Tag: #dawn

  • ‘I would have played tajdaar’s father or the Nawab’: HSY reflects on ‘Heeramandi’:

    ‘I would have played tajdaar’s father or the Nawab’: HSY reflects on ‘Heeramandi’:

    Fashion designer Hassan Sheheryar Yasin, popularly known as ‘HSY’ recently appeared in ‘Aap Ki Kahani’ hosted by Deepak Parwani.

    The host asked the designer about which ‘Heeramandi’ character he would have liked to play. “That’s a good question,” HSY replied, elaborating that the show is complex and widely discussed. “Many people relate to it, while others don’t. Some view it critically because they see it as reflective of their own lives. I would have liked to play Tajdaar’s father because, despite having fewer scenes, his betrayal is unforgettable. Another interesting role would be the Nawab who leaves Bebo Jan for someone else. His character has twists, showing love to another and then abandoning it due to family values. People say the series is complex, but I think it is well-told.”

  • ‘I used to be critical of DAWN but surprised at its coverage nowadays’: Imran Khan

    ‘I used to be critical of DAWN but surprised at its coverage nowadays’: Imran Khan

    Journalists at Dawn reporting on Imran Khan’s trial in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, shared on Twitter that the former Prime Minister said that although he was critical of the newspaper while he was in power, he is surprised at the outlet’s coverage since his ouster from the government. The editor at Dawn shared this on Twitter.

    Dawn reporters Saqib Bashir, Asad Malik and Amir Saeed Abbasi posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Imran Khan said to reporter Asad Malik, “I have always been critical of Dawn but the coverage is stupendous now, which is surprising for me.”

    The statement spurred many, including journalists, to react. Norbert Almeida tweeted, “Always covered him he just didn’t like what was said in the past and now likes it.”

    Omar R Qureshi also joined in to share his two cents, writing, “Proof that for Imran Khan a good paper praises him and writes editorials favouring him and his party”. He went on to add that in case the former Prime Minister comes to power again, Dawn has nothing to worry about.

    Lawyer and Columnist Abdul Moiz Jaferri tweeted, “Imran Khan still doesn’t get it. Everything is not about him. Journalists were not after him when they criticised him, and they were not with him when they report on his current plight. Journalism is a duty to the people. He should recognise its value.”

    A follower jumped into the discussion as many others shared a Cartoon published on January 23 in Dawn that mocked the duplicity of Imran Khan’s stance.

    Dawn, long considered Pakistan’s ‘paper of record’, was repeatedly targeted by PTI followers for criticising Imran Khan’s government.

  • In a first, women to contest general elections in Shangla and Buner

    In a first, women to contest general elections in Shangla and Buner

    Dr. Sawera Prakash has become the first Hindu woman to contest from Buner, while Nadia Sher Khan has become the first woman to contest from Shangla, Swat.

    The elections, scheduled for February 8, mark a significant step towards inclusivity and representation in the region, traditionally known for its conservative values.

    Dr. Sawera Prakash, who has submitted nomination papers for both reserved seats of the National and Provincial assemblies, is affiliated with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for an impressive 35 years. She is now set to create history as the first woman to contest elections for the provincial assembly from constituency PK-25 on a general seat, reports Samaa News.

    The PPP, recognising her potential, urged her father Dr. Om Prakash, an active political and social worker, to bring his daughter into the political arena. Her father is known for his dedication to the welfare of humanity, and has played a pivotal role in serving both public and private sector health centers, reports Dawn.

    In Shangla, for the first time, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MPA Nadia Sher Khan of Saidu Sharif, Swat, has submitted nomination papers for the Shangla’s PK-30 constituency. She is running for the general elections on Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-Parliamentariticket.
    A tough competition is expected between PTI and PML-N in this district.

  • PTI leaders arrested in Gawadar

    PTI leaders arrested in Gawadar

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) central leader Farrukh Habib, along with eight other people, have been arrested in Gwadar by security forces.

    Balochistan Caretaker Minister for Information Jan Achakzai confirmed the arrests to Dawn.

    Security personnel in plain clothes conducted a raid and arrested Farrukh Habib and eight other people from a local hotel in Gawadar after they got a tip-off. Habib was minister of state for information in the PTI government and president of PTI’s western Punjab wing.

    Those arrested in the raid include Habib’s brother and father-in-law, who were taken to an unknown place after their arrest.

    “The PTI leader reached Gwadar along with his brother, father-in-law and six other people to cross into Iran from Gwadar,” Mr Achakzai told Dawn.

    Habib, his brother and father-in-law have been shifted to an unknown place while six other people were handed over to Gawadar police, who have been released on bail after initial investigation.

    Those released on bail were: Jawad Ehsan Raza, Muhammad Mohsin, Abdul Jabbar, Muhammad Nadeem, Muham¬mad Saqib Nasim and Mudassir. They belong to Lahore, Karachi and Bahawalpur.

  • Hospitals’ negligence cause patient’s death

    Hospitals’ negligence cause patient’s death

    A fruit seller in critical condition has died in a private ambulance after four hospitals in Lahore, including Services and Ghulab Devi, allegedly refused treatment, Dawn reports.

    The patient, Iftikhar Ali, 57 years old and a father to seven children, had been in a road accident a few weeks back, fracturing his leg. He was taken to Mayo Hospital for surgery, where he had a rod fixed in his leg. 

    According to the family, Iftikhar experienced complications only a few days after being discharged from Mayo. He complained of severe pain in the leg and experiencing breathing issues. Pus was reportedly oozing out of the wound as well.

    When he was brought back, Mayo Hospital refused to admit Iftikhar and reportedly asked him to wait at home. One of the family members shared details of how a doctor suggested the family take Iftikhar to a private hospital in Lahore Cantt.

    The family alleges that they were carelessly referred from one hospital to the next. Iftikhar’s family explained he was admitted to a private hospital a week back where the patient underwent another surgery.

    During this time, the family sold household items to arrange Rs600,000 for the treatment. However, the hospital administration requested an additional Rs400,000, due to the ‘deposit having been drained’. 

    When the family demonstrated their inability to afford more than the stipulated amount, the hospital discharged the patient three days after admission. They suggested Iftikhar be taken to any government hospital for ‘free treatment’.

    Government hospitals Ghulab Devi and Services both denied Iftikhar admittance and treatment. At Ghulab Devi, doctors refused to admit the patient on the excuse that they visited the hospital “too late at night”, according to Iftikhar’s family.

    A similar fate was encountered at Services, where doctors allegedly paid no heed to the family’s repeated request for admission, being asked to revisit OPD (out-patient department) any other day.

    According to Dawn, the matter of denying treatment to the patient by public hospitals was in the knowledge of caretaker health minister Professor Javed Akram.

    He expressed his guilt for the alleged criminal negligence on the part of hospital staff, saying that he would take up the matter with the higher authorities.

  • Union of Dawn newspaper ask PM Khan to call Dawn management to increase salaries, revert pay cuts

    Union of Dawn newspaper ask PM Khan to call Dawn management to increase salaries, revert pay cuts

    The Pakistan Herald Workers’ Union has requested Prime Minister Imran Khan to take notice of “the plight of media workers” at Dawn newspaper. The statement was issued by the Union in their apparent Twitter account, which represents the staff of daily Dawn newspaper.

    “We appreciate the sympathy and the concern you have shown for hardworking, honest but poorly paid workforce in the private sector in particular media organisations.”

    The union directly appealed to the PM to draw attention towards the plight of media workers in the newspaper.

    “First, the Dawn management cut employees’ salaries by up to 35 per cent in February 2019 on the pretext of ‘anticipated losses’,” the statement added.

    “Our appeal to the management to reverse the drastic pay-cut have fallen on the deaf ears, despite the company’s handsome profit in the fiscal year 2020-2021.”

    “Secondly, a truncated 8th wage board award, in August 2021, was ‘implemented’ in a lopsided manner- after a gap of 19 years. It ironically, further contracted the employees’ salary instead of raising it by 145 per cent, as required under the WBA.”

    “We, therefore request the honourable prime minister to make a phone call to Dawn’s management as well and exhort it to reverse the unlawful pay-cut, pay arrears and increase the salaries of the employees. We hope like ARY and Serene Air, Dawn’s management will also listen to your advice and do the needful,” the statement concluded.

    The Current has confirmed with Dawn that while they are not sure if the Twitter account is run by the Union, the letter seems genuine.

    Following PM Khan’s appeal to the corporate sector to increase the salaries of their staff, President and CEO ARY Digital Network Salman Iqbal last week announced a pay raise for lower-level employees.

    Read more- After PM’s Khan’s appeal for increase in workers’ salaries, ARY announces pay raise

    Salman Iqbal said the staff receiving a monthly salary of up to Rs20,000 will be given a raise of 80 per cent. “We have reached this stage with the blessing of Allah Almighty and countless efforts of the team,” he said.

  • Dawn photographer beaten up by Rangers in Karachi

    Faysal Mujeeb, a photographer working for Dawn, was beaten up by Karachi Rangers for covering Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Yaum-i-Shuhada event.

    The event was held near ‘Nine Zero’, formerly the headquarters of the MQM led by its founder leader, Altaf Hussain.

    According to Mujeeb, he was covering the event. He recalled that the relatives of slain MQM activists had started arriving at the venue, ‘Yaadgar-i-Shuhada’ on Thursday morning and were laying rose petals on their graves, reports Dawn.

    He stated, “Some of the people present there started raising slogans in favour of Hussain, which prompted Rangers and they started detaining them. I and another media worker, Mehboob Ahmed Chishti, were also picked up.”

    Mujeeb said that he proved his identity as a press photographer and that he was on the duty assigned to him by Dawn. However, he said, the Rangers personnel did not listen to him and started beating him up and his camera and mobile phone also got smashed during the episode.

    “They kept me in detention for about an hour and subjected me to severe thrashing. I was set free only after a Rangers officer came and got my identity verified from his sources,” he revealed.

    Several organisations and journalists condemned the act.

  • Veteran journalist Muhammad Ziauddin passes away at 83 after prolonged illness

    Veteran journalist Muhammad Ziauddin passes away at 83 after prolonged illness

    Veteran journalist Muhammad Ziauddin passed away on Monday in Islamabad after a period of prolonged illness. He was 83.

    Ziauddin had a career span of 60 years in journalism. He earned a Master’s degree in Journalism from Karachi University in 1964. Later that same year, he made his entry in the profession.

    One of the most respected names in journalism, Ziauddin worked at almost all the major newspapers of the country—The Muslim, The News, Dawn, The Express Tribune.

    Many people paid tribute to Ziauddin after the news of his death was confirmed. 

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted, “One of the most capable fiercely independent journalist I came across with has left for his final abode #Ziauddin was no commoner a wise man—integrity and boldness added to his personality.”

    Afrasiab Khattak tweeted: “The death of iconic journalist Ziauddin sahib is a huge loss to journalism in Pakistan. He maintained professional standards and integrity under under circumstances when it wasn’t easy to do so.”

    Abbas Nasir tweeted: “An iconic journalist; a personal friend of 35 years; a senior who was generous with his counsel and love; and a giant who stood up to autocrats for over 50 years.”

    Mubahsir Zaidi tweeted, “Icon of Pakistani journalism Mohammed Ziauddin dies.”

    Journalist Nasim Zehra tweeted, “One of Pakistan’s leading illustrious old guard experienced and widely respected journalist, former Editor of Dawn & the News; currently a columnist with Express Tribune #MZiauddin sahib passes away.”

    Journalist Hamid shared a picture of Ziauddin and tweeted, “I always told #Ziauddin sahib ‘your experience in journalism is equal to my age’.”

    Journalist Khurram Husain tweeted, “Deeply grieved to learn of the passing of Zia saab. He was grace, dignity, and professionalism personified.”

    Journalist Murtaza Solangi tweeted, “#Ziauddin lived his life on his terms, his values and his principles. He did not waver and vacillate on his progressive and democratic ethos for a single day. His over half a century work is a compass in our dark days and nights. Goodbye my comrade!”

    Journalist Shahbaz Rana tweeted how Ziauddin had taught him “to keep emotions separate from the noble cause” of journalism.

    Journalist Amber Shamsi tweeted, “Gutted to learn Ziauddin sb is no more. A fine gentleman and a finer journalist, who was so accessible and willing to teach.”

  • 40 per cent educated women are jobless in Pakistan, 1.5 million people applied for peon position

    40 per cent educated women are jobless in Pakistan, 1.5 million people applied for peon position

    The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) informed the Senate Standing Committee on Planning and Development that 40 per cent of educated women across the country are jobless, Nadir Guramani reports for Dawn.

    The PIDE in its briefing, stated that 24 per cent of educated people were jobless, adding that the unemployment rate in the country has reached an alarming figure of 16 per cent contrary to the government’s claim of 6.5 per cent.

    The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Chairman of the Senate, Saleem Mandviwala.

    According to the PIDE, the study was done by a company abroad as no research has been conducted by the government, although several research institutes were operating in the country.

    The study also states that 80 per cent of people get themselves enrolled in M.Phil after failing to get a job and they have not been included in the given statistics.

    The Senate committee was told that at least 1.5 million people applied for a peon’s position in a high court that was recently advertised. “Among those applying for the job included M.Phil degree holders,” PIDE officials stated.

    The officials proposed that laws should be made to grant licenses to hawkers to enable them to get a job, this would create 20 to 30 million employments for the citizens. They also debated that universities in Pakistan were approved through a “flawed” bill by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

    In June, the Economic Survey 2020-21 revealed that the spread of the coronavirus pandemic had severely affected businesses and other economic activities due to the imposition of lockdowns which left approximately 20.71m workers jobless.

  • Former High Commissioner of Pakistan to UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan passes away

    Former High Commissioner of Pakistan to the United Kingdom (UK), Wajid Shamsul Hasan, has passed away. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) stalwart Wajid Shamsul Hasan was a veteran journalist and a columnist. He was seriously ill and critical for the past few days.

    Condolences and tributes poured in for the deceased’s soul.

    PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said Wajid Shamsul Hasan was a national asset.

    Aseefa Bhutto Zardari in a tweet said, “He was a brave man who held to his convictions and has stood by three generations of our family”.

    PPP leader Senator Sherry Rehman tweeted, “He spent a lifetime of devotion to democracy, human rights, free press and the PPP. What a loss! Heartfelt condolences to his family and the broader civil society community he was deeply involved with.”

    Member of Parliament for Gillingham and Rainham, Rehman Chishiti, tweeted about Wajid Shamsul Hasan’s death. He also shared a picture of him with Benazir Bhutto.

    Ziauddin Yousafzai in a tweet said that Wajid Shamsul Hasan had been a great support to their family when they moved to the UK.