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  • In Pictures: Maaz Khan’s dholki brings joy to Aiman, Minal Khan

    In Pictures: Maaz Khan’s dholki brings joy to Aiman, Minal Khan

    Aiman and Minal’s brother, Maaz Khan, is getting married to Saba Rehman, and photos from the celebrations are now being released on social media. Their first pre-wedding celebration, the first dholki, was a joyful family affair filled with colors and love.

    Check out the stunning HD pictures from the event captured by Yasee Photography. Their second dholki took place on Tuesday evening, and the entire family dressed up in black. The bride looked stunning in pink, standing out beautifully in a sea of dark colours. Even little Amal had a great time at her uncle’s dholki. Take a look:

  • When is rain expected in Lahore?

    When is rain expected in Lahore?

    Lahore is experiencing bone-chilling cold as the smog-choked city waits for rain. The Meteorological Department has predicted that rains will start on January 15, reports City 42.

    According to Chief Meteorologist Muhammad Aslam, there is no possibility of rain in Lahore this week, however, a spell will start after January 15. In the next few days, the weather will remain cold and dry, which is likely to drop temperatures in the city.

    Karachi recorded the coldest night of the season with the temperature dropping to 12 degree Celsius. It is expected to get colder in the coming days as the temperature is expected to drop as low as 10 C in the coming days while the maximum temperature is likely to rise between 25 C to 27°C, reports Geo.

    On the other hand, a severe cold wave in the country continued to cause fog in the plains while snow falls on the mountains. In Skardu, temperatures dropped to -8 C.

    The plains of Punjab, Upper Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continue to be shrouded in fog. In North Balochistan, rain fell in some places while it snowed in the mountains.

  • Israeli soldier blows up Gaza neighbourhood as gift for wife

    Israeli soldier blows up Gaza neighbourhood as gift for wife

    A video of an Israeli soldier blowing up a Gaza neighbourhood as a gift for his wife is being slammed on social media.

    The soldier, who says his wife has been his strength, pays tribute to her. “My life, I wish you good luck, you are the best in the world and because of your strength, I am here.” He goes on to explain that as a gift he is dedicating the explosion to her. “This explosion is for you, as big as your heart,” he says.

    This is not the first time Israeli soldiers are seen committing what experts call war crimes as tributes to their families. In another video, soldiers are seen celebrating the bombing.

    IDF troops from unit 9219 of the Combat Engineering Corps Battalions were filmed in another video blowing up multiple residential buildings while smoking hooka to depict that they do not care about the consequences of their actions.

    IDF soldiers also proudly take photos after bombing Gaza’s residential area.

    In an online livestream, an Israeli woman confessed to killing five Palestinians in a celebratory manner.

  • PML-N to release final list of candidates by today or tomorrow, says Rana Sanaullah

    PML-N to release final list of candidates by today or tomorrow, says Rana Sanaullah

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah has said on Wednesday that the party has finalized the list of its candidates for general elections 2024, and will release the names by today evening or tomorrow morning.

    “We will issue the list today evening or tomorrow,” Sanaullah said during an appearance on Geo News show Geo Pakistan.

    He also confirmed that the matter of seat adjustment between PML-N and the Jahngir Tareen-led Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) has been settled.

    The former interior minister also stated that PML-N has now agreed to provide seven National Assembly (NA) seats and 11 provincial assembly seats, against the IPP’s demand for 13 NA seats and 22 provincial seats.

    PML-N has also agreed on seat adjustments with Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), he acknowledged.

    “PML-N will hold 60 rallies in the country,” said Sanaullah while sharing details of the party’s election campaign, confirming that party head Nawaz Sharif will start his own election campaign on January 17.

  • Pakistani director Parmesh Adiwal embraces Islam

    Pakistani director Parmesh Adiwal embraces Islam

    Renowned Pakistani director Parmesh Adiwal recently embraced Islam. Previously belonging to the country’s Hindu community, Adiwal has directed popular projects such as Punjab Nahi Jaungi and Ishrat Made In China, where he served as the co-director.

    But his talent doesn’t stop there! He’s also directed music videos, including the OST of the drama serial Masters, and worked with amazing artists like Amjad Sabri, Maya Khan, Sarah Khan, and Urwa Hocane. Not to mention his iconic TV commercials.

    The ace director shared photos from his Umrah experience on Instagram, where friends and colleagues like Feroze Khan and Humayun Alamgir offered support. Parmesh Adiwal’s Muslim name is Muhammad. His friend has shared a picture of the director from Khana Kaaba.

  • Tribunal declares Imran Khan ineligible to contest polls from NA-122 Lahore

    Tribunal declares Imran Khan ineligible to contest polls from NA-122 Lahore

    An election tribunal established at the Lahore High Court (LHC) has validated the returning officer’s (RO) decision to dismiss Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s nomination papers from the NA-122 constituency in Lahore.

    The lawyer of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) argued before the tribunal that Imran Khan is not eligible to contest the election and his proposer didn’t reside in the constituency.

    Justice Tariq Nadeem of the appellate tribunal announced the decision after hearing all the parties.

    On December 30, 2023, Imran Khan’s nomination papers were rejected for National Assembly (NA) seats from Lahore and his home town, Mianwali.

    The former prime minister and PTI founder had submitted nomination papers from Lahore’s NA-122 and Mianwali’s NA-89 for the upcoming polls set to take place on February 8, 2024.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mian Naseer raised objections to Imran Khan’s nomination papers, mentioning that the PTI founder is disqualified for five years in Toshakhana case, and the ECP found him guilty of corrupt practices under Section 167 of the Elections Act, 2017.

    After viewing the objections, the RO rejected the nomination papers of the former prime minister.

  • Four crores looted from bus passengers in Rawalpindi

    Four crores looted from bus passengers in Rawalpindi

    Four crore rupees were looted late in the night from passengers in a bus on Chakwal road, reports 24 Pakistan.

    The late-night robbery was been committed in Dhok Amb area of Jatli police station in Rawalpindi.

    The robbers looted all the passengers on the bus, travelling from Peshawar to Lahore, on Suhawa Chakwal Road after the vehicle had to exit the Motorway at Balaksar Interchange due to intense fog.

    A passenger named Daniyal informed the police over the phone that he was a cattle trader who was going to Lahore from Peshawar by public transport bus. The robbers fled the scene.

    Passengers on the bus were mostly cattle traders travelling from Peshawar to Lahore to buy cattle.

    Police were told that seven robbers, riding in a Toyota Corolla, blocked the bus before looting the passengers.

  • Overseas remittances to Pakistan soar to $2.4 billion

    Overseas remittances to Pakistan soar to $2.4 billion

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) revealed that the inflow of overseas workers’ remittances reached $2.4 billion in December 2023, marking a notable 5.4 per cent increase from the previous month’s $2.25 billion, according to data released on Wednesday.

    On a yearly basis, December’s remittances exhibited a robust growth of 13.4 per cent, totaling $2.1 billion compared to the same period in the previous year.

    These remittances continue to play a pivotal role in sustaining Pakistan’s external account, fostering economic activity, and supporting the disposable incomes of remittance-dependent households.

    Despite the December upswing, the cumulative workers’ remittances for July-December FY24 recorded a decline of 6.8 per cent Year-on-Year (YoY), amounting to $13.43 billion.

    This decrease amounted to $982.8 million compared to the $14.42 billion reported in the corresponding period of FY23.

    Saudi Arabia

    Overseas Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia led the remittance surge in December, contributing $577.6 million. This figure marked a 6 per cent increase from the previous month and over 9 per cent higher than the same month in the previous year.

    United Arab Emirates (UAE)

    Remittances from the UAE witnessed a marginal monthly increase of nearly 2 per cent, rising from $411.8 million in November to $419.2 million in December. Year-on-year, these remittances surged by almost 27 per cent.

    United Kingdom (UK)

    December saw an uptick in remittances from the United Kingdom, totaling $368 million—a 7.5 per cent increase compared to November 2023.

    European Union (EU)

    Remittances from the European Union demonstrated substantial growth, rising by 19 per cent YoY and 6 per cent on a monthly basis, reaching $284.9 million in December 2023.

    United States (US)

    Overseas Pakistanis in the United States sent $263.9 million in December 2023, reflecting an 8.5 per cent YoY increase.

    This breakdown underscores the significance of remittances from various regions, contributing to Pakistan’s economic resilience amid global challenges. 

    The upward trajectory in December bodes well for the nation’s economic prospects as it navigates through the fiscal year.

  • Palestinian Journalist Freed From Israeli Custody Abused: Report

    Palestinian Journalist Freed From Israeli Custody Abused: Report

    London-based media outlet The New Arab announced on Tuesday the release of one of its Palestinian journalists from Israeli custody, alleging he faced torture during more than a month in detention.

    Diaa al-Kahlout, who was among dozens of Palestinians shown detained by Israeli troops and stripped to their underwear in north Gaza last month, had been released back into the Palestinian territory, the Qatari-owned outlet said.

    In an report on its website, Kahlout told The New Arab he had faced “indescribably tough and difficult” conditions following his arrest.

    The 37-year-old said he had been beaten and tortured.

    “The moment I was detained, Israeli soldiers crowded round me… before they gagged me with tape so I couldn’t speak.”

    Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has said following his arrest the journalist was briefly held in Eshel prison in Israel and was subjected to torture, according to several of the organisation’s sources.

    The bloodiest ever Gaza war broke out after Hamas gunmen launched their October 7 attack that resulted in about 1,140 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

  • Bat is back for PTI

    Bat is back for PTI

    The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has restored Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) election symbol ‘bat’ after hearing PTI’s petition against the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision revoking the party’s election symbol and declaring its intra-party polls “unconstitutional”.

    A two-member bench of the PHC was hearing PTI’s writ petition challenging the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision declaring the intra-party election as null and void and revoking their symbol of a cricket bat, a sign that depicts the party’s founder, Imran Khan’s career in the sport.

    In its verdict, the court termed the ECP’s decision “incorrect”.

    A two-member PHC bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Arshad Ali announced the verdict today. 

    A day earlier, the court heard the arguments by the counsels of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the PTI.

    Earlier today, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Barrister Gohar Khan, said that the party is withdrawing its plea seeking the ‘bat’ symbol from the Supreme Court (SC), adding that the party is hopeful that Peshawar High Court (PHC) will give a favourable decision in the matter.

    “Today, our petition was fixed at the Supreme Court, but we have withdrawn it,” he said while talking to media outside the apex court, adding that the decision from PHC will be issued in the party’s favour.

    Earlier, the PHC had accepted ECP’s review petition and restored the electoral authority’s ruling on intra-party polls and election symbol of the PTI.