Tag: Pakistan

  • Javed Latif demands punishment for those who launched ‘Chairman PTI’

    Federal Minister and senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Javed Latif, has demanded punishment for the individuals who launched project “PTI Chairman”, Express Urdu has reported.

    While talking to media personnel in Lahore, Javed Latif said that an institution initiating self-accountability sends a positive message, and other institutions should also follow the line.

    He further added that if the individuals who have launched this project [PTI] are not arrested and punished, a similar incident like May 9 could happen again.

    If the serving members can face a court-martial, then the retired officers should also held accountable, he opined.

    Latif further said that both the facilitators and masterminds of May 9 events, no matter how powerful they may be, should face punishment.

  • No Chinese journalist left in India after last one expelled

    No Chinese journalist left in India after last one expelled

    Freedom of expression in India is shrinking as the last remaining Chinese reporter has been expelled from New Delhi. The visa extension of the last Chinese reporter, who was associated with the Chinese official News agency Xinhua, was denied by Indian authorities last month.

    The expulsion marks the first instance in history that not a single Chinese journalist is present in India since 1980.

    Critics say that the action reflects that there is no space for journalists in Modi’s government.

    Indian authorities have been accused of taking such steps to hide cruelty against minorities like Muslims, Kashmiris and Dalits.

  • Public Accounts Committee summons religious affairs officials on lack of facilities for Hajj pilgrims

    Public Accounts Committee summons religious affairs officials on lack of facilities for Hajj pilgrims

    The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has summoned officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs on July 4, over lack of facilities provided to Pakistani Hajj pilgrims.

    Chairman Noor Alam Khan, while presiding over a PAC meeting, criticised the performance of Religious Affairs Minister Talha Mehmood, emphasising that being a minister requires effective performance, not just holding the position.

    Noor informed the committee that he had personally witnessed the plight of the pilgrims and had received videos and written complaints highlighting their difficulties.

    Noor Alam said that not a single complaint had been received during the tenure of the pervious minister, late Mufti Abdul Shakoor, who died in a car accident.

    “This year, the situation is totally messed up. The President and the Federal Minister Talha Mehmood have also gone for Hajj but pilgrims are suffering. The President and the Minister should see what the condition of the pilgrims is,” he added

  • PM extends greetings on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha to all Muslims

    PM extends greetings on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha to all Muslims

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that Eid-Ul-Azha is the symbol of sacrifice, equality and compassion.

    In a tweet posted from his official account, the Premier wrote that the occasion “fosters unity by reducing socio-economic inequalities and creates feelings of empathy and complete surrender before Allah Almighty”

    https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1673912422158172162?s=20

    He has also extended Eid-ul-Azha greetings to all Muslims and specifically overseas Pakistani, who are celebrating Eid today (Wednesday).

  • Jahangir Tareen will be PM if IPP wins upcoming election: Aleem Khan

    Jahangir Tareen will be PM if IPP wins upcoming election: Aleem Khan

    During an appearance on Express News programme Kal Tak, Aleem Khan, the president of newly established Istehkam-e-Pakistan (IPP) Party, has said that Jahangir Tareen would be their candidate for premiership in the next general election.

    “[We] will contest against PTI and PDM in the next election because people are against both these parties. IPP will not make seat adjustments with any party in the polls,” he revealed.

    Aleem also confirmed that he invited Asad Umar to join the party, adding that many lawmakers will join IPP after Eid.

    At present, IPP comprises of more than 100 former legislators and leaders of PTI.

    Tareen himself was once considered one of the key figures in PTI, largely credited for getting independent candidates to join the party in 2018, paving the way for the formation of a coalition government.

  • Will Pakistan secure IMF’s bailout? Decision expected within 48 hours

    Will Pakistan secure IMF’s bailout? Decision expected within 48 hours

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif engaged in a telephonic conversation with Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), on Tuesday.

    During the discussion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his optimistic outlook, anticipating that a decision regarding the bailout programme would be reached within the next day or two.

    In an official statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), it was highlighted that the premier and IMF MD delved into various matters pertaining to the IMF programme. The statement further indicated that the efforts of the finance minister and his team were duly acknowledged by the IMF MD.

    The statement continued to convey the Prime Minister’s expectation that the coordination efforts on finer details would culminate in an IMF decision in the coming days. Additionally, Shehbaz reiterated his commitment to achieving the shared goal of improving the economic situation through collaborative endeavors.

    Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with Georgieva during the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact in Paris, wherein he provided a comprehensive briefing on Pakistan’s economic outlook. The Prime Minister expressed hope that the critical funds would be disbursed as a result.

    Pakistan is currently engaged in a race against time to revive its halted bailout programme, which is set to conclude on June 30. Experts emphasise the significance of resuming the IMF bailout, which has been at a standstill since November of the previous year.

    The cash-strapped South Asian economy is grappling with a balance of payment crisis, making the expected funding of $1.1 billion from the international lender crucial. This funding would also pave the way for additional inflows from Pakistan’s multilateral and bilateral partners, effectively reducing the risks associated with a potential default, as per expert opinion.

  • Piracy, copyrights: How will Pakistan’s first music policy help musicians?

    Piracy, copyrights: How will Pakistan’s first music policy help musicians?

    Federal Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Marriyum Aurangzeb, has released a statement announcing that Pakistan’s first music policy is being designed to help boost the industry and address issues like copyrights, pirating as well as artist rights.

    According to Aaj news, Aurangzeb pointed out how Pakistani artists have suffered from theft of intellectual rights because of weak policy planning.

    “Since the 1970s, no policy parameters, including legislative and administrative, for the music industry have been introduced,” the PMLN politician lamented in a statement. “The new policy will fully protect the copyright, which [will] help compose quality music for masses.”

    Aurangzeb revealed that the music policy has been prepared according to international music law standards, and will address issues like piracy, copy rights as well as artists’ public performance, production , adaptation, duration and communication rights.

    The rights of Pakistani singers, song writers, composers and producers will fall under this policy as Aurangzeb said that all issues and demands of music stakeholders, especially copyrights will be resolved.

    Aurangzeb also stressed that the policy will work to protect classical musicians, as well as set up initiatives to promote more regional musicians by providing incentives. The policy will address how Pakistan’s musical legacy can be preserved as it is, “rich, being a unique combination of Sufi poetry, with classic and modern music”.

  • Trials of civilians have not started yet in military courts, Supreme Court told

    Trials of civilians have not started yet in military courts, Supreme Court told

    Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan confirmed on Tuesday that military trials of civilians had not started yet.
    The AGP gave the statement during the fourth hearing of the petitions filed against the cases of civilians in military trials.

    During Monday’s hearing, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial asked for reassurance from the AGP that no such trial will be tried until the case is heard in the court.

    The AGP confirmed that trials of civilians have not started yet.
    Earlier, Petitions against military trials were filed by former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Jawwad S. Khawaja, Aitzaz Ahsan, Karamat Ali, and former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

  • India agrees with Pakistan: Pasoori remake is terrible

    India agrees with Pakistan: Pasoori remake is terrible

    These last two days will probably go down in history as the only time Pakistan and India combined forces to take on the urgent matter of Bollywood taking up classics and destroying them.

    On Monday, T-Series released their own version of Coke Studio’s massive global hit ‘Pasoori’, giving credit solely to Ali Sethi, excluding Shae Gill and Xulfi even though they had an equal part to play in making the song what it is today.

    The new version is sung by Arijit Singh, and even though for Pakistanis it’s like kisi ne dil par pathar mara hai, across the border the verdict has been announced: they can’t feel the new version either.

    Jo bacha ab Pakistan Studies agay ja kar parhay ga, it wasn’t peace talks or Fawad Khan’s smolder that got India and Pakistan to unite, it was the utterly incompetent T-Series.

    It’s confusing for us as well

    Mubarakien maybe Pasoori can be called the song that finally united India and Pakistan together.

  • Twitter celebrates 11 years of actor Yumna Zaidi with some of her best performances

    Twitter celebrates 11 years of actor Yumna Zaidi with some of her best performances

    Today marks eleven years since actress Yumna Zaidi made her mark in the entertainment industry, breaking all the rules with her show-stopping talent and the ability to completely change pop culture with every powerful performance. In those years, her roles have ranged from a child prostitute learning to overcome her past to a headstrong woman with an ambition to serve in the army, and a fearless girl who disguises herself as a man to make a living for her family. In other words, every time she appears on screen, be prepared for a performance so mesmerizing that it will be seared on your memory.

    In celebration of this event, Zaidi’s fans on Twitter marked the occasion by highlighting their favorite performances in dramas.

    Tere Bin

    Hate the drama all you want, but give credit to Zaidi for bringing life to a powerful woman like Meerab, despite attempts by the writer and the show-runners to mold her into another bheegi bili. Yes, the story is cringe worthy and typical of the saas bahu dramas where a woman is abused, bullied by her family members, and she learns to forgive them all. But Zaidi is the only good part of the show with her Meerab, a feared headstrong character who openly challenges her husband, refuses to follow the traditions of her in-laws, and in doing so managed to make the show a bit more bearable.

    Bakhtawar

    How could we forget the drama that proved Yumna is not someone who will fade away after a few years? Very few actresses have taken the leap to challenge themselves to take on a project that challenges social norms, especially in a country like Pakistan. But Yumna did it so and delivered a performance that is to this day still revered by fans. She plays the independent and competitive Bakhtawar, a girl born in a working class family who flees to a new city after her uncle tries to marry her off. To make a living for her family, she cuts off her hair and takes on a boyish appearance to find work.

    Sinf-e-Ahan

    Yumna continued to prove that she was a thespian with this feminist drama, where she played a girl from a conservative family, destined to be married off quickly, but she defies all of them by joining the army, despite their doubts. Paired with equally wonderful performances from Syra Yousef, Kubra Khan and Sajal Aly, this is the drama we recommend to anyone who wishes to understand the lore surrounding Yumna Zaidi.