Tag: trending

  • Court grants bail to Hassan, Hussain Nawaz till tomorrow

    Court grants bail to Hassan, Hussain Nawaz till tomorrow

    The Accountability Court in Islamabad has suspended the perpetual arrest warrants of Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, sons of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in the Flagship, Al-Azizia, and Avenfield cases handled by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) after the brothers voluntarily appeared before the court.

    The court also granted their requests for bail. They had to provide bail bonds worth Rs50,000 each in exchange.

    Both suspects appeared in court to mark their attendance. The court also summoned the NAB for tomorrow regarding the bail applications of Hassan and Hussain Nawaz. Their request to appoint a pleader was granted, and they chose Rana Muhammad Irfan for the task.

    The judge asked if they were the only two nominated in the three references. Qazi Misbah replied that they were co-accused in all three references, adding that the remaining accused had been acquitted of the charges. In the flagship reference, the trial court itself had acquitted the two, he added. 

    After that, the court adjourned the hearing until tomorrow.

  • Actor Asad Malik shares top fitness secrets

    Actor Asad Malik shares top fitness secrets

    Famous actor Asad Malik recently had a chat on Hum News where he talked about how he stays fit, especially during Ramadan. He shared helpful tips for staying healthy while fasting.

    He said, “Fasting has always been easy for me. I never found it hard. But some very healthy people struggle with fasting at first. Eventually, they get used to it, while some never do, maybe because they don’t want to.”

    Talking about staying fit, he stressed the importance of good eating habits, saying, “How you eat is really important. Even if you eat good food, it won’t help if your eating habits are bad. Always avoid eating until you’re stuffed. Drink a glass of water before every meal, and avoid cold water. Eat only half of your meal and wait two hours to finish the rest. Eating smaller portions won’t make you gain weight.” He also said he takes honey every morning as a health tonic.

  • Peshawar High Court rejects SIC’s plea regarding reserved seats

    Peshawar High Court rejects SIC’s plea regarding reserved seats

    The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has rejected a petition of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) against the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) verdict on reserved seats.

    “Petitions are unanimously rejected,” the court maintained.

    Earlier today, PHC chief justice Mohammad Ibrahim Khan resumed the hearing and five members of the bench, including Justice Ijaz Anwar, Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, Justice Shakeel Ahmad, and Justice Arshad Ali, heard the petition.

    SIC’s lawyer, Barrister Ali Zafar, argued during the hearing that it’s not mentioned in the constitution that a party should submit any list to the ECP for reserved seats.

    “It is not written anywhere that you cannot resubmit the list or when it has to be submitted,” the barrister argued, adding that there is no restriction on providing a second list and that the ECP could have issued a second schedule, as it did for the general elections.

    “As per the law, those who participate in elections will get seats,” Justice Anwar remarked.

    The court then questioned Barrister Zafar if it wasn’t clearly stated anywhere that the second schedule cannot be issued.

    “The law does not prevent the Election Commission from issuing another schedule,” the lawyer responded.

    Justice Arshad remarked that Section 104 explains the mechanism for reserved seats as it states that when a list is submitted then another list can be given.

    “Section 104 says that if a political party participates in an election, it will give a list,” the lawyer argued.

    He earlier argued that whoever wins the number of seats, they get reserved seats in the same proportion. 

    “Their seats cannot be increased.”

    “If these seats are not given, the parliament will not be complete,” remarked the chief justice, responding to which the lawyer requested the court to interpret the Constitution in a way that there remains no gap in its interpretation.

    Barrister Ali Zafar also told the court that the ECP has authority to maintain justice, adding that there should be transparency in the election for reserved seats.

  • ECP issues schedule for senate polls set to take place on April 2

    ECP issues schedule for senate polls set to take place on April 2

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday issued a schedule of upcoming senate elections set to take place on April 2.

    As per schedule, the returning officers will issue a public notice for all prospective candidates to submit their nomination papers. The electoral body will then scrutinise nomination papers and handle appeals. 

    The development comes as the ECP, on Monday, announced holding the election for Senate seats that were vacated after the expiration of the six-year term of the incumbent senators on March 11. However, elections will only be held on 48 seats as four reserved seats for the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) have been abolished after the 25th Constitutional Amendment.

    Members of the Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Balochistan assemblies will vote to elect members for seven general seats, two women, and two seats for technocrats, including Ulema.

    However, Punjab and Sindh assembly members will cast their votes for one seat each for non-Muslims.

    As per the ECP’s schedule,

    March 15 to 16 — Submission of nomination papers.

    March 17 — Publication of nominated candidates.

    March 19 — Last date for scrutiny of nomination papers.

    March 21 — Last date for filing of appeals against acceptance, rejection of nominations.

    March 25 — Last date for disposal of appeals by the tribunal.

    March 26 — Publication of revised list of candidates.

    March 27 — Date for withdrawal of candidature.

    April 2 — Polling day.

  • Khyber schools shifting to a new examination system

    Khyber schools shifting to a new examination system

    The District Education Office has launched a novel approach to annual examinations, emphasizing student learning outcomes (SLO) over rote memorization. This initiative aims to shift the focus from cramming to demonstrating genuine subject knowledge in exam papers.

    According to officials speaking to Dawn, the inspiration for the SLO-based exam system stems from the annual intermediate exams conducted by the board of Intermediate and secondary education. Under this system, subject specialists set uniform exam papers for all affiliated educational institutions.

    Abdur Rehman, Principal of a government high school in Jamrud and a member of the committee responsible for drafting unified exam papers highlighted that the introduction of the SLO-based system intends to discourage cramming and promote genuine understanding of subjects among students.

    He cited the poor results from last year’s grade 9–10 annual exams as a driving force behind this initiative.

    “The new exam system, which has been introduced at the school level in Khyber district for the first time, will not only help improve exam results, but it will strengthen the mental faculties of the students as well,” he said.

    Under the new system, exam papers consist of two parts: Part I comprises multiple-choice questions (short questions), while Part II includes critical questions aimed at encouraging students to provide detailed answers based on their understanding of the subjects.

    The examinations are currently underway in the district, commencing on March 4 and scheduled to conclude on March 25.

    “A three-member committee engaged at least 12 qualified subject specialists for scrutinising and proofreading new papers,” he said.

    Education expert Bahadar Khan lauded the initiative, emphasizing the quality of papers designed under the SLO-based system, which he believes will benefit both students and teachers.

    Moreover, the system is expected to reduce expenses for schools by eliminating the need for separate exam paper drafting and printing.

    Senior teacher Sharifullah Afridi from a government school in Landi Kotal also praised the new exam system.

    He also said the SLO-based exam system would do away with “laziness and indolence” among teachers and would make them more responsible regarding the discharge of their duties.

  • Dr Yasmin Rashid will be PTI’s senate candidate from Punjab

    Dr Yasmin Rashid will be PTI’s senate candidate from Punjab

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to field senior leader Dr Yasmin Rashid for Senate seat in Punjab for the upcoming polls set to take place on April 2, The News reported on Thursday.

    PTI’s senior leader Mian Aslam Iqbal disclosed on his X (previously Twitter) account that Yasmin Rashid will be the party’s candidate for the senate seat in Punjab.

    Mian Aslam Iqbal also said that Zulfi Bukhari and Hamid Khan are the party’s candidates for general seats. However, Brigadier (retd) Musadiq will be the PTI’s candidate for the technocrat seat.

    The development comes as the senior politician’s earlier bid to secure a place in the National Assembly failed after she lost to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif on Lahore’s NA-130 seat in the February 8 polls.

    Dr Yasmin Rashid is currently in Adiala jail in cases pertaining to the violent incidents of the May 9 riots last year. 

    52 seats are vacant in the Senate after the expiration of the six-year term of senators. However, senate election will be held on 48 seats, as the four reserved seats for Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) had been abolished after the 25th Constitutional Amendment.

  • Social media star Urfi Javed getting ready to act in movies

    Social media star Urfi Javed getting ready to act in movies

    Indian social media sensation Urfi Javed is going to start acting in movies, as per Indian news reports.
    The influencer will be appearing in her first Bollywood movie called ‘LSD 2’, an Ekta Kapoor production.

    The film is a sequel to a movie from 2010, said the reports. The exact date when the movie will come out is not known.
    Urfi Javed is bringing something new to the movie. She is known for being bold and for her unique fashion sense. People are excited to see how she will do in her first movie. It’s not just her, though. There are reports that actors Tushar Kapoor and Rooney Roy will also be in the movie, making special appearances.
    Make sure to mark your calendars, as it’s expected to be an exciting movie experience.

  • ‘Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood have right to appeal in cipher case,’ says Islamabad High Court

    ‘Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood have right to appeal in cipher case,’ says Islamabad High Court

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ruled that the appeals of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi against their convictions in the cipher case are maintainable.

    The court invited both the prosecution and defense counsel to present their arguments starting Monday.

    Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, comprising the IHC division bench, resumed the hearing on the appeals concerning Mr. Khan and Mr. Qureshi’s convictions and 10-year sentences each in the cipher case.

    During the previous hearing, special prosecutor Hamid Ali Shah raised objections regarding the maintainability of the appeals filed by Mr. Khan and Mr. Qureshi. Mr. Shah highlighted that the Official Secrets Act, enacted in 1923, did not provide the right of appeal except during the trial proceeding. He contended that since the trial court had already convicted the two leaders, the conviction should be considered final, as there was no provision for the right of appeal.

    However, Barrister Salman Safdar, representing Imram Khan, argued that if the law did not grant the right of appeal against conviction, the court should consider this as a case of first impression.

    He emphasized that the former prime minister and former foreign minister were convicted under the law used to prosecute espionage suspects. Mr. Safdar pointed out that superior courts had ruled in numerous cases that convicts could not be left without a remedy.

    He added that while the high treason case did not provide the right of appeal, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1976, designated the Supreme Court as the forum for appeal.

    The bench ultimately concluded that the appeals were maintainable and decided to proceed with hearing the case on its merits.

    Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood have been jailed for 10 years in a case where they were charged with leaking state secrets.

    What is Cipher case

    Cipher is a classified cable, which in this case, was sent to Islamabad by Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington in 2022.

    Immediately after his removal as prime minister in April 2022, Khan said that the United States had a hand in his removal. He also raised a paper during a jalsa and claimed it to be Cipher. Washington and the Pakistani military have denied his accusations. Khan later toned down his rhetoric against the US.

    But a US-based news outlet, The Intercept, in August 2023 published what it claimed to be a “cipher” that hinted the US administration wanted to remove Khan from power. Khan maintains his ouster in April 2022 was orchestrated by the country’s powerful military and his political opponents.

    The Intercept published purported details of a conversation between Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed Khan, and Donald Lu, the assistant secretary of state for the US Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, on March 7, 2022.

    The conversation took place under two weeks after Khan visited Moscow, on the day Russia invaded Ukraine. In the exchange, Lu raised concerns about Khan’s visit to Russia and Pakistan’s neutral stance on the Ukraine war.

    “I think if a no-confidence vote against the prime minister succeeds, all will be forgiven in Washington,” Lu allegedly told Asad Majeed Khan, who sent the details of the conversation to Islamabad through a secret diplomatic cable.

  • EU denies receiving any communication from PTI regarding GSP+

    EU denies receiving any communication from PTI regarding GSP+

    European Union’s delegation has expressed that they have not yet received any official communication from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) about the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) trade status currently held by Pakistan.

    Samar Saeed Akhtar, the Press Officer for the EU Delegation, clarified the EU’s stance to Dawn, stating, “We have not received any official communication from PTI regarding GSP+.”

    In a press conference held on Wednesday, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar alleged that PTI spokespersons, purportedly receiving directives from incarcerated party members, are orchestrating a scheme to undermine Pakistan’s GSP+ status. He claimed that PTI’s criticism of the government’s treatment of its founder, Imran Khan, in prison serves as a pretext for their efforts to jeopardize the country’s trade privileges.

    Furthermore, Tarar accused PTI of engaging in a conspiracy to destabilize Pakistan’s economy, citing PTI’s alleged correspondence with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as evidence. He emphasized the incumbent government’s commitment to economic recovery and lambasted PTI for purportedly prioritizing political gain over national interests.

    In response to Tarar’s claims, a PTI spokesperson categorically denied any intention of petitioning the EU to revoke Pakistan’s GSP+ status, dismissing the allegations as baseless and accusing Tarar of disseminating falsehoods. The spokesperson highlighted PTI’s dedication to national prosperity and defended Imran Khan’s role in facilitating the IMF program, attributing delays to the incompetence of previous administrations.

    Pakistan has been benefiting from the GSP+ program since 2014. This initiative, devised by the EU, aims to incentivize developing countries to uphold human rights principles, labor rights, environmental conservation, and good governance through trade incentives, including reduced tariffs for exports to the EU market. However, this preferential status is contingent upon the country demonstrating significant progress in implementing 27 international conventions covering various rights and governance issues.

    The EU meticulously monitors compliance with these conventions, relying on reports from the UN and other international bodies, and conducts regular assessments through on-ground missions. These evaluations are then reflected in reports to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, with biennial reviews conducted in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022. The latest review highlighted ongoing concerns regarding enforced disappearances and declining media freedom.

    In October, the European Parliament extended Pakistan’s GSP+ status until 2027, allowing duty-free exports on 66 percent of product tariff lines to the European market.

    However, the EU retains the authority to withdraw the GSP+ status if a beneficiary country fails to meet the program’s stringent criteria. This withdrawal process typically involves a period of dialogue aimed at rectification but may result in the suspension of benefits if issues are not adequately addressed, as evidenced by the case of Sri Lanka in 2010 over human rights concerns.

    The European Parliament, in April 2021, adopted a resolution urging a review of Pakistan’s GSP+ status due to an “alarming” increase in blasphemy allegations and mounting attacks on journalists and civil society.

    Read more: Understanding GSP+ status: What it means for Pakistan’s trade relations

  • Move over chicken; mutton is Pakistan’s favourite meat

    Move over chicken; mutton is Pakistan’s favourite meat

    In a recent survey conducted by Gallup & Gilani Pakistan, people across the country were asked about their favorite type of meat.
    The survey revealed the following preferences:
    • 41 percent of respondents chose goat meat as their favorite.
    • 25 percent favored beef.
    • 23 percent preferred chicken.
    • 11 percent either didn’t know or didn’t answer.

    Gallup & Gilani Pakistan conducted the survey to gather information about people’s food preferences. Understanding what people like helps businesses and policymakers make decisions.

    We agree that nothing beats a good mutton karahi. Or a good mutton pulao. Or a good mutton haandi. Or paai.

    As you can tell, The Current too is a mutton fan.