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  • Parliament enacted legislation with ‘good intentions’, says Chief Justice Isa

    Parliament enacted legislation with ‘good intentions’, says Chief Justice Isa

    The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Qazi Faez Isa, while hearing petitions filed against the Practice and Procedure Act (2023), remarked that the Parliament has enacted the legislation with good intentions. “If a patient is dying, can a person with medical understanding allow the patient to die just because he is not a doctor? Parliament is told that the number game should be complete, but one person comes and makes Parliament a rubber stamp,” he said.

    A full court headed by CJP Qazi Faez Isa is hearing petitions against the Practice and Procedure Act (2023) in the Supreme Court.

    During the hearing, Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan remarked that Parliament cannot make rules or legislate to make rules; only the Supreme Court has the authority to change the rules within the scope of the existing law.

    The CJP said that the Constitution says that the Supreme Court is authorised to make its own rules of practice and procedure.

    Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that the Constitution already binds the Supreme Court to make rules in accordance with the Constitution and the law, while the Chief Justice of Pakistan, while talking to the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Abid Zubairi, said that time is short, asking what difference does it make to the option.

    Abid Zubairi said in his arguments that even if the words of making rules according to the constitution and law are removed from the constitution, it will not make a difference, to which CJP Isa said that it is fine; the answer has come.

    Abid Zubairi said that when the Supreme Court made the rules, they could not be changed by law, and the CJP said that the hearing has to be completed today, as he wanted to hear the lawyers.

  • Dulha arrested for child-marriage in Faisalabad

    Dulha arrested for child-marriage in Faisalabad

    A groom has been arrested on the charge of child-marriage in Satyana area of Faisalabad.

    According to the local police, the accused had married a 10-year-old girl two weeks ago.

    The local police say that raids are being conducted in search of the young bride, while they are also searching for the nikah-khawan, witnesses, and the father of the bride — all of whom are to be arrested

  • Israel announces ‘complete siege’ on Gaza

    Israel announces ‘complete siege’ on Gaza

    Gaza Strip, an already besieged area, will now face a “total” blockade from Israel including a ban on food and water.

    On Monday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that authorities are to cut electricity and block food and fuel as part of “a complete siege” on Hamas-run Gaza which consists of a population of 2.3 million people — one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

    “We are putting a complete siege on Gaza … No electricity, no food, no water, no gas – it’s all closed,” Gallant said in a video statement.

    Israel-Hamas war

    On October 7, in an unexpected turn of events, Hamas fighters attacked Israeli bases and settlements.

    Hamas launched dozens of rockets into Israel as part of ‘Operation Al Aqsa Storm’ against illegal settlements in the occupied territory.

    From Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif gave a statement, stating, “Today the people are regaining their revolution,” he said in the recorded message, as he called on Palestinians from east Jerusalem to northern Israel to join the fight and “expel the occupiers and demolish the walls.”

    “We must set the earth on fire under the feet of the occupiers,” Deif added.

    He also claimed to have fired over 5,000 rockets into Israel.

    On the contrary, Israel has declared a “state of readiness”. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “We are at war and we will win”

    “Our enemy will pay the type of price which it has never known,” Netanyahu said in video statement.

    Read more:

  • Pakistani Journalists furious over ‘Whatsapp’ solution by ICC for World Cup coverage

    Pakistani Journalists furious over ‘Whatsapp’ solution by ICC for World Cup coverage

    India has not granted a visa to any Pakistani journalist to cover the cricket World Cup 2023 yet and the International Cricket Council (ICC) has come up with a solution stating that questions can be asked via Whatsapp, provoking more anger.

    As a temporary solution while Pakistani journalists await clearance for World Cup coverage in India, the ICC has introduced a method for them to submit their questions to an ICC media manager via WhatsApp. These questions will then be presented to the Pakistani representative attending the media conferences.

    The ICC released a statement saying, “In addition to fielding questions from the present media, the Pakistani representative at the media conference will also respond to a selection of queries submitted by members of the Pakistani media who are still awaiting travel approval for the event.”

    Expressing their disappointment, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has lodged a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC). Recent reports indicate that no Pakistani journalist was present at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad when Pakistan kicked off their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands last week.

    The PCB conveyed their disappointment in a letter to the ICC, stating, “The PCB is dismayed by the uncertainty faced by Pakistani journalists and fans in obtaining Indian visas to cover Pakistan’s opening game in the ICC World Cup. Pakistani journalists and fans are expressing deep concern, putting us under immense pressure.”

    In response, an ICC spokesperson commented, “We recognize the vital role played by journalists and passionate fans in elevating the spirit and ambiance of sporting events.”

    “This is an obligation of our host and they are working hard on it with our full support. Every effort is being made to get this sorted,” an ICC spokesperson told The Current.

    Pakistan Cricket Board Management Committee Chairman Mr. Zaka Ashraf has called upon Pakistan Foreign Secretary Syrus Sajjad Qazi and raised serious concerns and alarm over the delay in fans and journalists visas for India to cover the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. 

    The chairman also requested the Foreign Secretary to take up the issue with India’s Home Ministry through the Pakistan High Commission Office in New Delhi. The PCB has also taken serious notice of security threats being reported in Indian media and requested the government to evaluate player’s security in India. He emphasised that the well-being and safety of the Pakistan squad were of paramount importance.

    PCB is extremely disappointed to see that journalists from Pakistan and fans are still facing uncertainty about obtaining an Indian visa to cover Pakistan games in ICC World Cup 2023. In the meantime, PCB has again reminded ICC and BCCI of their respective obligations and terms and conditions stipulated in the Host agreement to guarantee visas for fans and journalists of participating teams.

    Pakistani Journalists are upset over this entire situation.

    Abdul Ghaffar, a sporta Journalist wrote took to X (formerly Twitter),

    “ICC instead of asking Pakistan Journo to send questions via Whatsapp must make sure well in advance that Pakistan Media gets visa on time and travelled,” he wrote.

    Another sports journalist, Ubaid Awan, withdrew his ICC media accreditation for World Cup 2023 in protest.

  • Man arrested for harassing female varsity students in Karachi

    Man arrested for harassing female varsity students in Karachi

    A clip of an incident of harassment went viral on September 28, highlighting the issue of rising rate of crimes against women in Karachi.

    In the video, filmed by a student in a van, a man can be seen exposing himself in front of the female students while chasing the van for five minutes near the UBL Sports Complex opposite Lucky One Mall.

    IG Sindh Police Rafat Mukhtar Raja took notice and the case was registered in Joharabad Police Station. It was pledged that the harasser would be made an example of. With the help of CCTV, the police made a raid near Federal B Area’s Block 15 and arrested the man who was identified as Adeel Zafar.

    Police have also recovered a small amount of heroin from him and it is confirmed that another case will be filed against the suspect.

    The total number of charges according to the Pakistan Penal Code are under Sections 294 (obscene acts and songs), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), and 509 (insulting modesty or causing sexual harassment).

  • Afghanistan Earthquake: Pakistan to send medical team, 50 tents, 500 blankets and more in humanitarian aid

    Afghanistan Earthquake: Pakistan to send medical team, 50 tents, 500 blankets and more in humanitarian aid

    As per the latest update, about 2,500 people have died as a consequence of a severe earthquake that jolted Afghanistan on Saturday.

    An earthquake of a magnitude of 6.3 hit the province of Herat in the troubled country, becoming one of the deadliest quakss experienced in the past two decades in Afghanistan.

    It jostled the districts of Zenda Jan and Ghorian.

    According to Abdul Wahid Rayan, spokesperson for the Ministry of Information and Culture, about six villages have been destroyed and hundreds of civilians have been buried under the debris

    As of Sunday, 1,240 people were injured and 1,320 houses were completely destroyed.

    While Afghanistan’s healthcare system is majorly dependent on foreign aid, China’s Red Cross Society has offered $200,000 in emergency cash aid.

    UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric has stated, “The United Nations and our partners in Afghanistan are coordinating with the de facto authorities to swiftly assess needs and provide emergency assistance,”

    According to the UN, its Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has deployed teams “to join ongoing humanitarian efforts” and dispatched 10,000 hygiene kits, 5,000 family kits, 1,500 sets of winter clothes, blankets, 1,000 tarpaulins, and basic household items, “which will complement support provided by other UN agencies and partners”.

    Pakistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter) stating that Pakistan stands in solidarity with Afghans during this difficult time.

    Pakistan Foreign Office also posted on social media stating that the country is in contact with Afghan authorities to get a “first-hand assessment of the urgent needs” of the victims and that Pakistan will extend “all possible support to the recovery effort.”

  • Mahira’s Mehndi look revealed and the ‘something special’ on her arm

    Mahira’s Mehndi look revealed and the ‘something special’ on her arm

    Actress Mahira Khan has kept us enthralled with a steady stream of wedding pictures on her Instagram account, emphasizing the dedication and love that went into planning the looks. She moved social media users last by sharing how she honoured the women in her family by starting the wedding ceremony with a prayer, as per her mother’s wish, and wore a motia in her ear to commemorate her dadi.

    READ MORE: How Mahira honoured her mother’s wish in her wedding

    Now Mahira has shared pictures of her Mehndi ceremony, and added how she honoured her best friend Asim Raza by wearing a string of motias in both her arms, “he is Asim and I’m his mahiru.. forever InshAllah.”

    Asim Raza was clearly moved by the dedication as he wrote: “Meri phoolon jaisi mehekti Mahira”

    Celebrities gushed about how gorgeous the actress looked at the ceremony. Yumna Zaidi wrote: “Sab say pyaari”

  • Taji Khokhar’s son alleged to have strangled wife to death

    Taji Khokhar’s son alleged to have strangled wife to death

    Farrukh Imtiaz Khokhar’s wife has been found dead in Dhoke Gangal house in Rawalpindi on Sunday.

    A mother of four, Ramsha was found to have signs of strangulation around her neck.

    According to her brother, Ali Raza, she was murdered by her husband before her body was hanged from a ceiling fan of his house.

    As per an FIR lodged by Raza with the Airport police, Ramsha married her cousin Farrukh Khokhar about 14 years ago.

    He added that Khokhar had been mistreating his wife and would often threaten to kill her.

    He was also involved in a relationship with a girl and would take her to other countries.

    Five days before her murder, Ramsha informed Ali Raza and her father that Farrukh had threatened to kill her.

    Farrukh had gone to Qatar with his girlfriend and returned at 3am on Sunday. According to the FIR, he started taunting and abusing his wife as soon as he reached home.

    Ali Raza received a phone call around 9 am from his brother-in-law, Mohammad Imtiaz, who informed that Ramsha was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her husband’s house.

    Raza and his other brother-in-law, Umar Imtiaz, hurried to Farrukh’s house and found Ramsha hanging with her dupatta tied around her neck.

    “My sister had died. There were two marks of strangulation around her neck and nothing was lying under her body,” he highlighted in the FIR.

    In the FIR, he also claimed that Farrukh called him on WhatsApp and threatened him of dire consequences.

    Raza believes that Farrukh killed his sister with the help of his brother Samar Imtiaz.

    The police has taken the body to the District Headquarters Hospital for postmortem.

    As per the initial police report, Ramsha’s body was lying on the floor and black marks were found around her neck.

  • ‘Show empathy’: Mia Khalifa defends Malala Yousafzai over response to Palestine genocide

    ‘Show empathy’: Mia Khalifa defends Malala Yousafzai over response to Palestine genocide

    As Israel launches full scale war on Palestine, many celebrities, including prominent faces in Pakistan, have expressed outrage and sent solidarity to the Palestinian people. Among the Pakistani public figures, a few social media users were critical of Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.

    Former adult star Mia Khalifa defended the activist after a Pakistani twitter user praised Mia on Twitter for vocally sending her support to Palestine, and commented on Malala’s silence on the issue.

    ‘You spoke more than our Noble Peace Prize winner Malala and earned huge respect for this act,” the user wrote.

    To which Mia had responded:

    “I appreciate your sentiment, but I don’t agree with this rhetoric. We need to be more empathetic to people’s traumas and ability to absorb and digest things unfolding in real time. Freezing is a trauma response, feeling overwhelmed is common, and we need to give people time to speak on their own time. Malala is a trailblazer for human rights, she’s an inspiration and a guiding light for many.”

    Many applauded Mia’s empathetic response.

  • World Cup 2023: Pakistani cricket presenter Zainab Abbas sent back from India due to safety concerns

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sources have confirmed to The Current that Zainab Abbas has reached Dubai from India while her departure from India was confirmed by close aides.

    According to PCB, Zainab was under a lot of pressure in India after receiving threats.

    Zainab returned back on the advice of broadcasters and her family.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Indian lawyer Vineet Jindal officially lodged a complaint against Zainab Abbas, regarding a series of old tweets resurfaced on X, formerly known as Twitter.

    Read More: Indian anti-minority lawyer targets a Pakistani over fake allegations

    These tweets are alleged to contain content considered “anti-Hindu” in nature.

    Vineet Jindal claimed that these anti-Hindu tweets were originally posted approximately nine years ago under the username “Zainablovesrk,” which has since been changed to “ZAbbas Official,” the currently active X account of Zainab Abbas.

    The reports of Zainab being deported from India are fake, according to ICC she has left for “personal reasons”.