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  • Pakistani citizen goes missing in Jeddah

    Pakistani citizen goes missing in Jeddah

    Pakistani citizen and UK resident Syed Hussain Ali has gone missing in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on August 28 while on a transit visa in the Kingdom.

    Ali’s father Syed Asim Ali told The Friday Times that he wrote a letter to the Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan and requested caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar to probe into his son’s disappearance.

    Hussain departed from Lahore on Monday 28 August at 11:40am on Saudi Airlines SV735. He landed in Jeddah at 14:50 pm, local time.

    Hussain had an eighteen hour transit and obtained a visa at the airport to perform Umrah.

    He messaged via WhatsApp using the Wi-Fi of a restaurant and then travelled to Mecca to perform Umrah. He then talked to his parents via Messenger video call from McDonald’s restaurant opposite Haram. This, according to the father, was his last communication, between 12:30-1:00 am.

    Hussain wanted to spend a couple of more hours in the Holy Mosque before his flight from Jeddah to London which was scheduled for 9:05 am.

    According to the father, Hussain was only carrying his laptop, phone, wallet and a change of clothing in his laptop bag.
    “He had only $100 on him and the rest of the expenditures he would pay using his debit and credit card,” Asim said.
    Hussain never boarded his flight to London.

    Asim noted that “Normally he is very communicative. It is very unlike him to not be in touch especially when he may know that we are waiting to hear from him,”

    In the letter to the officials, Asim requested to file a missing persons report.

    However, Properganda has commented under the Instagram news of the disappearance that Hussain has been found. That comment, however, is no longer posted.

  • IMF demands detailed electricity bill relief plan from Pakistan amid nationwide unrest

    IMF demands detailed electricity bill relief plan from Pakistan amid nationwide unrest

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked Pakistan to provide a written plan for relief in electricity bills amidst ongoing nationwide protests. 

    The caretaker government’s decision to seek approval from the IMF before announcing any consumer relief led to a federal cabinet meeting on Tuesday, chaired by interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar. 

    Despite discussing options, the meeting concluded without unveiling any measures. The Power Division had shared proposals with authorities, but the strict conditions of the IMF loan necessitated involving the lender first. 

    Pakistan’s $3 billion loan agreement with the IMF in July involved adhering to stringent financial discipline. The current surge in electricity rates, approved by the previous government, is reflected in bills. 

    According to Geo, Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar held a virtual meeting with IMF representative Esther Perez, discussing relief measures and the ongoing protests. While the Pakistani team submitted various relief proposals, the IMF officials requested a written plan, expected to be shared soon. 

    Additionally, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) engaged with the IMF on tax collection in July, with plans for further discussions in the coming days. 

  • Pakistan mein ‘Super Blue Moon’ kis waqt daikhein?

    Pakistan mein ‘Super Blue Moon’ kis waqt daikhein?

    Once in a blue moon is going to be a reality tonight. On the night of August 31, a celestial spectacle known as the ‘Blue Moon’ will captivate astro enthusiasts around the world. Despite its name, this unique event won’t unveil a blue-hued moon; instead, it will radiate a captivating shade of orange.

    The Super Blue Moon Experience

    During this event, the Super Blue Moon will be slightly larger and brighter than a typical full moon. Supermoons shine about 40 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than regular full moons. While the size difference may not be discernible to the naked eye, binoculars can enhance the view of this captivating phenomenon.

    When and How to Observe the Super Blue Moon

    In Pakistan, the spectacular view of the Super Blue Moon can be seen from 6:25 AM PKT till 6:40 AM. The moon will be full at 6:35 AM PKT.

    European viewers will have an extended opportunity to witness the moonrise, providing an additional chance to catch a glimpse of this celestial event. In London, the moon will rise at 8:08 PM BST. For those in New York, moonrise is set for 7:45 PM EDT, followed by moonset at 7:33 PM EDT, with the full moon radiating its brilliance at 8:37 PM EDT.

    In Los Angeles, both moonrise and sunset are scheduled for 7:36 PM PDT, and the full moon will grace the sky at 5:37 PM PDT. London residents can experience the Blue Moon at 7:52 PM BST during sunset and 8:24 PM BST, with the full moon’s appearance at 1:37 AM BST.

    Understanding the Blue Moon Phenomenon

    A Blue Moon is an extraordinary astronomical event that occurs when a supermoon or full Moon coincides with a perigee—when the Moon is closest to Earth in its orbit.

    While Blue Moons aren’t exceedingly rare occurrences, they remain intriguing phenomena in the world of astronomy. The most recent Blue Moon graced the skies in August 2021, as reported by Space.com. With the average lunar cycle spanning approximately 29.5 days, a year typically accommodates 12 lunar cycles, totaling 354 days. As a result, roughly every 2.5 years, a thirteenth full moon emerges within a given year.

    This upcoming event, the super blue moon, marks the final chapter of a four-part lunar sequence and is anticipated to be the third-largest moon visible throughout this year. It’s important to note that the term “blue moon” has no connection to the moon’s color; it merely signifies the occurrence of two full moons within a single calendar month.

    How rare is a blue supermoon?

    According to NASA, the blue supermoons are a very rare phenomenon. It mentions that these moons often only appear once every ten years due to astronomical conditions. But occasionally, the interval between blue supermoons can be as long as twenty years. While blue moons only account for 3% of full moons, supermoons account for around 25% of all full moons. Although the interval between super blue moons is highly erratic—it can be as long as 20 years—the average is often 10 years. The following super blue moons will take place in pairs in 2037, in January and March.

  • Cops who shot at Arshad Sharif rejoin Kenyan police without accountability

    Cops who shot at Arshad Sharif rejoin Kenyan police without accountability

    Geo news has been investigating journalist Arshad Sharif’s murder case. In their latest update, Geo has revealed that the five Kenyan police officers involved in the killing have resumed duties without any action taken against them.

    A security source also told Geo that the two of the shooters have been promoted to senior ranks.

    Kenya’s Independent Policing and Oversight Authority (IPOA), investigating the conduct of police officers and after Sahir’s murder, had assured authorities of giving updates on Sharif’s murder within weeks but more than nine months later, no findings have been made public.

    IPOA had said in a statement that “We shall give an update on the matter once we are done with the investigations”.

    The authority’s spokesperson neither provided a timeframe nor responded as to why the watchdog has taken so long and why the police officers have been absolved of any accountability.

    Geo further reported that IPOA had submitted its file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) but it was returned back and gaps were asked to be filled before the prosecution began.

    According to a Geo News, “Investigations into the murder of the journalist seem to have gone silent in the East African country”.

    A police officer attached to the General Service Unit (GSU), Kevin Kimuyu Mutuku, was allegedly shot at the time of Sharif’s killing.

    The police officer rejoined work right after he was discharged from hospital. He has claimed that was shot and wounded when bullets were fired from inside Sharif’s vehicle but the forensic investigation showed he was lying.

    Geo reports that a trusted Kenyan intelligence source, who chooses to remain anonymous, said that the National Police Service (NPS) in Kenya had slackened on Sharif’s investigation because “it involved its members and the body allowed to carry out such investigations was IPOA”.

    “The police cannot investigate themselves and for that matter IPOA is expected to issue their findings. However, the police also have their own file on the same matter just in case,” said the investigator who has internal details of the matter.

    According to Kenya’s Human Rights Commission member Martin Mavenjina, “Unfortunately, Kenya does not have a law that gives police officers timeliness whenever they are doing an investigation. When Arshad Sharif died things looked promising that the police would take action and would find facts — until they just came to a halt and everything went silent from the Kenyan side,” he said.

    Geo investigations have also found that the police has conducted a parallel investigation of Arshad Sharif’s murder case but the findings are yet to be made public.

    “The police investigations are on hold for now,” said Kennedy Kirwai, the investigating officer in the case.

    The case is being pursued back in Pakistan too. Sharif’s family has asked the former Islamabad High Court judge Shaukat Siddiqui to take up their case.

    The advocates say that Kenya is cordial with Pakistan but the Kenyan authorities have not been cooperative in the investigations.
    “I have no doubt in my mind that Kenyan Police were privy to this planned murder. It is so painful for the family of Arshad Sharif that even those officials who played the role of hired assassins have been let free and brought back to their ranks. Unfortunately, due to non-cooperation and having over the two suspects of Pakistani origin, investigation of the case has badly been jeopardised. In my opinion, now is the time for the Govt of Pakistan to take up the matter with the United Nations (UN),” said Siddiqui.

    Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar is set to visit Kenya next month at the invitation of Kenyan President Dr William Samoei Ruto. He will be accompanied by Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and other cabinet members and advisors.

  • Nadia Afghan, Nadia Jamil slam ‘disgusting’ dialogue from ‘Hadsa’

    Nadia Afghan, Nadia Jamil slam ‘disgusting’ dialogue from ‘Hadsa’

    Trigger warning: mention of rape, violence

    After the controversial drama ‘Hadsa’ was slammed by social media users for allegedly depicting without consent the ordeal of the motorway rape case that happened in 2020, several social media users slammed lead actress Hadiqa Kiani for her ‘tone-deaf’ statement, as well as writer Zanjabeel Asim Shah, and demanded that PEMRA take down the show.

    Now, a controversial dialogue from the drama has made rounds on social media, where the main character, Taskeen, can be heard saying “Jaisay murday ke jism mein rooh waapis nahi aati..waisay hee khoi hui izzat waapis nahi aati.” The clip was shared by Geo’s official Instagram account, as can be seen below.

    The dialogue was spoken in episode 5, after Taskeen is recovering in the hospital from her wounds after the violence.

    The controversial dialogue has launched more uproar on social media, with users demanding to know how it got approved by Hadiqa, who’s repertoire includes feminist dramas that empowered women.

    Activist Leena Ghani pointed out:

    ‘What excuse is Hadiqa Kiani going to give us now? That she didn’t read the dialogues? Was she forced to say ‘Khoi huwi izzat..’ Izzat victims nahi hotey balkay rapists ki koi izzat nahi hoti. Is this how @harpalgeotv wants to spread awareness by victim blaming and gaslighting survivors of sexual abuse? Why doesn’t anyone in the industry have a backbone and why can’t they ever do the right thing?”

    Actress Nadia Jamil slammed the dialogue as “disgusting”, and said no survivor of rape has her honor robbed.

    “Firstly NO HONOUR OF MINE WAS ROBBED WHEN I WAS RAPED. NO HONOUR OF ANY RAPE SURVIVOR IS ROBBED. THOSE WHO RAPED HAD AND HAVE NO HONOUR. THEY are the ones who should feel and be in shame. Not the victim.”

    The actress called out PEMRA and GEO for encouraging the ugly narrative of shame that would further marginalise survivors of rape, and said it took her years of therapy and coaching to come to a place where she herself- as a survivor of child abuse- could not feel ashamed about her trama.

    “The narrative of SHAME that is dumped on rape survivors is horrible. It’s a burden we carry through our lives. It took me years of therapy, prayer and coaching to come to a place of solid self worth and self respect within myself. Today movements like #notmyshame Shatter the Shame that survivors of abuse and rape have carried. Allowing us to belong to a tribe that recognises, the shame was never ours to carry, or suffer, to begin with. People like @ejtayloruk work hard to build a community where survivors feel empowered and safe. Please do not encourage this ugly narrative of shame for survivors @GeoTvNews @reportpemra you have a responsibility that comes with your power. Many men and women watching this may have been raped and it’s the last thing they need to hear AND it’s a lie.”

    Nadia Afghan also criticised content heads for their “insensitive and callous” approach towards sensitive topics like rape, and their only motive is to make more money out of it, saying that she was “disgusted and heartbroken.”

  • It is ECP’s responsibility to conduct elections: PPP

    It is ECP’s responsibility to conduct elections: PPP

    In a meeting with the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) expressed concerns about the upcoming general elections, Geo has reported, reminding the constitutional body that it is its duty to hold timely elections.

    The party has reservations about the date of the elections, stressing that election should be held within 90 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA) as per the constitution.

    On August 17, the electoral body announced the schedule of new delimitations to be carried out as per the new census approved by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) earlier this month.

    According to the ECP schedule, four months are required for the new delimitation, which means that a general election is not possible in the country within 90 days after the dissolution of the provincial and national assemblies.

    “We had a meeting with the ECP in a pleasant environment, during which we put forward all our reservations,” said PPP Vice President Sherry Rehman in a press conference held after the meeting.

  • Is Imran Khan leaving Pakistan?

    Is Imran Khan leaving Pakistan?

    Aleema Khan and Uzma Khanum, sisters of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, along with his wife Bushra Bibi, met him in Attock Jail on Tuesday, five days after they moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking permission for the meeting.

    The Khan sisters pleaded with the court they were not allowed to meet the former prime minister by the jail superintendent.

    “We went to meet our brother, former prime minister Imran Khan, in Attock jail on Thursday, but the superintendent did not allow us to meet him,” their plea mentioned, requesting the court to issue directives allowing the meeting to take place.

    During the meeting, Khan’s sisters and wife were accompanied by the party’s legal team comprising four members, as per The News.

    While Aleema and Uzma were meeting their brother for the first time, it was Bushra Bibi’s third visit to her husband, who has been in jail since August 5, after a trial court in Islamabad convicted him in Toshakhana case and handed him a three-year sentence.

    Bushra’s meeting lasted for over an hour during which, it was reported that the couple discussed personal and political issues.

    “Bushra discussed a specific issue with her husband regarding a message from a foreign friend about his settlement abroad,” an intelligence agency source said, as reported by Shakeel Anjum, correspondent of Geo News.

    READ MORE: Imran Khan rearrested in cypher case

  • Robina Khan claims assault on Nabila Salon makeup artist was justified: Mushk Kaleem, models slam attack as ‘disgusting’

    Robina Khan claims assault on Nabila Salon makeup artist was justified: Mushk Kaleem, models slam attack as ‘disgusting’

    On Sunday night, several prominent models like Mushk Kaleem, Ifrah Humayun, Javeriya Haif came forward to condemn the brutality inflicted upon a makeup artist working with Nabila Salon, Bryan William. Model Mushk Kaleem was the first person to break the news, and said that model Robina Khan had her husband assault Bryan on set, because he had refused to carry her personal belongings during the shoot, describing it as something that “appalled” her.

    “Imagine, you’re shooting in peace, and someone’s husband and his goons bring weapons with them, and start physically assaulting someone while you’re shooting. Appalled. Baffled. Disgusted. I hope this model’s name comes out. I hope no designer,/ model/ photographer ever works with her. Also hoping the Nabila team takes corrective measures and protects its employees.”

    Several other models soon came forward to express their solidarity with the makeup artist, and demanded that Robina Khan is banned from working with prominent designers or photographers.

    ‘I know the MUA myself!” wrote Ifrah Humayun. “This act is not acceptable at any cost! This woman needs to be banned and be told that she cannot fuck around with people if she has a coward man and armed people around her.”

    Nabila Salon released a short statement on their Instagram page, where they wrote the brand would work with professionals who value the dignity and safety of their employees.

    Other makeup artists have also come forward to express their solidarity with Bryan, as the instagram user makeupwithshainal wrote:

    “We makeup artists are not your servants. If we kindly refuse to hold your personal belongings may it be a piece of jewellery or anything please accept our request because if that item is mis placed, we get the first accusation saying that we stole it etc as we are the first people to see and deal with models…We are not your servants so please deal with us in a respectful manner.”

    Robina Khan, the model who had led the assault on the makeup artist, has released a statement, alleging that the assault was justified because the makeup artist in question called her a “do takay ki model.”

    ‘The argument started when I requested a makeup artist to carry my phone when I was ready for my shot on shot today. He blatantly said that he was not going to do that and that ‘do takay’ ki model like me should take care of her own stuff and also swore at me, that made me so upset so I in turn swore at him.”

    “I am sure no respectable husband would tolerate anyone abusing at his wife for no reason and when he arrived to pick me, he asked who misbehaved with me and this makeup artist in question very rudely said it was him and what was his problem. My husband got flared up because of this makeup artist’s condescending behavior and slapped him as he said no one has the right to misbehave with his wife this way.”

  • Toyota resumes production after system malfunction halts operations 

    Toyota resumes production after system malfunction halts operations 

    Toyota Motor is set to resume production at its assembly plants in Japan on Wednesday after a recent system malfunction forced a halt in domestic production. The disruption not only affected the world’s largest-selling automaker but also caused disruptions across its supply chain.

    Toyota’s plans to restart operations across 25 production lines in twelve plants within its home market are scheduled to begin on Wednesday morning. The last two plants will come back online in the afternoon.

    The automaker is currently investigating the root cause of the system failure, which prevented Toyota from procuring the necessary components for its production.

    This setback impacted approximately one-third of Toyota’s global production capacity. Toyota’s domestic production was in the process of recovering from output cuts attributed to semiconductor shortages.

    Toyota experienced a 29 per cent increase in output during the first half of the year, marking its first such growth in two years.

    Industry experts have pointed out the challenge Toyota faces in making up for the production loss due to the system outage. One potential strategy could be running extra shifts, although the automaker was already operating at full capacity.

    The system failure also had a cascading impact on other companies within the Toyota Group. Toyota Industries, a group firm, reported partial suspension of operations at two engine plants due to the automaker’s system glitch.

    This incident shed light on Toyota’s reliance on just-in-time inventory management, which aims to minimize costs but leaves the company vulnerable to supply chain disruptions.

    While the exact cause of the malfunction is still being investigated, it underscores the sensitivity of modern manufacturing processes to unforeseen interruptions.

    The broader context in Japan includes reports of harassing phone calls received by businesses and government offices, possibly due to geopolitical factors. These calls have been linked to China and the decision to release treated radioactive water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean.

  • Son gifts mom dolls that she wanted as a kid

    Son gifts mom dolls that she wanted as a kid

    A video of a woman’s reaction to her birthday present from her son has left people emotional. The woman received several dolls from her son – the ones she always wanted as a kid.

    The video was posted on the Instagram page GoodNews Movement along with a sweet caption. “Healing the inner child: She had dreamed of owning these dolls since she was a child. For her birthday, her son fulfilled that dream,” it reads.

    The video opens to show the woman picking her dolls one by one and gently lining them on a table, tears rolling down her eyes while opening her gifts.

    Since being posted, the clip has accumulated close to eight lac views and counting. Additionally, the video has been shared over 40,000 times. People posted varied comments while reacting to the video.