Update: In light of the rumors of US intervention in Noor Mukadam’s case by facilitating the death row inmate Zahir Jaffer, Noor’s family has expressed full faith in the judicial system.
In addition to that, an elaboration of the recent meeting in Adiala Jail has been released on the JusticeforNoor page on Twitter. It emphasised that the spread of fake news regarding his impending escape should be stopped because this was a routine visit.
Officials of the US Embassy in Islamabad met with death row prisoner Zahir Jaffer, convicted for killing Noor Mukadam, at the Adiala Central Jail on Tuesday.
As per the report of The Express Tribune, the convict demanded access to lawyers and vegetarian food during the meeting with the officials while the head of the US delegation, Mitchell P Murphy, gifted him two books.
The meeting went on for about half an hour where the consul inquired about Zahir’s health, accomodation and facilities in the jail. The three-member American delegation approached Zahir Jaffer through the consular office of the American Embassy.
Islamabad High Court has upheld Zahir’s death sentence by a trial court but also turned his life imprisonment into a death sentence in a case relating to the rape and murder of Noor. The pleas of his domestic help-Mohammad Iftikhar and Mohammad Jan — both co-accused in the case —have also been dismissed by IHC. He earlier received a 25-year imprisonment sentence with hard labour and a fine of Rs0.2 million after the rape was proven.
Noor Mukadam was beheaded at Zahir’s residence in Islamabad’s upscale Sector F-7/4 on July 20, 2021. Her death sparked national outrage, including protests and candlelight vigils across the country.
Jenna Ortega has stepped back from the upcoming horror franchise ‘Scream 7’, just one day after Variety reported that actor Melissa Barrera was fired from the project because of her pro-Palestine stance. Deadline states that Ortega’s decision had nothing to do with Melissa’s firing, stressing that the departure was pre-planned before the actor’s strike as the actor’s shooting was clashing with Netflix’s ‘Wednesday’.
Jenna has remained vocal about her pro-Palestinian stance, and in the past few days has kept sharing content spreading awareness about the genocide in Gaza.
The news comes hot on the heels of Melissa being dropped for posting pro-Palestinian content on her Instagram stories. She released a statement writing that she condemns anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, and will not remain silent during a genocide.
“First and foremost I condemn Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. I condemn hate and prejudice of any kind against any group of people.
As a latina, a proud Mexicana, I feel the responsibility of having a platform that allows me the privilege of being heard, and therefore I have tried to use it to raise awareness about issues I care about and to lend my voice to those in need.
Every person on this earth- regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or socio-economic status- deserves equal human rights, dignity, and of course, freedom.
I believe a group of people are NOT their leadership, and that no governing body should be above criticism.
I pray day and night for no more deaths, for no more violence, and for peaceful co-existence. I will continue to speak out for those that need it most and continue to advocate for peace and safety, for human rights and freedom.
Silence is not an option for me.”
Melissa Barrera has released a statement after she was fired from ‘SCREAM 7’ for being vocal about the genocide happening in Palestine.
jenna ortega dipping out on scream over “scheduling conflicts” a day after it’s announced that melissa barrera was fired imagine the studio fumbling two queens like this after they lost neve campbell pic.twitter.com/EvhMbInYM6
Pakistan is watching a wave of interviews and the latest twist in this unfolding drama has been disclosed by senior journalist Javed Chaudhry in a recent vlog, hinting that Malik Riaz, a property tycoon, is poised to unravel a series of explosive revelations in the days to come.
Javed Chaudhry’s vlog, providing a sneak peek into an upcoming interview with Malik Riaz, outlined three key points that are expected to rock the political landscape.
First and foremost, the interview is anticipated to shed light on the staggering Rs460 billion penalty imposed on Bahria Town by the Supreme Court. Riaz is expected to reveal what Saqib Nisar got in return for favors. He will also delve into the details of the 460 billion rupees fiasco.
Furthermore, the property tycoon is predicted to make startling claims regarding the 2014 protest, alleging that influential figures orchestrated the demonstration to unseat then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The revelations will also cover how the sit-in was sponsored and from where and how food was provided.
Riaz will also talk about why he advised Nawaz Sharif to leave the country for three months after his resignation.
Riaz is also anticipated to discuss his role in preventing a collaborative effort between Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif against Imran Khan, shedding light on the intricate dynamics that shaped Pakistan’s political landscape.
Riaz will also openly talk about who played what role during Imran Khan’s government and how they all benefited from it.
While specific details of the upcoming interview were not disclosed by Chaudhry, he expressed confidence that Malik Riaz’s revelations would be nothing short of bombshells, suggesting a turbulent period ahead for Pakistani politics.
The men became trapped after a portion of the 4.5-kilometer (2.8-mile) tunnel, which was under construction in the mountainous vicinity of the Himalayas, caved in on itself after a landslide. The tunnel collapsed around 200 meters (656 ft.) from its entrance.
Construction of the tunnel is part of the Chardham all-weather road, a flagship project of the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that aims to connect Hindu pilgrimage sites, so that the state can better accommodate the growing influx of pilgrims and tourists to the region.
The workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel in northern India for over a week are getting their first hot meals on Tuesday through a new six-inch wide steel pipe as rescuers pursue an alternative plan to free them. “We will bring you out safely, do not worry,” rescuers told the men, according to translations by Al Jazeera.
Indian rescuers have drilled two-thirds of the way through debris toward 41 workers trapped in a collapsed road tunnel, officials said Wednesday, warning that the next 24 hours could be critical.
Engineers are working to drive a steel pipe through at least 57 metres (187 feet) of the tonnes of earth, concrete, and rubble that has divided the trapped men from freedom since a portion of the under-construction tunnel in the northern Himalayan state of Uttarakhand collapsed 11 days ago.
Looking into the Silkyara tunnel entrance on Wednesday, an AFP journalist could see sparks flying as workers welded metal tube sections together, with the site busy as excavators and heavy trucks brought in equipment.
“I am very happy to share… that 39 metres of drilling have been completed,” said Mahmood Ahmad, a road and highways ministry official involved in the operations.
“If there is no blockage, we hope there could be happy news late tonight or tomorrow,” Ahmad told reporters at the site.
South African Parliament has voted in favour of the closure of Israel’s embassy in Pretoria and the suspension of diplomatic ties with the country amidst the siege of the Gaza Strip.
The votes in favour were 248 and 91 against the motion. The action is actually symbolic because it will be up to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government to implement it. The President has already maintained that Israel is committing war crimes and genocide in the Gaza Strip. In a recent statement on X, President Ramaphosa, “We urge the international community to agree on urgent and concrete actions to end the suffering in #Gaza and establish a path towards a just and peaceful resolution of his conflict.”
We urge the international community to agree on urgent and concrete actions to end the suffering in #Gaza and establish a path towards a just and peaceful resolution of his conflict.
Relations between Israel and South Africa have deteriorated over the years because of the former’s apartheid of Palestine. The country has not had an ambassador in Israel since 2018.
In the BRICS summit on Tuesday, South Africa called for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities” in Gaza.
South Africa is the most recent country to suspend ties with Israel over the Gaza war. Others include Turkey, Bahrain, Jordan, Colombia, Chile and Honduras.
Lahoris can finally take a breath of relief as Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab has given dates for the inauguration of under-construction roads in Lahore.
Cavalry Ground Underpass
A mega infrastructure project in Lahore Cantonment, the Khalid Butt underpass (Cavalry Ground), is set to open on November 26 as the pace of work on construction activities has been accelerated.
With the completion of this project, along with the Ghora Chowk flyover, residents will enjoy signal-free drive from Cantonment to Gulberg, Kalma Chowk, and vice versa, saving precious time and energy.
Ghora Chowk Flyover
The estimated opening date of Ghora Chowk Flyover project is December 7.
The project is located at the intersection of Masood Anwari Road and Walton Road. Once completed, it will address bottlenecks, providing smooth passage for 180,000 vehicles daily, which currently congest the whole intersection up to Khalid Butt Chowk.
Exciting times ahead for Lahoris Just inspected Walton Road, Cavalry Ground Underpass, and CBD main boulevard – all set Alhmadulillah .
Save the dates:
1. Walton Road: Ready to roll by 31st Jan ’24 2. Cavalry Ground Underpass: Opening in 4 days on 26th Nov ’23! 3. CBD Main… pic.twitter.com/7I4MzgnVWc
The estimated opening date of Central Business District (CBD) Main Boulevard project is December 31.
Traffic burden on Ali Zeb Road and Ferozepur Road will be reduced, as motorists seeking access to Walton Road and reaching various phases of DHA would prefer using this new road.
The main CBD has been divided into two districts— Quaid district and Bab district.
Quaid district will consist of the land from Kalma Chowk to the originating point of the flyover, while the Bab district will comprise the land starting from the endpoint of the flyover and ending at Walton Road (Bab-e-Pakistan).
It is pertinent to mention that the Kalma Chowk Remodeling Project is one of the core components of the Lahore CBD project and aims to allow easy access to the CBD at Walton, avoiding traffic in the vicinity.
Walton Road
The estimated opening date of Walton Road upgradation project is January 31.
Suzuki has been a trusted companion to Pakistanis with its affordability and durability for over four decades. Over the years, Suzuki has become an integral part of countless lives by providing reliable transportation to generations, thus creating a wealth of cherished memories.
To strengthen the bond with its customers, Pak Suzuki has launched My Suzuki My Story season four, where all Suzuki owners can celebrate and showcase their treasured moments with their Suzuki. Excitingly, this innovative digital initiative is offering exciting rewards for innovative content that evokes emotions and spark creativity.
My Suzuki My Story is a platform for expressing and sharing stories. It can happen through any artistic format (videos, short films, paintings, pictures, narrations, songs, etc) to relive their Suzuki adventures. It can be any exhilarating memory, like the first drive with a newly purchased Suzuki, a family road trip to scenic destinations, or the unwavering companionship of a Suzuki vehicle through challenging times. Each of these stories has the essence of Suzuki’s enduring presence in the lives of Pakistanis.
Participants have the opportunity to win attractive prizes, like a brand-new Suzuki Alto 660cc car, a Europe Trip, or a powerful GSX 125 motorcycle.
Visit the website https://www.mysuzukimystory.com.pk/ to share your Suzuki story on the theme “Stories & Memories with Suzuki” and be a part of something special.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) summoned caretaker prime minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar in person on November 29 in a case pertaining to Baloch missing students.
In today’s verdict, the court asked the federal government to present 55 Baloch missing students as per the recommendation of the Baloch Enforced Disappearance Commission.
The court has asked the defence and interior ministers and the sectaries from both ministries to present before the court in person and has sought a report within a week from the federal government committee.
“We are sitting in Islamabad and talking about the rights of Balochistan. I’m giving [you] seven days time to ensure the implementation,” IHC Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani remarked.
On the other hand, the additional attorney general for Pakistan requested the court not to summon the prime minister and federal ministers.
IHC Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani was not happy with the report presented before the court by the federal government.
“This report is a matter of shame for this court,” the judge remarked. He also said that caretaker prime minister should have realised that it’s a matter of Baloch students, as he also belongs to Balochistan.
Justice Kayani also said, “Should we send this matter to the United Nations? Should we dishonour our country?”
The Peshawar High Court issued a warning on Tuesday, indicating that if the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is not permitted to carry out political activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), it would summon the caretaker chief minister of the province and the chief election commissioner for an explanation.
“Both the chief minister and CEC will be asked about their failure to fulfil the responsibility of holding polls in a free and fair manner amid the PTI’s complaints of restrictions on its activities in the province,” Justice Ijaz Anwar observed during a hearing of a petition filed by former prime minister Imran Khan’s party for contempt proceedings against the provincial government and the administration of Mansehra district.
The court observed that if a political party is not allowed to hold a public meeting due to security concerns, it raises questions about the Election Commission of Pakistan’s ability to conduct general elections.
Attorney General Aamir Javed informed the court that a meeting had been called to assess the security situation, and a report would be provided within two days. The court scheduled the next hearing for November 23, focusing on the contempt petition against the caretaker government and Mansehra’s district administration.
The bench fixed Nov 23 (Thursday) for next hearing into the PTI’s contempt petition against the caretaker government and Mansehra’s district administration for “not allowing the holding of a workers’ convention despite the court’s orders.”
The petition was filed by PTI provincial president Ali Amin Gandapur, its provincial legal coordinator Mashal Azam, and Insaf Lawyers Forum provincial vice-president Malik Arshad Ahmad, requesting the court to initiate contempt proceedings against the relevant officers, including the provincial chief secretary, Mansehra DC and DPO, and others.
Lawyers Shah Faisal Uthmankhel, Ali Zaman, Inam Yousafzai, and others appeared for the petitioners and said a high court bench had disposed of on Oct 26 a plea of their clients after allowing the PTI to carry out political activities in the province.
PTI MPA offloaded
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, former PTI MPA Shaukat Ali Yousafzai was offloaded from a flight at Peshawar’s Bacha Khan International Airport.
Yousafzai’s flight was scheduled to depart at 9:15 am on Wednesday via Emirates flight EK-637 for Saudi Arabia, where he was to perform Umrah.
He stated that after the boarding process was completed, the airport’s security officials came and took him into their custody “without any reason”, as per Dawn.
The PTI ex-MPA added that when he asked the officials why he was being prevented from boarding the plane, they only replied they had “orders from authorities to not let you fly abroad”.
Yousafzai went on to say that he would approach the Peshawar High Court and file a case against the airport’s security officials for offloading him as, according to him, neither was there a first information report against him nor was his name on the Exit Control List.
PTI leaders arrested
In a related development, Liaqat Ali Yousafzai, PTI’s Shangla chapter president and brother of Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, along with six other party workers were arrested by the police for allegedly violating Section 144 during a party meeting in Shahpur. The PTI criticized the authorities, claiming unequal treatment compared to other political parties allowed to hold public meetings.
The situation reflects a growing tension between the PTI and local authorities, with the Peshawar High Court intervening to address concerns of restricted political activities in KP.
Binance boss Changpeng Zhao has become the most powerful cryptocurrency figure to fall in a two-year period chaotic even by the standards of the notoriously volatile industry.
Zhao stepped down as CEO of Binance — the largest crypto exchange in the world — after he and the company pleaded guilty on Tuesday to sweeping US money laundering violations and agreed to fines of more than $4 billion.
Here are three of the highest-profile crypto executives who have fallen foul of the law since last year:
Changpeng ‘CZ’ Zhao
Born in China in 1977, Zhao moved with his family to Canada in the 1980s and later got a degree in computer science from McGill University, according to his profile in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Zhao Changpeng, chief executive officer of Binance, speaks during a Bloomberg Television interview in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018. The world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange keeps getting bigger. Binance.com is adding “a couple of million” registered users every week, with 240,000 people signing up in just an hour on Wednesday, said Zhao. Photographer: Akio Kon/Bloomberg
He founded Binance in 2017 in Shanghai, and led the company’s explosive growth into the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange.
An outspoken celebrity in the crypto world with 8.7 million followers on X, Zhao became the richest known figure in the nascent industry. His net worth peaked at around $65 billion in 2022, according to a Forbes index.
With the prestige and wealth came increased scrutiny of Binance’s operations, as prominent crypto firms around the world began to buckle under a wave of criminal investigations.
The United States accused Zhao and Binance of multiple violations, including knowingly allowing transactions to militant groups such as the Islamic State and in barred jurisdictions such as North Korea and Iran.
On Tuesday, they pleaded guilty. The firm has agreed to total penalties of nearly $4.4 billion, while he will pay $50 million, according to court documents.
Zhao resigned as CEO of Binance and while he will reportedly retain his shares in the company, he has been banned from any involvement in its business. He is expected to face sentencing later.
Forbes listed his net worth as $10.2 billion as of Wednesday.
Sam Bankman-Fried
If Zhao was the richest and most powerful person in crypto, Sam Bankman-Fried was easily the most famous.
Born to Stanford University professors, Bankman-Fried graduated from MIT with a degree in physics.
In 2019, he founded FTX, which skyrocketed to become the world’s second-largest crypto exchange.
Along the way, Bankman-Fried built up his image as the unofficial ambassador for the cryptocurrency industry, with high-profile appearances in the media and even the US Congress.
At one point in 2022, he had a net worth of $24 billion, according to Forbes.
But he had been walking a dangerous path — his team used customers’ money for everything from buying posh real estate to covering risky moves by affiliate Alameda Research.
It all came crashing down when these moves were revealed in the media in November 2022. Within hours, rival CZ Zhao said Binance would sell all the FTX tokens it held.
It sparked a stunning collapse of FTX and Bankman-Fried’s empire, his fame turning to notoriety.
Arrested in the Bahamas in January, he was found guilty this month of what US prosecutors described as “one of the biggest financial frauds in American history”. He faces up to 110 years in prison.
During his trial, the 31-year-old admitted to making “mistakes” but denied trying to defraud anyone.
Do Kwon
South Korean entrepreneur Do Kwon co-founded Terraform Labs in 2018, developing the cryptocurrencies TerraUSD and Luna.
Do Kwon, co-founder and chief executive officer of Terraform Labs, poses in the company’s office in Seoul, South Korea, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. Kwon is counting on the oldest cryptocurrency as a backstop for his stablecoin, which some critics liken to a ginormous Ponzi scheme. Photographer: Woohae Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Stanford grad successfully marketed them as the next big thing in crypto, attracting billions in investments and global hype.
Media reports in South Korea described him as a “genius”.
But in May last year, the value of these currencies — marketed as “stablecoins” — plummeted, wiping out around $40 billion in investments and sending a shock wave through the rest of the industry.
It led to more than $500 billion in further losses on global crypto markets, industry data suggested.
Experts said Do Kwon — whose full name is Kwon Do-kyung — had marketed a glorified Ponzi scheme.
Brash and outspoken on social media, Do Kwon left South Korea before the collapse and spent months on the run.
He was arrested in Montenegro this year after being caught trying to catch a flight using fake Costa Rican travel documents.
He faces multiple criminal charges in the United States and South Korea.
