abid khan 
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has undergone a major surgical procedure at Sharif Medical City Hospital, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said in a statement shared on social media that Maryam Nawaz underwent major surgery at the Lahore-based hospital.
However, the minister did not specify the nature of the surgical procedure in her statement.
Further details regarding the chief minister’s condition were not immediately disclosed.
KARACHI: Police authorities in Karachi have transferred 20 officers out of the city’s South District as part of an ongoing investigation linked to a narcotics case involving a suspect known as Anmol, also called Pinky.
According to police officials, the officers had been posted for extended periods at several police stations in the district and were identified as being involved in alleged misconduct, anti-social activities and violations of departmental discipline.
Authorities said some of the officers repeatedly used influence to secure postings at specific stations in District South.
Earlier, two officials from the Counter Terrorism Department were taken into custody over alleged contacts with the suspect.
CTD sources said the detained officers included Assistant Sub-Inspector Kafeel and a constable identified as Ali, who were allegedly in communication with Pinky.
New York: After recent retirements of top WWE stars like John Cena (December 2025) and AJ Styles (February 2026), another legendary name appears to have stepped away from professional wrestling.
Brock Lesnar, one of WWE’s most dominant figures, seemingly bid farewell after what is believed to be his final appearance at WrestleMania 42.
Lesnar, who has been associated with WWE since 2002, faced rising star Oba Femi in the opening match of the event’s second night, where he suffered defeat.
In a symbolic gesture widely associated with retirement, Lesnar left his wrestling gear in the ring after the match, signaling the end of his illustrious career.
The emotional moment continued as Lesnar embraced his long-time manager Paul Heyman, while fans chanted “Thank you, Brock.” Before leaving, he also kissed the ring floor, reinforcing speculation that this was his final match.
Lesnar first joined WWE in 2002, briefly left in 2004, and later returned to become one of the sport’s most decorated superstars.
His achievements include multiple WWE Championship titles, three Universal Championships, and two Royal Rumble victories.
One of his most iconic moments came in 2014, when he defeated The Undertaker at WrestleMania, ending the legend’s historic 21-match unbeaten streak at the event.
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has taken a hardline stance against Iran, warning that the United States could “destroy Iran in a single night,” with such action possible at any time.
Speaking during an emergency press conference, Trump claimed that US forces recently carried out a bold operation inside Iran to safely extract an American pilot.
He described it as one of the most significant rescue missions in history, involving nearly 200 personnel.
According to Trump, US aircraft entered Iranian airspace in broad daylight and successfully completed the mission without any casualties. He added that the operation was conducted under his direct orders.
The US president reiterated that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons and said Washington is making progress toward its strategic objectives. He also indicated that US proposals remain key to any potential agreement with Tehran.
Following these remarks, concerns have risen over escalating tensions in the region, with analysts warning that the situation could take a dangerous turn at any moment.
KARACHI: Emerging Pakistani squash star Asim Khan has secured qualification for the PSA World Championship 2026 after an impressive performance in the Asian qualifying event.
According to the Pakistan Squash Federation, Asim Khan defeated Malaysia’s Joachim Chuah in a gripping final, winning 3-2 after an intense contest.
The five-game match lasted 82 minutes, with Asim Khan dominating early to take the first two games 11-3 and 13-11. However, his opponent staged a strong comeback, winning the next two games 11-9 and 11-3. In the decisive fifth game, Asim held his nerve to clinch victory 12-10.
With this win, Asim Khan has officially qualified for the PSA World Championship 2026, scheduled to be held from May 8 to 16 in Giza.
The prestigious tournament will feature top squash players from around the world, with a total prize pool of $700,000.
Dhaka: The Bangladesh Election Commission has officially announced the results of yesterday’s parliamentary elections, with Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) emerging victorious with a two-thirds majority under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, the party’s prime ministerial candidate.
According to official results, out of 299 contested seats, BNP won 212 seats, securing a clear mandate, while Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh claimed 77 seats, becoming the second-largest party in parliament.
Despite the overwhelming victory, Tarique Rahman has not yet issued a public statement regarding the results. BNP has appealed to its supporters to celebrate through prayer and gratitude rather than overt festivities.
The National Citizens’ Party (NCP), which played a key role in challenging the previous government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, secured only 5 out of 30 contested seats.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami has threatened to protest in some constituencies, alleging bias by the Election Commission. Its leaders stated that they are committed to practicing constructive politics for the country’s development rather than politics for mere political gains.
Bangladesh’s House of the Nation (Jatiya Sangsad) comprises 300 seats, with elections held in 299 constituencies. Voting in one constituency was postponed due to the death of the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate.
Seoul: Renowned South Korean actor Jung Yun Woo has passed away at the age of 39, according to international media reports.
Jung Yun Woo captured the hearts of audiences with his performances in popular Korean dramas, including the hit series Welcome To Waikiki 2 and Bride Of The Sun.
His sudden death has left fans mourning, though the actor’s family has not disclosed the cause of death.
Prior to his passing, Jung Yun Woo shared a post on Instagram that has since gone viral. In the post, he shared images of the late Hong Kong actor and singer Leslie Cheung, who died in 2003, and British singer Amy Winehouse, who passed away in 2011.
The caption read: “Missed, envied, regretted ‘PIR.BG’”, sparking widespread discussion on social media. Fans and observers speculated on the meaning, with some suggesting that PIR.BG could represent an inverted form of “Rest In Peace, Goodbye.” Others interpreted the post as Jung Yun Woo saying farewell.
The actor’s final post, featuring global icons whose deaths shocked the world, has prompted an outpouring of comments and tributes from fans worldwide.
LAHORE:The Punjab government has taken steps to restore the province’s cultural vibrancy with the launch of a new Basant anthem, signaling a renewed push to celebrate the spring festival under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
Titled “Phir Aai Basant” (Basant Is Back), the anthem has been released by the Punjab Information and Culture Department and shared via Alhamra Lahore’s official Instagram account.
A post shared by Alhamra (Lahore Arts Council) (@alhamralac)
The song is performed by Sialkot-based singer and composer Bilal Saeed and is being promoted as the official soundtrack for Punjab’s highly anticipated cultural event.
The music video features model and actor Nabeel Zubairi alongside food blogger Ali Rehman and was filmed across the historic streets of old Lahore.
Several scenes showcase the iconic picture wall of Lahore Fort, with dancers in vibrant, festive attire capturing the traditional spirit of Basant—a season celebrated with kites, colours, and joy.
Alongside its celebratory tone, the anthem delivers a safety message. The lyrics caution that violations of festival rules will attract official action, emphasizing the importance of celebrating Basant responsibly.
The three-day Basant festival is set to begin on February 6 in Lahore, with certain restrictions near Lahore Airport for safety reasons.
To encourage public participation, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced free travel on 419 buses, Metro Bus services, the Orange Line train, and 6,000 Yango rickshaws during the festival period, making it easier for citizens to join the festivities.
KARACHI: The city administration has sealed seven more milk shops for selling chemically adulterated milk, raising the total number of shops sealed to 27 as part of the ongoing crackdown against unsafe dairy sales.
According to a statement issued by the Commissioner Karachi’s office, the campaign against adulterated milk continues across the city. On Tuesday, three shops in District South, three in East, and one in Malir were sealed after samples tested positive for harmful chemical substances.
A spokesperson for the Commissioner’s Office said that within just two days, 27 milk shops have been sealed across Karachi for selling substandard or adulterated milk.
The decision was reviewed during a meeting chaired by Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi, attended by the Director General of the Sindh Food Authority and other senior officials. It was decided that milk quality inspections and anti-adulteration drives will continue in all districts.
Commissioner Naqvi stated that sealed milk shops will not be reopened without heavy fines, and owners will be required to submit written assurances guaranteeing the sale of pure and safe milk in the future.
A recent study warns that artificial intelligence is increasingly being weaponised in India to produce and circulate Islamophobic images that reinforce hate and discrimination online.
A new report by the Centre for the Study of Organised Hate (CSOH) has revealed an alarming surge in the use of AI-generated imagery to spread Islamophobic narratives across India’s digital platforms.
Authored by Nabiya Khan, Aishik Saha, and Zenith Khan, the report examines how artificial intelligence tools are being exploited to craft and circulate visual hate content that targets Muslims, reinforcing stereotypes and deepening social divides.
While numerous studies have previously documented Islamophobia online, the authors note that AI-generated visuals specifically designed to dehumanise Muslims have received little scholarly or policy attention.
The study analysed 1,326 AI-generated Islamophobic posts shared between May 2023 and May 2025 from 297 public accounts on various social media platforms, each generating significant engagement.
According to the findings, the hateful imagery largely falls into four categories:
The sexualisation of Muslim women, exclusionary and dehumanising portrayals, conspiratorial narratives, and the aestheticisation of violence.
With an estimated 22 million AI users in India, the report warns that such tools have become powerful amplifiers of hate, targeting religious minorities and Dalit communities through digitally manipulated content.
Co-author Nabiya Khan noted that far-right media networks and online groups use these AI-generated visuals as “amplifiers” to flood social media with Islamophobic messages.
“These tools make old prejudices scalable — they’re faster, cheaper, and harder to trace. Current laws are insufficient to govern or regulate this type of content,” she told Maktoob Media.
The report cites examples such as the Assam BJP’s Islamophobic video depicting a dystopian future and viral WhatsApp forwards, illustrating how digital propaganda has become increasingly sophisticated.
One of its central conclusions is that AI is not creating new hate, but automating existing hate. The imagery frequently depicts Muslims as inherently violent, including disturbing portrayals such as snakes wearing skull caps — visuals that symbolically portray Muslims as “deceptive and dangerous.”
Other AI-generated images adopt anime or Ghibli-style aesthetics, or appear under humour-based hashtags, making them seem harmless and harder to identify as hate speech.
Particularly alarming are the sexualised depictions of Muslim women, which garnered 6.7 million interactions, reflecting how misogyny and anti-Muslim hate intertwine in online spaces. These visuals often dehumanise Muslim men as hypersexual predators and depict Muslim families as morally corrupt, the report adds.
The study also found widespread use of conspiratorial themes like “love jihad,” “population jihad,” and “rail jihad” — framing Muslims as threats to Hindu national identity. Such narratives, the authors warn, enable political actors to mobilise hate without accountability or fact-checking.
The report concludes with a call for greater digital literacy and critical engagement from the public.
“People must learn to question the intent behind such images and ask, who benefits from me believing this?” Khan emphasised.
