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Author: News Desk

  • Messi gearing up for Barcelona return in 2025?

    Messi gearing up for Barcelona return in 2025?

    Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi might return to his former club, FC Barcelona, on loan in a surprising move. His contract with Inter Miami runs until December 2025, but reports suggest that Messi could sign a new deal with the club.

    Under Major Soccer League (MLS) rules, the football star could be loaned out during the off-season, which runs from November to March.

    If Messi extends his contract with the Florida team until 2026, he could retire at the end of the American season. This would also put him in great shape for the 2026 World Cup, which Canada, the U.S., and Mexico will host. 

    A special clause in Messi’s contract could allow this move, similar to how Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned to Arsenal and AC Milan on loan. 

    Messi left Barcelona in 2021 amid the club’s financial issues. Since then, there have been talks of his possible return. After his departure, he spent two years at Paris Saint Germain before joining Inter Miami.

  • Sher Afzal Marwat to file £5 million defamation case against Adil Raja

    Sher Afzal Marwat to file £5 million defamation case against Adil Raja

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat claimed on Tuesday that he will file a five-million-pound defamation lawsuit against YouTuber Adil Raja.

    Speaking to a private news channel, Marwat revealed that he will soon visit the United Kingdom (UK) to file cases against those involved in editing his fake videos, saying, “In Pakistan, I might meet DG FIA tomorrow […] it will take two to three days to initiate probe (against individuals involved in spreading AI video).”

    YouTuber Adil Raja and Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Sher Afzal Marwat have previously exchanged a war of words over party policy.

    In November 2023, Raja and Haider Raza Mehdi were handed 14 and 12 years of jail sentence, respectively, following their Field General Court Martial for “inciting sedition”, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

    The military media wing, in a statement, said that both retired officers were convicted and sentenced “under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 for the charges of inciting sedition among army personnel from the discharge of duties and violation of the provisions of Official Secrets Act, 1923 related to espionage and acts prejudicial to the safety and interest of the state”.

    To a question on whether Marwat responded to the show cause notice on social media or submitted it to party leaders, he stated, “I will ask Barrister Gohar Sahab (party chairman) about it. If he (Barrister Gohar) leaves it up to me, then I will share my response on social media.”

    Marwat, however, stated that sharing the show-cause answer on social media would create many new controversies. “I will respond as a lawyer,” he added.

    PTI Additional Secretary General Firdous Shamim Naqvi recently issued a show cause notice to Marwat over violating party policy by making “adverse and disparaging remarks” about the party’s Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and the ongoing negotiations with the government.

    “You have, amongst others, made disparaging remarks against the Secretary General of PTI and even made adverse comments on the ongoing negotiations. This is clear violation of the Party Policy and Instructions issued by Founding Chairman, Imran Khan,” the notice reads.

    Earlier this month, while appearing on a private news channel, Marwat challenged Salman Akran Raja’s position in the party when the latter downplayed Marwat’s remarks on the party founder the same day.

    Marwat had said that according to the party constitution, Salman Akram Raja cannot become the party’s secretary general. “Only an elected person who has contested the intra-party election is eligible for the position of party secretary-general,” he explained.

    He went on to say that Gohar Khan and Firdous Shamim Naqvi are public officeholders and that “Salman Akram Raja is a stranger [to the party].”

  • I don’t disown my people who made mistakes on May 9: Ali Amin Gandapur

    I don’t disown my people who made mistakes on May 9: Ali Amin Gandapur

    Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Ali Amin Gandapur, stated in an interview on ARY News that he does not disown Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers who made “mistakes,” referring to their involvement in the May 9 events.

    “There are many of our [PTI] people who were uninformed or made mistakes, but I never disown them. They were my people. They were our party’s workers,” stated the CM KP.

    Programme host Waseem Badami then asked Gandapur whether he believed those individuals should be punished or forgiven, to which Gandapur replied, “It is straightforward. Whatever the law says, the punishment should be according to the crime committed. 

    “I own them because if my worker has crossed a red line for any reason, whether it is ignorance, immaturity or emotions, there is a relative punishment in the law for crossing that line. That lawful punishment should be given to them.”

    The Chief Minister, however, asserted that fairness does not justify unjust punishments, which must not be handed out to innocent people.

    Badami also asked why Gandapur and his party did not publicly apologise for the May 9 accused if he accepted that they were “his people. “

    CM KP replied with a stern expression, recalling that “my leader,” Imran Khan, had stated he was ready to be arrested. However, the manner of his arrest by the Rangers on May 9, 2023, within the court premises, was bound to provoke a reaction.

    He added, “He is an internationally renowned leader, and they broke the windows, grabbed Imran Khan by the collar in front of everyone, and dragged him to the vehicle. This was a deliberate provocation, playing with the emotions of the people. It’s natural that, in such a protest, some individuals might cross a few lines. But does that mean they should be labelled as terrorists?”

    As many as 25 civilians allegedly involved in the May 9 riots were sentenced by the military courts in December 2024. The sentences ranged from two to ten years and were handed out following the civilians’ court martial.

    Previously, the seven-member constitutional bench of the Supreme Court on December 13 had allowed military courts to announce the decision of under custody civilians about the May 9 incidents.

    “On May 9, the nation witnessed politically provoked violence and arson at multiple places, marking a dark chapter in the history of Pakistan,” announced the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) following the military courts’ verdict.

  • Prices revealed for Champions Trophy tickets

    Prices revealed for Champions Trophy tickets

    The ticket prices for Pakistan’s matches in the ICC Champions Trophy have been confirmed. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), with approval from the PCB Chairman, has finalised the pricing.

    According to reports, ticket sales for Pakistan’s matches are expected to begin shortly.

    Ticket prices for the matches in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi will vary by city, venue, and seating category. Prices range from 1,000 PKR for General Enclosure seats to 25,000 PKR for exclusive VIP and hospitality experiences.

    Ticket Categories

    Fans can choose from several ticket categories, including:

    • General Enclosure
    • First Class
    • Premium
    • VIP
    • VVIP

    Semi-Final Ticket Prices

    The semi-final matches, expected to attract larger crowds, will have higher ticket prices. The minimum ticket price for these matches will start at 2,500 PKR.

    Karachi Match Prices

    The opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi on February 19 will have the following ticket prices:

    • General Enclosure: 1,000 PKR
    • First Class: 1,500 PKR
    • Premium: 3,500 PKR
    • VIP: 7,000 PKR
    • VVIP: 12,000 PKR
    • Note: No Gallery tickets available.

    For other matches in Karachi, the ticket prices will follow the same structure as above.

    Lahore Match Prices

    The match between Australia and England in Lahore will have these ticket prices:

    • General Enclosure: 1,000 PKR
    • First Class: 2,000 PKR
    • Premium: 5,000 PKR
    • VIP: 7,500 PKR
    • VVIP: 12,000 PKR
    • Gallery: 18,000 PKR

    For matches involving Afghanistan, only General Enclosure and Gallery tickets will be available:

    • General Enclosure: 1,000 PKR
    • Gallery: 12,500 PKR

    The semi-final in Lahore will have higher prices:

    • General Enclosure: 2,500 PKR
    • VVIP: 25,000 PKR

    Rawalpindi Match Prices

    For the match between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, the ticket prices are:

    • General Enclosure: 2,000 PKR
    • First Class: 4,000 PKR
    • Premium: 7,000 PKR
    • VIP: 12,500 PKR
    • Note: No VVIP or Gallery tickets available.

    For other matches in Rawalpindi:

    • General Enclosure: 1,000 PKR
    • Gallery: 12,500 PKR

     

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  • Israeli soldiers refuse to continue fighting in Gaza

    Israeli soldiers refuse to continue fighting in Gaza

    More than 200 Israeli soldiers have signed a letter to the government wherein they have threatened to stop fighting in war-torn Gaza if a ceasefire deal is not made.

    According to foreign media reports, an event was organised in the Israeli capital, Tel Aviv, where a large number of soldiers gathered to issue a statement saying they did not agree with the way the war in Gaza was being fought.

    Some of them, soldiers said, had been deployed in Gaza for a long time and could not justify what they had to do or the things they saw.

    One of the soldiers, Yuval Green, while talking to the media, said he and his comrades had a lot of freedom in the field. “Soldiers have a lot of freedom… they can do pretty much whatever they want, and they won’t be accountable,” reports quoted him as saying.

    While addressing the gathering, Yuval asserted that he wanted to serve to help break the vicious cycle of violence on all sides.

    Some other soldiers also complained of “too many strikes on too many innocent civilians”.

    An infantry soldier talked about the guilt of having watched the unnecessary burning down of  15 buildings during a two-week stint in late 2023. “I didn’t light the match, but I stood guard outside the house. I participated in war crimes,” he said.

    “I’m so sorry for what we’ve done,” the soldier added but did not allow the media outlet to name him out of fear of retaliation. He also said he wouldn’t fight at all if given the chance to do it all over again.

    While the soldiers hope the movement would put pressure on the government to stop with its atrocities against innocent Palestinians, a trauma therapy specialist said that many of them were suffering from “moral injury”.

    The Israeli offence in Gaza started on October 8, 2023, a day after Hamas’s attack on a music festival in Israel. The genocide has so far consumed more than 46,000 lives in Gaza and at least 875 in occupied Palestinian territory. Meanwhile, at least 1,139 people have been pronounced dead in Israel.

    As the situation now continues for 15 months, negotiations for a ceasefire are underway.

    More than eight hours of talks in Doha have been fruitful, and a deal is imminent, reports said.

    Officials from mediating countries, including Qatar, Egypt and the United States (US), besides Israel and Gaza themselves, were quoted as saying that an agreement for a truce in the besieged strip and the release of hostages was closer than ever.

  • West Indies Test: Babar inches closer to shattering Imran Khan’s record

    West Indies Test: Babar inches closer to shattering Imran Khan’s record

    Pakistan’s star batter, Babar Azam, has a chance to break former captain Imran Khan’s record in the upcoming Test series against the West Indies.

    Azam is currently the fifth-highest run-scorer for Pakistan against the West Indies in international cricket, with 1,676 runs. Khan, in his playing days, scored 1,977 runs against the West Indies — a record that Babar can break with just 301 more runs.

    The first Test match of the home series between Pakistan and the West Indies is set to start on Friday, January 17.

  • ‘Ridiculous’: Imran Khan breaks silence on Al-Qadir verdict delays

    ‘Ridiculous’: Imran Khan breaks silence on Al-Qadir verdict delays

    The official page of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has reacted to the third deferment of the Al Qadir Trust case against him and former First Lady Bushra Bibi.

    In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, the official page of incarcerated Khan stated that the verdict for the Al Qadir Trust case could have been announced without his presence. He noted, “Delaying the decision under the pretence of my absence is utterly ridiculous and makes a mockery of the judicial system.”

    “In two previous cases, judges Abul Hasanat and Muhammad Bashir announced verdicts in my absence,” it read.

    The accountability court deferred the case on Monday, citing Khan and Bibi’s failure to appear before the court on time, marking the third delay in the verdict.

    Judge Nasir Javed Rana said he had been present in the court since 8:30 am; however, “neither the suspects nor their lawyers appeared […] the decision was fully ready and signed.”

    Rana claimed that the PTI founder had been informed twice to appear before the court.

    The post, however, rebutted the claims by saying, “The trial for the Al-Qadir Trust case always begins between 11:30 am and 12:00. Yesterday, the hearing was scheduled for 11:00 am, but even before my lawyers arrived, I was informed around 9:00 am that the judge had already arrived.”

    It has also been asserted that Khan’s movements have been restricted to jail, and it is his legal right to appear in court alongside lawyers.

    Previously, the decision was postponed twice, on December 23, 2024, and January 6, 2025, and the decision will now be announced on January 17 (Friday).

    The case alleges that Khan and Bushra Bibi obtained billions of rupees and land worth hundreds of canals from Bahria Town Ltd. to legalise Rs50 billion that the United Kingdom National Crime Agency (NCA) identified and returned to the country during the PTI government.

    Khan’s official page posted, “The Al-Qadir Trust has no connection to this money; the trust was established a year before the arrival of these funds.”

    The post dismissed the claims of accepting any deal with the government and establishment, saying, “Let me make it clear that I will not make any deals, no matter what tactics are used.”

    Khan described the country’s economy as being in “dire” condition and stated that he believes foreign investment is currently at a historic low.

    “The SIFC and Udaan programs have failed miserably. With no growth in the growth rate, unemployment is rising in the country. Brilliant minds and capital are leaving the country rapidly because no one has faith in the country’s stability,” he added.

  • Gautam Gambhir in trouble over consecutive Indian losses

    Gautam Gambhir in trouble over consecutive Indian losses

    Gautam Gambhir’s position as the Indian cricket team’s head coach is under threat following a series of losses.

    Gambhir took over as head coach in July last year. Since then, the team has lost six out of 10 Test matches and a One Day International (ODI) series in Sri Lanka.

    The situation worsened after India was shockingly whitewashed by New Zealand in a home Test series and lost a Test series 1-3 against Australia. 

    These defeats have cast doubts not only about the future of star players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma but also about Gambhir’s role in the team.

    Indian media reported that Gambhir’s performance as head coach will be reviewed if India fails to perform well in the upcoming Champions Trophy. Although his contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) runs until the 2027 World Cup, the recent poor performance could lead to further scrutiny of his role.

    Sources from BCCI revealed that Gambhir has not delivered significant results so far. 

    If India does not perform well in the Champions Trophy, his position will be closely examined, and a decision regarding his future could be made.

    Gambhir has been working to end the superstar culture within the team, which has caused some tension with senior players. Reports suggest that Gambhir and some senior players are not on the same page regarding team culture.

    A meeting on Tuesday between BCCI officials, captain Rohit Sharma, Gambhir, and chief selector Ajit Agarkar led to new travel rules for players’ families.

    According to reports, wives of players will now be allowed to accompany them on international tours for a limited time. For tournaments or series lasting more than 45 days, wives can stay for only 14 days. For shorter tours, this stay is reduced to just 7 days.

    All Indian players will now also be required to travel together on the team bus. In recent years, some players preferred travelling alone, but this will no longer be allowed.

  • Of TikTok dreams, family drama and secrets: ‘Tan Man Neel O Neel’ redefines Pakistani television

    Of TikTok dreams, family drama and secrets: ‘Tan Man Neel O Neel’ redefines Pakistani television

    What happens when TikTok dreams, family drama, and a secret on the verge of explosion collide? Tan Man Neel O Neel reminds us that life’s most colourful moments often come in shades of blue.

    Tan Man Neel O Neel is one of the best Pakistani dramas airing right now. It follows a young girl using TikTok in the hopes of becoming famous, with support from her family. The parents encourage their children to pursue careers in the arts. The drama also explores a mature married couple dealing with a lack of affection, a father-daughter confrontation highlighting fatherhood responsibilities, and a secret on the brink of revelation.

    When Rabi tells her father, Ehassan, that Kami threatened her, it shakes him out of his silence. Rabi wants her father to meet Sonu, a potential husband, and she expresses her frustration with his lack of communication.

    Fathers in dramas are usually portrayed as either very loving or very strict. However, Ehassan is lost in his own world. Silence alone isn’t good parenting, as Rabi demonstrates. Communication is key.

    It’s refreshing to see mature married relationships depicted in dramas. Parents and grandparents are often shown in relationships lacking affection or passion. Mehnaaz craves affection and feels deprived when she doesn’t receive it.

    Women her age often choose silence over bitterness, but Mehnaaz stays positive. Her bond with Rabi shows that marriage is work, even later in life. The scene in which Ehsaan and Mehnaz reach out to each other is beautifully performed by Naumaan Masood and Nadia Afgan.

    Rabi’s heartfelt song on social media isn’t easy for her. Kami, on the other hand, believes that women should stay away from social media to maintain their reputation. His negative words reflect a mindset that many people share. 

    However, Tan Man Neel O Neel shows that the older generation can hold progressive views, while younger ones can sometimes have regressive opinions. Rabi’s message to read the positive comments as well subtly shifts the narrative toward hope and change.

    Tan Man Neel O Neel challenges societal norms and delivers outstanding performances from the entire team.

  • Salaried class pays Rs368 billion to become third largest taxpayer group

    Salaried class pays Rs368 billion to become third largest taxpayer group

    The salaried class has become the third-largest contributor to taxes in Pakistan, with a significant increase of nearly 40% in tax collection during the fiscal year 2023-24.

    The salaried class paid a total of 368 billion rupees in taxes during this period. Compared to the previous year (2022-23), they paid 103.74 billion rupees, denoting a 39.3% increase in tax contributions from this group.

    Contracts, bank interest, and securities topped the list of tax sources. Taxes collected from contracts reached 496 billion rupees, reflecting an increase of over 106 billion rupees. Meanwhile, taxes from bank interest and securities amounted to 489 billion rupees, marking a 52.8% annual increase.

    Additionally, taxes on dividend income saw a 70% rise, totalling 145 billion rupees. Taxes on electricity bills increased by 30%, with 124 billion rupees collected. Property taxes from purchases and sales were 104 billion and 95 billion rupees, respectively. Taxes on telephone bills grew by 14.3%, amounting to nearly 100 billion rupees.

    The export sector contributed 94 billion rupees in taxes, reflecting a 27.2% increase.

    Other taxed areas included technical fees, cash withdrawals, commissions, and retailer purchases.