Tag: trending

  • PPP and PMLN want timely elections

    PPP and PMLN want timely elections

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized the importance of conducting the scheduled general elections on February 8 next year.

    Speaking to reporters after his appearance before an accountability court in Lahore regarding the Ramzan Sugar Mills reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Shehbaz said, “[Holding the elections on time] is the requirement of law and democracy.”

    The NAB reference alleges that Shehbaz, the former chief minister of Punjab, misused his authority by utilizing public funds to construct a bridge to benefit mills owned by his sons.

    Despite the legal challenges, Shehbaz expressed confidence in the PML-N’s upcoming election campaign, announcing that party leader Nawaz Sharif will unveil the manifesto during the electoral activities.

    Addressing concerns raised by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) regarding equal opportunities in the polls, Shehbaz cited, “I went to court today and this is called the level-playing field and Nawaz Sharif will also produce himself in an Islamabad court today.”

    Shehbaz also delved into recent events, including the May 9 incidents and the subsequent arrest of Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case. “A conspiracy to overthrow the army was hatched on May 9 and any democratic government will not tolerate treason,” he stressed.

    During the court hearing, Shehbaz clarified the charges against him, referring to his summoning in the clean water case and subsequent arrest in the Ashiana reference

    “I will not discuss the merits of the case, my lawyer will do it,” he told the court, adding that the court gave him justice in the Ashiana case.

    “After that, NAB arrested me in the sewer case. I was told that I had issued a directive for the construction of a drain which was built by an MPA,” he said.

    The PML-N president told the court that they have installed thousands of clean water projects during his tenure.

    Shehbaz said that he transferred their inherited sugar mill to his son and the government did not give subsidies to sugar mills in his tenure.

    PPP hopeful about timely elections

    Meanwhile, PPP expressed optimism that Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa would ensure the timely holding of the next general elections on February 8.

    “We are hopeful that Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa will not let the elections be delayed,” PPP leader Faisal Karim Kundi told in a press conference.

    Echoing concerns about a level playing field previously voiced by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Kundi asserted that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is poised to become the next prime minister.

    Mr Kundi claimed that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will be the next prime minister of the country and he would announce the party’s future line of action about the next elections at a public meeting in Quetta on Nov 30 on the occasion of the 56th foundation day of the PPP.

    “Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari will both address the public meeting,” he said, adding that Bilawal’s sister Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari would conduct the election campaign of his brother.

    Additionally, PPP leader Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari was appointed as the secretary general of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP).

    Before Mr Bukhari’s appointment, seasoned party leader Farhatullah Babar was serving as the secretary general of the party’s parliamentary chapter.

  • ‘Thomas Shelby from Daraaz’: Hasan Raheem’s new look has the internet divided

    ‘Thomas Shelby from Daraaz’: Hasan Raheem’s new look has the internet divided

    Just when we thought Hasan Raheem couldn’t be any more adorable, he takes it a step further.

    The ‘Joona’ singer shared a fit check from a concert where he looked like a hippy dada from the 60’s who is going to a club to play sudoko with his friends. Twitter users were in fits and soon came up with hilarious tweets.

    Fans made all kinds of comparisons, from calling him the sarial physics teacher in college, Thomas Shelby from Peaky Blinders to our new nana abu.

  • Celebrating Fawad Khan’s birthday with five of his hottest roles

    Celebrating Fawad Khan’s birthday with five of his hottest roles

    Happy Hearthrob Day Pakistaniyon! Fawad Khan is turning 42 today and will remain the reason why we keep winning the dilf game against India. But aside from his good looks, the actor has won over audiences with his performances. Whether it is playing a swoon-worthy prince, a ferocious warrior, or even a dorky villager, he’ll pull you in and keep you glued to your screen. Aap haar man lo bas.

    Chalien phir aaj National Heartthrob Day hai aka Fawad Khan’s birthday, we’re celebrating it with our favourite five roles that prove he will keep ageing like fine wine.

    Khoobsurat (2014)

    Yes we know, the film was a flop. But holy moly Fawad outshone like nothing else. He had limited screen time compared to Sonam, but created a cult following on the internet that has Indian fans, to this day, pleading with their government to give this man an exception and cast him in another Bollywood rom com. And yes, we’re also adding in a TikTok that proves why the film established a cult following online.

    Kapoor and Sons (2016)

    If critics thought Fawad only had the ability to work as eye candy on the screens, this film singlehandedly proved them wrong. The actor played a closeted writer Rahul Kapoor, who arrives back at his home to celebrate his grandfather’s birthday and also navigate fragile relations with his family.

    Dastaan (2010)

    Dastaan is celebrated today as one of the best dramas to come out of Pakistan, and Fawad cemented his role as a promising actor with his performance as Hassan. He plays a man who is deeply in love with Bano (played by Sanam Baloch), but both are tragically split apart due to the partition when she is forced into a marriage with a Sikh man.

    Akbari and Asghari (2011)

    Don’t call yourself a Fawad stan if you don’t remember this hilarious gem of a drama. Fawad had a small role as Akbari’s dorky husband from the village, but he still wins hearts for his comedy skills and hilarious acting.

    Humsafar (2011)

    Yes yes coming to the drama that made Fawad into the household name he is today. Ashar will continue to tower over all the leading men on our screens, and the reason behind this entirely is how Fawad enlarged the role with his seductive looks and charm. We were all Khirad every single time he stepped into the screen. And just to keep the fans happy, here is a TikTok of him in the serial.

  • Who will be the chairman of PTI?

    Who will be the chairman of PTI?

    A tumultuous day unfolded within the ranks of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as conflicting statements emerged regarding Imran Khan’s role in the upcoming intra-party polls.

    Senior Vice President Sher Afzal Khan Marwat asserted on Tuesday that Imran Khan, currently incarcerated in Adiala jail, had decided not to vie for the position of party chairman, citing legal constraints and his disqualification in the Toshakhana case.

    PTI clarified that discussions were still going on about crucial matters related to intra-party elections, emphasizing that no decision had been made regarding Imran Khan’s participation or the nomination of an alternative leader.

    Despite the party’s denial, Marwat stood by his initial statement. He took to X (former Twitter) and said, “Whatever I have said in my media talk about the intra-party election is a correct statement. The decisions were taken by Chairman PTI in the presence of Senator Ali Zafar, Barrister Gohar Umair Niazi and myself. I fail to understand who is behind the contradiction and why the misleading statement was issued. The media are advised to verify my statement with the above persons if you don’t mind.”

    Attempting to shed light on the situation, PTI Senator Ali Zafar appeared on a Geo News show on Tuesday, stating that there was no confusion within the party.

    “Two to three decisions were made together with him. Firstly, he asked what is the legal status of the ECP’s order to hold intra-party elections so I told him that it is illegal and we should appeal so the decision was made to appeal it,” he said.

    Zafar clarified that discussions also revolved around Imran Khan’s potential participation in the elections and the perception that the ECP might hinder the PTI’s symbol of the bat.

    He said finally a decision was reached that, if need be, if there was any concern arose that the ECP would raise an objection if Imran contested the elections, “then it is better than that that we at the moment hold elections in which Imran Khan doesn’t contest and we nominate someone else [for party chairman].”

    Zafar pointed out that a final decision remained to be taken on the above matter after considering all legal aspects, adding that he would announce the “exact decision” of whether Imran would contest the intra-party elections or not tomorrow.

    “If he (Imran) nominates someone else and a final decision is taken then elections will be held,” Zafar said.

    Marwat then appeared in Ary News show 11th hour with Waseem Badami and confirmed that Barrister Gohar’s name has been finalized for the chairmanship.

    While talking about the backlash he faced on social media after his initial statement, he tweeted, “Those maligning me constantly, kindly stop portraying me desperate for leadership! I didn’t come here on motive to conquer politics. It needs alot of courage to fight under these pressure circumstances. Anyone who is loyal to Pakistan, would appreciate efforts I am making. I am standing with Imran Khan and Pakistan in these difficult times because I believe in adversity, all of us must fight back against this oppression and not give up.”

    Former Governor Punjab, Latif Khosa, also entered the debate on Wednesday and said, “We can’t even think about minus Imran Khan. Imran Khan has denied all these claims.”

    The entire fiasco ended when it was officially announced by PTI that Barrister Gohar would be the candidate for chairman in intra-party election.

  • The internet is mocking ‘rich, pampered’ Suhana Khan’s bizzare explanation of sustainability

    The internet is mocking ‘rich, pampered’ Suhana Khan’s bizzare explanation of sustainability

    Actor Suhana Khan is going viral for all the wrong reasons after she rather bizarrely explained sustainability using actress Alia Bhatt’s example. The daughter of superstar Shah Rukh Khan applauded the ‘Gangubai’ actress for re-wearing a saari while receiving the National Award.

    X (formerly Twitter) users were dumbfounded by this bizarre comparison because Alia Bhatt did not invent sustainability? People have re worn clothes for more than one formal occasion? And several celebrities have also done the same thing?

  • After 17 Days Trapped In Tunnel, India Workers Say Hope Kept Them Alive

    After 17 Days Trapped In Tunnel, India Workers Say Hope Kept Them Alive

    After 17 days trapped inside a collapsed Himalayan road tunnel they were building, Indian workers described the horror of their ordeal, and the hopes and prayers that kept them strong.

    “We were really scared, every moment felt that death was standing nearby,” rescued worker Deepak Kumar told AFP on Wednesday. “We were not sure whether our lives would be saved or not.”

    The men were welcomed as heroes after being hauled through 57 metres (187 feet) of steel pipe on stretchers specially fitted with wheels late Tuesday, the culmination of a marathon engineering operation.

    Draped in garlands of orange marigolds, they were greeted with wild cheers.

    “The world is again beautiful for us,” rescued worker Sabah Ahmad told AFP, describing the heartache of hearing his wife’s “worried and hopeless” voice while he was trapped.

    “I know it was a difficult moment for those inside and more difficult for families outside,” said Ahmad, who comes from Bihar, one of India’s poorest states.

    “But at last we have come out, and it is the only thing that matters.”

    His wife Musarrat Jahan, speaking to AFP by phone from Bihar, said that “no words” could explain how happy she felt.

    “Not only my husband got a new life, we also got a new life,” she said. “We will never forget it”.

    Previous hopes of reaching the men were repeatedly dashed by falling debris and the breakdown of multiple drilling machines, and the men spoke of how hard it had been to keep their spirits up.

    “It was not easy,” Kumar said. “After three or four days inside the collapsed tunnel, and the rescue team had failed to reach us, the reality is that our confidence and faith were at a low level.”

    Most of the trapped men are migrant workers who left home to find employment, working on the Silkyara tunnel in northern Uttarakhand state, hundreds of kilometres (miles) from home high up in the bitterly cold Himalayan foothills.

    Rescue teams later set up a telephone exchange to allow families far from the site to call in.

    “I told my family, ‘I am fine and healthy, do not worry, everything will be all right, we will come out soon’”, Kumar said.

    “But while I was saying these words to them, sometimes I felt strongly that I will never be able to see my parents.”

    Guriya Devi, wife of rescued worker Sushil Kumar, told AFP that the family had “passed through horrible times, and sometimes we lost hope”.

    Chamra Oraon, 32, from Jharkhand state, described the horror he felt when he heard a thud and debris began to fall deep inside the mountain road tunnel on November 12 — and the terror as the rock fall blocked the only route out with tonnes of rubble.

    “I ran for my life but got stuck on the wrong side,” he told the Indian Express newspaper. “As it became clear we would be there for a long time, we grew restless, hungry. But we prayed silently for help.”

    Subodh Kumar Verma told AFP how the first 24 hours in the tunnel were the worst, when they feared they could starve to death — if their air did not run out first.

    “We faced problems related to food and air for 24 hours there,” Verma said.

  • #BoycottStrangerThings trends as news emerges of Netflix not firing Noah Schnapp

    #BoycottStrangerThings trends as news emerges of Netflix not firing Noah Schnapp

    Noah Schnapp was under fire after he promoted several racist messages undermining the genocide of Gaza and later a video went viral from his Instagram stories where he was distributing stickers labelled ‘Zionism is sexy’. Now news reports have revealed that Netflix is not considering the option of firing the actor from ‘Stranger Things’ season 5, and fans are rallying for the show to be boycotted.

    BoycottStrangerThings is now going viral on X (formerly Twitter) as fans are outraged with the way Zionist actors like Noah who shared racist and inhumane messages applauding the genocide can keep their jobs, while actors like Susan Sarandon and Melissa Barrera are fired for calling for a ceasefire.

    “So spyglass fired an actress for being anti-genocide and a crew member from stranger things was fired for denouncing the violence committed by Israel but when Schnapp says that zionism is sexy (which is the new form of nazism) he gets nothing? Fuxk off,” a user wrote.

    Many users are calling for a boycott on Netflix until Noah is fired from the series.

  • Here are all the roads that will be blocked in Karachi during Palestine march

    Here are all the roads that will be blocked in Karachi during Palestine march

    A Palestine solidarity march will take place in Karachi as UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is observed worldwide on Wednesday (today), reports Geo.

    The event is organised by the Palestine Solidarity Committee in Karachi.The rally is taking place during a crucial time of Israel’s illegal invasion of Gaza which has killed over 15,000 people and injured more than 30,000.

    Here is the traffic plan for today’s march which will be held at 3:30pm.

    Once the march starts, roads from Shahrah-e-Quaideen to Tariq Road and Sindhi Muslim Cooperative Housing Society (SMCHS) will be blocked.
    Moreover, Khalid bin Waleed Road and the road leading to PECHS Block 3 will also be blocked. As the march moves forward, the road leading to Kashmir Road from Khudadad signal will also be closed, said the traffic police.

    All the roads will be opened again when the march moves forward, informed the police.

  • Cynthia Nixon launches hunger strike outside White House to demand ceasefire in Gaza

    Cynthia Nixon launches hunger strike outside White House to demand ceasefire in Gaza

    Former ‘Sex And The City’ star and politician Cynthia Nixon has joined progressive lawmakers to announce a hunger strike in order to end the genocide of Gaza and enable a permanent ceasefire.

    The hunger strike comes after official reports reveal that more than 15,000 Palestinians, including 6,000 children, were killed by Israeli airstrikes since October 7. A temporary ceasefire was declared on November 24 to facilitate the exchange of Israeli and Palestinian hostages.

    Speaking outside the White House, Nixon, along with Democrat state congressional lawmakers Abraham Aiyash, Zohran Mamdai, Sam Rasoul, Mauree Turner and Madinah Wilson-Anton, urged US officials to act fast and prevent more bloodshed.

    “The deaths that we have seen are largely due to the bombs, but so many Palestinians now are on the verge of starvation. Only 7 per cent of the nutrition they need is being let in on a daily basis,” Nixon spoke. “So we are here hunger-striking, just to sort of mirror to Biden the kind of deprivation that is happening in Gaza, and how he has it within his power to make a cease-fire happen and to allow humanitarian aid in.”

    The hunger strike will go on for five days, with Nixon taking part on Monday and Thursday due to work commitments.

    “Israel has killed more civilians on a tiny strip of land than were killed in 20 years of war in the entire country of Afghanistan, and this is not normal,” Cynthia said addressing the crowd. She, along with other DSA members and interfaith activists read aloud the names and ages of the Gazan children killed by Israeli airstrikes.

    Cynthia spoke to The Cut about how her Jewish son inspired her to take such a strong stance in order to shed light on the atrocities of Palestine.

    “Two of my three children are Jewish. My oldest son in particular is extremely involved in the movement for justice for Palestinians and has been very active in Chicago, where he lives and was arrested for his protest about a week and a half ago,” Cynthia opened up.

    Speaking on how her son was the descendants of two Holocaust survivors, Cynthia revealed he urged her to remember ‘Never Again’ means never again for everyone.

    “When this was starting, we spent a lot of time on the phone with him. He was doing everything he could in terms of protests, speeches, speaking in articles. He said to my wife and me point-blank, “You have a much bigger megaphone than I do. And I just implore you at this moment to do everything you can to bring attention to this.” His Jewish identity is very central to him. He’s the grandson of two Holocaust survivors. He said, for him, “never again” means never again for everyone. As a Jew, he feels he has a particular obligation to make sure this doesn’t happen again to another group of people. For everyone in our family, antisemitism is not a joke. It’s a serious and terrifying thing. In a recent article, my son said, for him, having antisemitism thrown about like a political football for warmongers is particularly upsetting. I couldn’t agree more.”

  • Why is #ElonToGaza trending on Twitter?

    Why is #ElonToGaza trending on Twitter?

    #ElonToGaza is one of the top trends on Twitter right now, appearing on the microblogging site after Elon Musk’s visit to Israel.

    The billionaire tycoon and owner of X (former Twitter), having made a number of controversial statements about the Gaza situation, went to Israel and met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Herzog. The tour took place after one of his tweets, dubbed anti-semitic by critics, went viral on social media. The contents of the tweet promoted the conspiracy theory that white people in the West are being “replaced” through immigration from the Global South with the help of progressive Jews – “the actual truth”.

    Details of the visit

    Accompanied by Prime Minister Netanyahu, the tech billionaire also visited a kibbutz that was raided by Hamas fighters on October 7, during an assault that left 1,200 people dead. He was also shown footage of the Hamas attack and met some of the families of people taken into captivity from Israel.

    Elon’s Twitter Space with Netanyahu

    “It was jarring to see the scene of the massacre,” said Musk later in an X Spaces conversation with Netanyahu, adding Israel has “no choice” but to eliminate Hamas.
    In the brief life-streamed conversation on X, Musk and Netanyahu agreed that Hamas needs to be eradicated. “You first have to get rid of the poisonous regime as you did in Germany, as you did in Japan. Yeah, in World War II,” said Netanyahu. Musk replied, “There’s no choice. There’s no choice.”

    Israeli President Isaac Herzog told Musk during a meeting that he had a huge role to play in the global fight against anti-Semitism.“We have to do whatever is necessary to stop the hate,” Musk replied, according to a statement released by Herzog’s office.

    Despite the fact that the Israeli Prime Minister condemned Musk for the tweet, he welcomed the visit by stating that Musk’s visit to Israel points to his solidarity with Israel.

    Purpose of the visit

    Musk reached an agreement with Israel “in principle” that internet access to Gaza may be provided through Starlink, but only using units operated by Israel and with the approval of the Israeli Ministry of Communications.

    In October, CEO Musk said that “Starlink will support connectivity to internationally recognised aid organisations in Gaza.”

    As Gaza plunged into darkness after its communications blackout in October, social media users pleaded with Musk to provide the besieged Gaza Strip with internet access through Starlink.

    Musk was prompted to provide internet connection in Ukraine through Starlink as it uses satellite and not cables to provide internet. People accused him of having “double standards” when it comes to Gaza where a brutal war is being inflicted by Israel. Even Israel has previously opposed Starlink connectivity for Gaza, contesting that Hamas would use it for “terrorist activities”.

    Now netizens are questioning Elon for not visiting Gaza despite the destruction and death that has befallen innocent civilians there.

    Hamas has also sent an invitation to Elon Musk.