Current Final

Blog

  • Wondering what Imran Khan is doing in jail? His sister has all the updates

    Wondering what Imran Khan is doing in jail? His sister has all the updates

    Speaking to the media after paying a visit to Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan in Adiala Jail, Aleema Khan said her brother is doing just fine.

    “There is a glow on his face,” she said. “He has finished the Quran four times by now.”

    Aleema said Imran Khan has read a lot of books in jail and that he is “gaining a lot of knowledge”.

    When a reporter referred to the conflicting claims regarding Khan’s health and statements issued by his lawyers, Aleema laughingly said that there is no contradiction and it’s just that while losing weight and body fat is considered ‘healthy’, some people think it’s unhealthy and the other person has gotten ‘weak’.

    A reporter asked that his opponents are claiming Imran Khan is ‘breaking’, Aleema responded: “Go read up on hybrid warfare.”

    “You all are saying that Imran Khan has gotten weak, that’s not how it is.”

    “All prisoners are allowed to walk and exercise in prison according to international law. They thought that by disallowing him (Imran Khan) of these liberties, he would break.”

    She indirectly alluded to his opponents, saying that they should give up because Khan “will not break no matter how many false stories you publish”.

  • First 2024 Tesla Cybertruck auctioned for over PKR 11 crore

    First 2024 Tesla Cybertruck auctioned for over PKR 11 crore

    Production of the Tesla Cybertruck seems to have finally started, with reports of a 2024 Cybertruck being auctioned at the Petersen Auto Museum during their 29th gala event hosted by Jay Leno.

    The truck supposedly sold for a staggering $400,000 (PKR 112,551,880). However, the museum couldn’t confirm the exact winning bid due to internal policies.

    This sale, if confirmed, would mark the first official sale of a Cybertruck. Originally revealed in 2019, the production timeline for the unique pickup was repeatedly delayed, pushing it past its initial 2021 target.

    The auction offered a “low-VIN” 2024 Cybertruck, with the winning bidder receiving their vehicle when Tesla completes production. Essentially, it’s an auction for a build slot rather than an immediate car.

    Recent sightings of Cybertrucks being tested and transported on flatbeds suggest progress. Tesla had previously announced that full-scale production wouldn’t commence until 2024, but they claimed that the first Cybertruck was built in July at their Giga Texas factory.

    It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first high-interest EV truck to be auctioned, with the 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV and the Hummer EV SUT truck also fetching high prices at auctions.

    Despite these developments, Tesla has not announced an official delivery start date for the Cybertruck. Furthermore, specifications for the production model remain unconfirmed.

    Originally priced around $40,000, there were plans for various variants, including a single-motor rear-wheel-drive base model and a high-performance tri-motor version, but it’s unclear which will be produced in 2024, if any.

    In any case, the Cybertruck is now a tangible reality, as evidenced by Tesla’s recent video of it driving off-road in Baja, Mexico. It’s only a matter of time until it officially hits the market.

  • PM Kakar aims to make Hajj more affordable and comfortable for pilgrims

    PM Kakar aims to make Hajj more affordable and comfortable for pilgrims

    On Monday, Caretaker Prime Minister (PM) Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar issued a directive emphasising the provision of high-quality and affordable facilities for pilgrims during the Hajj without compromising the overall arrangements.

    During a meeting focused on the Ministry of Religious Affairs, he stressed the importance of ensuring that all necessary measures are taken to facilitate pilgrims in performing this significant religious ritual, as reported by the state news agency.

    The Prime Minister was briefed on the ministry’s performance, the actions taken for Hajj, and the preparations for the Hajj policy in 2024, according to a press release from the PM Office Media Wing.

    According to ARY News, the meeting was attended by Caretaker Minister for Religious Affairs Aneeq Ahmed and other ministry officials.

    In his address to the participants, the Prime Minister emphasised the need for rigorous oversight of private Hajj companies to ensure that pilgrims using private schemes do not encounter any difficulties. 

    He also requested the submission of the Hajj policy for approval by the federal cabinet.

  • PM Kakar pushes for speedy privatisation of financially troubled state-owned enterprises

    Caretaker Prime Minister (PM) Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, in a meeting held on Monday, directed the relevant authorities to expedite the privatisation process of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) that are experiencing financial losses.

    Stressing the importance of this privatisation effort, the Prime Minister emphasised its role in safeguarding the national treasury from further deficits.

    During this meeting, Minister for Privatisation Fawad Hasan Fawad provided a detailed update on the progress made in the privatisation of these enterprises.

    PM Kakar also commended the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) for its commendable contributions to this endeavor. 

    It’s worth noting that the caretaker Premier had previously issued similar directives to accelerate the privatisation process of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), a loss-making entity.

    This development comes in response to reports suggesting that unless emergency funding is secured, PIA’s flight operations could face suspension.

    A senior PIA director revealed that the operational fleet had been reduced from 23 to 16 aircraft, resulting in the cancellation of numerous flights.

  • World Cup 2023: New Zealand defeat Netherlands by 99 runs

    World Cup 2023: New Zealand defeat Netherlands by 99 runs

    New Zealand has won against the Netherlands on Monday, scoring a 99 run victory in the ICC World Cup 2023.

    Netherlands won the toss and decided to field. The Kiwis scored 322 runs for the loss of 7 wickets, with Will Young scoring 70 runs and captain Tom Latham scoring 53 runs. Rachin Ravindra chopped in with 51 runs, Daryl Mitchell scored 48 runs, Devon Conway scored 32 runs, while Mitchel Santner played an unbeaten inning of 36 runs.

    Aryan Dutt, Wayne McKearn, and Wayne Drummerwe took 2 wickets each for the Netherlands, with Basdelida dismissing one player.

    Read More: Imran Khan objects to treatment in Adiala jail

    In reply to 322, the Netherlands batsmen failed to chase down the target, their wickets falling one after the other. Colin Ackerman did putt up some resistance with 69, while captain Scott Edwards playing a 30-run innings.

    The Netherlands team was bowled out for 223 runs in the 47th over. Mitchel Santner was man of the match with a 5 wicket haul.

  • ‘I believe in protecting every citizen’, Murtaza Wahab says in light of harassment cases

    ‘I believe in protecting every citizen’, Murtaza Wahab says in light of harassment cases

    On Friday, police arrested the suspect who sexually harassed a woman on a street in the Samanabad area of Karachi.

    The incident reportedly took place on October 5 while the accused was identified as Asif Ali.

    CCTV footage shows Ali harassing the woman, escaping the scene right after.

    After the video came to light, social media reacted, with people demanding the man be arrested immediately.

    A statement issued by the District Central Police said that the accused, a resident og Bhanguria Goth of Azizabad, has been arrested. He runs a mobile bakery service on a motorcycle.

    Moreover, the FIR of the incident was also lodged which included sections 294 and 354 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

    The Current spoke with Murtaza Wahab, Mayor of Karachi and a member of Pakistan People’s Party, in regards to the persistent harassment cases in the city.

    “As Mayor Karachi, I believe in protecting every citizen. Such incidents of sexual violence are horrific and shameful and will not be tolerated at all. The culprit in this video has been arrested. Police have also arrested another person for a similar offence,” he said.

    Similar incidents have taken place in the previous months.

    Earlier this month, a video showed a young man riding a motorcycle on Rashid Minhas Road harassing university students travelling in a bus.

    In July, a man stripped himself naked and sexually harassed a woman in broad daylight.

  • Parliament enacted legislation with ‘good intentions’, says Chief Justice Isa

    Parliament enacted legislation with ‘good intentions’, says Chief Justice Isa

    The Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Qazi Faez Isa, while hearing petitions filed against the Practice and Procedure Act (2023), remarked that the Parliament has enacted the legislation with good intentions. “If a patient is dying, can a person with medical understanding allow the patient to die just because he is not a doctor? Parliament is told that the number game should be complete, but one person comes and makes Parliament a rubber stamp,” he said.

    A full court headed by CJP Qazi Faez Isa is hearing petitions against the Practice and Procedure Act (2023) in the Supreme Court.

    During the hearing, Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan remarked that Parliament cannot make rules or legislate to make rules; only the Supreme Court has the authority to change the rules within the scope of the existing law.

    The CJP said that the Constitution says that the Supreme Court is authorised to make its own rules of practice and procedure.

    Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said that the Constitution already binds the Supreme Court to make rules in accordance with the Constitution and the law, while the Chief Justice of Pakistan, while talking to the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Abid Zubairi, said that time is short, asking what difference does it make to the option.

    Abid Zubairi said in his arguments that even if the words of making rules according to the constitution and law are removed from the constitution, it will not make a difference, to which CJP Isa said that it is fine; the answer has come.

    Abid Zubairi said that when the Supreme Court made the rules, they could not be changed by law, and the CJP said that the hearing has to be completed today, as he wanted to hear the lawyers.

  • Dulha arrested for child-marriage in Faisalabad

    Dulha arrested for child-marriage in Faisalabad

    A groom has been arrested on the charge of child-marriage in Satyana area of Faisalabad.

    According to the local police, the accused had married a 10-year-old girl two weeks ago.

    The local police say that raids are being conducted in search of the young bride, while they are also searching for the nikah-khawan, witnesses, and the father of the bride — all of whom are to be arrested

  • Israel announces ‘complete siege’ on Gaza

    Israel announces ‘complete siege’ on Gaza

    Gaza Strip, an already besieged area, will now face a “total” blockade from Israel including a ban on food and water.

    On Monday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that authorities are to cut electricity and block food and fuel as part of “a complete siege” on Hamas-run Gaza which consists of a population of 2.3 million people — one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

    “We are putting a complete siege on Gaza … No electricity, no food, no water, no gas – it’s all closed,” Gallant said in a video statement.

    Israel-Hamas war

    On October 7, in an unexpected turn of events, Hamas fighters attacked Israeli bases and settlements.

    Hamas launched dozens of rockets into Israel as part of ‘Operation Al Aqsa Storm’ against illegal settlements in the occupied territory.

    From Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif gave a statement, stating, “Today the people are regaining their revolution,” he said in the recorded message, as he called on Palestinians from east Jerusalem to northern Israel to join the fight and “expel the occupiers and demolish the walls.”

    “We must set the earth on fire under the feet of the occupiers,” Deif added.

    He also claimed to have fired over 5,000 rockets into Israel.

    On the contrary, Israel has declared a “state of readiness”. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “We are at war and we will win”

    “Our enemy will pay the type of price which it has never known,” Netanyahu said in video statement.

    Read more:

  • Pakistani Journalists furious over ‘Whatsapp’ solution by ICC for World Cup coverage

    Pakistani Journalists furious over ‘Whatsapp’ solution by ICC for World Cup coverage

    India has not granted a visa to any Pakistani journalist to cover the cricket World Cup 2023 yet and the International Cricket Council (ICC) has come up with a solution stating that questions can be asked via Whatsapp, provoking more anger.

    As a temporary solution while Pakistani journalists await clearance for World Cup coverage in India, the ICC has introduced a method for them to submit their questions to an ICC media manager via WhatsApp. These questions will then be presented to the Pakistani representative attending the media conferences.

    The ICC released a statement saying, “In addition to fielding questions from the present media, the Pakistani representative at the media conference will also respond to a selection of queries submitted by members of the Pakistani media who are still awaiting travel approval for the event.”

    Expressing their disappointment, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has lodged a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC). Recent reports indicate that no Pakistani journalist was present at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad when Pakistan kicked off their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands last week.

    The PCB conveyed their disappointment in a letter to the ICC, stating, “The PCB is dismayed by the uncertainty faced by Pakistani journalists and fans in obtaining Indian visas to cover Pakistan’s opening game in the ICC World Cup. Pakistani journalists and fans are expressing deep concern, putting us under immense pressure.”

    In response, an ICC spokesperson commented, “We recognize the vital role played by journalists and passionate fans in elevating the spirit and ambiance of sporting events.”

    “This is an obligation of our host and they are working hard on it with our full support. Every effort is being made to get this sorted,” an ICC spokesperson told The Current.

    Pakistan Cricket Board Management Committee Chairman Mr. Zaka Ashraf has called upon Pakistan Foreign Secretary Syrus Sajjad Qazi and raised serious concerns and alarm over the delay in fans and journalists visas for India to cover the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. 

    The chairman also requested the Foreign Secretary to take up the issue with India’s Home Ministry through the Pakistan High Commission Office in New Delhi. The PCB has also taken serious notice of security threats being reported in Indian media and requested the government to evaluate player’s security in India. He emphasised that the well-being and safety of the Pakistan squad were of paramount importance.

    PCB is extremely disappointed to see that journalists from Pakistan and fans are still facing uncertainty about obtaining an Indian visa to cover Pakistan games in ICC World Cup 2023. In the meantime, PCB has again reminded ICC and BCCI of their respective obligations and terms and conditions stipulated in the Host agreement to guarantee visas for fans and journalists of participating teams.

    Pakistani Journalists are upset over this entire situation.

    Abdul Ghaffar, a sporta Journalist wrote took to X (formerly Twitter),

    “ICC instead of asking Pakistan Journo to send questions via Whatsapp must make sure well in advance that Pakistan Media gets visa on time and travelled,” he wrote.

    Another sports journalist, Ubaid Awan, withdrew his ICC media accreditation for World Cup 2023 in protest.