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  • Petrol, diesel prices rise amid global price hike

    Petrol, diesel prices rise amid global price hike

    The federal government has increased the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) for the remainder of February, citing changes in international market prices. According to a notification issued on Sunday, petrol prices were raised by Rs5 per litre, while HSD prices went up by Rs7.32 per litre. 

    The revision was made following recommendations from the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority) and in line with movements in global oil markets, the Petroleum Division said.

    With the latest increase, the price of HSD now stands at Rs275.70 per litre, up from Rs268.38 per litre, reflecting an increase of 2.7 per cent for the current fortnight. HSD is widely used in the transport and agriculture sectors, including trucks, buses, trains, tractors, tube-wells and threshers, and its price has a bearing on the cost of transporting goods and agricultural output.

    The price of petrol has been revised to Rs258.17 per litre from Rs253.17 per litre, an increase of 2 per cent. Petrol is mainly used in private vehicles, motorcycles, rickshaws and small transport, with a direct impact on household transport expenses.

    The government is currently charging around Rs105 per litre on petrol and about Rs97 per litre on diesel in the form of taxes and levies. 

    Petrol and HSD remain the government’s primary revenue-generating petroleum products, with combined monthly sales averaging between 700,000 and 800,000 tonnes. In comparison, monthly demand for kerosene stands at around 10,000 tonnes.

    During FY2025, the government collected approximately Rs1.161 trillion through petroleum levy. For the current fiscal year, revenue from petroleum levy is projected to rise by around 27 per cent to Rs1.470 trillion.

  • Shahid Afridi wants Babar, Shaheen, Shadab dropped from Pakistan T20 team

    Shahid Afridi wants Babar, Shaheen, Shadab dropped from Pakistan T20 team

    Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has called for major changes to the national T20 team after their crushing 61-run defeat to India in the T20 World Cup on Sunday.

    India batted first and posted 175 runs for seven wickets in their 20 overs. Pakistan collapsed in reply, managing just 114 runs before getting bowled out in 18 overs.

    Speaking to a private TV channel, Afridi pointed out that the team made numerous mistakes during the match, stressing that India deserved the victory. He particularly questioned captain Salman Ali Agha’s decision-making throughout the game.

    “Why did he keep our trump card Usman Tariq hidden until the 10th over?” Afridi asked, expressing frustration with the tactical approach.

    The former all-rounder also criticized his son-in-law, star pacer Shaheen Afridi. The fast bowler conceded 31 runs in just two overs during the match. “Shaheen didn’t bowl well either. Even after conceding runs in the first over, he was given the final over when we had Faheem Ashraf available,” he said.

    Shadab Khan’s performance was equally disappointing, as he gave away 17 runs in a single over. Babar Azam managed only five runs before getting dismissed while playing an unnecessary shot.

    Afridi then made his most striking statement, calling for senior players to be dropped from the squad. “If the decision was in my hands, I would bench Shaheen, Shadab Khan and Babar and give new players a chance,” he declared.

    He questioned how long the senior players have been part of the team without delivering in crucial matches against major opponents. “When we expect them to perform well against big teams, they don’t deliver. That’s why we should give new players a chance in the next match against Namibia,” Afridi added.

    It is worth noting that this is Pakistan’s 4th T20I defeat agaisnt India in last six months.

  • Historic Aitchison gurdwara reopens for first time since partition

    Historic Aitchison gurdwara reopens for first time since partition

    For the first time since Partition, a gurdwara within Aitchison College came alive with Sikh worship on Friday, marking a historic and emotional return to prayers. 

    The gurdwara, located on the grounds of the prestigious institution, had remained closed for nearly eight decades, as no students from the Sikh faith were enrolled. Its reopening coincided with Aitchison College’s 140th Founder’s Day celebrations, drawing current students, alumni, and members of the Sikh community.

    “It was a nostalgic moment for me in particular to worship at the same place where my father, grandfather, and great grandfather prayed every evening before the Partition while they were students at Aitchison College,” said Dr Tarunjit Singh Butalia, an honorary envoy of the college.

    Dr Butalia added, “It was a historic and emotional moment. This gurdwara had not been functional since Partition, but was well maintained by the college management.” He noted that about 15 Sikh alumni currently living in India still fondly remember the gurdwara, with its black-and-white marble floor and interior resembling a castle.

    Leading the ceremony, local Sikh Harwinder Singh expressed joy: “What a joy to sing these holy verses at this over 100-year-old gurdwara which we had never visited, even though we live in Lahore.”

    Principal Dr SM Turab Hussain said the college looks forward to hosting more such occasions in the future. “We hope this promotes more communal harmony, mutual understanding, and respect,” he said.

    Aitchison College, originally known as ‘Chiefs College’, was founded on November 3, 1886, to educate the royals and chief families of undivided Punjab. The Patiala royal family helped fund the building, and the gurdwara itself was designed by Ram Singh, a noted Sikh architect from the then-Mayo School of Arts (now National College of Arts), Lahore. Its foundation stone was laid in 1910 by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, who studied at the college from 1904 to 1908. The gurdwara served as a daily prayer space for Sikh boys before it was closed after Partition.

  • PTI, TTAP continue Parliament sit-in, press for Imran Khan’s transfer

    PTI, TTAP continue Parliament sit-in, press for Imran Khan’s transfer

    Parliamentarians from opposition parties, under the banners of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP), continued their sit in at Parliament House and KP House in Islamabad on Saturday, demanding that Imran Khan be immediately moved to a hospital for treatment.

    On Thursday, the Supreme Court (SC) was informed that PTI founder Imran Khan’s right eye had only 15 percent vision remaining. The TTAP announced the sit in outside Parliament House on Friday following the update.


    The sit-in started after Friday prayers and continued overnight. Participants in the sit-in are demanding that PTI founder Imran Khan be moved to Shifa International Hospital.

    PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said in a post on X that the sit in had entered its second day. He added, “We also remained inside Parliament House the entire night,” and that the PTI and TTAP leadership was “exhausted from hunger.” Akram claimed, “The police did not allow dinner at night and now breakfast in the morning to be taken inside.”

    TTAP leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar attempted to deliver breakfast to protesting members from the rear side of Parliament House but was stopped by police. He wrote on X: “Outside the parliament to deliver food and water to friends inside. Wouldn’t mind not being let in but the refusal to let food and water go in is highly insensitive. There’s no other name for this heartless behaviour but ‘yazidiat’.”

    The protest is led by TTAP Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai and other leaders, including PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Senator Ali Zafar, Asad Qaiser, and Junaid Akbar.


    PTI leader Shandana Gulzar said, “It was unfortunate that Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi gave four days to have Imran examined by a team of doctors. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister is staging a sit-in at KP House and protesting against the government’s unjust behaviour. We are demanding that Imran Khan be shifted to Shifa International Hospital.” She added, “The police had manhandled the parliamentarians and other leaders of the opposition.”

    Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) spokesperson Aslam Ghauri said, “Respected members of Parliament and provincial assemblies were dragged. Making a mockery of democracy, playing around with the Constitution and going against Islam are the actions of this government. The fake forced government had gone mad in the fire of revenge.” He called for immediate release of all detained leaders and blamed the government for anarchy in Balochistan and KP.


    Awaam Pakistan leaders joined the sit-in. Dr Zafar Mirza, the party’s central spokesperson, represented the party at Parliament House. He said, “The supremacy of the Constitution and the protection of democratic values are our top priorities. The Islamabad police and administration have turned the Red Zone into a prison. The government has placed barriers on all routes leading to KP House.”

    KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi urged protesters to remain peaceful. He said on X, “Imran Khan sahib’s health is more important to me than politics. I will neither engage in politics myself over his health nor allow anyone else to do so.”


    Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khanum criticised the Supreme Court (SC), saying in a post on X, “The order should have been for Imran Khan to be shifted to Shifa International Hospital. Emergency orders for his immediate examination and treatment by specialist doctors under supervision of his personal doctors. Since CJP didn’t give a court order for Imran Khan’s treatment, people will have to support us to ensure there is enough pressure on the [government], so they will allow him to be treated at Shifa International Hospital.”

    PTI leader Omar Ayub Khan said, “PM Imran Khan must be given immediate access to qualified doctors and medical facilities in Shifa International Hospital Islamabad to save the vision in his eye. Every moment being delayed is criminal.”


    Imran’s personal physician, Dr Faisal Sultan, said in a video statement, “This is obviously a matter of grave concern, but also lends great importance to the timeliness of treatment. In addition to timely and urgent treatment, it is crucially important that such treatment may be delivered by specialists in the field of retinal surgery.”

    He stated: “One such institution is the Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, which is a joint internationally certified hospital. I believe that they do have the right infrastructure and the specialists to be able to provide this care at high quality and at excellence, which is to ensure that Mr Khan receives the care that he requires at this time.”


    Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said, “There is no need to deal with it politically; it is a medical issue. Wherever he (Imran) wants to go for a check-up, he will be taken. If he wants to go to Al-Shifa Eye Trust, then he will be taken there. There will be no negligence in the matter”.


    “If the CJP recommends a doctor, he will be taken there.” Chaudhry added. 

    He called on the opposition to refrain from politicising the issue. “This is a sensitive issue; politicising it and misrepresenting facts is completely unfair.”

  • Pakistani-American found dead in Washington DC apartment

    Pakistani-American found dead in Washington DC apartment

    A Pakistani American man has been found dead inside an apartment in Washington, D.C. after firefighters responded to reports of smoke in a residential building earlier this week, according to local authorities.

    The incident was reported at around 3:33am on Wednesday, when Washington Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to a call about smoke in the hallway of a building located in the 1400 block of Rhode Island Avenue NW. Firefighters entered one of the apartments, extinguished a small fire and found an adult male who was unconscious and not breathing.

    The Metropolitan Police Department later identified the deceased as 40-year-old Syed Hammad Hussain. Police said the man showed signs of blunt-force trauma along with thermal injuries and was declared dead at the scene after emergency responders found “no signs consistent with life”.

    Hussain’s family is originally from Lahore and is settled in Washington DC.  His funeral prayer service is scheduled to take place at 12:30pm on Saturday at the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center.


    The apartment building is located near Logan Circle, approximately 1.1 miles northwest of the White House.

    In a statement issued on Friday, police said that after an initial assessment by fire officials, the case was referred to law enforcement and taken over by homicide detectives. Authorities said no suspects had been identified as of Friday.

    Investigators are reviewing security camera footage obtained from a neighbouring building as part of the inquiry. 

    Sources familiar with the investigation told local media that the footage shows Hussain entering the building with three other individuals, including a woman, shortly before the fire broke out. The same individuals were later seen running from the building, according to those sources.

    Police have asked members of the public to come forward with any information related to the incident. The Metropolitan Police Department said it is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

  • DP World removes Sultan bin Sulayem after Epstein document disclosures: reports

    DP World removes Sultan bin Sulayem after Epstein document disclosures: reports

    Dubai-based logistics company DP World on Friday announced the appointment of His Excellency Essa Kazim as chairman of its Board of Directors and Yuvraj Narayan as Group Chief Executive Officer, replacing Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem following disclosures in recently released US court documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein.

    In a statement issued by the Dubai media office, the company confirmed the changes but did not mention bin Sulayem by name.

    Bin Sulayem had been serving as group chairman and chief executive officer of DP World, one of the world’s largest port operators. His name appears more than 9,400 times in documents released by the US Department of Justice as part of the Epstein files.

    The documents indicate that bin Sulayem and Epstein maintained correspondence between 2009 and 2018. The exchanges reportedly covered meetings, introductions and business matters. The material also suggests that bin Sulayem visited Epstein at his residence in the United States on multiple occasions, including at his private island.

    Separately, two US lawmakers referenced bin Sulayem in connection with an email mentioned in the unredacted Epstein documents.

    Congressmen Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna said that they reviewed unredacted records and shared details of a 2009 email exchange between Epstein and a sender whose name had been blacked out in public versions of the files. The email referred to a “torture video.”

    Khanna later addressed the US House floor and read out six names he said had been redacted in the publicly released documents, including bin Sulayem’s. Massie also posted on social media platform X, stating that the Department of Justice had redacted information identifying the sender of the email and that he and Khanna had disclosed the name earlier in the week.

    Massie further referenced bin Sulayem’s departure in his post, linking it to the disclosure of the email.

    DP World’s statement announcing the appointments did not address the lawmakers’ claims or the content of the documents.

  • ‘Noon Leegi’: Abrar Ul Haq clashes with journalist in London for ‘pocketing’ £5 note

    ‘Noon Leegi’: Abrar Ul Haq clashes with journalist in London for ‘pocketing’ £5 note

    Singer Abrar-ul-Haq and journalist Safina Khan engaged in a heated confrontation in London, with videos of their argument going viral on social media.

    The dispute stems from a video that surfaced earlier showing Abrar-ul-Haq pocketing a five pound note during a charity event. The footage sparked criticism and gave the impression that the singer was mishandling charitable donations.

    In the confrontation video, Abrar-ul-Haq accused Safina Khan of spreading the clip to gain attention and views. He also labeled her a PML-N affiliated journalist.

    “Bibi, kya aap ko marna nahi hai? Aap chand views ke liye apni qabar mein keeray bhar rahi hain (Ma’am, don’t you have to die? You are filling your grave with worms for a few views),” Abrar-ul-Haq said.

    Safina Khan defended herself, saying she was not even present at the concert and only shared what others had posted.

    “I wasn’t at your concert at all. We only posted what your people had put up,” she responded.

    The singer explained his side of the story, claiming the incident was being misrepresented.

    “I bought the land with my own money. The government didn’t give me the land. During the concert, someone handed me a five pound note. Should I have taken it to the bank?” he asked. 

    However, a second video later emerged showing the two sitting down and resolving the matter amicably. In the footage, Safina Khan explains to Abrar-ul-Haq that she was not at the concert and did not create the video.

    Abrar-ul-Haq responded by saying that people can say whatever they want, but the hospital being built is named after his mother, which is why the allegations hurt him deeply.

    Abrar-ul-Haq’s Punjabi songs remain staples at Pakistani weddings and celebrations, with hits like “Billo De Ghar” and “Chamkeeli Baraat Le Ke Aap Aayi Ae” among his most famous tracks.

    The singer briefly entered politics and joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf but later announced his departure from political life. He also serves as the founder and chairman of Sahara for Life Trust, a private charitable organization.

  • Reserve day for Pak-India clash if rain plays spoilsport?

    Reserve day for Pak-India clash if rain plays spoilsport?

    With rain threatening to disrupt Sunday’s high-voltage India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup encounter in Colombo, fans are asking a crucial question: is there a reserve day if the match gets washed out?

    The answer is no. The ICC does not schedule reserve days for group-stage matches in the T20 World Cup according to ESPNCricinfo.

    If rain forces a complete washout on Sunday evening, both teams will share the points equally, receiving one point each. 

    India and Pakistan currently sit level on four points after playing two games each. However, India lead the group due to a superior net run rate of 3.050 compared to Pakistan’s 0.932. A washout would maintain that advantage while giving both teams a point, but it would deny either side the opportunity to pull ahead with a win.

    The lack of a reserve day puts enormous pressure on getting the match completed on Sunday itself, even if rain causes delays or forces a shortened game.

    The Sri Lanka Department of Meteorology has warned of a low-pressure system developing in the Bay of Bengal, indicating a high risk of rain that could disrupt the marquee contest. Weather forecasts for the Khettarama area of Colombo, where the R Premadasa Stadium sits, show a 50 to 70 percent chance of rain on Sunday afternoon.

    With the match scheduled to begin at 7pm local time, some weather models suggest heavy thundershowers could arrive in the hours before the toss. While some forecasts indicate a slight clearing trend after 8pm, isolated showers remain possible through the night.

    The only matches in ICC tournaments that typically have reserve days are knockout fixtures such as semi-finals and finals. Group-stage games follow a straightforward points-sharing system in case of abandonment.

    The weather in Colombo has otherwise been largely dry, making any significant rainfall unusual for this time of year. None of the T20 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka have been affected by bad weather so far.

    The Premadasa Stadium does have a sophisticated drainage system and enough covers to protect the entire playing area, which gives ground staff a fighting chance to get the match on even if rain does arrive. Under normal conditions, the ground typically becomes ready for play within 45 to 60 minutes after heavy rain stops.

    Both teams will be hoping the weather holds, knowing that unlike knockout matches, there is no second chance if Sunday’s game falls victim to the elements.

  • Hania Aamir married? Actress breaks silence after her ‘wedding video’ breaks the internet

    Hania Aamir married? Actress breaks silence after her ‘wedding video’ breaks the internet

    Actress Hania Aamir pulled off one of the most entertaining pranks of the year, staging an entire fake wedding that had fans convinced she had secretly tied the knot.

    The drama unfolded on Friday when an entertainment news page started posting a video showing Hania and a mystery man dancing at what appeared to be a wedding celebration. 

    Social media exploded with speculation, particularly because the man who was dancing with Hania, bore a striking resemblance to singer Asim Azhar in his mannerisms, height, and fashion choices, including a signature cap he often wears.

    Hania revealed the truth on Saturday in a video posted to her Instagram. “Everyone wanted me to get married so bad, so we did a fake wedding,” she said with a laugh. “Welcome to my fake wedding guys.”

    The actress went all out to make the prank believable. She organised a full wedding production complete with mehndi, traditional ceremonies, and fellow celebrities who participated to add authenticity. The mystery man wore a mask throughout, fueling speculation that it might actually be Asim.

    The prank gained even more traction because of an earlier viral video that showed Hania meeting a masked man at an airport while holding a bouquet of flowers. Fans believed she had reunited with Asim. 

    That scene turned out to be part of the elaborate setup as well.

    Fans loved the stunt. “Love how she doesn’t give a damn and just vibes with life,” one follower wrote. Another commented, “Your dance performance was the best.” Some fans admitted they came to congratulate her only to discover the wedding was fake. 

    “Apko congrats karne ayi thi lekin iye to nakli shadi hai,” one disappointed follower wrote.

    The timing of the prank proves particularly clever given the recent wave of reconciliation rumors between Hania and Asim. Galaxy Lollywood had earlier reported that the two stars would marry this year, a claim neither has confirmed.

    Speculation intensified after fans noticed both celebrities wearing similar black sweaters in separate social media posts. Some followers even predicted a Ramzan 2026 nikkah after Hania jokingly responded to a comment about a “Dopahar Jummah” wedding date.

    Reports also claimed the two attended the same Qawwali night in Lahore but avoided being photographed together. Neither has addressed these rumors directly.

    Hania continues to dominate Pakistani entertainment. She holds the title of Pakistan’s most followed celebrity on Instagram with over 19 million followers. Her drama Meri Zindagi Hai Tu recently crossed 1.35 billion views on YouTube, making it one of the most watched Pakistani dramas both domestically and internationally.

    She also made her Indian Punjabi cinema debut in Sardaar Ji 3, which released on June 27, 2025. While the horror comedy did not get a theatrical release in India, it became a massive hit internationally and in Pakistan, ranking among the highest grossing Punjabi films to date.

    Asim Azhar remains active in the music industry with several successful releases keeping him in the public eye.

  • Police officer killed by racing jeep in Cholistan Desert Rally

    Police officer killed by racing jeep in Cholistan Desert Rally

    A police officer died on Friday after a racing jeep ran over him during the 21st Cholistan Desert Jeep Rally, casting a shadow over the popular motorsport event.

    According to reports, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Muhammad Bashir Ahmed Joyia was performing security duty near the Jamgarh mid-point when racer Faisal Shadikhel’s jeep lost control, skidded off the track and struck him. ASI Joyia, who was posted at Shahr Farid Police Station, died on the spot.

    Other security officials at the scene managed to escape by quickly moving away from the path of the oncoming vehicle.

    Police have booked Shadikhel for the death of the ASI. Marrot Police Station, which has jurisdiction over the area near Jamgarh Fort where the accident occurred, registered a case based on FIR No 46/26 under Section 322 (manslaughter) and Section 379 (theft) of the Pakistan Penal Code, reports added.

    The complaint, filed by Sub-Inspector Riaz Shahid, alleges that Shadikhel committed negligence on a turn that led to the fatal accident.

    Ironically, Shadikhel emerged as the unofficial winner of Friday’s first round in the prepared category, covering 236 kilometers in one hour and 43 minutes. His victory marks a major upset as he had finished third in Thursday’s qualifying round.

    Mir Jaffar Magsi, who was second in the qualifying round, finished in second position, while Hussain Asif took third place.

    The prepared category participants will compete in their second and final round on Sunday, the last day of the rally.