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  • Dubai Loaded: names of politicians, army officials with property, money in Dubai leaked

    Dubai Loaded: names of politicians, army officials with property, money in Dubai leaked

    Thousands of Pakistani citizens including more than a dozen retired military officials and their families own properties in upscale Dubai areas, according to data revealed by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) Dubai Unlocked project.

    The leaked data provides a detailed overview of hundreds of thousands of properties in Dubai and information about their ownership or usage, largely from 2020 and 2022.

    Pakistan, a country going through a severe economic crisis, came out prominent among the countries with massive properties in Dubai.

    Among the thousands of Pakistanis who own these properties are around a dozen retired military generals, two retired air vice-marshals of the Pakistan Air Force, a serving inspector general of police (IGP), a retired president of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), a former chairman of the Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDCL), and a serving chairman of the Pakistan Council for Science and Technology.

    Politicians

    President Asif Ali Zardari’s three children, Hussain Nawaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s wife, Sharjeel Memon and his family members, Senator Faisal Vawda, four MNAs and half a dozen MPAs from the Sindh and Balochistan assemblies. Former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also appears on the list.

    The Property Leaks have also revealed that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s wife owns a property in Dubai which he didn’t declare in the nomination papers he submitted in March this year for the Senate election.

    Per the Property Leaks data, Naqvi’s wife owns a five-bedroom villa in the Arabian Ranches. She received a rental income of AED600,000 (Rs45m) from this villa, which was purchased in August 2017 for AED4,347,888 (Rs329m) according to the record seen by The News. The villa remained in her ownership till April 2023 when it was sold for AED4,550,000 (Rs344m) as per the record.

    Military officials

    Late Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf and his wife’s name appear in the leaked data as owners of three properties in the areas of Dubai Marina, Burj Khalifa and Al Thanyah Fifth.

    Musharraf’s former military secretary Lt-Gen Shafaat Ullah Shah, who goes by the username @infantry28, is also included in the list. It should be noted his name appeared in Pandora Papers too.

    Former DG Counter Intelligence Maj Gen (r) Ehtasham Zameer, his son and other children are also on the list as owners of properties in the Al Warsan First, Marina Arcade Marsa areas.

    Also on the list is the son of Lt-Gen Afzal Muzaffar of the NLC scandal fame.

    Lt-Gen (r) Muhammad Akram owns a property in Elite Residences 4. In addition, Lt-Gen Alam Jan Mehsud and his spouse own a five-bedroom apartment in the Al Hamri Palm Jumeirah area.

    Maj Gen (r) Ghazanfar Ali Khan also owns a property in S15 Building Al Warsan First.

    Major Gen (r) Raja Muhammad Arif Nazir also appears in the leaked data for owning a property in Golf Promenade 2-A, Al Hebiah third area.

    Air Vice Marshal (r) Saleem Tariq also appears to own property. As does Air Vice Marshal (r) Khalid Masood Rajput.

    Also included in the list are Major Gen (r) Muhammad Farooq, Major Gen (r) Anis Bajwa’s spouse, and Maj Gen (r) Najam-ul-Hassan Shah.

    Businessmen

    Chief Financial Officer of Omni Group Aslam Masood along with his wife is also shown as a listed owner of several properties in the data. The News checked the value of one of them and found out that it was purchased at AED1,060,626 (Rs80m) in March 2013.

    Sohrab Dinshaw is also a property owner in Dubai. A villa he purchased in 2015 carried a purchase price of AED 1271888 (Rs 96m).

    Former president of the NBP Arif Usmani also features on the list as the owner of a penthouse.

    Bureaucrats

    IGP Azad Jammu and Kashmir Dr Sohail Habib Tajik is also on the list for owning property in Al Dafrah First Al Thanyah Third.

    The list and details will be updated.

  • Return rate adjustments implemented for National Savings Schemes

    Return rate adjustments implemented for National Savings Schemes

    The Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS) has implemented adjustments in the rates of return across several National Savings Schemes, marking the fifth revision in the past five months.

    According to Topline Securities, notable alterations include a reduction in rates for the Special Savings Certificates (SSC), which now stand at 15.70 per cent, down by 10 basis points (bps) from the previous 15.8 per cent.

    Similarly, the Regular Income Certificates (RIC) will yield a return of 14.64 per cent, reflecting a decrease of 12 bps from the prior 14.76 per cent.

    Conversely, rates for Bahbood Savings Certificates (BSC), Pensioners Benefit Account (PBA), and Shuhada Family Welfare Account (SFWA) have been adjusted to 15.36 per cent, following a decrease of 24 bps.

    Meanwhile, the Defence Savings Certificate saw a minor decrease of 1 bps, now offering a return of 14.39 per cent.

    In contrast, Short Term Savings Certificates (STSC) experienced an increase of 24 bps, with rates elevated to 19.24 per cent.

    Additionally, the Sarwa Islamic Term Account (SITA) will provide a return of 19.1 per cent, marking a significant increase of 56 bps.

    The profit rates for Saving Account and Sarwa Islamic Saving Account (SISA) remain steady at 20.5 per cent each.

    These adjustments, effective from May 14, 2024, indicate a strategic move by CDNS to align returns with prevailing market conditions and investment dynamics.

  • Why Zahid’s Ahmed initially said no to ‘Jaan Se Pyara Juni’

    Why Zahid’s Ahmed initially said no to ‘Jaan Se Pyara Juni’

    Actor and model Zahid Ahmed is currently working on two dramas titled ‘Jaan Se Pyara Juni’ on Hum TV and ‘Gentleman’ on Green TV.
    In an interview with VOA Urdu, he said, “I rejected the role of ‘Juni in Jaan Se Pyara’ several times. I like playing complex characters like the ones in ‘Besharam’ and ‘Ishq Zah e Naseeb’ because there’s a lot to discover. Roles like Juni are difficult because they’re very realistic, without any added drama. Even though I said no many times, director Meer Sikandar persuaded me to take on the challenge.”


    In ‘Jaan Se Puara Juni’ Zahid plays a very straightforward and simple role.The drama cast includes The Hira Mani, Mamya Shajaffar, Faiq Khan Faiza Hassan and Omer Shehzad.

  • Not just acting: Fahad Mustafa on his cop character in ‘Quaid e Azam Zindabad’

    Not just acting: Fahad Mustafa on his cop character in ‘Quaid e Azam Zindabad’

    Actor Fahad Mustafa took a trip down memory lane in a recent Instagram post. He reminisced about his role as a cop in the 2022 film ‘Quaid e Azam Zindabad’ directed by Nabeel Qureshi. Fahad shared a picture from the movie where he portrayed a determined law enforcer.

    Fahad Mustafa said, “Playing a cop wasn’t just acting – It was about embodying honor and duty. Grateful for the life-changing experience in Quaid e Azam Zindabad.” With Mahira Khan playing the lead next to Fahad, the film marked the first time the two celebs starred opposite each other on the silver screen.

    In ‘Quaid e Azam Zindabad,’ Fahad plays Inspector Gulab, a cop in Karachi who battles crime while dealing with bribery on the side. His life takes a turn when he meets Mahira’s character, Jia, an animal rights activist. As Gulab tries to win her affection by aiding her cause, Jinnah’s image mysteriously disappears from currency notes, leading him on a journey of redemption and love.

  • Gold price declines to Rs241,100 per tola in Pakistan

    Gold price declines to Rs241,100 per tola in Pakistan

    Gold prices in Pakistan experienced a decline on Tuesday, with 24-karat gold witnessing a drop of Rs1,200 to reach Rs241,100 per tola.

    Notably, this price is maintained Rs3,000 lower than its actual value today.

    The association overseeing these fluctuations attributed this adjustment to the substantial decrease in purchasing power, opting to keep the price Rs3,000 below its actual cost.

    Contrastingly, in the previous week, 24-karat gold had observed an increase of Rs5,500 per tola.

    According to the Karachi Sarafa Association, the current price of 24-karat gold stands at Rs207,733 per 10 grammes, marking a decrease of Rs943.

    Similarly, the price of 22-karat gold has been quoted at Rs189,479 per 10 grammes, depicting a downward trend.

    Internationally, the spot gold market showed resilience, hovering around $2,338.4 an ounce, following a 1% decline observed yesterday.

    Meanwhile, silver prices remained stable in the domestic market, with 24-karat silver being traded at Rs2,650 per tola and Rs2,271.94 per 10 grammes.

  • Shah Rukh, daughter Suhana  set for thrilling debut in ‘King’

    Shah Rukh, daughter Suhana  set for thrilling debut in ‘King’

    Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is starring in the action – packed thriller ‘King,’ alongside his daughter Suhana Khan, the first time the duo will appear on screen together.
     
    The film, directed by Sujoy Ghosh and produced by Gauri Khan and Siddharth Anand, has generated plenty of buzz on social media. Shah Rukh Khan’s appearance in the film is particularly under scrutiny; according to some rumours, he will dress like a ‘Salt and Pepper’ character.


    Viral images circulating on social media hint at SRK’s transformation, leaving fans more and more excited.
    According to a recent report in Pinkvilla, Shah Rukh is set to portray the character of ‘Don’ in King, and the character will have some grey shades.
    The official announcement is expected in September.

  • ‘Will make Pakistan wear bangles’ says Modi

    ‘Will make Pakistan wear bangles’ says Modi

    Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on Monday attacked opposition leaders for being scared of Pakistan and said, “If Pakistan does not wear bangles, we’ll make the country wear them.”

    During an election rally in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur, Modi said the inflammatory rhetoric was a reply to National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah’s statement that Pakistan has an “atomic bomb”, and not bangles.

    Modi stated, “The INDIA bloc seems to have leaders who are scared of Pakistan and have nightmares of its nuclear power.”

    Modi called the opposition leaders cowards and said they, “Give a clean chit to Pakistan on terrorism, raise doubts on surgical strikes.”

  • Karachi’s fashion industry made me cry: Ali Xeeshan makes startling revelations

    Karachi’s fashion industry made me cry: Ali Xeeshan makes startling revelations

    Ali Xeeshan rose to great heights as a young designer, hailing from Lahore, and known for his retro-cool designs.
    Recently, he was invited as a guest on Ahmed Ali Butt’s podcast. Xeeshan talked candidly about the ‘mistreatment’ he faced in the fashion industry. He also discussed the comments made against his mother by a prominent editor. Xeeshan responded forcefully to influential members of the fashion business who, he believes, are a group of selected elite.

    Talking specifically the Karachi fashion industry’s attitude, Xeeshan said, “After I was given a platform in Lahore, I became an instant star there. But the Karachi fashion industry didn’t like it because people started recognizing me as a fashion designer. So, I decided to go to Karachi. As a young fashion graduate, I felt intimidated by all the big names in the industry. While I was sitting with them, Raheel Rao from Diva magazine showed me his article about my fashion show in Lahore. He said, ‘Look, I reviewed your work. Read my article about you.’ He criticized my work harshly, calling it ‘trash’ and ‘worthless.’ His words hurt me deeply. The Karachi fashion industry made me cry. I went to my car and cried as if I had lost something dear to me. I am a fashion graduate, and he had no right to critique my work without a degree. He had no authority to question my talent.”

    Talking about Raheal’s remarks regarding his mother, Ali said, “He kept teasing me while I was organizing a fashion show in Lahore. My mother was away on Umrah, so I had kept a chair empty for her. During the fashion show, he called it a circus in town and even posted on Facebook about me, saying, Holy Cow, What The __ is Ali Zeeshan is wearing! You don’t have the right to criticise my fashion or work. Later, at the after-party, he tapped my shoulder and asked, “Which mother gave birth to this guy? I couldn’t hold back my anger and ended up slapping him. I’m sorry I lost my temper. I want to urge everyone to stop bullying others and just accept them as they are.”
    In response to Xeeshan’s accusations, The Current reached out to Raheal Rao for comment. However, Rao declined to comment on the matter.

  • Governor KP Faisal Karim Kundi wants to invite Gandapur for dinner

    Governor KP Faisal Karim Kundi wants to invite Gandapur for dinner

    Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Faisal Karim Kundi has said after a verbal fight with KP’s chief minister Ali Amin Gandapaur that he believes in peace and respects everyone. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and newly appointed Governor also said that he would like to invite Gandapur for dinner. 

    Talking to journalists, Kundi said that he is ready to personally visit leaders of all political parties for the betterment of the province.

    He urged all political parties to sit together to solve multiple issues in KP, stressing that facilitating people should be the main focus.

    “Now is the time to serve people,” averred the Governor, urging politicians not to indulge in abusive politics.

  • ‘Still looked better than the people sitting at home typing nonsense’; Alizeh Shah hits back at haters

    ‘Still looked better than the people sitting at home typing nonsense’; Alizeh Shah hits back at haters

    Alizeh Shah is not holding back her anger at being targeted by trolls. Faced with the usual pointless criticism that Pakistani netizens specialise in, she hit back at the haters who were not happy with her outfit.

    Recently, she attended an ‘Hum Style Awards’ event where her outfit sparked discussions online. At the fashion and style awards, the actor from ‘Mera Dil Mera Dushman’ made a bold fashion statement.


    She wore a black, strapless midi dress with faux fur. Many people online said the dress reminded them of Kylie Jenner’s lion-head dress from the Schiaparelli show last year. However, the actor’s choice received a lot of criticism from social media users. Some even said it seemed like she was copying Indian influencer and former ‘Bigg Boss’ contestant, Urfi Javed.


    After pictures from the event surfaced, one person on social media said, “She just got inspired by Urfi,” while another wrote, “I’m going to have nightmares now.” Another person even said that Shah lost her ‘attractiveness.’ But, Alizeh Shah didn’t let the negativity get to her.


    She posted a message on her Instagram stories in response to the criticism. “Still looked better than people sitting at home typing nonsense,” she wrote.