Blog

  • Imran has sent another message from jail for Pakistanis

    Imran has sent another message from jail for Pakistanis

    Former prime minister and Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan conveyed a message to Pakistanis from jail via family sources on October, 24, 2023.

    The Chairman’s account on X said in his message that there is total mockery of law in the country, alleging that what is happening today is not only due to “London Plan” but “London agreement”.

    Imran Khan said in his message: “My Pakistanis! In the last few days, we have witnessed a total mockery of the law. All that is happening today is not just an execution of a London “plan” but “ ” that was signed between a cowardly fugitive & corrupt criminal and his facilitators. The only way a convicted criminal could be allowed to return to politics with a clean chit is by destroying State institutions. And hence, what we are witnessing is a complete collapse of our justice system.”

    He also mentioned that all the cases against him are “fake and politically motivated”. While talking about his cases and political awareness in the people he said that, “My Pakistanis! Please remember, all the cases against me are completely bogus & politically motivated, concocted only to keep me in jail for certain till after the elections or maybe much longer beyond the elections. However, the growing political awareness and increasing resistance against closed-room conspiracies in my nation scares them.”

    The former prime minister also said while talking about his health that, “At the moment I am physically fit. I would know if my body was experiencing change from weakness. But they have already made two public attempts to take my life. Since I won’t agree to leave my country there is of course a danger they will try to make another attempt on my life while I am in jail. Such an attempt could also be through slow poisoning.”

    He also mentioned that “Our struggle is entering its decisive phase. You will have to fight for your own rights and your country’s freedom. I have directed my lawyers and party office bearers to hold conventions all over the country and also commence the campaign for whenever elections are held.”

  • Under Your Skin: Tattoo Artist Inks Cremated Remains In Art

    Under Your Skin: Tattoo Artist Inks Cremated Remains In Art

    When Scout Frank lost her mother, she knew she needed to keep her close — and hit upon the perfect solution when she found she could have her ashes tattooed into her skin.

    Clutching a small wooden box containing the cremated remains of her mom, Frank was emotional as she arrived at the tattoo studio of artist Kat Dukes in the California city of Oceanside.

    “It’s a little bit overwhelming,” she said, her voice choking. “But I know I’m in really good hands.

    “I’m really looked forward to just making my mama an even more permanent piece of my life.”

    Dukes’ tattoo studio has a different aesthetic to many of those dotting main streets and strip malls all over the United States, and much of the western world.

    Instead of roses, skulls or other traditional designs lining the counter it is immaculate, its clean white walls and scented candles evoking more of a spa than a tattoo parlor.

    Dukes reverently scoops a small measure of ashes from the box in readiness for mixing with the ink.

    “Come on, mom!” says Frank, whose tears have begun to turn into a smile.

    “It’s respect for her in a different kind of way rather than just having her sitting in my house,” she says.

    – By hand –

    Dukes, who has built a loyal following at her Steel Honey studio thanks to her style of hand poke tattoo — in which the artists use a needle dipped in ink and poked into the skin dot by dot, rather than by machine — began incorporating cremains over three years ago when a client said he wanted to honor a pet dog.

    “I had heard that this could be done, but I didn’t know how, so I looked it up,” she tells AFP.

    In fact, tattooing with wood ashes is an ancient practice — and the use of cremation ashes is a growing trend that has seen some US funeral homes link up with tattoo parlors, or even post instructions for making the ink on their websites.

    “It was pretty simple — just add ash, so that’s what we did,” Dukes said.

    “It just made it that much more special. It healed the same and he loved the tattoo, and he would always, always tell people that there was his dog’s ashes in the tattoo.”

    Videos of Dukes’ black inked hand-wrought tattoos have made the rounds on social media — bringing a surge of interest. A lot of it is positive, but not all.

    “I do get a lot of criticism for doing this,” she says.

    “A lot of people will argue that it’s unsanitary. I understand that this process is not for everybody.”

    Dukes insists there is no risk of infection or contamination from the ashes — done properly, a tattoo’s ink sits in the dermis and does not migrate to the bloodstream.

    And cremations are carried out at such high temperatures the ashes are usually sterile.

    California tattoo parlors must meet legislated health standards, and Dukes says inspectors have affirmed that her work is safe and does not violate any regulations on the use of cremated remains.

    And, she argues, the criticism is mostly because people in the United States are unfamiliar with it.

    “It’s something that people don’t really hear about that often, and things that are foreign to people they’re pretty much gonna immediately disregard.”

    Dukes herself has embraced the practice, and has her father’s ashes in a tattoo.

    “I still just really love being able to do this for people because there’s not a lot of tattoo artists that are vocal about doing it,” she says.

    – Meaningful –

    For Frank, the chance to etch a meaningful, and lasting memory on her skin, is very special.

    The design she asked Dukes to create was a simple outline of a dove with open wings — a shape that is indelibly linked in her mind with her mother.

    “When I was younger, instead of saying ‘I love you’, she would say ‘I dove you’,” smiles Frank.

    “So it’s just something that’s like so simple, but it’s something that’s really meaningful to me.”

    Above all, the fact that she will always have her mother with her is what matters.

    “She’s already a part of me,” says Frank. “But she’s really going to be a part of me forever and always going to be going on all these adventures with me.”

  • Ushna Shah’s opinion on McDonald’s workers has divided social media

    Ushna Shah’s opinion on McDonald’s workers has divided social media

    Ushna Shah’s recent take on boycotting McDonald’s and other international franchises has divided social media. The actress is currently among the vocal celebrities calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Yesterday she expressed her outrage at a video showing IDF soldiers in Israel enjoying McDonald’s. The Israeli franchise was subjected to international backlash when they announced they were providing free meals to soldiers. Ushna shared the video and urged her followers to boycott the brand, writing:

    “I swear to God if I see anyone touch #McDonalds or have it anywhere near me I’m going to rage. Keep it the hell off my sets & if you choose to eat it or endorse it stay the hell away from me, & be prepared for an earful. And for Muslims, consider it as Haram as pork.”

    A commentor under her X post questioned if Ushna was thinking about the countless workers in local McDonald’s franchises, who would be jobless if the restaurant was boycotted. To which the ‘Habs’ actor responded:

    “Shut up. Those people can find employment at a local fast food chain . McDonalds is a Franchise and as a Franchise it has chosen to send 4000 daily meals to an army that is annihilating Gaza. Closing this franchise in Pakistan will open doors for local businesses to flourish which is far better for our economy. This argument is ridiculous. McDonalds needs to be banned. Simple.”

    While some users agreed with Ushna’ take to boycott McDonald’s, other’s felt her tweet reeked of elitism.

    There were users on X who agreed to stop purchasing McDonald’s to ensure their support for Palestine remains strong.

    “Mcdonalds is next to where i play football in Singapore. I sometimes had it on my way back. Today, i chose to walk 2 km to a local joint instead. If i can, you can.”

    But others felt her tweet especially regarding workers finding job elsewhere read like elitism, and many users pointed out there needs to be conversation on how the middle class survives boycotts like these.

    “an elite woman telling people who live the consequences of poor economy to go find another job is insane,” a user wrote.

    This user pointed out that we should help employees find new jobs so they’re not affected by the McDonald’s boycott.

    “An average #McDonalds employee earns 25 to 30K, and in a country where people beg for jobs, you’re asking them to leave their jobs? Who will provide them with new jobs? First get them jobs at local chains with same salary and a ration of a month then lash out at them. #Pakistan“

    “Someone please tell her that your boycott wont have any impact on global chain of McDonalds since they operate via franchise in Pakistan and the only loss would be Pakistan’s economy and people employed there. Get them job first then come up with such activism.”

    “and until those ppl dont get re-employed at a local chain, they’d be on Ushna’s payroll ? Its easier said then done. people do not estimate the impact. Its 5,000 to 8,000 families getting affected if a chain closes. Its not really about not having a big mac, that’s the easy part”

  • Professional beggars to be blacklisted by FIA

    Professional beggars to be blacklisted by FIA

    The Federal Investigative Agency has decided to blacklist the passports of professional beggars who go abroad to seek alms.

    Director-General FIA Mohsin Butt has issued a directive to thwart these passengers from flying abroad. A crackdown has been initiated, with seventy-four suspects from airports across the country offloaded and transferred to the FIA Anti-Human Trafficking Circles for further investigation. Their passports are going to be blacklisted.

    Previously a report was submitted to the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis about a shocking percentage of professional beggars who were arrested in the Middle East. 90 per cent of them are Pakistanis. These also include pickpockets who are arrested from the religious sites.

    The Secretary of Overseas Pakistanis raised the issue in front of the committee. “Beggars are leaving Pakistan in large numbers, often travelling by boatloads. They are exploiting Umrah and visiting visas to beg from pilgrims abroad,” he informed the committee. The increasing number of Pakistani beggars in Iraq and Saudi Arabia is also a cause of less regard, mistrust and growing suspicion attached to the Pakistani nation. An increasing numbers of prisoners in foreign jails is feeding into the tarnished image and highlights the serious issue of human trafficking as well.

  • Bradley Cooper, Dua Lipa, Florence Pugh, other artists sign open letter urging Gaza ceasefire

    Bradley Cooper, Dua Lipa, Florence Pugh, other artists sign open letter urging Gaza ceasefire

    An open letter was posted on social media by Pakistani-British actor Riz Ahmed, calling for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza. The letter urged world leaders and civilians to end the ongoing bombing in Gaza, where currently the death toll is set to hit 7000, including 3000 children.

    “We urge your administration, and all world leaders, to honor all of the lives in the holy land and call for and facilitate a ceasefire without delay- and end to the bombing of Gaza and safe release of the hostages.”

    “We refuse to tell future generations the story of our silence, that we stood by and did nothing. History is watching,” the letter, addressed primarily to US President Joe Biden, said.

    The letter is signed by actors like Alyssa Milano, America Ferrera, Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri, Bradley Cooper (who had also signed the other letter calling for release of all Israeli hostages), Channing Tatum, Politician Cynthia Nixon and Sandra Oh.

    Jewish director of the film ‘Bottoms’, Emma Seligman, was also among the signatories. She clarified on Instagram that she was wrong to sign the letter demanding more funding for Israel. She released a post on her Instagram stories clarifying her position was always pro Palestine.

    Here is the complete letter.

  • Court rejects Khan’s appeal seeking bail, cancellation of FIR in cipher case

    Court rejects Khan’s appeal seeking bail, cancellation of FIR in cipher case

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday has rejected former prime minister Imran Khan’s appeal requesting bail and cancellation of the first information report (FIR) in the cipher case on Friday.

    The verdict, reserved on October 16, was read out by IHC Chief Justice Amir Farooq.

    Khan’s lawyer, Latif Khosa, stated during the last hearing that an FIR against his client should not be registered as the federal cabinet of the former prime minister declassified the cipher.

    Another PTI lawyer, Salman Safdar, said that Section 5 of the Official Secrets Act was not relevant in the cipher case.

    He also mentioned that Section 5 could be applied for sharing sensitive information with foreigners, and this “main ingredient is missing” in the FIR against former prime minister.

    The FIR was registered against PTI’s chairman and the party’s vice chairman, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, for misusing the cipher for their political motives.

  • Big blow for Pakistan as Hassan Ali gets fever

    Big blow for Pakistan as Hassan Ali gets fever

    Pakistan cricket team’s problems in the World Cup have increased, with fast bowler Hasan Ali being ruled out of the match against South Africa due to fever.

    According to PCB, Hasan Ali will not play tomorrow’s match against South Africa. He will be rested due to fever. Sources say that Muhammad Wasim Jr. is likely to be included in the team against South Africa tomorrow in place of Hasan Ali.

    Pakistan will now play their next match today at the Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai against the strongest team of the mega event, South Africa.

  • ‘Fear is not an option’: Bella Hadid speaks out on Palestine genocide

    ‘Fear is not an option’: Bella Hadid speaks out on Palestine genocide

    Palestinian-American model Bella Hadid has broken her silence to speak out against Palestinian genocide. Currently, the death toll has reached 7500, with 3000 of them being children.

    Bella apologised for her silence for the past two weeks, and spoke about the threats she was given to remain silent: “I’ve been sent hundreds of death threats daily, my phone number leaked and my family has felt to be in danger. But I can not be silenced any longer. Fear is not an option. The people and children of Palestine, especially in Gaza, cannot afford our silence. We are not brave- they are.”

    Gigi, Bella and her family were targeted with threats because of their outspoken support for Palestine. The family members recieved threats on emails, phone calls which gave graphic descriptions of how they would be murdered.

    READ MORE: Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid are receiving death threats, phone numbers doxed after Palestine support

    Bella wrote her heart is bleeding on the bloodshed and violence Gaza has witnessed in these past two weeks, when hospitals, mosques and bakeries were bombed by Israeli airstrikes.

    “My heart is bleeding with pain from the trauma I am seeing unfold, as well as the generational trauma of my Palestinian blood. Seeing the aftermath from the airstrikes in Gaza, I mourn with all the mothers who have lost children, and the children who cry alone, all the lost fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, friends that will never again walk this earth.”

    Bella reflected on the history of her father, Mohammad Hadid, who was a survivor of the 1948 Nakba when Israeli forces expelled 750,000 people from Palestine.

    “My father was born in Nazareth in the year of the Nakba (the displacement of 750,000 Palestinians in 1948.) Nine days after he was born, he, in his mother’s arms, along with his family were expelled from their home in Palestine, becoming refugees, away from a place they once called home. My grandparents, never being allowed to return. My famiyl witnessed 75 years of violence against Palestinian people- most notably, brutal settle invasions which led to the destruction of entire communities, murder in cold blood and the forcible removal of families from their homes. The practice of settlements on Palestinian land still continues to this day. The pain of that is unimaginable.”

    READ MORE: There is a painful history behind why supermodels Gigi, Bella Hadid support the Palestinian cause

    Bella urged her followers to be aware of the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to keep pressurising governments to listen to the needs of Palestinians:

    “There is an urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza that must be attended to. Families need access to water and food. Hospitals need fuel to power generators, tend to the wounded and keep people alive. Wars have laws – and they must be upheld, no matter what. We need to keep pressure on our leaders, wherever they are, not to forget the urgent needs of the people of Gaza, and to ensure that innocent Palestinian civilians are not the forgotten casualties of war,”

  • PIA struggles to stay afloat as fuel shortage forces cancellation of 349 flights  

    PIA struggles to stay afloat as fuel shortage forces cancellation of 349 flights  

    Over the past two weeks, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been compelled to cancel 349 flights due to a severe fuel shortage, underscoring the challenges faced by the financially struggling national carrier.

    According to a spokesperson, these flight cancellations, which began on October 14, have affected both domestic and international routes, causing significant inconvenience to passengers. 

    PIA has issued a statement confirming that daily flight rescheduling is ongoing, but without specifying the expected duration of this crisis. Flight schedules are being adjusted based on fuel availability, as mentioned in the statement. 

    This situation has arisen from an ongoing financial dispute between PIA and the Pakistan State Oil Company (PSO). PIA alleges that PSO has suspended its credit line for fuel and is now requiring daily advance payments before supplying the necessary fuel. 

    PIA has emphasised its efforts to manage its funds and has indicated that the return to regular flight schedules depends on the availability of financial resources. 

    To keep affected travellers informed, PIA has outlined its priority destinations once flight operations resume. Canada, Turkey, China, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia are expected to be among the first countries to be reconnected. 

    However, PIA’s flights to Europe and the UK have remained suspended since 2020 following the revocation of the national carrier’s authorization by the European Union’s Aviation Safety Agency due to the pilot licence scandal. 

  • State Bank of Pakistan’s forex reserves dip by $220 million in weekly report 

    State Bank of Pakistan’s forex reserves dip by $220 million in weekly report 

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) witnessed a notable decline in its foreign exchange reserves, with a weekly reduction of $220 million, bringing the total to $7.5 billion as of October 20th, according to the data released on Thursday. 

    The overall liquid foreign reserves of the country now stand at $12.6 billion, while the commercial banks hold net foreign reserves of $5.1 billion.  

    The decrease in SBP’s reserves was attributed to debt repayments during the week that ended on October 20, 2023, leading to a decrease of $220 million and bringing the total to $7,494.2 million. 

    Last week saw a modest increase of $67 million in Pakistan’s central bank reserves. Notably, Pakistan’s central bank received a significant boost to its reserves in July of this year.  

    This boost was a result of the initial installment of approximately $1.2 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), following the approval of a new $3-billion stand-by arrangement by the IMF. Additionally, Pakistan received inflows from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. 

    Nevertheless, the central bank’s reserves have come under pressure due to a combination of factors, including ongoing debt repayments, increased import payments after the easing of restrictions, and a lack of substantial new inflows.