Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Ali Zafar has said on Monday that the party will announce the names of its election candidates in the next 24 hours.
While talking to GEO News, Zafar said that the party has issued confirmation notices to 98 per cent of candidates to contest the upcoming polls, set to take place on February 8, 2024.
“The party will decide the remaining two per cent of election candidates very soon. Approval has been given on who will contest elections on which seat. The candidates will be announced today or tomorrow,” said Senator Zafar, adding that the decision will be announced after the Peshawar High Court (PHC) verdict.
The PTI leader also said that a large number of lawyers are going to take part in the upcoming polls on PTI tickets. However, he didn’t mention an exact number.
The polls are just a month away, however, most political parties have yet to decide their election candidates.
Earlier, a source within the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) told The News that it was expected that the party’s top leadership will award final party tickets on Sunday; however, the announcement got postponed due to seat adjustments with multiple political parties and internal disagreements between PML-N leaders.
Multilingual Indian singer Suchetha Satish has set a stunning world record by singing in 140 languages during a nine-hour long concert on November 24, 2023, in Dubai. The concert happened at the Indian Consulate Auditorium and was a warm-up to the COP 28 Summit held from November 30 to December 12.
She sang 101 foreign songs and 39 Indian songs. Even though she could sing in 150 languages, the organisers chose 140 to represent the 140 country leaders invited to the COP 28 summit. Suchetha started the concert by saying, “Climate change is real, and we must stop it.” Starting at 12 pm with an Awadhi song, she concluded the concert at 9 pm with a Hindi song dedicated to India. Impressively, she performed the entire concert without referring to any lyrics or notation.
A gunman opened fire within the premises of the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Peshawar’s judicial complex on Monday, injuring three persons and killing one, media reports have said.
Eyewitnesses on the scene reported that the alleged shooter, disguised as a lawyer, opened fire inside the ATC, creating panic throughout the judicial complex.
The incident left four individuals severely injured, prompting an urgent response from law enforcement.
The injured victims were swiftly and efficiently transported to the hospital.
Tragically, Lady Reading Hospital Spokesperson Muhammad Asim revealed that one of the wounded individuals succumbed to injuries before reaching the medical facility.
“Four people were brought to the hospital – one deceased and three injured,” stated the hospital’s spokesperson.
According to senior journalist Iftikhar Firdous, the attacker has been arrested by police from the premises. He was one of the parties whose case was scheduled for hearing.
Firdous questioned the level of security in the court in a tweet he posted on X, “And this is the security in a courtroom?”
The attacker has been arrested by police from the premises. He was one of the opponents in the case of which the hearing was taking place. A spokesman for the lady reading hospital said that 4 people were brought into the hospital. One of whom died of injuries, one is critically… https://t.co/I0wOMdjOUM
Popular Pakistani actress Beena Chaudhry has revealed in a recent video posted on her Instagram that she’s been getting death threats since the past few days. In the video, she said, “I was told that if I don’t stay quiet, I could be killed.”
Chaudhry ominously said that anything could happen to her at any time. She has recorded a video naming those responsible in case something happens to her, and she plans to share it on social media. Beena Chaudhary has not clarified the reason behind the death threats nor has she mentioned the name of those threatening her. Fans asked authorities to look into the matter and protect her.
The burnt body of a married young woman was found in her father’s furniture showroom in Gujranwala, reports Geo News.
While the reason for the murder is unknown as yet, the husband of the victim is absconding and according to the preliminary investigation of the police, he is the prime suspect.
According to further details, 24-year-old Maryam, a resident of Dhariwal, was first married to her cousin. After the marriage ended in a divorce, Maryam’s second marriage took place with Sajid, a resident of Kot Ishaq.
Sajid and Maryam used to fight often. About six months ago, Maryam’s parents brought their daughter and son-in-law to their village and offered them a room adjacent to her father’s furniture showroom to live in.
Maryam’s father told the police that he had gone to a nearby mosque for Fajr prayers in the morning and came back to see the burnt body.
The police say that the search for the woman’s husband is going on.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa stated on Monday that the Supreme Court (SC) is not running anyone’s election campaign while hearing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) plea seeking contempt charges against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for allegedly not providing a level-playing field to the party in the upcoming general elections set to take place on February 8, 2024.
PTI lawyer and leader, Sardar Latif Khosa said that party leaders are facing political victimisation, on which CJP Isa responded, “We are the Supreme Court, not the government. We are not running anyone’s campaign.”
A three-member bench, including CJP Isa, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, and Justice Musrat Hilali heard the case.
At the last hearing, the SC issued notices on Wednesday to the Inspector General of Police Punjab (IGP), chief secretary, and advocate general in response to the PTI plea.
Sardar Latif Khosa presented arguments on behalf of party leader Shoaib Shaheen.
The eagerly awaited film ‘Wakhri’ in Pakistan has been released in cinemas across the country. The film, written and directed by Iram Parveen Bilal, is produced by Abid Aziz Merchant, Apoorva Bakshi and Iram Parveen Bilal. After the success of Moula Jatt, Mandviwala Entertainment has signed up with ‘Wakhri’ for the distribution of the film.
The Pakistan premiere of the movie took place at Nueplex Cinema, DHA, in Karachi. The film promises to entertain audience with its engrossing story and exceptional direction.
Award-winning director Iram Parveen Bilal shares that the film ‘Wakhri’ is a special project, particularly a heartfelt tribute to the women of Pakistan and around the world. The film’s goal is to amplify the voices of the marginalized in society and bring their stories to a global audience. Iram started making films to connect with humanity and address complex societal issues collaboratively with the viewers. The nationwide release of the film is a result of the hard work and dedication of the entire team. The story of ‘Wakhri’ centers around a widowed school teacher in Pakistan. An emotional and genuine video of hers gains sudden popularity on social media. The film depicts the challenges faced by women in a society where they struggle to raise their voices and establish their presence, be it in the physical or digital world.
Film producer Abid Aziz Merchant said that the film recently received praise at the Red Sea International Film Festival due to its unique story and direction. The film’s global recognition highlights the talent of Pakistani cinema on the world stage, bringing honor to Pakistani filmmakers. Beyond showcasing the challenges faced by women, the film also reflects social norms. With its captivating story and talented cast, ‘Wakhri’ aims to leave a lasting impression on the audience, providing a unique cinematic experience.
As the war on Gaza extends into its 90th day, impending famine and starvation are haunting the besieged strip.
According to an assessment of the integrated food security phase classification initiative, a UN-backed body that sets the international standard that determines the severity of the food crisis, food shortage in Gaza is solely a consequence of war. Before it began, about 150 to 180 food lorries entered Gaza every day. Since, the end of the “humanitarian pause” a month ago, only about 30 do so. They are blocked by Israeli bombardment, fighting on the ground, and by restrictions and inspections on the border with Egypt, imposed by the Israeli and Egyptian authorities, cites The Times.
More than a million people are displaced in Gaza but none is safe from hunger. It is rampant in Gaza, it is in the wasteland of al-Mawasi encampment in Gaza where handfuls of dirty flour are kneaded by mothers to make bread for their children. It is in the fires, stoked with plastic bottles, which produce nothing but choking black smoke. Children in Gaza no longer play but lie around, exhausted by hunger. It is in food that is rotten and makes you sick but is eaten just the same.
Camellia Subeh talked to The Times who stated that her breasts no longer produce milk for her baby son. “My other sons keep saying, ‘Mum, I’m dizzy, I have a headache,” said the mother of five, sitting outside a shelter she built on the mud from scraps of plastic and wood. Subeh and her children left their home in northern Gaza weeks ago on the instructions of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). They said this is a safe area. Perhaps it is safe from the bombs that have destroyed Gaza’s cities and towns but not from hunger, diseases, or thirst that will kill just the same as a bullet will. “This place is like a desert, all sand,” Subeh said. “We are so tired.” The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip after nearly three months of war stands at 21,672, with more than 55,000 wounded, the territory’s health ministry said on Saturday.
A 13-year-old, Muhammad al-Yaziji, told The Times, “I feel that this burden is very heavy for us. We became like beggars. We were not like that.”
In an interview with the New Yorker, Arif Hussain, the chief economist at the United Nations World Food Program explains that according to a consensus-based analysis by Integrated Phase Classification, the entire population of 2.2 million people is in a food-security crisis or a worse situation implying a famine is coming because the conditions are “catastrophic”.
Human Rights Watch drew from Israeli officials’ statements, interviews with people in the territory about the lack of food, and evidence of bombardment that has destroyed infrastructure and resources to accuse Israel in a December report of starvation as a war crime.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidates for the upcoming general elections hang in limbo as internal disagreements and seat adjustments cause delays in announcement of final ticket announcements, The News has reported on Monday.
A source within PML-N told The News that it was expected that the party’s top leadership will award final party tickets on Sunday, however, the announcement got postponed due to seat adjustments with multiple political parties and internal disagreements between PML-N leaders.
According to sources in the party, the matter of tickets is creating difficulties for aspirants who have yet to start their election campaigns.
In Lahore, a rift between stalwarts Ayaz Sadiq and Sheikh Rohail Ashgar over party tickets has not been resolved, as both were not ready to give up. Similar is the case at Narowal, where Daniyal Aziz and Ahsan Iqbal are entangled in a rift over tickets for their blue-eyed candidates.
PML-N leader Rohail Asghar said that he doesn’t know the destiny of the seat, but he enjoyed good relations with PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and has no disagreements with party leadership.
Four people have been killed and 40 hospitalised after consuming tainted alcohol in southern Tunisia, an official said.
An inquiry has been opened and the person who supplied the alcohol has been arrested, Fethi Baccouche, a spokesman for the Medenine court, told AFP.
An analysis of the alcohol is underway to determine what was behind the mass poisoning.
Of the 40 surviving victims, most left hospital but some were transferred to the capital Tunis for treatment, Baccouche said, without providing exact numbers.
Poisonings from incorrectly produced or adulterated alcohol are common in Tunisia and often fatal.
In 2021, Tunisian health authorities announced five deaths and the hospitalisation of 25 more in Kasserine in the country’s west after they drank contaminated alcohol.
And in May 2020, 39 people were poisoned, including six who died, after drinking methanol near the city of Kairouan.
The consumption of home-made alcohol is common in some working-class neighbourhoods of Tunis and remote regions of the country where poverty rates are high.
The alcohol, which is illegal, is often much cheaper than that sold in shops.
