Pashto live music tradition must be safeguarded, say singers

متنبہ پشتو لوک گلوکاروں نے منگل کی شام یہاں دیر سے ایک میوزیکل کنسرٹ میں کلاسیکی گانے، نغمے گانا کی طرف سے سامعین کی یادیں تازہ دم.

صوبائی کلچر ڈائریکٹوریٹ 'Saz کی او Awaz میں' کے عنوان سے اس نئے تعمیر ہال میں تقریب منعقد کی. پروفیسر اباسین یوسف زئی نے تقریب کی صدارت کی. ایک منتخب-اجتماع کنسرٹ میں شرکت کی. اجمل خان، ثقافت کے ڈائریکٹر، اور طارق خان، سیکرٹری ثقافت، شرکاء کے درمیان werealso.

رہنا موسیقی استاد استاد احمد گل، Qamru جان گل مینا بی بی ملا عبد وہاب، الماس خلیل اور عرفان کمال تقریب میں ormed جبکہ استاد شوکت Panial زین اور ٹھیک اشاروں چترالی ستار اور Nalkuphone (پائپ) بالترتیب ادا کیا.

سینئر فنکاروں مختصر طور پر ان کے ماضی اور حال کی صورت حال کے بارے میں بات OOK. مقبول پشتو لوک گانے، نغمے وہ گایا اور شرکاء کی طرف سے ایک جوردار تعریف موصول ہوئی. Shahkirzeb ٹھیک نوٹوں کے ساتھ موسیقی کی ہدایت زیاد خان آرکسٹرا کی تشکیل نگرانی کی جبکہ.

پروفیسر اباسین یوسف زئی نے روایتی موسیقی کو اس کے قدرتی ذائقہ کی وجہ سے سامعین پر ایک جادو جادو اس موقع پر کہا. انہوں folksingers ٹھیک احساسات کے ساتھ پیدا کیا گیا تھا اور ان کے مخملی آواز، کوئی تبدیلی نہیں کی تازہ اور متاثر کن رہے.

موقع پر استاد احمد گل نے اپنے ساتھیوں کو مبینہ طور پر کارکردگی کا مظاہرہ کر کی طرف سے دیر رات آنے کے بعد چوکیوں پر پولیس اہلکار کی طرف سے bullied کیا گیا تھا کہ شکایت کی. انہوں نے کہا کہ موسیقاروں کے ساتھ نوٹس یا بدسلوکی لینے کے لئے پولیس حکام نے پوچھا.

"کچھ دیر میں، میں شکایات ان کے ساتھ میری کمیونٹی کے ارکان یا بدتمیزی سے میں اور پشاور شہر بھر میں مختلف چوکیوں پر فرض کی ادائیگی پولیس اہلکار کی طرف سے موصول. حال ہی میں اس طرح کی ایک واقعہ ضلع مردان سے مقامی پریس میں رپورٹ کیا گیا تھا. مجھے امید ہے کہ یہ بار بار نہیں ہے، "مسٹر گل نے کہا.

محترمہ جنوری OOK اس کے دل انڈیل دیا اور پرانے فنکاروں لوگوں کی طرف سے کی وجہ سے احترام نہیں دیا گیا ہے. وہ فنکاروں کی حوصلہ افزائی اور قدردانی کی ضرورت ہے. وہ صوبائی حکومت اور مقامی گلوکاروں اور فنکاروں کی حالت بہتر بنانے کے لیے اقدامات کیے تھے. "ہم زندہ ہماری پرانی موسیقی رکھنا چاہئے، ہماری ثقافتی تشخص کی علامت ہے جس میں تمام،" انہوں نے مزید کہا.

Australia routs Pakistan 6-1 in first hockey test

Pakistan opened its tour of Australia on a demoralizing note suffering 1-6 defeat at the hand of the home side at the Marrara hockey stadium in Darwin, the capital city of Australia’s Northern Territory on Tuesday.

It was the first encounter of the 4-test hockey series between world’s top side Australia and the 14th ranked Pakistan, said the information made available to APP here.

The gulf in the rankings showed in the game as the Aussies dominated the proceedings most of the time and defeated Pakistan by the tennis score after leading 2-0 at half time.

Kookaburras head coach Colin Batch said, “The score line was 6-1, but I think we have to put that into context. Pakistan made it very difficult for us for a number of quarters, the second was tough and third we didn’t create too much but we ended up getting the third goal and that opened up the game for us.”

Australia scorers, (Ben Craig 2 goals, Trent Mitton, Tom Wickham, Matt Dawson & Jeremy Hayward (PC) one goal apiece. Pakistan (Abdul Haseem Khan) Second test will be played today, Wednesday.

Police arrest two drug dealers, recover 90kg charas in Karachi

KARACHI (Daily Dunya) – Police personnel have detained as many as two drug dealers from Karachi’s Cheel Chowk and recovered 90 kg charas from their possession.

According to details, the officers conducted a raid in Kalakot area and arrested two drug dealers Liaquat and Abid who were shifted them to the jail.

Appreciating the efforts of policemen, Inspector General has announced Rs1 lac prize money for them.

According to Deputy Superintendent in Police (DSP) Zahid Hussain, the detainees belonging to Mansehra were smuggling charas to Golimar. 

Govt hints at raising tax-free transaction threshold to Rs100,000 in next budget

SLAMABAD (Daily Dunya) - Minister of Finance Ishaq Dar and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has hinted at raisng tax-free transaction threshold to Rs100, 000 in upcoming fiscal year 2017-18, revealed State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Ashraf Mahmood Wathra on Tuesday.

At present, withholding tax of 0.4 is imposed on every transaction of non-filers.

Wathra was talking to media during his visit to Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).

“Central bank is anticipating growth rate of 5pc for FY 2017-18 but main focus is to attain solid GDP rate of 7pc or above as it will produce enormous employment opportunities”, articulated Wathra.

Wathra disclosed that loan volume to private sector has piled up to Rs374 billion in ongoing fiscal year whereas figure stood at Rs267 billion in previous year.

Indian interior ministry dismisses Pakistan-India series possibility

LAHORE– Indian interior ministry has dismissed the possibility of Pakistan-India series, reported Dunya News on Wednesday.

According to details, Indian government has said that the series is not possible in current circumstances owing to the tension between both countries.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan said that India always creates obstacles in cricket between both countries by bringing political conditions in it.

Pakistan one-day international (ODI) and Twenty20 (T20) captain Sarfraz Ahmed also responded to the situation and said India is afraid of playing against Pakistan.

Sarfraz said that he enjoys to play against the arch-rival, and Pakistan always took the first step to restore cricket between both countries but never got positive response from India.

Football: Defoe marks comeback as England toil to win

LONDON (AFP) - Jermain Defoe adorned his international comeback with a goal as England toiled to a 2-0 victory over Lithuania in a forgettable World Cup qualifier at Wembley on Sunday.

Defoe, 34, was making his first England appearance since November 2013, having been recalled by manager Gareth Southgate, and he marked his return with the opening goal midway through the second half.

Substitute Jamie Vardy added a second goal as England tightened their grip on first place in UEFA qualifying Group F in Southgate s first home game as permanent manager.

"We d have liked a bit more, but I think really only one team came to win the game and it s always difficult to break down a packed defence," said Southgate.

"I m pleased for the two lads who have got the goals -- a great story for Jermain and I felt Jamie added something to us."

England are now the last team in European qualifying yet to have conceded a goal.

Defoe s strike, the Sunderland veteran s 20th in 56 caps, was an obvious high point and second-half substitute Marcus Rashford delivered an impressive cameo.

But the stubbornly unadventurous nature of Lithuania s approach to the game, which made for a soporific match, meant there was little to shout about from an England perspective.

The game was preceded by the laying of wreaths and a minute s silence in honour of the four people killed and over 50 injured in Wednesday s terror attack in London.

Having tested out a 3-4-2-1 system in the mid-week 1-0 friendly defeat in Germany, Southgate reverted to a back four and his side were quickly on the front foot, with Adam Lallana prominent.

The Liverpool midfielder saw a deflected shot caught by Ernestas Setkus and then produced a clever pass down the inside-right channel for Defoe, whose shot was blocked by the Lithuania goalkeeper.

Defoe s penalty-box cunning was one of the reasons Southgate picked him over Vardy and he vindicated his manager s call by putting England ahead in the 22nd minute.

Raheem Sterling slipped past Egidijus Vaitkunas on the left before rolling in a cross that Defoe planted into the net for his first international goal since March 2013.

He threatened to notch a 21st England goal moments later, thudding a shot wide from range.

Joe Hart, captain for the day, had been a virtual bystander, but the England goalkeeper was almost embarrassed in first-half stoppage time.

The assistant referee s flag stayed down despite Nerijus Valskis appearing to be blatantly offside and the Lithuanian forward managed to head the ball past Hart, obliging John Stones to hack clear.

As England continued to labour in the second half, they were given another let-off when Vykintas Slivka was unable to find a way past Hart with a free shot from just inside the box.

Short of an Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain curler that Setkus parried, England were offering little in attack and in the 59th minute Southgate turned to his bench, sending on Vardy and Rashford.

Vardy took just seven minutes to find the net, steering a shot between Setkus and his left-hand post after Lallana delicately flicked Kyle Walker s pass into his path.

England continued to dominate, but could not add to their lead despite Rashford s best efforts.

Vardy lobbed over from Rashford s pass and Eric Dier headed wide from a Rashford corner, before the Manchester United forward embarked on a sinewy run that culminated in a sprawling save by Setkus.

"I m very proud of my team because we ve been tested by a tremendously strong team, probably the strongest team we ve faced until now," said beaten manager Edgaras Jankauskas.

"We worked extremely hard. I cannot say any bad words about them."

PM Nawaz due in Hyderabad today

ISLAMABAD  - Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif will reach Hyderabad today (Monday) on a one-day visit, Dunya News reported. All arrangements for the PM’s visit have been finalised.

The Prime Minister will reach Hyderabad Cantt on a helicopter where he will be received by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders and workers. The PM will reach Qasim Chowk from Hyderabad Cantt where he will address a workers convention.

PM Nawaz will also meet delegations of traders, journalists and lawyers at the residence of PML-N senator Raheela Magsi in the evening before his departure to Islamabad.

Hand grenade attack injures 13 in Karachi's Lyari area

KARACHI (Dunya News) – Atleast 13 people were injured on Saturday in a hand grenade attack in Karachi’s Lyari Sengo Lane area.

According to details, gang war criminals hurled the bomb near Basheer Chowk.

The attack injured 13 people including two children.

The injured were shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi for medical treatment where three are said to be in critical condition.

Separately, two men were injured from knife attack near Banaras Metro Cinema during clash between two groups.

On the other hand, Baba Ladla group member was killed during alleged police shootout in Lyari’s Chakiwara whereas his accomplice managed to escape from the site.

At least 12 kg heroin and 4 kalashnikovs were recovered from the possession of the suspects.

Meanwhile, four suspects involved in street crime incidents were detained by Ajmer Nagri and Sher Shah police.

High premiums for instant car deliveries

KARACHI: Impatient consumers and investors are paying hefty premiums (on money) to dealers to avoid waiting for four to five months to get locally assembled cars delivered.

No locally produced car is available at showrooms for ready spot sales. Either the buyers have to wait for four to five months for delivery or pay extra money to lift the vehicle, dealers said.

An informal market survey reveals that if buyers book Toyota Corolla Xli or Gli models now, they will get the vehicles delivered in July while Toyota Grande and Altis would be delivered by April or May. Premium on Corolla Xli is Rs135,000 while on money on Corolla Gli ranges between Rs170,000-180,000.

Dealers said the first six months of every year remain highly volatile in terms of demand as consumers usually prefer buying new models from January onwards due to change of model year.Lower interest rates have also lured buyers to go for car financing, jacking up the share of auto financing in total car sales to over 30 per cent from 10-15pc one and a half years back.

Dealers said IMC has been producing over 200 vehicles per day in which Toyota Corolla enjoys the lion’s share.

However, the higher production capacity appears insufficient to cope up with huge demand.

Sources said the delivery time of Honda Civic is August if it is booked now. As a result, buyers are paying Rs150,000-200,000 to dealers to get instant delivery. Some dealers said that premium on Civic has swelled to around Rs250,000 for models which are more in demand.

Those booking Honda City now would get the car keys in May to August depending on the model. The on money on City hovers between Rs100,000-130,000.

Dealers said Honda Atlas Cars is now producing 170 cars per day as compared to 110 four months back but improved production fails to beat burgeoning demand.

The decades-old models of Pak Suzuki are also available on on money due to lengthy delivery time.

The delivery time for Suzuki Mehran is three to four months and dealers are charging Rs40,000-45,000 as premium for ready availability. Similar premium and delivery time exists for Bolan and Ravi.

Premium on Suzuki WagonR is Rs120,000 as its delivery time hovers between five to six months. Surprisingly imported Suzuki Ciaz would be delivered in three months on booking but dealers assure quick delivery to buyers at Rs90,000 on money. Only Suzuki Swift is being delivered in one month’s time.

It is not clear whether the assemblers have artificially created a demand and supply gap despite their production capability or the demand has actually outstripped supplies. The federal government has never taken any action against the manufacturers and dealers on on money business.

Chairman All Pakistan Motor Dealers Association (APMDA), H.M. Shahzad said, “Our used car dealers are not involved in on money business.”

Pak Suzuki may roll back its expansion plan

KARACHI: Pak Suzuki Motor Company Ltd (PSMCL) will review its decision to invest $460 million if the government fails to respond to its request for incentives until April, PSMCL spokesperson Shafiq Ahmed Sheikh told Dawn on Friday.

The proposed plant will generate 319,000 direct and indirect jobs, he added.

The company has been waiting for the government’s response for one year. Mr Ahmed said Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had assured PSMCL that the company would receive approval for incentives by January.

Board of Investment (BoI) Chairman Dr Miftah Ismail had assured PSMCL of the same in a recent visit to its plant.

As per the request of Mr Dar, the company submitted specifications, schedule and other details to the BoI on January 1.

He said PSMCL’s principal in Japan has been waiting anxiously for approval of requested incentives to start work on the new plant.

The project is already delayed, he said, noting that the company’s financial year started from January 1.

Total promised investment is around $660m in which foreign direct investment from Japan is $250m. PSMCL is going to arrange $210m through its own funds and bank borrowings while vendors will invest $200m.

He said the company has purchased land for the plant. “This is a one-time investment. The plant’s completion will be in 18-24 months.”

However, Mr Ahmed said it is premature to comment about upcoming model details and specifications.

Senate’s Standing Committee on Industries and Production Chairman Hidayat Ullah and Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry President Zubair Tufail informed the government last month that they were in favour of granting incentives to PSMCL for two years on new models at the greenfield plant.

Saudi embassy confirms UK attacker had been in Saudi Arabia

The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in London says that the Westminster attacker was in the country three times and taught English there.

A statement released late Friday says Khalid Masood taught English in Saudi Arabia from November 2005 to November 2006 and again from April 2008 to April 2009.

The embassy says he had a work visa. It says he returned for six days in March 2015.

The embassy says he wasn't tracked by Saudi security services and didn't have a criminal record there.Before taking the name Masood, he was known as Adrian Elms. He was known for having a violent temper in England and had criminal convictions.

Masood drove an SUV into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before fatally stabbing a policeman. He was shot dead.

Trump forced to withdraw healthcare bill in humiliating loss

WASHINGTON: In a humiliating setback, US President Donald Trump and Republican leaders pulled their “Obamacare” repeal bill off the House floor on Friday after it became clear the measure would fail badly.

It was a stunning defeat for the new president after he had demanded House Republicans vote on the legislation on Friday, threatening to leave “Obamacare” in place and move on to other issues if the vote failed. The bill was withdrawn minutes before the vote was to occur.

The president’s gamble failed. Instead Trump, who campaigned as a master deal-maker and claimed that he alone could fix the nation’s healthcare system, saw his ultimatum rejected by Republican lawmakers who made clear they answer to their own voters, not to the president.

Republicans have spent seven years campaigning against former president Barack Obama’s healthcare law, and cast dozens of votes to repeal it in full or in part. But when they finally got the chance to pass a repeal bill that actually had a chance to get signed, they couldn’t pull it off.

What happens next is unclear, but the path ahead on other priorities, such as overhauling the tax code, can only grow more daunting.

And Trump is certain to be weakened politically, a big early congressional defeat adding to the continuing inquiries into his presidential campaign’s Russia connections and his unfounded wiretapping allegations against Obama.

The development came on the afternoon of a day when the bill, which had been delayed a day earlier, was supposed to come to a vote, come what may. But instead of picking up support as Friday wore on, the bill went the other direction, with some key lawmakers coming out in opposition.

Congressman Rodney Freling­huysen of New Jersey, chairman of a major committee, said the bill would raise costs unacceptably on his constituents.

The defections raised the possibility that the bill would not only lose on the floor, but lose big.

In the face of that evidence, and despite insistences from White House officials and Speaker Paul Ryan that Friday was the day to vote, leadership pulled back from the brink.

The bill would have eliminated the Obama statute’s unpopular fines on people who do not obtain coverage and would also have removed the often-generous subsidies for those who purchase insurance.

Republican tax credits would have been based on age, not income like Obama’s, and the tax boosts Obama imposed on higher-earning people and healthcare companies would have been repealed.

The bill would have ended Obama’s Medicaid expansion and trimmed future federal financing for the
federal-state programme, letting states impose work requirements on some of the 70 million beneficiaries.

We can repeat history if domestic cricket is improved, says Imran Khan

On the 25th anniversary of Pakistan's Cricket World Cup victory, Imran Khan said on Saturday that the nation has not won another world cup as domestic cricket has not improved.

"We were never able to win another world cup since that time, in spite of the cricketing talent this country has, because we never improved on the domestic level."

He added that a nation only loses once it loses faith in itself.

"The team was new, and yet the only reason for the win was that we chose to fight till the end and not lose to our fears," said Khan in his message to the nation.

Nadir Baloch claims international boxing title

LAHORE  – Pakistan Boxing Council champion Nadir Baloch claimed the Universal Boxing Organisation vacant international super bantamweight title, beating former champion from Tanzania Juma Fundi at Ayub Stadium, Quetta on Pakistan Day evening.

In the 10-round first-ever professional boxing fight, organised by the PBC in Pakistan, Nadir knocked out Juma in the second round with a combination of straight punches and an upper-cut supported with a right hook, said the information made available here.

PBC President Ifraz Khan and Senior Vice President Commander Mohammad Ali have congratulated Nadir on his success and praised the PBC team for successfully holding the UBO international bout in Pakistan.

With this win, Nadir claimed the UBO belt and also pocketed Rs 50,000 as prize money while the losing boxer Juma received his share of money being the former champion.

Quetta Mayor Dr Kaleemullah was the chief guest of the evening and gave the cash award and belt to the boxers.

Sardar Abdul Haleemi, who is also vice president of the PBC, bore all the expenses of the fight and also played a vital role in organising the bout in Quetta.

Besides, Universal Boxing Organisation’s commissioner Emmanuel Mlundwa also held a training and refresher course for local technical officials. In this two-day course, around 10 local officials from Balochistan received the knowledge of conducting and officiating the professional boxing fights. Now these officials will further spread the knowledge among other officials of the country to develop strong technical officials’ team, said PBC Secretary Rasheed Baloch.

Rasheed further said that the PBC paid $1500 to the UBO as sanction fee for holding the international bout in Pakistan. A special award to Commissioner Mlundwa was also given for getting the UBO bout sanctioned for Pakistan and also conducting refresher course for Pakistan technical officials.

Infant abduction case: Two more families identify suspect Musarrat

KARACHI – Police officers on Saturday have revealed that two more families have identified suspect Musarrat who kidnapped newborn from Qatar hospital in Karachi.

According to details, the families approached security officials after watching news of infants’ abduction on television and claimed that the same woman had kidnapped their children from Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Qatar Hospital.

Earlier, with the help of CCTV footage, police detained the suspect from a hospital after child’s grandmother spotted her and recovered the missing newborn from Sohrab Goth.

Police also arrested four women and seven men belonging to Swat in connection with the case

PSL fixing scandal: Sethi says 'players should relax', no further suspensions necessary

Pakistan Super League (PSL) Chairman Najam Sethi on Saturday evening said that no player, apart from Khalid Latif and Sharjeel Khan, would be suspended from the League provided there was no "new cause for action".

"Failure to promptly report any attempt to corrupt and subvert PSL will be cause for action," he said.

"Players should relax, play the game and bring joy to millions of fans at home and abroad," he added.Yaqoob added that the air hostess will be barred from flying on any international flight for a duration of six months.

"Once the investigation is complete, strict action will be taken against Afshan Khalid," he added.

ICC will not be part of PSL match-fixing investigation

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday said it will not be a part of investigation into a Pakistan Super League (PSL) match-fixing scandal that emerged on Friday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board provisionally suspended Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif under its Anti-Corruption Code as part of an ongoing investigation into an international syndicate which is believed to be attempting to corrupt the PSL. Both Latif and Khan were part of the Islamabad United team in the ongoing second edition of the PSL.

"Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif have been suspended and the rigorous and wide-ranging investigation by the PCB supported by the ICC will continue as part of collective efforts to protect the integrity of the sport," read a statement issued by the PCB on Friday.

"The investigation of the PCB Anti-Corruption Unit backed by the ICC ACU has been effective in dealing with this case to date and we will continue to work in the closest collaboration as the investigation proceeds," it added.According to an ICC source, the investigation of players involved is the PCB's internal matter, but the ICC can help if asked.

The source explained to DawnNews that the "allegations are related to the PSL".

"The ICC doesn't have the jurisdiction to get involved in domestic matters or events of a member until requested," the source said.

According to a PCB official, there is some evidence against Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif, hence they were sent back from the PSL, whereas certain other players who were questioned and cautioned by the PCB's Anti-Corruption Unit were allowed to continue playing the PSL as there was no evidence against them.

Underage girl forced into marriage rescued in Sindh

Three men were arrested in Sindh's Tando Muhammad Khan district on Friday for allegedly marrying off an 11-year-old girl to settle a family dispute after a jirga ruling.

Those arrested include the girl's father, Rawat Lashari, her husband, Abdul Karim Lashari and the cleric who solemnised the wedding in a village near Matli town of Badin district.

Acting on a tip-off, Dando police raided the village Thursday night where the wedding was underway and rescued the girl.

"The village jirga, in an attempt to settle a dispute within the family, ordered the 11-year-old girl to be married off to the 56-year-old Abdul Karim," said Dando Station House Officer (SHO) Mir Hassan Rajo.Investigation conducted by the local police revealed that Abdul Karim's wife had reportedly "eloped" with the girl's maternal uncle a few months ago.

The issue was brought to the jirga's, which then penalised Rawat and ordered him to marry his daughter to Abdul Karim.

A First Information Report was registered on behalf of the state. The accused were charged under Section 310 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) as well as sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Act, 2013.

The accused were presented in front of a civil judge who placed them in judicial custody for 14 days and directed the police to produce the minor in the court on Saturday.

Ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak freed from detention: lawyer

Egypt's ousted president Hosni Mubarak left a military hospital on Friday where he had spent much of the last six years in detention, his lawyer said.

Mubarak had been cleared for release earlier this month after a top court finally acquitted him of involvement in protester deaths during the 2011 revolt that ousted him.

“Yes,” his lawyer Farid al-Deeb told AFP when asked if Mubarak had left the hospital on Friday. He added the Mubarak had gone home to a villa in Cairo's Heliopolis district.

Mubarak was accused of inciting the deaths of protesters during the 18-day revolt, in which about 850 people were killed as police clashed with demonstrators.

He was sentenced to life in jail in 2012 in the case, but an appeals court ordered a retrial which dismissed the charges two years later.

Egypt's top appeals court on March 2 acquitted him of involvement in the killings. In January 2016, the appeals court upheld a three-year prison sentence for Mubarak and his two sons on corruption charges.

But the sentence took into account time served. Both of his sons, Alaa and Gamal, were freed. On Thursday, a court ordered a renewed corruption investigation into Mubarak for allegedly receiving gifts from the state owned Al-Ahram newspaper.

Meanwhile several key activists in the 2011 uprising are now serving lengthy jail terms, and rights groups say hundreds of others have been forcibly disappeared.

The anti-Mubarak revolt ushered in instability that drove away tourists and investors, taking a heavy toll on the economy and leading to nostalgia for his rule.

His successor Mohamed Morsi, an Islamist, ruled for only a year after his 2012 election before the military overthrew him, prompted by massive protests against his Muslim Brotherhood group.

Morsi's overthrow ushered in a deadly police crackdown that killed hundreds of protesters demanding his reinstatement.

The military chief who toppled him, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, won election as president the following year. Morsi's overthrow helped rehabilitate some Mubarak-era politicians, including a former senior member of his National Democratic Party who served as prime minister under Sisi.

Most of Mubarak's associates have been cleared in corruption trials, and police officers charged with violence during the revolt have been acquitted.

Sisi and the powerful military have not fully embraced the former regime, and continue to praise the January-February revolt that brought it down.

But their critics say they have limited freedoms even more than Mubarak.

Some who participated in the protests against Mubarak said they felt the uprising was in vain. “Honestly, I found that all of that was useless,” said Ahmed Mohamed, 29.

Mohamed had been among the thousands of protesters who took to Cairo's Tahrir Square demanding Mubarak's fall.

“Mubarak's time was a lot better in all aspects,” he said after the prosecution ordered Mubarak's release.

Google ad boycott could aim ire at ad-serving software

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Google’s money-making foundation is strong enough to endure a current boycott by advertisers, but the movement could rattle the practice of software "programmed" ad placement, analysts said on Thursday.

The internet giant’s core business of serving up advertising along with online search results appeared to be safe from the boycott, motivated by companies seeking assurances that their marketing messages won’t be displayed along with hateful or outright terrorist content, particularly videos on Google-operated YouTube.

The "backlash" could broaden into a rebellion against the market practice of software programming ad placements, slowing not only Google’s revenue but also that of other internet firms, according to Jackdaw chief analyst Jan Dawson.

"I would think Google (and parent company Alphabet) would be extremely lucky to emerge from all this with minimal financial impact," he said in a blog post.

"I think it’s far more likely it sees both a short-term dent in its revenues and profits from the spreading boycotts and possibly a longer-term impact as brands reconsider their commitments to programmatic advertising in general."

California-based Google, which has seen a slew of companies withdraw ads fearing placement alongside extremist content, said this week it is introducing new tools to give firms greater control.

"We know advertisers don’t want their ads next to content that doesn’t align with their values," Google’s chief business officer Philipp Schindler said in a blog post.

Muslims will face more pressure after London attack: Lord Nazir

KARACHI (Dunya News) - Britain has been jolted with a deadliest terror attack after gap of almost 12 years, said senior anchorperson and analyst Kamran Khan in his program Dunya Kamran Khan Kay Sath.

A British-born 52-year-old Islam converted Khalid Masood ploghed his car into pedestrians and then stabbed a policeman outside Britain’s parliament killing five people.

Masood was born in the county of Kent in southeast England on 25th December-1964 and was most recently living in the West Midlands region of central England. Masood was not the subject of any current investigations and there was no prior intelligence about his intent to mount a terrorist attack.

The attacker was battling with psychological problems.

Nazir Ahmed, a member of the British House of Lords, while analyzing situation stemming after British Parliament attack disclosed that attacker had been once interrogated by MI-5. Ahmed said police had all relevant information about the attacker and authorities had confirmed that attacker was not linked with any international terror outfit.

Lord Nazir staunchly dismissed notion that international terror outfit ISIS was behind the attack.

“ISIS just wants to remain in limelight by asserting that it can target heart of democracy i.e UK House of Parliament. Attack was carried out by a lone wolf,” maintained Ahmed.

Ahmed believed such appalling attacks would leave negative effects as Muslim community would come under intense magnifier of security watchdogs.

“There would be some sort of legislation resulting in imposition of restrictions on Muslims. Law enforcement agencies would intensify monitoring of Muslims’ religious activities” articulated Ahmed.

Shedding light on British media coverage on parliament house attack incident, host said there was lot to learn for Pakistani media from its British counterpart.

“There was no live reporting after four to five hours of attack. No CCTV footage of terror attack was aired by any TV channel whereas no breaking news emerged regarding amount of casualties.” said Khan while summing up the discussion.

Blasphemy case: Three accused handed over to FIA on physical remand

ISLAMABAD – An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday handed over three accused to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on a seven-day remand for allegedly posting blasphemous contents on social media websites.

ATC Judge Kausar Abbas Zaidi has directed the authorities to presented complete investigation report in the next hearing.

During the case hearing, FIA officials informed court that computers confiscated from the accused have been sent for forensic report.

Blasphemy is a criminal offense in Pakistan and can carry the death penalty.

On March 14, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered that "blasphemous" content on social media websites be removed or blocked and those posting such material "strictly punished."

He instructed foreign ministry to contact international foreign social media firms and demand the blocking of blasphemous posts.

He did not mention any company by name, but social networks such as Facebook Inc, its Instagram unit and rival Twitter Inc are popular in Pakistan. 

Elevating car can drive over other vehicles during traffic jam

(Web Desk) - Verizon has introduced an SUV ‘Hum Rider’ that uses hydraulics to rise about five feet in the air and the car can then straddle traffic, driving over the stationary cars.

According to reports, Hum Rider is a marketing stunt by the creative minds at Thinkmodo. The stunt was to promote Verizon’s Hum platform.

Moreover, a four-camera system has been installed in the vehicle which gives the driver a bird’s eye view.

‘Hum Rider’ resembles a Jeep Cherokee Wagon SUV, but with an added feature that allows the driver to push a button to have the vehicle rise up in the air and widen its wheel stance to drive over other cars in a traffic jam.

Previously, the Chinese elevated bus / train hybrid that set the internet ablaze briefly in 2016, only to later be exposed as a total hoax. 

Kapil Sharma hires new team after Sunil Grover, others exit

NEW DELHI (Wedb Desk) - Renowned Indian comedian Kapil Sharma has taken many news faces into his show after he failed to resolve his spat with the popular Sunil Grover aka Dr. Mushoor Gulati and Rinku Bhabhi.

Kapil had shouted at Grover and physically abused him during a flight.

He tendered an apology to him later but Grover refused to accept it and decided to opt out of the show and never return even if his fee is doubled.

Also Read: Sunil Grover admires Kapil Sharma but asks him not to act like God

Following Sunil Grover, two other comedians of the show Chandan Prabhakar and Ali Asgar too are reportedly planning to leave the show.

The situation has landed Kapil in trouble due to which he has now got a new gang.

Joining the team will be Indian Idol host Paritosh Tripathi whereas Raju Srivastava, Sunil Pal, Ahsaan Qureshi and Rajeev Thakur will be guests on show for a couple of episodes.

Both the comedians have also been at odds before.

Sunil earlier left the show in 2015 to start one of his own but it didn’t work after which he reunited with Kapil.

But this time the situation has come to a dead end and only time will tell how much the absence of popular faces will affect the show.

The TRP of TKSS is witnessing a downward trend from the past two weeks. According to BARC India, from last week’s 6.4 million impressions, it has slipped further to 6 million impressions.