Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has taken a dig at the ministers of Prime Minister Imran Khan, comparing them to the pet dogs of Imran Khan.
On Sunday, when the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) was busy holding a massive gathering in Lahore, the PM chose to his spend his day with his dogs. The photos of PM and his two dogs also went viral on social media and made it to the press.
These photos were considered by many an attempt to give the impression that the PM was not intimidated by the PDM power show.
A reporter asked Bilawal to comment on the PM spending Sunday with his dogs on the day of the PDM’s much-hyped jalsa. The PPP chairperson responded that the reporter shouldn’t “use such words [dog] about the PM’s ministers”.
On Sunday, the PDM held a massive rally at Minar-e-Pakistan, Lahore. According to the opposition, hundreds of thousands of people attended the gathering, whereas the government’s estimates put the number at 15,000 max.
This was a decisive rally of the first phase of the anti-government agitation, now the opposition has plans to march on Islamabad if Imran Khan fails to resign by Jan 31.
Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Ali Shallwani, in a recent tweet, announced that Pakistan’s first chess corner is being built in Karachi and netizens have the most hilarious responses.
Check out some of the funniest responses below:
Yahan 6 maheenay baad paan ki peekein na hueeeen tou sab ko meri taraf se treat https://t.co/4BdndXuapO
Queen Gambit effect. I am already loving it. We need to have it in other cities too. ❤️ @hamzashafqaat can we have one in Islamabad too? https://t.co/Jd2fSL62dm
Meanwhile, the Commissioner also announced that signboards reading ‘I love Karachi’ in ten different international languages will also be displayed at the chess corner, giving rise to more memes as people compared the boards to tombstones.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has decided to hold the Senate elections in February instead of March, reported Geo News.
The decided to change the date of the polls was taken amid protests by the opposition parties, who have threatened to march on Islamabad in Feb if the prime minister fails to step down.
Unlike previous elections of the upper house, this time the voting will be through ‘show of hands’, the report claimed. However, in order to change the Senate election procedure, the government will need an amendment for which it doesn’t have the required majority or approach the Supreme Court.
Addressing a press conference following a weekly meeting of the federal cabinet, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz said that the government is striving to make the Senate elections “free and fair”.
“Controversies have always surrounded the Senate elections. It is such an old practice that it is assumed that in the elections, [horse trading] will surely take place,” he said.
He said the government has decided to move the apex court regarding the reforms in Senate elections. “The government seeks an election that is conducted through a “show of hands”, Faraz said, adding that the government expects to get guidance from the SC long before the elections.
The man who hosted Dirilis Ertugrul star Engin Altan Düzyatan during his Lahore visit is allegedly facing at least eight cases, including those of fraud and robberies, and has not even paid the promised amount to the actor.
As per reports, Zameer struck a deal of one million dollars with the Turkish actor but paid only half of it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG8OrhkTGRA
According to reports, the eight alleged cases against Zameer are those of fraud, betrayal of trust, car theft and robbery.
The cases have been registered against the managing director of Chaudhry Groups of Companies.
In an interview with Daily Pakistan, Kashif Zameer said that a deal of Rs17 crore with Engin Altan has been finalized and he is the global brand ambassador of his company.
Previously, the Turkish series star was planning to visit Pakistan as the brand ambassador for Blue World City. Later, it was revealed that the project was an illegal housing scheme and the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) had even filed charges against Blue World City.
President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday approved Anti-Rape Ordinance 2020, under which special courts will be set up across the country to expedite trials of rape cases on a priority basis and award harsher sentences, such as chemical castration.
The special courts will dispose of the rape cases within four months, as per the ordinance that also abolishes the ‘two fingers’ virginity test in the rape cases.
The ordinance also suggests setting up of anti-rape crisis cells under the supervision of the prime minister, which will be authorised to conduct medico-legal examination within six hours of the incident.
A record will be prepared at the national level with help of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to register the perpetrators of sexual abuse. The ordinance prohibits revealing of the identity of rape victims, making it a punishable offence.
Police and government officials who show negligence in investigating the cases would be jailed for three years along with the imposition of fines. Additionally, police and government officials who provide false information would also be punished.
On Nov 7, the Cabinet Committee for Disposal of Legislative Cases had approved two ordinances to introduce harsher punishments, including chemical castration, for sex offenders.
According to a statement issued by the law ministry at the time, the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Ordinance, 2020 and the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 would introduce the concept of chemical castration mainly as a “form of rehabilitation”.
Responding to the new ordinances after their approval by the cabinet in November, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman had expressed her displeasure over lowering the statutory age for rape to 13 from 16.
“The age of alleged ‘consent’ has been moved to 13 from 16 in the new ordinance, which is terrible,” commented the lawmaker. “How will an adolescent be responsible for ‘consent’. This makes younger children even more vulnerable.”
Islamabad Zoo’s last remaining animals Bubloo and Suzie are all set to leave for Jordan on December 17. The two Himalayan bears were initially scheduled to leave Pakistan on December 10, but the government had barred the animals from leaving at the last moment despite court orders.
There, Suzie and Bubloo will find a species-appropriate home and the proper care they urgently need. Thanks again to the Pakistani authorities and community for their ongoing support in providing a better future for wildlife.📸: Hristo Vladev | FOUR PAWS
In a written order, the court said: “The natural habitat of Suzie and Bubloo was the high altitude plateau of Deosai National Park in the Himalayas. It was indeed inhumane to have deprived them of living in their natural habitat merely for the entertainment of the human species.”
“They have remained caged in the Marghazar Zoo for more than a decade. A zoo, no matter how well equipped, is no less than a concentration camp for living beings. They were born free and taking them out of their natural habitat and caging them was in violation of the natural rights bestowed upon them by the Creator.”
“They have suffered enough and they lack the ability to let the human species know what they must have gone through. Their abnormal behaviour while imprisoned was sufficient to speak volumes for the unimaginable pain and suffering.”
“The relocation of Kaavan the elephant, and the two Himalayan brown bears, Suzie and Bubloo, to appropriate sanctuaries has set a precedent for others to follow. They will always represent the people of Pakistan and their resolve to treat living species with respect and dignity,” it added.
The transfer of the former dancing bears to Jordan was first announced in early October, with the Jordanian government saying it would facilitate the relocation. Back then Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) Chairman Dr Anisur Rehman had said that the two bears, including their import and export permits, are ready. He had said that he is confident that the bears will receive better psychological and physical treatment in the sanctuary abroad.
“The bear sanctuary is looked after by the (Jordanian) king’s aunt, Princess Alia, and she has given us an import permit within a day,” Dr Rehman had shared.
It was earlier reported that the bears are not being moved to Jordan permanently. They will reportedly be flown back to Islamabad once they have fully recovered and their enclosures at Islamabad Zoo are ready. Animals at the Islamabad Zoo are being relocated after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruled that the zoo is not fit enough for them and lacks the necessary facilities.
Both the Himalayan brown bears suffer from psychological problems due to living in a substandard enclosure, with the female Suzie undergoing major surgery in the summer after a tumour was removed from her chest. Local vets were unable to stitch up seven inches open cut in the centre of her chest and she developed an infection. Four Paws vets, who arrived in August, operated on Suzie again and cleaned the infected wound. This was also the reason why sanctuaries within Pakistan refused to take them in.
“She is now recovering and healthy. Both bears are doing well physically now that we have put them on a better nutritional diet of fruits and vegetables. Suzie had diarrhea all the time because she was mostly fed milk,” a spokesperson for Four Paws, Marion Lombard, told local media outlets.
Friends of Islamabad Zoo (FIZ), who have been campaigning for the animals, in a note posted to social media, also addressed those who said that the bears should have been moved to a local sanctuary instead of an international one.
“Both the bears have no teeth and have been dependent on humans since birth,” wrote the animal rights body. “They will not be able to survive wild in the Deosai Plains and will need constant care.”
“Other than that from what we were told, Deosai now has 76 bears and adding two bears with no experience of living with other bears won’t be able to survive and will need to be kept confined.”
FIZ said that Al Ma’wa for Nature and Wildlife is the ideal place for the two bears because it is located 3500 feet above sea level, double the height of Islamabad and is climatically suited to Himalayan brown bears. They added that their facilities are top-class and the bears will be well taken care of there.
Meanwhile, speaking to a local media publication, veterinarian Dr Amir Khalil, who is overlooking the bears move to Jordan, expressed his relief over the decision and said that Suzie and Bubloo would find a species-appropriate home and proper care in Jordan. Dr Khalil also oversaw the relocation of Kaavan to Cambodia.
“As a vet, I am delighted that in the end, humanity and the bears are the winners,” Khalil said.
If honesty is the sole criterion for the appointment of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) head then the government should request cleric Maulana Tariq Jamil to head the tax watchdog, said top economist Dr Ikramul Haq while criticising the government’s tax policies.
In an Express News show, the economist said the use of technology and enforcement of laws were important to achieve tax targets.
“If tax collection can be increased through honesty alone, we should request Maulana Tariq Jamil to head the FBR,” the economist said, alluding to the remarks made by Imran Khan before the 2018 elections that an “honest leadership” could convince people to pay taxes and become a tax-compliant nation.
He also urged the government to relax the definition of non-resident person to one year to facilitate those who were stuck in the country due to Covid-19.
Haq was of the view that the government should make a general rule to facilitate the people instead of waiting for them to individually plead their cases regarding overstay due to the pandemic as scores of non-resident persons have accidentally become Pakistani residents.
According to the economist, the FBR should send tax returns to the people to measure the response. According to the TV show, at least 72 per cent of people didn’t file tax returns: 4.7million out of the total 6.5m.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Miftah Ismail lashed out at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Faisal Javed after the latter accused him of seeking an NRO [national reconciliation ordinance].
Miftah, who appeared on Geo’s Naya Pakistan show alongside Senator Javed and Hamid Mir to discuss the Lahore jalsa, took exception to the remarks made by the PTI senator.
“Miftah sent a message to late PTI leader Naeemul Haq through his brother Maqsood Iqbal for an NRO,” said Senator Javed in response to Miftah Ismail, who challenged him to reveal the names of people seeking NRO from the government.
At this, Miftah asked why would he seek NRO? Senator Javed responded that he wanted graft cases against quashed that’s why he asked his brother to approach the PTI leader for relief.
“You should feel ashamed for lying,” said a visibly incensed Miftah, going to call the PTI senator ‘shameless’. “Tell me who sought the NRO; if you are a son of your father then tell me who asked for an NRO,” Miftah lashed out, asking for proof.
“Entire Pakistan knows that Miftah Ismail is an honourable man,” said the PML-N leader, adding that he doesn’t live off of the back of others.
At this, Senator Javed said Naeemul Haq has passed away else he would have given proof.
The government ministers, including PM Imran Khan, have accused the opposition of seeking NRO — a charge the opposition denies.
Pakistan has maintained a strong momentum in workers’ remittance for the sixth consecutive month in November with over $2 billion, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has reported.
Workers’ remittance increased 28.4% year-on-year in November 2020, pushing the cumulative flows to $11.8 billion during the July-November FY21 with a rise of 26.9% compared to same period last year.
“This significant growth reflects continued government and SBP efforts to formalise remittances under Pakistan Remittances Initiative (PRI), growing use of digital channels amid limited international travel, orderly exchange market conditions and improved global economic activity,” said the central bank.
The top four countries that contributed to the highest inflows are Saudi Arabia ($3.3 billion), United Arab Emirates ($2.4 billion), United Kingdom ($1.6 billion) and the United States ($1 billion).
The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) jalsa in Lahore has drawn flak from the ruling party’s ministers for organising a ‘flop’ rally amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Senator Shibli Faraz said the atmosphere at the PDM’s Lahore jalsa was “as cold as today’s weather”, adding that the opposition could only gather “10,000-15,000 people”.
“Lahore has outright dismissed them. Lahore has rejected Maryam Nawaz,” he commented, adding that while the atmosphere could be “heated up on the television, it was cold at the venue”.
Punjab CM’s information aide Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the PDM failed to attract Lahoris to its jalsa. She said the government allowed the joint opposition to organise its power show and didn’t resort to tear gas or anything of the sort.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the Pakistani people were “not ready to be fooled by these thieves and looters” again.” The political clowns who looted people have reunited once again,” he added. “How can those who hold rallies amid a strong [second] wave of the coronavirus pandemic be well-wishers of the common people,” he inquired.
PM’s Special Assistant on Political Communications Dr Shahbaz Gill called the jalsa a “flop show”, whereas PTI lawmaker Ali Zaidi announced Umrah tickets for first five opposition lawmakers to resign.
“The Opposition will have to account for its corruption. NROs will not be given to anyone,” Zaidi added.
PTI Senator Faisal Javed Khan commented on how today’s jalsa was “another flop show” and that the “PDM is doing back-to-back flop rallies”.
“The number of people who come to their [PDM’s] meeting in total are equal to the number of people we have on the stage in our [PTI’s rallies],” he added.
