Tag: Pakistan

  • Renowned American singer converts to Islam

    Renowned American singer converts to Islam

    Famous American rapper and producer Lil Jon has recently embraced Islam during the holy month of Ramazan.

    According to international media reports, American rapper and producer Lil Jon accepted Islam in the King Fahd Mosque in Los Angeles, California, on March 15, just before the Friday prayers.

    A video of the American singer reciting the kalma is going viral on social media, where he can be seen reciting in both Arabic and English under the guidance of the mosque’s Imam.Lil Jon has been receiving congratulations from Muslims on social media for becoming a Muslim. He expressed his gratitude in a special post on Instagram, saying, “Alhamdulillah, I am thankful to all my brothers and sisters who sent me positive messages and expressed selfless love.”

    Born in June 1972 in Atlanta, Georgia, the singer’s real name is Jonathan H. Smith. He became famous in the early 2000s for his significant role in creating new genres of hip-hop music.

    After American author and social activist Sean King, Lil Jon is the second American celebrity to convert to Islam during the first week of Ramadan.

    @n_war967 Rapper Lil Jon took his Shahada and accepted Islam at King Fahad Mosque in LA #liljon #muslim #muslimummah #ramdan #ramdan2024 ♬ original sound – n_war967

  • Khawaja Sira community members attacked by mob in Karachi; No action taken yet

    Khawaja Sira community members attacked by mob in Karachi; No action taken yet

    The first-ever elected transgender member of the Karachi Municipal Council and transgender rights activist Shahzadi Rai took to X (former Twitter) and described an incidence of violence against her community members.

    Shahzadi wrote, “A mob attack occurred at Johar Mor. These individuals first beat members of my community, then threatened to kill us openly. Please help and kindly tag the police. @sindhpolicedmc8 @BBhuttoZardari @PPP_Org @AuratMarchKHI @TMItalks.”

    In the video she highlighted how police arrived quite late while she was constantly being threatened with being killed. In another video, she was trying to calm the mob, but nothing worked at that point. She has appealed to the Sindh police to take legal action against the hate crime and violence.

    Member of Awami Workers Party, Ammar Rashid, wrote, “Horrifying to see. There is a direct line from the anti-trans hate being spread by rightwing activists, youtubers & parties to such mobs. Your ‘gender activism’ hobby & moral panic clickbait leads to situations of life & death for others. And no surprise Sindh police is MIA.”

    Transgender Rights Activist Aradhiya Khan demanded strict action, “ Urgent Alert: Another mob attack at Johar Mor! Once again, our community is being targeted and hunted down. We’re facing threats of violence and need immediate intervention.
    @sindhpolicedmc8 , please step in to stop this cycle of terror. Lives are at stake! #StopViolence”

    Human Rights Activist Gulalai Ismail highlighted the consequences of online campaigns against transgender community, “This is terrifying and highly condemnable. The recent trans-hate politics of JI and likes of Maria B has intensified the existing threats to the lives of Pakistani khwajasira community. These hate mongers should be held accountable & brought to justice.”

    Aurat March Karachi also reacted to the situation and said, “This is outrageous and horrifying. Till when will the khawaja sira community and trans people be forced to live in fear of such gruesome violence? Why do these fanatical cis men feel emboldened enough to issue threats like these, that too so openly? We stand in solidarity with the trans community and reiterate our demand to immediately end the hate campaign & mob violence targeting them.”

    Lawyer Muneeb Qadir said, “’Taang pe taang rakh ke cheer doon ga’ was what Qaiser Raja had said about transgenders & while specifically naming Shahzadi Rai in that speech. Hate speech can have dangerous consequences as you can see from what happened in Johar Mor last night. Maria B, Mishi, this one’s on u”

  • General (retd) Faiz Hameed’s brother arrested in bribery case

    General (retd) Faiz Hameed’s brother arrested in bribery case

    Former spymaster Faiz Hameed’s brother Najaf Hameed was arrested after a Rawalpindi court rejected his plea on Monday in a bribery case.

    The anti-corruption authorities arrested Najaf Hameed and went to Chakwal as instructed by the court.

    It is pertinent to mention that Hameed secured protective bail from the court after he was booked in a bribery case.

    In April 2023, the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) initiated an investigation against Najaf Hameed for assets beyond means and out-of-turn promotion.

    The anti-graft body sent a letter to the deputy commissioner of Rawalpindi and the DC of Chakwal, asking them to provide the land ownership records of Najaf Hameed.

    On February 13, he was suspended from the post of Naib Tehsildar in Chakwal over alleged misconduct.

  • Faisal Vawda to join MQM-P?

    Faisal Vawda to join MQM-P?

    The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has expressed willingness to let former federal minister Faisal Vawda join the party before the Senate elections take place on April 2.

    “We had invited Vawda to join [MQM-P] in the past […] I pray that he joins the party’s ranks,” MQM-P leader Rauf Siddiqui said while speaking with journalists in Karachi.

    MQM-P head Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, who is also a candidate for senate polls, said that the party has fielded a total of eight candidates for the upper house.

    However, Faisal Vawda has confirmed that he is still an “independent” political leader.

    “I’m still independent,” Vawda said during a press conference in Karachi, adding that he would consider joining a political party when it’s in “season,”  as independent candidates are currently trending.

    Vawda expressed doubt about the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) securing power in Islamabad.

  • Is Kubra Khan getting married? Jeeto Pakistan appearance sparks rumors

    Is Kubra Khan getting married? Jeeto Pakistan appearance sparks rumors

    Kubra Khan is adored by millions of fans for her charming personality and outstanding acting skills. She’s known for her work in TV shows and movies.
    Recently, Kubra Khan has been participating in the Jeeto Pakistan League, taking over from well-known actress and host Sana Javed. She leads Team Islamabad in JPL. A video clip of Fahad Mustafa and Kubra is circulating on social media, where Fahad jokes that Kubra will get married soon because she’s received his blessings by joining JPL officially.
    The host asked, “When do you plan on getting married?”

    Kubra, replied, “I’ve heard of people coming on the show and ending up next in line for marriage.”
    Fahad humorously referred to himself as a ‘Match Maker Baba,’ particularly after the episode featuring Sana and Shoaib’s marriage.
    Fans are loving the clip and sharing funny comments. On social media, people are joking that JPL has become a matchmaking show because Fahad Mustafa arranges matches there. They’re pointing out that he was the one who brought together Sana Javed and Shoaib Malik.

  • Corruption was rampant in PTI’s previous KP government,’ Sher Afzal Marwat

    Corruption was rampant in PTI’s previous KP government,’ Sher Afzal Marwat

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and lawmaker Sher Afzal Marwat made startling admissions regarding corruption within his party’s previous government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

    Known for his outspoken demeanor and controversial statements, Marwat recently alleged on an X (former Twitter) space that corruption had reached unprecedented levels during the previous PTI government in KP, with individuals amassing not billions, but trillions through illicit means.

    Responding to a question, the PTI leader said that the narrative of keeping former prime minister Imran Khan at Adiala Jail instead of his residence in Bani Gala was not floated by him.
    “Former KP chief minister Mahmood Khan earns Rs2.5 million daily from one of his mines now,” he added.

    Marwat’s remarks have once again thrust him into the limelight for his blunt and provocative statements. Just last week, he openly criticized his party’s decisions on alliances, attributing their electoral setbacks to two major mistakes.

    He said the first major mistake was committed when party founder Imran Khan gave instructions for a political alliance with the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Sherani and the second major mistake was the announcement of the inclusion into the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen, adding that some people gave sectarian colour to the issue and gave threatening messages to the PTI leadership.
    However, Marwat’s comments have drawn ire from within his party, as well as from political allies.

    Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Chairman of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), issued a stern warning to leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), cautioning them against airing internal grievances publicly.
    The revelations made by Marwat have reignited discussions surrounding corruption allegations within the PTI and have raised concerns about the party’s internal cohesion.

  • Aseefa Bhutto may be joining National Assembly soon

    Aseefa Bhutto may be joining National Assembly soon

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Aseefa Bhutto Zardari has filed her nomination papers on Sunday to contest by-elections on the National Assembly (NA) seat vacated by her father. Aseefa Bhutto will take part in the polls from NA-207 as the PPP’s co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari, left his seat after being elected president of Pakistan.

    The returning officer also confirmed that Assefa Bhutto submitted her nomination papers, stating that by-polls in Shaheed Benazirabad-1 will be held on April 21.

    On her X (previously Twitter) account, the youngest daughter of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto shared pictures of herself filing nomination papers.

    She was accompanied by her aunt, Azra Fazal Pechuho. Party workers showered rose petals on her when she stepped out of the RO’s office.

    Asif Ali Zardari was elected on March 10 as the 14th president of Pakistan.

    The population of the constituency stands at 959,756 with 496,037 registered voters — of which 268,522 are male and 227,515 female voters.

    Earlier, in the February 8 general elections, Zardari secured victory in NA-207 Shaheed Benazirabad-I constituency as he defeated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed (PTI) Sardar Sher Muhammad Rind by a huge margin.

  • Momal Sheikh’s husband credits baby for bollywood success

    Momal Sheikh’s husband credits baby for bollywood success

    Momal Sheikh, daughter of famous actor Javed Sheikh and sister of Shahzad Sheikh, wanted to act on camera, but her family didn’t allow it. Instead, she worked behind the scenes in production. After marrying Nader Nawaz, he supported her dream of joining showbiz.

    In a recent appearance on Shan e Suhoor with Nida Yasir, the couple discussed their life post-marriage, their family dynamics, and their mutual admiration. Among their topics was Momal’s unexpected offer for a Bollywood movie, which she managed to juggle despite recently becoming a mother to their son.

    Nader shared that she got the offer from the director of that film as they wanted only her for the role and though her father who was starring in that film was not convinced, the director still pursued her for the character. I believe our baby brought this opportunity. He encouraged Momal, saying, “Every child brings luck. You got this chance because of our baby’s arrival.”

  • Kabul Says Eight Killed In Pakistani Air Strikes On Eastern Afghanistan

    Kabul Says Eight Killed In Pakistani Air Strikes On Eastern Afghanistan

    Eight people, all women and children, were killed on Monday in “reckless” air strikes by the Pakistani military in the border regions of Afghanistan, the Taliban government’s spokesman said.

    Border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have risen since the Taliban government seized power in 2021, with Islamabad claiming militant groups are carrying out regular attacks from the neighbouring country.

    At “around 3:00 am (2230 GMT Sunday), Pakistani aircraft bombarded civilian homes” in Khost and Paktika provinces near the border with Pakistan, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement.

    The Taliban government “strongly condemns these attacks and calls this reckless action a violation of and an attack on Afghanistan’s sovereignty”, he added.

    The strikes come after seven Pakistani troops were killed in an attack inside Pakistan territory on Saturday, for which the country’s President Asif Ali Zardari vowed retaliation.

    “Pakistan has decided that whoever will enter our borders, homes or country and commit terror, we will respond to them strongly, regardless of who it is or from which country,” he said while attending the funeral prayers of the soldiers, which included a lieutenant colonel.

    Areas along the border have long been a stronghold for militant groups such as Pakistan’s home-grown Taliban group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which operates across the porous frontier with Afghanistan.

    Analysts say militants in the former tribal areas have become emboldened since the Taliban’s return to power, with TTP waging a growing campaign against security officials.

    The Taliban deny harbouring Pakistani militants.

    In 2022, Taliban authorities said Pakistani military helicopters carried out strikes along the Afghan side of the border killing at least 47 people.

    The TTP issued an official statement denying that Monday’s strikes targeted the group, saying their members operate from within Pakistan.

    However, a TTP source who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to media said the strikes in Paktika and Khost left at least nine people dead.

    “A house has been attacked where two women and seven children have been killed and a child has been wounded” in the Barmal district in Paktika.

    “A bombardment in the Pasa Mela area of Khost also has casualties.”

  • Body of Pakistani-German killed in Europe airlifted to Karachi

    Body of Pakistani-German killed in Europe airlifted to Karachi

    The dead body of Faheemuddin, a German citizen of Pakistani origin who was killed in Germany, has reportedly been brought to Karachi.

    Faheemuddin was murdered in the city of Ulm in the southern German state of Baden-Wurttemberg, when a local resident entered his house and attacked the family with a knife.

    As a result of the attack, 58-year-old Faheemuddin died on the spot, while his wife and 13-year-old daughter were seriously injured before being taken to the hospital for medical assistance.

    According to the police, two other daughters remained safe during the attack after they hid in the house. The police reached the scene after getting informed, shooting and killing the attacker.

    The police claim that the killer was mentally unwell and had returned from mental therapy a few months ago.

    Faheemuddin’s body has now been brought to Karachi. His funeral prayers will be offered in Federal B area after Zuhr prayer.

    His brother, Wajihauddin, said that Fahimuddin had been living in Germany with his family since 1992.

    Wajihuddin claimed that the killer was not a psychopath but a taxi driver, no one should be labelled as a psychopath.