It’s that time of the year when Karachi’s electricity provider K-Electric is at the receiving end of Karachiites wrath. Over the past couple of the days, their standard reply to all complaints – “Responded in DM” – has become a joke.
Recently, Osman Khalid Butt had a hilarious Twitter exchange with K-Electric and is something all citizens of Karachi will be able to relate to.
It all started when Butt shaded KE at 5 am in the morning for not restoring electricity.
I don't think that's what 'early resolution' means, @KElectricPk.
— Osman Khalid Butt đľđ¸ (@aClockworkObi) July 6, 2020
KE responded with their usual reply to which Butt joked that given how many DMs have been exchanged they should just ask each other out at this point.
I know, we've been sliding into each other's DMs since 5:30 pm. At this point one of us should ask the other out.
— Osman Khalid Butt đľđ¸ (@aClockworkObi) July 7, 2020
Four hours later, electricity was still not restored.
The year is 2048. The Resistance battles the Global Hive Mind Corp. Humans wonder whether they can live in a world dominated by artificial superintelligences. Meanwhile, @KElectricPk is still waiting on an update from their area teams, and sincerely regrets the inconvenience.
— Osman Khalid Butt đľđ¸ (@aClockworkObi) July 7, 2020
An hour later, Butt shared that K-Electric may take 15 more hours to restore electricity.
“I may spontaneously combust with rage,” said the actor.
One of the martyred security personnel who thwarted the attack on Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) in Karachi on Monday, was due to retire from service two days later, SAMAA reported.
Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Muhammad Shahid of Lyari recruited 33 years ago in 1987, was due to retire on July 1.
Senior police officials have paid tribute to the martyred officer. They say the city owes its peace to such valiant police personnel.
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa among others have also paid tribute to the brave cops and security guards who laid down their lives to foil the attack by killing all four gunmen affiliated with the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) before they could enter the compound.
… and integrated response of Pak Rangers & Sindh Police, eliminating terrorists in shortest possible time. âWith support of our resilient nation, we will foil all efforts of enemies aimed at destabilizing hard earned peace achieved through sacrifices of our martyrsâ COAS. (2/2)
Constable Muhammad Rafiq Soomro and Constable Khalil Jatoyi are also being praised for their valour and the critical role they played in thwarting the attack within eight minutes of its launch.
Earlier, panic and fear swept across Karachi after four terrorists tried to storm the PSX building on I I Chundrigar Road Monday. The assailants came in a car and tried to enter the building, according to the police.
They were intercepted by security guards after which the militants threw a hand grenade at them and opened gunfire. All four attackers were killed after a brief encounter with commandos of the Sindh Policeâs Rapid Response Force.
Police killed all four assailants who attacked the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) compound in Karachi on Monday morning, police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon confirmed to media.
Citing Memon, Reuters reported that the gunmen had attacked the compound on I I Chundrigar Road with grenades and guns. âFour attackers have been killed, they had come in a Corolla car,â Nabi said.
Initial reports said that four attackers entered the building around 10 am and opened fire. A grenade attack was carried out at the entrance.
At least two civilians were killed in the attack and multiple were injured.
Police surgeon Dr Qarar Ahmed Abbasi said that five bodies and seven injured including policemen were brought to Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital in Karachi.
Other reports said that four guards and a policeman were also martyred.
[GRAPHIC WARNING]
Police and Rangersâ officials arrived at the scene soon after the attack and killed all four attackers, Sindh Rangers said.
A clearance operation is underway in the vicinity. Weapons and hand grenades have been recovered from the attackers.
“An unfortunate incident took place at the Pakistan Stock Exchange,” said PSX director Abid Ali Habib. “They made their way from our parking area and opened fire on everyone.”
He said that the militants had stormed the Railway Ground parking area and fired outside the PSX ground. They made their way to the main gate of the building and stormed it after trading fire with security guards.Â
Habib said that the firing by militants caused panic among the people in the building.
The PSX building and surrounding areas were sealed by law enforcement agencies. People inside the PSX building were evacuated from the back door.
Police said the militants conducted the assault with sophisticated weapons and were carrying a bag filled with explosives.Â
Counter Terrorism Department’s (CTD) Raja Omar Khattab said that police would try to find out details about the car used by the attackers. “CCTV cameras are being monitored by law enforcement agencies to obtain clues.”
An earlier statement by the PSX said that its compound had been attacked by militants and that the “situation is still unfolding”.
“There was an attack on the PSX compound earlier today. The situation is still unfolding and management, with the help of security forces, is managing the security and controlling the situation,” tweeted the PSX.
There was an attack on the PSX compound earlier today. The situation is still unfolding and management, with the help of security forces, is managing the security and controlling the situation.
“We will issue a more detailed statement in due course once the situation is under control and more details are known,” it said in a subsequent tweet.
We will issue a more detailed statement in due course once the situation is under control and more details are known. For now firing has stopped and reinforcement are in place.
For now firing has stopped and reinforcement are in place, it added.
Meanwhile, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail condemned the attack.
Strongly condemn the attack on PSX aimed at tarnishing our relentless war on terror. Have instructed the IG & security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are caught alive & their handlers are accorded exemplary punishments. We shall protect Sindh at all costs.
“Strongly condemn the attack on PSX aimed at tarnishing our relentless war on terror,” he said, vowing to protect Sindh at all costs.
The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which was declared a global terrorist group by the United States (US) last year, has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.
A 9-year-old boy stole a car from the Karachi’s Sea View area and drove it until it ran out of fuel. The Darakhshan police caught the boy but later released him with a warning and allowed him to go with his parents.
As per reports, the child had stolen the car from Khayaban-e-Mujahid. His act was caught on the closed-circuit television (CCTV) and footage of the incident went viral on social media.
The boy is the resident of Machar Colony. Police officials said that the minor boy liked driving and had stolen a few motorcycles in the past. They added that he would drive vehicles until the fuel ran out after which he leaves them where they stop.
According to police, the little boy’s father is a drug addict. Police noted that they have warned the boy and let him go.
The Ayesha Chundrigar Animal Rescue has filed a petition in the Sindh High Court against the mass killing of animals being conducted throughout Karachi and Sindh after their rehabilitated dogs were found dead. In an announcement, the foundation shared that the primary purpose of the petition is to ensure that Government Authorities draft a uniform policy on how to contain the population of dogs in the city.
Prior to filing a petition, Ayesha, who is the founder of the animal shelter, shared an emotional video in which she shared that people were brutally killing dogs they had rehabilitated and released back on the streets.
Explaining the rehabilitation process, Ayesha said that when strays or injured dogs come to the shelter, they are taken care of, vaccinated and neutered and when they recover completely there are released into far off areas, such as Malir, marked as safe zones. These areas have less human population and are away from the city. Ayesha explained that once they are released, members and volunteers of the shelter keep an eye on the dogs and make sure they are doing fine.
Sharing a particularly harrowing incident, Ayesha said that her team found two of their dogs dead with their legs tied up. According to her, the dogs were given poison after which their legs were tied together so that they don’t run away for help. The wounds on their bodies indicated that they were also tortured and beaten.
Ayesha added that she has no idea how to keep the remaining dogs safe. She said that this was not an isolated incident and dogs across the city are being killed and poisoned regularly. She said sometimes they are skinned and their meat taken. The activist further said that in such incidents, it is impossible to track the perpetrators and hold them accountable.
“Where is our society going,” questioned Ayesha. “It seems all these DMCs want to literally drive us to suicide. They are well aware that we are in Malir yet instead of working with us as we have asked them to countless times, they do this.”
“We canât take it anymore. They win. Weâve fallen apart, trying like absolute fools in this lawless city of millions. Canât do it anymore. Weâre tired and hopeless and canât keep looking for ways out,” she continued.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBnj90MpmWK/
To know more about ACF Animal Rescue and Ayesha Chundigar, watch The Current‘s feature on the shelter.
https://youtu.be/anmqcs_IEAs
Following the incident, Feroze Khan requested his fans to be kind to animals.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CByWGyXB7vd/
Meanwhile, earlier, while hearing a case against the Marghazar Zoo, Chief Justice Islamabad High Court banned dog culling in the city.
Meanwhile, KP has introduced a more humane way to contain the population of stay dogs. The KP Livestock Department has set up a special centre to neuter and vaccinate stray dogs. They are offering a cash reward to whoever brings in a stray dog.
A teenager accidentally shot himself while recording a TikTok video in Karachiâs Sikandarabad on Sunday.
As per reports, the deceased, who was 17 years old, was reportedly filming himself while holding his fatherâs pistol when he accidentally pulled the trigger, killing himself.
According to the Sachal police, the family declined a post-mortem. After the completion of medico-legal formalities, the body was handed over to the family. The police said that the pistol was licensed and belonged to the boyâs father.
A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Riyadh on Thursday made an emergency landing at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, after the plane developed some technical fault, ARY reported.
According to reports, PIA flight PK8726 from Riyadh was scheduled to land in Multan but developed a technical fault, forcing it to make an emergency landing at the Karachi airport. âThe plane safely landed at the airport,â the report quoted sources as saying, adding that an alternative plane was arranged for the passengers to leave for Multan.
Speaking of the technical fault, they said something went wrong with one of the doors that apparently did not close properly.
The passengers, after realising something was wrong, refused to fly on the same plane and demanded that the authorities make alternative arrangements.
The incident comes days after 97 people were killed while only two survived miraculously after an ill-fated PIA plane crashed in a residential area seconds away from the Karachi airport.
An investigation into the crash is underway.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan has said that those found responsible in Pakistan International Airline (PIA) plane crash incident will be taken to task. He assured that fair and transparent investigation will be carried out into the tragic crash incident.
Speaking during the National Assembly session on Wednesday, he said the preliminary investigation report will be presented before the house on June 22. “Decoding of voice and data boxes have been completed and this will be made part of the inquiry report to make it credible,” the minister highlighted.
Sarwar maintained that the government has requested the International Pilots Association to provide a pilot and technician to help in the investigation of the crash.
He said the inquiry reports of plane crashes that occurred in the past including those in the federal capital will also be made public.
With COVID-19 lockdowns, restaurants across the city (and country) have remained closed for over 3 months now. As a hard-core foodie, I have been missing going out to try out different yet delicious cuisines. This prompted me to look up some home-based food delivery outlets in the city and that’s when I came across a mother-daughter startup. What intrigued me was their Iranian cuisine, something which my husband and I always enjoy eating. And lo and behold I just discovered a gem.
Born in Tehran, in the heart of Iran, Elham learned the craft of Afghani and Iranian cuisine from a generation of exceptional cooks whilst spending a majority of her pre-marriage life in the Middle East. After moving to Karachi back in 1992, she won the hearts of many of her family and friends with her authentic Iranian food. When the lockdown was imposed and everyone went into quarantine, Elham discovered that she had a lot of free time on her hands now, allowing her to work on an idea that had been lingering on her and her daughter Mahum’s minds for a while. Free time along with the wish to be financially independent, gave Elham and Mahum the motivation to use their free time to do something productive. That’s when Zafraancame into being with the vision to spread the joys of Iranian flavours to the people of Pakistan.
Zafraan’s menu is simple yet authentic and prices very reasonable. They offer home delivery, which is a blessing in the current situation, and pay special attention to hygiene and taste.
Let’s begin with Chullu Kebabs which literally means ‘rice and kebab’ in Persian. It is the national dish of Iran and also the most popular. These legendary kebabs are a fan favourite and Zafraanâs ace of spade. The dish consists of buttery saffron rice and top quality minced beef kebabs served with grilled tomato and tomato sauce. The tenderness of the kebabs along with a combination of tomato sauce and buttery rice bring together an abundance of flavour that pays a rich tribute to the culture of Iran.
Chelow Kebabs
Next up, we have the Afghani Aush sometimes spelt ‘Aash’ meaning ‘noodle’ in Afghani. Aush is comfort food at its best. Itâs a noodle soup consisting of tomato-based broth, filled with chicken chunks and mixed herbs and spices. The flavour is distinct and nothing like any other soup served in Pakistan.
Afghani Aush
Then comes the classic Zereshk Pulao, also known as âjewelled riceâ because of the red barberries in it. The dish is balanced with a hint of sweetness for the perfect taste. The rice is served with Persian chicken gravy. This dish is exotic and simple at the same time and a must-try if you are a fan of any type of rice and chicken gravy.
Zereshk Pulao
Last but not least is my favourite Khoresh Gheymeh, which is mutton and split pea stew – a traditional and popular Iranian stew – topped with fried potatoes and served with aromatic white rice. If this doesn’t tickle your taste buds, I would be quite surprised.
Khoresh Gheymeh
Though quarantine and lockdowns have snatched the livelihoods of so many across Pakistan, the silver lining is where courageous women like Elham and Mahum have started their own business with an intent to not only serve classic, authentic Irani/ Afghani food but also the desire to be financially independent.
In yet another incident of a hospital being ransacked by survivors of a deceased coronavirus patient, a mob on Friday night attacked Civil Hospital Karachi while also harassing and attempting to assault the medical staff on duty.
According to the hospital’s management, at least 70 people entered the hospital and took the body of the deceased from the emergency ward.
The hospitalâs medical superintendent, Dr Khadim Qureshi, reportedly confirmed the incident and said the police were asked to lodge an FIR [First Information Report] against those involved in the attack.
No medical staffer were, however, injured in the attack.
WATCH VIDEO:
This is Karachi Civil Hospital. Doctors say over 70 persons attacked it's ER tonight at around 11am. Docs & staff remained unhurt. They say the attackers had iron rods, knives. "KOI CORONA NAHEN HAI. YE SAB DOCTORS KA DRAMA HAI," they shouted. pic.twitter.com/MZsHllxbJ7
âDoctors are demanding security. Itâs hard for them to work under this kind of situation,â Dr Qureshi said.
Another doctor who was on duty at the time, said the incident took place at around 11 pm. He and other doctors on duty were also tortured and abused. âItâs the third time in a week, â he claimed, alleging that the police deployed outside the hospital gate did not help the medical staff.
While no arrests have been made as of yet and doctors have demanded deployment of Sindh Rangers for security, it is worth mentioning that it is not the first incident of its kind as hospitals across the country are being attacked every day amid the rising number of deaths due to COVID-19.
Among other incidents being reported across the country, over a dozen people last week barged into and vandalised the isolation ward at Karachi’s Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) after a coronavirus patient being treated there died, officials said.
Videos taken of the ward, where 37 coronavirus patients were being treated, after the attack showed pieces of glass, furniture and fans strewn on the floor. The glass windows of a counter were also shattered.
Pakistan has so far reported 1,395 deaths due to the novel virus.
![[GRAPHIC VIDEO] All terrorists, who attacked Pakistan Stock Exchange, killed](https://currenfinal.perceptiond.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/images-3-1.jpeg)
