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  • Pakistani students win first prize at Teknofest 2025

    Pakistani students win first prize at Teknofest 2025

    Pakistani students have secured first place at the prestigious Teknofest 2025 competition held in Northern Cyprus. The event, regarded as one of the world’s largest and most respected technology, aerospace, and engineering festivals, featured over 50,000 participants from 22 countries.

    Pakistani students Asma Fatima and Anaya Khan impressed the judges by developing a device capable of detecting human emotions. Their innovative project stood out among thousands and was declared the best by the competition’s jury.

    The award was presented by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who presented the winning students with a trophy, a shield, and a special cash prize of 60,000 Turkish Lira in recognition of their achievement.

    The competition took place during the first week of May, and the project by the Pakistani students was one of the event’s highlights. Their success was also acknowledged by the President of Northern Cyprus, Ersin Tatar, who praised the students and personally congratulated them.

    Speaking after their win, both Asma Fatima and Anaya Khan expressed their joy and pride in representing Pakistan on such a large global platform. They said they were honoured to raise the Pakistani flag high and bring pride to their country through their hard work and innovation.

  • Petroleum levy to surpass Rs100 per litre as Pakistan aligns with IMF demands

    Petroleum levy to surpass Rs100 per litre as Pakistan aligns with IMF demands

    The federal government, following discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has reached an agreement with the creditor to increase the domestic Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) to over Rs100 per litre. According to reports, the international lender expects Pakistan to make this change in fiscal year (FY) 2025-26.

    Reports indicate that proceeds from the PDL will be directed towards power sector subsidies and payments to reduce the country’s ballooning circular debt. This will result in a massive hike in the PDL, which is Rs78 per litre and Rs77 per litre for petrol and diesel, respectively.

    Reports reveal that the hiking of the PDL is in line with the federal government’s initiatives as lawmakers intend to fund electric vehicle and power subsidies via proceeds from non-tax revenues. Moreover, it is part of the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility Program, and if followed correctly, it will allow Islamabad to greatly consolidate its fiscal position.

    This move may pave the way for Pakistan to curb fuel imports, reducing the current trade deficit. However, many analysts believe that the demand for fuel is inelastic, resulting in only a minor drop in domestic consumption of the commodity – this could allow for a significant boost in government revenues.   

    The PDL has recently witnessed a series of increments, rising from Rs60 per litre in July 2024 to its current high of Rs80 per litre. According to reports, this Rs20 rupee hike, spread out over 10 months, resulted in the government obtaining an additional Rs1 trillion in revenue.

    Islamabad had initially planned to bring in a whopping Rs1.281 trillion via the levy by the end of the FY. Moreover, the levies on fuel are not limited to the PDL as the government intends to impose a carbon levy on petrol and diesel, standing at Rs5 per litre.  

    Reports suggest that the government intends to abolish the ceiling on the Debt Service Surchage (DSS) on power bills by the end of FY 2024-25. The ceiling stands at 10 percent, and if removed, may greatly alleviate the cash-strapped nation’s rising circular debt stock.

    To counter the circular debt problem, the government intends to pass fuel cost pass-throughs and regular tariff adjustments onto users of the national grid. This could result in the general public facing higher power bills, thereby reducing household purchasing power.

  • Noor Mukadam case: Supreme Court upholds Zahir Jaffer’s death sentence

    Noor Mukadam case: Supreme Court upholds Zahir Jaffer’s death sentence

    The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the death sentence of Zahir Jaffer in the Noor Mukadam murder case while modifying his sentence in other charges pertaining to rape and abduction.

    As per the details, the top court dismissed Jaffer’s appeal against his previous conviction under Section 302 (premeditated murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), maintaining both his death sentence and fine. However, the court commuted his death sentence under Section 376 (rape) to life imprisonment besides overturning his conviction for kidnapping, declaring the charge void.

    The court also reduced the sentences of Jaffer’s household staff and co-accused, the watchman and gardener, ruling that the punishments already served by both would suffice.

    The case was heard by a three-member bench led by Justice Hashim Kakar and consisting of Justices Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Ali Baqar Najafi.

    Barrister Salman Safdar appeared as Zahir’s counsel while Advocate Shah Khawar was present on behalf of Noor’s father and retired diplomat Shaukat Mukadam. The verdict comes hours after both sides concluded their arguments earlier in the day.

    The apex court’s ruling marks a major moment in the trial for the brutal murder that took place in July 2021 when Noor, 27, was discovered dead at a private residence in Sector F-7/4 of Islamabad.

    Jaffer, the prime suspect, was taken into custody at the crime scene and an FIR was filed by the victim’s father later the same day. According to the FIR, she had been “beheaded after being killed with a sharp weapon”.

    The case sparked nationwide outrage and prompted debates about women’s safety in the country.

    In February 2022, a district and sessions court sentenced Jaffer to death, alongside a 25-year prison term with hard labour and a fine of Rs200,000. Besides the prime accused, two members of his domestic staff, Iftikhar and Jameel, were each handed 10-year prison sentences, while other co-accused — including Jaffer’s parents and several TherapyWorks employees — were acquitted.

    In March 2023, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) upheld Jaffer’s death sentence and upgraded his 25-year sentence to an additional death penalty. An appeal challenging the IHC verdict had then been filed with the SC in April last year.

    It merits a mention that after the SC ruling, only a presidential pardon under Article 45 of the Constitution can overturn Jaffer’s death sentence. According to the Constitution, the president has power to grant pardon, reprieve and respite, and to remit, suspend or commute any sentence passed by any court, tribunal or other authority.

  • Azma Bukhari calls Faisal Vawda ‘mental patient’, ‘cheap Shah Rukh Khan’

    Azma Bukhari calls Faisal Vawda ‘mental patient’, ‘cheap Shah Rukh Khan’

    Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari took a personal jab at Senator Faisal Vawda, calling him a mental patient.

    “He [Vawda] is a mental patient. He neither has a political party nor has a political background and he wanders about like a cheap Shah Rukh Khan,” Azma said during a press conference held in Lahore on Tuesday.

    She further said that one should feel pity and not respond to those questions of “mental patients” who have to act out or say controversial things to stay politically alive.

    The minister’s response followed a journalist’s question about the recent remarks of Senator Faisal Vawda, criticising the Punjab government over its silence during the Pak-India clashes.

    “During the war environment, we saw that Faisal Vawda was nowhere to be seen. Later, instantly he came out of the cave and initiated criticism against the Punjab government,” a journalist asked.

    Vawda had raised questions on a television show about Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Maryam Nawaz’s led provincial government and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif’s silence during the military clash between India and Pakistan.

    He said that Nawaz Sharif maintained a “criminal silence” while the “TikTok provincial government’s” silence was also widely felt.

    “We have never questioned the patriotism of anyone, be it Nawaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari or Imran Khan,” Vawda said, adding that the meaningless silence has “hurt Pakistanis.”

    On Maryam Nawaz’s recent comment, which she made during an address at an event in Faisalabad, attributing the development of the JF-17 Thunder aircraft to her father, Vawda decried the statement.

    “Pakistan Air Force is the only force that has been manufacturing their own aircraft, and you are claiming to make the JF-17 jet,” he said incredulously.

  • PCB opens applications for batting, bowling, fielding, strength coaches

    PCB opens applications for batting, bowling, fielding, strength coaches

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially begun the search for new coaches to join the national team. The board is inviting applications for four key roles: batting coach, bowling coach, fielding coach, and strength and conditioning coach.

    This move is in line with the PCB’s aim to strengthen the team’s support system and improve player performance through expert guidance. With the T20 Asia Cup and the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 coming up, appointing the right people at the right time is crucial.

    The PCB has opened these positions to both local and international candidates and is expected to select professionals with significant experience in top-level cricket. Some former players have already expressed interest in applying.

    According to media reports, the appointed coaches may work across all formats of the game. While the board is also considering separate head coaches for red-ball and white-ball formats, these specialist coaches are still likely to play a key role in developing both the senior squad and emerging talent.

    With recent changes in strategy and team management, Pakistan cricket is aiming to adopt a more modern and competitive approach, both in playing style and preparation.

  • UN expert reacts to Indian navy ‘throwing’ Rohingya refugees, including children, into sea

    UN expert reacts to Indian navy ‘throwing’ Rohingya refugees, including children, into sea

    A UN expert said on Thursday, May 15, he was investigating “credible reports” that Rohingya refugees were forced off an Indian navy vessel into the Andaman Sea, in what would be an “unconscionable” act.

    “The idea that Rohingya refugees have been cast into the sea from naval vessels is nothing short of outrageous,” said Tom Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur on the rights situation in Myanmar.

    “I am seeking further information and testimony regarding these developments and implore the Indian government to provide a full accounting of what happened.”

    Andrews, who is an independent expert mandated by the UN Human Rights Council but who does not speak on behalf of the UN itself, said he was “deeply concerned by what appears to be a blatant disregard for the lives and safety of those who require international protection”.

    The mostly Muslim Rohingya have been heavily persecuted in Myanmar for decades.

    One million Rohingya live in a string of squalid camps in Bangladesh after escaping a 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar.

    Thousands of them risk their lives each year on long sea journeys to seek refuge elsewhere.

    Andrews’ statement pointed to reports that Indian authorities last week detained dozens of Rohingya refugees living in Delhi, “many or all of whom held refugee identification documents”.

    Around 40 members of the group were reportedly blindfolded and flown to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and then transferred to an Indian naval ship, he said.

    “After the boat crossed the Andaman Sea, the refugees were reportedly given life jackets, forced into the sea and made to swim to an island in Myanmar territory,” he said.

    “Such cruel actions would be an affront to human decency and represent a serious violation of the principle of non-refoulment,” he said, pointing out that Rohingya “face the threat of violence, persecution and other grave human rights violations in Myanmar”.

    “The government of India must immediately and unequivocally repudiate unconscionable acts against Rohingya refugees, stop all deportations to Myanmar and ensure that those responsible for these blatant violations of India’s international obligations are held responsible,” Andrews said.

  • India ditches Danish Kaneria despite anti-Pak rants; removes photo from Jaipur Stadium

    India ditches Danish Kaneria despite anti-Pak rants; removes photo from Jaipur Stadium

    Former Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria, known for his anti-Pakistan remarks and open support for India, has been snubbed by the very country he frequently praises. Despite his pro-India stance, authorities in Jaipur have removed his photograph from the gallery of the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

    According to media reports, following Pakistan’s strong response to recent Indian aggression, the Modi government has come under global criticism. As diplomatic tensions rise between the two countries, symbolic actions are being taken on both sides, including the quiet removal of Kaneria’s image from the stadium’s gallery.

    The move followed protests by right-wing Hindu groups against the presence of Kaneria’s photo in the gallery. Although stadium officials had initially defended the image, stating it was part of a tribute to notable cricketers, pressure from extremist groups ultimately led to its removal.

    The decision has surprised many, as Kaneria has repeatedly voiced support for India and criticised Pakistan on various platforms. Despite his clear alignment, his image could not withstand the climate of rising nationalism and political pressure.

    Danish Kaneria, a Hindu and only the second to represent Pakistan after Anil Dalpat, played for the national team from 2000 to 2012. He featured in 61 Test matches and 18 ODIs, taking 261 Test wickets. His performances against India were particularly impressive, claiming 44 wickets in 11 Tests and two ODIs against the arch-rivals.

    However, Kaneria’s career ended in controversy after he was handed a lifetime ban in 2012 by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for his involvement in a spot-fixing scandal during his time with Essex County.

  • ‘Let Dhinchak Pooja re-dub Abida Parveen’: Twinkle Khanna takes dig at erasure of Pakistani artists

    ‘Let Dhinchak Pooja re-dub Abida Parveen’: Twinkle Khanna takes dig at erasure of Pakistani artists

    Author and former Bollywood star Twinkle Khanna, known for her sharp humour and bold writing, has strongly criticised the removal of Pakistani artists from Indian entertainment platforms. 

    In her latest column for The Times of India, the former Bollywood actress and bestselling writer highlighted how Pakistani actors are being erased from film posters and music covers without any official announcement.

    Khanna mentioned that while she was enjoying Sanam Teri Kasam’s songs on Spotify, she noticed something strange. 

    “After the recent re-release of Sanam Teri Kasam, I have been listening to the songs on repeat. While browsing Spotify, I realised actor Mawra Hocane had been edited out from the album cover. Further digging reveals that other Pakistani actors like Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan have been similarly erased from their online posters,” she wrote in her column. 

    Khanna didn’t stop there. She used her signature satire to take a bold jab at cultural bans.

    “Not wanting to be left behind in doing my duty as a good citizen, I propose that we get all of Abida Parveen and Farida Khanum’s songs re-dubbed by our very own Dhinchak Pooja. That will really teach the Pakistanis a lesson,” she wrote.

    Her remarks come amid growing cross-border tensions following the April 22 Pahalgam incident. Since then, films and songs featuring Pakistani artists have quietly disappeared from Indian platforms. Digital posters of movies like Kapoor & Sons and Raees no longer show Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan despite their lead roles.

    The issue has also sparked controversy between Sanam Teri Kasam co-stars Harshvardhan Rane and Mawra Hocane. Rane recently claimed that Hocane had called India’s military action “cowardly” on social media and said he would not be part of the sequel if she is involved.

    Hocane fired back, calling his reaction a “PR strategy.” In response, Rane wrote on Instagram, “I simply offered to step down from Part 2. I am fully within my rights to choose not to work with individuals who label my country’s actions as ‘cowardly’… An Indian farmer would pluck out the unwanted weed from his crop. It’s called WEEDING.”

    Meanwhile, Abir Gulaal, an upcoming romantic drama featuring Pakistani star Fawad Khan and Indian actress Vaani Kapoor, has been banned in both India and Pakistan. Songs from the film have also been removed from YouTube India.

  • David Warner wants to play golf at this unique Lahore course

    David Warner wants to play golf at this unique Lahore course

    Australian cricket star and Karachi Kings captain David Warner has taken to social media to make an unusual request ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 playoffs; not for team strategy tips, but for a round of golf.

    In a light-hearted post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Warner tagged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Karachi Kings while asking, “Anyone got a contact for Raya in Lahore for golf, please? We’ve heard amazing things about it. Thank you! Been trying for weeks to play there.”

    Warner’s post quickly gained attention from fans, many of whom praised his interest in exploring Lahore beyond the cricket field. The Australian opener is known for his off-field charisma, and his attempt to fit in a round of golf has only added to his popularity among PSL followers.

    Karachi Kings recently suffered a tough loss against Islamabad United in a high-scoring encounter during the group stage of PSL 10. Chasing a mammoth 252-run target, Karachi were bowled out for 172 in 18.2 overs.

    Warner led from the front with a solid knock of 43 off 28 balls, hitting two sixes and four boundaries. However, the rest of the batting line-up couldn’t keep up with the required run rate. Islamabad’s captain, Shadab Khan, was the standout performer with the ball, claiming four wickets.

    Alex Hales was named Player of the Match for his explosive innings of 88 off just 35 balls, which featured eight sixes and six fours. His knock helped Islamabad climb to second place on the points table, tying with Karachi Kings on 12 points but ahead on Net Run Rate (NRR).

    Despite the defeat, Karachi Kings have qualified for the playoffs and are set to face arch-rivals Lahore Qalandars in the eliminator on May 22 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

    Speaking after the match, Warner remained optimistic and called for a reset ahead of the knockout stage.

    “We can let this one go and focus on winning the remaining three games to secure the silverware. We have a couple of days to regroup, and we must bounce back stronger,” he said during the post-match presentation.

    He also broke down what went wrong during the game: “The target was big, but we were confident about chasing it. We aimed to show intent in the first six overs, and our priority was to win the game. We did well until around the 8th or 9th over, but then it slipped out of our hands. Our performance fell short in all three departments: batting, fielding, and bowling.”

    With the eliminator just days away, Warner will be hoping his team regroups and regains its momentum. And who knows, a peaceful round of golf at Raya could be just what the skipper needs to clear his mind before the high-pressure knockout.

  • 12 terrorists of Indian proxy outfits killed in KP, Balochistan: ISPR

    12 terrorists of Indian proxy outfits killed in KP, Balochistan: ISPR

    Twelve terrorists of Indian proxy outfits were killed by security forces while two personnel were martyred in separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release issued on Monday.

    The military’s media wing said the intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were conducted on Saturday and Sunday against the banned militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group in KP and the proscribed Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) in Balochistan.

    The ISPR said an IBO was conducted in Lakki Marwat district during which troops engaged the enemy at its location and sent “five Indian sponsored” terrorists to “hell”.

    In a second IBO in Bannu district, two “Indian sponsored Khawarij were successfully neutralised” by the security forces.

    It added that terrorists ambushed a security forces convoy in another incident in North Waziristan district’s general area of Mir Ali, adding that two “Indian sponsored” terrorists were “sent to hell” after the effective response of troops.

    “However, during the intense fire exchange, two brave sons of soil, Sepoy Farhad Ali Turi (age: 29 years, resident of Kurram district) and Lance Naik Sabir Afridi (age: 32 years, resident of Kohat district), having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced martyrdom.”

    The military media wing said sanitisation operations were being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area. “Security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of Indian abetted and prosecuted terrorism perpetrated through their proxies, and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” it said.

    Troops engaged the terrorists during the Balochistan operation at their location in Awaran district’s general area of Gishkur and killed “Indian-sponsored terrorist Younas” in an intense fire exchange, while two more were wounded.

    “In another engagement in Turbat City, Kech district, security forces successfully neutralised two Indian-sponsored terrorists; terrorist ring leader Sabr Ullah and terrorist Amjad alias Bichoo,” the ISPR said.

    It added that weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the terrorists, who were actively involved in multiple activities against law enforcement agencies and target killing of innocent civilians.

    “Sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any terrorist present in the area, as security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts by Indian proxies at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan.”