Author: News Desk

  • ‘Senior players used to hate me for my looks,’ claims Ahmed Shahzad

    ‘Senior players used to hate me for my looks,’ claims Ahmed Shahzad

    National cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has expressed that being good-looking has caused him problems in his career, as, according to his claims, senior and former players envy him.

    Recently, he spoke about this issue on a podcast hosted by actor Ahmed Ali Butt. 

    Shehzad said, “Being good-looking has cost me a lot. In our field, if you look good, know how to dress, and speak well, senior and former players start getting jealous.”

    He added, “I didn’t know this before. I’ve been playing cricket since childhood, and I never thought people would judge you for things like looking good. You end up making enemies in places you can’t even imagine.”

    Shehzad is one of the cricketers who became very popular because of his personality.

  • ‘My son was crying’; Saif finally tells police what happened the night he got stabbed

    ‘My son was crying’; Saif finally tells police what happened the night he got stabbed

    One week after getting stabbed six times by an intruder in his Mumbai home, Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan has recorded his statement to the police, revealing crucial details of what happened on that fateful night. 

    According to Indian media, Saif Ali Khan provided his statement on Thursday, seven days after the January 16 incident. 

    “On the night of January 16, Kareena Kapoor and I were in the bedroom of our apartment on the 11th floor when we heard the screams of our younger son Jahangir’s nanny,” Saif told the police. 

    He added, “On hearing the screams, Kareena and I rushed to our son’s room, where the attacker was present. The nanny was terrified and screaming, while my son was crying.”

    When Saif Ali Khan attempted to apprehend the intruder, he was stabbed multiple times on his back, neck, and hands with a knife. Despite his injuries, the actor managed to push the attacker into the room and lock him inside.

    The attacker, who reportedly entered the 12th-floor apartment to rob the family, demanded Rs 1 crore. He was later identified as Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad.

    Initial reports claimed that Kareena Kapoor was not at home during the incident. However, statements from Saif Ali Khan and the nanny have refuted the claims, confirming that Kareena was present along with both of the couple’s sons and other family members.

    In response to the attack, Mumbai Police has stationed two constables outside Saif Ali Khan’s Bandra residence, working in two shifts to ensure his safety.


    Saif Ali Khan was admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai after the attack, where he underwent successful surgery. He was discharged five days later, on January 21.

  • Motorcycle Girl leads Pakistani films in Jordan Festival

    Motorcycle Girl leads Pakistani films in Jordan Festival

     
     
    The inspiring story of Zenith Irfan has taken centre stage as the 2018 biographical film ‘Motorcycle Girl’ is set to open the Pakistan Film Festival in Jordan. The film is directed and written by Adnan Sarwar and will be showcased at the Rainbow Theatre in Amman from January 24 to 26, marking a proud moment for Pakistan cinema. 
     
     
    The festival, hosted by the Royal Film Commission of Jordan and the Pakistan Embassy in Jordan, will showcase three films exploring the diverse talent and storytelling of Pakistan. 
     
     
    Along with Motorcycle Girl, the festival will also show Nayab, a sports film starring Yumna Zadii and Usama Khan; and Bin Roye, a romantic drama starring Mahira Khan and Humayun Saeed.
     
     
    Motorcycle Girl is based on the courageous journey of Zenith Irfan, the first Pakistani woman to travel solo by motorcycle through the northern regions of Pakistan at just 20 years old. 
     
     
    Bin Roye, a romantic drama based on writer Farhat Istiaq’s novel, will also take the spotlight alongside Nayab, which tells the story of a young woman portrayed by Yumna Zaidi, determined to break stereotypes by playing cricket in Pakistan’s national team.  
     
     
    The film will be screened in Urdu, with English subtitles, and Motorcycle Girl and Nayab will also include Arabic subtitles to reach a broader audience.
  • When was Imran Khan arrested? MCQ in Punjab’s recruitment guide sparks outrage

    When was Imran Khan arrested? MCQ in Punjab’s recruitment guide sparks outrage

    Social media erupted with outrage when a Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) in Punjab’s recruitment guide for constables about former premier Imran Khan’s arrest in the Al Qadir Trust case came to light. 

    In a widely circulated undated video, a person can be seen reading the MCQ about the date on which the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was arrested in 2023, triggering wide-spread violent protests. “When did the National Accountability Bureau arrest Imran Khan inside the Islamabad High Court in the corruption allegations in the Al Qadir Trust?” 

    Four options can be seen in the guide given below the MCQ content: (A) May 9, 2023, (B) May 11, 2023, (C) May 10, 2023, (D) None of these


    PTI social media users were quick to react, with some alleging that the Punjab government was responsible for including the MCQ in the guide, while other users argued that the Punjab government had nothing to do with it.

    A social media user wrote, “The Punjab government has included a question about Imran Khan’s arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case in the recruitment guide for constables. Aspiring candidates are memorising the question. Shame, shame, shame.”

    Another user wrote, “They have been stooped so low in the jealousy of Imran Khan.”

    Journalist Shahid Aslam shared the short video clip on his X handle, stressing that one should not stoop so low in political differences.

    However, another netizen opined that it was not the Punjab government but rather the guide publishers that had put the MCQ about Imran Khan’s arrest date in the recruitment guide.

    On May 9, 2023, NAB apprehended Imran Khan from Islamabad High Court in connection with the corruption cases in the Al Qadir Trust case.

    On January 17, 2025, an accountability court convicted Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, in the said case. Judge Nasir Javed Rana sentenced 14 years and seven years in jail for the former premier and his wife, respectively.

    As per the verdict, the Imran Khan was convicted for “corrupt practices” and “misuse of authority”, while the first lady was convicted for “involvement in illegal activities”. The judge directed the authorities to give the Al-Qadir Trust University in the federal government’s custody.

    The 148-page verdict mentioned that Bushra’s role was limited to aiding and abetting the corruption offences, which is considered a mitigating circumstance in her sentencing.

  • Female teams thrive in Hunza’s safe atmosphere at National Ice Sports Championship

    Female teams thrive in Hunza’s safe atmosphere at National Ice Sports Championship

    Female teams competing at the National Ice Sports Championship are thriving in Hunza’s safe atmosphere as they compete for medals. The National Ice Sports Championship highlighted this empowerment as women showcased their skills in ice hockey, figure skating, and relay races. 

    The Gilgit-Baltistan Winter Sports Association (GBWSA) won the women’s ice hockey championship, while GB Scouts took the men’s title.

    In speed skating, GB Scouts won the men’s competition, and GBWSA claimed gold in the women’s event.

    Sindh earned gold in the women’s figure skating category, while GB Scouts won the men’s figure skating competition.

    In relay races, GB Scouts won the men’s event, and GBWSA secured the women’s title. For curling, KP won the men’s competition, and PAF took the women’s title.

    As the host province, Gilgit-Baltistan was allowed to have two men’s and two women’s teams in the championship.

    The championship ended with a closing ceremony on Wednesday in Naltar, celebrating the players’ achievements and the success of the national event.

    The National Ice Sports Championship, which features exciting competitions like ice hockey, speed skating, curling, figure skating, and relay races, concluded in the picturesque Naltar Valley. 

    A total of 12 teams, including seven men’s and five women’s teams from Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, GB Scouts, and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) showcased their talent in the thrilling event.

  • Rajab Butt reveals reason behind delayed honeymoon plans

    Rajab Butt reveals reason behind delayed honeymoon plans

    Popular vlogger Rajab Butt recently addressed a personal question from a fan, Ayat, in his vlog.

    Ayat asked, “It’s been a few days now since your marriage, and you still haven’t taken Bhabhi (sister-in-law) for a honeymoon anywhere. Why haven’t you taken her out of the country?”

    Rajab Butt, visibly teary-eyed, responded, “The first question has left me feeling emotional, and it’s made the public emotional too. How do I even answer this? I’m opening up about this clearly and honestly in front of you. There are some things I’ve been asked not to share, but I’ll answer as much as I can. Please try to understand.”

    He explained, “I can’t stay out of the city for even four days. Travel? I can’t even think about it. I can’t leave because every fifth day, I have lectures in the classroom. Which classroom? Which lecture? You all know what I mean. Okay?”

    Rajab clarified that by “lectures,” he was referring to the court proceedings he must attend due to the six cases filed against him. Since he couldn’t openly mention this in his vlog, he used the terms “lectures” and “classroom” instead.

    Rajab continued, “Grown-ups are watching this, and I don’t want to send the wrong message to anyone. How can I go? Do you think I’ll take Imaan out of the country for just three days? What kind of honeymoon would that be? Which country could I even take her to?”

    He expressed his gratitude, saying, “I’m very grateful to her for understanding everything, but this isn’t my fault. I can’t do anything about the situation I’m in right now.”

    Rajab elaborated, “I have six lectures going on right now. Now you can guess what I mean by ‘lectures.’ Every three or four days, I have to attend a different ‘lecture.’ I can’t leave the city at the moment.”

    He asked his fans for their prayers, stating, “Please pray that as soon as these matters are resolved, the first thing I’ll do is take Imaan out of the country. Maybe for 10 days, we’ll visit four or five countries. Once again, I’m thankful to her for being so patient.”

    Rajab also mentioned his usual travel routine: “Whenever my friends and I travel, it’s usually for two or three days, or at most four days. It’s not like we go out for eight or ten days. Our plans are always short.”

    He concluded, “But a honeymoon isn’t going to be a three- or four-day trip. She’s been so patient, so I can’t just take her on a short trip.”

  • PTI social media turns on its own leaders as Sher Afzal Marwat decries media coverage

    PTI social media turns on its own leaders as Sher Afzal Marwat decries media coverage

    Firebrand Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat has told journalists that the party’s social media followers have turned on their own leaders.

    Marwat, often known for sparring with other PTI leaders, referred to a recent development in which Imran Khan prohibited Marwat from visiting him in jail on January 23.

    The News reported that Sher Afzal Marwat attempted to visit the party founder at Adiala Jail but was denied entry yesterday. Officials cited explicit instructions from the PTI founder, who clarified that Marwat was not his legal counsel and should not be granted access.

    However, Marwat denied the news, stating: “As a protest, I am boycotting national media for 15 days as a protest against Imran Khan’s news about me. Social media also ran this news. There are hundreds of news channels but nobody bothered to ask my perspective, I was not contacted.”


    “The social media which aligns itself with PTI has now gone after its own leaders. This is not normal that whenever someone in the party gets in a mood, they start disparaging other party leaders,” stated Sher Afzal Marwat.

    Marwat has also been issued show cause notices multiple times by the PTI, with the most recent one issued on January 13.

    The party leader was directed to respond to allegations of issuing statements against party policy and the party’s secretary-general Salman Akram Raja in the most recent show cause notice.

    Marwat also requested the media to contact him regarding any news related to him for authenticating the story. 

    “The fake news that has been running against me since yesterday on electronic media and social media. My community, my tribe and all my supporters are getting angry because of the disrespect being meted out to me,” exclaimed the PTI leader.

     Social media users mostly criticised Marwat for his views, with one user writing: “What do you do yourself? Have you followed some party discipline? On social media, they are just common people, not MNAs or MPAs. No restrictions can be imposed on them like this, but you are a party official and should adhere to discipline.”

    Another user wrote: “We Pashtuns are not angry at all, rather this decision has brought life back into our lives.”

  • No Indian player in ICC ODI Team of the Year 2024

    No Indian player in ICC ODI Team of the Year 2024

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) has revealed the Men’s ODI Team of the Year 2024, featuring a mix of rising stars and experienced players.

    No Indian players were able to secure a place in the team.

    ICC included three Pakistanis, four Sri Lankans, one West Indian, and three Afghan players on the team.

    Saim Ayub from Pakistan made an immediate impact, scoring 515 runs in new nine matches, with three centuries and a high score of 113*. His incredible batting earned him a spot in the team after his debut in November 2024.

    Rahmanullah Gurbaz from Afghanistan also impressed with his attacking style, amassing 531 runs in 11 matches, including three centuries. Azmatullah Omarzai, his teammate, stood out as an all-rounder, scoring 417 runs and taking 17 wickets in 12 matches, playing key roles in several victories.

    Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka had an outstanding year, scoring 694 runs in 12 matches, including a huge 210* against Afghanistan. Alongside him, Kusal Mendis scored the most runs in 2024—742 from 17 matches—with one century and six half-centuries.

    Charith Asalanka also played a key role, contributing 605 runs in 16 matches. Sri Lanka’s bowling attack was led by Wanindu Hasaranga, whose 7/19 against Zimbabwe was one of the best ODI bowling performances ever, finishing the year with 26 wickets.

    In the West Indies, Sherfane Rutherford was a standout, scoring 425 runs in now nematches at an average of 106.2, with a strike rate of 120.1. Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf were also featured on the team for their key bowling performances, with Afridi taking 15 wickets in six matches and Rauf picking up 13 wickets in eight matches.

    Finally, AM Ghazanfar from Afghanistan made a mark with 21 wickets in 11 matches, including two five-wicket hauls, showing his potential as a top-class spinner.

    This year’s team highlights both emerging talents and established players who have excelled in ODIs, setting high standards for international cricket.

  • Soon-to-be Mariyam Nafees is positively glowing in new photos

    Soon-to-be Mariyam Nafees is positively glowing in new photos

    Actress Mariyam Nafees is preparing to welcome her child to her home very soon. The actress is thoroughly enjoying this special time in her life, as is evident from her photos. 

    Despite pregnancy fatigue and other challenges, Maryam can be seen visiting various sightseeing spots, making the most of the precious moments.

    Recently, Maryam shared stunning pictures from her baby moon on social media, positively glowing as she smiles for the camera. 

    In a recent video, Maryam can be seen answering hilarious parenthood questions with her husband. In the comment box of the video, a user commented that the arrival of a daughter is expected, to which Maryam replied, “Insha Allah.”

    The video also reveals that Maryam and her husband have decided on the name of the baby. 

    Responding to questions, Maryam shared, “My husband is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the little one.”

    She laughingly indicated in the video that her husband will take care of the newborn’s diaper changes and even wake up at night with the baby. 

    Maryam Nafees continues to keep her fans updated, sharing her joy and excitement as she embarks on this new journey of motherhood.

  • Novak Djokovic booed at Australian Open after retiring injured in semi-final

    Novak Djokovic booed at Australian Open after retiring injured in semi-final

    Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic faced boos from spectators after leaving the court following an injury during his Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev.

    Djokovic, aiming for his 11th Australian Open title, retired after losing the first set 7-6 (7-5) in a tough 80-minute battle. The 37-year-old had heavy tape on his left leg to shore up the injury he sustained during his quarter-final match against Carlos Alcaraz.

    “I tried everything to manage the muscle tear, but by the end of the first set, the pain became too much for me to handle,” Djokovic said.

    After missing a volley on set point, Djokovic walked over to shake Zverev’s hand, waved to the crowd, and gave a thumbs up, even as some fans booed him.

    “I knew even if I won the first set, it would be very hard to keep up physically for hours against him,” he added. “I just didn’t have the energy today.”

    Zverev, the German second seed, is still chasing his first Grand Slam title after losing two major finals before. He will play either Jannik Sinner or Ben Shelton in Sunday’s final.