As the political crisis in the country continues, social media has been set ablaze with feuds between users and public figures. One such recent altercation took place between Iffat Omar and Sara Taseer.
Taseer, who has been a staunch supporter of Imran Khan, had tweeted in favor of the former cricket player by asking him to pack his bags and escape the country to avoid her late father Salmaan Taseer’s fate.
My humble advice to @ImranKhanPTI Please pack your bags and leave #Pakistan . A dead man is good to no one (re @SalmaanTaseer) Nobody can save Pakistan economically right now. Let the lightening fall on their head, let them drown in their droppings and then come back with…
“Someone get this C grade “has been” model @OmarIffat off my case. May the excessive lip filler causing her mouth to look like a giant balloon help her to float off into the sunset, far away from civilised society where she doesn’t belong.”
Someone get this C grade “has been” model @OmarIffat off my case. May the excessive lip filler causing her mouth to look like a giant balloon help her to float off into the sunset, far away from civilised society where she doesn’t belong. https://t.co/aVkAa9NE5E
“Was not taking to u ugly woman just asked your mad leader to listen to pathetic woman like u so chill and lay of, criticizing my lips you have some nerves woman. I mean just look at u.”
was not taking to u ugly woman just asked your mad leader to listen to pathetic woman like u so chill and lay of, criticizing my lips you have some nerves woman I mean just look at u. https://t.co/BT7dp4tIgO
Proof that it runs in the party, when you don’t have anything concrete to say, you target facial features. Know that it’s the Almighty who created us. We might not have picture perfect faces, but He blessed us all with with ; use it. https://t.co/yy7p0DcxZf
— Aiysha Abbas Mirza (@aiyshabbasmirza) May 26, 2023
An anti-terrorism court in Lahore has handed over 16 suspects involved in the attack on Corps Commander House in Lahore on May 9 to a commanding officer under the Army Act on Thursday.
The accused include Amar Zohaib, Ali Iftikhar, Ali Raza, Muhammad Arsalan, Muhammad Umair, Muhammad Raheem, Zia-ur-Rehman, Waqas Ali, Raees Ahmad, Faisal Irshad, Muhammad Bilal Hussain, Faheem Haider, Arzam Junaid, Mian Muhammad Akram Usman, Muhammad Hashir Khan, and Hassan Shakir.
Of these 16, Mian Akram Usman is a former Member of the Provincial Assembly from Punjab.
Earlier, the officer had sought the custody of the vandals presently confined in Camp Jail, Lahore.
On May 9, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s loyalists came out on streets after Khan’s arrest and allegedly attacked military installations.
Despite a pleasant first week, this May is not being kind to Lahoris, with the temperature currently at 42°C which has left us without no option but to stay inside with ACs on 24/7.
But, this is not the case as per the weather App on our iPhones. According to the application, while all of us are burning in this garmi, a thunderstorm is happening. We have just one question. Where are the rainy clouds?
Social media users have also taken to Twitter to express their frustration.
According to a report, a searing heat wave that gripped parts of South Asia in April this year was made at least 30 times more likely by climate change.
The climate change-fueled heat caused deaths, widespread hospitalizations, damaged roads, sparked fires and led to school closures in the region.
Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has been sent a notice by the Excise and Taxation Department to pay Rs1.4 million as luxury tax on his Zaman Park residence.
The last date for paying the tax is Monday, however, the department will serve another notice in case the amount is not paid.
Imran Khan, who owns the house along with his four sisters, has reportedly received the notice.
In April, the former Prime Minister was served a notice demanding clearing of Rs3.6 million in luxury tax arrears. In case the notice is not paid, the department reserves the right to approach Election Commission of Pakistan.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly all set to disclose the hybrid model venue for Asia Cup 2023, with Gadhafi Stadium in Lahore emerging as the most likely host of the first four matches of the tournament.
Lahore will be the hot favorite city to host because the country’s cricketing board is there and the city hosted the New Zealand series and PSL final for two years straight.
Only four matches will take place in Lahore before the action shifts to Dubai under the current proposed model.
As per media reports, Dubai International Stadium is the favorite option for the second venue in which India can play their matches as well as the rest of teams.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) however has shown concerns over weather conditions in Dubai and rejected the proposal sent by PCB.
BCB has reportedly said raised that they have no issues if the whole tournament shifts to Pakistan or even Sri Lanka, but they will not take any risk regarding players health ahead of World Cup 2023.
PCB is reportedly trying to sort out the issue to ease teams’ concerns about the heat in Dubai, mulling changing the starting time of matches to 4:30 PM to alleviate concerns about player safety.
India’s BCCI is not expected to raise objections over the 2023 Asia Cup venues given the fact that it will not be sending a team to Pakistan anyways.
The 2023 Asia Cup is scheduled to take place in September with Pakistan, India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh taking part in the tournament.
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has announced that miscreants involved in attacks on army installations and civil properties during the violent protests if May 9, will be tried in military courts and anti-terrorism courts (ATCs).
Chairing a meeting on the law and order situation in Lahore on Sunday, PM Shehbaz said everyone who is involved in incidents of May 9 will be dealt with an iron hand.
He added that the day will always be remembered as a “black day” in the history of Pakistan. He went on to say that the rioters “turned into enemies of the country” and carried out the attack on the GHQ.
After Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest, his supporters came out on the streets and allegedly attacked army installations which included Corps Commander’s House (Jinnah House) in Lahore Cantt and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has expressed concern on recent crackdowns by law-enforcement authorities on party members.
The mindset behind this unprecedented crackdown and current reign of terror that PTI and its supporters are being subjected to (that was not even witnessed during Zia and Musharraf martial laws) is that we Pakistanis are like a herd of sheep who can be terrorised enough to meekly…
In a tweet, Khan said that such episodes didn’t even take place during General Ziaul Haq and General Pervez Musharraf’s regimes.
He added that despite all of this his party will not bow down.
The Punjab government has claimed that terrorists who were involved in the attack on military installations on May 9, are hiding at Khan’s Zaman Park residence. The authorities have asked the former Prime Minister to hand them over. On May 18, an operation was expected to take place at Imran Khan’s home, however, it didn’t happen.
Now, it is being reported that Punjab police have obtained warrants from the court to carry out a search operation in Zaman Park.
According to details, an officer of the rank superintendent of police will lead the party which will also include female personnel. Commissioner Lahore Division will accompany the search team.
The Urban Unit of the Planning and Development Department of Punjab has released a report revealing that over 80 per cent of Lahore’s pollution originates from the transport sector.
Titled “Sectoral emission inventory of Lahore,” the report represents the first comprehensive attempt in the Punjab province to assess atmospheric pollutants resulting from human activities across six developmental sectors.
The report identifies various primary sources of pollution in Lahore. Transportation accounts for 83 per cent of the emissions, making it a significant contributor. The increasing number of registered vehicles in Lahore, including a notable rise in two-stroke vehicles such as motorbikes, scooters, and auto-rickshaws, is a cause for concern.
However, it is worth noting that vehicle figures may be inflated as anecdotal evidence suggests that many vehicles in the Punjab province are registered in Lahore.
In addition to transportation, the burning of crop residues contributes 3.9 per cent to the pollution levels, while waste burning—a common practice in the outskirts of Lahore—accounts for 3.6 per cent.
Furthermore, the report highlights that emissions from the industrial (9 per cent), domestic (0.11 per cent), and commercial (0.14 per cent) sectors primarily result from the consumption of inefficient fuels like coal and diesel oil.
The report also examines the health impact of the pollution in Lahore. The concentration of pollutants in the city’s ambient air exceeds the defined limits of Pollutant Equivalent Quantities (PEQs). Air pollution is currently the most severe form of pollution affecting the residents of Lahore.
Citing the Air Quality Life Index Fact Sheet for Pakistan, the report reveals that if the World Health Organization’s guidelines for an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 5µg/m3 are met, the average life expectancy of Lahore residents could increase by 6.8 years. Moreover, the rising pollution in the city has led to an increase in respiratory diseases.
The report emphasises the broader challenge of air pollution in Pakistan and the subsequent problems it causes. Pakistan’s air quality performance, as assessed by the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) published by Yale University in 2022, ranks 176th out of 180 countries with a score of 5.7 in air quality points. This indicates a decrease of -0.3 compared to the previous report. The World Air Quality Report (2021) by IQAir also ranks Pakistan as the third-most polluted country in terms of air quality.
Additionally, the report highlights the country’s high climate vulnerability and environmental degradation. Rapid urbanization is exacerbating exposure to pollution within Pakistani cities. Urban areas, while significant centers of energy production and atmospheric emissions globally, are particularly susceptible to climate-related disasters.
Major urban centers in Pakistan face challenges such as inadequate waste management, rapid urban sprawl, air pollution, poor access to water and sanitation, and congestion.
Anchor Muhammad Junaid made the country proud when he became the first ever Pakistani journalist to participate in the Boston Marathon and the London Marathon, a feat he completed in a week.
In the Boston Marathon, held on April 17 in Eastern Massachusetts, Junaid completed the run in 3 hours, 36 min and 38 seconds. He participated along side other Pakistani-Americans like Salman Khan, Hamid Butt, Prem Kumar, Aamad Butt and Shariq Samad. Dr Salman & Hamid Butt are Abbott 6 Start Finishers.
Whereas in the London Marathon, which Junaid finished in 3 hours, 21 minutes and 38 seconds, he ran alongside others Pakistani or Pakistani origin marathons runners. Sadiq Shah, Faisal Shafi, Semeena Khan, Danish Raza, Prem Kumar, Farrukh Sadiq, Dr Jehanzeb Mughal, Danish Elahe, Imran Aleem & Ammar Mumtaz were also among them.
Saqid Shah, a Quetta born and currently a Karachi resident made history at the London Marathon by completing the race in 2 hours, 55 minutes and 20 seconds, becoming the fastest Pakistani runner in London Marathon. He appeared on the Geo News show ‘Geo Pakistan’, along with Muhammad Junaid.
The Current reached out to Junaid to chat about his recent accomplishments, and how running become one of his favorite hobbies, and the Geo News anchor gave us some interesting insights.
Q. You mentioned in your bio that you previously participated in the Boston Marathon. Is running your passion?
Junaid: I started more organised and focused running a few years ago and ran marathons in Karachi and Istanbul. Women and men of the running community realised that the number of Pakistanis in International marathons is very limited and we decided to train to run them. Every marathon has its own value but running Boston marathon can be any runner’s biggest dream. I collaborated with Pakistani Americans & partnered with South Asian Circle of Hopkinton through Hopkinton Board in Massachusetts to run Boston Marathon and open paths for more South Asians in future. It’s an achievement for South Asians in USA and Pakistanis here.
Q. Winning this race seems like an impossible task, so how did you train for this marathon? Especially considering that you’re a Karachi food lover.
Junaid: The goal is to finish the marathon in a good time, preferably faster than your previous time, for any marathon runner 70 KM per week is considered a standard mileage. Per week can vary for everyone, but yes you have got be careful with food. Protein is most important in that because it helps make and repair cells, which are critical for growth and development. So yes chicken, yogurt, milk, eggs, cheese, seafood, nut butters and then good carbs like wholegrain items, sweet potato, brown rice, and lots and lots of water, in my experience anyone involved in sports should avoid carbonated drinks because of the amount of processed sugar in them.
Q. You met politicians like MP Zarah Sultana who congratulated you for your prestigious win! How did that feel?
Junaid: For the Boston Marathon, Pakistani-American Shahid Ahmed Khan, who is currently a member of US President Joe Biden’s prestigious President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts (PACA), Irfan Nasrullah, and the President of South Asian Circle Ruta Upalekar and her team’s role was significant in helping me prepare for the marathon. From Pakistan, it was nearly impossible without support of Geo News. London Marathon was a collaboration for me with the Pakistani-British Journalist Saima Mohsin to raise funds for Scope, a UK charity working mainly for people with disabilities and facing cost of living crises. In that collaboration, we met British Pakistani MPs Naz Shah and Zarah Sultana, who are an inspiration for many and they assured us of their support to work in order to send more Pakistanis of all genders in world sports specially London Marathon.
Q. These initiatives are wonderful but sadly such things have not taken place in Pakistan. Should Pakistani politicians also start setting up running marathons, now that petrol prices are soaring and we’re looking for cheaper ways to travel?
Junaid: Pakistan does not have any international standard running events so far but Shoaib Nizami and other partners are working to organise Pakistan’s first internationally recognised marathon, Karachi Marathon, this year, which can help people here to get first hand experience of running an official marathon.
Junaid revealed that currently he is gearing up along side other Pakistani marathon runners to participate in the upcoming Berlin Marathon being held on September 24, where 50 runners from Pakistan are expected to participate.
Besides the fact that Pakistanis are underrepresented at these races, the number of women runners is even less but the running community is trying to change that. Last year, at London Marathon, Kaukab Sarwar and Hira Diwan ran in the race for TCF with the help of a friend of Pakistan, Mike Nithavrianakis. It is expected that a bigger number of women will be participating in Berlin Marathon this year. Hira Diwan, who is a British Pakistani, has run four world major marathons including New York & Chicago.
City Traffic Police have recently cracked down on underage drivers, taking strict action to address the issue. On a particular holiday, the traffic police apprehended over 5,000 underage drivers, while also taking the initiative to educate the parents of more than 22,000 children who were found driving without proper authorisation.
Chief Traffic Officer (CTO), Mustansar Feroze, spoke regarding the matter and announced that, starting from the upcoming weekend, all motorcycles and vehicles involved in such violations would be impounded and kept at police stations. According to The News, the CTO earnestly appealed to parents, urging them not to provide motorcycles, cars, or rickshaws to their young children. He highlighted that on holidays, it has become common to witness young children recklessly roaming the streets with these vehicles.
CTO Mustansar Feroze emphasised that accidents are frequently caused by young drivers. Consequently, any underage drivers caught in possession of a car, motorcycle, or rickshaw will have their vehicle impounded and stored at the local police station. He called upon parents to play a proactive role in discouraging young drivers from engaging in such activities.
Furthermore, the CTO stated that parents would be held responsible in the event of accidents involving underage drivers. He strongly emphasised that no young driver should be seen operating a vehicle of any kind, be it a car, motorcycle, or rickshaw. The City Traffic Police are dedicated to ensuring the safety of all citizens on the roads and will continue their efforts to address this critical issue.
