Tag: Pakistan

  • Caretaker prime minister should be a politician: Qamar Zaman Kaira

    Caretaker prime minister should be a politician: Qamar Zaman Kaira

    Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said on Monday that the incoming caretaker prime minister should be a politician, adding that political people should be in political offices.

    The PPP leader gave the statement after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the government’s tenure is going to end next month, in August 2023.

    He also said, if the national assembly dissolves before time, then the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will fix a date in the next 90 days for general elections. On the other hand, if the government completes its tenure, the Election Commission of Pakistan will be bound to conduct an election in 60 days.

    The senior PPP leader has said that political offices can only be run by politicians.

    He added that the most elevated political office of the country is that of prime minister. “If a judge, general, bureaucrat, technocrat, journalist, or any corporate sector employee is appointed to it, it will be a disgrace to the post and cannot work.”

    He further asked, “Can I be appointed, on the seat of a judge in a high court or the Supreme Court is vacant? How will I be able to do justice there?”

  • ’22 Qadam’ is the long awaited sports drama Pakistan truly needed

    ’22 Qadam’ is the long awaited sports drama Pakistan truly needed

    It’s no surprise that Pakistan is bursting with stories that desperately need to be told on the big screen, but our attention always falls back to the same old ‘saas bahu jhagray’. But this time, Green Entertainment is proving that good, diverse story telling is back in the game with a series of dramas released last week that have been receiving praise from audiences. Among them ’22 Qadam’ looks like a real game-changer because it is truly the first time that we’re getting a good sports drama, that too about women.

    There haven’t been good sports biopics made on Pakistani players, considering how impressive the list of icons is. There was the rare gem of a telefilm ‘Bhaag Amina Bhaag’ released in 2011, starring Amina Sheikh as female Pakistani athlete Naseem Hamid, who won a gold medal at the 11th South Asian Games in Bangladesh. Since then, a biopic on Shoaib Akhtar was in the works but the former cricket star announced that he was leaving the project. It’s disappointing how no attempt was made by our entertainment industry to explore the lives of sports stars, but it feels like ’22 Qadam’ is taking a step in the right direction. The story revolves around a woman’s passion for cricket, leading her to becoming a national player.

    Helmed by the powerful performances by Hareem Farooq and Wahaj Ali, ’22 Qadam is for all those who grew up loving the Bollywood film ‘Chak De! India’ and how it championed women in sports, a long neglected issue that remains pushed out of the spotlight because of patriarchal assumptions that women can’t play sports, and how underfunded this issue remains. The series focuses on a spirited, confident woman Fari who dreams of becoming a cricket player, and her luck turns around when she gets an opportunity to meet the famous cricket player Sana Mir, who makes a cameo in the second episode as a visitor in a girl’s college, and advises Fari to never give up on her dream. As Fari is climbing up the ladder to success, the series alternates with the story of Jimmy, a former cricket star who after an injury, was forced to give up on the game and take a back seat.

    “When we came up with this concept,” Farooq told The Current when the series was announced. “The thought behind it was that we need to empower women in the best way possible and there is no way better than projecting women in sports. Cricket, especially being the most loved sport in South-Asia.”

    She also stressed on the importance of such a drama that would not only be enjoyed by people, but also educate them about breaking stereotypes, calling ’22 Qadam’: ‘the voice of the unheard’.

    Since the two episodes went up on social media, clearly online audiences share our joy because the feedback has been nothing but positive.

  • Yumna Zaidi looks elegant in latest bridal shoot

    Yumna Zaidi looks elegant in latest bridal shoot

    Yumna Zaidi is hands down one of the most talented actresses from the current lot. She has starred in big hits one after another. Of late, her character Meerab in the highly successful drama Tere Bin, a hit noy only in Pakistan but globally as well, became a fan favourite. Yumna is also all set to make her cinema debut soon in Nayab where she is playing the role of a cricketer.

    The actress has just done a beautiful bridal shoot and she looks gorgeous as ever, decked up in beautiful eastern wear with heavy makeup and traditional jewellery. Here are some clciks from Yumna Zaidi’s shoot for Makeup Studio By Mehwish.

  • Defiant Pervez Khattak forms political party, names it ‘PTI Parliamentarians’

    Defiant Pervez Khattak forms political party, names it ‘PTI Parliamentarians’

    Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s once-trusted aide Pervez Khattak has formed a new party ‘Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Parliamentarians’, Geo News has reported.

    The former Chief Minister announced the name of his party days after being thrown out of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for allegedly asking members to ditch the party.

    According to the sources in The News, former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has also joined PTI Parliamentarians. According to the report, 57 ex-assembly members have joined the party.

    Former provincial ministers have also joined the new party, in which Ishtiaq Armar and Shaukat Ali are included.

    Khattak was largely credited for forming a PTI government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in 2013, becoming a powerful chief executive of the province and jump starting Imran Khan’s eventual ascent to the Prime Minister’s office in 2018.

    However, the mercurial politician had often been at odds with his party head, most notably when the two clashed in 2018 after Imran Khan chose Mahmood Khan to head the province.

  • PRL and Airlink in talks to buy stake in Shell Pakistan

    PRL and Airlink in talks to buy stake in Shell Pakistan

    Shell Petroleum Company has decided to exit Pakistan by selling its 77 per cent stake in the local business. This move follows Shell’s recent updates on its global operations and concerns about the economic difficulties in Pakistan.

    In a notice submitted to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), Next Capital Limited, the managing party representing the Acquirers, Pakistan Refinery Limited and Air Link Communication Limited, declared their intention to acquire a majority stake of 77.42 per cent in Shell Pakistan Limited.

    Next Capital stated, “We, Next Capital Limited, hereby submit a Public Announcement of Intention by Pakistan Refinery Limited and Air Link Communication Limited (collectively referred to as the “Acquirers”) to acquire 77.42 per cent shares and control of Shell Pakistan Limited,” reflecting their involvement in the transaction.

    Speaking to Reuters, Airlink CEO Muzzaffar Hayat Piracha confirmed that the acquisition is a joint venture between Pakistan Refinery Limited and Airlink. However, the specific details regarding the shareholding distribution between Airlink and Pakistan Refinery Limited will be disclosed at a later stage, as stated by Piracha.

    For Airlink, entering the petroleum business aligns with its strategic objective of diversification. Airlink, primarily known as a smartphone distributor, manufacturer, and retailer, views this expansion as a progressive step.

    Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL), which operates as one of the five refineries in Pakistan and functions as a subsidiary of Pakistan State Oil Company Limited, did not provide an immediate response to the request for comment.

    Shell Pakistan faced financial setbacks in 2022 due to fluctuations in exchange rates, the devaluation of the Pakistani rupee, and unsettled receivables. These challenges were further compounded by the ongoing financial crisis and economic slowdown experienced by the country.

  • Suspect handed over to police by SHC for murdering his teenager wife

    Suspect handed over to police by SHC for murdering his teenager wife

    Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday rejected a suspect’s plea for pre-arrest bail in a case pertaining to the murder of his teenaged wife.

    He was handed over to the police.

    In an Instagram post, Pakistani civil rights activist and lawyer Mohammad Jibran Nasir shared that the suspect Hassan is finally in police custody almost a year after brutally murdering 19-year-old Hifza. The suspect strangled his wife and then hung her body by the ceiling fan to make it look like suicide.

    Nasir further stated that two days before her murder, Hifza on a recorded phone call, complained to her brother-in-law about being subjected to sexual violence, beatings and abuse by the suspect.

    The suspect runs a madrassah, along with his father who is co-accused in the murder case. The lawyer pinpointed that they lived in the upper portion of the madrassah where the murder was committed.

    Nasir admired the efforts made by the victim’s mother Farzana, saying it was her struggle for justice that led to the culprit’s arrest.

    In the video posted by him, police can be seen taking the suspect away while the mother of the victim tells him that he is an imposter not a mullah, “I had married my daughter to you because of your religious status, but you are a phony.” In response, the suspect threatened her that “You will be next.”

  • PTI should also be taken into confidence over electoral reforms: Shah Mahmood Qureshi

    PTI should also be taken into confidence over electoral reforms: Shah Mahmood Qureshi

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said on Monday that his party was not being taken into confidence over electoral reforms, emphasizing that PTI is an important stakeholder.

    In a media talk, he said that “Section 9 of the Election Act 2017 is very vague.”
    Criticising the leading government coalition party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Qureshi said the party is suffering from instability.
    “The PTI chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has gotten relief from the courts despite the fact that the government is fabricating cases against him,” he said.
    Speaking on the matter of dissolving the National Assembly, Quershi remarked: “It seems that the government is leaning towards 90-day elections. However, the date of the election has to be been given by the Election Commission of Pakistan.”

  • FIA report reveals fake LLB students

    FIA report reveals fake LLB students

    Nearly 4000 students from affiliated law colleges of Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) in Multan are suspected of being “non-genuine”, according to a  Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) report.

    The FIA submitted the report to the Supreme Court on Monday, which disclosed that 3,997 individuals allegedly attempted to sit the LLB exam without ever attending classes.

    According to Dawn, the FIA, along with officials from the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the Higher Education Commission (HEC), constituted a joint investigation team (JIT) to question BZU officials and law college owners as ordered by the Supreme Court.

    The team examined BZU’s records and found that 3,997 students were suspected of being non-genuine. An additional 2,230 students are currently under investigation, but no adverse findings have been reported thus far.

    The JIT recommended taking legal action against the BZU officials and law colleges involved in the alleged fraud. It also called for improvements in the system of affiliating law colleges, registering students, collecting fees, and monitoring attendance to prevent future scams.

  • Orangi Town trolls Mayor of Karachi for claiming Jahangir Road storm water drainage has been completed

    Orangi Town trolls Mayor of Karachi for claiming Jahangir Road storm water drainage has been completed

    On Saturday, the Mayor of Karachi, Murtaza Wahab, published a tweet claiming that work on the storm water drain of Jahangir Road had been completed, and now contractors are beginning the construction phase of the road itself. 

    However, the tweet read that road work would not be finalised and that the storm water train would be ‘tested’ during the oncoming expected rain before a final binder takes place.

    It didn’t take long for the Orangi Town Twitter to clap back with its response: “It’s time to do the test, why is Murtaza bhai making a fool of the public? Now when this road sinks, you’ll say we were only testing it.” 

    Many Twitter users chimed in with similar opinions.

    One account tweeted, “Testing the drainage or [testing] public patience? This road has been in poor condition for ages. But now you have the plausible deniability, have to give it to you.”

    Another one added, “I hope the root of issue was solved or else it will be the same after a month just like at NIPA, where you posted pictures too.”

    Jahangir Road has for years been subject to terrible conditions, with poor drainage systems leading water to inundate the 1.5 kilometre long road, triggering terrible congestion as well as accidents. 

    Many residents complain that Jahangir Road is practically inundated the entire year, according to Geo News.

  • ‘I’m the one who wrote this, not you’: Shiraz Uppal calls out Aima Baig for misinformation

    ‘I’m the one who wrote this, not you’: Shiraz Uppal calls out Aima Baig for misinformation

    Aima Baig recently gave an interview to Dawn Images where she spoke about the creative process behind her new song ‘Funkari’. Speaking on how the the song was created, the singer revealed:

    “It took us like three years to make this song and I’m not joking, I’m not kidding… and the reason why because the song was made but I was too scared to let a solo single out. Because in these past six years of my career, I have never released a solo track on which I had worked on my own day and night. I had never made a song like this. This is the first track where three years ago during Ramzan we had started writing this song together. Shakeel bhai, may he rest in peace, this was the last song he had written with me ‘Funkari’ and then after that he died.”

    However, Pakistani singer and songwriter Shiraz Uppal took to Instagram to call out Baig for spreading misinformation, revealing that it was not Baig and Shakeel Sohail who wrote the song, but it was him, pointing out that Youtube credits mention him as the writer and composer of the song.

    Taking to Instagram stories, Uppal slammed Images and Aima Baig for misquoting and spreading misinformation

    “Recent statement given by Aima Baig to Dawn Images about the fact that she and (late) Shakeel Sohial has written a song Funkari, has been misquoted by her. She forgot to give due credit that already mentioned by Universal Music India in her youtube credits.”

    Uppal pointed out that the late lyricist passed away six months prior to when the song was written, and had only written ‘Faraq Faraq” for Aima:

    “Get your facts right lady. Shakeel Sohail passed away 6 months prior to writing this song and the last he co-wrote with me was another single for you named ‘Faraq Faraq’. So Funkari was written, composed and produced by me and you just came to sing it that only took three hours.

    Dear dawn_images,- kindly double check facts before posting false statements.”