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  • Indian court orders man to get Rakhi tied from woman he molested, sparks outrage on Twitter

    Indian court orders man to get Rakhi tied from woman he molested, sparks outrage on Twitter

    The Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled that an accused molester who forced entry into a woman’s house could be granted bail on grounds that he agrees to get a rakhi tied by her on the day of Rakshabandhan. The court also asked the man to give Rs 11,000 to the woman as part of a customary offering made by brothers to sisters on the occasion and seek her blessings.

    Rakshabandhan is an Indian ceremony during which a sister ties a bracelet to her brother’s wrist to honour the relationship between brother and sister.

    In the order, the court said, “The applicant, along with his wife, shall visit the house of the complainant with a rakhi (thread/band) on August 3 at 11 am with a box of sweets and request the complainant to tie the rakhi band to him with the promise to protect her to the best of his ability for all times to come.”

    The man named Vikram Bagri is accused of entering the 30-year-old woman’s house in Ujjain on April 20. Bagri has also been ordered to give Rs 5,000 to the complainant’s son to buy clothes and sweets.

    The bizarre order sparked outrage on social media.

    https://twitter.com/poojadesaid/status/1290009734297391107?s=20
    https://twitter.com/mobeenrb/status/1289992785697705984?s=20
  • Information Ministry gets six top officials from PTI’s digital media cell, reports claim

    Information Ministry gets six top officials from PTI’s digital media cell, reports claim

    Six members of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) digital media cell have been appointed at top positions in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, a notification issued on Monday by the Establishment Division confirmed.

    According to the Establishment Division’s notification, one officer would be appointed at the Management Pay-II (MP-II) pay scale and five at the MP-III level. The MP-II and MP-III appointments would be equivalent to Grade-21 and Grade-20 civil servant jobs, it added.

    Imran Haider Ghazali was hired at the MP-II scale, whereas Shahbaz Khan, Muhammad Muzammil Hassan, Usman bin Zaheer, Naeem Ahmed Yasin, and Syeda Dhanak Hashmi at the MP-III scale.

    According to reports, following months of candidate assessments and interviews, Imran Ghazali was appointed the general manager of the Digital Media Wing (DMW).

    This March, the federal cabinet approved a supplementary grant of Rs42.791 million ($256,000) for the creation of a DMW, which aims to ostensibly counter fake news that damages the federal government’s repute among social media users. The DMW is meant to help the government formulate its policies on digital media and be helpful in countering the criticism the government is facing due to inflation and high electricity tariff.

    Sources told Profit that the DMW will work as a strategic unit of the Government of Pakistan to provide results-oriented media content, digital public relations, and will give authentic government updates on digital media. As the general manager of the DMW, Ghazali has been tasked with leading a data-driven, growth-oriented team to further the interests of the State of Pakistan locally and internationally.

    “DMW will also be responsible for curating the digital content for official social media assets of the government,” said a source. “It will also be organising and verifying social media accounts of all federal government ministries and will be enhancing their digital media presence.”

    As the founding member of the PTI’s social media team, Ghazali is credited with creating the online presence of Prime Minister Imran Khan and led social media for the political party during the 2013 elections, while working with Starcom Pakistan. The Publicis agency went on to lead the 2018 media strategy that won PTI the elections on a $4.7 million media budget.

    According to an Information Ministry statement in response to media reports that the appointments had been approved without any competition, the recruitment was done according to a procedure approved by Prime Minister Imran Khan for its ‘Digital Media Wing’ back in April 2020. The latest job vacancies, the ministry added, were also advertised in the newspapers as per law.

    It said a total of 76 applications were received for the position of ‘General Manager’, whereas 67 for the ‘Digital Media Consultant’ vacancy. All in all, some 461 people applied to the jobs across seven MP scales, it added.

    The recruitment in the digital media wing were made by a special selection board after it conducted interviews, the ministry noted, adding that a summary of the selected individuals was approved by the Prime Minister on July 20.

    Those who have been hired would be paid Rs75,000 a month, it said. The candidates for the remaining 16 posts had been shortlisted, it added further.

    Meanwhile, Focal Person to PM on Digital Media Dr Arsla Khalid said all successful candidates were top names from digital media industry.

    He went on to say that no other successful candidate than Imran Ghazali was affiliated with the PTI, and even Ghazali, like others was a professional.

    According to sources, Imran Ghazali has 14 years of experience in the industry. He is also one of the pioneers of social media campaigning in Pakistan with over 120,000 followers on his personal accounts. He has been speaking as a social media strategist at various public events and has been consulting various global organisations on digital media.

  • Constable opens fire on jailed man for asking for a cigarette repeatedly

    A cop opened fire on a prisoner at a police station in Lahore after he repeatedly asked the officer for a cigarette.

    According to reports, the incident took place at Chuhang police station in Lahore, where Constable Waris wounded an imprisoned man, Zeeshan, who was taken into custody relating to electricity theft.

    “The constable opened fire after the inmate repeatedly asked for a cigarette from Waris, who was appointed at the security of a lockup at the police station,” they said.

    The injured was taken to a hospital for medical treatment as police arrested the cop for injuring a prisoner and registered a case against him.

    The police said that they would investigate the incident and determine if it was over mere refusing a cigarette or anything else.

    The doctors, who treated the injured accused, said that he was currently out of danger.

  • YouTubers, fans seek YouTube office in Pakistan

    So far, over 30k tweets have been posted with the popular hashtag #WeWantYouTubeOfficeInPAK as the users request the company to create its office in Pakistan as it will resolve many problems that Pakistani YouTubers face.

    https://twitter.com/KhujLeeFamily/status/1288416791912382466?s=20

    Last week, Pakistan’s famous YouTuber Raza Samo’s account, “Awesome Speaks” got hacked and he took to social media to share the awful news.

    As a result, his fans have initiated protest on Twitter for opening a YouTube office in Pakistan which will bring solutions to YouTubers in Pakistan.

    While addressing to the demands, a famous TV personal turned YouTuber Waqar Zaka tweeted: “YT (YouTube) you must register at PTAofficalpk and Security exchange commission in Pakistan as you are earning from our country and not providing proper support to our users. I am willing to give you free space so please come to Pakistan.”

    YouTube Space is a physical location created by the social media giant for the content creators. The space offers various facilities to the popular YouTubers for producing content. It is also a hub where multiple workshops and community events are arranged for the YouTubers.

    YouTube has created both YouTube Space and YouTube offices in most of the Asian countries. Unfortunately, it does not come to Pakistan, neither YouTube Office nor YouTube space is to be found anywhere.

    A vast number of YouTube accounts are from Pakistan, but due to the nonexistence of YouTube offices in the country, the users face a number of problems that takes the company forever to address.

  • 9-year-old Pakistani girl sets Guinness World Record for arranging fastest periodic table

    A nine-year-old Pakistani girl has set a new world record becoming the fastest and youngest in the world to arrange the chemical elements of the periodic table in the shortest possible time.

    Natalia Najam, hailing from Lahore achieved the Guinness World Records title after arranging all elements of the periodic chart in just 2 minutes and 42 seconds on July 18, 2020. She broke the previous record of an Indian professor by 7 seconds.

    Najam broke the record of an Indian economics professor Meenakshi Agarwal who completed the same task in 2 minutes and 49 seconds.

    In an interview Najam’s parents shared that she has not received formal schooling and has been educated at home. 

  • Shaukat Khanum CEO made special assistant to PM Imran on health

    Shaukat Khanum CEO made special assistant to PM Imran on health

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has appointed Dr Faisal Sultan, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, as his special assistant on national health services, regulations and coordination, a statement issued by his office said on Monday.

    “Dr Faisal Sultan shall hold status of federal minister,” read a tweet by the government.

    Dr Sultan, who also serves as the PM’s focal person on COVID-19, will replace Dr Zafar Mirza, who had resigned last week.

    A consultant physician on medicine and infectious diseases, Dr Sultan completed his graduation from Lahore’s King Edward Medical College University (KEMU) in 1987. He also holds the postgraduate degrees of Diplomate American Board of Internal Medicine (1992) and Diplomate American Board of Infectious Disease (1994).

    Reacting to his successor’s appointment, Dr Mirza said: “I am very pleased about the appointment of Dr Faisal Sultan as SAPM health. As [a] federal minister he will be able to make decisions which [are] important.”

    Dr Mirza, who reports claimed had been told to resign from office, termed Dr Sultan “a capable professional with a good worldview” and a good friend, wishing him success in his new role.

  • TikTok reunites man with family after more than a year

    TikTok reunites man with family after more than a year

    TikTok has helped reunite a man with his brother and other family members in Sukkur.

    According to reports, the brother of the missing man recognised him after a video of his went viral on the video-sharing mobile application. He then approached the local police who helped him locate his missing brother, reuniting the missing person with his family.

    SSP Sukkur told media outlets that a man came to them claiming that the person who posed as a beggar in the viral video was his brother and asked for their assistance in locating him. He said that the missing man was identified as Arz Muhammad and that he was missing for more than a year. Muhammad’s family had also earlier registered a complaint with the police over his disappearance.

    TikTok is one of the most popular social media apps in the country. Recently, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had issued a final warning to the app over obscene and immoral content. In a statement, the regulatory body said that complaints were received from different segments of society against immoral, obscene and vulgar content on social media applications particularly TikTok and Bigo.

    It also blamed the apps for bringing negative effects on society in general and youth in particular.

  • Microsoft to buy TikTok before September 15

    On Sunday, Microsoft said they are “prepared to explore a purchase of TikTok in the United States”.

    This is for the first time that Microsoft has confirmed they are in talks with ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, for the acquisition of the video-sharing platform.

    Microsoft has provided notice of their intent to purchase TikTok service in the countries like the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, which would result in Microsoft owning and operating TikTok services in these markets.

    It is not clear how Microsoft would divide market territories from other areas where TikTok operates, like Europe and Africa.

    The blog post describes the discussions as “preliminary” but addresses privacy concerns, it said the company would “ensure that all private data of TikTok’s American users are transferred to and remains in the United States.

    “To the extent that any such data is currently stored or backed-up outside the United States,” the post continues, “Microsoft would ensure that this data is deleted from servers outside the country after it is transferred.”

    The recent development came after a conversation between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and President Donald Trump.

    “Microsoft fully appreciates the importance of addressing the President’s concerns. It is committed to acquiring TikTok after the complete security review and providing proper economic benefits to the United States, including the United States Treasury,” says Microsoft.

    The statement further says, “Microsoft wants to acquire TikTok in a matter of weeks, probably before September 15, 2020.”

    Microsoft will not purchase the platform entirely on its own investment but will ask investors to participate in the purchase of the platform.

  • Turkey with Pakistan on Kashmir: president

    Turkey with Pakistan on Kashmir: president

    President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has assured Turkey’s support for Pakistan’s stance on the Kashmir dispute, President Dr Arif Alvi has said.

    According to a statement by the President’s Office, the two counterparts held a telephonic conversation in which they “exchanged Eidul Azha greetings” besides discussing the Kashmir issue and the coronavirus pandemic.

    President Alvi said that occupation regimes were continuing their “extreme repression” in Palestine and Indian occupied Kashmir even during the coronavirus pandemic.

    “[The] Turkish president assured that his country would continue to support Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir as both brotherly countries have similar goals.”

    Erdogan also invited Alvi to visit Turkey after the end of the pandemic.

    While congratulating Erdogan on the reopening of Istanbul’s historical Hagia Sophia as a mosque after nearly nine decades, President Alvi “reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast support to Turkey on its legitimate interests and assured that Pakistan will continue its policy to provide Turkey with all possible support”.

    The Turkish leader also called Prime Minister Imran Khan and the two leaders shared their views on a range of issues.

    The prime minister too felicitated Erdogan on reopening of the Hagia Sophia for prayers and told him that “millions of Pakistanis watched it live on television”, according to a tweet by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

    During their conversation, Prime Minister Imran recalled Erdogan’s visit to Pakistan for the sixth session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) in February and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to “further fortify bilateral cooperation” in all areas.

    “Pakistan deeply appreciates Turkey’s steadfast support for the just cause of Kashmir, which President Erdogan reaffirmed during his address to the joint session of parliament in February 2020,” the PMO said.

    Erdogan’s contact with the Pakistani leadership comes days before the world marks one year since India revoked the semi-autonomous status of occupied Kashmir and split it into two federal territories, causing further determination in New Delhi’s ties with Islamabad.

  • Pakistani family makes foundation honouring daughter killed in US shooting

    Pakistani family makes foundation honouring daughter killed in US shooting

    The parents of Sabika Sheikh, an exchange student from Pakistan who was killed in a fatal mass shooting in Texas two years ago, have created a foundation to honour her by giving university scholarships to low-income Pakistani women, according to a report in The Houston Chronicle.

    17-year-old Sabika was among the 10 people murdered in the attack at Santa Fe High School near Houston, Texas. Thirteen others were wounded.

    “I’m always worried that we might forget (Sabika),” Farah Naz, the mother, told The Houston Chronicle during a Zoom interview with the family. “But starting this foundation I know this is impossible. I know if I continue working with the foundation, she will always be with me.”

    The foundation is a partnership between the Sheikh family and several nonprofit organisations. ACIE, the American Institute for Foreign Study and the International Education and Resource Network are providing a seed grant of $300,000 to establish the foundation.

    Naz, Sabika’s mother, said that ACIE representatives approached the family prior to the coronavirus pandemic with the idea of honouring Sabika’s legacy through an educational foundation. While the pandemic presented some obstacles in getting the organisation off the ground, in part because the academic year in Pakistan was postponed, the hope is that the foundation will be prepared to give out scholarships whenever Pakistani schools reopen.

    The Sheikh family said the scope of the foundation will target scholarships for universities in Pakistan for now, but will eventually expand to offering exchange opportunities for American schools “so that the connection and ties” with the United States continue, said Sania Sheikh, Sabika’s sister.

    The new foundation will be led by a board of directors including representatives from the Sheikh family as well as four independent directors selected by the family in consultation with the partnering organisations.