Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • We won’t see Imran Khan’s trial in open court

    We won’t see Imran Khan’s trial in open court

    A special court declared on Tuesday that the trial proceedings of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case will be conducted at Adiala Jail.

    Today, Judge Zulqarnain presided over the hearing at the FJC, where Barrister Salman Safdar appeared as Imran’s counsel while Advocate Ali Bukhari was present as Qureshi’s lawyer. FIA’s prosecutors Shah Khawar and Zulfikar Abbas Naqvi also appeared before the court.

    This decision comes after Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain emphasized the importance of security, prompting the trial to be held within jail premises.

    The court previously ordered that the former prime minister and Shah Mahmood Qureshi be present at Islamabad’s Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) for today’s hearing.

    However, Adiala jail authorities, citing “security risks” in their report, failed to produce Imran Khan, despite the court’s directives.

    The initial orders for a jail trial were issued in the first hearing of the cipher case outside the Adiala jail following the Islamabad High Court’s decision to nullify the August 29 notification for a jail trial.

    Judge Zulqarnain has been conducting the trial within the jail premises due to security concerns since Khan’s indictment last month.

    Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi were booked under the Official Secrets Act 1923 in the cipher case in August.

    The case revolves around a missing diplomatic cable allegedly containing a threat from the United States to topple the PTI government.

    The court’s decision to hold the trial within Adiala Jail, in an open court setting, aims to ensure transparency and accessibility for those interested in the proceedings.

    During the hearing, the jail authorities submitted their report to the court, which Judge Zulqarnain reviewed. The judge then said, “The jail officials are saying that he (Imran) cannot be presented.”

    According to reports by intelligence agencies and the police, the PTI chairman faces threats to life, the report stated. It further said, “It has been informed that the PTI chairman faces security risks of a serious scale”.

    The special court stated that those who wished to attend the court proceedings would not be stopped from doing so and that journalists would also be permitted to witness the case.

    It further said that five family members of each suspect would also be allowed inside the courtroom. The hearing was adjourned till Dec 1 (Friday).

    Both Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi were indicted in the cipher case on October 23, with the trial initially held at Adiala Jail.

    However, the proceedings were deemed “erroneous” by an Islamabad High Court division bench, leading to the initiation of a fresh trial. The court’s decision to approve an open jail trial addresses concerns about transparency and legal protocols.

  • ‘My daughter considered herself a queen in Gaza,’ says Israeli hostage released by Hamas

    ‘My daughter considered herself a queen in Gaza,’ says Israeli hostage released by Hamas


    An Israeli hostage named Danielle Aloni held captive by Hamas for 49 days, has penned an emotional note, expressing gratitude to her captors for their remarkable kindness towards her daughter Emilia, TRT World has reported.


    The note reveals that she was doted upon by everybody in captivity. Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, shared the letter on its official Telegram account.


    “Children should not be in captivity, but thanks to you and other kind people we met along the way, my daughter considered herself a queen in Gaza and in general, acknowledges feeling like the centre of the world,” Danielle stated in her letter.


    She expressed her gratitude by stating, “Thank you, thank you, thank you for the countless hours you spent as caregivers.”
    Danielle acknowledges the challenging circumstances and substantial losses experienced by her captors in Gaza. However, she finds it within herself to express a desire for their health and well-being.


    “I wish in this world we could truly be good friends,” she wrote and added her well wishes to Gazans, “I wish you all health and well-being… health and love to you and your families’ children.”


    Danielle and Emilia Aloni were among 24 Israeli hostages released by Hamas on November 24. They were visiting Danielle’s sister and her family at Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel before being taken hostage.

  • How was Babar Azam removed from captaincy?

    When was the proposal to remove Babar from the captaincy considered by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)? The inside story has been revealed by Abdul Majid Bhatti of Geo News.

    During the International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI World Cup held in India, Pakistan team performed poorly, while Babar Azam could not fulfill expectations.

    Abdul Majid Bhatti has written, “During the World Cup, the proposal was under consideration in the PCB circles that Babar Azam should step down from the leadership so that he could focus on his batting, but the final decision to remove him from the captaincy was not taken. PCB officials wanted to give him a break from captaincy due to his arbitrariness and defensive style.”

    At the time when Inzamam-ul-Haq was the chief selector, Babar Azam’s captaincy was under scrutiny, but after the departure of Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mickey Arthur and interim selectors Tauseef Ahmed, Wajahatullah Wasti and Wasim Haider considered a proposal to change the captain. However, Shan Masood was not among the names of replacements.

    Mickey Arthur and the national selectors formed a similar team to the Test team announced for the tour of Australia by Mohammad Hafeez, Wahab Riaz, and Shaan Masood. Haris Rauf was also included in this team but later withdrew from visiting Australia.

  • More Pakistanis hopeful about economy: survey

    More Pakistanis hopeful about economy: survey

    A survey conducted by IPSOS has revealed that there is an increase in the number of Pakistanis who are hopeful that the economic situation of the country will improve in the next six years.

    The results also show that the fear of losing jobs or work has decreased.

    The survey, based on 1,000 participants across Pakistan, was conducted between October 31 and November 3, 2023.

    There has been an increase from 11 per cent to 25 per cent in people’s optimism of improving their financial conditions in the next six months while pessimism and disappointment has gone down from 60 per cent to 49 per cent.

    No difference has been noted among the people with moderate stance as 26 per cent are neither hopeful nor despondent about their financial situation in the future.

    According to IPSOS, 95 per cent of Pakistanis feared losing employment in the previous survey, but now the number has come down to 88 per cent, indicating an increase in optimism by seven per cent.

    Additionally, the rate of Pakistanis who expressed an inability to save and invest to meet future needs decreased by four per cent, while 92 per cent said they were not able to save.

    Only one in 10 Pakistanis believe that the country is headed in the right direction among whom men are four times more likely to be more optimistic than women.

  • Gold price increases by more than Rs1,000 per tola

    Gold price increases by more than Rs1,000 per tola

    The domestic bullion market commenced the week with robust performance, witnessing a noteworthy surge in the price of 24-karat gold, which rose by Rs1,100 per tola to reach Rs217,600.

    The Karachi Sarafa Association reported that in three last session, the price of 10-gramme 24-karat gold closed at Rs186,557, reflecting a gain of Rs943, while 10-gramme 22-karat gold stood at Rs171,010, experiencing an increase of Rs864.

    It’s worth noting that the local gold prices had risen by Rs1,400 per tola last week, primarily influenced by the upward trend in international prices. 

    The silver market also saw positive momentum, with 24-karat silver and 10-gramme 24-karat silver closing at Rs2,550 and Rs2,186.21, respectively, marking gains of Rs70 and Rs60.

    Domestic gold prices are intricately linked to changes in global prices and fluctuations in the interbank exchange rate of the local currency. 

    On the international front, the spot price of gold has risen by 0.50 per cent, currently trading at $2,012.39. Market sentiment leans towards the belief that the Federal Reserve has concluded its tightening cycle, exerting downward pressure on the US dollar and bond yields.

    The US dollar index recorded its third consecutive weekly decline, making gold more affordable for holders of other currencies and positively influencing gold prices. 

    Additionally, falling yields enhance the appeal of gold as a safe-haven asset by reducing the opportunity cost of holding the precious metal.

  • Pakistan and UAE forge multi-billion dollar partnerships for economic cooperation

    Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed several multi-billion dollar Memorandum of understanding (MoUs) in a range of areas on Monday.

    According to the press release issued by the Prime Minister’s office, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and the President of the UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessed the signing of MoUs between Pakistan and UAE.

    Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir was also present at the meeting.

    In a video message, Kakar said that the goal of MoUs is to enhance economic, regional, and strategic cooperation between both nations.

    https://twitter.com/PakPMO/status/1729173407332466874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1729173407332466874%7Ctwgr%5Eaddee714f32d7b43fa9911635f92c991472709f4%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftribune.com.pk%2Fstory%2F2448174%2Finvestment-worth-billions-of-dollars-unlocked-as-pakistan-uae-sign-key-deals

    The interim prime minister extended congratulations to the people of Pakistan and the UAE, highlighting that the foundation of friendship with Pakistan was established by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in the 1970s. He further said that this legacy has been advanced by his son, ushering in a new era of bilateral cooperation.

    In a separate statement, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) reported that interim PM Kakar engaged in a bilateral meeting with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates, in Abu Dhabi. The meeting was also attended by the Army chief.

  • Pakistan Stock Exchange may surpass 60,000 level soon

    Pakistan Stock Exchange may surpass 60,000 level soon

    The benchmark index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) marked a record-breaking bullish run on Monday, closing just shy of the 60,000 mark without surpassing it. 

    There is an anticipation that, given the current pace, the stock market might breach the 60,000 level soon. 

    According to the PSX website, the KSE-100 index showed marginal gains until noon. However, at 1:11 pm, it experienced a sudden surge that persisted until closing time, reaching 59,811.34, up by 724.99 points (1.23%) from the previous day’s 59,086.35.

    In the preceding Friday session, the KSE-100 index had set a new record at 59,100 points, attributed to strong corporate profits, reduced economic volatility, the successful conclusion of an IMF staff-level deal, expectations of a stable post-poll government, and optimism about an early reversal of monetary tightening. This led to a rapid increase in share prices over the last three months.

    Regarding the current rally, Raza Jafri, head of equity at Intermarket Securities, noted, “The banking sector is driving the rally, aligning with the improving economic outlook.” He emphasised that banks, offering a combination of high dividend yields and attractive valuations, have consistently been favoured by foreign investors.

    Shahbaz Ashraf, chief investment officer at FRIM Ventures, a Karachi-based investment company, attributed the rally to “cheap valuations and an influx of liquidity.”

  • Smart lockdown fails as Lahore remains on top in Air Quality Index

    Smart lockdown fails as Lahore remains on top in Air Quality Index

    Despite the efforts of the caretaker government of Punjab to curb smog, Lahore is still one of the most polluted cities in the world.

    After three days of holidays and a smart or soft lockdown, Lahore’s hazardous smog has barely dissipated.

    Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi posted an update on Saturday about the trend of smog tending towards healthier.


    The average air quality index (AQI) of Lahore was recorded at 356 (hazardous) on Sunday while the maximum was 444 at 3 am.


    The government completely closed vehicular traffic on Mall Road for a day but the effort seemed futile as the AQI around the road was 458 in the morning while AQI in the DHA Phase 8 was 437, in Gulberg it was 412 and in Johar Town, it stood at 402, reports Dawn.


    As of today, the air quality index of Lahore was recorded at 415 (extremely hazardous) around 10 a.m. and by the evening, when this report is being filed, it is standing at 305 (hazardous).


    While Mall Road was totally barricaded, some markets and shops were found open despite restrictions till 4 pm on Sunday and people were thronging food points in Liberty Market, Ichhra and Anarkali Bazaar.


    Netizens criticised the Punjab government for a lack of effective steps to counter smog.


    A user posted about it being attributed to the endless construction in the city while others complained about it being lethal for citizens.

  • Blind man calls for help for three days while stuck in manhole

    Blind man calls for help for three days while stuck in manhole

    Muhammad Naveed, a blind man from Ali Husssainabad in Maraka, Multan Road fell in an open manhole. He reportedly went missing three days ago after saying he was going to the nearby stop. On his return, he fell in the open manhole, a 10 feet deep sewer, and remained there for three days.


    Yesterday, passersby heard his cries and informed the shopkeepers on the street. They took immediate action, trying to pull Naveed out of the hole with the help of ropes. Meanwhile, the rescue team also arrived and helped speed up the process.


    The sewage drain was right in front of the office of the National Highway and Motorway Police, reports Jang.
    Naveed was injured and was given first aid upon recovery.

  • Imran Khan wants 14 kg dumbbells

    Imran Khan wants 14 kg dumbbells

    Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s lawyer Abuzar Salman Niazi revealed that Imran Khan is worried about his biceps while in jail.

    He took to X (formerly Twitter) and said, “A lot of people are asking me whether this is true or not. Let me narrate what actually happened. As I and @BarristrUKNiazi were waiting for khan sb to come and see us on Thursday. As soon as he came, when we asked him if he is facing any problem in Jail. He said I am not affected by anything, even i can sleep on floor. But I can’t comprise on my muscles.”

    He further stated that Khan said his biceps are getting a little out of shape due to the non-availability of dumbbells.

    He explained that he had requested many times for the provision of the same but was denied for no apparent reason.

    Due to security issues, Khan can’t go to Gym like other poisoners.

    He further stated, “All I have asked for is pair of heavy dumbles from my own expense which has been denied. In nutshell, jail has made Khan sab more determined and strong. All machinations of Govt to Pester him are counter productive and making him stronger.”

    The Cases

    The former prime minister is currently being held in Adiala Jail after his arrest from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore on August 5.

    He was moved to the prison on September 26 from Attock Jail where he was initially kept after his arrest.

    Khan was first convicted by a lower court in the Toshakhana case in August and sentenced to three years of imprisonment. The IHC suspended his sentence the same month.

    The Islamabad accountability court issued arrest warrants for PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana and 190 million Al-Qadir Trust cases.

    Khan was arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case on May 9 for the first time.

    The 190 million (approximately Rs60 billion) settlement case pertains to the money of property tycoon, Malik Riaz, being laundered and caught by the UK authorities during Imran’s government in 2019.

    The UK government had informed the Pakistani authorities regarding the money being caught.

    The former premier is already in prison as he was subsequently booked in the ‘cipher’ case.

    In the cipher case, Khan, along with his close aide and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, has been accused of leaking state secrets.