Author: Girdopesh

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday disqualified Member of the National Assembly Jamshed Dasti over fake academic credentials. The development comes as the electoral body approved two petitions, including a reference filed by the National Assembly speaker, against Dasti seeking his disqualification. Issuing a written verdict today, the commission’s three-member bench declared the seat vacant following the lawmaker’s disqualification. It stated that Dasti “has made false statements and incorrect declaration, therefore he has also committed offence of corrupt practices defined under Section 167 and 173 of the Elections Act, 2017, punishable under Section 174 of the Election…

Translated from Urdu to English by AI. During the reign of the Shah of Iran, the 2,500-year royal celebrations were also observed in Multan. A beautiful park was built between the MCC Ground and the Press Club, and it was dedicated to the Shah’s elegant queen, Farah Pahlavi. Soon afterward, unrest began to erupt in Iran. The writings of Dr. Ali Shariati gained popularity among students, leading to anti-Shah protests. At that time, I had started teaching at Government College Quetta. I remember one evening when the Iranian Cultural Center (Khana-e-Farhang) in Quetta hosted a lavish dinner. Many guests seemed…

Translated from Urdu to English by AI. The sacred month of Muharram has begun. It is one of the few religious observances that carries a profound message. The essence of Muharram is that monarchy and authoritarian rule hold no moral legitimacy in a civilized world. The state exists for the welfare of its people, and if any ruler usurps the basic rights of the people, then it becomes the responsibility of every conscious human being to resist. Today, capitalism dominates the world. This system, as predicted by Karl Marx, has fully transformed into one of pure exploitation. To sustain it,…

NEW DELHI: At least 18 people have died during a stampede at a railway station in India’s capital late Saturday when surging crowds scrambled to catch trains to the world´s largest religious gathering, officials and reports said.The Kumbh Mela attracts tens of millions of Hindu faithful every 12 years to the northern city of Prayagraj, and has a history of crowd-related disasters — including one last month, when at least 30 people died in another stampede at the holy confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers.The rush at the train station in New Delhi appeared to break…

Riyadh (NNI) – Saudi Arabia has announced that the holy month of Ramadan will begin on March 1, shifting from the traditional moon sighting method to a scientific approach.Astronomers have predicted that the birth of the Ramadan moon will occur on Friday, February 28, at 3:44 AM.It is worth noting that Sheikh Abdullah bin Suleiman Al-Manea, advisor to the Saudi Royal Court and a member of the Saudi Scholars Board, stated that according to astronomical calculations, the first fast in Saudi Arabia will be on March 1. However, the final announcement will be made by the Saudi Supreme Court.Based on…

KARACHI: US Republican Congressman Joe Wilson has called on President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir to release former prime minister Imran Khan, asserting that his freedom would strengthen US-Pakistan relations, The News reported on Sunday. In a letter addressed to Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership, Wilson described Khan’s release as a “would be a major step towards strengthening US-Pakistan relations”.Wilson, who represents South Carolina’s 2nd congressional district and serves as assistant majority whip, made the appeal public on February 7, posting the letter on X (formerly Twitter). “Grateful to send this letter today…

Multan – The latest Syndicate meeting of Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Zubair Iqbal, became a heated battleground as attempts to impose increased faculty workload and revoke employee bonuses were met with strong opposition. While the house firmly rejected these controversial proposals, the meeting also addressed significant administrative and financial matters, resulting in key decisions that could reshape the institution’s governance. In a decisive move, the Syndicate terminated Project Director Malik Rafiq Hummad over serious allegations of corruption, disciplinary misconduct, and criminal activities. His dismissal signals a stricter stance on financial irregularities within the university.…

There are writers, and then there are those whose words ignite fires, whose ink flows like the blood of the oppressed, whose pen is not merely a tool of expression but a weapon against silence. Haider Javed Syed belongs to the latter breed—a rare kind of journalist, thinker, and storyteller who does not just chronicle events but lives within the struggles he writes about. Each time I have met Shah Ji, I have felt as though I am sitting with a fellow traveler from my own tribe—a man who has endured oppression yet raises his voice for those who have…

The Multan Union of Journalists (MUJ) Minhaj Barna Group held its elections on February 5, 2025, at the Multan Press Club in a seemingly smooth process. However, beneath the surface, the election raised significant concerns about transparency, inclusivity, and democratic practices. A considerable number of working journalists from Multan participated in the voting process, as per the voter list prepared by the former office bearers. However, many professional journalists were deliberately left out of the list, including several who had voted in the 2024 elections but were mysteriously removed this time. The Election Committee did not entertain any objections regarding…

Multan: Day 2 of the first Test match between Pakistan and the West Indies began with a remarkable recovery effort by Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel, who displayed tremendous resilience to bring Pakistan back into the contest. The duo, resuming on a challenging spin-friendly pitch, stitched together a vital partnership, keeping Pakistan’s hopes alive. Shakeel and Rizwan combined for a crucial stand, adding valuable runs with their balanced stroke play. Their ability to score freely across the ground highlighted their skill and determination. Saud Shakeel, demonstrating exceptional technique against spin, played a superb knock of 84 runs before falling to…