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Author: News Desk

  • ‘Can we talk my Lord?’; Saqib Nisar denies, then confirms Khan contacted him

    ‘Can we talk my Lord?’; Saqib Nisar denies, then confirms Khan contacted him

    Former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar has given contradictory statements about communicating with former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    Nisar told journalist and anchorperson Adil Shahzeb of Dawn News that he had had no contact with Khan. However, he agreed that he had been in touch with former spymaster General (retd) Faiz Hameed.

    Adil Shahzeb, while speaking on Geo News program ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, said that he talked to Nisar at 10AM on March 6 and the ex-CJP asked if he would lobby for Imran Khan as if his character was any less than the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief. “Are my capabilities and intelligence levels any less than Imran Khan’s that I would lobby for him?” Saqib Nisar was quoted as saying by the journalist.

    It was shocking for me, Adil said on the show.

    However, while talking to journalist Zahid Gishkori of Samma News, the former CJP confirmed that he had, in fact, spoken to Imran Khan.

    Gishkori tweeted the supposed conversation between Nisar and Khan.

    “Can we talk my Lord? Which time is convenient to talk?” read Khan’s text sent to Nisar some two weeks ago, as per Gishkori. It was 8PM when Justice Saqib Nisar responded, “You’re welcome.” 

    Gishkori while speaking on Shahzeb Khanzada’s show, said that Khan asked for Nisar’s help in the court cases filed against him, to which the former CJP responded: “I can’t help you”.

    “It is a difficult time for me,” Khan reportedly said, at which the ex-CJP reiterated that he wouldn’t be able to help the PTI chief out. 

    “I advised him that you are a former Premier and are targeting institutions and that he shouldn’t weaken institutions with unnecessary criticism,” the former CJP was quoted as saying by Gishkori.  

    The CJP also reportedly warned Khan about trouble if he continued with his ways.

  • Another IMF condition met as Pakistan imposes 25% sales tax on luxury items

    On Tuesday, the federal cabinet led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the imposition of a 25 per cent sales tax on luxury items, fulfilling a condition set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the revival of the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) that had been stalled for months.

    The cabinet approved the 25 per cent general sales tax (GST) on luxury items through a circulation summary. The Federal Board of Revenue will issue a formal notification in the coming days, and the new rate will be applicable from March 1.

    The list of items subject to the 25 per cent GST includes aerated water and juices, imported cars, mobile phones, pet food, sanitary and bathroom wares, carpets (excluding Afghanistan), chandeliers and lighting devices or equipment, chocolates, cigarettes, confectionery items, corn flakes, cosmetics, shaving items, tissue papers, crockery, decorative devices, doors and window frames, fish, footwear, fruits and dry fruits, furniture, home appliances (CBU), luxury leather jackets and apparel, mattress and sleeping bags, frozen or processed meat, musical instruments, arms and ammunition, shampoos, sunglasses, tomato ketchup and sauces, and travel bags and suitcases.

    The federal government also imposed a 25 per cent GST rate on locally manufactured luxury vehicles of 1,400cc and above. The FBR has estimated that it will collect an additional Rs15 billion in taxes through the enhanced GST rate of 25 per cent in the four-month period.

    According to sources, Pakistan and IMF held virtual negotiations on Monday to revive the loan program that had been stalled for months. During the meeting, the lender expressed satisfaction with the country’s measures, while Pakistan insisted on early finalization of the staff-level agreement.

    The negotiations were moving positively as the Fund did not place any new demands during the virtual session. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) informed IMF representatives about the estimated collection of foreign exchange reserves of $10 billion until June, and sources claimed that Pakistan had achieved future targets before the staff-level agreement.

    It is worth mentioning that the government has expedited the implementation of IMF demands to unlock the loan tranche for the country’s economic recovery.

  • ‘Character assassination’; Nawazuddin Siddiqui slams wife’s allegations

    ‘Character assassination’; Nawazuddin Siddiqui slams wife’s allegations

    Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Sidiqqui has addressed his wife Aaliya’s allegations of the star evicting her out of her house and refusing to grant her custody of her children. She had recorded a video and posted it on Instagram, saying that she and her children were thrown out of the house in the middle of the night.

    In a statement posted from his twitter account, Siddiqui revealed that his children were being held hostage by their mother, Aliya, and had not been sent to school for the last 45 days.
    “Does any one know why my kids are in India and not attending schools for 45 days, wherein the school is sending me letters everyday that it’s been too long an absence. My kids have been made hostage for the past 45 days and are missing their schooling in Dubai,” he wrote.

    Siddiqui further went on to address the Aliya’s allegation he had refused to pay child support, and criticized her for blackmailing him for more money in the past.

    “She had abandoned the kids in Dubai for the last four months before calling them here on the pretext for demanding money. On average, she is being paid approx 10 lakhs per month for the past two years and 5 to 7 lakhs per month before moving to Dubai with my children, excluding the school fees, medical, travel and other leisure activities. I have also financed her three films costing me crores of rupees, just to help her set up her income stream since she is the mother of my kids. She was given luxurious cars for my kids, but she sold them and spent the money on herself. I have also bought a lavish sea-facing apartment in Versova, Mumbai for my children. Aaliya was made the co-owner of the said apartment as my kids are small. I have given my children a rented apartment in Dubai, where she was also living comfortably. She only wants more money and hence has filed numerous cases against me and my mother. It’s her routine, she has done the same in the past too and withdraws the case when paid as per her demand.”

    Siddiqui also replied to claims of child abandonment:


    “Whenever my children came to India during their vacation, they used to stay with their grandmother only. How could anyone throw them out of the house? I myself was not in the house during that time. Why didn’t she make a video of being thrown out, whereas she makes a video of every random thing? She has dragged the kids into this drama and she is doing all this to simply blackmail me, malign my reputation, her intent to spoil my career and fulfill her illegitimate demands.”

    Siddiqui concluded the note by stating that he loved his two children, and would go to any length in order to secure their well-being and safety:


    “Any parent on this planet will never want their kids to miss out on their studies or hamper their future, they will always try to give their best of the best possible things. Whatever I am earning today is all for both of my kids and no person can change this. I love Shora and Yani and I will go to any extent to secure their well-being and their future. I have won all the cases so far and will continue to place my faith in the judiciary. Love is not to hold one back, but to let one fly in the right direction.”

    Read his full statement here:

    Last week Aliya had accused Siddiqui of abandonment when she uploaded a video on Instagram of her and their two children in the streets, and revealed that they had been left on the road by their own father without any financial expenses or a place to go.

    “This is the truth of Nawazuddin Siddiqui,” she had written. “Who did not even spare his own innocent children..when after being in the house for 40 days I stepped out as office bearers at Versova police station called me urgently..but when I went back to the house with my children Nawazuddin siddiqui had deputed a number of guards to not let us in.. me and my children were bruetly left by this man to be on the road.. my daughter could not believe that her own father can do this to her and was howling and crying on the road.”

  • Saudi prince aims to create over 1,000 jobs with $100 million tech house investment in Pakistan

    Saudi prince aims to create over 1,000 jobs with $100 million tech house investment in Pakistan

    A Saudi tech company owned by Prince Fahad bin Mansour Al-Saud has announced the launch of a Saudi-Pakistan Tech House in Islamabad on Monday.

    The initiative was first announced by the prince in January at Pakistan’s largest tech event, Future Fest 2023, and aims to forge partnerships with information technology (IT) companies and enterprises in Pakistan to promote greater ease of doing business between the two countries.

    Prince Fahad is the co-founder of ILSA Interactive, which was established in 2009 by Pakistani entrepreneur Salman Nasir with offices in Riyadh and Lahore, reflecting the determination of both Pakistani and Saudi leaders to deepen an existing strategic relationship in all fields.

    The company plans to forge partnerships with IT companies, universities, and large enterprises in Pakistan. The launch ceremony took place on Monday, March 6, and Prince Fahad intends to create more than 1,000 jobs and undertake 300 projects valued at $100 million in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and other countries.

    Future Fest 2023 saw leading entrepreneurs, startups, policymakers, and investors from around the world participate, and a delegation of Saudi business leaders attended the event, taking part in keynote addresses, roundtable conferences, and discussions on various topics related to the future of business and startups.

  • iPhone 15 to feature A17 chip and rounded design, but with limited USB-C compatibility: Leaks

    iPhone 15 to feature A17 chip and rounded design, but with limited USB-C compatibility: Leaks

    An insider source known as ShrimpApplePro has revealed some information about Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 models. The new phones will feature a faster performance, a more rounded design, and a higher price point. However, the most requested feature – USB-C compatibility – will come with a disappointing catch.

    Apple will be locking down the USB-C port on all iPhone 15 models, a move that contradicts their previous actions of introducing USB-C to iPads and MacBooks without limitations.

    USB-C is an open standard, and this news will be a surprise and disappointment to many Apple fans and industry experts. Apple’s official licensing program for accessories, MFi, requires manufacturers to comply with Apple’s standards by installing an authenticator chip on ports. This can limit or disable the accessory completely, and unlicensed accessories are often less expensive than those with MFi certification.

    Many people believe that profit is the primary reason why iPhones have not switched to USB-C. Despite an EU clampdown on proprietary ports, it seems that Apple has decided to manipulate the standard, which is a setback. USB-C would allow iPhones to have faster charging and data transfer speeds, and leaks suggest that iPhone 15 Pro models will deliver over 40x faster performance. However, it seems that these benefits will only be available through MFi-approved accessories, which is not ideal for those who already have a drawer full of USB-C cables.

    Foxconn has already started producing MFi-licensed accessories, including Apple’s own EarPods and cables, according to ShrimpApplePro. While iPhone enthusiasts may not view this news as a dealbreaker, it is likely not the way industry experts and EU lawmakers expected USB-C to be implemented by the world’s largest smartphone maker.

    Apple’s iPhone 15 range is expected to launch in September with a higher price point, a more rounded design, new chassis materials and colors, solid-state buttons, next-gen WiFi, and a 3nm A17 chipset.

  • Have evidence against Faiz Hameed, claims Maryam Nawaz

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz, in an interview with Naya Pakistan, has claimed that she has evidence against the former Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed.

    Maryam Nawaz said that she had been talking against Hameed even when he was the sitting DG ISI. “I submitted an application to the court with evidence when he was the DG ISI.”

    “Imran Khan said the Jail Bharo Tehreek was successful, but I have not seen such a failed movement in history,” she said, adding that the PTI chief had plastered his leg for fear of going to jail.

    She reiterated that the “traces” that Lt Gen (retd) Hameed left behind can still be found in the institution, which are supporting Khan till date citing that as the reason he doesn’t go to jail.

    She claimed that fake cases were registered against her father, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif. Maryam Nawaz also said that party members used to get arrested at the start of proceedings.

  • Pakistan’s textile industry struggles as exports fall by 28% in February

    Pakistan’s textile industry struggles as exports fall by 28% in February

    On Monday, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) released provisional data indicating that Pakistan’s textile sector exports declined significantly by 28 per cent, totaling $1.2 billion in February 2023, compared to $1.67 billion in the same month the previous year.

    Additionally, APTMA reported that textile exports for the first eight months of FY23 decreased by 11 per cent to $11.24 billion, down from $12.60 billion in 8MFY22. These declines are alarming for Pakistan, whose economy is already struggling with depleting foreign exchange reserves.

    The country’s central bank has only $3.81 billion in reserves, which is barely enough to cover a month of imports.

    Industrialists in Pakistan have expressed concern about the ongoing slump in the textile sector. Data released by the Pakistan Cotton Ginner’s Association (PCGA) on Friday revealed that cotton arrival in Pakistan also decreased by 34.5 per cent year-on-year.

    Last month, APTMA urged the federal government to implement a uniform gas price of $7 per MMBtu for the export industry throughout the country to ensure a level playing field.

    APTMA also warned that the government’s decision to suspend the regionally competitive energy tariff (RCET) of electricity for Export Oriented Units (EOUs) would harm the textile industry, particularly in Punjab.

    In December, APTMA wrote a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, warning that the country’s textile exports could fall below $1 billion a month from 2023 onwards, highlighting a range of issues affecting the sector, which is currently operating at less than 50 per cent capacity utilization.

  • ‘Hitler ko bhi public support thi’, says Zardari about Khan’s popularity

    ‘Hitler ko bhi public support thi’, says Zardari about Khan’s popularity

    Former President and Pakistan People’s Pakistan (PPP) Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari has talked about the current political crisis in the country in a wide-ranging interview with Nasim Zehra.

    In the interview, he ruled out the possibility of talks with the PTI Chief Imran Khan. At one point, he called him “too arrogant” for that.

    Zardari again raised questions about Imran’s perception as a politician. When asked about public support towards Khan, he said that even Adolf Hitler had public support when he made the Nazi party.

    https://twitter.com/NasimZehra_at8/status/1632429902422069250?s=20

    When asked about Khan’s refusal to show up at court hearings, Zardari disclosed the difficulties he had to face while he was under the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) during Imran Khan’s tenure as Prime Minister (PM).

    The former president took a jibe at the PTI head, stating that he always appeared in court whenever he was summoned.

    “NAB se mera jhagrah tab hua, jab unhy ne mujhe Eid ki namaz bhi nahin parrhne di” (My fight with NAB started only when they didn’t let me offer Eid prayer).

    He said, “Later, I went to court and complained to them, then they shifted me to Adiala Jail.”

    Talking about the economy, Zardari believed that borrowing money from countries won’t help Pakistan unless the nation expands its resources and stand on its own feet.

    https://twitter.com/NasimZehra_at8/status/1632428810846052353?s=20

    Zardari also said that PPP will not boycott the elections if they take place however it’s a “dangerous mode”.

    https://twitter.com/NasimZehra_at8/status/1632428579018424326?s=20

    He also admitted that there is a law and order problem and lack of money but added that the “Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is an independent body and everybody will have to follow their instructions.”

    He also revealed that discussions with PM Shehbaz haven’t taken place yet over this matter.

    https://twitter.com/NasimZehra_at8/status/1632422661639790592?s=20
  • ‘Imran Khan ko mukammal taur par sadiq aur amin nahi qarar diya tha’: Saqib Nisar

    ‘Imran Khan ko mukammal taur par sadiq aur amin nahi qarar diya tha’: Saqib Nisar

    Former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar has said that he did not declare former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan Sadiq and Amin [truthful and honest] on all aspects of his conduct.

    Journalist Adil Shahzeb disclosed details about his conversation with Nisar, stating that the former CJP said, “Imran Khan was declared Sadiq and Amin on three points. Akram Sheikh had only asked for a verdict on three points he gave against Imran Khan. On all three points, Imran Khan was found, Sadiq and Amin.”

    Nisar claimed that those talking about the court verdicts today “do not know anything about the law”.

    “The person who is attacking the courts today was a favourite of the courts. Apart from one case, he always got relief from the courts,” the former CJP claimed.

    The former CJP also revealed that his WhatsApp has been “hacked” for two days and the data has not been recovered.

    “I fear that my data may be used for special purpose however, the hackers will be disappointed,” said Nisar. He also claimed that before the hack different recordings were merged and audio was created.

    In the past few weeks, there had been speculation on Twitter that “explosive” audio leaks related to judiciary might surface soon.

    Journalists Azaz Syed and Umer Cheema also talked about possible audio conversation leaks on their YouTube show ‘Talk Shock’.

    Talking about the former spymaster, General (retd) Faiz Hameed, the former CJP was asked if he pressured Nisar to disqualify Nawaz Sharif in the Panama case. “Who is Gen Faiz Hameed, to pressurise me? I am being accused that I am lobbying for Imran Khan in the judiciary, why would I do that, I am worried about the future of my children,” said Nisar in reply.

    He also said that the contact between them was reserved to Lt Gen Hameed messaging him to ask about how he was doing.

    The former top judge said that he would no longer give interviews and a book about his life would be published after his death that would have the “complete story”.

  • ‘I got emotional while watching my father in The Romantics’: Ranbir Kapoor

    ‘I got emotional while watching my father in The Romantics’: Ranbir Kapoor

    Ranbir Kapoor opened up about the emotions he experienced while watching his late father, Rishi Kapoor, on the Netflix documentary ‘The Romantics’.


    Kapoor passed away in 2020 at the age of 67 from leukemia.


    At a press conference ahead of his upcoming movie ‘Tu Jhooti Mein Makaar’, the Indian Express reports that the actor revealed he missed his father everyday and had gotten incredibly emotional about the experience of losing one parent, and how it has shaped his relationship with his daughter:


    “I miss him a lot. I miss him every day. Especially now, I have seen The Romantics and hearing him talk I felt really emotional. I remember that day when he was shooting for the show – the next day, he was admitted to the hospital and we lost him in a month’s time. Losing a parent is a very big deal in anyone’s life. I think of him every day. I am also blessed with a daughter. I feel like somewhere he would have been very happy for this moment in my life. He is with me every day. My phone’s wallpaper still has him.”

    The ‘Tamasha’ actor had previously talked about his experience of parenting with his wife Alia Bhatt, and revealed that currently his wife and child were in Kashmir and he was missing them both:

    “Naturally your heart, body and mind wants to do everything for your child. Unfortunately, Alia is shooting in Kashmir and has taken Raha away with her. I’m terribly missing them both. They are going to be back (in Mumbai) after another five days. So, I am looking forward to that. Alia and me, both being actors, and both being busy at work, we will have to divide our priorities to balance it out.”