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Author: News Desk

  • Domestic cricketers face 75% match fee cut in National T20 Cup

    Domestic cricketers face 75% match fee cut in National T20 Cup

    Pakistan’s domestic cricketers will face a significant pay cut in the upcoming National T20 Cup, as their match fees have been slashed by 75 per cent.

    According to reports, players previously earned PKR 40,000 per match but will now receive only PKR 10,000, marking a reduction of PKR 30,000.

    Officials from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have defended the decision, stating that the number of domestic tournaments has increased compared to the previous season. As a result, while the match fee for the National T20 Cup has been reduced, players are earning more overall throughout the season, PCB sources claim.

    The National T20 Cup is set to begin on Friday, featuring 18 teams from 16 regions. However, the drastic reduction in match fees has raised concerns about financial sustainability for domestic cricketers.

  • Jaffar Express: Deadly train hijack comes to end as security forces eliminate all militants

    Jaffar Express: Deadly train hijack comes to end as security forces eliminate all militants

    The military on Wednesday announced that the Jaffar Express rescue operation was successfully completed after nearly 30 hours as all attackers were eliminated and hostages freed.

    Speaking to a private news channel, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) chief Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed that the complex operation had been completed by units from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Special Services Group (SSG), army and Frontier Corps (FC).

    He said that all 33 terrorists had been killed while confirming that no  passenger was harmed during the clearance operation.

    However, he added, before the clearance operation, 21 passengers were martyred by the terrorists.

    At least four FC soldiers were also martyred during an exchange of fire.

    Furthermore, Lt Gen Sharif said that the attackers had placed the hostages in groups with suicide bombers sitting amongst them. The suicide bombers were taken out by snipers, he added.

    The chief of the military’s media-wing confirmed reports that the terrorists were in contact with their handlers in Afghanistan, and said that security personnel were now conducting a sweep of the train as per the SOPs.

    The attack, the most brazen one carried out by BLA till date, began on Tuesday afternoon when terrorists attacked the train near the Mashkaf tunnel, about 150 kilometers out of Quetta, taking hostage all 400 passengers on board. Minister of State for Interior, Talal Chaudhry told a news channel that between 70-80 terrorists were involved in the attack. 

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took to X (formerly Twitter) to state that he had been briefed about the attack. “I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyrs … and [may God] and bless those injured with a swift recovery. Dozens of the terrorists have been sent to hell,” he wrote in the post, stressing that Pakistan’s resolve for peace will not be shaken.

  • Saheefa Jabbar sparks outrage after calling house help’s Eid shopping a ‘Waste’

    Saheefa Jabbar sparks outrage after calling house help’s Eid shopping a ‘Waste’

    Model and actor Saheefa Jabbar Khattak is facing backlash after sharing a controversial post about her domestic help, Musarrat. She criticised Musarrat for spending the Rs50,000 she gave her on Eid clothes and a bicycle for her children, calling it a waste of money.

    Saheefa wrote that she should have personally bought the items instead of giving Musarrat the freedom to spend the money.  “It hurts to see that when you try to help people, they end up wasting money,” she stated. She also shared details about Musarrat’s living conditions, including her bathroom, roof, and financial struggles—without her consent.

    Social media users criticised Saheefa, saying charity should not come with control over how it is spent.  “Why are the poor held to such insane standards?” one user asked. Others pointed out that if the money was truly given as help, then Musarrat had the right to decide how to use it.

    Instead of apologising, Saheefa defended herself in the comments, listing things she and her family had given Musarrat over the years, including toys, chocolates, and clothes. She even claimed, “Everything she owns is given to her by me.”

    She also said,  “I take Musarrat as my sister, and as an older sister, I will always slap the s**t out of my sister for wasting money.” Many people found this statement offensive and controlling.

    After the backlash, Saheefa posted a video laughing with Musarrat and then made another post defending her views. She argued that she wants her house help to save money for the future. She also criticised celebrities and influencers for spending money on luxury while claiming to raise funds for the underprivileged.

    However, many pointed out that she missed the real issue—publicly shaming Musarrat. The incident sparked discussions on class privilege in South Asia, where charity is often given with expectations and control.

  • Man shoots girlfriend dead, commits suicide after families refuse marriage

    Man shoots girlfriend dead, commits suicide after families refuse marriage

    A young man and woman were found dead in a graveyard in Faisalabad’s Samundri tehsil on Tuesday.

    Reports indicate that Tajammal Hussain from Ashraf Abad and Robina Bibi from Islampura were in love and wanted to marry. However, their families did not approve. Heartbroken, they allegedly took their own lives together.

    Police suggest Tajammal shot Robina before turning the gun on himself, as a pistol was found near them. However, some sources have suggested the possibility of murder.

    Their bodies have been taken to Samundri THQ Hospital for an autopsy, and police are investigating the case.

  • Shehbaz takes notice of national footballer selling ‘jalebis’; to host Muhammad Riaz at PM House

    Shehbaz takes notice of national footballer selling ‘jalebis’; to host Muhammad Riaz at PM House

    Pakistani footballer Muhammad Riaz, who had been selling jalebis in Hangu, has been invited to the Prime Minister’s House.

    Deputy Commissioner Hangu, Gohar Zaman Wazir, told Geo News that Muhammad Riaz will meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at 2 PM on Wednesday. “We have made all the necessary arrangements for his visit,” he said.

    Expressing his gratitude, Muhammad Riaz thanked Geo News for highlighting his struggles and bringing them to the attention of higher authorities.

    Riaz, who hails from Hangu, was once a national footballer and represented Pakistan in the 2018 Asian Games. However, after a ban on departmental sports, he lost hope and turned to selling jalebis in Hangu Bazaar to support his family.

    The prime minister took notice of his plight after a video of him selling jalebis on the streets went viral.

  • Faysal Quraishi rushes to Fahad Mustafa’s support, stresses need for ‘mutual respect’

    Faysal Quraishi rushes to Fahad Mustafa’s support, stresses need for ‘mutual respect’

    Renowned actor Faysal Quraishi recently shared his thoughts on the evolving entertainment industry and the importance of respecting seniors.

    He is currently hosting a Ramadan transmission on a private TV channel, where he engages in insightful discussions with various guests.

    In a recent episode featuring senior actress Saba Faisal, he addressed the growing debates on social media and the need for mutual respect among artists.

    “Social media has become very ruthless, and this is not just a problem in Pakistan—it’s happening globally. But the good thing is that today’s young generation is more sensible and understands the importance of respecting elders,” he said.

    He added, “The industry is moving in the right direction. If someone made a statement in the past, it was never meant to target anyone personally. I can confidently say that no one intended to hurt anyone.”

    It is speculated that Faysal Quraishi’s comments were in support of Fahad Mustafa, who recently faced backlash after criticising the content produced by the new generation of vloggers. Fahad stated that their content lacks quality and that some individuals are ‘selling their families’ for views. Following this statement, several well-known vloggers made controversial remarks about Fahad Mustafa, sparking further debate.

    Speaking about Fahad Mustafa, Faysal Quraishi remarked, “Fahad Mustafa is like a younger brother to me, and I know him very well. In the past, we also had differences with our seniors, but I have never shown disrespect or rudeness toward them.”

    Supporting Faysal Quraishi’s views, Saba Faisal also spoke in favour of Fahad Mustafa, stating, “I am not defending him just because he is from the industry, but because he is genuinely a respectful and well-mannered person.”

  • Mother of Jaffar Express hostage lashes out at govt

    Mother of Jaffar Express hostage lashes out at govt

    The mother of Shahzaib, one of the individuals taken hostage by terrorists after capturing the Jaffar Express train in the Bolan district of Balochistan, has lashed out at the government. 

    In a video that has surfaced online today, a woman introduced herself as hostage Shahzaib’s mother. She was heard asking government officials about why train service was not suspended if the security situation in the area was dire.

    “If you had suspended the trains, there wouldn’t have been any tickets available. If we had known the train wouldn’t hit the track, we wouldn’t have come. It was your job,” she said. 

    Criticising the government, she lambasted the Chief Minister (CM) of Balochistan, Sarfraz Bugti, for being absent from the scene. “Where is Sarfraz Bugti? Take me to him,” she urged, adding that Bugti travels with a huge protocol.

    The hostage’s mother further hit out at Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, asking where is the Interior Minister who had said that the terrorists were “aik SHO ki maar hain (They can be handled even by a SHO).” 

    She was referring to the statement Naqvi made on August 27, 2024, during a press conference in Quetta flanked by the Balochistan CM. He said there is no need for an operation in Balochistan. These terrorists “can be handled by a SHO. Taking action against cowardly terrorists doesn’t require any complex strategy,” Naqvi had said.

    An unknown number of terrorists on Tuesday bombed the railway track before storming the train near the Bolan Pass of Balochistan, opening fire on the locomotive and injuring the driver. The train was hijacked when it stopped just before a tunnel in a remote, mountainous region.

    The train, carrying over 400 passengers in nine bogies, was en route from Quetta to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) when it came under attack. Among the hostages were a number of security personnel, a leading English newspaper reported.

    The outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that they had taken a significant number of people hostage.

    The rescue operation for the Jaffar Express is underway, with security forces successfully rescuing around 155 hostages and eliminating at least 27 terrorists who had hijacked the train.

    The hijacking was an unprecedented event, as terrorists had never previously attempted to seize an entire train along with its passengers.

    According to reports, the security forces’ operation forced the militants to split into small groups. Meanwhile, 17 injured passengers were shifted to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment.

  • Pakistani architect Yasmeen Lari declines Israeli prize worth PKR 2.8 crores

    Pakistani architect Yasmeen Lari declines Israeli prize worth PKR 2.8 crores

    Yasmeen Lari, Pakistan’s pioneering architect and humanitarian, has declined the 2025 Wolf Prize in Architecture, citing the ongoing crisis in Gaza as her reason. Along with rejecting the prestigious honour, she has also turned down the accompanying $100,000 prize money (approximately 28 million Pakistani rupees), stating that accepting it would go against her conscience.

    Lari, known for taking architecture and social justice side by side, formally conveyed her decision to the Wolf Foundation. While she expressed gratitude for the recognition, she also emphasised that she could not accept the award amid Israel’s continued military actions in Gaza.

    “The least I could do was to decline the award,” she remarked, stressing that the ongoing “genocide” made accepting any recognition associated with Israel untenable.

    The Wolf Prize, which has been presented annually since 1978, honours excellence across six fields: agriculture, chemistry, mathematics, medicine, physics, and the arts—where architecture, music, painting, and sculpture are rotated. Although the Wolf Foundation operates independently, its base in Israel was a significant factor in Lari’s decision. 

    Her refusal occurs in the context of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

    Since Israel intensified its military campaign, a retaliatory genocide, following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. Israel has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, including countless women and children.

    The ongoing 15-month bombardment has ravaged the Gaza Strip, destroying hospitals, schools, and entire neighbourhoods. Despite a tenuous ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes have persisted, leading to additional casualties in the last 24 hours. Furthermore, Israel has restricted the supply of goods and electricity to Gaza, exerting economic pressure to influence ceasefire talks.

    Yasmeen Lari’s Legacy and Dedication to Humanitarian Architecture

    As Pakistan’s first female architect, Yasmeen Lari has committed her career to humanitarian and sustainable architecture, emphasizing the needs of marginalised communities. She co-founded the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan in 1980 with her husband, Suhail Zaheer Lari, and has since constructed over 50,0neighbourhoods00 eco-friendly, self-constructed shelters and 80,000 fuel-efficient stoves using natural materials such as mud, lime, and bamboo. 

    Her contributions champion low-carbon, climate-resilient architecture, demonstrating that traditional construction methods can be sustainable and socially beneficial. In acknowledgement of her impact, Lari received the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Royal Gold Medal in 2023, which is one of the highest honours in international architecture. 

    By refusing the Wolf Prize, Lari has reaffirmed her commitment to human rights and ethical responsibility, leveraging her platform to protest against the ongoing violence in Gaza. Her choice not only reflects a personal dedication to justice but also underscores the influence of global figures in advocating for change through principled actions.

  • ‘Honey-trapping’: Young women gang busted in Lahore for blackmail, kidnapping, extortion

    ‘Honey-trapping’: Young women gang busted in Lahore for blackmail, kidnapping, extortion

    Lahore City Police have busted a gang operating in the Kot Lakhpat area of the city, including young women and police officials allegedly involved in blackmail, kidnapping, torture, and extortion.

    According to a report published in Dawn, police arrested six suspects, including three police officials and three women, after a businessman became a victim of the gang.

    An officer revealed that the gang was being run by three police personnel who used young women to trap their targets. He stated that a young man named Kamran Abbas, a resident of Model Town, became friends with a girl on TikTok. The girl invited Kamran on a date at a location on Chandrai Road.

    As soon as Kamran reached the designated spot, the girl led him to a quarter where four armed accomplices were already waiting for them. The suspects held the young man at gunpoint and detained him inside the quarter, where they brutally assaulted him using the butts of their guns, punches and kicks. They then demanded a ransom for his release.

    The assailants recorded a video clip of the beating, which later surfaced on social media. In the video, the young man was seen crying and pleading for release, offering the kidnappers anything they wanted. He also begged them not to expose the incident to his family and relatives, fearing that it would ruin his career and reputation. However, the armed gang continued to assault him mercilessly.

    Officials disclosed that the investigation revealed the gang had previously used young models, actresses, and other women to trap multiple businessmen, celebrities, and influential figures, extorting money from them.

    A similar case came to light in July last year when Lahore police arrested nine suspects, including two women, for kidnapping and robbing a well-known playwright through a honey trap scheme.

    In another case reported in August 2024, Gulberg police arrested a doctor and two women for allegedly blackmailing, torturing, and recording a businessman’s intimate video in a hotel room where he had been called to finalize a business deal with a private company owner.

    Authorities further stated that a Deputy Attorney General of Punjab was also allegedly involved in the case, and police registered a case against the suspects.

    Officials also revealed that a gang, including a young woman, had previously entrapped a senior lawyer in Lahore and blackmailed him for money.

    Regarding the latest incident, Lahore Operations DIG Faisal Kamran expanded the investigation upon learning that three police officials were among the key suspects. These officers had previously used the same women to trap multiple victims in honey trap schemes.

    DIG Kamran has suspended the involved police officials and initiated their dismissal process, ordering strict action against them for tarnishing the reputation of the department.

  • Jio, Airtel sign deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring Starlink to India

    Jio, Airtel sign deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring Starlink to India

    India’s leading telecom giants Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio have signed agreements with SpaceX to bring Starlink satellite internet services to the country. Both companies, headquartered in India, are awaiting regulatory approvals for SpaceX to operate Starlink commercially. 

    The partnerships mark a significant step towards expanding high-speed broadband access in the country, particularly in remote and underserved regions.

    Airtel has announced that it will explore various ways to collaborate with SpaceX, including selling Starlink hardware through its retail stores and offering services to businesses. The company also plans to leverage Starlink’s capabilities to connect rural schools, healthcare centres, and other remote locations lacking traditional internet infrastructure. Additionally, Airtel aims to integrate Starlink into its existing network and explore opportunities for SpaceX to utilize Airtel’s telecom infrastructure in India.

    “Airtel’s collaboration with SpaceX represents a major milestone in our commitment to providing next-generation satellite connectivity in India,” said Gopal Vittal, Bharti Airtel’s Managing Director and Vice Chairman.

    Reliance Jio, on the other hand, has also partnered with SpaceX to offer Starlink services through its retail stores and online platforms once regulatory approvals are granted. Jio plans to integrate Starlink into its broadband portfolio, which already includes JioFiber and JioAirFiber, to enhance its internet services in areas where traditional broadband is difficult to deploy. The company will be responsible for the installation, activation, and customer support for Starlink users in India.

    “High-speed broadband must reach every Indian, and integrating Starlink into Jio’s broadband ecosystem will help us achieve that goal,” stated Mathew Oommen, Group CEO of Reliance Jio.

    SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell praised both Airtel and Jio for their commitment to expanding digital connectivity in India. “We appreciate Airtel and Jio’s focus on digital expansion and look forward to bringing Starlink’s high-speed internet to India once we receive the necessary approvals,” she said.

    The agreements signal increasing competition in India’s satellite broadband sector. Both Airtel and Jio aim to extend high-speed internet access to previously unreachable areas. Airtel, which already collaborates with Eutelsat OneWeb for satellite internet services, will strengthen its connectivity offerings by adding Starlink to its portfolio. 

    Meanwhile, Jio, which handles the highest mobile data traffic in India, expects to enhance broadband reliability and accessibility through its partnership with SpaceX.