Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • PM Shehbaz urges ECP to announce ruling on PTI foreign funding case

    PM Shehbaz urges ECP to announce ruling on PTI foreign funding case

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to announce the “long-delayed judgment” in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) foreign funding case.

    The premier took to Twitter today, urging the ECP to give the verdict in PTI’s foreign funding case, which was reserved on June 21.

    “I urge the Election Commission of Pakistan to announce the long-delayed judgment on PTI foreign funding case,” said the PM.

    The prime minister said that for long, Imran Khan has been given a free pass despite his “repeated & shameless attacks on state institutions”.

    “Impunity given to him has hurt the country,” added PM Shehbaz.

    The ECP reserved the verdict in the case nearly a month ago on June 21, following a hearing by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja.

    On Monday, PTI Chairman Imran Khan criticised the ECP for being biased and demanded CEC Sultan Raja’s resignation over his alleged favouring of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

    “We have no confidence in this Chief Election Commissioner, he should resign. He conducted the Senate election, the Supreme Court allowed him to verify the Senate vote, the Election Commission and all political parties know that money runs in the secret Senate polls but this Election Commissioner did not follow it,” said Khan.

    “The biggest regret I have in the Punjab by-elections is on the Chief Election Commissioner as he has done dishonesty, there is no merit in him, it was found that typing mistake took place and four million people were shown dead. Had this happened elsewhere in the world, he would have resigned. We had eight cases with which we went to the Election Commission and it rejected them while the courts gave verdicts against it, which means the ECP deliberately gave decisions against us,” claimed Khan.

  • Pakistan Railways paying Rs35 billion pension to unverified employees annually

    Pakistan Railways paying Rs35 billion pension to unverified employees annually

    About 115,000 Pakistan Railways (PR) retired employees who have not been verified have been receiving annual pensions totaling Rs35 billion, according to research by the government-funded Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), a think tank housed within the Planning Commission.

    It revealed in a statement yesterday that between 2015 and 2020, Pakistan Railways lost Rs144 billion. A deficit of Rs44 billion in 2020, which includes Rs36 billion for the pensions of 120,000 PR employees, is included in the losses, according to Dawn.

    According to the PIDE report, the PR also received a subsidy from the government in 2020 worth Rs45 billion to make up for these losses.

    Due to the intense competition from the road transportation industry and PR’s inability to implement a customer-centric business strategy due to a complicated bureaucratic structure, the public agency has been inefficient, underfunded, and overstaffed for the past 35 years, making losses.

    The study also noted that 115,000 unverified PR retirees receive an annual pension of Rs35 billion. To solve the problem, a biometric verification system to confirm the pensioners in question has been proposed.

    A Pay and Pension Commission (PPC) has also been established in this respect, and it will take into account issues pertaining to the railways and other public organizations.

  • ‘Go where Muslims are in minority if you want more kids,’ Abdul Qadir Patel on population control

    ‘Go where Muslims are in minority if you want more kids,’ Abdul Qadir Patel on population control

    Federal Minister for Health Abdul Qadir Patel on Monday presented a unique suggestion to control the population of Pakistan. The health minister said that if couples want to have more children, then they should go to another country where Muslims are in a minority so that the Muslim population can also increase around the world.

    Patel said that by 2030, Pakistan’s population is expected to cross 285 million. He said it is an “alarming situation”.

    “We do not want to decrease the Muslim population. We want Muslims to be better, more educated and provide them with better healthcare facilities.”

    Qadir Patel said that he has suggested to people to go have children in countries where the Muslim population is in a minority. “We are a lot in numbers here masha’Allah.”

    The federal minister emphasised that in order to control the growing population, there needs to be more awareness about family planning.

    Qadir Patel made the remarks while addressing a seminar in Islamabad.

    The world’s population could grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030 and 9.7 billion in 2050. According to a United Nations (UN) report, Pakistan is among eight countries where the projected increase of population is expected to be concentrated in 2050.

  • ‘England will miss him,’ Twitter is sad over Ben Stokes’ sudden ODI retirement

    ‘England will miss him,’ Twitter is sad over Ben Stokes’ sudden ODI retirement

    England cricket team all-rounder Ben Stokes announced his shocking retirement from One-Day International (ODI) cricket on Monday citing the “unsustainable” rigour of playing all three formats of the game.

    Stokes was recently appointed as the captain of the England Men’s Test side.

    Today’s (Tuesday) match against South Africa at his home ground will be Stokes’ last ODI. However, he will continue to play Twenty20 Internationals and Test cricket.

    The 31-year-old said, “This has been an incredibly tough decision to make. I have loved every minute of playing with my mates for England. Hard as this decision was to come, it’s not as hard as dealing with the fact I can’t give my teammates 100% of myself in this format anymore. The England shirt deserves nothing less from anyone who wears it.”

    Ben Stokes has not played a T20 international for 16 months. He missed the World Cup last autumn while he was taking a break from the game to prioritise his mental health.

    Following the news, cricket fans couldn’t hold themselves from expressing their sadness over Stokes’ retirement while some of his fans and fellow cricketers wished him luck.

  • Numbers: Does Hamza have a chance to be CM Punjab?

    Numbers: Does Hamza have a chance to be CM Punjab?

    The result of the Punjab by-elections has come as a shock for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its supporters while it has proved to be a ray of light for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) future in upcoming elections.

    According to the results (as of now), PML-N managed to win only four seats in its popular province. PTI swept the by-elections by bagging almost 75 per cent of Punjab constituencies (15 seats) and one independent candidate won the seat.

    It is pertinent to mention that before the by-polls, PTI and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) jointly had the strength of 173 members. Now, with 15 additional seats, the parties have achieved 188 seats in Punjab Assembly (PA) whereas they only needed 186. One independent MPA who has won is likely to be a part of the new ruling coalition.

    On the contrary, the current ruling coalition (PML-N, PPP and others) has 179 members.

    Two MPAs of PML-N including Mian Jaleel Sharaqpuri and Faisal Niazi had resigned so their seats are vacant. MPA Chaudhry Nisar is unlikely to vote for any of the candidates

    Great voter turnout

    In this election, a great voter turnout has been noted.

    In Sahiwal, the voter turnout was almost 56 per cent. While in Khushab, the turnout was 47.84 per cent.

    In the constituency of Multan, the turnout remained at 42 per cent where former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s son Zain Hussain Qureshi won.

    In the largest city of Punjab, the lowest turnout was recorded while the highest turnout was in Bakkhar where PTI’s Irfan Ullah Niazi won.

  • Peshawar: 80,341 motorcyclists fined for not wearing helmets

    Peshawar: 80,341 motorcyclists fined for not wearing helmets

    In Peshawar, the City Traffic Police fined 297,913 people for breaking various traffic rules so far this year, and they have collected roughly Rs700,000 in fines from them.

    According to information provided on Sunday by City Traffic Police officers, 80,341 motorcycle riders received fines for not wearing helmets, 29,945 people for parking in no parking areas, 32,298 people for breaking lane discipline, 12,222 people for breaking traffic signals, and 9,934 drivers for breaking one-way streets.

    Furthermore, 7,888 drivers received fines for driving a vehicle without a valid license, 1,131 for driving without a permit, 6,327 for using tinted glasses, 814 for using a cell phone while driving, and 1,080 for underage driving.

    In addition to 4,379 shop owners for encroachments, the traffic police also fined 4,094 drivers for overloading, 271 for riding one-wheeled on bikes, 1,296 for not using seatbelts, and 6,839 for refusing to show a driving license when asked by the police.

    The City Traffic Police received 2,457 calls on its helpline about various issues during the first half of the year 2022. Out of them, 2,289 complaints were settled, while 168 calls pertained to various traffic system reform proposals.

  • ‘Coalition government lost support of the people’: Politicians react to PTI’s win in Punjab by-polls

    ‘Coalition government lost support of the people’: Politicians react to PTI’s win in Punjab by-polls

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said that the by-elections have made it clear that the coalition government has lost the support of the people.

    Khokhar was of the opinion that instead of forming the government, elections should have been held immediately. He also said that the deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should have been done by a government with a fresh mandate.

    “Difficult decisions should be made by a government that has a mandate of five years, it is not possible that we have sky-rocketing inflation and people shower us with flowers,” said Khokhar.

    “Political parties are still stuck in the 90s, the by-elections made it clear that the coalition government has lost the support of the people, political stability will be further eroded, and governance will become difficult. The country and economy need stabilisation, which is possible only through general elections,” said Khokhar.

    If they have won seats through people’s mandate, CM should step down: Malik Ahmad

    “In all fairness, if they have won seats through the people’s mandate, then the CM [Hamza Shehbaz] should step down and let them form a government,” said Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan to The News.

    “Once the people have spoken, they are the sovereign and if they have spoken in favour of Imran’s narrative for general elections, then they have spoken. Then let there be a fresh mandate. Otherwise, every day there will be a new crisis,” added Malik Ahmad.

    Imran Khan to decide when Shehbaz Sharif will be removed: Fawad Chaudhry

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry said that Imran Khan would decide when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be removed.

    Speaking to Geo News, Fawad Chaudhry said that all the political parties need to end the ongoing political crisis and show maturity.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) swept the Punjab by-elections by bagging a total of 15 out of 20 Punjab Asse­mbly seats while the ruling PML-N only managed to win four seats. An independent candidate won one seat.

  • 90-year-old Indian woman visiting her old home in Pakistan wants to visit Murree and Islamabad

    90-year-old Indian woman visiting her old home in Pakistan wants to visit Murree and Islamabad

    A 90-year-old Indian woman who is visiting her family home in Rawalpindi has expressed her desire to visit Murree and Islamabad during her visit. She was talking to Geo News reporter Azaz Syed.

    Reena Verma had to leave when she was only 15 due to partition. After waiting for 75 years, Reena Verma arrived at the Wagah-Attari border on Saturday (July 16).

    As soon as she arrived in Pakistan, Verma set off for Rawalpindi with teary eyes to visit her house in Prem Niwas.

    “I am beyond thrilled. All my life I dreamed of this. I wanted to return to my home, the street,” she said while talking to The Quint, an Indian news media outlet.

    “Ever since I received the visa, or since I applied for the visa, those memories are returning of my family…of everyone,” she added.

    She joined a Facebook group called the India-Pakistan Heritage Club earlier in 2022 and made a post expressing her intention to track down her ancestral home.

    “Mr Sajaad Husaain from the group told me that if I tell him where my house used to be, he will find it. And finding my house was not difficult at all because it is surrounded by a lot of landmark buildings. I explained to him clearly and he located my house and sent me pictures.”

    She quickly applied for a visa but in March 2022, it was denied. She did not give up though.

    The 90-year-old received a three-month visa from the Pakistani High Commission in May this year.

  • Interbank trade: Pakistani rupee falls to all-time low of Rs214.74 against US dollar

    Interbank trade: Pakistani rupee falls to all-time low of Rs214.74 against US dollar

    As a result of the ruling PML-N’s defeat in the Punjab by-elections, which has caused political turmoil in the nation, the Pakistani rupee (PKR) on Monday fell to an all-time low of Rs214 against the US dollar in interbank trade.

    Today’s intraday trade saw Rs3.79 depreciation of the local currency against the US dollar. It is still unknown where the local currency will end up after the day’s trading.

    The local currency has reached an all-time low because the US dollar was trading for Rs214.74 on the interbank market, according to the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan (ECAP).

    Pakistani rupee’s record low against the dollar was Rs211.48 on June 21. Since then, the currency has remained erratic.

    The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 index is also down, with the bears controlling trading at the bourse. As of 11:34 am, the index was trading at 41,532.46 points, down nearly 550 points.

    Pressure on import payments and political unpredictability, according to Samiullah Tariq, Head of Research at Pakistan-Kuwait Investment Company, are to blame for the rupee’s decline.

    The results of the by-election on Sunday, according to the analyst, provided clarity, but the market is still waiting for a plan of action.

    PKR is weakening, but Arif Habib Limited analyst Ahsan Mehanti expressed optimism that it would soon rebound because all predictions favour the local currency.

    Mehnti was of the view that Pakistan will benefit greatly from the funds it will receive from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a result of the staff-level agreement.

  • ‘Defeat should be accepted with an open heart’: PTI sweeps Punjab by-polls

    ‘Defeat should be accepted with an open heart’: PTI sweeps Punjab by-polls

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) swept the Punjab by-elections by bagging a total of 15 out of 20 Punjab Asse­mbly seats while the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) only managed to win four seats. An independent candidate won one seat.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Monday thanked the PML-N workers for their tireless efforts and said that Maryam Nawaz ran a great election campaign. “I would like to thank Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz for conducting peaceful elections in Punjab.”

    Congratulating PTI for the big win, Chairman Imran Khan thanked his party workers and supporters of Punjab for what he called not just defeating the PML-N but the entire state machinery.

    “The only way forward from here is to hold free and fair polls under a credible Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The PTI chairman said that now decisions would be taken by masses not in closed rooms,” said Khan.

    PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, on the other hand, called for introspection following the defeat of the ruling PML-N in its political heartland.

    Maryam took to Twitter and said that the “defeat should be accepted with an open heart”.

    “The PML-N should accept the results of the by-polls with an open heart as it is the decision of the masses,” Maryam Nawaz tweeted. She added that winning and losing were part of politics; therefore, the party should now focus on its weaknesses, identify them, and then overcome them. “God willing, everything will be fine,” said Maryam.

    PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif blamed the “difficult decisions” taken by the Centre for its failure, according to a Daily Jang report.

    PTI’s Secretary General Asad Umar termed PTI victory in the high-voltage Punjab by-elections as a milestone in Pakistan’s political history. 

    Asad Umar also stated that PTI’s core committee meeting would be held today (Monday) with Imran Khan in the chair, where the PTI would take a future course of action.

    Asad Umar also said that Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi would be elected as chief minister of Punjab on July 22, adding that Shehbaz Sharif is now only the “Prime Minister of Islamabad”. 

    Speaker Punjab Assembly and leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said that if Imran Khan asks him to dissolve the Punjab Assembly, then he will dissolve the assembly in two seconds without thinking.

    Elahi further said that Imran Khan worked the hardest, and he [Elahi] had won many by-elections, but the strategy Khan made was perfect and he [Khan] used his energy to the fullest.