“The Pakistani Taliban has suffered from American and Pakistani security operations in recent years, but its cells are still active in Pakistan’s cities and are still capable of carrying out attacks,” he told Al Jazeera in his first interview since escaping from Pakistani military custody in January.
The groups are active in the eastern provinces of Afghanistan, near the border with Pakistan, said Ehsanullah Ehsan.
He further added, “We cannot say that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Jamaat-ur-Ahrar or other anti-Pakistan [armed] groups are completely finished. They definitely have a set-up and perhaps they have gone silent as part of a plan. They are present in Pakistani cities and they have the ability to carry out attacks.”
The interview was conducted from an undisclosed location through voice notes exchanged over an internet-based messaging service.
As per the report, Pakistan’s military is provided with a detailed list of the allegations made by Ehsan in this interview, but they offered no comment. The Pakistani interior ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
Renowned actor and activist Nadia Jamil has been diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. Jamil took to social media to share the news with her fans and followers. The actor said that she felt a wave of emotions when she found out, adding that she is now four days into her treatment. Nadia also urged all her followers to conduct regular self-checks and act fast if they feel any abnormalities.
Its stage 1 breast cancer/grade 3 tumour.Regular self checks are important ladies!Please act fast if you feel any abnormalities. Do NOT ever ignore your body,your health. I now await my surgery date & am feeling positive & loved. Please dont worry & take good care of yourselves❤️
When a follower asked her about the symptoms she felt, Nadia said that she conducted regular checkup and visited a GP as soon as she felt a lump.
As I shared dear Putar Ji,I do regular checkups as all ladies should after a certain age.When I felt a lump I immediately went 2 my GP who referred me 2 a hospital. Scans,tests,biopsy later I was diagnosed 🙂
Please encourage all ladies over the age of 40 in your family 2 check https://t.co/iHAdX7jvpa
However, Nadia said that cancer has not taken her smile away and that she is focused on remaining positive.
Cancer hasnt taken my smile away. All I need 2do is think of you,watch a tree in all its beautiful rooted strength,let the wind say hello or stare at clouds floating by. A solid bowl of chanay ki daal w rice & a cuppa adrak qava helps🤗 Gratitude helps,your love helps,dua helps❤️ pic.twitter.com/ZyddBXsTqd
Id like u 2 meet a few of the great teachers who taught me positivity.
Children.
Fatima died frm Cancer.But I remember her smile whn we met last. Bisma suffers emotional,physical pain everyday,bt love makes her smile! Look at their smiles Afsheen never stops smiling MashaAllah pic.twitter.com/qC7KPXljrP
Pakistan’s Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based monthly inflation slowed to 10.24 per cent in March 2020 as compared to the previous month, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported.
This is the second month in a row that the CPI reading has eased by more than 2 per cent. The bureau had recorded CPI inflation at 12.4 per cent in February. Inflation at 10.2 per cent is the lowest reading in the past seven months.
According to PBS data, commodity prices remained largely unchanged and markets functioned normally in March despite partial lockdown of the country to control the spread of coronavirus.
In addition to fuel charges, the prices of food items, including pulses, fresh vegetables and wheat, which have been the main drivers of inflation, also saw a significant downtrend, the bureau said.
However, it added, the real impact of slash in demand or short supply of commodities due to the shutdown of the market is yet to come.
“The government’s move to keep the trade of groceries unaffected may support the fall of inflation even in the coming months.”
The average inflation in the first nine months (July-March) of fiscal year 2020 stood at 11.53 per cent, which in the same period of the last year was 6.3 per cent.
As per the data, the rate of inflation during the month under review slowed down both in urban and rural areas. Food inflation in urban areas that stood at 15.2 per cent in the preceding month eased to 13 per cent in March. Similarly, in rural areas, the food inflation pace slowed down from 19.7 per cent in February to 15.5 per cent last month.
However, Twitter users were not pleased with his ‘half-baked’ apology.
Apologies *IF* I hurt you. Bro you used a known racial slur and don’t even have the decency to acknowledge that it’s a big deal. Makes sense you opened for Ali Zafar, birds of a feather
Shamoon later released a new song, which possibly was a way to hit back at all the haters. Because the opening line of the song is: “Mein label te nae jaanda, Teri cable te nae aanda, Teray table te nae khaanda, Ey sab mera apna.”
Pakistani drama makers including the actors, directors, writers or producers rarely venture into the thriller/mystery genre because they are usually a gamble. The usual love triangles or saas-bahu storylines are tried, tested and safe which is why they deem it better to pour their energies and resources into that. Amidst all such stories, Ahad Raza Mir and Sajal Aly’s Ye Dil Mera is like a breath of fresh air. The drama doesn’t have the usual ingredients of a masala entertainer but the way the story unfolds and the scenes transition make it a compelling and exciting watch.
Ye Dil Mera is centred around Noor ul Ain, Aina (Sajal Aly) who is the only daughter of Mir Farooq Zaman (Adnan Siddiqui). The father dotes on his daughter and ensures that she is always wrapped in a protective bubble. Aina is married to Amaanullah (Ahad Raza Mir), who has a dark past. Amaan’s character is the desi version of Christian Grey, minus the fetishes. While on the surface of it, all three lead characters lead perfectly, rich lives, it is the multiple layers below the surface that move the plot. Aina suffers from nightmares, reminiscent of a dark past in which her mother was killed when she was very young. Amaan’s parents and sister are also dead and despite being a successful businessman, he is a bitter person. On the other hand, Farooq who appears to be the perfect father leads a double life. All three characters have an intertwined past and the plot is built upon that.
The script, penned by Farhat Ishtiaq is perhaps the strongest part of the entire drama – it boasts marvellous storytelling which keeps the viewers captivated. Couple that with phenomenal performances and excellent direction (by Aehsun Talish) and you have a top-class product. Though the drama starts typically with boy meeting girl and the two falling in love and drags at a few points, it soon quickly moves to the main plot. Each scene flows into the next and there are no loose ends left untied in any episode. The drama does get predictable at points but the good thing is that the makers haven’t waited till the last episode to reveal all the secrets – those keep unravelling as we go on.
While the three leads – Sajal, Ahad and Adnan – all have given powerful performances, Ahad stole the show. The way he jumps from one mood into another with utmost ease is a treat to watch. His character has multiple layers and shades and Ahad executes each one of them perfectly. And of course, how can we forget to mention Sajal and Ahad’s chemistry – it’s lit as always.
One thing I’d like to add before finishing the review is that I liked how there was no shame attached to having mental problems. At several points through the drama, the lead characters encourage each other to seek proper treatment for the problems they are facing. The therapist, Dr has also been shown as a pleasant character.
If you enjoyed Yakeen Ka Safar, chances are that you will love Ye Dil Mera as well. And given that 23 episodes of the drama have aired so far and we’re all self-isolating at home, it’s a good idea to start binge-watching the drama.
Chief executive officer (CEO) of the Mayo Hospital and Corona Experts Advisory Group (CEAG) co-chairperson, Professor Dr Asad Aslam, has said that 18 patients of the new coronavirus — COVID-19 — were successfully treated with anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and antibiotic azithromycin during the past five days.
According to reports, Dr Aslam on Thursday said that eight patients at Mayo Hospital, four at Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) and five at other hospitals of the province were administered the drugs during the past five days.
“The patients were administered two tablets of hydroxychloroquine in the morning and two in the evening on the first day whereas, on the remaining four days, they were given one tablet in the morning and one in the evening. Simultaneously, they were given one tablet of azithromycin in the morning and one in the evening for five days.”
He, however, urged people to avoid self-medication and said these medicines should only be used upon a doctor’s prescription because they could have serious side-effects, including hepatotoxicity (drug-induced liver damage), bone marrow suppression and risk of sudden death, especially when used with azithromycin and many other medications that can affect heart rhythm.
Meanwhile, the Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan (MMIDSP) strongly advised against the inappropriate use and hoarding of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine.
According to Dawn, they said there was a lack of undisputed scientific evidence and the risk of adverse events. “Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine should only be used as a therapeutic or prophylactic agent for COVID-19, under the supervision of an expert,” read a press release.
It further said that the anti-malaria drugs were also used to treat immune system disorders.
“Both these drugs have a new and emerging role in treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia (off-label) and a presumed role in prevention against the infection.”
Experts associated with MMIDSP include infectious diseases physicians, clinical microbiologists and nurses who are trained in infection prevention and control.
A man who was exposed to the coronavirus hid that he was feeling ill so he could visit his wife in the maternity unit of an upstate New York hospital and be with her when she delivers their child.
According to NBC, the matter only came to light after his wife also began to show symptoms.
The hospital staff said that the man was questioned by the staff at the hospital before entering and he assured them that he was in good health and had not been exposed to the coronavirus. However, shortly after giving birth, the woman began to show symptoms.
“That’s when the significant other admitted his potential exposure and that he was feeling symptomatic,” said a hospital official, adding that they cannot share whether the mother, father or newborn child were infected with the coronavirus because of privacy laws. The mother has since returned home.
Meanwhile, a nurse who assisted the family was also tested for the virus and the results came back negative.
Many hospitals in New York are banning most visitors to help control the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
A hospital official said that before they would only ask visitors before allowing them inside, “but now we’re adding the temperature check.”
“Those with symptoms will be asked to leave the hospital. These screening measures will be completed twice daily throughout the hospitalization,” the hospital said, adding that the guest will not be allowed to leave the patient’s room without the patient.
Everyone’s lockdown story is not the same. While some of us are lucky enough to be spending this time at home with our family, for others such as daily wage labourers it is a matter of life and death because they are unable to feed their families.
We can help them in this difficult time by providing them with food and other essentials. The Current has listed a few organisations that are collecting and distributing ration bags.
Rizq
Rizq, a social organisation set up by LUMS alumni, Huzaifa Ahmed, Musa Aamir and Qasim Javaid, has initiated a national movement called Ehsaas Karo. Through this movement, Rizq aims to mobilise resources from individuals, corporates, companies, philanthropists and foundations to fulfil the hunger needs of those most affected by this crisis. For Phase 1 of the campaign, the organisation is targeting to support 10,000 affected families by providing them monthly food supplies.
The volunteer-based group, made up of students and young professionals gets surplus food from restaurants to the less fortunate people at orphanages, old-age homes and public hospitals.
Number: 021-38693111, 03008861164
Email: pakistan@robinhoodarmy.com
Ideas 9
Ideas 9 is an organization led by some professionals to promote peace, social justice, interfaith harmony, against terrorism and injustice. In this time, they are contributing to society by distributing rations bags.
You can donate directly to the government and your donations can be used by the state to manufacture protective equipment for the doctors and essentials for hospitals or to provide a cash stipend to the most vulnerable.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned he would order the country’s police and military to shoot dead anyone “who creates trouble” during a month-long lockdown of the island of Luzon enforced to halt the spread of the coronavirus, France 24 reported.
“Let this be a warning to all. Follow the government at this time because it is critical that we have order,” he said in a late-night televised national address on Wednesday.
“And do not harm the health workers, the doctors … because that is a serious crime. My orders to the police and the military, if anyone creates trouble, and their lives are in danger: shoot them dead.”
“Do not intimidate the government. Do not challenge the government. You will lose,” he added in Filipino and English.
Duterte’s warning came after residents of a slum in Manila’s Quezon City staged a protest along a highway near their shanty houses, claiming they had not received any food packs and other relief supplies since the lockdown began more than two weeks ago.
Village security officers and police urged the residents to go back to their homes, but they refused, a police report said.
Police broke up the protest and arrested 20 people, the report added.
Health authorities in the Philippines have recorded 2,311 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus as of Wednesday. At least 96 people have died.
Zahid Ahmed, who has proven his mettle as a versatile actor, recently apologised to the nation for choosing a script so “blindly”.
Zahid’s latest drama Mein Na Janoo, in which he shares the screen with Sanam Jung, Affan Waheed and Komal Aziz Khan, recently ended with a whopping 37 episodes. The drama failed to make a mark or impress the audiences because of it’s weak and boring storyline.
When a fan commented under Zahid’s picture that “Thank God there weren’t 58 episodes of the drama”, Zahid responded, “I apologise to the nation for this drama…next time I won’t read the script so ‘blindly’.”
Zahid had shared a picture of himself sitting on the floor.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-cVEvoJGn1/
Mein Na Janoo saw Zahid play Nain an ex-airforce pilot who had lost his vision in an accident. He was madly in love with his cousin Saira, played by Sanam Jung. Saira liked their other cousin Nehat (Affan Waheed) who liked her back. However, Saira’s evil family hates her mother so they did not want her to get married to the star of their family who is Nehat. They wanted Nehat to get married to Kiran played by Komal Aziz Khan. Eventually, after a dramatic turn of events, Saira gets married to Nain and the two begin their life together. Nehat uses every opportunity to create trouble between the newlyweds because he cannot let Saira go. The family drama also continues to the point that in true Star Plus fashion, a ‘dead’ character comes back to life. You can figure out the rest from here.
Mein Na Janoo was directed by Furqan Khan and written by Noora Makhdoom. It was jointly produced by Adnan Siddiqui’s production company Cereal Entertainment and Momina Duraid Productions.
While the drama ended up being a miss, Zahid’s acting was appreciated by his fans.
