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  • ‘What the trial court did was wrong’: Chief Justice IHC

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq said on Friday that the trial court which convicted Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case, “did wrong”.

    The judge made these remarks during the hearing of Imran Khan’s appeal challenging the Toshakhana judgment. It should also be remembered that Imran is already in Attock jail, serving a three-year sentence.

    CJ Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri are part of the bench hearing the appeal of the suspension of Imran Khan’s sentence in the Toshakhana case.

    The Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) lawyer, Amjad Parvez, was absent from today’s hearing. His assistant said that Amjad is unwell.

    His assistant advocate also asked the bench for an adjournment, saying, “For the last eight months, we never sought adjournment.”

    At this point, the IHC chief justice said, “The request for suspension of sentence is now at a critical stage. We can also do what the trial court did, but we will not.”

    “We adjourn the case till Monday, and even if no one comes, we will announce our decision,” Justice Farooq said, adding that what the trial court had done was wrong.

  • Woman in India dies as husband attempts delivery at home

    Woman in India dies as husband attempts delivery at home

    A 27-year-old woman in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri died while giving birth at home after her husband attempted to carry out the delivery himself using a technique he saw on YouTube.

    Nadu lost an excessive amount of blood as the husband failed to cut the umbilical cord properly, fainting from blood loss.

    Her husband took her to the Primary Health Center (PHC), however, she was declared dead. According to India Today, a medical officer at the hospital, Rathika, filed a complaint with the police. The police filed a case under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

  • Pakistan clinches thrilling victory against Afghanistan in 2nd ODI by one wicket

    Pakistan clinches thrilling victory against Afghanistan in 2nd ODI by one wicket

    In an intense match on Thursday in Hambantota, Pakistan narrowly defeated Afghanistan by one wicket, securing their series victory after a dominant performance in the first ODI.

    Naseem Shah, known for leading Pakistan to success in the Asia Cup 2022, once again played a pivotal role, guiding his team to victory in the final over when they needed 11 runs off 6 balls.

    During the chase of 301 runs, Pakistan faced setbacks with the early loss of Fakhar Zaman, but Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam’s partnership of 118 runs steadied the innings.

    After Babar’s dismissal, Pakistan’s victory seemed uncertain, but Shadab Khan’s 48 off 35 balls brought them back into the game. A dramatic final over included Shadab’s mankading and Naseem Shah’s heroics, ultimately leading Pakistan to triumph.

    In Afghanistan’s innings, Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s outstanding 151-run knock propelled his team to post 300-5, with a 227-run partnership alongside Ibrahim Zadran. Despite Gurbaz’s impressive display, Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah secured crucial wickets.

    The match highlighted Afghanistan’s batting prowess, but Pakistan’s resilience and Naseem Shah’s performance stood out, sealing a thrilling victory.

  • Average 12 children sexually abused daily, new report says

    Average 12 children sexually abused daily, new report says

    Sahil, a non-profit organization working for the rights of children in Pakistan, has published a new report, “Six Months Cruel Numbers 2023”, revealing cases of sexual violence reported in the first half of 2023.

    A total of 2,227 children have been subjected to sexual violence from January to June this year alone. This means that on an average, 12 kids have suffered sexual violence every day in these months.

    The source for Sahil’s data are media reports; the actual number of cases might be higher considering all cases are not documented.
    1,207 of the cases are of girls — more than half, 54 percent. While 1,020 of the cases are of boys. In the same period in 2022, the number of girls encountering abuse was the same as 2023, while cases involving boys have risen.

    Age bracket:

    The most vulnerable to abuse are in the age group of 6-15 years, in which more boys than girls were victimised. This age bracket makes up 47 percent of the total cases recorded — 593 boys and 457 girls.

    Types of cases:

    Cases of abduction are still the most prevalent with 44 per cent, 13 per cent cases of sodomy, 10 per cent of cases of rape and nine per cent of cases of missing children were reported.

    53 cases of pornography have also been reported that are being tracked by the Federal Investigation Agency on the dark web. As per the report, 72 per cent of victims were boys and 28 per cent of victims were girls

    Abusers:

    2,531 abusers have been involved in child abuse in the first six months of 2023. In most cases, they were acquainted or related to the victims or their families.

    The abusers were acquaintances in 912 cases, strangers in 498 cases, and both in 215 cases.

    Location:

    According to the report, between January and June, the crime was committed at the “abuser’s place because the abusers trap innocent children and take them to their places”.

    However, in most cases, the place of abuse remained unknown with 31 per cent committed in the streets, 11 per cent at victims’ place, four per cent in fields, and two percent at places of worship.

    45 per cent cases were reported from rural areas and 55 per cent from urban areas.

    As per provincial breakdown, the highest number of cases, 74 per cent, were reported from Punjab, followed by 14 per cent from Sindh, seven per cent from Islamabad, three per cent from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and two per cent from Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan.

    88 per cent of all the cases were registered with police while 25 cases were either not filed or police refused to register them.

    Violence against children:

    Sahil also reveal that a total number of 963 cases of accident and/or violence were allegedly reported against the children among who 760 died: 268 drowned, 148 murdered, 144 accidents and 61 children committed suicide.

    Highest number reported were from Sindh with 483 cases followed by Punjab in second place with 233 cases.

  • Who ‘run the world’? Taylor Swift and Beyoncé are fuelling the US economy

    This is definitely an un-cruel Summer

    The US economy can thank Taylor Swift and Beyonce for the extra leg up. According to CNBC, Swift’s critically acclaimed Era’s tour is set to make more than $1 billion, making it the highest grossing tour of all time. While Beyonce’s ‘Renaissance’ tour, according to CBS, could rack up more than $2 billion from concert shows.

    The anticipation of the tours, as well as the two pop icons, has also reportedly boosted local tourism within America, with brands and small business stores churning out creative ways to captivate fans, greatly boosting their income. According to the New York Times, a survey by the Federal Reserve shows hotel revenues have risen in the Philadelphia region, where Swift has booked stadiums for her tour, and Sweden has already said Beyonce’s tour is to thank for to help recover from inflation.

    Moreover, AirBnB reported that the most popular tourist destinations during the Fourth of July weekend was not Greece or Italy, but Ohio city, where Taylor was hosting a concert.

    Small business owners told The New York Times that their earnings tripled in income since the tours began, as Swifties and the Bey Hive flock to athetize their looks ahead of concerts. Shade Hotel in California spoke to the publication about hosting a Taylor Swift-pre party where guests could wear costumes, sip on the ‘Lavender Haze’ cocktail- boosting their earnings.

    Similarly, the bead industry has also witnessed a revival after a lyric from Taylor’s song ‘Midnights’ album went viral. ‘So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and embrace it’, the lyrics said. Fans began showing up to concerts wearing friendship bracelets, and viral videos on social media show fans exchanging bracelets with each other, with the likes of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban joining in.

    Speaking to Seattle Times, a staff member of Maple Leaf’s Beadworld said that since the Era’s tour began, they’ve attracted more clients than they can handle.

    “We were full all day,” Sands said. “Definitely busier than normal.”

    Nail technicians and hair salons can thank the Bey Hive for the tripling their income. Raven Voorhees told The New York Times she spent the entire summer working with clients attending Beyonce’s concerts, requesting colors alligned with the themes of the Renaissance tour.

    “It’s boosting business,” Ms. Voorhees said. “We’re talking about someone who’s paying about $60 max for her service to now $150 because she’s doing a new set, she’s getting the works, all of the nail art and then, even after that, having to come back and having to do it again.”

    It turns out even public transit services can thank Beyonce and Taylor Swift for never going out of style. In Los Angeles buses stayed open late for concert-goers, thanking Swift for the boost.

    “We’re enchanted that Taylor Swift fans have given a big boost to public transit across the United States this year — and we’re looking forward to spending our midnights with many of you very soon,” the city’s metro system punned on its website.

  • Local singer sings request to PM Kakar, gets his wish

    Local singer sings request to PM Kakar, gets his wish

    Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has ordered the restoration of the Panjra bridge in the Bolan area of Balochistan, on the poetic appeal of local singer Gul Meer Jamali.

    The bridge was swept away in July 2022 as biblical floods swept across Pakistan.

    “Orders have been issued to the institutions concerned for the reconstruction of Panjara Bridge,” the interim PM wrote on his official X handle on Friday.

    Kakar ordered the restoration of the bridge after listening to the song sung by local singer Gul Meer Jamali.

    The song went viral on social media, with the singer appealing to the PM to restore the bridge and “fulfil his responsibility towards Balochistan”.

    The Panara Bridge was used to pass the Bolan River on the Quetta-Sukkur Highway.

  • Who is Shoaib and why is Governor Sindh promoting him?

    Who is Shoaib and why is Governor Sindh promoting him?

    Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori was recently seen in a video talking about, of all the things, his new haircut. The background music and his facial expressions might seem a bit serious but he flaunts his hair cut and style with panache while recommending Shoaib Salon.

    It made us wonder, who Is SHOAIB?

    His Facebook page states that he is a “renowned Stylist & Hair Dresser” who is based in Karachi and has “experience of 12 years.” I rather enjoyed his Instagram profile bio more which says, “Playing with fire and scissors.”

    Shoaib’s timeline is filled with pictures of Pakistani celebrities, his salon and him at work for Express News’s program transmission but what we found fascinating was this BTS video of Kamran Tessori getting ready.

    Not only Mr. Governor, but his son, Zahid Khan Tessori, also loves the salon and you’ll get a special 20 percent discount if you go and take his name.

    Shoaib has also gotten a picture framed with Kamran Tessori for his salon.

  • Economists predict ‘Barbenheimer,’ Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé will inject billions into US economy

    Economists predict ‘Barbenheimer,’ Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé will inject billions into US economy

    Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and the “Barbenheimer” fever are making a substantial positive impact on the United States economy. According to Bloomberg Economics, the tours of these mega stars and the success of their blockbuster films are projected to contribute a significant sum of $8.5 billion (S$11.5 billion) to the US economy in the third quarter.

    The concerts alone, with nearly 50 shows scheduled, could boost the US gross domestic product (GDP) by $5.4 billion. Additionally, the films “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” are anticipated to result in approximately $3.1 billion in consumer spending and export revenue from international ticket sales.

    This combined effect is expected to lead to a 0.7 per cent increase in annualized real personal consumption expenditures and a 0.5 per cent rise in GDP during the July-through-September period. Economists Anna Wong and Eliza Winger have revised their growth forecasts for this period, attributing the adjustment in part to these notable gains. This economic outlook further reinforces the ongoing strengthening of the American economy, which has been evident in recent months.

    The current economic landscape shows signs of easing inflation and a stable labor market, which are propelling consumer spending. This positive scenario is causing some economists to postpone their predictions of an impending recession, while others are reconsidering their projections altogether.

    Nonetheless, the analysts at Bloomberg argue that the benefits generated by the movies and tours are temporary in nature. They highlight the absence of Beyoncé and Swift performances in the US during the last quarter of the year and describe the Barbenheimer event as a rare occurrence. Moreover, the US economy remains vulnerable to a drop in demand, and challenges persist in the housing market due to low supply and rising mortgage rates.

    The Bloomberg economists emphasise that a significant portion of the current economic vigor is linked to short-term factors. In their assessment, These factors create a facade of robust consumption, when in reality, it is losing momentum. Importantly, their evaluation only accounts for ticket sales for “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” up until Wednesday, and they do not include the net-export effects of the four concerts Swift is performing in Mexico City this week.

  • Imran Khan reveals why he stepped away from making films after ‘Break Kay Baad’

    Imran Khan reveals why he stepped away from making films after ‘Break Kay Baad’

    If you were a teenager on during the 2000’s, chances are you were swept up in the wave of adoration for Imran Khan. Nope, not THAT one, but the one who made us swoon with his charm and wit with films like ‘Jaane Tu Jaane Na’ and ‘I Hate Luv Stories’. But then he suddenly announced his retirement and completely stepped away from films, leaving love struck girlies heartbroken and without a fictional character to moon about.

    Now, Imran is dropping hints that he was definitely sure that this wasn’t the last the world had seen of him. When a fan commented under Zeenat Amin’s film, begging the actor to make a comeback, Imran shocked everyone by commenting that he was absolutely ready.

    Now, Imran has shared pictures from his old films on his Instagram account, like he shared a couple of pictures of his 2012 film ‘Break Kay Baad’ where he starred along side Deepika Padukone. He wrote in the caption that despite the negative reviews, the film held a special place in his heart because of how much he enjoyed making it.

    “In the summer of 2010, I went to Mauritius to shoot Break ke Baad. We swam every day, ate a lot of seafood, sampled Mauritian rum (potent), and made some friends for life. It was a blast. Apparently, in between all the revelries, we managed to make a film as well. This one always had a special place in my heart, because of how much I enjoyed making it. I can’t show you many of the behind the scenes photographs, as it may compromise the modesty of certain individuals… but here’s a glimpse.”

    In the Instagram stories, Imran shared the reason why he was reminiscing about his old films on Instagram, writing that it was to help him reshape the connection he had with his career, and to address how he left the industry because of the over whelming negative response to ‘Break Kay Baad’.

    “If you’re wondering why I’m looking at the past so much…it’s because I’m reshaping my relationship with my films. To be clear, I’m not blaming anyone for anything; all opinions are valid, and not everyone will like the same things…that’s normal. Unfortunately, at the same time, I was only able to look at things from a negative mindset.”

    The actor went on to share that despite having so much fun filming ‘Break Kay Baad’ the only thing he remembered the most was the overwhelming negative reviews the film received.

    The actor, who is the nephew of Bollywood veteran star Aamir Khan, said the negative feedback had brought him down, but the support of the fans-who begged him to come back on the main screen- helped him regain his faith back in his career.

    “And that is where,” the actor wrote. “I realize my mistake; I paid so much heed to the voices that hurt… and I never valued the voices that loved. What a fool. I won’t make that mistake again.”

    “Thank you all for helping me change my perspective,” and thank you Imran for pushing past the hate, and coming to show everyone what a true rom-com film looks like.

  • Lahore police to interrogate Imran Khan in 6 more cases

    Lahore police to interrogate Imran Khan in 6 more cases

    An anti-terrorism court (ATC) has granted permission to police to interrogate imprisoned former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan in six more cases after the addition of new sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) in FIRs. The FIRs are related to offences of abetting mutiny in the armed forces and waging war against Pakistan.

    Separate applications were filed by the investigating officers in all six cases, stating that interrogating Imran Khan after the addition of offences under sections 121 (waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against Pakistan), 131 (abetting mutiny, or attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his duty) and 146 (rioting) in the FIRs is needed.

    Other offences under sections 120, 120-A, 120-B, 121-A, 505, 153, 153-A, 153-B and 107 of PPC were also added to the cases, including the attacks on Askari Tower, Shadman police station, and torching of PML-N offices in Model Town.

    Ejaz Ahmad Buttar, the ATC judge, said in his observations: “Request of the Investigating Officer being apt is accepted under the law.”

    The judge has previously allowed Lahore police to interrogate and arrest Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in the Jinnah House attack case.