A Pakistani citizen filed a suggestion on the Prime Minister’s Citizen Portal requesting for the Maldives to be merged with Pakistan because its a “Muslim country.”
The request which was received from an unknown person from Lahore stated that the Republic of Maldives should be made a part of Pakistan because “with rising sea levels, Maldives could be under water in the next 50 to 100 years” threatening the lives of 5 lakh Muslims who reside in the island country. As per the citizen, Maldives is Muslim nation and our neighbour, hence “it is our responsibility to do something about it. Allah taala rewards good deeds and it is justification enough.”
The citizen also believed that the inclusion of Maldives “will enrich Pakistan financially and culturally and provide a strategic spot in the middle of the Indian Ocean.”
He concluded his suggestion saying, “It’s a win win.”
The request was closed.
There are people in Pakistan who never fail to amaze you with their level of intellect, same as this unknown person who had filed a complaint on PM’s Citizen Portal seeking Maldives to be merged with Pakistan because its a ‘Muslim country’, the request was closed subsequently. pic.twitter.com/vN3nfB6jNo
Interim chief executive officer (CEO) of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), Asadullah Khan, has said that Afghanistan is currently better than Pakistan in all aspects of cricket.
According to senior sports journalist Ibrahim Momand, Asadullah in a recent television interview said that Pakistan should “seek Afghanistan’s help to improve their cricket”.
“We are currently far better than Pakistan in cricket and they should ask us for technical, coaching and more support for the betterment of their cricket [sic],” Asadullah is reported to have said.
Acting CEO of @ACBofficials#Mr.Assadullah recently responded to Pakistani media claims in a TV interview & said,We are currently far better than Pakistan in cricket & they should ask us for technical,coaching & more support for the betterment of their cricket.@ShafiqStanikzaipic.twitter.com/va4o5hXiLq
A majority of fans have been left disheartened ever since Pakistan’s humiliating defeat against arch-rivals India in the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
While some hope for a comeback from the Green Shirts as witnessed in the 2017 Champions Trophy and many other times, everyone is confused over the national cricket team’s future in the tournament.
CAN PAKISTAN STILL QUALIFY FOR THE SEMIS?
The simple answer to this question is yes. Pakistan can still manage to secure a spot among the four teams that will be playing in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
As per the current table, Pakistan are at number nine out of the ten teams playing in the tournament.
The situation doesn’t look very good; however, Pakistan still has another four matches to play against South Africa on June 23, New Zealand on June 26, Afghanistan on June 29 and Bangladesh on July 5.
In order to qualify, Pakistan need to win all four matches while maintaining a good Net Run Rate (NRR) — a statistical method used in analysing teamwork and performance in cricket.
Other than performing well, Pakistan also has to hope that New Zealand loses all its remaining matches because considering their current forms, India, Australia and England will most probably be the top three teams that will qualify.
Soon after Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Accountability Shahzad Akbar said the British government has agreed to extradite Ishaq Dar, it was reported that the former finance minister had approached Home Office in London “to apply for political asylum”.
Dar, 69, is currently in London, “undergoing medical treatment”. He is absconding from several cases in Pakistan since 2017 and has been declared a proclaimed offender by the courts.
He is facing charges of accumulating assets beyond known sources of income.
With the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government continuing to claim Dar is only evading the cases against him since he has been spotted walking upright on the streets of London time and again, PM Imran Khan’s special assistant on Tuesday said the former finance minister “will be brought back soon”.
A day later, a private media outlet claimed that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader had reached the Home Office in London for a second interview with regard to political asylum in the United Kingdom (UK).
Rejecting the reports, a close aide of Dar told The Current that he had visited the UK Home Office “only to inform them about the fabricated reports in the name of a recently-signed extradition agreement between the two countries”.
The source’s claim was validated when British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the United Kingdom (UK) would not sign any extradition treaty that could be used for “politically-motivated” cases.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Hunt confirmed the two had discussed the issue of an extradition treaty between Pakistan and the UK.
WATCH VIDEO:
“Let me say it straightforward. The UK will never sign any treaty allowing for politically motivated extradition,” said the British official to which Qureshi added that Pakistan did not intend to use the treaty against political rivals.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor has trolled Indian Home Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah over his congratulatory message to the Indian cricket team.
“Another strike on Pakistan by Team India and the result is same [sic],” Shah had tweeted after India secured an 89-run defeat against Pakistan in the ongoing ICC World Cup on Sunday.
Another strike on Pakistan by #TeamIndia and the result is same.
Congratulations to the entire team for this superb performance.
— Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) June 16, 2019
He was referring to the aerial combat between the two neighbouring countries in February, which happened after Indian aircraft on February 26 carried out an airstrike on what it alleged was a “terrorist training camp” in Pakistan.
“Dear Amit Shah, yes your team won a match. Well played,” Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor tweeted while responding to Shah’s tweet. He, however, advised the Indian home minister to not compared “two things with different denominators”.
Dear @AmitShah yes ur team won a match. Well played. Two things with different denominators can’t be compared. So are strikes & match. If in doubt please see results of our Nowshera counter strikes & response to IAF violation on 27 Feb19 downing two Indian jets. Stay Surprised. https://t.co/cY089VmYIe
“Two things with different denominators can’t be compared. So are strikes and match. If in doubt, please see results of our Nowshera counter strikes and response to IAF violation on February 27, 2019, downing two Indian jets. Stay Surprised,” he said.
A day after members of the Pakistan cricket team faced severe criticism for their night out “right before the match against arch-rivals India”, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a statement denying all claims.
“So @TheRealPCB says that no team member violated curfew time before the #PakVsIndia match. According to them, the photos are from two days back,” journalist Zebunnisa Burki tweeted.
So @TheRealPCB says that no team member violated curfew time before the #PakVsIndia match. According to them, the photos are from two days back.
Earlier, a picture and video of cricketer Shoaib Malik, his wife Sania Mirza and other cricketers visiting a sheesha cafe on the eve of Pakistan’s match against India had gone viral.
The media had started generating controversy as Pakistan faced a humiliating defeat in the match against India due to poor performance.
After the match, fans alleged that Shoaib, Sania and other cricketers of the Pakistani team were at the sheesha café till 2 am in the morning, hours before the critical match.
However, according to the PCB’s statement, the video was from the night of June 14 (Friday) and not Saturday.
“No player violated curfew and returned to their hotel rooms on-time the night before Pakistan’s match against India,” the board said, adding that players had gone out with their families two days before the match.
After it was humiliated by arch-rivals India in the ICC World Cup, a disheartened fan has put up the Pakistan cricket team for sale at an online marketplace.
As per the details, India on Sunday extended their unbeaten World Cup record against Pakistan as they managed to secure an 89-run win in the rain-affected match.
While a majority of people resorted to social media to vent out their frustration against Pakistan’s yet another disappointing performance, an annoyed fan took it all to a whole other level by putting the team up for sale.
One day to go for the most awaited match of the ICC World Cup 2019. Long-time rivals Pakistan and India are all ready to face each other at Old Trafford, Manchester. Any cricket match between the two opponents becomes the talk of the town and all the restaurants, tea stalls and cafes arrange live screening for the cricket lovers.
For Karachites:
Q Star
Convention Hall- DHA:
Cricket lovers can enjoy the match on big screen with food, music and selfies. You can go with your children also and let them enjoy the face painting. Tickets are priced at PKR 1000/- per head.
Pavilion End Club- Rashid Minhas
Cricket fanatics can enjoy the match with numerous activities with just 400 rupees per person. They range from food stalls, lucky draws, gifts, and giveaways.
For Lahoris:
Emporium Mall:
Lahoris can head to emporium mall to watch the match. Enjoy the match with various other activities. Go with your family. You can enjoy match and can go for shopping during match breaks.
Uncle Tetsu Pakistan:
Watch the nail biting Pakistan vs India match with the cheesy jiggly cakes. Uncle Tetsu Pakistan is giving a free drink with each cheese cake purchase if you bring your father with you.
For Islamabadis:
Shakar Parian National Park:
Cricket
fans can sit back and enjoy the match with free popcorn and a drink at Lok
Virsa, Garden Avenue, Shakar Parian National Park. Ticket is for 800
rupees.
Pretty much like the rest of us, the Pakistan Cricket Team also turns to food for entertainment. And after last night’s loss, we’re sure they will be seeking solace in food too. Yeh bhi humari tarah.
A report in the local media, quoting a team official, shared this news bite (pun intended) adding that this team is one of the easiest to manage. The official revealed that members of the team avoid partying and breaking curfews and instead turn to food, takeaways to be specific, for entertainment. This is in stark contrast to players of the previous World Cups who were very fond of indulging in the vibrant nightlife, occasionally causing a stir.
The team official said that this good behaviour from the boys is attributed to Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed who himself is a very religious man along with being very disciplined. Though Sarfaraz doesn’t force anyone to follow him, the official believes that it is natural that the boys will follow suit. He added that all the boys are regular with their prayers but “neither of them is over-zealous.”
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government on Tuesday announced its first federal budget for the fiscal year 2019-20, which received mixed reactions from people.
It was presented by Federal Minister for Revenue Hammad Azhar, who delivered his speech while opposition members protested against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and his government.
Amid all the confusion over the increase in prices of different products, which may follow the budget, here is a list of stuff The Current suggests you stock up on before an inflation bomb is dropped.
Rooh Afza
That was exactly our reaction. But, a new health tax has been proposed on sugary drinks, which will make it costlier to buy sharbat. It’s not just that though…
Soft Drinks
You heard that right. Those little soft drink breaks during summers will be costing you more now as the health tax will also be jacking up soda prices. The excise tax on soft drinks has been increased from 11.25 per cent to 13 per cent, which is not too much, but will ultimately affect you.
The good part? The money will reportedly be used to provide free medical treatment to people using Sehat Cards that offer treatment up to Rs720,000 from a private or government hospital.
Cooking Oil/Ghee
Branded cooking oil and ghee prices will also be rising as a 17 per cent sales tax will be imposed. You must be thinking that it doesn’t really affect you much, but you never know how it may or may not affect food prices.
The good news, however, remains no increase in General Sales Tax (GST) in case you’re planning to dine out.
Sugar
The price of sugar is expected to increase by Rs3.60/kg since the government is unhappy with the tax collection from the sector. The new budget recommends increasing sales tax on sugar from 8 per cent to 17 per cent.
We don’t endorse the next thing you need to stock up on, but let’s be honest, we know a lot of people who smoke.
Cigarettes
The budget has also recommended a federal excise duty of Rs5,200 on every 10,000 cigarettes be imposed, which means every pack of 20 cigarettes you buy will cost you at least Rs10 more.
Just so you know, tobacco consumption kills nearly 160,000 Pakistanis every year, and a lot of people are supporting the move.
