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  • New Cultus prices will blow your mind

    New Cultus prices will blow your mind

    Suzuki Pakistan has announced the latest prices for its popular hatchback, Cultus.

    As per the details, the top-of-the-line Suzuki Cultus VXL Auto Gear Shift (AGS) variant now carries a price tag of Rs4,591,460. The variant features automatic gear shift system, two airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), alloy wheels, fog lights, power windows, power steering and power side mirrors.

    Suzuki Cultus VXR (manual) will now cost Rs4,089,490, while the Suzuki Cultus VXL (manual) will retail at Rs4,359,160.

    All three variants run on a 998cc petrol engine, which offers better fuel economy and low maintenance costs.

    It is important to note that withholding tax will be charged separately, and final prices may vary for filers and non-filers.

    In a release, the company said that all variants of the Suzuki Cultus are currently available in the market with immediate delivery.

    Pak Suzuki Motor Company Limited introduced the current generation Suzuki Cultus at a launch event in Lahore on April 22, 2017. The new Cultus VXR initially carried a price of Rs1,250,000 while the Cultus VXL was priced at Rs1,391,000.

  • Court rejects Ducky Bhai’s petition seeking return of YouTube channel, phones

    Court rejects Ducky Bhai’s petition seeking return of YouTube channel, phones

    A judicial magistrate has rejected YouTuber Saadur Rehman aka Ducky Bhai’s request for the interim custody of his YouTube channel and mobile phones.

    As per the details, Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo on Tuesday announced the decision while hearing the content creator’s application.

    The court, however, ordered the release of 19 personal items recovered during search. These items included bank cards, identity cards, a laptop bag, a GoPro camera and other personal belongings.

    Earlier, Ducky Bhai had approached the court seeking the return of his seized belongings.

    The items were seized by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) as it arrested Ducky Bhai in August in a case related to the promotion of gambling applications on social media.

    After spending over three months in custody, Ducky Bhai had secured bail from the Lahore High Court on November 24 against surety bonds worth Rs1 million.

  • NA panel rejects bill seeking ban on dowry

    NA panel rejects bill seeking ban on dowry

    A National Assembly standing committee on Tuesday turned down a bill seeking to ban the practice of dowry, with members declaring the proposed legislation “impractical.”

    Sharmila Faruqui, a member of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), introduced the bill during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior, which was chaired by MNA Raja Khurram Nawaz.

    The proposed law aimed to criminalise dowry and prescribe punishments for violations, while also allowing parents to give gifts voluntarily. However, the committee unanimously rejected the bill, terming it impractical. 

    Confirming the development in a post on X (formerly twitter), Faruqui said the discussion during the meeting reflected a mindset that encouraged dowry rather than curbing it.

    “Dowry is not culture, it is coercion. The state must side with women instead of normalising a practice that turns them into commodities,” she wrote, adding that choosing dowry meant choosing patriarchy over dignity.


    Despite the rejection, the PPP lawmaker said she would continue her efforts to push for a ban on dowry, stating that her struggle was “far from over.”

    Separately, in July, the Supreme Court ruled that denying dowry or maintenance to a woman on the basis of infertility was unlawful. In its judgment, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi strongly criticised the practice, describing it as a means of weaponising infertility  or even the suspicion of it against women.

    The verdict, issued by a two-member bench headed by the chief justice, noted that such practices often turn courts into spaces where women are subjected to humiliation under the pretext of legal proceedings.

    Meanwhile, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) last year proposed amendments to the Dowry and Bridal Gift Act, recommending tougher penalties for violations, including increasing imprisonment from six months to up to one year.

    During its 239th meeting in October, the CII also suggested revising the monetary limits, proposing an increase in the maximum dowry cap from Rs5,000 to two tolas of gold, along with a corresponding rise in allowable wedding expenses.

  • Father shoots daughter, alleged partner to death in Rawalpindi

    Father shoots daughter, alleged partner to death in Rawalpindi

    A father allegedly killed his daughter and a man thought to be her partner in the name of so-called honour in the Gujjar Khan area of Rawalpindi, police have said.

    According to reports, Nadeem, a resident of the Takia Baba Rahim Shah area, lived with his family, while his daughter Shanail worked at a medical complex nearby. 

    Police said Shanail was reportedly involved in discussions about a potential relationship.

    On Wednesday morning, Nadeem allegedly saw Shanail with a young man named Rehmanullah at home. In a fit of rage, he opened fire, killing both Shanail and Rehmanullah at the scene.

    The suspect’s wife was also caught in the gunfire and sustained serious injuries from three bullet wounds. She has been shifted to a hospital for treatment.

    Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Gujjar Khan Daniyal Kazmi and Station House Officer (SHO) Gujjar Khan Tayyab Zaheer reached the scene after receiving information of the firing. 

    Police collected evidence from the site and shifted the bodies to a hospital. An investigation into the incident has been launched.

    In a separate case earlier this year, a father shot and killed his teenage daughter and nephew in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, police said. 

    The incident took place in the Lashar Abad area along Qambrani Road. Abdul Majeed, Station House Officer of Kechi Baig Police Station, identified the victims as Nazneen, 18, and Ghulam Qadir, 19.

  • CCTV footage from University of Lahore confirms student jumped off by himself

    CCTV footage from University of Lahore confirms student jumped off by himself

    The mystery surrounding the death of Muhammad Awais, a D-Pharmacy student at the University of Lahore, took a turn when CCTV footage of the student jumping from the third floor of the university’s Pharmacy Building surfaced online, seemingly indicating that no one was involved in the jump. 

    The incident occurred on December 19 at around 9:35am. Awais was initially taken to the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital and later shifted to Lahore General Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries at approximately 7pm.

    Following the incident, initial legal procedures, including Section 174 inquest proceedings, were reportedly proposed. Awais’s father, Ali Razzaq, however, did not pursue proceedings at the time.

    After the student’s death, students staged a protest on campus on December 20 at around 1pm, claiming that Awais had been under pressure due to short attendance and warnings from teachers that he would be barred from sitting in examinations.

    Speaking to the media, Awais’s brother Sohaib Sultan has said the family wants a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. He emphasized that financial difficulties were not a factor and urged that anyone found responsible be held accountable.

    The university administration said it has formed a seven-member committee to investigate the incident. The committee was constituted after consultations with the university’s legal adviser, and officials said the inquiry is ongoing.

  • Usman Khawaja’s daughters, wife attacked online after Bondi Beach attack

    Usman Khawaja’s daughters, wife attacked online after Bondi Beach attack

    Australian Test cricketer Usman Khawaja’s family has become targets of an online abuse campaign following the tragic Bondi Beach attack, his wife Rachel Khawaja has revealed.

    As per the details, the attack has heightened anti-Islamic sentiments in Australia after it was revealed that the shooters, father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram, were linked to the Islamic State.

    Amid the Islamophobia spike, Rachel Khawaja posted on her Instagram some of the comments directed at her daughters Aisha and Ayla, and herself, on social media.

    “I’ve collected a small sample size of some of the comments we have received over the past week,” she posted. 

    “I would love to say this is new, but sadly we have always received these kind of messages. But of course, they have gotten worse.”

    The shocking comments called their daughters “future school blasters” and said they had “cancer terr***** blood”. Numerous comments told the family to “go home” to Pakistan.

    “It is important now more than ever that we continue to come together and stay united,” Rachel posted. “Whether it’s standing up against antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism, we shouldn’t stand for any of it.”

    Khawaja, who was born in Islamabad, and moved to Australia with his family at the age of five, has spoken openly about his Islamic faith throughout his international career. 

    He has publicly addressed Islamophobia, including speaking about abuse directed at Muslim athletes and the need for greater understanding and inclusion in sports.

    He also issues several statements on Instagram in response to the Bondi tragedy.

    “Truly devastating news from Bondi today,” he posted with a broken-heart emoji. “Lives lost senselessly, families shattered, the Bondi community traumatised. There are no words – only heartbreak. My thoughts and prayers to all affected.”

    On Monday morning, Khawaja shared another message. “Up before the break of dawn and praying for the Jewish and Bondi community as a whole,” he posted.

    “No room whatsoever for these hate crimes.”

    During his career, Khawaja has also made several statements focused on human rights, specially against Israeli genocide in Gaza, with messages such as “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” written on his shoes during the 2023 Test series against Pakistan.

    On December 14, 2025, two gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at Archer Park near Bondi Beach. 

    The attack killed 15 people and wounded more than 40 others.

    The suspects were identified as 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram.

    During the attack, Ahmed al-Ahmed, a local fruit shop owner, rushed Sajid Akram and wrestled his shotgun away. Sajid Akram was shot and killed by police at the scene, while his son Naveed Akram was wounded by police and taken into custody. 

  • ‘I do not regret it’: Suspended Indian doctor responds to assault video

    ‘I do not regret it’: Suspended Indian doctor responds to assault video

    A doctor accused of assaulting a patient at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) in Shimla, India, has stated that he feels no remorse, asserting that he acted in self-defence after being verbally attacked and assaulted by the patient.

    Dr Raghav Narula, a senior resident at IGMC who was suspended following the circulation of a video of the encounter, alleged that the patient Arjun Panwar verbally insulted him and his family without justification and attacked him with an iron rod, along with kicks and punches.

    The incident took place on Monday within a hospital ward and was recorded in a brief video segment. The clip displays the doctor taking what seems to be an iron rod from the patient’s grasp and hitting him. Mr Panwar is then observed kicking the doctor before being repeatedly struck while lying on the bed.

    Mr Panwar had visited the hospital for medical tests and lay down on a bed in another ward after experiencing breathing difficulties.

    “I had recently undergone a bronchoscopy and was having trouble breathing. When I requested oxygen, the doctor questioned my status of admission,” Panwar stated.

    He claimed that the doctor began acting rudely without cause, leading to a dispute. “I asked him to communicate with me respectfully, but he became aggressive. He responded by saying, ‘tu is just tu’. When I inquired if he addressed his family in such a way, he accused me of taking it ‘personally’ and then started hitting me,” he said.

    Dr Narula provided an alternate version of the incident, indicating that the argument stemmed from his use of the term “tu,” which is an informal form of address. He explained that he was reviewing the patient’s previous x-rays and scans as part of the standard process when he commented, “Tu dekha dekha lag raha hai (I think I have seen you somewhere).”

    “He then became angry over why I referred to him as ‘tu’. When I explained that my words or tone were not inappropriate, the patient escalated, as did his companion. They then used abusive language,” Dr Narula recounted.

    He also stated that the viral video does not capture what transpired prior to the physical altercation. “You are witnessing 10–15 seconds of the conflict, but the disagreement began five to 10 minutes earlier and continued for nearly 10 hours after that,” he remarked.


    “I do not feel sorry for what I did. A First Information Report (FIR) is based on the video. Nobody ever asked me about my experience. The situation forced me to act in self-defence,” Dr Narula emphasised. 

    The Resident Doctors’ Association of IGMC supported the physician, claiming that the patient misbehaved and used abusive language, and called for an impartial investigation.

    The Superintendent of Police for Shimla district, Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi, stated that all elements of the case are being reviewed, including medical records and electronic evidence, such as the video recording. “Appropriate action will be taken according to the law based on the results of the inquiry,” he avowed.

  • England cricketers face probe after six-day drinking binge following Ashes defeat

    England cricketers face probe after six-day drinking binge following Ashes defeat

    The England Cricket Board (ECB) has promised to investigate reports of excessive drinking by England players during their recent break in Australia.

    ECB Managing Director Rob Key confirmed that the board will look into the matter after English cricketers spent six days at the coastal resort of Noosa, Queensland, following their defeats in the first two Ashes Tests and before the Adelaide Test.

    Reports emerged in British and Australian media that England players indulged in heavy drinking throughout their stay at the popular beach destination, raising questions about the team’s professionalism during a crucial tour.

    “Stories of players drinking six days solid and that’s unacceptable,” Key told a foreign media outlet. “We’ll be looking into seeing what the facts are as opposed to the things that have been embellished or elaborated on.”

    Key explained that the situation requires careful examination. “When you see a picture of five or six guys sitting down for lunch, a couple of them having drinks, you need to see what’s going on with that,” he said.

    “Headlines can be misleading at times, saying it’s a stag do and stuff like that,” Key added. “If it’s true that it became a stag do and people are out drinking all the time excessively, that’s not acceptable. I don’t agree with a drinking culture. I don’t like a drinking culture.”

    Prior to the Ashes series, Key had urged England’s squad to not “get caught doing stupid things.”

    When asked about criticism directed at Head Coach Brendon McCullum following the defeats, Key defended his coach. “McCullum is a good coach and his Test record is strong,” he said.

    Australia wrapped up an 82-run victory on day five of the third Test in Adelaide on Sunday to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series and retain the urn. England had already suffered eight-wicket defeats in both Perth and Brisbane before the Adelaide loss.

    The fourth Test of the series begins on December 26, in Melbourne, where England will attempt to salvage some pride from a disappointing tour.

  • India reached out to Pakistan for fast bowling guidance, reveals Aqib Javed

    India reached out to Pakistan for fast bowling guidance, reveals Aqib Javed

    Former Pakistani fast bowler and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director of High Performance Aqib Javed has revealed that India contacted Pakistan seeking guidance for their fast bowlers.

    Javed, who also serves as a member of the national selection committee, revealed this during a podcast with PCB, where he also discussed Pakistan cricket, the high-performance structure, PCB’s Overseas Players Program and long-term planning in detail.

    “We have been receiving phone calls from India as well, and they have requested guidance for their fast bowlers,” Javed disclosed, adding that the program will expand globally in the future.

    According to Javed, India contacted through the PCB’s Overseas Players Program, which provides coaching and training opportunities to cricketers from around the world.

    “Foreign players can now come to Pakistan for training, and we have already hosted players from the Netherlands and England,” he added.

    During the conversation, Aqib Javed spoke about the role of the National High Performance Centre and described it as the PCB’s “engine room” for player development.

    “We have big plans for the National Cricket Academy (NCA), which include establishing a fully functional biomechanics laboratory,” he said.

    The veteran cricketer emphasised that the initiative represents Pakistan’s growing reputation as a centre of excellence for cricket coaching, particularly in fast bowling development — an area where Pakistan has produced some of the world’s finest talents over the decades.

  • Arif Habib consortium emerges victorious in PIA auction

    Arif Habib consortium emerges victorious in PIA auction

    Arif Habib Consortium on Tuesday won the auction for Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited with a successful bid of Rs135 billion, securing a 75% stake, after the privatisation process entered an open auction round at a ceremony in Islamabad.

    The result marked Pakistan’s first major privatisation in nearly two decades.

    Earlier in the day, pre-qualified bids came from Lucky Cement, private airliner Airblue and the Arif Habib consortium.

    In the first round of bidding, Lucky Cement offered Rs101.5 billion, Airblue submitted Rs26.5 billion, while the Arif Habib consortium placed the highest bid at Rs115 billion. 

    Airblue exited the race as its bid fell short of the reference price of Rs100 billion, which was announced by authorities after the completion of the first round.

    Officials then allowed a 30-minute break for consultations between the two highest bidders. After the break, the auction entered its second round that opened with a base bid of Rs115 billion — based on the highest first-round offer by Arif Habib.

    The bidding rules set the minimum increment at Rs250 million as Arif Habib and Lucky Cement engaged in competitive bidding during the open auction. 

    Lucky Cement raised its offer to Rs134 billion before Arif Habib responded with a bid of Rs135 billion.

    Following the move, Lucky Cement withdrew from the auction and congratulated Arif Habib.

    The entire auction was broadcast live on TV and streamed across official social media platforms.