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  • Mike Hesson opposes Haris Rauf’s selection in T20 World Cup squad after Asia Cup final: reports

    Mike Hesson opposes Haris Rauf’s selection in T20 World Cup squad after Asia Cup final: reports

    Fast bowler Haris Rauf is likely to miss Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup, reports confirmed Monday, despite taking 18 wickets in nine Big Bash League (BBL) matches this season.

    Team coach Mike Hesson reportedly opposes Rauf’s inclusion following the Asia Cup final, where the pacer’s death-over struggles proved costly. 

    The most damaging blow came in the 2025 Asia Cup final against India. With India needing 10 runs in the final over, Rauf conceded the runs in just four balls, finishing with figures of 50 runs in four overs without a wicket.

    A pattern of high-pressure failures appears to have sealed his fate. During the 2024 T20 World Cup, Rauf could not defend 15 runs in the final over against the United States, forcing a Super Over that Pakistan ultimately lost in one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.

    In the 2022 T20 World Cup against India, Rauf bowled the 19th over with Pakistan defending 28 runs off eight balls. Virat Kohli hit two consecutive sixes off the final two deliveries, turning the match in India’s favor.

    Most recently, Rauf failed to defend 10 runs in the final over against Brisbane Heat in the ongoing BBL.

    Pakistan hopes to begin their T20 World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo.

  • Govt launches ‘Rahguzar’ app to locate petrol pumps

    Govt launches ‘Rahguzar’ app to locate petrol pumps

    The federal government has launched a mobile application named Rahguzar aimed at helping travellers and transporters locate registered and authorised petrol pumps across Pakistan, private media outlets have reported.


    According to the Petroleum Division, the app provides verified information on legally approved fuel stations, allowing consumers to distinguish authorised outlets from illegal ones.


    The initiative is part of broader reforms being undertaken to improve oversight and transparency in the petroleum sector. Officials said a modern track-and-trace mechanism is being introduced to curb fuel smuggling at petrol pumps and across the supply chain.


    As part of the monitoring framework, a joint track-and-trace system for oil tankers has been developed in collaboration with the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB).


    Under the system, fuel tankers, storage terminals and retail outlets are being connected through an integrated digital network to enable real-time monitoring.


    The Petroleum Division said automatic tank gauges and digital nozzles will also be installed at petrol pumps to ensure accurate measurement and monitoring of fuel quantity and quality.


    In addition, the Directorate General of Petroleum Concessions (DGPC) is set to launch a new online portal aimed at improving transparency in the bidding process for oil and gas exploration and production blocks.


    The statement further noted that an Explosives Track-and-Trace System has been made operational to allow real-time monitoring of the explosives supply chain, with two phases of the project already completed.


    To strengthen enforcement against illegal petroleum trade, amendments have been made to the Petroleum Act, 1934, introducing provisions for stricter penalties, including heavy fines and confiscation, for the unlawful sale and transportation of petroleum products.

  • Karachi mayor says political point-scoring after tragedies is ‘inappropriate’

    Karachi mayor says political point-scoring after tragedies is ‘inappropriate’

    Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab on Monday criticised what he called an “unfortunate tradition” in the city of turning major tragedies into political point-scoring exercises instead of uniting people.

    “Whenever a tragedy happens, instead of bringing people’s hearts together, we start negative politics, we start blaming each other,” Wahab told reporters during a late night visit to Gul Plaza on Monday. 

    “You have plenty of time for politics. You will find many issues on which you can do politics. But doing politics on matters of humanity is inappropriate.”

    When asked about reactions to his visits to the site, Wahab said such criticism reflected the character of those passing the remarks. “We are focused on our responsibility. We will fulfill that responsibility. Let those who want to criticize be ready for it,” he said.

    The mayor confirmed that authorities had identified around 20 bodies and that approximately 80 people remained missing. He offered assurances that rescue operations will continue until all missing persons are located.

    Wahab also appeared on a TV program where he outlined three major decisions taken by the Sindh government. 

    “An inquiry committee has been formed under the leadership of the Karachi Commissioner. One crore rupees will be given to the families of each deceased person. A committee has also been formed to address the losses suffered by traders,” he said.

    The mayor revealed that following a fire on Rashid Minhas Road, authorities conducted fire safety audits of more than 600 buildings and shared the report with the Sindh Chief Minister.

    “Gul Plaza’s construction plan was approved in 1998, with irregularities,” Wahab said. 

    He confirmed that all relevant departments remained on alert as crews worked to remove vehicles and motorcycles from the plaza’s roof.

    The blaze broke out at one of Karachi’s oldest shopping malls on M.A. Jinnah Road on Saturday night, and continued burning for more than 24 hours. According to reports, the death toll had risen to 26 by Monday, with one firefighter among the casualties while dozens still remain missing.

  • Beckham family feud deepens: Brooklyn says his mother Victoria ‘danced very inappropriately on me’

    Beckham family feud deepens: Brooklyn says his mother Victoria ‘danced very inappropriately on me’

    Brooklyn Peltz Beckham has said he does not want to reconcile with his family, accusing his parents, David and Victoria Beckham, of attacking him and his wife in the press and placing false information in the media.

    In a series of posts shared with his 16 million followers, the 26-year-old said he had remained silent for years but decided to speak publicly after media coverage did not end. 

    Brooklyn has also accused his mother, Lady Beckham, of disrupting his wedding by taking over his first dance with his wife. He alleged that when he was called to the stage, “my mum was waiting to dance with me” instead of his wife and said she “danced very inappropriately on me in front of everyone”.


    “I have been silent for years and made every effort to keep these matters private,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, my parents and their team have continued to go to the press, leaving me with no choice but to speak for myself and tell the truth about only some of the lies that have been printed.”

    “I do not want to reconcile with my family,” he added. “I’m not being controlled, I’m standing up for myself for the first time in my life.”

    Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, the eldest son of David Beckham and Lady Victoria Beckham, alleged that his parents had tried to undermine his relationship with his wife Nicola Peltz Beckham. He said they had been “trying endlessly to ruin” the relationship and accused them of placing “countless lies in the media” to “preserve their own facade”.

    “Recently, I have seen with my own eyes the lengths that they’ll go through to place countless lies in the media, mostly at the expense of innocent people,” he wrote. “But I believe the truth always comes out.”

    He also addressed speculation surrounding his absence from David Beckham’s 50th birthday, stating that he and his wife travelled to London for the occasion but were unable to meet his father privately.

    “We were rejected for a week as we waited in our hotel room trying to plan quality time with him,” he said. “He refused all of our attempts, unless it was at his big birthday party with a hundred guests and cameras at every corner.”

    He claimed his father later agreed to meet him on the condition that his wife was not present. “That was a slap in the face,” he wrote, adding that his family later refused to see him during a subsequent trip to Los Angeles.

    At the time, a source told an international media outlet that Brooklyn had chosen not to attend the party because his younger brother Romeo was present with a woman to whom he had previously been linked.

    He also alleged that his mother had “repeatedly invited women from my past into our lives in ways that were clearly intended to make us both uncomfortable”.

    He accused his family of prioritising commercial interests over personal relationships. “Brand Beckham comes first,” he wrote, adding that “family ‘love’ is decided by how much you post on social media”.

    Brooklyn Beckham said he had experienced anxiety for much of his life, which he linked to his family situation. “I have been controlled by my parents for most of my life,” he said. “I grew up with overwhelming anxiety. For the first time in my life, since stepping away from my family, that anxiety has disappeared.”

    He further alleged that he had faced “endless attacks from my parents, both privately and publicly”, which he claimed were sent to the press “on their orders”.

    He said his younger brothers had also been involved. “They were sent to attack me on social media, before they ultimately blocked me out of nowhere this last summer,” he wrote.

    In December, Cruz Beckham, 20, responded to a Daily Mail report claiming that their parents had unfollowed Brooklyn Peltz Beckham on social media. “Not true,” he wrote on Instagram. “My mum and dad would never unfollow their son. Let’s get the facts right.” He added: “They woke up blocked as I did.”

  • SC says families force victims of domestic abuse back into ‘living hell’

    SC says families force victims of domestic abuse back into ‘living hell’

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) has lamented society’s indifference towards victims of domestic abuse, observing that women subjected to prolonged violence by their husbands or in-laws are often forced by their families to return to the same hostile households.


    Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim passed the remarks in a six-page judgement in a domestic violence-related murder case. 


    “With a heavy heart we state that in similar cases, where daughters are subjected to sustained maltreatment by their husbands or in-laws, it is the sad state of our society, though with a few exceptions, that families still compel them to return to the same abusive environment,” the judge stated.


    A three-member bench headed by Justice Muhammad Hashim Kakar was hearing a jail petition filed by Khursheed Ahmad, challenging a Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench decision dated February 1, 2022. The SC, however, dismissed the petition and maintained the petitioner’s conviction for the murder of his wife Gulshan Bibi.


    In his opinion, Justice Ibrahim underscored that women enduring such treatment were clear victims of domestic violence and were entitled to legal protection, empathy and effective remedies. He added that deep-rooted social attitudes and cultural pressures often pushed families to send their daughters back into circumstances that amounted to nothing less than a ‘living hell’, he observed.


    The record showed that Khursheed Ahmad was initially convicted on February 12, 2021, by an additional sessions judge in Fatehjang, Attock, under Section 302(b) of the Pakistan Penal Code. He was awarded life imprisonment and directed to pay Rs200,000 as compensation to the legal heirs of the deceased under Section 544-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure.


    Subsequently, the Lahore High Court altered the conviction, setting aside the sentence under Section 302(b) and instead convicting him under Section 316 of the PPC for Qatl Shibh-i-Amd. The court sentenced him to 10 years in prison and ordered him to pay diyat amounting to Rs2,055,936 to the heirs of the deceased.


    Through the present jail petition, the convict sought leave to appeal against the high court’s ruling. After reviewing the trial record and evidence, the SC declined to interfere with the findings.


    The judgement noted that testimony from a prosecution witness stated that the convict was unemployed, addicted to narcotics and frequently engaged in disputes with his wife. After repeated physical abuse, Gulshan Bibi left her matrimonial home in 2018 and moved in with her parents. However, following mediation by family elders, the couple reconciled and began living together again shortly before Eid.


    According to the witness, on July 21, 2019, he received a phone call from a woman living near his sister’s residence, informing him that Gulshan Bibi had been killed by her husband. He, along with his brothers Rasheed, Naseem Gul and Muhammad Akhlaq Ahmad, rushed to the house and found her lying dead.


    Another prosecution witness, Muhammad Ali, told the court that the couple’s minor son had disclosed that his father assaulted his mother with a wooden plank during the night. The child also stated that a man identified as Raees Pathan had slapped her, after which she lost consciousness and later died.

  • Actor Rana Aftab shot dead outside Lahore home

    Actor Rana Aftab shot dead outside Lahore home

    Television and film actor Rana Aftab died Monday morning after unknown gunmen opened fire on his vehicle outside his residence in a private housing society in Lahore. He was 63.

    The attack occurred around 8:40 am when Aftab left his home. According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by his wife Huma Aftab, three to four unidentified men in a golden Corolla blocked his vehicle at the gate.

    One attacker exited the car and fired multiple rounds with a Kalashnikov-type weapon at Aftab’s vehicle. 

    Huma’s brothers Khurram Munsha and Faisal witnessed the attack after hearing the gunfire. The assailants fled through the One Way Society main gate after the shooting.

    Police described the primary shooter as approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall, with a wheatish complexion and medium build, wearing a shalwar kameez. 

    Authorities registered a murder case and shifted Aftab’s body to a hospital for postmortem examination. While nobody has been arrested as yet, investigators continue working to determine the motive.

    Aftab retired several years ago as deputy director from the Excise Department and recently worked at Style Textile. He built a distinguished career portraying authoritative figures, particularly judges and lawyers, in television and film.

    His television credits included dramas such as Lal Andhi, Log, Rakhwala, and Ek Mohabbat Azmaish, along with numerous PTV Punjabi productions. 

    In cinema, he appeared in Aman Ke Rakhwale, Wehshi Gujjar, Miss Italy, Madam Charlie, Sher-e-Lahore, and Qabza Group.

  • Pakistanis bash S. Jaishankar for ‘neighbourhood terror’ remarks to Polish deputy PM

    Pakistanis bash S. Jaishankar for ‘neighbourhood terror’ remarks to Polish deputy PM

    Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s remarks to Poland on terrorism have sparked backlash from Pakistani netizens, with many accusing India of attempting to dictate regional and global foreign policy.


    Jaishankar told the Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski in New Delhi that they were “no stranger to our region” and urged Poland to “display zero tolerance for terrorism and not help fuel terrorist infrastructure in our neighbourhood”. 

    The remarks referred to the discussions between Pakistan and Poland on October 2025, where both sides stressed the need to find peaceful solutions to conflicts, in full respect of the principles of international law and the UN Charter.


    After a video of Jaishankar’s remarks circulated online, Pakistani users reacted sharply. One wrote, “Lol, what does India think it is? A superpower or economic power or some shit so it thinks it can dictate the world?” Another stated, “India can not dictate world and their governments on their foreign policy.”


    Other users dismissed India’s attempts to influence other countries, questioned whether similar language would be used towards the United States, or mocked the Indian minister as desperate.


    Several reactions were more critical, accusing India of being a hostile neighbour and alleging that its foreign minister routinely makes statements targeting Pakistan.

  • Govt announces Rs10 million compensation for family of every Gul Plaza fire victim

    Govt announces Rs10 million compensation for family of every Gul Plaza fire victim

    Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah has announced Rs10 million compensation for each family that lost a member in Karachi’s Gul Plaza fire, also pledging to rebuild the destroyed building.

    Addressing a press conference in the port city on Monday, CM Shah said the fire was a major incident and indicated that authorities might need to demolish the entire building due to the extent of the damage.

    “Firefighters and rescue teams are attempting to enter the building from three separate points, but the fire has not yet been fully extinguished,” he said.

    The blaze, which began late Saturday, raged for more than 30 hours before authorities brought it under control, with cooling operations continuing at the site. 

    CM Shah said the distribution of monetary aid to victims’ families will begin tomorrow and the focus now centres on correcting mistakes and preventing future incidents.

    An inquiry into the incident will take place under the supervision of the Karachi commissioner, he said.

    “In such incidents, every expert must be allowed to do their job without obstruction,” the provincial chief executive said and confirmed that authorities will also take steps to compensate shopkeepers who suffered losses in the fire.

    The inquiry committee will determine the causes of the fire and highlight any lapses.

    Earlier, the CM chaired a meeting attended by provincial ministers, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab and other officials to receive a briefing on the incident.

    “I want to take all necessary steps for the rehabilitation of all victims of Gul Plaza,” he said during the meeting.

    Instructed officials to start clearing the debris immediately, he highlighted the need for a forensic investigation to determine the fire’s cause. The chief secretary was also directed to formally notify the fact-finding committee.

    He confirmed that all traders’ representatives agreed that authorities should restore businesses immediately, and the committee will decide how to implement their suggestions.

    The CM also revealed that both President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal-Bhutto have been in constant contact, urging immediate restoration of traders’ businesses and urgent action for the affected traders.

    Meanwhile, at least 15 bodies were recovered, five of them beyond identification, from the building. The number of missing persons, on the other hand, has risen to 73.

  • Man arrested for killing seven members of his family

    Man arrested for killing seven members of his family

    Seven people were killed after a man opened fire on members of his own family in Sabirabad, Ghundi Mir Khan Khel, Karak, police said on Sunday.

    The victims included the suspect’s wife, daughter, sister, two brothers and the wives of his brothers. Residents of the area informed authorities after gunshots were heard from a house in the locality.

    Police and Rescue 1122 teams reached the scene and shifted the bodies to District Headquarters Hospital Karak for postmortem examinations.

    Rescue 1122 said the incident resulted in seven deaths, including two children and two women. The deceased were identified as 50-year-old Zafarullah, 48-year-old Khurshid, two women aged 40 and 30, and two girls aged six years and three months.

    Police identified the suspect as Farooq. According to initial police findings, the shooting occurred during a domestic dispute.

    District Police Officer Karak Saud Khan confirmed that the suspect had been arrested. Further investigations had been launched into the incident.

  • Overseas Pakistanis can now protect their SIMs from getting blocked, PTA announces

    Overseas Pakistanis can now protect their SIMs from getting blocked, PTA announces

    The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has introduced a new measure to help overseas Pakistanis maintain their mobile SIM cards and prevent them from being blocked during their stay abroad.

    In a post on social media, the PTA said the initiative is part of its efforts to provide uninterrupted telecom services to Pakistani citizens living outside the country. Subscribers can use this facility for a specified period by informing their respective cellular companies and paying the applicable charges, the authority added.

    The initiative allows Pakistani citizens abroad to retain ownership of their mobile SIMs and continue accessing telecom services, ensuring they can stay in contact with family and others in Pakistan.

    The PTA also issued guidelines for subscribers to maintain active connections. Prepaid customers are advised to use their mobile services at least once every 180 days. This can include making a call, sending an SMS, or using mobile data within the specified period.

    For postpaid customers, the PTA instructed that monthly line rent and any outstanding dues must be paid on time to keep connections active.

    Earlier, the PTA also issued warnings about fraudulent calls and unauthorised use of Unique Access Numbers (UAN). In an awareness video, the authority stated that “scammers are copying the PTA, FIA and banks”.

    The message emphasised that “no government organisation ever asks for your OTP, PIN, identity card number or biometrics”.

    The PTA urged consumers to remain alert, verify requests only through official government channels and avoid sharing personal information with unverified sources.

    In previous statements, the authority had also highlighted the importance of responsible SIM use.

    Citizens are advised to use only SIMs registered in their own names, as using SIMs issued on another person’s ID is considered a violation of regulations.

    The PTA added that “wrong use of SIMs will be on the registered consumer”, and called on citizens to ensure responsible use of their mobile connections.

    According to the authority, registered consumers will bear responsibility for calls, messages and data usage associated with their SIMs.