Tag: Pakistan

  • Court stops Imran Khan’s in-camera trial in cipher case till January 11

    Court stops Imran Khan’s in-camera trial in cipher case till January 11

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has stopped the trial of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s trial in the cipher case till January 11 next year.

    Judge Miangul Hassan of the IHC issued a ruling in response to an appeal filed by the former Prime Minister where he had contested both his indictment and the proceedings related to the cipher case conducted by the special court established under the Official Secrets Act.

    Previously, during the hearing of the case, Justice Aurangzeb dismissed a plea from Usman Gul, the lawyer representing the PTI chief, requesting a stay on the trial. The judge clarified that the court would proceed by issuing notices before releasing any orders.

    In this matter, the IHC issued a notice to the federation and asked Usman Gul to submit all the necessary documents regarding the case at the next hearing.

    Pointing out the irregularities in the cipher case, the PTI lawyer argued in court that a first information report (FIR) had been filed before the submission of the official report.

    The judge asked the PTI council what the point of the petition was. “The point is that the legal procedure was not completed before the indictment,” said the lawyer, responding to the judge.

    The lawyer also said that a legally authorised individual can file a petition in court.

    “You are saying that an authorised officer can file a complaint directly,” asked the judge.

    Imran Khan’s lawyer requested the IHC direct the trial court to conduct the hearing after five or six days. “The trial court can complete the trial in the meantime,” he added.

    “How many witness statements have been completed so far?” the judge questioned.

    The lawyer responded that a total of 27 witnesses have recorded their statements before the court.

  • Gaza authorities accuse Israel of stealing organs from 80 Palestinian bodies

    Gaza authorities accuse Israel of stealing organs from 80 Palestinian bodies

    Israel has been accused of stealing organs from 80 Palestinian bodies by Gaza’s authorities.

    “The media office denounces in the strongest terms the Israeli occupation army’s disdain for the dignity of the bodies of our 80 martyrs that Israel had stolen during its genocidal war because it delivered them mutilated,” read a statement.⁠

    “After examining the bodies, it is clear that the features of those killed had changed greatly in a clear indication that the Israeli occupation had stolen vital organs from them,” the statement added.

    Earlier, the bodies of about 80 Palestinians killed by the Israeli army during its ground invasion, were returned to Gaza and buried in a mass grave at Tel al-Sultan Cemetery.

    The Ministry of Health in Gaza received the bodies on Tuesday through the Israeli-controlled Karem Abu Salem fence crossing in southern Gaza, according to AFP. 

    Health workers in plastic robes removed the bodies, which were covered in blue plastic sealed with zip ties from the truck. The bodies were then brought by a bulldozer for burial in a mass grave.

    ”The UN had informed us in advance of the arrival of several martyrs to the Gaza Strip, estimated to be around 80 bodies,” Marwan al Hams, the director of Mohammed Yousef El-Najar Hospital in Rafah city.

    “The bodies arrived inside a container, some intact, while others were in pieces, and some others had decomposed,” he added. Al Hams noted that the bodies were “transferred to the cemetery for burying” and the health and justice ministries would investigate the bodies for possible “war crimes.”

  • Khawaja Asif sends Rs1 billion defamation notice to Usman Dar, his mother

    Khawaja Asif sends Rs1 billion defamation notice to Usman Dar, his mother

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Khawaja Asif has sent a defamation notice of Rs 1 billion to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Dar and his mother.

    According to the notice, Dar and his mother, Rehana Dar, made false allegations to defame the PML-N leader, asking them to pay Rs 1 billion within 14 days.

    Both the leaders belong to Sialkot and have contested elections against each other from the National Assembly’s NA-73 constituency. Khawaja Asif has defeated Dar in the match up.

    After a police raid on Dar’s house earlier this month, Rehana Dar alleged that the former federal minister was behind the operation, stating in a video statement that cops forcefully entered into her residence, physically tortured her, and pulled her hair.

    “When they heard that I was submitting my nomination papers, they [Asif] sent 20 people to my house,” she claimed.

    The PML-N leader also said while speaking on Geo News’ programme “Capital Talk” on December 20 that Usman Dar wants to restore his reputation after quitting politics.

  • ‘Tone-deaf’; Hania Amir slammed for wearing Zara

    ‘Tone-deaf’; Hania Amir slammed for wearing Zara

    Hania Amir, actress and influencer, is under fire for wearing Zara clothes in a photo posted on social media. The brand is currently being boycotted worldwide for a controversial advertisement campaign in the wake of Israel’s war on Gaza.

    Model Kristen McMenamy was photographed standing in a room with mannequins covered in white shrouds surrounded by rubble. Netizens couldn’t help but see similarities with bodies of people killed in Gaza, wrapped in funerary shrouds.

    A user commented that for someone as chronically online as Hania Amir, “You’d think she’d know what to promote with her big following, like seriously? Zara?”.

    Hania’s comment section started flooding with messages about her choice of dress. “How tone-deaf do you have to be to do this? You are not definitely unaware of how Zara is a pro-israel brand and how it recently mocked the Palestinian martyrs in its latest campaign,” a follower commented.

  • ‘I was tortured mentally, physically in jail,’ Shah Mehmood claims

    ‘I was tortured mentally, physically in jail,’ Shah Mehmood claims

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi claimed to have endured mental and physical torture during his incarceration.

    The former Foreign Minister appeared before Duty Magistrate Syed Jahangir Ali in the GHQ attack case, asserting that he was subjected to harsh conditions, both mentally and physically, and exposed to severe cold weather while in jail.

    During the court session, he insisted on recording his statement in the presence of his counsel, expressing dissatisfaction with the police’s attempt to obtain his statement without legal representation as per Geo News.

    The former foreign minister said he was being treated in jail for the past several months in the same manner. “Is this justice? I am tortured,” he asked.

    Qureshi said he will swear on the Holy Quran that he was not present in Rawalpindi on May 9 and instead, he was in Karachi that day.

    “I was with my wife in the Aga Khan Hospital. Get the record from PEMRA, I was present in Karachi,” said Qureshi.

    Qureshi, who had previously been granted bail by three Supreme Court judges, questioned the justice system, highlighting the fluctuating circumstances of his arrest and release.

    He said that he was arrested under Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) 3.

    “One night I am arrested and in the morning I am told that I am being released. When I asked what made it happen, they replied there is a loophole in the case,” he said.

    Qureshi said he was ordered to be arrested on December 26 then the date was changed to 27. He was within the jail’s premises when Punjab police arrived to arrest him, he said.

    “I have been a member of the assembly for five times. SHO Ashfaq tortured me. He kicked and punched me,” he said. He said he felt pain in his chest for which he was begged the superintendent police for hours to take him to hospital.

    “A doctor was called who was carrying just a blood pressure checking machine,” he added.

    Earlier, the Rawalpindi Police reportedly barred journalists from entering the judicial complex, citing a ban on media coverage of the GHQ attack case against Qureshi.

    His legal counsel expressed concern over the restriction, questioning the nature of an in-camera trial with limited media access.

    Qureshi’s daughter, Meher Bano Qureshi, filed a petition with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against what she termed the “unlawful abduction” of her father, as per Geo News.

    Meherbano stated in the petition that Qureshi had been granted bail by the Supreme Court, and referred to the remark of Justice Athar Minallah, who stated: “The incarceration of the petitioners will not serve any useful purpose.

    Moreover, their release on bail during the period of elections would ensure ‘genuine elections and thus enable the people to exercise the right to express their will effectively and meaningfully.”

    The PTI vice chairman’s recent arrest, just after securing bail in a cipher case, raised questions about the circumstances surrounding his detention.

    President Arif Alvi also weighed in, calling on authorities to address the alleged mistreatment of Qureshi and uphold human rights and dignity.

    “We must not become a state where human rights and dignity are violated without fear. Authorities must pay attention to the confiscation of documents, the brutal action against the protesters, and now the indecent treatment of the former foreign minister by two governments,” Alvi wrote on X (former Twitter).

    The arrest is linked to cases related to the May 9 riots following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan. Qureshi is implicated in a GHQ attack case and is expected to appear in an anti-terrorism court (ATC) for further proceedings.

  • ECP might move Supreme Court against High Court order

    ECP might move Supreme Court against High Court order

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has raised concerns over the Peshawar High Court (PHC) order against the appointment of a returning officer (RO) in PK-91 Kohat-II. According to the sources of The News, “it is becoming difficult” for electoral authorities to conduct polls with multiple emerging challenges.

    The electoral body showed concerns during the ECP meeting on Wednesday and decided to file a petition in the Supreme Court (SC) against the PHC order rejecting the appointment of Irfanullah as RO for PK-91 Kohat-II.

    As per the report, ECP decided to move to SC after consulting with legal experts from the commission.

    “The meeting noted that following the PHC order, the very constituency is now technically without a returning officer. In these circumstances, it is becoming difficult for the Election Commission of Pakistan to conduct elections,” sources said, referring to the commission’s huddle here at its secretariat after having received the provincial high court order.

    According to Article 218, it is the constitutional authority of the electoral body to conduct free, fair, and transparent elections in the country, and all the state institutions are bound to support the ECP to make polls possible.

    The Commission reviewed the matter and decided to hold another meeting on Thursday (today) prior to taking a decision in relation to the PHC order.

  • Pneumonia spreading fast in Punjab as province waits for rain

    Pneumonia spreading fast in Punjab as province waits for rain

    The head of the Provincial Public Health Lab, Dr. Hasnain Javed, has said that pneumonia is spreading in Punjab as dry cold and smog persist.

    In a conversation with Geo News, Dr. Hasnain Javed said that viral and bacterial pneumonia are spreading through the people, adding that patients affected by pneumonia are crowding emergency rooms and OPDs. heart, kidney, diabetes, and liver patients are more susceptible as they have weaker immune systems.

    Dr. Hasnain Javed said that Pakistan is among the 13 countries where pneumonia occurs every year, asking citizens to immediately get chest X-rays and blood tests for breathing problems.

    The interim health minister Dr. Jamal Nasir says that pneumonia has spread more this time than last year, stressing that so far many patients of pneumonia have come to the hospitals and gotten treatment in time.

    Meanwhile, medical experts say that both children and the elderly are suffering from pneumonia, such people should stay in a warm room.

  • Five standout events of the year 2023 in the world

    Five standout events of the year 2023 in the world

    Diplomats like Maliha Lodhi had predicted that 2023 was going to be a “world of uncertainty” and that proved somewhat true. The world witnessed a hotchpotch of events where at one end a positive step was taken to restore peace in the Middle East when China brokered a deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia but Israel’s war on Gaza made everything fall apart.

    Apart from the man-made conflicts, nature also lashed out with climate change emerging as a dark reality the world can no longer ignore.

    Earthquake in Syria and Turkey

    Early in the year, a ferocious earthquake in Syria and Turkey cost more than 67, 000 lives, a staggering number. It hit southern and central parts of Turkey and northern and western parts of Syria on the morning of February 6. Thousands of buildings were destroyed with the severe magnitude 7.7 quake and aftershocks that struck Antakya within hours. It is estimated to be the most severe earthquake in Turkey since 1939.

    Iran and Saudi Arabia’s friendship mediated by China

    In an unexpected turn of events, China mediated a deal between arch-enemies Saudi Arabia and Iran in March, earlier this year, surprising the world. The thawing of relations was termed a major blow to the overpowering role of the USA in the region and was dubbed a “wave of reconciliation”.

    Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi for the first time post the deal on the sidelines of the joint Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on December 9, 2023, a moment for the history books.

    Titan submarine

    The tragedy of the Titan submarine came at a point when the world was witnessing the humongous tragedy of the immigrant boat disaster in Greece. In the first one, five men of rich backgrounds lost their lives in an adventurous pursuit while in the latter, 80 people died, and more than 500 went missing in the sea as the over-crowded ship sank.

    The glaring irony sent shockwaves all around the world where a group paid billions of dollars for their death in the name of seeing an archive deep in the sea and the other died by getting suffocated by being cramped in the basement of a ship. The illegal immigrants were denied entry in Greece and due to overloading, it sank. The incident also pointed towards the core racism in the world because the victims were largely brown Asians and Africans while the white population was saved by the authorities.

    Barbenheimer
    The Barbenheimer phenomenon marked the revival of cinema post-covid that engulfed the world in a frenzy.

    Two big-budget movies were coming out on the same day. One was Christopher Nolan’s directorial Oppenheimer, based on the life of the American scientist, the head of the Manhattan Project, and the creator of the Atomic Bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer. Even though it was about a scientist and the makers were expecting it to attract a niche audience, the movie did great business. The other was the Greta Gerwig directorial Barbie, a live-action, musical based on the life of the famous fictional doll. The audiences had high expectations of how it will be presented and they were not disappointed as the movie went on to break records. The release of the two movies activated the meme brigade to the point that a new pop-culture reference came to life in the form of Barbenheimmer.

    Israel’s War on Gaza

    The war that shook the world was the siege of Gaza by Israel. On October 7 Hamas invaded Israel and took at least 236 hostages. Israel retaliated in what is being called a disproportionate response. The genocide of the poor Gazans has not ended till now with the death toll nearing 21,000 after 80 days of war whereas the Israeli deaths remained at 1200. A short-term truce provided a little break for the return of hostages but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to not stop. Massive protests across the world saw the tide of public opinion turn towards Palestine.

    GAZA CITY, GAZA – OCTOBER 23: A woman holding a girl reacts after Israeli airstrikes hit Ridwan neighborhood of Gaza City, Gaza on October 23, 2023. (Photo by Ali Jadallah/Anadolu via Getty Images)
  • CDWP approves Rs7 billion for advancing Pakistan’s IT sector

    CDWP approves Rs7 billion for advancing Pakistan’s IT sector

    During the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) meeting, chaired by Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, five development projects were given approval, totalling Rs13 billion, according to a press release.

    The meeting focused on projects within the information technology, health, and physical planning and housing sectors.

    Under the Ministry of Information, two projects were presented. The first, “Upgradation of Transmission Network & Replacement of Optical Fibre Cable, AJK & Gilgit Baltistan (revised),” with a budget of Rs2 billion, received approval from the CDWP.

    The second project, “Prime Minister’s Initiatives Support for IT Startups, Specialised IT Trainings, and Venture Capital (revised),” with a budget of Rs5 billion, was also granted approval.

    Furthermore, two projects from the Ministry of Law and Justice were considered and approved. The first involves the “Construction of Litigants Facilitation Centre for Litigants and Lawyers in Sector G-10/1, Islamabad,” with a budget of Rs1.86 billion. The executing agency and financing source for this project is the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

    The second project presented was the “Establishment of 93-No District Courts in Mauve Area G-11/4, Islamabad (revised),” with a budget of Rs2.23 billion.

    A project focused on skill development internships, the “Ba-ikhtiyar Naujawan Internship Program Balochistan,” worth Rs1.85 billion, was also approved by the CDWP. Notably, this project is fully funded through a World Bank loan.

  • ‘Mannat Murad’ drama takes dramatic turn with unexpected slap exchange

    The uber popular ‘Mannat Murad’ is Geo’s latest hit with a fervent following. People are especially invedted because it stars Iqra Aziz and Talha Chahour together, both firm fan favourites.
    The show is about problems in a big family and how sometimes people end up in marriages they didn’t really want. A preview for the next episode has everyone talking. Murad slaps Mannat to make his mom happy, and then Mannat slaps him back.

    Yes, you read that right.

    The scene has generated a lot of buzz on social media.

    Here is how people are reacting to Murad and Mannat slapping each other:

    Some celebrated Mannat standing up for herself and wished it would happen in real life.

    Violence is sadly a common sight in Pakistani dramas, and often, it’s women who bear the brunt of it. While we don’t endorse violence, it was a relief to witness a woman standing up for herself.
    It’s crucial to understand that violence doesn’t solve problems, and it’s wrong no matter who is involved.
    It will be intriguing to see how ‘Mannat Murad’ addresses this issue and whether Mannat will be treated the same way male characters typically are when they resort to violence against their wives.