Tag: trending

  • The court bars Imaan Mazari arrest in any FIR registered after August 20

    The court bars Imaan Mazari arrest in any FIR registered after August 20

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered not to arrest human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari in any First Information Report (FIR) registered after August 20.

    Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb of the IHC heard the case in which Shireen Mazari, former federal minister and the mother of Imaan Mazari, submitted a request on her daughter’s behalf through her lawyers, Zainab Janjua, Salman Akram Raja and Qaisar Imam.

    The Interior Secretary is to submit a report to the court detailing the number of cases that have been filed against Imaan Mazari in the country.

    Earlier, On Sunday, August 20, human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and former lawmaker Ali Wazir were arrested for attending the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) protest in Islamabad.

  • Five times ‘Fairytale’ Season Two was a gooey mess of wholesomeness

    Five times ‘Fairytale’ Season Two was a gooey mess of wholesomeness

    The second season of the popular drama ‘Fairy Tale’ arrived on our screens after a five month break, and this time the production delivered an empowering, wholesome story revolving around Farjaad and Umeed. If during the last season fans had to deal with the slow burn of the two settling their differences, learning to like each other and then developing a relationship, in this season we watch the two settle into married life and learn to overcome their personality clashes.

    Writer Sehar Majeed has left no stones unturned with the insane amount of wholesome, endearing moments she wrote for Farjaad and Umeed. Seriously, don’t watch the show unless you’re in your room alone because jitna hum nahi expect kar rahay thay kay aisa koi Pakistani drama would make us squeal this much.

    We know its too early but here are some of our favorite moments so far from the last four episodes where Farjaad and Umeed shine.

    1 Starting with the dance sequence in last week’s episode, with shy boy Farjaad stepping up for the couple dance because Umeed requested him to.

    2 Or how in episode one, Farjaad proving he’s the only one jis ko Umeed ki naraazgi sambhalni aati hai.

    3 Caring fiance setting our standards high by protectively laying his coat over Umeed when she accidently slept over in his office.

    4 The engagement sequence just made us shed tears of blood because kahan say Farjaad jaisa miyaan milay ga

    5 Afterwards when the two are sitting outside and Farjaad says ‘Kis nay kaha tha itna khoobsurat lagnay ka?” Reham karien humaray upar sir

  • Sarhad paar drugs kon smuggle kar raha hai?

    Sarhad paar drugs kon smuggle kar raha hai?

    Do you remember the news of a drone carrying drugs falling near Kahna?

    This year in July a drone carrying six kilograms of drugs, worth millions of rupees, crashed in the outskirts of Lahore. Recently a case has been registered against a senior official of the Lahore police, who headed the anti-narcotics wing of the city police, for alleged involvement in cross-border drug smuggling via drones.

    Lahore Deputy Inspector General (Investigation) Imran Kishwar confirmed the “involvement of a DSP”, saying that the official was booked by the ANF.

    “We have constituted a high-powered committee of senior police officers to further expand the scope of the investigation into the illegal cross-border smuggling of the drug,” the DIG told Dawn.

    He said that Lahore SSP Internal Accountability (IAB) Tauqeer Naeem would head the committee while SP Crime Record Officer Aftab Phularwan and a DSP would assist him in this matter.

    According to departmental sources, the issue was escalated to the prime minister after reports suggested that some elements were sending drugs from Kasur to India through drones. They further suggested that a gang of drug traffickers were using unmanned aerial vehicles to smuggle huge quantities of methamphetamine (locally known as ice) from Lahore to India.

    Sources said a drone could carry up to six kilograms of drugs, which would be delivered at a given location in Indian Punjab after flying across the border.

    Departmental action has already been initiated against the police officer, DIG said, adding that further proceedings would be made in the light of the inquiry report.

    The use of technology to smuggle drugs sent alarm bells ringing in ANF, evident from recent arrests made by the force.
    A subsequent probe revealed that DSP Mazhar Iqbal, who secured interim bail after a case was registered against him, was also involved in the alleged smuggling.

    The smugglers on both sides of the border were using “some means of communication to get alerts about the delivery of the drug”, the officials said.

    They added that payments against these drugs would be made in the UAE.

  • President Alvi ko chahiye mazeed salary

    President Alvi ko chahiye mazeed salary

    President Dr Arif Alvi is seeking an increase in his salary. Official documents show that the president has asked for two raises, first with effect from July 1, 2021 and second with effect from July 1, 2023, as per Geo News.

    Currently, the president draws a monthly salary of Rs 846,550 and wants a two-step raise to Rs 1,024,325 and Rs 1,229,190 per month with effect from July 2021 and July 2023 respectively.

    In a letter written to the Secretary Cabinet through his Military Secretary earlier this month, the President’s Secretariat has desired amendment in the Fourth Schedule of President’s Salary Allowances and Privileges (Amendment) Act, 2018 to allow the president’s salary, a) Rs 1,024,325 per month with effect from July 1, 2021, and b) Rs 1,229,190 per month with effect from July 1, 2023.

    The letter stated, “In Pursuance of para 3(2) of President’s Salary, Allowances and Privileges (Amendment) Act 2018, published in the Gazette Notification (Part I), the remuneration of the President shall be a symbolic one rupee higher than the salary of any holder of Public Office in relation to affairs of the Federation. Accordingly, pay of the honorable President was fixed at Rs 846,550/- per month in 2018 as reflected in the Fourth Schedule of the Act ibid.”

    The letter further pointed out that the salary of the Chief Justice of Pakistan being a holder of Public Office was increased twice in the last 2 years through Presidential Orders. Pay of Chief Justice of Pakistan was fixed at Rs 1,024,324/ per month w.e.f 01 July 2021 and subsequently at Rs 1,229,189/ per month w.e.f. 01 July 2023. As per the rules, the salary of the President was not enhanced in relation to the laid down principle of one rupee higher than the salary of any holder of public office i.e. Chief Justice of Pakistan.

    On the basis of the above, the Presidency sought changes in the Fourth Schedule of President’s Salary Allowances and Privileges (Amendment) Act 2018 accordingly.

    The Cabinet Division referred the case to the Law Ministry, which on August 18 advised the former to process the case for a raise in Alvi’s salary.

    The Law Ministry stated, “The Federal Government by virtue of section 3(2) of the same Act has the power to amend that Schedule by way of a notification in the official gazette henceforth in relation to the issue at hand the Federal Government is competent to amend the Fourth Schedule by way of gazette notification and no amendment in the Fourth Schedule is required via an amending Act to effectuate a revision in the salary of the President.”

    The matter was also referred to the Finance Division, which on August 22 also supported the proposed increase in the salary of the president through amendment in the Fourth Schedule of the President (Salary, Allowances & Privileges) Act, 1975.

    The matter is expected to be presented before the cabinet for approval. The president, besides getting the desired increases, will also get a hefty amount as arrears as the two-step raises will be allowed with effect from July 2021 and July 2023 respectively.

  • Eras tour in Karachi? Twitter hilariously reimagines Taylor Swift’s visit to Pakistan

    Eras tour in Karachi? Twitter hilariously reimagines Taylor Swift’s visit to Pakistan

    Taylor Swift is taking her super successful Eras tour around the globe, with four sold out shows in Mexico City while more will follow in Germany, Singapore, Japan and other countries.

    As usual hum Pakistanis were left out of the planning. So X user Yusra Amjad imagined a hilarious twist on how everything would pan out if the Eras tour came to Karachi.

    “The only place in Pakistan that the Eras Tour could take place is the National Stadium in Karachi, btw. It has a capacity of 50k (Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is 29k only),” the poet wrote.

    There were some witty responses with people imagining how the concert in Karachi would turn out.

    OUR WORST NIGHTMARE

    Maybe Karsaz ki dulhan can give her some company?

    Lahore na lana concert none of us can wait for the surprise songs while stuck in traffic on Liberty Chowk

    Either ways guys, livestreams par dehaan rakho. Koi aisa waisay khwaab sach nahi ajatay.

  • Cipher Case: Imran Khan to remain behind bars till September 13

    Cipher Case: Imran Khan to remain behind bars till September 13

    A special court has extended the judicial remand of former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan under the official secret act till September 13 in the cipher case. He will remain in jail until September 13, Geo has reported.

    Today’s hearing, conducted in Attock Jail, was headed by Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain. Due to security concerns expressed by the Interior Ministry, the hearing took place at the jail.

    Imran Khan has been imprisoned in the Attock jail since August 5. However, on Tuesday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) overturned the decision of a lower court to jail Imran Khan for three years.

    According to the report in Geo News, Imran Khan’s five-member legal team including Naeem Haider Panjotha, Salman Safdar, Intizar Panjotha, Ali Ijaz Buttar, and Umair Niazi also attended the hearing.

    On the other hand, a special court extended the judicial remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case for 14 days.

    The FIA’s Counter Terrorism Wing (CTW) detained Qureshi earlier this month after receiving a complaint from Interior Secretary Yousaf Naseem Khokhar alleging violations of Sections 5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act of 1923, r/w 34 PP.

    “Consequent upon the conclusion of the enquiry No. 111/2023 dated 05.10.2022, registered in the CTW, FIA Islamabad, it transpired that former prime minister namely Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, former foreign minister namely Shah Mahmood Qureshi and their other associates are involved in communications of information contained in secret classified document (Cipher Telegram received from Parep. Washington dated 7th March, 2022 to Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to the unauthorised person (i.e. public at large) by twisting the facts to achieve their ulterior motives and personal gains in a manner prejudicial to the interests of state security,” the FIR stated.

  • Pakistan mein ‘Super Blue Moon’ kis waqt daikhein?

    Pakistan mein ‘Super Blue Moon’ kis waqt daikhein?

    Once in a blue moon is going to be a reality tonight. On the night of August 31, a celestial spectacle known as the ‘Blue Moon’ will captivate astro enthusiasts around the world. Despite its name, this unique event won’t unveil a blue-hued moon; instead, it will radiate a captivating shade of orange.

    The Super Blue Moon Experience

    During this event, the Super Blue Moon will be slightly larger and brighter than a typical full moon. Supermoons shine about 40 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than regular full moons. While the size difference may not be discernible to the naked eye, binoculars can enhance the view of this captivating phenomenon.

    When and How to Observe the Super Blue Moon

    In Pakistan, the spectacular view of the Super Blue Moon can be seen from 6:25 AM PKT till 6:40 AM. The moon will be full at 6:35 AM PKT.

    European viewers will have an extended opportunity to witness the moonrise, providing an additional chance to catch a glimpse of this celestial event. In London, the moon will rise at 8:08 PM BST. For those in New York, moonrise is set for 7:45 PM EDT, followed by moonset at 7:33 PM EDT, with the full moon radiating its brilliance at 8:37 PM EDT.

    In Los Angeles, both moonrise and sunset are scheduled for 7:36 PM PDT, and the full moon will grace the sky at 5:37 PM PDT. London residents can experience the Blue Moon at 7:52 PM BST during sunset and 8:24 PM BST, with the full moon’s appearance at 1:37 AM BST.

    Understanding the Blue Moon Phenomenon

    A Blue Moon is an extraordinary astronomical event that occurs when a supermoon or full Moon coincides with a perigee—when the Moon is closest to Earth in its orbit.

    While Blue Moons aren’t exceedingly rare occurrences, they remain intriguing phenomena in the world of astronomy. The most recent Blue Moon graced the skies in August 2021, as reported by Space.com. With the average lunar cycle spanning approximately 29.5 days, a year typically accommodates 12 lunar cycles, totaling 354 days. As a result, roughly every 2.5 years, a thirteenth full moon emerges within a given year.

    This upcoming event, the super blue moon, marks the final chapter of a four-part lunar sequence and is anticipated to be the third-largest moon visible throughout this year. It’s important to note that the term “blue moon” has no connection to the moon’s color; it merely signifies the occurrence of two full moons within a single calendar month.

    How rare is a blue supermoon?

    According to NASA, the blue supermoons are a very rare phenomenon. It mentions that these moons often only appear once every ten years due to astronomical conditions. But occasionally, the interval between blue supermoons can be as long as twenty years. While blue moons only account for 3% of full moons, supermoons account for around 25% of all full moons. Although the interval between super blue moons is highly erratic—it can be as long as 20 years—the average is often 10 years. The following super blue moons will take place in pairs in 2037, in January and March.

  • Nadia Afghan, Nadia Jamil slam ‘disgusting’ dialogue from ‘Hadsa’

    Nadia Afghan, Nadia Jamil slam ‘disgusting’ dialogue from ‘Hadsa’

    Trigger warning: mention of rape, violence

    After the controversial drama ‘Hadsa’ was slammed by social media users for allegedly depicting without consent the ordeal of the motorway rape case that happened in 2020, several social media users slammed lead actress Hadiqa Kiani for her ‘tone-deaf’ statement, as well as writer Zanjabeel Asim Shah, and demanded that PEMRA take down the show.

    Now, a controversial dialogue from the drama has made rounds on social media, where the main character, Taskeen, can be heard saying “Jaisay murday ke jism mein rooh waapis nahi aati..waisay hee khoi hui izzat waapis nahi aati.” The clip was shared by Geo’s official Instagram account, as can be seen below.

    The dialogue was spoken in episode 5, after Taskeen is recovering in the hospital from her wounds after the violence.

    The controversial dialogue has launched more uproar on social media, with users demanding to know how it got approved by Hadiqa, who’s repertoire includes feminist dramas that empowered women.

    Activist Leena Ghani pointed out:

    ‘What excuse is Hadiqa Kiani going to give us now? That she didn’t read the dialogues? Was she forced to say ‘Khoi huwi izzat..’ Izzat victims nahi hotey balkay rapists ki koi izzat nahi hoti. Is this how @harpalgeotv wants to spread awareness by victim blaming and gaslighting survivors of sexual abuse? Why doesn’t anyone in the industry have a backbone and why can’t they ever do the right thing?”

    Actress Nadia Jamil slammed the dialogue as “disgusting”, and said no survivor of rape has her honor robbed.

    “Firstly NO HONOUR OF MINE WAS ROBBED WHEN I WAS RAPED. NO HONOUR OF ANY RAPE SURVIVOR IS ROBBED. THOSE WHO RAPED HAD AND HAVE NO HONOUR. THEY are the ones who should feel and be in shame. Not the victim.”

    The actress called out PEMRA and GEO for encouraging the ugly narrative of shame that would further marginalise survivors of rape, and said it took her years of therapy and coaching to come to a place where she herself- as a survivor of child abuse- could not feel ashamed about her trama.

    “The narrative of SHAME that is dumped on rape survivors is horrible. It’s a burden we carry through our lives. It took me years of therapy, prayer and coaching to come to a place of solid self worth and self respect within myself. Today movements like #notmyshame Shatter the Shame that survivors of abuse and rape have carried. Allowing us to belong to a tribe that recognises, the shame was never ours to carry, or suffer, to begin with. People like @ejtayloruk work hard to build a community where survivors feel empowered and safe. Please do not encourage this ugly narrative of shame for survivors @GeoTvNews @reportpemra you have a responsibility that comes with your power. Many men and women watching this may have been raped and it’s the last thing they need to hear AND it’s a lie.”

    Nadia Afghan also criticised content heads for their “insensitive and callous” approach towards sensitive topics like rape, and their only motive is to make more money out of it, saying that she was “disgusted and heartbroken.”

  • It is ECP’s responsibility to conduct elections: PPP

    It is ECP’s responsibility to conduct elections: PPP

    In a meeting with the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) expressed concerns about the upcoming general elections, Geo has reported, reminding the constitutional body that it is its duty to hold timely elections.

    The party has reservations about the date of the elections, stressing that election should be held within 90 days after the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA) as per the constitution.

    On August 17, the electoral body announced the schedule of new delimitations to be carried out as per the new census approved by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) earlier this month.

    According to the ECP schedule, four months are required for the new delimitation, which means that a general election is not possible in the country within 90 days after the dissolution of the provincial and national assemblies.

    “We had a meeting with the ECP in a pleasant environment, during which we put forward all our reservations,” said PPP Vice President Sherry Rehman in a press conference held after the meeting.

  • Is Imran Khan leaving Pakistan?

    Is Imran Khan leaving Pakistan?

    Aleema Khan and Uzma Khanum, sisters of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, along with his wife Bushra Bibi, met him in Attock Jail on Tuesday, five days after they moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking permission for the meeting.

    The Khan sisters pleaded with the court they were not allowed to meet the former prime minister by the jail superintendent.

    “We went to meet our brother, former prime minister Imran Khan, in Attock jail on Thursday, but the superintendent did not allow us to meet him,” their plea mentioned, requesting the court to issue directives allowing the meeting to take place.

    During the meeting, Khan’s sisters and wife were accompanied by the party’s legal team comprising four members, as per The News.

    While Aleema and Uzma were meeting their brother for the first time, it was Bushra Bibi’s third visit to her husband, who has been in jail since August 5, after a trial court in Islamabad convicted him in Toshakhana case and handed him a three-year sentence.

    Bushra’s meeting lasted for over an hour during which, it was reported that the couple discussed personal and political issues.

    “Bushra discussed a specific issue with her husband regarding a message from a foreign friend about his settlement abroad,” an intelligence agency source said, as reported by Shakeel Anjum, correspondent of Geo News.

    READ MORE: Imran Khan rearrested in cypher case