Current Final

Blog

  • Pakistan’s first Human Milk Bank in Sindh suspended

    Pakistan’s first Human Milk Bank in Sindh suspended

    Following a recently revised fatwa from Dar ul Uloom Karachi, the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN) in Karachi announced on Friday the suspension of its ‘Human Milk Bank’ and referred the matter to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) for further guidance.


    “Initially, the Human Milk Bank was established after seeing and receiving a fatwa from Darul Uloom Karachi, which provides religious endorsement to proceed,” the notification stated, elaborating on the basis of establishing SICHN.


    However, a recently revised fatwa issued by Darul Uloom Karachi dated June 16, 2024, has prompted SICHN to discontinue the functionality of the Human Milk Bank and seek further guidance from Dar ul Uloom.


    Pakistan’s first Shariah-compliant Human Milk Bank and Early Childhood Center at SICHN was inaugurated on June 10 by Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuho, along with officials from UNICEF and the Pakistan Pediatric Association (PPA).


    It was intended to provide breast milk to babies “born before 34 weeks of gestation or less than 2 kg of weight” who could not receive the required nutrition from their mothers.


    The official statement also highlighted details of the fatwa, issued on December 25, 2023, that were made conditional for the endorsement of the milk bank, e.g., that Muslim children only be given Muslim women’s milk, ensuring kinship, hygiene, and that this service should be provided free of cost.


    However, the recent fatwa available on Dar ul Uloom Karachi’s official website includes a detailed analysis of the establishment of a milk bank that did not comply with Shariah laws because of the hard maintenance of the concept of kinship and other religious concerns.

  • Swat blasphemy lynching; ‘Whoever kills is a murderer’ says religious scholar Assim Alhakeem

    Swat blasphemy lynching; ‘Whoever kills is a murderer’ says religious scholar Assim Alhakeem

    Religious extremism and mob vigilantism across the country are on the rise. With the recent instance of the mob lynching of a man accused of blasphemy in Swat, a Twitter user asked renowned Saudi cleric Assim Alhakeem whether killing a person who has committed blasphemy is allowed in Islam.

    The religious scholar replied, “This is prohibited and whoever does this is a murderer and must be executed by the Muslim ruler if the heirs of the victim demands a life for a life.”

    On Thursday night, a violent mob invaded the police station in Swat where the suspect had been taken into custody, assaulting him till he died, then burned his body in the Madyan area of Swat district.

  • Over 12 hours of electricity load shedding in Karachi

    Over 12 hours of electricity load shedding in Karachi

    Amid intense heat, Karachi continues to face severe electricity load shedding lasting between 12 and 14 hours. Despite the challenging weather, unannounced power cuts persist throughout the city, extending well past 2 am in many areas.

    Neighbourhoods such as Lyari, Kemari, Sarjani, Baldia Town, and Orangi endure prolonged load shedding, with interruptions lasting up to 14 hours. Similarly, Gizri, Korangi, Landhi, Liaquatabad, Qayyumabad, and Shadman experience more than 10 hours of power cuts. In Malir, Memongoth, North Karachi, and North Nazimabad, residents face load shedding exceeding 12 hours.

    In response to these challenges, a spokesperson for Karachi Electric maintains that power supply across the city remains normal, despite reports of extensive and prolonged interruptions in various neighbourhoods.

  • PTI demands court martial for Gen Bajwa

    PTI demands court martial for Gen Bajwa

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has demanded on Friday that former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa should be held accountable for violating his oath.

    PTI made the demand after former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Muhammad Zubair claimed that Bajwa was in contact with PML-N president Nawaz Sharif two months before the ouster of incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    Zubair said on Kashif Abbasi’s show that Nawaz Sharif and the former army chief met multiple times in London.

    Following Zubair’s revelations, PTI demanded that the former army chief should be court-martialled for “dragging the military into politics, tainting its reputation, and putting national security at risk.”

    PTI said in its press release that “Jati Umra elites” are responsible for every conspiracy against the constitution, law and democracy in the country.

    The party allegedly blamed Bajwa by saing “Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa is a national criminal in every respect as he put the institution of army, country, Constitution and democracy at stake for his personal interest.”

  • More than 1200 students illegally admitted to 15 medical, dental colleges

    More than 1200 students illegally admitted to 15 medical, dental colleges

    New reports reveal that 15 medical and dental colleges across Pakistan have illegally admitted students.

    According to officials from the federal health ministry, last year, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) had barred admissions to 15 medical and dental colleges, where over 1200 students are currently enrolled.

    Officials reported that despite warnings from the PMDC, these colleges granted illegal admissions to students. Previously, 15 medical colleges had received partial approval from the former Pakistan Medical Commission, while charging students fees and other expenses totaling over one billion.

    The colleges in question are located in Karachi, Sanghar, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar. The FIA (Federal Investigation Agency) is currently investigating 18 medical and dental colleges implicated in the admissions scandal.

  • Dr. Sania Nishtar’s dual roles as Senator and CEO

    Dr. Sania Nishtar’s dual roles as Senator and CEO

    Dr Sania Nishtar, elected as a senator in 2021 on a PTI ticket, recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a picture of her shaking hands with French President Emmanuel Macron, thanking him for co-hosting the launch of her organisation Gavi’s investment event.

    Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is an international organisation created in 2000 to improve access to new and underused vaccines for children living in the world’s poorest countries. Sania Nishtar was appointed its CEO in 2024.

    The mission statement on its official website reads, “AS PART OF ITS MISSION TO SAVE LIVES AND PROTECT PEOPLE’S HEALTH BY INCREASING EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF VACCINES, GAVI HAS HELPED VACCINATE MORE THAN 1 BILLION CHILDREN IN 78 LOWER-INCOME COUNTRIES, PREVENTING MORE THAN 17.3 MILLION FUTURE DEATHS.”

    However, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Anny Marri quoted her tweet with strong criticism that Nishtar is a serving senator while also serving the interests of her own company.

    She wrote, “Pakistan’s senator so diligently serving Gavi’s interests as their CEO! Guess serving an international pay master while being a member of Pakistan’s upper house seems just fine to her. But maybe she can sometimes deign to attend the Senate from where she gets paid every month?!”

    Furthermore, an X user asked Marri whether Nishtar had resigned, to which the PPP senator replied, “No, no. Not only did she not resign, she’s getting paid by Senate every month. To be free of the burden of conscience – must be a great feeling. Seems these guys have a monopoly over it.”

  • Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan slams Chahat Fateh Ali Khan’s music

    Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan slams Chahat Fateh Ali Khan’s music

    Chahat Fateh Ali Khan became a social media star after his song ‘Bado Badi’ went viral, gaining 28 million views. Even though YouTube remove his song on copyright claims, he re-uploaded it on Instagram, leading to concert invites and interviews. However, not everyone is happy with him, including singing maestro Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan.

    Shafqat told ‘Gup Shab’ host Vasay Chaudhry, “I feel disheartened seeing this. Because of Chahat Fateh Ali Khan, our singers are being mocked. Many still think he’s a singer and say, he has a new song. Please understand that he’s making fun of our country’s music and singers. I blame our people; they prefer cheap entertainment and appreciate a strange, comedic artist over a genuine one. There will be consequences in the future, and they’ll realize their mistake.”

  • NAB closes half of major corruption cases against politicians

    NAB closes half of major corruption cases against politicians

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has eliminated almost half of the 179 major corruption cases against famous politicians in the country.

    Multiple politicians, including Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, Nawab Aslam Khan Raisani, and others, were facing corruption charges.

    A case related to assets beyond known means against President Asif Ali Zardari is also included in the list, but authorities acquitted him in that case.

    NAB also acquitted several individuals in major corruption cases, including former HBL head Yunus Habib, Husain Haqqani, Senator Sehar Kamran, and others.

    On the directions of the Supreme Court (SC), NAB shared details on its website in 2015, stating that almost 179 corruption cases were submitted to the apex court.

    Almost nine years later, the details in these cases showed three inquiries, four investigations, 85 undecided cases, and 87 cases closed by April 30, 2024.

    NAB closed the inquiry in July 2023 against president Pakistan Muslim League –Nawaz (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif and his brother Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a case related to abuse of power to construct a road from Raiwind to the Sharif family residence.

    In 2017, NAB closed the investigation against Nawaz Sharif in a case regarding illegal appointments in Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

  • NEPRA wants fixed charges on electricity bills from July

    NEPRA wants fixed charges on electricity bills from July

    The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has decided to impose a new electricity tariff by imposing monthly fixed charges for residential consumers from July 1, ARY News reported.


    NEPRA has proposed fixed charges of Rs200-1,000 a month in electricity bills, which the government has yet to approve.


    As per the proposal, domestic consumers using 301-400 units a month will pay Rs 200 per month from July 1, 2024, while those using 401-500 units will pay Rs400, and end electricity consumers consuming 501-600 are to pay Rs600.


    The residential consumers who use the 601-700 units will pay Rs800 a month, and those who use above 700 units will pay Rs1,000 a month.


    Residential consumers using the ToU (time of use) meter will also pay Rs1,000 fixed charges a month.


    Commercial consumers having load less than five kilowatt will also pay Rs1,000 a month as fixed charges. However, users consuming loads of five kilowatt and above will now pay Rs. 2,000 from the existing Rs500, an increase of 300 percent.


    Currently, the total cost of electricity unit comprises 72 percent fixed charges and 28 percent variable charges, according to ARY News.


    After Budget 2024-25, the federal government added Rs. 5.72 per unit in power tariff.


    NEPRA had already announced that the average electricity tariff would rise to Rs. 35.50 per unit from the current Rs. 29.78.

  • Babar Azam, others signed by Canada’s Global T20 League

    Babar Azam, others signed by Canada’s Global T20 League

    A number of Pakistani cricket players including skipper Babar Azam have signed contracts with Canada’s Global T20 League.

    Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi will represent Toronto Nationals in the Global T20 League, Iftikhar Ahmed will be part of Bengal Tigers Mississauga while Muhammad Amir, wicketkeeper-batsman Muhammad Rizwan and captain Babar Azam will play for the Vancouverites.