Tag: Top News

  • ‘Anybody but Dar’; Bilawal on next finance minister

    ‘Anybody but Dar’; Bilawal on next finance minister

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari told in Absa Komal of Dawn News in an interview, “I think the whole nation has a unanimous consensus that anybody but (Ishaq) Dar (should be the finance minister).”

    The former Foreign Minister also criticised his political rivals and said that the Sharifs are vengeful and not capable of dealing with the economic crisis.

    “They [PML-N leaders] aren’t the one to forgive. They harbour animosity, seek revenge, and balance scores at the right time. They only know the politics of revenge. This is their history.” He singled out Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head Nawaz Sharif for changing the then finance minister Miftah Ismail during the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government.

    The PPP chairman predicted that independent candidates will play a vital role in the upcoming polls set to take place on February 8, 2024.

    “A huge number of independent candidates are contesting elections this year. Not only PTI leaders, but even those who are electable and have a political history, or those who failed to get tickets from PTI or PML-N, are contesting.”

  • ‘Men should learn to change’; Talha Chahour writes heartfelt note as ‘Mannat Murad’ ends

    ‘Men should learn to change’; Talha Chahour writes heartfelt note as ‘Mannat Murad’ ends

    Fan favourite drama serial ‘Mannat Murad’ ended on Tuesday. It told the story of Murad, played by Talha Chahour, an only son, facing a lot of pressure from his family. This made it hard for him to spend quality time with his wife, Mannat, played by Iqra Aziz, who felt ignored and wished for a more equal partnership.

    Murad’s mother and sisters wanted to protect him, so they gave him many responsibilities, which affected his relationship with Mannat.
    The show showed how some Pakistani men say they love their wives but struggle to handle responsibilities in their relationships. They often rely on their wives to manage everything for them.

    After the show ended, Talha Chahour shared a thoughtful message on Instagram in a detailed post.

    He wrote, “As Mannat Murad comes to an end, I want to take a moment to thank the audience/fans for giving it plenty of love. I had chosen this character to address an issue that does not let peace enter our homes. Men should learn to balance and alter their ways to maintain balance in their relationships despite their conditioning that tells them otherwise.”

    Talha acknowledged the challenges men may face in maintaining a balance in relationships post-marriage, attributing it to their “conditioning and the fears of single mothers.” He emphasised that open communication is crucial to keeping everything in place.

    “I know it gets hard for only sons to fight the influence of their immediate families on their married lives, but with clear communication, a willingness to observe/accept the realities, and giving due importance (not more, not less) to each of the relationships, a boy can navigate through life’s problems. I understand that it is also hard for single mothers to trust the companions of their sons, they might get insecure as well. But, may be by giving a lil space and focusing on our individual lives, we can all play our due part to make HAPPY HOMES,” Talha noted.

    The actor also expressed admiration for his co-actors and the entire team.He thanked his co-actors, director, and producer for their support.

  • Former Principal Secretary to Imran Khan testifies in court

    Former Principal Secretary to Imran Khan testifies in court

    Azam Khan, the former principal secretary to ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, has testified that the diplomatic cipher provided by the foreign ministry to the ex-Premier had not been returned to the ministry by the time he left the office after a Vote of No Confidence.

    He told the court on Thursday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder kept a copy of the contentious cipher and later said it had gone missing.

    Five witnesses named Anis-ur-Rehman, Javed Iqbal, Hadayat Ullah Muhammad Ashfaq, and Azam testified before the court in the cipher case in Adiala Jail. The court adjourned the hearing till January 22.

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had previously booked Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi under the OSA, 1923, last August on charges stemming from the alleged misuse of a diplomatic cipher at the end of the PTI’s rule in March 2022.

    Imran Khan and Qureshi, currently detained in Adiala Jail, were present in the courtroom as Khan appeared to give his deposition.

    Both PTI leaders insisted that Khan swear on the Holy Quran before providing his testimony.

    Azam Khan took a solemn oath on the Holy Quran during the hearing.

    During his statement, Azam Khan revealed that, as Imran’s principal secretary, he was informed by the foreign secretary about a cipher telegram.

    His office provided him with a copy, which he later shared with the then-Prime Minister. Imran, in turn, informed Khan that Qureshi had discussed the content of the telegram with him.

    The cipher telegram pertained to meetings between the Pakistan ambassador to the US and American officials.

    “The former PM stated that American authorities had interfered in Pakistan’s internal affairs. He said it seems the message was intended for internal actors to change the elected government through a vote of no confidence.

    “The former premier retained the copy of the cipher with him and instructed the military secretary, DC, and other staff to look into the matter. He also emphasized taking the public into confidence on the matter,” he said.

    Azam Khan recommended a formal meeting with the foreign ministry and suggested having the foreign secretary read the message from the master cipher. The federal cabinet, after discussing the matter, decided to present it before the National Security Committee (NSC), which then issued a demarche on foreign interference.

    According to Khan, it is customary to return the copy of a cipher to the foreign ministry, but this did not happen in this case.

    “I informed the PM, the PM Office, and staff multiple times that the cipher copy should be returned, but it was not returned until I left my charge,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Interior Secretary on the petitions against the prison trial of Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case and the £190 million NAB references.

  • I’d be evicted if I tried to be ‘Mubashira’ in real life, says Ayeza Khan

    I’d be evicted if I tried to be ‘Mubashira’ in real life, says Ayeza Khan

    Ayeza Khan is one of the few rare actresses in the industry who can essay negative and positive roles with equal ease. But what if she acted like one of her negative characters in real life? Khan says that if she acted like them, her family would kick her out of the house.

    Ayeza is currently in London with other actors like Fahad Mustafa, Gauhar Khan, and cricketer Shahid Afridi. There’s a video going around on social media where Ayeza is answering questions from fans at an event.

    In the video, a fan asked her if she gets angry in real life like her character Mubashira in the show ‘Mein.’ Ayeza replied that if her husband wasn’t an actor, he wouldn’t be able to tell when she’s acting in a drama or being herself. She can’t be like her characters in real life, or she’d be kicked out of her house.

    Talking about her role in ‘Mein,’ she revealed that her son was scared when he saw her portraying anger on screen. She clarified that real life is different from TV shows, but as an actress, she tries to make her acting feel real. She may not be an expert, but she gives her best in every role.

    In ‘Mein,’ Ayeza Khan plays a married woman who remarries her friend to make her husband happy.

  • Pak-Iran tension will not affect February 8 elections, confirms ECP

    Pak-Iran tension will not affect February 8 elections, confirms ECP

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the caretaker government have said that the border clash between Pakistan and Iran will not affect the upcoming general polls set to take place on February 8, 2024.

    On a question regarding border tensions erupting between Iran and Pakistan, the spokesperson of the ECP affirmed that the upcoming general elections will be held on the announced date.

    “The ECP is busy in preparation for the elections, and there is no proposal or consideration about reviewing the election date because of the Pak-Iran tension.

    “We are working as usual and all set to hold elections on February 8,” he said.

    Caretaker information minister Murtaza Solangi said that elections will be held on time. He said that the Pakistan-Iran tension will not affect the elections and its schedule.

    When asked about the security requirements needed to hold the elections, the information minister said that the government will provide the required security to the ECP for the holding of elections in a peaceful manner. “There is now no backstepping from general elections on the announced date,” assured the minister.

  • LUMS student jumps off from 10th floor in Defence

    A 20-years-old man jumped from the tenth floor of a building in Defence B area of Lahore, killing himself instantly.

    Syed Musa was part of a group of about 20 boys and girls who were partying in a flat. Musa may have jumped in a state of intoxication, reports PNN.

    According to 24 Channel, Syed Musa had a fight with a girl during the party and then he jumped off from the fifth storey of a flat in a residential building, located at Penta Square in Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase 5 in Lahore. The disagreement escalated and in the heat of the argument, Syed Musa dashed towards the balcony and jumped off from the fifth floor.

    However, Express Tribune reported that whether it was an accident, murder, or a suicide, it is unclear. Musa’s father has registered a case of murder with the police.

    Syed Musa was a resident of Islamabad but was a student of B.Sc in Lahore’s LUMS University.

    Police have detained all the participants in the party and started an investigation.

  • American man asks for beer money, gets million dollars

    Daily Live Show host Ronny Chieng has shared a story of a man who in his words “went viral for the dumbest thing possible,” calling it a King Controversy.

    Carson King attended ESPN’s college game day carrying a poster “Busch Light Supply needs replenished”. He even added his original Venmo account title under the text. King thought this to be a joke that would attract a few laughs or even a little money. He was surprised when the money started pouring in as a huge number people sent him money. He eventually raised more than a million dollars in his account.

    King told the Daily Show that the episode started as a joke but then people from different states started sending him money.

    Ronny jokes that the man got a million dollars for beer and all he did was hold up a sign. “He did it on TV and he is a hero.” Had he (Ronny) asked for money like this, he would have been called a bank robber, implying how Asians are stereotyped in America.

  • Sindh High Court allows Zulfiqar Mirza, Fahmida Mirza to contest elections

    Sindh High Court allows Zulfiqar Mirza, Fahmida Mirza to contest elections

    The Sindh High Court has on Thursday allowed former interior minister Zulfiqar Mirza and his wife, former Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Fahmida Mirza to contest the general elections.

    The Court heard the constitutional petitions filed against the rejection of the couple’s nomination papers.

    Fahmida Mirza and Zulfiqar Mirza submitted nomination papers from National Assembly Constituency NA 223, while Zulfiqar Mirza also submitted papers from PS 70, 71, and 72.

    Both nomination papers were rejected by the returning officers, and an election tribunal accused them of being bank defaulters.

    However, the Sindh High Court approved the constitutional petitions of both candidates and allowed them to contest the elections.

  • World must be ready to fight ‘disease X’ : WHO

    World must be ready to fight ‘disease X’ : WHO

    Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr. Tedros Adhanom has said that Disease X is a global problem that we need to be prepared for.

    Addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the WHO head talked the next possible global epidemic, dubbed Disease X.

    The name was first added to the WHO list in 2018, before the emergence of Covid-19.

    Dr. Tedros Adhanom said, “You can call Covid the first Disease X and it may happen again in the future.”

    He acknowledged that some people will say that such a warning will spread fear, but pointed out that it is better to be prepared for everything because it has happened many times in our history and now we have to start preparing for the next epidemic.

    Dr. Tedros said that the world learned from the Covid epidemic how to deal with the next epidemic.

    WHO discussed plans for a global agreement to prevent future pandemics in 2021.

    The head of the WHO said in Davos that the agreement to prevent epidemics will be the most important to protect the world from future epidemics. So far, many countries could not agree on the terms of this agreement.

    Dr. Tedros Adhanom stated that the negotiations between the member states are going on and WHO expects the agreement to be reached in time. “If our generation does not do it, we do not think the next generation will do it. Because this is about a common enemy and without a shared response, starting from the preparedness … we will face the same problem as COVID,” added the WHO chief.

    Reminding his audience that the deadline for the pandemic agreement is May 2024, he said that he hopes countries will reach this pandemic agreement by that time.

    He went on to say that if this generation who has first-hand experienced a pandemic cannot do it, he does not think the next generation will be able to do so.

    “So for our children and grandchildren’s sake, … we have to prepare the world for the future,” added Ghebreyesus.

  • Murad Saeed is not contesting elections this year

    Murad Saeed is not contesting elections this year

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Murad Saeed withdrew from the general elections 2024 on Thursday.

    During the hearing of the petition filed against his nomination papers in the Peshawar High Court (PHC), Murad Saeed’s lawyer told the court that he had returned the ticket and he was not participating in the elections.

    The Peshawar High Court bench, comprising Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, Justice Aijaz Anwar, and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah, entertained a plea regarding the rejection of Murad Saeed’s nomination papers and subsequently rendered its decision.

    However, it was revealed during the proceedings that the petitioner had withdrawn the application, informing the court that the ticket had been voluntarily returned.

    On Wednesday, the bench reserved its decision on the petition against the rejection of the PTI leader’s nomination papers.

    Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim remarked in yesterday’s hearing regarding what the law says when a person is declared a fugitive and does not surrender before the law.

    When a person does not appear in front of the law, how can the papers be approved, he will be elected again and legislate, he asked.

    The Advocate General said in his arguments that when a person becomes a fugitive, he loses some basic rights and he has no right to vote or contest election.

    The court stated in its remarks that, “It will then be used as a weapon to prevent anyone from the election”.

    While reserving the decision on Murad Saeed’s appeal, the court declared the documents of Shehram Tarkai and Atif Khan to be correct in this regard.

    A three-member bench of PHC upheld the decision of the Election Tribunal and rejected the petitions against the approval of Shahram Tarkai and Atif Khan’s papers.