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Truth must come out

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From the cradle to the grave we are instructed by society to speak truth. Yet the practice carries more penalties than speaking an outright lie does.

Faheem Ahmad Profile Faheem Ahmad

A controversial skill, then, to be truthful. If ever we decide to stand by the truth, then we are asked to consider the doctrine of (particular) necessity, self-made social norms and even national security. The majority among us refuse to engage with such complications and instead take either to keeping silent or even lying. This social duplicity has kept us back as a people and as a country.

I have no qualms in saying that this social conditioning, this belief that one cannot disagree with obsolete traditions and norms, with your elders, with those who hold senior positions to you and with state policies is absolutely wrong. Had this been wrong then would our religious figures, our revolutionary leaders, our reformists have brought about the change that they did?

I do not say that in our disagreement we let go of our manners when talking to our elders or that we do not consider the state when giving an honest opinion. But I do insist that we realize that there is a difference between loyalty and slavery. Speaking the truth, listening to the truth and self-accountability does not harm us, belief in black and white narratives does. Suppressing facts leads to the promotion of distortion. In simple words, a point comes when it is becomes difficult to differentiate between a truth and a lie. From that point onwards, social chaos is always close by.

Restricting the truth also leads to an atmosphere of suppression, one that has the potential to turn into lava. There is nothing more painful than observing injustice but not being able to comment on it or write about it. The anger turns into resentment and eventually anger. When young people are asked to perform this impossible task, they turn their resentment towards the state. Lets hope such a point does not arise in the country or else our system will collapse and we will have to build, from scratch, a new one.

For those who are paying attention, the clues point towards our society marching towards this threshold. From our political class, to our religious leaders, to the analysts who appear on TV daily, almost all have abandoned the truth in favor of advantageous versions of facts. Where else can this road go, on which are being marched, but towards a society full of cruelty and barbarism?

There is a faction that believes this system will keep on moving ahead despite this glaring threat. History is not their forte or else they would know how misplaced their belief is. This system can be changed and will be changed, the road to that change has been determined since eternity. It is simply, holding high the banners of truth even when all else around you degenerates into misinformation. If we wish to change the luck of this country than we must follow this path, stopping for nothing till we have achieved our goal.

Yes, there are many obstacles ahead. But if we are being asked to put on blindfolds, our hands are being bound to stop them from putting truth on paper, and our tongues are being locked up, then we have been left with no choice. Freedom does not come without sacrifice.

 

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Pakistan

‘No meeting with Tareen so far,’: Pervez Khattak denies joining IPP

The former defence minister who stepped down as the president of PTI’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter clarifies his position, saying that “At the moment, I prefer not to make any comment on political matters.”

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Peshawar: In response to recent reports about his involvement in Jahangir Tareen's new political venture, Pervez Khattak, the former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, said that he had not met the chief of the Istihkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP).

“No meeting with Tareen so far. At this time, I prefer not to comment on any political matters,” said the former Defence Minister. 

According to the latest reports,  Khattak emphasized that Tareen's party had not offered him the position of secretary general, nor had he accepted any such offer. He assured that he was currently focused on his existing responsibilities and in touch with his colleagues in the province.

Earlier in the day, the speculations emerged that Khattak would be appointed as the secretary general of the newly-established IPP.

This development follows Khattak's announcement two weeks ago that he was stepping down as the president of PTI's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter. However, an aide of the PTI chief dismissed rumors of Khattak leaving the party and labeled them as "propaganda."

Jahangir Tareen, once a close aide of PTI Chairman Imran Khan and instrumental in the party's rise to power in 2018, officially launched his new party on Thursday, expressing his commitment to contribute to the betterment of the country through politics.

It is worth noting that Tareen and Khattak are not the only former PTI members who have joined the IPP. Several other PTI defectors, who distanced themselves from Imran Khan following the events of May 9, have united with Tareen in his new political venture.

The departure of prominent PTI leaders and their subsequent association with the IPP has caused a significant shift in the political landscape. Many of these individuals, in their press conferences, announced their departure from politics alongside their decision to leave the PTI.

Notable figures who have joined the IPP include Fawad Chaudhry, Ali Zaidi, Imran Ismail, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Aamer Mehmood Kiani, Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, Mahmood Baqi Maulvi, Fayaz ul Hassan Chohan, and Murad Raas.

The events of May 9, which led to the arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, sparked widespread protests across the country. During the unrest, important military installations, including the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and the Lahore Corps Commander's residence, were attacked and vandalized.

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Entertainment

Rs3b allocated for Film Finance, Artists’ Health Insurance: Marriyum

The Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting says these measures will play a major role in the growth of our film industry and improvement in the welfare of our nation's artists.

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Islamabad: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday said that two billion rupees were allocated for the Film Finance Fund and one billion rupees for the Artists' Health Insurance in this budget.

Taking to Twitter, Marriyum Aurangzeb said that these measures would play a major role in the growth of our film industry and improvement in the welfare of our nation's artists.

She wrote, "I am equally delighted to announce that funds have been allocated both for the Film Finance Fund and for Artists’ Health Insurance for the first time ever. Rs 2 bn have been allocated for the Film Finance Fund and Rs 1 bn for the Artists’ Health Insurance. I am certain that, jointly, these measures will play a major role in the growth of our film industry and improvement in the welfare of our nation’s Artists. This will play a key role in the promotion of Pakistan’s narrative, heritage and culture through films, as well as the growth of screen tourism in Pakistan,".

The Minister further said that this will play a key role in the promotion of Pakistan's narrative, heritage and culture through films, as well as the growth of screen tourism in Pakistan.

 

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Sports

US, West Indies may be potential hosts for Champions Trophy 2025

This potential change will provide an additional year for West Indies and the United States to develop the necessary infrastructure required for successfully hosting the prestigious Champions Trophy.

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Karachi: In a recent development, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has engaged in discussions regarding possible alterations to the hosting arrangements for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. Reports suggest that the original plans for these prestigious tournaments could undergo changes, with alternative hosts being considered.

According to reliable sources, one proposed switch involves West Indies and the United States hosting the Champions Trophy instead of the T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, Pakistan is speculated to receive monetary compensation in light of the change. However, it is important to note that these discussions are still in their preliminary stages and have been conducted verbally thus far.

The proposal has gained support from broadcasters associated with the upcoming ICC media rights, indicating a potential consensus on the matter. The primary motivation behind this suggested alteration is the scheduling constraints faced by the United Kingdom, which can only accommodate events during the May-June window. As a result, Ireland and Scotland are being considered as viable alternative hosts for the T20 World Cup, given that the original schedule aligns with this timeframe.

This potential change would provide an additional year for West Indies and the United States to develop the necessary infrastructure required for successfully hosting the prestigious Champions Trophy. Furthermore, due to the smaller number of matches in the tournament, the Champions Trophy is seen as a more logistically feasible option for these regions.

However, concerns have been raised regarding the current state of infrastructure in the United States. Hosting an event as significant as the T20 World Cup poses considerable challenges, particularly due to the lack of readily available venues. Additionally, broadcasters in the sub-continent, where returns are typically high, may face potential financial losses if the tournament is held in the far west.

It is worth noting that no official "hosting agreements" have been signed by the countries involved at this stage. The process for initiating these agreements is expected to commence during the ICC annual conference in Durban, scheduled for July. As part of the potential switch, the ICC may approach the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to seek their agreement and explore the possibility of providing financial compensation to accommodate the changes.

Cricket enthusiasts and stakeholders eagerly await further updates on the potential alterations to the hosting of the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy as discussions progress within the ICC.

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