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  • 24 years after her death, Nazia Hassan remains the ultimate pop icon

    24 years after her death, Nazia Hassan remains the ultimate pop icon

    Nazia Hassan was a talented singer who amazed fans with her powerful voice and energetic performances. The Aap Jaisa koi singer was born on 3 April, 1965 in Karachi.
    To pay tribute to her let’s look back at her most popular songs.

    Nazia Hassan with her first song, ‘Aap Jaisa Koi,’ which turned her into an overnight star.


    Her debut album, ‘Disco Deewane’, released in the year 1981, the music was a huge hit. It sold a record number of copies and was loved by people in 14 countries.


    Other famous songs by Nazia include Boom Boom, Dil Ki Lagi, Aankehin Churanay Walay and Dosti, which for a long time appeared on the top spots on the music charts. Nazia Hassan also got the title of Queen of Pop.


    Nazia Hassan won many awards during her time, including Pakistan’s highest civilian award for doing her significant work in music, the Pride of Performance. She had the pride of almost being the youngest ever Pakistani singer, at only 15, to also receive the prestigious Filmfare award for the song Aap Jaisa Koi.


    Tragically, Nazia Hassan passed away on August 13, 2000, after a brave fight against lung cancer. She died in London, and although her time in the spotlight was short, Nazia’s music will always be remembered for inspiring and touching lives worldwide.


    Nazia married Karachi-based businessman Mirza Ishtiaq Baig on March 30, 1995.


    Her brother Zoheb Hassan was also a singer and music composer; the two siblings, therefore, collaborated on a number of music projects. Zoheb was a major part of Nazia’s music career and was, in fact, a co-producer for many of her music albums.

  • DC Panjgur killed in attack in Balochistan

    DC Panjgur killed in attack in Balochistan

    The Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Panjgur Zakir Baloch was assassinated by unknown armed men in the Mastung District of Balochistan on Monday.

    Zakir Baloch was travelling on the National Highway near the Khada-Kucha area along with two people, District Chairman Malik Jan and Ahmed Jan, towards Quetta when at least 15 armed people attacked the vehicle, Geo News reported.

    All three suffered bullet injuries, after which the DC and his friends were shifted to a nearby hospital. Zakir succumbed to his injuries; however, his friends were referred to Quetta Civil Hospital’s trauma centre for further treatment.

    In recent years, the security situation has been getting worse as foreign-funded militant organisations increase their foothold in the troubled province.

    Journalist Iftikhar Firdous posted on X, “The deputy commissioner of Panjgur has been killed by at least two dozen attackers opening firing at his vehicle; local said that militants had set up a checkpoint looking for government officials.”

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, expressing grief over the martyrdom of DC Zakir Baloch.

  • Torrential rains predicted in the coming week

    Torrential rains predicted in the coming week

    Torrential rains have been predicted in the country from August 14 to August 18.

    The weather department shared details of the new spell, saying monsoon winds from the West, Arabian Sea, and Bay of Bengal will affect the country. Heavy rains will descend in some places in Islamabad, Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir.

    There is a possibility of light rain in the coastal areas of Sindh during the evening or night of August 15 to August 18, according to the meteorological department.

    Additionally, rain continues in various districts of Balochistan, and the Meteorological Department has predicted a new spell of rain with wind and thunder in 16 districts from August 15.

    Meteorologists have also warned of strong winds and thunderstorms in the coastal areas of Khuzdar, Lasbela, Awaran, Kalat, Zhob, Barkhan, Musa Khel, Mastung, Sibi, Shirani, Kohlu, Bolan, Harnai, Nasirabad, Jafarabad and Makran during August 15 to 18. Intermittent rain and heavy rain in some places have been predicted.
    6.6 mm of rain was recorded in Barkhan and Kalat during the last 24 hours.

    Besides this, Monday was the hottest day in Nokundi, with a maximum temperature of 47 degrees Celsius.

  • Voice of Pokémon’s Misty, Rachael Lillis, dies at 46

    Voice of Pokémon’s Misty, Rachael Lillis, dies at 46

    Rachael Lillis, the voice actress known for her work in the Pokémon TV series, films, and video games since the late 1990s, has died from breast cancer at the age of 46.

    Lillis voiced major Pokémon characters, including Misty. Her death was announced by Veronica Taylor, who co-starred as Ash Ketchum, the lead character in Pokémon.

    Ms. Taylor wrote, “Rachael was an amazing talent, a bright light that shone through her voice whether speaking or singing.”

    “We all know Rachael Lillis from the many wonderful characters she played,” Ms. Taylor shared on social media on Monday.

    “She filled our Saturday mornings and before/after school hours with her beautiful voice, her terrific comic timing, and her remarkable acting skills.” She also mentioned that Lillis was grateful for the support she received during her illness. “It truly made a positive difference,” Ms. Taylor added.

    Laurie Orr, Lillis’s sister, also confirmed the news on a website that had helped raise money for Lillis’s cancer treatment. She expressed deep grief, saying, “This was unexpected, and we are completely heartbroken. Losing my dear little sister breaks my heart, but I find comfort knowing she is at peace.”

    Lillis was born in Niagara Falls, New York, in 1978, and studied opera at university before becoming a voice actress. Her voice was featured in 423 episodes of Pokémon between 1997 and 2015.

  • BLF commander killed by own comrade

    BLF commander killed by own comrade

    A top commander of the banned terrorist organisation, Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), identified as Shambeen alias Shahak, has reportedly been killed by his own comrade due to internal strife, Express Tribune has reported.

    Shahak was a highly wanted militant, alleged to be involved in multiple terrorist activities in the country. His assassination highlights the factions within the militant organisation.

    The BLF is said to be embroiled in an internal power struggle over authority and finances. Tribune reported that these internal conflicts are believed to be escalating.

    Meanwhile, Shahhak was directly involved in numerous attacks on security forces in Balochistan, including target killings of former associates who had surrendered to the state.

  • Trump holds meandering live ‘chat’ with backer Musk, after delay

    Trump holds meandering live ‘chat’ with backer Musk, after delay

    Donald Trump ran through his checklist of conspiracy theories Monday in a rambling conversation with his uber-wealthy supporter Elon Musk that was initially derailed by what the tech titan said was a technical glitch.

    In a very one-sided conversation on X, Trump vented about a “zombie apocalypse” of immigration, repeatedly blasted President Joe Biden as “stupid”, and mused about developing a new missile defense system based on the one that defends Israel.

    The Republican standard-bearer also dismissed climate change, whose sea-level rises he said would simply create more real estate opportunities.

    “The biggest threat is not global warming, where the ocean is going to rise one-eighth of an inch over the next 400 years,” he told Musk.

    “You’ll have more ocean front property, right? The biggest threat is not that. The biggest threat is nuclear warming, because we have five countries now that have significant nuclear power, and we have to not allow anything to happen with stupid people like Biden.”

    What was billed as a “no limits” conversation between the two started more than half an hour late, with many of those logging on unable to listen in live.

    Musk, the world’s richest man according to Forbes, claimed the platform formerly known as Twitter had experienced a cyber “attack.”

    Read more: ‘I am very happy that Twitter is now in sane hands’: Trump welcomes Musk’s takeover

    Border ‘apocalypse’

    The conversation was intended to help reinvigorate Trump’s stuttering campaign, which has flagged since Biden dropped out of the race, to be replaced by a surging Kamala Harris.

    The young men who view Musk as a hero are a prized target for Trump, whose following tends to skew older.

    More than a million users listened in live to the conversation on X. Musk, who has said he previously voted Democrat, has thrown his weight — and his wealth — behind Trump since a gunman tried to assassinate the Republican at a rally last month.

    The apparent technical difficulties come after Musk fired swathes of staff at the platform, and also served as an uncomfortable reminder that the Tesla boss had once backed Trump’s rival Ron DeSantis, whose campaign launch on the platform was also beset by problems.

    When things finally got under way, Musk said the “massive attack illustrates there’s a lot of opposition to people just hearing what President Trump has to say.”

    Trump was banned from Twitter after a mob of his supporters stormed the US Capitol in January 2021, but Musk reinstated him when he took the platform over and renamed it.

    The South African-born billionaire has emerged as a major voice in US politics, but is accused of turning X into a megaphone for right-wing conspiracy theories.

    He is one of the Democrats’ fiercest critics, leveraging his 194 million-strong following on X to assail liberal efforts to boost diversity and inclusion — what he calls the “woke mind virus” — and the White House’s handling of the southern border.

    “We have people streaming over,” Musk told Trump, likening the border to the “zombie apocalypse” depicted in the film “World War Z.”

    “It’s just not possible for the United States to absorb, you know, everyone from Earth,” said Musk, identifying himself as a “legal immigrant.”

    Read more: Elon Musk restores Donald Trump’s Twitter account

    Cost ‘cutter’

    In his “chat” with Musk, Trump returned often to a favorite theme — boasting about his relationship with autocrats like Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping, and insisted America would be safer under his stewardship.

    “One of the things we’re going to do is we’re going to build an Iron Dome,” he said, referring to Israel’s missile defense system.

    “We’re going to have the best Iron Dome in the world… because it just takes one maniac to, you know, start something.” Musk reiterated his strong support for Trump, saying the ex-president “was the path to prosperity and Kamala is the opposite.”

    At one point he also appeared to be touting for a job under a future Trump administration, suggesting he would like to serve on a cost-cutting committee.

    “I think it would be great to just have a government efficiency commission that takes a look at these things and just ensures that taxpayer money… is spent in a good way,” he said. “I’d be happy to help out on such a commission.” Trump appeared sold on the job application.

    “You’re the greatest cutter,” he told the man who slashed swathes of staff months after taking over Twitter.

  • CM Maryam Nawaz presents 10 crore cheque, Honda Civic to Arshad Nadeem

    CM Maryam Nawaz presents 10 crore cheque, Honda Civic to Arshad Nadeem

    Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz awarded the world champion of the javelin throw, Arshad Nadeem, with huge prizes. She reached the gold medalist’s village, Mian Channu, by helicopter, met the athlete and his family, and congratulated him on his historic achievement.

    He also awarded Arshad Nadeem Rs 10 crore and a Honda Civic car for winning the gold medal and promised to pave village roads, build a hospital, and build a university.

    After meeting with Arshad Nadeem, she left for Lahore from Mian Channu.

    Many personalities and organizations, including the federal and provincial governments and actors, have announced awards for Arshad Nadeem. After 40 years in the Paris Olympics, he won a gold medal for Pakistan and set an Olympic record for the highest throw, 92.97 meters.

  • What’s the price tag on security, protocol for judges?

    What’s the price tag on security, protocol for judges?

    Journalist Absar Alam on his show Mere Sawal yesterday revealed the details of perks and privileges used by Pakistan’s judiciary, even though it is 130th out of 142 countries in the Rule of Law index by the World Justice Project (WJP).

    Absar stated that this week, a standing committee of the National Assembly revealed some details about the cars and security used by the judiciary.

    Before delving into the details, Absar recalled former CJP Saqib Nisar’s April 2018 order suspending the security of all VIPs, remarking, “Whoever is afraid of anything, they should leave the country.”

    Absar continued, “But now there are 34 security cars for judges, 409 security personnel in just Islamabad costing about 3 crores and 68 lacs each month”

    “6 cars and 79 security individuals for bureaucrats; likewise, there are 4 cars and 41 security people for ministers,” stated Absar.

    The journalist pointed out that the planned vacations taken by the judiciary of Pakistan are a colonial legacy when the British judiciary couldn’t bear the harsh weather of the Indian subcontinent. However, it still continues to this day by the honourable judiciary of Pakistan.

  • Not a suicide; Sania Zehra was murdered

    Not a suicide; Sania Zehra was murdered

    Major developments in the death of 20-year-old Sania Zehra, a mother of two, whose death took social media by storm, have unveiled crucial details of her demise.

    Azma Bokhari, Punjab’s Information Minister, informed the media on Monday that Sania’s death was not a result of suicide. It was in fact a homicide.

    Sania’s father, Syed Asad Abbas Shah, had already claimed in the FIR that his daughter’s husband had killed her.

    The provincial minister asserted that the husband is a suspect along with his mother, as all evidence points towards their role in Zehra’s killing.


    “No evidence of suicide has been found in the Sania Zehra case. The mother-in-law and husband had put a noose around the girl’s neck together,” she said during a press conference.


    The revelations have surfaced two days after the Punjab government constituted a six-member committee to oversee the probe into the murder case. The committee was authorised to find discrepancies in the FIR’s contents and the victim’s autopsy report.

    Azma, along with Chairperson of the Women Protection Authority Hina Pervaiz Butt, updated the media that the wounds on the girl’s shoulder and neck were not due to the noose used for suicide. “Forensic lab traces such cases. Forensics have found evidence against Sania’s mother-in-law and husband,” she added.

    Hina Butt stressed that she knew it was not a suicide case after seeing photographs of the crime scene. “Evidence later revealed that the girl was murdered and hanged. Mother-in-law and husband polygraph test positive,” Butt said.


    Forensic test report


    Punjab Forensic Science Agency also submitted all its test reports stating that the forensics found no evidence of suicide.


    “All the tests and investigations show that it is not a case of suicide. Sania Zehra was killed on July 9, and her [murder] was presented as a suicide,” the submitted report read.


    Zehra’s neck was not swollen or elongated due to the noose. “The DNA of Sania’s husband and mother-in-law matched with the dupatta used as the noose,” as per the forensic report.


    The noose around Zehra’s neck did not cause her death, and the scar on the neck and shoulder was not because of the dupatta, the report added.


    “The DNA of the sample found from Sania’s nail was also matched with that of her husband,” it read.

    Earlier, the reports came out allegedly confirming that Sania hanged herself, implying that she committed suicide. The reports also asserted that she was not pregnant.


    Since the Punjab government established the suicide, The Current talked to Azma Bukhari, and she confirmed that Sania’s pregnancy could not be confirmed, blaming it on the forged post-mortem report. She said that Sania’s uterus was not opened, and the medical officer got changed at the last minute, which raised concerns about this aspect being compromised in the post-mortem investigation.


    Azma admitted that even though the parents say that she was pregnant, the government can’t confirm because the post-mortem report was influenced.

    The case so far

    On July 9, 2024, Zehra was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her home. Her father, Syed Asad Abbas Shah, reported the death to the police, accusing Zehra’s husband and in-laws of murder, claiming Sania showed signs of torture, including a broken jaw and bruised ribs.


    However, the victim’s husband, Ali Raza fled the scene and was initially not held accountable.


    The case attracted significant social media ire, prompting Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to instruct officials to investigate.


    A joint investigation team was formed, and on July 13, the body was exhumed for a forensic report which confirmed asphyxia from hanging as the cause of death.


    Husband Ali Raza was later arrested on July 20, facing charges related to forgery and dishonesty as he hid the truth of his first marriage from Sania and her family.


    Despite claiming the death was a suicide following a domestic argument, Raza was arrested again after a press conference where he shared his version of the story and framed it as a case of suicide.

    Read all the details of the case: Sania Zehra case: Hanging confirmed, pregnancy dismissed

  • ISI officials under Faiz took diamond ornaments, 400 tola gold from Top City raid, petition reveals

    ISI officials under Faiz took diamond ornaments, 400 tola gold from Top City raid, petition reveals

    The petition against former spymaster General Faiz Hameed has revealed a shocking details of the allegations filed by Kanwar Moeez Khan, the proprietor of Top City.


    The petition, filed on Nov 2023, read that Pakistan Rangers and Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) raided the Top City Housing Society office and took away gold, diamond ornaments, money and other valuables.

    The petition stated that Faiz Hameed’s brigadier cousin contacted him for a meeting after the Rawalpindi Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) acquitted him.
    The petition revealed that the former DG told Moeez that he would return all other items except 400 tola gold and cash.
    It further read that retired brigadiers Naeem Fakhar and Ghaffar of ISI ‘’forced’’ the petitioner to ‘’pay four crore rupees in cash’’ and ‘’sponsor a private TV network for a few months’’.

    Earlier, Zahida Javed Aslam, a Pakistani-born British national, filed a complaint claiming Moeez was her employee and fraudulently transferred land in his name.