Tag: The Current

  • ‘Inspiring Pakistan’s youth’; The Current featured on the Google News Initiative

    ‘Inspiring Pakistan’s youth’; The Current featured on the Google News Initiative

    In 2020, The Current won the Google News Initiative (GNI) Innovation Challenge, becoming the only media organization in Pakistan to achieve this highly regarded position within just a year of its launch.

    Four years down the road, we continue to grow alongside the ever-evolving news consumption habits of youth in the digital age.

    But that’s not all.

    In 2021, The Current opened the doors of its digital newsroom to the youth of Pakistan by starting a membership program called ‘Aap Ki Awaaz,’ which provides aspiring journalists with a platform to gain practical experience in digital media and prepare them for responsible information communication for tomorrow.

    Having collaborated with the University of Central Punjab and Punjab University, The Current has worked with 120 students, conducting workshops featuring Pakistan’s renowned journalists and digital personalities. Above all, we have provided them with a space to unleash their creativity.

    So far, Aap Ki Awaaz has published more than 50 blogs written by these students.

    In 2024, 12 of our young members joined The Current’s coverage of Pakistan’s general election, tagging along with our reporters, monitoring election results, writing real-time stories, participating in live podcasts, and gaining firsthand experience of this major political event.

    And oh! About a year ago, we launched our newsletter, which now has more than 1,500 subscribers and an open rate of 28 percent (which is growing!).

    The Google News Initiative covered our work and the work we plan to do. Join us, support us by becoming a member or subscribing to our free newsletter so we continue to help our community and our country.

  • No intention to form government with PPP, says Barrister Gohar Ali Khan

    No intention to form government with PPP, says Barrister Gohar Ali Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has said that the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision on reserved seats put a dead stop to predictions of a ban on PTI, ARY News reported.

    Khan told journalists that his party has no intention of forming a coalition government with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

    “This option was also available to us on February 09,” Barrister Gohar remarked.

    “We will act as a strong opposition party,” the PTI chairman said.

    Gohar Khan also clarified that the party’s top leadership didn’t decide anything about the no-confidence motion.

    “The option of talks still is open,” Gohar stated.

    Previously, the top court on Friday announced its verdict about reserved seats and allowed PTI to obtain their reserved seats in National and provincial assemblies.

  • CJP Isa doesn’t want extension in his tenure, says Azam Nazeer Tarar

    CJP Isa doesn’t want extension in his tenure, says Azam Nazeer Tarar

    Law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has said on Saturday that Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa informed him that he doesn’t want to stay the top judge longer than his current term, Geo News reported.

    Tarar said on Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ that CJP told him in the presence of the Attorney and General that he doesn’t want an extension in his tenure.

    “I told him (CJP) no such thing is happening at all,” Azam Nazeer said, adding that the CJP then praised him for clarifying the issue.    

    Tarar also said that he told the CJP about pension reforms, which comprised a recommendation to increase the age of retirement by two years, applying to all the sectors.

  • Khan wins, X goes crazy

    Khan wins, X goes crazy

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) announced a reserved verdict on Friday, declaring that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is eligible to obtain reserved seats. The SC also dismissed the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) decision to deny the reserved seats of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).

    After the court’s decision, people reacted to it on X (formerly Twitter).

    Journalist Gharidah Farooqi posted, “PTI is not present in the parliament, but they have to submit a list of their candidates for reserved seats in the next 15 days as per the court’s orders.”

    PTI’s official account wrote, “Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja must IMMEDIATELY resign after violating the constitution of Pakistan.”

    Several PTI leaders also expressed their support for the court’s decision on reserved seats.

    Prominent party leader, Zulfi Bukhari posted, “Congratulations to the entire nation for the massive win in the revered seats case. Not only did PTI win 8-5 in the Supreme Court but 11 judges declared PTI a political party and allowed it to contest elections. More than us, this case was for the survival of the Supreme Court and hope of justice in the country.”

    Journalist Shehzad Iqbal said while speaking on Geo News that the court’s decision benefits PTI but is not good news for the coalition government.

    The famous journalist Asad Toor wrote in a post on X, “No extra seats for government.”

    On the other hand, users on X posted memes about today’s verdict.

    One user posted an image with the caption, “Itni Jaldi Mithai Nahi Khani Chahye.”

    PTI leader Dr Shahbaz Gill posted the picture of journalist Hassan Ayub with the caption, “Aida ki Karna hai?”

  • PTI suspends Sher Afzal Marwat’s party membership

    PTI suspends Sher Afzal Marwat’s party membership

    Sher Afzal Marwat’s party membership has been suspended by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    Marwat, who was elected as a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) in the February 8 elections, had his membership suspended according to a report by ARY News on Friday.

    PTI’s senior leadership met with incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday and decided on Sher Afzal Marwat’s status within the party.

    The cancellation of Marwat’s membership was confirmed by the party’s top leadership, citing multiple violations of party discipline.

    “It was concluded in the meeting with Imran Khan that no leader is above the party, and similar consequences await any leader who crosses the party line,” stated the party’s leadership.

    Previously, a show-cause notice had been issued to Marwat by PTI for his reckless statements. The notice was issued by the party’s Secretary General, Omar Ayub, who directed Marwat to respond within three days.

    Sher Afzal Marwat was also informed about potential further disciplinary actions in case he failed to submit a response.

  • PML-N is incapable of running government, says Asif Zardari

    PML-N is incapable of running government, says Asif Zardari

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Punjab leadership has expressed concerns against the federal and provincial governments in a meeting with Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari, ARY News reported on Wednesday.

    PPP Punjab leaders stated after a huddle that provincial and federal governments are not cooperating with the party and that it is not getting its rights.
    Ticket holders told Zardari that the issues of their constituencies are not being solved.

    “We also received votes, and the people of our constituencies have to be satisfied,” the leaders told the President who remarked that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) cannot run the government.

    “Now I have returned to the ground myself, and uplift works will be carried out from Islamabad to Lahore. No political party can compete with the PPP,” Asif Zardari remarked.

  • HRCP condemns government’s decision to allow phone tapping

    HRCP condemns government’s decision to allow phone tapping

    The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has raised concerns about the government’s “unconstitutional notification”, which gives immense power to security agencies to trace calls of any citizen.

    “HRCP is deeply concerned by the recent unconstitutional notification issued by the federal government giving intelligence personnel carte blanche to intercept and trace the calls of any citizen in the interest of ‘national security’,” the commission wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

    On Monday, the federal government gave the authority to Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to trace the calls and messages of citizens to deal with terrorism in the country.

  • Khawaja Asif supports phone tapping to deal with terrorism in country

    Khawaja Asif supports phone tapping to deal with terrorism in country

    Defense Minister Khawaja Asif strongly supports intelligence agencies tapping the phones of citizens, stressing that it is necessary at the moment to fight terrorism in the country.

    On the other hand, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Omar Ayub criticized tapping citizens’ mobile phones.

    “We are in the midst of war against terrorism. I will support phone tapping in the current situation,” the Defense Minister told Arab News.

    “When Imran Khan was on good terms with the establishment, every legitimate and illegitimate thing seemed acceptable to him. Today, his followers find the same thing hateful,” Khawaja Asif pointed out.

  • No WhatsApp call; court rejects Imran Khan’s petition to talk to his sons

    No WhatsApp call; court rejects Imran Khan’s petition to talk to his sons

    A Rawalpindi court has rejected incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s petition for weekly WhatsApp call with his sons, as reported by ARY News on Monday.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan had submitted a plea to talk with his sons on WhatsApp once a week.

    However, jail authorities didn’t allow Khan to talk to his sons, explaining that they can’t allow prisoners to speak with their relatives via WhatsApp.

    A court, established under the Official Secret Act, had previously allowed former Prime Minister to talk to his sons on the phone twice a month.

  • Court orders removal of Parvez Elahi’s name from no-fly list

    Court orders removal of Parvez Elahi’s name from no-fly list

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) has granted significant relief to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Parvez Elahi by directing the removal of his name from the Passport Control List (PCL), as reported by ARY News on Monday.

    Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza of the LHC issued the verdict in response to a filed petition. Justice Mirza also instructed the removal of the names of Elahi’s son, Rasikh Elahi, and daughter-in-law, Zara Elahi, from the PCL.

    Earlier, Parvez Elahi had submitted a plea requesting the removal of his name from the PCL to facilitate his international travel.

    On May 21, Parvez Elahi was released from jail after spending a year behind bars.

    Following his release, the veteran politician stated, “I am thankful to Allah for giving me the courage to remain steadfast. I am also grateful to the judges who upheld the truth and supported me.”