SCBA challenges PBC’s notices in SC
The dispute between the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has reached the Supreme Court. Later, matters turned further ugly when the PBC removed the SCBA secretary and Additional Secretary Shakeel-ur-Rehman from their posts. It assigned the additional charge of the SCBA secretary to the association's Finance Secretary Hifza Bokhari. In a statement, the PBC said the SCBA secretary and additional secretary had violated the Legal Practitioner and Bar Council Act. It added that both individuals had not appeared before the PBC Executive Committee.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 05, 2023 09:56 UTC
TTP commander gunned down in police operation in DI Khan
ISLAMABAD - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police in one of the most challenging counter terrorism operations yesterday killed Iqbal alias Bali Khiara who was a most-wanted terrorist by the KP and Punjab police in different high profile terrorism cases. Sources said that terrorist Iqbal was involved in 26 terrorism incidents in Pakistan and was linked with Al-Qaeda and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Khiara faction. According to details, the KP police on a tip-off conducted a raid in DI Khan and surrounded Iqbal along with his associates near Fateh Morr. The sources said the killed terrorist was involved in several terrorist attacks, target killings and kidnapping of local people. The sources further said Iqbal was also wanted by the Multan police in five cases.
Source:The Nation
May 05, 2023 05:40 UTC
Groove to the finest
Let the drums roll as ‘VELO Sound Station’ has yet again hit the nation. What is VELO Sound Station upto with the Diva? Velo Sound Station may have made us wait, but with this promo, we can say good things come to those who wait. VELO Sound Station is around and here to stay. VELO Sound Station is surely setting the tone right.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 04, 2023 22:55 UTC
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FYI, Irfan and Ducky have no hard feelings for one another
YouTubers Irfan Junejo and Ducky Bhai have waved the white flags and would like for their fans and the media to do the same. Irfan held that he knew things would get messy, because of which he called Ducky at 2:00 am to discuss what had happened. Following this, a blog post alluded that Irfan had targeted Maaz and Ducky in the podcast, which the latter shared on his Twitter. I still love Irfan though. I still love Irfan tho.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 04, 2023 16:58 UTC
Irondale amends zoning ordinance, honors outstanding employees
By Terry Schrimscher, For the TribuneIRONDALE – The Irondale City Council gathered Tuesday night, May 2, for the first regularly scheduled monthly meeting. The Council moved quickly through the agenda with some discussion on zoning ordinances and a focus on employee excellence. Mayor James D. Stewart Jr. used his time in his report to single out five employees who were deserving of extra praise. A special exception to the zoning requirement for façades was granted to a development at 300 Ruffner Road. The property would be eligible to be grandfathered in if the Council amends the zoning further.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 04, 2023 16:35 UTC
Eight schoolteachers killed in ghastly attack in KP's Kurram district
Unidentified assailants on Thursday killed eight schoolteachers in Parachinar in two incidents, prompting the Kohat board to cancel the ongoing matriculation examination. According to police, unidentified persons opened fire on teachers who were on exam duty in Teri Mengal school’s staff room. In the other instance, teacher Muhammad Sharif had been killed while he was travelling on Shalozan Road. Police launched a search operation to find the attackers and rescue authorities shifted the dead bodies to Parachinar hospital. PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari also expressed his anguish while condemning the incident and demanded that the authorities take action against the attackers.
Source:The Nation
May 04, 2023 16:14 UTC
India allows PAF plane carrying Bilawal to Goa
Pakistani authorities had earlier requested Indian Civil Aviation for granting special permit to Pakistan for the use of PAF special Aircraft. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari now would fly from Karachi Thursday morning to Indian city Goa to attend the SCO Council of Foreign Minister Conference being held on 4th and 5th of May. Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari earlier in the day consulted key political leaders on his visit to India and took them into confidence. He spoke to JUI-F Moulana Fazl ur Rehman on phone and took him into confidence on his visit to India. Bilawal has already consulted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on his visit to India last week.
Source:The Nation
May 04, 2023 09:04 UTC
IMF wants Pakistan to hike interest rates
“Inflation has continued to rise in Egypt, Pakistan and Tunisia, with the comparison of current policy interest rates relative to natural policy rate estimates suggesting that further interest rate increases are needed to stabilise inflation,” reads the report. The IMF defines the natural policy rate as the real natural rate plus one-year-ahead inflation expectations from the World Economic Outlook databases. But the increase in the interest rates has caused a significant surge in the government’s debt servicing cost, which is now estimated at around Rs5.3 trillion as against the budgeted figure of Rs3.95 trillion. Since the start of the IMF programme in July 2019, Pakistan has doubled the policy rate. At the start of the policy talks in January this year, the IMF had demanded increasing the the interest rates by at least 6%.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 04, 2023 08:54 UTC
Imran asks supporters to take to streets in solidarity with CJP
Former prime minister Imran Khan speaking to his supporters in a video on May 3, 2023. SCREENGRABPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has urged his supporters to take to the streets on Saturday to express solidarity with Chief Justice Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial. According to Imran, the country is on a critical juncture with inflation and unemployment at an all-time high, and with the “mafia's grip on the nation”. Imran also accused the "mafia" of spreading propaganda against the CJP and other SC judges, calling on the nation to come out and express unity with them in upholding the rule of law. The SC was informed that members of both teams – the PTI and the PDM/alliance – deliberated and held a dialogue with full sincerity over three days.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 04, 2023 07:52 UTC
The Kerala Story: Indian propaganda film targets Muslims
After The Kashmir Files, another Bollywood propaganda film has been making headlines across the border. Helmed by Sudipto Sen, The Kerala Story couldn't be farther from the truth, several Indian media outlets and politicians said. The film has also been slammed by the state govt, critics, Indian media and many social media users. Kerala govt and Indian politicians call out the filmCongress MP Shashi Tharoor has already expressed his disapproval of Sen's Kerala Story. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the movie is to further India's ruling party's propaganda [against Muslims].
Source:The Express Tribune
May 03, 2023 12:15 UTC
Inflation jumps to 59-year high at 36.4%
A year ago when the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government tenure ended, the annual inflation rate was 13.4%, which skyrocketed within a year. It was the highest pace of inflation since 1964 that edged closer to the record ever inflation rate of 37.8%. The inflation rate remained elevated in rural areas where it was recorded at 40.7% - already crossing the historical barrier of 37.8%. There was a huge increase in the food inflation rate, mostly because of disruption of supply chains and weak checks. The food inflation rose steeply to 52.2% in rural areas and 46.8% in cities last month, the PBS data showed.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 03, 2023 10:54 UTC
Reflection on national debt
In essence, the continuous borrowing means that Pakistan is spending an enormous amount of its budget on servicing debt: Today more than half of government revenue goes towards paying foreign debt and this percentage will increase unless the country gets relief. Nor do they have enough to invest for the future: In health systems to get ready for unforeseen eventualities (e.g. For example, Zambia, which was reclassified recently (last year) as a low-income country, has by now spent nearly three years trying to restructure its debt, albeit with no success. As a result, Zambia has been in debt purgatory, shut out of IMF funds and unable to attract private investment while the talks continue. Finally, one feels that in order to meaningfully help countries currently drowning in debt, a Covid-era like two years pause in repayment of foreign debt should be reinstated to allow them some breathing room to not only bring their debt under control but to also make investments in a sustainable future.
Source:The Nation
May 03, 2023 10:44 UTC
Mother ‘decapitates 5-year-old son, eats his head’
An extremely disturbing incident occurred in Egypt where a 29-year-old mother named Hanaa allegedly killed her five-year-old son Youssef, chopped up his body, and ate a part of his head. The mother was arrested after police discovered the boy's remains in buckets at her property, Mirror reported. Soon after the incident, she claimed that she did not intend to kill her son. The accused reportedly suffers from a mental health condition which led her to commit this heinous act. She is scheduled to undergo a mental health evaluation as part of the ongoing investigation.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 03, 2023 03:55 UTC
Paul DeMarco: Alabama legislative session success so far, still work ahead for lawmakers
By Paul DeMarcoWe are now just past the half way point of the current session of the Alabama Legislature. While there has been a lot accomplished, there is still a lot to do. With significant budget surpluses this year, there are a lot of eyes watching where state funds are being appropriated. In addition, the decades long issues of problems with the state’s corrections facility have got to be addressed sooner rather than later. Paul DeMarco is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives and can be found on Twitter @Paul_DeMarco
Source:The Express Tribune
May 03, 2023 00:36 UTC
Maryam alleges ex-CJP’s son is ‘selling’ PTI tickets
Turning her guns towards PTI chief Imran Khan, the PML-N chief organizer said, “This troublemaker is rallying for the workers. “There is only one person standing in the way of the development of this country and that is Imran Khan. “The leader of this gang is Imran Khan and the members of the gang include former CJP Saqib Nisar and General (retd) Faiz [Hameed]. He is Saqib Nisar who is plotting from behind.”The PML-N chief organiser said that there was also an audio of former CJP Nisar saying to “kill Maryam”. “Imran Khan comes and starts the business of selling watches.
Source:The Express Tribune
May 02, 2023 18:59 UTC