Blog

  • ‘Siyasat mein violence ki koyi jagah nahin,’ Condemnations pour in after assassination attempt on Imran Khan

    ‘Siyasat mein violence ki koyi jagah nahin,’ Condemnations pour in after assassination attempt on Imran Khan

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan narrowly escaped an assassination attempt on Thursday while leading his party’s long march in Wazirabad. The Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was shot in the leg and is currently receiving medical treatment at Shaukat Khanum Hospital, Lahore. According to media reports, one person was killed while seven people sustained injuries.

    Other than Khan, PTI leaders Faisal Javed and Ahmad Chattha were also injured. Following the tragic incident, leaders from across the political spectrum condemned the attack on Khan.

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the firing incident and said that an immediate report of the incident has been sought from Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah.

    In a tweet, he said, “I strongly condemn the firing at Imran Khan’s rally. An immediate report of the incident has been sought from the Interior Minister. We pray for the speedy recovery of Imran and other injured. The federal government will provide all possible support to the Punjab government in the security/investigation of the incident. Violence should have no place in country’s politics.”

    President Dr Arif Alvi took to Twitter to express his concern, saying that “This attack was sad, alarming, deceitful and cowardly”.

    The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has said that the firing incident during PTI’s long march near Gujranwala is “highly condemnable”.

    “Sincere prayers for precious life lost and speedy recovery and well-being of Imran Khan and all those injured in this unfortunate incident,” the military’s media wing said.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif also condemned the attack and prayed for Khan’s and other party leaders’ recovery.

    Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto said, “Strongly condemn the attack on Imran Khan. Praying for his swift recovery.”

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)’s Twitter account tweeted that Former President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the firing incident. He said, “I pray to God that Imran Khan recovers soon”.

    PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz also condemned the unfortunate incident.

    Sanaullah’s office’s official account said that on the instructions of PM Shehbaz, a report of the incident was sought from the Chief Secretary and Inspector General of Police (IG) Police Punjab.

    From PML-N leaders, Ahsan Iqbal also came forward to condemn the attack.

    He tweeted, “Thank God Imran Niazi is safe. There is no room for violence in politics. I strongly condemn the incident of firing on Imran Niazi’s container in Wazirabad. The Punjab government should review the security arrangements.”

    Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai wished the PTI chief a full recovery.

    “Attacks on leaders of any political belief or party are always wrong. And violence is never an acceptable protest”, she said in a tweet

  • Imran Khan par qatilana hamla: what we know so far about the assassination attempt on Khan

    Imran Khan par qatilana hamla: what we know so far about the assassination attempt on Khan

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan survived an assassination attempt on Day seven of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) ‘Haqeeqi Long March’ as his container moved through Punjab’s Wazirabad.

    Here is a timeline of what happened.

    4:21PM – Firing near Imran’s container during the long march
    An unidentified assailant opens fire on PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s container near the Allah Ho Chowk

    4:37PM – Reports of Khan shot at and injured
    PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry confirms that Khan was shot in the leg in a targeted attack during the long march in Wazirabad today. Footage of Imran, with a bandaged leg, being moved from the container to a vehicle with the help of his security team surface.

    4:43PM – Imran injured, waves at supporters after injury, moved to a car
    Khan is rushed to a safe place as per initial reports. He is shot in the leg but is stable while being taken to hospital. He waves at supporters too.

    5:25PM – Prime Minister Shehbaz seeks immediate report on issue
    Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of and “severely condemns” the firing incident at Imran Khan’s long march.

    He instructs Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to seek an immediate report on the incident from the IGP and chief secretary Punjab.

    6:00PM – Shooter confesses to crime
    The suspect/shooter, caught by police on the scene, says that he wants to kill PTI Chairman Imran Khan because “Khan was misleading the public.”

    “He (Imran) was misleading the people and I could not bear watching it so I killed him… attempted to kill him,” the shooter says in a video statement.

    “I tried my best to kill him. I wanted to kill just Imran Khan and no one else.”

    6:20PM – Reports of Khan being treated at Shaukat Khanum Hospital surface
    Khan is taken to Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital in Lahore for immediate treatment.

    6:50PM – Punjab IG wants report on attack
    According to Dawn News, Inspector-General of Punjab Police, Faisal Shahkar, took notice of the attack on PTI chairman Imran Khan and summons a report from Gujrat regional police officers.

    Meanwhile, the deputy police officer of Gujrat is instructed to reach the attack site.

    According to a statement from a police spokesperson, the attack will be investigated from all angles and the perpetrators will be arrested immediately.

    7:00PM – Khan out of danger, being treated at Hospital
    Dr Faisal Sultan, while talking to the media, says that Khan is out of danger and is being treated at the hospital.

    8:15PM – Khan names three suspects behind today’s attack: Asad Umar

    PTI leader Asad Umar, in a video message today, reveals Khan named three suspects who could be behind today’s attack.

    “Shortly before this video, Imran Khan called us and told us to convey this message to the nation on his behalf. He said that he had received some information earlier as well.”

    “He said that he believes three people were involved in the attack […] and those three people are Shehbaz Sharif, Rana Sanaullah and Major General Faisal,” Umar said.

    He also said that the PTI chief has demanded that Shehbaz, Sanaullah and General Faisal be immediately removed from their posts. “Otherwise, a protest will be held across the country.”

    8:53PM – Punjab CM orders constitution of JIT to probe attack

    Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi instructs the police to form a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the attack on PTI’s convoy in Wazirabad today.

    Elahi says that the counter-terrorism department will be placed on the team to investigate the motives of the incident.

    “We want to know who is behind the incident, who trained the accused, how much money was he given and where did he get it from,” the chief minister said.

    9:10PM – Federal govt to ask Punjab govt to form JIT to probe attack on Imran

    The federal government decides to ask Punjab government to form a joint investigation team comprising senior officers to investigate the attack on Imran Khan, according to Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah.

    Sanaullah, in a press conference alongside Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb in Islamabad, said the entire government condemned the firing incident.

    He said the federal government has assured the Punjab government of “assistance of any kind” during the investigation.

  • Sialkot college made it compulsory for students to attend IK’s speech

    Sialkot college made it compulsory for students to attend IK’s speech

    Administration of a government college in Sialkot made it compulsory for students to attend a speech by former prime minister Imran Khan, the college’s principal has confirmed to Geo Fact Check.


    The notification being shared is dated October 25. It reads: “Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan will deliver a speech at the ground of Government Murray College Sialkot tomorrow on Wednesday (26-10-2022) at 11:30am. Staff participation along with students is mandatory.”
    The principal of the Government Jinnah Islamia College, Professor Mujahid Hussain Bukhari, while talking to Geo Fact Check said that he had sent out a notification requiring students to attend Khan’s speech.


    Dr Ashiq Hussain, the director Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI) Punjab , has denied that any such notification has been issued. It’s been alleged that Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI) Punjab had ordered the Government Jinnah Islamia Graduate College, Sialkot, to ensure that students hear Khan speak.

    “There is no such order,” he told Geo Fact Check, “The students participated out of their own will.”

    https://twitter.com/RabNBaloch/status/1585241132333600768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1585241132333600768%7Ctwgr%5E7ef45d6bcff871eddaaf183706875ab43f4e5c75%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geo.tv%2Flatest%2F450178-fact-check-yes-a-college-in-sialkot-made-it-mandatory-for-students-to-attend-imran-khans-speech

  • WhatsApp launches ‘Communities’ to organise group conversations

    WhatsApp launches ‘Communities’ to organise group conversations

    Communities, a new WhatsApp feature that offers bigger, more organised conversation groups that was first put through testing earlier this year, is now officially available.

    Communities introduce a number of new features to the messaging platform with the goal of enhancing communication and organisation among businesses, clubs, schools, and other private groups. These features include admin controls, support for sub-groups and announcement groups, 32-person voice and video calls, larger file sharing, emoji reactions, and polls.

    Communities itself provide end-to-end encryption and can accommodate groups of up to 1,024 users.

    Emoji reactions, massive file sharing (up to 2GB), and the option for administrators to remove messages are just a few of the features created for Communities that have already made their way to the WhatsApp platform before today’s debut. According to the business, WhatsApp will now enable polls, 32-person video calls, and larger group sizes more widely outside of Communities.

    Due to the fact that both the new feature and Facebook Groups enable features like sub-groups, file sharing, admin functionality, and more, there may initially be some parallels between the two. WhatsApp Communities, however, are designed to be used by people who may already be connected in the real world, unlike Facebook Groups, which are frequently used by dispersed strangers with a shared interest.

    Since WhatsApp is phone number-based, as opposed to Facebook, members of these discussion groups already know one another because they may have swapped phone numbers or at the very least provided their numbers with the group admin. The phone numbers will only be made visible to admins and members of the same sub-groups as you; they will remain concealed from the rest of the Community.

    This aims to strike a compromise between users’ demands for privacy and the necessity of enabling communication amongst group members. For instance, even if you don’t know every parent on your child’s sports team personally, you’re probably at ease talking to them in a small group setting that might be a part of the larger school community.

    In addition, WhatsApp Communities are concealed, in contrast to Facebook Groups, which may be found on the site. You must be asked to join; there won’t be a search or discovery option available.

  • Rana Sanaullah wants to send Khan to ‘Mirchi ward’ of the ‘Machh jail’ in Balochistan

    Rana Sanaullah wants to send Khan to ‘Mirchi ward’ of the ‘Machh jail’ in Balochistan

    Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that Imran Khan, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), would be kept in the ‘Mirchi ward’ of the Machh Jail in Balochistan.

    “I will keep him [Khan] in the Mirchi Ward at Machh Jail as several politicians have lived there previously,” he said during Geo News’ programme ‘Capital Talk’ as the war of words between the government and PTI showed no signs of cooling down.

    Sanauallah vowed that if he laid his hands on Khan, he won’t “spare him”.

    Discussing the political stand-off on a talk show, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the Balochistan National Party (BNP) leader Akhtar Mengal has taken a promise from him that Imran Khan, if arrested, would be kept in Machh jail in Balochistan.

    Rana said that a lot of politicians have been detained at the Machh jail. Imran Khan would have been behind bars by now if the cabinet agreed with him, he added.

    Recalling the incidents that took place on May 25 this year, during Khan’s first long march towards Islamabad, the interior minister lamented not arresting him on that day.

    “I wish a case should have been filed instead of forming a sub-committee,” he said, adding that if the cabinet had paid attention to his words the authorities would have arrested the PTI chief.

    Responding to Sanaullah’s remarks PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said, ” Rana Sanaullah’s statement is more of a gunda (goon) than that of an interior minister.”

    https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1588046664111202305?s=20&t=fNFbYwuhOuHx5n7Iml3UMQ

    Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s long march toward Islamabad has entered its seventh day on Thursday.

  • $8 for Starbucks coffee is cool, but a Twitter badge is not? Netizens react to Musk’s meme

    $8 for Starbucks coffee is cool, but a Twitter badge is not? Netizens react to Musk’s meme

    Elon Musk’s intentions to charge an additional $8 per month for the Twitter Blue service have both amused and incensed online users. This may be the rationale behind Musk’s defense of his choice to charge verified users for their Twitter blue tick badge.

    Musk appears to have turned to memes in an effort to spread the word about his lofty goal of turning Twitter into a revenue-generating platform. The head of SpaceX, who is renowned for his blunt assessment of everything on Earth, has been jokingly outlining his new plan.

    https://twitter.com/Therealdavedfs1/status/1587894312838529024

    In one of his tweets, he posted a meme depicting individuals enjoying their $8 Starbucks coffee while grumbling about having to spend the same amount to maintain their Twitter verification badge.

    Users reacted strongly to the meme that compared the cost of coffee to that of a Twitter subscription. Some people praised the choice, while others criticised the millionaire.

    “They don’t see the vision Mr Musk. I’d pay $80 for a checkmark for even just 30 minutes. Everybody hating on Elon should instead be grateful for the service he is doing for us. He doesn’t get enough appreciation,” said a user. “Mocking of users will continue until profits improve,” chimed in another user.

    Another meme posted by the Tesla CEO depicts two characters discussing shelling out $8 for freedom of speech. Another responds to the question of why pay $8 for Twitter verification by stating that he can still use Twitter for free without the advantages.

    He claimed that Twitter is a fascinating site in another tweet. “Twitter is simply the most interesting place on the Internet. That’s why you’re reading this tweet right now,” read his tweet. In another tweet, Musk said it was good to be attacked by right and left at the same time. “Being attacked by both right & left simultaneously is a good sign,” he wrote.

    On November 1, Musk announced the $8 per month subscription plan for Twitter on his Twitter account. The new CEO continued by outlining several premium services to which users will have access.

    According to him, platform users will be able to publish long videos and audio files as well as receive priority treatment for replies and remarks. Additionally, there won’t be many adverts on subscribers’ feeds.

  • Yumna Zaidi takes us through her experience on ‘Bakhtawar’, opens up on risky career choices

    Yumna Zaidi takes us through her experience on ‘Bakhtawar’, opens up on risky career choices

    Yumna Zaidi is amongst the most talented actresses in Pakistan. The Pyar Ke Sadqay star recently engaged in a chat with a digital portal and discussed about her career choices.

    Her choice in selecting roles has always stemmed away from the traditional stories in mainstream dramas.

    HUM TV’s special Bakhtawar is a similar tale that touches upon the struggles of women in a male dominant world: a narrative that is quite controversial for the masses to digest. Yumna stars as the leading character, an independent young woman who is compelled to find work and build herself a better life. The highlight of this show is how the girl named Bakhtawar transforms herself into a man to achieve this goal.

    In an interview conducted by Maliha Rehman, the ‘Sinf-e-Aahan’ heroine talked about the struggles of taking up this demanding role, barefaced and in the costume of a man. Taking the mike, Yumna said, “It was a challenge to prepare for my role. Without makeup and baggy clothes, and having that tiny wig to look boyish, a girl like me or any actress in Pakistan would feel the same.”

    She further emphasized the process of becoming a man in the series, “My body was packed with different layers to hide my body, hair packed to look more like a man.”

    Yumna lamented about not being able to look pretty in this role but also spoke about the physical transformation the actor was required to complete for the two contrasting characters. She said, “It was a physical challenge, but it also required more. I had to learn to change my voice, as there was less time between the shoots to change my character from Bakhtawar to Bakhtu.”

    She also talked about her selection of scripts, as she’s known to choose narratives that are deviant from the norm. On being asked about her decisions, she answered, “When I got the script, I was super excited, so I picked it as a challenge.”

    Yumna then reflected on Bahktawar and why it turned out to be such a vital role. “In this world, regardless of its advances, women are still facing such injustice. No matter how powerful she is, or the time, women continue to face incidents that make you see the grim reality,” she added.

    She concluded her statement by praising her choice. “I have taken a story of a woman and her stand and struggle in life, which is something I am proud of and satisfied with.”

    She further added: “I walked on the roads and felt the difference”

    In the interview, Yumna recalled the biggest learning curve of her life while filming for the drama. During her shoots, the starlet was required to walk on roads freely with a hidden camera to capture her surroundings, giving it a more realistic picture.

    Yumna explained, “We had to shoot raw in markets with a hidden camera, so I had to walk on the roads and I felt the difference. I had a team, with bouncers and still felt uncomfortable. In the same market, when I was in a male’s get-up, I walked so comfortably, and I kept thinking about the women who walk on these roads. It was just a shoot, and I was fully protected, but not these women who go here every day.”

    She expressed that this realization of “privilege” and having “slightly more protected lives” has changed her whole outlook on life, making her more grateful for everything she has been blessed with, including security. Dressing up from Bakhtawar to Bakhtu was not only a physical journey for the actor but also a mental one that has taught the actor numerous life-long lessons.

    In another interview Yumna mentioned that her role in Ishq Zahe Naseeb starring Zahid Ahmed and Sami Khan was initially offered to Ayeza Khan and Neelam Muneer who turned down the role as its screen time was less than the other female part played by Sonya Hussyn.

    The actress is currently impressing critics and audiences alike with her phenomenal performance in Dil Na Umeed To Nahi.

  • Man wins lottery $30 million, hides it from his wife and family

    Man wins lottery $30 million, hides it from his wife and family

    A man in southern China is keeping his $29.9 million lottery jackpot win a secret from his wife and child, saying he was worried that the winnings might make them “lazy.”


    According to the Nanning Evening News, the man, identified only as Mr. Li, went alone to the lottery office in Nanning, in the southern province of Guangxi, to claim his reward. In pictures showing him accepting the cheque, he can be seen dressed in a bright yellow costume that completely covers his face and head.

    “I didn’t tell my wife and child for fear that they would be too complacent and would not work or work hard in the future,” the man told the newspaper last week.


    “I slept in a hotel because I was afraid to go out and lose the lottery ticket,” he said.


    The central government of China holds lotteries to collect funds for social welfare and athletics. In Guangxi, players choose one number on a blue ball and six numbers on red balls. The player claimed that the following numbers: 2, 15, 19, 26, 27, 29, and 2 were his winning combinations.

  • Pakistan to get high speed train technology from China

    Pakistan to get high speed train technology from China

    In accordance with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s pledge to assist cash-strapped Pakistan in its financial position, Pakistan and China have decided to begin a high-speed train project for roughly $9.85 billion.

    According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Main Line-1 is “a project of strategic importance” and the agreement was made during a meeting in Beijing between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Xi.

    The project entails modernising a 1,163-mile colonial-era track that runs from Karachi to Peshawar in order to accommodate high-speed trains, according to Bloomberg.

    The project, which has been in consideration for years, was officially approved by Pakistan earlier this week without disclosing the source of finance or offering any technical information.

    Officials in Pakistan anticipated receiving loans from China for the upgrading.

    The US has long criticised China for employing what it refers to as “debt diplomacy” to increase the dependence of developing countries on Beijing. Despite this, China postponed an earlier bailout for Pakistan as its debt skyrocketed, and it has been reducing loans to Africa as its economy weakens.

    According to a report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) published in September, state-owned commercial banks in China are owed nearly 30 per cent of Pakistan’s foreign debt.

    Xi and PM Shehbaz decided to finalise the plans for a Karachi inner-city train route during their meeting. The Chinese president also announced that his country would give Pakistan 500 million yuan ($68.7 million) to aid with reconstruction after flooding over the summer that caused more than 500,000 people to lose their homes.

    The People’s Bank of China said in a statement that the central banks of both nations had signed an agreement of cooperation on a yuan clearing in Pakistan on Wednesday without providing many other specifics.

  • ‘Should I attempt suicide after divorce?’: Kiran Ashfaque hits out at trolls after parting ways with Imran Ashraf

    ‘Should I attempt suicide after divorce?’: Kiran Ashfaque hits out at trolls after parting ways with Imran Ashraf

    Actor Imran Ashraf recently announced his divorce from designer Kiran Ashfaque after four years of marriage.

    Taking it to his Instagram, Imran wrote: “With a heavy heart, we announce that we have mutually and respectfully decided to part ways.”

    Imran Ashraf With Beautiful Wife, Dil Mom Ka Diya Latest Episode 9 - 17 -  YouTube

    However ever since the news broke out, netizens are trolling Kiran for leading a normal life.

    In response to criticism, she made it obvious that she and Imran had been apart for some time. She even went to the premiere of his film to offer her support, as she always does for his profession.

    Finally, Kiran has had enough and retaliated against everyone who had been condemning the way she was living.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEa7cv11Fb0

    Kiran stated that she is tired of the criticism she was receiving from everyone, especially women, and questioned what they wanted her to do. Suicide?