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  • Zakir Naik’s remarks on unmarried women gets slammed by social media

    Zakir Naik’s remarks on unmarried women gets slammed by social media

    Dr Zakir Naik’s tour of Pakistan is not going well. The scholar, whose views are quite divisive, berated and insulted a Pashtun woman during one session, complained about state airline PIA charging him for extra luggage, and now he has made a disparaging comment about unmarried women. A clip that has recently gone viral shows him explaining the options an unmarried woman is left with: either marry a married man or become public property, which he said is equal to becoming a “bazaari aurat.”

    However, in the same clip he does mention that people object to the term “bazaari aurat”, but he says to them that there is no better word for these women despite knowing it is harsh. “If you ask a good (pious) woman that if you’re not able to find a man who doesn’t have a wife and you have two options, marry a man who is already married or become a bazaari aurat, then a good woman will always say that I’ll go for the first one.”

    The insulting and medieval statement quickly gained ire from people across all the social media forums, and trolling from right-wing accounts.

    A Twitter user by the name of Oshaz shared the video and posted, “Zakir Naik keeps on digging himself deeper with every question he answers. First, it was the KPK girl. Now, it’s him telling how an unmarried woman who can’t find a single man has two options. Either marry a married man or become a “bazaari aurat”.”

    She was contested by Umar Farroq by acknowledging that with Pashtun girl statement he was surprised but here he agrees with him as he said that the women would go for the first option.

    Oshaz in the reply pointed out that there can be a third option as well where “A Muslim woman being pious and religious? Those two options are not it.”

    Journalist Maria Memon shared the video on her account “mariamemonedit” with the caption, “It is year 2024 and still a single woman is being conveniently reduced to “bazaari aurat” just because she doesn’t have a husband. It’s 2024 and the women are still being considered respectful only if they have a husband. It’s 2024 and men are still discussing women!”.

    An Indian user by the name of Zaffar lambasted Dr Zakir for his remarks and thanked Indian Prime Minister Narinder Modi for driving him out of India.


    A user by the name of Sehrish Maan posted that he really respects Dr Zakir but being a religious scholar doesn’t give him a license to say anything.

  • Supreme Court seeks record of housing scheme linked to Gen Faiz Hameed

    Supreme Court seeks record of housing scheme linked to Gen Faiz Hameed

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan has instructed Capital Development Authority (CDA) to provide a complete record of the illegal ‘Northridge Housing Society’ in the C-12 sector of Islamabad.

    The society, which infringes on the Margalla Hills National Park, is allegedly linked to former spymaster Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed, Dawn News reported.

    During the hearing of the contempt of court petition for violating the Supreme Court June 11 order, Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) counsel Barrister Umer Ijaz Gillani told the court, “As per my client’s instructions, the owner of the society has a very close relationship with Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed.”

    The apex court’s June 11 verdict ordered the relocation of the restaurants from the National Park in Islamabad, including Monal, within three months.

    Barrister Gillani cleared that he couldn’t prove the ownership as he didn’t have any documents.

    A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa ordered the CDA and Chief Commissioner to prepare the complete ownership record of the housing society.

  • Treading on Thin Ice: Russia Warns USA on Ukraine Tensions

    Treading on Thin Ice: Russia Warns USA on Ukraine Tensions

    Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned the USA that they could suffer fatal consequences. He said the United States will face issues if they give the green light to Ukraine to act on Moscow’s stated aim of destroying Russia with weapons supplied by the United States. Sergei Ryabkov was talking about Joe Biden’s approval of the use of US-supplied weapons to target Russian sites involved in attacks on the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. Russia warns USA on a serious note about Ukraine tensions.

    “I would like to warn American leaders against miscalculations that could have fatal consequences. For unknown reasons, they underestimate the seriousness of the rebuff they may receive,” Ryabkov said, as state news agency RIA quoted.

    He mentions comments from President Vladimir Putin from last week. The President was concerned that the NATO countries were turning the situation into a global war. This has been one of the repeated warnings from the Moscow side about how relations can turn ugly. Let’s discuss Russia warns USA in more detail!

    Ukraine and Russia Conflict

    Ukraine launched an attack on Russia’s western Kursk region on August 6 and gained a piece of land. It is the most critical act of a forcible invasion of Russia since the Second World War. The Russian President said the attack would be met with some response from Russia.

    Russia warns USA

    Do US drones support Ukraine’s strike on Russia?

    Forces and the war-supporting economy of southern and western Russia are under attack from Ukraine’s innovative drones. In a meeting at the White House on September 26, the Ukrainian president put forward his requests for further assistance in carrying out the long-range strikes. Such requests received little help. President Jill Biden declared that the United States will provide the unguided, over 60-mile-range Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) from the air to the ground.

    However, Ukraine wanted more. It has also often requested permission to use the U.S.-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) to implement long-range bombs in the depths of Russia. They can cover a distance of 190 miles with their rate of movement. The bombs are best suited for hitting fast-moving targets. Before Sullivan’s departure, there were signals that the United States could also hand JASSM to Ukraine. While such missiles are less available than ATACMS missiles, they are abundant in the American arsenal and have increased efficiency as the stealth features make it difficult to defend against attacking forces.

    Russia Response

    According to Russia, Ukraine has used British tanks and US rocket systems, specifically in the region of Kursk. Kyiv said it had utilized US-made HIMARS missiles to destroy bridges located in Kursk.

    Russian Foreign Intelligence Chief Sergei Naryshkin stated on Tuesday that Moscow did not accept the West’s justifications for not participating in any of the incursions in Kursk. The United States does not deny that it took part in these events.

    Following the Ukrainian attack, the United States, Great Britain, and New York assisted in Ukraine through satellite imagery and information about the Kursk region. The Times said that the intelligence was intended to assist Ukraine in maintaining effective control over the movement of Russian troop reinforcements.

  • ‘I haven’t quit acting’: Yashma Gill on Zakir Naik misunderstanding

    ‘I haven’t quit acting’: Yashma Gill on Zakir Naik misunderstanding

    Actress Yashma Gill recently addressed a misunderstanding involving Islamic scholar Zakir Naik and his presumption that she had left the entertainment industry.

    A gathering was held at the Governor House in Sindh, Karachi, on October 5, attended by many people, including Yashma Gill. During a Q&A session with Dr. Zakir Naik, who is currently visiting Pakistan, she shared that, “I had once drifted away from my faith but later returned to religion after listening to Dr. Naik’s statements and watching his videos.”

    Yashma Gill asked Dr. Zakir Naik, “When Allah has already written a person’s destiny, what control does a human have? If someone is doing right or wrong, who is responsible for it, since we believe that destiny is preordained, like a thief who steals?”

    In response, Dr Naik said, “Our sister says she was previously an actress and later became religious after listening to my statements. I congratulate you for returning to the right path from the film industry. It is difficult to leave the media’s trap, but Allah is guiding many people.”

    After the video of the event went viral, Yashma posted an Instagram story clarifying the situation. She wrote, “Last night, I had the opportunity to ask Dr. Zakir Naik a question, and I feel fortunate. I probably didn’t express myself properly due to the mic cutting out frequently and the noise from the crowd, which led to the misunderstanding that I had quit the entertainment industry.”

    She explained, “To clarify, I am still a part of the industry and continue to work as an actress. If you watch the video from the beginning, you’ll understand. I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I am trying to maintain a balance between my religion and career. I deeply value Zakir Naik’s thoughts, as he played a role in bringing me closer to my faith.”

    She added, “I apologize if my words hurt anyone’s feelings.”

    Later, Yashma posted another story addressing those asking why she didn’t correct Dr. Zakir Naik immediately. She wrote, “To those questioning why I didn’t correct Dr. Naik at that moment, my answer is that it would have been highly disrespectful to interrupt him.”

  • PSX Soars to New Heights: A Historic Milestone

    PSX Soars to New Heights: A Historic Milestone

    The trading floor of the PSX (Pakistan Stock Exchange) buzzed with joy as the market shattered its all-time high today. KSE-100, the main benchmark of the stock market, closed at 84910 points, reporting a 1.62% rise in the index since trading began in the morning.

    Each index on the PSX remained in the green, with the OGTI (Oil and Gas Tradable) index posting astronomical gains at an appreciation of 4.81% of the entire index in just one day.

    The All Shares Index, which measures the performance of all the companies listed on the stock exchange, also received a boost of 968 points or 1.79%.

    In addition, Pakistan’s KSE-30, which reflects the stock value of the thirty largest companies operating in the country, stood higher by 487 points and ended the market session with an overall appreciation of the index at 1.79%.

    With growing investor confidence and the market sitting at the cusp of passing the 85,000-point mark, it seems inevitable that the wave of bullish investor sentiments will help to break a new record.

    The rise in investor confidence was a welcome surprise following the disturbances caused by PTI protests and growing terror concerns following the attack against Chinese workers. If the sentiments remain bullish, then investors are expected to record massive gains.

  • Pak-Cheen dosti Zindabad? Billions in investment hang in the balance

    Pak-Cheen dosti Zindabad? Billions in investment hang in the balance

    Shockwaves from the blast that claimed the lives of two Chinese engineers, in Karachi last night were felt by political leaders and investors alike in Beijing.

    With just a week remaining for the Chinese Prime minister’s official tour of Pakistan on October 14th, lawmakers in Islamabad scramble to protect economic ties with China to ensure the continuous flow of Yuan into CPEC projects. The initial budget that was allocated towards CPEC-related projects was $62 billion, of which $35 billion in investments remain – A sum Pakistan can’t afford to lose.

    However, the damage has already been done. China strongly condemned the lethal attack on its civilians and urged its citizens to remain cautious, noting that local security measures should be strengthened.

    This has hurt the confidence of already weary Chinese investors looking to invest in Pakistan as they now explore safer destinations for their investments. Somewhere, Chinese workers can safely work.

    China has remained the largest single foreign direct investor in the Pakistani economy, amounting to $568 million in FY 2024 alone. In fact, China is responsible for 30% of all foreign investments in Pakistan. 

    With Pakistan struggling to attract foreign direct investment and with the recent attack, it can be safely said Pakistan is not moving in the right direction.

    It is in the interests of the local business community to see increased collaboration with international investors. Lapses in security need to be remedied to ensure that Pakistan stops biting the metaphorical hand that feeds it.

  • Dr. Zakir Naik criticised for complaining about PIA’s overweight charges

    Dr. Zakir Naik criticised for complaining about PIA’s overweight charges

    Religious scholar Dr Zakir Naik faced backlash over his statement regarding the complaint to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for not loading his overweight stuff “free” on the plane on his way to Pakistan from Malaysia.

    Speaking from the Governor House in Karachi, he was offended by recalling his tour to Pakistan and stated that the PIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) offered his a 50 per cent discount on his overloaded 500 KG baggage and questioned the Pakistan hospitality.

    He further said, “If he were in an Indian airport, they would even let me load 1000 KG of baggage free in the plane,” and confirmed he never paid overweight at an Indian airport.”

    Lambasting Pakistan authority, Zakir Naik stated, “I am a state guest in Pakistan, but my extra luggage was not loaded free.”

    Social media users Criticised Dr Zakir Naik over his complaint to PIA.

    One user wrote, “Enough of hospitality; serve Dr Sahab some food and say goodbye to him.”

    Another user wrote, “Clerics has lost his mind.”

  • Exchange rates: PKR gains 12 paisa against US dollar, Rs1.5 versus British Pound

    Exchange rates: PKR gains 12 paisa against US dollar, Rs1.5 versus British Pound

    The Pakistani rupee (PKR), on first trading day of the week, registered a marginal fall against the US dollar (USD).

    According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the PKR dropped 0.04 per cent or 12 paisa in the inter-bank market and closed Monday’s trading session at Rs277.64 against the USD.

    The currency market now seems a little stablised after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the fresh bailout programme and released the first tranche of around $1.1 billion.

    Globally, the US dollar extended a rally sparked by Friday’s strong US jobs data and an escalation in the Middle East conflict.

    During  the day, the PKR saw an intraday high of Rs277.75 and a low of Rs277.65.

    In the open market, exchange companies were buying the greenback for Rs278.25 and selling it for Rs279.84.

    This financial year, PKR has climbed by 69.89 paisa or 0.25 per cent against the USD. While the current calendar year has seen rupee gain 1.52 per cent or Rs4.22.

    Here is how the PKR performed today against other major foreign currencies:

    CurrencyDifferenceToday’s ratePrevious rate
    British Pound1.5 rupees363.89365.39
    Euro1.47 rupees304.48305.95
    Japanese Yen2.23 paisa1.87271.895
    Swiss Franc1.87 rupees323.69325.55
    UAE Dirham3.18 paisa75.5575.59
    Chinese Yuan1.77 paisa39.5639.54
    Saudi Riyal4.3 paisa73.9273.88

    The British Pound dropped by Rs1.5, closing at Rs363.89 compared to last closing rate of Rs365.39.

    PKR gained Rs1.47 against the Euro and closed at Rs304.48 as compared to the Friday’s rate of Rs305.95.

    The Swiss franc dropped by Rs1.87, closing at Rs323.69.

    Against the Japanese Yen, PKR gained 2.23 paisa, closing at Rs1.8727.

    The Saudi Riyal closed at Rs73.92 with a gain of 4.3 paisa from its previous value of 73.88.

    The Chinese Yuan gained 1.77 paisa, closing at Rs39.56 against Rs39.54 from the previous session.

    The UAE Dirham gained 3.18 paisa from Rs75.59 a day ago to Rs75.55.

  • PTI turns against poet Ahmad Farhad for calling leadership ‘cowards’

    PTI turns against poet Ahmad Farhad for calling leadership ‘cowards’

    Poet Ahmad Farhad faced backlash from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and supporters after he criticised party heads for their absence during the Islamabad protests.

    Farhad has previously been vocal in favour of PTI and has written poetry for the party.

    Vehemently criticisingly PTI leadership on Sunday in an interview with journalist Ikram Raja, Farhad said, “PTI leadership are cowards, compromised. Not a single leader is present at D Chowk.”

    He said that protestors reached Islamabad D Chowk despite facing rubber bullets, baton charges, and tear gas shells, but PTI leadership disappointed them, adding, “lanat hu lanat hu lanat hu PTI leadership par.”

    Farhad’s statements led to PTI workers fiercely opposing him.

    He took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote that PTI leadership remained out of sight during protests but advised their followers to approach D Chowk; he added that PTI was an establishment puppet during their reign and now they are missing democracy and claiming their protests are revolutions.

    During a Twitter space hosted by Salman Khan, Salman Ahmad misbehaved with poet Ahmad Farhad.

    Farhad questioned the Chief Minister (CM) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) sudden disappearance from the Islamabad protests; Salman furiously answered, “Farhad is a puppet of the establishment,” and asked the poet to leave the space.

    Ahmad Farhad replied, “Salman Ahmad, you are an illiterate man.”

    Farhad wrote on X (formerly Twitter) “In Twitter space, it was not Salman Ahmad, the singer of the Junoon band, who misbehaved me but someone else who was out of his mind; please correct.”

  • Is Justin Bieber showing support for Gaza with his new look?

    Is Justin Bieber showing support for Gaza with his new look?

    Last year, global superstar Justin Bieber shared a post showing his support for Israel, but accidentally shared a photo of the destruction in Gaza. When netizens pointed out his mistake, he deleted his post.

    The Beauty and a Beat singer posted the picture on his Instagram story with the caption, ‘Praying for Israel’ just a day after the attack on October 7, 2023.

    However, just three days ago, Justin was spotted wearing a red-and-white keffiyeh, a symbol of Palestinian solidarity, while driving in Los Angeles.

    Since October 07 2023, over 41,000 people in Gaza have lost their lives and more than 96,000 have been injured in attacks.