Pakistan reports 47 corona deaths in a day

Pakistan has reported 47 deaths in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of positive cases has surged to 1,474,075. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 29,648 on Thursday.

According to the latest figures by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) 3,914 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.
Punjab remains the worst-hit province in terms of deaths followed by Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Till now 13,298 individuals have lost their lives to the epidemic in Punjab, 7,954 in Sindh 6,082 in KP, 990 in Islamabad, 765 in Azad Kashmir, 370 in Balochistan, and 189 in GB.

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ECP disqualifies Vawda for life in dual nationality case

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has finally announced the verdict in PTI leader Faisal Vawda's dual nationality case, declaring him ineligible for holding the seat of a senator.

ECP had reserved the verdict on PPP MNA Qadir Khan Mandokhail's plea seeking Vawda's disqualification on December 23, 2021.

In today's hearing, a three-member bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, announced taking the notification for Vawda's election as a Senator back.

The bench gave the observation that Vawda resigned from the National Assembly seat to cover his crime.
It directed the PTI leader to turn in all the financial benefits and privileges he had been enjoying as a Senator within two months.

However, the ECP stated that Vawda can still reach out to the Supreme Court to challenge the verdict for his disqualification.

It is pertinent to mention that Vawda had resigned as an MNA in March 2021, on the day of Senate election, but he will no longer be a Senator after the conclusion of his disqualification case.

The petitioners, PPP MNA Qadir Khan Mandokhail, Asif Mehmood and Mian Faisal, had contended that Vawda had concealed his US nationality while submitting his nomination papers to the returning officer for the National Assembly seat, and refrained from stating the date of his renunciation of the US nationality despite being asked by the ECP several times.

During the trial, Vawda received multiple warnings and extensions for the submission of his arguments to counter the prosecution's stance.

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Islamabad High Court suspends ECP's order of disqualifying Umar Amin Gandapur

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday has suspended the order issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regarding the disqualification of Umar Amin Gandapur, the brother of Federal Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.

The ECP had barred Umar Amin Gandapur from contesting the mayoral slot for Dera Ismail Khan in the upcoming local body elections after which he challenged the order in the IHC today.

Umar filed a petition at the IHC against the decision to declare ECP’s decision "null and void" as it was made without the summary inquiry and therefore, violated the code of conduct.

During the hearing, Umar’s advocate Ali Zafar pleaded that ECP had failed to meet the requirements of transparency in the case, adding that the candidate should have been given the benefit of the doubt.

He argued that no notice was given and the whole investigation was against Ali but the order was given against Umar.

The plea also listed the Election Commission of Pakistan, chief election commissioner, regional election commissioner, and Senator Kamran Murtaza as parties.

Zafar argued that the ECP had not followed the procedure in the case, adding that a candidate could be fined up to Rs50,000 if he is found involved in a violation of the code of conduct as per the law.

The IHC said that the ECP order would remain on the field as far as Ali Amin Gandapur is concerned.

Meanwhile, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah issued a notice to the ECP and sought a reply till February 11. The hearing has been adjourned.

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Australia name full-strength Test squad for Pakistan tour

Australia have named a full-strength line-up for next month's three-Test tour of Pakistan in their first squad announcement since the resignation of Justin Langer as coach.

The Australians will play in Pakistan for the first time in almost 25 years and the series will be the Test side's first overseas tour since facing England in the 2019 Ashes series.

Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood returns from injury while Scott Boland, one of the stand-out performers during Australia's 4-0 Ashes series win over England earlier in the season, retains his place in the Pat Cummins-captained squad.

Concerns that senior players would pull out of the tour due to security issues after both England and New Zealand withdrew from tours of Pakistan late last year have proven unfounded.

No Australian team has travelled to Pakistan since 1998.

“This squad covers for all scenarios including the conditions given it has been such a long time since Australia was last in Pakistan,” said selector George Bailey.

“With several sub-continent tours and a one-day World Cup in India on the near horizon, this is a great first-up challenge for the group after the successful home Ashes series.

“It's also a very historic tour given the length of time since an Australian side last toured Pakistan.”

Ashton Agar is the only player included in the squad who did not feature in the Ashes series, which served as Langer's last in charge before his resignation on Saturday.

The Australians will be led during the tour by interim coach Andrew McDonald.

The first Test will start in Rawalpindi on March 4, with the second meeting slated for Karachi on March 12. Lahore will host the final Test from March 21.

The two countries will also play three One Day Internationals and one Twenty20 match.

Australia's squad for those encounters will be announced separately.

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

 

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Imran Khan has turned a blind eye to Karachi's problems: Shahbaz Sharif

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Imran Khan of turning a blind eye to Karachi’s problems.

Addressing a press conference flanked by MQM-P Deputy Convenor Amir Khan and other party members, Shahbaz said that PM Imran is not concerned about the problems of the masses but is only “concerned about the Opposition.”

“Life has become hard for people due to additional taxes, rising electricity prices, etc,” he said, adding that all these issues were discussed with the MQM-P delegation in a meeting held before the press conference.

MQM-P is one of the allies of the incumbent PTI government.

Shahbaz was of the view that the people of Pakistan had not imagined a “more corrupt government in history" as compared to the current government.

Recalling the tenure of PML-N, the party president said that the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif initiated projects worth billions of rupees for the people of Karachi.

Shahbaz said that during the meeting, PML-N members urged the MQM-P leaders to think about Pakistan before they think about their alliance with the PTI-led government.

“Today's ally can become tomorrow's rival,” he said, adding that the delegation will discuss all issues highlighted during the meeting with their party leadership in Karachi.

Speaking on the occasion, MQM-P leader Amir Khan said that people “want to get rid of the government as soon as possible.”

He was of the view that issues should be resolved through dialogue and all matters discussed with the PML-N leaders will be put before the party committee.

Khan further added that the two parties have already agreed to work together for the betterment of the country.

“There are no two opinions about the devastating economic conditions of Pakistan,” he said, adding that the MQM-P also has reservations regarding the rising inflation.

“Inflation has become unbearable and a solution needs to be found as soon as possible,” he asserted.

Khan further added that Karachi has fallen into “ruins”. He told the media that the concerns regarding inflation have been brought up in front of the federal government.

He also added that political issues, including the no-confidence motion, should be first finalised by the Opposition. “They should make an agenda first,” he said, adding that the party will take a decision keeping the betterment of the public in view.

Speaking about party supremo Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz said that the party members have given the authority to him to make decisions for the party and the workers and leaders will support him.

“I have been given the responsibility to contact all other parties,” he said, adding that all these matters will be discussed during a meeting with the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

Shahbaz was hopeful that MQM-P will take a decision that will be in the favour of the people.

Answering questions regarding PM Imran Khan’s decision to initiate a communication campaign, PML-N president said: “Let Imran Khan face the public they will tell him the exact price of wheat and flour.”

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Shahid Afridi is opening up his own restaurant in Dubai

We have seen Shahid Afridi with a bat and ball but an apron was the last thing we had expected him to put on. The cricketer’s newest venture may be opening his own restaurant.

He shared a video of himself in a chef's jacket, slicing tomatoes and showing off some of his culinary skills. The cricketer is opening a restaurant in Dubai that will offer authentic desi food to people residing in the city.

Afridi, who is currently playing for the Quetta Gladiators this PSL season, shared the news with a video and wrote, "one step closer to the big announcement". He said he will be revealing other details very soon.

"Get ready to give your taste buds a mouthwatering triple tarka," Afridi wrote in his post along with hashtags of his restaurant's name, Lala Darbar.

The business page says that it is an "authentic desi restaurant chain" by the cricketer. Details such as the location or menu haven’t been revealed yet.

Of course a restaurant by an athlete means it will have a touch of the sportsman's passion for cricket and we can already see that in the logo of his restaurant. His famous victory pose made it to the restaurant's banner but the intriguing part is always the menu, the names of the dishes and if they will be named after him. Will we be getting a Lala karhai with a side of Boom Boom naan?

Afridi also has a skincare line called Ooh Lala which is marketed as a premium quality range that offers quality personal care products. He also owns a clothing brand called Hope Not Out that has leisurewear for both men and women.

Afridi isn’t the only Pakistani athlete to have ventured into food-related businesses. Inzamam Ul Haq, Saeed Anwar and Shoaib Malik have all dipped their toes in the food business too. Haq and Anwar run a meat store by the name Meat One that offers fresh and healthy meat whereas Malik opened a restaurant in Lahore called The Rice Bowl which offers comfort food.

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Opposition parties are united in Parliament: Shahid Khaqan

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader and former Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday has said that opposition parties are united inside the Parliament.

Talking to media, the PML-N leader told that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) willingly parted its way. If PPP wants to rejoin opposition parties’ alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) then it needs to regain the trust, he added.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi further said that we will bring no-confidence motion after completing numbers.

Earlier, the-ex-PM said that National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and accountability courts are unaware of amendment ordinance despite passage of four years.

He also criticized the so-called justice in the country, asking whether the anti-graft watchdog was established only for housing schemes.

The Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) leaders have mortgaged State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) before International Monetary Fund (IMF), he added.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi further said that IMF will now directly dictate SBP.

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