Tag: trending

  • PM Khan to present ‘secret letter’ in parliament today

    PM Khan to present ‘secret letter’ in parliament today

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has decided to present a ‘secret letter’ before parliament, as the National Assembly (NA) session will resume on Thursday (today) after a recess of three days. The secret “threat letter” was shown to the cabinet members on a TV screen.

    PM Khan also called a selected group of TV anchors and informed them about the contents of the letter. However, the letter was not shown to them.

    National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar in a tweet said, “If the parliamentary leaders from the government and the opposition side agree, the issue of the sensitive letter can be discussed at an in-camera meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security.”

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry while speaking with Dawn said, “An in-camera session of the National Assembly or a joint sitting of parliament will be held in which the letter will be shared not only with the treasury benchers but also with those MNAs sitting on the opposition benches.”

    State Department says no US government agency or official sent a letter to Pakistan

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government confirmed on Wednesday that its allegation about a foreign conspiracy against the premier was based on a “diplomatic cable”.

    During the meeting with journalists, the media persons were informed that a Pakistani envoy was told by a senior official of the host country that they had issues with PM Khan’s foreign policy, especially his visit to Russia and the stance on the ongoing Ukrainian war.

    The Pakistani envoy was further conveyed that the future trajectory of relations between the two countries was dependent upon the fate of the no-confidence motion that the Opposition parties were then planning to bring against the premier. The envoy was warned of serious implications if PM Khan survived the no-trust vote.

    It was also reported that the cable was sent by Pakistan’s then-ambassador to the United States Asad Majeed Khan on the basis of his meeting with Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu.

    Meanwhile, Americans deny in private discussions that any specific message was delivered to the Pakistani envoy, says Dawn.

    Responding to questions from Dawn about the alleged letter and US involvement in the no-confidence motion against the PTI government, a State Department spokesperson said: “There is no truth to these allegations.”

    Dawn further quotes a discussion with a few diplomats in accordance with the letter.

    According to some diplomatic sources in Washington, the letter could be a diplomatic cable from Washington, drafted by a senior Pakistani diplomat. “The contents of the letter, apparently, are based on informal discussions between Pakistani and other officials,” one diplomatic source said.

    A Western diplomat thinks that it has happened because someone had to be scapegoated for the current political crisis and there could have been no better option than the United States.

  • Nisab amount of zakat deduction set at Rs88,927 for 2022

    Nisab amount of zakat deduction set at Rs88,927 for 2022

    The nisab amount of zakat for the year 2022 is set at Rs88,927, according to a notification dated March 30, 2022, issued by the Poverty Alleviation & Social Safety Division, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of Pakistan.

    The account holders, maintaining a minimum of Rs88,927 balance on the first day of Ramzan would be liable to pay 2.5 per cent Zakat on the first day of the fasting month of Ramzan.

    If the amount standing to the credit of an account is less than the said amount, no Zakat deduction shall be made. While savings, profit-and-loss sharing, and other similar accounts are subject to nisab deductions. it is worth noting that the zakat deduction has surged by Rs7,994 as compared to last year, due to an increase in gold and silver prices.

    Read more: Banks to remain closed for public dealing on 4 April

    The amount for nisab in 2021 was set at Rs80,933 and Rs46,329 for 2020. In the majority of Islamic countries, It is adjusted at 2.5 per cent of one’s wealth above the nisab.

  • Video: When Will Smith slapped a reporter for kissing him in public

    Hollywood star Will Smith shocked everyone when he recently slapped Chris Rock during the 94th Academy Awards’ live broadcast.  

    Before presenting an award at the Oscars 2022, Chris joked about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, looking like ‘GI Jane 2’. This enraged the Aladin star who stormed the stage, lapping Chris and warning him to keep his wife’s name out of his ‘f*cking mouth’. 

    The confrontation between Will Smith and Chris Rock at the Oscars has been debated around the world in the days since. 

    However the Oscars 2022 incident was not his first slap in public. 

    Back in 2012, during the premiere of Men In Black 3, the 53-year-old actor had raised his hand on a red carpet reporter who tried to kiss him on the cheek. Yes, you read that right! Later, the reporter turned out to be a prankster named Vitalii Sediuk. 

    Smith, enraged, drew away from the man, raising the back of his left hand and making contact with the reporter’s chin. “Hey, man, what the hell is your problem?” Smith said as he walked away and added, “he tried to kiss me on my mouth”. 

    Back then, the actor described the encounter as ‘just awkward’. While talking to David Letterman about the incident, he shared, “He says, ‘I’m your biggest fan, can I have a hug?’ So I go to give this joker a hug, and he tries to lean in and kiss me!”

    ALSO READ: ‘Oscar jeet gaya magar izzat hargaya’: Transnational celebrities blast Will Smith for slapping colleague at Oscars

    ALSO READ: ‘Considered murdering my father’: Oscar winning actor Will Smith’s shocking revelations going viral

  • Exclusive: How did PM Khan act when telling journalists about the ‘threat letter’?

    Exclusive: How did PM Khan act when telling journalists about the ‘threat letter’?

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan called senior journalists to meet him on Wednesday and to inform them about the contents of the “foreign country threat letter.”

    During the meeting, the contents of the confidential letter were shared with the journalists present, which included Kashif Abbasi, Arshad Sharif, Muhammad Malick, Fareeha Idrees, Shahzad Iqbal, and Imran Riaz Khan among others.

    As per The Current’s sources, the PM’s body language was ‘positive’ during the meeting.

    The Current’s sources revealed that a journalist asked the PM: “How far away is the country where the letter originated from? An 18-hour flight away or 6-hour flight away?” The question was posed after the name of the concerned country was not revealed. However, it was stated that the letter was written by a Pakistani official based on the contents of the letter and it referred to a conversation with officials of the other country.

    Sources added that the “mood was very relaxed” but the PM was very serious about the threat.

    The letter was shown to journalists from afar, so much so that it was not readable from the naked eye. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Asad Umar was holding the letter.

    On March 27, PM Khan waved a letter during PTI’s power show in Islamabad and talked about a foreign conspiracy to oust his government.

  • Son brutally kills mother for talking to men on mobile phone

    18-year-old Hassan Ali killed his mother by stabbing a knife in her stomach because she used to converse with men on her mobile phone. The murder took place on a Tuesday morning in the area of Batapur, Lahore. After committing murder, he sat near his mother’s dead body for eight hours, reports Samaa.

    According to the police, Ali ransacked his own house to disguise the scene as a burglary and portrayed the murder of his mother as resistance to robbery. During the investigation, the police arrested Hasaan Ali over contradictory statements.

    According to their neighbour, Ali came out in the streets and knocked on every house and said that someone had killed his mother.

    Later on, Ali confessed to murdering his mother.

    He said, “I stabbed her (mother) in the stomach. While trying to save herself, she lifted a knife due to which her throat slit. Then, again her stomach was stabbed during resistance. I fled from the house and disposed the murder weapon in a canal and then returned back home.”

    The deceased’s husband is living in Saudi Arabia for many years and Hassan Ali is the only son of the couple.

  • Bruce Willis is ‘stepping away’ from acting following aphasia diagnosis, daughter Rummer opens up

    Bruce Willis is ‘stepping away’ from acting following aphasia diagnosis, daughter Rummer opens up

    Hollywood star Bruce Willis is stepping away from acting following a recent diagnosis of aphasia, a brain condition that impacts cognitive abilities and speech.

    Willis’ eldest daughter, Rumer Willis, made the announcement on Instagram on Tuesday, sharing a joint statement from his family about Willis’ condition. Aphasia is caused by brain damage, and affects an individual’s ability to communicate.

    “To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities,” Rumer Willis wrote in the statement. “As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.”

    The statement continued, “This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support. We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him.”

    Rumer Willis concluded, “As Bruce always says, ‘Live it up’ and together we plan to do just that. Love, Emma, Demi, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel, & Evelyn.”

    The Sixth Sense star was recently seen in at least eight action movies released in 2021 and has a handful of films currently in post-production. Titles from last year include “American Siege,” “Fortress,” “Deadlock,” “Apex,” “Survive the Game,” “Out of Death,” “Midnight in the Switchgrass,” and “Cosmic Sin.”

    His upcoming are films including “Vendetta,” “Fortress: Sniper’s Eye,” “The Wrong Places,” and “Die Like Lovers,” among more.

    Though never Oscar-nominated, beloved actor Willis has two Primetime Emmy Award wins for his guest role on “Friends” and his recurring role on “Moonlighting.” Willis also received a Golden Globe award in 1987 for his turn on “Moonlighting.”

  • Which journalists were present during the meeting with PM Khan?

    Which journalists were present during the meeting with PM Khan?

     Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan called senior journalists in Islamabad to meet him and revealed the contents of the ‘foreign country threat letter’.

    Here’s a list of journalists who were present during the meeting.

    1. Mohammad Malick – Anchor Hum News.

    2. Moeed Pirzada- Anchor, Channel 92 News.

    3. Arshad Sharif – ARY News Anchor

    4. Kashif Abbasi – ARY News Anchor

    5. Imran Khan – News Anchor

    6. Fareeha Idrees – Abb Tak Anchor

    7. Shehzad Iqbal – Geo News Anchor

    Express News’ Azhar Zuhair and PTV’s Asad Rana were also present.

    PM Khan told journalists that he would give a briefing to Parliament on the letter and admitted that the letter was written by Pakistan’s ambassador, not naming the country the ambassador was present in. He said that national security rules apply to the letter and he could not reveal any more details.

    On March 27, PM Khan had waved a letter during PTI’s power show in Islamabad and talked about a foreign conspiracy to oust his government.

  • What’s in the ‘threat letter’? PM Khan reveals content to journalists

    What’s in the ‘threat letter’? PM Khan reveals content to journalists

    Keeping his word, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan called senior journalists in Islamabad to meet him and revealed the contents of the ‘foreign country threat letter’. However, he didn’t mention which country the letter referred to and did not show the letter to anyone either.

     The premier announced that he would show the “threat letter” reportedly containing evidence of a “foreign conspiracy” against the government to senior journalists and one member each of the government’s allied parties.

    PM Khan told journalists that he would give a briefing to Parliament on the letter and admitted that the letter was written by Pakistan’s ambassador, not naming the country the ambassador was present in. He said that national security rules apply to the letter and he could not reveal any more details.

    The Prime Minister said that the letter has been shared with the military leadership and that he could not explain the language used in the letter.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Faisal Javed Khan speaking in relevance to the letter has said that the letter is an attack on the sovereignty of Pakistan.

    “If he brings Imran Khan brings the letter forward, the Opposition will get destroyed,” Senator Javed stated.

    On March 27, PM Khan had waved a letter during PTI’s power show in Islamabad and talked about a foreign conspiracy to oust his government.

  • MQM nay ‘dil aur darwazay’ Opposition kay liye khol diye

    MQM nay ‘dil aur darwazay’ Opposition kay liye khol diye

    The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has decided to part ways with the government in principle. The final decision was announced today during a press conference, flanked by leaders of the joint Opposition, MQM-P. MQM is a government ally at the Centre.

    The development was “historic”

    MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui at the beginning of the conference said the development was “historic” and at the same time, it was a “test for the political leadership of the country” as the coming days would pose several challenges to them.

    “Today, we are gathered here to vow that we should work beyond promises and ensure that the decisions we take impact common Pakistanis,” Siddiqui said.

    A national jirga of the opposition … has come together: Shehbaz

    Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif said: “Today is an important day in Pakistan’s history because a joint opposition … a national jirga of the opposition … has come together and efforts have been made for national unity.

    “This agreement will be implemented in letter and spirit,” added Shehbaz.

    PPP and MQM-P have to work together under any condition if we want to work for Karachi and Pakistan’s prosperity: Bilawal

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari thanked MQM-P and described its decision of teaming up with the opposition as “historic”.

    “I want to repeat that PPP and MQM-P’s working relationship is not related to the no-confidence motion. PPP and MQM-P have to work together under any condition if we want to work for Karachi and Pakistan’s prosperity,” he said.

    “Imran Khan has now lost his majority. He is not the prime minister anymore. The parliament session is tomorrow. Let’s hold voting tomorrow and settle this matter. We can then start working on transparent elections and the journey towards restoration of democracy and an end to economic crisis can then begin.”

    Following the formal announcement, MQM-P’s Siddiqui signed the agreement with the opposition parties.

    MQM-P’s Farogh Naseem, Aminul Haque step down as federal ministers

    Both members of MQM-P serving as federal ministers, Farogh Naseem and Aminul Haque, have stepped down from their posts, hours after the party’s announcement to side with the Opposition in the vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    Opposition congratulates Pakistan

    Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari congratulated Pakistan on the latest development.

    “The united opposition and MQM have reached an agreement. Rabta committee MQM & PPP CEC will ratify the said agreement. We will then share details with the media in a press conference tomorrow IA. Congratulations Pakistan.”

    Rabta Committee meeting today

    A draft agreement had been finalised between the two sides in the early hours today but MQM will publicly announce its final decision once the Rabta Committee has ratified the agreement. MQM-P will convene a meeting at their Bahadurabad office today at 2pm to discuss the agreement with the Opposition. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui will preside over the Rabta Committee meeting.

    MQM’s list of demands

    Journalist Gharidah Farooqi tweeted the list of demands made by the MQM.

    The government ally has asked the Opposition that the local government law will be made in accordance with Article 140-A, the Sindh government will present a draft amendment in the local body law in the assembly within a month, Administrator Karachi Murtaza Wahab will resign from his post, put an end to fake domiciles in Sindh, an increase in the powers of local bodies, and administrators of local bodies in Hyderabad, Karachi to be appointed in consultation with PPP and MQM.

    PTI’s offer

    After the Opposition’s meeting, a delegation of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also reached Parliament Lodges to convince the MQM, not to part ways with the government.

    Governor Sindh Imran Ismail told the media that the government has made a better offer than the Opposition.

    “We offered one more ministry and are willing to give whatever they will ask for. Our doors are open,” said Governor Sindh.

    Previously, the government had offered to give another ministry to the MQM.

  • Jada Pinkett Smith breaks silence on Will Smith’s controversial Oscars slap

    Jada Pinkett Smith breaks silence on Will Smith’s controversial Oscars slap

    The confrontation between Will Smith and Chris Rock at the Oscars has been discussed around the world in the days since. So many have had their say on the comedian’s joke and on the actor’s decision to respond by slapping Rock on the stage. Now, Jada  has broken her silence and shared a message on social media.

    It was a mysterious and cryptic message, with no caption and just an image with some text.

    “This is a season for healing and I’m here for it,” the message on Smith’s Instagram said, with the post earning hundreds of thousands of likes from her nearly 12 million followers and others.

    Pinkett Smith did not comment amid the furore and public debate that ensued over the merits of Rock’s joke and Smith’s actions until Tuesday, posting to Instagram: “This is a season for healing and I’m here for it”.

    Although Will posted an apology on social media.

    Rock is yet to comment publicly on what happened at the Oscars or Smith’s apology.

    However, tickets for his upcoming comedy shows have reportedly skyrocketed in Sunday’s aftermath.

    One live event ticketing site, TickPick, said on Monday that it sold more tickets the previous night than it did in the past month combined.

    A spokesperson also told CBS that prices for an upcoming Rock show on Wednesday in Boston rose from $46 (£35.16) to $411 (£314).

    More than half of all ticket sales for Rock’s tour – which went on sale a month ago – came after the incident at the Oscars. The vast majority – 88% – of ticket sales for Rock’s shows on the website over the last week came after the incident.

    Shortly after the on-stage blow, Smith won his first ever Oscar for his portrayal of Richard Williams, the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams.

    Smith referred to Mr Williams in his tearful acceptance speech, calling him a “fierce defender of his family”.

    On Monday, Mr Williams condemned Smith and expressed surprise that the incident had taken place.

    “We don’t know all the details of what happened,” he told NBC through his son, Chavoita LeSane. “But we don’t condone anyone hitting anyone else unless it’s in self defence.”

    Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith

    Earlier in April 2021 Jada Pinkett Smith trended on web for her hijab pictures.

    The American actor on Tuesday posted a sun-kissed selfie of herself sporting a peach hijab while she and husband Will Smith spend time in the Middle East. It is not yet clear which country the couple is in though.

    “I really think the colour peach in the Middle East … suits me,” wrote Smith in the caption.

    Fans and followers, including celebrities, loved Smith’s selfie and gushed over her in the comments section for embracing Muslim culture.

    “Beautiful! Thank you for embracing the culture,” wrote one social media user, while Priyanka Chopra commented: “Beautiful.”

    “Salaam, you look phenomenal. Queen, thank you for showing the world that you and Will got love for us. We really appreciate it. Sometimes we are made to feel that the world is against us. Queens like you show the world there is nothing to fear and contrary to certain beliefs, we don’t hate the world or non-Muslims. I actually welcome, embrace and love all people. Thank you,” wrote another follower.

    Earlier, Jada had also shared pictures of herself wearing a bright, orange hijaab, with the caption: “When you are in the Middle East watching Will Smith on his sunrise run in my non-glamour glory.”

    Jada, who has denied being affiliated with any religion, in a series of tweets in 2017, admitted that she incorporates different aspects of several religions in her spiritual routine.

    “I recently lit Shabbat candles with Rabbi Bentley at Temple Sinai…but I am not Jewish. I have prayed in mosques all over the world…but I am not a Muslim,” said the actor.

    “I have read the Bhagavad Gita…but I am not a Hindu. I have chanted and meditated in some of the most magnificent temples on earth…but I am not a Buddhist,” she said further. “I have studied Dianetics, and appreciate the merits of Study Tech…but I am not a Scientologist.”

    “I practice human kindness, and I believe that we each have the right to determine what we are and what we are not. NO ONE ELSE can hold that power,” added Smith.