Tag: Pakistan

  • VIDEO: ‘Please keep your personal matters to yourself,’ journalist tells Gill after being called ‘second wife’

    Journalist Shahzad Iqbal has told Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s aide Dr Shahbaz Gill to “keep personal matters to himself” after the latter called Iqbal his “second wife” on live TV.

    As per the details, Gill, along with Dr Munir Baloch of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) besides businessman and ruling party loyalist Abdul Qadir, was talking to Iqbal on Geo News’ “Naya Pakistan” show when the premier’s aide was asked a question regarding Senate tickets.

    “Babar Yousafzai of your own party has accused Baloch of peddling money to be awarded a Senate ticket,” Iqbal said, to which Gill responded by saying it was a baseless allegation in absence of evidence.

    The anchor went on to say it would’ve been different had it been someone from the opposition leveling the accusations.

    “It is his [Yousafzai] right,” Gill said and accused Iqbal of being biased against the government, mentioning instances when the journalist hadn’t conducted shows on internal rifts during the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) regimes.

    This was followed by Iqbal taking Gill head-on and warning him against leveling accusations. “Just say you don’t want to answer if you don’t like the question. But don’t assume what I did or didn’t do.”

    “You fight and shout a lot…”

    “Because this isn’t the right behaviour…”

    “It feels like you’re my second wife who is upset with me for prioritising my first wife,” Gill said.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    “Please keep your personal matters to yourself,” Iqbal hit back.

    The two then went on to cut each other off.

    It merits a mention that PTI central parliamentary board, headed by PM Imran, has withdrawn the party ticket awarded to business tycoon Abdul Qadir in Balochistan for the Senate election after strong opposition from the PTI provincial leadership and zonal heads.

  • COVID-19: Pakistan begins registration of senior citizens for vaccination

    COVID-19: Pakistan begins registration of senior citizens for vaccination

    The Head of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) Asad Umar announced on Monday that the government has started registration for COVID-19 vaccination of citizens above 65. The vaccination drive for them will begin in March.

    “Pleased to announce that registration for getting COVID vaccine is now open for all citizens 65 and above,” wrote the minister on Twitter.

    Umar said those interested in getting themselves vaccinated can write down their CNIC number and send a message on 1166. 

    “InshAllah vaccinations for this age group will start in March,” he added.

    Read More – Here’s how you can register for COVID-19 vaccine in Pakistan

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister Taimur Jhagra praised the NCOC, SAPM on Health Dr Faisal Sultan and NCOC head Asad Umar for their efforts.

  • ‘!نہیں، عورت’

    ‘!نہیں، عورت’

    میری زندگی کا محدود تجربہ مجھے یہی بتاتا ہے کہ لفظ “نہیں” کہنا سب سے آسان کام ہے . دِل نہیں کر رہا ، میں نے نہیں جانا ، میں نے نہیں كھانا ، یہ نہیں ، وہ نہیں ، بس کہہ دیا نہ نہیں . بچہ جب بولنا سیکھتا ہے تو اماں ابا کے علاوہ “نو” فوراََ سیکھتا ہے . بچے پر تو پیار آتا ہی ہے لیکن یہی لفظ وقت گزرنے کے ساتھ اتنا تلخ ہوجائے گا اندازہ ہی نہیں ہو پاتا اور یہ تلخی صرف اِس سماج کی عورت ہی سمجھ سکتی ہے . عورت اپنی زندگی میں ہر رشتے سے اتنی بار نہیں سنتی ہے کہ اب مجھے لگتا ہے کہ اُردو لغت میں “نہیں” کی جگہ “عورت” کا لفظ بھی اِستعمال ہو سکتا ہے .

    یہ کپڑے نہیں پہننے سے لے کر ایسے نہیں بیٹھنے تک ، یہ نہیں کا لفظ مسلسل اک تلوار بن کر عورت پر لٹکا رہتا ہے . لیکن اصل فرق اِس “نہیں” کا تب نظر آیا جب گھر کے مرد حضرات بغیر اِجازَت کے گھر سے باہر نکل جاتے جبکہ مجھے اپنے دماغ میں اک پُورا مضمون باندھ کر اپنی سہیلیوں سے ملنے کی اِجازَت لینی پڑتی، اور جواب کیا ہوتا ؟ نہیں . یقین جانئے ہم عورتیں اِس نہیں پر صرف حیران نہیں بلکہ پریشان بھی ہوتی ہیں . کیونکہ یہ”نہیں” ایک سیکنڈ بھی ضائع کئے بغیر منہ سے نکلتا ہے . ایسے جیسے ہمارے والدین کے ڈی-این-اے میں بیٹیوں کے لیے “نہیں” شامل ہے اور وہ کچھ اور کہہ ہی نہیں سکتے . ہم عورتیں اکثر والداین سے اِس “نہیں” کی وجہ پوچھتی بھی ہیں . کبھی والدہ کہہ دیتی ہیں “بیٹا آپ کے ابو کو اچھا نہیں لگتا” ، کبھی وہ کہتی ہیں “یہ وقت نہیں ہے جانے کا” ، کبھی وہ کہتی ہیں “کیا کرنا ہے جا کر ؟ ” ، کبھی وہ کہتی ہیں “ابھی اس دن تو گئی تھیں” جو کہ زیادہ تر 2 مہینے پہلے کی ملاقات ہوتی ہے ، اور کبھی ان کے پاس کوئی جواب ہی نہیں ہوتا . کوئی وجہ نہیں ہوتی . اور سب سے زیادہ خوبصورت وجہ اِس “نہیں” کی ہوتی ہے “بیٹا شادی کے بعد خاوند کے ساتھ جانا” . اِس وجہ پر تو میں بالکل ہونقوں کی طرح گھورتی ہی رہ جاتی ہوں کہ زندگی کا کوئی بھروسہ نہیں ، کل ہے یا نہیں . اور آپ مجھے میرے خاوند کی اِجازَت کا انتظار کرنے کو کہہ رہی ہیں ؟

    اور اگر باخدا اِجازت مل جائے، تو عورت کو اپنی ہی دوست کا پُورا شجرہ نسب بتانا پڑتا ہے . دوست کہاں رہتی ہے ، کتنے بہن بھائی ہیں ، وہ کیوں نہیں آ سکتی ؟ ، تم ہی کیوں جاتی ہو ہر بار ؟ ، اور کون جا رہا ہے ، اور کوئی کیوں نہیں جا رہا وغیرہ . بس گھر کتنے رقبے پر بنا ہے اور کتنی گاڑیاں ہیں جیسے سوال ہی رہ جاتے ہیں . ان تفصیلات کے ساتھ ساتھ ، یہ بھی بتانا لازم ہے کہ دوست کے گھر کتنی دیر میں پہنچو گی ، کتنے گھنٹے بیٹھو گی ، اور واپس کتنے بجے آؤ گی . یہ تفصیلات فراہم کرتے کرتے وہ عورت اک عجیب احساس جرم کا شکار ہوجاتی ہے . ایسے لگنے لگتا ہے کہ جیسے دوست سے ملنے نہیں بلکہ بہت بڑا گناہ کرنے جا رہی ہو . ملنا سہیلی سے ہی ہوتا ہے لیکن لگتا ہے کہ شاید کسی نامناسب انسان سے ملاقات کرنے جارہی ہیں .

    جہاں مرد حضرات گھر میں محض اعلان کر کے روز ہی باہر نکل جاتے ہیں ، ہم خواتین ہفتے میں دوسری بار دوستوں سے ملنے کا ذکر کریں تو آگے سے جواب ملتا ہے “بیٹا آپ پِھر گھر سے باہر ہی رہیں . گھر کیوں آنا ہے ؟ ” . ہم لڑکیاں دِل ہی دِل میں دعا کرتی ہیں کے ملنے کا پروگرام ہی ختم ہوجائے . کوئی قدرتی آفت آ جائے یا ملک میں ایمرجنسی لگ جائے ، لیکن خدارا ! کوئی دوبارہ ملنے کا مت کہے !

    ٹویٹر پر اِس موضوع پر بات ہوئی تو ایک صاحب نے کہا “آپ اچھی طرح سے پوچھیں تو کیوں نہیں جانے دیں گے والدین ؟ ” اِس سے زیادہ اور اچھی طرح اِجازَت کیسے مانگیں جب ہم اپنی دوستوں کا پُورا شجرہ نسب ہی بتا رہی ہیں ؟ اور کس طرح اِجازَت مانگیں جب ہم اپنے آنے اور جانے کا وقت بھی بتا رہی ہیں ؟ اور کس طرح اِجازَت مانگیں کے ہم ہفتے میں صرف ایک ہی بار نکل رہی ہیں ؟ اور کس طرح اِجازَت مانگیں کہ ہم اپنی ملاقاتوں کو بھی کم کرتی جا رہی ہیں کے کہیں والدین کو یہ نہ لگے کہ لڑکی ہاتھ سے نکل گئی ہے

    ہنسی تو اس بات پر آتی ہے کہ اجازت کا طریقہ بتانے والے خود اجازت لیتے ہی نہیں۔ نہ وہ دنوں کی قید میں ہیں اور نہ ہی گھنٹوں کی قید میں۔ نہ ان کیلئے دن کی پابندی ہے نہ رات کی۔ نہ ان پر عزت کی قید ہے اور نہ ہی بے عزتی کی۔ اگر قید ہے تو وہ ہے سوچ کی، جو نہ بدلی ہے اور شاید نہ ہی بدلےگی۔ عورت کیلئے صرف ایک ہی چیز بدلتی ہے۔ اس کا گھر۔ لیکن اس گھر میں بھی “نہیں” کبھی نہیں بدلتا!

  • Strong earthquake jolts country

    Strong earthquake jolts country

    A strong earthquake of reportedly 6.4 magnitude on the Richter scale jolted different parts of the country on Friday night.

    The tremors were felt in the federal capital and cities across Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), including Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Mardan, North Waziristan, Swat, Multan, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Lahore and adjoining areas.

    No losses of property or lives have so far been reported.

    However, panic spread amid the tremors as people were seen evacuating their houses and other buildings, reciting the Kalma.

    The epicenter of the quake is being reported as Tajikistan.

    Citizens have been advised to remain careful as the aftershocks of the earthquake are expected.

  • Govt allows private companies to import COVID-19 vaccine

    Govt allows private companies to import COVID-19 vaccine

    The government will allow private companies to import coronavirus vaccines and has agreed to exempt such imports from price caps as the world scrambles to secure supplies.

    The documents show the National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination division had sought a special cabinet exemption to allow for such imports while excluding the imported vaccines from the strict price cap regime that is typically applied to all drug sales within the country.

    The federal cabinet, the documents suggest, has approved the proposal.

    State Minister of Health Dr Faisal Sultan said that the government still planned to inoculate its population for free and only a “small minority” who wish to pay for the shots will have that option in the open market.

    “Only those who wish to get it via private sector will pay anything,” he said. “Personally, my assessment is that when the vaccines are available and we have market competition, that will automatically set the prices.”

    Pakistan began rolling out the anti-coronavirus jabs last week after receiving half a million shots of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine.

    As per the roll-out plan, the vaccine will first be made available to more than 400,000 doctors and frontline healthcare workers, teachers and social workers because they run the highest risk of exposure to the contagious disease.

    After that, the shots will be provided to citizens over the age of 65, who generally face a higher mortality risk from the virus.

    Pakistan received its first tranche of the Sinopharm jabs, given by China as a “gift”, on Tuesday last week. The shipment marked the first shots to be imported into the country where more than 550,000 cases of the disease have been reported since the outbreak in February last.

    In addition, the government is due to receive a further 1.1 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine by the end of this month, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had announced late last month.

  • PM announces putting Labbaik’s demands, including ratification of blasphemy bill, forward in parliament

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said that following an agreement with the hardliner Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), their demands will be put forward in the parliament.

    According to reports, the premier, in a statement, said that the government spoke to TLP, and the party has decided to extend the “deadline” given to the government from February to April 20.

    The demands put forth by TLP include the French ambassador’s deportation, ratification of the blasphemy bill, and a ban on French goods after blasphemous caricatures were published in France that had sparked protests across the Muslim world.

    Late last year, hundreds of protesters in Pakistan, most of them led by TLP leaders, had burned effigies of France’s leader and chanted anti-French slogans, as President Emmanuel Macron had tried to send a message of understanding to Muslims around the world.

    Smaller demonstrations in Lebanon, Turkey and India followed on anti-France protests across the Muslim world last week that were mostly led by Islamist groups, reported AP news agency.

    The renewed protests had come after President Macron’s interview in which he said that he understood the shock Muslims felt at caricatures depicting the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

    Macron was speaking with the Qatar-based Arabic TV station Al-Jazeera, where he also defended freedoms of expression and France’s secular values.

    Just days before TLP chief Khadim Rizvi’s death, the protests had also turned ugly in Rawalpindi-Islamabad.

  • ‘Jald mulaqat ho gee’: Cengiz Coşkun hints he will visit Pakistan soon

    Cengiz Coşkun, popularly known as Turgut Alp from Dirilis: Ertuğrul has signed up as the brand ambassador of Dr Fazeela Abbasi’s first-ever men’s exclusive skincare line. Dr Fazeela is Hamza Ali Abbasi’s sister.

    Announcing the news on social media, the Turkish star said that he was excited to be representing the brand and hinted that he will be visiting Pakistan soon.

    “l am excited to announce that l will be endorsing the first-ever men’s exclusive skincare line by Dr Fazeela as a brand ambassador,” wrote Coşkun alongside a picture of the two. “Jald mulaqat ho gee.”

    Dr Fazeela also shared the news on Instagram, writing: “Announcing the pioneer launch of the first-ever men’s exclusive skincare line in Pakistan and Gulf with Cengiz Coşkun as the face of the DFA brand.”

    Earlier in September 2020, the Turkish actor had also been signed as the brand ambassador on J. Fragrance.

    Diriliş: Ertuğrul has been trending in Pakistan ever since its first episode aired on PTV Home in Ramzan 2020. Pakistanis are loving the drama series and it has become a sensation in the country. According to some estimates, millions of people have tuned in to watch the show on PTV and YouTube.

    Read more – ‘Diriliş: Ertuğrul’ star Cengiz Coşkun says he has been receiving marriage proposals from Pakistan

    Recently, several Turkish actors from the super hit series Diriliş: Ertuğrul have visited Pakistan for different purposes. From Engin Altan Düzyatan (Ertuğrul Bey) to Cavit Çetin Güner (Dogan Alp) and Celal AL (Abdur Rehman Alp), almost every prominent actor from the drama series has visited different cities of the country. Fans had been eagarly awaiting Coşkun’s visit and it appears that they will not have to wait much longer.

  • Porsche Pakistan CEO ‘runs off’ with Rs80 crores in booked orders

    Porsche Pakistan CEO ‘runs off’ with Rs80 crores in booked orders

    The chief executive officer (CEO) of Porsche Pakistan in Lahore has been accused of running off with nearly a billion rupees after conning people in the name of advance booking for high-end cars, whereas the company has termed these claims “false”.

    According to the police, while victims of the scam have registered complaints against Abuzar Bokhari in different police stations across the city, the department has informed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), seeking their help in informing Interpol.

    Help from the international criminal police organisation is being sought for Bokhari’s extradition from England where he allegedly flew off to a few days ago.

    Police further say that Bokhari collected Rs800 million (Rs 80 crores) from people in the name of car registrations and fled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after which he went to England and has not returned since.

    While Bokhari is the founder and CEO of Lahore-based, and Pakistan’s only, Porsche dealership based in Lahore, media reports say he started off with two partners but continued alone with the venture when Porsche formally entered the Pakistani market.

    Porsche’s presence in Pakistan was provisionally launched in 2006 and then formally launched in 2008. Since then, it has been running its operations rather successfully and has grown significantly.

    However, the luxury carmaker has now reportedly removed its official website page on Pakistan.

    “Porsche official website removes page on Pakistan which has details of its Pakistan representative Abuzar Bokhari — accused of leaving the country with Rs800 million in booked orders — here is a screenshot of the cached version of the page,” journalist Omar Quraishi tweeted.

    ‘ALLEGATIONS ARE FALSE’:

    In a statement, Porsche Pakistan said the said claims are false. It said that its CEO doesn’t owe car booking money to anyone and all the registration money was received in the account of Performance Automotive Pvt Ltd (Porsche Pakistan) on behalf of Porsche AG as their appointed representative.

    It said Porsche AG was refusing delivery of the vehicles to Pakistani customers for two years.

    A lull in supply is due to attempts to discredit Porche Pakistan by a ‘controversia;’ business group.

    The statement said Porsche Pakistan was in a legal battle with Porsche AG for this “illegal” refusal on all legal forums.

    The statement alleged that the delay was due to Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE’s alleged understanding with a rival local party it called “an influential and controversial business group” that seeks to get hold of Porsche distribution rights in Pakistan.

    The company concluded, “Porsche Pakistan and its legal team are fully available for any concerned parties or investigative authorities for any information or clarification they may require.

  • Video of Ali Sadpara singing ‘Tum Chalay Ao’ goes viral as rescue operation enters third day

    Video of Ali Sadpara singing ‘Tum Chalay Ao’ goes viral as rescue operation enters third day

    An old video of Pakistani mountaineer Muhammad Ali Sadpara singing Tum Chalay Ao has gone viral on social media. In the video, the brave mountaineer can be seen singing, clapping and dancing to the song with his friends in a camp.

    Sadpara, who had embarked on a mission to summit K2 in the winters with Iceland’s John Snorri and Chile’s JP Mohr went missing on Friday.

    Sadpara’s son Sajid Ali Sadpara on Sunday told the media that the chances of the mountaineers’ survival are very low. Efforts to locate the missing climbers are ongoing since Saturday but have been unsuccessful due to poor weather conditions.

    Talking to the reporters in Skardu, Sajid had said: “Rescue operations now only make sense if they are carried out to bring back the bodies. Otherwise, the chances for anyone to survive after being missing for two to three days at 8,000 meters are very bleak.”

    https://twitter.com/SajidAliSadpara/status/1358421202977497088?s=20

    However, Sajid is convinced that his father summited the peak.

    “My father has the experience of summiting all the mountains,” wrote Sajid on Twitter. “I saw him near the K2 mountain last time. I am sure he has summited K2.”

    “On the way back, there were gusty winds that might have caused a problem,” he added.

    https://twitter.com/SajidAliSadpara/status/1358667085585539072?s=20

    Later, Sajid also shared a picture of himself before leaving for a rescue mission on the third day.

    https://twitter.com/SajidAliSadpara/status/1358643110004355078?s=20

    Gilgit Baltistan’s Home Secretary Muhammad Ali Randhawa also shared pictures taken of the K2 on the Pakistan Army Aviation Helicopters during the search operation.

    Meanwhile, Alpine Club of Pakistan secretary Karrar Haider told AFP that “a second helicopters’ search found no sign of missing climbers”.

    He added that the helicopters’ crew traced the route up to a height of 7,000 metres (23,000 feet).

    Chhang Dawa Sherpa, their expedition manager, said he was part of one search team trying to trace the mountaineers.

    “The search team went through the Abruzzi and other routes, we had less weather visibility above C 4 (camp 4), unfortunately, no trace at all,” Sherpa said in a statement.

    Bad weather today (Monday) forced Pakistan Army helicopters to temporarily halt their search for three mountaineers. The officials are uncertain about when weather conditions would improve enough for it to resume again.

    Conditions on K2 are harsh: winds can blow at more than 200 kilometres per hour (125 miles per hour) and temperatures can drop to minus 60 degrees Celsius (minus 76 Fahrenheit). Unlike Mount Everest, which has been scaled by thousands of climbers young and old, K2 is much less travelled due to its tough conditions.

    Earlier on Saturday Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Overseas Pakistanis, Zulfi Bukhari had said that Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa have expressed their concern over the missing climbers and are personally monitoring all developments.

  • ‘Govt unable to retrieve Quaide Azam’s 29-kanal property from land grabbers in Lahore’s Gulberg’

    ‘Govt unable to retrieve Quaide Azam’s 29-kanal property from land grabbers in Lahore’s Gulberg’

    Despite efforts made over the span of more than a year, Punjab’s anti-corruption department has failed to retrieve Quaide Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s property from land grabbers in Lahore, it has been claimed.

    According to Lahore-based journalist Rehan Tariq, the 29-kanal land owned by the founder of Pakistan in the provincial capital’s Gulberg area has been occupied while shopping malls and plazas have been constructed on lands linked to his sister and “Mother of the Nation”, Fatima Jinnah, as well as the country’s first prime minister (PM) Liaquat Ali Khan.

    The journalist went on to claim that the anti-corruption department launched a probe into the matter in December 2019 and it also sought record from the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) besides other public offices.

    “Officials also acquired Jinnah’s will regarding the land and prepared a source report,” Tariq said, adding that Jinnah’s property consisted of Arazi Khasra No 2181, 2129, 2200, 2180, 21825, 2184.

    Now shopping malls and plazas have been built on the land dedicated to a trust, he claimed.