Tag: Pakistan

  • CII grants conditional permission to women performing Hajj without a mehram

    CII grants conditional permission to women performing Hajj without a mehram

    The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Wednesday gave conditional permission to women to perform Hajj without a mehram under certain conditions, a spokesperson for the body confirmed.

    Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs had sought the views of CII to determine whether or not women would be allowed to perform Hajj without a mehram (close-male relative) or male guardian.  

    In October 2022, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, announced that women all over the world would be able to perform Hajj and Umrah without a mehram or male guardian. The Ministry of Religious Affairs sought clarity on the matter from the CII.

    A CII spokesperson stated it is acceptable, citing the Islamic Jafri, Maliki and Shafi’i schools of thought, which state that women are permitted to perform Hajj without a mehram under Sharia law.

    The Council clarified that according to Hanafi and Hanbali fiqh, a woman is not obligated to perform Hajj if she does not have a mehram.

    However, the CII stressed the permission is dependent on certain conditions.

    What are the conditions?

    Firstly, a woman can only travel sans mehram if granted explicit permission by either her parents or husband. Secondly, if a group of women are to travel for Hajj together, the religious ministry is entitled to a thorough investigation to ensure the group is fit to embark on the pilgrimage.

    The CII spokesperson did note that if a woman wanted to solo travel for Hajj and Umrah, and she did not feel insecure while traveling, she had the right to go (of course dependent on her parents’/husband’s permission).

    Writer and former advisor to the Minister of Hajj, Faten Ibrahim Hussein, praised the new ruling. According to him, allowing women to perform Umrah without a mehram makes the pilgrimage more attainable, as many come from difficult social situations and may not find a mehram.

  • Cyclone Biporjoy: Everything you need to know about its name

    Cyclone Biporjoy: Everything you need to know about its name

    Cyclone Biporjoy is expected to make landfall on the Arabian Sea coastal belt today (Thursday). Authorities in both Pakistan and India are on high alert to avoid any disaster.

    The name of the cyclone has left many curious. The name ‘Biparjoy’ was coined by Bangladesh. It means disaster or calamity in Bengali.

    Why is it important to name cyclones?

    The reasoning behind naming cyclones is pretty simple. The storm is either given a code or a name, and it’s simpler to remember a name than a string of letters, numbers, or technical terminology.

    Who decides the name of the cyclones?

    The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) maintains rotating lists of names, which are appropriate for each tropical cyclone basin.
    As a common rule, cyclones formed in different ocean basins across the world are named by those areas, regional specialised meteorological centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs).

  • Female CJ of Peshawar High Court elevated to Supreme Court

    Female CJ of Peshawar High Court elevated to Supreme Court

    The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) took the united decision on Wednesday of elevating Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Mussarat Hilali to the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The decision was taken in the Council’s meeting in Islamabad, chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Atta Bandial.

    Earlier, the next Chief Justice, Qazi Faez Isa, suggested her name for elevation and afterwards, Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandial also agreed to the nomination of Justice Hilali.
    She will be the second woman judge of the Supreme Court after Justice Ayesha Malik who was appointed in January 2022 to the apex court. Mussarat Hilali is the first female Chief Justice of PHC. She is the only woman on the bench since 2013.
    Justice Hilali also holds the honour of getting elected as the first woman executive member of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) from 2007-2009.

  • Adil Raja detained in London

    Adil Raja detained in London

    YouTuber Major (retd) Adil Raja has been detained by the London police, Geo has reported.

    It is still not clear on what charges Raja is being held. However, it is pertinent to mention here that a case was registered against him two days ago at Ramna Police Station in Islamabad under the charges of counterterrorism and treason on the request of Muhammad Islam, a resident of the capital city.

    Raja’s attorney Mehtab Aziz told Geo News that he hasn’t been able to reach his client since the past 24 hours.

    Raja was known for running a YouTube channel named ‘Soldier Speaks’. He got famous earlier this year in January when he claimed that some Pakistani actresses and models were working in cahoots with General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and former ISI chief General Faiz Hameed to trap politicians.

    Raja has been accused by his detractors of peddling fake news and sensationalism.

  • Beware, Biparjoy: our celebs are armed with safety tips and they’re not afraid to use them

    Reports are coming in that 62,000 people have been evacuated from the country’s coastal line, according to Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman, and 75 relief camps have been set up at schools and colleges, according to Samaa.

    Celebrities and public figures are taking to social media to send helpful advice and prayers to those who could be affected by the natural disaster, as well as encouraging followers on social media to not listen to misinformation while stocking up on all the necessary things they need incase of emergency.

    Veteran actress Bushra Ansari shared a video of the sea outside her apartment to disseminate the misinformation that the storm had already reached Karachi, and sent her prayers to the resident’s of this city

    Philanthropist and actress Shaniera Akram urged her followers to help the ones living along the coast and whose lifestyle could be harmed due to the floods.

    Founder of ‘Something Haute’ Amina Haider Isani encouraged all her followers to bring their pets inside to a safer enclosure

    Actor Adnan Siddiqui sent well wishes to the people of both Pakistan and India, and prayed that the cyclone passes away soon.

    Actress Mishi Khan urged her followers to keep an emergency bag with them which included medicines, valuables, and cash etc, and to also remain in contact with friends and family members.

    There is no harm in finding some humor in dark times, like actress Ushna Shah can as she makes a funny quip about boarding a plane while a cyclone looms over Karachi

    “My flight to Karachi is taking off and there is a Cyclone warning there. I just want my husband to know that God forbid if the plane crashes & I don’t make it, I hope he finds happiness with someone new one day.. and I hope he knows she will never be as awesome as me. He will have settled. (It’s really sad that I have to give this disclaimer but I do: this is a joke).”

  • Request for including Imran Khan in Arshad Sharif’s Murder Case declared inadmissible

    Request for including Imran Khan in Arshad Sharif’s Murder Case declared inadmissible

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) has discarded the petition of slain journalist Arshad Sharif’s mother to add Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, head of ARY Salman Iqbal, former minister Murad Saeed, former minister Faisal Vawda and senior journalist Imran Riaz Khan to the investigation.

    The Supreme Court stated that the request of involving these persons can be made to Joint Investigation Team (JIT) instead.

    The Supreme Court has issued a written order, stating that the lawyer of Arshad Sharif’s mother had requested the court to conduct an investigation involving the aforementioned five people.
    The court dismissed the application, declaring it inadmissible and further stated that the request can be made to the JIT.
    The petition submitted by the lawyer also stated that it is a request to Supreme Court to order the chief of JIT to include these five persons in the investigation.

  • TikToker Sundal Khattak taken into custody over Hareem Shah nudes case

    TikToker Sundal Khattak taken into custody over Hareem Shah nudes case

    TikToker Sundal Khattak was arrested on Tuesday by the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) in a case pertaining to the Hareem Shah nudes leak scandal. An Islamabad court has also rejected her bail. Express Tribune reported that the court also rejected Khattak’s request to arrest Shah for defamation.

    Khattak has rejected claims that she leaked Shah’s videos, accusing the TikTok star of defamation on social media because of which she was receiving death threats from her followers. She was directed by the court to file an application with the local police station on the complaints.

    Hareem Shah’s nudes were leaked on the internet in March. She released a statement on social media saying that it was her close friends who had made these videos and were responsible for the leak, and she was going to take strict action against them. Shah named her close friends, Khattak and Ayesha Naz, as the ones responsible for this leak, as they would spend a lot of time with the TikTok star.

    Shah went on to reveal that she had filed a complaint with the FIA against Naz, but the organisation did not take any action against her, despite her doubts. “Ayesha had also informed my other friends that she will leak my videos,” added Shah. “But I don’t really care about these videos.”

    Speaking to Geo, her husband Bilal said he will not leave his wife in her hour of need, and revealed that he was furious at the actions of Khattak and Naz, as they had been allowed in their home and even shared their rooms

    Bilal said he was horrified that the women would do such a thing to their close friend. He said they had violated and smeared the character of a woman despite being women themselves.

    “In my eyes, they have done a very ungraceful thing,” the husband spoke: “After we land in Pakistan, we will take every legal action which can be taken.”

  • Gold price in Pakistan drops by more than Rs5,700 per tola in two days

    Gold price in Pakistan drops by more than Rs5,700 per tola in two days

    On Tuesday, the price of gold in Pakistan continued its downward trend, influenced by post-budget concerns and the impending cyclone Biparjoy, resulting in a deserted market. The All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association (APSGJA) provided data indicating a decrease in the price of gold (24 carats) by Rs4,000 per tola and Rs3,430 per 10 grams, reaching Rs221,500 and Rs189,900, respectively.

    Internationally, the price of gold experienced a $2 decline, settling at $1,961 per ounce. Over the past two sessions, the cumulative decline in the prices of this precious commodity amounted to Rs5,750. Moreover, it is worth noting that gold is priced Rs4,000 per tola lower in Pakistan compared to the Dubai market.

    The fluctuating gold rates in Pakistan can be attributed to ongoing political and economic uncertainty, high inflation, and currency depreciation. During such times, individuals tend to consider gold as a safe investment and a hedge. Tuesday’s market witnessed a significant decline due to various factors, including international rates, dollar depreciation, cyclone Biparjoy, and unfavorable weather conditions that deterred buyers from venturing out.

    Data from the association indicated that the price of silver remained unchanged at Rs2,650 per tola and Rs2,271.94 per 10 grams. Furthermore, the local currency experienced a decrease of Rs0.34 or 0.12 per cent against the US dollar, concluding the day at Rs287.97 in the interbank market.

  • ‘Modern-day Goebbels’: Shehbaz Sharif says Imran Khan has perfected art of lying

    ‘Modern-day Goebbels’: Shehbaz Sharif says Imran Khan has perfected art of lying

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has on Wednesday scathingly responded to a tweet by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan referring to the events of May 9, calling him a “modern-day Joseph Goebbels.”

    Goebbels was the chief propagandist for the Nazi Party, largely blamed for creating the narrative that led to World War II and the Holocaust.

    Imran Khan’s tweet, posted on Tuesday, said that the violent events that took place on May 9 were pre-planned.

    “If there is someone who deserves the title of modern-day Joseph Goebbels, chief propagandist for the German Nazi Party, is none other than Imran Khan. He is certainly perfecting the art of lying. How convenient of IK to forget how he incited his cult followers to violence over a span of one year! He called the Army and intelligence leadership names, exploited the people’s emotions through slogans of ‘Haqeeqi Azadi’ & use of religious symbols & even administered oath of ‘Jihad’ to them,” wrote PM in the tweet.

    “As the State symbols & military installations came under attack at the hands of his goons, he refused to condemn violence, what to speak of urging the arsonists to stand down. His speeches & Twitter posts have enough evidence to refute his claims & establish a build-up to the events of May 9. As the facts have established so far, the PTI under his watch purposefully deployed violence as a policy. He can lie through his teeth. History doesn’t,” he added

    The National Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution demanding action against May 9 rioters under the Army Act.

    The resolution was moved by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

    The resolution demanded that all individuals involved in May 9 riots must immediately face legal repercussions, adding that members of the same party and its leaders were separating themselves from May 9 events.

  • Use of Army Act against civilians: US urges Pakistan to respect democratic principles

    United States (US) State Department spokesman Matthew Miller on Tuesday urged Pakistani authorities to respect democratic principles and rule of law.

    “We are aware of the reports concerning civilians who will face military trials for their suspected involvement in the May 9th protest,” Miller told reporters

    He added that the authorities were in regular contact with Pakistan’s officials at the highest level for human rights, democracy, projection of journalists and rule of law, for these were priorities for the United States.

    While answering a question about Pakistan buying crude oil from Russia, Miller said that we have been very clear that each country has to make its own choices based on its own circumstances.

    The National Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution demanding action against May 9 rioters under the Army Act.
    The resolution was moved by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

    The resolution demanded that all individuals involved in May 9 riots must immediately face legal repercussions, adding that members of the same party and its leaders were separating themselves from May 9 events.