Blog

  • Officers of ‘spy agency’ will perform duties in NAB

    Officers of ‘spy agency’ will perform duties in NAB

    The top anti-corruption watchdog, National Accountability Bureau (NAB), has decided to appoint intelligence agency officers to investigate high-profile corruption cases after Supreme Court’s decision of reopening graft references worth billions of rupees, Geo has reported.

    A letter has been written to the institutions, and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmed Butt has also approved that letter, sources have confirmed.

    According to the report, anti-corruption officials have also said that the officers of sensitive institutions will be appointed to key positions and will start working in a few days.

    The insiders also stated that vacant seats in NAB will be filled soon.

    A deputy chairman of the national anti-graft body and prosecutor general will also be appointed soon on a permanent basis, they added.

    The officers of sensitive institutions will perform duties in the NAB offices, as this way a strong and efficient intelligence system can be established in the institutions.

  • Tired of long queues at NADRA centres? Good news for you, then

    Tired of long queues at NADRA centres? Good news for you, then

    NADRA centres are to introduce various new facilities including renewal of national identity cards at post offices without waiting in queues.

    Counters have been set up in 10 General Post Offices (GPOs) in Karachi to provide facilities for national identity cards where devices are connected to the NADRA system.

    Post office counters have facilities for renewal of identity cards, change of marital status, while the facility of issuing replacements for lost identity cards will also be available at the counters.

    This means that ID cards can be renewed from the post office up to one year after expiry, while home address, signature and photograph can also be changed.

    However, biometric facility of blood relation is not available at post offices. Renewal of form is mandatory from a 16th grade officer while FRC and (b) form issuance facilities are not available.

    NADRA has agreed to set up counters at the Pakistan Post Office for 10 years.

  • Co-accused in Fatima case, Fayyaz Shah, rearrested for harboring criminals

    Co-accused in Fatima case, Fayyaz Shah, rearrested for harboring criminals

    Pir Fayyaz Shah, one of the suspects in the Fatima murder case, has been re-arrested today.

    The prosecution legal team has claimed that Fayyaz Shah has been arrested for two other pending cases filed against him after Fatima’s murder FIR was filed — one issue pertaining to a jirga and the other for harbouring criminals.

    A bench of the high court had granted Fayyaz Shah a six-day bail, ordering the police not to detain him in connection with the murder case of the child maid Fatima at the Ranipur Haveli.

    Following his arrest, Shah was relocated to an undisclosed location.

    Pir Fayyaz Shah is Asad Shah’s father-in-law, the owner of the mansion where Fatima died, and the father of the other suspect, Hina Shah. He has persistently claimed that Fatima died due to illness and the family had no involvement in the case. He claims that they are being targeted for political persecution.

    Earlier, Sindh High Court Hyderabad bench granted security bail of Rs50,000, while the decision on the bail of Hina Shah will be pronounced on September 26.

    Similarly, five-day physical remand of Asad Shah and Imtiaz Merasi were approved.

    Asad Shah and medical dispenser Imtiaz Merasi, accused in the Fatima murder case, were produced in the Anti-Terrorism Court.

    A 15-day physical remand was requested by the police, but the court granted a five-day physical remand and handed them over to CTD Sukkur.

    The accused were shifted to Sukkur CTD under tight security.

    Additionally, since the past one month, nothing, including the pin code of the mobile phone, could be recovered from the accused, Pir Shah.

    Fatima’s parents had expressed doubts over the performance of Khairpur police, on which IG Sindh handed over the accused to CTD’s DSP Abdul Qadoos.

    Caretaker Provincial Minister and IG Sindh visit Fatima’s house

    Caretaker Interior Minister Brigadier (retd) Haris Nawaz and IG Sindh visited village Khan Wahan of District Naushahro Feroze where they condoled with the father of deceased Fatima Phuriro.

    Nawaz said that he will ensure justice in Fatima’s case, giving instructions to the inquiry officer to complete the inquiry soon.

  • Peshawar restaurant owner imprisoned for ‘molesting’ foreign tourists

    Peshawar restaurant owner imprisoned for ‘molesting’ foreign tourists

    The owner of Peshawar’s famous Charsi Tikka restaurant, Nisar Khan, has been arrested by the Shah Gabool Police after videos emerged on social media of him misbehaving with foreign tourists.

    According to ARY, police arrested Nisar after receiving several complaints from foreign tourists, particularly foreign women. A case was lodged against him under the complaint of SI Naeem.

    The police told ARY that Namak Mandi Food Street has attracted foreign tourists and local travellers, while Charsi Tikka is a well known restaurant.

  • Elections in Jan ‘24: How you can register to vote in Pakistan

    Elections in Jan ‘24: How you can register to vote in Pakistan

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has set a new date for the general election in January, which is about three months later than originally planned. This decision was made to clear up confusion about when the election would happen and to help the struggling economy. 

    In this article, we will explain how you can sign up to vote in the upcoming election. 

    To register to vote, you need to send in an application along with a copy of your Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) to the District Election Commissioner (DEC), Registration Officer, or Assistant Registration Officer in the district where you want to vote.

    You can find the necessary forms online on the ECP website or get them for free at the offices of the District Election Commissioner, Registration Officer, Assistant Registration Officer, or Display Centre Incharge. 

    To be eligible to vote, you must meet these criteria: 

    (a) You must be a citizen of Pakistan.  

    (b) You must be at least eighteen years old.  

    (c) You need to have a CNIC issued by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) up until the last day for submitting claims, objections, and applications for updating the voter list.  

    (d) You must not have been declared legally unfit (unsound mind) by a court.  

    (e) You must either live in the area where you want to vote or be considered a resident under section 27. 

    Even if your NADRA ID has expired, it’s still valid for registering to vote or casting your vote in an election. 

  • Social media users’ reactions on WC squad

    Social media users’ reactions on WC squad

    Fast bowler Hassan Ali has replaced Nasim Shah in Pakistan cricket team after the later sustained a shoulder injury during Asia Cup 2023. Today, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the squad for the World Cup 2023.

    Some fans are appreciating the selection of the squad but others are criticising it.

    Here are some reactions:

    Vikrant Gupta who is an Indian news anchor also tweeted:

  • Names of politicians not paying their electricity bills made public

    Names of politicians not paying their electricity bills made public

    In a shocking revelation, the Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) has unveiled a roster of prominent individuals who have failed to meet their obligations regarding electricity payments. 

    According to Samaa, this list comprises former Members of the National Assembly (MNAs), Senators, and individuals associated with the transportation industry, thereby bringing to light the substantial unpaid dues of these notable figures. 

    According to a QESCO spokesperson, the most significant defaulter on this list is none other than the former Federal Minister, Mir Hamayoun Aziz Kurd, who is currently indebted to the tune of an astounding Rs4.95 million. 

    Following closely behind, we find former Provincial Minister Asim Kurd with an outstanding balance of Rs2.06 million, while former Interior Minister Mir Zia Ullah Langau’s dues are accounted for at Rs1.57 million. 

    Among other noteworthy entries on this list, former Provincial Minister Zafar Zehri is recorded with unpaid bills totaling Rs1.16 million, former MNA Abdul Qahar Uddin with an outstanding amount of Rs916,253, and former Provincial Minister Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran showing Rs468,770 in unsettled bills. 

    This compilation also reveals that Feroz Lehri, a prominent transporter, owes QESCO a sum of Rs493,310, while Senator Naseeb Ullah Bazai has failed to clear Rs447,810 in unpaid bills. Additionally, former MPA Haji Ahmed Nawaz’s dues amount to Rs179,009, and tribal leader Wadera Sheeren Marri has an unsettled bill of Rs86,953. 

    KESCO, in response to the rampant issue of electricity theft across Balochistan, including Quetta, has undertaken rigorous measures. According to the spokesperson, a total of 322 cases have been registered against electricity thieves, resulting in the apprehension of 122 individuals.  

    Quetta leads with the highest number of cases at 64, followed by Loralai with 75, Khuzdar with 65, Sibi with 88, and Pishin with 25 cases. In addition to these, 5 cases have been filed in Makran. 

    Read more: Govt considers substantial gas tariff hike as energy concerns loom 

    The stringent crackdown on electricity theft has culminated in the collection of approximately Rs75 million in fines from the culprits, with Rs42.6 million already successfully recovered.  

    In response to non-payment issues in Balochistan, authorities have seized 15 transformers, and an additional 6 illegal transformers have been confiscated. Furthermore, 435 defaulters in Quetta, Loralai, Khuzdar, Pishin, Sibi, and Makran have had their connections disconnected due to their persistent outstanding bills. 

  • Govt considers substantial gas tariff hike as energy concerns loom 

    Govt considers substantial gas tariff hike as energy concerns loom 

    Caretaker Minister for Energy, Muhammad Ali, addressed concerns about gas prices during a visit to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), accompanied by Caretaker Federal Minister for Commerce, Industries, and Production, Gohar Ejaz.

    He revealed that impending announcements would detail changes in gas prices, acknowledging that gas prices have consistently been a matter of concern. According to Dawn, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) had proposed a 45–50 per cent gas tariff increase earlier in the year to meet revenue requirements for gas utilities. However, the government has not yet made a formal decision. 

    Ali emphasised regional disparities in gas prices, with the North having higher prices than the South. He also discussed the challenges of inadequate long-term LNG contracts and efforts to combat electricity theft. He noted that while steps were being taken to reduce energy price disparities, an overnight reduction was impossible due to the country’s commitment to the IMF programme. 

    Commerce Minister Ejaz highlighted efforts to address issues related to Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) and its impact on the dollar rate. He pointed out that industry inputs, raw materials, and energy prices were vulnerable to international market fluctuations, affecting exports due to currency devaluation. However, recent measures have stabilised the exchange rate. 

    Read more: IMF urges Pakistan to increase taxation on the rich and ‘protect the poor’

    Ejaz also stressed that currency devaluation had hindered export growth and highlighted how disparities in gas supply and prices hampered development efforts nationwide. He called for unity and collaboration, emphasising that traders were vital assets for the country’s strength and prosperity. 

    Notably, the caretaker government had recently raised petrol and high-speed diesel prices, leading to widespread criticism and sporadic protests due to the significant price surge amid high inflation. 

  • Major weather change on its way in Pakistan

    The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a forecast for heavy rainfall spanning from September 22 to September 24, affecting various regions of the country. Read the story to see if it will rain in your city or not.

    Met Office has confirmed that weak to moderate moist currents from the Arabian Sea are likely to penetrate in upper parts of the country from September 22, 2023. A westerly wave is also likely to affect the upper parts on September 22.

    Under the influence of this weather system rain/wind-thundershowers (with few moderate to heavy falls) are expected in:

    Kashmir (Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur)

    Gilgit Baltistan (Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar)

    Punjab: Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura.

    Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Kurram, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Haripur, Kohat, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi and Nowshera from 22nd to 24th September with occasional gaps.

    Rain/wind-thundershower is also expected in Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Karak, Waziristan, Mianwali, Sargodha, Khushab, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Bhakkar, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan and Bahawalnagar on 23rd & 24th September with occasional gaps.

    Possible Impacts:

    Moderate to heavy falls may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Lahore, Gujranwala, and Rawalpindi on the said dates.

    Moderate to heavy rains may trigger landslides in the vulnerable areas of Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Mansehra & Abbottabad from September 22-24.

    Farmers are advised to manage their crop activities accordingly. Tourists and travelers are advised to remain cautious to avoid any untoward situation during the period.

    Wind thunderstorms may damage loose structures like electric poles, solar panels, etc. The general public is advised to stay at safe places during windstorms/lightning/moderate/heavy rains.

  • Sophie Turner sues Joe Jonas for custody of their daughters, says she found out about divorce through media

    Sophie Turner sues Joe Jonas for custody of their daughters, says she found out about divorce through media

    Yesterday, TMZ reported actress Sophie Turner has sued her ex-husband Joe Jonas for custody of their two daughters. According to the lawsuit filled in a Manhattan court, the legal team of the ‘Game Of Thrones’ star said that the couple had planned on moving to England to make it their “forever home”. Turner said the couple had sold their Miami home and were in the process of purchasing a home in the English countryside in April, and in the summer Sophie began working on ‘Joan’, a miniseries. During this time, documents reveal, Joe begun touring with his band ‘The Jonas Brothers’ in the summer, and the couple decided their children would stay with the father as he had more daytime hours available than Sophie who was filming, but shared the actress was “hesitant” about the agreement.

    The most shocking part of the documents was that Sophie found out about the divorce from media reports, after Joe filed for divorce on September 5 when the couple had an argument on August 15.

    On the issue of custody, the documents state that when the couple met to discuss the next step after their split, Joe was found to have a change of heart and rejected the plan to move to England. Turner says Joe’s legal team confirmed with Sophie’s that the children would not be returning to England and did not provide their passports.

    “The Father has possession of the children’s passports. He refuses to return the passports to the Mother and refuses to send the children home to England with the Mother.”

    Joe’s PR team has responded to the lawsuit and in a statement to People magazine, a representative for the singer says Sophie was aware about the divorce proceedings.

    “After multiple conversations with Sophie, Joe initiated divorce proceedings in Florida, as Florida is the appropriate jurisdiction for the case. Sophie was aware that Joe was going to file for divorce.”

    “Joe and Sophie had a cordial meeting this past Sunday in New York, when Sophie came to New York to be with the kids. They have been with her since that meeting. Joe’s impression of the meeting was that they had reached an understanding that they would work together towards an amicable co-parenting setup,” the statement added.

    Joe and Sophie Turner tied the knot in 2019 in a small ceremony in Vegas, and later in Paris, with their family and friends present. Reports of their divorce showed up on September 6 when sources told TMZ that Sophie was to blame for the breakdown of the marriage, claiming the actress was a drinker and partied a lot while the singer was the opposite. The reports were slammed by social media users who criticised the misogynist narrative used by Joe and his PR team to frame Sophie as a bad mother.