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  • USA will deploy snipers for Pak-India match on June 9

    USA will deploy snipers for Pak-India match on June 9

    It’s nothing less than a war zone when arch-rivals Pakistan and India clash and the USA is prepared for it.

    USA will deploy snipers during the India-Pakistan T20 match in New York. The police department has prepared a complete security plan while the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) force will also support with special weapons.

    Some of these officials will be on duty in the stands as well. Nearby parks will remain closed, and fans entering the venue will be searched and screened in the same manner as is commonly seen at airports.

    Pakistan will face India on June 9 at Nassau County Cricket Stadium in New York.

  • Gold medalist to shoe-seller; two youths killed in Karachi

    Gold medalist to shoe-seller; two youths killed in Karachi

    Two incidents of youth being robbed and killed in Karachi have been reported in the past three days.

    20-year-old Abdul Basit was murdered by two robbers upon resistance near the Nasir Jump area of Korangi. He belonged to Quetta and used to sell slippers.

    An investigation has revealed that Basit had given money and mobile phones to the robbers but the robbers still shot him dead.

    Another incident that is making waves is the death of 27-year-old Itteqa Moin, a gold medalist mechanical engineer, and Hafiz-e-Quran who was killed on Saturday by robbers in Gulshan-i-Iqbal. The young man was pursuing an MBA from the Institute of Business Administration and got married a year ago.

    CCTV footage shows Itteqa returning from a bakery run when he was halted by two armed men on a motorcycle. They snatched his motorcycle, mobile phone, and cash, and started beating him, eventually shooting him dead.

    The family claims that the incident took place near their home and Itteqa had not put up resistance but was killed while the police’s version says that he did show “some resistance” and this provoked the robbers to open fire at him.

    SHO of the area has been suspended over failure to control crimes while the police investigation is ongoing.

    Police said that in Korangi Crossing, citizens caught two robbers and handed them over to the police in a severely injured condition. One of them died of serious injuries from the violence while the condition of the other is critical.

    However, the robber who was handed over to the police was not involved in the murder of Abdul Basit.

    Dawn’s Imtiaz Ali reported on April 5 this year that data presented in front of a high-level committee shows that more than 250 Karachiites were shot dead and 1,052 others were wounded by street criminals between 2022 and March 28, 2024.

  • Oil marketing companies in Pakistan report 26% increase in sales

    Oil marketing companies in Pakistan report 26% increase in sales

    The sales of oil marketing companies (OMCs) rose by 7 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in May 2024, reaching a nine-month high of 1.39 million tonnes (MTs), compared to 1.30 MTs in May 2023, according to data released by the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC).

    On a month-on-month (MoM) basis, oil sales surged by 26 per cent from April 2024, where sales were recorded at 1.10 MTs.

    In the ongoing fiscal year (11MFY24), cumulative sales stood at 13.83 MTs, a 9 per cent decline from 15.26 MTs recorded during the same period in the previous fiscal year (11MFY23).

    In May 2024, sales of Motor Spirit (MS) and High-Speed Diesel (HSD) increased by 1 per cent and 18 per cent YoY, amounting to 0.61 MTs and 0.64 MTs, respectively. Conversely, sales of Furnace Oil (FO) dropped by 24 per cent YoY to 0.07 MTs.

    On a MoM basis, the sales of MS, HSD, and FO rose by 14 per cent, 37 per cent, and 131 per cent, respectively.

    Attock Petroleum Limited experienced the highest increase in total oil sales, reaching 0.14 MTs, a 14 per cent YoY growth. Shell Pakistan Limited (PSX: SHEL) followed with a 13 per cent YoY increase to 0.10 MTs. 

    Pakistan State Oil (PSO) recorded an 11 per cent rise, reaching 0.67 MTs. In contrast, Hascol Petroleum Limited (HACOL) saw a 39 per cent YoY decline to 0.04 MTs.

    Compared to the previous month, the sales of PSO, APL, SHEL, and HASCOL increased by 19 per cent, 42 per cent, 23 per cent, and 51 per cent MoM, respectively.

    In 11MFY24, all OMCs reported a decline in sales.

    In May 2024, PSO maintained its dominance in the OMC industry with a market share of 47.9 per cent. APL and SHEL held market shares of 10.1 per cent and 7.2 per cent, respectively, during the review period.

  • Itna bara haar, kiska aur kitnay paison ka?

    Itna bara haar, kiska aur kitnay paison ka?

    A groom attracted more attention than he should have in Punjab Kot Addu’s district on his wedding day when his uncle gave him a 30-foot-long currency garland as salami.

    The garland, which was several times longer than the groom’s height, had Rs50 and Rs100 notes attached and was worth Rs500,000. 

    The groom, Sanaullah, got married in Kot Addu’s Mirpur Phagal area. His uncle Sajjad Hijana gave him the currency garland as salami.

    Guests from the groom’s side stayed busy handling the garland during the event.

  • Vawda refuses to offer unconditional apology in contempt case

    Vawda refuses to offer unconditional apology in contempt case

    Senator Faisal Vawda has refused to render an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court in the contempt of court case, saying that his remarks were not different from others.

    In his defence, Vawda submitted transcripts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Jamiat Ulema e Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Raoof Hasan’s speeches wherein they had passed hard-hitting statements against the judiciary.

    Vawda strongly criticised the judiciary over six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges’ letter to SJC alleging intelligence agencies’ interference in judicial matters and also alleged dual nationality of Justice Babar Sattar of IHC.

    On May 15, the senator, in a press briefing, asked the court to show restraint in the contempt of court proceedings over his anti-judiciary remarks.

    He also asked the Supreme Court to withdraw the contempt charges against him, saying that the purpose behind the controversial press briefing was the country’s well-being.

  • Lights, camera, action: Minister promises tax relief to stimulate entertainment sector

    Lights, camera, action: Minister promises tax relief to stimulate entertainment sector

    In a move set to ignite the entertainment industry, Punjab Finance Minister Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman has pledged tax concessions to help filmmakers and cinema owners, during a meeting with a star-studded delegation of film producers and the Cinema Association, led by singer Waris Baig.

    The delegation included:
    • Zulfiqar Ahmed, Chairman of the Pakistan Film Producers Association
    • Producer and director Shehzad Rafiq
    • Safdar Malik, General Manager of Q Cinemas
    • Rabia Khan, General Manager of Cinepax Cinemas
    • Azhar Joya, General Manager of Universal Cinemas
    • Nadeem Mandviwala

    Shujaur Rehman emphasized the importance of the entertainment industry and encouraged filmmakers to revive traditional Punjabi cinema. He also urged provinces to become less dependent on federal funds by ensuring that industrialists pay their taxes.

    Additionally, he mentioned ongoing construction in the Nawaz Sharif IT City and plans to lower electricity and gas bills in the next budget.
    The film industry representatives highlighted the need for government support to revive the industry and proposed several initiatives. The minister assured them that he would consider their suggestions.

  • Sri Lankan players unhappy with World Cup schedule and travel

    Sri Lankan players unhappy with World Cup schedule and travel

    Sri Lankan cricket team captain Wanindu Hasaranga and spin bowler Mahesh Thekshana have raised their voices on the difficulties faced by the team and described the World Cup schedule as unfair.

    Sri Lanka and the Netherlands are scheduled to play four opening-round matches at four different venues while India and South Africa are playing three matches at one venue.

    The 15-member squad started the day at the end Brooklyn Hotel at 7 am, but media activities had to end early to allow the team to reach the airport for the next match as soon as the South Africa game ended.

    The spin bowler said, “It’s all very unfair. After every match we have to travel, we have to wait for eight hours for flights. It’s unfair for us and it doesn’t make sense.”

    “Due to travel logistics, we also had to cancel the training session in New York. Our hotel was an hour and 40 minutes away from the venue. We had to get up at 5 in the morning. I won’t name them, but some teams’ hotels are 14 minutes away,” he said.

    The captain said “It’s a tough day for us, four matches at four different venues which is tough, we have no idea about the conditions,”

    In the fourth match of the T20 World Cup, South Africa defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets on Monday.

  • IHC orders CDA to de-seal PTI office in Islamabad

    IHC orders CDA to de-seal PTI office in Islamabad

    Providing yet another relief to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Tuesday has ordered the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to de-seal the party’s Central Secretariat.

    Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz said in a six-page written order, “CDA may take action strictly by the law in case of any non-conformity or violation of the applicable laws.”

    Furthermore, the order stated that the CDA had issued a show-cause notice to the previous owner in 2022 and 2023 but without providing an explanation.

    It also said that the CDA did not issue a prior notice to the PTI before sealing its office, a claim supported by the party leaders.

    PTI moved the IHC seeking its order to de-seal its central secretariat in Islamabad after the CDA had demolished a portion of the building.

  • Court rejects poet Ahmad Farhad’s bail plea

    Court rejects poet Ahmad Farhad’s bail plea

    An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Muzafarabad has rejected the bail petition of Kashmiri poet Ahmed Farhad on Tuesday, one day after the court reserved a verdict after hearing arguments from both sides.

    The poet’s wife Urooj Zainab told journalists that she will challenge the court’s decision.

    “Details of why the bail was rejected were not disclosed,” she said addressing the press.

    The poet came into the spotlight when he went missing amid recent protests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

    The Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP), Mansoor Usman Awan told Islamabad High Court (IHC) on May 29 that Kashmir police arrested Farhad after he went missing for 15 days.

    The poet’s wife, Urooj Zainab stated in a petition for her husband’s recovery that Farhad was allegedly abducted on May 14 from Islamabad.

  • Mexican mayor killed day after Sheinbaum presidential win: regional govt

    Mexican mayor killed day after Sheinbaum presidential win: regional govt

    The mayor of a town in western Mexico was killed on Monday, the regional government said, barely 24 hours after Claudia Sheinbaum was elected the Latin American country’s first woman president.

    The Michoacan state government condemned “the murder of the municipal president (mayor) of Cotija, Yolanda Sanchez Figueroa”, the regional interior ministry said in a post on the social media platform X.

    The murder of the woman mayor comes after Sheinbaum’s landslide victory injected hope for change in a country riven by rampant gender-based violence.

    Sanchez, who was elected mayor in 2021 elections, was gunned down on a public road, according to local media.

    Authorities have not given details on the murder, but said a security operation had been launched to arrest the killers.

    The politician was previously kidnapped in September last year while leaving a shopping mall in the city of Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco, which neighbors Michoacan.

    Three days later the federal government said she had been found alive.

    According to local media reports at the time, the kidnappers belonged to the powerful Jalisco Cartel – New Generation (CJNG), who allegedly threatened the mayor for opposing the criminal group’s takeover of her municipality’s police force.

    Michoacan is renowned for its tourist destinations and a thriving agro-export industry, but is also one of the most violent states in the country due to the presence of extortion and drug trafficking gangs.