Tag: topnews

  • Sharing is caring, electricity relief shouldn’t just be for Punjab: Mustafa Kamal

    Sharing is caring, electricity relief shouldn’t just be for Punjab: Mustafa Kamal

    Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Mustafa Kamal, while addressing a press conference in Karachi, criticized the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) led government for announcing electricity relief only for Punjab.

    “Relief on electricity bills should be provided nationwide instead of only for Punjab,” he said.

    Kamal also rejected the electricity bill relief, stating that the PML-N is not only a party representing Punjab but should also represent the entire country.

    “These IPPs have already earned billions of rupees through their services, and the government should engage in dialogue with both foreign and local electricity-producing companies about the current economic situation,” he added, commenting on Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

    Kamal emphasised that IPPs, which have become obsolete, should be discarded immediately.

  • LHC summons PTA, federal govt and Information Ministry over internet disruption

    LHC summons PTA, federal govt and Information Ministry over internet disruption

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) has asked the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Information Ministry, and federal government representatives to appear before the court on a petition pertaining to internet disturbance on the next hearing on August 21.

    Advocate Nadeem filed the petition stating that the internet shutdown should be declared unconstitutional and the government should ensure smooth internet.
    The petition stated that ‘’Internet shutdown is a violation of Constitution Article 9 (personal security), 18 (freedom of business), article 19 (freedom of speech).”

    “Apart from the general public, hundreds, if not thousands, of companies have also been affected. Ride-hailing companies like Bykea, Careem and InDrive have taken the brunt, as their users —drivers and passengers — need mobile data on the go,” the petition read.

  • Sher Afzal Marwat returns to PTI

    Sher Afzal Marwat returns to PTI

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Member National Assembly (MNA) Sher Afzal Marwat has returned to the party after meeting with former Prime Minister Imran Khan at Adiala Jail.
    ‘’All misunderstandings have with party members are over, and Imran Khan has clearly pointed out that no grouping in the party and disagreement is acceptable,’’ Marwat said while addressing media outside Adiala Jail.

    He further stated, ’’Imran Khan has made me responsible for holding protests nationwide along with the August 22 jalsa’’.
    He also pointed out that we would develop all the strategies regarding protests so that if May 9 happened again, Khan will not be charged.

  • Two PTI politicians left the party on Faiz’s involvement in May 9 riots

    Two PTI politicians left the party on Faiz’s involvement in May 9 riots

    Two senior politicians of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) left the party upon discovering General (retd) Faiz Hameed’s involvement in the May 9 riots, Geo’s Shehzad Iqbal has claimed in his show.

    The two politicians were shown evidence of Faiz Hameed being involved in attempts to incite mutiny in the Pakistan Army, Shahzad said on his talk show Naya Pakistan.

    Both politicians told Shehzad that while they were held in custody, they were told that the attacks on military installations and arson were first initiated by Faiz Hameed’s people at Jinnah House. Later, PTI-affiliated people and crowds joined them.

  • Ali Amin Gandapur, Shakil Khan accused each other of corruption on WhatsApp

    Ali Amin Gandapur, Shakil Khan accused each other of corruption on WhatsApp

    Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Ali Amin Gandapur and former KPK Minister of Communication and Works Shakil Khan exchange bitter words in the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) parliamentarian Whatsapp group.

    Both exchanged harsh words for an hour and accused each other of corruption at midnight around 1 PM, sources have told Geo News.

    Shakil Khan derided the CM for his perceived lack of authority and promptly resigned from the ministry in the WhatsApp group. Gandapur responded equally swiftly, stating, ”I had already dismissed you.”

    Both deleted their messages after advise from assembly members and ministers.

    Shakil Khan resigned from the ministry while Gandapur termed his performance unsatisfactory.

  • Justice still pending as Jaranwala incident marks one year

    Justice still pending as Jaranwala incident marks one year

    The Christian community in Jaranwala is still awaiting justice one year after the mob attack on their community. The government of Pakistan had promised to provide justice to the victims of the vandalized Christian community and to punish those involved in the violence, but their efforts appear to have been ineffective.

    On August 16, 2023, two Christian residents were allegedly accused of blasphemy, a charge that was later disproved. Despite this, a large mob went on to vandalize 20 churches and around 80 Christian homes.

    Amnesty International has reported that more than 40 percent of the affected Christian families are still awaiting government compensation.

    Out of the 5,213 suspects, 380 were arrested, but 305 individuals were released on court orders.

    Only 85 out of 146 families have received compensation so far, while 61 are still waiting for their due.

    ‘’We saw our houses in complete shambles as the building would soon collapse. To date, we have received no support. My husband is unemployed for a year because no one hires him (due to stigma). Many people received the promised compensation of 2 million rupees (US$7,200), but we did not receive it’’ said Jaranwala resident Christian Khalida Bano.

    The apex court disapproved the police report on the Jaranwala incident in February 2024, stating that it lacked the required information.

    One year later, trials against the culprits have yet to commence.

  • ‘Our govt said goodbye to IMF, who approached it later?’ — Nawaz Sharif

    ‘Our govt said goodbye to IMF, who approached it later?’ — Nawaz Sharif

    Former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif claimed during a press conference in Lahore that some judges removed him from office because he refused to accept a salary of 10,000 dirhams from his son, Hassan Nawaz.

    He pointed out that a household’s electricity bill was only 1,600 rupees under his administration, which has now increased to 18,000 rupees. He also noted that the dollar was valued at PKR 104 during his tenure, and that the cost of flour has now surged, affecting the cost of living.

    Sharif mentioned that “Rs 14 per electricity unit will be credited to the August and September bills for consumption ranging from 0 to 500 units. The Punjab government has also introduced solar panel schemes, budgeting Rs 7,000 billion for the middle and lower-middle classes.”

    He added, “I said goodbye to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during my time in office, but who approached the IMF afterward?”

    “The current condition of my country pains me, and we should not forgive those who brought us to this point,” concluded the PML-N supremo

  • 220 posts eliminated in the National Assembly Secretariat

    220 posts eliminated in the National Assembly Secretariat

    The National Assembly Secretariat has abolished 220 positions from grades 1 to 19 by implementing an austerity plan approved by the Senate finance committee.
    The plan, authorised by Speaker of National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, will be implemented in three phases, two of which have already been completed, saving PKR 56 crore. The first phase resulted in savings of PKR 25 crores, while the second recorded PKR 31 crore savings annually.

    The plan aims to save Rs 1 billion annually.
    By implementing the third phase, 40 crore additional savings would be possible.
    A press release stated that the Finance Committee has also barred further appointments in the National Assembly.

  • Noor Bukhari is angry at Independence Day posts

    Noor Bukhari is angry at Independence Day posts

    Former actress Noor Bukhari shared a message on social media on the occasion of Independence Day and landed in trouble.

    It’s almost impossible for a festival or an important event to happen in Pakistan without Pakistanis making memes about it.

    Given the current political and economic situation of the country, even on Independence Day, memers kept the meme game going, often poking fun at themselves and their circumstances.

    Noor Bukhari, however, isn’t amused by this, and she took the meme-makers to task.

    The former actress, who left the entertainment industry for religious reasons, shared an Instagram story yesterday.

    Expressing her anger in the story, she wrote that since morning, she had seen many videos where people were making fun of Pakistan. “This country is our mother; it’s not something to laugh about, it’s something to mourn.”

    In her video, Noor Bukhari sent a message to the memers, saying, “Value this country, or this blessing will be taken away. If it weren’t for this country, you wouldn’t exist either.”

  • Call between Absar Alam- General Faiz Hameed leaks online

    Call between Absar Alam- General Faiz Hameed leaks online

    An aggressive conversation during a call allegedly between former Chairman of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Absar Alam and former Director General Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) Faiz Hameed has leaked online.
    ‘’I am complaining to you for not listening to us despite our best efforts, I don’t know what is the matter,’’ says Faiz Hameed to Absar Alam in the call.

    “I will send Brigadier Ghaffar to you. We sold out old channels whose licences are stuck. Do a special favour to resolve the issue,’’ he told Absar.
    ‘’You don’t listen to us, so I thought to request you on my own,’’ said the former spymaster in an aggressive tone.
    ‘’I don’t know channel names, although our brigadier will brief you,” Faiz concluded when Absar asked the channels names.