Nation goes to polls tomorrowThe nation goes to polls tomorrow to elect members of the National Assembly and four Provincial Assemblies. Ninety thousand seven hundred and seventy seven polling stations have been established nationwide. Of these, forty four thousand polling stations have been declared normal, twenty nine thousand nine hundred and eighty five sensitive, and sixteen thousand, seven hundred and sixty six highly sensitive. Under a three tiered system, the personnel of the armed forces will perform duties outside the polling stations. In the federal capital, police personnel have reached the polling stations and they will stay there overnight.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Monday old politicians put the country in danger by involving in the politics of hate. The PPP chief mentioned that old politicians did not know anything besides divisionary politics, adding the people should better get rid of this traditional politics. “When a person from Larkana becomes the prime minister, the country becomes a nuclear power and the country developes by leaps and bounds. “People should give me votes as the country has not seen a Larkana PM for a long time,” he added. The PPP chief said the economy suffered immeasurably due to the stubbornness and ego of the old politicians as they have introduced the abuse culture in politics.

A fan of famous Hollywood singer Louis Tomlinson got him to sign the official marriage certificate under the guise of autograph and posted the picture on social media. According to the report of a foreign news organization, Louis Tomlinson, a member of the most popular British music band of the past, ‘One Direction’, signed the marriage certificate in absentia. While people were taking autographs one after the other when a woman handed Louis a marriage certificate, the singer autographed it without being seen. The marriage certificate from the Republic of Indonesia had a photo of the singer and the woman with their signatures in between. Therefore, the certificate signed by singer Louis has no legal value.

KOHISTAN: Women candidates in Kohistan are breaking social barriers and defying the odds to contest polls on February 8. Tehmina Faheem, Shakeela Rabbani, Sannaya Sabeel and Momina Basit are among the first women to enter the electoral battlefield in the conservative constituencies of the Kohistan and Torghar region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hazara district. Last week, a group of Kohistan clerics, mostly members of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, issued a fatwa (Islamic decree) against canvassing by and for women election candidates and declared the act unIslamic. Zahid Khan, the regional coordinator the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) termed the fatwa contrary to women’s rights. He said the Torghar and Kohistan region — comprising Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan, and Kolai-Palas (Kohistan) — stands atop Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where women and child rights were routinely violated.

ISLAMABAD: How will the Election Management System (EMS) of the Election Commission of Pakistan work despite the lack of internet connection across the country? He clarified that three laptops have been kept for each provincial assembly constituency while four laptops have been kept for the National Assembly constituency. No guidelines have been given to stop mobile and internet on election day. According to Google, a LAN is a collection of devices that are connected together in a single location, such as a building, office, or home. A LAN can be small or large, with one user for example a home and thousands of users and devices for a company, an office or a school.

His statement came as Karachi – his party’s fortress – came to a standstill due to rain amid the electoral campaign. Reacting to Karachi's urban flooding, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, earlier taunted by Bilawal on governance, quipped that if Lahore mirrored Karachi's situation after rain, he would have withdrawn from the electoral race! Bilawal assured that the provincial cabinet of Sindh would grant Karachi its due rights, and together, they would serve the city. If Nawaz Sharif wants to leave this path, he should abandon this policy,” he said. Bilawal said that the party wanted transparent elections and hoped that despite Nawaz Sharif's pressure, the caretaker government would not interfere in the elections.

An anti-terrorist court (ATC) judge will hear today (Tuesday) the bail applications of former prime minister Imran Khan in twelve different cases related to May 9, 2023 incidents of rioting. Judge Malik Ejaz Asif will conduct this hearing inside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail where Imran Khan has been detained since September last year. The PTI founder has already been convicted and sentenced in four different cases lodged after his ouster from government in April 2022. Read: Ensure Imran’s presence on next hearing: ATCsThe judge will also hear six bail applications of PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi and one bail application of Imran Khan’s ally Sheikh Rashid. The court will also mark attendance of over 300 alleged rioters who have already been granted bail in May 9 cases.

As the nation commemorates Kashmir Solidarity Day this year, it is more than a mere observance; it stands as a poi­gnant reminder of the enduring struggle of the Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination, as outlined by UN res­olutions. People from various walks of life will once again unite this year, demonstrating unwavering support for the Kashmiri cause and renewing their commitment to the liberation of Kash­mir from Indian subjugation. President Dr. Arif Alvi and interim Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar, in their separate messages on the eve of Kashmir Solidarity Day, reiterated the nation’s steadfast support for the Kashmir cause and the people of India-held Jammu and Kashmir. He un­derlined that the day serves as an occasion to pay rich tribute to the sacrifices made by Kashmiris over the last 76 years. Furthermore, the day serves as a platform for global attention to the challenges faced by Kashmiris, given the militarised environment in IIOJK.

The Kashmi­ri Americans and Pakistan Ameri­can community along with friend of Kashmir held a peaceful protest in front of the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Par­ticipants were carrying the placards and banners which read: “Modi Guilty of Crimes Against Humanity in Kashmir” “India: Guilty of Geno­cide in Kashmir” “Kashmiris Reject Indian Occupation: UN Resolutions only Solution” “Kashmir Deserves World Attention” etc. “India is encouraged by the crimi­nal silence of the international agen­cies on their human right abuses in the occupied Kashmir. While India has systematically enacted laws, like Domicile Law to integrate Kashmir into India. These laws are designed to change the demography of Kash­mir which are in violations of 18 substantives United Nations resolu­tions adopted by the Security Coun­cil on Kashmir. Dr. Ghulam Nabi FaiThe writer is the Secretary General of the Washington-based World Kashmir Awareness Forum.

Billy Joe “Bill” Burnham, 92, passed away on February 3, 2024, in Birmingham, Alabama. Bill Burnham was born on October 13, 1931, in Birmingham, AL, to Joseph Capers Burnham and Mable Bland Burnham. Bill served in the U.S. Army from 1955 – 1962. Bill is survived by Monte Burnham – son (Dawn), Michele Burham Alfano – daughter (John), Ashley Burnham York (Cory) – granddaughter, Chase Burnham (Erin) – grandson, Ethan York – great-grandson, Charlotte York – great-granddaughter, Audrey Burnham – great-granddaughter, Will Alfano – grandson (Alexandra), Mallie Claire Alfano – granddaughter. Bill is preceded in death by Joseph Capers Burnham – father, Mable Bland Burnham – mother, Sue Willis Burnham – spouse.

Overpopulation poses multi­faceted challenges globally, straining resources, exacerbat­ing environmental degradation, and impacting socio-economic dynamics. Pressures on land, wa­ter, and energy resources intensi­fy as populations burgeon, lead­ing to resource depletion and environmental stress. Environmental degradation esca­lates as consumption rises, con­tributing to climate change and biodiversity loss. Addressing overpopulation ne­cessitates comprehensive strate­gies—accessible family planning, education, and empowerment of women, coupled with sustainable resource management. Balancing population growth with equitable resource distribution and envi­ronmental stewardship remains pivotal for a sustainable, harmo­nious future.

Every year on February 5th, Pakistan observes Kashmir Day as a solemn occasion to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir and raise awareness about the longstanding issue. Kashmir Day: A Historical Overview: Kashmir Day holds significant historical importance as it commemorates the day in 1990 when the Kashmiri people, in their quest for self-determination, raised their voices against oppression. Seminars and Conferences: Organizations and educational institutions across Pakistan organize seminars and conferences on Kashmir Day. Cultural Events: Cultural events, including art exhibitions, poetry recitals, and documentaries, are organized to shed light on the cultural richness of Kashmir and the impact of the conflict on its heritage. SEO-Optimized Subheading: “Cultural Expressions on Kashmir Day: Art as a Medium for Awareness”Conclusion: As Pakistan observes Kashmir Day on February 5th, it is a time for reflection, solidarity, and advocacy.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday stated that if the people of Karachi elected PPP candidates from at least 20 National Assembly seats, the city’s landscape will change within five years. The Pakistan’s financial capital 22 and 47 national and provincial assembly seats, respectively. As part of his electoral campaign, Bilawal addressed the public in various areas of Karachi today, delivering speeches in the form of rallies. "Give 20 [NA] seats to PPP, and then within five years, we will change Karachi. He expressed confidence that their elected representatives would work in the city, providing opportunities for progress and ensuring equal opportunities for women.

This new addition will make the process of searching and finding places in Google Maps easier and better for users. According to the company, this new feature of Google Maps will use large language models and will work like an AI chatbot. With the new AI feature, users will be able to ask questions about various locations from Maps and get answers. The report stated that code in the beta version of Google Maps hints at the addition of an AI chatbot. This feature can be used by Google Maps users in the US by going to Local Guides.

MULTAN, Feb 05 (APP): Deputy Commissioner (DC) Capt (retd) Rizwan Qadeer said that the nation stands with the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K) for their right of self-determination. He said that the Pakistani nation will continue to support the Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination. He said that the nation marking Kashmir Solidarity Day to show the brutal face of India in front of the world. On this occasion, the district administration took out a rally which was led by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Capt (retd) Rizwan Qadeer. Different other events were also organized in the city by NGOs, educational Institutes and political parties to mark the day.