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  • ECP issues notice to Gandapur over disqualification petition in property case

    ECP issues notice to Gandapur over disqualification petition in property case

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has sent a notice to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur after a petition was filed against him for misleading the commission about a piece of land, The News reported on Wednesday.

    Two members of the ECP bench, including Sindh Member Nisar Ahmad Durrani and Balochistan Member Shah Muhammad Jatoi, heard the plea and adjourned the hearing of the case till March 26.

    In a short order, the electoral authority decided to send a notification to newly-elected KP chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who won his provincial seat from Dera Ismail Khan.

    In his plea, Muhammad Kafeel — the petitioner — claimed that 735-kanals of land, situated in Mouzah Girah Muhabbat and Muzah Rohri, Kulachi, district DI Khan, was transferred in the name of Gandapur temporarily while Asif Khan was the real owner.   

    Muhammad Kafeel highlighted that Gandapur is not the actual owner of property and he was supposed to return the property back to actual owner on his demand.

    The petitioner said in liabilities forms furnished for the year 2020 and duly published, Gandapur had allegedly shown purchase of a Toyota Land Cruiser, YB-777 from the funds which he received from the sale of 735 kanal land. He also contended that on account of such wrong declaration, Gandapur was not qualified to hold the office of member provincial assembly.

    With the signatures of ECP Sindh member, the order said, “We have heard preliminary arguments which need consideration on merits. Office to issue notice to respondent No. 5 (Ali Amin Gandapur) for the date fixed through District Election Commissioner concerned. The service report of DEC shall reach to this office before the date fixed. Case to come up on 26.03.2024.”

  • New restaurant timings, environmental awareness among youth: Lahore High Court

    New restaurant timings, environmental awareness among youth: Lahore High Court

    The Lahore High Court has approved the opening of restaurants in Punjab from iftar till sehr.

    The court has also ordered schools to introduce one period a week on the environment, including practical activities, as the goal for the court is to inculcate environmental awareness in the population from a young age.

    The court has asked for a detailed report on the revised curriculum to be tendered in the next hearing.

    It has also sought a plan from Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) for a cleanliness campaign which must include students so that they contribute in countering pollution and uncleanliness in the city.

    Moreover, the Court has also instructed Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) officials to put an end to tree-cutting and to brief the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) beforehand.

  • Is Sidhu Moose Wala’s mother pregnant? Family issues statement

    Is Sidhu Moose Wala’s mother pregnant? Family issues statement

    Reports have been going around lately about the possible pregnancy of Charan Singh, who is the late singer Sidhu Moose Wala’s mother. However, his father Balkaur Singh, aged 60, has now cleared up the rumors and said it’s not true.

    According to Pinkvilla, Singh wrote in Punjabi on his Facebook, “We are thankful to Sidhu’s well-wishers who are worried about our family. But we want to tell you not to believe the many stories being spread about the family.”

    In February 2024, it was said that the couple had tried IVF treatment to have another child and were expecting to welcome the baby in March. But Singh has now spoken up and also said in his Facebook post, “If there’s any news, our family will share it with all of you.”

    In May 2022, 58-year-old Charan and Balkaur Singh faced a heartbreaking loss when their son, Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, widely known as Sidhu Moose Wala, was shot and killed.

    Sidhu, born in June 1993, was their only child. He made a big mark in the Punjabi rap music world, rising to fame in 2017. His songs, including some released after his death, still gather millions of views on YouTube. After their son’s tragic passing, Moose Wala’s parents have been actively seeking justice for him.

  • Only one woman could make it to Sindh Cabinet

    Only one woman could make it to Sindh Cabinet

    In a simple ceremony held at the Governor House on Monday, nine members of the newly formed 13-member provincial cabinet of Sindh took the oath of office.

    Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori presided over the ceremony, which saw the participation of Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and senior bureaucrats. Notably, only one woman was included in the provincial cabinet this time.

    Among those sworn in were familiar faces from Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah’s previous tenure, including Sharjeel Inam Memon, Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Saeed Ghani, Jam Khan Shoro, Ziaul Hussain Lanjar, Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Mahar, and Ali Hassan Zardari. Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah was unable to attend the ceremony as he was reported to be in Islamabad.

    Additionally, Chief Minister Shah appointed three advisers—Allah Dino Khan Bhayo, Ehsan ur Rehman Mazari, and Syed Najmi Alam—to assist in governance.

    Sharjeel Memon was given the transport, mass transit department, excise, taxation and narcotics control department.

    Dr Azra Pechuho, younger sister of President Asif Zardari, was again given the portfolio of the health department and population welfare department like in the previous tenure of the PPP-led provincial government.

    Nasir Shah was given the energy department, which was previously held by Imtiaz Shaikh, and the planning & development department.

    Sardar Shah also retained his previous portfolio of school education and literacy department and college education department. He was given an additional portfolio of mines and minerals development.

    Saeed Ghani, who held different portfolios in previous tenures including information, was once again allotted the department of local government, in addition to the public health engineering and rural development department.

    Jam Khan Shoro, who was the irrigation minister in the previous tenure, this time retained the department. Furthermore, he was allotted food ministry as well.

    Zia Lanjar, a career lawyer and former provincial law minister, was given portfolios of home, law, parliamentary affairs, and criminal prosecution departments.

    Muhammad Bux Mahar was allotted agriculture, supply & prices department, sports & youth affairs department, and inquiries and anti-corruption establishment.

    Earlier in 2018, he was appointed as adviser to the CM on industries and commerce and later he was given the additional ministerial portfolio of sports and youth affairs.

    Ali Hassan Zardari, who was inducted into the provincial cabinet for the first time, was given the prisons department, while Zulfiqar Shah was given the culture, tourism, antiquities & archives department.

    Adviser Allah Dino Bhayo was given the forest and wildlife department, Ehsan Mazari inter-provincial coordination department and cooperative department.

    Najmi Alam, who is also the parliamentary leader of the PPP in the City Council, was appointed adviser on human settlement, spatial development, social housing development, and livestock & fisheries department.

  • Huge blast kills two, injures 26 in northern China

    A huge suspected gas explosion at a restaurant in northern China killed two people and injured 26 more during Wednesday rush hour, state media reported, causing severe damage to buildings.

    The blast occurred just before 8:00 am (0000 GMT), state broadcaster CCTV said, in a residential area in the city of Sanhe, Hebei province, less than 50 kilometres (30 miles) east of the centre of Bejing.

    CCTV reported at 1:30 pm that two people had since died and that 26 were injured. The fire has been extinguished, it added.

    The explosion was suspected to have been caused by a gas leak at a fried chicken shop, state media reported.

    “I heard a great big bang… which scared me stiff,” a seller at a local market told AFP.

    “Outside, I saw clouds of black smoke,” they added.

    Another seller said they also heard a “huge bang” from the blast site, in a bustling area of squat apartment blocks about six or seven floors high.

    An AFP team at the scene also observed police waving oncoming traffic away from an entrance to the neighbourhood where the explosion occurred.

    From a police cordon on the north side of the blast zone, they could see a tower of grey smoke a few hundred metres (yards) away, with what appeared to be a crane positioned near it.

    ‘Destroyed‘

    Footage online circulated by state media showed a huge explosion that sent plumes of smoke and fire across a busy road.

    Another video on social media verified by AFP showed what appeared to be a building that had completely collapsed as well as several destroyed cars and debris strewn across the street.

    The blast blew out shop facades opposite, footage shared on video-sharing site Douyin showed. The uploader told AFP the explosion took place 200 metres from her home.

    Rescue workers rushed to the scene, with the local Langfang fire department saying 36 emergency vehicles and 154 personnel had been dispatched.

    A merchant working at a nearby store told state-run Jimu News she had been in her shop when she heard a bang.

    She ran out of her store and saw a building on fire, she said, adding that “the whole building was virtually destroyed”.

    Accidents common

    Explosions and other deadly accidents are common in China due to lax safety standards and poor enforcement.

    Last month, at least 15 people were killed and 44 injured in a fire at a residential building in the eastern city of Nanjing.

    In January, dozens died after a fire broke out at a store in the central city of Xinyu, with state news agency Xinhua reporting the blaze had been caused by the “illegal” use of fire by workers in the store’s basement.

    That fire came just days after a late-evening blaze at a school in central Henan province killed 13 schoolchildren as they slept in a dormitory.

    Domestic media reports suggested the fire was caused by an electric heating device.

    And in November last year, 26 people were killed and dozens sent to hospital after a fire at a coal company office in northern Shanxi province.

    Last June, an explosion at a barbecue restaurant in the northwest of the country left 31 dead and prompted official pledges of a nationwide campaign to promote workplace safety.

  • Salman Khan unveils new film, describes it as special collaboration

    Salman Khan unveils new film, describes it as special collaboration

    Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, known for his roles in action-packed films like ‘Tiger 3’, is teaming up with director AR Murugadoss for an upcoming film. Set to release on Eid 2025, Salman shared the exciting news on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.
    Salman tweeted: “Glad to join forces with the exceptionally talented, ARMurugadoss and my friend, #SajidNadiadwala for a very exciting film!! This collaboration is special, and I look forward to this journey with your love and blessings. Releasing EID 2025.”
    AR Murugadoss, known for his successful films like ‘Ghajini’ and ‘Holiday: A Soldier Is Never off Duty’ in Tamil cinema, brings his expertise to this highly anticipated collaboration.

  • Usama Mir creates new history in Pakistan Super League

    Usama Mir creates new history in Pakistan Super League

    Multan Sultans spinner Usama Mir has created history in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) becoming the highest wicket-taking spinner in a single edition of the League.

    He has taken 21 wickets so far, surpassing Rashid Khan who took 20 wickets in the previous edition.

    Hasan Ali took 25 wickets in 2019, Abbas Afridi took 23 wickets in 2023, Ihsanullah took 22 wickets while Faheem Ashraf took 21 wickets in the 2019 edition.

    All four players who have taken more wickets than Usama Mir are fast bowlers.

  • PCB finalizes schedule for April series against New Zealand

    PCB finalizes schedule for April series against New Zealand

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finalized the schedule of the five match T20 series against New Zealand in April.

    The Kiwis will arrive in Islamabad on April 14. The five-match series will be played between April 18 and 27. All the matches of the series will be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore.

    The first three matches of the series will be played in Rawalpindi on April 18, 20 and 21, while the matches on April 25 and 27 will be played in Lahore.

  • Hassan, Hussain Nawaz reach Lahore after suspension of arrest warrants

    Hassan, Hussain Nawaz reach Lahore after suspension of arrest warrants

    After the suspension of arrest warrants by an accountability court, Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz — sons of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif- have reached Lahore on Tuesday.  

    Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif received his sons at his residence, Jati Umrah, Geo has reported.

    Last week, an accountability court suspended the arrest warrants for Hassan and Hussain Nawaz in the Al-Azizia, Flagship, and Avenfield cases.

    Judge Nasir Javed of an accountability court announced the decision. The arrest warrants for Nawaz Sharif’s sons are suspended until March 14.

    The warrants of the brothers were issued seven years ago when the court had declared them absconders.

    Earlier, their lawyer Qazi Misbah filed the plea seeking suspension of the warrants were filed as both brothers planned to return to Pakistan on March 12. National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutors Sardar Muzaffar, Usman Masood and Sohail Arif also appeared in the court.

  • ‘There is a serious threat alert,’ Azma Bukhari defends barring meetings with Imran Khan in Adiala Jail

    ‘There is a serious threat alert,’ Azma Bukhari defends barring meetings with Imran Khan in Adiala Jail

    Punjab government has clarified on Tuesday that recent restrictions imposed at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail were not intended to obstruct meetings of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders with party founder Imran Khan.

    The statement came after Khan, the former prime minister imprisoned in several cases and serving more than three decades of sentences, was barred from holding meetings inside Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail for two weeks owing to security concerns.

    “This move wasn’t made to take away any facility from him [Khan]. There is a serious threat alert, which is under investigation,” Punjab’s Information Minister Azma Bukhari told Geo News’ Shahzeb Khanzada.

    Denying PTI’s claims of a false flag operation, Bukhari assured that Khan was being provided with all necessary facilities and emphasized the importance of ensuring the security of all prisoners at Adiala Jail.

    “The incident is under investigation. A series of threat alerts have been issued. These measures were taken to ensure the security of all the prisoners. The security of the facility has to be improved,” she said.

    Slamming PTI’s allegations that the capture of the terrorists was a false flag operation, Bukhari clarified that the opposition party “sees conspiracies” in everything, assuring the party that their leader was being provided all prison facilities.

    “There’s a threat in general [to the Adiala Jail], not Imran Khan, that something unpleasant might happen. Therefore, it is important not only to ensure Imran Khan’s security but everyone else’s.”

    Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan expressed severe concerns over the sudden ban on Khan’s meetings, fearing for the former prime minister’s safety. He demanded immediate consultations with Khan and sought details regarding his health.

    In a related development, the Punjab Home Department requested the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to postpone a meeting between KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Imran Khan due to the prevailing security situation. Temporary restrictions on visits and meetings have been imposed in various jails across Punjab as a precautionary measure against potential threats.

    The Home Department highlighted the existence of multiple security threats to several jails, including Adiala Jail, and directed authorities to conduct security audits and bomb disposal operations promptly.

    As tensions escalate, the Punjab government remains vigilant in safeguarding the security of inmates and ensuring the smooth functioning of correctional facilities across the province.

    Read more: No more meetings with Imran Khan in Adiala Jail but who ordered the ban?