ISLAMABAD: Amid rising friction between the ruling coalition partners, PPP and PML-N, President Asif Ali Zardari met with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday night to deliberate on the prevailing political climate
The leaders discussed matters pertaining to the overall security and political situation in the country, as well as recent regional and international developments, President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release.
DPM/FM Senator Ishaq Dar, who recently attended the United Nations General Assembly session and held several interactions with foreign dignitaries, briefed the president on his engagements and shared insights on pressing global and regional issues.
The PPP and the PML-N’s Punjab leadership have been engaged in a war of words for the past many days over issues ranging from flood compensation to water rights in the context of the Cholistan canals project.
The PPP, which is in power in Sindh, has been particularly incensed by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s remarks, whose party is also leading the federal government.
Earlier, a post on X by the PPP announced party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s move to call a meeting of the party’s top brass.
“Important decisions regarding national politics will be made in the meeting of the PPP’s central executive committee,“it said.
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KARACHI: Pakistani model and television host Fiza Ali has come under intense criticism after an old interview clip resurfaced online in which she admitted to mixing medicines into food prepared for her team.
The video, recorded two years ago, shows Fiza discussing various aspects of her career and recounting an incident where she became upset with her team during a show.
She claimed that, in anger, she cooked “paye” (trotters) for them and added medications including Xanax, cough syrup, multivitamins, and Panadol — even sourcing additional medicines from outside — before serving the dish to her team the next day.
According to Fiza, one team member later informed her that many fell ill, some vomited, and a few required oxygen support, and even her ex-husband Fawad was warned a police case might be filed against her.
She maintained, however, that “nothing serious happened” and those who ate the food merely became drowsy and slept it off.
The resurfaced clip has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many users labeling her actions as criminal and calling for serious legal action against her.
AMMAN: Former senator Mushtaq Ahmed has released a video statement following his release from Israeli detention, saying he has reached Jordan along with 150 companions.
In a post shared on social media platform X, Mushtaq Ahmed said they were held for five days in Israel’s notorious Negev Desert prison, where they were subjected to harsh treatment.
مشتاق احمد خان صاحب اسرائیلی جیل سے رہا ہو کر اردن پہنچ گئے۔
ان کا پیغام ہے کہ اڈیالہ سے لے کر اسرائیلی جیل تک مزاحمت جاری رہے گی
— Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan | سینیٹر مشتاق احمد خان (@SenatorMushtaq) October 7, 2025
“Our hands were tied behind our backs, blindfolds were placed over our eyes, and shackles were put on our feet during the detention,” he revealed in the video message.
Former senator Mushtaq Ahmed has detailed the severe mistreatment he and others faced during their detention in Israel, following his release and arrival in Jordan with 150 companions.
In a video message posted on social media platform X, Mushtaq said they were attacked by dogs, threatened with guns, and subjected to brutal torture while held for five days in Israel’s notorious Negev Desert prison. He added that detainees were denied access to air, medicine, and even water, forcing them to stage a three-day hunger strike to press their demands.
Mushtaq Ahmed reaffirmed that the struggle for Palestine’s freedom will continue, pledging efforts to save Gaza, bring perpetrators to justice, and repeatedly break Israel’s blockade.c
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a telephone conversation to discuss key regional issues, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.
According to the Kremlin, the two leaders exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East and U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan.
They also expressed a shared interest in resolving issues related to Iran’s nuclear program through dialogue.
The conversation further covered ways to promote greater stability in Syria, the Kremlin added.
On the other hand, Ceasefire negotiations aimed at halting the ongoing conflict in Gaza are currently taking place in Egypt’s resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh. The proposed agreement has sparked strong reactions from key regional and international players, with Iran, Egypt, the United Nations, and Germany issuing statements that reflect both support and caution.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has expressed support for the proposed ceasefire, describing it as a potential step toward ending what it calls the “genocide in Gaza.” However, Tehran emphasized that the final decision must rest with the Palestinian people and resistance groups on the ground.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi reiterated that true and lasting peace in the Middle East is unattainable without the establishment of a free and sovereign Palestinian state. He argued that sustainable regional stability requires the restoration of Palestinian rights and compliance with international law.
SHIKARPUR: Four coaches of the Jaffar Express derailed near Sultan Kot village in Shikarpur on Tuesday following an explosion on the railway track.
According to police, four passengers were injured in the incident and shifted to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
A bomb disposal squad has been called to the site to determine the nature of the explosion and collect evidence from the damaged section of the track.
Police say the railway operation has been temporarily suspended after the blast, while arrangements are being made to send passengers by buses.
According to the DS Railway, repair of the affected track has been started and the track repair can take 8 to 10 hours, but there is no train on the track before 5pm.
On the other hand, Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar has sought a detailed report from the SSP Shikarpur following the explosion on a railway track that caused coaches of the Jaffar Express to derail.
The home minister directed authorities to launch an immediate investigation into the incident and ensure that the terrorists responsible for damaging the railway track are brought to justice at the earliest.
Lanjar emphasized the need to trace the culprits through concrete evidence and thorough investigation and instructed officials to keep him informed of all developments related to the probe.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah strongly condemned the explosion on the railway track near Kot Sultan that caused several coaches of the Jaffar Express to derail.
According to a spokesperson, the chief minister has sought a detailed report from the Inspector General of Police regarding the incident.
He also directed the Commissioner of Larkana to ensure that the injured passengers receive the best possible medical treatment.
Murad Ali Shah further instructed authorities to dispatch rescue teams immediately to provide timely assistance to the affected passengers.
The police and bomb disposal squad are present at the site and are investigating the nature of the blast, the Sindh police chief confirmed.
ISLAMABAD: A breathtaking celestial event awaits stargazers tonight as the year’s first supermoon makes its appearance, shining bigger and brighter than a typical full moon.
According to a spokesperson for the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), during the supermoon, the Moon will be approximately 224,000 miles from Earth, appearing 6.6% larger and 13% brighter than a typical full moon.
The phenomenon will be visible in Pakistan as well. The supermoon will rise in the east shortly after sunset and set in the west before sunrise, giving observers ample time to witness the stunning sight.
According to SUPARCO, 2 more super monases will be seen this year. The brightest Super Moon of the year is expected on November 5, 2025, while the third Super Moon will be seen on December 5.
According to astronomers, the super moon appears when the moon is at the closest distance to the earth, which is the moon, which is why the moon looks significantly larger and bright than usual, which is why it is called Super Moon.
LAHORE: Continuous downpours have led to rising river flows across Punjab, prompting the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to issue a flood alert and urge caution in low-lying areas.
According to a PDMA spokesperson, water flow in the Jhelum River at Mangla upstream is expected to increase, with the possibility of a medium-level flood within the next 24 hours. Meanwhile, low-level flooding has already been reported in the Sutlej River at Ganda Singh Wala and the Ravi River at Head Sidhnai.
While the worst of the flooding has passed in Bahawalpur district, the devastation it left behind is significant. Thousands of houses have collapsed, and standing crops over hundreds of thousands of acres have been destroyed.
The stagnant floodwaters have now led to a surge in mosquito populations, raising concerns over waterborne and vector-borne diseases.
In Multan’s Jalalpur Pirwala tehsil, drainage operations are still underway, with several low-lying areas remaining submerged. Authorities confirmed that all seven breaches at Noraja Bhutta Bund have been sealed.
However, the M-5 Motorway remains closed for a 25th consecutive day due to flood damage. Officials said a 23-kilometer stretch of the motorway was damaged at more than 13 points, and restoration work will begin soon. Traffic is currently being diverted through alternate routes.
DERA GHAZI KHAN: Authorities have launched an inquiry after a video went viral on social media showing a security guard treating patients at a government heart hospital in Dera Ghazi Khan.
According to reports, the incident took place at the Sardar Fateh Muhammad Khan Buzdar Institute of Cardiology, where a patient was brought to the emergency ward with chest pain. Shockingly, instead of medical staff, a security guard was seen examining the patient and even performing an ECG.
Officials have taken notice of the incident and ordered an investigation into the matter.
Taking notice of the incident after the video surfaced online, the Deputy Commissioner of Dera Ghazi Khan formed a three-member inquiry committee headed by the Additional Medical Superintendent (AMS) of the cardiology institute. Officials said action will be taken against those found negligent based on the committee’s findings.
October 3, 2025 – Veteran Bollywood actor Paresh Rawal finds himself at the center of a fiery Taj Mahal controversy as the poster for his upcoming film The Taj Story goes viral, depicting him unveiling a statue of Lord Shiva inside the iconic monument’s dome. The provocative imagery has reignited long-standing debates over whether the Taj Mahal was a Shiva temple, drawing sharp backlash and support across social media and historical circles.
Directed by Tushar Amrish Geol and co-starring Zakir Hussain, Amruta Khanvilkar, and Senha Wagh, the poster’s bold visual—showing Rawal symbolically “opening” the Taj Mahal to reveal Hindu iconography—has been accused of promoting fringe theories that challenge the site’s Mughal heritage. Shared by Rawal on social platforms, it has amassed millions of views, polarizing opinions in India’s culturally charged landscape.
The Poster’s Provocation: A Visual Nod to ‘Tejo Mahalaya’ Theory
At the heart of the Paresh Rawal Taj Mahal poster controversy is the imagery suggesting the Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage site built by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1653 as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, was originally the Hindu temple ‘Tejo Mahalaya’ dedicated to Lord Shiva. This idea, popularized by historian P.N. Oak in his controversial book, claims the monument predates Mughal rule and was repurposed, a narrative widely debunked by mainstream historians but persistent in certain nationalist circles.
Social media erupted with reactions: Users hailed it as a “bold truth reveal” while others slammed it as “historical revisionism” and an affront to India’s secular fabric. Hashtags like #TajMahalShivaTemple and #TheTajStoryControversy trended nationwide, amplifying the divide.
The film’s plot remains under wraps, but the poster hints at a narrative exploring these very claims, positioning The Taj Story as a potential flashpoint in Bollywood’s tryst with historical fiction.
Echoes of Past Disputes: From Petitions to Political Claims
This isn’t the first time the Taj Mahal’s origins have stirred unrest. In 2022, activist Rajneesh Singh petitioned India’s Supreme Court for a fact-finding probe into the monument’s history, demanding access to 22 sealed rooms rumored to house Hindu idols—a plea still pending. That same year, BJP MP Diya Kumari, from Jaipur’s royal lineage, asserted that the land belonged to her ancestors, fueling similar speculations.
The Taj Mahal Shiva temple debate ties into broader Hindutva narratives, where monuments like the Babri Masjid (now Ram Temple) serve as cultural battlegrounds. Critics argue such portrayals in cinema risk communal tensions, while supporters see them as reclaiming “suppressed history.”
Paresh Rawal, known for roles in Hera Pheri and political stances as a BJP MP, has yet to respond directly to the uproar, but his history of endorsing right-wing views adds fuel to the fire.
Bollywood’s Risky Gamble: Art, History, and Public Fury
As The Taj Story gears up for release—details TBD—the controversy underscores Bollywood’s tightrope walk between entertainment and education. Past films like Padmaavat faced similar boycotts over historical liberties, highlighting how cinema can ignite real-world discourse.
For Rawal, 69, this marks another provocative project following Welcome 3. Will it flop amid backlash or become a cult hit? Only time—and box office—will tell.
Fans and foes alike are watching closely, with the poster becoming a meme-fest and debate catalyst. As India navigates its pluralistic identity, The Taj Story poses a poignant question: Can art rewrite history without rewriting peace?
Stay locked for updates on Paresh Rawal upcoming movies 2025, Taj Mahal controversy latest, and Bollywood’s bold takes!
