Sana Javed, a popular Pakistani TV and movie star, has gained fame through her roles in hit dramas like Pyare Afzal, Zara Yad Kar, and Khaani. However, she’s been in the spotlight recently after marrying cricketer Shoaib Malik, former husband of Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza. Their wedding photos from January 2024 went viral, with Javed looking lovely in her bridal outfit.
Nowadays, both Javed and Malik are actively taking part in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), both on the pitch and behind the scenes. Javed is supporting Malik in the matches and sharing pictures of them together on Instagram. Recently, she posted pictures with Malik and cricketer Hassan Ali, showing them happily cheering and sharing jokes.
Fans loved the casual photos and wanted more. Check the pictures below:
Bollywood actress Nargis Fakhri has shared a bunch of flowers on Instagram, captioning her post with the quote: ‘Embracing the beauty of womanhood, one petal at a time.’ Happy International Women’s Day, wishing women worldwide a happy Women’s Day. Every March 8th, International Women’s Day is celebrated globally to honour women’s achievements and promote gender equality. On this day, organizations and human rights groups host special events. Nargis Fakhri’s post reminded people about the importance of the day. She encouraged women to stay strong and keep working towards their goals. Her message was simple but meaningful, spreading positivity and unity. Nargis Fakhri’s gesture on Instagram resonated with many, showing support for women’s empowerment. This Women’s Day, let’s remember the progress made and continue supporting each other for a more equal world. Nargis Fakhri’s post serves as a reminder to celebrate women’s accomplishments and advocate for their rights.
A five-judge bench of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) has released a 33-page detailed opinion on Friday, stating that former judge of the apex court, Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, has committed misconduct. The council recommended his removal from office and advised against using the titles ‘Justice’ or ‘Judge’ with his name in the future.
The SJC discovered that the judge committed several instances of misconduct, which harmed the reputation of the judiciary.
While Mr Naqvi had resigned a day before the SJC began proceedings on nine complaints against him under Article 209(6), the council decided to continue with its proceedings, with Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa saying it was “necessary to remove the misperception that the institution of judiciary is above the law”. The Supreme Judicial Council, led by the Chief Justice of Pakistan, praised the Pakistan Bar Council (which oversees lawyers) and Advocate Mian Dawood for filing complaints to support the rule of law and accountability.
The council found Naqvi guilty of violating his oath of office and the Code of Conduct for judges after at least five allegations made by the complainants were proven true.
The council explained that it could not be stated that Mr Naqvi was “untouched by greed”, “was above reproach”, his conduct was “free from impropriety expected of a judge” in his official and private affairs and thus he violated Article II and III of the Code of Conduct. According to the SJC opinion, it was clear that he violated Article IV as his actions were swayed by consideration of “personal advantage”.
Omer Ayub Khan, lawmaker backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), strongly objected to the oath-taking of members of the National Assembly (MNAs) on reserved seats, calling it “unconstitutional.
A group of newly elected lawmakers on reserved seats in the NA were sworn in. NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq administered the oath to the MNAs amidst chanting by PTI-backed SIC lawmakers.
Taking the floor, Ayub — Imran Khan’s pick for the leader of the opposition — said: “Today’s oath-taking of MNAs on reserved seats is illegal and has no [legal] standing.”
Raising questions over the oathtaking, the PTI leader asked a country can be run without the rule of law. “The system cannot work like this.”
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has extended a stay order on the oath-taking ceremony for lawmakers who were supposed to take their oaths on reserved seats supported by the PTI-backed SIC. This extension lasts until March 13.
Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of Pakistan’s slain first female premier Benazir Bhutto who has had a life storied equally by tragedy and farce, is set to become president for a second time on Saturday.
Initially a background character as Bhutto’s consort, Zardari was stained by a bevy of corruption and other allegations, including absurd kidnapping plots and taking kickbacks lavished on hoards of jewellery.
Despite a reputation as “Mr. Ten Percent” — the alleged cut he took for rubber-stamping contracts — a sympathy vote propelled him to office when his wife was assassinated in a 2007 bomb and gun attack.
Between 2008 and 2013, he ushered in constitutional reforms rolling back presidential powers, and the 68-year-old’s second term will see him steer a largely ceremonial office.
He has spent more than 11 years in jail, a long time even by the standards of Pakistani politicians, with a wheeler-dealer’s talent for bouncing back after scandals.
Back in 2009, the New York Times said he had a knack for “artful dodging” — “maneuvering himself out of the tight spots he gets himself into”.
Newly sworn-in lawmakers were set to vote him in under the terms of a coalition deal brokered after February 8 elections marred by rigging claims.
Under that deal, Zardari’s Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will take the presidency, while its historic rivals the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party secured the prime minister’s position for Shehbaz Sharif, who was officially sworn in on Monday.
Zardari was born in 1955 into a land-owning family from the southern province of Sindh.
“As a child, I was spoilt by my parents as an only son,” he said in a 2000 interview with the Guardian newspaper. “They indulged my every whim.”
He expressed only limited political ambitions as a young man — losing a 1983 local government election.
It was his 1987 arranged marriage with PPP leader Benazir Bhutto that earned him a spot in the political limelight.
Their union — brokered by Bhutto’s mother — was considered an unlikely pairing for a leader-in-waiting from one of Pakistan’s major political dynasties.
Bhutto was an Oxford and Harvard graduate driven by the desire to oust then-president Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq, who forced her father from the prime minister’s office and had him executed.
Zardari was a university dropout with a reputation for brawling, partying and romancing women at a private disco in his family home.
On the eve of their wedding, Bhutto’s team issued a formal statement denying he was “a playboy who plays polo by day and frequents discos at night”.
Their nuptial celebrations were dubbed the “people’s wedding” — doubling as a political rally in the megacity of Karachi, where a crowd of 100,000 fervently chanted PPP slogans.
Initially, Zardari pledged to keep out of politics.
Bhutto served as prime minister from 1988 to 1990 — the first woman to head a democratic government in a Muslim country — and again from 1993 to 1996.
PPP insiders regarded Zardari as a liability, considering him likely to embarrass her leadership.
Their fears were perhaps well-founded. In 1990, he was embroiled in accusations of an absurd plot to extort a businessman by tying a bomb to his leg.
He was jailed for three years on extortion and kidnapping charges but was elected to the national assembly from behind bars.
In Bhutto’s second term, he served as investment minister.
A bombshell New York Times investigation detailed how he tried to engineer vast kickbacks on military contracts over this period while lavishing huge sums on jewellery.
After Bhutto’s government fell in 1996, Zardari was back behind bars within half an hour.
In December 2007, Bhutto was assassinated while on the campaign trail for a third term in office.
Her killing shook the nation to its core, a wave of sympathy carrying the PPP to victory in 2008. The party nominated Zardari as president.
In 2010, he was widely criticised for continuing a European holiday when the nation was devastated by floods that killed almost 1,800 and affected 21 million.
He was also head of state when US commandos trespassed onto Pakistani soil for the 2011 assassination of Osama Bin Laden, an episode that humiliated many compatriots.
He did, however, usher in constitutional reforms rolling back the sweeping powers of the presidency and bolstering parliamentary democracy that had been undermined by three decades of military rule since 1947.
In 2013, Zardari became the first Pakistani president to complete his full term.
He was jailed once again over money laundering charges in 2019 but was released months later.
Zardari and Benazir had three children, including Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the current chairman of the PPP.
Rovman Powell, foreign player of Peshawar Zalmi appreciated the Rawalpindi crowd and said, “I wish we could have taken this crowd to Karachi as well.”
While addressing a press conference after the match against Quetta Gladiators yesterday, Rovman Powell said, “Pakistan Super League (PSL) is important for every player, the quality of competition increases with local talent in PSL.”
“If we could take the Pindi crowd with us to Karachi, we would” – Rovman Powell spoke about Peshawar Zalmi’s ’12th man’ and the ‘massive fanbase’ for Babar Azam.#HBLPSL9 | #PZvQGpic.twitter.com/MXevP6m5Eu
— Grassroots Cricket (@grassrootscric) March 8, 2024
Talking about Babar Azam and his captaincy, he said, “He is also human, he can fail sometimes. But Babar Azam is a superstar, Zalmi’s fan following has increased because of him, his strategy as captain is quite brilliant.”
He further said, “When Babar and Saim were playing, the score up to 230 was in mind. But when the wickets fell, then we kept a target of 200 in mind. The role of each player in the team is clear and he is fulfilling it.”
A video of an Indian cop brutally beating Muslim men offering jummah prayers on the roadside in Delhi has gone viral. The video shows the policeman kicking and hitting Muslims who were kneeling down for sajdah (prostration).
The incident took place in Delhi’s Inderlok area where a large number of Muslims gathered at a mosque on Friday, leading to several men praying on the road as the crowd overflowed the premises.
Police officials arrived at the spot mid-prayers and started kicking and punching the Muslims. They can be heard telling the worshippers to vacate the place. The video shows one of them kicking and hitting the Muslims who were kneeling down for prayers. However, a crowd surrounded the cop and objected to his attitude, getting into a verbal brawl.
Sharing the video of the incident, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi said, “What is this hatred that is filled in the heart of this soldier? Delhi Police is requested to file a case against this official under appropriate sections and terminate his service.”
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) MK Meena said that an inquiry into the matter has been initiated. The official has been suspended with immediate effect and disciplinary action will also be taken, the DCP added.
Karachi (AFP) – Revving round a dusty oval in the heart of Pakistan’s largest city, women on motorbikes practise looping a row of safety cones, their helmets securing colourful headscarves in place.
It is a rare sight in the culturally conservative country, where women are typically relegated to the back seats of cars or to riding side-saddle on motorbikes, ferried by a male relative.
“Change is under way,” says Zainab Safdar, demonstrating how to mount a two-wheeler while cloaked in a pink body-covering abaya.
The 40-year-old is an instructor for the “Rowdy Riders”, a women-only group teaching novices in Karachi everything from the basics of balancing on a bicycle to high-octane gear changing and negotiating traffic.
Since being founded in 2017 by a handful of pioneering riders, the self-described “Rowdies” have swollen in number to more than 1,500 housewives, students and professionals.
“In the past, there were misconceptions about girls riding bikes,” Safdar said, referring to doubts about their abilities.
“Fortunately, with greater awareness, these notions have been dispelled.”
Women’s participation in the workforce is impacted by the limited availability of public transport services that ensure their safety.
In the sprawling megacity, granting women the skill and confidence to join legions of male bikers in the helter-skelter of congestion unlocks a new tier of freedom.
Most of the riders hail from Karachi’s middle class, but rigid gender norms often still hold sway.
University lecturer Shafaq Zaman said “it took a while to get permission” from her family to start classes to master a pedal bike two months ago.
Among the few dozen bikers assembled under the mid-afternoon sun, she looks on with her seven-year-old daughter Aleesha as a convoy of women open up their engines and rip past in a haze of dust.
“I am so inspired that now I have my own dream for me, that I want to ride on a heavy bike. I want to ride the whole of Pakistan,” 30-year-old Zaman said.
Her story is not unusual. In Pakistan, very young boys are often seen steering motorbikes, but many of the “Rowdies” did not learn to ride a bicycle until well into adulthood.
“There should be a bike in every house, and usually there is, but it’s rotting because men do not use it and women don’t know how to,” said Sana Kamran, sitting confidently astride a 110cc Suzuki.
“If women can manage household responsibilities and earn a living, why can’t they ride a bike for their convenience?” the 41-year-old asked.
Motorbikes are ubiquitous across Pakistan — most commonly red Honda models or cheaper Chinese reproductions, considered capable of mastering any terrain.
The quest to conquer a bike has seen 26-year-old Farwa Zaidi suffer multiple bone fractures — but the injuries are a badge of honour she wears as proudly as the “Rowdy Riders” crest on her jacket.
“Here I am, standing strong,” she said alongside her 70cc electric scooter.
At four feet and six inches (137 centimetres) tall, Zaidi said her small stature made it difficult to claim a spot on crammed city buses.
Learning to ride gave her a new sense of possibility.
“Once we master cycling, it instils a new-found confidence in our ability to conquer other challenges,” she says.
Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi has decided to upgrade three important stadiums in the country before next year’s Champions Trophy.
A meeting headed by Chairman PCB was held yesterday in which Nespak officials gave a briefing on the upgradation of stadiums.
Mohsin Naqvi called for the final design plan for the upgrade of Gaddafi Stadium in three days, while in the second phase, the design plan for the upgrade of National Cricket Stadium Karachi and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will be prepared.
The upgradation of the three stadiums will be completed before the Champions Trophy.
Mohsin Naqvi said, “The facilities for cricket fans in the stadiums will be improved, as per the need, the stadiums will be increased. The facilities in the boxes of Gaddafi Stadium will be improved. Upgradation work will be completed with quality and speed.”
Pakistan will host the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy next year.
Novacare Hospitals (Private) Limited announced today that it will start constructing a state-of-the-art hospital in Islamabad, and has signed an international affiliation agreement with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, a leading UK teaching hospital group. The total investment in the project will be USD 110 million, and the hospital will be located on a 50-kanal (225,000 square foot) plot in DHA Phase-V, along the main DHA Expressway.
The 250-bed hospital will have a covered area of 550,000 square feet and will provide comprehensive tertiary healthcare across 28 clinical services. The hospital is being designed by HKS, a leading global design firm. It aims to become Pakistan’s first LEED, WELL, and EDGE-certified hospital which are best-in-class certifications for sustainability and users’ wellbeing. It also aims to achieve Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation, to achieve high standards of clinical quality & patient safety.
Novacare is a recently established private healthcare provider in Pakistan, sponsored by the Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited (part of the Kohinoor Maple Leaf Group) and managed by Andalus Holdings. Novacare aims to develop a world-class healthcare network across Pakistan and plans to open similar hospitals across other major cities of Pakistan. It will also develop satellite clinics, day surgery centers, diagnostics collection centers, medical education facilities, and a digital care navigation platform.
The leadership team at Novacare will include seasoned healthcare professionals with local and international experience. Novacare is led by Mr. Johannes (Hans) Kedzierski who has previously served as the CEO of leading hospitals in multiple geographies including Medical Center Alkmaar, Netherlands, one of the largest Dutch teaching hospitals, Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, and, King’s College Hospital London in Jeddah.
The affiliation was closely supported and facilitated by the U.K.’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) in Pakistan, along with the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in London. A signing ceremony took place in London on March 6, 2024, at the offices of the UK DBT at Admiralty House, which was attended by representatives from Imperial College Healthcare, Novacare, and the UK government.
As a result of its affiliation with Imperial College Healthcare, Novacare will benefit from the expertise of a leading UK teaching hospital group. Novacare will gain expert advisory input from Imperial College Healthcare on models of care, services, and staffing, and aims to implement their clinical standards and protocols. Through these measures, Novacare intends to achieve the same standards of healthcare as is delivered at Imperial College Healthcare’s five London hospitals.
About Novacare
Novacare is developing a world-class, hub & spoke healthcare network across Pakistan, to enhance years of quality life within our families & communities, and to create an unrivaled professional environment for the next generation of world-leading Pakistani healthcare practitioners.
Imperial College Healthcare Private Care is part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, one of the largest teaching hospital groups in the UK. Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has a global reputation for excellence in care, research, and education, and together with its affiliated university, Imperial College London, it runs the UK NHS’s largest biomedical research center. Imperial College Healthcare Private Care provides care for local and international patients across five renowned hospital sites in central and west London, including the flagship private facility, The Lindo Wing, and St Mary’s Hospital.
Kohinoor Maple Leaf Group (KMLG) is one of Pakistan’s largest conglomerates, with diverse operations in the textile, cement, and financial sectors, and traces its roots to an enterprise founded in the 1930s in Calcutta as the Kohinoor Rubber Works. The group currently is a majority shareholder in Kohinoor Textile Mills Limited (KTML), Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited (MLCFL), and Maple Leaf Capital Limited (MLCL).
About Andalus Holdings
Andalus Holdings is an investment holding and advisory firm based in Abu Dhabi, comprising a dedicated team of investment and healthcare professionals with decades of local and international experience.
About the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom, equivalent to other countries’ ministries of foreign affairs. The department in its various forms is responsible for representing and promoting British interests worldwide.
About the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT)
The Department for Business & Trade (DBT) is the UK’s department for economic growth. DBT supports businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country.
About HKS
HKS is a global firm of architects, designers, planners and advisors who create places noted for their beauty and performance. It employs 1,600 people in 29 offices, united by the belief that an environmental, social and governance approach to design achieves design excellence. In 2023, HKS became a carbon neutral firm. HKS values honesty, diversity and inclusion and celebrates creative thinking. In partnership with its clients and collaborators, HKS crafts powerful ideas and solutions. Together HKS creates places that stand apart.
