumbling of the social fabric”, and added that technology brought many facilities, but it had “also become a way to earn the wrath of Allah”.

    “It paves the way to hell,” Awan said.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    CONTROVERSY:

    The videos — featuring Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed and Punjab Information Minister Fayazul Hasan Chohan — were released over the internet with the claim that Rasheed had “also sent Hareem inappropriate videos”.

    “What about all those naked videos you used to send me have you forgotten about them?” Hareem can be heard as saying to the federal minister in one of the videos of their telephonic conversation, following which Rasheed abruptly disconnected the call.

    While the videos were removed by Hareem, it wasn’t later that they went viral over the internet, drawing mixed reactions. Amid all the criticism facing the internet star, she on Tuesday was reported to have left the country and applied for Canadian citizenship.