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  • Imran removed Asim Munir from DG ISI post in 2019 when Bushra Bibi’s corruption got exposed, PM Shehbaz

    Imran removed Asim Munir from DG ISI post in 2019 when Bushra Bibi’s corruption got exposed, PM Shehbaz

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, while addressing National Assembly (NA) on Monday, said that the then-PM Imran Khan transferred incumbent Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir from the post of Director-General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in 2019 because he had told Imran that his wife Bushra Bibi was involved in corruption.

    “I say this with full responsibility that incumbent army chief Gen Asim Munir when he was DG ISI, told PM Imran, that his wife was involved in corruption”, Sharif said.

    “But obviously Imran got furious about it and did not like it. And the rest is history,” the premier added.

    “Today I would like to say that Imran Khan has betrayed the nation by sprouting a lie. This is the reason why the former DG ISI was transferred … it was because he confronted the then-PM that his family members were involved in corruption.”

    On May 21, Khan categorically termed “completely false” the rumours regarding him removing COAS Munir from the post of DG ISI in 2019 because the then-spymaster wanted to investigate corruption cases involving Bushra Bibi.

    The PTI chief’s denial on Twitter comes after a Telegraph report stated: “It was as ISI chief that he is reported to have first clashed with Mr Khan, who was then prime minister. Gen Munir is reported to have informed Mr Khan he wanted to investigate allegations of corruption around his wife and her circle. Then, in June 2019, he was removed from his post only eight months into what was meant to be a three-year term.”

    In a tweet, Imran said: “This is completely false. Neither did Gen Asim show me any proof of my wife’s corruption nor did I make him resign because of that.”

    In his speech in NA today, Shehbaz claimed that he was not aware of the arrest warrants issued by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for Khan.

    He also clarified that the rioters of the May 9 events will be tried under existing laws, asserting that “no new laws are being introduced”.

  • Gold price in Pakistan is currently Rs5,000 higher than global market rate

    Gold price in Pakistan is currently Rs5,000 higher than global market rate

    The price of gold continued to increase in Pakistan on Monday, following the gains of last week. According to the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association, the rate of 24-carat gold rose by Rs2,000 per tola and Rs1,714 per 10 grammes, settling at Rs237,300 and Rs203,446, respectively.

    In the international market, the gold rate declined by $5, reaching $1,972 per ounce. Throughout last week, the rate of gold experienced fluctuations in both the domestic and international markets, amidst uncertainty surrounding the raising of the US debt limit.

    If the US debt limit, which is currently capped at $31.4 trillion, is not raised, it could trigger the first-ever US default.

    According to Geo, recent volatility in the domestic gold market can be attributed to various factors, including economic and political turmoil, high inflation, and currency depreciation. In such times, people tend to prefer buying yellow metal as a safe investment and a hedge.

    On May 10, the safe-haven bullion reached an all-time high of Rs240,000 per tola, driven by increased political uncertainty following the arrest of Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). However, it subsequently dropped in line with the decline in the international rate.

    Pakistan’s gold price peaks above global market levels

    The jewellers’ body also highlighted that local gold in Pakistan is currently overpriced by Rs5,000 per tola compared to the Dubai bullion market. Consequently, the Pakistani gold market is presently more expensive than the world market.

    Data shared by the association revealed a significant jump in the price of silver, with an increase of Rs50 per tola and Rs42.87 per 10 grammes, settling at Rs2,900 and Rs2,486.28, respectively.

  • Pervaiz Elahi’s cousin Wajahat withdraws his support in aftermath of May 9

    Pervaiz Elahi’s cousin Wajahat withdraws his support in aftermath of May 9

    Former Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Pervaiz Elahi’s cousin Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain has announced that he is withdrawing support for his Elahi over the May 9 episode in which Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) allegedly attacked military installations and government buildings.

    In a press conference in Lahore, Hussain condemned the violent protests of May 9, saying that some people in his family took poor decisions. “They will soon realise their mistakes,” he said.

    Referring to the patriarch of the clan, Wajahat said that Chaudhry Shujaat will welcome whoever wants to come back to Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), adding that the coming time would unite the Chaudhry family. “It is possible that whoever created misunderstandings is the one fixing them,” he said cryptically.

    Wajahat Hussain also advised Elahi’s son Moonis Elahi, a vocal proponent of PTI, to return to the PML-Q.

    Earlier this year, Wajahat Hussain, who is also the younger brother of PML-Q Chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, had sworn allegiance to Elahi when the latter left the PML-Q and joined PTI.

    A day earlier, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif went to the PML-Q chief’s home to meet him. Reportedly, Pervez Elahi left the house on the premier’s arrival. Both cousins live in adjacent houses in the same compound.

    According to Geo News, Elahi isn’t in contact with anyone since last night.

  • Shahid Afridi, Misbah-Ul-Haq, Younis Khan to represent Pakistan at Over-40s World Cup

    Shahid Afridi, Misbah-Ul-Haq, Younis Khan to represent Pakistan at Over-40s World Cup

    ‘Boom Boom’ Shahid Afridi will don the national colours once again along with multiple former superstars of cricket to represent Pakistan at the Over 40s World Cup, set to take place in September-October this year.

    The country’s veteran cricketers association has announced.


    Afridi, who represented Pakistan from 1996 to 2016, agreed to feature for the team after a meeting with Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association chairman Fawad Ijaz Khan and other officials on Thursday, said a PVCA press release.

    The former all-rounder currently runs a social welfare foundation in his own name which will be the “CSR Partner” for the tournament, according to the association.

    The Over 40s World Cup will see eight teams from Australia, West Indies, Canada, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, UAE and the US vie for the honours at the National Bank Stadium here from Sept. 23 to Oct. 8.


    Along with Pakistan’s most famous cricket star Shahid Afridi, former captains Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan will be the part of the emerging tournament.

  • Mockery of Princess Kate in ‘Citadel’, ‘The Little Mermaid’ enrages Twitter

    Recently, a few clips from ‘Citadel’ and ‘The Little Mermaid’ which appear to be making crude jokes about Princess Kate Middleton, have surfaced on Twitter and enraged users who have assumed that Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is the mastermind behind them.

    In ‘Citadel’, which stars Priyanka Chopra, a friend of Markle’s, a sexist joke was made about Middleton. In a scene from the third episode, a line says, “The chief of armed forces? You might as well have asked me how to get between the legs of the Duchess of Cambridge!”

    Middleton was formerly recognized as the Duchess of Cambridge, before her role was elevated after the death of Queen Elizabeth.

    According to Page Six, Priyanka Chopra, who is the main lead on the show, was present on set when this line was delivered, and was reportedly aware of it.

    Chopra and Markle were close friends before the Duchess’ marriage to Prince Harry, and Chopra attended their wedding in the UK, later writing a gushing note about her.

    In ‘The Little Mermaid’ a scene has been interpreted by fans as a dig at Middleton.

    In this scene, as Page Six reported, Prince Eric and Ariel meet after she sacrifices her voice to come on land. Eric is trying to guess what is her name, and his first guess is Diana, then Catharine. To which Arial makes a disgusted reaction to which Eric responds “OK, definitely not Catherine.”

    Since these two clips went viral on social media, fans have criticised Chopra’s actions as classless and slammed the makers behind ‘Citadel’ for allowing such a tasteless and sexist joke.

  • Meta slapped with record-breaking $1.3 billion fine for EU-US data transfer breach

    Meta slapped with record-breaking $1.3 billion fine for EU-US data transfer breach

    Meta has received a record-breaking fine of 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) from European privacy regulators due to the transfer of European Union (EU) user data to the United States (US).

    The decision stems from a case initiated by Austrian privacy activist Max Schrems, who argued that the existing framework for transferring EU citizen data to the US did not adequately protect Europeans from US surveillance.

    There have been several legal disputes surrounding mechanisms for transferring personal data between the US and the EU. The most recent arrangement, known as Privacy Shield, was invalidated by the European Court of Justice in 2020, which is the highest court in the EU.

    The Irish Data Protection Commission, responsible for overseeing Meta’s operations in the EU, accused the company of violating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the EU. Despite the 2020 ruling by the European court, Meta continued to transfer the personal data of EU citizens to the US. GDPR is a significant data protection regulation that governs companies operating within the EU, and it has been in effect since 2018.

    Meta utilized a mechanism called standard contractual clauses to facilitate the transfer of personal data between the EU and the US. This method had not been blocked by any EU court. However, the Irish data regulator stated that these clauses, along with other measures implemented by Meta in conjunction with the European Commission, did not adequately address the risks to the fundamental rights and freedoms of data subjects as highlighted by the European Court of Justice.

    The Irish Data Protection Commission also instructed Meta to halt any future transfer of personal data to the US within a five-month period following the decision.

    The 1.2 billion euro fine imposed on Meta is the largest ever penalty issued for breaching GDPR. Previously, the highest fine of 746 million euros had been levied against e-commerce giant Amazon for GDPR violations in 2021.

    Meta has announced its intention to appeal the decision and the fine. In a blog post on Monday, Meta’s President of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, and Chief Legal Officer, Jennifer Newstead, stated that they would seek a stay from the courts to pause the implementation deadlines due to the potential harm caused by the orders, particularly to the millions of Facebook users.

    This case involving Meta has once again brought attention to the efforts of the EU and Washington to establish a new data transfer mechanism. Although the US and EU reached a preliminary agreement on a new framework for cross-border data transfers last year, it has not yet come into effect.

    Meta is hopeful that the EU-US data privacy agreement will be established before the Irish regulator’s deadlines take effect. If the new framework is implemented within the expiration of the implementation deadlines, Meta’s services can continue without disruption or impact on users, as stated by Clegg and Newstead.

  • Kahaan baarish horehi hai? Apple, why are you doing this to us

    Kahaan baarish horehi hai? Apple, why are you doing this to us

    Despite a pleasant first week, this May is not being kind to Lahoris, with the temperature currently at 42°C which has left us without no option but to stay inside with ACs on 24/7.

    But, this is not the case as per the weather App on our iPhones. According to the application, while all of us are burning in this garmi, a thunderstorm is happening. We have just one question. Where are the rainy clouds?

    Social media users have also taken to Twitter to express their frustration.

    https://twitter.com/Xxrishrana/status/1660516708954828802?s=20

    According to a report, a searing heat wave that gripped parts of South Asia in April this year was made at least 30 times more likely by climate change.

    The climate change-fueled heat caused deaths, widespread hospitalizations, damaged roads, sparked fires and led to school closures in the region.

  • ‘Jhoom’ has intrigued audiences with a fresh take on enemies-to-lovers story

    The highly anticipated drama ‘Jhoom’ hit television screens across the country last week with Zara Noor Abbas and Haroon Kadwani starring as male leads in the exhilarating ‘enemies to lovers story’ between an older woman and a young man.

    Maryam (played by Abbas) is a doctor who has dedicated her life to her younger brother’s upbringing, adopting a ‘take no crap’ attitude from men while working long shifts at the hospital. While Kadwani essays Arryan, a former car engineer who has anger issues that emerged after his mother left his family.

    The first few episodes have released on media platforms and fans are already in love with the chemistry between Abbas and Kadwani, applauding the makers of the show for choosing to tackle age gap marriages while deciding to make their female lead an older and financially independent woman.

    https://twitter.com/apkokiyubataun/status/1659969693330059265?s=20
    https://twitter.com/kansafatima9/status/1659698244119851008?s=20
    https://twitter.com/HourlySyrup/status/1658088975230291969?s=20

    Something Haute founder Aamna Isani called it ‘intriguing’:

    “Two episodes of Jhoom certainly have intrigued me. It’s fresh. And appears to be thought provoking beyond the obvious. #Jhoom.”

    Here’s to hoping that the drama keeps us captivated with a gorgeous story, and hopefully not go down the ‘Tere Bin’ route?

    Finger’s crossed.

  • Imran challenges judicial commission investigating audio leaks

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, has challenged the three-member judicial commission that has been established by the government to look into a spate of audio leaks involving senior judges and the judiciary.

    The former Prime Minister (PM) on Monday moved the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the formation of the judicial commission. The petition was submitted by Imran Khan’s attorney, Babar Awan.

    In his petition, the PTI leader has said that no judge could be nominated to the judicial commission without the Chief Justice of Pakistan’s approval.

    He further said that the proper forum for any probe or taking action against any judge was the Supreme Judicial Council.

    On Monday, the judicial commission decided to make its proceedings public.

    Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court Naeem Akhtar Afghan, and Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court Aamer Farooq, are part of the commission.

    Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan appeared in the first meeting of the commission.

    Justice Qazi inquired from the attorney general that under which law the government formed the commission.

    The Attorney General said that this commission was formed under the Commission of Inquiry Act 2016.

    The federal government on Satur­day notified the formation of the commission to probe audio clips leaked on social media over the previous months.

  • Imran Khan given notice to pay Rs1.4 million luxury tax on Zaman Park home

    Imran Khan given notice to pay Rs1.4 million luxury tax on Zaman Park home

    Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has been sent a notice by the Excise and Taxation Department to pay Rs1.4 million as luxury tax on his Zaman Park residence.

    The last date for paying the tax is Monday, however, the department will serve another notice in case the amount is not paid.

    Imran Khan, who owns the house along with his four sisters, has reportedly received the notice.

    In April, the former Prime Minister was served a notice demanding clearing of Rs3.6 million in luxury tax arrears. In case the notice is not paid, the department reserves the right to approach Election Commission of Pakistan.