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Tag: Pakistan

  • Sher Afzal Marwat denies Maryam Nawaz tried to assassinate him

    Sher Afzal Marwat denies Maryam Nawaz tried to assassinate him

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat has taken a u-turn and told the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) that Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, didn’t plan his assassination. The News reported on Tuesday. 

    The PTI leader was summoned by the agency for questioning about a tweet on X, in which Marwat accused Maryam Nawaz of plotting his assassination.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Barrister Aqeel Malik had filed a complaint against Marwat.

    Marwat told the FIA: “I didn’t name Maryam Nawaz as mastermind of the assassination plot but MNA Naseem Ali, who has concrete evidences about the plot, informed me.” 

    He also asked the FIA to summon MNA Naseem Ali for further investigation.

    On March 9, Marwat on X wrote: “It is imperative to publicly acknowledge that ‘Maryam Nawaz Sharif’ poses a threat to my life, as she has orchestrated an ‘assassination attempt against me,’ which can take place at any time.” 

    He added: “An amount of $100,000 has been allocated by Maryam Nawaz Sharif to these assassins for the “execution of my murder.”

  • You’ll soon see Noor ul Hassan in Pak Turk series Selahddin Eyyubi

    You’ll soon see Noor ul Hassan in Pak Turk series Selahddin Eyyubi

    Renowned Pakistani actor Noor ul Hassan Muhammad has recently made headlines in the entertainment world by joining the cast of the highly anticipated Pak Turk series ‘Selahddin’. With his exceptional talent and versatile acting skills, Noor is set to bring depth and authenticity to his role in this historical drama.


    Noor takes on the challenging role of depicting Saladin, the legendary figure who founded the Ayyubid dynasty and played a pivotal role in shaping the history of the Middle East. As the first Pakistani actor to join the cast of the ambitious series, Noor’s involvement underscores the growing collaboration between Pakistani and Turkish entertainment industries.


    The announcement of Noor’s participation in ‘Selahddin’ has generated immense excitement among fans eagerly anticipating the release of the series. With its compelling narrative and rich historical backdrop, the series promises to be a captivating portrayal of one of the most significant figures in Islamic history.b

  • Sania Mirza opens up about her struggles

    Sania Mirza opens up about her struggles

    On International Women’s Day, Indian tennis star Sania Mirza opened up about her struggles in an interview with Rupha Ramani on Firstpost. She talked about her journey, from the highs and lows of her career to life after retiring.


    Mirza reflected on retiring from tennis, saying, “I think I’ll lose my mind if I’m not busy, to be very honest. That’s how my life has been and, actually, one of the thoughts I had when I was retiring was like ‘oh my god’ and so many people would ask me, what are you gonna do now, and I had no plan and I was like ‘I actually don’t know.’”


    Despite thinking she might slow down after retiring, Mirza found herself keeping busy with different things like the Women’s Premier League and covering the French Open. She’s grateful for living her dream, saying, “There’s a very few handful of people in this world who get to live their dream. And I feel very fortunate that I was able to do that.”


    Mirza stressed the importance of loving what you do, not just for the money. “Nobody wakes up in the morning and says, I’m going to start this career. I want to do it so I can make a lot of money. That cannot be the sole goal for anybody.”


    She also talked about the challenges of fame and scrutiny, saying, “It’s been very hard. Playing and succeeding or failing or whatever it is at what you do on a personal level is hard enough. When you put a public platform in it, you put media scrutiny in it…there’s so many things that go along with it.”


    Mirza discussed growing up in the public eye, saying, “I became Sania Mirza when I was 16… I’ve lived more years as a known person to the world.” She emphasized the importance of being real and embracing imperfections in a world where social media plays a big role.

  • Nawaz Sharif criticises increase in gas, power rates under IMF pressure

    Nawaz Sharif criticises increase in gas, power rates under IMF pressure

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif criticised the increase in rates of electricity and gas prices after directives from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to do so.

    The former prime minister raised concerns regarding the increase in rates of gas and power during a meeting with the Punjab government. The Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, was also present in the meeting.

    The leader of the PML-N commented on high inflation, questioning how much more the nation could endure. He urged authorities to solve the issue of costly electricity for small farmers by giving them solar panels.

    Senior provincial minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Information Minister Azma Bukhari, Transport Minister Bilal Akbar, MPA Sania Ashiq, provincial chief secretary, Planning and Development Board chairman, Transport secretary, and other officials concerned were also present at the meeting.

    The PML-N supremo also said that small farmers should be rewarded for their hard work and should be saved from the exploitation of big farmers.

  • Information Minister admits X still restricted in Pakistan

    Information Minister admits X still restricted in Pakistan

    Following earlier assertions that social media giant X, formerly known as Twitter, was accessible to online users, Information Minister Atta Tarar has now conceded that the popular social networking app remains suspended in the country.

    During an interview with a local news channel on Monday, Tarar acknowledged, “Twitter was already banned when we assumed power, and there is no official notification regarding its status.” Emphasising the necessity for a charter delineating “do’s and don’ts,” the information minister advocated for discussions among political parties to establish “red lines” that should not be crossed on the platform.

    Expressing his dismay over allegations against women, abuses, misconduct, and smear campaigns targeting the sacrifices of martyrs on social media, Tarar highlighted the need for accountability.

    It is noteworthy that Tarar dismissed inquiries about X’s suspension in Pakistan on March 13, stating, “Twitter [X] is operational. Tweets continue to be posted on Twitter as well. If there is an official notification mandating its closure, then it should be presented for discussion.”

    The continued unavailability of X, a vital source of information, to millions of users in Pakistan for over a month now, since its suspension preceding the February 8 general election, raises concerns. Despite various court orders urging the restoration of uninterrupted access, users have faced sporadic disruptions and obstacles.

    Furthermore, on March 13, human rights activists and civil society organisations issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the escalating instances of internet shutdowns and social media platform blocks, advocating for the immediate reinstatement of X.

  • IMF urges Pakistan to expand capital gains tax scope to include cryptocurrencies

    IMF urges Pakistan to expand capital gains tax scope to include cryptocurrencies

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to broaden the scope of capital gains tax (CGT) by incorporating cryptocurrencies into the tax regime.

    This recommendation arises amidst ongoing discussions between the Fund and Pakistani authorities regarding the $3 billion stand-by arrangement (SBA).

    The four-day review, which commenced on Thursday, aims to unlock the final tranche of approximately $1.1 billion secured by Islamabad under a last-minute rescue package last summer, thus averting a sovereign debt default.

    During these deliberations, the IMF proposed a reassessment of tax slabs for real estate and listed securities to ensure comprehensive taxation of all gains, irrespective of asset holding periods.

    Moreover, the IMF urged the FBR to mandate property developers to monitor and report all pre-completion property transfers, with penalties for non-compliance. This move aims to bring under the tax umbrella the prevalent practice of trading property plot files within housing schemes.

    These recommendations are anticipated to be incorporated into the forthcoming bailout package under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), potentially becoming integral to the FY2024–25 budget through the finance bill.

    The IMF’s technical assistance report highlights the challenges faced by Pakistani authorities in assessing and collecting taxes on capital gains from real estate transactions, particularly those occurring before formal property registration.

    To address this issue, the IMF suggests obligating property developers to track and report all pre-completion property transfers, with penalties for non-compliance, thereby shifting tax liabilities to developers if they are not recoverable from the initial transferor.

    Furthermore, the IMF advocates for the expansion of assets subject to capital gains tax to include emerging investment avenues such as cryptocurrencies alongside real estate and listed securities. 

    It also proposes revising tax slabs to ensure equitable taxation of capital gains, irrespective of asset holding durations.

    Overall, these IMF recommendations seek to fortify the taxation framework, ensuring a more inclusive and equitable approach to capital gains taxation in Pakistan.

  • A Hindu woman’s journey of fasting in Ramazan

    A Hindu woman’s journey of fasting in Ramazan

    Fasting has been a practice in many cultures and religions for a long time. Now when people think of fasting, they often think of Islam and Muslims more than anything else.


    Neelam Gokulsing, who isn’t Muslim and is from Mauritius, lives in Dubai, UAE. She started fasting during Ramadan in 2021 when she was in Malaysia, to support her Muslim friends.


    “I have many Muslim friends in Malaysia, and we ate before dawn and after sunset together. It was about standing together and understanding their culture even though I’m Hindu,” said Neelam, who is 26-years-old and works at a fintech company. She moved to Dubai two years ago.


    Even after moving to the Muslim-majority Gulf nation, Neelam kept fasting during Ramadan to be like the people around her. At first, it was about supporting others, but it turned into a journey of learning more about herself.


    “Fasting isn’t just about not eating. It’s about connecting spiritually and learning new things about yourself. It’s like working together with yourself to discover your values,” she explained.


    Following a fasting routine while managing daily life has taught Neelam a lot about herself.


    Now, Neelam wants to learn Arabic to become even more a part of UAE’s culture and society. She’s excited about what the future holds.

  • SRK, Salman trade jibes at Ambani bash as Aamir watches

    SRK, Salman trade jibes at Ambani bash as Aamir watches

    Billionaire Indian family Ambanis have thrown a huge party worth more than a thousand crores INR, to celebrate Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding ceremonies. Many important people from various fields around the world attended including Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Salman Khan, and Deepika Padukone.


    Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan delighted their fans by dancing together onstage. The videos were widely shared on social media, and now, the uncut version of their banter and their dance has been shared online.


    In one of the videos, Shah Rukh and Salman get into a fun argument about whose song they should dance on. Aamir then enters the debate and takes a dig on their argument, referring to the infamous fight they have had in the past. The trio calls Mukesh Ambani the “real don” but add that it is Nita Ambani who will select the song for them to dance on.


    In the video we also see Aamir suggesting that the three of them dance on his song ‘Papa Kehte Hai’ but SRK and Salman dismiss it. Shah Rukh wants ‘Besharam Rang’ to be played but Salman wants them to perform on ‘Hud Hud Dabangg’. The conversation stops after they realize that they are supposed to dance on ‘Naatu Naatu’.


    Watch the video:

  • Asma Abbas husband likes to flirt; here’s how she handles it

    Asma Abbas husband likes to flirt; here’s how she handles it

    Asma Abbas comes from one of the most talented families in Pakistan entertainment. But she made her own way to success by working hard. Recently, she was a guest on Wasi Shah’s show, where she talked openly about her life.
    Talking about her husband’s flirtatious nature, she said, “All men flirt a bit”. She knows her husband loves her and has his own boundaries so a bit of fun flirtation is okay and she does not mind it.


    She added, “I am okay with this as I am my husband’s second wife and I do not believe in suffocating my life partner.”
    She also talked about her relationship with her husband’s first wife. “I am thankful that my husband’s first wife accepted me and we lived together for 12 years with respect and camaraderie.” Her husband always maintained a balance and treated both wives fairly.

  • Tayyaba Raja angry at PTI for senate seat for Sanam Javed

    Tayyaba Raja angry at PTI for senate seat for Sanam Javed

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) worker Tayyaba Raja criticised her party for nominating Sanam Javed as a candidate for a seat in the Senate.

    Tayyaba Raja wrote on her X (previously Twitter) account that it is unfair to highlight one person’s achievements and ignoring the sacrifices of others.

    Tayyaba also asked how an anti-terrorism court granted bail to Sanam Javed, writing that she arrested eight times and received bail on seven occasions.

    The PTI leader pointed out that Aliya Hamza and Khadija Shah were granted bail by the Lahore High Court after nine months following the reformation of the bench 15 times.

    “How can the ATC repeatedly grant bail to an individual? This is a major question.”

    “All of us are silent only till the return of [PTI founding chairman] Imran Khan,” she said.

    She urged every woman worker to remain patient and wait for the best time to speak up.