Pakistan Bee » Media

Punjab Govt imposes ban on Concerts in Educational Institutes

PakBee — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:19:15 +0000

Punjab Assembly has unanimously approved a resolution which seeks ban on “Objectionable” concerts in educational institutes of Punjab.

Exactly two weeks ago, in a tragic accident, 3 Girls died in Atif Aslam’s concert in Lahore due to mismanagement. As the news aired on news channel, many people showed concerns and opposed the growing culture of “concerts” in educational institutes. As a result of it, today a resoluton was passed by an MPA of opposition party Pakistan Muslim League-Q to ban such events in college and universities.

According to Express Tribune, The MPA of PML-Q – Seemal Kamran – while explaining the merits of bill said:

“Pakistan is an Islamic republic and permitting music concerts to take place in public and private educational institutions is against the morality and ethics of Islamic culture.”

You might also like:

Youngest Microsoft Professional Arfa Karim passes away in Lahore Hospital

PakBee — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:04:40 +0000

Arfa Karim, the world’s youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), lost the battle of life after remaining admitted at a Lahore hospital on Saturday night, Geo News reported.

Arfa Karim’s funeral prayers will be held on Sunday at 10 AM in Cantt area.

You might also like:

Pakistani journalist sacked over MQM pressure

PakBee — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 07:12:23 +0000

Islamabad: Senior Pakistani journalist and anchor person Nusrat Javed has said that he had been sacked over Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) pressure.

He told Geo News’ Capital Talk that he was conveyed a shocking message during the live show that whether he wants ‘lives of 600 employees of his organization or the programme’.

Nusrat Javed, a veteran journalist, was a co-host of Aaj News’ programme Bolta Pakistan.

Meanwhile, MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi categorically denied that his party or its any member was behind the sacking of Javed. He said Javed’s dismissal may be a result of his differences with the management.

The MQM leader said that he has a great respect for Nusrat Javed and he is ready to defend the journalist’s case in his organization.

Former Sindh home minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza says “Nusrat Javed in the first martyr of freedom of media against MQM.”

You might also like:

Riphah University Rawalpindi student guns down Vice Principal

PakBee — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 07:58:20 +0000

ISLAMABAD: A student at the Riphah International University (RIU) in Rawalpindi shot and killed the vice principal of the institution on Tuesday.

Khurram Shahzad, a final year student at the university, shot dead Vice Principal Brig (R) Sanaullah in the incident which took place around 10:00 AM on university campus.

Shahzad managed to smuggle the weapon onto the premises without being noticed by security guards. He proceeded to enter different departments on campus and fired four shots in total.

Shahzad also fired shots at other teachers and security guards, however, the vice principal was shot at point blank range and died on the spot. The body has been taken away for autopsy.

The accused has been taken into custody and is being interrogated by police.

A member of the HR department of the university said that Shahzad had been enrolled since 2002, and had repeated his fourth year four times. He had earlier been expelled by the administration, but was enrolled once again after his parents pleaded with university authorities to allow him to continue his studies .

RIU authorities said that Shahzad was suffering from depression, and had attempted suicide in the past, adding that his mental state was “questionable”.

RIU is located in Rawalpindi. It was established in 2002 by the Islamic International Medical College Trust (IIIMCT) and is a non-profit, non-political, non-sectarian welfare organisation registered with the government of Pakistan.

It is chartered by the federal government.

You might also like:

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan arrested at Delhi Airport, India

PakBee — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:38:46 +0000

NEW DELHI: Interior Minister A. Rehman Malik on Sunday telephoned High Commissioner of Pakistan to New Delhi Shahid Malik to inquire details about the detention of famous Pakistani singer, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

According to a statement issued here on Sunday, the minister said that he was examining the matter. He has also asked Pakistani High Commissioner to India to monitor the matter thoroughly.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan who was arrested at Delhi airport on Sunday for possessing undeclared currency of 100,000 US dollars will be presented before court on Monday.

His manager Chitresh Srivastava has also been arrested.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan arrived here on a flight from Karachi and was intercepted by personnel from Directorate of Revenue Intelligence.

Khan has several hit numbers to his credit and had won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer this year for ‘Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji’ from the movie ‘Ishqiya’.

Rahat, 37, who has crooned several Bollywood chartbusters, had flown from Karachi to New Delhi. He is the nephew of Pakistani singing legend Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

You might also like:

Ejaz Haroon Stepped Down

PakBee — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 20:03:05 +0000

ISLAMABAD: Ejaz Haroon has stepped down from the post of Managing Director Pakistan International Airline (PIA) after successful negotiations between the government and protesting employees of PIA, Geo News reported Friday.

After the talks, President Pakistan Airlines Pilot’s Association (PALPA) Sohail Baloch announced end to the strike that continued for four days.

The protesting employees of PIA burst into celebrations as the reports of MD PIA’s resignation came out at the end of negotiations between the Government’s committee and PALPA representatives.

Talking to media after talks, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar along with Interior Minister Rehman Malik, said: “MD PIA has resigned and his resignation has been accepted.”

He said now it is time for ‘all of us have to work together for the progress of PIA.’

Rehman Malik said an agreement with protesting employees of PIA had been reached.

All the sacked employees of PIA have also been reinstated.

Random Posts

Three Blasts in Gujranwala

PakBee — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 05:18:54 +0000

GUJRANWALA: At least three low intensity blasts have been reported in different areas near government buildings here on early Wednesday, Geo News reported.

Two explosions took place outside CIA Center Building while the third explosion occurred near SP Special Branch Office.

Buildings received minor damages but no loss of life or injury has been reported in explosions, police sources said.

Heavy police contingents have arrived on the scenes and cordoned off the blast sites.

You might also like:

A Clear Case of Isolating and Targeting the Jang Group

PakBee — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 06:51:41 +0000

KARACHI: A spokesman for the Jang Group of newspapers on Friday expressed deep sorrow and regret over the release of a legal notice, said to have been issued by the authorities against the Group, a copy of which has not yet been officially delivered, but it has been made public on TV channels and media within the country and worldwide.

The spokesman said the notice appeared to be part of a trend to gain cheap, free publicity and claim innocence without pursuing the case in any court of law. Previously also the authorities had resorted to the same tactics by issuing notices against the Group when reports filed among others by Kamran Khan, a senior journalist of the Group, which were never followed up with action. The spokesman said it was interesting to note that the government had not reacted to hundreds of reports and stories about the corruption, loot and plunder of the rulers to prove its innocence but it had taken up a matter of huge public interest to target the Jang Group, as part of its continued policy to inflict financial losses to the Group. It would have been a matter of satisfaction if such prompt notice had been taken against reports of loot and plunder.

It was observed by the spokesman that the Jang Group has again been singled out while the same public interest story was already being widely circulated in the media worldwide, on websites and internet blogs and no one took any notice. It would be seen now whether only the Jang Group is targeted or others also are served with similar notices. What the Jang Group had done was to make an honest attempt to quash these widely circulating rumours and stories and had followed the strict principles of professional ethics by not only very prominently highlighting the denials issued by the spokesman of the President’s House and personal aide of the President Farahnaz Ispahani but had also approached the lady concerned, as it should be done in all such cases, by calling her and talking to her directly so that complete facts could come out once for all.

It should also be noted that the headlines of the Jang Group stories focused on proving that these rumours and web-stories were incorrect. Two particular headlines read as follows: “Presidency rejects Zardari’s marriage reports” (The News, Feb 4, 2011) and “Dr Zamani denies wedding Zardari”, Says she never met the president (The News, Feb 5, 2011). These reports did not reproduce any of the material which was circulating on dozens of web sites including many specific details. The numerous videos and speeches of Dr Zamani, available on the U-Tube and Internet containing many emotional references to President Zardari and “Son” Bilawal were also not used in any of the stories.

It is unfortunate that Dr Zamani, when contacted by Group Editor Mr Shaheen Sehbai, refused to deny or confirm the truth of the story. Her evasiveness gave rise to more questions as in such personal matters a simple no could have ended the matter there and then. That Dr Zamani was evasive even on the second day was confirmed when another senior journalist of the Jang Group, Mr Azim M Mian, who knows her personally, tried to contact her and get her viewpoint. She was again evasive and after a lot of persuasion, and later intervention by some Pakistani officials, she ultimately gave her version. It was also reproduced prominently in the Jang Group.

The Jang Group emphasises that in dealing with these stories, complete professionalism was used, all norms of ethics were observed, all versions were prominently printed and frivolous details which had been circulating for days and weeks were ignored. There was absolutely no malice and ill-intention but to bring out the truth about the whole issue which concerned a duly elected President of Pakistan. It may not be out of place to mention that public office holders, elected politicians and celebrities continue to remain a subject of great public interest round the world and there are numerous examples, from President Bill Clinton, to President Sarkozi to Lady Diana, to Prime Minister Berlusconi, and many such world figures, who have come under media scrutiny on matters of their personal life. Just two weeks ago Italy’s prime minister faced a prostitution investigation in Milan over a teenaged nightclub dancer who attended parties at his private residence. All these reports do not mean that the media is targeting any leader for personal malice or deliberately slandering him or her.

The Jang Group believes that the case is just the reverse when targeting the Group by the Presidency is concerned. There have been many attempts to stifle the voice of this Group by various government tactics and we had to seek the ultimate justice from the Supreme Court of Pakistan to get our rights in the World Cup rights case recently. It should be noticed that while several media outlets and newspapers have published the same stories with great details, notices have only been issued to the Jang Group. It is a clear case of using this subject to victimize the Group for reasons other than this particular issue, including the fact that the Group has relentlessly exposed corruption and bad governance of the present rulers.

The latest notice is also a part of that vicious campaign to try to inflict losses on the Group. While there is absolutely no reason to object to the stories published in the Group newspapers, as these were balanced, professionally handled, objective and true, the issuance of the notice asking for $100 million (Over Rs8 billion) is nothing but another show of contempt and hatred against the Group and its dedicated professionals who have done a remarkable job of exposing corruption at the highest level and have brought numerous cases to light, in many cases forcing the corrupt politicians and officials to pay back billions to the national exchequer.

People should remember that during the tenure of military dictator Pervez Musharraf the Jang Group and its professionals exposed his wrongdoings. In consequence the Jang Group was targeted by dictator Musharraf causing loss of billions of rupees to the Group. The Jang Group, however, refused to submit to the dictator’s pressure. As always, Jang Group is today committed to stand against the wrongdoing of anyone whatever high status he may enjoy. This has tremendously increased the respect and credibility of the Group among the people.

The Group is proud of its highly professional journalists who have shown remarkable courage and commitment despite the use of high-handedness and at times brute use of force to silence them. The Group spokesman said some people in the Presidency would gain no benefit by using those media elements who had remained their business partners and one of whom fled the country because he was wanted by NAB (National Accountability Bureau). To let our readers make their own independent judgment on the two stories on the subject of Mr Zardari and Dr Zamani, we are hereby reproducing the full text of both the stories so that anyone who has not read them can judge whether there is any intention to slander or cause damage to any one’s reputation:

The News, Feb 4, 2011

Presidency rejects Zardari’s marriage reports

WASHINGTON: Dr Tanveer Zamani, a practicing surgeon and a PPP activist in the US, and Farahnaz Ispahani, PPP MNA and a close aide of President Asif Ali Zardari, have commented differently on a flood of reports and blogs on the Internet which refer to the possibility that Mr Zardari may have secretly married again.

The Sindh Medical College graduate, in her late 40s, who did her PhD in political science from Ireland in 1996, before moving to US for practicing is of Mediterranean descent and reportedly lives in Gramercy Park, Manhattan, New York. Many websites claim that she owns estates in London, Dubai, Islamabad and Manhattan. She is also a known Democrat and supported Obama’s 2008 election campaign. She actively participated in Obama’s Healthcare reform bill to make it a law. Talking to me on Thursday morning when I called her on her toll free phone, she responded to my questions in a rather roundabout way. I confirmed twice that she was Dr Zamani. Her voice was the same as in many U-Tube videos. I introduced myself and asked her one simple question: “There is a lot of buzz on the Internet about a personal matter about you, would you like to confirm or deny it.” I did not mention the subject. Dr Zamani said she would not say anything but she had sought legal advice on the matter. I then asked directly that this was about her alleged link to Mr Zardari and a very personal matter, so what was illegal about it and why she had sought legal advice?

She said: “Personal matters are a very low priority. We have to handle the Egypt situation, the prices situation (in Pakistan), introduce Bilawal as the PPP leader, and many other issues. Personal issues come very low on my priority.” After this strange response, I asked her again: “Are you Mrs Zardari.” She said: “I would not comment on it.” I again said was it anything illegal that she had done. She said I have sought legal advice on how to handle the situation. “So you would not deny or confirm,” I asked. She said: No comment. I thanked her, wondering whether I had just completed the first interview of Pakistan’s prospective First Lady.

Reports circulating widely on the numerous blogs say recently she has been prohibited to attend public political meetings due to her security issues. In one such report it has been alleged that President Zardari in a meeting with Obama on 14/1/11 in DC, requested his help in acquiring security for Dr Zamani. No one would confirm this information. But on Thursday a categorical denial on this subject came from the Presidency and PPP MNA Farahnaz Ispahani, who also has been a spokesperson for the president and the PPP at same time.

Presidency spokesman Farhatulla Babar rejected the reports about president’s marriage. He said these speculative reports were the figment of a sick imagination, showing that the president’s opponent’s had chosen to target his personal life.

In a brief message posted on a blog Farahnaz posted from her email (fispahani@gmail.com) at 7:03 pm Pakistan time: “President Asif Ali Zardari is the widower of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. His marital status remains that of a widower”. “This is another nasty, pernicious rumour started by opponents to hurt the president, his family and the party. It is a baseless rumour”.

The News, Feb 5, 2011

Dr Zamani denies wedding Zardari

Says she never met the president

NEW YORK: Dr Tanveer Zamani on Friday denied her wedding with President Zardari and also claimed that she has never met President Zardari either in US or elsewhere. “I have never met President Zardari and the only reason, I have refrained from commenting on an Internet hoax involving me is because I deemed it against my dignity to respond to such a hoax. Bloggers and journalists do not have the right to make up stories and disrupt the lives of people,” she said in an email message.

She explicitly and clearly denied being married or being subject to a proposal or notion of being married to the president, whom she holds in high esteem. Tanveer Zamani said in her email that this is her first ever denial on the matter while rumours and emails about her wedding have been in circulation for the last three weeks. Some Pakistanis in the community regarded the silence of Tanveer Zamani over her wedding rumours as “her own ploy to seek attention” of President Zardari. Why and how a dignified and educated Pakistani woman can ignore, keep silent over all such emails and rumours about her wedding with the president of Pakistan. She has been avoiding to make any categorical denial to journalists, when she was approached for her version or denial.

How this story of Pakistani community in US got to Islamabad and other capitals needs to be explained. Since her active participation in local PPP in USA, Dr Tanveer Zamani has been a highly vocal “jiyali” of President Zardari and PPP. She invited hostility from some of her PPP co-workers, who started a campaign of nasty emails against her. This email war has been on for the last five months. Some Internet surfers sent emails/comments about her passion for the personality of President Zardari.

During the last visit of President Zardari, her tireless efforts to meet the president failed. Factually, during her activism, she has never met Asif Zardari. Her meeting with Farhatullah Babar and few other PPP ministers can be seen on her Facebook page. She spent a lot of money on her websites, interviews and statements to publicise her pictures and speeches.

The story about the reported Zardari-Zamani wedding is not new to many New Yorkers and Internet surfers. It has been on Facebook and some other websites for the last three weeks. Even some emails were circulated when President Asif Ali Zardari was in Washington on January 14. When the president left the US after his short visit, an email was circulated that Dr Tanveer Zamani has also left for Dubai where arrangements for a quiet wedding were in place for Dr Zamani and President Zardari. Since then some emailers and Internet surfers added more to this wedding episode and wished a peaceful and happy life for the couple.

You might also like:

Benazir Bhutto’s BlackBerry Cell Phone

PakBee — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:02:11 +0000

KARACHI: Benazir Bhutto’s two Blackberry cell phones, which were lost on the day of her assassination, have been found from Bilawal House Karachi.

According to the sources, personal staff of Benazir in Bilawal House Karachi were carrying her cell phones.

Investigation team of BB’s murder case has declared it an important breakthrough in the investigations.

The challan will be submitted after three days.

Geo TV Reported

You might also like:

Raymond Davis case is Sub-Judice

PakBee — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:38:15 +0000

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday stressed upon the need for the United States’ support to Pakistan in pleading its case for assistance and market access before the international community.

“We need preferential market access to support our economy from the dire impacts of ongoing struggle against militancy, on one hand, and to rehabilitate and reconstruct damaged infrastructure due to devastating floods, on the other,” he added.

The President expressed these views in a meeting with a US congressional delegation, which called on him here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Monday.

The delegation included Representatives Darell El Issa, Todd R. Platts, Jason Chaffetz, Stephen F. Lynch, Brian M. Higgins and Raul L. Labrador.

Stephen Engelken, Charge d’ Affairs, Thomas A. Alexander, Senior Counsel (Majority) Committee on Oversight, Adam Pl. Fromm, Counsel (Majority) Director of Member Services and Scott Lindsay, Counsel (Majority) Committee on Oversight were also present.

Pakistan side included Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Finance Minister, M. Salman Faruqui, Secretary General to the President, Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor, Chairman National Commission for Government Reforms, Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs, Senator Syeda Sughra Imam, Ms. Farahnaz Ispahani and Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar besides Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and other senior officials.

Briefing media Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said that matters relating to Pak-US bilateral relations, mutual cooperation, fight against militancy, Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) and security situation in the region among other related issues were discussed during the meeting.

Babar said that the President highlighted economic situation of the country during the meeting and focused upon the need for US support to Pakistan in pleading its case for assistance and market access before the international community.

“Ours is a war ravaged and flood stricken economy, and our people need priority attention and assistance to overcome financial difficulties,” Farhatullah Babar quoted the President as saying.

“Our priority is trade not aid”, the President emphasized.
The President urged the visiting delegation to use their influence to secure market access and trade for the country.

Discussing Pakistan-US relations, the President said that a long-term and stable equation marked by close collaboration and multidimensional cooperation between the two countries guarantees not only development of the country but also peace and stability of the region.

He expressed satisfaction on the progress being made through the channel of Pak-US strategic dialogue on various sectoral levels.

The members of congressional delegation appreciated the country’s struggle against militancy and assured US continued support in this regard to the people and the Government of Pakistan.

The President reiterated his call for expediting passage of ROZs (Reconstruction Opportunity Zones) legislation to create economic opportunities for the people who are worst hit due to scourge of militancy.

Discussing regional situation, the President reiterated Pakistan’s principled stance that it has an abiding interest in a stable, peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan and it firmly believes in neutrality and non-interference in internal affairs of the country.

Pakistan, the President said, would continue to support all efforts for promoting sustainable peace, stability and development in Afghanistan.

He said “we firmly believe that political approach seconded by economic development was equally important for bringing stability to the war tarnished country”.

He said that Pakistan would support all efforts for the capacity building of the institutions in Afghanistan.

The Congressmen also raised the matter of Mr. Raymond Davis, involved in the killing of Pakistani nationals in Lahore, with the President.

The President said that he appreciated their concern but the matter was already before the courts. It would be prudent to wait for the legal course to be completed, he said.

The delegation assured the President said that US administration would continue to provide all possible help to the Government in overcoming its difficulties.

You might also like: