After the prices of petrol were drastically increased, actor and game show host Fahad Mustafa tweeted to Prime Minister Imran Khan, asking if he [Fahad] made the right decision about voting for PTI in the 2018 elections.
“Sir I know running a country is not an easy job but what happened to (Yeh Koi Rocket Science Nahi) you kept telling us that when you were in the opposition. Please tell me if I made the right decision voting you?,” asked Fahad.
@ImranKhanPTI Sir i know running a country is not an easy Job but what happened to (Yeh Koi Rocket Science Nahi) you kept telling us that when you were in the opposition. Plz tell me if i made the right decision voting you ?
Many people, including celebrities, are criticising the government for raising petrol prices.
Petrol mafia . Water mafia . Electricity mafia .. unemployment.. currency devaluations..corona crisis ..sugar mafia … atta mafia and much more … devastating 2 years let’s see what more is coming ..
The #PetrolPrice increase indicates that the Petrol Pumps and companies that were holding back their stock knew this was coming. This also means the governments inability to implement the smooth delivery of fuel when the prices were at RS 74. Answers needed!! @ImranKhanPTI
Veena Malik, who vehemently defends PM Khan and his government, also took to Twitter and wrote: “Khan Sahab awaam pooch rahi hai ub thora ghabra lein? (Khan Sahab, people are asking if we can panic a little now).”
خان صاحب عوام پوچھ رہی ہے اب تھوڑا گھبرا لیں؟ 😂#PetrolPrice
A protest led by members of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s Tiger Force on Saturday disrupted Special Assistant to the PM (PM) for Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari’s speech as disgruntled workers raised slogans against him as well as the ruling party’s leadership, reportedly forcing Bukhari to leave the rostrum.
The premier’s Corona Relief Tiger Force is part of an ambitious multi-pronged strategy by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government to impose movement restrictions and shut down industries while also ensuring that Pakistan’s poorest citizens — many of whom rely on daily wages to survive — continue to receive adequate supplies of food and other essentials.
Hundreds of thousands of volunteers from across the country, who signed up for the force, are reportedly discharging their duties as the country continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
While Saturday’s event organised in Attock seemed to be in violation of social distancing among other government guidelines to curb the spread of the virus, things took an uglier turn as soon as Bukhari took the floor to address the gathering.
According to reports, the volunteers raised slogans against Bukhari as well as other leaders of the ruling PTI in protest against the force’s focal person, namely Qadri Ahmed, “not being invited to the ceremony despite working hard for over a month”.
اٹک میں وزیر اعظم کے معاون خصوصی زلفی بخاری کی سربراہی میں ہونے والی ٹائیگر فورس کی تقریب بد نظمی کا شکار زلفی بخاری کو تقریر روکنے پڑھ گئی ٹائیگر فورس کے ایک گروپ نے اپنے علاقائی صدر کو نہ بلانے پر احتجاج کیا زلفی بخاری مردہ باد کے نعرے @sayedzbukhari@ImranKhanPTI@ArfaSays_pic.twitter.com/PmH2NKZkyg
The volunteers were then seen leaving the venue, raising slogans in Ahmed’s favour.
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A member of Bukhari’s staff, however, denied media reports and said that no one left the stage as it was “only a two to four-minute issue between [Adviser to PM on Climate Change] Malik Amin Aslam and the local president.
“Bukhari ended up completing his speech,” they said.
PTI Punjab lawmaker Syed Yawer Abbas Bukhari among other local leaders were also present on the occasion.
“Imran Khan’s recent Freudian slip reveals a lot.”
Two interesting things happened recently in the chaotic drama that is Pakistani politics: one is that the prime minister (PM) actually deigned to show up in the parliament, and the second is that he referred to al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden as a “shaheed [martyr]” during his speech on the floor of the National Assembly.
Imran Khan, speaking in the context of his usual “the world has mistreated Pakistan” narrative, referred to the Abottabad raid saying, “One thing that happened was that the Americans came and killed Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad… martyred him” — or in Urdu, “Abbottabad may aa kr maar diya… shaheed kar diya.” People picked up on this quickly and social media erupted in astonishment and dismay.
This was then followed by the very amusing attempts of IK apologists to clarify what “he actually meant”. One of his advisors attempted to fudge the facts by tweeting that the PM “twice used the word ‘killed’ for OBL” and that all the ensuing hoo-ha was actually a conspiracy “with clear attempt to make his remarks controversial unnecessarily”.
But the fact is that his remark is controversial. His slip of tongue reflects possibly his true political leanings and seems to be the logical continuation of the position he has taken on various issues over the years.
“He [Imran] is the man who despite (or maybe because of ) his elitist Lahori upbringing and western education, has always taken very right-wing and regressive political positions.”
He is the man who tried to portray the Taliban to western media as “misunderstood freedom fighters”, who was in favour of “negotiating” with militants, and who advocated for them being allowed to open an office — as if to suggest that they were a serious political group rather than a group of armed religious extremists responsible for the bloody attacks and bombings that resulted in the killing of thousands of Pakistanis (civilians, uniformed personnel, school children, teachers).
He is also the man who despite (or maybe because of ) his elitist Lahori upbringing and western education, has always taken very right-wing and regressive political positions. After his return to Pakistan, he became something of a born-again Muslim and also something of a born-again Pashtun, and his closest political allies over the decades have been right-wing and religious parties.
Apart from official spokespersons trying to clarify and defend the PM’s choice of words, there were also several others, including some non-official ones like the TV news anchor who describes himself on Twitter not as a ‘columnist’ but as a ‘prominent columnist.’ This gentleman tweeted repeatedly in defence of the great leader and he came out with a few gems about the leader’s slip of tongue, even bringing puja, idols and Modi into the conversation! He also remarked that “the discussion was not about OBL” but about how IK’s government “has improved communication and engagement with the US & the world”.
The way the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has reacted to this matter, illustrates both the way that it functions as well as the way in which Imran himself conducts his politics. For one thing, IK does not seem to believe in any sort of political dialogue of any kind of engagement that might lead to consensus.
“‘I am right’ could easily be his motto in life (inching even further towards the far right). You can call this either immense self-belief or insufferable arrogance…”
His approach seems to be that when he talks, everybody else should listen. His speeches are a mixture of pseudo-Islamic nationalism and political self-righteousness, peppered with abuse for opposition members. His contempt for parliament is evinced by his poor attendance record as well as the fact that he has not bothered to do any legislative work in parliament or do anything on any committees or in any other way be part of the community of parliamentarians. But when he talks, people should listen, and people who disagree with him are wrong.
“I am right” could easily be his motto in life (inching even further towards the far right). You can call this either immense self-belief or insufferable arrogance — but the problem with this tendency is that it is often an impediment in the process of learning and developing. Which raises the question that: after 22 years in the field has Imran Khan evolved politically? Will he ever be able to?
The answer to this question is unclear but it is a sad fact that a man who so many Pakistanis wished so well because he was a national cricket hero (and eye candy) has become a divisive, rude and arrogant leader. He has some good ideas generally perhaps and also has the persistence to keep going, but the “I am right” mantra will only get you so far in life.
With Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan approving a Rs25 hike in petrol price, yet another tweet from the past has come back to haunt the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The premier on Friday approved a summary of recommendations to increase the prices of petroleum products “in view of the rising oil prices trend in the global market”, with a notification issued to announce the new rates.
The notification stated that the new petrol prices would come into effect immediately.
Petrol prices, according to the recommendation, were to be bumped up Rs25.58 per litre. Similarly, the per-litre prices of high-speed diesel (HSD), kerosene oil, and light diesel were recommended to be increased Rs21.31, Rs23.50, and Rs17.84, respectively.
The new per-litre prices of petrol, HSD, kerosene oil, and light diesel, therefore, would respectively be Rs100.10, Rs101.46, Rs59.06, and Rs55.98.
With the hike drawing a strong reaction from the general public as people expressed frustration over the development that could result in yet another inflation bomb amid the coronavirus outbreak, some took to Twitter to retweet a statement by the premier from back when he sat in the parliament on opposition benches.
Absolutely shameful how the govt has dropped a petrol bomb on the poor nation at the start of 2018. Instead of undertaking tax reforms and cracking down on money laundering, the govt continues to burden the masses – this time with a big increase in petroleum products' prices.
“Absolutely shameful how the govt has dropped a petrol bomb on the poor nation at the start of 2018. Instead of undertaking tax reforms and cracking down on money laundering, the govt continues to burden the masses — this time with a big increase in petroleum products’ prices,” the tweet read.
Petrol should be sold at Rs 58 per litre, demands @ImranKhanPTI
“Petrol should be sold at Rs58 per litre, demands @ImranKhanPTI [sic],” another tweet from 2015 by PTI’s official handle read.
This isn’t the first time an old tweet has come back to bite the PTI government.
While the same tweets were used to criticise the government after a fuel prices hike in July 2019, a separate tweet from August 2014 read, “All over the world, just on an incident of railway accidents, minister resigns. This is real democracy, says Imran Khan [sic].”
All over the world, just on an incident of railway accidents, minister resigns. This is real democracy, says Imran Khan
It had started making rounds last month after the tragic train accident in Sadiqabad, which claimed over 20 lives.
Prior to this, as PM Imran reached China amid Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) nationwide protests last year, a 2012 tweet of his, went viral. In the tweet, he had criticised the then premier for traveling abroad as the country “burned”.
Karachi to Gilgit Pak is burning & rulers least bothered. Instead they are travelling abroad or boasting of invisible "achievements"!
It was aimed at criticising former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, who had traveled to China for the Boao Forum while violence linked to sectarian, ethnic and political tensions continued in different parts of the country.
A small-scale miner in Tanzania has become an overnight millionaire afteruncovering two of the country’s precious tanzanite stones.
Saniniu Kuryan Laizer, 52, found the stones having a combined weight of 15kg (33 lb). Laizer sold the stones to the country’s mining ministry and earned £2.4m (Rs 561,000,000)
VIDEO: 🇹🇿 A Tanzanian small-scale miner has become a dollar multi-millionaire after uncovering two of the biggest precious #tanzanite stones ever found in the country and selling them to the government pic.twitter.com/XNZQYdnGod
“There will be a big party tomorrow,” Laizer, a father of more than 30 children, told the BBC.
Tanzanite is a very rare stone that is only found in northern Tanzania and is used to make ornaments.
The precious stone’s appeal lies in its variety of types and colours, including green, red, purple and blue. Its value is determined by rarity – the finer the colour or clarity, the higher the price.
President of Tanzania John Magufuli called Laizer to congratulate him. “This is the benefit of small-scale miners and this proves that Tanzania is rich,” the president said.
Federal Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar has said that the government is confident of achieving the tax collection target of Rs4,960 billion set in the 2020-21 federal budget through Federal Board Revenue (FBR).
Concluding discussion on the Finance Bill 2020-21 in the National Assembly, the minister on the floor of the House pointed out that the present government inherited a weak economy, but due to its concerted efforts, the government succeeded in stabilising it.
He said that all the international financial institutions are praising Pakistan government’s performance on economic front.
Hammad said that presenting a tax free budget while enhancing allocations for development shows the true leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan. He said the government is trying to minimize the impact of Covid-19 on the economy by pursuing a prudent strategy.
The minister categorically stated that the federal government has not withheld any funds of the provinces under the National Finance Commission (NFC). He said that the recommendations of the Senate for the Finance Bill 2020-21 would be given due consideration.
Earlier, the National Assembly approved 96 demands for grants pertaining to different ministries, divisions and departments for the next fiscal year.
Presented by Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar, these demands were related to Climate Change, Commerce Division, Communications Division, Pakistan Post, Defense Division, Survey of Pakistan, Economic Affairs Division, Power Division, Petroleum Division, Geological Survey of Pakistan, Foreign Affairs Division, Housing and Works Division, Human Rights Division, Information and Broadcasting Division, Information Technology and Telecommunication, Inter Provincial Coordination, Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Division, Law and Justice Division, Federal Shariat Court, Council of Islamic Ideology, National Accountability Bureau, District Judiciary Islamabad Capital Territory, Maritime Affairs, Narcotics Control, National Assembly, The Senate, Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Division, Parliamentary Affairs Division, Planning Development and Special Initiatives Division, CPEC Authority, Privatization Division, Religious Affairs and Inter Faith Harmony Division, Science and Technology Division, States and Frontier Regions and Water Resources.
No cut motions were moved on these demands for grants.
Following the deaths of legends Sabiha Khanum and Tariq Aziz, Farhan Saeed has taken the initiative to celebrate and honour the living legends of Pakistan. The actor-singer also requested his followers to join him in honouring them for their services to the country.
“2020 has been revelatory for so many reasons. A pandemic has pushed the world to its limits. Racial differences have sparked outrage and so many revered innocent souls have left us,” said the singer.
Remembering those who passed away, Farhan said, “In this uncertain age, we Pakistanis must not waste time in appreciating the Living Legends among us.”
He added: “I wish to honour their lives and cherish their presence among us, and I wish to express gratitude for sharing this world with someone of their stature.”
Please support me in my humble attempt to celebrate Pak's #LivingLegends – those who have selflessly served our country. I invite you to be part of my ode to their excellence and unmatched dedication and join me in saying thank you to them for all they have done #PakistaniHeroespic.twitter.com/UCZeFbbNXd
Saeed has so far honoured four legends including Qavi Khan, Javed Miandad, Abida Parveen and Umer Sharif.
Writing about Qavi Khan, Farhan said: “As my first tribute to the #LivingLegends of Pakistan, I pay homage to Qavi Khan sahab, the legendary actor par excellence who has been serving the country since 1952.”
“I recently had the privilege of sharing the screen with him – both on television as well as in a film. Anyone who has worked with Qavi sahab would know his demeanour only commands the utmost respect. He is an institution,” he continued.
Farhan added: “He motivates younger actors by encouraging them to push the bar with each performance. To encourage us, Qavi sahab always tells us, we are better at what we do than his generation was. His wealth of experience is a guide book for those who have only just recently joined the industry.”
Celebrating the #LivingLegend that is Qavi Khan – an institution in his own right and an inspiration for us all!
Next Farhan, celebrated Abida Parveen, whose soulful voice has touched hearts across the world.
“Abida Parveen is globally recognised as an iconic representation of the Sufi genre. Her soul-stirring voice and melodies have long had listeners across the globe in absolute awe,” wrote the singer, adding: “As a person, Abida Ji embodies the very essence of Sufism. The few times I have had a chance to meet with her, I have witnessed first hand her absolute humility and respect for others.”
“Abida Ji is undoubtedly a source of pride and inspiration for every Pakistani. She has paved the way for generations to come and pursue their journey. I too take inspiration from her unmatched passion – her work has always been a major source of inspiration and motivation for me.”
Farhan then paid a rich tribute to comedian Umer Sharif, describing him as “an absolute showman for whom no specific place or audience is required to exhibit the versatility of his craft. He will undoubted have you laughing hysterically, anywhere and everywhere you meet him.”
“I can’t forget his very gracious advice: “Yeh log hain, tou hum hain – inko kabhi inkaar nahi karna“. His words have since been etched in my memory,” said Saeed.
Join me in celebrating the artist par excellence, the unmatched, Umer Sharif.
Farhan’s latest tribute was to “legendary cricketer extraordinaire – the one and only, Javed Miandad sahab“.
“I am grateful for the privilege of knowing Javed sahab off the pitch. He is friends with an uncle and is undoubtedly one of the most down to earth human beings I have known. He is a true friend and showers love and affection upon everyone around him,” said Farhan.
“Javed sahab, aap sada khush rahain, salaamat rahain, aabaad rahain. Pakistan kay liyay aap ki khidmaat ka bayhad shukriya.”
Earlier, Yasir Hussain and Shaan also honoured legends and thanked them for their services.
#Letsbringourprideback 🇵🇰 #PTV Qawee Khan sb such brilliance in his craft , and such humbleness in his personality. an institution from whom one can learn so much . We are indeed in your debt for your endless entertainment and services to the nation ❤️🇵🇰🙏🏼#muchrespectsirpic.twitter.com/puzkXJ0nMz
A woman in India discovered that she was a man suffering from testicular cancer while getting treatment for abdominal pain at a Kolkata hospital.
According to reports, the woman led a normal life with no complications for 30 years. Her 28-year-old sister, who underwent necessary tests following the revelation, was also diagnosed with ‘Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome’ — a condition in which a person is born genetically male, but has all physical traits of a woman.
The 30-year-old woman is also married for the last nine years. She visited city-based Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Cancer Hospital with severe pain in lower abdomen a couple of months ago, following which clinical oncologist Dr Anupam Dutta and surgical oncologist Dr Soumen Das conducted her medical tests, and found out her “true identity”.
“From her appearance, she is a woman. Starting from her voice, developed breasts, normal external genitalia, everything is that of a woman. However, uterus and ovaries have been absent since birth. She has also never experienced menstruation,” Dr Dutta said.
It’s a very rare condition, and can be found one in every 22,000 people, he said. A biopsy was conducted, following which she was diagnosed with testicular cancer, also called seminoma.
Currently, she is undergoing chemotherapy and her condition is stable.
“The person has grown up to be a woman. She is married to a man for almost a decade. Currently, we are counselling the patient and her husband, advising them to continue living life as they have been.”
Reports reveal that the couple had tried for babies a number of times but failed. The patient’s two maternal aunts were also diagnosed with Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome in the past, the oncologist said.
“It’s probably in the genes. We have come to know that two of her aunts from the maternal side were also suffering from a similar condition,” he added.
Punjab government has finally once again sealed worst-hit areas of Lahore for at least two weeks despite which the number of coronavirus infections in Punjab rose to 71,987 on Friday.
The development came days after Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid slammed the people of Lahore for not taking precautionary measures against COVID-19 and held them responsible for the surge in the number of infections in the country’s most populous province.
“Lahoris are weird creatures. For them, everything is a joke. They are so ignorant… they do not listen and don’t care. No other nation is more ignorant and stupid than Pakistanis,” she had said.
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Lahoris are a weird creature, for them everything is a joke, they are so Jaahil they dont listen and dont care; no other nation is bigger in jahaalet and stupidity than Pakistanis; Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid says #CoronaVirusPakistanpic.twitter.com/YND8NULp5w
Seven COVID-19-affected areas have been sealed in Lahore over the past week. These include Gulberg, Model Town, Faisal Town, Garden Town, Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Gulshane Ravi and the Walled City.
A complete ban has been imposed on transportation and businesses in the sealed areas where 3,606 cases have so far been reported. The actual number of cases is likely to be way more than official figures that are as follows:
DHA
Gulberg
Model Town
Faisal Town
Garden Town
Gulshan-e- Ravi
Walled city
1,403
736
659
188
238
212
170
Government guidelines were issued before re-opening business ahead of Eidul Fitr, under which shopkeepers were told not to let people gather at their stores, social distancing was stressed, availability of sanitisers for general public’s use was to be ensured and wearing gloves with masks was made necessary in most spaces.
However, none of the SOPs [standard operating procedures] were followed by most Lahoris, resulting in the provincial capital of Punjab becoming the epicenter of COVID-19 in the province.
At present, there are 71,191 coronavirus cases in Punjab while 35,582 cases (about 49.98 per cent of the total number of infections) are in Lahore alone with the local spread in the city standing at 69.4 per cent.
Despite a lockdown being put in place again, government SOPs are still not being followed by people as many believe that coronavirus “does not even exist”, and throng to markets, destroying social distancing among other guidelines.
A look at stats of police actions against violators of SOPs amid the government’s “smart” lockdown, also proves the same.
According to Lahore police stats from June 16 to June 24, almost 238,400 citizens violating coronavirus guidelines were warned and sent back home. As many as 8,251 motorcycles and vehicles were confiscated while 4,599 citizens submitted surety bonds for not unnecessarily leave their homes again.
During the ongoing lockdown, 8,927 cases have been registered and 1,888 shops have also been sealed for violating SOPs in Lahore.
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday granted a young woman permission to undergo sex reassignment surgery (SRS) to become a man and directed the administration of Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) to facilitate her.
According to a report in Dawn, the order was issued by a division bench, which heard a petition filed by the woman requesting the court to allow her the surgery. The case was discussed in detail in light of the Constitution, transgender rights act and other medico-legal aspects.
The petitioner’s lawyer Saifullah Muhib Kakakhel argued that it is the woman’s constitutional right to opt for any surgery or procedure to change her sex as per her desire. He added that Section 2 of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018 also gives permission to his client to have her gender changed.
According to Kakakhel, the petitioner was diagnosed with gender dysphoria, a condition that involves a conflict between a person’s internal gender identity and the biological sex assigned to them at birth and that it can be treated through SRS. He told the court that his client felt and acted like a man since childhood, even though she looked like a woman because of which she suffered great mental stress.
After examining the case in detail, the bench granted the petitioner the permission and ordered the HMC to facilitate her and present a report on the matter within three months. The report is to detail the sexual status of the petitioner and whether it is possible for her to undergo sex reassignment surgery as well as the risks involved; the medico-legal aspects of the case and how the hospital can facilitate the petitioner.
This is not the first time courts in Pakistan are hearing such a case. In 2015, a resident of Kohat successfully transitioned from female to male after undergoing surgery at a local hospital and later got engaged to a childhood friend. In the same year, two sisters in Chakwal had a sex change after doctors declared them male following a physical examination.
