Tag: Pakistan

  • ICC appoint Ex-PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan as General Manager Cricket

    ICC appoint Ex-PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan as General Manager Cricket

    Former Pakistan Cricket Board Chief Executive Wasim Khan has been appointed as the ICC General Manager – Cricket. The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the announcement on Friday.

    He will take over from Allardice who spent eight years in the role before being appointed as the ICC CEO. “I am honoured to be joining the ICC, I can’t await to get started and work in partnership with our Members to strengthen and grow our sport,” Khan said in an ICC statement.

    Khan began a three-year term with the PCB on February 1, 2019, but resigned as the board’s chief executive in September last year, four months prior to the end of his contract.

  • Had an excellent relationship with Nawaz Sharif: Former Afghan President hopes for good ties with Pakistan

    Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has expressed his hope for a cordial relationship with Pakistan under the administration of the newly-elected Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif.

    In an interview with BBC, Karzai said, “I can tell you that when I was in the last year of my office, I had an excellent relationship with Mian Nawaz Sharif, the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, who I found to be very willing to engage fruitfully with Afghanistan. I hope that Shehbaz Sharif [Nawaz’s brother] would follow the same path.”

    “Afghan people would respond to them very very positively. We do wish a good relationship with Pakistan.”

    Responding to the airstrikes [allegedly made by Pakistan] in bordering Khost province, the former president condemned the airstrikes and termed it clear violations of Afghan sovereignty.

    He called the recent attacks on Afghan education institutions as an “attack against Afghanistan’s efforts for educating its young, its peace and movement towards stability and progress.” Hamid Karzai emphasised the need for allowing girls above sixth grade to return to school.

    Hamid Karzai has served as the President of Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014. He still lives in the country under the the rule of Taliban who gained power in August 2021.

  • ‘Affects their behaviour’: Women University Swabi bans smartphones on campus

    ‘Affects their behaviour’: Women University Swabi bans smartphones on campus

    Students at the Women University Swabi (WUS) have been prohibited from using smartphones and tablets on campus, with a severe warning about disciplinary action and a fine in case of violation of the ban.

    As per a circular of the university, the copy of which is available with Dawn reads.: “It is notified for information of all the students that smartphones/touch screen mobiles or tablets will not be allowed on the premises of Women University Swabi with immediate effect.”

    “It has been observed that students extensively use social media applications during the university timings, which affects their education, behaviour and performance,” the circular noted.

    As per the circular, the authorities would initiate a stern disciplinary action against those students violating the ban including cellphones and tablets confiscation and a fine of Rs5,000.

    Deans and heads of all departments have been directed to relay the instructions to the students after the vice-chancellor of the university signed the notification.

  • US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar meets PM Shehbaz and Khan: Who is she?

    Democratic United States (US) Congresswoman Ilhan Abdullah Omar landed in Islamabad on Thursday for her first ever visit to Pakistan.

    Omar met Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and President Arif Alvi. It has been reported that during the meeting with the premier, Pakistan-US bilateral relations as well as regional situations were discussed.

    She also met the former PM Imran Khan and expressed her admiration on his work against Islamophobia globally.

    During her four-day-tour, she will explore Lahore and Azad Jammu and Kashmir to have a greater understanding of Pakistan’s cultural, social, political, and economic potential, the PM’s Office said.

    The visit has come at a time when the former PM was voted out after a series of allegations against the US.

    After living in a refugee camp for four years before applying for asylum in US, Ilhan Omar became first Somali American and one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress in 2018.

    She became a US citizen in 2000 at the age of 17 and in 2016 won a seat in the Minnesota House. In 2019, Omar assumed the office as the Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 60B district.

    Born in 1982, Omar grew up in a middle-class family. Half of Omar’s childhood saw the affects of Somalia’s civil war. When she was 8, her family fled the country and ended up living in a refugee camp in Kenya for four years. When she arrived, Omar couldn’t speak English.

    She is the first hijabi woman to legislate from the House floor. Omar’s arrival in Congress resulted in the lifting of a 181-year-old ban on head coverings on the House floor.

    According to several American websites, her decision to wear the hijab was influenced by the 9/11 terrorist attacks, as she wanted to signify her cultural identity.

    Omar has always supported Kashmiris in the Indian Occupied Kashmir.

    In 2019, right after the annexation of Kashmir by Indian PM Narendra Modi, in a tweet, she said, “We should be calling for an immediate restoration of communication; respect for human rights, democratic norms, and religious freedom; and de-escalation in Kashmir.” She also urged international forums to take action.

  • Pakistani artist Shehzil Malik’s artwork makes it to ‘Ms Marvel’

    Pakistani artist Shehzil Malik’s artwork makes it to ‘Ms Marvel’

    Pakistani Digital Artist and Illustrator Shehzil Malik has made it to Ms Marvel. Shehzil’s artwork was included in one of the posters of Disney’s forthcoming biggie Ms Marvel.

    Shezil, took to her Twitter handle to re-share her artwork. “Yes, that is my art in the poster by @Marvel to represent Ms Marvel’s Muslim/ Pakistani-American heritage! Excited to see it all come together!.” she wrote in a tweet.

    Marvel released the first trailer for Ms. Marvel in March 2022. This story will begin streaming on Disney+ on June 8. Marvel’s first Pakistani Muslim woman superhero will be played by Iman Vellani. She will take on the role of Kamala Khan, a Pakistani-American teen based in New Jersey. 

    The series also star Pakistani hearthrob Fawad Khan.

  • Activist Jibran Nasir shares horrific details of Nazim Jokhio’s postmortem report

    Activist Jibran Nasir shares horrific details of Nazim Jokhio’s postmortem report

    Trigger Warning: violence

    Lawyer and Activist Muhammad Jibran Nasir has shared horrific details about the postmortem examination of Nazim Jokhio, who was found murdered at the farmhouse of a PPP lawmaker in Malir area of Karachi in November last.

    As per the postmortem report, there were “multiple bruises seen all over the face of the slain journalist ”. There were also “multiple abrasions, reddish in colour, seen all over the face”, the report read. It added that both eyes were found “swollen with deep bruises”.

    Furthermore, the post-mortem examination showed deep bruises over the lower lip and multiple bruises over “one aspect of the chest”.

    Additionally, the report states that both hands were found “swollen with deep bruising”.

    On Tuesday, civil society activists staged a demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club (KPC) to seek justice for Nazim Jokhio.

    What happened?

    Nazim Jokhiowho posted video of foreigners hunting Houbara bustard in Thatta district on social media was found dead in Karachi’s Malir district in November 2-21.

    A few days before his death, Jokhio had stopped a car with a foreign registration number plate and asked the people sitting inside the vehicle why they had blocked the road and what were they doing there. Jhokio filmed the entire episode, in which a passenger sitting next to the driving seat is seen stepping out of the car and snatching his phone.

    In another video, Nazim said he had been tortured and threatened over the video he shot of the Arab guests of some influential persons.

    The police recovered Nazim Jhokio’s dead body from Memon Goth in Malir and got his postmortem conducted at a hospital. The police then registered a murder case against Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MPA Jam Awais, Niaz Salar, and others.

    Earlier this month, the names of 13 accused persons including Pakistan People’s Party MNA Jam Abdul Karim and his brother MPA Jam Owais, were removed from the charge sheet of Nazim Jokhio murder case submitted in the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) .

    The charge sheet was submitted in the trial court following instructions by the Sindh High Court. The investigation officer had informed the high court that the charge sheet of the case was pending with prosecutor general office for the past couple of months due to its scrutiny.

  • Pakistanis can now stay for 60 days in Dubai on a tourist visa

    United Arab Emirates (UAE) has now allowed Pakistanis to stay for 60 days on a tourist visa as a standard policy from September. It will facilitate people who intend to stay for a long break in the country.

    The country also provides another visa type for job seekers that is called ‘ a job exploration entry visa ‘ which allows people to explore job opportunities in the region.

    The UAE government media office said, “Major improvements include facilitating the entry requirements for all visa types, offering flexible visa durations that meet the needs of the visitors and the purpose of the visit,” will be implemented.

    “In addition, all entry visas are available for single or multiple entry, can be renewed for similar periods, and are valid for 60 days from their issuance date.”

    In the past, UAE had a standard 30-days visa on arrival for many nations including Britain, America, and Australia. People who overstayed were given a nine-day grace period to return to their countries. Otherwise, they were subjected to fines that amounted to 200 dirhams for the first day and 100 dirhams for each consecutive day.

    Nations that do not have a visa on arrival policy such as India and Pakistan have to arrange for a visa through a travel agency before arrival in the UAE.

  • ‘Our relationship with Pakistan has been a vital one’: US

    ‘Our relationship with Pakistan has been a vital one’: US

    United States Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price said that his country wants to work closely with the newly-formed government of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on regional and international issues and termed the US-Pakistan relationship as a “vital one”.

    In a press briefing, he said: “For almost 75 years our relationship with Pakistan has been a vital one.” “We look forward to continuing that work with the new government in Pakistan across regional and international issues. This is work that has the potential to promote peace and prosperity in Pakistan and throughout the region.”

    Price added that the US viewed Pakistan as an “important stakeholder and partner” with whom the country is engaging to bring about a stable and secure Afghanistan.

    The statement is of great significance for bilateral relations as it has come after a series of allegations by Shehbaz’s predecessor Imran Khan. He had repeatedly blamed the US for backing the joint Opposition to oust him from power through a no-trust motion. Khan also came forward with a threatening letter that he claims is from the US.

    It is pertinent to mention that since Biden came into power and the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, US-Pakistan relations have been standing on the edge of a precipice.

    Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Shehbaz Sharif on becoming the new Prime Minister of Pakistan and vowed to continue cooperation with the new government.

  • Olympian Talha Talib writes to weightlifting federation after positive dope test

    Olympian weightlifter Talha Talib has written a letter to the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation (PWF) after his dope test was found to be positive.

    In his letter to PWF, Talha wrote: “he had no idea about the presence of a prohibited substance in his body,” stating that he would “never even think of violating doping rules.”

    He further said: “he could have made an unintentional mistake, which could be due to lack of knowledge, and for that, he tenders apology to everyone ”.

    On April 8, Talha Talib failed to get a negative result of the dope test on which he got banned from taking part in the Birmingham Commonwealth games and the Olympics.

    Prior to this, Talha Talib won the country’s first-ever medal at the World Weightlifting Championship last year in Uzbekistan by winning a Bronze in the snatch event in the 67kg category. He has come into the limelight when he missed two points to get a medal for Pakistan in the last Olympics. 

  • Fact check: Did Judge Nasira Iqbal write a statement in favour of Imran Khan?

    Fact check: Did Judge Nasira Iqbal write a statement in favour of Imran Khan?

    Claim: Justice (R) Nasira Iqbal made a statement in favor of Imran Khan, validating his conspiracy theory

    Fact: It was a doctored statement that Nasira Iqbal denied having ever made

    A message attributed to Justice (retd) Nasira Javed Iqbal is being widely shared on Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp.

    “I will tell you what crime you committed Dear IK. I have been asking why IK had to be removed immediately rather than wait for 16 months to complete the term. So here is the answer,” says the message, which then goes on to state that there was a conspiracy to oust Khan because he was taking measures that would have made Pakistan “come out of slavery” and thus the United States (US) was left with no choice but to remove him from power.

    When asked by anchorperson Abdullah Sultan on Geo News if the message being circulated was indeed written by her or reflect her views, Justice Nasira denied this and said it was a fake message being falsely attributed to her.

    “I am not on social media. I don’t subscribe to Facebook. I have not given any statement. I don’t like giving political statements in any case. I don’t know who these troublemakers are who have put out something in my name. And why do they use Allam Iqbal’s name? This is quite inappropriate. Whether Imran Khan is right or wrong does not concern me,” said Justice Nasira Javed Iqbal.

    Verdict: FALSE