Tag: Pakistan

  • Child, 8, dies in hospital after brutal rape

    Child, 8, dies in hospital after brutal rape

    An eight-year-old boy, sexually assaulted by his madrassa teacher in the Raiwand area of Lahore, has died after struggling for life in the hospital.
    According to the police, Qari Rizwan allegedly raped eight-year-old Samar and threw the child down from a roof to hide the crime. The assault happened a few days ago.

    An FIR was filed on behalf of the child’s father, where he stated that his son Samar was studying in a madrassa. On June 7, Qari Rizwan brutalized the child and also tortured him. His right arm was broken. The man took the child to the roof and threw him from there, causing severe brain injuries.
    The police registered a case and arrested Qari Rizwan. During the investigation, the accused confessed to his crime.

  • Fourth consecutive decline: Gold price drops by Rs1,800 to Rs218,700 per tola

    Fourth consecutive decline: Gold price drops by Rs1,800 to Rs218,700 per tola

    In line with the reduction in international rates, the per tola gold price in Pakistan experienced a significant decline of Rs1,800 on Wednesday. This marks the fourth consecutive day of falling prices for the precious metal.

    The All-Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association (APSGJA) released data indicating that the price of 24-carat gold decreased by Rs1,800 per tola and Rs1,543 per 10 grammes, settling at Rs218,700 and Rs187,500, respectively.

    Internationally, the price of gold plummeted by $17, reaching $1,934 per ounce in today’s market. Pakistan’s gold rate has exhibited volatility in recent times, largely due to ongoing political and economic uncertainty, high inflation, and currency depreciation. Amid such fluctuations, individuals often turn to gold as a safe investment and a hedge against market instability.

    While gold prices experienced a notable decline, the price of silver saw only nominal losses. Data shared by the APSGJA revealed that the price of silver fell by Rs50 per tola and Rs42.87 per 10 grammes, settling at Rs2,550 and Rs2,186.21, respectively.

    In other market developments, the local currency made nominal gains against the dollar, increasing by Rs0.24 or 0.08 per cent. The interbank market witnessed the closing exchange rate of Rs286.98 on Tuesday.

    The recent downward trend in gold prices in Pakistan reflects the influence of international market conditions. Despite these fluctuations, gold remains a sought-after investment during times of economic and political uncertainty, providing individuals with a secure and reliable asset.

  • Army Chief to be member of govt’s Special Investment Council

    Army Chief to be member of govt’s Special Investment Council

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) will be a member of the government’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) tasked to find untapped potential and attract foreign investment during the economic crisis.

    The military will play a key role in SIFC as a coordinator and Army Chief will be the member of SIFC, Arab News has reported.
    Pakistan is facing one of its worst economic crisis due to delay in securing funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) while inflation reached historic highs.

    “Employing a whole-of-the-the-government approach, the coalition government has decided to set up a Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) with a mandate to frame economic policies that ensure policy predictability, continuity & effective implementation to revive the economy,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Twitter.

    The main purpose of the plan is utilizing Pakistan’s untapped potential in major industries including energy, minerals and mining, agriculture and livestock, IT and defense production through both domestic development and foreign investments.
    The military will have a significant presence in SIFC, with the army chief as a member of its apex committee. The director general of the body’s implementation committee will also be an army official.
    Shehbaz Sharif said that the key goal of SIFC is attracting investment from friendly countries. He further added that “collective wisdom” is essential to tackle economic challenges.

  • Pakistani Army does not have constitutional and legal authority to be involved in commercial actives, rules LHC

    Pakistani Army does not have constitutional and legal authority to be involved in commercial actives, rules LHC

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) has declared the agreement between the Pakistani Army and the caretaker Punjab government regarding the transfer of one million acres of land on lease as unconstitutional, Urdu News has reported.

    The court has ordered the province’s Board of Revenue to remove the ownership of the land from the military and transfer it back to the government, and submit a report to the court within 15 days.

    In a detailed judgment, Justice Abid Hussain Chatha of the LHC also stated that the Pakistani Army does not have constitutional and legal authority to be involved in corporate farming and similar activities.

    The detailed decision outlines the background of the agreement between the Punjab government and the military, which started in 2021, where the government was leasing 10 lac acres of land to the army for a period of twenty years.

    The military had proposed to engage in corporate farming on this land in order to “fulfill the country’s food necessities.” The court has detailed in its judgment regarding the progress made in relation to this proposal, stating that in April 2022, a recommendation was made to present this deal for discussion on the floor of the Punjab Assembly.
    However, when the present government came into power, they swiftly completed the action with great speed and allocated one million acres of land to the military.
    The Public Interest Litigation Association, an organisation comprising several reputable lawyers, challenged the allocation in the High Court. During the first hearing, the court issued a stay order, halting the military from utilizing the land.

    However, after several months, the arguments of both parties were heard.
    The court has now ruled that the caretaker government does not have the constitutional and legal right to make such decisions.

  • Justice Qazi Faez Isa will be the next CJP: Arif Alvi approves notification

    Justice Qazi Faez Isa will be the next CJP: Arif Alvi approves notification

    Justice Faez Isa will be the new Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) after a notification to that effect has been approved by the President of Pakistan, Arif Alvi.

    Justice Isa will assume the charge as the new Chief Justice on September 17, 2023, after the retirement of current CJP Umar Atta Bandial under Article 179 of the Constitution.

    The current head of the apex court, Justice Umar Atta Bandial, will reach the age of retirement on September 16, 2023.

    President Alvi will administer the oath to Justice Isa, making him the 29th senior judge to take the oath as Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP).

  • No Holi festival in universities anymore

    The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has banned Holi celebrations in educational institutes throughout the country, citing a deviation from the sociocultural values and Islamic identity of Pakistan. The notification regarding the ban was issued by HEC on Tuesday.

    According to the notification, students are prohibited from observing the festival to uphold sociocultural values.

    “While there is no denying the fact that cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity leads towards an inclusive and tolerant society, that profoundly respects all faiths and creeds; albeit it needs to be done so in a measured manner without going overboard. The students need to be apprised to be aware of the self-serving vested interests who use them for their own ends far from the altruistic critical thinking paradigm.”

    The decision comes a few days after Holi celebrations were held on June 12 by students at Quaid-i-Azam University. The notification, while referring to the event, said that “it has caused concern and has disadvantageously affected the country’s image.

  • Firdous Ashiq Awan lists out ‘Usman Buzdar ki corruption kay chand karnamy’

    Firdous Ashiq Awan lists out ‘Usman Buzdar ki corruption kay chand karnamy’

    Firdous Ashiq Awan, Central Information Secretary of the newly launched Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) has in a tweet accused former Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar of doing corruption during his tenure as CM.

    Awan has listed out Budzdar’s alleged involvement in the following corruption scandals:

    •          5 billion to Farah Gogi’s account

    •          Encroachment of 9 kanals on government land

    •          50 Crore fraud in Multan City Housing

    •          30 lakh per capita from the shopkeepers of Taunsa

    •          420 million in bribes in commissioner and deputy commissioner appointments

    Awan further said that more cases of Buzdar’s corruption will be revealed soon.

    Last week, Aleem Khan made startling revelations in a TV show about former Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Firdous Ashiq Awan has served as special assistant to the former CM Punjab. Buzdar and Awan both have left the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    Firdous Ashiq Awan left PTI on May 26, accusing Imran of using people like tissue papers, and later throwing them away. Usman Buzdar has also left PTI after the May 9 riots.

  • HumSabKiBenazir: Twitter remembers Benazir Bhutto Shaheed on her 70th Birthday

    HumSabKiBenazir: Twitter remembers Benazir Bhutto Shaheed on her 70th Birthday

    Former Prime Minister and Chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is being remembered today on her 70th birth anniversary.
    She was born on June 21, 1953 and passed away on December 27, 2007, at the age of 54.

    Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, the daughter of Benzair Bhutto, wrote in a tweet, “Shaheed Mohatarma Benazir Bhutto led Pakistan through its darkest hours, and her legacy can guide us out of darkness today.”

    PPP leaders, members and Twitter users are remembering the trailblazer on her on her 70th Birthday:

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  • ‘Don’t destroy a masterpiece’: Pakistani Twitter hits back after Bollywood decided to recreate Pasoori

    ‘Don’t destroy a masterpiece’: Pakistani Twitter hits back after Bollywood decided to recreate Pasoori

    Bollywood news outlets have announced that the massively popular Ali Sethi and Shae Gill hit ‘Pasoori’ is being remade for the upcoming film ‘Satyaprem Ka Katha’ which will star Kiara Advani and  Kartik Aaryan.

    Bollywood Hungama reports that a source close to the film said:

    The shoot will take place tomorrow and it will be shot in Mumbai over a period of two days. The set is being put up and the team is ready to unleash their final brahmastra in the release week. The song, Pasoori, is extremely popular in the digital world and the team is hoping to recreate the same magic.”

    Since this news broke out on Twitter, Pakistani fans have slammed Bollywood for plagiarising yet another brilliant single from Pakistani singers, because kya Nach Punjaban aap logon kay liye kaafi nahi tha?

    https://twitter.com/ShantanuNagar/status/1671173235650576385?s=20

    Some had to point out that Pakistani actors and singers are banned from Bollywood, but their songs can be misused this way.

    https://twitter.com/HypocriteAman__/status/1671169458285735937?s=20
  • Latif Khosa terminated for crossing ‘red line’

    Latif Khosa terminated for crossing ‘red line’

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Punjab president, Rana Farooq Saeed, has terminated party membership of former Governor of Punjab, Latif Khosa, over crossing what the party has dubbed a “red-line”.

    PPP Punjab president accused Khosa of blackmailing party leadership when his plea to appoint his son as Attorney-General of Pakistan (AGP) was denied.

    Rana Farooq Saeed, while addressing a press conference on Tuesday, said that Latif Khosa wanted to see his son Khurram Khosa as attorney-general, however, when his demand was not met due to certain reasons, he resorted to “blackmail”.
    “We don’t want Latif Khosa and his son to cross the red line of the party and Khurram should stop saying (unfounded) big things (against the party), otherwise, they will be paid back in the same coin,” he warned.

    Latif Khosa had said in a news conference at Lahore High Court on June 17 that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari should not be part of Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet.

    Separately, PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan and Sardar Latif Khosa met Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Atta Bandial on Tuesday to discuss important legal matters.

    On June 15, unidentified persons attacked the residence of Latif Khosa, in the Defense area of Lahore.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Monday visited Khosa’s residence demanding strict action against those involved in the attack.