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Author: News Desk

  • ‘I welcome PM Khan’s approach on Afghanistan, hope he creates same consensus within Pakistan’: Bilawal Bhutto

    ‘I welcome PM Khan’s approach on Afghanistan, hope he creates same consensus within Pakistan’: Bilawal Bhutto

    Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto, while giving an interview to BBC, said that he welcomed Prime Minister Imran Khan’s approach to Afghanistan. He said that recognising the Afghan Taliban government should come after international consensus.

    “While I welcome the approach, I hope he [PM Khan] creates that consensus within Pakistan. The Pakistani parliament, unfortunately, has not met ever since the recent developments in Pakistan, stakeholders within Pakistan have not been consulted.”

    “We continue to encourage the new regime in Afghanistan to live up to international expectations if they want international recognition,” said Bilawal.

    Speaking on women’s rights and providing them safety in Afghanistan, Bilawal said, “There have been complaints from journalists in Afghanistan that women are protesting for their rights and we are concerned that girls are not being allowed to go to schools.”

    Bilawal said that as soon as the situation in Afghanistan developed, the PPP called for the government of Pakistan to hold a session of the parliament.

    “As with various issues in our country, we have been unable to form a national consensus. We require an inclusive foreign policy that is per the will of the parliament, not of any individual,” he said.

    Chairman PPP further said that we are very concerned about the potential blowback of the developments in Afghanistan as well as the links between Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He said that we have suffered immensely at the hands of violent extremism.

    “I lost my mother, the former prime minister Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, to Islamic extremism within Pakistan. In order to counter the threat of extremism, we need determination from the government of Pakistan to ensure no space for terrorism or extremism.”

    Journalist Yalda Hakim asked a question about the civilian government having little say in matters, to which Bilawal responded by saying that it was true that the democratic space in Pakistan was ‘shrinking’, especially during Imran Khan’s government.

    “In order for that space to be regained, it is the choice of democratic people of the country to play an active role in the political system, through the parliament and media,” said Bilawal.

    Chairman PPP added, “Everyone seems to be blaming one another, but it is important to work together for a positive outcome for the sake of the region. For the women and youth of Afghanistan who have so much potential, it is worrisome that their potential is in danger.”

    “The people of Pakistan and Afghanistan are both exhausted due to the war, we hope for the best but should also prepare for the worst. We are already seeing an increase in the activities of TTP within Pakistan … we have to tackle this issue through the United Nations to ensure that the vulnerable people, ethnic minorities and women of Afghanistan receive aid,” added Bilawal.

  • Police arrest pair trying to enter Auckland with ‘large amount’ of KFC

    Police arrest pair trying to enter Auckland with ‘large amount’ of KFC

    New Zealand police have arrested two men with a car full of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and over $100,000 in cash as they tried to cross the border into locked down Auckland amid the pandemic.

    As per reports, the men were detained after allegedly trying to flee from police near the Auckland border. When their car was searched, police said they found a large quantity of KFC, as well as the cash and a number of empty ounce bags.

    Auckland is in strict lockdown and restaurants are not allowed to open and citizens are not allowed to order takeaway food.

    Read More: KFC suspends its ‘Finger Lickin’ Good’ slogan due to Covid-19

    After the KFC arrest, a police spokesperson said “officers noticed a suspicious-looking vehicle travelling on a gravel road, and upon seeing the police car, the vehicle did a U-turn and sped off trying to evade police.

    “The vehicle was searched and police located the cash, alongside empty ounce bags and a large number of takeaways.”

    Close examination of the police evidence photos revealed at least three buckets of chicken, up to 10 tubs of coleslaw, and an a large quantity of fries.

  • ‘Decision of England board is cowardly, was made out of fear of the players and India’: British author

    ‘Decision of England board is cowardly, was made out of fear of the players and India’: British author

    British author and journalist Peter Oborne termed the decision of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) as cowardly, saying that the decision to cancel the tour of Pakistan was taken out of fear of English players and India.

    The author slammed the English board, saying the grounds on which the visit to Pakistan was canceled were a matter of “grave concern”.

    Peter said: “The England board’s decision to cancel the tour was cowardly and out of fear of the players and India, especially the IPL. The security arrangements in Pakistan were the same as those made for Prince William and Kate Middleton. The British High Commission in Pakistan was satisfied with the security arrangements.”

    While talking to Sky News, the author said: “Not for Pakistan’s cricket, this decision is a blow to the whole world. Pakistan team is one of the best teams in the world, England apparently did not make this decision on security grounds.”

    He also criticised “invisible” Chairman ECB Ian Watmore to come on television and defend this decision.

    “We are kicking one of our closest cricketing allies on teeth because of India,” he stated.

    Oborne said that there was no change in the English board’s security advice, adding that the press release did not mention security but the players’ stress.

    He further said that Pakistan came and played in the UK even in the dangerous time of Covid-19. Pakistan did good to Britain by coming in the pandemic.

    Earlier, veteran cricket journalist George Dobell had taken the ECB to the cleaners for cancelling its tour to Pakistan and had called it out on its “hypocrisy”.

  • Indian extremists trend #BoycottShahRukhKhan for viral picture with PM Imran Khan and film ‘Pathan’

    Indian extremists trend #BoycottShahRukhKhan for viral picture with PM Imran Khan and film ‘Pathan’

    Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has landed himself in a huge controversy as #BoycottShahRukhKhan trended on Twitter over the last weekend.

    Twitter was flooded with netizens claiming that the Don 2 star has ‘seriously hurt some religious and patriotic emotions over and over again’.

    Twitterati shared the actor’s old pictures and clips from the past where Shah Rukh Khan was seen with Prime Minister Imran or speaking of intolerance in India.

    Ahead of SRK’s movie release ‘Pathan‘, netizens started questioning “Why praise Pathan in India?”

    A Twitter user wrote, “He [SRK] is making [a] movie on Pathan…I mean it’s [a] spy action movie so why don’t they give him [a] Hindu name, Why praising Pathan in India?”

    Another Twitter user sharing a video tweeted, “This guy @iamsrk is pro-Pakistani and he has proved it many times.”

    A man shared an interview of the king of Bollywood and wrote, “Time to show Pakistan lover @iamsrk some intolerance by boycotting him and continuing his streak of Consecutive Flops on Box office. Soon he will settle down in Pakistan.”

    https://twitter.com/imaatmanirbhar/status/1438373109896126467
  • Video: Lavish room of Sarah-Falak’s baby revealed, oozes gender hints

    Video: Lavish room of Sarah-Falak’s baby revealed, oozes gender hints

    Singer Falak Shabir has revealed his and Sarah Khan’s baby room. He also showcased the baby’s tiny yet elaborative closet. The Roag singer played a jingle in the video’s backdrop.

    The Zindagi duo’s first baby is expected to be born in a few days.

  • Nobody in a ‘rush’ to recognise Taliban govt says Foreign Minister Qureshi

    Nobody in a ‘rush’ to recognise Taliban govt says Foreign Minister Qureshi

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, during a meeting with the United Nations (UN) press representatives, said, “I don’t think anybody is in a rush to recognise the Taliban at this stage and they [Taliban] should keep an eye on that.”

    The minister who is in New York for five days to attend the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), stated that the world is watching Afghanistan. If they [Taliban] want recognition they have to be more sensitive and more open to international opinion, he added.

    He insisted on stating that Afghanistan should have an inclusive government in order to have stability and peace in the region, and expressed hope that the Afghan Taliban would live up to their promise to allow girls and women in educational institutions.

    Moreover, he urged the United States and other countries that have frozen money from the former Afghan government to release it because “that’s Afghan money that should be spent on Afghan people”.

    “I think freezing the assets is not helping the situation. I would strongly urge the powers that be that they should revisit that policy and think of an unfreeze,” Shah told reporters.

    According to an official statement issued by the Foreign Office, Prime Minister Imran Khan will address the UNGA via a video link on September 24th.

  • Mahira, Nimra and Ghana console Hira Mani on her father’s demise

    Mahira, Nimra and Ghana console Hira Mani on her father’s demise

    Hira Mani lost her father on Monday, the Do Bol star posted a chat with her father on Instagram in which he was urging her to offer namaz.

    “Mere zindagi ka noor mere abbu. Beshak namaz main sukoon hai beshak,” she wrote.

    Several celebrities and her colleagues expressed their grievances on his demise. From Mahira Khan, Ghana Ali, Nida Yasir to Anoushay Abbasi all of them commented under the post to console Hira.

    It should be noted that Hira’s father Syed Farrukh Jamal passed away on Sunday. The death was reported on social media by her husband Salman Sheikh (Mani).

  • Cricket presenter Zainab Abbas reveals her ‘travel partner’, flaunts baby bump

    Cricket presenter Zainab Abbas reveals her ‘travel partner’, flaunts baby bump

    Cricket Presenter Zainab Abbas has announced her pregnancy. The sports journalist took to her Instagram account to make the announcement. Zainab, while sharing the picture, wrote, “My travel partner, this past year.”

    “Feels more like a test match rather than a T20, but managed to weather the storm and carry on working throughout. Hoping this new journey is as rewarding as the previous one. Grateful,” added Zainab,

    Zainab recently became first Pakistani female presenter to make her debut with British sports channel Sky Sports .

  • Aamina Sheikh welcomes baby boy with husband Omar Farooqui

    Aamina Sheikh welcomes baby boy with husband Omar Farooqui

    Former model and actor Aamina Sheikh has welcomed a baby boy with husband Omar Farooqui.

    The Cake actor took to Instagram to share the happy news with her followers. “With prayers and joy, we welcome to the family our baby boy,” the post caption read.

    The baby, named Issa, was born on September 3. Little Issa will be the younger sibling to Meissa, Sheikh’s daughter from her first marriage to actor Mohib Mirza.

    Sheikh posted a series of photos on her Instagram feed to make a collage and announce the exciting news.

    Aamina tied the knot with Farooqui in August 2020.

  • NAB Chairman explainer: why is the govt not talking to Shehbaz?

    NAB Chairman explainer: why is the govt not talking to Shehbaz?

    The four-year tenure of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Javed Iqbal will end early next month.

    The non-extendable tenure of the NAB chairman has led to rumours as Prime Minister Imran Khan refuses to consult the Leader of the Opposition and the President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Shehbaz Sharif.

    PM Khan has refused to hold talks with Shehbaz Sharif as the latter is accused of corruption references filed against him by NAB.

    Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, while speaking on HUM News programme ‘Hum Meher Bokhari Kay Sath’, said: “The government has decided not to consult Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif for the appointment of NAB chairman since he (Sharif) is accused in several corruption references filed by the bureau (in accountability courts).”

    “The attorney general and the law minister have been tasked to check how can one do the consultation from an accused Leader of the Opposition by weighing other legal options as the tenure of the NAB chairman is about to end,” added Fawad.

    Under the NAB Ordinance, the prime minister has to consult the Opposition Leader for the appointment of the NAB chairman, reports Dawn.

    The ordinance says: “There shall be a Chairman NAB to be appointed by the President in consultation with the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly for a non-extendable period of four years on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the President and shall not be removed except on the grounds of removal of Judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan.”

    Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, president of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), told Dawn that it would be ‘illegal’ if the government did not consult the Opposition Leader for the appointment of the NAB chairman.

    To a question about the government’s plea that the Opposition Leader was a NAB suspect, Mr Mehboob said: “There is no issue of being a NAB suspect or accused. Unless the opposition leader is convicted the premier can consult him on the matter in accordance with the law.”

    He further said that not only the NAB ordinance demanded consultation with the Opposition Leader but also there was a decision of the apex court in this regard. “To consult the Opposition Leader for the purpose is not a choice but a legal binding,” he maintained.

    NAB has accused Shehbaz of laundering money and owning more assets than his known sources of income.

    In December last year, the anti-graft watchdog had issued orders to freeze 23 properties owned by former Punjab chief executive and his sons, Hamza and Suleman, over claims they had acquired assets beyond their known sources of income and committed money-laundering.

    According to NAB, an investigation against Shehbaz, Hamza, Suleman, and others had revealed that the PML-N president had acquired properties in the name of his wives Nusrat and Tehmina Durrani.