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  • Wilders hails India’s illegal decision, calls Pakistan ‘100% terror state’

    Wilders hails India’s illegal decision, calls Pakistan ‘100% terror state’

    Dutch Politician Geert Wilders, who is known for his anti-Islam rhetoric, has hailed India’s decision to nullify Article 370 of the Constitution in occupied Kashmir and called Pakistan “a 100% terror state”.

    “India is a full Democracy and Pakistan is a 100% terror state [sic],” leader of the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) tweeted after the Indian government paved way for a Muslim genocide in held Kashmir.

    Wilders had earlier made headlines when he had announced his plans to hold a blasphemous caricatures contest as part of his “campaign against Islam”.

    His tweet comes after the Indian government on Monday through a presidential decree abolished Article 370 that gave a measure of autonomy to Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK).

    Now with the special status of Kashmiris repealed, among other feared outcomes is that people from the rest of India would have the right to acquire property in IoK and settle there permanently, which could lead to ethnic cleansing.

    A massive shift in demographics of the Muslim-majority disputed territory can also follow.

  • Indian-occupied Kashmir: Articles 370 and 35A explained

    Indian-occupied Kashmir: Articles 370 and 35A explained

    The Indian government has rushed through a presidential decree to abolish Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave a measure of autonomy to the Muslim-majority Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK).

    Here is everything you need to know about Article 370 and what could follow the development that comes as tensions mount in the troubled valley.

    WHAT IS ARTICLE 370?

    Article 370 was the basis of Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to the Indian union at a time when former princely states had the choice to join either Pakistan or India after their independence from the British rule in 1947.

    The article, which came into effect in 1949, exempts Jammu and Kashmir state from the Indian Constitution.

    It allows IoK to make its own laws in all matters except finance, defence, foreign affairs and communications. The article established a separate constitution, a separate flag and denied property rights in the region to the outsiders.

    That means the residents of the state live under different laws from the rest of the country in matters such as property ownership and citizenship.

    WHAT IS ARTICLE 35A?

    Article 35A is a branch of Article 370, which was introduced through a presidential order in 1954 to continue the old provisions of the territory regulations.

    The article permits the local legislature in IoK to define permanent residents of the region. It forbids outsiders from permanently settling, buying land, holding local government jobs or winning education scholarships in the region.

    While Article 35A has remained unchanged, some aspects of Article 370 have been diluted over the decades.

    WHY ARE THEY BEING ABOLISHED?

    The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its right-wing allies have challenged Article 35A which it calls discriminatory. Last month, a senior BJP leader had hinted that the government was planning to form exclusive Hindu settlements in the region.

    With the special status repealed, people from the rest of India would have the right to acquire property in IoK and settle there permanently.

    Kashmiris fear the move would lead to a demographic transformation of the region from majority-Muslim to majority-Hindu, paving way for Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s hardliner BJP in the disputed territory.

  • Petition to ban Tik Tok filed in Lahore High Court

    Petition to ban Tik Tok filed in Lahore High Court

    We all know one or two friends in our social circle who make videos on Tik Tok or we enjoy watching Tik Tok videos for some entertainment and time pass. But now we may not watch those videos as a petition to ban youngsters’ popular mobile app Tik Tok has been filed in Lahore High Court.

    As per details, petitioner Advocate Nadeem Sarwar said that Tik Tok was spoiling the young generation as they were wasting their time in making the videos.  The app was promoting vulgarity and giving rise to blackmailing and harassment in society.

    The federal government, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) were made parties to the petition calling for a ban on the Tik Tok.

    The petition requested the court to instruct the PTA to ban Tik Tok in the country The court should stop the PEMRA from airing Tik Tok videos, the petition read.

  • Senator vs ISPR: Army rejects claims that Senate vote was ‘hijacked by ISI’

    Senator vs ISPR: Army rejects claims that Senate vote was ‘hijacked by ISI’

    Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor has rubbished Senator Mir Hasil Bizenjo’s remarks that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief was “involved in manipulating the results” of the no-confidence motion against the Senate chairman.

    The National Party president and losing candidate for Senate chairman slot had on Thursday accused the country’s premier spy agency of hijacking the Senate vote by indulging in horse-trading.

    “Remarks by Senator Mir Hasil Bizenjo implicating head of national premier institution are unfounded,” the military spokesperson tweeted Thursday night.

    “The tendency to bring [the] entire democratic process into disrepute for petty political gains doesn’t serve democracy,” he added.

    The response came as Bizenjo’s reply to a journalist’s query, following his shocking defeat in the upper house, started doing rounds over the internet.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    “[ISI DG] General Faiz’s people are behind this,” he was heard as saying when asked to name those responsible for the defeat.

    Earlier in the day, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani survived a no-confidence resolution tabled against him by the joint opposition.

    The opposition’s no-trust motion against Sanjrani failed to receive the 53 votes required for his removal even though at the start of the session, 64 senators had stood up in support of the motion.

    Following the secret balloting, it was revealed that the motion received only 50 votes in its favour.

  • ‘Petrol should be sold at Rs58 per litre, demands Imran Khan’

    ‘Petrol should be sold at Rs58 per litre, demands Imran Khan’

    With Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan approving the Rs5.15 hike in petrol price, yet another tweet from the past has come back to haunt the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    On Wednesday night, the premier approved an Oil and Gas Development Authority (OGRA) summary recommending an increase in per litre prices of all petroleum products.

    The prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene oil and light diesel were jacked up by Rs5.15, Rs5.65, Rs5.38 and Rs8.90, respectively.

    With people starting to express their frustration over the development that could result in yet another inflation bomb, some took to Twitter to share a statement by the premier from back when he sat in the parliament on opposition benches.

    “Petrol should be sold at Rs58 per litre, demands @ImranKhanPTI [sic],” the 2015 tweet on PTI’s official handle read.

    This isn’t the first time an old tweet has come back to bite the PTI government.

    “All over the world, just on an incident of railway accidents, minister resigns. This is real democracy, says Imran Khan [sic],” a tweet from August 2014 stated.

    It had started making rounds last month after the tragic train accident in Sadiqabad, which claimed over 20 lives.

    Prior to this, as PM Imran reached China amid Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) nationwide protests last year, a 2012 tweet of his, went viral. In the tweet, he had criticised the then premier for traveling abroad as the country “burned”.

    It was aimed at criticising former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, who had traveled to China for the Boao Forum while violence linked to sectarian, ethnic and political tensions continued in different parts of the country.

  • Numbers’ game: Opp likely to defeat govt in Senate showdown

    Numbers’ game: Opp likely to defeat govt in Senate showdown

    All eyes are on the upper house of the parliament on Thursday as senators from opposition parties, in a first, attempt to oust through a no-confidence motion its chairman, who enjoys the support of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led ruling coalition.

    According to the numbers’ game, the joint opposition is in a comfortable numerical position to turn the tables on the senators from treasury benches and remove Sadiq Sanjrani.

    The opposition parties, in the 103-member house, enjoy the support of 67 senators while the governing alliance has the backing of 36 members.

    The chairman can be removed by the majority of the total membership, and so, the support of at least 52 senators will be required to carry the no-trust motion.

    OPPOSITION:

    The opposition alliance in the upper house comprises of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 30 senators, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) with 20, Mir Hasil Khan’s National Party (NP) with five members, Jamiat Ulemae Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) with four senators, Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) of Mehmood Achakzai with four and Asfandyar Wali’s Awami National Party (ANP) with one member.

    With the inclusion of two senators from Jamaate Islami Pakistan (JIP) and an independent senator, the tally stands at 67. However, PML-N’s Ishaq Dar has still not taken oath and the two belonging to JIP have reportedly decided to abstain from the proceedings.

    GOVERNMENT:

    The government alliance, on the other hand, is in a weaker position, with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) 14 senators. Its ally Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has five, Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) has eight and Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) and Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) have one senator each in the house.

    Seven independent senators also sit on the government benches.

    While the opposition alliance is apparently in a stronger position, the primary condition remains that all opposition members, in the secret ballot, cast their votes in the favour of the consensus nominee that is Bizenjo.

  • Hassan Ali to marry Indian girl on August 20?

    Hassan Ali to marry Indian girl on August 20?

    Pakistani paceman Hasan Ali is all set to tie the knot with an Indian girl on August 20, Indian media has reported.

    According to reports, Shamia Arzoo belongs to Mewat – a district of the Indian state of Haryana – and is an engineer by profession. She is currently working as a flight engineer with Emirates airline in Dubai and the marriage ceremony will also be held there.

    Following the reports, Hassan took to Twitter to clarify the news saying that the wedding hasn’t been confirmed as the families are yet to meet.

    Hasan won’t be the first Pakistani cricketer to marry an Indian girl. Former cricketers Zaheer Abbas and Mohsin Khan’s better-halves are from India as well. Incumbent national team all-rounder Shoaib Malik is also married to Indian tennis star Sania Mirza since April 12, 2010.

  • PCB lets Imam off the hook after apology over misconduct

    PCB lets Imam off the hook after apology over misconduct

    Opening batsman Imamul Haq has apologised for what he has done, media reports quoted Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Managing Director (MD) Wasim Khan as saying Tuesday.

    “Imam has been repenting. And, he has apologised for what misconduct he has committed,” the PCB official said while speaking of the controversy surrounding the batsman, which had sparked a lot of hype on social media last week.

    A few days back, the opener landed in hot water after screenshots of his objectionable WhatsApp conversations were leaked over Twitter and Facebook. The women, who posted them, accused him of cheating on multiple women.

    The PCB had earlier refused to comment over the situation while terming it a personal one.

    “We have told him in clear terms about what standards PCB wants,” Wasim Khan said on Monday.

    He said the country’s cricket board expects the players to stick to the highest standards of ethics and discipline as they are “ambassadors of the nation”, adding that in this capacity, the players need to be more responsible and follow the code of conduct set by the body.

    With Imam, who is a nephew of legendary batsman Inzamamul Haq, tendering an unconditional apology, the board has let him off the hook with a smattering of rebuke.

  • 1000-year old Hindu Mandir to reopen in Sialkot after 72 years

    1000-year old Hindu Mandir to reopen in Sialkot after 72 years

    An ancient Hindu temple, closed since Partition will once again be opened for worshippers after a long hiatus of 72 years.

    As per details, the Shawala Teeja Singh Temple, located on Circular Road in Sialkot, is more than a 1,000 years old. Prime Minister Imran Khan directed Evacuee Trust Property Board (EPTB) Chairman Dr Amir Ahmed to facilitate its reopening. Members of the Hindu community had long been demanding for the temple to be opened. Pakistani Hindu community leader Surinder Kumar welcomed the decision and thanked the government for supporting the Hindu community.

    Made of granite and sandstone, the temple sits high on a sand dune in a congested, residential neighborhood. Over the years, the temple has fallen prey to neglect as a result of which the intricate carvings on the thick outside pillars have long faded or been scrubbed off by drug addicts. The sacred idols of Lord Shiva in the building have also been stolen or destroyed.

    According to Arab News, basic repair work on the temple is underway and a boundary wall has been constructed to mark the perimeters of the building. Doors have also been refitted near the prayer room. Officials said that complete restoration would take up to five years, for which UNESCO and the Karachi-based Aga Khan Foundation have been taken on board.

    On August 5, a formal opening ceremony would be held to mark the day Hindus celebrate the snake festival of Nag Panchami. Idols of Hindu deities will be transported to the temple from other temples in Pakistan and India for the ceremony.

    Earlier in July, an inauguration ceremony was carried out with several Hindu leaders present.

    Punjab is full of religious sites for both Hindus and Sikhs. Earlier, a gurdwara dating back 500 years in Sialkot was opened for Sikh pilgrims.

  • Firdous Jamal’s son Hamza Firdous defends father’s comments on Mahira Khan

    Firdous Jamal’s son Hamza Firdous defends father’s comments on Mahira Khan

    Recent comments by veteran actor Firdous Jamal on Mahira Khan have set social media ablaze and everyone, including members of the film fraternity, have something to say on the matter.

    In case you missed it, Jamal sb while appearing on Faysal Qureshi’s morning show Salaam Zindagi had remarked that Mahira is not “heroine stuff,” before proceeding to say that she is “a mediocre sort of a model, she’s not a good actress and not a heroine.”

    He didn’t end there. The 65-year-old continued, “She’s quite aged as well and we don’t have heroines at this age, they only play the characters of mothers.”

    Firdous’ outdated comments on one of Pakistan’s most successful actors sparked enrage on social media and many actors also called him out for belittling Mahira like this.

    Late Sunday night, Firdous Jamal’s son, Hamza Firdous, who is also an actor, took to Twitter to defend his father.

    Some of you might remember Hamza from O Rangreza. He played Tipu.

    He said that his father is a very successful man on his own and does not need to hold any grudges. He commented that people should not shove everything “under the rug of chauvinism and misogyny.” He concluded his statements saying that he has immense respect for Mahira and hopes that her film is a superhit.

    https://twitter.com/hamza_firdous/status/1155570641904525314?s=20
    https://twitter.com/hamza_firdous/status/1155571052183019520?s=20
    https://twitter.com/hamza_firdous/status/1155571984698413061?s=20
    https://twitter.com/hamza_firdous/status/1155572250843725824?s=20

    Following Hamza’s defense, Mahira’s makeup artist Babar Zaheer attacked Hamza and commented that the industry doesn’t need him.

    https://twitter.com/hamza_firdous/status/1155753313712914432?s=20