Tag: Top News

  • ‘Baloch protestors can stay in Islamabad, protest, or go back home. The choice is theirs’: IHC Chief Justice

    ‘Baloch protestors can stay in Islamabad, protest, or go back home. The choice is theirs’: IHC Chief Justice

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) raised concerns on Friday about the forced repatriation of Baloch protesters, who had experienced harsh police action the day before, back to their province.

    Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard a petition filed by Baloch protesters against unlawful detention, questioning why they were being “forcefully” sent back to Balochistan.

    “They can stay in Islamabad, protest, or go back home. The choice is theirs,” remarked Justice Aamer Farooq

    The police used brutal force on Wednesday night to disperse and detain Baloch demonstrators in Islamabad, who were protesting against enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings in their province.

    Over 200 protesters were taken into custody after encountering tear gas, water cannons, and police batons.

    The government later claimed that more than 90 per cent of the Baloch men and women in custody had been released, except for men “who could not be identified” by the police.

    However, during the IHC hearing on a petition seeking the release of detained Baloch protesters, it was revealed that over 50 Baloch women protesters had gone missing after police took action.

    The court instructed representatives of the protesters and their counsel to approach the Islamabad SSP (Investigation) to record their version and sought a report from the police.

    Petitioners’ counsel Attaullah Kundi and Imaan Mazari appeared before the court, explaining that the police had informed them that buses were waiting to take protesters back home.

    Kundi stated that the police chief had mentioned orders from the prime minister for the repatriation of protesters, and Baloch women were forcefully filled into buses. He further revealed that some Baloch students studying in Islamabad were also coerced into the buses.

    The court expressed displeasure and summoned IG Akbar Nasir in response. The police chief claimed to have arranged transport for the protesters, to which the court questioned why they were sent back forcefully. Chief Justice Farooq emphasized that the protesters had the choice to stay in Islamabad, protest, or go home.

    When asked how many protesters were in police custody, the IG replied that 216 Baloch men and women were at the Kohsar police station of which some had been sent on judicial remand. Out of these, 19 women were released, he added.

    Protesters at the Tarnol police station were released by the local magistrate while 162 detainees were sent on judicial remand, said IG Nasir.

    The court also asked about the number of women who were sent home, those released, and the ones staying at the hostel. It also directed the police chief to arrange a meeting of the women with their counsels.

    “You have to convince them that not one person is missing,” Justice Farooq emphasised.

    Journalist Hamid Mir and Ahmed Butt of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also provided insights during the hearing. Mir highlighted discrepancies in government statements, and Butt emphasized the constitutional right to protest in a democracy.

    The court directed the police chief to arrange a meeting between the detained women and their counsels and ensure transparency in the process.

    The IHC CJ further expressed displeasure over Wednesday night’s events, regretting the police action on protesters. “What kind of a society are we living in? Even if a common person is being unjust, public officeholders should always be careful,” he remarked.

    The court then instructed Kundi to oversee the entire matter and contact the IHC registrar’s office if there was a problem. It further said that all the women staying at the I-10 hostel be released.

    “I will issue a detailed order of today’s proceedings,” Justice Farooq said, adding that the next hearing would be conducted by Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb.

  • Dania Enwer shares valuable advice with fans

    Dania Enwer shares valuable advice with fans

    Actress and model Dania Enwer’s newest video is getting a lot of attention on Instagram.

    The popular star, known for her role in the ARY Digital serial ‘Adawat,’ posted the viral video on her Instagram, sharing her cheerful and lively side.
    “You healed the wounds on the rollercoaster called ‘LIFE’,” the text on the Dania Enwer’s video read. “Sometimes it is better to just let things be. Don’t fight for closure. Don’t expect people to understand where you are coming from. You chose to heal..instead of spreading pain. That’s strength.”

    The message encourages fans to stay strong no matter what challenges come their way.
    Enwer regularly shares glimpses of her personal and professional life on Instagram, and fans can’t get enough of it.

  • ‘I am more experienced than Barrister Gohar,’ Latif Khosa

    ‘I am more experienced than Barrister Gohar,’ Latif Khosa

    In a recent interview on Geo News’ program ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath,’ senior vice president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Latif Khosa, took a swipe at the party’s newly appointed chairman Barrister Gohar.

    Khosa expressed confidence in assuming a leadership role after Imran Khan.

    Directing criticism at Barrister Gohar, Khosa stated that the lawyer lacks the experience that he possesses. He emphasized his role as the senior vice president within PTI, positioning himself as a contender for leadership after Imran Khan.

    During the conversation, Khosa emphasized that, unlike the situation with Nawaz Sharif, the judiciary was not biased in favor of PTI.

    He highlighted the trial without jurisdiction in the Toshakhana case, stating that the punishment given was incorrect and could be rectified through a review order.

    Khosa asserted that the subsequent disqualification of Imran Khan by the Election Commission as a consequence of delaying the sentence was rushed, occurring within three days instead of the stipulated 30 days.

    He further stated that the basic rights of Imran Khan were being apprehended by the courts.

    Khosa mentioned that the situation is leading to uncertainty and keeping PTI out of elections means that the elections are not free and fair.

  • Pictures: Mahira Khan celebrates birthday with son, husband

    Pictures: Mahira Khan celebrates birthday with son, husband

    Newlywed Mahira Khan celebrated her birthday on Wednesday with her son Azlan and husband Saleem Karim, and the pictures have us screaming in joy.

    The superstar shared photos and videos of her 39th birthday on Instagram, looking happy and excited to be with her loved ones for the big day.

    Fans are loving the photos and videos of Mahira cutting the cake with her son Azlan.

    Mahira Khan got married to her friend, businessman Saleem Karim, a few months ago, in a private ceremony in PC Bhurban, attended only by close friends and relatives. Photos of the couple and the mother-son duo took social media by storm, with fans swooning over the romantic destination wedding.

  • Is Bilawal expected to shake ‘Takht-e-Lahore’?

    Is Bilawal expected to shake ‘Takht-e-Lahore’?

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has decided to challenge the Sharif brothers in Lahore, famously known as Takht-e-Lahore, for a high voltage competition in the metropolitan, Azaz Syed has reported for Geo News on Friday.

    The report states that the PPP chief has decided to contest elections from Lahore’s NA-128 constituency in Lahore, traditionally the stronghold of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), with the party securing a majority of seats from the provincial capital in the last many elections.

    Along with Bilawal, Hafiz Mohiuddin, and party stalwart Misbah-ur-Rehman will file nomination papers for provincial assembly seats in the same constituency, PPP sources told Geo.

    Bilawal is expected to file nomination papers today (Friday) as December 22 is the last date for the submission of nomination papers.
    Although several political parties PML-N have sought an extension on the deadline, no decision has been taken by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) so far.

    PML-N’s Mian Ahmed Subhan will contest elections against the PPP chief in the NA-128 constituency.

    Lawyer Salman Akram Raja from PTI is expected to compete against Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

  • Imran Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi get bail from Supreme Court in cipher case

    Imran Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi get bail from Supreme Court in cipher case

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday approved post-arrest bail for former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case.

    The PTI founder and vice-chairman were indicted in the cipher case by a special court established under the Official Secrets Act 2023 after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) declared their jail trial null and void.

    During proceedings today, the top court heard the petition against Khan and Qureshi’s October 23 indictment, as reported by Maryam Nawaz on Geo News.

    At the outset of the hearing, Justice Masood remarked that the indictment that was challenged was already nullified by the IHC on November 21.
    As a result, Imran and Qureshi’s Oct 23 indictments in the case also stood null and void, and the trial was conducted again.

    Justice Masood said that the fresh indictment will not be affected by the previous proceedings that were declared invalid by the IHC.

    At this, Khan’s counsel Hamid Khan argued that the trial was taking place on the previous charge sheet.

    Justice Masood said that the petition against the old charge sheet has become infructuous. “If you have an objection to the fresh indictment then challenge it in the high court,” the judge told the lawyer.

    To this, Hamid requested the court to wait for the Islamabad High Court’s decision today against the in-camera trial in the cipher case.

    Khan’s other counsel, Barrister Salman Safdar, said that Hamid had made amendments to his petitions, requesting the court to accept it as a fresh one.

    The court then adjourned the hearing on the plea against indictment while the hearing on bail pleas got underway.

  • Vin Diesel faces 2010 sex assault claim by former assistant

    Vin Diesel faces 2010 sex assault claim by former assistant

    Action star Vin Diesel has been accused of sexually assaulting his assistant in an Atlanta hotel room over a decade ago, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday. The suit is the latest claim to be lodged with courts in California, which has extended the length of time in which legal action can be taken in cases of alleged sexual crimes.

    Asta Jonasson said her first assignment after being hired by the Fast and Furious star’s company was to travel to Atlanta in September 2010 during the filming of Fast Five. There, she was tasked with helping Diesel leave a hotel in the early morning hours after entertaining multiple women in a suite, before paparazzi were alerted to his whereabouts.

    “Alone in the hotel suite with him, Vin Diesel sexually assaulted Ms Jonasson. Vin Diesel forcibly grabbed Ms Jonasson, groped her breasts, and kissed her. Ms Jonasson struggled continually to break free of his grasp, while repeatedly saying no. “Vin Diesel then escalated his assault,” the suit said, with the actor trying to pull down his assistant’s underwear.

    The suit stated that Jonasson fled to a bathroom, where Diesel pursued her, and forced her to touch him. He then pinned her against a wall and masturbated. The following day, Samantha Vincent, the actor’s sister and president of One Race, the entertainment company that employed Jonasson, allegedly called and fired her.

    “The message was clear. Ms Jonasson was fired for courageously resisting Vin Diesel’s sexual assault, Vin Diesel would be protected, and his sexual assault covered up,” the suit said. The civil suit seeks unspecified damages against Diesel, Vincent and their companies.

    Diesel’s lawyer Bryan Freedman said his client “categorically denies this claim in its entirety” and that there is evidence that “completely refutes” the allegations, according to a statement published by Variety. Representatives for Diesel did not immediately respond to AFP requests for comment. Jonasson has waived the right to anonymity customarily granted to victims of alleged sex abuse.

    The global #MeToo movement has seen powerful men in the world of entertainment punished for their abusive and predatory behaviour, starting with bombshell allegations against industry titan Harvey Weinstein in 2017 that led to his imprisonment on multiple sex assault convictions.

  • Mass shooting at Prague University by student leaves 14 dead, 25 injured

    Mass shooting at Prague University by student leaves 14 dead, 25 injured

    A 24-year-old student killed 14 people and wounded 25 at a Prague university on Thursday in the Czech Republic’s worst shooting in decades before authorities said the attacker was “eliminated”.

    The deadly violence in the city’s historic centre sparked evacuations, a massive response by heavily armed police and warnings for people to stay indoors.

    The shooting erupted at the Charles University’s Faculty of Arts, which sits near major tourist sites like the 14th-century Charles Bridge.

    “At this moment I can confirm 14 victims of the horrible crime and 25 wounded, of which 10 seriously,” police chief Martin Vondrasek told reporters after the shooting.

    All the victims were gunned down inside the building, he said. Media said at least some were the gunman’s fellow students.

    Vondrasek added the gunman, previously unknown to the police, had a “huge arsenal of weapons and ammunition” and that quick police action prevented far more serious carnage.

    Vondrasek said police started a search for the man before the mass shooting as his father had been found dead in the village of Hostoun west of Prague.

    The gunman “left for Prague saying he wanted to kill himself,” Vondrasek said. Police suggested earlier the gunman had killed his father.

    Police searched a Faculty of Arts building where the gunman was expected to show up for a lecture, but he went to the faculty’s main building nearby and they did not find him.

    “At 1359 GMT, we received the first information about shooting,” Vondrasek told reporters, adding the rapid response unit was on the scene within 12 minutes.

    “At 1420 GMT, the officers in action told us about the gunman’s motionless body,” Vondrasek said, adding unconfirmed information showed he had killed himself.

    Another murder

    Citing a probe into social media, Vondrasek said the gunman was inspired by a “similar case that happened in Russia”, without going into details.

    “At the moment, there is nothing to suggest any further imminent danger,” he added.

    Vondrasek said police believed the same gunman had also killed a young man and his two-month-old daughter in a pram during a walk in a forest on the eastern outskirts of Prague on December 15.

    The police investigation into the murder that had shocked Prague was deadlocked until evidence found in Hostoun linked the gunman with the crime.

    Vondrasek said no police officer was wounded in Thursday’s action.

    Police evacuated the building, using a concert hall across the street as a temporary refuge for the evacuees.

    Czech President Petr Pavel said he was “shocked” by the violence and expressed “deep regret and sincere condolences to the families and relatives of the victims”.

    Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the “lone gunman… wasted many lives of mostly young people”.

    “There is no justification for this horrendous act,” he added.

    The worst shooting since the Czech Republic emerged as an independent state in 1993 also prompted messages of support from across the world.

    US President Joe Biden sent his condolences, slamming the “senseless” shooting.

    “The president and the first lady are praying for the families who lost loved ones and everyone else who has been affected by the senseless act of violence,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.

    French President Emmanuel Macron also expressed his “solidarity” with the Czech people, as did many other European leaders including European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

    ‘No other gunman’

    Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said that there was no link between the shooting and “international terrorism”.

    He added that “no other gunman has been confirmed” and called on people to follow police instructions.

    Police cordoned off the area and asked people living nearby to stay at home.

    Prague’s emergency service said on X that “a large number of ambulance units” were deployed at the faculty.

    Though mass gun violence is unusual in the Czech Republic, the nation has been rocked by some instances in recent years.

    A 63-year-old man shot seven men and a woman dead in 2015 before killing himself in a restaurant in the southeastern town of Uhersky Brod.

    In 2019, a man killed six people in the waiting room of a hospital in the eastern city of Ostrava, with another woman dying days later. The man shot himself dead about three hours after the attack.

  • Boycott movement for Palestine loses steam in Pakistan; majority still supports, survey reveals

    Boycott movement for Palestine loses steam in Pakistan; majority still supports, survey reveals

    The latest survey by Pulse Consultants shows that the perception of boycotting products or companies supporting Israel has decreased in Pakistan.

    Three surveys conducted from November 5 to December 14 revealed that Pakistani consumers’ opinion of boycotting Israeli products dropped significantly from 83 percent in November to 60 percent in December.

    A Pulse Consultants survey found that 83 percent of a total of 1,224 sampled on November 5 supported the idea of a boycott, while the latest poll conducted on December 14 showed that only 60 percent of a total of 1,206 sampled supported a boycott of the products.

    According to the survey, boycott sentiments are relatively high in females who are decision-makers for domestic brands as compared to the males of Pakistan.

    The upper class and upper middle class are more in favor of boycotting than the middle class and lower class of Pakistan. The survey revealed that the most boycotted products are carbonated soft drinks, followed by fast food chains, chips and snack brands, juices, soaps, toothpaste, etc.

    A recent poll conducted from December 8 to 14 found that 60 percent of people supported the idea of boycotting products that support Israel.

    It is important to note that the boycott is part of an international campaign known as the BDS movement. It is to boycott, divest from, and sanction Israel, called BDS for short.

  • Was Ali Safina mocking Wahaj’s famous shawl scene?

    Was Ali Safina mocking Wahaj’s famous shawl scene?

    People worldwide went wild for Murtasim, the swoon-worthy role immortalised by Wahaj Ali in Tere Bin, and his iconic shawl. Regardless of what shenanigans were going on, the shawl always remained perfectly in place, capturing fans’ hearts. Wahaj Ali’s performance added to the shawl’s allure, making it a sensation, and people couldn’t get enough of it.

    Actor Ali Safina recently donned a shawl in a play, leading to accusations of him mocking Wahaj.

    Ali Safina played the comic role of ‘AK’ in the comedy drama ‘Fairy Tale in Ramadan’, in which he performed comedy while wearing a shawl.

    In an interview, Safina clarified, “I did not make fun of anyone, a comedian makes his own jokes. The drama was shot in the cold nights of December and I was feeling cold.” He said that he asked his female co-star to bring him a shawl or something and he just wanted to put a comedic spin on the drama. At the time he had envisioned Batman as his inspiration when he walked away with a flying shawl but it later became Murtasim’s signature move.