Tag: Punjab

  • New vehicles for government officials; LHC issues notices to Punjab caretaker govt

    New vehicles for government officials; LHC issues notices to Punjab caretaker govt

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued notices to the Punjab caretaker government and others after hearing a petition filed against the purchase of new vehicles for government officials.

    The lawyer of the Punjab government objected to the admissibility of the application, while the petitioner, Shiraz Altaf, has made the Punjab caretaker government and others a party, asserting that public money should be used for the welfare of the people.

    The petitioner said that the caretaker government can only run the daily running of the province, having no public mandate, it cannot use public funds. The court has been requested to annul the notification of purchase of new vehicles for officers.

  • Factcheck: Is ‘Barbie’ banned all over Lahore?

    Factcheck: Is ‘Barbie’ banned all over Lahore?

    The devastating news that the iconic film ‘Barbie’ was recalled once more from cinemas by the Punjab Government for a second review has left fans fuming. News outlets said that the film was banned over four words were circulating on social media.

    On Saturday night some social media reports said that the screening had halted midway, and cinemas like Cue and Universal replaced the movie schedule for Barbie on their website with ‘Mission Impossible’.

    After speaking to an insider from the Punjab Film Censor Board, The Current has been informed that the film had previously been cleared to play in cinemas across Lahore, but it was the Punjab Government that had halted the screening and will release it after a second review. When we asked why there uproar on Barbie, and not Oppenheimer, the insider refused to comment on it.

    Speaking to Geo Fact Check, Amir Mir, the caretaker Information and Culture Minister of Punjab revealed ‘Barbie’ was re-called because of concern of the film’s content which showed ‘homosexuality’.

    “There is a gay character in it,” Mir said. “You can Google and find out if there is any such thing in it or not.”

    Mir added that the film will be re-examined in a few days and will be released to cinemas after censoring a few dialogues.

    However, Barbie was not censored in other cities like Islamabad or in Sindh. When Mir was asked about this his response was:

    “Other provinces probably like this kind of stuff. We have a problem with it.”

    However, we can advice you to not toss away your pink outfit yet, because Barbie is still playing in Chalo Cinemas at Fortress Square Mall. We contacted the cinema and a manager confirmed to us that the film has not been banned.

    On the official Instagram page, Chalo Cinema has still posted timings of the ‘Barbie’ movie.

    On their Instagram stories, the organisation shared Galaxy Lollywood founder Momin Ali Munshi’s post on how their cinema was the only place that was allowed to play Barbie. There are three censor boards in Pakistan: Sindh, Punjab, and for Central Cantonment. Cantt has a separate censor board, which is present in all provinces, and Barbie has been cleared by their Censor Board which is why it is playing in the only cinema present inside Lahore Cantt, at Fortress Stadium.

  • TW: Brother confesses to murder of three young sisters by decapitation, says did it because of mental stress

    TW: Brother confesses to murder of three young sisters by decapitation, says did it because of mental stress

    On Monday, three young girls were found dead in their house in Muzaffargarh district, Punjab. They were first reported missing when during the evening 11-year-old Areesha went out to search for her sisters, Fatima, 7, and Zahrah, 8, after they didn’t come back home. Areesha then didn’t return herself.
    The family reported the missing girls to the police, who found the girls’ decapitated bodies in a deserted government quarter located in the same colony.

    Punjab Inspector General of Police, Dr Usman Anwar, announced that the police was taking immediate action to arrest the ones responsible.

    According to the District Police Officer Hasnain Haider, the police have arrested the three elder brothers of the slain sisters for being the perpetuators of the crime. One of the brothers, Basit, has confessed to the killing, saying that he had taken the girls to an empty house where he slaughtered them.

    Basit cited his mental health as the motivation behind the grisly murders, as Haider revealed to the media that the killer was under stress to repay loans that he had taken from some people.

    According to news sources, the police revealed they had recovered the murder weapon, a long knife, from the killer.

    The DPO further told a news channel that police were interrogating the entire family.

  • 69 per cent of child abuse victims are boys, report reveals

    69 per cent of child abuse victims are boys, report reveals

    A ‘confidential’ report from the home department has revealed that the number of boys facing atrocities of child abuse is higher than that of girls in Punjab.

    Dawn shared the findings of the said report on Friday, revealing that during the first five and a half months of 2023, a total of 1,390 incidents of child abuse were reported in Punjab, among them 69 per cent were boys while 31 per cent were girls.

    The report identified several key factors hindering the control of sexual crimes against children and it also provided recommendations to combat them.

    The report disclosed that out of all the culprits facing trials in courts in cases of child abuse, 55 per cent were neighbors, 32 per cent were strangers, and 13 per cent were relatives.

    Furthermore, the report revealed that Gujranwala region/division reported the highest number of child abuse incidents (220), followed by DG Khan (199), Faisalabad (186), Multan (140), Bahawalpur (129), Sheikhupura (128), Sahiwal (127), Sargodha (103), and others. The Rawalpindi region and Lahore city had the lowest numbers, with 69 and 89 cases, respectively.

    “It is also concerning that many cases go unreported. Fear and cultural taboos in our society make it difficult to report such crimes,” read the findings of the report. It underscored that lack of support from family members, friends, neighbors, or the community makes it immensely difficult for the victim to speak up against the abuser.

    The home department recommended that the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) play a more active role in child protection. It suggested that the CPWB should have a dedicated team of professionals, including child protection officers, psychologists, law officers, and doctors, to safeguard children from abuse and aid victim rehabilitation.

    The report stressed the need for a well-defined coordination mechanism among different stakeholders, including police, parents, CPWBs, and relevant federal and provincial agencies. It strongly recommended that national and provincial legislatures review existing child protection laws and reform the existing apparatus.

    The home department has sent the report to the Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) and the Regional Police Officers (RPOs) for strict implementation of provided recommendations.

  • TW: mentally challenged girl gang-raped by six men in Kasur

    TW: mentally challenged girl gang-raped by six men in Kasur

    On Wednesday, the police in Kasur arrested six men for the brutal gang rape of a mentally challenged teenaged girl found unconscious by her mother in the basement of a private restaurant.

    In the case filed at the Kot Radha Kishan police station, the mother revealed that her daughter had gone out of the house, however, she was later found unconscious, and was rushed to Tehsil Headquarters hospital. After the girl was denied medical treatment, she was taken to Jinnah Hospital, where again she was denied healthcare. Then, the survivor was taken to Services Hospital, where after a medical examination, it was determined that she had been gang raped.

    After the mother questioned locals, it was revealed that two men Sahil and Khalil along with three to four other unidentified men, had taken the girl with them to the basement of a private restaurant where they had gang-raped her.

    After the case was filed, the DPO took speedy action to file a case against main accused Sahil, and arrested him.

    On Wednesday, the police arrested six men for the brutal gang rape of a mentally challenged teenage girl in the basement of a private restaurant and was found unconscious by her mother, according to Express Tribune.

    In the case filed at the Kot Radha Kishan polcie station, the mother revealed that her daughter had gone out and was later found unconscious, and was immediately taken to THQ hospital, where after she was denied medical treatment, was taken to Jinnah Hospital, where again she was denied medical treatment. Then, the survivor was taken to Services Hospital, where after a medical examination it was that she had been gang raped.

    After the mother had questioned the locals, it was revealed that the men Sahil, Khalil and three to four other unidentified men had taken the girl with them to the basement of a private hospital where they had gang-raped her.

    After the case was filed, the DPO took speedy action the main accused Sahil.

  • Suspects surrender to police after killing two in court premises

    Suspects surrender to police after killing two in court premises

    Two persons were killed within the premises of a local court in Lahore on Thursday, Dawn has reported.

    According to police, the two slain were identified as Sughra Bibi and Muhammad Amin. The victims were present at the court for a hearing when they were shot dead.

    The Punjab Inspector General has instructed the police to catch the suspects as soon as possible and also find out their motive, however, the suspects turned themselves in after the incident and the weapons used in the crime were also found.

    They have been taken to the SP City Office for further investigation. They are being interrogated to determine if anyone else was involved, said police.

  • NDMA warns of potential high level of flooding in Sutlej

    NDMA warns of potential high level of flooding in Sutlej

    The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a warning stating that the Ganda Singhwala area along the Sutlej River may experience a medium to high level of flooding within the next 24 to 48 hours, Dawn has reported.

    The NDMA advised the administration of flood-prone areas, particularly in the Trimmu area of the river Chenab and Jassar area of the river Ravi, to remain vigilant until July 20.

    In a weather advisory released on Wednesday, it is predicted that scattered thunderstorms and light to moderate rainfall may occur in Islamabad and Punjab, including the upper catchments of the major rivers in the Indus River System. These weather conditions could potentially lead to medium to high-level flooding in the Sutlej River at Ganda Singhwala.

    The period from July 14 to 16 is expected to bring scattered to widespread thunderstorms and heavy rainfall in isolated areas within the upper catchments of the major rivers in the Indus River System, added the report.

  • Heart surgeries on health cards at private hospitals halted in Punjab

    Heart surgeries on health cards at private hospitals halted in Punjab

    Heart surgeries, including the insertion of stents, on health cards at private hospitals in Punjab have been put on hold indefinitely until it is established who is deserving and in need.

    A notice stating that private institutions in the province will not provide care to heart patients with health cards has been issued.

    The Punjab government has suggested charging 30% of the cost of therapy for all cardiac patients.

    Cardiovascular services listed on the health card won’t be made available until Punjab’s deserving residents are identified.

    The warning clarified that any private hospital providing care for cardiac conditions after July 1 would not be compensated.

  • Unidentified persons attack Latif Khosa’s Lahore residence

    Unidentified persons attack Latif Khosa’s Lahore residence

    On Thursday night, unidentified persons attacked the residence of former Governor of Punjab, Latif Khosa, in the Defense area of Lahore.

    According to sources of Dunya news, Latif Khosa is safe while his driver got injured.

    The attacker managed to run away from the spot after firing but police have said that attackers will be in the custody of police very soon.

    Police further added that attackers can be identified through CCTV footage.

    Latif Khosa told the media that the attack on his residence was very intense, adding that the bullets pierced the main gate and hit the cars parked inside the house.
    On the other hand, Owais Shafique, SP Cantt reached the residence of the former Governor with the police.

  • The Guardian ranks ‘Joyland’ among best films of 2023

    The Guardian ranks ‘Joyland’ among best films of 2023

    British newspaper Guardian released an article on some of the best films of 2023 so far, ranging from horror to thrillers and animated comedy films like ‘Marcel the Shell with Shoes On”.

    On the 15th place is Pakistani writer and director Saim Sadiq’s debut film ‘Joyland’ which starred Ali Juenjo and transgender model Alina Khan.

    Discussion the significance of the film, the article described it as “a movie about people who find their inner lives and sense of themselves don’t match up to what is expected of them. Their feeling of wrongness is part of what they have to suppress, from day to day.”

    The film, which was banned in Punjab last year just 24 hours after it got a certificate of approval from CBFC, had aired in India in March, receiving positive remarks from watchers who described their experience as ‘magical’:

    One user wrote:

    “Still can’t get over the experience of watching Joyland on big screen. I’ve never seen the crowd get this hyped, laugh and cry together for a movie before, magical experience.”

    Another user wrote:

    “Joyland is fantastic, heartbreaking and beautifully made – the experience of watching it amongst an engaged enthusiastic audience last night at the Habitat center film festival was exhilarating. Also what about this poster by Salman toor!”