Tag: Top News

  • Abdullah Shafiq ko hogya bukhaar

    Abdullah Shafiq ko hogya bukhaar

    Pakistan’s opening batsman Abdullah Shafique has contracted fever ahead of the national’s team match against Australia on October 20, team sources have told Geo News’s reporter Faizan Lakhani on Tuesday.

    As per team management, earlier Fakhar Zaman was suffering from knee pain, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usama Mir were suffering from fever, however, all three have now recovered.

    Reports state that the team underwent comprehensive medical examinations as part of the COVID-19 and dengue fever protocol.

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday rejected media reports that claimed several players have contracted an infection.

    “Thankfully, there is no viral infection or disease,” a PCB spokesperson said after reports triggered speculations.

    The team also changed their training sessions multiple times lending credence to these reports.

    “Those who are in the stage of recovery remain under the team medical panel’s observation,” the spokesperson added.

    Meanwhile, the team also rescheduled a training session after cancelling it earlier today.

    Pakistan team will have a two-hour training session at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium today (Tuesday) from 6pm to 8pm in Bengaluru.

    Assuring concerned fans, sources stated to Lakhani, “There is no concern about the health of players.”

    “Some players got fever in the past few days, and most of them have fully recovered from it. Those who are in the stage of recovery remain under the team medical panel’s observation,” said the Pakistan team’s spokesman.

    Schedule of Pakistan’s remaining matches

    October 20 – vs Australia in Bengaluru

    October 23 – vs Afghanistan in Chennai

    October 27 – vs South Africa in Chennai

    October 31 – vs Bangladesh in Kolkata

    November 4 – vs New Zealand Bengaluru (Day match)

    November 11 – vs England in Kolkata

    Day matches will start at 10:00am Pakistan Standard Time (PST) while all other matches will be day-night fixtures starting at 01:30pm (PST).

    Pakistan squad for ICC World Cup 2023

    Babar Azam (c), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, M Wasim Jnr, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha.

    Travelling reserves: Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed, Zaman Khan

  • Indian man to buy iPhone 15 with sack full of coins

    Indian man to buy iPhone 15 with sack full of coins

    A young man from India can be seen in a viral video, attempting to buy the newly launched iPhone 15, with a sack full of coins, while dressed as a beggar. 

    Dressed in a tattered vest and a lungi, the “Experiment King” conducted a social stint cum promotional video to see how shopkeepers react to his demand of buying the very expensive iPhone 15.

    Experiment King, as the man calls himself on Instagram, visits multiple shops in Jodhpur, where he is refused entry in some outlets while being judged by others. Eventually, one showroom accepts his mode of payment and the owner along with his associates can be seen counting the coins. The video ends with him getting pictured with the owner with the same phone bought by him.

    The video has garnered a plethora of reactions from netizens along 34 million views. Some praised him for bringing about a thought-provoking video while others criticized him for being over-the-top exaggeration. 

     Nonetheless, the video has managed to attract as much attention as it wanted. 

  • ‘Special relief’ to Nawaz Sharif; PPP expresses concerns

    The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has lifted up concerns about speculation that former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif will get “special relief” on his return to Pakistan on October 21.

    PPP’s Secretary General, Syed Nayyer Husain Bukhari, said in his statement on Monday that the PML-N supremo had been legally convicted by courts, stressing that Nawaz Sharif will have to face the law after his return to the country.

    “It is surprising [for PML-N] to hope that the judiciary will set a precedent of special relief for Nawaz Sharif,” he added.

    The PPP leader also said that the election is necessary for the prolongation of the parliamentary system in the country, demanding that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announce a polling date as soon as possible.

    “The PPP demands a level playing field for all,” he maintained.

  • Nawaz Sharif’s legal team all set to file protective bail

    Nawaz Sharif’s legal team all set to file protective bail

    Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s legal team is gearing up to file three petitions seeking protective bail in the Avenfield, Al-Azizia, and Toshakhana cases.

    These petitions are expected to be submitted to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) as per sources of Dawn’s reporter Malik Asad.

    It is pertinent to mention that Nawaz Sharif is set to address a public gathering at Minar e Pakistan on October 21, after spending almost four years in the UK for his ‘medical treatment’.

    Nawaz Sharif had previously faced convictions in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia references, along with being declared a proclaimed offender in the Toshakhana case, which is currently being heard in an accountability court in Islamabad. During his time abroad, he had been granted bail in these cases.

    The decision to approach the IHC for protective bail appears to have been influenced by prior instances where the court had granted protective bail to individuals who were declared proclaimed offenders, including Sharjeel Inam Memon, Arbab Alamgir, and Asma Arbab, without the requirement of surrender beforehand.

    Sources close to the proceedings disclosed that there would be at least two court hearings – one before Nawaz Sharif’s return and another where he would surrender himself before the court.

    Following this surrender, he would be required to pursue pending appeals against his convictions in the Avenfield Apartment and Al-Azizia references, as well as address the ongoing Toshakhana vehicle case.

    The Toshakhana case, previously put on hold under NAB amendments, was reopened following a Supreme Court ruling to revive corruption cases.

    In 2018, Nawaz Sharif was convicted in two cases – the Avenfield Apartments and Al-Azizia references. However, he was acquitted in the Flagship reference. The late Judge Arshad Malik, who presided over the Al-Azizia reference, later claimed to have authored the judgment under duress.

  • Imran Khan gets ‘more room’ in Adiala Jail

    Imran Khan gets ‘more room’ in Adiala Jail

    The cell of former prime minister and Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has been extended in Adiala Jail.

    According to sources, the jail superintendent, following the orders of Judge Abul Hassanat Zulqarnain, has extended the PTI Chairman’s cell from approximately 35 feet to 60 feet.

    During the hearing, the PTI Chairman also made two more requests for the provision of home-cooked meals and a bicycle for exercise.

    The judge, while conversing with Imran Khan, stated that the responsibility for providing meals in the jail lies with the prison authorities.

    The judge also ordered the jail superintendent to provide a bicycle for exercise under the jail manual.

    Imran Khan and the PTI vice chairman, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, are facing charges related to the alleged deliberate mishandling of a diplomatic cipher. The special court announced that PTI leaders will be indicted in the cipher case next week.

    Read more: Court postpones indictment of PTI leaders in cipher case

  • Asian Development Bank believes Pakistan is the “least ready” country for digital education

    Asian Development Bank believes Pakistan is the “least ready” country for digital education

    The Asian Development Bank (ADB) in its report titled “Toward mature digital education ecosystems, the Digital Education Readiness Framework”, has stated that Pakistan is the least ready country for digital education among the developing member countries (DMC).

    The report has highlighted major areas of improvement in Pakistan, including low internet connectivity, low fixed broadband speeds, high fixed line broadband costs and low rural electricity supply. Only 34.1 percent of households are connected with an internet connection.

    There is an absence of teacher training in information and communication technology (ICT) skills with a special focus on delivering online education. Pakistan has also the lowest shares of ICT graduates from the total pool of tertiary education graduates-1.1 percent- standing at the lowest among all 10 ADB members.

    However, Pakistan has surpassed all countries in its cable TV subscriptions coverage with over 482 subscriptions per 1000 persons. The country’s household TV coverage rate is at 62.8 percent.

    Six of the ten DMCs are in the “initial category of readiness”. They are Cambodia, Bangladesh, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan and Fiji in order.

    The other four countries in the “emerging category of readiness” are Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Uzbekistan.

    Fixed broadband prices play an important role in the ranking of these countries. While Cambodia, Indonesia and Pakistan are least affordable in broadband, Bangladesh, Mongolia and Uzbekistan are the most affordable.

    The difference between the model country’s normalized score and the highest-scoring country’s score is almost 45 points.

  • Court postpones indictment of PTI leaders in cipher case

    Court postpones indictment of PTI leaders in cipher case

    The indictment of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi occurred on Tuesday in the cipher case. The special court established under the Official Secrets Act postponed the hearing till next week.

    The hearing took place within Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, during which the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) provided the accused PTI leaders with copies of the challan submitted against them.

    The special court judge, Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain, postponed the indictment of PTI leaders until next week as the counsel refrained from receiving the copies of the challan in the last hearing.

    The FIA special prosecutor, Shah Khawar, Khan, Qureshi, and their legal teams were all present in the courtroom during the hearing.

    In the last hearing on October 9, the court shared copies of the challan with the accused submitted by the FIA.

    “The accused had refused to receive a copy of the challan at the previous hearing,” the FIA special prosecutor said.

    The PTI chief’s focal person on legal affairs, Umair Niazi, told journalists outside the Adiala Jail that copies of the challan were not given in the last hearing.

  • Approval of Al-Qadir UNIVERSITY was done in a hidden manner, even we weren’t aware that Khan took watches from Toshakhana: Farrukh Habib

    Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader and ex-federal minister Farrukh Habib announced his departure from the party on Monday, pledging allegiance to the Jahangir Tareen-led Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) during a press conference held at the IPP’s head office in Lahore.

    In a significant blow to the PTI, Habib condemned the May 9 riots, attributing the responsibility for the turmoil to former prime minister and Chairman of PTI, Imran Khan. He criticized Imran Khan’s handling of the political situation, alleging that the former premier fueled violence and instigated a confrontation against state institutions.

    Habib said PTI’s “war” with the state institutions was “not a war between believers and non-believers,” lamenting that the ex-premier brought the country to the verge of violence.

    The IPP was formed on June 8 by estranged PTI leaders Tareen and Aleem Khan, who left the ex-PM’s party after severe disagreements, while several Imran loyalists have also joined hands with them.

    “I wasn’t at my house for the past five months […] and for the last few weeks, I wasn’t even in contact with my family,” Habib told journalists.

    “Since May 9, we did not face the law and were away from our houses. For the past five months, I was constantly pondering whether I joined politics for this reason,” he said.

    During the press conference, Farrukh Habib highlighted a series of grievances with the PTI’s leadership, citing instances where he felt the party had deviated from its ethical and moral compass. He criticized the PTI chief for allegedly accepting gifts from the Toshakhana despite previously condemning similar actions by other political leaders.

    “I realised that we took our real struggle to the path of violence. We stepped away from Pakistan which was envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam,” he said.

    Habib recalled that the PTI government was ousted via a vote of no-confidence constitutionally, but regretted that the party did not wait peacefully after that. Expressing his perspective, he said the PTI should have opted for a “democratic struggle” and waited for elections.

    “But you opted for violent resistance. We have faced beatings as youth leaders but we never opted for a violent approach. We used to work so dedicatedly for our vision,” Habib said. “But if you look at that struggle and compare it with the post-May 9 violence, you will see a difference.

    “There were messages for people to take to the streets and their minds were hijacked. Their sentiments were provoked that Pakistan’s institutions are working against them,” he claimed.

    Habib stated that “a message of hatred” was run on television all the time and a “bullet approach instead of ballot approach” was taken.

    Habib’s decision to join the IPP follows a series of similar defections from the PTI in recent weeks, suggesting internal upheavals within the party ranks. The former minister’s remarks resonated with similar sentiments expressed by other estranged PTI members who have found a common cause in the IPP.

  • Bushra Bibi gets bail in Toshakhana, Al-Qadir Trust cases

    Bushra Bibi gets bail in Toshakhana, Al-Qadir Trust cases

    Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi has been granted interim bail by an accountability court in Islamabad while barring the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from arresting her in the Toshakhana and GBP 190-million Al-Qadir Trust cases.

    Bushra Bibi appeared in the court of duty Judge Raja Jawab Abbas along with her counsel Latif Khosa for pre-arrest bail.
    The interim bail was granted in exchange for bonds worth Rs500,000 in each case and the hearing was adjourned till October 31.

    ATC adjourns hearing on bail:

    The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) of Islamabad has postponed the bail hearing for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in three separate cases until October 24.

    These cases, two of which were registered at the Khanna police station and one at Bhara Kahu, require the court to carefully examine the details of each case. The court requested the relevant records for further review.

    During the hearing, Imran Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, appealed for the production orders of his client, emphasizing that the Islamabad High Court had reinstated the bail applications, making Khan’s appearance in court necessary for all three cases.

    Safdar asserted, “Don’t think you have the powers of an Official Secrets Act court also. When a bail application is filed, it is decided on merit. If the court thinks the production cannot be ensured today, then the hearing should be held tomorrow. Whether the client has to be brought by a helicopter or an armored vehicle, it is the responsibility of the prison authorities.”

    Responding to the concerns raised, Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain stated that if the suspect’s appearance posed a challenge, the court would prioritize the bail application where another case was scheduled for the following day. He emphasized that even though the application was for pre-arrest bail, the fact remains that the suspect is currently in jail.

    In response to the lawyer’s request to avoid conducting the bail application hearing within the jail premises the next day, the judge assured him that the appropriate relief would be provided as per the law.

    Cipher Case Updates:

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) has determined that the trial of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in a cipher case can proceed within the confines of Adiala jail, citing concerns about the leader’s security. Chief Justice Aamer Farooq made the announcement, responding to Khan’s plea challenging the authorities’ decision to hold the trial within the jail premises, under the Official Secrets Act.

    The court directed Khan to take up any reservations he might have regarding the matter directly with the trial court. Khan, whose government was ousted following a vote of no confidence in April last year, had sought for his trial to be conducted in a regular court, rather than within the jail’s confines.

    Citing security as a crucial factor, the court stated, “The jail trial is in favor of the PTI chairman in view of his security,” acknowledging Khan’s repeated expressions of concern about his safety.

    In a related development, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi also filed a petition in the IHC, challenging his own jail trial. He requested the annulment of the trial court’s order and urged for an open trial. The special court had set the date for the indictment of both Khan and Qureshi in the cipher case on October 17, after the copies of the challan provided by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) were shared with the accused’s counsels.

    In response to the developments, Khan’s lawyer, Latif Khosa, presented arguments highlighting the former prime minister’s concerns and previous legal history. Khosa emphasized that Khan had previously been sentenced to three years of imprisonment in the Toshakhana case, which was suspended shortly after. He questioned the legality of the jail trial, stating that it took place after the judicial remand and that the accused had not been provided with substantial evidence.

  • Six labourers in Turbat killed in terrorist attack

    Six labourers in Turbat killed in terrorist attack

    Six labourers, natives of Shujaabad, 50 kilometres away from Multan-were killed in their sleep in Turbat, Balochistan in a terrorist attack.

    The victims were all from the same family, including two brothers. They have been identified as Rizwan, Shehbaz, Waseem, Shafiq Ahmed, Mohammad Naeem and Sikander.

    The two survivors of the attack are Ghulam Mustafa and Tauheed.

    Earlier today, their bodies were sent to Multan via Quetta by the Balochistan Government. Caretaker Chief Minister Ali Mardan Domki was present at the Khalid Military Airbase to send off the dead bodies via helicopter, brought to Quetta from Turbat last night. He expressed condolences to the families of the victims and stated that, “Everyone in Balochistan is saddened by the killing of innocent workers”.

    The poor labourers were shot by unknown gunmen while they were asleep in an under-construction house, said the police. An investigation has been initiated.

    PM Kakar also condemned the “heinous act” and reasserted the Government’s resolve against terrorism.