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  • US threatens India with sanctions over ‘anti-Muslim’ citizenship bill

    US threatens India with sanctions over ‘anti-Muslim’ citizenship bill

    The United States (US) has threatened Indian government officials with sanctions for failing to list Muslims among ‘persecuted’ minorities, RT reported.

    According to the details, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has claimed that it was “deeply troubled” by the citizenship bill, which passed the Indian parliament’s lower house, the Lok Sabha, in a 311-80 vote, calling it nothing short of a “religious test for Indian citizenship” which “excludes Muslims.”

    The commission said, “The United States government should consider sanctions against the home minister and other principal leadership if the bill passes”, insisting that it knows how Indian internal politics works best.

    Dubbed the Citizenship Amendment Bill, the new law will fast-track Indian citizenship for immigrants facing religious discrimination in several neighboring countries.

    The bill provides that Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians fleeing persecution in Muslim-majority Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan can be granted citizenship of India but there are no similar provisions for Muslim refugees.

    Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, who introduced the law, has rejected the US butting into India’s internal affairs, insisting the bill is solely intended to protect those facing persecution.

    The bill also has backing from Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, who, like Shah, belongs to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

    Meanwhile, PM Imran Khan has strongly condemned controversial legislation passed by the Indian Parliament, terming the move as “part of the RSS Hindu Rashtra design of expansionism propagated by the fascist Modi government.”.

    “We strongly condemn Indian Lok Sabha citizenship legislation which violates all norms of international human rights law and bilateral agreements with Pakistan,” PM Imran tweeted on Monday.

    The USCIRF was earlier established in 1998 to monitor and evaluate religious freedoms in other countries and to make policy recommendations to the US president, the State Department and the House of Representatives – routinely calling for sanctions against those countries who don’t live up to American standards.

    The commission had earlier placed India on a “watch list” in 2009 over what it said were “largely inadequate” protections for minorities.

  • Tourists from 50 countries can now avail visa on-arrival

    Tourists from 50 countries can now avail visa on-arrival

    To boost the tourism industry and foreign investment, the government has announced a new visa policy encouraging the tou­rists from 50 countries to avail visa-on-arrival facility.

    The visa-on-arrival facility was previously available to nationals of 25 countries only. As per reports, Sikhs holding Canadian and British passports would be allowed to avail of the offer and the e-visa facility will also be provided to the citizens of 175 countries.

    While talking to the media Vice Chairperson Overseas Pakistanis Commission Ch Waseem Akhtar said that the country is progressing due to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s “public-friendly economic policies” and that “major steps” are being taken to promote tourism.

    He added that the promotion of tourism is the need of the hour and the issuance of on-arrival visa to 50 countries by the government of Pakistan is a breakthrough and this will not only portray the soft image of Pakistan but will also bring foreign exchange and investment into the country.

    The plan to introduce on-arrival visa was first revealed in December 2018 by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood. The minister had stated that the government was considering initiating a visa-on-arrival facility for almost 55 countries to strengthen the tourism sector of Pakistan.

  • VIDEO: White lion attacks zookeeper at Karachi Zoo

    A white lion attacked a zookeeper when he was feeding the big cat from the front side of its cage at the Karachi Zoological Gardens on Monday.

    Kannu Piraditta, who is the keeper of lions, tigers, and chimpanzees at Karachi Zoo, was attacked by a white lion from inside the cage. 

    The zookeeper was giving the meat to the lion and lioness when the lion caught hold of his hand and attacked him.

    The video which went viral on social media shows the man screaming as the lion clutches his hand. Other employees of the zoo did not intervene to help him.

    Eventually, the injured keeper was able to free himself from the lion’s grip. The zookeeper was seen leaving with bloodstained left arm amid screams and shouts of the visitors apparently to divert the attention of the lion.

    As per reports, the keeper has been shifted to the hospital, where his condition is said to be stable. While people are calling out the zoo administration for ensuring the staff’s safety, the zoo director has held the keeper responsible for the incident, alleging that the zookeeper had violated the defined rules while feeding the big cat from the front side of the cage.

    The director added that the Karachi mayor has taken notice of the incident and will order an inquiry into the matter once he resumes duty.

  • Ali Gul Pir’s take on Priyanka Chopra is hilarious

    Ali Gul Pir’s take on Priyanka Chopra is hilarious

    Ali Gul Pir trolled Priyanka Chopra’s outfit from this year’s MET Gala with a very specific caption.

    Famous comedian and rapper took to Instagram to post a picture with the caption “When you’re done venting”. As per reports, Ali has used this caption to recall the sarcasm that Priyanka used in her reply to the journalist. 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B5xrm_wgmwZ/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

    It must be recalled that when Pakistani-American journalist Ayesha Malik asked the actor for her support for the Indian Armed Forces alleged aerial strikes in Pakistan, the actor said that she would respond when Malik was done venting. She then said, “don’t yell girl, don’t embarrass yourself”.

    Priyanka received a lot of criticism for her comments as she is UNICEF Ambassador for Peace.

  • Ahmed Ali Butt’s take on ‘Meray Paas Tum Ho’ will make you laugh

    Ahmed Ali Butt’s take on ‘Meray Paas Tum Ho’ will make you laugh

    Ahmed Ali Butt is quite the funnyman and he has proven that on several occasions.

    Whether it is on camera, or in his interviews (check out his exclusive interview with The Current here), or in his Instagram captions, he sure knows how to tickle your funnybones.

    Recently, Ahmed has been playing with Meray Paas Tum Ho‘s dialogues and it’s characters and results are very comic. See below:

    Exhibit A – The infamous Do takay ki larki dialogue

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B5yMV8iBjNb/

    Exhibit B – A happy selfie of lots of celebrities to mark the entry of Shawar’s wife, Maham (played by Savera Nadeem) in the drama

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B5ztdpuD-dm/

    Exhibit C – A selfie with Danish after he makes millions

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B52IoMFDtq0/
  • Lahore-Wagah train service to resume after 22 years on Dec 14

    Lahore-Wagah train service to resume after 22 years on Dec 14

    After a gap of almost 22 years, the train service, with a capacity of carrying 181 passengers, between Lahore and Wagah Railway Station will resume operations on December 14.

    According to the chief operating superintendent of Pakistan Railways Aamir Baloch, “The shuttle train will provide commute for the passengers desiring to witness the flag ceremony in the evening. Pakistan Rangers on Wagah border and Indian Border Force on the other side will manage the security affairs.”

    Baloch shared that all arrangements for running the train have been completed.

    The train will make four detours and its fare is fixed at Rs30. Two passenger coaches and the engine of the train have been overhauled and renovated using resources of the railways’ department.

    The train was operational between Wagah to Lahore since the partition till 1997 after which the service was closed due to certain operational and security reasons.

    “The train will start from Lahore railway station and will take two up-down rounds each in the morning and the evening,” Baloch said.

    Baloch said the railways decided to revive the service on a daily basis to provide convenient and affordable transportation facilities to the people coming to Jallo Park in Lahore and Wagah.

    If there is an increase in the demand, more passenger boogies could be renovated and added to the shuttle service.

    Meanwhile, plans to extend the service to Shahdara railway station, Kot Lakhpat and Kot Radha Krishan railway station for the convenience of the passengers is also being considered.

  • VIDEO: Crowd bursts into laughter as PM Imran mistakes Gen Shujaat for ex-ISI chief

    VIDEO: Crowd bursts into laughter as PM Imran mistakes Gen Shujaat for ex-ISI chief

    While addressing during the inauguration ceremony of the National Science and Technology Park (NSTP), Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan mistook the head of National University of Science and Technology (NUST), General Syed Shujaat, for former ISI chief General Pasha.

    The mistake was instantly noticed by an official standing next to Imran Khan, after that he quickly corrected himself, but the crowd had already burst into laughter upon hearing General Pasha’s name.

    General Syed Shujaat is the founding director of NUST. His work as the rector at NUST has allowed him to turn the campus into an internationally reputed research institute.

    PML-Q leader and Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in an interview with a private news channel had claimed that during the general elections in 2013, General Pasha allegedly convinced members of the PML-Q to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

  • WATCH: Fahad Mustafa practices his action stunts for ‘Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad’

    WATCH: Fahad Mustafa practices his action stunts for ‘Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad’

    The shoot for Fahad Mustafa’s upcoming film Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad, in which he will be sharing the screen with Mahira Khan for the first time, has begun before time and both the leads are sharing behind the scenes snippets from the sets.

    Fahad shared a video of himself practising his action stunts. The actor can be seen doing a backflip before going into an attack position.

    Have to say the video has us intrigued.

    Here’s a picture of Mahira reportedly from the sets of the film.

    Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad will be directed by Nabeel Qureshi and produced by Fizza Ali Meerza. The duo have previously delivered hits including Load Wedding and Actor in Law – both of which had Fahad in the lead.

    Speaking to The Current, Nabeel had shared that the film will be a satirical action-comedy – something along the lines of their previous film Actor in Law.

    The film will mostly be shot in Karachi and is expected to release in 2020 on Eid ul Azha.

  • ‘PTI’ supporters in London raise slogans ‘to shoot Nawaz dead’

    A group of alleged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters held a protest outside the Avenfield flats in London, where they raised slogans to shoot former premier Nawaz Sharif and attempted to break down the main gate, The News International reported.

    According to the details, around 40 protesters, led by Tariq Mehmood who runs a group called ‘Pakistan Patriotic Front’, raised slogans in support of the ruling PTI and many were wearing PTI caps.

    Reports claim that many of the protesters who were present outside Avenfield flats are seen often at the PTI protests earlier, but the party’s elected body has issued a statement distancing itself from the protest.

    One of the protesters can be heard shouting in the video that “some shoot him” in reference to former prime minister’s presence on the third floor in Avenfield flats and slogans for Taliban style bombing of the Avenfield apartments were also made during the protest.

    Video footage from the protest also shows at least three protesters banging the front gate in order to break down while two protesters entered premises from the side entrance and they were asked by the police to come out.

    Ahead of Nawaz’s arrival, elected senior official of PTI in United Kingdom (UK) Soraya Aziz had issued a similar call for violence on Twitter.

    Soraya Aziz, who is head of Computing at the Beths Grammar School in Bexley, Kent had wrote, “For his own safety, I strongly recommend Nawaz Sharif not leave his Avenfield apartments. If he’s seen shopping in Knightsbridge, overseas Pakistanis will give him response even his few remaining platelets won’t know where to hide!!”.

    Soraya later deleted her Tweet.

    Meanwhile, PTI’s Information Secretary London Taqveem Ahsan Siddiqui, in a statement issued on Sunday had said, “The PTI has not called for any demonstration outside disqualified former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s residence.”

    “It has been brought to our attention that an invite to demonstrate outside his residence is in circulation. PTI UK does not have any intention to call or join any demonstration outside Nawaz Sharif’s residence until he abides by his bail condition”, Taqveem added.

    Former premier Nawaz is in London for a medical check-up after the Lahore High Court (LHC) granted him exemption on medical grounds. The court had earlier directed Nawaz to return to Pakistan after four weeks.

  • VIDEO: British journalist destroys Shireen Mazari on silence over China’s repression of Uighur Muslims

    British journalist Mehdi Hasan has called out the Prime Minsiter (PM) Imran Khan-led Pakistan government for voicing concerns over repression being faced by Muslims across the globe expect the Chinese persecution of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang.

    Speaking to Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari on his show, Al Jazeera’s Hasan asked as to why had Pakistan not publicly criticised China on its detention of millions of Uighur Muslims.

    “There’s a quote on your Twitter profile page from the great Muslim leader and the grandson of the prophet, Imam Hussain, that reads ‘those who are silent when others are oppressed, are guilty of oppression themselves’,” he said, adding that in China, millions of Uighur Muslims were being detained against their will in “concentration camps” and yet the Pakistani government had said nothing.

    “In fact, PM Imran Khan has said that he will not criticise China on this publically. Couldn’t the Uighurs say that your silence, Pakistan’s silence, means that you’re guilty of oppressing them too?”

    Responding to the question, Mazari said that the link established by Hasan was “absurd” since her government had talked to China. “When we have evidence, we take it up. But China is an ally of ours, and we will not go screaming on the streets about it.”

    When asked if Pakistan had condemned Chinese actions privately, the minister said that Islamabad had been speaking to the Chinese and “hearing their point of view”.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    “You haven’t stood up and spoken about the Uighurs… that’s the problem,” the journalist maintained as Mazari said repression must be called out regardless of who was behind it when asked if she would condemn the Chinese actions.

    PAKISTAN, CHINA & UIGHURS:

    The Chinese government has reportedly detained more than a million Muslims in reeducation camps. Most of the people who have been arbitrarily detained are Uighur, a predominantly Turkic-speaking ethnic group primarily from China’s northwestern region of Xinjiang.

    Human rights organisations, United Nations (UN) officials and many foreign governments are urging China to stop the crackdown; however, officials maintain that what they call “vocational training centres” do not infringe on Uighurs’ rights.

    While the Chinese government has refused to share information about the detention centres and prevented journalists and foreign investigators from examining them, internal documents leaked in late 2019 have provided important details on how officials launched and maintain the camps.

    As part of a campaign seeking relief for Uighurs in China, Islamabad has time and again been called out for raising its voice for Muslims facing Indian oppression in held Kashmir as well as helpless Palestinians, but not for those in China where lie Pakistan’s economic interests — such as the construction of China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

    CPEC is a collection of infrastructure projects that are currently under construction throughout Pakistan. Originally valued at $46 billion, the value of CPEC projects is worth $62 billion as of 2017.

    It is expected to not only benefit Pakistan and China, but also to have a positive impact on Iran, Afghanistan and India with the enhancement of geographical links through improved road, rail and air transportation system with frequent and free exchanges of growth and people to people contact.