Tag: trending

  • Israeli police attack worshippers in Ramzan during Al-Aqsa Mosque raid

    Israeli police attack worshippers in Ramzan during Al-Aqsa Mosque raid

    Israeli police have attacked and arrested Palestinian worshippers in a violent raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Ramzan.

    In a statement, police said they had “arrested and removed over 350 individuals that violently barricaded” themselves inside the mosque in the Old City of annexed East Jerusalem.

    According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, injuries were reported as a result of the raid but it was not clear how many were hurt. It was also said that medics were prevented from reaching the mosque by the Israeli forces. 

    “I was sitting on a chair reciting (Qur’an),” an elderly woman told Reuters while sitting outside the mosque. “They hurled stun grenades, one of them hit my chest,” she said as she began to cry.

    The Israeli police claimed in a statement that they had to enter the mosque after “masked agitators” locked themselves inside with fireworks, sticks and stones.

    “When the police entered, stones were thrown at them and fireworks were fired from inside the mosque by a large group of agitators,” the statement said, adding that one of the police officers was wounded in the leg.

  • Anti-corruption force starts investigation against ex-DG ISI Faiz Hameed’s brother

    Anti-corruption force starts investigation against ex-DG ISI Faiz Hameed’s brother

    The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab has initiated an investigation against Najaf Hameed, the brother of former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief, Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed.

    According to ACE, Najaf had “superseded several seniors for promotion to the Girdawar post and “accumulated assets beyond his own means”.

    The department has also reached out to Rawalpindi and Chakwal deputy commissioners for Najaf’s records.

    Najaf had been suspended from the post of deputy tehsil dar on February 16 over alleged misconduct. 

    Faiz Hameed has been criticised by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for interfering in political matters and exceeding his constitutional limits. The party’s Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz often lashes out at Faiz Hameed in her rallies, accusing him of playing a role in destabilising the country by supporting Imran Khan’s government.

  • We asked Chat GPT to write a Pakistani horror story and this was the result

    We asked Chat GPT to write a Pakistani horror story and this was the result

    Chat GPT has swept the world up in its wake, generating responses to all kinds of topics and triggering a debate on how good it is or isn’t at its job. By simply entering a few keywords and prompts, the artificial intelligence chatbot can be used to write letters, college application essays and even novels, with Amazon already enlisting books where the co-author includes the AI bot.

    We were curious about ChatGPT’s storytelling capabilities, wondering if it is good enough to write a Pakistani story? We have all grown up listening to horror stories like Karsaaz ki Dulhan, the wandering woman at Mohatta Palace, so can Chat GPT give us something equally eerie and chilling?

    The result is printed here and we leave it to our audience to decide whether this was a good spooky story or not:

    “Once upon a time in Karachi, there was a family named Ahmed. They lived in a big house, where multiple generations of the family resided. The house was luxurious with plenty of large rooms, but there were always rumors about mysterious things that happened inside the house at night.

    One day, a new family moved next door to the Ahmeds. They had a daughter named Aisha who was just six years old. Aisha was a curious little girl who could be found playing in the front yard of her house every day. One day while playing, Aisha caught sight of the house next door. She couldn’t take her eyes off the house, so she walked up to the fence separating their properties.

    Suddenly, she saw a ghostly apparition with long hair and an old-fashioned dress in the window of the house next door. Terrified, Aisha ran back to her parents and told them everything. They didn’t believe her, thinking it was just her imagination.

    That night, the Ahmeds also noticed something unusual: the sound of footsteps could be heard from within the house. It sounded like someone was walking down the hallway. They were all very scared, and some members of the family started to believe the rumors they had heard about the house.

    Finally, the elder members of the Ahmed family decided to investigate. They searched the entire house but found nothing. But the very next night, the footsteps became louder and the ghostly apparition again appeared in the window. This time, everyone saw it.

    They decided to approach the local priest to help them with this situation. The priest told them that the house was built on an ancient burial ground, and the person buried there had been murdered. The restless soul of that victim was haunting the house, and it had now become more active because of Aisha’s presence.

    The family was very scared, but the priest performed an exorcism and recited some holy verses to calm the spirit. Soon the house was free of the ghostly presence, and the family members were able to live there in peace.

    From that day on, the Ahmed family knew that they should never underestimate the power of spirits and the potential for paranormal activity. They lived on, never forgetting what had happened and always being careful to not disturb the burial grounds next door.”

  • Senators protest against same-sex family chapter in O-levels Sociology book

    Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, assured the Senate on Tuesday a letter is being written to Cambridge to remove the highly objectionable content (Same-Sex Family chapter) from the O-Level sociology book, reports The News.

    “We are immediately writing to Cambridge to either delete the related chapter or we shall not allow such books here. The government will also write to the provinces to take necessary measures in this connection,” the minister said.

    Rana Tanveer was responding to a calling attention notice moved by senators Mohsin Aziz and Faisal Saleem Rehman. The senators had raised objections terming the content being contrary to Islamic and cultural teachings and values of Pakistani society.

    Senator Mohsin Aziz said the chapter on “Same-Sex Family” could not be even discussed in the family system here in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

    “What kind of education is being imparted to a child, hardly 14, 15 and 16 years old”, he asked.

    He also read out some portions of the content. He regretted the terms lesbian and gays used in the chapter and wondered how such things were looked at by the authorities.

  • Four Paws has reached Pakistan to treat elephant Noor Jehan

    International animal welfare group Four Paws has reached Karachi on April 4 to examine and begin treatment of ailing elephant, Noor Jehan. In a press release posted on their website, Four Paws revealed that since 2021, they have been strongly recommending that both elephants Noor Jehan and Madhubala are shifted from Karachi Zoo, as the facility does not comply with international standards of providing habitable living conditions for animals.

    “However, no such measures to relocate them have been taken,” the post read.

    The team was led by the head of the organization, Dr Amir Khalil, along with  Dr Frank Göritz and Prof Dr Thomas Hildebrandt from the Leibnitz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), and Dr Marina Ivanova from FOUR PAWS. Khalil spoke to journalists about Noor Jehan’s condition yesterday, as reported by Dawn and Express Tribune.

    He said that Jehan needs a detailed medical examination which includes endoscopy, ultrasound and X-rays, in order to provide proper insight into her condition.

    “We don’t know what went wrong with her. But, her condition has deteriorated very fast within a few weeks. She has got swelling on her hind legs as well as genital parts and she could barely walk. Right now, she has a 50-50 chance for survival,” he said.

    Khalil went on to reveal that their team was setting up a crane, wench and a fire brigade to help the animal remain stable and upright during surgery:

    “Our greatest concern is not to let the animal fall down. We fear that if Noor Jehan falls down, she it will not get up again. We will find out tomorrow whether it’s a fracture, trauma or an infection.”

    Today, the Karachi Metropolitan Center (KMC) spoke to DAWN and revealed that they were ready to facilitate the team in every way to help the elephants, and were making preparations to send them to Safari Park:

    “We are with Four Paws. All departments are ready to arrange any logistics needed for medical procedures. We are also making preparations to shift both zoo elephants to Safari Park within a month as per experts’ recommendation,” said Dr. Saif-ur-Rehman, Karachi Administrator.

    Rehman went on to add that Noor Jehan had been suffering from a neurological deficiency for the past two or three months which had impacted her hind legs. The government did not have the facilities for the treatment Noor Jehan needed in Pakistan which is why the international group was approached to help diagnose her illness and provide a solution.

    “The kind of treatment Noor Jehan requires isn’t available in Pakistan. So, we approached the international group to help us diagnose her illness and suggest and offer treatment, if possible,” Dr Rehman said.

  • ‘Charge sheet against three-member bench’: Nawaz asks parliament to file reference against SC judges

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, urged the parliament to file a reference of misconduct against Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar following the recent Punjab polls verdict which he claims has “virtually disabled” the legislature and made it “redundant.”

    Calling the verdict a reflection of a “one-man show” in the judiciary, Nawaz argued that one individual should not be allowed to hold multiple functions, such as the prime minister, defence minister, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), and above all, parliament.

    Nawaz said the verdict aimed to benefit one pampered person [Imran Khan] while immobilising the state.

    “This is a pity,” Nawaz said, adding: “This is the result of over 70 years of mismanagement and corruption in our political system. It is time for us to re-evaluate the way we run our country.”

    “It is a symptom of the larger problem plaguing our political system,” he stated.

    “For over 70 years, we have witnessed mismanagement and corruption that has eroded the trust of the people in their government. Punjab was earlier handed over to the PTI chief by declaring the MPAs disqualified and denying them the right to vote in the chief minister election.”

    Questioning the rejection of the demand to constitute a full court, Nawaz said, “What was the hurdle behind forming a full-court bench? This decision is a charge sheet against you. Why this insistence on a three-member bench? Daal mein kuch kaala hai, this decision could only have come from this bench.”

    The former prime minister also questioned why a suo moto notice was not taken in his case, stressing that the decision against him was incorrect and should have been reviewed by a constituted bench.

    Talking about how Nawaz was labelled “godfather” and part of the “Sicilian mafia” when he was the prime minister, he recalled an incident where Justice Azmat Saeed remarked in a case about the promotion of a government official that ‘the PM should know there is plenty of room in Adiala jail’.

    He appealed that the nation should wake up as certain people “are destroying Pakistan”.

  • ‘Modest dress code’: Peshawar university bans wearing jeans on campus

    ‘Modest dress code’: Peshawar university bans wearing jeans on campus

    The Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University (SBBWU), Peshawar has introduced a new “modest” dress code for its students by banning them from wearing jeans and tights on the campus.

    The university’s registrar office issued a formal notification in which students have been asked to strictly adhere to the new dress code.

    “Students have to wear knee-length kurtas, shalwars, and white dupattas, which has been made compulsory for them as per the new dress code,” the notification read.

    The university directed students to wear their cards on university premises, warning them that the new code had been introduced after approval from the registrar office and violators would be fined Rs1,000.

    In March 2021, the Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST) also introduced a dress code, asking girl students to wear abaya.

    In a notification issued on March 9, the KUST administration directed its male students to either wear white shalwar kameez or grey dress pants with black shoes.

    Female students had been asked to wear white shalwar with any kameez of full sleeves, scarf, dupata, chaddar, black abaya and black shoes. In the winters, they had to wear black sweaters, coats or plain jackets with black abayas.

  • Championing working women, condemning dowry: ‘Chand Tara’ is winning hearts for providing a refreshing and wholesome Ramzan drama

    Ramzan dramas have long had the habit of reusing the same stories about marriage-obsessed women chasing after the bad boy, then add some slaps and misogynist behavior, a tarka of badtameez in-laws, the extra masala that is divorce, fights, crying, breakdown and then all’s well that ends well as the battered and bruised woman decides to forgive her husband and move back in with him.

    However, in the last few days, ‘Chand Tara’ has been receiving accolades for taking the same tropes and re-writing them to provide audiences with a hilarious rom-com about wedding season. The drama stars Ayeza Khan and Danish Taimoor as lovers from different backgrounds who try to convince their families to agree to their marriage. Sarim Chand is a software engineer who comes from an extroverted, loud family and is used to catering to the whims of his sassy siblings, and Nain Tara is a doctor who lives with her strict mother and longs for a loud home filled with love and laughter.

    Written by powerhouse drama writer Saima Akram Chaudhry, who was previously responsible for the iconic ‘Suno Chanda’ and then ‘Chupke Chupke’, it was obviously a guarantee that this drama will quickly win the hearts of fans all over Pakistan because of how cleverly it debunks sexist stereotypes and brings forward a refreshing male lead who loves and supports the women in his life and is not afraid to stand up for her. In several episodes, the show has championed the rights for women to include the ‘right to divorce’ clause in the nikkahnama, encouraged brides to be cheerful and FINALLY, no cousin marriage shenanigans.

    What’s also notable here is how Danish Taimoor has decided to pick a male lead who contradicts his past roles, to be more supportive and loving towards the female lead in the drama. Fans have praised Taimoor for getting them to fall in love with the character’s kindness and dedication. One scene that is making audiences swoon depicts Chand carefully removing Tara’s shoes after she’s exhausted from their wedding.

    Fans have appreciated how the drama refuses to follow the same road of woman giving up everything for the man, Tara loves her work and will keep practicing after her marriage while Chand is nothing but incredibly supportive of her ambitions.

    More dramas that champion working woman! Are you listening, entertainment industry? This is the kind of content we need!

  • Supreme Court disposes of Justice Faiz Isa’s order to stop all suo moto proceedings

    Supreme Court disposes of Justice Faiz Isa’s order to stop all suo moto proceedings

    A six-member bench of the Supreme Court formed to deliberate on Justice Faez Isa’s order freezing all the suo moto notices, closed the case after a 5-minute hearing.

    The larger bench includes Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Ayesha A Malik, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi.

    Earlier, Justice Isa, while hearing a case pertaining to the grant of additional 20 marks to Hafiz-e-Quran pre-medical candidates for admission into MBBS/BDS degrees, had issued an order to halt all suo moto hearings.

    Later, a circular was issued by the SC Registrar Ishrat Ali ‘disregarding’ the order, triggering controversy about whether a judicial order can be overruled by an administrative order.

    Regarding the matter, Justice Faez Isa asked the registrar to resign, followed by the federal government removing him from his post.

    The decision was taken during a special meeting of the federal cabinet — held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif — at the PM House in the federal capital.

    The cabinet examined the issue of issuance of a circular by the registrar against the order of the Supreme Court, a statement read, following which he was asked to report to the Establishment Division.

    On Monday, the brewing crisis in the SC dialed up a notch when Justice Qazi Faez Isa wrote a letter to the Registrar and asked him to immediately withdraw the circular that disregarded the judge’s judicial order about the postponement of suo moto proceedings.

    In his order dated March 29, Justice Isa had written that the Chief Justice of Pakistan does not arbitrary powers to form benches and list cases for hearings. “With respect, the Chief Justice cannot substitute his personal wisdom with that of the constitution,” the stern-worded document said.

    In the letter addressed to Ishrat Ali, the top judge said that he was astonished to receive a ‘Circular’ bearing No. Registrar/2023/SCJ dated 31 March 2023.

    He reminded the officer that “a registrar does not have the power or authority to undo a judicial order, and the Chief Justice cannot issue administrative directions with regard thereto.”

    He wrote that the registrar should be aware of his constitutional responsibility as a senior officer, advising him to leave the charge of the post. 

    Justice Isa is set to become the next chief justice later this year.

  • Historical thrillers, action-packed comedies: here is the list of films releasing on Eid

    Historical thrillers, action-packed comedies: here is the list of films releasing on Eid

    This Eid is the best time to head back to the cinemas as a flux of A-list celebrities are set to star in unique films.

    If you’re someone who isn’t a fan of cringey rom-coms, you’ll want to check out this list because aside from comedies, the list includes thrillers with powerful leading ladies, historical action films and much more!

    Let’s look in to the upcoming films set to release on Eid.

    Money Back Guarantee

    Written and directed by comedy king Faisal Qureshi himself, the film is set to star Fawad Khan, who is making his silver screen comeback after a long hiatus, and will also mark the debut of Wasim Akram and his wife Shaneira. The film is an action-packed comedy that is definitely the right flavour for Eid.

    2. Huey Tum Ajnabi

    Directed by film star Kamran Shahid, the film is based around the events of the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh. It stars Mikaal Zulfiqar and Sadia Khan in leading roles, as well as Ayesha Omar, Samina Peerzada and Adnan Jillani.

    3. Daadal

    If you were disappointed by not being able to watch ‘Javed Iqbal’, then this next action film with a fiercely powerful female lead by Abu Aleeha will definitely make you want to book tickets today! This film stars a boxer from Lyari played by Sonya Hussayn who kills a gang of rich evil men to avenge the honor of her sister. Soon she teams up with a police officer to go after the criminals.

    4 Lahore Qalandar

    Looks like we’re also getting a Punjabi-style story with a lot of action and conflicts. Directed by Shahid Rana, this film stars Saima Noor, Bando Butt and Shafqat Cheema.

    5 Dorr

    A man tries to save the woman he loves from a violent gang, who have kidnapped her in exchange for a bribe. Directed by Nadeem Cheema, it stars Asad Mahmood, Shafqat Cheema and Saleem Meraj.