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  • ECP rejects PTI’s claim of appointing retired officers as DROs, ROs in election 2024

    ECP rejects PTI’s claim of appointing retired officers as DROs, ROs in election 2024

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) claims that the electoral body is appointing retired officers as district returning officers (DROs) and returning officers (ROs) for the upcoming general elections on February 8 next year.

    On Monday, ECP’s Media Coordination and Outreach Wing said in a statement that the electoral watchdog didn’t take any such decision.

    “All media reports regarding the appointment of District Returning Officers/ Returning Officers are baseless and contrary to the facts. The media ran misleading news about the appointment of retired officers as District Returning Officers/Returning Officers. The commission is yet to take any such decision,” the ECP spokesperson said.

    He also stated that ECP has written a letter to provincial chief election commissioners and asked for the list of DROs and ROs to finalise the names. He also mentioned that the matter is in process and ECP will appoint the best candidates to make the general elections free, fair, and transparent.

    “It is being looked at from different angles so that the general elections are fair and transparent. The Election Commission is well aware of all its constitutional responsibilities,” the Election Commission said.

    On the other hand, PTI leader Omar Ayub tweeted on X (previously Twitter) that ECP is appointing retired officers as DROs and ROs to make the upcoming polls controversial. PTI’s Core Committee warned that the people will resist if their election mandate was stolen.

  • Supreme Court fines Punjab govt Rs10 Lacs for wasting its time

    Supreme Court fines Punjab govt Rs10 Lacs for wasting its time

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan has imposed a fine of ten lacs (Rs1 million) on the Punjab government for wasting its time by filing a frivolous case, ordering the administration to pay the money to the owner of the land they used without permission.

    The three-membered bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa dismissed the provincial government’s appeal filed against the verdicts of an appellate court along with the high court in favour of the land owner.

    The case was about a piece of land that the Punjab government constructed a road on in Gujranwala in 2007. The nine-marlas were never paid for. Liaqat Ali, the affected man, took to court, challenging the government and both lower courts decided in his favour.

    In the hearing on Monday, the Chief Justice questioned how the state built a road on the land without the permission of its owner and without paying him. “Neither the owner had gifted his land for construction of the road nor the state had acquired the said land,” Justice Qazi Faez Isa remarked and asked the Additional Advocate General Punjab as to why he had filed such a frivolous application in the court. “Is it our job to teach the provincial law officer the constitution,” the CJP reproached.

  • American rapper goes viral for displaying names of Palestinian toddlers killed by Israeli airstrikes

    American rapper goes viral for displaying names of Palestinian toddlers killed by Israeli airstrikes

    Rapper Marcus Morton (who goes by his stage name redveil) has gone viral for a recent performance at a concert.

    The rapper was performing at Camp Flog Gnaw, one of the biggest music festivals of America, when he broke off from singing to make a meaningful gesture.

    The rapper took a moment to display the names of all Palestinians toddlers who were killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, where now more than 12,000 civilians have died. The named ended with the display of the website ceasefiretoday.com, which provides a list of ways Americans can pressurise their governments to end the genocide of Gaza.

    ‘It’s not complicated, don’t let no body tell you that s***,” Marcus was seen telling the crowd. “Go to this f***ing website right now, call your reps, demand a f***ing ceasefire.”

    X (formerly Twitter) users celebrated redveil’s solidarity to the Palestinian liberation movement, declaring him to be the sole musician who took a stand despite knowing it could have affected his career.

    “This is unprecedented. That moment we’d been waiting for; that cultural shift which delegitimizes Israel and will lead to it’s dismantling; of unapologetic calls for liberation— is upon us. Who would’ve imagined such crowds in the US screaming Free Palestine even 5 years ago?!”

    More class and morality than Rihanna, Beyonce, and Tiffany Hadish compiled.

    “The bar for artists has been massively raised,” praised several activists.

  • Honda Civic sales in Pakistan drop by 72.36%

    Honda Civic sales in Pakistan drop by 72.36%

    Sedan car sales experienced a significant downturn, particularly notable in Honda Civic sales, which suffered a substantial decline of 67.33 per cent in October 2023 on a month-over-month basis and 72.36 per cent on a year-over-year basis in Pakistan. 

    This decline can be attributed to production interruptions, elevated car prices, and a reduction in car financing. 

    Specifically, Honda Atlas Cars Limited reported the sale of only 379 Civic units in October 2023, a notable drop from the 1371 units sold in October 2022.

    In contrast, Toyota Corolla sales exhibited a relatively better performance, with a 24.19 per cent decrease on a month-over-month basis and a 56.69 per cent decrease on a year-over-year basis in Pakistan. 

    To provide precise figures, Toyota Indus Motor Company sold 796 Corolla units in October 2023, as opposed to the 1838 units sold in October 2022.

  • ‘Do you condemn Monday to Thursday?’: Twitter in fits over Israeli propaganda in Gaza hospital

    ‘Do you condemn Monday to Thursday?’: Twitter in fits over Israeli propaganda in Gaza hospital

    Yesterday, Israeli forces invaded Rantisi Children’s Hospital in Gaza and claimed to have found evidence of Hamas hiding in the basement by showing a chart paper with Arabic written on it. Israel’s propaganda team said the chart paper carried names of Hamas members. However , the internet was quick to point out, the paper was actually a calendar with days of the week written in Arabic. Even we’re chuckling at the tomfoolery.

    X (formerly Twitter) users were driven to fits over the spectacular debunking, with several coming up with hilarious memes.

    Seriously how much does Jungkook’s Seven terrify them?

    New Zionist fear unlocked: days of the week.

    The racism at display is astounding

  • Nawaz on ‘Quetta’ mission; Tension in PMLN over toughest election – What is happening?

    Nawaz on ‘Quetta’ mission; Tension in PMLN over toughest election – What is happening?

    In the run-up to the February 8 general elections in Pakistan, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif is embarking on a two-day visit to Balochistan, following the party’s strategy to form alliances in all provinces.

    The move aligns with the recent invitation extended by senior MQM-P leaders to the party to forge an alliance against the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Sindh.

    Sources reveal that during a visit to Lahore, Balochistan leaders urged Nawaz Sharif to visit Quetta and align with them for the upcoming polls, as per Dawn.

    “Since some of the BAP leaders earlier remained with the PML-N and incumbent Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, a former member of BAP, had a good working relationship with PML-N, the party of Sharifs may not face much problems in exploring strategic partners in Balochistan ahead of the polls,” they said.

    The party is eyeing at least 25 sardars/electables from Balochistan, crucial players in the region’s elections.

    PML-N Balochistan chapter president Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail said Mr Sharif would hold meetings with PkMAP Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai, National Party President Dr Malik Baloch, former CM Jam Kamal and BAP leaders, including Nawabzada Khalid Magsi, Sardar Muhammad Saleh Bhootani and some of the party’s senators, ex-MNAs and MPAs.

    Nawaz Sharif will also attend an event in which various ‘electables’ will announce joining PML-N, including former MNAs and MPAs belonging to BAP.

    Tension arises in PMLN

    Meanwhile, in Muzaffargarh, internal tensions arise within the PML-N as former municipal committee chairman Akram Chandia and his brother Ajmal Chandia join the party, potentially securing tickets for the upcoming elections.

    The move has irked former PML-N MPA Hamad Nawaz Tipu, who announced his candidacy, vying for both MPA and National Assembly seats.

    On the National Assembly seat, he lost to PPP’s Mehr Irshad Sial, who received 53,054 votes, with the runner-up being Jamshed Dasti securing 50,566 votes. Mr Tipu stood third with 47,642 votes. The MPA election also witnessed a close contest where winner Abdul Hayee Dasti received 17,686 votes, followed by Ajmal Chandia with 17,669 votes and Mr Tipu with 16,358 votes.

    Ajmal Chandia was a candidate for PP-270 as a candidate of Jamshed Dasti’s party in the 2018 elections and stood as the runner-up behind Abdul Hayee Dasti.

    While Mr Tipu and the Chandia brothers are in contention for the PML-N ticket, former MPA Chunnu Laghari has also announced joining the PML-N, and he is unlikely to face any resistance in obtaining an MPA ticket under Basit Sultan’s National Assembly constituency in Jatoi tehsil.

    ‘Toughest elections’

    PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif’s son Hamza Shehbaz said the Feb 8 polls were going to be the most difficult ones in the country’s history.

    Talking to journalists in Lahore on Monday, the PML-N leader said all parties should work together to steer the country out of crisis.

    In reply to a question about the role of the establishment and the PML-N’s relations with it, he said it was a good sign if the establishment supported the government.

    “It is also a good thing if there are cordial relations with the establishment,” Hamza added.

    Asked whether Nawaz Sharif was new blue-eyed of the military establishment, Hamza said: “When I was in the opposition, the people would call Imran Khan their blue-eyed.”

  • Boy who killed six of a family in accident says he was going to have McDonald’s

    Boy who killed six of a family in accident says he was going to have McDonald’s

    Update: Lahore Traffic Police has decided to register an FIR in light of the incident that took place on Saturday night. This is done to discourage minors from driving because a registered FIR will have life-long consequences. Previously, young drivers were issued traffic violation ticket or a challan as a sign of reproach but the latest incident of the loss of six lives because of a minor has provoked them to take stern actions against this issue.

    Lahore Traffic Police has released a video of the teenage boy who killed six people of a family in a road accident on Saturday. The boy named Afnan Shafqat, a resident of Askari 11 and a student of A2, can be seen in the video -posted on X- answering the questions of the policeman about the details of the accident.

    The boy learned driving from his cousins and has been driving for less than a year in his own words.

    On the weekend night, the boy, along with a group of cousins was on his way to McDonalds in DHA, Phase 7. Afnan explains that while they were crossing the barrier, driving at the speed of 110 km/hour, a car emerged from the right, driving at the speed of 10-20 km/hour, his car collided with the incoming one. The boy states that because of the barriers on both sides, the “driver had no choice but to hit the car.” However, he later on added that his parents did ask him to take the driver along but he said no.

    The police claim that the purpose of the video is that “parents and kids learn from this mistake” while on the other hand, netizens are criticising the police for showing the face of the boy, as yet a minor, citing a breach of privacy. Journalist Faraz Saeed said, “The loss of life is great, indeed, but young people should not be made subject of public humiliation and exposed to possible attacks, by posting such videos. The defendant has the right to privacy.”

    Section 21 of PECA laws says that the use of electronic means that may result in reputational damage or breach of privacy shall be punishable with imprisonment of up to seven years which may extend up to five million rupees or both.

    Criminal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2023 also has moved a step ahead with section 30-C, which states that the trial of offences against minors shall be conducted in-camera. Moreover, section 31-A says that, whether or not a specific complaint has been made against the content, the NR3C, the FIA is in charge of gathering information before the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority blocks or removes it.

  • Abdul Razzaq’s misogynist statement during event slammed on social media

    Abdul Razzaq’s misogynist statement during event slammed on social media

    Former cricketer Abdul Razzaq is facing severe criticism after passing misogynistic and gross comments about Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai during a media interaction.

    When questioned about the team’s performance in the World Cup, Razzaq talked about former captain Younis Khan and his neeyat [intentions].

    “I took confidence from Younis Khan’s neeyat. I got the determination to do something, and thank God I delivered there,” he begun.

    Flanked on both sides by former fast bowler Umar Gul and former captain Shahid Afridi, Razzaq then spoke about the criticism on the team.

    “It is not our neeyat that something should be polished or players should be developed. If your thinking is that you should marry Aishwarya Rai and give birth to a pious child, that will never happen.”

    Both Gul and Afridi started clapping after he passed the comments.

    Allaying concerns about the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Razzaq used a shocking analogy to criticize their conduct. Abdul Razzaq said, “If you think that marrying Aishwarya Rai will produce a good and pious child, then it will never happen”.

    Notably, Shahid Afridi was seen laughing and clapping in response to Razzaq’s remarks instead of condemning or blocking them.

    The internet though is having none of it. Users were outraged and slammed Razzaq online:

  • ‘Cheap knockoff of Kabir Singh’: Viral clip from Danish Taimoor’s new drama has Twitter in fits

    ‘Cheap knockoff of Kabir Singh’: Viral clip from Danish Taimoor’s new drama has Twitter in fits

    Once more, Danish Taimoor’s dramas are providing meme fodder for the internet. A clip from the actor’s series ‘Rah e Junoon’ is trending after drawing comparisons between Danish’s character and a well known misogynist, Bollywood villain Kabir Singh. This led to many mocking the show by calling it ‘Kabir Singh from Daraz’.

    This led to Internet users coming with all sorts of hilarious quips to roast the clip.

    Really Danish where’s the range! Give us something other than toxic university boy roles

    Twitter users are done with Danish Taimoor’s tasteless choice of scripts. He made the internet laugh with a scene from ‘Kaisi Teri Khudgarzi’ where it looks like the hero gets off on the miserable cries of his lover.

    And then in ‘Ishq Hai’, Danish thought what’s a better way to make yourself a hero on screen than kidnapping a woman, threatening to shoot yourself if she doesn’t marry you?

  • Jail trial in £190 million settlement case increasingly likely for Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s trial in the £190 million state money settlement case will probably take place in Adiala Jail, where the former Prime Minister is already incarcerated in the cypher case.

    A day earlier, when an accountability court in Islamabad issued Khan’s arrest warrants in the Al-Qadir Trust and Toshakhana cases, the PTI chairman was arrested within the jail premises.

    A National Accountability Bureau (NAB) team visited Adiala jail today and implemented arrest warrants through the jail superintendent.

    On the other hand, journalists asked Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir whether Imran Khan will face a jail trial as a notification is being passed in the matter.

    On this, judge Bushir responded that NAB can tell where the PTI chairman will be presented as there is a possibility of a jail trial after notifications’ approval.

    “Will you also go to Adiala jail then?” the judge questioned the journalists present in the court.

    The journalists replied that they are not even allowed to enter and report inside Adiala jail.