Current Final

Tag: Pakistan

  • ‘Stop’: Twitter in no mood to accept Kanwal Aftab’s justifications of domestic violence statement

    ‘Stop’: Twitter in no mood to accept Kanwal Aftab’s justifications of domestic violence statement

    Tiktoker and Instagram influencer Kanwal Aftab was slammed by social media yesterday when during a Q & A on Instagram, the social media star was asked about advice regarding women coping with domestic violence, to which she had responded by saying more women should try to save their marriages and console their husbands rather than seek divorce.

    Founder of Soul Sisters, Kanwal Ahmed, criticised Aftab for encouraging women to fix their abusive husbands by laying the blame of a broken marriage on them.

    After backlash to her statement, Aftab had now uploaded a video where she explained that she was not trying to tell women to endure domestic violence, but was encouraging them to try and work through anger rather than begin demanding divorces.

    After this video, Aftab wrote in an Instagram story that she was deleting the reel, stating she was not promoting or supporting domestic violence.

    Twitter users shared the video on the platform, and criticised the Tiktok star for not understanding the difference between an argument and domestic violence. Couples can have small arguments, and it is perfectly okay to encourage people to work through misunderstandings to overcome them. But domestic violence is a completely different issue, and no woman needs to stick around to endure it to keep her marriage inta

    ‘There is a huge, huge difference between domestic violence and badtameezi,” one user pointed out.

  • Zaka Ashraf, likely new PCB Chairman, rejects hybrid model approved by ACC

    Zaka Ashraf, likely new PCB Chairman, rejects hybrid model approved by ACC

    Zaka Ashraf, the probable future Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has rejected the Asia Cup Hybrid Model proposed by Najam Sethi and approved by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) with some amendments.

    All the controversies surrounding the matter of the Asia Cup appeared to have been resolved. However, Zaka Ashraf, likely the upcoming Chairman of the PCB, issued a statement on Wednesday while speaking to media in Islamabad, stating that the Hybrid Model is unfair to Pakistan and he has rejected it.

    “The first point is that I had rejected the hybrid model [for the Asia Cup] from the beginning because I disagree with it. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) board had decided that the tournament should be held entirely in Pakistan. However, major matches are being held elsewhere, and only minor teams like Nepal will play in Pakistan. Injustice has been done to Pakistan,” said Zaka during a media interaction.

    “As the hosts, the entire event [Asia Cup] should take place in Pakistan.”

    Zaka Ashraf’s election to the top position in the PCB is expected since Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif appointed him as a member of the PCB Board of Governors. However, the election itself is yet to take place.

    “If weak teams like Nepal and Afghanistan are the only ones playing their matches in Pakistan, then I firmly believe that the Hybrid Model is disadvantageous for Pakistan. I will make changes to the Hybrid Model accordingly,” he added.

    “I am unaware of the decisions made by the previous management as I don’t have access to that information. I will go and see, and try to act in the best interest of Pakistan as quickly as possible,” he said.

    “There are many pending issues, but I am not delving deep into them since I haven’t officially taken over,” he added, expressing his intention to engage with the Indian leadership.

    As per reports cited in Indian media outlets, a senior board member of ACC ridiculed Zaka Ashraf’s statement while talking to Press Trust of India.
    “He is a free man (Zaka Ashraf) and can say whatever he wants. The statement shows his mentality. ACC approved Hybrid Model for Asia Cup and it will be held as per schedule. No further changes and amendments will take place further on this matter, the file is closed.”

    Previously, the management led by Najam Sethi was negotiating with the Secretary of the Indian board and ACC Chairman Jay Shah regarding the hosting rights of the Asia Cup 2023, which officially belonged to Pakistan. However, due to security concerns, BCCI and the Indian government dif not allow their team to travel to Pakistan. PCB then proposed two Hybrid Models. The first one was immediately rejected by broadcasters and the Indian Cricket Board. This model suggested that the Indian cricket team would play their matches at a neutral venue, which would be decided by the PCB, while the rest of the tournament would take place in Pakistan. The second Hybrid Model, proposed during the second meeting with official broadcasters (Star Sports) and Pankaj Khimji, Vice President of ACC, stated that the first four matches, excluding India’s matches, would be held in Pakistan, while the remainder of the tournament would be shifted to Dubai.

    However, the other cricket boards rejected Dubai or the UAE as the neutral venue, and a decision was made for Sri Lanka to co-host the tournament with Pakistan.

  • PTI issues notice to Khattak over ‘inciting’ members to leave the party

    PTI issues notice to Khattak over ‘inciting’ members to leave the party

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has issued a notice to former Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Pervaiz Khattak over allegedly asking party members to leave the party.
    Omar Ayub Khan, newly appointed General Secretary of PTI, issued a notice to Khattak to explain his position in writing within seven days.

    The show-cause notice reads, “It has come to the notice of the party leadership that you are contacting party members and inciting them to leave the party. In view of these reported activities, you are hereby called to explain yourself in writing within seven days of this notice.”

    It is also mentioned in the notice that if Khattak’s reply is found unsatisfactory or he doesn’t respond, further action will be taken according to party policy.

    Earlier, Asad Umar, former secretary-general of PTI, stirred a hornet’s nest by stating in an interview with ARY’s Kashif Abbasi that he does not agree with party Chairman Imran Khan’s strategies.

  • Child, 8, dies in hospital after brutal rape

    Child, 8, dies in hospital after brutal rape

    An eight-year-old boy, sexually assaulted by his madrassa teacher in the Raiwand area of Lahore, has died after struggling for life in the hospital.
    According to the police, Qari Rizwan allegedly raped eight-year-old Samar and threw the child down from a roof to hide the crime. The assault happened a few days ago.

    An FIR was filed on behalf of the child’s father, where he stated that his son Samar was studying in a madrassa. On June 7, Qari Rizwan brutalized the child and also tortured him. His right arm was broken. The man took the child to the roof and threw him from there, causing severe brain injuries.
    The police registered a case and arrested Qari Rizwan. During the investigation, the accused confessed to his crime.

  • Fourth consecutive decline: Gold price drops by Rs1,800 to Rs218,700 per tola

    In line with the reduction in international rates, the per tola gold price in Pakistan experienced a significant decline of Rs1,800 on Wednesday. This marks the fourth consecutive day of falling prices for the precious metal.

    The All-Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association (APSGJA) released data indicating that the price of 24-carat gold decreased by Rs1,800 per tola and Rs1,543 per 10 grammes, settling at Rs218,700 and Rs187,500, respectively.

    Internationally, the price of gold plummeted by $17, reaching $1,934 per ounce in today’s market. Pakistan’s gold rate has exhibited volatility in recent times, largely due to ongoing political and economic uncertainty, high inflation, and currency depreciation. Amid such fluctuations, individuals often turn to gold as a safe investment and a hedge against market instability.

    While gold prices experienced a notable decline, the price of silver saw only nominal losses. Data shared by the APSGJA revealed that the price of silver fell by Rs50 per tola and Rs42.87 per 10 grammes, settling at Rs2,550 and Rs2,186.21, respectively.

    In other market developments, the local currency made nominal gains against the dollar, increasing by Rs0.24 or 0.08 per cent. The interbank market witnessed the closing exchange rate of Rs286.98 on Tuesday.

    The recent downward trend in gold prices in Pakistan reflects the influence of international market conditions. Despite these fluctuations, gold remains a sought-after investment during times of economic and political uncertainty, providing individuals with a secure and reliable asset.

  • Army Chief to be member of govt’s Special Investment Council

    Army Chief to be member of govt’s Special Investment Council

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) will be a member of the government’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) tasked to find untapped potential and attract foreign investment during the economic crisis.

    The military will play a key role in SIFC as a coordinator and Army Chief will be the member of SIFC, Arab News has reported.
    Pakistan is facing one of its worst economic crisis due to delay in securing funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) while inflation reached historic highs.

    “Employing a whole-of-the-the-government approach, the coalition government has decided to set up a Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) with a mandate to frame economic policies that ensure policy predictability, continuity & effective implementation to revive the economy,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Twitter.

    The main purpose of the plan is utilizing Pakistan’s untapped potential in major industries including energy, minerals and mining, agriculture and livestock, IT and defense production through both domestic development and foreign investments.
    The military will have a significant presence in SIFC, with the army chief as a member of its apex committee. The director general of the body’s implementation committee will also be an army official.
    Shehbaz Sharif said that the key goal of SIFC is attracting investment from friendly countries. He further added that “collective wisdom” is essential to tackle economic challenges.

  • Pakistani Army does not have constitutional and legal authority to be involved in commercial actives, rules LHC

    Pakistani Army does not have constitutional and legal authority to be involved in commercial actives, rules LHC

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) has declared the agreement between the Pakistani Army and the caretaker Punjab government regarding the transfer of one million acres of land on lease as unconstitutional, Urdu News has reported.

    The court has ordered the province’s Board of Revenue to remove the ownership of the land from the military and transfer it back to the government, and submit a report to the court within 15 days.

    In a detailed judgment, Justice Abid Hussain Chatha of the LHC also stated that the Pakistani Army does not have constitutional and legal authority to be involved in corporate farming and similar activities.

    The detailed decision outlines the background of the agreement between the Punjab government and the military, which started in 2021, where the government was leasing 10 lac acres of land to the army for a period of twenty years.

    The military had proposed to engage in corporate farming on this land in order to “fulfill the country’s food necessities.” The court has detailed in its judgment regarding the progress made in relation to this proposal, stating that in April 2022, a recommendation was made to present this deal for discussion on the floor of the Punjab Assembly.
    However, when the present government came into power, they swiftly completed the action with great speed and allocated one million acres of land to the military.
    The Public Interest Litigation Association, an organisation comprising several reputable lawyers, challenged the allocation in the High Court. During the first hearing, the court issued a stay order, halting the military from utilizing the land.

    However, after several months, the arguments of both parties were heard.
    The court has now ruled that the caretaker government does not have the constitutional and legal right to make such decisions.



  • Justice Qazi Faez Isa will be the next CJP: Arif Alvi approves notification

    Justice Qazi Faez Isa will be the next CJP: Arif Alvi approves notification

    Justice Faez Isa will be the new Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) after a notification to that effect has been approved by the President of Pakistan, Arif Alvi.

    Justice Isa will assume the charge as the new Chief Justice on September 17, 2023, after the retirement of current CJP Umar Atta Bandial under Article 179 of the Constitution.

    The current head of the apex court, Justice Umar Atta Bandial, will reach the age of retirement on September 16, 2023.

    President Alvi will administer the oath to Justice Isa, making him the 29th senior judge to take the oath as Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP).

  • No Holi festival in universities anymore

    The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has banned Holi celebrations in educational institutes throughout the country, citing a deviation from the sociocultural values and Islamic identity of Pakistan. The notification regarding the ban was issued by HEC on Tuesday.

    According to the notification, students are prohibited from observing the festival to uphold sociocultural values.

    “While there is no denying the fact that cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity leads towards an inclusive and tolerant society, that profoundly respects all faiths and creeds; albeit it needs to be done so in a measured manner without going overboard. The students need to be apprised to be aware of the self-serving vested interests who use them for their own ends far from the altruistic critical thinking paradigm.”


    The decision comes a few days after Holi celebrations were held on June 12 by students at Quaid-i-Azam University. The notification, while referring to the event, said that “it has caused concern and has disadvantageously affected the country’s image.

  • Firdous Ashiq Awan lists out ‘Usman Buzdar ki corruption kay chand karnamy’

    Firdous Ashiq Awan lists out ‘Usman Buzdar ki corruption kay chand karnamy’

    Firdous Ashiq Awan, Central Information Secretary of the newly launched Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) has in a tweet accused former Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar of doing corruption during his tenure as CM.

    Awan has listed out Budzdar’s alleged involvement in the following corruption scandals:

    •          5 billion to Farah Gogi’s account

    •          Encroachment of 9 kanals on government land

    •          50 Crore fraud in Multan City Housing

    •          30 lakh per capita from the shopkeepers of Taunsa

    •          420 million in bribes in commissioner and deputy commissioner appointments

    Awan further said that more cases of Buzdar’s corruption will be revealed soon.

    Last week, Aleem Khan made startling revelations in a TV show about former Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Firdous Ashiq Awan has served as special assistant to the former CM Punjab. Buzdar and Awan both have left the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    Firdous Ashiq Awan left PTI on May 26, accusing Imran of using people like tissue papers, and later throwing them away. Usman Buzdar has also left PTI after the May 9 riots.