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Author: News Desk

  • ‘I am the spokesperson of the cabinet, words are not my own’: Fawad Chaudhry apologises to ECP

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has apologised to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) for his disrespectful remarks against the institution, reports Geo News.

    The minister arrived at the ECP today for the hearing before a two-member bench comprising ECP members Nisar Ahmed Durrani and Shah Mohammad Jatoi. During today’s hearing, the minister told members that he is a lawyer himself and does “not want to get caught up in show-cause notices”.

    The show-cause notices were sent in October to Fawad over calling ECP an “Opposition’s mouthpiece” and Federal Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati for accusing ECP of always “rigging polls” and his statement that “such institutions should be set on fire”.

    However, according to Swati’s co-counsel, he could not appear for the hearing as he was busy with the Senate proceedings and asked for more time, adding that a reply would be filed by tomorrow.

    Chaudhry, after the hearing, said, “I am sorry, I apologise for my words.”

    “I am the spokesperson of the cabinet. At times, I say things but the words are not my own,” he added while saying that he personally respects the CEC and did not abuse anyone.

    The members of the election commission directed Chaudhry to submit his apology in writing and warned that charges would be framed on the next hearing whether a reply was submitted or not and adjourned it to December 3.

    Before the show-cause notices, the election commission had issued notices to the two ministers on September 14, asking them to provide evidence about the allegations made by them against ECP and the CEC.

    Later, on September 23, Chaudhry had sou­ght six weeks to submit a reply but was given three weeks, which ended on October 19. However, Swati chose not to respond at all to the ECP notice. The ECP had then issued a notice to Chaudhry asking him to appear before it on October 27 but neither of them had turned up for the October 27 hearing, prompting the ECP to issue a show-cause notice for November 16 (today).

  • Ex-CJ GB’s son asked for permission to play ‘video’ in Saqib Nisar case

    Ex-CJ GB’s son asked for permission to play ‘video’ in Saqib Nisar case

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday issued show-cause notices during a hearing of the case relating to the allegations against ex-Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar by former Chief Judge of Gilgit-Baltistan Justice (retd) Rana Shamim.

    During the hearing, apologising for his father’s absence, Justice Shamim’s son asked the court staff for permission to play a ‘video’ in the courtroom.

    The video was in relevance to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Faisal Vawda’s comments where he said that Rana Shamim, should be beaten up in public.

    However, the court refused to include it in the case and told Shamim’s lawyer to file a separate appeal.

    Senator Vawda, while speaking on ARY News’ programme, Off the Record’, said: “These retired and retarded judges who are maligning courts and judiciary should be beaten up in public. They are paving the way for chaos in society. They are maligning the noble and honest judges and dragging Pakistan towards anarchy. That is why it is important to punish them.”

    “It is questionable why their conscience woke up after three years,” said Vawda and asked as to why they did not react at the time when it happened.

    The senator further said that there were many like them in all the departments who wake up to the call of their conscience after retirement and labelled them “shameless, and disgraceful”.

    Describing Rana Shamim as a ‘bhagora’ [absconder], Vawda said, “He is an absconder, for filing an affidavit in London after retirement,” adding, “there are places where a layman goes for justice, honest judges are present there who have a career ahead of them, and then you malign them.”

    “You pit one institution against the other, you malign the military, certain elements are acting on behalf of hostile countries were maligning the institutions and pitting them against the other,” said Vawda.

    Vawda asked whether there was a video or it was money that stirred his [Rana Shamim’s] conscience, adding, “He was appointed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 2015 and benefitted throughout. His son was also made the advocate general. If a common thief is disgraced and criticised, then a judge who scandalises the judiciary and honest judges cannot be awarded for it. He is acting like a pimp.”

    Anchorperson Kashif Abbasi interjected and said, “I am saying this again to kindly mind your words. These are judges we are talking about, this is not how it works. Don’t do that, don’t do that.”

    “These retired and retarded judges who are maligning courts and judiciary should be beaten up in public,” asserted Vawda.

  • ‘My vulgarly edited pictures’: Humaima Malick threatens to take legal action over viral pictures

    ‘My vulgarly edited pictures’: Humaima Malick threatens to take legal action over viral pictures

    Actor Humaima Malick took to social media to warn some netizens for circulating her ‘vulgarly edited’ pictures. She has also threatened her fan pages that she will be seeking legal help against them.

     Last week she posted a picture of herself on a hospital bed after a successful appendix surgery. “Nazar can take lives,” she said, asking her fans to pray for her.

    The Dekh Magar Pyaar Say star added, “Allah has given me a new life, thank you for all those who have stood by me, my family who prayed for me, I request all my fans to pray for me. I have been given a new life from Allah.”

    According to her post, the Raja Natwarlal diva spent 22 hours in Istanbul with a ruptured appendix without knowing it. “I have seen death,” she wrote.

    “My God gave me a new life. Please be kind with everyone around you, life is too short. We don’t even know if we’ll be alive one moment to the next.”

    She was in Istanbul for the IPPA awards which were held on October 31st. She travelled there with her mother and a host of other celebrities.

    Emran Hashmi with Humaima Malik during a promotional event of their new movie Raja Natwarlal in Bengaluru09 | RITZ

    The Bol star also expressed her disgust after watching Noor Mukadam’s CCTV footage.

    Noor tried to run away from Zahir Jaffer’s house twice before she was murdered, the transcript of the CCTV footage has revealed. The prosecution in the murder case submitted the transcript of the CCTV footage of Zahir’s house in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Ata Rabbani, which shows the events that led to Noor’s brutal murder.

    As per the footage, Noor entered Zahir’s house at 10:18pm on July 18, Shehzad Malik reports for BBC Urdu. At 02:39am on July 19, the two could be seen coming out of the house with bags, which they placed in a taxi but they both went back inside the house at 02:40am.

    Noor was found murdered at a residence in Islamabad’s upscale Sector F-7/4 on July 20. Her death sparked national outrage, including protests and candlelight vigils across the country.


    Read More: ‘Nazar lagadi, Maut dekhi maine’: Humaima Malick hospitalised in Istanbul

  • ‘What can you say, you have already caused the harm you had to cause’: Athar Minallah grills Ansar Abbasi on Saqib Nisar affidavit

    ‘What can you say, you have already caused the harm you had to cause’: Athar Minallah grills Ansar Abbasi on Saqib Nisar affidavit

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday issued show-cause notices during a hearing of the case related to the allegations against ex-Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar by former chief justice (CJ) of Gilgit-Baltistan Justice (retd) Rana Shamim, reports Geo Urdu.

    Shamim’s lawyer appeared before the court on his behalf and informed that Justice Shamim wasn’t feeling. He said Shamim’s brother had passed away.

    IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah called Mir Shakil- ur-Rahman, editor-in-chief Jang, to the rostrum.

    “I have summoned you with a heavy heart,” Athar Minallah said, adding that there is a difference between social media and newspapers and that a newspaper has an editorial policy and editorial control.

    “The judges of this court are accountable and face criticism,” Justice Minallah said, adding that if the people do not trust the judiciary, there will be chaos in society.

    Justice Minallah said: “Please hold us [judges] accountable, but don’t create controversies.”

    IHC chief justice directed journalist Ansar Abbasi to read out the headline of his story published in The News.

    “Do you think the judges of our court take instructions from anyone?” Justice Minallah questioned, saying that this affidavit is not part of any judicial record.

    At this, Abbasi asked if he could say something.

    “What can you say, you have already caused the harm you had to cause,” the IHC CJ responded.

    After being allowed to speak in court, Abbasi said he respects the IHC chief justice and the story was his and so if the court wants to take any action, it should be against him.

    “The editor and editor-in-chief are not to be blamed in this matter,” said Abbasi, adding that this was not his statement and that it belonged to the former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Gilgit-Baltistan.

    “I am a journalist, my job is to convey the message. I also confirmed this from Justice Shamim,” he added.

    Abbasi further added that he did not even mention the name of the high court judge in his story.

    However, Justice Minallah said that this charge has been levelled against the court, it has been alleged that [the] High Court takes directions from others. “We will not compromise on the dignity of this court.”

    “We had no such intention as you think,” Justice Minallah told Abbasi, adding that it is constantly being reported that it was said that do not release them [Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz] before the election.

    He also asked Abbasi whether he had checked who was part of the bench hearing the cases against the PML-N leaders, adding that he and Justice Aamer Farooq were abroad when the appeal was filed and the case was fixed for hearing.

    “Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Miangul Hassan were present in the country at the time. Did you inquire about this from the high court registrar?”

    He observed that noted lawyers were part of the case against the PML-N leaders. “Did you ask them if they had requested a date before the general elections?”

    He said that Khawaja Haris was the petitioner at the time. “Did you check with him about the bench hearing the case?”

    “If another judge spoke like this in front of me I would get in touch with the Supreme Judicial Council,” he said.

    “A person witnesses the CJP asking someone to commit a crime. The person stays silent for three years and an affidavit concerning the incident surfaces. How can a newspaper publish such a document?” he asked.

    Earlier it was reported that on directions of the ex-CJP Saqib Nisar, a high court judge did not release Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz on bail at any cost before the 2018 general elections. A news report was published in The News, based on a signed affidavit of the ex-CJ Gilgit Baltistan.

    “Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz Sharif must remain in jail until the general elections are over. On assurances from the other side, he (Saqib Nisar) became calm and happily demanded another cup of tea,” said the affidavit.

    The affidavit contains the signature of the ex-CJ of Gilgit Baltistan as well as an image of his CNIC. The notary public stamped the affidavit and recorded that it was “sworn under oath before me” on November 10, 2021.

  • Pakistan names 20-member squad for Bangladesh Tests, including Imam

    Pakistan names 20-member squad for Bangladesh Tests, including Imam

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced 20-member squad for Bangladesh Test match series. Opener Imam-ul-Haq is making a comeback to the national team.

    The opener has been recalled on the back of a blistering form in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, where he has so far amassed 488 runs in five innings. Middle-order hitter Kamran Ghulam and off-spinner Bilal Asif likewise track down a spot in the 20-part crew.

    Bilal Asif has replaced leg-spinner Yasir Shah who is yet to fully recover from the thumb injury he suffered while playing in the domestic T20 tournament. Kamran also returns to the squad after being left out during Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies. Pacers Haris Rauf and Shahnawaz Dahani have been left out and will be allowed to travel back to Pakistan after the T20I leg of the tour.

    The first Test will take place in Chittagong from November 26 with the second match taking place in Dhaka between December 4-8.

    Pakistan squad:

    Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Abid Ali, Azhar Ali, Bilal Asif, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zahid Mahmood

  • ‘I am appalled’: Yashma Gill reacts to pregnant woman being strangled to death

    ‘I am appalled’: Yashma Gill reacts to pregnant woman being strangled to death

    Actor Yahsma Gill has reacted to the news of a pregnant woman being strangled to death. The Pyar Ke Sadqay diva took to her Instagram stories to share the screenshot of the news report, along with an extensive note.

    “With time, Pakistan makes no progress in terms of deep-rooted misogynistic beliefs. I am appalled to see incidents like this still taking place. The collective thinking of deeming females inferior needs to be eradicated from this society.”

    A woman was allegedly strangled to death in Narowal by her husband and mother-in-law just two days before she was expected to give birth to a daughter.

    On the work front, the Phaans star was last seen in ARY’s drama serial Azmaish opposite Fahad Sheikh.

    The actor recently celebrated her birthday with over 20 celebrities gracing the event.

  • Govt summons joint session of parliament on Nov 17

    The government has decided to convene the joint session of parliament on Wednesday, November 17, as it continues its efforts to persuade its allies — the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) — to rein in their support.

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry insisted that the government allies had expressed confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and assured him of voting in favour of the bills.

    “Reservations of the coalition partners have been removed and the government had unanimously decided to convene a joint session of the parliament on Wednesday,” said Fawad.

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said, “The allies have assured the prime minister that they will support all eight or 10 bills to be tabled in the joint sitting of the parliament.”

    Earlier, PML-Q on Sunday decided that it was parting ways with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and launching its campaign for the next general elections.

    The party’s parliamentarians noted that people were facing a hard time in making ends meet because of the government’s “negligence”.

  • Hardik Pandya opens up about ‘Rs5 crore watch’ seized by airport customs

    Hardik Pandya opens up about ‘Rs5 crore watch’ seized by airport customs

    Indian power hitter Hardik Pandya on Tuesday refuted reports that claimed two wrist watches worth Rs5 crore were seized from him at the Mumbai airport on his return from Dubai. He said that only one watch was worth Rs1.5 crore and had been taken for “proper valuation”.

    A report by news agency ANI on Tuesday said that two watches were seized by the Customs Department on Sunday night because Pandya allegedly did not have a bill for them.

    Denying the charges, Pandya posted a statement on Twitter saying, “I voluntarily went to Mumbai airport customs counter to declare the items brought by me and pay the requisite customs duty. Wrong perceptions have been floating around on social media regarding my declaration to customs at Mumbai airport, and I would like to clarify about what transpired.”

    “I had voluntarily declared all the items that I’d lawfully purchased from Dubai and was ready to pay whatever duties that needed to be paid. As a matter of fact, the customs department had asked for all purchase documents which were submitted; however customs is doing proper valuation for duty which I’ve already confirmed to pay,” he said.

    “The cost of the watch is approximately Rs1.5 crore and not Rs5 crore as per the rumours floating around on social media. I’m a law-abiding citizen of the country and I respect all government agencies. I’ve received all the cooperation from the Mumbai customs department and I’ve assured my full cooperation to them and will provide them with whatever legitimate documents they need to get this matter cleared. All allegations against me of crossing any legal boundaries are totally unfounded,” he added.

    The cricketer also said that he is a “law abiding citizen”, who respects all government agencies.

    Hardik was returning from Dubai after India wrapped up its stint at the T20 World Cup.

    According to ANI, Hardik Pandya’s brother, cricketer Krunal Pandya was also intercepted at the Mumbai International Airport over suspicion of being in possession of undisclosed gold and other valuables last year.

    Indian all-rounder Pandya is very much in the limelight for his hairstyle and body tattoo.

  • ‘Gone nuts’: Asad Siddiqui lashes out at ICC for snubbing Babar Azam

    ‘Gone nuts’: Asad Siddiqui lashes out at ICC for snubbing Babar Azam

    Actor Asad Siddiqui has lashed out at International Cricket Council (ICC) for not naming the captain of Pakistan Cricket team Babar Azam, as the player of the tournament.

    David Warner was named as the ‘Player of the Tournament’.

    The Zebaish star used his social media to express his anger, “How can you not give the player of the tournament award to Babar Azam, ICC has gone nuts man.”

    Babar’s campaign ended at the hands of Australia at the semi-final stage, but he sealed a historic 10-wicket win against India.

    He added three more fifties, meaning he sits tied with Matthew Hayden and Virat Kohli for the most half-centuries in T20 World Cup, while only Kohli and Tillakaratne Dilshan have scored more runs at a single edition.

    However, Babar Azam was named the skipper of ICC’s Team of the Tournament for the mega event. 

  • How would Shadab Khan look if he were a girl? Twitter has the answer

    How would Shadab Khan look if he were a girl? Twitter has the answer

    A picture has been circulating on social media of a girl who was spotted in the audience during the Pakistan vs Australia semi final which was played in Dubai last week.

    The girl in the picture resembles Pakistani spinner Shadab Khan, and some social media users are terming her as the cricketer’s doppelgänger.

    Have a look at the picture and the reactions:

    https://twitter.com/crackheadenerji/status/1459827088110895106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1459949177195147269%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es3_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.samaa.tv%2Fentertainment%2F2021%2F11%2Ftwitter-has-found-shadab-khans-woman-lookalike%2F
    https://twitter.com/Serene_Sarcasm/status/1460017499613892611

    Shadab Khan took four wickets in the Pakistan vs Australia semi final and gave 26 runs.