Tag: trending

  • Kate Middleton’s fingers break Royal Family tradition during Easter

    Kate Middleton’s fingers break Royal Family tradition during Easter

    The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, is well known for her strict adherence to royal customs while making public appearances for the Crown. However, during an Easter outing on Monday, the 41- years-old duchess stunned on-lookers by choosing to wear red nail polish, instead of a neutral color.

    The event was the first time Middleton and her husband Prince William had made their appearance as the newly-inaugurated Prince and Princess of Wales, a title previously held by Prince Charles, who is now the King after the demise of Elizabeth II. The couple were joined by their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

    Rules about dressing and appearance etiquette are extremely strict which members of the Royal Family must adhere to at all times. Women resist from wearing bright nail polish and can only stick to neutral shades when attending public events.

    The late Queen wore bright colours in public in order to stand out from the crowd. Tiaras can only be worn by married women in the Royal Family, not single women or children.

    The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle had drawn backlash in 2018, when she attended the Fashion Awards, where she was spotted flaunting a black manicure, which broke royal protocol.

  • Imran ne kaha ke Bushra Bibi se shaadi karne par woh PM ban jaye gaye, claims Mufti

    Mufti Saeed, who solemnised the nikkah of former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and his third wife Bushra Bibi, has told a court in Islamabad that Khan told him that there was a prediction that if he married Bushra Bibi, he would become the prime minister.

    Stating that he solemnised their nikkah on January 1, 2018, Muft Saeed said that later Khan himself told him the first nikkah was illegal as per Islamic law, and asked him to perform the ceremony again.

    When the first nikkah took place, Khan took Mufti Saeed, a former close associate, to a house in Lahore where he met a woman who identified herself as Bushra Bibi’s sister. Saeed claimed that he asked the woman if Bushra bibi’s nikkah could be solemnised as per Shariah, to which she said yes.

    On the woman’s assurance, Mufti Saeed carried on with the formalities. But later in February of the same year, Khan requested him to conduct another nikkah with Bushra on the pretext that the first time her iddat had not been completed.

    Iddat is a period in Islamic law where either after being widowed or getting divorced, a Muslim woman may not marry another man. Once the stipulated period is over, she can marry whoever she wants to.

    Mufti Saeed said Khan claimed that Bushra Bibi got divorced in November 2017, hence, according to Mufti, they both got married knowing all the facts, yet went ahead with the nikkah. He also stated that their marriage is “illegal”.

  • ‘I did not chose to sit there’: Justice Faez Isa speaks up on criticism

    ‘I did not chose to sit there’: Justice Faez Isa speaks up on criticism

    Justice Qazi Faez Isa of the Supreme Court has spoken up about why he was present at the National Assembly’s (NA) special session on Monday in honour of the 50 years of the Constitution.

    The future Chief Justice was criticised by certain sections of the political class and legal fraternity for attending the celebration.

    There was much talk on why Justice Isa was seated in the front row in the National Assembly. Issuing a clarification on his presence, speech and seating arrangement, the justice said that he accepted the invitation because he wanted to show solidarity with the Constitution.

    Talking about the backlash he received, Isa said, “I would have preferred to sit in the hall on one side or in the gallery but respect was shown to a member of the judiciary by seating me at the centre; I did not chose to sit there.”

    The justice also said that prior to accepting the invitation, inquires were made as to whether there would be political speeches, and assurances were extended that only the Constitution and its making would be spoken about; the programme sent to him also confirmed this.

    “I had been asked if I would like to speak and I had declined. However, when political statements were made [in a few of the speeches), I requested to speak to correct any misconceptions that may arise, and I did so,” said Justice Isa

    “The Golden Jubilee of the Constitution is a celebration of all citizens; it is not exclusive domain of any political party or institution,” said Justice Isa.

    Justice Faez Isa’s presence in National Assembly triggers heated debate

    Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s presence at the National Assembly triggered a heated debate among politicians, lawmakers and analysts.

    Speaking on the occasion, Justice Isa said — on behalf of the Supreme Court — that the apex court “stood by the Constitution”.

    “After God, we are under the protection of the Constitution,” he said. “As you are experts in politics, the law is my field,” the Justice of the apex court stated, adding, “You can comment and criticise when you deem it right as you have done, and that critique was heard.”

    Holding a booklet of the constitution of Pakistan in his hand, Justice Isa said: “This book is the identity of Pakistan and its people.”

    Emphasising that there was a need to truly cherish the Constitution, “Not because it guarantees my salary, but because it is essential for us and safeguards our rights,” he made is clear that he will speak about the constitution and will not endorse political views.

    However, being seen sitting in the front row along with the politicians belonging to the ruling coalition created stir on social media, where politicians, lawmakers and analysts in equal parts criticised and appreciated his presence in the NA moot.

    https://twitter.com/RealWaqarMaliks/status/1645373259267883009?s=20

    Talking to The News, Supreme Court lawyer Faisal Chaudhry said: “First of all, the issue is that Justice Qazi Faez Isa does not represent the SC; it is always the CJP [who does so]. 

    “And Justice Isa was not nominated by the CJP to represent the SC either. And then it seems other judges opted not to go to the event so it was not a wise decision [for Justice Isa] to go there at such a charged time. And then they made him sit right with all these politicians. The problem is: when you go to political events, it invites political commentary. Why make things controversial?”

    SAPM on Interior and Legal Affairs Attaullah Tarar said, “I don’t understand what this criticism is about. Had he spoken about politics or political parties, they could have criticised him in whatever manner they deemed fit. But here a judge is speaking just about the constitution and is not endorsing any political views.

    Anchorperson Muneeb Farooq while speaking with The News said that he does “not have any objection with regard to Justice Isa’s presence at the convention. It was a day to celebrate and he gave a decent speech [during which] not once but twice he distanced himself by saying he did not subscribe to any of the political speeches being made in parliament.”

  • Kya Shehbaz Sharif, Imran Khan ko aglay jummay iftari pe bula rahay hain?

    An important figure in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Barrister Zafarullah Khan, has suggested to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif that he invite bitter rival Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for Iftar next Friday.

    Speaking on Geo News programme, ‘Capital Talk’, Zafarullah said that Imran Khan should go and meet the prime minister. “If he [Imran Khan] turns up, well and good. If not, then it should be bye-bye.”

    Journalist Hamid Mir said that he has information that backdoor efforts are being made to establish contacts between the government and PTI. However, Mir said that according to what he knows Shahbaz and Khan are not ready to sit together.

    Meanwhile, President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Abid Zuberi said that if the prime minister calls, Khan must go to Iftar.

    Speaking in the same program, the Chairperson Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Hina Jilani said that if Khan really wants dialogue, he should go to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

  • Husain Haqqani kaun hain aur Khan kyun unhein PTI govt giraanay ka zimmedaar samajhtay hain?

    Husain Haqqani kaun hain aur Khan kyun unhein PTI govt giraanay ka zimmedaar samajhtay hain?

    Husain Haqqani, a name we have often heard but most recently has been in limelight since Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan blamed him for being a key figure behind the foreign conspiracy to remove him from power as prime minister.

    So the question remains; who is Haqqani, and why is he the recent target of Khan’s blame game?

    Who is Hussain Haqqani?

    Haqqani is Pakistan’s former ambassador to the United States of America (USA), serving from 2008 to 2011. He currently serves as Director of South and Central Asia at Hudson Institute.

    Haqqani was a central character in the Memogate controversy wherein, in May 2011, it was claimed that he played a central role in the drafting of a memo of a message from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government which was seeking the Obama administration’s support to reign in the Pakistan military after the Osama bin Laden raid in Abbottabad. The controversy eventually led to Haqqani resigning as ambassador and significantly weakening the PPP government.

    Why does Khan blame Haqqani for his ouster?

    After one year of being ousted from power, Khan blamed Haqqani for conspiring with Gen Bajwa and removing his government.

    Background:

    In January, Khan accused former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa of hiring the services of Haqqani for lobbying in the US while he was army chief. He also said Haqqani launched a campaign against him and had been promoting the former army chief in the US.

    Last year in December, it was reported that a former CIA station manager in Islamabad, Robert Grenier, and Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US, Haqqani, were hired to lobby for PTI in Washington. Soon this information changed course and many PTI insiders claimed that these men were lobbying against their own government and played a key role in bringing it down.

    According to media reports PTI officials in the US also claimed that both men — Grenier and Haqqani — were working for a senior figure in the military establishment. Dawn reported that the two men were hired to lobby by a Pakistani government official, Iftikhar Durrani, who had served as a special assistant to then-prime minister Imran Khan.

    Journalist Waqas Ahmed claimed in December 2022 that Haqqani met a top Pakistani official in Dubai months before the PTI government was toppled, but the former ambassador denied the claim. The meeting which Ahmed reported was allegedly with the then COAS Gen Bajwa.

    Backing Ahmed’s claims, PTI’s Senior Vice President Shireen Marzari said that the Haqqani-Bajwa files, now in public, clearly indicated that the whole project of regime change conspiracy was done covertly, and that “Haqqani was hired to undermine the PTI government.”

    What does Haqqani say about Khan’s blame game?

    The former ambassador has finally addressed the allegations on Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’. “It is stupid to say that I ended his [Imran Khan] government. I am neither a lobbyist nor have I received any payment in this regard. I have good relations with people in the US,” he said.

    Stating firmly that the US does not need him to evaluate Imran Khan’s image, Haqqani said, “My research is related to the politics in Pakistan.”

    Calling out Khan for having paranoid delusions, Haqqani said that the PTI chief says things without any proof and if he has evidence, he should very much bring it to light rather just blaming people.

    “I don’t take U-turns like Khan sahib,” said Haqqani, adding that a lot of people contact think tanks in the US for research. He added that the role of lobbies, journalists and scholars are different from each other.

    Pointing out that Khan even called him a traitor because of his stance, Hussain Haqqani stressed that the former Premier was removed from power through the votes of 174 members of the assembly and that he has “nothing to do with any of these MNAs”.

    In the last 26 years, Haqqani said Khan created his anti-American image, adding, “I did not stand on a container and swore at anyone, later asking for forgiveness.”

    The former ambassador further said that Gen (retd) Bajwa and his organisation convinced the nation for many years that his opinion is “anti-Pakistan”. 

    “You [Khan] should accept the vote of no-confidence why are you dragging me into it,” asked Haqqani on the show. “I haven’t been to Pakistan for 11 years and if someone came to meet me then they should be questioned,” said Haqqani regarding the meeting with Gen Bajwa, adding that he himself was appearing on a Pakistani news channel after 11 years.

  • Farmers ‘harassed and threatened’: Human Rights Watch releases report on RUDA project

    Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released a report on Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) project, stating that authorities are forcibly evicting thousands of farmers near the city of Lahore for a massive infrastructure project.

    The international organisation spoke to 14 farmers, who said they have been evicted or threatened with eviction since August 2020. According to them, not only have the authorities “harassed” them but have “criminally charged more than 100 farmers with resisting or refusing to hand over the land they occupied.”

    The report noted that in 2022, the Supreme Court allowed the government to continue development only on the land it had already acquired and for which it had paid compensation.

    Despite that farmers and activists alleged that the development authority has continued to seize land.

    Although the project claimed that it will ease Lahore’s many problems including pollution, sewage, water, housing, and employment, the report said otherwise.

    “Environmental groups have raised concerns that the project’s proposed changes to the flow of the Ravi River could significantly increase the risks of flooding. Pakistan’s Sindh province experienced catastrophic floods in mid-2022.”

    In 2022, former Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi allocated 700 kanals of land for the construction of a journalists’ housing society in RUDA.

    However, journalists openly criticised the government and refused to accept the offer.

    In August 2020, then-Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the foundation stone of the controversial real estate project.

  • Fans back skipper Babar Azam over captaincy issue

    Fans back skipper Babar Azam over captaincy issue

    Babar Azam fans have slammed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi over speculation that the board is likely to change the captain of Pakistan cricket team, putting skipper Babar Azam out to pasture.

    Media reports have said that Najam Sethi has asked Mickey Arthur, former head coach, whether he wants one captain or two to lead the team, opening up the possibility of having different captains for different formats.

    After Najam Sethi took charge of the Management Committee at the Board, rumors of his alleged disliking for Babar Azam made the rounds.

    Matters heated up when Shadab Khan replaced Babar Azam as temporary captain for the Afghanistan series held in March. Khan, a strong contestant for the captain’s post, unfortunately could not lead his team to victory.

    The official account from PCB was that Babar, along with some other big names, had been rested for the Afghanistan series because they had been playing non-stop cricket for last two years and needed a well-deserved break.

    Sethi reportedly offered assurances that there is not even a remote threat to Babar’s captaincy and that he rules millions of hearts – he shall stay the captain of all three formats as long as he wants.

    Babar Azam was then recalled for the home series against New Zealand. But now there is a question mark on Babar Azam’s future as the national team’s skipper.

    Few days back, Sethi, in one of his interviews, subtly hinted that the interim selection committee- which was formulated in order to lead the selection of the test series against New Zealand – wanted a captaincy switch.

    Refuting this statement, Shahid Afridi, who was then leading the interim selection committee, said that it wasn’t him who suggested PCB to replace Babar as captain.

    Najam Sethi then took to Twitter and wrote about the future of Pakistan’s cricket.

    The controversial statements, the cover-ups, and the blame game disturbed cricket fans, especially Babar’s fandom. #StayInYourLimitsNajamSethi and #BabarAzamIsOurRedLine started trending on Twitter.

    Fans have gradually started to believe that an agenda has been plotted against Babar by the current board regime.

    Pakistan cricket team bears too many damages from the sudden changes in leadership and if this will happen again, it will destroy the unity of Pakistan team.
    Ahead of World Cup 2023 it is not in Pakistan’s favour to change captain or even think about it.

  • ‘One year in power’: PM Shehbaz talks about challenges and difficulties

    ‘One year in power’: PM Shehbaz talks about challenges and difficulties

    On the one-year anniversary of assuming power as the head of the coalition government, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that this has been a successful tenure that resulted in Pakistan’s restored credibility and overcoming of the country’s financial and energy challenges.

    In a series of tweets, the Premier wrote, “Today marks the completion of one year since I took oath as PM of a coalition government. This has been a time of massive challenges & difficulties. Here’s my perspective on this year.”

    “The passage of No-Confidence Vote against Imran Niazi’s government was unprecedented not because PDM came into power but because almost all of Pakistan’s political forces came together to use the forum of Parliament to vote out an unpopular govt through constitutional means,” tweeted Shehbaz.

    The premier further said that the coming together of political parties with different manifestos for a common national cause represented a major step forward in the country’s political evolution. “Reconciliation & cooperation, not confrontation & vendetta mark the new politics post-April ’22,” tweeted Shehbaz.

    He said that despite the economic landmines laid by Imran Khan and disruptions in global fuel and food supply lines, Pakistan’s economy continued to stay afloat. “All predictions of default have turned out to be false alarms. Sincere efforts are underway to revive the economy,” wrote the premier.

    “Coalition govt has been at pains to repair, rebuild & deepen Pakistan’s diplomatic relations that were dealt a severe blow by Niazi regime. I can inform people that over the last one year, we have largely succeeded in establishing Pakistan’s credibility as a partner & friend.”

    Talking about challenges, PM Shehbaz said, “Pakistan faced unprecedented floods last year. The decisiveness with which the government undertook rescue, relief & rehabilitation efforts, provided social protection to millions of people & mobilized international community has been acknowledged by the world as outstanding.”

    “Government employed climate diplomacy to present Pakistan’s case on the international stage. As Chair of G77 plus China, we were instrumental in the establishment of loss & damage fund. Pledges of USD 9 billion at Geneva moot are evidence of our successful diplomacy.”

    “In the last one year, we have made efforts to diversify the energy mix with an aim to provide relief to the citizens. The renewed focus on solar, hydel, and coal power projects is aimed at replacing the costlier sources of power generation with cheaper ones.”

    “Inflation has hit people hard globally. Geo-strategic rivalries, increase in prices of the fuel & food commodities & historic floods are some of the key factors responsible for inflation. Mindful of its impact, govt has expanded social safety net & provided targeted subsidies,” tweeted Shehbaz.

    “Under the watch of the PDM government, Pakistan managed to exit the FATF grey list, thanks to the excellent inter-ministerial coordination as well as support extended by our military leadership. It was a long journey but sustained efforts made it possible.”

    “Building on the public transport infrastructure, govt., since its inception in April last year, focused on early completion of the development and transport infrastructure projects in Islamabad.”

    “Idea was to provide ease, comfort & affordable mobility to the people Pakistan,” said PM Shehbaz.

  • ‘Petty and unnecessary’: Twitter slams Neetu Kapoor for barb at Ranbir’s ex-girlfriends

    Twitter has lashed out at Veteran Bollywood actor Neetu Kapoor for a questionable Instagram post. The actor uploaded a photo on Instagram which many felt was aimed directly at her son Ranbir Kapoor’s ex-girlfriends, Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif.

    The picture was of a poster on a wall, which read: “Just because he dated you for seven years doesn’t mean that he would marry you. My uncle studied medicine for six years and now he is a DJ.”

    Kapoor and Padukone had dated for two years before parting ways while the ‘Tu Jhooti Mein Makkar’ actor was in a relationship with Kaif for six years.

    Finding the post problematic, fans lashed out at Kapoor for resorting to sexist and degrading jokes.

    https://twitter.com/lentopapi/status/1644933408433242115?s=20

    Many shared previous clips detailing the late Rishi Kapoor and Neetu’s marriage problems, when he had been caught cheating on her with several women to point out the irony in Kapoor’s comment.

    https://twitter.com/Erica59747578/status/1644933549878046720?s=20

    Twitter users also criticised Kapoor for making such sexist comments about women, rather than directly addressing how it is men who refuse to be faithful in relationships and even pointed to how this has led to her son, Ranbir Kapoor, behaving in such a misogynist manner in several interviews towards his wife Alia Bhatt.

  • Dalai Lama apologises after kissing young boy and asking him to ‘suck his tongue’

    The Dalai Lama has apologised for kissing a young boy on the lips and asking him to “suck his tongue” at a public event in India.

    The incident happened on February 28 at the Dalai Lama’s temple in Dharamshala.

    Video of the event show the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize seated in a chair, while the unnamed youngster is standing in front of him, surrounded by numerous people.

    The video shows the Dalai Lama kissing the youngster on the lips while holding the boy’s hand. The spiritual leader then places his forehead on the boy’s forehead and says, “And suck my tongue,” while sticking out his tongue.

    “A video clip has been circulating that shows a recent meeting when a young boy who asked his Holiness, the Dalai Lama, if he could give him a hug,” said a statement from the leader’s Twitter account said.

    “His Holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused,” the statement read, adding that the spiritual leader “often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident”.