All-rounder Imad Wasim has thrown the gauntlet to team management, warning that he will not keep quiet if he is dropped again from Pakistan Cricket team without any reason.
The player expressed anger on being ignored since the last one and a half years, stating that no communication has been held with him by the captain or Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selection committee.
“They have no answer as to why they dropped me even though I was performing,” the player reportedly said while talking to a local media channel.
Imad also threatened to take action against every person involved in politics in the Pakistan cricket team. “I am at that stage of my career that I have to take steps, if they drop me without any reason again,” he added.
The all-rounder revealed that he didn’t suffer any financial loss from being away from the national team.
“I never suffered any financial loss while I was away from the team. In fact, I earned ten times more than what I would have earned while playing for Pakistan,” he said.
“I am confident in my abilities. If I was the bowler who is said to be dependent on the conditions, then the T20 leagues of Australia and South Africa would have not signed me,” he concluded.
On Thursday, US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome reassured Finance Minister Ishaq Dar that Washington would continue to assist Islamabad in unlocking a long-stalled International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout. This bailout is intended to help the liquidity-challenged country’s economy avoid imminent default. The assurance was given during a meeting between the finance minister and the ambassador in the federal capital.
According to details, the envoy was briefed on the progress of the Washington-based lender’s programme. During the meeting, FinMin Dar requested the US ambassador’s assistance in unlocking the bailout programme. He also informed him about a $2 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia and ongoing talks with the United Arab Emirates for financing $1 billion. The minister expressed the need for additional resources and financing, to which Blome promised cooperation from the United States.
According to an official statement from the Ministry of Finance, Dar briefed the envoy on the country’s economic outlook and the challenges faced by the nation. He also shared the government’s pragmatic policy decisions aimed at stabilising and growing the economy.
The statement noted that Blome expressed confidence in the government’s policies and programmes, supporting them for the economic sustainability of the country and the socio-economic upliftment of the masses. He extended his support to promote bilateral economic, investment, and trade relations between both countries.
The two sides discussed matters of common interest and showed an interest in enhancing the existing bilateral relations between both countries. They also talked about various economic avenues through which both countries can strengthen their ties. This meeting with Blome took place days after FinMin Dar met with UAE’s ambassador to Pakistan, Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salim Al-Zaabi, to discuss economic relations.
Since early February, Islamabad has been hosting an IMF mission to negotiate a series of policy measures aimed at securing $1.1 billion in funding for the cash-strapped economy, which is on the verge of collapse.
The IMF has requested Pakistan to secure assurances on external financing from friendly countries and multilateral partners to fund its balance of payment gap for this fiscal year, ending in June. The funds are part of a $6.5 billion bailout package the IMF approved in 2019, which analysts say is critical for Pakistan to avert defaulting on external payment obligations.
After Supreme Court’s (SC) verdict to hold Punjab polls on May 14, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has approached the top court to direct the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within the 90-day period since the assembly’s dissolution.
The former ruling party has requested the apex court to set aside KP Governor Haji Ghulam Ali’s notification to postpone the elections by five months and direct the ECP to conduct the polls “not later than 90 days subject to the barest minimum to that timeframe”.
The PTI has argued that the “ECP has no jurisdiction or power to amend the Constitution” and hold elections beyond the constitutional period of 90 days. The electoral body also has “no power or jurisdiction to overrule or review” the Supreme Court’s verdict, the petition argues.
On the matter of the KP Governor citing security concerns as the reason behind the delay, the PTI has stated in its petition that the “Constitution of Pakistan does not recognise any such illegal excuses” like “so-called financial constraints or a perceived law and order situation or lack of availability of adequate personnel”.
After the ECP issued a delay notification for Punjab Assembly, Governor Ali also proposed October 8 for polls in KP.
The National Assembly (NA) has passed a resolution rejecting the verdict of the three-member bench of the Supreme Court about holding polls in Punjab on May 14.
The resolution was moved by Balochistan Awami Party lawmaker Khalid Magsi and approved by a majority of the lawmakers.
Previously, the govt demanded a full bench for the hearing of the suo moto case, however, many judges recused themselves from the hearings.
Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Supremo Nawaz Sharif urged the parliament to file a reference of misconduct against Chief Justice Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar who gave the verdict.
Former Punjab Chief Minister (CM) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is likely to be arrested for irregular recruitments in the Punjab Assembly without following rules and regulations.
Reportedly, the anti-corruption department is keeping an eye on the case while the government has completed an inquiry against him.
The former Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader is alleged to have recruited 200 people in the assembly when he was the speaker of the House and when he became CM.
On January 12, Elahi, as CM Punjab, signed a summary for the dissolution of the provincial assembly on the directives of PTI Chairman Imran Khan. Later, he and his son Moonis Elahi joined Khan’s party following a fallout with his cousin and PML-Q Chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.
According to news reports, Nawaz Sharif will spend the last Ashara of Ramzan in Saudi Arabia. The former prime minister will reach Jeddah along with his family on April 11.
Nawaz will be in Jeddah and Makkah for three days, and then on April 15, he will go to Madina.
According to a report by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Pakistan’s export of goods and services to Afghanistan has increased by 17.02 per cent during the first eight months of the current fiscal year (2022-23) compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.
From July-February (2022-23), overall exports to Afghanistan reached US $346.522 million, while during the same period last year, exports were recorded at US $296.109 million, showing a growth of 17.02 per cent.
Furthermore, the year-to-year basis also showed an increase of 60.49 per cent in exports to Afghanistan, rising from US $38.222 million in February 2022 to US $61.345 million in February 2023. Meanwhile, on a month-on-month basis, exports to Afghanistan also rose by 82.58 per cent during February 2023, reaching US $61.345 million, compared to US $33.598 million in January 2022.
In contrast, Pakistan’s exports to other countries decreased by 9.65 per cent during the eight months, dropping from US $20.632 billion to US $18.639 billion, according to SBP data.
The imports from Afghanistan into Pakistan during the period under review were recorded at US $13.540 million, which was a significant decrease of 88.65 per cent compared to last year’s US $119.328 million in July-February (2021-22).
Year-on-year, imports from Afghanistan also dropped by 98.89 per cent, from US $13.723 million in February 2022 to US $0.151 million in February 2023. However, on a month-on-month basis, imports from Afghanistan increased by 11.02 per cent during February 2023, reaching US $0.136 million, compared to US $0.122 million in January 2022.
Overall, the imports into Pakistan also witnessed a decrease of 21.02 per cent, from US $47.336 billion to US $37.388 billion, according to SBP data. Based on the trade figures, the trade of goods and services with Afghanistan witnessed an 88.35 per cent increase in surplus during the period under review compared to the previous year, with a recorded surplus of US $332.982 million against US $176.781 million during the last year.
A 14-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her father and brother, Humaira Kanwal reports for BBC Urdu.
The girl, a resident of Azad Kashmir, was taken to hospital by her mother after she complained of stomach pain. Doctors discovered that the girl is pregnant and about to give birth.
The hospital staff decided to report the case to the police, but the girl delivered the baby before officers could arrive at the facility to record her statement.
Investigation has revealed that the victim has alleged that both her brother and father raped her several times during the last few months. The DNA of the baby she has birthed matches that of her brother’s.
While talking to the BBC, the investigation officer said that both the father and brother of the girl were arrested and after the completion of physical remand, they are now in jail on judicial remand. In statements given to the police, the brother and father have confessed to raping the girl.
Drama serial ‘Tere Bin’ had been hitting the right notes for a while with electrifying chemistry between Yumna Zaidi and Wahaj Ali who star as conflicted enemies turned lovers. Fans have lauded the series for Ali’s powerful acting as well as Zaidi’s feisty and headstrong character Meerab who isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in. However, a recent episode has left fans conflicted with some arguing that the series has diverted away from the true nature of the male lead, Murtasim.
In the previous episode, Meerab is kidnapped by her male friend, Rohail, who takes her to his house and confesses his feelings to her. After being unable to contact his wife and panicking, Murtasim rescues her from Rohail’s clutches and threatens to shoot him if he ever comes near her again. But this incident leaves our hero traumatised, thinking that Meerab is still in love with Rohail and had gone to Karachi solely to meet him.
Now in the latest episode, Murtasim refuses to engage with his wife, despite her attempts to make him happy while cooking his favorite dishes. As the attempts fall flat, Murtasim accuses her of cheating by visiting Rohail in Karachi. When Meerab’s explanation doesn’t satisfy him, he takes his wife to the rooftop and asks her to jump from there to prove herself.
WHAT??@&?! 😭😭 how did the whole dynamic of the scene change in two seconds like what was the point of putting in such a dramatic scene just to act like nothing happened after… he literally asked her to jump off the roof and khs and then he’s all soft??!/? #terebinpic.twitter.com/zswBD0Zts4
Fans have slammed this scene as a complete betrayal to Murtasim’s character. Something Haute editor Aamna Isani wrote that the scene was completely unnecessary and had shattered the efforts the show had made in the previous episodes to put Murtasim in a positive light.
“Like the slap, the jump scene was also totally unnecessary and stripped Murtasim of the human light he was portrayed in when he cried. Very confused, poor writing I’d say. #TereBin,” she wrote.
Like the slap, the jump scene was also totally unnecessary and stripped Murtasim of the human light he was portrayed in when he cried. Very confused, poor writing I’d say. #TereBin can’t wait to review it.
Journalist Marvi Sirmed criticised ‘Tere Bin’ for turning Murtasim in to an ‘alpha male’ who tries to domesticate the free-spirited and ambitious Meerab, and slammed the writer Noor Makhdoom for this controversial scene.
“But this final nail in the coffin of sanity was put when a stupid toxic Murtasim asks Meerab to jump from roof in order to prove her innocence. A grim reminder of Seeta’s Agni Priksha. What nonsense. Really Ms Makhdoom, what bloody nonsense?” she wrote.
But this final nail in the coffin of sanity was put when a stupid toxic Mirtasimnasks Meerab to jump from roof in order to prove her innocence. A grim reminder of Seeta’s Agni Priksha. What nonsense. Really Ms Makhdoom, what bloody nonsense?
Many users had to point out that in previous episodes, Murtasim had spent two nights in his village with the antagonist Haya, an act that had angered Meerab. But did it lead to Murtasim being forced to prove his innocence? Then why was this imposed over Meerab?
It was ridiculous- So many flaws honestly. The way meerub is she should have brought up how he went with Haya to village and why is he being a hypocrite but no writer just cant stand giving Meerub any good dialogues but yeah make her jump and possibly fall and die🤦🏻♀️
This is not the first time Tere Bin has attracted criticism for including controversial scenes that were contrary to the characters’ build up. For instance, the slap scene in episode five attracted intense backlash as social media users criticised the show for peddling sexist stereotypes once more.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has informed Pakistan that Saudi Arabia has confirmed $2 billion in additional deposits, which has rekindled hopes of an early agreement signing. Since January, Islamabad has been negotiating with the IMF for the release of $1.1 billion from a $6.5 billion bailout package that was agreed upon in 2019.
To unlock the funding, the Pakistani government has cut back on subsidies, removed an artificial cap on the exchange rate, added taxes, and raised fuel prices. However, assurances from friendly nations for additional funds have delayed the agreement.
The lender has informed Pakistani authorities of the development and the Fund staff is reportedly satisfied with the latest confirmation. The report states that the Saudi authorities are set to make a public announcement, possibly during the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the kingdom.
The Saudi envoy in Pakistan had also hinted in a recent interview that his country had always supported Pakistan in critical situations and that good news would be shared soon. The sources have stated that all eyes are focused on the UAE for getting confirmation on another $1 billion deposit from them, which may pave the way for striking the staff-level agreement (SLA) with the IMF.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar is expected to visit UAE on his way to the US where he will hold talks on the release of funds. However, there is still another stumbling block in the way of signing the SLA with the IMF. The Ministry of Petroleum, in consultation with the PM Office, had announced an unplanned cross-fuel subsidy for owners of motorcycles and cars up to 800cc, which needs to be scrapped at this stage.
The government has not yet withdrawn the proposed cross-fuel subsidy, which cannot be implemented in a half-baked manner. Such schemes were considered in the past during the tenure of former finance minister Shaukat Tarin and even during the era of the PDM-led government when Miftah Ismail had the charge of the Ministry of Finance.
Even Miftah Ismail had allocated Rs48 billion on the eve of the last budget in the name of Sasta Petrol, but it could not be implemented because such schemes could not be designed properly. The announcement of a half-baked cross-fuel subsidy had provided an excuse to the IMF for delaying the SLA signing, as they were still raising questions for getting more details to ascertain how the scheme was going to be implemented in a transparent manner.
