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Author: News Desk

  • Fazlur Rehman claims Imran was ousted on Gen Bajwa’s directives

    Fazlur Rehman claims Imran was ousted on Gen Bajwa’s directives

    Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Thursday that the no confidence motion against Imran Khan’s government was tabled in the National Assembly on the directive of former army chief General (retired) Qamar Javed Bajwa.

    In an interview on SAMMA, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that “I was personally against the no-confidence move […] but if I had said no despite the insistence of other parties, then an impression would’ve been given that I ‘saved’ the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.”

    Fazl, during the interview, said: “While the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was running the movement for a no-confidence motion, Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hamid told me that I could do whatever I wanted, but within the system.”

    The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) removed Imran Khan from government in April 2022 and then a multi-party alliance ruled the country for 16 months before handing over the power to the caretaker set-up.

  • Anoushay Abbasi opens up about being bullied after losing weight

    Anoushay Abbasi opens up about being bullied after losing weight

    Anoushay Abbasi is openly talking about being bullied on her weight. The versatile actress recently lost weight and got targeted by so-called well wishers.

    “People are never happy. When I was overweight, there was an issue, and now that I’ve lost weight, there’s still criticism.”
    The actress appeared as a guest on a program hosted by actor and singer Ahmed Ali Butt.


    Ahmad asked whether she had struggled with weight. “When did you face body shaming, when you were overweight or when you lost weight?”
    Anoushay responded, “I had to face body shaming in both situations. When I was chubby in my childhood, people used to say, “You’re too heavy, you should lose some weight,” and now that I’ve lost weight, people say, “You’ve lost too much weight, please gain some back.”


    Emphasizing that she was happy in both states, Anoushey said, “People are never satisfied, and I don’t know how to please them.”

  • Petrol price increased by Rs2.73 to Rs275.62 per litre

    Petrol price increased by Rs2.73 to Rs275.62 per litre

    The government has raised the price of petrol by Rs2.73 per litre, bringing it to Rs275.62 per litre for the upcoming fortnight.

    Additionally, the cost of high-speed diesel has seen an uptick, rising by Rs8.37 per litre to reach Rs287.33 per litre, according to an official notification.

    These revised prices, recommended by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), have come into effect as of midnight on February 16 and are slated to persist until February 29.

    The surge in petrol and high-speed diesel prices aligns with expectations following the adjustment in the exchange rate.

  • SBP’s foreign exchange reserves rise by $13 million

    SBP’s foreign exchange reserves rise by $13 million

    In a positive development for Pakistan’s economic landscape, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported a weekly increase of $13 million in its foreign exchange reserves, reaching a total of $8.05 billion as of February 9, according to data released on Thursday.

    The country’s overall liquid foreign reserves now stand at $13.15 billion, with commercial banks holding a significant share of $5.1 billion in net foreign reserves.

    The central bank, however, did not provide specific details or reasons for the notable upswing in reserves during the mentioned week.

    In a statement, the SBP stated, “During the week ended on February 9, 2024, the SBP’s reserves increased by US$ 13 million to US$ 8,056.5 million.”

    This positive development comes on the heels of last week’s decrease in Pakistan’s central bank reserves, which experienced a dip of $173 million.

    The recent rebound signals resilience and stability in the nation’s economic standing, and financial analysts are likely to scrutinise the factors contributing to this uptick in the coming days.

    As the global economic landscape continues to evolve, Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves play a crucial role in navigating economic challenges, and the recent increase reflects ongoing efforts to bolster the country’s fiscal strength.

    Experts anticipate that a robust foreign reserve position will provide a buffer against external shocks and instill confidence in the financial markets.

  • 24-karat gold price increases to Rs211,100 per tola

    24-karat gold price increases to Rs211,100 per tola

    In a rebound from the significant dip in the previous session influenced by higher-than-expected US inflation data, the price of 24-karat gold in the local bullion market surged by Rs300, reaching Rs211,100 per tola on Thursday.

    According to the Karachi Sarafa Association, the cost of 10-gramme 24-karat gold witnessed a notable increase, reaching Rs180,984, marking a gain of Rs257 compared to the previous session.

    Conversely, the price of 10-gramme 22-karat gold experienced a decline, falling to Rs165,902.

    Silver prices, on the other hand, remained stable today.

    The 24-karat silver was reported to be trading at Rs2,580 per tola, while the 10-gramme silver was at Rs2,211.93.

    Internationally, the spot gold market showed signs of recovery, currently being traded at $1,993.75, registering a gain of $1.45 day-on-day.

    Notably, yesterday’s shock in the consumer price index (CPI) pushed gold prices below the $2,000 mark for the first time in two months.

    The disappointing US CPI data took investors by surprise, following a recent decline in price pressures that had fueled expectations of rate cuts later this year, as reported by Bloomberg.

    The likelihood of a rate cut in May dropped to about 32 per cent, down from around 64 per cent before the release of the inflation data, with less than 90 basis points anticipated for the remainder of the year.

  • PCB terminates Haris Rauf’s central contract

    PCB terminates Haris Rauf’s central contract

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has terminated the central contract of fast bowler Haris Rauf due to his refusal to be included in Pakistan’s Test squad for the 2023-24 tour of Australia.

    According to Geo News sources, a statement has been issued by the PCB, and the decision has been taken in light of the investigation into his refusal to be included in Pakistan’s Test squad for the 2023-24 tour of Australia.

    After a thorough hearing process conducted by a PCB committee, and taking into account the views of all stakeholders involved in the matter, Haris’ central contract has been terminated with effect from December 1, 2023 and he has been suspended for any non-exemption. He will not be given No Objection Letter (NOC) to play in any foreign league till 30 June 2024.

    The PCB management had given Harris an opportunity of a hearing on January 30, 2024 as per the principles of justice, but his response was found to be unsatisfactory.

    The PCB says that playing for Pakistan is an honour for any player, and in the absence of any medical report or valid reason, refusing to be part of Pakistan’s Test squad is a violation of the Central Contract.

  • PTI denies news of alliance with PPP, Khattak’s party, announces nationwide protest on Saturday

    PTI denies news of alliance with PPP, Khattak’s party, announces nationwide protest on Saturday

    Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Barrister Gohar Khan, has announced plans for a peaceful protest nationwide on Saturday (Feb 17) to highlight what he perceives as the “marginalization” of the PTI.

    “We are extending invitations to all political parties, including the GDA, JI, JUI-F, TLP, ANP, or any other party that shares our concerns regarding the change in mandate and electoral rigging,” he stated.

    Gohar emphasized the peaceful nature of the protest and urged the public to join in. “These elections were crucial, and we are determined not to let our mandate be usurped,” he asserted.

    Regarding speculation about talks with the PPP, Gohar dismissed such reports.

    Furthermore, he announced that Mian Aslam will be PTI’s candidate for the position of Punjab’s chief minister. He also revealed Salar Khan as the candidate for Balochistan chief minister and Aqibullah Khan as the nominee for the speaker of the KP Assembly.

    Gohar assured the media that announcements of candidates for National Assembly speaker and deputy speaker would follow soon.

    As per Sher Azal Marwat, Imran Khan asked him to tell Pakistanis that their freedom has been taken away from them. He further added that if rigging can be done this way then the public won’t even have the power to vote in upcoming elections.

    He said, “The vote was stolen so that a criminal money laundering syndicate could be imposed on Pakistan.”

    Imran Khan also said that there can be no financial stability without political stability and remittances from overseas Pakistanis can stabilize Pakistan.

    Refuting rumors of forming a government with the PML-N, PPP, PTI-B and MQM-P, Gohar reiterated PTI’s commitment to not engage in power-sharing with these parties. He emphasized that PTI’s politics revolve around serving the public and upholding the mandate and democracy.

    “We will continue to offer strong opposition until we secure the full mandate, although we are in a position to form governments in Punjab, KP, and at the Centre,” Gohar asserted.

    He urged the Election Commission of Pakistan and the judiciary to expedite the PTI’s cases and address what he termed as “fake mandate,” claiming that PTI had won 180 seats according to their records.

  • EuroVillage Invites Twin Cities’ Residents to Explore European Culture, Diversity and Sustainability

    EuroVillage Invites Twin Cities’ Residents to Explore European Culture, Diversity and Sustainability

    Islamabad, 15 February 2024: The European Union and its Member States organise the popular, family-focused festival “EuroVillage” on 17th of February at the Jinnah Convention Center Islamabad.  The doors of this open door family event will open at 2pm to welcome Pakistani public to get a taste of European food, culture, music and sustainable actions.

    The EU and Member States are centering this year’s celebration around the theme of co-creating a sustainable future. Titled “Stronger Together – Sustainable Forever,” the event aims to showcase the 60+ years of a strong connection between the EU and Pakistan. This celebration underscores the collaborative partnership in development, economic, culture, research and education and political engagement, demonstrating how the EU and Pakistan are stronger together.

    EuroVillage is co-organised by the diplomatic missions of the European Union and of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Spain. It will include information and activity booths for both adults and children with interactive games, selfie corners, food and an opportunity to meet the diplomatic teams and learn about areas of our evolving partnership. The event will feature live performances by Pakistani artists including Farhan Saeed and Quratulain Balouch.

    For further details, please contact:

    Samar Saeed Akhtar

    Press and Information Officer

    samar-saeed.akhtar@eeas.europa.eu

    Cell. 03455095972, 03011011800

    Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan

    Phone: +92-51-227 182 8

    Fax: 92-51- 282 260 4

    Web, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

  • Pictures: Ushna Shah’s birthday and her star guest list

    Pictures: Ushna Shah’s birthday and her star guest list

    Pakistani actress Ushna Shah recently had a blast celebrating her birthday, and her husband Hamza Amin was right by her side for all the fun. Known for her roles in hit TV dramas like “Habs” and “Cheekh,” Ushna is much-loved by fans.
    The birthday bash was a star-studded affair, with fellow actor Adeel Hussain joining in on the festivities. Hamza Amin shared some pictures from the party on social media, giving fans a peek into the joyous occasion.
    Ushna’s uncle, Tariq Amin, also posted some pictures, showing the love and happiness that filled the air during the celebration.
    Check out the pictures below:

  • Firdous Ashiq Awan apologises for slapping a police officer

    Firdous Ashiq Awan apologises for slapping a police officer

    Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) leader Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan has formally apologised for slapping a police officer during the general elections.

    In a hearing held at the Election Commission, chaired by Nisar Durrani, Awan expressed regret for the incident and sought forgiveness in a written statement submitted to the commission. The affected police officer also submitted a written response during the hearing.

    During the inquiry, a member of the Election Commission questioned Awan, asking who she thought she was to take the law into her own hands.

    Awan responded to the inquiry by stating that she apologizes for her actions, clarifying that the polling stations were in a chaotic state and that she was merely trying to ensure order.

    She further stated that the police were a passive spectator and she felt threatened by the crowd.

    The incident, which sparked widespread criticism on social media, has been under scrutiny by the Election Commission.

    The commission has stated that it will issue further directives regarding the hearing at a later date.

    On February 12, Awan said that she slapped a police officer as the person in uniform was facilitating one political party on election day. The IPP leader also said that if the law does not take its course, then citizens will teach corrupt police officers a lesson.
    The video was widely slammed on social media, with users calling out the IPP leader for resorting to violence.


    Read more: ‘Thappay par thappa’, Firdous explains why she slapped a police officer