Tag: Top News

  • Girls’ school in Bannu set on fire by terrorists

    Girls’ school in Bannu set on fire by terrorists

    A girls’ school in district Bannu’s Meryan Tehsil was set on fire on Friday night in what is being perceived as a terrorist attack amid an increase in militancy in the tribal region.

    The terrorists targeted the Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Kotka Mumbati Barakzai, inflicting significant damage on the building. The school’s science lab was turned to ashes.

    The miscreants stole solar panels and other items and vandalised the school’s boundary wall as well. They also wrote threatening messages near the main gate, warning of additional attacks if the school tried to resume classes.

    Police officials collected evidence from the site, kicking off an investigation into the terror act, District Police Officer Iftikhar Khan told Geo News.

    Schools in the district are currently closed due to the winter break. Meanwhile, the incident marks the first instance of a school being set on fire in Bannu following the upswing in militant attacks which came after the end of the ceasefire with the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan last year.

    However, this is not the first time this year that a girls’ school has been targeted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In May 2023, two girls’ schools were blown up by terrorists in the North Waziristan district.

    The attack came after Islamabad initiated a new offensive against terrorists in response to a surge in attacks, including a destructive mosque bombing that claimed over 100 lives in February this year.

    Historically, the TTP extremists have prohibited female education in areas that came under their control in the province.

    But the country has, regardless, seen a return of terrorism in the form of targeted attacks by terrorists, particularly since late 2022. This year, however, the terror attacks witnessed a surge in militancy, particularly suicide attacks that reached the highest level since 2014.

  • ‘Social media is being used to create environment of chaos,’ says General Asim Munir

    ‘Social media is being used to create environment of chaos,’ says General Asim Munir

    In a recent address at the National Farmers Convention in Islamabad, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir expressed concern over the rampant spread of fabricated claims against the state of Pakistan on social media.

    “Social media is being used to create an environment of chaos, despair, and panic. Through fake news, an impression is being created that the state is losing its [writ],” the army chief said in an address to the National Farmers Convention in Islamabad on Friday.

    Pakistan, like many other nations, is grappling with the challenge of fake news on social media, where unfounded reports fueled by emotional appeals are spreading rapidly and contributing to societal divisions. A detailed report earlier this year by EU DisinfoLab revealed that Indian media outlets were involved in a smear campaign against Pakistan, quoting non-existent organizations, journalists, and bloggers.

    COAS Munir highlighted that such smear campaigns are not limited to external actors, as investigations have revealed the involvement of the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in using state resources to spread false propaganda against state institutions.

    Addressing the farmers, COAS Munir addressed the rumors and negative impressions being spread about Pakistan. He emphasized the historical significance of Pakistan, stating that it is founded on the principles of the Kalima, with divine backing for the country.

    COAS Munir reminded the audience of Pakistan’s abundant resources, including glaciers, rivers, mountains, and fertile land producing world-class rice, fruits, and valuable minerals like granite, gold, and copper.

    He lamented that Pakistan, once one of the fastest-growing countries in Asia in the 1960s, witnessed a decline due to forgetting the golden principles of faith, unity, and discipline advocated by the Quaid-i-Azam.

    Moving forward, COAS Munir discussed the Green Pakistan Initiative, highlighting its focus on boosting agriculture. He assured that a major chunk of the initiative’s income will go to the provinces, while the rest will be kept for farmers and agricultural research, he said, noting that the “role of the army in this is only to serve the people and farmers”.

    COAS Munir pledged to ensure easy agricultural credit, a cold storage chain, climate change-resistant seeds, and genetically engineered livestock for farmers.

  • ‘They believe women are queens’, Israeli hostage on Hamas

    ‘They believe women are queens’, Israeli hostage on Hamas

    A mother-daughter duo held hostage by Hamas for 52 days have opened up about their experience in captivity, detailing the “queen-like” treatment they received.

    Hin and Ajam, mother and daughter respectively, detail their experience during the time of their captivity in an interview. From keeping them together and not separating them, to the smallest details of daily life, they explain how Hamas militants were respectful to them as women and took every precaution to make them comfortable.

    Ajam recounts how she arm-wrestled with the fighters, stressing that they maintained distance and avoided physical contact by wrapping a towel around their arms.

    Upon asking why was that, they instantly replied it was forbidden for them to touch women.
    “For them women are sacred. Women are like queens,” she asserted.

    Moreover, Ajam shared how they sweetly named her “Salsabeel” which means “water” in Arabic and it is mentioned in the Quran. It was synonymous to her original name Ajam which means “lake” in Hebrew.

    The two of them were kept in an apartment along with two children and were given best possible facilities.

  • Murad Saeed’s papers rejected; Imran Khan to pay two lac fine

    Murad Saeed’s papers rejected; Imran Khan to pay two lac fine

    The Returning Officer (RO) for NA-4 on Friday rejected the nomination papers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Murad Saeed as the candidate was on the absconder’s list.

    Murad Saeed has been absconding since the May 9 incidents.

    PTI’s lawyer has said that he has completed all the documents required by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and will appeal against the verdict in Peshawar High Court (PHC).

    Meanwhile, the Provincial election commissioner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has directed returning officers across different districts to recover unpaid fines from various political leaders, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan, as per Dawn.

    These fines, imposed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), are under scrutiny as part of the nomination paper review process for the upcoming February 8 elections.

    A letter dated December 28, issued by the provincial election commissioner and obtained by Dawn.com, reveals that a total of 62 political figures from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab have outstanding fines ranging from Rs5,000 to Rs50,000.

    The fines are linked to violations committed during election campaigns, with the severity of the violations determining the penalty amount.

    According to the letter, Imran Khan faces a substantial debt of Rs200,000 to the ECP, making him the highest debtor on the list.

    The former premier allegedly committed four separate violations in March 2022, each resulting in a fine of Rs50,000. Notably, these violations occurred just a month before Imran Khan’s removal through a parliamentary vote.

    Other prominent figures on the list include former Chief Minister of KP Mahmood Khan, who owes Rs150,000 for three violations, and ex-federal minister Murad Saeed, facing a fine of Rs100,000 for two violations.

    Several members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-P) are also included, with outstanding amounts ranging from Rs50,000.

    The ECP letter states, “Candidates and public office holders [in the past] violated the code of conduct during election campaigns of various previous elections… fines were imposed upon them under Section 234 sub-section (3) of the Election Act 2017.”

    It further notes that some individuals failed to deposit the fines and others filed appeals that were rejected by the ECP.

    The competent authority has directed returning officers to share the list of defaulters and ensure the recovery of unpaid fines during the scrutiny of nomination papers. The deadline for scrutinizing nomination papers is December 30, with the process commencing on December 24.

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said on Friday that it will display the final list of the candidates’ list on January 23 (Tuesday).

    According to the electoral watchdog, the candidates will be able to withdraw their nomination papers until Monday, January 22.

    The ECP is expected to display the candidate list on January 20. The appellate tribunals will decide on the appeals until January 19.

    The appeals against RO’s verdict on the special seats can be filed until January 16.

    The electoral watchdog had revised the election schedule for the special seats. The scrutiny of the nomination papers of women and minorities candidates will continue until January 13.

  • Law for showbiz children drafted by Sindh Ministry of Culture

    The Sindh Ministry of Culture has drafted legislation to prevent children in the entertainment industry from working during school hours, reports the Express Tribune.

    Dr. Junaid Ali Shah, the interim culture minister, highlighted the importance of ensuring young artists balance work and education. The proposed law, the Children Drama Industry Ordinance, and Sindh Actor Royalty Ordinance, outlines regulations for children’s working hours, restricting their engagement during school hours and late-night shoots.

    It is important to note that in India, the work of child actors is dealt with under child labour laws. The producers are required to fulfill certain conditions to work with child labours.

  • Canal and wuzu water to be used to sprinkle on roads

    Canal and wuzu water to be used to sprinkle on roads

    The Lahore High Court has directed the Water And Sanitation Agency (WASA) to use stored canal and ablution water for sprinkling the roads to combat dust, reports Geo.

    Justice Shahid Karim of Lahore High Court heard petitions for remedying smog, in which federal government’s lawyer Asad Bajwa. appeared in the court.

    During the hearing, the court said that in light of the commission’s report, WAPDA should take immediate action against the industries, the stored water of the canal, and ablutions should be used for sprinkling the roads. If not, WASA will be responsible for violating the court orders.
    The court said that keep things simple and not make things difficult, set new resolutions and targets for the new year, in the new year we have to commit to keeping the environment of the world clean.

  • In pictures: Most iconic photos of 2023

    In pictures: Most iconic photos of 2023

    Pictures open a window into the past, document the present, and predict the future.

    Here we present to you some of the most iconic clicks of the year 2023, providing us a chance to have a glimpse into legendary moments captured by the lens of AFP photographers.

    This underwater picture shows a surfer riding a wave at Teahupo’o in Tahiti, French Polynesia on August 11, 2023, during the WSL Shiseido Tahiti pro surfing event.Teahupo’o will host the surfing event of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

    This Photo was clicked by Ben Thouard / AFP.

    US’ Simone Biles competes on the Balance Beam in the Women’s Team Final during the 52nd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, in Antwerp, northern Belgium, on October 4, 2023.

    This photo was clicked by Lionel Bonaventure / AFP.

    SpaceX’s Starship rocket launches from Starbase during its second test flight in Boca Chica, Texas, on November 18, 2023. SpaceX on November 18, 2023, carried out the second test launch of Starship, the largest rocket ever built that Elon Musk hopes will one day colonize Mars, while NASA awaits a modified version to land humans on the Moon. It comes after a first attempt to fly the spaceship in its fully-stacked configuration back in April ended in a spectacular explosion over the Gulf of Mexico.

    This photo was clicked by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP.

    This handout image provided courtesy of Josh Lease on September 3, 2023, shows a rainbow over flooding on a desert plain on September 1, 2023, after heavy rains turned the annual Burning Man festival site in Nevada’s Black Rock desert into a mud pit. Tens of thousands of drenched festivalgoers were stranded on September 3, 2023, in deep, sticky mud in the Nevada desert after torrential rain turned the annual Burning Man gathering into a quagmire. All events at the counterculture festival, which drew some 70,000 people, were canceled after rain tore down structures for dance parties, art installations, and other eclectic entertainment.

    This photo was taken by Josh Lease / UGC / AFP.

    Humanoid AI robot “Ameca” looks on at the booth of Engineered Arts company during the world’s largest gathering of humanoid AI Robots as part of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, on July 5, 2023. The United Nations is convening this week a global gathering to try to map out the frontiers of artificial intelligence and to harness its potential for empowering humanity, hoping to lay out a clear blueprint on the way forward for handling AI, as development of the technology races ahead the capacity to set its boundaries.

    This photo was taken by Fabrice Coffrini / AFP.

    Muslims pray at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi on April 17, 2023, during Laylat al-Qadr, one of the holiest nights during the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

    This photo was taken by Karim SAHIB / AFP.

    This photo taken on December 2, 2023, shows pandas eating inside their enclosure at a zoo in China’s southwestern Chongqing municipality.

    This photo is by AFP.

  • Govt withdraws NOC for fund-raising event for Shaukat Khanum

    Govt withdraws NOC for fund-raising event for Shaukat Khanum

    The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration has revoked the No-Objection Certificate (NOC) granted to the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust, prohibiting them from hosting a fundraising event at a local hotel in Islamabad.

    The event, scheduled for Friday, aimed to gather support for the construction of a cancer facility in Karachi.

    The NOC, initially issued by the district administration, was withdrawn without providing any reasons for the sudden decision.

    The fundraising gala dinner, featuring a musical concert, was intended to generate funds for the development of the largest cancer treatment facility in the country.

    Despite efforts by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Faisal Sultan and other officials to secure permission, their attempts proved unsuccessful.

    The Shaukat Khanum Hospital official emphasized that the fundraising initiative was non-political and solely aimed at charitable purposes.

    Despite efforts to seek clarity on the reasons behind the NOC cancellation, the hospital administration formally announced the cancellation of the fundraising gala dinner late on Thursday.

    They cited “unavoidable reasons” for the cancellation and assured that a new date for the event would be announced soon.

    Social Media users started a trend on X (former Twitter) “Shaukat Khanum” and started urging people to donate online.

    “I’ve just made a donation to SKMH. I request all Pakistanis to do the same, even if it’s just a few Rupees. Let’s raise more money than the fundraising event canceled or refused for Shaukat Khanum. Save this hospital. Kindly share the screenshots.”

    “#SMS 7770
    Strong reaction to the cancellation of the permission of Shaukat Khanum Hospital Karachi,s Fundraising event by the caretaker government. Now social media users launched a compaign to send SMS to 7770.”

  • Why is ‘1 YEAR OF MEERASIM IN TEREBIN’ tending on Twitter?

    Why is ‘1 YEAR OF MEERASIM IN TEREBIN’ tending on Twitter?

    Tere Bin has gained immense popularity, winning the hearts of millions worldwide. Its engaging storyline and outstanding performances have made a lasting impact on audiences, creating a remarkable presence in the entertainment landscape. As the highly popular drama nears its conclusion, fans are preparing to bid a bittersweet farewell to the beloved characters of Murtasim and Meerab.

    To celebrate anniversary of Tere Bin season one, the star of the show Wahaj Ali. took to Instagram and announced,

    Alhamdulillah the most awaited announcement of the year is finally here… Your all time favourite couple Yumna Zaidi & Wahaj Ali the one & only #Yumhaj
    with their unmatched on-screen
    chemistry are back with a bang in Tere Bin Season 2…

    “Celebrating one year of Meerasim in Terebin” is trending on Twitter. Over 40k posts shared the love. Check out some tweets below!”

    “Yumna Zaidi recently marked one year as Meerub in the TV series ‘Tere Bin’ and expressed gratitude for the show’s success.”

  • PMLN says Peshawar High Court’s decision regarding PTI’s ‘Bat’ symbol is ‘pre-poll rigging’

    PMLN says Peshawar High Court’s decision regarding PTI’s ‘Bat’ symbol is ‘pre-poll rigging’

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has labeled the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) recent decision about the iconic bat symbol of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as “pre-poll rigging”.

    Last week, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) nullified PTI’s internal elections and revoked their bat symbol. However, on Tuesday, the PHC suspended the ECP’s declaration, prompting strong reactions from PML-N leaders.

    “Keeping in view the urgency, that a political party has been denuded of its symbol, meaning hearby that aspirants from the general public who were willing to vote for the petitioners’ party were divested of their right to vote as per their choice,” Justice Kamran Hayat Miankhel ruled.

    PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, while addressing an event in Karachi on Thursday, called the PHC’s order “an attack” on the election commission’s authority.

    “How can the Peshawar High Court give an order that affects Pakistan? There are candidates, who are in some way, related to the judge. I believe that the judge should have recused himself from the bench based on his relationship,” he said.

    The scales of justice, the former prime minister said, were being titled for a “ladla” (blue-eyed boy). “The kind of decisions that are being issued are concerning for us. We expect justice from the judiciary.”

    Reacting to the PHC verdict, PML-N senior leader Rana Sanaullah accused the court of engaging in “pre-poll rigging and attack on the ECP,” asserting that the ruling violated the Election Act 2017. Sanaullah claimed that the judge’s cousin, a PTI candidate, influenced the decision.

    PML-N Senior Vice-President Maryam Nawaz condemned the PHC ruling, describing it as an attack on the constitutional powers of the ECP.

    “The [PHC] judge gave relief to his cousin’s party.”
    In her statement, PML-N Senior Vice-President Maryam Nawaz blasted the PHC ruling and termed the single bench verdict tantamount to an attack on the ECP’s constitutional powers.
    “Fake and fraudulent intra-party elections [of PTI] have been declared ‘halal’. The ruling is the victory of the selection but not the election.”
    Firing a fresh salvo at the incarcerated PTI founder, Maryam, who is also the party’s chief organiser, said: “Those who seek a level-playing field are not ready to give the same to anybody within their party.”

    Reacting to the PHC ruling, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman told journalists in Islamabad that an atmosphere of “judicial martial law” was created in the country.

    In a separate development, the ECP filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the PHC’s ruling on the appointment of a returning officer for a provincial assembly constituency. The ECP questioned whether the high court’s order interfered with its constitutional and statutory duties, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the election process.

    The PHC’s decision to suspend the appointment of a returning officer has sparked legal challenges, with the ECP urging the Supreme Court to set aside the order for the sake of justice and the electoral process.