Author: News Desk

  • Karachi airport operation: Four passengers nabbed in million-rupee Apple product smuggling

    Karachi airport operation: Four passengers nabbed in million-rupee Apple product smuggling

    In a highly successful operation, customs authorities thwarted an attempt to smuggle high-value tech gadgets worth millions of rupees at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi

    According to ARY News, four passengers, who had arrived in Karachi from Dubai via a private airline, were apprehended by diligent customs officials, resulting in the confiscation of goods with a substantial valuation.

    The individuals taken into custody were identified as Azhar Iqbal, Muhammad Faisal, Azhar Gill, and Zul Noorain. 

    These passengers made an ill-fated attempt to evade customs scrutiny by utilising the green channel without declaring the valuable merchandise. However, the astute customs officials promptly intercepted them and proceeded to inspect their luggage.

    According to Superintendent Agha Najamuddin, who was in charge of the shift, a significant cache of contraband was seized from the arrested individuals. 

    This included more than 50 iPads, numerous laptops, 46 of the latest iPhone models, and 500 packs of internationally sourced cigarettes. 

    Furthermore, the customs officials initiated legal proceedings against the detained suspects, as they failed to provide adequate tax documentation to the customs staff, ensuring that justice prevails in this case.

  • ‘Fairy Tale’ stars Hamza Sohail, Sehar Khan enthrall social media with sultry photoshoot

    ‘Fairy Tale’ stars Hamza Sohail, Sehar Khan enthrall social media with sultry photoshoot

    Looks like this isn’t the last of how ‘Fairy Tale’ actors Hamza Sohail and Sehar Khan will keep astonishing us, as the two’s recent photoshoot with Hello Pakistan has set social media on fire. The magazine describes the duo as ‘Gen Z powerhouses’, who quickly sky-rocketed to fame, garnering Indian and Bangladeshi fans for their roles as the enemies-to-lovers duo in the drama.

    Since the photoshoot went viral, social media users and celebs like Amar Khan and Mahira Khan were praising the stars.

    We can safely say none of know how to deal with this much hotness in one picture.

  • Urgent security alert: Apple users must update to iOS 16.6.1 immediately

    Urgent security alert: Apple users must update to iOS 16.6.1 immediately

    Are you in possession of an iPhone or iPad? It is imperative that you promptly initiate the update process for your Apple devices.

    Apple has issued an urgent advisory, urging users to install iOS 16.6.1 or iPadOS 16.6.1 without delay.

    This essential update addresses critical security vulnerabilities, as per Apple’s warning, which have the potential to be exploited, endangering the security of iPhones and iPads. In the words of the company: “The processing of a maliciously crafted image may result in arbitrary code execution.”

    Furthermore, Apple acknowledges the existence of a report suggesting that this issue may already have been actively exploited.

    This cautionary notice underscores the possibility that malicious actors may have already begun exploiting these security weaknesses.

    The vulnerabilities in question encompass one within the ImageIO framework, responsible for handling various image file formats and accessing image metadata, and another within the Wallet system.

    It is of utmost importance to act swiftly to safeguard your device and personal data.

  • Fawad says PPP, JUI-F, ANP ‘hypocritical’ for blaming PML-N for inflation

    Fawad says PPP, JUI-F, ANP ‘hypocritical’ for blaming PML-N for inflation

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has a surprising ally as far as allegations of responsibility for inflation go. Fawad Chaudhry has said that PML-N’s former coalition partners Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Awami National Party (ANP) are being “extremely hypocritical” by blaming PML-N for inflation.

    “I am a severe critic of PMLn but to be fair the way PPP,ANP and now JUI are shifting everything on PMLn and Shahbaz Sharif is extremely hypocritical, they all were partners in crime how can they absolve themselves from what they all did to people of Pak in a partnership,” Fawad wrote in a tweet on Friday.

    The post came in response to an interview in which JUI-F’s Maulana Amjad Khan told Express Tribune that his party should not be blamed for inflation as the main ministries and the Prime Minister seat in the coalition government were with PML-N. However, he did add that global commodity prices were rising, emphasizing that this was not a phenomenon solely limited to Pakistan.

    Earlier in the week, JUI-F emir and head of the former ruling coalition of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Maulana Fazlur Rehman, blamed PPP for delay in elections.

    Talking to journalists in Lahore, Fazl said that all the parties in PDM had agreed to hold elections early last year. However, Fazl said, PPP went back on its promise, thus the tabling of the Vote of No Confidence.

    Fazlur Rehman also predicted that elections will be held by the end of February next year, but cautioned that an uptick in terrorism related incidents in former FATA regions could make campaigning there extremely difficult.

  • Actress Faryal Mehmood once broke a girl’s ribs

    Actress Faryal Mehmood once broke a girl’s ribs

    Faryal Mehmood was a guest on Momin Saqib’s show ‘Had Kar Di’ where the actor opened up how as a child, she was kicked out of several schools before reaching 12th grade because of her aggressive nature.

    “I used to hit people a lot’, recalled Faryal. “One time I broke a girl’s ribs.”

    “I was very young and I knew how to fight. So I just fought and it went to another level. I kicked her here and I broke her ribs and then I got suspended.”

    The ‘Laal Ishq’ actress also revealed what career would she pick if she wasn’t an actress, and her choice was either becoming a dancer or a thief!

    “I think I can accomplish huge heists’, joked the actress. “Because I’m a good actor…So I can manipulate anyone and use them.”

  • Another ‘unusual’ huddle in Aiwan-e-Sadr sets rumour mill in overdrive

    Another ‘unusual’ huddle in Aiwan-e-Sadr sets rumour mill in overdrive

    A few days after an unexpected meeting among three important people at the President House, another ‘unusual’ meeting took place on Sep 8 (today).
    Former information minister Muhammad Ali Durrani met President Arif Alvi on the completion of the president’s constitutional term.

    Muhammad Ali Durrani is the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League Functional (PML-F). He also served as information minister in the era of late military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf. In 2021, during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, he proposed starting a dialogue between stakeholders.

    In 2020, the former information minister met former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Kot Lakhpat jail during Imran Khan’s tenure to convey an “important message”. 

    According to Geo News, the former information minister called on President Alvi at Aiwan-e-Sadr. However, no official statement has been issued about the huddle.

    “Political pundits are terming the meeting unusual, as Durrani was inactive in politics for a long time and played a key role in the backdoor meeting,” the publication said.

    Earlier, sources told The News that two important personalities met President Alvi in Aiwan-e-Sadr. The meeting was held on the fourth floor of the Aiwan-e-Sadr, with the premises being off-limits for everyone, including staff.

  • Woman arrested in Tandlianwala for false blasphemy accusations against neighbours

    Woman arrested in Tandlianwala for false blasphemy accusations against neighbours

    A woman has been arrested by the Tandlianwala City Police in Toba Tek Singh after she threatened to falsely accuse neighbours of desecrating the Quran.

    Under the First Information Report (FIR) filed under Section 211 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 16 of the Punjab Maintenance of the Public Order Ordinance 1960 , 21 complaints claimed the woman was a drug dealer. According to Dawn, when the culprit was confronted by local residents about her alleged activities, she threatened to desecrate the Holy Quran and blame the neighbors and ignite violence within the community.

    According to witnesses, the woman threatened to falsely implicate her neighbours in the Quran desecration case in the Jaranwala incident that took place on August 16.

    Police have arrested the woman and shifted her to the Faisalabad district jail.

  • KP govt limits Health Card benefits, shifts focus to fiscal sustainability

    KP govt limits Health Card benefits, shifts focus to fiscal sustainability

    The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) caretaker government, under the leadership of caretaker Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan, recently convened a significant cabinet meeting. During this gathering, attended by cabinet members, the chief secretary, additional chief secretary, and administrative secretaries, the pivotal topic of discussion was the Health Card scheme.

    During a press conference, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Health, Riaz Anwar, said that due to escalating expenses, the full benefits of the Health Card scheme would now be exclusively available to beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Programme. The financial liability associated with the scheme had surged from Rs30 billion to Rs39 billion, leading to a proposal to potentially discontinue the programme.

    The cabinet subsequently approved a set of reforms for the Health Card initiative. Under these reforms, individuals with an income of up to Rs37,000 will be required to cover 25 per cent of their medical expenses. This contribution will be calculated based on data from the Benazir Income Support Programme, ensuring that those with higher incomes contribute to their healthcare costs.

    While the poor and underprivileged will continue to receive free healthcare services, access to free facilities at the emergency ward will be extended to everyone. Importantly, it was clarified that the Health Card programme itself would not be terminated; instead, it would persist in serving the underprivileged.

    According to Samaa, this shift in focus is a response to budgetary constraints, as the expenses of KP’s Health Card programme rose from Rs30 billion to Rs39 billion.

  • NAB grills Bushra Bibi for over two and a half hours

    NAB grills Bushra Bibi for over two and a half hours

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) grilled former First Lady, Bushra Bibi, for over two and a half hours during the investigation of the Toshakhana case.

    Bushra Bibi has been accused of keeping a bracelet, earrings, a chain, a pendant and two rings from state gifts while her husband Imran Khan was the Prime Minister. She has also been charged with keeping a watch and gold and diamond jewellery during the same time period, not getting their value assessed fairly or submitting them to the Toshakhana.

    Bushra Bibi appeared before NAB Rawalpindi office where a team questioned her for over two and a half hours.

    Bushra Bibi is currently on bail in the Toshakhana case, after Judge Abul Hasnat of an accountability court granted her bail in the Toshakhana case till September 12, in exchange of surety bonds worth Rs5 lacs.

  • TW: FIR registered against landlord for raping maid, forcing her to get abortion

    TW: FIR registered against landlord for raping maid, forcing her to get abortion

    Trigger warning: rape, sexual violence

    A case has been registered against feudal lord, Ali Raza Arain by the Model Town police in Burewala, Punjab, for raping his maid for several months, then forcing her to get an abortion when she got pregnant. According to Express Tribune, Arain raped his maid on gunpoint, recording a video of the act. He allegedly continued to rape her for several months, blackmailing her by threatening to upload the video on social media.

    In the First Information Report (FIR), the survivor said she got pregnant after several months of repeated sexual torture. She was then forced to get an abortion. The survivor filed a case with the Model Town police after which an FIR was registered against Arain.

    The news follows a string of cases of househelpers being abused and tortured by their employees. On July 25, Rizwana, a child domestic helper was beaten by Somia Asim, the wife of a civil judge. In her official statement given to the police on August 18, the survivor recounted how she was beaten with sticks, iron rods and other objects.

    READ MORE: ‘Judge’s wife tortured me daily’: Rizwana speaks up

    In Sindh, the case of a 10-year-old domestic maid, Fatima, grabbed headlines when the child was found dead at the home of a spiritual pir. An autopsy conducted after exhumation of the child’s body showed extensive proof of rape and beatings. Pir Asad Ali Shah, the main suspect, remains in police custody.

    READ MORE: TW: Post mortem report shows 10-year-old Fatima was raped vaginally, anally allegedly by Pir