Tag: Pakistan

  • Maryam Nawaz to unmask Khan’s handlers next week: report

    Maryam Nawaz to unmask Khan’s handlers next week: report

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President and chief organiser Maryam Nawaz will unveil the identities of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s local and international handlers next week. 

    According to media reports, Maryam Nawaz will address a rally in Kasur on Monday, where she will reveal the facts.

    Earlier, addressing a PML-N workers’ convention in Rawalpindi, Maryam said that certain people were still supporting Khan as he did not appear before courts while hearings against him were being delayed.

    She said she was not talking about honest judges but those who were part of the Lt General (retd) Faiz Hameed legacy.

    Maryam said that while Khan could go to Rawalpindi for his party’s gathering with his injured leg, he “cannot appear before the court”.

    While addressing the crowd during her party’s convention in Gujranwala, Maryam claimed that the “facilitators” still wanted to save a person [Imran Khan] who had “already drowned”. 

    “I want to ask the facilitators why they want to save a person because of whom the country’s fate has sunk. That person drowned himself, but why are you people bent on [losing] your jobs?” she said.

  • Shaniera Akram opens up about first acting experience in ‘Money Back Guarentee’

    Australian-born philanthropist Shaniera Akram is making her film debut with ‘Money Back Guarentee’ which also stars her husband Wasim Akram and Fawad Khan as the main leads. The supporting cast of the movie include Ayesha Omar, Javed Sheikh, Gohar Rasheed among others.

    Akram opened up about why she chose to act in the film, revealing that the director Faisal Qureshi had reached out to her and her husband with the script:

    ‘The director of the film reached out to me and Wasim about whether we would like to take part in his film, and then when he sent us the script, I found it to be incredibly funny and excellent. After that, we both agreed to take part in the project.”

    Akram also talked about the kind of role she would be playing in ‘Money Back Guarentee’:

    “I have a neutral character in this film. I play an American woman who, along with some other Americans, comes to Pakistan… I am not allowed to talk about my role in the film, but I had a lot of fun playing this part.”

    Akram revealed that she loved acting and would like to do more films in the future, as well as write stories for Pakistani cinemas:

    “I will definately keep on acting in the future because i loved this role, and I enjoy performing in front of the camera. I think i would love to play more challenging roles ahead. I would like to do more roles where speaking Urdu is a requirement, I have a really good memory so I can memorize dialogues and speak them in a better manner. I would need to take guidance from a coach as well…I would love to write a few stories, I have a few amazing ideas for Pakistani cinemas. But I would love to act in a role which would reflect my experience of staying in Pakistan, especially when I came to this country for the first time. I think this would be quite an interesting.”

    Akram revealed she was nervous about how Pakistani audiences would respond to seeing her on the screen, adding:

    “I’m not sure if Pakistani audiences would be willing to see me on television screens. I can only find out after they watch me in my first film.”

    Listen to the complete interview below:

  • ‘Celebrate artists while they are alive’; Yasir Hussain on Qavi Khan’s posthumous Nishan-e-Imtiaz

    ‘Celebrate artists while they are alive’; Yasir Hussain on Qavi Khan’s posthumous Nishan-e-Imtiaz

    Actor Yasir Hussain has talked about the recent posthumous Nishan-e-Imtiaz awarded to Qavi Khan, who passed away in March this year after a prolonged illness.

    Hussain shared a screenshot of the award on Instagram and quoted lines from the celebrated poem ‘Hamesha Dair Kardeta Hoon’ by Muneer Niazi.

    He also write that the Pakistani government should celebrate their actors while they are alive and acknowledge their contributions to the industry:

    “You came late, but was necessary to happen. Celebrate the actors who are above 50 and acknowledge the contributions they have made. What will you do with keeping them to yourself?”

  • ‘Ensure Punjab, KP polls to avoid contempt of court’: President tells PM to safeguard rights of citizen

    ‘Ensure Punjab, KP polls to avoid contempt of court’: President tells PM to safeguard rights of citizen

    President Dr Arif Alvi in a letter written to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, has urged him to ensure the implementation of Supreme Court’s orders about the elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

    Alvi in his letter emphasised that all relevant executive authorities of the federal and provincial governments should be directed to refrain from abuse of human rights and assist the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold the election in two provinces within the constitutional time-frame, in compliance of orders of the apex court, to avoid further complications, including contempt of court.

    The president said that the prime minister, being head of the government, was responsible for safeguarding human rights as well as the fundamental rights of every citizen of Pakistan as enshrined in the Constitution.

    President Alvi maintained that elections of provincial assemblies, in case of their dissolution under Article 105 or Article 112, were required to be held within 90 days under Article 224 (2) of the Constitution.

    The top court in its order dated March 1, had directed the electoral watchdog to propose date(s) to the president for holding the poll within 90 days or on a date that deviates to the barest minimum from the aforesaid deadline, he added.

    The president said that KP Governor Haji Ghulam Ali was also directed by the SC to appoint a date for holding the general election for the provincial assembly as per the time frame.

    “Subsequently, ECP had proposed holding of general elections between 30th April – 7th May, 2023 and general elections for the Provincial Assembly of Punjab were announced to be held on 30th April, 2023 and the same was notified by the ECP,” read the letter.

  • Afghanistan hails maiden T20 win against Pakistan

    Afghanistan hails maiden T20 win against Pakistan

    Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has shown concerns over the top order batters of his team even after a maiden win against Pakistan in the series opener T20 on Friday night in Sharjah.

    Rashid said that their top order needs to improve their strategy for the upcoming 50 overs World Cup.

    Rashid and his teammates won their maiden T20 by thrashing a new-look Pakistani team, which was missing most of its stars who had opted to rest after the conclusion of a hectic Pakistan Super League.

    They restricted the young Pakistan side, led by Shadab Khan, to 92-9 and chased down the target with 13 balls to spare with Mohammad Nabi making an unbeaten 38 in the low-scoring contest to go with his two wickets with the ball.

    In the post-match conversation, Rashid said that it was his dream to beat Pakistan and it’s a pleasure to win against them. “We always lost against them previously, sometimes with a very low margin,” the Afghan captain said.

    “Happy for the win, and we hope to continue the momentum,” he stated.

    It was not an easy chase though as Afghanistan slumped to 27-3 before Nabi rescued them.

    Rashid said that their top order needed to perform better in the ongoing three-match series and maintain form heading into the ODI World Cup in October-November.

    “We need to improve not just for this series but as we get to the World Cup,” Rashid said.

    “From now on, we need to put effort day by day and game by game, so that by the end of the year, when we go for the World Cup, we’ll have a fully prepared squad.”

    The second T20 is scheduled for Sunday.

  • ‘Whether I am in jail or not, party will sweep elections’: Imran Khan

    ‘Whether I am in jail or not, party will sweep elections’: Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has claimed that whether he is in jail or not, his party will “sweep” the elections.

    The former prime minister said he does not know if he will end up getting disqualified or not, but stressed that it “doesn’t matter” because he believes his party has a popularity wave that is “unprecedented” in Pakistan’s history. He made these remarks in a chat with American media group National Public Radio (NPR).

    “What is happening is that the government is petrified of elections. They’re scared that we’re going to win the elections. Therefore, they are trying everything to get me out of the way, including assassination, because I survived an assassination attempt – [and am] very lucky to be alive,” Khan told NPR.

    Speaking with Steve Inskeep, Khan said that in his tenure, there was maximum media freedom.

    “Steve, my three and a half years were the most liberal three and a half years in our history. I mean, the – we never interfered with the judiciary, which was always the case in the past. We never interfered with the media. The only time there were problems with the media was not because of us, because of the army, because of the army establishment,” Khan responded.

    Talking about ‘rule of law’ Khan said that it is his “firm belief” that because he’s been all over the world as a professional international sportsman, the difference between rich countries and poor countries is not lack of resources, but rule of law. 

    “Countries that have rule of law prosper, countries that don’t have rule of law become banana republics. So our fight in Pakistan is to bring the powerful elite under the law,” he said.

  • Half of Lahore sealed ahead of PTI’s Minar-e-Pakistan jalsa

    Punjab authorities have blocked several roads in Lahore including entry and exit points of the city ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s jalsa in Minar-e-Pakistan, set to be held today (Saturday) at 9pm.

    With the help of containers and trucks, the roads have been blocked. According to details, police have also placed barricades on major Lahore roads including Ravi Bridge and Thokar Niaz Baig, the two major entry and exit points which lead to Minar-e-Pakistan.

    In a tweet, City Traffic Police Lahore has given details about the closed roads and advised residents to use alternative routes.

    In the early hours of Saturday, PTI Chairman Imran Khan called on his supporters in Lahore to attend the jalsa after Taraweeh prayers which he believes will “break all records”. 

    “Everyone must assert their right as people of a free nation that won its independence and come to Minar-e- Pakistan,” he added. 

    Earlier, the government gave a green signal to PTI to hold its powershow, however, the closure of roads has created problems for residents.

  • Weekly inflation jumps over 46% as wheat flour prices reach all-time high in Pakistan

    Weekly inflation jumps over 46% as wheat flour prices reach all-time high in Pakistan

    The price of wheat flour has hit an all-time high, and this has caused weekly inflation to surge by 1.80 per cent week-on-week and 46.65 per cent year-on-year.

    The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics has attributed this rise in the sensitive price indicator to the increase in prices of several items, including wheat flour, tomatoes, potatoes, and bananas, among others. On the other hand, the PBS has noted a decrease in the prices of chicken, chilli powder, and LPG, among others.

    The increase in the price of wheat flour is due to the government’s change in subsidy mechanism, shifting from general subsidy to a targeted subsidy through the Benazir Income Support Programme. This change has led to a 42 per cent increase in the price of a 20kg bag of wheat flour, which has now reached an all-time high of Rs2,586. As we head into Ramadan, food prices are expected to continue rising, and the March 2023 CPI is expected to come in at 35.5 per cent on a YoY basis.

    Sticky inflation numbers, along with the stalled International Monetary Fund programme, have pushed the State Bank of Pakistan to raise its benchmark interest rate by 300 basis points to a 26-year high. The central bank is expected to raise the policy rate by another 100bps to 21 per cent in its upcoming monetary policy committee meeting on April 4. This rate hike is expected to spread massive poverty among the population.

  • Seasonal demand: Gold price increases by Rs5,600 to Rs207,500 per tola

    Seasonal demand: Gold price increases by Rs5,600 to Rs207,500 per tola

    On Friday, gold prices in Pakistan experienced a significant increase due to seasonal demand and the rush to purchase the precious metal during Ramadan and the upcoming wedding season.

    According to data from the All-Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association (APSGJA), the price of 24-carat gold surged by Rs5,600 per tola and Rs4,801 per 10 grammes to settle at Rs207,500 and Rs177,898, respectively.

    In recent sessions, the price of gold had decreased due to a decline in international prices and the appreciation of the Pakistani rupee against the US dollar. However, the bullion sparkled once again on Friday as local markets reopened following a day off for Pakistan Day.

    The price of gold in Pakistan is strongly influenced by the rupee-dollar parity since almost all of the country’s gold demand is met through imports, with traders following international prices to set rates. The metal is imported by jewelers against the US dollar and UAE dirham before its price is converted into rupees.

    The APSGJA also noted that the price of gold in Pakistan was Rs12,000 per tola cheaper than in the Dubai market, indicating that the Pakistani gold market was currently less expensive than the global market.

    Meanwhile, in the international market, gold prices continued to rise on Friday, buoyed by a drop in Treasury yields after the US Federal Reserve hinted at a possible end to its monetary tightening cycle. The per-ounce price settled at $1,997 after a significant increase of $58.

    The longer-term prospects for gold remain positive due to expectations of a pause in US interest rate hikes. In addition, silver prices in the domestic market rose by Rs20 per tola and Rs17.15 per 10 grammes, settling at Rs2,220 per tola and Rs1,903.29 per 10 grammes, respectively.

  • Pakistan will boycott Asia Cup if it’s deprived from hosting

    Pakistan will boycott Asia Cup if it’s deprived from hosting

    Pakistan has threatened to boycott Asia Cup 2023 if it is deprived of hosting duties.

    Dealing with an aggressive Indian campaign to put the tournament out of the host country’s reach, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has proposed to the Asian Cricket Council a hybrid model to ensure Indian team’s Participation.

    Under this proposed model, other teams would play their matches in Pakistan, while the Indiam team would play their matches in another country.
    The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to play in UAE due to concerns about hot weather and instead suggested Sri Lanka as a potential host country.

    Meanwhile, Pakistan put forward Oman as an alternative option. England was also be considered as a possible venue, although it is in another continent. Talks are progressing rapidly and a final schedule is expected to be released within the next 4-5 days.

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did not accept the suggestion of swapping the host country to another location. Taking a strong stance regarding the upcoming World Cup, PCB has insisted that if the Indian team does not participate in the Asia Cup, the Pakistan team will not travel to India for the World Cup.

    There have been discussions about potentially withdrawing Pakistan from hosting the Asia Cup and replacing it with Sri Lanka or Bangladesh, with the hope that in two years’ time, relations between India and Pakistan may have improved, and the Asia Cup could be held in Pakistan once again.
    However, in order to withdraw from hosting the Asia Cup and replacing it with Sri Lanka or Bangladesh, PCB officials strongly rejected the proposal and stated that if this were to be done, the event should be organized without Pakistan’s participation.

    Despite the potential financial loss, Pakistan emphasized the importance of taking care of the sentiments of their fans rather than the monetary aspect.

    Additionally, the country has already earned significant revenue from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and would not agree to a complete shift of the Asia Cup to a neutral venue.

    During a meeting, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressed their understanding of India’s concerns but urged for a solution to be found as important events such as the World Cup and Champions Trophy are approaching.