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  • What election-related matters are Pakistanis searching on Google?

    What election-related matters are Pakistanis searching on Google?

    As the much-anticipated general elections in 2024 draw near, Google has taken a noteworthy step to provide insight into the search pattern of Pakistanis.

    In preparation for the polls scheduled for February 8, 2024, the technology giant has unveiled the “Google Trends Pakistan General Election” page.

    Search interest of people in Pakistan in the last 14 days indicate that 77 per cent searched for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, 14 per cent searched for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and only 3 per cent searches were related to Pakistan Peoples Party.

    The innovative platform aims to offer valuable insights into the questions actively being searched by people in Pakistan concerning political parties, election topics, and general interests.

    The most searched questions include, what is the date of the election in Pakistan, will the caretaker minister be changed, and how to get into politics.

    The dedicated trends page not only highlights the top election-related topics but also categorizes them based on regions, providing a comprehensive view of concerns and interests prevalent across the country.

    It is important to note that Google emphasizes that the trends page is not a survey or a reflection of voting behavior. Instead, it serves as a dynamic tool showcasing evolving interests and search queries.

    “While it is a valuable resource for understanding what people are searching for, it’s crucial to clarify that a spike in a particular search query does not indicate the popularity or success of a political party. It is not a measure of voting intentions but rather a reflection of the evolving search interests of the public,” stated Google in its official announcement.

  • Former cricketer Khalid Latif will contest election on TLP ticket

    Former cricketer Khalid Latif will contest election on TLP ticket

    Former Pakistani cricketer Khalid Latif has decided to contest the upcoming general elections on behalf of Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP).

    Right-handed cricketer Latif, who has represented Pakistan in five One-Day Internationals, is contesting from the provincial assembly seat PS 89, Malir in Karachi.

    According to Geo News, TLP chief Saad Rizvi had contacted Khalid Latif to offer him a ticket pitched against PPP’s Hakeem Baloch from NA-231.

    Sources say that Khalid Latif has accepted the PS 89 ticket, leading to a contest against Saleem Baloch of PPP and Ashraf Samu of PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami’s Shoaib Haider.

    In September 2023 Khalid Latif was sentenced for inciting the murder of far-right politician Geert Wilders. Latif was being tried in absentia in the Netherlands.

  • Why YouTuber Asad’s wife isn’t appearing in his videos

    Why YouTuber Asad’s wife isn’t appearing in his videos

    Popular Pakistani YouTubers Nimra and Asad got married in 2020, taking their internet fame to the next level. Fans liked their wedding photos and enjoyed watching their videos on YouTube. But now, Asad has a message for his viewers about his videos taking a radically different line.

    Asad shared a video online where he explained why he won’t be featuring his family in videos anymore. “Many people were asking me why I stopped sharing family content and why I don’t show my wife on social media. I want to tell you that I made this decision quite quickly. We often chase after money and worldly desires without thinking about Allah and Islamic teachings. I read something about people who won’t be forgiven, including those who are disrespectful to parents, those who dress up like the other gender, and those who show their wives to the world. After reading that, I decided to stop sharing family content. I will still do vlogging, and you will see me and Azlan. I will post good content but won’t show other family members.” Here is the link to the video:

  • Why are electoral symbols important, and how does ECP allot them to candidates?

    Why are electoral symbols important, and how does ECP allot them to candidates?

    Electoral symbols are allocated by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to political parties and independent candidates participating in general elections.

    Major political parties in the country have established electoral symbols, including a bat for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), an arrow for Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and a tiger for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

    All the electoral symbols appear on the ballot paper, giving the voters the choice to stamp the symbol of their choice. The ballot paper also has names, but 40% of the country’s 241 million population is illiterate, so symbols can be easier to identify.

    Thousands of candidates participate in elections, as do dozens of political parties and millions of voters. A single ballot paper offers voters a wide range of choices.

    How does the ECP allot electoral symbols?

    According to Section 216, political parties can submit an application to the election commission to apply for electoral symbols.

    Registered political parties can claim the same election symbol as allocated to them in the previous polls.

    On the other hand, an independent candidate can apply for allotment of an election symbol from the symbol list published by the ECP.

    If the two independent candidates want the same electoral symbol, then priority will be given to the candidate who has previously taken part in elections.

  • Pakistani celebrities defend Kashmir after Hrithik Roshan’s derogatory ‘maalik’ comment

    Pakistani celebrities defend Kashmir after Hrithik Roshan’s derogatory ‘maalik’ comment

    In the world of entertainment, movies are a way to tell stories, represent cultures, and express art. But sometimes, a movie can cause problems when it goes too far and includes content that is offensive. Recently, a Bollywood movie called ‘Fighter’ landed in controversy after Pakistani celebrities strongly reacted to what they thought was anti-Pakistani element.

    The film has been accused of showing Pakistan in a negative light and promoting harmful stereotypes.

    At one point in the movie, Hrithik Roshan says, “We are the owners, Pakistan has occupied Kashmir. (maalik hum Hain)”

    Actors like Zara Noor Abbas took to social media to express anger.

    Actor Asad Siddiqui vented on Instagram by saying, “It’s the same old story! Aren’t you guys tired of selling false stuff? Grow up! The world is moving forward, and you’re still promoting this cheap story of hatred. You could have promoted peace instead.”
    He suggested checking facts that everyone knows, mentioning the incident where a MiG-21 was shot and the pilot was captured but released after a cup of tea.

    Hira Khan, another showbiz star, also brought up the ‘tea’ incident, saying, “It’s sad that big superstars need to criticize Pakistan to make their movies work. I feel sorry for you guys.”

    Adnan Siddiqui took to X to state, “Once celebrated for love, Bollywood now crafts hate-filled narratives, portraying us as villains. Despite our love for your films, it’s disheartening. Art transcends boundaries; let’s use it to promote love and peace. Two nations, victims of politics, deserve better.”

    Hania Aamir, who is liked by people from both sides of the border, shared on her Instagram Story, “It’s really sad and unfortunate to find out that there are artists today who know how influential cinema is but still go ahead and create differences between the two countries. I feel sorry for the artists who believe in using their art to bring people together. It’s not good. Let art be free.”

    The controversy around ‘Fighter’ arose from its trailer, which revealed that the movie revolves around an attack on Indian air forces in Pulwama. It references real events like the Pulwama attack and India’s actions in Balakot.

  • Pakistani-French woman accused of marrying girls disguised as boy

    Pakistani-French woman accused of marrying girls disguised as boy

    A French girl of Pakistani origin named Nargis has been accused of disguising herself as a boy to marry girls to take them abroad. She was arrested in Mirpur city of Azad Kashmir on charges of trafficking girls abroad on the pretext of marriage.

    According to Geo News, one victim’s family had filed an application with the police, on which a case was registered and an arrest was made.

    During the investigation, it was revealed that Nargis had created a fake identity in the name of Shaaban. Dressed up as a man, she would come to Kashmir to find relationships, get married, prepare travel documents, and send the bride abroad and sell her.

    This time when Nargis reached Pakistan, the victim’s family recognized her and immediately filed a complaint with the police.

    In a request registered with the police by the victim’s family, Nargis came to Pakistan as a boy and married their daughter. After the marriage, the daughter got a visa and sent her to France via Dubai, where it was learned that the son-in-law was not a boy but a girl. She was tortured by a gang who attempted to sell her in several locations. The family barely evacuated their daughter to safety in France.

    According to the police, the suspect is a French citizen of Pakistani origin and belongs to Jhelum.

    However, according to District Headquarters Hospital Mirpur, a medical report has proved that Nargis is a girl and not a boy.

  • Women’s Health Gap Costs $1 Trillion Worldwide: Report

    Women’s Health Gap Costs $1 Trillion Worldwide: Report

    The huge gap between how women and men’s health are treated costs $1 trillion a year worldwide, the World Economic Forum said on Wednesday.

    Women spend a quarter more of their lives suffering from poor health than men, a disparity that includes an unequal focus on men across medical research, diagnosis and treatment, the report said.

    Closing this gap would boost the global economy by $1 trillion annually by 2040 — a 1.7 percent increase in per capita GDP driven by women, it added.

    The report was released as the WEF hosts its 54th annual conference in Davos, Switzerland.

    The Swiss firm Ferring Pharmaceuticals and McKinsey Health Institute also contributed to the 42-page report.

    Every US dollar invested in women’s health would return three dollars in projected economic growth, the report said.

    A large part of this growth would come from sick women getting back into the workforce.

    The gender health gap causes around 75 million years of life lost due to poor health annually, equating to a week per woman every year, the report said.

    For example, addressing the inequities related to endometriosis and menopause — which only affect women and have long been considered under-studied — could contribute $130 billion to global GDP by 2040, it estimated.

    Research also suggests that fewer than half the women living with endometriosis have been properly diagnosed, the report added.

    The study also looked at how treatment and diagnosis has benefitted men more than women.

    Asthma inhalers, for example, have been found to be significantly less effective for women than men.

    Women are diagnosed later than men for 700 different diseases, previous research has shown. It also takes women two and a half years longer to be diagnosed with cancer.

    WEF healthcare head Shyam Bishen said the analysis demonstrates that “investing in women’s health must be a priority for every country”.

    “Beyond improving women’s quality of life, ensuring women have access to innovations in healthcare is one of the best investments that countries can make for their societies and their economies,” he said in a statement.

    The WEF announced it was launching the Global Alliance for Women’s Health, with $55 million pledged for women’s health.

  • ECP fears delay in polls as independent candidates want to change electoral symbols

    ECP fears delay in polls as independent candidates want to change electoral symbols

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) showed concern that the upcoming polls could be delayed in the case of changing candidates’ symbols, despite the fact that symbols have already been allocated to them.

    Pakistan’s general elections have already been postponed for several months, while some major figures are calling for additional delays for a variety of reasons. On the other hand, the Supreme Court has instructed officials to guarantee that elections are held on February 8.

    In a statement, ECP said that the election symbols have already been allotted to election candidates, but politicians are “having them changed through various forums”.

    “It should be noted that after the allotment of the election symbols, the election commission has ordered the printing of ballot papers to the three printing corporations and the printing work has started,” the statement said.

    According to Geo News, if the high court allows independent candidates to change their electoral symbols, the ECP will postpone general polls in those specific constituencies.

    The official version was along the lines as the ECP said: “If the process of changing the election symbols continues, then on the one hand, there is a fear of delay in the election because the ballot papers will have to be reprinted, for which the time is already limited, and on the other hand, the special paper ballot papers will be wasted.”

  • ‘Informed that PCB can’t go ahead with the anthem for reasons that I would not like to disclose’, says Ali Zafar

    ‘Informed that PCB can’t go ahead with the anthem for reasons that I would not like to disclose’, says Ali Zafar

    Every year, PSL songs take the limelight as fans get divided over the best Pakistan Super League song, comparing them to previous years, while artists take it as a challenge to put up their best.

    This year, The Current has exclusive insights to a new controversy, which involves a seasoned artist – Ali Zafar.

    A source who spoke to us claimed that Ali Zafar was, once again, trying to lobby for the PSL anthem.

    According to a source, PCB was in talks with Ali Zafar to sing this year’s anthem but some PSL franchises pushed back saying the artist would tarnish the PSL brand because of the controversies surrounding him.

    In response to our article previously published, Ali Zafar had this to say:

    “I was indeed officially contacted by PCB to create the PSL anthem for this year. After working on it for two months, hiring musicians and music producers at my personal expense, I came up with three different versions of the anthem for the PCB to choose from. After one of them was finalized and the release was being planned, I was informed that PCB can’t go ahead with the anthem for reasons that I would not like to disclose at this point.


    I wish the next team all the best with their endeavours.”

    What Happened?

    To show his social media strength and popularity to counter PCB’s reasoning, Ali Zafar went over to social media with a plan.

    On January 12, Zafar posted on X (formerly Twitter), asking if an anthem by him will “enhance the image of the brand of PSL and PCB, deepen the connection with people, and bring more financial benefit to all stakeholders or will it prove to be otherwise?”.

    This was followed by a poll, adding that “I will explain later, why I have posted this tweet”.

    But when the results started to apparently turn against him, Zafar deleted his poll. This was followed by a post claiming that the polls were rigged with the help of bots.

    “Told you to wait to see why I started the poll”, he said.

    X users started trolling Ali Zafar because in the screenshots of polls he shared, the time stamp is the same throughout, indicating, according to users, that the pictures were photoshopped.

    X (formerly Twitter) Reacts

    PSL Anthems

    In January 2016, while performing at the launch event of the team Islamabad United, Ali Zafar released the team anthem “Chakka Choka” and performed it in the opening ceremony of PSL 2016 the following month.

    Then in 2017, Zafar released the anthem for that year’s PSL “Ab Khel Jamay Ga”.

    Controversy

    In 2018, singer Meesha Shafi accused Ali Zafar of sexual harassment which Zafar denied, taking the matter to court and filing a defamation case against Shafi for slander.

    While the case is still ongoing, Ali Zafar has been under heavy criticism for his condescending tone towards Shafi in interviews, while award shows and the entertainment industry has been condemned for engaging him.