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IHC orders to re-record witnesses’ statements in Imaan Mazari controversial tweets case

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IHC orders to re-record witnesses’ statements in Imaan Mazari controversial tweets case


Lawyer Imaan Mazari (centre) pictured alongside her husband Advocate Hadi Ali Chattha (left) outside a court. — X@AsadAToor/File
  • Hadi appears in court; Imaan represented by lawyers.
  • SC instructed hearing of both parties before verdict.
  • Verdict can be given based on available record: AAG. 

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday directed the trial court, seized with controversial social media posts case against Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha, to re-record witnesses’ statements within three days.

IHC Justice Mohammed Azam Khan issued the directives while hearing a petition filed by Mazari, challenging the trial court’s November 19 order. Chatha appeared before the court, while Mazari was represented by her lawyers.

“Merit is not being considered. We are directing the trial court to re-record the witnesses’ testimonies within three days […] Supreme Court has directed us to decide the matter at the earliest,” Justice Azam Khan remarked while hearing the case.

Defence counsel Riasat Ali told the court that the Supreme Court had instructed that both parties be heard before a decision.

During the hearing, the assistant attorney general said that all records were present before the court and argued that the testimonies recorded so far were legally valid. “All records are before the court. A verdict can be made based on them,” he said.

The IHC judge raised questions about trial procedures and the presence of legal representatives. “If Imaan Mazari was not present in court, was her pleader present?” Justice Azam Khan asked.

The court also sought clarification on the timeline for re-recording the testimonies. “How long will it take to re-record the testimonies?” Justice Azam Khan asked the defence counsel.

Advocate Riasat requested more time, saying that arguments on merit would be presented by Faisal Siddiqui. “If we are to hear the matter on merit, we need time. Faisal Siddiqui will present the arguments,” he said.

Justice Azam Khan instructed that the case be adjourned till tomorrow and asked Faisal Siddiqui to appear for arguments.

Meanwhile, the apex court, last week, issued directives to halt the trial of lawyer Mazari and her husband in the controversial tweets case.

A three-member SC bench comprising Justice Hashim Khan Kakar, Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim heard and accepted Mazari’s plea against the Islamabad High Court verdict which had dismissed the lawyer’s plea seeking to stop the trial in the additional sessions judge’s court.

The court, in its verdict, said that the trial in the said case should be halted till the decision of the IHC.

Mazari and Chattha were booked in a case registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under Sections 9, 10, 11 and 26 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), 2016 and were subsequently indicted on October 30.





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Zayn Malik shares personal video message on ‘Mind of Mine’ 10th anniversary

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Zayn Malik shares personal video message on ‘Mind of Mine’ 10th anniversary


Zayn Malik celebrates one decade of debut album ‘Mind of Mine’

Zayn Malik is celebrating 10 years of his debut solo album Mind of Mine with a heartfelt message.

Earlier this week, the former One Direction star took to his Instagram Stories to post a short video of himself sharing the milestone with his supporters.

Clad in a black leather jacket the Dusk Till Dawn hitmaker expressed his gratitude for all the love all this time.

“Zayn here,” he began in the brief clip. “It’s been exactly 10 years since the release of Mind of Mind, so I thought I’d just do a little video just to say thank you so much for all the support.”

Zayn Malik shares personal video message on ‘Mind of Mine 10th anniversary

“Love you guys,” the Die For Me singer continued. “It means the world.”

He wrapped up the personal video message, joking, “hopefully I don’t look too old,” flashed a bright smile and waved at his admirers.

For the unversed, Zayn, now 32, released Mind of Mine, his debut solo studio album on March 25, 2016.

It came out exactly one year after his departure from the boy band, consisting of Liam Payne (late), Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson.

The lead single, Pillowtalk, debuted at number one in both the UK and US, making Zayn the first British male artist to achieve this with a debut single.

He dropped Like I Would as the second official single, which leaned more toward an uptempo, dance-pop sound.

A collaboration, titled Wrong, with American singer Kehlani served as the final single from the album.

Moreover, a notable track is Intermission: Flower, a Sufi devotional sung in Urdu, reflecting Zayn’s British-Pakistani heritage.





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Antonio Banderas opens up on ethnic stereotyping in Hollywood

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Antonio Banderas opens up on ethnic stereotyping in Hollywood


Antonio Banderas opens up on ethnic stereotyping in Hollywood

Antonio Banderas has spoken candidly about the ethnic stereotyping he faced when he first arrived in Hollywood, recalling being told bluntly that his Hispanic background limited him to villainous roles, and explaining why breaking out of that box still means so much to him.

“They said, you are here, like the blacks and the Hispanics, to play the bad guys,” the Oscar-nominated actor told The Times

The irony of what came next is something he clearly savours. 

“The problem was a few years later I had a mask, hat, sword and cape and the bad guy was Captain Love, who was blond and had blue eyes.”

That role was, of course, Zorro, the gutsy hero Banderas played in The Mask of Zorro in 1998 and The Legend of Zorro in 2005. 

But it was a cat, not a swordsman, that he considers the most culturally significant step forward. 

Puss in Boots, the character he first voiced in Shrek 2 in 2004, reached an audience that nothing else could quite match. 

“Even more important is Puss in Boots, because it’s for young kids. They see a cat that has a Spanish, even an Andalusian accent and he’s a good guy.”

He has now voiced the character across five films, including the critically lauded Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022, which earned an Oscar nomination. 

However, the 65-year-old confirmed last year that he has not yet been approached for Shrek 5, due in cinemas on 30 June 2027. 

“I’m not so far, and I’m not being called for that,” he told Parade

Puss in Boots did very well. Number two got a nomination for the Oscar, and the movie behaved beautifully at the box office. But I am totally satisfied with the five Puss in Boots that I did. I don’t know what is going to happen in the future. Maybe they [will] call me tomorrow.”





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Kerosene hiked to Rs433.40 per litre, petrol, diesel held steady as PM intervenes

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Kerosene hiked to Rs433.40 per litre, petrol, diesel held steady as PM intervenes


A worker holds a fuel nozzle to fill fuel in a car, after the government announced the increase of petrol and diesel prices, at a petrol station in Karachi, September 16, 2023.— Reuters
  • Govt to pay OMCs Rs95.59 on petrol, Rs203.88 on diesel under PDC.
  • PM blocks petrol, diesel hikes, bears Rs56bn to protect consumers
  • Highlights diplomacy, says Pakistan leading talks with Iran, Gulf.

KARACHI: The federal government has increased the price of kerosene oil by Rs4.66 per litre, bringing it to Rs433.40 per litre, effective from March 28, according to a notification issued by the Petroleum Division. 

Petrol and diesel prices, however, remain unchanged at Rs321.17 and Rs335.86 per litre, respectively, despite significant increases in the global oil market.

The Petroleum Division said petrol and diesel prices were held steady to shield consumers from international price shocks. 

The government will pay oil marketing companies Rs95.59 per litre on petrol and Rs203.88 per litre on diesel under the Petroleum Development Cess (PDC), as per the notification.

This latest adjustment follows a March 21 revision, when kerosene prices had surged to Rs 428.74 per litre, marking a sharp increase earlier in the month. 

The repeated revisions reflect ongoing pressure on domestic fuel pricing amid volatile global markets and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Consumers and businesses continue to feel the ripple effects of rising fuel costs, making this latest hike in kerosene closely watched across the country.

Meanwhile, a few hours before the March 28 announcement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the nation on the fuel crisis. 

PM Shehbaz revealed that he had rejected a summary to raise petrol by Rs95 per litre and diesel by Rs203 per litre, keeping the prices of both fuels unchanged for now, despite global surges. 

“The government will bear the additional cost, estimated at Rs56 billion, to protect consumers,” the premier said during the televised address.

He also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic role in the Middle East, including ongoing talks with Iran and Gulf countries, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar leading the negotiations. 

Shehbaz vociferously credited CDF Field Marshal Asim Munir and stressed Pakistan’s active diplomacy day and night to promote peace.





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