Blog

  • Jordan defeats Pakistan by 7-0 in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

    Jordan defeats Pakistan by 7-0 in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

    In the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup Qualifier 2, Jordan beat Pakistan 7-0 at the International Stadium Oman yesterday.

    Players of the host team attacked the Pakistani goal right at the beginning, as a result of which they got the first success in the fifteenth minute thanks to a goal by Musa Al-Tmari.

    Jordan’s second goal was scored by Yazan-ul-Naimat on a penalty kick in the 28th minute. After losing, the Pakistani team also attacked the opponent’s goal, but they did not succeed.

    The score was 0-2 at the break, in the 7th minute of the second half, Saeed Al-Rossan scored the third goal for Jordan, 10 minutes later, taking advantage of another opportunity, the Jordanian team managed to score the fourth goal, this goal was scored by Musa Al-Tmari which was also his second goal.

    The fifth goal was scored by Ali Alwan in the 75th minute, while Musa Al-Tmari make Jordan’s lead 0-6 in 79th minute and also complete his hat-trick.

    Abu Muhammad scored the seventh and last goal for the host team in the 83rd minute and thus Pakistan lost 0-7.

    This is the biggest Pakistani defeat in football since the last 16 years. Pakistan have lost all four of their matches in Qualifier 2 so far.

  • Naumaan Ijaz’s cryptic message for Presidential awards leaves fans confused

    Naumaan Ijaz’s cryptic message for Presidential awards leaves fans confused

    Veteran actor Nauman Ijaz seems to not be too happy with the list of people that received the Presidential Awards. However, we can’t really tell, because he was a bit too cryptic in his message, leaving us scratching our heads.

    Recently, the actor talked about the Sitara E Imtiaz awards. He congratulated the celebrities who received it and admired the people who nominated those artists.
    Sharing his opinion on Instagram, the actor wrote, “Congratulations to those who got Sitara E Imtiaz, I think those who have distributed these awards, should also get Sitara E Jurrat – Jin jin ko sitar e imtiaz mila un sab doston ko bohat bohat mubarik… Mujhay lagta ha inko awards denay wallay ko beh Sitara e jurat milna chaheay. Pakistan zindabad.”
    Here is the post shared by Naumaan Ijaz.

  • Russia claims West aided Moscow attackers

    Russia claims West aided Moscow attackers

    The head of Russia’s FSB security agency claimed Tuesday that Western and Ukrainian special services had aided the attackers who stormed a Moscow concert hall last week, killing dozens.

    Russia continues to allege Ukraine was somehow involved in Friday’s massacre, even after President Vladimir Putin acknowledged “radical Islamists” had carried it out.

    “We believe the action was prepared both by the radical Islamists themselves and, of course, facilitated by Western special services, and Ukraine’s special services themselves have a direct connection to this,” FSB head Alexander Bortnikov was cited as saying by Russian news agencies.

    He also repeated the Kremlin’s claim that the attackers tried fleeing over the Ukrainian border, an assertion that Kyiv has called absurd.

    “I’ll let you in on a little secret: they were going to be greeted as heroes on the other side,” Bortnikov said.

    He added that while Russia understood who organised the attack, “the one who ordered it has not been identified yet”.

    He did not provide evidence for his assertions and Ukraine has vehemently denied any role.

    Islamic State jihadists have said several times since Friday that they were responsible, and IS-affiliated media channels have published graphic videos of the gunmen inside the venue.

  • Pakistan ‘mapping’ resident Afghans before eviction push

    Pakistan ‘mapping’ resident Afghans before eviction push

    Pakistan is gathering data on Afghan migrants – including those legally resident in the country – ahead of a renewed eviction push slated to start after Eid, official sources told AFP on Tuesday.

    More than half a million Afghans fled Pakistan last year after the former government ordered undocumented migrants to leave or face arrest, as Islamabad-Kabul relations soured over security.

    Islamabad initially set a November 2023 deadline, however two officials, who asked to remain anonymous, said evictions would resume in the coming weeks.

    “This time, instructions have been given to also collect data and conduct mapping of legally resident Afghan citizens,” said a top government official in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bordering Afghanistan.

    A senior Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police official said whilst “a final decision” has not yet been taken by the government, “police have sprung into action regarding Afghan citizens”.

    “The federal government has directed to not only collect data of legal and illegal Afghan citizens but also to conduct their mapping,” he said.

    Two officials, who asked not to be named, previously told AFP the renewed push to evict migrants will begin after Eid, the holiday marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramazan, set to be celebrated in April’s second week.

    Pakistan’s interior ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

    Islamabad has previously said the massive eviction scheme is justified by security concerns and its faltering economy.

    The Taliban government has consistently denied the allegations.

    Millions of Afghans have poured into Pakistan over the years, fleeing decades of cascading conflict.

    Afghans who left Pakistan last year were only allowed to cross the border with limited belongings and cash, and arrived in the midst of one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

    Some had never set foot in Afghanistan before, having been born in Pakistan to Afghan parents.

    An estimated 600,000 arrived since the Taliban government seized power in August 2021 and imposed its stark interpretation of Islamic law.

    Before the first wave of evictions began, Pakistan estimated there were 1.7 million Afghans living illegally in the country.

    The stand-off between Islamabad and Kabul worsened last week when eight civilians were killed in Pakistani air strikes in Afghanistan’s border regions, according to Taliban officials.

  • Babar Azam likely to become captain for T20 World Cup 2024

    Babar Azam likely to become captain for T20 World Cup 2024

    Former captain Babar Azam is being considered again for the captaincy of the Pakistan cricket team for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, Sohail Imran has reported for Geo News.

    According to sources, Babar Azam is likely to become captain once again. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials are reportedly in contact with Babar Azam.

    Sources say that Azam has reached Lahore on Tuesday night after performing Umrah and now the possibility of the batting maestro meeting with board officials is high before he leaves for Abbottabad.

    Sources close to the batter say confirm reports but Babar Azam has not yet made up his mind to accept the offer of captaincy.

    After PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s comments on the appointment of a captain in a press conference, rumors have multiplied. Naqvi has entrusted the decision of captaincy to the selection committee.

    In November last year, former Chairman Management Committee Zaka Ashraf removed Babar Azam from the captaincy, after which Shaheen Afridi was appointed as the captain of T20 and Shan Masood as the captain of Test format.

  • IMF engagement should not hinder Pakistan’s economic progress: PM Shehbaz

    IMF engagement should not hinder Pakistan’s economic progress: PM Shehbaz

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif asserted on Tuesday that any forthcoming engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) must not impede Pakistan’s economic progress.

    His remarks come in the wake of discussions regarding a potential Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with the IMF, scheduled for deliberation in Washington next month, as the nation grapples with mitigating a looming economic crisis.

    With the expiration of the standby $3 billion arrangement with the IMF looming on April 11, recent negotiations have culminated in a staff-level agreement, paving the way for the disbursal of the final tranche of $1.1 billion.

    PM Shehbaz, following his re-inauguration, promptly directed his financial team to initiate efforts towards securing an EFF from the IMF.

    Speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad, the Prime Minister underscored the indispensability of another IMF programme while highlighting the imperative of simultaneously pursuing economic expansion.

    He highlighted key areas such as agriculture, IT exports, and both traditional and non-traditional exports as avenues for growth, questioning any limitations posed by an IMF programme on such initiatives.

    “If there is an IMF programme, who has stopped you from doubling agriculture output? from increasing IT exports? from increasing traditional and non-traditional exports?” PM Shehbaz posited, stressing the compatibility of economic growth initiatives with an IMF programme.

    He cautioned against using the IMF as an excuse for stagnation, urging prioritisation of domestically controllable economic avenues.

    In reiterating his stance, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif conveys a dual commitment to engaging with the IMF while ensuring a steadfast focus on bolstering Pakistan’s economic trajectory, fostering employment, and curbing inflation.

    As the nation navigates through economic challenges, the Prime Minister’s emphasis on proactive economic strategies resonates as a call to action for sustainable growth and resilience.

  • Meta’s ban on word ‘shaheed’ restricts free expression: Oversight Board

    Meta’s ban on word ‘shaheed’ restricts free expression: Oversight Board

    Meta’s independent Oversight Board urged the company to revise its broad ban on the Arabic word “shaheed,” which translates to “martyr” in English.

    After a year-long review, the board found Meta’s current policy to be overly restrictive, silencing millions of users.

    The board, funded by Meta but operating autonomously, recommends keeping “shaheed” posts only if they directly promote violence or violate existing Meta content guidelines.

    This decision follows mounting criticism, particularly regarding Meta’s handling of content related to the Middle East.

    A 2021 study commissioned by Meta itself revealed a negative impact on the free expression rights of Palestinians and Arabic users.

    Criticism further intensified during the 2021 Israel-Hamas conflict, with accusations of content censorship on Facebook and Instagram.

    The oversight board’s report highlights Meta’s failure to consider the various meanings of “shaheed,” leading to the removal of harmless content.

    Co-chair Helle Thorning-Schmidt argues that Meta’s heavy reliance on censorship might unintentionally marginalise entire communities without effectively improving safety.

    Currently, Meta removes any post containing “shaheed” if it mentions someone on their “dangerous organisations” list. This includes Islamist groups, drug cartels, white supremacist organisations, and Hamas.

    Meta sought the board’s guidance after failing to reach an internal consensus on revising the policy in 2020. The board noted that “shaheed” was the most frequently removed term across Meta platforms.

    A Meta spokesperson confirmed they would review the recommendations and respond within 60 days.

  • Traffic police in Karachi to suspend challan issuance from 5pm to Iftar

    Traffic police in Karachi to suspend challan issuance from 5pm to Iftar

    In his inaugural address at the Scout Auditorium, the newly appointed Chief of Metropolitan Traffic Police, DIG Ahmed Nawaz Cheema, stressed the importance of fostering a positive relationship with the public among traffic officials.

    Under his directive, traffic officers are prohibited from issuing challans between 5pm and Iftar, with the aim of ensuring smooth traffic flow to facilitate citizens’ journey home.

    Instead of immediately penalising families for traffic violations, Cheema advocates for a more lenient approach, urging officers to issue warnings in such cases. He stressed the gravity of one-way violations, highlighting their potential to cause accidents and disrupt traffic flow, and highlighted the need for strict enforcement.

    Furthermore, Cheema underscored that any misconduct or confrontation by officers will result in disciplinary action. Challan officers are instructed to only issue fines for moving violations, while addressing the issue of obstructive parking by cars, rickshaws, and motorcycles.

    According to Express News, to enhance accountability and transparency, officers are required to wear body-worn cameras during challan issuance. Additionally, Cheema has mandated unity among officers and officials.

    Among other directives, strict adherence to the fast lane on Shahrah-e-Faisal and the utilisation of designated bike lanes by motorcyclists are enforced. Moreover, the removal of illegally parked six and nine-seater rickshaws has been ordered.

    Cheema has instructed all sections to prominently display timing boards for vehicle lifting in their respective areas, with vehicles only to be towed in cases of double or illegal parking.

  • Ichra mob case: Three suspects get bail

    Ichra mob case: Three suspects get bail

    An Anti-Terrorism Court on Monday has granted post-arrest bail to three suspects allegedly involved in the harassment of a woman in Ichra market for wearing a shirt with Arabic script printed on it, reports Dawn.

    The suspects, identified as Muhammad Nadeem, Adil Sarwar, and Altimash Saqlain, were arrested and sent to jail on judicial remand after the court denied further custody to the police on March 19.

    The lawyers for the suspects argued in the court that the police arrested their clients without any evidence, and only under pressure to show performance to the government.

    Judge Arshad Javed allowed bail petitions of the suspects subject to furnishing surety bonds of Rs100,000 each.

    The judge also disposed of pre-arrest bail petitions of two other suspects — Maulana Aleemuddin Shakir and Khalid Shehansha — as withdrawn in the light of a discharge report submitted by the police.

    In the FIR lodged a week after the incident it was stated that dozens of people accused a woman of blasphemy in Ichra bazaar as they confused the Arabic text printed on her shirt with Quranic verses. The mob threatened to kill the woman. A police team led by ASP Sheharbano Naqvi rescued the woman and shifted her to a police station.

  • Struggling for a can of food: starving Gazans scramble for aid drops

    Struggling for a can of food: starving Gazans scramble for aid drops

    A military plane banked over the war-ravaged ruins of Gaza City dropping dozens of black parachutes carrying food aid.

    On the ground, where almost no building within sight was still standing, hungry men and boys raced towards the beach where most of the aid seemed to have landed.

    Dozens of them jostled intensely to get to the food, with scrums forming up and down the rubble-strewn dunes.

    “People are dying just to get a can of tuna,” said Mohamad al-Sabaawi, carrying an almost empty bag on his shoulder, a young boy beside him.

    “The situation is tragic, as if we are in a famine. What can we do? They mock us by giving us a small can of tuna.”

    Aid groups say only a fraction of the supplies required to meet basic humanitarian needs have arrived in Gaza since October, while the UN has warned of famine in the north of the territory by May without urgent intervention.

    The aid entering the Gaza Strip by land is far below pre-war levels, at around 150 vehicles a day compared to at least 500 before the war, according to UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

    With Gazans increasingly desperate, foreign governments have turned to airdrops, in particular in the hard-to-reach northern parts of the territory including Gaza City.

    The United States, France and Jordan are among several countries conducting airdrops to people living within the ruins of what was the besieged territory’s biggest city.

    But the aircrews themselves told AFP that the drops were insufficient.

    US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Anderson noted earlier this month that what they were able to deliver was only a “drop in the bucket” of what was needed.

    The air operation has also been marred by deaths. Five people on the ground were killed by one drop and 10 others injured after parachutes malfunctioned, according to a medic in Gaza.

    Calls have mounted for Israel to allow in more aid overland, while Israel has blamed the UN and UNRWA for not distributing aid in Gaza.

    “Palestinians in Gaza desperately need what has been promised — a flood of aid. Not trickles. Not drops,” UN chief Antonio Guterres said on Sunday after visiting Gaza’s southern border crossing with Egypt at Rafah.

    “Looking at Gaza, it almost appears that the four horsemen of war, famine, conquest and death are galloping across it,” he added.

    Israel has intensified its attacks in Gaza, killing at least 32,333 people, according to the health ministry in Gaza.

    Returning home in Gaza City with little to keep his family going, another Palestinian man said their situation was miserable.

    “We are the people of Gaza, waiting for aid drops, willing to die to get a can of beans — which we then share among 18 people,” he said.