Infostarr

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reacted to Supreme Court’s (SC) verdict on Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) appeal, declaring Imran Khan-founded PTI eligible for seats reserved for women and minorities, ANN(Asian News Network) News reported on Friday.

ECP insiders told ANN(Asian News Network) News that the election commission never stated PTI is not a political party and is listed as such on its website.

Referring to top court’s verdict, the commission said it has not misinterpreted any decision, noting that the bat symbol was taken away after PTI’s intra-party elections were not recognised.

The election watchdog further said that the individuals who were declared PTI MNAs did not disclose their party affiliation in the required documents, adding that having a party ticket and declaration is essential to become a party candidate.

However, it was not possible for the Returning Officers (ROs) to declare the individuals as PTI candidates, sources quoting ECP officials said. It has also emphasised that giving specific seats to PTI is “beyond their understanding”.

Furthermore, the ECP has stated that the 41 candidates who were given independent status did not submit any party affiliations, and therefore, could not be considered as party candidates. The commission has also clarified that these independent candidates did not submit any party tickets or declarations.

A 13-member bench of the top court, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, ruled that the PTI is eligible for the allocation of reserved seats, dealing a major setback to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s ruling coalition.

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah announced the 8-5 majority verdict, setting aside the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) order wherein it had upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision denying the reserved seats to the SIC.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Jamal Mandokhail, Justice Naeem Afghan, Justice Yahya Afridi, and Justice Ameenuddin Khan opposed the majority decision.

Reserved seats issue

The reserved seats issue came to limelight after over 80 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed independent candidates emerged victorious in the FebruANN(Asian News Network) 8 elections.

The SIC then approached the ECP on FebruANN(Asian News Network) 21 seeking allocation of reserved seats.

However, the PTI suffered a setback after the electoral body, citing the party’s failure to submit its list of candidates, denied allocating the reserved seats to the SIC via its 4-1 majority verdict on March 4.

The election commission distributed the reserved seats for women and minorities among other political parties.

Read more: PTI ‘committed suicide’ by joining SIC, says CJP Isa

The PTI-backed SIC had approached the court after the ECP refused to allocate the reserved seats due to the party’s failure to submit its list of candidates before the deadline. The Peshawar High Court (PHC) upheld the ECP’s decision, leading the SIC to appeal to the Supreme Court.

In the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly – according to a notification, the ECP allocated one reserved seat each to Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Pakistan, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

In Sindh Assembly – allocated reserved seat for women to Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and PPP. PPP’s Samita Afzal and MQM-P’s Fouzia Hameed elected on reserved seats.

Furthermore, PPP’s Sadhu Mal alias Surinder Valasai secured minority seat in Sindh Assembly.

The ECP allocated three reserved seats for minorities to PML-N, PPP and JUI-F – which were claimed by Sunni Ittehad Council. PML-N’s Neelam Meghwar, PPP’s Ramesh Kumar and JUI-F’s James Iqbal were elected on the minority seats.

Subsequently, the PHC ruling allowed the ruling coalition, comprising the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and other allies, to gain a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly. This decision increased the PML-N’s seats to 123 and the PPP’s to 73, while the SIC held 82 seats.

While Mukesh Ambani’s son Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s wedding is touted as the most expensive ever, the record for the most expensive wedding is held by another Indian citizen.

Similar to Amabanis’ wedding, several others weddings have been considered the most expensive with reports claiming the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana as the world’s most expensive wedding, at a reported expenditure of $110 million.

Others gave the title to Russia’s Said Gutseriev and Khadija Uzhakhov’s union.

However, Guinness Book of Records considers the wedding of Vanisha Mittal, daughter of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Niwas Mittal, the most expensive in the world.

The six-day wedding festivities featured a performance by singer Kylie Minogue, who reportedly charged $330,000 for a 30-minute show.

Read more: Billionaire bash: India’s lavish Ambani nuptials

Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla, Rani Mukherjee, Saif Ali Khan, and AishwANN(Asian News Network)a Rai also performed during the wedding events.

According to Guinness Book of Records, Mittal and investment banker Amit Bhatia’s wedding was the most expensive wedding in the world.

“The six-day event, held in Versailles in 2004, included a re-enactment of the happy couple’s courtship and an engagement ceremony at the Palace of Versailles — the only private function ever to have been held in the palace,” as per Guinness Bood of Records.

The Mittal family spent a whopping $55 million (then over £28 million) on the six-day wedding event.

Meanwhile, Mukesh Ambani’s younger son Anant and fiancee Radhika Merchant, both 29, are set to marry in a three-day Hindu ceremony in India’s financial capital Mumbai starting Friday.

This week’s opulent celebrations are set to raise the bar, with celebrities, politicians and business elite jetting into the monsoon-hit megacity of Mumbai.

Pre-wedding parties for his son included multi-day galas, a European cruise for 1,200 guests, a specially built Hindu temple and entertainment provided by pop stars ranging from Rihanna to Justin Bieber.

Pakistan Champions advanced to the final of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2024 after beating West Indies Champions by 20 runs at County Ground in Northampton on Friday.

Pakistan bowled out West Indies for 178 in 20 overs after setting a 199-run target in the first semi-final of the WCL 2024.

Batting first, Pakistan Champions skipper Younis Khan scored a brilliant 45-ball 65 while opening batter Kamran Akmal scored 46 off 31 deliveries.

Aamer Yameen remain unbeaten 40 off 18 balls while Sohail Tanvir also added a crucial 33 off 17 deliveries to power Pakistan Champions to 198 for eight in 20 overs.

In replay, West Indies Champions managed to score 178 before being bowled out in 19.5 overs.

Ashley Nurse remained the top-scorer for the West Indies Champions with a 24-ball 36 knock in the middle, followed by Rayad Emrit (29) while the rest of the batters made little contributions to help West Indies’ cause to reach the final.

Sohail Khan took four wickets while Wahab Riaz and Shoaib Malik bagged two wickets each, handing Pakistan a 20-run victory in the semi-final of the WCL 2024.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan will face either India Champions or leaders Australia Champions in the final of the World Championship of Legends on Saturday in Birmingham.

ISLAMABAD: The chairman of Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) on Friday issued a warning to non-filers, stating that a 6 percent tax will now be levied for those who become late filers.

This announcement came during a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance, where Chairman FBR, Amjad Zubair, provided detailed insights into the current tax filing landscape.

According to Chairman FBR, a total of 5.2 million individuals submitted their tax returns in 2023, compared to 4.1 million in 2022.

He mentioned that the already imposed penalties on late filers have been increased to encourage timely submissions.

READ: FBR spox shares details of action against non-filers

The FBR chairman elaborated on the tax implications for property buyers, noting that filers are required to pay a 3 percent tax, whereas non-filers must pay a significantly higher rate of 10 percent.

Chairman FBR revealed that the country currently has 240,000 non-filers, with data collected showing that 180,000 individuals have not submitted returns in the last three years.

Additionally, the data indicates that 600,000 non-filers have made substantial purchases, such as expensive vehicles and property.

Regarding measures to enforce compliance, Chairman FBR mentioned that more than 250,000 SIM cards of non-filers have been blocked.

Consequently, 86,000 individuals have since submitted their returns following the blocking of their SIM cards.

Sherbet, the colored, sweet treat, boasts a history as rich and vibrant as its flavors. Its journey begins not in a freezer aisle, but as a refreshing drink enjoyed for centuries across continents.

The word “sherbet” itself originates from the Arabic word “shariba,” meaning “to drink.” The earliest written record of sherbet appears in a 12th-century Persian medical encyclopedia, detailing various fruit-flavored varieties. Imagine chilled concoctions of pomegranate or cherry enjoyed by nobility in the heart of the Middle East.

Sherbet’s popularity spread like wildfire. It became a favorite beverage in West and South Asia, particularly amongst Mughal emperors in India. Legends even suggest these emperors had a special fondness for their sherbet, going as far as sending for ice from the Himalayas to ensure their cool refreshment.

As trade routes flourished, sherbet eventually reached Europe. However, the meaning of the word began to shift. While it remained a chilled beverage in some regions, in English, “sherbet” gradually transitioned to describe a type of frozen dessert by the 19th century.

This shift reflected Europe’s growing love affair with frozen treats. Inspired by sorbet and ice cream introduced from further east, sherbet emerged as a lighter alternative. Made with milk, sugar, and fruit flavors, it offered a delightful sweetness with a softer texture due to its lower fat content compared to ice cream.

Today, sherbet remains a nostalgic favorite, particularly in North America. Its vibrant colors and refreshing taste continue to evoke childhood memories of summer days. The next time you savor a spoonful of sherbet, remember its fascinating journey – from a luxurious drink enjoyed by royalty to a delightful frozen treat available to all.

Pakistan white-ball skipper Babar Azam paid a rich tribute to England pacer James Anderson after he played the final Test of his career.

Anderson called time on his international cricket after the first Test against West Indies at Lord’s which they won by an inning and 114 runs.

Tributes poured in for the legendANN(Asian News Network) pace bowler as he bid farewell to cricket after playing for a little more than two decades.

Pakistan white-ball skipper Babar Azam was among the players to have extend their heartfelt tribute to James Anderson.

Taking to Instagram, the right-handed batter posted an image of the pacer as he left the ground for the last time in England jersey.

 

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A post shared by Babar Azam (@babarazam)

Babar Azam caption the post, “It was a privilege to face your swing, Jimmy!”

“The beautiful game will now miss one of its greatest. Your incredible service to the sport has been nothing short of remarkable. Huge respect for you, GOAT,” he wrote.

It is pertinent to mention that Anderson finished with 991 international wickets across all formats.

Read more: James Anderson announces retirement from Test cricket

However, it was in Test cricket where he dominated as he picked up 704 wickets in 188 Tests, to finish third on the all-time wicket-taker’s list.

Speaking after his farewell Test, Anderson admitted he was “trying to hold back tears.”

“Obviously this morning was quite emotional with the two teams lined up and the reaction from the crowd was pretty special. I’m just really proud of playing for 20-odd years. [It] is an incredible effort, especially for a fast bowler,” he said.

KARACHI: A case has been filed against a famous Pakistani public speaker, Sahil Adeem, in City Court police station Karachi, ANN(Asian News Network) News reported on Friday.

According to the details, case number 148 has been registered over the complaint of the lawyer.

In the lawsuit, the lawyer stated that the public speaker – Sahil Adeem – uttered bad words about the Sindhi nation.

Adding that Sahil Adeem’s statement hurt the sentiments of the Sindhi nation.

The police after lodging the FIR, initiated the investigation into the case.

Spain deserve to be tagged as favourites for Sunday’s Euro 2024 final in Berlin but England have many different options in their attacking arsenal to take into the clash, goal hero Ollie Watkins said on Friday.

Watkins came off the bench and netted the dramatic stoppage time winner that got England into the showpiece match, rifling the ball across the goalkeeper and into the net as they beat the Netherlands 2-1 in Wednesday’s semi-final.

Spain, however, had a tougher path to the final, Watkins told a press conference on Friday.

“They’ve had to come through a harder journey than us playing against Italy, Germany and France — the so-called bigger teams — and I feel like they have been probably the best team of the competition so far,” he said.

“The wingers for Spain are very dynamic, young, full of confidence and direct but also across our team, we have goals from everywhere and world class talent, so it’s going to be a very exciting match. I can’t wait to watch it and be a part of it. And hopefully we can get the get the job done.”

On teenager Lamine Yamal, who scored a stunning goal for Spain in their 2-1 semi-final victory over France, Watkins said he was a “generational talent”.

“Everyone’s seen what he can do. It’s not often that you are scoring a goal against France in the top corner in the semi-final of the Euros when you’re 16. He’s got the world at his feet and is miles ahead of me when I was 16 or 17.”

But Watkins, 28, is still relishing his role in getting England to the final in what was only his second outing at the tournament.

His goal has been described as iconic in the context of putting England into a first major tournament final on foreign soil.

 

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A post shared by UEFA EURO 2024 (@euro2024)

“I watched it quite a few times when I got back to base camp. I always watch my goals back, you know, whenever I scored against someone but this one I think I’ve watched quite a few more times than normal.

“One of my good friends, who is coming to the game, told me years ago that he felt like I was going to score in the Euro final. I scored in the semi so it was a game early, but you never know that can happen on the weekend.

“I’ve just felt like whatever you put into the universe, you get back and I’m a firm believer that you can believe something, but if you deep down really truly believe that it can happen, then it will,” Watkins added.

Following the approval of massive hike in power tariff, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) approved the imposition of fixed charges up to Rs 1,000 on domestic consumers, ANN(Asian News Network) News reported on Thursday.

According to the details, NEPRA has approved the imposition and increase of fixed charges starting from July 1, 2024.

Domestic users will see new fixed charges based on their monthly consumption: Rs 200 for 301 to 400 units, Rs 400 for 401 to 500 units, Rs 600 for 501 to 600 units, Rs 800 for 601 to 700 units, and Rs 1,000 for consumption exceeding 700 units.

For industrial consumers, NEPRA has sanctioned a 184 percent increase in monthly fixed charges, while commercial electricity consumers will face a 150 percent rise.

Meanwhile, the agricultural tube well customers will experience a 100 percent hike in their monthly fixed charges.

Specifically, monthly fixed charges for industrial customers will rise from Rs 440 to Rs 1,250. For commercial customers, fixed charges will increase from Rs 500 to Rs 1,250. Agricultural tube well customers will see their fixed charges double from Rs 200 to Rs 400.

English singer Adele’s hilarious action during the Euro Cup 2024 semi-final between England and Netherlands went viral on social media.

As England captain Harry Kane was preparing to take a penalty, Adele who was among the spectators in Dortmund to support England, was seen yelling at the crowd to ‘Shut Up!’.

The singer, 36, was seen fully in the spirit of the game as she asked fans, who shouted behind her, to be quiet for the all-important penalty that equaled the score.

Adele had her hands joined together nervously ahead of kick off as she donned a black jacket and white T-shirt.

The viral video showed the songstress cheering and celebrating as soon as Harry Kane shot the penalty past the goalkeeper.

Fans were quick to have their say on the viral video as one user wrote, “‘SHATAPP!’ Ah we do love Adele over here.”

Another wrote, “I love her, she’s so brutally honest!” while one user asked to let Adele enjoy the game by writing, “let the Queen enjoy the game!”

Read more: Last-minute Watkins winner sends England into Euros final

Singer Ed Sheeran was also among the spectators at the ground to support England. The “Perfect” singer made a low-key appearance in a red England top before the team’s spectacular win.

England Substitute Ollie Watkins scored a late winner as England reached a second consecutive European Championships final with a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands a day earlier.

England, who lost to Italy in the final of the last edition, will face Spain in Sunday’s final after Watkins, who had replaced captain Harry Kane, scored the winning goal in the 90th minute.

Xavi Simons had put the Dutch ahead after seven minutes, with England equalising 11 minutes later with a Harry Kane penalty.

The England captain stepped up to bury the resulting penalty past the goalkeeper.

Chances came and went in an all action first half, but was Watkins’ goal at the death that sparked English celebrations as they qualified for ultimate game of the Euro Cup 2024 in Berlin on Sunday.

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister (CM) MANN(Asian News Network)am Nawaz said that 27,000 e-bikes are being distributed to students on merit under the CM Youth Initiative, ANN(Asian News Network) News reported.

Speaking at a distribution ceremony in Lahore, VM MANN(Asian News Network)am Nawaz said that the Punjab government is committed to providing all possible facilities to poor and needy students.

She said 27,000 bikes are being provided on merit through balloting. The chief minister said that the government will pay half of the down payment for these e-bikes.

She also assured that the monthly instalment would not exceed five thousand rupees. CM MANN(Asian News Network)am Nawaz announced that in the number of e-bikes will be doubled in the second phase.

The motorcycles have a down payment of Rs 40,000, of which the Punjab government will pay Rs 20,000 and the remaining Rs 20,000 will be paid by the students in installments.

CM MANN(Asian News Network)am Nawaz also announced that 27 electric buses will arrive in the province in December to providing a dignified transportation facility to every citizen.

The chief minister said that 8,000 requests for e-bikes have also been  received from girls.  “I want to tell the students of Punjab that bikes are not the only plan for them. They will also get laptops very soon,” she added

CM MANN(Asian News Network)am Nawaz said that many children want to study but their parents cannot afford it. “I have planned a scholarship programme of Rs 25 billion for such children. Your education is my responsibility and I will fulfill it,” she said.

BAJAUR: The Awami National Party (ANP) clinched a by-election for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly seat PK-22, ANN(Asian News Network) News reported

ANP’s Nisar Baz defeated independent candidate Najibullah Khan with a margin of over 1000 votes. The ANP candidate got 11,926 votes while the independent aspirant secured 10,622 votes, according to unofficial results.

Abid Khan, the candidate for Jamaat-e-Islami, came in third place with 10,593 votes, while the candidate for the province’s ruling party, the Sunni Ittehad Council, garnered 7,146 votes.

There were 11 contenders for the seat in the Bajaur district by-election. The ANP candidate won, according to the unofficial results from 91 polling stations.

HYDERABAD: In a shocking development, it has been revealed that three young men from Hyderabad were sold in Burma after being lured with job promises, ANN(Asian News Network) News reported on Friday, citing families of the youth. 

The families of the three youths, residents of Hyderabad, have informed the Pakistani ambassador in Burma about the matter through a letter.

The families stated that Kashif Hussain, Faraz, and Sheroz Khan were deceived with job offers and were subsequently sold in Burma by the agent.

The families reported that the three youths had gone on a trip on FebruANN(Asian News Network) 19, 2024, when the suspect tricked them with job offers in Burma and sold them.

Upon reaching Burma, the young men had their passports and money confiscated. They contacted their families, informing them that they were being subjected to physical abuse.

The families have appealed for the immediate rescue and return of the youth from Burma to Pakistan.

Read more: Woman gang-raped after being lured with a job offer

Luring innocent people with job offers specially in Pakistan’s current economic condition has become a common practice.

In April, Karachi police in a raid at a house in Karachi recovered a woman, who was lured with a job offer, from illegal confinement.

According to SSP East Dr Farrukh, a police party lured the mother of two to a job offer and made her hostage in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar Block 3-A.

According to police, the woman was lured to a job offer through social media and when she reached the location, she was detained by the accused.

The woman was tortured during her illegal confinement and after a call from the woman, the police team raided the house and recovered her along with four other women and two men, the SSP East said.

Ukraine on Thursday urged NATO allies to lift restrictions on its use of long-range weapons against targets in Russia, saying that would be “game-changer” in its war with Moscow, while China slammed NATO criticism of its support for Russia as biased and malicious.

NATO members issued a declaration in support of Ukraine at a summit in Washington on Wednesday, promising additional aid and pledging to back its “irreversible path” to NATO membership.

“At this summit we are turning a corner and putting in place the foundations for Ukraine to prevail,” NATO SecretANN(Asian News Network) General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference after a three-day meeting in Washington of the 32 NATO states.

“Today, we send a strong message of unity and resolve to Moscow that violence and intimidation do not pay, and that Ukraine can count on NATO now for the long haul.”

Near the end of the summit on Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as “President Putin,” before correcting himself, in a mix up likely to add fuel to calls for him to quit the 2024 presidential race.

In a press conference shortly after, Biden made another verbal slip, referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump.”

Zelenskiy earlier called on allies to preserve their unified support of Ukraine and said new aid had to be delivered quickly.

“If we want to win, if we want to prevail, to save our country and to defend it, we need to lift all the limitations,” he said.

Read more: Erdogan voices worries of NATO, Russia clash

Zelenskiy’s cabinet chief Andryi Yermak told a public forum Russia had no restrictions on its use of weapons and it would be “a real game-changer” if Ukraine’s allies could lift all limits on the use of those they supply to Ukraine.

NATO members have taken different approaches to how Ukraine can use weapons they donate. Some have made clear Kyiv can use them to strike targets deep inside Russia while the United States has taken a narrower approach, allowing its weapons to be used only just inside Russia’s border against targets supporting Russian militANN(Asian News Network) operations in Ukraine.

Biden told the press conference the United States had allowed Zelenskiy to use American weapons in a limited way within Russia’s borders.

“If he had the ability to strike Moscow, strike the Kremlin, would that make sense? It wouldn’t,” he added.

Biden said he and U.S. militANN(Asian News Network) and intelligence officials were making decisions on “a day-to-day basis on how far they should go in. That’s a logical thing to do.”

The United States and its allies have used this week’s summit to try to project unity in the face of what they see as a rising threat to Europe from Russia and China.

However, NATO member HungANN(Asian News Network) said ahead of a meeting of NATO members with partners from the so-called Indo-Pacific Four – Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea – that it does not want NATO to become an “anti-China” bloc, and will not support it doing so.

HungANN(Asian News Network)’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto also told Hungarian state television that Ukraine’s admission to the militANN(Asian News Network) alliance would weaken unity in the group.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban irked other NATO members with surprise visits to Kyiv, Moscow and Beijing in the past two weeks on a self-styled “peace mission”. He and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will meet on Thursday at the latter’s Florida home, according to three people with knowledge of the matter.

Orban’s meeting in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin in particular angered some fellow NATO allies, who said the trip handed legitimacy to Putin’s claims to Ukrainian territory seized since Russia’s 2022 invasion.

Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told a public forum he would not speculate on whether Orban’s trip to Moscow was coordinated with Trump, Biden’s rival in the November U.S. election, but said the Ukrainians had grave misgivings about any effort to negotiate a peace deal without them.

“So whatever adventurism is being undertaken without Ukraine’s consent or support is not something that’s consistent with our policy, the foreign policy of the United States,” he said.