Tag: Top News

  • IHC puzzled by FIA singling out Imran, Qureshi in cipher case

    IHC puzzled by FIA singling out Imran, Qureshi in cipher case

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday questioned why the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was only specifically investigating former Prime Minister Imran khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi for not returning the diplomatic cipher even though others involved in the case have done the same.

    Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb gave his remarks during the hearing of appeals filed by both Khan and Qureshi against their conviction.

    Defence council Barrister Salman Safdar presented his argument that the concerned diplomatic cipher was sent to the top eight offices, including the president, PM’s principal secretary, foreign secretary, army chief, director general of Inter-Services Intelligence, chief justice of Pakistan and cabinet secretary.

    However, the defense argued, none of the mentioned recipients returned the diplomatic cable to the Foreign Office when the inquiry commenced in October 2022.

    The other recipients didn’t return the cable for over a year and did so only when proceedings were started against only the ex-PM and FM.

    Justice Aurangzeb asked for an explanation of this move by FIA, to which Barrister Safdar replied it showed “selective prosecution, political victimisation, colourable exercise of power and defective investigation”.

  • ‘Stop arresting journalists’; Supreme Court orders FIA

    ‘Stop arresting journalists’; Supreme Court orders FIA

    A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, issued a directive instructing the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to refrain from arresting any journalists until the next hearing of the suo motu case concerning the alleged harassment of media personnel.

    During the hearing, the lawyer for the Press Association of the Supreme Court, Barrister Salahuddin, argued that action was taken against journalists in the name of violation of privacy. The chief justice asked the lawyer how he would define privacy.

    Salahuddin said that the FIA had become accustomed to the misuse of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). He added that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had declared PECA’s Section 20 null and void. He replied in negative, when the chief justice asked whether the decision was challenged.

    Chief Justice Isa raised questions about the issuance of notices to journalists under Section 160 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) before the registration of any First Information Report (FIR).

    The chief justice pointed out that many times there was a pressure from the above, so the officials send a notice to ward off the pressure, yet no FIR was registered and no arrest was made. Under this notice, he added, they could call anyone as witness.

    In response, Salahuddin stressed the importance of providing comprehensive details alongside such notices and argued that notices should only be sent after the registration of an FIR. Chief Justice Isa, however, suggested that officials might be reaching out to individuals to ascertain information before proceeding further.

    The court adjourned the hearing until April 2, ordering the FIA to refrain from arresting journalists until then. Chief Justice Isa emphasized that the court would only invalidate legal processes if they were proven illegal, highlighting the need for clarity and adherence to due process in such matters.

  • Five May 9 suspects arrested again after bail from SC

    Five workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) involved in the May 9 riots, who were earlier granted bail by the Supreme Court, have been arrested again under 16 MPO (Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960).

    The MPO order was issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi after which they were arrested. Last night, they were released from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi after the suspects submitted their surety bonds.

    The five suspects — Owais, Saifullah, Nasrullah, Kamran and Waqas — were booked in the May 9 violence case registered at the New Tow Police Station.

    Scores of PTI workers were arrested across the country after the May 9 incident following the arrest of Imran Khan from court premises.

    Last week, a three member bench granted relief to five suspects and emphasized that authorities must differentiate who are the real terrorists. Their surety bonds were worth Rs 50,000 each.

  • Khawaja Asif says Afghanistan ‘source of terrorism’

    Khawaja Asif says Afghanistan ‘source of terrorism’

    Federal Minister for Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is unlike any other border in the world – terming Afghanistan a ‘source of terrorism’ for Pakistan.

    In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said, “In view of the increase in terrorist incidents, there is a need for a fundamental change in the border situation. The source of terrorism in Pakistan is in Afghanistan and despite our efforts, Kabul is not making any progress in this direction.”

    He also stated that Afghan authorities were aware of all the terrorist hideouts of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating against Pakistan inside their territory but cooperation from Afghans on this has been negligible.

    The Minister’s comments came in the aftermath of the unfortunate terrorist attack that claimed the lives of six people including five Chinese engineers in Shangla. More importantly, over the past few days a string of terrorist attacks took place including Gawadar Port Authority Complex, PNS Siddiqi naval airbase in Turbat.

  • Teenager muslim ‘hero’ credited for saving more than 100 in Moscow attack

    Teenager muslim ‘hero’ credited for saving more than 100 in Moscow attack

    A 15-year-old boy is being credited with saving over 100 people from the terrorist massacre at a Moscow concert hall on Friday.

    The teen, Islam Khalilov, who worked as a cloakroom attendant at the Crocus City Hall, quickly moved to open doors and provide exits when he saw a large crowd of people running from the besieged concert hall.

    “At first we heard some strange sounds on the first floor. We thought maybe some noisy group had come,” he explained later in an interview, according to the Daily Mail. “I understood that if I didn’t react, I would lose my life and the lives of many people,” he added.

    “We were shown and told where to send people if something happened. I knew where to take people to keep them safe,” Khalilov said.

    Islam recalled seeing one of the terrorists and how it scared him. “To be honest I don’t consider myself a hero. It was part of my job. It is better to sacrifice oneself than allow a hundred people to die,” the boy stated in a humble tone while talking to Al Jazeera.

    Russian children’s rights commissioner awarded Khalilov and 14-year-old Artyom Donskov-who was also working at the venue during the attack-with an official thank-you letter from the government.

    Russia’s Council of Muftis announced that it would award Khalilov with the Medal for Merit, the highest award of Russia’s Islamic community in the upcoming Friday prayer at Moscow’s Cathedral Mosque, reports The Moscow Times.

    At least 139 people were killed in last Friday’s attack. Russian authorities have arrested 11 suspects, four of whom they say were directly involved in the massacre.

  • Who was the famous actor providing the voice for iconic character Mera Sultan?

    Who was the famous actor providing the voice for iconic character Mera Sultan?

    In a revelation that has left fans astonished, renowned actor Farhan Ally Agha recently disclosed that he voiced the iconic character of Mera Sultan, the Turkish drama that was a runaway hit about a decade back. The disclosure occurred during his appearance on the popular show ‘Life Green Hai’ where Farhan shared intriguing insights into his diverse career.

    Turkish dramas have long held a special place in the hearts of Pakistani viewers, with titles like Ishq e Mamnu and Mera Sultan dominating television screens and captivating audiences across the nation. Mera Sultan, in particular, emerged as a sensation, drawing in viewers with its compelling storyline and engaging characters.

    While the show garnered immense popularity, one aspect that remained the unknown to many was the identity of the voice behind the titular character, Sultan. Farhan Ally Agha, recognized for his versatile performances in both comedic and dramatic roles, stepped forward to unveil this well-kept secret.

    From his notable roles in acclaimed series like Chupke Chupke and Tere Bin to his successful stint as a model, Farhan’s repertoire has consistently showcased his talent and versatility.

  • PM Shehbaz reviews security situation of Chinese citizens in high-level meeting

    PM Shehbaz reviews security situation of Chinese citizens in high-level meeting

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a high-level meeting on Wednesday to review the security situation of foreign nationals, particularly Chinese citizens.

    After a suicide attack on Chinese engineers in Shangla on Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for a high-level security meeting to assess and improve security measures for foreigners, especially focusing on Chinese residents in Pakistan.

    PM Shehbaz also reviewed the overall situation of the country, however, the main focus was on the security of Chinese nationals.

    Federal ministers, heads of security agencies, inspector general of police, and other relevant authorities also participated in the meeting.

    All the participants in the meeting condemned the suicide attack on Chinese engineers in Shangla.

  • ‘Less loneliness’; Hina Bayat talks about the choice to not have children

    ‘Less loneliness’; Hina Bayat talks about the choice to not have children

    When someone’s life doesn’t follow the usual path, people start asking questions. Actor Hina Bayat does not have children and when she was on Maliha Rehman’s show, she was asked about why she doesn’t have children. She was very open as always and revealed that “Yes , my husband and I always wanted to have children, but this was not in Allah’s plans. We were always enough for each other, and our life was beautiful and complete.”

    She also shared, “I might have more support today if I had kids and there would be less loneliness. But on the other hand, the children would be college age and I would have had added pressures. So, I am thankful to Allah SWT for not putting me under any pressure. She also spoke about Madiha Imam and Osman Khalid Butt who she has a close bond with and said, “they are like my kids.”

  • Is Pakistan’s spy agency allegedly interfering in legal matters?

    Is Pakistan’s spy agency allegedly interfering in legal matters?

    Calls to investigate the ‘Islamabad High Court (IHC) letter to Supreme Judicial Council’ gain ground as the bar associations of Sindh, Lahore, Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and many senior legal experts express concern.

    Why? Earlier, six judges of the IHC penned a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa expressing worry over alleged interference of intelligence agencies in judicial matters.

    The Sindh High Court Bar Association released a statement which said, “Interference in the affairs of the judiciary is tantamount to attacking the judicial system.”

    Similarly, the Islamabad High Court Bar Association condemned the alleged interference and reaffirmed its faith in the importance of autonomy of judiciary. “Public confidence in the justice system is linked to the independence and autonomy of the judiciary,” the bar said.

    Furthermore, Lahore Bar Association also expressed concerns and said, “Action should be taken against those who violate the constitution and law.” Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council also released a statement, “Interference in judicial matters is condemnable.”

    Meanwhile, the veteran legal expert and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Hamid Khan, commended the six judges for taking this ‘daring initiative’. He also said that this matter is significant and should be investigated in a judicial commission.

  • Performance matters more than who your father is, says Zaviyar Ejaz

    Performance matters more than who your father is, says Zaviyar Ejaz

    In a sincere and honest talk, Pakistani actor Zaviyar Ejaz, son of celebrated thespian Nouman Ejaz, talked openly about his time in showbiz, what he hopes for, and the difficulties he’s encountered. He had a chat with Independent Urdu where he talked about trying comedy and what he wants to do in future movies.

    Discussing his new comedy show called ‘Rafta Rafta’, the actor said, “I chose this project because I’ve never tried comedy before, and I was excited to give it a shot. Plus, it’s a short series, just six episodes, so I thought it would be a fun experiment.”

    Ejaz said he really likes trying out comedy and enjoys it, stressing how important it is to act in a way that feels real to people watching. He believes that real success comes from how viewers react to the performances.

    The actor explained his role in the show. He said, “I act as a guy who ran away from Lahore to Karachi because he doesn’t want to marry his cousin, and his mom is pushing him to. Now in Karachi, he lives with Saheefa’s character, Savera, who is his landlady. He’s broke and loves her, but she’s strict and proud.”

    When asked if he’s happy with his comedy acting compared to his serious roles before, Ejaz said each type of acting has its own difficulties and good parts. He mentioned there’s no real way to compare them directly. But he believes it’s important to feel good about each scene and make sure every moment feels real to the audience.

    He said, “When I look back at the last two years, I really enjoyed doing comedy. It wasn’t as tough as I expected. But we’ll have to see how it looks on screen. I always give my best in whatever I do. If it feels natural, that’s great. If not, people will notice.”

    He said, “If people enjoy seeing me in comedies and I get more chances, I’ll surely do it.” Talking about possible movie offers, Ejaz said he’s gotten offers, but he wants to keep getting better at acting and wait for the perfect chance to shine in movies. He’s ready to take on the challenge of moving to the big screen whenever the moment feels right.

    Talking about working with his dad, famous actor Nauman Ejaz, he said he was nervous at first but learned a lot from his dad’s professionalism and advice. He thinks it’s important to concentrate on doing a good job no matter what pressure or expectations there are.

    The actor shared, “I was scared because I was working with Nauman Ejaz. And there was no father-son relationship with him on set. He told me from day one that I am your colleague on set and I am your senior, not your father. So he kept that relationship with me and I worked on that.”

    He said the experience was “totally scary,” but he’s good at separating his personal and work life. “When I had to act with them, I had to stop thinking about our relationship and just focus on my character.” He said, “You need to block out distractions and concentrate on your job. On camera, no one cares about your personal stuff. If you do well, that’s what matters. It’s all about your performance, not your identity or who your father is. That’s what I think.”

    Ejaz said he wants to keep working with experienced actors to learn more. He might even play negative roles again because people liked his last one. He’s excited about what’s coming next.