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  • ‘I will not contest the election, even if Imran Khan asks,’ Aleema Khan

    ‘I will not contest the election, even if Imran Khan asks,’ Aleema Khan

    Aleema Khan, the sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, has stated that none of his family members will contest the upcoming general elections slated for February 8 next year.

    During a chat with journalists outside the Islamabad High Court on Thursday, she remarked: “I will not contest the election, even if Imran Khan asks (me), I will not participate in the election.”

    Aleema clarified that neither Khan’s sisters nor his wife will contest. “None of us is contesting elections. We only come for the cases of the PTI founder”.

    She emphasized that treating the PTI founder in the same manner as former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was unwarranted, highlighting the absence of a young generation during Bhutto’s time.

    She alleged that Nawaz Sharif, the leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), had got two umpires, asserting that he was preventing other political players from entering the political arena, stressing that evidence supporting this claim became apparent during the nomination paper submission process, where individuals are allegedly being deprived of their papers.

    She dismissed the cipher case as a mere joke, expressing concern over the rapid pace of the trial and raising the possibility of a death sentence being pronounced by December 30.

    “Our hope for justice is from Allah and justice should also be expected from the Supreme Court, but what is happening is in front of everyone. We are no longer disappointed with the Supreme Court. If you don’t expect anything from the Supreme Court, who will you expect from? If we do not get justice from there, we will definitely get it from Allah,” she remarked.

  • Pakistani rupee closes week strong at Rs282.53 against US dollar

    Pakistani rupee closes week strong at Rs282.53 against US dollar

    In a trend marking its ninth consecutive session, the Pakistani rupee (PKR) demonstrated resilience against the US dollar (USD) by registering a 0.09 per cent appreciation in the inter-bank market on Friday.

    Closing the week at Rs282.53, the currency saw an increase of Rs0.26, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

    This positive momentum follows a marginal gain on Thursday, settling at Rs282.79 against the US dollar.

    Simultaneously, the foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan experienced a decline, falling below the $7 billion mark.

    A notable decrease of $136 million, attributed to debt repayments during the week ending December 15, 2023, brought the reserves to $6.904 billion.

    On the international front, the US dollar found itself near a more than four-month low on Friday, anticipating a key US inflation gauge reading scheduled for later in the day.

    This data is expected to provide clarity on the Federal Reserve’s room to manoeuvre in terms of interest rate cuts in the coming year.

    Early Asia trade witnessed the greenback hitting a five-month trough against the New Zealand dollar and a three-week low against the euro.

    This decline resumed after a sudden risk-aversion episode in New York hours on Wednesday triggered a sell-off in US stocks, leading to a rise in the dollar.

    Against a basket of currencies, the greenback hovered around 101.76, remaining close to the previous session’s more than four-month low of 101.72.

     The dollar index seemed poised for a weekly loss of about 0.8 per cent, extending the previous week’s 1.3 per cent decline.

    The Federal Reserve’s decision to leave the door open to potential rate cuts in the next year, as indicated in its last policy meeting for 2023, contributed to the ongoing downward pressure on the US dollar.

    This market movement has implications for various currency pairs, including the Pakistani rupee to US dollar exchange rate, which continues to be of interest to investors tracking global economic trends.

  • Gold price hits Rs219,800 per tola after an increase of Rs1,800

    Gold price hits Rs219,800 per tola after an increase of Rs1,800

    In a notable uptrend, domestic gold prices in Pakistan experienced significant gains on Friday, with the price of 24-karat gold rising by Rs1,800 per tola and concluding the session at Rs219,800.

    According to the Karachi Sarafa Association, the closing price for 10 grammes of 24-karat gold in today’s session was Rs188,443, marking an increase of Rs1,543.

    Similarly, the price for 10 grammes of 22-karat gold reached Rs172,740, showing a gain of Rs1,415.

    Contrastingly, the price of silver remained steady in the local market, with 24-karat silver and 10-gramme 24-karat silver settling at Rs2,650 and Rs2,271.94, respectively.

    The continuous surge in international gold prices is a driving force behind the upward trajectory of gold prices in the domestic market.

    Currently, international spot gold is trading at $2,055.91, indicating a 0.48 per cent increase compared to the previous session’s closing.

    Furthermore, international gold is set for its second consecutive weekly gain, influenced by the weakening dollar and US Treasury yields.

    The recent statement from the US Federal Reserve, outlining a cumulative rate cut of 75 basis points in 2024, is putting sustained pressure on the dollar and Treasury yields, contributing to further gains for the precious metal.

    In addition to the impact of international price fluctuations, the domestic gold market is also susceptible to changes in the interbank exchange rate of the local currency.

    The intricate interplay between global and domestic factors continues to shape the dynamics of the gold market in Pakistan.

  • The top five most eligible Pakistani bachelors of 2023

    The top five most eligible Pakistani bachelors of 2023

    It is no secret that Pakistanis are obsessed with shadis. This is reflected everywhere, from television dramas to the daily discourse. The marital status of people in the limelight always attracts more curiosity. Politicians, actors, and sportsmen are the three types of public figures the masses are generally most interested in.

    So, it is impossible that anyone especially a man, a good-looking one, can escape the omnipresent question, “When are you getting married?”. While we are not asking that personal question, we at The Current bringing you our top picks of the most coveted bachelor’s in Pakistan, exceptional men achieving big things in their respective fields-be it acting, singing, sports, or politics.

    It is important to note that we conducted a poll on our social media platforms to incorporate the feedback of our followers.

    1. Babar Azam

    Former Pakistani cricket team’s captain, popularly known as ‘King Babar’, surpasses every other bachelor in the country with an overwhelming majority of the vote.

    The support and the fan base this Lahori cricketer has is unprecedented. Even though he may be enjoying his bachelor life, fans want him to settle down.

    Different names keep getting associated with him one after the other, the latest being Hania Amir. The actress refuted all such claims by saying “Babar bhai hain bro”.

    We really hope that next year the nation gets to see a “national bhabi”.

    1. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

    Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is the second most prized bachelor people want to see get married.

    The former Foreign Minister, son of the late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, has been asked about his wedding plans multiple times but it seems like nothing is on the horizon for the 35-year-old politician. However, in an interview with The Current, he mentioned that the prospective bride must get along with his two sisters.

    1. Hasan Raheem

    Peechay Hut fame singer Hasan Raheem is a youth icon.

    He has not just the looks of a rock star but also a professional degree of MBBS, along with a smooth voice. There is a huge number of girls that are smitten. His political correctness has our hearts melted already.

    The singer seems to be eager to get married as well as he expressed in one of the interviews.

    1. Hamza Sohail

    Hamza Sohail has raised the bar high with the uber-romantic Farjad Khan Bahadur in Fairytale.

    A significant number of viewers want this boy-next-door to settle with his on-screen wife Sehar Khan but will settle for him tying the knot with anyone.

    1. Bilal Abbas Khan
      Bilal Abbas made it to the list as recommended by people, for the thirty-year-old actor is the very definition of an old-school hero.

    Two-time winner of the Lux Style Award, he is casting his spell on audiences with the role of Shahmeer Sikander in the drama serial Ishq Murshid. Known for his long-lashed eyes, we hope he someday enchants a girl for good.

    Towards the end, we want to share the results of the poll conducted by The Current where Babar Azam won the poll with a clear majority.

  • ‘Khamosh hojaao,’ Maryam Nawaz gets furious at female PML-N worker

    ‘Khamosh hojaao,’ Maryam Nawaz gets furious at female PML-N worker

    The Parliamentary Board of Muslim League-N is conducting interviews of candidates for the distribution of party tickets.

    More than 400 women gathered at the meeting to give interviews to the Parliamentary Board. Each of the N-League women gave details of the work they had done for the party and the time and hardships they had put in.

    According to We News, Madiha Niazi, a worker from Lahore, got up and said, “I am a common political worker, I am neither someone’s niece nor nephew,” implying that she has no reference. She went on to say that party workers like her are not paid any heed and their sacrifices are ignored conveniently.

    Madiha Niazi complained, “We are not even being listened to fully,” to which Maryam Nawaz angrily said that you should be quiet and sit down, other women have to be heard too.

    Madeeha Niazi replied, “I have not come to sit here, I have come to relate all my sacrifices for the party, if you want to throw me out, throw me out, I will not leave without completing.”

    When Madiha Niazi finished her speech, several other women also started narrating their sacrifices for the party.

    According to PML-N sources, before this fiasco, senior leaders sitting in the parliamentary board praised the work of some women, including Hina Parvez Butt, Saba Sadiq and Uzma Bukhari. A woman who came for the ticket of reserved seat got up, asking, “What are the sacrifices of Hina Parvez Butt for the party? We stood with the party in difficult times, surrounded the courts, remained outside the NAB, raised slogans for the leaders, during this time we were penalized by the then authorities but we stood with the party.”

    She went on to criticise the elitism of the mentioned women “They come wearing branded clothes and good makeup, they have no services to offer.”

    She continued: “We poor workers have been there in front of courts during the trials of party leaders but how many times has Hina been spotted there? We should not be underestimated.” The woman demanded to be given the same status as those who wear branded suits.

    Tehmina Daultana also jumped in and had a heated debate with Maryam Nawaz.

    Maryam asked Tehmina Doultana, a stalwart, “What are your services for the party,” to which an infuriated Tahmina Doultana replied, “What do you want? What should I do at this age, you want me to die?”

    At this point, Nawaz Sharif had to intervene to control the situation, saying, “You women are our strength.” He told the women that the party is moving forward because of them, calling them the party’s pride. “All of us went to assemblies because of you, you are an asset to the party.”

    Hina’s response

    Hina Parvez Butt took to Twitter and refuted that any such conversation never happened at the meeting.

    She stated categorically that none of this happened.

  • ‘Baloch protestors can stay in Islamabad, protest, or go back home. The choice is theirs’: IHC Chief Justice

    ‘Baloch protestors can stay in Islamabad, protest, or go back home. The choice is theirs’: IHC Chief Justice

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) raised concerns on Friday about the forced repatriation of Baloch protesters, who had experienced harsh police action the day before, back to their province.

    Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard a petition filed by Baloch protesters against unlawful detention, questioning why they were being “forcefully” sent back to Balochistan.

    “They can stay in Islamabad, protest, or go back home. The choice is theirs,” remarked Justice Aamer Farooq

    The police used brutal force on Wednesday night to disperse and detain Baloch demonstrators in Islamabad, who were protesting against enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings in their province.

    Over 200 protesters were taken into custody after encountering tear gas, water cannons, and police batons.

    The government later claimed that more than 90 per cent of the Baloch men and women in custody had been released, except for men “who could not be identified” by the police.

    However, during the IHC hearing on a petition seeking the release of detained Baloch protesters, it was revealed that over 50 Baloch women protesters had gone missing after police took action.

    The court instructed representatives of the protesters and their counsel to approach the Islamabad SSP (Investigation) to record their version and sought a report from the police.

    Petitioners’ counsel Attaullah Kundi and Imaan Mazari appeared before the court, explaining that the police had informed them that buses were waiting to take protesters back home.

    Kundi stated that the police chief had mentioned orders from the prime minister for the repatriation of protesters, and Baloch women were forcefully filled into buses. He further revealed that some Baloch students studying in Islamabad were also coerced into the buses.

    The court expressed displeasure and summoned IG Akbar Nasir in response. The police chief claimed to have arranged transport for the protesters, to which the court questioned why they were sent back forcefully. Chief Justice Farooq emphasized that the protesters had the choice to stay in Islamabad, protest, or go home.

    When asked how many protesters were in police custody, the IG replied that 216 Baloch men and women were at the Kohsar police station of which some had been sent on judicial remand. Out of these, 19 women were released, he added.

    Protesters at the Tarnol police station were released by the local magistrate while 162 detainees were sent on judicial remand, said IG Nasir.

    The court also asked about the number of women who were sent home, those released, and the ones staying at the hostel. It also directed the police chief to arrange a meeting of the women with their counsels.

    “You have to convince them that not one person is missing,” Justice Farooq emphasised.

    Journalist Hamid Mir and Ahmed Butt of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also provided insights during the hearing. Mir highlighted discrepancies in government statements, and Butt emphasized the constitutional right to protest in a democracy.

    The court directed the police chief to arrange a meeting between the detained women and their counsels and ensure transparency in the process.

    The IHC CJ further expressed displeasure over Wednesday night’s events, regretting the police action on protesters. “What kind of a society are we living in? Even if a common person is being unjust, public officeholders should always be careful,” he remarked.

    The court then instructed Kundi to oversee the entire matter and contact the IHC registrar’s office if there was a problem. It further said that all the women staying at the I-10 hostel be released.

    “I will issue a detailed order of today’s proceedings,” Justice Farooq said, adding that the next hearing would be conducted by Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb.

  • Dania Enwer shares valuable advice with fans

    Dania Enwer shares valuable advice with fans

    Actress and model Dania Enwer’s newest video is getting a lot of attention on Instagram.

    The popular star, known for her role in the ARY Digital serial ‘Adawat,’ posted the viral video on her Instagram, sharing her cheerful and lively side.
    “You healed the wounds on the rollercoaster called ‘LIFE’,” the text on the Dania Enwer’s video read. “Sometimes it is better to just let things be. Don’t fight for closure. Don’t expect people to understand where you are coming from. You chose to heal..instead of spreading pain. That’s strength.”

    The message encourages fans to stay strong no matter what challenges come their way.
    Enwer regularly shares glimpses of her personal and professional life on Instagram, and fans can’t get enough of it.

  • Mansha Pasha open to working in Bollywood with one actor

    Mansha Pasha open to working in Bollywood with one actor

    Popular Pakistani actress Mansha Pasha has said that she is open to the idea of working in Indian films. In a recent interview on a private TV show, Mansha talked about her life, career, and future plans in the entertainment world.

    She expressed excitement about the idea of working in Bollywood and specifically mentioned her interest in collaborating with Indian actor Jaideep Ahlawat if the opportunity arises.

    She stated, “I admire Jaideep as an actor, and I would be thrilled to work with him because a talented actor can elevate the entire project.”

    In response to another question, the ‘Surkh Chandni’ actor shared that she had never thought about choosing acting as a profession and was always more interested in behind-the-camera jobs, including direction, production and screenwriting.
    Mansha Pasha thanked veteran actor Adnan Siddiqui for recognizing her talent while they were working together. He encouraged her to step in front of the camera and pursue acting.

  • ‘I am more experienced than Barrister Gohar,’ Latif Khosa

    ‘I am more experienced than Barrister Gohar,’ Latif Khosa

    In a recent interview on Geo News’ program ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath,’ senior vice president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Latif Khosa, took a swipe at the party’s newly appointed chairman Barrister Gohar.

    Khosa expressed confidence in assuming a leadership role after Imran Khan.

    Directing criticism at Barrister Gohar, Khosa stated that the lawyer lacks the experience that he possesses. He emphasized his role as the senior vice president within PTI, positioning himself as a contender for leadership after Imran Khan.

    During the conversation, Khosa emphasized that, unlike the situation with Nawaz Sharif, the judiciary was not biased in favor of PTI.

    He highlighted the trial without jurisdiction in the Toshakhana case, stating that the punishment given was incorrect and could be rectified through a review order.

    Khosa asserted that the subsequent disqualification of Imran Khan by the Election Commission as a consequence of delaying the sentence was rushed, occurring within three days instead of the stipulated 30 days.

    He further stated that the basic rights of Imran Khan were being apprehended by the courts.

    Khosa mentioned that the situation is leading to uncertainty and keeping PTI out of elections means that the elections are not free and fair.

  • Usman Khawaja’s emotional message on supporting Palestine has moved the internet

    Usman Khawaja’s emotional message on supporting Palestine has moved the internet

    Australian batsman Usman Khawaja released an emotional message on social media to support Palestine after wearing shoes that said ‘All Lives Matter’ in the colours of the Palestinian flag.

    He requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Cricket Australia (CA) to permit him to support Palestine on-field.

    Earlier, during the first Test match played in Perth against Pakistan, Usman wore a black armband.

    ICC charged the Australian opener, calling the armband a personal promotion.

    During a practice session before the Perth Test, the Kangaroos opener wore shoes with a pro-Palestinian slogan on them, but Cricket Australia and the ICC took action against him, after which he participated in the game with a black armband against Israeli atrocities.

    In his message Usman Khawaja said, “I don’t have any agendas other than trying to shine a light on what I feel, passionately, really strongly about. I’m trying to do in the most respectful way possible what around my shoes was really.”

    “I thought about it for a while where I was going to write. I made sure that I didn’t want to segregate different parts of the population, religious beliefs, and communities, hence why I’ve kept religion out of this. I want it to be really broad and open, mind speaking, because I’m talking about humanitarian issues.”

    “I’m talking about Article One or the Unified Declaration of Human Rights. That is the crux of it. The reason I’m doing it is because it hit me hard. You know, I told Nick just this morning that. When I’m looking at my Instagram I’m seeing kids, innocent kids, videos of them dying, and passing away. That’s what’s hit me the hardest”.

    I just imagine my young daughter in my arms is the same thing, I get emotional talking about it right now again, and for me, that’s the reason I’m doing this. I don’t have any hidden agendas. If anything, you know, this brings up more negativity towards me. People come and start attacking me. I don’t get anything out of this. I just feel like it’s my responsibility to speak up on this”.

    “We live in such a beautiful country. I’m blessed to be able to go to Australia. I can walk outside. I have to worry about a thing. My kids can do the same. I just want that for the rest of the world. And that’s the reason I’m saying this”.