Author: News Desk

  • Gul-e-Rana, Nabeel Qureshi, Hira Mani and Mani attacked and robbed by mob while shooting in Karachi

    Gul-e-Rana, Nabeel Qureshi, Hira Mani and Mani attacked and robbed by mob while shooting in Karachi

    Film director Nabeel Qureshi took to Twitter to share that while shooting a scene near Jamsheed Quaters Martin Road in Karachi, they were attacked and robbed by a mob who stole their phones and equipment. Among the crew were veteran actress Gul-e-Rana, Hira Mani and her husband Mani.

    “We have been attacked by mob in PIB colony/ jamsheed quater martin road during shoot they got into the house we were shooting a hundred people they harassed women, beat the shit out of crew, stole mobiles, equipment.”

    The director went on to share that the actors were currently at the PIB police station to report all of their missing items. He further went on to demand that the Sindh Police take strict action, and also reached out to fellow actors to raise awareness about proper security.
    “We are sitting here in PIB police station, they attacked like anything honestly this never happened before in karachi, they were equipped with weapons, they stole mobiles wallet they do not care about ladies they raise their hands etc.”

    He continued by asking that Sindh Police and Sindh Rangers “take strict action against these ppl, to make example out of it @ManiSalmanKhi@HiraMani_real i request to my fraternity all the actors producers to make sure that this shouldn’t happened again to any of us!”

    “We are sitting here in PIB police station, they attacked like anything honestly this never happened before in karachi, they were equipped with weapons, they stole mobiles wallet they do not care about ladies they raise their hands etc.”

    “We want #sindhpolice & #sindhrangers to take strict action against these ppl, to make example out of it @ManiSalmanKhi@HiraMani_real i request to my fraternity all the actors producers to make sure that this shouldn’t happened again to any of us!”

    Other actors like Falak Shahzad Khan, who was also present at the scene of the crime, shared Qureshi’s post on Instagram, and said that he was attacked by the mob, along with Gul-e-Rana and Hira Mani.
    “We were at the shoot. …they attacked on the team. Got into the house.”

    Hira Mani also addressed the incident on Instagram, saying that it was an unfortunate incident to witness. She further wrote that she was grateful for her team members for fighting against the culprits.

    ‘It was a very unfortunate incident to witness today and I wish and pray no one faces that ever in their life.

    I want to thank my team members who fought till their last with the culprits to save us and are very bad condition in the hospital right now.

    Please take a moment to pray for their speedy recovery.”

    Other actors like Ahsan Khan and Mahira Khan have reached out to send their solidarity to the actors.

    Taking to his Instagram page, Ahsan Khan called for law enforcement to take swift action against the group that was responsible for attacking the crew.

    “In these days and times security is a must for areas like Jamsheed Quaters. I demand the law enforcement agencies to take swift action in this regard and bring the people responsible for this cowardly act to justice! What happened with Nabeel and his team is not ok and we should stand up for them!”

    Actor Mahira Khan had shared Nabeel’s post, and in the tweet she demanded authorities to investigate the perpetuators behind this incident.

    “I don’t believe this!! Who is responsible ? Who will answer for this?”

  • Indictment deferred after Imran skips Toshakhana case hearing

    Indictment deferred after Imran skips Toshakhana case hearing

    A sessions court in Islamabad deferred the indictment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman skipped today’s hearing citing health reasons.

    The PTI chairman is recovering from wounds he sustained in a gun attack on November 3, 2022 during a rally in Wazirabad.

    “How can we frame charges if exemption pleas are filed again and again?” the judge asked.

    Imran Khan’s lawyer, Barrister Ali Zafar, argued that they had not been provided attested copies of the evidence and complaints.

    At this, ECP’s lawyer said that they had provided the said documents in front of the court. However, the judge directed the lawyer to ensure that all the required material is provided to the defence.

    During the proceedings, the ECP lawyer asked, “Why did Imran Khan not appear before the court? We have seen him dancing on the container.”

    At this, Zafar told the ECP lawyer to refrain from giving such statements.

    He also requested that any date after February 15 be fixed instead.

    “Give us a date when Imran Khan will appear” the judge asked.

    “He will come if he is able to,” the counsel responded.

  • PM Shehbaz approves hike in gas and electricity tariffs to fulfill IMF demands

    PM Shehbaz approves hike in gas and electricity tariffs to fulfill IMF demands

    With only three days remaining to resolve differences, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved an increase in electricity prices on Monday in an attempt to reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The annual base tariff is expected to increase by approximately 33 per cent.

    The decision was made during a virtual meeting held at the Prime Minister House after the IMF maintained its stance that Pakistan must fulfill its prior commitments.

    Sources familiar with the discussions indicated that there may be an average increase of Rs7.74 per unit in the base tariffs, but the increase for higher consumption levels will be much higher. Despite this, the Prime Minister still hopes that the Power Division can negotiate with the IMF to reduce the demanded increase.

    With the Prime Minister’s approval, the revised circular debt reduction plan, which includes details of the increase in prices due to quarterly and annual base tariff adjustments, will be shared with the IMF today.

    Power Minister Khurram Dastgir declined to comment on whether the Prime Minister had agreed to increase electricity prices, including the maximum increase for high-end consumers.

    According to sources, the IMF is seeking a 50 per cent increase in prices, while the government is proposing a range of 20 per cent to 33 per cent increase. The discussions began on January 31st and the IMF delegation was in Islamabad until February 9th.

    The IMF has stated that it is in Pakistan at the request of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with the expectation that the government will implement all of its outstanding actions, including tax increases. If the IMF agrees to the measures proposed by the government, a meeting between Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and IMF Mission Chief Nathan Porter may take place the same day to finalise the measures.

    The sources stated that the Power Division presented several options for increasing tariffs to the Prime Minister, including a Rs4.26 per unit increase in quarterly tariffs and a Rs7.74 per unit average increase in the base tariff.

    The IMF has asked the government of Pakistan to increase electricity prices by over Rs12 per unit to fully cover the additional budget subsidy demand of Rs675 billion. The Power Division believes it can recover Rs43 billion with a lag from July to December 2023, reducing the need for a price hike by the same amount.

    During budget planning, the government allocated only Rs355 billion for power subsidies in the current fiscal year, but the Power Division has requested an additional Rs675 billion in subsidies, bringing the total requirement to over Rs1.03 trillion. In a recent meeting, it was noted that the delayed decision-making has increased the cost of reviving the IMF program.

    The government still hopes the IMF will consider absorbing some of the increase through subsidies, but these subsidies must be supported by additional revenue measures. The IMF also refused the government’s request to exempt up to 300 units for consumers from the price increase, remaining firm on its stance to raise prices for consumers who use 200 units or more per month.

    According to Express Tribune, the Prime Minister has given direction to implement a maximum increase in electricity prices to those with high consumption levels. However, these consumers may struggle to bear the additional cost, which is primarily due to political decisions such as subsidies for exporters and insufficient subsidies in the budget, as well as inefficiencies in the power sector.

  • ‘Hum 2 Humaray 100’ dedicated an episode to teaching children about consent

    ‘Hum 2 Humaray 100’ dedicated an episode to teaching children about consent

    At a time when television is littered with misogyny and misrepresentation of women and their issues, it is heart warming to witness shows like ‘Hum 2 Hamaray 100’ take the lead in creating awareness about social issues.
    The show recently broadcast a poignant scene where they recognized the rights and responsilibities of children in Pakistan.
    A grown adult sits down with children in a room and teaches them about the good touch/ bad touch concept. She explains to the children that if any adult, aside from their parents touches them without their consent and makes them feel uncomfortable, then they must immediately tell their parents.
    The writer, Syed Zain Raza, shared the clip on his Instagram account, and in the caption he wrote that because of a rise in rape and sexual assualt cases in Pakistan, he felt it was necessary to teach children about body autonomy and learning to say ‘no’.

    “GOOD TOUCH / BAD TOUCH

    In this episode of Hum 2 Humaray 100 we tried to talk about an extremely important topic that is more prevalent than ever, but we rarely see conversations around it. Our children are unsafe in parks, schools, neighbourhoods, transit, and sometimes even their homes. This is why they need to know about good touch and bad touch. They need to know when they are in danger.

    If we don’t have these conversations with them in a positive way, then someone else will have them in a negative way. Children should be taught about bodily autonomy and what to do if they feel threatened, scared, and uncomfortable around an adult. They need to be told that they will not get in trouble for telling their parents and that it is never their fault.

    I was really glad that the channel allowed us to talk about this sensitive topic without any censoring and/or dictations. And most importantly, thank you to my director @angelinemalikofficial who allowed me to go ahead and write about all these topics with her full support! It is a boon to have a progressive and woke director in a time like this.”

    In the comments section, social media users applauded the show runners for addressing a sensitive topic in a gentle and uncensored manner, which would help more parents and children watching this show learn how to communicate with each other regarding matters of bodily autonomy.

    Activist and makeup artist Leena Ghani praised the writer for bringing such an important topic to mainstream channels and dealing with it in a sensitive way.

    “Such an important conversation about consent and done with so much sensitivity and care. Well done Zain. This is the kind of content and awareness we need,” she wrote.

    Another user recalled the impact this scene had on her mother, that she went on to give the same guidance about consent to her neices.
    “Mother was watching this scene on TV and it impacted her so much that right after that when nieces came she needed to explain this to them. Quite powerful “

  • Pakistan nears finalisation of IMF loan agreement: Power Minister announces positive progress

    Pakistan nears finalisation of IMF loan agreement: Power Minister announces positive progress

    Power Minister of Pakistan, Khurram Dastgir, announced that the country is close to sealing a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and that the agreement has been achieved on almost all the issues between the two sides.

    With a $350 billion economy, Pakistan is in need of a crucial installment of $1.1 billion from the IMF to avoid default. However, the IMF has identified a significant gap of approximately Rs900 billion, equivalent to 1 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which has been a hindrance in reaching a staff-level agreement.

    Minister Dastgir reassured that the IMF has not demanded the government to cut its defense budget during his appearance on the Geo News program “Capital Talk” on Monday.

    The Minister stated that instead of cutting the defense budget, the IMF has asked the Energy Division to reduce its losses. The Fund has also emphasized the need for the government to reduce line losses in the northern, southern, and western regions of the country. The Minister emphasized that the IMF has made it clear to Pakistan that the country must establish its financial stability by increasing its tax revenues and reducing losses.

    He also mentioned that the international community is not displaying leniency towards Pakistan since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Minister indicated that the country must take the necessary measures to align its financial position and meet the expectations of the IMF and the international community.

  • Pakistan sends aid to Turkey to help in Earthquake relief operations

    Pakistan sends aid to Turkey to help in Earthquake relief operations

    Pakistan has send aid along with rescue and relief teams to it’s close ally Turkey after powerful earthquakes devastated the southern region of the country early on Monday morning.

    “On the instructions of Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan Army has dispatched two contingents; Urban Search and Rescue Team comprising rescue experts, sniffer dogs, search equipment and a Medical team comprising Army doctors, nursing staff and technicians along with 30 bedded mobile hospital, tentage, blankets and other relief items,” Radio Pakistan has reported.


    The aid contingents have been flown to Adana, Turkiye via special PAF aircraft, to undertake relief efforts for Turkish people while working in close coordination with the Turkish Government, AFs and their Embassy in Islamabad.


    “The contingents will stay there till the completion of relief and rescue operations.”
    The National Disaster Management Authority in a tweet wrote, “NDMA dispatched humanitarian assistance to the earthquake hit Turkiye through PAF C-130 aircraft from Nur Khan Air Base.”

    Pakistan on Monday said it will send two C-130 planes carrying relief and 36 search and rescue personnel.


    Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said early on Monday that 45 countries had offered help with search and rescue efforts.

    The confirmed death toll in Turkey and Syria has soared above 4,300.

  • ‘Death cell mein reh kar aayi hoon, phir bhi kabhi media ke saamnay nahin royi’: Maryam Nawaz recalls time in jail

    ‘Death cell mein reh kar aayi hoon, phir bhi kabhi media ke saamnay nahin royi’: Maryam Nawaz recalls time in jail

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) newly-appointed Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz took a jibe at arch-rivals Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for their leaders’ reactions after getting arrested.

    Recalling the time when her father, former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, was imprisoned in Attock Fort in 1999 after a military coup by the-then army chief General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, she said, “You cannot even spend an hour there, he remained there for 14 months.”

    Talking about her own time in jail where she spent five months, Maryam Nawaz said, “Death cell mein reh kar aayi hoon, phir bhi kabhi media ke saamnay nahin royi” (I stayed in a death cell but didn’t shed any tear in front of the media), adding that she was incarcerated during extreme heat but didnt pity herself.

    “I had one charpai; the bathroom and room were the same”, she elaborated.

    She reminded the members of the press that other PML-N leaders also spent months in jail and were unable to get bail.

    Discussing the jail time PTI leaders had to face, Maryam Nawaz said that they couldn’t even bear jail for two days, stressing that this is nothing compared to what PML-N has faced.

    She reiterated that PTI was under the protection of former spymaster, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence, General (retd) Faiz Hameed but now it’s gone.

  • Apple reportedly plans to launch a pricier iPhone ‘Ultra’ next year

    Apple reportedly plans to launch a pricier iPhone ‘Ultra’ next year

    Apple has traditionally released four iPhone models annually — Mini, Standard, Pro, and Pro Max. However, last year the Mini was replaced with a Plus model and this lineup is expected to remain the same this year.

    According to a report from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, Apple plans to revamp its lineup in 2024 and introduce an iPhone Ultra, which is said to be a top-of-the-line device more powerful than the Pro Max. This means that the iPhone 16 series will feature this new model from the Cupertino-based company.

    According to recent reports, the highly anticipated iPhone Ultra model will not replace the Pro Max in the current iPhone lineup. Instead, both the Pro Max and the new Ultra model are expected to be part of the next year’s iPhone offerings.

    The iPhone Ultra, rumored to feature a titanium build, offers a distinct selling point in a market dominated by devices built with alternative materials. While the use of titanium is expected to bring a premium feel to the device, it may also result in a higher price point.

    In addition to its superior build, the iPhone Ultra is expected to come equipped with several hardware upgrades, including improved camera capabilities, a faster processing chip, a larger display, and possibly a portless design, eliminating the need for a Lightning or USB-C port. These cutting-edge features position the iPhone Ultra as a standout device in a highly competitive market.

  • Pakistan’s Atif Butt wins the Tekken World Tour Finals 2022

    Pakistan’s Atif Butt wins the Tekken World Tour Finals 2022

    In another crown for Pakistan’s game community, Atif Butt emerged as the new “King of the Iron Fist” on Sunday after winning the Tekken World Tour 2022.

    The event brought together 24 elite players, with some securing their place through the Regional Finals and others through the Last Chance Qualifiers. This marked the first Tekken World Tour in three years and may be one of the last opportunities for players to showcase their skills in an offline setting for Tekken 7.

    The highly-anticipated Tekken World Tour 2022 offered a grand prize of $100,000, with the champion, Atif Butt, earning a substantial portion of the winnings at $50,000. In the final match, Butt faced off against JeonDDing and delivered a commanding performance, solidifying his victory and maintaining his undefeated record throughout the tournament.

    Butt established himself as a formidable competitor in the Tekken World Tour 2022, showcasing his skills with a string of impressive victories. During the preliminary stage, he excelled in his group, earning a coveted spot in the Finals Bracket and demonstrating his mastery of the game.

    Unfortunately, Arsalan Ash’s performance in the Tekken World Tour 2022 did not meet expectations, as he was unable to advance to the Finals Bracket, with three losses in five games during the Group Stage.

    However, Atif Butt’s remarkable comeback in the Winners Finals against Chikurin was a highlight of the tournament. He recovered from an early 0-2 deficit to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory. In the Grand Finals, he faced JeonDDing and dominated the match, sweeping him 3-0 to earn the title of World Champion.

    Bandai Namco has announced the start of the next iteration of the Tekken World Tour, set to commence on March 31, 2023. The tour will kick off at EVO Japan 2023, hosted at the Tokyo Big Sight from March 31 to April 2. This will serve as the first of several major tournaments to be included in the Tekken World Tour 2023.

  • Pakistani rupee gains Rs1.28 against US dollar, closes at Rs275.30

    Pakistani rupee gains Rs1.28 against US dollar, closes at Rs275.30

    On Monday, the Pakistani rupee exhibited a slight improvement in its exchange rate against the US dollar, closing with a gain of 0.46 per cent in the inter-bank market. The local currency settled at Rs275.30 per US dollar, an improvement of Rs1.28, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

    During the current fiscal year, the rupee has depreciated by 25.47 per cent against the US dollar. This appreciation follows a recent decline, with the rupee hitting an all-time low against the US dollar on Friday, closing at Rs276.58, a decrease of Rs5.22 or 1.89 per cent.

    Last week, the Pakistani rupee experienced a cumulative decline of 5.05 per cent. This was due to a number of factors, including low foreign exchange reserves, which decreased by an additional $592 million to reach a mere $3.09 billion.

    Additionally, comments made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the challenging loan negotiation process with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) further added to investor concerns.

    Discussions with the IMF are ongoing, and reports indicate that the organization is requiring reforms and preconditions in several critical areas, including taxation, the power sector, and energy pricing. Analysts predict that the rupee will continue to face pressure until the IMF program is fully clarified.