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Tag: Punjab

  • After conspiracy allegations, PPP says no hand in dictatorship-style defamation law

    After conspiracy allegations, PPP says no hand in dictatorship-style defamation law

    A day after the highly controversial Punjab defamation bill became law, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Governor Saleem Haider tried to dissociate the party from the legislation, saying the PPP is against the defamation law.

    “I tried to stop the [passage] of the defamation bill as Governor,” he stated while speaking to media in Dubai.

    Interim Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan signed the bill into law in the absence of Haider while journalists called the move deceiving.

    The Governor, who is currently on leave also added, “I did not sign the bill. However, it will become law automatically after the passing of 15 days.”

    The bill has invited strong criticism from journalists, human rights organisations, and the opposition calling it a “black law.”

    The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also expressed grave concern over the defamation bill.

  • Sonam Bajwa says Is her ‘forever crush’

    Sonam Bajwa says Is her ‘forever crush’

    Indian Punjabi actress Sonam Bajwa has once again expressed admiration for Pakistani superstar Fawad Khan. When the host asked about Fawad, Sonam said, “Fawad Khan has been my crush forever, he is the crush of all girls, I am crazy about him and will always be.

    “The host joked that Fawad Khan is like a ‘brother-in-law’ ( Punjab ka jija) to Sonam Bajwa. Sonam Bajwa has previously expressed her love for Fawad Khan in many interviews, saying that no other actor can take his place in her heart.

  • Two suspects arrested for murdering babrbershop workers in Gawadar

    Two suspects arrested for murdering babrbershop workers in Gawadar

    Balochistan Home Minister Zia Ullah Langau announced on Friday that two suspects involved in the murder of barbershop workers in Gawadar have been arrested.

    Seven barbershop workers from Punjab were killed when they were sleeping in their apartment near the Gwadar Fish Harbour in the Surbandar area of the coastal town earlier this month. One worker was injured in the incident.

    “I congratulate all our institutions who fulfilled their responsibility and the government’s orders with their efforts, and we have arrested two killers of the Gwadar labourers,” Langau said while addressing a press conference in Quetta.

    The arrested suspects revealed during the investigation that they had been ordered to kill any labourer from Punjab.

    Zia Ullah Langau also stated that millitants targeted innocent citizens, worsening the peace and security situation in Balochistan.

    “Terrorists have nothing to do with our rights. We will go the extra mile for those speaking up for the rights of Balochistan,” Langau added.

  • Dead patient decomposes, locked and forgotten in hospital store

    Dead patient decomposes, locked and forgotten in hospital store

    The locked store of the District Headquarter Hospital in Isakhel tehsil had been harbouring the decomposed body of an elderly patient, DAWN has reported.

    According to reports, Mohammad Ali, son of Mohammad Asif, was an injured elderly man who was brought to the hospital in February by Rescue 1122 after an accident. He was admitted and treated for a fracture but no relatives paid him a visit.

    Ali was said to be mentally ill and grappling with speech. The patients in his ward complained about him after which he was shifted to another room.

    When the Punjab health secretary visited the hospital a few days back, Ali was taken to an empty store and locked in for the duration of the visit to avoid any “objectionable” behaviour from him.

    He remained locked since the hospital staff reportedly “forgot” to take him out after the visit. Days later, when a revolting smell began spreading through the hospital, the staff began interrogating only to find Ali’s decomposed body in the store room.

    Upon receiving the news, Mianwali Deputy Commissioner Khalid Javed Gorayia went to the DHQ Hospital and called for an investigation into the incident.

    He established an inquiry committee, led by DHO (HR) Dr. Rafiqe Khan.

    An autopsy report will be provided to determine the cause of death.

    The hospital administration has reportedly buried the body as an unknown person.

  • Prolonged load shedding continues across country in extreme heat

    Prolonged load shedding continues across country in extreme heat

    With record breaking temperatures, hours of load shedding of electricity have caused inconvenience for people in a number of cities across Pakistan.

    In many areas of Hyderabad, the duration of load shedding has reached up to 12 hours.

    Spokesperson of HESCO said that load shedding is happening on the basis of line losses. He also claims that load shedding is not interrupting examination hours.

    Meanwhile, urban areas of Sukkur are experiencing six to eight hours of load shedding while Jacobabad, Shikarpur and Kashmore undergoing 12 to 14 hours.

    Thatta city and its surroundings are subjected to 14 to 16 hours load shedding, six hours in Kamalia city, and eight hours in rural areas.

    Wahari stands at four to six hours of load shedding while 10 hours in rural areas.

    More than 10 hours of load shedding is taking place in Mingora city, more than 16 hours in suburban areas, while Bannu is experiencing 18 to 20 hours of load shedding.

    Citizens say that business activities and life are being affected due to load shedding.

  • Shehbaz ko dhoti nahin pasand lekin Nawaz ko achi lagti hai, says Rohale Asghar

    Shehbaz ko dhoti nahin pasand lekin Nawaz ko achi lagti hai, says Rohale Asghar

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Sheikh Rohale Asghar recently appeared in an interview on WE News in which he revealed that PM Shehbaz didn’t like his traditional dress (Dhoti kurta).

    “PM Shehbaz strongly complains about my clothes and even told me to change the attire but I refused,” said the PML-N leader.

    He further said, “I’m not a servant of Shehbaz Sharif. I am Sheikh Rohale Asghar son of Muhammad Asghar and I have my own identity.”

    Asghar also stated that Nawaz Sharif likes his dressing style but Shehbaz Sharif has complained to him multiple times about his laacha.

    Does this mean that Shehbaz Sharif never wears a dhoti? That would be strange as after all, it is the traditional rural attire of the province he governed twice.

  • Further reduction in naan prices by Punjab government

    Further reduction in naan prices by Punjab government

    The Punjab government has set the new price of plain bread in the province at Rs 14, effective from tomorrow.

    Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz issued a statement on the reduction in the price of naan, stating that while the price of plain bread is fixed at 14 rupees in Lahore, prices in other cities is fixed at 12 to 14 rupees.

    Previously, the Punjab government had reduced naan price to Rs 16.

  • College timings changed in Punjab as heatwave lingers on

    College timings changed in Punjab as heatwave lingers on

    Working hours of colleges in Punjab have been changed as the prevalent heatwave intensifies across the province.


    Department of Higher Education Punjab has announced that from May 21 to 31, colleges will be open from 7:30 am to 11:30 am and on Fridays from 7:30 am to 11:00 pm, while the second shift of colleges will be from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.


    Provincial Disaster Management Authority Punjab has issued a heatwave alert from May 21 to 27 and the district administration has been directed to create awareness through a helpline, announcements in mosques, and media.


    The Health Department is directed to set up special counters in hospitals, ensure the availability of medicines, and cancel the leave of doctors and paramedical staff.

  • Maryam Nawaz’s govt stabbed our back after holding negotiations over bill, say journalist leaders

    Maryam Nawaz’s govt stabbed our back after holding negotiations over bill, say journalist leaders

    The Punjab Assembly on Monday approved the highly controversial Defamation Bill 2024 amidst immense opposition from journalists, human rights organisations and political opponents.

    The government considers the bill, aimed at stopping ‘fake news’, necessary while journalist leaders and opposition leaders labelled it “draconian” and a “black law”.

    Earlier in the day, representatives of media bodies met Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari and requested her to defer the controversial bill for a few days.

    However, the government decided to bulldoze the bill through Punjab Assembly despite strong opposition.

    Journalist leaders were of the view that the government stabbed them in the back after holding negotiations over the bill.

    Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has also expressed grave concern over the defamation bill, saying that it aims to uphold “parallel judicial structures” for defamation cases which goes against the very spirit of the Constitution.

    HRCP remarked that implementation of this bill would be a huge blow to freedom of speech and dissent in our society because there would be no due process or fair trials.

    “This is not a democratic bill. There is no compromise on press freedom,” stated Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari.

    He slammed the PML-N-led provincial government for passing the controversial bill and remarked, “You have cheated us. You have trapped us.”

  • Punjab to close schools, exams to be postponed in Karachi as heatwave gains strength

    Punjab to close schools, exams to be postponed in Karachi as heatwave gains strength

    As a stifling heatwave gains strength across Pakistan, the Punjab government has decided to shut down all schools across the province for a week while Sindh has decided to postpone matric exams.

    A notification issued by the Government of Punjab states that due to the heat wave, a seven-day-long holiday has been announced in schools. Therefore, schools will remain closed from May 25 to May 31. However, schools that are carrying out exams will be allowed to continue.

    PDMA Punjab had issued alerts earlier that the heat wave will span across Punjab from May 21 to 27.


    Karachi


    Class 9th and 10th exams have been postponed in Karachi due to a possible heat wave.


    The Board of Secondary Education has announced that there will be no matriculation board papers between May 21 and 27.

    On the orders of the Minister for Education Boards and Universities, the Matriculation Board Karachi exams have been postponed and now the Matriculation Board exams will be held from May 28 as per the schedule.


    Although the Intermediate exams were postponed earlier, now the Inter exams will start from May 27 instead of May 22.

    The plains of Punjab and Sindh are in the grip of intense heat and a heatwave alert has also been issued by the Meteorological Department.