The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration has revoked the No-Objection Certificate (NOC) granted to the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust, prohibiting them from hosting a fundraising event at a local hotel in Islamabad.
The event, scheduled for Friday, aimed to gather support for the construction of a cancer facility in Karachi.
Another low!
NOC for fundraiser of Shaukat Khanum Hospital was cancelled by Islamabad administration just a day before the event. This was to raise funds for the treatment of cancer patients. pic.twitter.com/hy8LEJRFFX
The NOC, initially issued by the district administration, was withdrawn without providing any reasons for the sudden decision.
The fundraising gala dinner, featuring a musical concert, was intended to generate funds for the development of the largest cancer treatment facility in the country.
Despite efforts by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Faisal Sultan and other officials to secure permission, their attempts proved unsuccessful.
The Shaukat Khanum Hospital official emphasized that the fundraising initiative was non-political and solely aimed at charitable purposes.
Despite efforts to seek clarity on the reasons behind the NOC cancellation, the hospital administration formally announced the cancellation of the fundraising gala dinner late on Thursday.
They cited “unavoidable reasons” for the cancellation and assured that a new date for the event would be announced soon.
Social Media users started a trend on X (former Twitter) “Shaukat Khanum” and started urging people to donate online.
“I’ve just made a donation to SKMH. I request all Pakistanis to do the same, even if it’s just a few Rupees. Let’s raise more money than the fundraising event canceled or refused for Shaukat Khanum. Save this hospital. Kindly share the screenshots.”
I’ve just made a donation to SKMH. I request all Pakistanis to do the same, even if it’s just a few Rupees. Let’s raise more money than the fundraising event canceled or refused for Shaukat Khanum. Save this hospital. Kindly share the screenshots. pic.twitter.com/qw71C26NHm
“#SMS 7770 Strong reaction to the cancellation of the permission of Shaukat Khanum Hospital Karachi,s Fundraising event by the caretaker government. Now social media users launched a compaign to send SMS to 7770.”
#SMS 7770 Strong reaction to the cancellation of the permission of Shaukat Khanum Hospital Karachi,s Fundraising event by the caretaker government. Now social media users launched a compaign to send SMS to 7770.@TeamiPianspic.twitter.com/NlOCSU8YRu
Tere Bin has gained immense popularity, winning the hearts of millions worldwide. Its engaging storyline and outstanding performances have made a lasting impact on audiences, creating a remarkable presence in the entertainment landscape. As the highly popular drama nears its conclusion, fans are preparing to bid a bittersweet farewell to the beloved characters of Murtasim and Meerab.
To celebrate anniversary of Tere Bin season one, the star of the show Wahaj Ali. took to Instagram and announced,
Alhamdulillah the most awaited announcement of the year is finally here… Your all time favourite couple Yumna Zaidi & Wahaj Ali the one & only #Yumhaj with their unmatched on-screen chemistry are back with a bang in Tere Bin Season 2…
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has labeled the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) recent decision about the iconic bat symbol of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as “pre-poll rigging”.
Last week, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) nullified PTI’s internal elections and revoked their bat symbol. However, on Tuesday, the PHC suspended the ECP’s declaration, prompting strong reactions from PML-N leaders.
“Keeping in view the urgency, that a political party has been denuded of its symbol, meaning hearby that aspirants from the general public who were willing to vote for the petitioners’ party were divested of their right to vote as per their choice,” Justice Kamran Hayat Miankhel ruled.
PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, while addressing an event in Karachi on Thursday, called the PHC’s order “an attack” on the election commission’s authority.
“How can the Peshawar High Court give an order that affects Pakistan? There are candidates, who are in some way, related to the judge. I believe that the judge should have recused himself from the bench based on his relationship,” he said.
الیکشن کمیشن نے پی ٹی ائی کے انٹرا پارٹی الیکشن میں بے ضابطگیوں اور دھاندلیوں کے خلاف ایک حقیقت پر مبنی فیصلہ دیا تھا اور اب پشاور ہائی کورٹ کا جو فیصلہ آیا ہے وہ الیکشن کمیشن کے اختیار پر حملے کے مترادف ہے۔ 2018 کے الیکشن میں آر ٹی ایس نے ان پارٹیز کا مینڈیٹ چھینا تھا جس میں…
The scales of justice, the former prime minister said, were being titled for a “ladla” (blue-eyed boy). “The kind of decisions that are being issued are concerning for us. We expect justice from the judiciary.”
Reacting to the PHC verdict, PML-N senior leader Rana Sanaullah accused the court of engaging in “pre-poll rigging and attack on the ECP,” asserting that the ruling violated the Election Act 2017. Sanaullah claimed that the judge’s cousin, a PTI candidate, influenced the decision.
پشاور HC کے سنگل بینچ کا فیصلہ الیکشن ایکٹ 2017 کی خلاف ورزی ہے، جج صاحب کے کزن PTI کے ٹکٹ پہ الیکشن لڑ رہے ہیں اس لئے یہ فیصلہ ہی آنا تھا۔ جج صاحب قانون اور انصاف پہ چلتے تو یہ کیس ہی نہ سنتے۔ مفادات کا ٹکراؤ ہوتے ہوئے بھی جج صاحب نے کیس سنا اور کزنز کی جماعت کو ریلیف دیا۔
PML-N Senior Vice-President Maryam Nawaz condemned the PHC ruling, describing it as an attack on the constitutional powers of the ECP.
“The [PHC] judge gave relief to his cousin’s party.” In her statement, PML-N Senior Vice-President Maryam Nawaz blasted the PHC ruling and termed the single bench verdict tantamount to an attack on the ECP’s constitutional powers. “Fake and fraudulent intra-party elections [of PTI] have been declared ‘halal’. The ruling is the victory of the selection but not the election.” Firing a fresh salvo at the incarcerated PTI founder, Maryam, who is also the party’s chief organiser, said: “Those who seek a level-playing field are not ready to give the same to anybody within their party.”
Reacting to the PHC ruling, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman told journalists in Islamabad that an atmosphere of “judicial martial law” was created in the country.
In a separate development, the ECP filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the PHC’s ruling on the appointment of a returning officer for a provincial assembly constituency. The ECP questioned whether the high court’s order interfered with its constitutional and statutory duties, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the election process.
The PHC’s decision to suspend the appointment of a returning officer has sparked legal challenges, with the ECP urging the Supreme Court to set aside the order for the sake of justice and the electoral process.
Rakhi Sawant is not going to let people’s opinions stop her from leading her best life.
The Bollywood actress has said that she will keep getting married until she finds the right life partner.
The Indian dancer who performed Umrah a few months ago, has gone to court to divorce businessman Adil Khan Durrani. In an interview she said that she wants the marriage ended as soon as possible so that she can get married again.
A clip from the interview has gone viral on social media. “I hopes the court will give me back my money and also a divorce so that I can marry a good guy again in the future and live my life in peace.”
Rakhi expressed her intention to marry again and again, stating, “I will stay married until I die until I find the right life partner, till then I will continue to love because this is my life, I have only one life.”
She continued, “If you go to Hollywood, you’ll see people marrying multiple times, numerous boyfriends, and relationships, and it doesn’t matter there. All the boundaries are only in India.” At the beginning of this year, news came out that Rakhi Sawant has married Adil Khan Durrani after accepting Islam last year. Adil denied the marriage, then went silent before finally admitting to the marriage. However, with the death of Rakhi’s mother, the news of problems in her marriage began to circulate. Rakhi approached the court for divorce citing Adil Khan’s affairs, physical violence, indecent videos and disputes over money.
A female house owner allegedly set a housemaid on fire by sprinkling petrol on her in North Cantt police station limits in Lahore, 24NewsHD TV reported on November 29.
The housemaid named Shabnam passed away after being hospitalised for 28 days, reported Jang News.
She was working in the house of a man named Nauman for the past 11 years. Nauman’s wife Shazia, allegedly in a rage, sprinkled petrol on the maid and set her on fire.
Shabnam, 40, suffered burns on 70 percent of her body and was rushed to Mayo Hospital where her condition was said to be critical. The family of the victim submitted an application for registration of a case against Shazia in the North Cantt police station.
A prospective Indian groom and his family have called off the engagement ceremony after finding out that there was no bone marrow in the mutton dish.
According to Indian media, an engagement ceremony was held at the girl’s residence in Nizamabad, in which various dishes were prepared for the guests, one of which was a dish made with mutton.
The happy atmosphere of the engagement turned sour really quickly when the boy’s side complained about the lack of bone-marrow in the mutton dish, which the girl’s family also admitted and said that it was missing.
Consequently, the boy’s family started an argument, leading to the matter reaching the police. It tried to settle the matter between the two families, but the boy’s family canceled the engagement ceremony.
Winter vacations in both public and private schools are drawing to a close but the weather is growing increasingly harsh. Media is speculating that a possible 10-day extension in winter break for schools in Punjab is being considered by the government, reports The News.
Despite the absence of an official decision or announcement from the School Education Department (SED) Punjab regarding an extension in the winter break, a notification issued by the Literacy & Non-Formal Education Department Punjab regarding the winter break for its non-formal educational institutions has started discussions.
It is important to mention here that the Literacy & Non-Formal Education Department of Punjab adheres to a distinct winter break schedule of its own. The Literacy & Non-Formal Education Department has now notified the winter vacations in all Non-Formal Education Institutions in Punjab from Jan 1, 2024 to Jan 10, 2024.
Originally, winter break for schools in Punjab commenced on December 18, 2023, and is scheduled to conclude on January 1, 2024. However, as temperature drops and winter conditions intensify, there is a growing debate about the potential extension of the annual winter break which if approved by the government will also be adopted by SED.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif received clearance on Friday to take part in the upcoming general elections, set to take place on February 8, 2024, from the NA-15 (Mansehra-II) constituency, despite objections raised by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), as per The News.
Hajra Sami, the Returning Officer (RO), rejected the objections raised by PTI leaders and declared the nomination papers of the former prime minister valid according to the rules of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
“The scrutiny process of the nomination papers of PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif has been completed, and all objections raised by PTI leader Azam Khan Swati and two others have been set aside, and he has been declared eligible to contest elections from here,” Jahangir Jadoon, the legal advisor to Nawaz Sharif, told reporters outside the RO offices.
Sami reviewed the concerns raised by PTI senators Azam Khan Swati, Shahid Rafique, and Zakria Tariq in the presence of PML-N and PTI lawyers and leaders. After that, the RO gave clearance to Nawaz Sharif.
The PTI legal team, headed by Waqar Khan Jehangira and Amir Shah, and the PML-N team, led by Jadoon, presented their arguments for two hours.
“Nawaz Sharif is disqualified for holding any public office or contesting general elections by the Supreme Court’s five-member bench, so that he is not eligible to run in Feb 8, general elections from NA-15,” PTI’s counsel Waqar Khan Jehangiri told the RO during the proceedings.
Say a word of thanks to the producers, writers and directors who decided to make dramas that were truly worth our while. They left us hooked, laughing and crying along with beloved characters.
Check out the best of Pakistani dramas from this year.
1. Jannat Se Aagay
Writer: Shah Yasir Director: Haseeb Hassan Channel: Geo Entertainment
Jannat Se Aagay digs into the complexities of identity and personal aspirations, focusing on Jannat and Tabassum, two young women from different backgrounds trying to discover themselves in a complicated world.
The drama stands out for its compelling storyline, unpredictable script, and engaging narrative. While not flawless for die-hard Umera Ahmed fans, it’s recommended for its entertainment value, script quality, and performances. The return of Umera Ahmed adds to the anticipation, making Jannat Se Aagay a noteworthy entry in the world of Pakistani dramas in 2023.
2. Shannas
Writer: Adarsh Ayaz Director: Yasra Rizvi Channel: Green Entertainment
Shanaas was a unique addition to our screens this year, featuring unconventional content. It follows Aneesa (Hajra Yamin), who discovers that she was adopted as a child. The drama unfolds as Aneesa navigates a journey to find her biological parents, encountering various characters tied to her past. Addressing adoption and class differences, the script, along with exceptional performances by Hajra Yamin, Sania Saeed, Shamim Hilaly, Yasra Rizvi, and others, handles the sensitive topics with care. An honest effort by the writer, director, and actors makes “Shanaas” a must-watch, delving into a sensitive subject in a thoughtful and tasteful manner.
3. Kabli Pulao
Writer: Zafar Mairaj Director: Kashif Nisar Channel: Green Entertainment
The sensational Kabli Pulao aired on Green Entertainment, immediately cementing itself as a contender for the best series of 2023, not only for its compelling narrative but also for the network, sparking anticipation for future content. An unlikely romance between Haji Mushtaq (Muhammad Ehteshamuddin) and Barbeena (Sabeena Farooq), an Afghan refugee widow, the drama delves into their unconventional love story, exploring the challenges of cross-cultural relationships. Ehteshamuddin’s portrayal captivates with depth, and Farooq’s acting keeps viewers eagerly anticipating each episode.
The drama’s commitment to shedding light on refugee struggles offers a refreshing departure from mainstream storytelling. A seamless blend of a compelling storyline and outstanding performances, “Kabli Pulao” stands out as one of the best stories of 2023.
4. Fairy Tale
Writer: Sarah Majeed Director: Ali Hasan Channel: HUM TV
Fairytale is the firm fan favourite on the list, the story of Umeed’s life—a happy, imperfect young girl with a modern perspective. Despite embracing typical romance tropes, the drama’s light approach resonated so well with young Pakistanis that a second season was created, deviating from the initial plan. Fairytale’s characters are immensely fun, and the chemistry between the heroine and the hero is what keeps the show alive.
5. Muhabbat Gumshuda Meri
Writer: Rahat Jabeen Director: Shahid Shafaat Channel: HUM TV
Ranked number 1 in the 5 Best Pakistani Dramas of 2023, Muhabbat Gumshuda Meri stands out with its crisp storyline. Initially underrated, the drama gained momentum as it progressed, proving to be the most romantic series. Dana Nair impressively portrays the role of an amateur girl experiencing love, capturing expressions and comments perfectly. Khushal Khan, akin to a desi Romeo and Juliet, acts vibrantly, overshadowing with genuine emotion. The drama showcases a passionate love story, making it a standout in the realm of Pakistani dramas.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan made a significant announcement on Wednesday, stating that PTI leaders who have dissociated from the party through press conferences will not be granted election tickets.
Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, Barrister Gohar emphasized the party’s firm decision not to award tickets to individuals involved in such public disassociations, regardless of the number of people involved.
Highlighting the directives of PTI founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Barrister Gohar mentioned, “Imran Khan has instructed the party to gear up for general elections 2024.”
In response to the recent Supreme Court order on senior PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the PTI chairman emphasized the Election Commission’s responsibility to ensure its implementation.
He revealed that the commission had requested the party to submit an application concerning Qureshi and other incidents where PTI leaders and activists were targeted.
Barrister Gohar informed the media about the Peshawar High Court (PHC) order and urged the Election Commission to upload the certificate of PTI’s intra-party elections, assuring that the commission would conduct an investigation. He asserted that if a party’s election symbol is revoked, it is equivalent to its dissolution, and only the Supreme Court holds the authority to make such decisions.
Earlier on December 26, PTI Punjab Acting President Hammad Azhar commented on the issue, stating that the fate of PTI leaders who held press conferences and parted ways with the party would be decided by Imran Khan on a case-to-case basis.
“جن افراد سے جبراً پریس کانفرنسز کروائی گئی ان کی اکثریت واپسی کی خواہشمند ہے- ان افراد کی واپسی کا فیصلہ کیس ٹو کیس کی بنیاد پر بانی چئیرمین عمران خان خود کریں گے- “ – قائمقام صدر پاکستان تحریک انصاف پنجاب میاں حماد اظہر pic.twitter.com/TourMm6vvb
Azhar mentioned that many individuals who had dissociated through press conferences wished to return to the party, and Imran Khan would personally decide on their return.
He also demanded release of all political workers, “Stop turning the criminal justice system into a joke. Release all political prisoners. My colleagues have languished in jails for more than 7 months despite being innocent. I myself have been falsely nominated as an accused in dozens of Fake FIRs despite being not present on any single incident mentioned (one overly imaginative mind even listed me as chucking petrol bombs on mall road). End this madness and release all. Stop rearresting ppl after bail. Stop booking ppl in fake cases after arbitrarily arresting them for holding political association with PTI. Let the people of Pakistan decide who will govern them.”
Stop turning the criminal justice system into a joke. Release all political prisoners. My colleagues have languished in jails for more than 7 months despite being innocent. I myself have been falsely nominated as an accused in dozens of Fake FIRs despite being not present on any…
