Tag: Top News

  • ‘Faiz became zero after retirement,’ Khan stomps all over Faiz in a public breakup

    ‘Faiz became zero after retirement,’ Khan stomps all over Faiz in a public breakup

    Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, while talking with journalists on August 21 in Adiala Jail, dismissed allegations of maintaining ties with former ISI Chief Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed after his retirement, saying, “General Faiz was no longer a hero after his retirement. He became a zero.”

    Khan opined that there would be no point to stay in touch with Faiz after his retirement, Samaa TV reported.

    Furthermore, expressing concerns about Pakistan’s image abroad, he said, “I’m a former civilian prime minister, and my trial in a military court will tarnish the reputation of Pakistan.”

    “I demand that the army chief conduct the trial of General Faiz in an open court if the former ISI Chief is involved in matters related to May 9,” he told journalists.

    Security sources have responded to Khan’s demand of holding an open trial of former ISI Chief Gen Faiz saying, “Who is he to tell whether there will be an open trial of Faiz Hameed or not,”  Samaa TV reported.

    Sources also revealed that if Khan is put on trial with Hameed’s ongoing case, then “rest assured, it will be open.”

    “The whole world will then know what the founding chairman is doing and has been doing,” warned the security sources, according to Samaa TV

    Previously:

    On August 12, Pakistan Army’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), announced the arrest of former ISI Chief Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed for misuse of authority and stealing valuables from the owner of Top City housing society in Islamabad.

    The army issued a statement that an inquiry was conducted into the complaints in compliance with the order of Pakistan’s Supreme Court (SC).

    ISPR stated in its press release of August 12, “Several incidents of violation of the Army Act have also come to light after Faiz Hameed’s retirement and the process of Field General Court Martial has also been started”.

    Meanwhile, journalist Omar Cheema on August 12 claimed that when authorities raided the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretariat last month, they found evidence of former spymaster Lt Gen (retd) Faiz’s “role in facilitating PTI.”

    Omar alleged, “Gen Faiz was connected to PTI leadership and trained them to bypass intelligence agencies’ supervision because he was the inside man.”

    The journalist further claimed, “The problem that the army is facing is the involvement of its own people with PTI. And the leader of all these internal dissenters is Gen Faiz.”

    He stated that the founder of PTI, Imran Khan, was getting some facilities in jail that nobody could explain until now.

    Cheema claimed that the Top City Case in which Gen Faiz was found guilty was just for optics, while the real reason was his cooperation with PTI and Imran Khan.

    “This is a big setback for Imran Khan because his biggest supporter has been arrested,” said Cheema.

    He said this indicates where the relationship between the army and the PTI is going.

    Two days later, the PTI founder suggested that a judicial commission be formed if Gen Faiz’s arrest is related to May 9 events.

    PTI remained unusually quiet on the matter with Khan saying that it was an ‘internal matter’ of the Army distancing his party from Gen Faiz’s arrest.

    While talking to journalists in Adiala Jail, Khan dismissed all the rumours about his relation with former ISI Chief, saying, “I have no connections with Faiz Hameed’s arrest.”

    Khan also criticised this military’s treatment of Gen Faiz, calling him an “asset that was wasted.”

    He suggested that accountability is good but should be “across-the-board accountability.”

    Khan recalled that ex-army chief Gen Bajwa removed Hameed at the behest of Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif, and after that, a heated exchange occurred between Khan and Bajwa. Khan calls Faiz Hameed ‘an asset’ that was wasted.

  • Fazlur Rahman will not form alliance with PTI

    Fazlur Rahman will not form alliance with PTI

    Chief of Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rahman has denied that he is forming an alliance with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and said that his party will continue political activities on their own.

    While speaking to the media at Dera Ismail Khan, he said,
    “Our alliance experience in the past has not been good, so we will continue our struggle on our own.”

    He further stated, “We are talking to the PTI on an issue basis instead of entering into a political alliance.”

    Fazlur Rehman made it clear that the party is not hostile to the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) or Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

    The party led by Maulana Fazlur Rahman believed in launching an effort to achieve the rights of the oppressed people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, staying within the constitution.

  • Man allegedly involved in spreading fake news triggering UK anti-Muslim riots arrested in Lahore

    Man allegedly involved in spreading fake news triggering UK anti-Muslim riots arrested in Lahore

    In an interesting development, Pakistani citizen Farhan Asif was taken into custody in Lahore for being involved in spreading fake news which sparked far-right racist riots in the United Kingdom a few weeks ago.

    During the last few weeks, Britain witnessed dangerous, widespread, violent riots as a result of misinformation about the identity of the alleged attack that killed three young girls on July 29.

    The riots targeted immigrants, Muslim communities, asylum centres and numerous mosques as well.

    The UK police authorities said that they had arrested over 1,000 people in connection with the weeks-long riots in England.

    The Lahore police stated that the suspect was arrested in the DHA area of Lahore and handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cybercrime wing for interrogation.

    Geo News reported that the suspect works for a news platform based in Pakistan. He has already confessed to the interrogators that he once published a story on his news website that went viral.

    Background

    On August 8, BBC’s Marianna Spring reported about the involvement of a Lahore man in spreading misinformation regarding the Southport stabbing.

    The BBC report was followed by an ITV report stating that Farhan Asif was the owner of the website which misquoted the name of the stabber as Ali Al-Shakati and declared him an immigrant from Syria, who had arrived in the UK on a boat. Later, a UK court announced that the name of the teenager charged with the murders was Axel Rudakubana, who turned out to be a British national.

    ITV said that they couldn’t find out who is the real owner of the website but Farhan Asif has “a significant role in a network of news websites that have promoted falsehoods.”

    Dawn’s sources in Pakistan said that the person identified in the ITV report was a freelancer working for Channel3Now, which collects crime-related news from the UK and the USA and republishes the stories for the sake of clicks and advertisements.

    The BBC report also cracked down on people attached to Channel3Now and asserted that it was actually “a commercial operation attempting to aggregate crime news while making money on social media”. The analysis of the website also showed that all the the freelance writers were recruited from several countries, including Pakistan and India.

    The BBC report elaborated that there are “more than 30” people in the US, UK, Pakistan and India who work for the site, which usually recruits freelancers.

    According to ITV, Channel3Now regularly publishes sensational news stories under the garb of being an American-style TV channel.

    However, BBC quoted Kevin as saying that Farhan Asif in particular was not involved in the false Southport story, which the site has publicly apologised for, and blamed there UK based team for that.

    Wider disinformation network

    Even though the report speculated that the website had links with Russia, it could not come up with a proof for that. Marianna Spring stated, “I did not find any evidence to substantiate claims that Channel3Now’s misinformation could be linked to the Russian state. [A] person claiming to be from Channel3Now‘s management told me that the publication of the false name “shouldn’t have happened, but it was an error, not intentional”.

    Atika noted that there are chances of website be linked to Srivastava Group, an Indian company that ran a vast network of anti-Pakistan fake news websites, which was unearthed by the EU DisinfoLab in a 2019 investigation.

  • Imran Khan seeks help from UK PM Keir Starmer

    Imran Khan seeks help from UK PM Keir Starmer

    In an interview with British media outlet ITV at Adiala jail through his lawyer, former Prime Minister Imran Khan congratulated Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK) Keir Starmer on his election victory and sought help disseminating awareness of democracy being at risk in Pakistan.

    Founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said, “I urge PM Starmer and his cabinet, who assumed power through the genuine will of the people without any electoral manipulation, to imagine if their overwhelming victory was stolen”.

    “Picture a scenario where a party that barely won 18 seats usurped your mandate, where your party symbols were stripped, and your leaders were imprisoned or tortured until they switched allegiances or left politics altogether. Imagine homes broken into and women and children abducted in the dead of night.” Khan stated.

    “I am in a seven feet width and eight feet length prison which is usually allocated for death penalty perpetrators and terrorists,” he said, a statement that has been refuted by the government multiple times.

    “Surveillance is permanent, and privacy has been torn apart. Despite these hurdles, I am getting energy from exercise, prayer, and study,” Khan concluded..

  • Asad Qaiser apologises for Gen Bajwa’s extension

    Asad Qaiser apologises for Gen Bajwa’s extension

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaiser apologised to the people of Pakistan on July 20 for extending the tenure of former Army Chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    “I apologise to the nation for granting an extension to General Bajwa. It was a mistake that we deeply regret,” said Qaiser on Samaa TV.

    In 2019, former Prime Minister Imran Khan approved an extension of then-Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure for another three years in a notification which stated, “The decision has been taken in view of the regional security environment.”

    The former Speaker of the National Assembly admitted that the decision backfired on the party. Qaiser also hinted at starting peaceful protests if party founder Imran Khan faces a military trial.

    He further suggested that legal international avenues like the International Court of Justice (ICJ) could be explored if the situation arises.

  • 28 killed as bus carrying Pakistan pilgrims crashes in Iran: State media

    28 killed as bus carrying Pakistan pilgrims crashes in Iran: State media

    At least 28 Pakistani pilgrims travelling to Iraq for a Shiite Muslim ritual were killed as their bus crashed in central Iran, state media reported early Wednesday.

    “A bus carrying 51 Pakistani pilgrims overturned and caught fire in front of Dehshir-Taft checkpoint in the central province of Yazd on Tuesday night,” state television reported.

    “28 people have been killed and 23 injured so far with the possibility of the death toll increasing,” it added.

    Yazd province crisis management chief Ali Malek-zadeh told the broadcaster that some of the injured were in critical condition.

    “Of the 23 injured, six have already been discharged from hospital, while the condition of seven others is critical,” Malek-zadeh said.

    “The dead consisted of 11 women and 17 men,” he added.

    The Pakistani pilgrims were headed through Iran to Iraq to attend the Arbaeen commemoration, one of the biggest events of the Shiite calendar which marks the 40th day of mourning for Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed.

    Last year, some 22 million pilgrims attended the commemoration in the Iraqi shrine city of Karbala, where Hussein and his brother Abbas are buried, according to official figures.

  • Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck divorce after two years of marriage

    Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck divorce after two years of marriage

    Hollywood singer Jennifer Lopez has filed for divorce from actor Ben Affleck after two years of marriage, ending weeks of speculation of the fairytale romance ending.

    The duo, affectionately called ‘Bennifer’, have had a whirlwind relationship since the early 2000s, when they became engaged after Affleck gave Lopez an engagement ring featuring a 6.1-carat pink diamond.
    However, in 2003, the couple announced their separation. They both married other partners and had children.

    The two rekindled their relationship in 2021 and got married in July 2022 in Las Vegas.

  • Pakistan’s smash hit ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ to release in India next month

    Pakistan’s smash hit ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ to release in India next month

    The wait is almost over for Indian fans of Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan as their smash hit film ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ is set to release in cinemas across India on September 20, 2024.

    The Legend of Maula Jatt, released in October 2022, is a remake of the 1979 film Maula Jatt.

    The original film’s famous characters were Maula Jatt and Noori Natt, played by Sultan Rahi and Mustafa Qureshi. The first Maula Jatt was written by seasoned writer Nasir Adeeb and directed by Yunus Malik.

    The Legend of Maula Jatt cast includes Hamza Ali Abbasi, Humaima Malick, Ali Azmat, Gohar Rasheed, Faris Shafi, Nayyar Ejaz, and Shafqat Cheema.

    Two Pakistani films have been released theatrically in India in recent years. Both were written and directed by renowned director Shoaib Mansoor: Khuda Kay Liye in 2007 and Bol in 2011.

    Read more:‘The Legend Of Maula Jatt’ set to release in India?

    The Legend of Maula Jatt, the most feared warrior in Punjab, is portrayed as the legendary fighter with a troubled past who seeks revenge on him.

    The story takes place in a land where honour and vengeance determine their fates as they clash. The film was written by Nasir Adeeb and Bilal Lashari and directed by Bilal Lashari. In this film, Fawad Khan played the character of Maula Jatt, and Hamza Ali Abbasi played the character of Noori Natt.

  • ‘Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum’ tackles parental favoritism

    ‘Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum’ tackles parental favoritism

    Smash hit ‘Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum’ isn’t just a romantic fest, it also sheds light on a societal issue that often remains hidden: the undue emphasis on financial stability as a measure of parental affection. The series explores how this relationship impacts a family, focussing on the experiences of two brothers, Adeel and Mustafa.

    Before marriage, the show shows clear favoritism in the family. As the main provider, Adeel has a lot of say in family decisions, which creates an imbalance. His busy schedule excuses him from family events, leaving Mustafa to handle chores and family duties. Mustafa, who is always there emotionally and helps out, is often ignored compared to Adeel, whose financial success is more valued.

    The family dynamics shift after Adeel marries Rubab, the daughter of a businessman. When their father falls ill, Mustafa and his wife, Sharjeena, manage his care with dedication. However, the arrival of Adeel and Rubab changes the situation. Despite Mustafa and Sharjeena’s efforts, the mother’s focus shifts entirely to Adeel and Rubab, who are praised and asked for additional financial help for the father’s heart surgery. This favoritism highlights the mother’s bias towards her financially successful son.

    Mustafa’s emotional well-being suffers. Despite his significant contributions to his father’s care, he faces belittlement from his mother, and his wife Sharjeena endures unwarranted criticism. The drama emphasizes the emotional toll of such favoritism, as Mustafa’s efforts are overshadowed by his brother’s financial success, leading to a diminished sense of self-worth.

    Sharjeena, Mustafa’s wife, provides a contrasting view. Despite facing resistance from her mother-in-law, she actively participates in household duties and tries to contribute financially. Her efforts challenge traditional gender roles and highlight the bias against women’s financial contributions. The disparity in how Sharjeena and Rubab are treated underscores the prejudices based on socioeconomic status.

  • Pakistan successfully tests Shaheen-II ballistic missile

    Pakistan successfully tests Shaheen-II ballistic missile

    Pakistan has successfully conducted a training launch of the surface-to-surface Shaheen-II ballistic missile, Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release.

    The military media wing stated that it aimed at performance evaluation of different subsystems incorporated for improved accuracy and enhanced survivability.

    The training launch was witnessed by senior officers from the Strategic Plans Division, Army Strategic Forces Command, scientists and engineers of strategic organisations. ISPR noted

    Moreover, President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and the three services chiefs congratulated the scientists and engineers on this accomplishment.