Indian visas have not been issued to the Pakistan cricket team to participate in the Cricket World Cup.
According to the sources, the visas of the Pakistan squad are delayed and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is worried about the issuance of the visas.
PCB has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) about the issue and asked them to issue visas on time as per the agreement.
Sources say that they were not told about the visas of the Pakistan squad and fans. PCB has been in touch with the Indian High Commission for a week, however visas could not be issued.
Pakistani squad is scheduled to leave for India via Dubai on September 26 and Pakistan’s first warm-up is scheduled on September 29 against New Zealand.
It should be noted that Pakistan’s squad for the Cricket World Cup has been announced, Babar Azam will be the captain and Shadab Khan will be the vice-captain.
Fast bowler Naseem Shah is not part of the national squad due to injury while Hasan Ali has been included in the squad in his place.
Other players include Abdullah Shafiq, Fakhar Zaman, Imamul Haq, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Muhammad Rizwan, Muhammad Nawaz, Muhammad Wasim Jr., Hasan Ali, Saud Shakeel, Salman Agha and Osama Mir.
Three players have been kept in reserve for the World Cup, including Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed and Zaman Khan.
The proceedings of senior journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder trial have been put to halt in District and Sessions Courts Islamabad.
According to the details reported by Samaa news, witnesses have failed to appear and there is a lack of interest on their behalf; and so the case’ file was sent to the record room.
Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah issued the written decision of the previous hearing.
According to the decision, on March 16, the court received a challan of Penal Code Section 512 in the Arshad Sharif murder case. On April 5, the court summoned witnesses to record their statements. They were summoned several times, but no one appeared.
The court says that they are not interested in recording the statements of the witnesses in the Arshad Sharif murder case; the prosecution was given an opportunity to submit evidence 15 times. And so, at the previous hearing, the prosecution was given notice that perhaps the file should be sent to the record room. According to the prosecutor, private and official witnesses are not coming to the court to record their statements.
In the judgement, it has been said that the prosecution can file an application for a new date considering the appearance of the witnesses, till further orders the Arshad Sharif murder case file is sent to the record room.
Caretaker Minister for Commerce, Industries, and Production, Dr Gohar Ejaz, has voiced his opposition to the early market closure proposed as part of the energy conservation plan, expressing concerns over the significant financial losses the government could incur as a result.
According to ARY News, Dr Ejaz said that Pakistan currently has a surplus of electricity, making the decision to close markets prematurely economically unfavorable.
He revealed that recommendations were sought from all chambers of commerce across the country within a 30-day period. Additionally, Dr Ejaz announced an upcoming anti-gas theft initiative following the anti-power theft operation. He urged traders to be flexible, considering the limited gas resources in the country.
Furthermore, he revealed plans to invite 100 international brands to a conference in Pakistan, granting them the status of state guests. Dr Ejaz also mentioned the current exchange rate of the US dollar, which stands at Rs260.
To encourage the purchase of electricity from Thar, he directed Sindh and Punjab to do so, promising tax exemptions if they comply. This move aims to make electricity tariffs in these regions more competitive.
The caretaker minister stressed the need to boost exports, pointing out that Pakistan’s foreign direct investment is contingent on increased exports. He called for cooperation from business leaders to resolve various issues.
Dr Ejaz expressed his commitment to serving the country and previously outlined plans to support industry stakeholders in boosting exports and establishing business parks in major cities to stimulate economic growth.
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has officially proposed to the government an increase in the electricity tariff of Rs3.28 per unit, citing the need for a quarterly adjustment.
In this proposal, NEPRA is looking to impose an additional financial burden of approximately Rs160 billion on consumers of electricity. According to ARY News, this recommendation has been conveyed to the caretaker federal government through an official summary, outlining the suggested increment of Rs3.28 in electricity rates as part of the fourth-quarter adjustment for the fiscal year 2022–23.
The proposed increase, subject to approval by the federal government, would also apply to K-Electric consumers. As a result of this adjustment, power consumers would be required to make additional payments over the next six months, spanning from October 2023 to March 2024.
It is worth noting that the proposed surge in power tariffs has incited protests throughout the country, with citizens expressing their displeasure over the considerable rise in electricity costs and the imposition of excessive taxes on electricity bills. In some instances, individuals infuriated by inflated bills have resorted to burning them as a form of protest, while certain political factions have threatened to stage sit-in demonstrations outside K-Electric offices.
This unrest surrounding the increased electricity tariffs coincides with Pakistan’s ongoing economic struggles, characterised by financial constraints and an inflation rate hovering around 29 per cent.
Furthermore, it is important to highlight that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reportedly discouraged Pakistan from offering relief to consumers using over 200 units of electricity on a monthly basis. According to sources, the IMF argued that reducing electricity bills for such consumers would not address the issue of circular debt.
Consequently, relief in the form of deferred payments for electricity bills will be exclusively extended to consumers who consistently utilise less than 200 units for six consecutive months. This relief would be rescinded if a consumer’s bill exceeded 200 units within the same timeframe, as per the sources.
Caretaker Federal Minister for Energy, Power, and Petroleum, Muhammad Ali, has also announced that the revised electricity tariff will be introduced before October 31. During a press conference held alongside Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, Minister Ali emphasised the government’s commitment to combating electricity and gas theft through indiscriminate measures.
He added that efforts are being made to regulate and potentially lower electricity tariffs, with a goal to supply cost-effective electricity to industries starting on October 31. Muhammad Ali attributed the surge in electricity bills to electricity theft and the increased price of the US dollar.
While acknowledging the challenges of amending previous agreements, the minister pledged that the government would explore solutions within the framework of existing arrangements. He also expressed the government’s commitment to promoting solar energy despite the lack of reductions in solar equipment prices, outlining plans to devise a strategy for the promotion of solarization.
Inspector-General Police Punjab, Dr Usman Anwar, has directed top police officials in Punjab, including Regional Police Officers (RPOs), City Police Officers (CPOs), and District Police Officers (DPOs), to intensify efforts against anti-national and anti-social elements involved in electricity theft, which is causing a staggering annual loss of Rs600 billion to the national treasury.
In a special video message, Dr Usman Anwar emphasised that Punjab Police’s crackdown on electricity thieves has gained momentum, with over 1,000 cases registered daily, spanning the entire province, including Lahore. This financial loss surpasses the cumulative losses from 15 years of various crimes, such as dacoity and robbery, across Punjab.
According to Business Recorder, Dr Usman Anwar clarified that the scale of this theft far outweighs other criminal activities and assured that, following the directives of the Prime Minister and Chief Minister of Punjab, there will be no leniency for those involved in electricity theft. Offenders, regardless of their methods, will face legal consequences.
He expressed concern that innocent citizens must bear the financial burden of others’ theft, emphasising that no one will be allowed to rob citizens of their hard-earned money. Dr Usman Anwar urged citizens to cooperate with law enforcement, district administrations, and relevant institutions by reporting electricity theft in their areas to accelerate actions against these elements harming the nation’s financial interests.
Great news for Pakistani Bollywood fans who bemoaned missing out on the excitement surrounding the release of Karan Johar’s much-lauded romantic comedy ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani’, because there is finally a chance for them to watch the Alia Bhatt starrer on their screens. The Ranveer Singh-Alia Bhatt film is finally out on the streaming platform Amazon Prime with a special twist: it will feature a full-screen version of the song ‘Kudmayi’.
Director Karan Johar announced the release of the film on his Instagram account.
The romantic comedy stars Singh as a West Delhi playboy and Alia Bhatt as the headstrong feminist journalist, who cross paths after both realise there was a special connection between their grandparents. The film also stars veteran actors Jaya Bachchan, Dharmendra and Shabana Azmi.
The film was hailed by audience members and film critics for the strong feminist message, as well as the performances by both Ranveer and Alia, with many saying this was Karan Johar’s comeback film. The film grossed more than $23 million in India and a further $21 million overseas, making it the fourth highest-grossing Hindi film of the year.
Canadian-Indian rapper Shubhneet Singh is facing backlash from conservative politicians and social media users accusing him of being a Khalistan supporter, after the rapper’s post from March recirculated around social media. Several cricket players like Virat Kohli, Hardick Panday and KL Rahul had unfollowed the rapper on Instagram following the controversy.
Singh’s tour in India in September was cancelled, after sponsor BoAt announced they were no longer sponsoring the tour as they announced in a post on their X, formerly Twitter, account.
“At boAt, while our commitment to the incredible music community runs deep, we are first and foremost a true Indian brand. Therefore, when we became aware of the remarks made by artist Shubh earlier this year, we chose to withdraw our sponsorship from the tour.”
BookMyShow, the online ticket portal confirmed on their X account that they were refunding customers who had purchased ticket’s for Shubh’s concert in Mumbai and other cities.
Singer Shubhneet Singh’s Still Rollin Tour for India stands cancelled. To that end, BookMyShow has initiated a complete refund of the ticket amount for all consumers who had purchased tickets for the show. The refund will be reflected within 7-10 working days in the customer’s…
In light of these accusations, Indian rapper AP Dhillon released a lengthy statement on his Instagram stories where he publicly sided with the ‘We Rollin’ rapper, condemning the way artists are targeted by special interest and political groups.
“As an artist it has become almost impossible to stay focused on your craft and do what you love. I try to be mindful of everyone’s sentiments but it has gotten to a point where we have to second and triple guess our every move due to the fear of unintentionally fueling even more division.”
“Spread love, not hate,” wrote the ‘Brown Munde’ rapper. “Let’s start thinking for ourselves and not let hateful influences program our beliefs. We are ALL one. Let’s not let man made social constructs divide us. Division has gotten us to this point but unity is the key to the future.”
Shubhneet Singh addressed the backlash in a lengthy statement posted on his Instagram account and said he found the allegations “extremely disheartening.”
“My intent in resharing that post on my story was only to pray for Punjab as there were reports of electricity and internet shutdowns throughout the state. There was no other thought behind it, and I definitely didn’t intend to hurt anyone’s sentiments.”
The backlash to Shubh arrives after relations between India and Canada took a sour turn when Justin Trudeau publicly accused the Indian government for being involved in the death of the Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who had been a vocal supporter of setting up a separate state for Sikhs living in India.
“Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty,” said Trudeau.
“In the strongest possible terms, I continue to urge the government of India to cooperate with Canada to get to the bottom of this matter.”
After the Instagram post by Shubhneet went viral, the youth wing of the BJP party in India BJYMP filed an FIR against the rapper with the Mumbai Police, calling Singh a Khalistan supporter.
“Shubh is openly a Khalistani supporter,” the complaint read. “And if he is allowed to hold a concert here, he will be influencing a lot of youth in Mumbai and our country to support his agenda…He has evidently proven that he is a pro-Khalistani activist and openly supports their agenda and [he] is also influencing the youth of the country to do the same and wage a war against the Government of India by posting such absurd and derogatory post about Government of India.”
Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi’s valima to Ansha Afridi was held on Thursday in a lavish ceremony in Islamabad, where several A-list celebrities and sports stars were present to celebrate the occasion. Check out some pictures of all the big names who were at the event.
Former cricket star Shahid Afridi shared several pictures, posing along with members of the cricket team including Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Imam ul Haq, Shadab Khan, and with former pacer Shoaib Akhtar. He thanked his friends for gracing his daughter’s valima with their presence.
“I would like to Thank Team Pakistan, My former team mates, diplomats and dignitaries from different walk of life for gracing my daughter’s Valima. Their presence made me feel loved and honored. I am grateful that we got to celebrate this moment together.”
I would like to Thank Team Pakistan, My former team mates, diplomats and dignitaries from different walk of life for gracing my daughter’s Valima. Their presence made me feel loved and honoured. I am grateful that we got to celebrate this moment together. pic.twitter.com/sRPTh0A6Ta
Geo reports there the scrumptious menu featured biryani, lamb korma, chicken reshmi kebab, tandoori lamb chops and prawns.
Shaheen and Ansha’s nikah was held in February at a daytime ceremony. Shaheen shared pictures on his Instagram account, requesting fans to respect the privacy of his wife and the rest of his family members, after a picture of Ansha’s face was leaked on social media.
Actress Ushna Shah took to her Twitter account to condemn drama scripts for stigmatising divorced women- and treat the topic like a taboo. The actress reflected on her own upbringing with a divorced mother, who had worked three jobs to bring her up, and said she would like to be a part of stories that refuse to resort to toxic stereotypes:
“Many scripts I work on perpetuate shame around divorce. While I can’t reshape the conventions of scriptwriting or opt for unemployment, I stand by a vision. As the child of a divorcee who hustled with three jobs to raise us, the stigma on divorced characters feels deeply personal. I’m eager to be part of a story that addresses the stigma of divorce and combats the shame of being single after, celebrating the journey to independence and joy. Convincing producers to back such a risqué script, which may face societal backlash, is very challenging.”
Many scripts I work on perpetuate shame around divorce. While I can’t reshape the conventions of scriptwriting or opt for unemployment, I stand by a vision. As the child of a divorcee who hustled with three jobs to raise us, the stigma on divorced characters feels deeply…
Many users on Twitter shared the opinion, stating that they wanted a stop to narratives that actively discourage divorce.
There’s absolutely no shame in divorce or any stigma attached to it in Islam. Our prophet SAW himself married a divorced woman. If only we understood our religion.
After the announcement of the timeframe of elections by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), major political parties in the former ruling alliance welcomed the development, hoping that it would dispel apprehensions about the political situation of the country.
“The final list of constituencies will be published on November 30. After that, elections will be held in the last week of January 2024,” the commission said in a statement.
Reacting to the development, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) viewed it as positive development while Awami National Party (ANP) demanded a specific date. However, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) decided to challenge the move in court.
PTI
After the announcement, PTI has decided to challenge the Commission’s decision to conduct elections in the last week of January. While talking to Geo News, PTI’s core committee member Niazullah Niazi said that the Constitution calls for elections within 90 days, and exceeding the period is unlawful.
“We will challenge the Election Commission’s decision. The way the ECP is working it does not look like a constitutional institution,” Niazi said, adding that President Arif Alvi has the authority to announce a date for polls.
PMLN
Senior PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal stated that his party welcomed the decision by the ECP as it has ended uncertainty about delimitations.
“Everyone knew from the first day that the election commission was bound to conduct delimitation after the census,” he said.
“Earlier, the ECP had said to complete the delimitation process by December 15 after which the polls were estimated to be held in February next year. However, our party had given suggestions to the ECP to reduce the delimitation period. In the light of those suggestions, the ECP reduced the delimitation time till November 30 and then announced elections at the end of January after the 54-day period,” he added.
He further added, “It is important that the elections are held peacefully, and a stable government is formed that takes the country out of the economic crisis.”
PPP
PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira stated that he could only give his own opinion on the matter but viewed the development as “positive”. The former federal minister said that uncertainty would end and things would hopefully move in a positive direction. “Let’s hope for the best.”
ANP
Meanwhile, the Awami National Party has urged the ECP to fix an exact date for the election.
Senior ANP leader Zahid Khan said that his part has demanded that elections be held in 90 days and the party raised the same issue when they met Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.
MQM
MQM-P leader Mustafa Kamal told Geo news that they are satisfied with the development.
However, he said it is yet to be seen whether the ECP would address the party’s concerns regarding the demarcation of constituencies after publishing an initial list of delimitation.
The former Karachi mayor said his party would file a complaint if they found any problem with the delimitation process.
