Tag: Top News

  • Senator Talha Mahmood’s dedication shines through in Hajj 2023 preparations

    Senator Talha Mahmood’s dedication shines through in Hajj 2023 preparations

    Good news for this year’s pilgrims, as Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Senator Mr Muhammad Talha Mahmood has announced that after his tremendous hard work the Arrangement for Hajj 2023 has been successfully completed and pilgrims who participated in the government scheme will not incur additional costs for their sacrifices. Senator faced alot of obstacles to achieve this but with a clear vision and dedication he made it happen. With the constant efforts by the Senator, Pilgrims who had previously paid extra costs under the government scheme have been refunded successfully.

    Mr. Muhammad Talha Mahmood ensured all arrangements and facilities for the pilgrims under his supervision by working day and night. After countless meetings, committee hearings, and several interactions, the Senator made it happen. Furthermore, Hajj assistants will be responsible for offering food, accommodation, transportation and medical facilities to the Pakistani pilgrims. They will depart to Saudia Arabia in different groups along with the pilgrims.If it wasn’t for Mr.

    Muhammad Talha Mahmood, these productive changes in the arrangements of the Hajj wouldn’t be possible.

    The Senator emphasized the crucial role of Hajj assistants, who will accompany pilgrims in different batches to Saudi Arabia. These assistants have been entrusted with the responsibility of providing essential services such as food, accommodation, transportation, and medical facilities to the Pakistani pilgrims. Their presence and expertise will help alleviate any concerns pilgrims may have, allowing them to focus solely on their spiritual journey.

    Pakistan has been granted a quota of 179,000 pilgrims for this year’s Hajj. Among them, 85,000 pilgrims will perform Hajj in the public sector, while 89,000 will do so in the private sector. This allocation signifies the significance Pakistan holds in the global Muslim community, as well as the Senator’s commitment to ensuring that a broad spectrum of pilgrims can benefit from the government’s initiatives.

    Another initiative was taken by the Senator for the convenience of the Hajj pilgrims. Pilgrims leaving from Pakistan will be able to do the immigration at their respective airports. This will allow the official Hajj pilgrims to save time after arriving in the kingdom as they would be fulfilling all the immigration requirements at the airport of origin.

    Furthermore, the Senator has launched a complaint portal for all the participants where they can easily file complaints or make any suggestions. This new initiative was funded by the Senator personally, to efficiently solve, manage and receive the complaints. More than 10,000 complaints by Pilgrims were registered on the portal already and they were solved efficiently by

    the Senator. The senator emphasized that any negligence done by the pilgrim’s assistants would not be tolerated.

  • Nawaz Sharif gets duplicate BA degree from PU

    Nawaz Sharif gets duplicate BA degree from PU

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has received a duplicate graduate degree from The Punjab University (PU), Geo has reported.

    The degree was issued by the examination department of the university, upon the request of the former prime minister.

    Punjab University’s examination branch issued Nawaz’s duplicate degree of Bachelor of Arts (BA).

    The former premier filed for his duplicate bachelor’s degree through a third person, a PU official revealed on condition of anonymity.

    He said that a fee of Rs 2,990 for the degree was submitted on June 7 in the university’s bank account. The degree was issued after following the due process.

  • Could not travel from Lahore to Islamabad on short notice, Bushra Bibi tells NAB

    Could not travel from Lahore to Islamabad on short notice, Bushra Bibi tells NAB

    Former First Lady and wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, did not appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Al-Qadir Trust case on Tuesday, stating that she is unable to travel from Lahore to Islamabad so often on short notice.

    NAB has already called in former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the same case on June 15. It is expected that Imran Khan and his wife both will appear before NAB on the same day.

    Sources within NAB told Dawn that Bushra Bibi sent a letter to Chairman of the bureau in which she said it is difficult for her to appear on Tuesday as she received a notice just three days ago.

    Earlier, Bushra Bibi in a statement submitted to NAB on June 7, said that she is not aware of any “wrongdoings” in the trust’s matters and deal between UK’s National Crime Agency and Malik Riaz, a property tycoon. She further added that she is not involved in the affairs of trust and donations.

    In the same letter Bushra Bibi requested NAB to shift her hearing to a day later, as her husband Imran Khan was also scheduled to appear before the Islamabad High Court and an anti-terrorism court on the same day.
    Bushra Bibi, in her letter also said that she observes strict purdah and that is why she would like to be accompanied by her husband when she travels to Islamabad.

  • ‘Modern-day Goebbels’: Shehbaz Sharif says Imran Khan has perfected art of lying

    ‘Modern-day Goebbels’: Shehbaz Sharif says Imran Khan has perfected art of lying

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has on Wednesday scathingly responded to a tweet by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan referring to the events of May 9, calling him a “modern-day Joseph Goebbels.”

    Goebbels was the chief propagandist for the Nazi Party, largely blamed for creating the narrative that led to World War II and the Holocaust.

    Imran Khan’s tweet, posted on Tuesday, said that the violent events that took place on May 9 were pre-planned.

    “If there is someone who deserves the title of modern-day Joseph Goebbels, chief propagandist for the German Nazi Party, is none other than Imran Khan. He is certainly perfecting the art of lying. How convenient of IK to forget how he incited his cult followers to violence over a span of one year! He called the Army and intelligence leadership names, exploited the people’s emotions through slogans of ‘Haqeeqi Azadi’ & use of religious symbols & even administered oath of ‘Jihad’ to them,” wrote PM in the tweet.

    “As the State symbols & military installations came under attack at the hands of his goons, he refused to condemn violence, what to speak of urging the arsonists to stand down. His speeches & Twitter posts have enough evidence to refute his claims & establish a build-up to the events of May 9. As the facts have established so far, the PTI under his watch purposefully deployed violence as a policy. He can lie through his teeth. History doesn’t,” he added

    The National Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution demanding action against May 9 rioters under the Army Act.

    The resolution was moved by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

    The resolution demanded that all individuals involved in May 9 riots must immediately face legal repercussions, adding that members of the same party and its leaders were separating themselves from May 9 events.

  • Use of Army Act against civilians: US urges Pakistan to respect democratic principles

    United States (US) State Department spokesman Matthew Miller on Tuesday urged Pakistani authorities to respect democratic principles and rule of law.

    “We are aware of the reports concerning civilians who will face military trials for their suspected involvement in the May 9th protest,” Miller told reporters

    He added that the authorities were in regular contact with Pakistan’s officials at the highest level for human rights, democracy, projection of journalists and rule of law, for these were priorities for the United States.

    While answering a question about Pakistan buying crude oil from Russia, Miller said that we have been very clear that each country has to make its own choices based on its own circumstances.

    The National Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution demanding action against May 9 rioters under the Army Act.
    The resolution was moved by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

    The resolution demanded that all individuals involved in May 9 riots must immediately face legal repercussions, adding that members of the same party and its leaders were separating themselves from May 9 events.

  • Budget, May 9 top agendas during PM-COAS meeting

    Budget, May 9 top agendas during PM-COAS meeting

    Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday at PM house, right after the presentation of the federal budget, DAWN has reported.

    The National Assembly later passed a resolution right after the meeting that demands instant prosecution of the miscreants involved in the May 9 attack on state and military installations under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952.

    No communication about the meeting has been released but according to sources close to the Prime Minister, he did meet the COAS.

    Reportedly, the Geberal said that there will be no mercy for the planners, instigators and motivators involved in the May 9 riots and their cases will be tried under the Army Act. The meeting between the PM and COAS is also considered important in the backdrop of the recent fiscal budget presentation.

    In a tweet, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said, despite the domestic and global obstacles, budget 2023-2024 promises to turn things around and shape an unobstructed path for the country.

  • Bilawal Bhutto expresses sorrow over death of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has expressed sorrow over the death of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
    “Saddened to learn that former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has passed away. I extend my sincere condolences to his family, loved ones and the people of Italy.” wrote Bilawal.

    Silvio Berlusconi passed away on Monday at the age of 86. As per CNN, he was long regarded as Italy’s most colorful public figure. He was elected prime minister three times and served for a total of nine years, longer than anyone since fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.

    He was nicknamed “Il Cavaliere” (The Knight). He has been involved in different political, financial and personal scandals which landed him in court.

  • ‘How can I provide evidence when I could not register an FIR against Gen Faisal’: Imran Khan

    ‘How can I provide evidence when I could not register an FIR against Gen Faisal’: Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has addressed news reports about his appearance in front of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on Monday. Taking to Twitter, the former Prime Minister asked how could provide evidence against Major General Faisal Naseer when he was unable to register an FIR against him. Khan added, if the investigation were independent, he would prove that Naseer has been involved in crimes against citizens of Pakistan.

    “Firstly, I own everything what I said in the videos. Question is, how can I provide evidence when I could not register an FIR against Gen Faisal Naseer who I know was not only behind the plot to assassinate me (along with Rana Sanaullah and Shehbaz Sharif) but also in the cover up that followed where he sabotaged the JIT report which had concluded that three shooters were involved,” he wrote.
    He went on to add, “However, were there to be an independent investigation, I would prove that he has been involved in the worst crimes against our citizens.”

    Imran reportedly told the (JIT) that he has no proof that DGC Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Maj Gen Faisal Naseer threatened him and had no evidence to support his allegations against the military man.
    In the past, Imran asserted that Naseer had orchestrated an attempted assassination in November 2022, when Khan was shot at in Wazirabad, sustaining injuries to his leg. Khan also claimed that Faisal Naseer had a hand in the murder of known journalist Arshad Sharif.
    The former Prime Minister has used the term “Dirty Harry” many times in his speeches, referring to Naseer.

    The interrogation was done against the First Information Report (FIR )no 255/23 registered in Ramna Police Station. The JIT session was held at the office of Islamabad Police DIG (operations). The JIT explained the major points of the FIR while officials showed Imran Khan video clips in which he was accusing the DGC of abuse and planning his assassination.
    The following questions were asked from Imran:
    JIT: Do (you) own these clips?
    Imran: Yes.
    JIT: Do u have any proof of your allegations that you can present?
    Imran: No.
    JIT: Did Gen Faisal directly threaten you?
    Imran: No.
    JIT: Then why did (you) level allegations?
    Imran: Someone told me.
    JIT: Any proof or evidence?
    Imran: No.
    JIT: Why did you name DGI?
    Imran: He did a press conference.
    JIT: Have you met Gen Faisal?
    Imran: No.
    JIT: Who do you refer to as Dirty Harry?
    Imran: Gen Faisal.

  • JKT announces top tier: What positions did they hold in PTI?

    Jahangir Khan Tareen, aka JKT, has on Monday announced the designations of important members of his newly launched Istehkam-e-Pakistan party .

    In a tweet, Tareen said that Abdul Aleem Khan will be the President of Istehkam-e-Pakistan party, while Amir Mahmood Kiyani will be the Secretary General and Auwn Chaudhary will be the Additional Secretary General and Spokesperson of the party as well as the Patron-in-Chief.

    All three of these politicians held important posts in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) before they switched camps.

    In 2016, PTI appointed Aleem Khan as President of the party’s central Punjab chapter. Amir Mahmood Kiyani, an old confidant of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, was the federal minister of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination. Auwn Chaudhary, another figure thought to be a very close aide of Imran Khan’s, previously served as Chief Coordinator to the Chief Minister of former Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.

  • Exclusive: Maryam Nawaz’s new gold crown, gift ki kya price hai?

    Exclusive: Maryam Nawaz’s new gold crown, gift ki kya price hai?

    Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President, Maryam Nawaz was given a gold crown at a workers convention in Shujabad on Sunday. A video of her putting on the crown is being widely shared on social media.

    The video has left many wondering what is the price of the crown. As per The Current’s sources, the crown gifted to Maryam Nawaz weighs seven tola and is worth 15 lac 82 thousand.

    As per the source, another crown worth five tolas was also gifted to Maryam at the same convention.

    This is not the first time Maryam or any politrican has been given a gold crown. Maryam has received at least four crowns in gifts.
    Imran Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, Faisal Saleh Hayat and Sharjeel Inam Memon have also received crowns as gifts.