Tag: Punjab

  • After Punjab gives control to a woman, all hail women deputy speakers in KP, Balochistan

    After Punjab gives control to a woman, all hail women deputy speakers in KP, Balochistan

    After Maryam Nawaz was given the charge of Chief Minister in Punjab, other provinces are also stepping up and recognizing the position of women in politics. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have also elected women for the post of deputy speakers in their respective assemblies.

    PTI-backed member from Chitral, Suraiya Bibi has been elected as the Deputy Speaker in KP Assembly after securing 87 votes.

    Suraiya Bibi is from the constituency of PK-1 Chitral, representing the Banu, Chitral, and Lower Dir regions. She has served as the Vice President of the Malakand Women’s Wing of the Tehreek-e-Insaf. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Sociology. However, it is important to note that she is the second woman in the province to have been elected for this post. The first was Mehr Taj Roghani from Mardan, who is now a senator.

    In Balochistan, Ghazala Gola has been elected unopposed as the deputy speaker of the Balochistan Assembly.

    She belongs to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and according to her Twitter bio has served as a provincial minister on women’s development in Balochistan.

    Additionally, Sindh Assembly has elected Anthony Naveed from PPP as the deputy speaker. Naveed is from a minority community and is a former Special Assistant To Chief Minister Sindh – Pakistan on Interfaith & Harmony.

  • ‘Lost diamond in search for gold,’ Pakistani Twitter missing Buzdar is a hilarious must-see

    ‘Lost diamond in search for gold,’ Pakistani Twitter missing Buzdar is a hilarious must-see

    Social media in Pakistan never lets go of a chance to have a meme fest, and the appointment of a new Chief Minister in Punjab proved to be the fuel the meme machine needed to churn out hilarious content.

    The newly-elected Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, took the oath of office on Tuesday at Punjab Governor House with Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman, Governor of Punjab, administering the oath.

    During the oath ceremony, chief minister Maryam Nawaz was with her father and former prime minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif. The president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shehbaz Sharif was also present in the oath ceremony.

    Netizens immediately started reminiscing about former chief minister, Sardar Usman Buzdar, CM of Punjab from 2018 to 2023. Buzdar remained a point of contention for Imran Khan, who’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) appointed him as the Chief Executive of the most populous province.

    At one point, Imran Khan referred to the beleaguered Buzdar as ‘Wasim Akram Plus’, implying that the unassuming South Punjab politician was a better version of the greatest left-arm bowler in history.

    Here are the best Twitter reactions, as people remember Sardar Usman Buzdar:

  • Maryam Nawaz set to become Punjab’s First female CM today

    Maryam Nawaz set to become Punjab’s First female CM today

    The Punjab Assembly will likely elect new a chief minister of the province today (Monday). Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz is expected become CM Punjab as her party has the majority in provincial assembly after February 8 elections.
    Maryam Nawaz will be the first female chief minister of the province in history.
    The session has been summoned to meet at 11am and will be presided by newly-elected Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan.
    The PML-N has support of 224 MPAs in the provincial assembly.

    The candidate fielded by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), Aftab Ahmad Khan, who is a senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has the support of 103 MPAs. Maryam will face him as her opponent.
    Aftab has served as a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA thrice in the Punjab Assembly in 1988, 1993 and 2002. He joined PTI in 2013 and is now serving his fourth term.

  • Pneumonia endemic: 405 kids died in Punjab this year

    Pneumonia endemic: 405 kids died in Punjab this year

    Pneumonia endemic is still spreading in Punjab despite the weather warming up, with 13 children dying of the respiratory illness in the previous 24 hours, reports Geo News.

    The heartbreaking death toll includes two children from Lahore, three from Faisalabad, and two from Bahawalpur, highlighting the widespread impact of the illness across various regions. Additionally, two children in Sheikhupura, and one each in Gujranwala, Multan, and Rawalpindi succumbed to the disease.

    In the last 24 hours, 304 more cases of pneumonia have been reported in Punjab. According to the data of the health department, 29, 603 children have been infected with pneumonia so far this year, out of which 405 lost their lives.

    The Punjab Health Department has issued a plea to parents, urging them to ensure that children complete the immunization course offered free of cost. Immunization remains one of the most effective preventive measures against pneumonia and other infectious diseases, offering vital protection to vulnerable children.

  • Rain, snowfall on its way

    Rain, snowfall on its way

    The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rain and strong winds in Karachi today. In Lahore, strong winds have caused the temperature to drop.

    According to the Meteorological Department, it may drizzle at some places in Karachi, Sajawal, and Thatta today. Strong winds will continue to blow in Karachi till this evening with cloudy skies.

    There is a possibility of rain and snowfall in the mountains today in the Pothohar region, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, North Balochistan, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, reports Geo News. Various areas of the country including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Kohat, Malakand, Muzaffarabad, Diamar, Chilas, and Chaman received rain while snowfall was recorded in the mountains.

    Rescue teams have been put on high alert in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang, and Murree due to strong winds and rain.

    Commissioner Rawalpindi said that they are monitoring the situation caused by wind and rain in Murree, the Deputy Commissioner has given specific instructions to Murree for necessary arrangements.

    On the other hand, in Azad Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, heavy snowfall occurred in Neelum Jhelum Valley, which affected the movement of traffic due to slippage on connecting roads, the weather became colder due to snowfall in Swat, Upper and Lower Dir, Karam district.

    Abbottabad and Mansehra are experiencing rain in the plains and light snow in the upper reaches, with up to 2 inches of snow in Shogran and 4 inches in Naran.

    Additionally, the western system of rainfall entered North Balochistan after which heavy rain and hailstorms occurred in Pak-Afghan border areas including Chaman, Qila Abdullah, Muslim Bagh, Toba Kakadi, Toba Achakzai, and Sheila Bagh.

  • Maryam Nawaz briefed on Punjab projects even before CM election

    Maryam Nawaz briefed on Punjab projects even before CM election

    The Senior Vice President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Maryam Nawaz, received a briefing on development projects in Punjab. The PML-N nominated Maryam Nawaz as their choice for the province’s chief minister.

    Zahid Akhtar Zaman, the Chief Secretary of Punjab, briefed the PML-N leader after she was nominated for the top provincial position.

    According to sources in Geo News, the provincial chief secretary went to Jatti Umrah on Thursday to brief Maryam and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif on the current situation in Punjab.

    During a meeting, Zaman explained the ongoing projects as well as the law and order situation in the province.

    Maryam Nawaz won a National Assembly (NA) and a Provincial Assembly seat in the general elections.

    The party’s stalwart was elected by voters on PP-159 and NA-119, respectively.

  • Mphil scholar shot dead by abductors inspite of paying ransom

    Mphil scholar shot dead by abductors inspite of paying ransom

    A kidnapped 22-year-old MPhil graduate, Talha Arshad, was found fatally shot in the head, despite his family allegedly having paid Rs2.5 million in ransom to his abductors. His grieving family staged a protest demonstration at Rafiq Shah Chowk against the police after placing the body on the spot.

    The victim, a resident of Mohalla Telianwala, had recently completed his MPhil from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. On the day he went missing he left home on a motorcycle on January 17 but did not return.

    Upon a lawyer’s intervention, the police registered a kidnapping case on January 18, filed by Talha’s brother Irfan Arshad.

    The abductors had sent a video of Talha tied with a rope, through WhatsApp on January 21, demanding a ransom of Rs10 million for his release. Despite the family sending Rs2.5 million to the cryptocurrency account specified by the kidnappers, Talha was not released, reports The Express Tribune.

    However, on Wednesday, Talha’s tortured body, locked in a suitcase, was discovered in a well near an upscale neighborhood.

    Kamran Arshad, the victim’s brother, alleged that the police had acted as silent spectators when the victim’s phone was active on January 21 and 23.
    The police reportedly found the location of the deceased’s mobile phone in Bahawalnagar and Donga Bonga, initiating searches in the areas. The DPO’s spokesperson Zahid Rasool said the police were actively engaged in the matter, collaborating with the victim’s family.

    In response to protesters’ demands, the SHO was removed from the local police station and an inquiry against him initiated.

    The police’s efforts to trace the suspects were reportedly hindered as the perpetrators used VPN to conceal their location.

  • Election vacations announced in Sindh

    Election vacations announced in Sindh

    It has been decided to keep all educational institutions closed from February 6 to 9 in Sindh.

    According to Sindh Education Department, all private and commercial schools, colleges, and universities will remain closed from February 6 to 9 due to general elections in the country.

    The Education Department said that February 5 has already been announced as Kashmir Day holiday in the province.

    A vacation summary has been sent to the Chief Minister House, while the notification will be issued after approval.

    On Wednesday, the Punjab Cabinet decided to keep all schools, colleges and universities closed from February 6 to 9 as general elections, scheduled for February 8, approach.

  • ‘Submit report on all detention camps in the country’, Sindh High Court

    ‘Submit report on all detention camps in the country’, Sindh High Court

    In a significant development, the Sindh High Court (SHC) has granted a three-week deadline to the Federal Defence Ministry and the Sindh Home Department to submit a comprehensive report on all detention camps across the country.

    The directive came from a two-judge bench, with Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto presiding, during a hearing on Thursday concerning petitions related to the recovery of missing persons.

    The bench took cognizance of the case after one petitioner revealed that her husband, Tahir Rehan, had been missing since 2015, with no investigative action taken by the police.

    Expressing dissatisfaction with the public prosecutor’s claim of providing Rs500,000 in compensation, the petitioner asserted that she had not received any such compensation.

    The Sindh Home Department officially announced the suspension of compensation payments to families of missing persons, as revealed in a report submitted to the Sindh High Court.

    The court had directed the submission of a comprehensive report to federal authorities, including the Interior Secretary and Defense Secretary, concerning applications related to compensation for families of missing persons.

    In a proactive measure, the court ordered the publication of advertisements in both print and electronic media to aid in the search for Shahri Majid, missing since 2015.

    Additionally, the court directed the gathering of information on missing persons from jail authorities and various locations across the country.

  • Lahore High Court stops planting of palm trees on highways and motorways

    Lahore High Court stops planting of palm trees on highways and motorways

    Lahore High Court has stopped the planting of palm trees on highways and motorways, reports Geo.

    Justice Shahid Karim of Lahore High Court heard the petitions of citizen Haroon Farooq and others for the remedy of smog, during which DG Environment told the court that pollution does not stay on palm leaves as they grow better in hot areas. It has not been successful on motorways and highways in Islamabad.

    During the hearing, Justice Shahid Karim stated that there should be an investigation into the renovation and decoration of the underpasses in Lahore. “Who has earned the money for the renovation of the underpasses,” the court inquired. The judge then observed that the underpasses have become stranger than before, looking like a joke. He said that the strange lights which were installed in there went off on the first day.

    Justice Shahid Karim added that water should not be wasted as reports are indicating that the previous resource will run out by 2026- 2027. What steps did WASA take to install water meters, the court asked members of the water commission. He was informed in response that one year is required to install water meters.

    Later, the court ordered the DG Environment to stop the planting of palm trees on highways and motorways.