Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • No-confidence to be submitted in 48 hours: PDM

    No-confidence to be submitted in 48 hours: PDM

    Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) leader and official spokesman for the Pakistan Demo­cratic Movement (PDM) Hafiz Hamdullah said that the joint Opposition would submit the no-confidence motion in the next 48 hours.

    The development emerged after PDM chief and JUI-F head Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s talks with reporters regarding the no-confidence motion.

    According to Maulana, the Opposition will make a final decision regarding submitting a vote of the no-confidence motion in the next two to three days.

    PDM chief termed the upcoming days “important”. He claimed they have the numbers required for the success of the no-confidence motion. However, he revealed that it has not been decided yet whether they would bring the no-confidence motion against National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser or Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    It is pertinent to mention that in order to bring in-house change against PM Khan, the joint Opposition needs the support of 172 Members of the National Assembly (MNAs). For the no-confidence motion against the NA’s speaker and deputy speaker, the Opposition would need simply a majority in the Lower House.

    Moreover, Maulana said that it seems that the “umpires” [establishment] are neutral. He declared that the Opposition is not seeking any support from the establishment, rather they want them to stop supporting the government.

    An insider told Dawn when the Opposition is 100 per cent about the success rate of the no-confidence motion, only then they will table it. He said it is true that some of the government’s own people are in contact with the Opposition but they still don’t have sufficient numbers.

  • Three killed in bomb blast near police mobile in Quetta

    Three killed in bomb blast near police mobile in Quetta

    Three people were killed and more than 20 injured in a bomb blast near a police mobile in Quetta. The explosion took place at Jinnah Road on Wednesday night.

    A deputy superintendent of police (DSP) also lost his life in the blast. Nearby shops caught fire after the bomb exploded.

    The Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) Quetta Fida Hussain revealed that people injured in the blast have been shifted to Civil Hospital. He also confirmed the death of DSP.

    “Two-and-a-half to three kilograms of explosives were used in the blast,” DIG Fida Hussain said.

    According to the medical superintendent of the hospital, the wounded brought in for medical treatment were 25 in number and six of them were critical.

    Balochistan Chief Minister, Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo strongly condemned the deadly incident.

    “Cowardly terrorists targeted innocent citizens in a terrorist attack,” he said, “efforts are being made to disrupt peace in Quetta and the province under a planned and well-thought-out conspiracy.”

    He also added that terrorists are being funded by external forces.

    He directed the Inspector General of Police (IG) to submit a detailed report.

    Governor of Sindh, Imran Ismail also strongly condemned the bomb blast in ‘which innocents were targeted by cowardly terrorists.

    https://twitter.com/GovernorSindh33/status/1499043386870927363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1499043386870927363%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geo.tv%2Flatest%2F402533-quetta-three-killed-more-than-20-injured-in-blast-near-police-mobile

    CM Buzdar, while condemning the incident, said, “a handful of terrorists cannot shake the resolve of the nation.” 

    The spokesperson of the Sindh Government, Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui also condemned the incident.

  • ‘Government ready to withdraw media Ordinance under one condition’: Fawad

    ‘Government ready to withdraw media Ordinance under one condition’: Fawad

    Federal Minister of Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that the government is ready to withdraw the controversial Pakistan Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 (PECA).

    “The government has handed over the mandate to Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. If the media Joint Action Committee (JAC) could get its proposal approved, the government would also accept the recommendations,” said Fawad on HUM News programme, ‘Breaking Point with Malick’.

    “If the Joint Action Committee brings the draft in 90 days, they will amend the PECA Ordinance,” said Fawad.

    On Tuesday, JAC members had called on Elahi at the assembly chambers to discuss their reservations regarding the PECA law. 

    Fully supporting the demands of the JAC, Elahi had demanded immediate withdrawal of the amendment to the PECA Ordinance, The News reported. 

    He said the PECA Ordinance is the government’s “selective treatment of the journalist community and the people of Pakistan”.

    In February, PECA Ordinance was promulgated by President Arif Alvi. Talking exclusively to The Current, Fawad said, “A person who forwards fake news over WhatsApp can be fined and go to jail under the new law.”

    Civil society, political collectives, journalists, and rights activists condemned the new PECA Ordinance.

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah said that it seems like no one told the premier that there are laws for contempt other than PECA. “It seems like PM Khan was not assisted correctly over PECA Ordinance,” said Justice Minallah, adding that the law is used against critics here.

  • Man murders wife, sends dead body with 10-year-old child in rickshaw

    Man murders wife, sends dead body with 10-year-old child in rickshaw

    A man in Lahore allegedly tortured his wife to death over a personal dispute and sent her body to her family in an auto-rickshaw, along with her minor daughter.

    Nisar married Anjum 15 years ago and the couple was living in Lahore’s Tauheed Park. As per details, Nisar tortured Anjum to death and then packed her body. He then hired a rickshaw to transport her body. He also sent their 10-year old daughter, who was alive, to his wife’s family.

    CCPO Lahore Fayyaz Ahmad Dev has also taken notice of the incident.

    Read more- Video: Two women allegedly kill house help, hide body in a cardboard box

    Last month in February, the body of a female, who was working in a house was discovered in a cardboard box by police in Kahna. In CCTV footage found by the police, two women — Bushra and her daughter Irum — were seen dragging a cardboard box, which allegedly contained the victim’s body.

  • Harshvardhan Rane announces ‘Sanam Teri Kasam 2’, will Mawra Hocane be a part of it?

    Harshvardhan Rane announces ‘Sanam Teri Kasam 2’, will Mawra Hocane be a part of it?

    After six years of its release, Bollywood actor Harshvardhan Rane has announced the sequel to his romantic drama Sanam Teri Kasam starring Pakistani actress Mawra Hocane.

    The Indian star announced it on his Instagram handle. “Sanam Teri Kasam 2 in 2022. YOU made it happen, yes you! #STK2,” he wrote.

    Reportedly, the sequel will go floors in September-October this year. 

    Mawra will not be starring in the film owing to the political tensions between India and Pakistan. Indian government banned Pakistani artists in 2016 after Uri Attacks.

    For the unversed, Sanam Teri Kasam was helmed by Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru.

    Recently Harshvardhan opened up about his personal struggle in an interview.

    “I come from a humble family. I ran away from home at the age of 15-16 with just Rs 200 in my pocket. So, I don’t really have that thing where I am writing cheques for charity. My mind works in that direction where I think of converting my possession for someone’s benefit. In the past, I have auctioned my outfits from films for charity — the money was used for orphan girls whose parents had died of HIV. During the lockdown, people were scrambling for medical resources, and I wanted to help them. So, I sold my bike. In retrospect, the bike had a purpose, because it helped many souls.”

  • Insights: Fawad-Sanam wrap up Zee5’s ‘supernatural fantasy with a family reunion’

    Insights: Fawad-Sanam wrap up Zee5’s ‘supernatural fantasy with a family reunion’

    Actors Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed have reunited for a Zee5 show 10 years after Zindagi Gulzar Hai that pushed the duo to superstardom in Pakistan.

    Their yet-to-be-titled web-series has just wrapped up filming. Their project is being helmed by Asim Abbasi, who also directed Churails and feature film Cake.

    Fawad Khan Sanam Saeed

    According to Variety, the show is a blend of magical realism and supernatural fantasy with a family reunion. Humsafar actor Khan is seen in a role of a single parent who tries to be the father that his own father wasn’t. Saeed, who recently starred in Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam, bears otherworldly secrets in the show and takes it upon herself to heal and bring everyone together.

    The pair posted some behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot a few months ago. Khan had described the story as a “genre-bending saga of familial traumas and reconciliations, a tale of love and loss set in a world of magic and mystique.”

    The series, which blends magical realism and supernatural fantasy with a family reunion, is helmed by critically acclaimed director Asim Abbasi who also directed Zindagi’s first Pakistani original “Churails” and the feature film “Cake.”

    Khan plays a single parent who, with his son, tries to be every bit the father his own father wasn’t. Saeed plays the central female character in the series. Harbouring otherworldly secrets, she takes it upon herself to heal, and make whole, everyone who surrounds her.

    The series was shot on location in Karachi and the picturesque Hunza valley.

    “This is a very personal project for me. The shoot which spanned over five months has been the most challenging experience of my life but also the most rewarding,” Abbasi said. “The ensemble have done a beautiful job, and given some career best performances. While we have had many eventful days shooting for the series, the last day of the shoot was particularly action-packed. I remember the car we were supposed to shoot with didn’t work, so we used my personal car instead. During the shot, Fawad really had to burn the rubber, as he had to do a u-turn on a single lane road. It was a perfect shot but now I need new tyres.”

  • Amna Ilyas oozes fashion statements on Sri Lankan vacation, Netizens react

    Amna Ilyas oozes fashion statements on Sri Lankan vacation, Netizens react

    Actor and model Amna Ilyas is currently vacationing in Sri Lanka with her best friend. The Zinda Bhaag diva took to her Instagram handle to share her special moments from her getaway.

    The Baaji star taking to Instagram posted a stunning photo while posing in the sea.

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    She captioned the post, “Scars are tattoos with better stories #colombo.”

    The netizens were quick to express polarising comments on Amna’s swimsuit pictures. While some deemed it as too bold, others said that she is enjoying her life.

    The Janam Jali diva turned to her Instagram a few days back and posted a portrait of herself all glammed up in a black outfit with a beverage in her hand and took her bluntness to another level with a bold caption.

    “If someone drunk texts you, appreciate it, they are thinking of you when they can barely think straight,” she wrote.

    This controversial caption sparked criticism among the netizens and they started flaking her with harsh comments.  

    ALSO READ: Netizens grill Amna Ilyas for her ‘drunk’ statement

    ALSO READ: Amna Ilyas jokingly clarifies about sexual orientation on Wajahat Rauf’s show

  • ‘Putin has no idea what’s coming’: Biden closes all airspace to Russian flights

    ‘Putin has no idea what’s coming’: Biden closes all airspace to Russian flights

    United States (US) President Joe Biden, while addressing a joint session of Congress, announced that the US is closing its airspace to all Russian flights.

    Biden said, “Tonight, I’m announcing that we will join our allies in closing off American airspace to all Russian flights, further isolating Russia and adding an additional squeeze on their economy”, further adding that Putin has no idea what’s coming.

    Biden said the country is imposing “powerful sanctions” on Russia. He repeatedly hit out at Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, saying that Putin alone is to blame for the war.

    During the address, the US President also paid a nod to Kyiv’s ambassador to Washington, Oksana Markarova, who was in attendance.

    The US has shown support to Ukraine after the Russian invasion. However, Biden has made it clear that the country will not send troops to fight Russia in Ukraine.

    Currently, Russia is showing no sign of stopping an assault that has included strikes on the Ukrainian capital i.e Kyiv and Kharkiv. Dozens have been killed and hundreds of thousands have fled the country to seek shelter.

    Earlier this week, both Moscow and Ukraine sat together for talks on the Ukraine-Belarus border with the aim of an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian forces but no decision could be made.

  • PTI ministers are with us, claims PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal

    PTI ministers are with us, claims PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal

    In Geo News‘ Programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’ Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal claimed that the government’s decision to decrease the petroleum prices is because of their [Opposition] pressure.

    Talking about Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) allies, Iqbal said they [allies] have to decide for themselves. “If someone thinks of blackmailing them [PML-N] in exchange for offering support for the vote of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, it wouldn’t work as they [PML-N] have enough support.”

    He, further claimed that the Opposition has support inside of PTI and would successfully sail a no-confidence motion even without the support of PTI allies. According to him, PML-N has strong contacts with 20 Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) of the ruling party including some federal ministers.

    He added that everyone wants PTI to go home. When asked about the date of the no-confidence motion against the PM, the PML-N leader said there are consultations going on right now.

    A day earlier, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan met with the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leadership. The Chaudhrys of Gujrat assured PM Khan that they still supported him and his government and also expressed their lack of trust in the Sharifs who ditched them in the past.

    “We know them all, and do not trust them,” said Chaudhry Shujaat.

    Last week, Pakis­tan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari began his march towards the federal capital against the government.

  • Couples will have to testify their belief in the finality of Prophethood (PBUH) before marriage: Punjab cabinet

    Couples will have to testify their belief in the finality of Prophethood (PBUH) before marriage: Punjab cabinet

    The Punjab cabinet has approved an amendment to the West Pakistan Rules under Muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961 and has included a new clause according to which couples planning to marry would have to take oath at the moment of nikkah to testify to their belief in the finality of Prophethood (PBUH).

    The amendment was approved in the 51st provincial cabinet meeting. The cabinet met with Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.

    In October 2021, the Punjab Assembly unanimously passed a resolution to include ‘finality of Prophethood’ in the Nikkahnama (Marriage Certificate). The resolution was jointly tabled by Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s (PML-Q) Khadija Omar, Bismillah Chaudhry, and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Maulana Ilyas Chinioti.