Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • Doesn’t matter if Pakistan comes to India or not: Harbhajan Singh

    Doesn’t matter if Pakistan comes to India or not: Harbhajan Singh

    Former Indian Test cricketer Harbhajan Singh has once again politicised sports, calling the current situation in Pakistan unsuitable for the Indian team to participate in the upcoming Champions Trophy.

    The 44-year-old former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh said in an interview with Indian outlet Sports Today, “If you (Pakistani) don’t want to come to India, then don’t, we don’t have a problem. If Pakistan doesn’t come to India, it won’t make much difference. You can ask current cricketers, and they will have the same opinion.”

    The former cricketer had previously referred to the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team and said, “If the situation in Pakistan had been better, things could have been different.”

    He recalled, “When I went to Pakistan, we were hosted wonderfully. When we went to the market, they didn’t charge us for food, and people gave us gifts.” However, he added, “Fans in Pakistan are unable to see Indian superstars like Virat Kohli play in their country, which saddens us, but India cannot send its team to Pakistan at this time.”

    The former Indian cricketer, keeping silent on the Indian refusal, advised Pakistan not to conflate the issue of the Champions Trophy.

    “You cannot stop the tournament by remaining stubborn; there are many countries that want to host the event,” he sarcastically remarked.

    There is an ongoing separatist movement in India’s states of Manipur and Mizoram, while riots have erupted in Sambhal over the temple-mosque dispute, in which more than six Muslims were martyred. The Indian cricketers, however, remain silent about the religious tensions and violence spreading across their country.

    Meanwhile, the dispute between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over the hosting of the upcoming Champions Trophy continues.

    The ICC is considering various options, including shifting some matches to neutral venues, but a final decision is yet to be made.

    According to some reports, PCB has agreed on the hybrid model under some conditions. Under this model, for all the upcoming matches for the next three years, Pakistan and India will play in a neutral venue. Pakistan is hosting the Champion Trophy 2025, and India will be hosting the T20 World Cup 2026. 

    Yesterday, Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the son of Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, has taken charge of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) chairmanship.

    In a statement, the cricket watchdog confirmed that Shah had started working as its chairman.

    “I am proud to take over the post of ICC chairman and grateful for the support and trust of the ICC directors and member boards. This is an exciting moment for the game. We are preparing for the 2028 Olympics… we are trying to make cricket more interesting for the fans and we are at an important juncture where different formats exist together,” Shah said at the occasion.

    “The development of women’s game needs to be accelerated. Cricket has immense potential at the global level and I look forward to working closely with the ICC team as well as member countries to take the game to new heights,” he added.

    Earlier, it was reported that outgoing ICC boss Greg Barclay’s term may be extended by one month amid the deadlock between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the BCCI on the issue of Champions Trophy 2025.

  • Lahore woman beaten to death by in-laws

    Lahore woman beaten to death by in-laws

    A woman died in Lahore after her in-laws allegedly beat her with rods on Monday, December 2. 

    Initial investigations by the police suggest that the incident took place in the Mughalpura area of Lahore, where a woman named Aniqa lost her life after her in-laws turned violent. 

    The police revealed that the victim’s father, Sheikh Shaukat Javed, filed a complaint with the Mughalpura police in which it is stated that his daughter Aniqa was married to a man named Junaid Ghulam Fareed four years ago. 

    The couple had disagreements after the marriage, and Aniqa was subjected to assault by the husband and his family over various domestic issues. 

    Shaukat also told the police that on the day of the incident, Aniqa’s neighbours alerted him that Junaid and his family were again subjecting his daughter to severe torture.  


    As he rushed to his daughter’s house, he allegedly saw Junaid, his parents, and sisters beating his daughter with rods and clubs.


    He further said that upon his arrival, the suspects immediately moved his daughter to an undisclosed location. 


    Later, he was informed that Aniqa died at a hospital due to severe injuries sustained from the beating. 


    Media reports said the husband has been taken into police custody, while his parents and sisters remain at large. 


    The police shifted the victim’s body to the morgue for an autopsy while the investigation is underway. 

    Late in August, a woman from Shadbagh, Lahore, identified as Laiba, was allegedly tortured and thrown off the roof of her house by her husband and in-laws.


    The police investigation suggested that the husband was a drug addict and 24-year-old Laiba was married to him six years ago. 


    A recent case of a pregnant woman from Daska, Sialkot, who suffocated to death and was eventually cut into pieces by in-laws because they suspected her involvement in witchcraft also made headlines all over the country.

    A report by Sahil, a group dedicated to work for the most vulnerable in the society observed that in the first six months of the year, violence against women cases surged to a total number of 1,732, as per the reports, which included different forms of violence such as murder, suicide, abduction, rape, honour killing and torture.

  • Five Rugby players on trial in France over rape charges

    Five Rugby players on trial in France over rape charges

    Five rugby players, formerly with French side Grenoble, are facing trial for raping or failing to protect a student from alleged sexual assault in a hotel in 2017.

    The trial in the southwestern French city of Bordeaux was to begin in June but was delayed after one of the defendants, Irish national Dennis Coulson, was seriously injured in a traffic accident.

    One of his lawyers said that Dennis Coulson was still quite weak but would appear in court. The 30-year-old former prop is accused of gang rape, as are New Zealander Rory Grice, 34, and Frenchman Loic James, 30.

    Farrell and Hayes are accused of failing to prevent the crime. The presiding judge barred media from covering the proceedings at the request of the alleged victim’s lawyers.

    One of the victim’s lawyers said she was terrified of facing her attackers and repeating the whole ordeal.

    In March 2017, the student, identified only as V, left a hotel on the outskirts of Bordeaux in tears where the Grenoble team had spent the night after losing a top-14 match to local team Bordeaux Beagles.

    The then-20-year-old filed a police complaint, saying, “I met the players in a bar with two friends and went with them to a nightclub where there was plenty to drink. I did not remember how I got from the club to the hotel. When I woke up, I was naked on a bed with something inserted into my private parts. I saw two men in the room, naked and one fully clothed.”

    Coulson, James and Grice said, “We had sexual relations with V, but the relationship was consensual, and the student-initiated it.”

    Dreyfus-Schmidt said, “The girl may not have wanted what happened, but her behaviour did not make the boys, or at least my client, feel that she did not consent. When you go to a nightclub and drink too much, that means having relations with boys.”

    V’s lawyer Anne Cadiot-Feidt argued that the players acted “like thugs.” In court, Gros added, “It’s plain to see that she was in no state to give her consent as these men who carried her, who were with her, know perfectly well.”

    Based on statements and a sex tape, investigators found incidents of fellatio and object insertion. A toxicology report showed her blood alcohol level was dangerously high, between 2.2 and 3 grams. CCTV footage showed her struggling to stand and being helped by a player.

    Cadiot-Feidt dismissed the players’ version, saying her client shouldn’t be expected to be perfect all the time. While V chose to drink, it didn’t give anyone the right “to do whatever they wanted with her body.” The lawyer said the players had a duty to protect her, not exploit her state of weakness.

    The three main defendants left Grenoble in 2017 after the accusations to continue their careers elsewhere.

    Rape accusations have recently rocked international rugby. The French trial is happening just before an Argentine judge decides whether to drop charges against two French rugby players accused of raping a woman in Argentina. Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, both 21, were held in Argentina after the alleged assault in July.

    Last month, a Fijian player at the French club Dax received a one-year suspended prison sentence for sexual assault and violence during a night of heavy drinking.

  • Here is the probable solution for Champion Trophy 2025

    Here is the probable solution for Champion Trophy 2025

    Champions Trophy 2025 is about to start in February in Pakistan, but the schedule has yet to be decided.

    The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has expressed strong reservations about travelling to Pakistan for the tournament, citing security concerns and lack of permission from the Indian government.

    The BCCI has requested that the ICC consider a hybrid model, where India’s matches could be played in a neutral venue, such as the UAE or Sri Lanka. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has insisted that the tournament should be held entirely in Pakistan.

    The ICC has been caught in the middle of this dispute, with both Boards presenting their cases. The ICC held a meeting on November 29, 2024, to discuss the matter, but no resolution was reached. The ICC has given the PCB a day to accept the hybrid model or risk losing hosting rights for the tournament.

    The ICC is considering various options, including shifting some matches to neutral venues, but a final decision is yet to be made.

    According to some reports, PCB has agreed on the hybrid model under some conditions. Under this model, for all the upcoming matches for the next three years, Pakistan and India will play in a neutral venue. Pakistan is hosting the Champion Trophy 2025, and India will be hosting the T20 World Cup 2026. 

    Yesterday, Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the son of Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, has taken charge of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) chairmanship.

    In a statement, the cricket watchdog confirmed that Shah had started working as its chairman.

    “I am proud to take over the post of ICC chairman and grateful for the support and trust of the ICC directors and member boards. This is an exciting moment for the game. We are preparing for the 2028 Olympics… we are trying to make cricket more interesting for the fans and we are at an important juncture where different formats exist together,” Shah said at the occasion.

    “The development of women’s game needs to be accelerated. Cricket has immense potential at the global level and I look forward to working closely with the ICC team as well as member countries to take the game to new heights,” he added.

    Earlier, it was reported that outgoing ICC boss Greg Barclay’s term may be extended by one month amid the deadlock between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the BCCI on the issue of Champions Trophy 2025.

    However, reports now claim that the issue is expected to be resolved by tomorrow (Monday).

    If the ICC and BCCI accept Pakistan’s formula, for the next three years, neither the Indian team will come to Pakistan to play, nor will the Pakistani team go to India for any cricketing event.

    The other option being considered is the hybrid model, under which, India’s Champions Trophy matches will be held out of Pakistan. The same has been rejected by PCB.

    Apart from this, India will host the Champion Trophy 2029 and ODI World Cup 2031 with Bangladesh.

  • Jay Shah takes charge as ICC chief

    Jay Shah takes charge as ICC chief

    Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the son of Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, has taken charge of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) chairmanship.

    In a statement, the cricket watchdog confirmed that Shah had started working as its chairman.

    “I am proud to take over the post of ICC chairman and grateful for the support and trust of the ICC directors and member boards. This is an exciting moment for the game. We are preparing for the 2028 Olympics… we are trying to make cricket more interesting for the fans and we are at an important juncture where different formats exist together,” Shah said at the occasion.

    “The development of women’s game needs to be accelerated. Cricket has immense potential at the global level and I look forward to working closely with the ICC team as well as member countries to take the game to new heights,” he added.

    Earlier, it was reported that outgoing ICC boss Greg Barclay’s term may be extended by one month amid the deadlock between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the BCCI on the issue of Champions Trophy 2025.

    However, reports now claim that the issue is expected to be resolved by tomorrow (Monday).

    If the ICC and BCCI accept Pakistan’s formula, for the next three years, neither the Indian team will come to Pakistan to play, nor will the Pakistani team go to India for any cricketing event.

    The other option being considered is the hybrid model, under which, India’s Champions Trophy matches will be held out of Pakistan. The same has been rejected by PCB.

    ICC meeting postponed

    A crucial International Cricket Council (ICC) Board meeting, scheduled for Saturday to decide on the fate of the Champions Trophy hosting, was postponed again.

    Yesterday’s ICC board meeting on the venue of the Champions Trophy failed to reach a decision, leading to the meeting being postponed until today.

    However, ICC sources later confirmed that the Board meeting would not be held. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stood by its stance, while the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) requested more time after Pakistan refused to yield to pressure.

    According to Geo, the ICC board meeting was expected to be held within the next 48 hours. Additionally, the term of ICC Chairman Greg Barclay was extended by one month.

    Greg Barclay’s term as ICC Chairman had been scheduled to end on November 30, with India’s Jay Shah set to take over from December 1.

    A decision was supposed to be made at the ICC board meeting regarding whether the Champions Trophy would be held in Pakistan or not.

    Pakistan had demanded an acceptable formula for the tournament before the board meeting, with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi clearly conveying Pakistan’s stance to the ICC.

    Earlier, Mohsin Naqvi had stated that the Board would bear the consequences but would not compromise its honour. The PCB had nearly completed all arrangements for the Champions Trophy.

    India’s refusal to play in Pakistan had complicated the matter, and the PCB maintained that a match with India at a neutral venue under a hybrid model was unacceptable.

    India had been lobbying to move the entire Champions Trophy out of Pakistan, but the PCB prepared to counter these efforts. The Pakistan Cricket Board did not accept any option that did not align with its conditions.

  • ‘My daughter is on the spectrum’: Mehreen Raheel opens up on motherhood’s challenges

    ‘My daughter is on the spectrum’: Mehreen Raheel opens up on motherhood’s challenges

    In a world where balancing career and family can be tough, actress Mehreen Raheel has opened up about how she manages the challenges of motherhood while staying focused on career goals.

    Appearing as a guest on Ahmad Ali Butt’s podcast, she shared her personal journey and insights into navigating both roles.

    “Motherhood is a very powerful tool. Allah has given it to every woman. Yes, and it happens that some mothers need more time, especially mothers with children who are differently-abled. My daughter is on the spectrum,” she said, adding that she didn’t feel comfortable leaving her with an attendant.

    “So, when I felt that she had become independent… she could do things on her own, it was when I decided to step back in the game and carry on from not where I left but somewhere else.”

    The Zindagi Gulzar Hai actress went to explain how her priorities have shifted.

    “I started working really early in life. I was about 12 and I had seen so much. So there came a point when I decided that I wanted to enjoy my children. Being a mother was the most wonderful thing that could have ever happened to me… so I didn’t want to fast-forward it. I wanted to take it slow… enjoy each moment. And so, I raised my children… took care of them… and I am very, very attached to them,” Mehreen said.

    On the topic of politics, Mehreen emphasized the global impact of current events.

    “We are being affected… the whole world is being affected with the current situation of the global verse. If I say that something isn’t affecting us, I would be foolish. We need help, and we need to respect ourselves. This is my stance,” she said.

    The Dastaan actress also expressed concerns about Pakistan’s education system, highlighting how it had turned into a “money-making industry”.

    “Education in Pakistan has become a money-making factory. Everybody is out there just to make money. It has affected our upcoming generations because everybody is too busy to pay attention to what’s going on,” she said

     

    Mehreen also said, “Another issue is for mothers. They have to constantly be helicopter parents because if they don’t keep track of their kids’ grades and education, nobody else cares. I’ve seen that these group systems create a lot of fear.”

  • Imran Khan declared guilty in Jinnah House attack case; bail rejected

    Imran Khan declared guilty in Jinnah House attack case; bail rejected

    An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore has found former prime minister (PM) Imran Khan guilty in cases connected to violence on May 9, 2023, cancelling his bail in eight cases.

    According to reports, ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gill issued a seven-page written ruling detailing that the prosecution had strong evidence against the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including audio and visual recordings that confirmed his role in inciting violence.

    The court also stated that testimonies from witnesses in the “Zaman Park conspiracy”, where Khan is accused of inciting his supporters, were on record.

    As per the prosecution, Khan was involved in orchestrating a plan to disrupt state machinery in the event of his arrest.

    Incarcerated Khan’s counsel had argued that his client was already in custody at the time of the incident, but the court rejected this claim, saying that the conspiracy had been planned before his detention.

    The ATC also pointed out that the prosecution’s case was not a trivial matter of incitement but involved serious charges, including directing attacks on military installations.

    The court said that the PTI founder’s instructions were followed by his supporters, which led to the attacks on state buildings and law enforcement.

    The court also noted that on May 11, violence against police officers, among other incidents, occurred on the former premier’s directives.

  • Mariyam Nafees is expecting her first baby

    Mariyam Nafees is expecting her first baby

    Actress Mariyam Nafees has confirmed that she and her husband, director Aman Ahmed, are expecting their first child. 

    Mariyam and Aman shared photos and videos on Instagram on November 29, 2024 with the caption, “Oh, baby! We’re having a baby!!!

    Baby AmYam coming soon, InshAllah! ❤ ”

    She also asked her fans for prayers and good wishes, “Please keep us in your prayers ,” Mariyam wrote.

     Many showbiz personalities and fans congratulated the couple in the comments on their posts.

    Mariyam and Aman Ahmed tied the knot in March, 2022, after getting engaged in 2021.

     

    Earlier, in a recent interview with Gup Shap hosted by Vasay Chaudhry, Mariyam Nafees discussed how she navigates relationships in the entertainment industry. 

    Rabbania Shirjeel asked, “Mariyam you are quite vocal about social issues, so how do you navigate within the industry?”

     

     Maryiam replied, “I try not to get into it too much. I say, ‘you do your thing, let me do mine.’ I’ve learned that no one is truly your friend here. The few friends I have in the industry were already my friends from before.”

     Speaking about the trend of social media best friends forever (BFF), Jaan – e Jahan actress emphasized, “They’re mostly just for show. Real friendship is something very deep, and not everyone you work with or post pictures with is truly a friend. Most people are just colleagues or acquaintances. I have a very small circle of genuine friends who have stayed consistent through everything, and they mean a lot to me.”

    When it comes to her professional life, the Yaqeen Ka Safar actress stays focused on her work.

    “When it comes to navigating projects or scripts, I just focus on doing my part for those 12 hours on set. Thankfully, we now have writers, directors, and producers who are willing to listen. If there’s something in a script that doesn’t align with what I want to portray, we discuss it and usually find a middle ground,” Maryiam Nafees explained.

    Earlier, actress Maryiam Nafees was invited to a podcast where the host asked Maryam, “If a girl follows you, what advice would you give these girls for a good marital relationship?”

    Mariyam Nafess responded, “Girls should tell their husbands everything, but it should not be about meeting ex-boyfriends. Every relationship has certain boundaries that both should follow. I also tell my husband everything.”

  • Woman pilot commits suicide after being ‘harassed’ by boyfriend

    Woman pilot commits suicide after being ‘harassed’ by boyfriend

    A 25-year-old woman pilot in India has committed suicide by hanging over alleged harassment by her boyfriend, Indian media reported.

    The young pilot, namely Srishti Tuli, was a resident of Mumbai, reports said.

    Local police were informed about Srishti’s death by a local hospital at around 8 am on November 25. An initial investigation suggested that the pilot committed suicide by hanging herself on November 24 after returning home from duty.

    A postmortem report confirmed that she died of asphyxiation due to hanging, reports added.

    Srishti’s family has blamed her 27-year-old boyfriend for the death. Srishti, who hails from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, had gone to Delhi in 2019 to train for her Commercial Pilot License (CPL). After completing her training, Srishti got a job with Air India in 2023, for which she had to relocate to Mumbai.

    She and the accused first met in Delhi about two years ago.

    Her uncle, Vivek Kumar, told the police that Srishti and her boyfriend had been living in the same house for five to six days before the suicide.

    An initial investigation suggested that the accused had left Mumbai for Delhi at around 1 pm on November 25. However, the uncle claimed that an argument took place between the two at their home and later over the phone. 

    The police also found out that Srishti called the accused and threatened to commit suicide after which he returned to Srishti’s residence in Mumbai.

    However, when the accused returned home in the morning, Srishti did not open the door or answer his calls.

    The accused called a locksmith, with the help of whom the door was opened. A friend of the accused was also accompanying them. When all these people entered the house, they found out that Srishti had hanged herself.

    The accused took Srishti to a nearby hospital for first aid but doctors confirmed her death and informed the police.

    Srishti’s family reached Mumbai later in the day. In their statements to the police, they alleged that Srishti committed suicide due to alleged harassment and abuse by the accused. Her uncle also claimed that her niece was “disturbed by her boyfriend’s behaviour for some time”.

    “He often behaved rudely and hurled insults at her in public,” reports quoted the uncle as saying.

    The deceased’s family also alleges that the accused “encouraged” Srishti to commit suicide.

    According to Indian news outlets, the boyfriend has been arrested on charges of harassment, and further investigation is underway.

  • VIDEO: Status of PTI protester pushed off container, confirmed

    VIDEO: Status of PTI protester pushed off container, confirmed

    Days after a viral video showed a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protester being pushed off a container in Islamabad, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has broken silence on his whereabouts and current condition.


    A viral video from PTI’s violent protests in Islamabad showed a man, namely Tahir Abbas Tarar, “offering prayer” atop three containers set up to block access to D-Chowk. The video also showed the man being pushed off by security personnel, falling down as the crowd looked on.


    With the video drawing strong reactions from party leaders and the general public alike, netizens also expressed serious concerns over the incident and demanded an official update on Tahir’s current condition.


    After widespread criticism aimed at the government and law enforcement, and claims that the victim “fell to his death”, Information Minister Tarar has put an end to speculations.


    “Propaganda claimed that a person was offering prayers when he was killed by pushing him [off the containers]. He is a resident of Mandi Bahauddin, and is alive,” the minister said, adding that Tahir had received injuries on his arms and legs.


    The info minister also said that the man from the video was “not offering prayers” and was actually “recording a TikTok video”. He, however, did not disclose any further details.


    Meanwhile, a man claiming to be Tahir’s brother, Naveed, has said that his family has been “abducted”.


    Confirming that Tahir had survived the fall with a fractured arm and leg, Naveed alleged that his family had now “gone missing”.


    The same was also claimed by the PTI in a post on its official social media handles.


    “His [Tahir’s] family members have now been abducted from their home in the village. There are concerns of coercion to extract statements and suppress the truth with expectations that the public will blindly accept the authorities’ narrative. This incident is just an example of the scale of the ongoing state repression,” PTI said, adding that it was an example of the “brutality” that “unfolded on Nov 26” at D-Chowk.


    Tahir is among the dozens of protesters who sustained injuries in violent clashes between the PTI and law enforcement during the former’s three-day protests in and around the federal capital.
    Confusion prevails on the total number of casualties at the protest, amid conflicting claims from the camps of both the government and PTI.