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Showing posts from November, 2024

Lahore ATC observes Imran Khan ‘guilty’ in May 9 case

The Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has said PTI founder and ex-prime minister Imran Khan was “guilty” in a case related to the May 9 riots, it emerged on Saturday. Following the arrest of the ex-premier on May 9, 2023, from the Islamabad High Court’s premises, riots erupted across the country and went on for at least 24 hours. The state subsequently launched a crackdown against him and his party, filing several other cases against Imran since the events of May 9, in many of which he has been acquitted. The ATC on Wednesday had dismissed Imran’s petitions seeking post-arrest bail in eight May 9 cases, including an attack on the corps commander’s residence. ATC-I Judge Manzer Ali Gill had reserved a verdict after hearing the final arguments of the lawyers for the petitioner and the prosecution, which he announced later in the evening. In a written order issued today, available with Dawn.com , for one of the petitions regarding a case registered at the Mughalpura Police Station ...

Travel advisory for roads leading to Naran, Kaghan

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The picturesque valleys of Naran and Kaghan have been closed to tourists following heavy snowfall that has dropped temperatures to freezing levels, ARY News reported. According to reports, the snowfall, particularly around Babusar Top, has made travel hazardous, prompting the district administration to advise against visiting the area. Deputy Commissioner Manshera, Khalid Iqbal, stated that routes leading to Kaghan Valley have been blocked since early November due to snowfall, and further closures were implemented to ensure public safety. He warned that tourists attempting to visit could face severe difficulties due to the extreme weather conditions. In this road update, it was also highlighted that the access path connecting Gilgit-Baltistan to Kaghan has been shut down, further restricting access. Adding to the challenges, hotels in Naran and surrounding areas have been closed for the season, with disruptions in electricity and other essential services. The access route connect...

Indian actor recalls hitting Amitabh Bachchan on head

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Actor Avinash Tiwary has shared that he hit Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan on the head during their first meet on set. To Read Lifestyle Stories in Urdu- Click Here In a recent interview, the actor recalled the ’embarrassing’ first working experience with Bachchan while filming a scene for the 2014’s ‘Yudh.’ According to the actor, he had no prior experience of performing action scenes and had to punch the veteran Bollywood actor in his very first such scene. “The first time we met we had to do an action sequence. I had at that point never done an action sequence in my life. In the scene, he had to punch me and I had to duck and give him back. Fortunately, I only hit him on his head, but the embarrassment I felt at that time, I still haven’t recovered from it. There was pin-drop silence on the set and I went in for another punch because they didn’t say cut. It was the instinct of an actor that took over,” Avinash Tiwary said. Directed by Ribhu Dasgupta and Dipti Kalwani, ‘Yudh’...

Saudi Arabia abandons pursuit of US defence treaty over Israel stalemate

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Saudi Arabia has abandoned its pursuit of an ambitious defence treaty with Washington in return for normalising relations with Israel and is now pushing for a more modest military cooperation agreement, two Saudi and four Western officials told Reuters . In a drive to get a wide-ranging mutual security treaty over the line earlier this year, Riyadh softened its position on Palestinian statehood, telling Washington that a public commitment from Israel to a two-state solution could be enough for the Gulf kingdom to normalise relations. But with public anger in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East at fever pitch over Israel’s military actions in Gaza, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has again made recognition of Israel conditional on it taking concrete steps to create a Palestinian state, two Saudi and three Western sources said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is still eager to secure normalisation with the Saudi powerhouse as a historic milestone and a sign of broad...

Free Wi-Fi service launched at historic Frere Hall

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KARACHI: In a significant step to provide convenience to Karachiites, the city government launched a free Wi-Fi service at the historical Frere Hall on Friday, ARY News reported According to reports, Mayor of Karachi, Murtaza Wahab inaugurated the service during his visit to the iconic building, which dates back to the early British colonial era. Completed in 1865, Frere Hall was originally intended to serve as Karachi’s town hall and now hosts various cultural and social activities. Speaking to the media, Mayor Wahab announced plans to extend free wireless internet services to other historical and recreational sites, including parks managed by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC). He emphasised the importance of equipping public spaces with modern technology like free Wi-Fi to enhance the citizen experience. It is worth mentioning that Punjab Chief Minister had previously introduced free Wi-Fi services in key locations across the province, setting a benchmark for other reg...

Chinese envoy asks govt to take ‘targeted security measures’ for safety of workers

The Chinese consul general has stressed that China firmly supports Pakistan’s efforts in combating terrorism and asked the federal government to implement targeted security measures to protect Chinese personnel, projects and institutions working in the country. Counter-terrorism efforts remain a key topic of discussion between the two countries due to the rising frequency of attacks targeting Chinese nationals working in Pakistan. While there have been media reports that Beijing is seeking a more proactive role in ensuring the safety of its citizens in Pakistan, the Foreign Office has emphasised that counter-terrorism cooperation between the two countries is based on mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty. During a media briefing at the Consulate General of China in Karachi on Wednesday, Chinese Consul General Yang Yundong said that the China-Pakistan ironclad friendship was everlasting and ever-refreshing. “It is expected that the Pakistani side will improve its business...

Bushra Bibi’s ‘harsh’ words lead to resignations of PTI leaders

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ISLAMABAD: PTI founder Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi allegedly used inappropriate language while speaking to party leaders, ARY News reported, citing sources. ARY News anchor Kashif Abbasi, during his program Off The Record , revealed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja resigned after the former first lady addressed him in an appropriate manner. Abbasi, while quoting sources, said that senior leaders of the PTI resigned from their posts after a heated meeting with Bushra Bibi. Bushra Bibi allegedly used harsh words including “beghairat” and “vultures,” to describe the PTI leaders during a meeting in Peshawar. As per sources, a party meeting which included around 10 leaders was held in Peshawar under the chair of Bushra Bibi prior to the November 26 showdown of PTI in Islamabad. The PTI founder’s wife was reportedly furious, passing harsh words, including ‘beghairat’ and ‘vultures’. Bushra Bibi also instructed all MNAs and MPs to bring at least...

PM Shehbaz vows zero tolerance after PTI protest in Islamabad

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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed his zero tolerance for any future sit-ins in Islamabad, resolving to take stern decisions. Addressing a meeting of the federal cabinet, the prime minister while referring to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) recent protest in the federal capital, said that repeated marches on the capital city had forced them to rethink. “With the collective deliberations, we had to take strict measures, to quell such scenes in future as we could no longer put all our resources and energies into it, leading to economic destruction,” PM Shehbaz added. Shehbaz Sharif dubbed the PTI protest as an assault on Islamabad, however, he said that the law enforcement agencies dispersed the protest and provided relief to the public. PM Shehbaz maintained that the economic losses were manifolds due to the PTI protest as the country’s stock exchange market, which had crossed the historic mark of 99,000 points, lost 4,000 points in a sing...

International Emmy Awards 2024: ‘The Night Manager’ misses out on Best Drama

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French-Japanese drama series ‘Les Gouttes de Dieu [Drops of God]’ won the top honour as India’s ‘The Night Manager’ missed out on the Best Drama at the International Emmy Awards 2024. To Read Lifestyle Stories in Urdu – Click Here The ‘Night Manager’ is the Indian version of the British series of the same name. The series stars Bollywood actors Aditya Roy Kapur , Anil Kapoor and Sobhita Dhulipala, among others. Indian comedian Vir Das hosted the 52nd annual International Emmy Awards at the New York Hilton Midtown Hotel. A total of 21 countries were represented by 56 nominees across 14 categories as actor Timothy Spall won the Best Actor award for his performance as Peter Farquhar in the British series ‘The Sixth Commandment.’ Thai actress Aokbab-Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying won the Best Actress for her role in ‘Hunger.’ “Otto Baxter: Not a F**ing Horror Story” won the Best Documentary, while “Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story” secured the award for sports documentary at th...

Gandapur heads PTI rally into Islamabad

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally enters the federal capital under the leadership of Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur for ‘do-or-die’ protest, ARY News reported. According to reports, the rally led by Gandapur has entered Islamabad’s jurisdiction. Convoys from the Hazara division, DI Khan, and Balochistan merged with the CM KP-led motorcade rally at the Hakla interchange. Bushra Bibi, the wife of the incarcerated PTI founder and other PTI top cadre are accompanying Ali Amin Gandapur. The development came after the government and PTI refuted the reports of negotiations. Earlier sources claimed that, the Govt-PTI negotiations were held at the Minister’s Enclave but ended as both parties failed to reach a decision. The claim stated that, the government’s delegation included Amir Muqam, Ayaz Sadiq, and Mohsin Naqvi, while PTI was represented by Asad Qaiser, Shibli Faraz, and Barrister Gohar in the Govt-PTI negotiations. PTI chairman Gohar holds ...

AJK court remands 2 suspects in police custody in woman’s harassment case

A judicial magistrate in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s (AJK) Sudhnoti district on Monday remanded two suspects into police custody for a week following their arrest in a case of allegedly blackmailing and extorting money from a married woman. A first information report (FIR) was filed at Baloch Police Station on Saturday under Sections 292 (obscene material), 322 (manslaughter), 384 (extortion), and 489-Y (related to harm to privacy of and reputation) of the Azad Penal Code as well as section 10(3) of the Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, 1979. Complainant Arshad Mahmood, a resident of Kehala village currently working in Saudi Arabia, reported that he was informed by his brother-in-law on November 15 about his wife’s sudden hospitalisation due to a critical health issue. He said that hours later, he received another call from his brother-in-law about her death and returned home the following day for her burial. He said that while investigating the circumstances surroundi...

Alec Baldwin refuses to watch ‘Rust’ after on-set shooting

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Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin has refused to watch his film ‘Rust’ after the on-set shooting that claimed the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021. To Read Lifestyle Stories in Urdu – Click Here Last week, the film premiered at Poland’s Camerimage International Film Festival and included a tribute to the 42-year-old cinematographer. However, Alec Baldwin was not invited and did not attend the premiere. In a recent interview, the Hollywood actor said that he has not seen the final cut of ‘Rust’ and plans not to at this moment. When asked if he plans to watch the film, Baldwin said, “Right now, no. Only because this is obviously the most difficult thing I’ve ever dealt with in my life. Beyond the victims themselves, the thing that most pains me is what it did to my wife. My wife has been very, very traumatised from this.” “There has been a lot of pain. When you are married to somebody and everything was going fairly well and we had seven kids … and the floor falls out. I...

Punjab University postpones exams for one week

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LAHORE: Punjab University has announced to postpone the examinations for another week. A notification has been issued by the authorities in this regard. The spokesperson of the university said that the on-campus mid-term examinations, scheduled to begin on November 25, have been postponed for one week. The spokesperson, however, stated that university classes will continue as usual. The Head of Departments (HoDs) will continue to attend lectures in their relevant departments online, physically or in a hybrid mode, the notification stated. Last week also, the Punjab University had postponed all of the scheduled examinations for one week, shifting the classes to online due to the heavy smog situation in the province. The university administration had also instructed all the staff to work from home, saying that all the meetings would be held online. Read More: PTI protest triggers closure of Rawalpindi, Islamabad educational institutions On the other hand, In light of the ongoing ...

AR Rahman’s wife defends him amid Mohini Dey linkup rumours

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Saira Banu, the ex-wife of Indian music maestro AR Rahman, has finally responded to the rumours about the musician’s links to his bassist Mohini Dey. To Read Lifestyle Stories in Urdu – Click Here Speculations about the two began swirling around when Mohini Dey confirmed her separation from her husband, music composer Mark Hartsuch, a day after Rahman confirmed his divorce with Saira Banu. Now, Banu has officially shared a statement about the rumours circulating about her divorce with the Indian singer, Indian media outlets reported. In an official audio clip, she urged people to stop false allegations against the Indian musician as she revealed the reason behind her absence from Chennai. According to Saira Banu, she was in Bombay for the past few months due to health issues. “I’m currently in Bombay. I’ve been physically unwell for the last couple of months. So that’s the reason I just wanted to take a break from AR, but I would request the entire YouTube YouTubers, the Tamil ...

Saudi Arabia arrests 16,696 illegals in one week

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Saudi Arabia’s authorities have arrested 19,696 persons residing or trying to enter the Kingdom illegally in different inspection raids in all regions of the country during the last week, a state-run news agency reported citing the Ministry of Interior Saudi Ministry of Interior announced on Saturday that the security forces in collaboration with the concerned government agencies carried out joint field security campaigns between November 14 and November 20 to made these arrests. Among those detained were 3,184 violators of the Labour Law, 5,176 those who violated the Border Security Law, while 11,336 were arrested for breaching the Residency Law. A total of 1,547 individuals were arrested while attempting to enter the Kingdom through the border; 32 percent of these individuals were Yemeni, 65 percent were Ethiopian, and 3 percent were of other nationalities. Additionally, 71 individuals were arrested while attempting to enter the Kingdom illegally. Meanwhile, 22 persons, who were...

Watch: London police use helicopter to apprehend e-bike phone snatchers

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LONDON: A video has surfaced showing two phone snatchers using e-bikes to steal phones from pedestrians, who were apprehended within two hours, according to police reports. Surveillance footage captured the moment one of the phone snatchers, wearing a bandana, veered onto a pavement in central London and grabbed a phone from a pedestrian. Additional footage, taken from a police helicopter and an officer’s body camera, showed the phone snatchers manoeuvring dangerously through traffic as they attempted to evade capture. The suspects, believed to be in their early 20s, were later arrested by armed officers at a residential address. Authorities identified them as Parkinson and Wilson, who had been involved in a spree of thefts lasting about an hour in Westminster, Kensington, and Chelsea. https://arynews.tv/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/London.mp4 During this period, they managed to steal several phones. Police have indicated that the two men could face a combined prison sentence of ov...

PTI distances itself from Bushra Bibi’s statement, calling it a “personal opinion”

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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have clarified that Bushra Bibi’s recent statement regarding Saudi Arab reflects her personal views and should not be considered as party’s policy, ARY News reported. According to sources, concern has been expressed among PTI ranks regarding the statement made by the wife of Imran Khan. Leaders emphasised that Bushra Bibi has no formal role in party affairs, and only the founder, Imran Khan, is authorized to outline party policies. Sources further revealed that the Imran Khan has previously clarified Bushra Bibi’s non-involvement in politics. They also stated that her remarks should not be misrepresented or taken out of context. The controversy stems from a statement by Bushra Bibi, alleging interference by former COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa under foreign influence. She claimed that attempts were made to undermine her husband, PTI’s founding leader, labeling him a “Jewish agent” and attacking her character. Bushra Bibi claimed that after...

Trump attorney general pick Matt Gaetz drops bid in face of Senate opposition

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Hardline Republican Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration as President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general , in the face of opposition from the Senate Republicans whose support he would have needed to win the job. Gaetz, who resigned from the US House of Representatives last week, was the subject of an Ethics Committee probe into allegations of having sex with a 17-year-old girl. He has denied wrongdoing. “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as attorney general,” Gaetz wrote in a post on X. “Trump’s Department of Justice must be in place and ready on Day 1.” Gaetz, who was nominated last week, faced questions over his qualifications to serve as the country’s top law enforcement official and his past conduct. He was investigated by the Justice Department for nearly three years into potential sex trafficking violations, a probe that ended last year without charges bei...

Gen (R) Bajwa responds to Bushra Bibi’s claims

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ISLAMABAD: Former Army Chief Gen (Retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday responded to the claims made by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan‘s wife Bushra Bibi. In an informal conversation with ARY News , Gen (Retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa rejected the former first lady’s allegations of receiving calls about Imran Khan following his visit to Saudi Arabia. According to Gen (R) Bajwa, he did not receive any such calls Bushra Bibi mentioned in her video message earlier today. His response came soon after the PTI founder’s wife in a video message alleged that the former Army Chief received calls where he was told that Imran Khan was not acceptable to them. Earlier today, Bushra Bibi issued a video message regarding the party’s Nov 24 protest call, urging PTI workers and supporters to participate in the much-hyped Nov 24 protest dubbed as ‘final or do-or-die’ against the government. She claimed that propaganda began against them following their visit to Madinah in Saudi Arabia an...

Three Karachiites lose life in road accidents daily

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KARACHI: The roads of Karachi, the largest city of Pakistan, have become increasingly dangerous, with three people losing their lives daily due to accidents involving heavy commercial vehicles, ARY News reported. According to a video report compiled by ARY News, the deteriorating traffic system in Karachi is contributing to a surge in fatalities, with precious lives being lost every day. Despite this alarming situation, the traffic police seem more focused on issuing fines and making arrests than on effectively managing the traffic flow. Karachi, has the highest rate of traffic fatalities, with the Edhi Foundation reporting that three people die daily in traffic accidents, the majority of whom are motorcyclists. Meanwhile, the traffic police appear to be more focused on issuing fines and managing “deals” rather than addressing the congestion on the streets. The city’s road network stretches over 10,000 kilometers, accommodating 6 million motorcycles, more than 2 million cars, and n...

CM Punjab Maryam angry over Nishtar Hospital HIV outbreak

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LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed her displeasure over the outbreak of HIV in Multan and sought a progress report within 24 hours. While presiding over a special meeting on health, Maryam Nawaz said that the outbreak of  HIV among dialysis patients in Multan at is not only regrettable but also shameful as well. “Halting dialysis procedure due to non-availability of funds is regrettable,” she said. The chief minister also approved the ‘Chief Minister Dialysis Program Card’ in the history of Pakistan, the first of its nature in Pakistan. Under the programme, the funds for the treatment of each dialysis patient have been increased up to Rs10 million whereas Rs8.5 million for dialysis and Rs1.5 million for tests are being allocated for each patient suffering from kidney disease. She directed to ensure free tests and medicines for dialysis patients, while urging to continue dialysis procedure of patients under any circumstance. It was agreed in principle ...

Lahore ATC indicts PTI’s Shah Mehmood, Ejaz Chaudhry, Yasmin Rashid among 21 in May 9 cases

Senior PTI leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Ejaz Chaudhry, Dr Yasmin Rashid and Umar Sarfraz Cheema were among 21 formally indicted by a Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Monday in cases related to the countrywide riots on May 9, 2023, registered at the Racecourse and Sarwar Road police stations. Nationwide protests erupted last year after the arrest of PTI founder and former premier Imran Khan in a corruption case. The state then launched a severe crackdown on his party, rounding up thousands of PTI workers and almost the entire top-tier leadership, with many still facing court proceedings under serious charges. In December 2023, police implicated Qureshi in at least 12 different cases registered by the district police in connection with the May 9 violence. Dr Rashid was arrested in May 2023, just hours after the Lahore High Court had ordered her release along with 17 other women workers of the party detained under the Maintenance of Public Order. Chaudhry was also re-arrested in Ma...

Biden pledges record $4 billion to World Bank fund for poorest countries

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U.S. President Joe Biden pledged a $4 billion U.S. contribution to the World Bank’s International Development Association fund for the world’s poorest countries, two sources with knowledge of the commitment said on Monday. Biden announced the U.S. pledge during a closed session of the Group of 20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The amount is a record and substantially exceeds the $3.5 billion Washington committed in the previous IDA fund replenishment round in December 2021. A White House spokesperson in Washington declined comment on the World Bank’s IDA replenishment. It is unclear if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has proposed cutting foreign aid in the past, will honor Biden’s pledge as he and billionaire Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk seek to slash U.S. spending through a new government efficiency panel. An appropriation by the U.S. Congress to fund the commitment would not likely take pla...

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Astro Bot lead Game Awards 2024 nominations

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Fan-favourites Astro Bot and Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth tied for the most nominations as the nominees for the Game Award 2024 were announced on Monday. Both of the games were nominated for seven awards each including Best Game and Best Direction. Game Awards 2024, which marks the 10th anniversary of the awards, features 29 categories, including Game of the Year. Apart from the two games, Balatro, Black Myth: Wukong, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, and Metaphor: ReFantazio are also vying for the top honour at the awards. Canadian journalist Geoff Keighley will host the Game Awards 2024 scheduled to take place on December 12 in Los Angeles. Sony Interactive Entertainment is the most nominated publisher with a total of 16, followed by Square Enix and Xbox with 12 nominations each. Game of the Year ASTRO BOT (Team Asobi/SIE) Balatro (LocalThunk/Playstack) Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science) Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree (FromSoftware/Bandai Namco) Final Fantasy VII Rebirth ...

Sharif family issues statement over Hasan Nawaz’s bankruptcy

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The Sharif family issued a statement on the ruling of the High Court of Justice in London  over Hasan Nawaz’s company bankruptcy, ARY News reported.  In a statement, a Sharif family spokesperson said that asserted that the process of bankruptcy for the Sharif family’s businesses began in 1972, during Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s tenure when industries were nationalized. The statement further pointed out that the former president of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf followed a similar path by ‘seizing’ personal homes and ‘shutting’ down factories of the Sharif family. “Similarly, during the time of the former chief justice of Pakistan, Saqib Nisar, the Sharif family’s industries were deliberately ruined,” the spokesperson added. The statement added that the Sharif family had to bear the losses of their private businesses on multiple occasions, with the businesses being declared bankrupt for a total of four times. “Despite these financial setbacks, the family continued to stand...