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  • From Kashmir to Khalistan: Indian rapper’s latest song slams Modi-led BJP

    From Kashmir to Khalistan: Indian rapper’s latest song slams Modi-led BJP

    Indian rapper and actress Taran Kaur Dhillon, better known as Hard Kaur, received a lot of backlash on social media after she released a new rap song From Kashmir to Khalistan dedicated to the people of occupied Kashmir and the Sikh minority of Hindu-majority India.

    “As artists we shouldn’t be pressured into making club bangers and commercial songs all the time,” she reportedly said after her new video was released.

    “A real artist needs to be respected for his freedom of expression. When that’s overtaken with business and money it puts very difficult choices in front of an artist. [This song] it’s my way of raising awareness as an artist through my music. Being a Sikh, I must stand up against oppression and protect humanity especially when it’s my land, my people, my country”, the rapper added. 

    The Indian rapper has been very vocal about the human rights abuses being carried out by the government of Indian under Prime Minister Narendra Modi in occupied Kashmir and also about the oppression of minorities in India.

    Earlier this year, authorities in India had charged the United Kingdom-based rapper with sedition after she posted some comments on social media against the extremist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat and Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

    As per reports, the social media accounts of Hard Kaur were blocked in India soon afterward.

    Watch the song here:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=185&v=W2TBqBff4PE&feature=emb_title

  • CM Buzdar calls on PM Imran twice within 24 hours amid reports of his removal

    Amid reports of massive changes in the administration in the provincial cabinet, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar has called on Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, the second time within 24 hours, The News International reported.

    According to the details, a one-line statement was issued by the PM Office that Punjab CM Usman Buzdar met Imran Khan here at the Prime Minister Office on Monday.

    Meanwhile, Chairman of PM Inspection Team Ahmad Yar Hiraj has called on the premier and the two had deliberations on the performance of various government departments.

    The premier has said that in the light of the PMIT report, the government departments should make every possible effort to strictly follow the report.

    It is important to note here that the party’s core committee and members of the provincial assembly of Punjab had expressed serious concerns regarding the bureaucracy.

    In the last 15 days, CM Buzdar has held a series of meetings with the Punjab Assembly members who repeatedly have complained that the bureaucracy is not cooperating to resolve the public’s issues in the province.

  • Pakistan offers Qatar security for 2022 FIFA World Cup

    Pakistan offers Qatar security for 2022 FIFA World Cup

    President Arif Alvi has offered Qatar of providing security for the next FIFA World Cup being held in the Gulf country in 2022, stressing that Pakistan had vast experience in that domain, The Express Tribune reported.

    According to the details, talking to Commander of the Qatar Emiri Guard, Maj-Gen Hazzaa Bin Khalil Bin Mansour Al-Shahwani, President Alvi said that a lot of scope existed between the two countries to include defence export and joint production ventures.

    Dr Alvi underscored that having vast experience in the domain of security and the professionalism of its armed forces, “Pakistan can provide Qatar security for Football World Cup 2022″.

    He also emphasised on the need for enhancing the training collaboration and professional interaction between defence forces of the two countries, appreciating the agreement for sale of eight Super Mushak aircraft to Qatar worth $57.74 million in 2016.

    The president urged Qatar to support Pakistan in its endeavours to highlight Indian human rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) before the world, and stressed the need for the international community to persuade India to resolve the long withstanding dispute in accordance with United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions.

    “The fascist Indian regime is flagrantly violating the human rights of Kashmiris by revoking the special status of occupied Kashmir and by suspending their civil liberties. The Indian government has adopted a hostile attitude towards all its minorities,” the report quoted Alvi as saying.

    Maj-Gen Al-Shahwani said, “Qatar considered it a religious duty to support Pakistan at all levels”.

    Separately, the Qatari commander also called on army chief General Qamar Bajwa at the GHQ in Rawalpindi, and discussed matters of mutual and professional interest and regional security situation.

  • CJP suspends COAS Bajwa’s extension notification

    CJP suspends COAS Bajwa’s extension notification

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khosa has suspended the notification of Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure extension on Tuesday, Dawn reported.

    According to the details, the court has issued notices to all parties, including Gen Bajwa.

    During the hearing of a petition challenging the extension in Gen Bajwa’s tenure today, the chief justice said, “Only the president of Pakistan can extend the tenure of the army chief.”

    “Army chief’s tenure was extended after the president’s approval,” the attorney general (AG) told the court, adding that “The summary had been approved by the cabinet.”

    The AG also said, “A similar petition was filed in the Peshawar High Court but was withdrawn later”.

    On August 19, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan had approved an extension in the tenure of Gen Bajwa for another three years.

  • Civil govt’s expenditure reduced by Rs9 billion in Q1 2019-20, claims finance ministry

    Civil govt’s expenditure reduced by Rs9 billion in Q1 2019-20, claims finance ministry

    The Ministry of Finance has claimed that civil government’s expenditure has reduced by Rs9 billion in the first quarter of the current fiscal year (2019-20) compared to the same period of the last fiscal year (2018-19), a private news outlet has reported.

    According to the reports, in order to revamp the entire Public Financial Management System, Finance Division has presented the Public Finance Management (PFM) law which has been approved and enacted.

    Moreover, this law has reportedly put several controls and monitoring mechanisms on federal spending units, the cabinet, and the parliament. The committee under the PFM Act will oversee the implementation and secondary legislation has been notified. Finance Division is working on the introduction of pre-audit and internal audit systems within ministries.

    Reports further reveal that the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy and framework have been approved and recently, the Fiscal Advisory Department of IMF [International Monetary Fund] extended technical facilitation to achieve structured implementation of TSA which revolves around efficient cash management, treasury management, and debt management.

    Finance Division is also reportedly involved in the working of the Task Force on Restructuring of the federal government where realignment of federal entities is underway leading to merger, liquidation, and retention of selected entities.

  • Nov 26: News you need to know before heading to work

    Nov 26: News you need to know before heading to work

    PTI’s conscience clean in foreign-funding case: PM Imran

    • Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said that the opposition was misleading the people in the foreign-funding case.
    • Speaking to his party’s spokespeople PM said, the PTI submitted all relevant details to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), noting that the leaders of two of the country’s biggest political parties made money through money-laundering.
    • Reacting to opposition’s call for APC he said they were doing so and protesting to mask their embarrassment. However, the people have rejected their protest.

    Nawaz to be admitted in hospital upon cardiologist’s advice

    • Dr Adnan Khan, has said that Professor Simon Redwood of the London Bridge Hospital had recommended hospital admission for the former prime minister to undergo angiogram followed by further intervention.
    • “Once he has gone through all haematological investigations, we will then have a clear picture of what is required next and what the exact treatment should be”, Dr Adnan added.

    Treason case: Musharraf, Govt file petition against special court’s verdict on Nov 28

    • The federal interior ministry and former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf both submitted pleas in the Islamabad High Court on Monday, requesting it to stop the special court from announcing its reserved verdict in the high treason case against the former army chief.
    • The special court, constituted to try the former military ruler for high treason, was set to announce its verdict on November 28. The IHC will hear the case on Tuesday.
    • The ministry in its plea has stated that the accusers to be tried with Pervez Musharraf were not included in the trial. The prosecution team was denotified on Oct 23, but it proceeded with the case on Oct 24 without having an authority in the matter.
  • Akcent’s lead vocalist had a ‘fantastic’ cup of tea with DG ISPR Gen Asif Ghafoor

    Akcent’s lead vocalist had a ‘fantastic’ cup of tea with DG ISPR Gen Asif Ghafoor

    Romanian pop band Akcent’s lead singer Adrian Sina, after his concert at the Alhamra Cultural Complex in Lahore, paid a visit to the ISPR Headquarters where he had a “fantastic cup of tea” with DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor.

    Taking to Twitter, the singer shared a short video of himself with Gen Ghafoor in which he says, “I am so happy that I had a chance to travel from Romania to Pakistan to meet General Asif Ghafoor and ISPR.”

    Sipping on his tea, he added, “I discovered, once again, that Pakistani tea is fantastic.”

    The Director-General of the ISPR had invited the band to have tea at his office when they announced their visit back in October.

    Meanwhile, Akcent’s concert in Lahore on Sunday was embroiled in controversy. The pop band was initially scheduled to perform at Governor House to ‘express solidarity with the Kashmiris’.

    However, the event drew ire on social media with users questioning the logic behind holding a concert to raise voice for Kashmir. Following the backlash, the Punjab government, including Governor Chaudhry Sarwar and Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, withdrew its support and logistics. The government also did not allow the organisers to provide Kashmir flags to the concert participants. All flexes referring to the oppression of Kashmiris were also pulled down.

    Since the Romanian band was invited and payments were made, it performed at the Alhamra Cultural Complex before a large crowed but without any gesture for held Kashmir – it was held as a music concert without any political or diplomatic agenda.

    Akcent performing at Alhamra

    The development upset many including Sina, who was reportedly disappointed that he could not speak a word about the Kashmiris. Sina’s press conference, which was scheduled at the Governor House, was also reportedly cancelled.

    Chief Minister’s Taskforce on Women Development chairperson Tanzila Imran Khan, the host of the event, also expressed her disappointed saying that she herself had contacted the band’s lead and made payments from her own pockets to raise voice for the Kashmiris.

  • No borders: Pakistani cricketers treat Indian cab driver to a meal

    No borders: Pakistani cricketers treat Indian cab driver to a meal

    India and Pakistan may not be on good terms as states but when it comes to their people, the story is different altogether.

    Sports commentator Allison Mitchell narrated a heartwarming story recently.

    https://twitter.com/abcgrandstand/status/1198442285509357570?s=21

    Allison shared that an Indian cab driver came to pick them up from the hotel in Brisbane at quarter to 6 to bring them to the cricket ground. He asked them if they were working or going to watch cricket and she told them that we work in the commentary. He got very excited and brought his phone out and showed them a picture with Pakistani cricketers.

    So a couple of days ago before picking up Mitchell and her team, he had been called to pick up someone from the hotel. It turned out that a group of Pakistani cricketers including Yasir Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Imran Khan, Musa Khan and Naseem Shah, wanted to go to an Indian restaurant for a meal. He was very happy to see them as he was a cricket fan. He did not charge them so the players asked him to join them for a meal.

  • Hindu pilgrims from India reach Pakistan to attend religious festivities in Sindh

    Hindu pilgrims from India reach Pakistan to attend religious festivities in Sindh

    After thousands of Sikhs, over 50 Hindu pilgrims, including women, arrived in Pakistan on Sunday from India to attend religious festivities in Sindh.

    According to the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) spokesperson Amir Hashmi, “as many as 51 Hindu pilgrims arrived in Pakistan via Wagah border where officials of the ETPB received them.”

    Hashmi said the pilgrims also include women and they left for Sindh province on special buses in high security to take part in their religious festivities.

    “The pilgrims will visit temples in Mirpur Mathelo, Sukker and Ghotki during their 10 days stay in Pakistan,” he said, adding the pilgrims will not be allowed to visit any other places. It is pertinent to mention here that the majority of Pakistan’s Hindu population is settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions and language with their Muslim fellows.

    Talking to the media at Wagah, the group leader of the visiting Hindus, Yudeshtar Lal, said they have brought a message of peace and love and stressed for enhancing people-to-people contact. He appreciated the Pakistan government’s decision to open some of the centuries-old temples in the country.

    Last month, the Pakistani government handed over centuries-old historical Shawala Teja Singh Temple in Sialkot to the Pakistan Hindu Council for worship after the completion of its renovation.

    Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan. According to official estimates, 75 lakh Hindus live in Pakistan. However, according to the community, over 90 lakh Hindus are living in the country.

  • PayPal not coming to Pakistan despite Asad Umar’s promise

    Former finance minister Asad Umar, earlier this year, had announced that the government was pushing for PayPal, the online payment system that supports online money transfer in over 200 countries, to come to Pakistan.

    A delegation from Pakistan’s Information Technology Ministry visited the United States in October to convince them to come to Pakistan but failed.

    Urdu News reported that PayPal officials told the delegation that Pakistan was not included in its three-year road map because it didn’t have adequate business opportunities.

    A Pakistani official of the National Institute of Technology said that PayPal changes its road map every year and Pakistan is still hopeful that they might come into the Pakistani market in the future.