Author: News Desk

  • Imran Khan biggest military product himself: Talal Chaudhry

    Imran Khan biggest military product himself: Talal Chaudhry

    Senator Talal Badar Chaudhry on Thursday lashed out at former Premier Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporter’s campaign to boycott military-made products.

    “The biggest fauji [army] product was founder PTI [Imran Khan] himself,” said Talal Chaudhry while addressing the 344th session of the Senate.

    The Senator highlighted the aggressive approach of Imran Khan’s party, saying that it had been 28 years since the party formed yet they never “talked about reconciliation.”

    “When Nawaz Sharif [three times Prime Minister] was in jail, they [PTI] used to do politics over Nawaz Sharif’s illness and had also used it for bargaining.” 

    Talal criticised the former ruling party’s sudden wish to begin a dialogue with the PM Shehbaz Sharif-led government, claiming that PTI was demanding the negotiation to “save Faiz Hamid [ex-spymaster]” from an ongoing military trial.

    Former Director General (DG) of the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen (r) Faiz Hamid was formally charged with engaging in political activities and misusing his authority as the chief of the country’s premier intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported Tuesday.

    According to a statement issued by the military’s media wing, the former spymaster was also charged with violating the Official Secrets Act, misusing authority and government resources, and causing wrongful losses to individuals.

    “These actions have compromised state security and interests,” ISPR added.

    As per the statement, the process of Hamid’s field general court-martial (FGCM) was initiated on August 12 under provisions of the Pakistan Army Act.

    On Thursday, recalling the PTI leadership’s reported past claims of not holding dialogue with the mandate-stolen government but with the establishment, Chaudhry criticised PTI’s leadership’s sudden tilt to have a dialogue with the government and asked, “Are we no more thieves? Whenever the PML-N-led central government offered negotiation in the past, it was considered a weakness, he said.

    Meanwhile, in a telephonic conversation with the Geo News programme “Geo Pakistan” Friday, advisor to PM on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah revealed that the former ruling party had not approached the government yet to initiate the process of dialogue despite the rival party’s claims of having formed a negotiations committee.

    Recently, jailed Imran Khan-founded party established a five-member negotiation committee comprising Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur, Chief Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Sahibzada Hamid Raza, lawyer Salman Akram Raja and former Speaker NA Asad Qaiser.

    Rana Sanaullah assured that his party (PML-N) would not turn down any message for negotiation from PTI, noting, “If PTI reaches out, we will not refuse to engage.”

  • Rajab Butt, Emaan tie the knot: Barat day pictures and videos

    Rajab Butt, Emaan tie the knot: Barat day pictures and videos

    Rajab Butt, one of Pakistan’s top trending content creators, recently tied the knot with his beloved Emaan in a grand celebration that spanned several events. The big day took place on Thursday evening with family and friends joining the couple to celebrate the joyous occasion.


    Rajab Butt looked dashing in an off-white sherwani, while Emaan looked stunning in a maroon bridal dress. They both appeared incredibly happy in the many videos and pictures from the main event have surfaced online.


    Here are some highlights from Rajab Butt and Emaan’s wedding:


    Mehndi Ceremony: Rajab’s close friends and family attended the festivities with a vibrant mehndi ceremony. The event was filled with music, dance, and lots of fun.

    Check the pictures below:

    Barat Day: The barat day was a grand affair, with Rajab and Emaan looking radiant as they greeted guests and celebrated their special day.


    Romantic Photo Shoot: Rajab and Emaan also had a romantic photo shoot, capturing beautiful moments together.

    Family Moments: The couple shared many heartfelt moments with their families, making the day even more memorable.

  • Man sentenced to nine years in jail for leaking indecent images of ex-fiancée

    Man sentenced to nine years in jail for leaking indecent images of ex-fiancée

    A Judicial Magistrate in Karachi has sentenced a man to nine years in jail for leaking indecent images of his former fiancé under the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act (PECA) on Thursday.


    The court sentenced Muhammad Shoaib to nine years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 90,000 on him for taking obscene photos of the woman before posting them on Facebook and Instagram through fake accounts.

    If Shoaib fails to pay the fine, he will undergo additional imprisonment.


    The case was heard by Judicial Magistrate Yusra Ashfaq, where the man was charged under Sections 20 (dignity of natural person), 21 (modesty of natural person and minor), 24 (cyberstalking) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016. He was awarded a three-year imprisonment on each count, making his sentence a total of nine years long. 


    The court ruled, “The prosecution has demonstrated that the accused tarnished the dignity of the complainant and her family, violated the complainant’s modesty, displayed obscene videos without her consent, and displayed them publicly.”


    Additionally, the detailed order also mentioned that the convict has previously been convicted on similar charges back in 2017. “Despite having been convicted in a similar case in 2017, he persisted in his harassment, reportedly utilizing digital platforms to share obscene images and videos of the victim publicly through different modus operandi.”


    The court noted that forensic investigation suggests that the convict had leaked the photos and videos with “deliberate intention” to inflict emotional distress over the victim.


    Federal Investigation Agency’s Assistant Director-Legal Sheraz Rajpar informs the court that the victim’s father had lodged a complaint against Mohammad Shoaib.


    The father informed the FIA Cyber Crime Cell that back in September 2019, his daughter’s inappropriate images and videos were being shared through Instagram and Facebook, which caused distress to his daughter and his family. Notably, his daughter had been engaged to Shoaib, but the relationship ended. 


    FIA seized the electronic devices that Shoaib used for making different social media accounts and harassing the victim.


    While the convict’s lawyer contended in front of the court that his client was falsely implicated in this crime, the court rejected the defence plea and noted that the evidence available before the court directly infers his involvement in the harassment. 


    The other FIR against Shoaib was also registered by the same ex-fiancée, and he was convicted in August 2020 for using different social media platforms, including Gmail and Facebook, to commit similar offences.


    However, that conviction was later challenged in the Sindh High Court (SHC), and it is still pending.


    “Therefore, the defence’s argument that imposing a punishment would violate the principle of double jeopardy lacks merit as the prior social mediums were Facebook and Gmail,” the court said in the final verdict.

  • Imran Khan disappointed with party leadership

    Imran Khan disappointed with party leadership

    Incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, speaking to journalists at Adiala Jail, expressed his “disappointment” with the current party leadership over their “lack of action on the D-Chowk incident,” Geo News reported on Thursday.

    Correspondent Shabbir Dar reported that Khan raised serious concerns about the political environment outside the prison.

    “When I read the newspapers, I got the impression that there was a friendly atmosphere outside the prison, and everyone was living happily,” said the former Prime Minister.

    “I expected the D-Chowk issue to be raised vigorously in Parliament and other forums, but to my surprise, that didn’t happen,” he added, expressing shock at the party leadership’s response.

    He voiced his grievance, saying, “When I am cleared of one case, a new one is initiated against me. PTI should have shown a stronger reaction to this.”

    PTI conducted an unsuccessful march towards Islamabad following Khan’s “final call” on November 24, which led to multiple fatalities, including security officials and protesters.

    When the protesters reached their destination at D-Chowk, no party leader was visible at the site. Meanwhile, when the government launched a crackdown, Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur reportedly left Islamabad in the early hours of November 27.

    Imran Khan has since instructed his party leaders and supporters to initiate a “civil disobedience” movement starting December 14.

    In a statement issued from his X account, Khan demanded the release of PTI workers and called for the formation of a five-member negotiation team.

    The team aims to discuss two key demands with the government: the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024, and the release of all under-trial PTI workers.

    Khan outlined “two stages” for the proposed civil disobedience movement. In the first phase, he wrote, “We will appeal to overseas Pakistanis to limit remittances and initiate a boycott campaign. In the second phase, we will escalate further.”

    This, however, is not Khan’s first call for a civil disobedience movement. In 2014, he made a similar announcement during a 126-day sit-in in Islamabad, even famously burning his electricity bill on stage as a symbolic gesture.

    Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, while talking to journalists, explained the potential impact of a boycott by the Pakistani diaspora. She stated that Pakistan’s economic system “is actually sustained by the hard work of overseas Pakistanis.”

  • ‘No pressure on me’: Syra on marrying again

    ‘No pressure on me’: Syra on marrying again


     
     
     What does it take to live life on your own terms as a single mother in the spotlight? Actress, model Syra Yousaf has the answer. 
     


     
    Appearing as a guest on Mashion’s Mashadi podcast, Syra opened up about remarriage, societal pressure and financial independence.   


    When host Tamkenat Mansoor asked if Syra felt pressure from society or family about marrying again, the actress replied: “I think, you know, recently the divorce rates have also gone up, so, I see it this way, even our elders are now beginning to understand that it’s not that easy to end something and get into something new. At least, in my family, everyone is very chilled out. They’re like, ‘Do it at your own pace.’” 

     The Mere Naseeb actress talked about societal expectations, saying, “Society, on the other hand, sometimes says, ‘Don’t be alone,’ and things like that. And, of course, the importance of having a male figure in your life is acknowledged. So, in that sense, yes, sometimes there is pressure. But I think people have become more accepting of single mothers not settling for ‘just anyone.’ There isn’t this constant push that remarriage is a must.”


     
    On the topic of financial independence, Syra emphasized its vital role in decision making, especially for single mothers. 
     
    “For those people, financial independence is extremely important because you can’t make decisions without it. And if you have daughters, like I have a daughter, it becomes even more important to set an example for them. If I can make decisions, it’s because I am financially independent,” she explained.
     


     When asked about the qualities she seeks in a partner, Syra’s answer reflected her strong personal belief. 


     
     She said, “I think, for me, what’s really important in a person is that they have to be God-fearing. If you’re not God-fearing, then it’s important because that eventually reflects in so many aspects of your life actually every aspect of your life, your personality, and so on. So yeah, I think for me, it’s really important that the person I’m considering is God-fearing.”

    Talking about red flags in a relationship, the Sinf-e- Aahan actress said, “For me, I know that if somebody, for example, is rude to people providing them a service, like if you go somewhere and they’re rude to waiters or staff, then I’m like, ‘No, not this person.’ Because that reflects secondhand embarrassment. Yes, if someone is rude to staff or anybody in a position of service, not just staff but even in regular interactions, I feel very anxious about that.”

    Syra Yousaf and Shahroz Sabzwari tied the knot in 2012 and divorced in 2020.

  • Babar-Rizwan opening creating problems for middle order, says former cricketer

    Babar-Rizwan opening creating problems for middle order, says former cricketer

    Questions are often raised about the performance of the Pakistan cricket team’s middle-order batting line. Former national player Sohaib Maqsood has shared his thoughts on the root cause, opining that the main problem is not the batters coming to play in the middle but the method of arranging the players. 

    Sohaib Maqsood has released a short video on X (Previously Twitter) in which he highlights the problems of the Pakistani middle order.

    He said, “We have been hearing for years that Pakistan’s middle order is useless. The same middle order is fine in ODIs and Tests, but the problem arises in T20s where the problem is not the players but the method of playing is wrong. The problem is the roles given to the middle order, due to which their performance is criticized.”

    Explaining his point, Maqsood said, “Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan are very big players, but I had said earlier that the team’s middle order will not develop until both of them open together in T20 because when both of them are in form, they play 14 to 15 overs together. In this case, the player who comes in fourth and fifth position gets to play only 9 to 10 balls on average. In such a situation, when a match is lost, the debris falls on the middle order, and if the opposing team chase the target, the bowlers come under criticism. Whose responsibility is it to win the game now, those who played 15 overs or those who got only 10 balls?”

    Explaining the solution, he said, “I conditionally say that you change the way you play T20 cricket like other countries, which will start developing our middle order, and eventually you will have proper middle-order performers in 12 to 16 months.”

    The Pakistan cricket team has faced several issues with their middle order in recent matches against Australia and South Africa.

    Recently, during the T20I series against South Africa, Pakistan lost the first match by 11 runs due to the middle order’s inability to capitalize on a strong start by Mohammad Rizwan. In an effort to address these issues, Aaqib Javed has been appointed as the interim red-ball coach after Jason Gillespie’s resignation on Thursday. 

    Promising new players like Muhammad Irfan Khan, Usman Khan and Sufiyan Muqeem have also been selected for the squad.

  • Jason Gillespie resigned after pay demands not accepted: Geo

    Jason Gillespie resigned after pay demands not accepted: Geo

    Pakistan’s national cricket team’s red ball head coach Jason Gillespie has resigned from his post on Thursday. 

    Details about why he resigned have also emerged.

    After Gillespie’s resignation,  the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) appointed Aqib Javed as the interim head coach of the red ball (Test Format). Aqib Javed is also the interim head coach of white ball (ODI and T20).

    According to Geo, Gillespie was unhappy with the board for not retaining his part of the selection committee and later decided to resign when his demands were not accepted.

    Jason Gillespie wanted to become the head coach of both formats after his part of the selection committee had not been retained. Along with becoming the coach of both formats, he also demanded more compensation.

    Sources said that PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi refused to accept Jason Gillespie’s demand for an increase in compensation.

    The PCB asked Jason Gillespie to stay in Pakistan longer, which he did not agree to. Gary Kirsten also refused to stay in Pakistan except for the series. Gary and Gillespie also demanded support staff of their choice.

    Gary Kirsten also resigned before the tour of Australia, while Jason Gillespie resigned before the Test series against South Africa.

    Jason Gillespie was supposed to arrive in South Africa today and supervise the pre-Test series camp.

    The Pakistan team is currently playing a three-match T20 series in South Africa, after which a three-match ODI series will be played.

    Earlier, news had emerged that Pakistan cricket team head coach Jason Gillespie has refused to go to South Africa.

    Jason Gillespie was supposed to arrive in South Africa tomorrow to oversee the pre-Test camp.

    However, sources said that head coach Jason Gillespie has refused to go to South Africa. He decided not to go after the PCB did not extend the contract of Red Ball team coach Tim Nelson.

    According to sources, Gillespie told the board that he would not go to South Africa due to personal reasons.

    The Pakistan Cricket Board had decided not to give Jason Gillespie any future responsibilities, and according to sources like Gary Kirsten, Jason Gillespie also decided to resign prematurely.

  • Kabhi haan kabhi na; Attaullah Tarar rules out govt-PTI talks

    Kabhi haan kabhi na; Attaullah Tarar rules out govt-PTI talks

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has ruled out reports that the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government was recently engaged in negotiations with the leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).     

    In a telephonic interview with Geo News’ Shahzeb Khanzada, Attaullah Tarar said, “No meeting took place between PM Shehbaz Sharif and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq at the latter’s residence.”    

    The Minister’s remarks came after reports claimed that meetings took place between the National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and the former ruling party’s Asad Qaiser, Omer Ayub Khan and Chief Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Sahibzada Hamid Raza at the Speaker House in the federal capital yesterday.    

    Sources told Geo News that the meeting took place after telephone contact was established between Asad Qaiser and Ayaz Sadiq.      Following the “icebreaker” meeting, PTI and the government expressed willingness to sit together on the dialogue table with no preconditions ahead of Imran Khan’s civil disobedience movement call, the insiders claimed.    

    “They [PTI leadership] are looking to dodge their political failures. How can anyone trust the PTI or their guarantees,” Tarar asked.    

    Civil disobedience movement call  

    Imprisoned Imran Khan, on Thursday (November 5), warned the government on X (formerly Twitter) that his party would begin a “civil disobedience movement” if two demands were not met.    

    He demanded the formation of a judicial commission for a transparent investigation of May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024, and the release of under-trial political prisoners.     

    “If these two demands are not accepted, a civil disobedience movement will be launched from December 14,” the founder of the former ruling party warned, adding that the government would be responsible for the results of the movement.    

    PTI ended its three-day-long march on Tuesday (November 26) after security forces initiated a crackdown on PTI demonstrators. However, after the protest march concluded, several casualties were reported, including the three Rangers personnel and a police official.    

    According to PTI, 12 party followers were dead. Meanwhile, the PML-N government denied that there were casualties.    

    Additionally, the former premier on Thursday post also announced a “grand gathering” in Peshawar on December 13 to “pay homage to the martyrs” that PTI believe were the victims of the state offensive grand operation during last week’s party protest at Islamabad, adding, “all opposition parties will be invited to attend.”

  • Incident at ‘Pushpa 2’ screening in Gwalior: Canteen owner bites man over food bill dispute

    Incident at ‘Pushpa 2’ screening in Gwalior: Canteen owner bites man over food bill dispute

    A violent altercation during the screening of Pushpa 2 at Kajal Talkies in Phalka Bazar, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, resulted in a man’s ear being bitten off by a canteen staff member.

    The incident occurred on December 10 and has drawn attention because of its similarity to a scene from the film where the protagonist, Pushpa, fights back by biting his enemies.

    Indian media reported that the altercation began during the intermission when the victim, Shabbir Khan, got into an argument with canteen staff members Raju, Chandan, and MA Khan over a food bill. The disagreement escalated into a physical fight, with one of the staff members reportedly biting Shabbir Khan’s ear, causing significant bleeding.

    Shabbir Khan was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he underwent minor surgery and received eight stitches to his ear.

    Following the incident, Shabbir Khan filed a complaint at Inderganj Police Station, and a case was registered under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Sections 294 (obscene acts), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 34 (common intention).

    The crime has been compared to a scene in Pushpa 2, where Allu Arjun’s character, bound by his hands and legs, bites his enemies to escape. Shabbir Khan later spoke about the influence of media, particularly films like Pushpa 2, which he believes encourage ordinary people to imitate gangster-like behaviour.

    The police have assured that an investigation is underway. The incident comes as Pushpa 2 continues to break multiple box office records, grossing over $94.5 million globally during its extended opening weekend.

  • ‘I cried every night, felt forgotten’; Naimal Khawar on postpartum struggle

    ‘I cried every night, felt forgotten’; Naimal Khawar on postpartum struggle

    Actor and artist Naimal Khawar recently opened up about her experience with postpartum blues and embracing motherhood on Zara Noor Abbas’s podcast, No Momsense. She discussed the challenges she faced after becoming a mother, the support systems she relied on, and the lessons she learned.


    She candidly admitted that she wasn’t prepared for the emotional toll of motherhood. She recalled that her pregnancy during the peak of COVID-19 was mostly peaceful, thanks to her supportive husband Hamza Ali Abbasi. However, she said the postpartum phase was unexpected and it took her three years to fully recover.


    “I wasn’t aware that this phase would come. No one told me,” she said. “My elder sister told me she’d be there if I needed anything, but I didn’t realize what she meant. All of a sudden, I felt really angry. There would be nights where I’d be depressed and cry my heart out for no reason. It was the stress, the baggage that comes with having a child.”
    She explained how the societal shift in focus—from the mother during pregnancy to the baby post-birth—left her feeling forgotten and overwhelmed.


    Adding to her ordeal was the physical toll on her body. “The first three months after giving birth are very important. I never had backache before, but this pain would crawl up my spine while I was simply having dinner. It was so bad I’d start crying. For one year, I tried everything—gym, exercise—but nothing worked. Then a doctor recommended Moringa powder, which healed my body. Otherwise, I couldn’t even pick up my baby.”


    For Khawar and Abbasi, parenthood also meant reimagining their relationship dynamics and clearly defining their roles.


    “When Mustafa came into our lives, we sat down and talked. I think everyone should talk, even before marriage. You should discuss expectations about marriage and having a baby. We decided that he’d earn and I’d take care of the baby, but we can also switch if needed. Women need to have their own lives too.”


    Commenting on the unfair societal expectations placed on women, she added, “In our society, the pressure of being a homemaker is always on the woman. If a man even changes a diaper, he’s celebrated. Thankfully, Hamza is very supportive. Whenever I have a shoot, he takes care of Mustafa. Right now, I am here and he is with the baby.”
    The road to recovery was neither easy nor short for Khawar. It took her three years to regain a sense of normalcy. “I couldn’t paint anymore, I would sit with a paintbrush in one hand, and stare at the canvas,” she said.


    “For someone like me, who lived a free life—studying in an art school, being on set, or travelling—it was hard to adjust.”


    What helped Khawar most, she shared, was setting boundaries and focusing on mental health. “Nobody talks about this, but it’s also very important to cut out toxic people from your life, especially before and after pregnancy. Your friends circle naturally changes because you stop relating to people who aren’t going through the same experience.”


    She also credited Abbasi and her sister as pillars of support during the darkest times.

     “Hamza was there through it all. My sister, through video calls, made sure I wasn’t getting any suicidal thoughts. I didn’t take therapy, but my doctor kept a check on me too. She made sure I left the baby with Hamza for an hour every day to take a walk or spend time with myself.”


    Emphasising the significance of self-care, she continued, “It’s so important to keep your mental health in check and be in a happy state of mind. You have to prioritize yourself to be the best version for your child.”


    As she reflected on her journey, she urged couples to have honest conversations and set realistic expectations before entering marriage and parenthood. She highlighted the need for society to change its approach to parenting, where fathers are equally responsible and mothers are given the space to rediscover themselves.