Author: newsdesk

  • ‘My daughter is on the spectrum’: Mehreen Raheel opens up on motherhood’s challenges

    ‘My daughter is on the spectrum’: Mehreen Raheel opens up on motherhood’s challenges

     

    In a world where balancing career and family can be tough, actress Mehreen Raheel has opened up about how she manages the challenges of motherhood while staying focused on career goals.

     

    Appearing as a guest on Ahmad Ali Butt’s podcast, she shared her personal journey and insights into navigating both roles.

     

    “Motherhood is a very powerful tool. Allah has given it to every woman. Yes, and it happens that some mothers need more time, especially mothers with children who are differently-abled. My daughter is on the spectrum,” she said, adding that she didn’t feel comfortable leaving her with an attendant.

     

    “So, when I felt that she had become independent… she could do things on her own, it was when I decided to step back in the game and carry on from not where I left but somewhere else.”

     

    The Zindagi Gulzar Hai actress went to explain how her priorities have shifted.

     

    “I started working really early in life. I was about 12 and I had seen so much. So there came a point when I decided that I wanted to enjoy my children. Being a mother was the most wonderful thing that could have ever happened to me… so I didn’t want to fast-forward it. I wanted to take it slow… enjoy each moment. And so, I raised my children… took care of them… and I am very, very attached to them,” Mehreen said.

     

    On the topic of politics, Mehreen emphasized the global impact of current events.

     

    “We are being affected… the whole world is being affected with the current situation of the global verse. If I say that something isn’t affecting us, I would be foolish. We need help, and we need to respect ourselves. This is my stance,” she said.

     

    The Dastaan actress also expressed concerns about Pakistan’s education system, highlighting how it had turned into a “money-making industry”.

     

    “Education in Pakistan has become a money-making factory. Everybody is out there just to make money. It has affected our upcoming generations because everybody is too busy to pay attention to what’s going on,” she said

     

     

    Mehreen also said, “Another issue is for mothers. They have to constantly be helicopter parents because if they don’t keep track of their kids’ grades and education, nobody else cares. I’ve seen that these group systems create a lot of fear.”

  • Imran Khan declared guilty in Jinnah House attack case; bail rejected

    Imran Khan declared guilty in Jinnah House attack case; bail rejected

    An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore has found former prime minister (PM) Imran Khan guilty in cases connected to violence on May 9, 2023, cancelling his bail in eight cases.

     

    According to reports, ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gill issued a seven-page written ruling detailing that the prosecution had strong evidence against the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including audio and visual recordings that confirmed his role in inciting violence.

     

    The court also stated that testimonies from witnesses in the “Zaman Park conspiracy”, where Khan is accused of inciting his supporters, were on record.

     

    As per the prosecution, Khan was involved in orchestrating a plan to disrupt state machinery in the event of his arrest.

     

    Incarcerated Khan’s counsel had argued that his client was already in custody at the time of the incident, but the court rejected this claim, saying that the conspiracy had been planned before his detention.

     

    The ATC also pointed out that the prosecution’s case was not a trivial matter of incitement but involved serious charges, including directing attacks on military installations.

     

    The court said that the PTI founder’s instructions were followed by his supporters, which led to the attacks on state buildings and law enforcement.

     

    The court also noted that on May 11, violence against police officers, among other incidents, occurred on the former premier’s directives.

  • Mariyam Nafees is expecting her first baby

    Mariyam Nafees is expecting her first baby

     

    Actress Mariyam Nafees has confirmed that she and her husband, director Aman Ahmed, are expecting their first child. 

    Mariyam and Aman shared photos and videos on Instagram on November 29, 2024 with the caption, “Oh, baby! We’re having a baby!!!

    Baby AmYam coming soon, InshAllah! ❤ ”

     

     

    She also asked her fans for prayers and good wishes, “Please keep us in your prayers ,” Mariyam wrote.

     

     

     Many showbiz personalities and fans congratulated the couple in the comments on their posts.

    Mariyam and Aman Ahmed tied the knot in March, 2022, after getting engaged in 2021.

     

    Earlier, in a recent interview with Gup Shap hosted by Vasay Chaudhry, Mariyam Nafees discussed how she navigates relationships in the entertainment industry. 

     

    Rabbania Shirjeel asked, “Mariyam you are quite vocal about social issues, so how do you navigate within the industry?”

     

     

     Maryiam replied, “I try not to get into it too much. I say, ‘you do your thing, let me do mine.’ I’ve learned that no one is truly your friend here. The few friends I have in the industry were already my friends from before.”

     

     

     Speaking about the trend of social media best friends forever (BFF), Jaan – e Jahan actress emphasized, “They’re mostly just for show. Real friendship is something very deep, and not everyone you work with or post pictures with is truly a friend. Most people are just colleagues or acquaintances. I have a very small circle of genuine friends who have stayed consistent through everything, and they mean a lot to me.”

     

    When it comes to her professional life, the Yaqeen Ka Safar actress stays focused on her work.

     

    “When it comes to navigating projects or scripts, I just focus on doing my part for those 12 hours on set. Thankfully, we now have writers, directors, and producers who are willing to listen. If there’s something in a script that doesn’t align with what I want to portray, we discuss it and usually find a middle ground,” Maryiam Nafees explained.

     

    Earlier, actress Maryiam Nafees was invited to a podcast where the host asked Maryam, “If a girl follows you, what advice would you give these girls for a good marital relationship?”

    Mariyam Nafess responded, “Girls should tell their husbands everything, but it should not be about meeting ex-boyfriends. Every relationship has certain boundaries that both should follow. I also tell my husband everything.”

  • Woman pilot commits suicide after being ‘harassed’ by boyfriend

    Woman pilot commits suicide after being ‘harassed’ by boyfriend

    A 25-year-old woman pilot in India has committed suicide by hanging over alleged harassment by her boyfriend, Indian media reported.

     

    The young pilot, namely Srishti Tuli, was a resident of Mumbai, reports said.

     

    Local police were informed about Srishti’s death by a local hospital at around 8 am on November 25. An initial investigation suggested that the pilot committed suicide by hanging herself on November 24 after returning home from duty.

     

    A postmortem report confirmed that she died of asphyxiation due to hanging, reports added.

     

    Srishti’s family has blamed her 27-year-old boyfriend for the death. Srishti, who hails from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, had gone to Delhi in 2019 to train for her Commercial Pilot License (CPL). After completing her training, Srishti got a job with Air India in 2023, for which she had to relocate to Mumbai.

     

    She and the accused first met in Delhi about two years ago.

     

    Her uncle, Vivek Kumar, told the police that Srishti and her boyfriend had been living in the same house for five to six days before the suicide.

     

     

    An initial investigation suggested that the accused had left Mumbai for Delhi at around 1 pm on November 25. However, the uncle claimed that an argument took place between the two at their home and later over the phone. 

     

    The police also found out that Srishti called the accused and threatened to commit suicide after which he returned to Srishti’s residence in Mumbai.

     

    However, when the accused returned home in the morning, Srishti did not open the door or answer his calls.

     

    The accused called a locksmith, with the help of whom the door was opened. A friend of the accused was also accompanying them. When all these people entered the house, they found out that Srishti had hanged herself.

     

    The accused took Srishti to a nearby hospital for first aid but doctors confirmed her death and informed the police.

     

    Srishti’s family reached Mumbai later in the day. In their statements to the police, they alleged that Srishti committed suicide due to alleged harassment and abuse by the accused. Her uncle also claimed that her niece was “disturbed by her boyfriend’s behaviour for some time”.

     

    “He often behaved rudely and hurled insults at her in public,” reports quoted the uncle as saying.

     

    The deceased’s family also alleges that the accused “encouraged” Srishti to commit suicide.

     

    According to Indian news outlets, the boyfriend has been arrested on charges of harassment, and further investigation is underway.

     

  • VIDEO: Status of PTI protester pushed off container, confirmed

    VIDEO: Status of PTI protester pushed off container, confirmed

    Days after a viral video showed a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protester being pushed off a container in Islamabad, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has broken silence on his whereabouts and current condition.


    A viral video from PTI’s violent protests in Islamabad showed a man, namely Tahir Abbas Tarar, “offering prayer” atop three containers set up to block access to D-Chowk. The video also showed the man being pushed off by security personnel, falling down as the crowd looked on.


    With the video drawing strong reactions from party leaders and the general public alike, netizens also expressed serious concerns over the incident and demanded an official update on Tahir’s current condition.


    After widespread criticism aimed at the government and law enforcement, and claims that the victim “fell to his death”, Information Minister Tarar has put an end to speculations.


    “Propaganda claimed that a person was offering prayers when he was killed by pushing him [off the containers]. He is a resident of Mandi Bahauddin, and is alive,” the minister said, adding that Tahir had received injuries on his arms and legs.


    The info minister also said that the man from the video was “not offering prayers” and was actually “recording a TikTok video”. He, however, did not disclose any further details.


    Meanwhile, a man claiming to be Tahir’s brother, Naveed, has said that his family has been “abducted”.


    Confirming that Tahir had survived the fall with a fractured arm and leg, Naveed alleged that his family had now “gone missing”.

     

     


    The same was also claimed by the PTI in a post on its official social media handles.


    “His [Tahir’s] family members have now been abducted from their home in the village. There are concerns of coercion to extract statements and suppress the truth with expectations that the public will blindly accept the authorities’ narrative. This incident is just an example of the scale of the ongoing state repression,” PTI said, adding that it was an example of the “brutality” that “unfolded on Nov 26” at D-Chowk.


    Tahir is among the dozens of protesters who sustained injuries in violent clashes between the PTI and law enforcement during the former’s three-day protests in and around the federal capital.
    Confusion prevails on the total number of casualties at the protest, amid conflicting claims from the camps of both the government and PTI.

  • Hindu social media influencer Rajiv Aditya expresses desire to visit Kaaba

    Hindu social media influencer Rajiv Aditya expresses desire to visit Kaaba

    Hindu social media influencer Rajiv Aditya has expressed his desire to visit Islam’s holiest site, the Kaaba.


    Rajiv Aditya and actress Sana Maqbool had an interesting conversation in a podcast where the influencer expressed his desire to visit Baitullah Sharif.


    Rajiv Aditya said, “I belong to the Hindu religion but I have always wanted to visit the Kaaba.”


    He added, “I am very interested in the Kaaba. If non-Muslims are allowed to go there, I want to go and see it. I am very interested in knowing the history of the Kaaba and the culture there.”

     

    The social media influencer asked host Sana Maqbool about her experience of visiting the Kaaba and said that it would be closer to her heart.


    Responding to Rajiv’s words, Sana Maqbool said that it was a very touching moment, and that every Muslim wants to go to the Kaaba and offer prayers there.


    The host shared her experience and said, “I was crying like a child when I went there. If your heart and intention are pure and your faith is strong, then you will be there. I think my thinking and ideology are very clear that I am going for my master.”


    At the end of the interview, Rajiv Aditya added, “You cannot go to the Kaaba unless you are called.”

  • Is Minal Khan coming back to TV?

    Is Minal Khan coming back to TV?

     

    Fans of actress Minal Khan are eager to know if she will return to television.

     

    Appearing as a guest on ‘What Momsense with Zara Noor Abbas’, the actress has shared her thoughts on a possible return to television screens.

     

    “I ask myself this question every morning, and I tell myself, ‘Yes’, because I am manifesting it for myself. If I don’t think about it, it won’t happen. But I feel my baby is still young and needs her mother. But I do miss television,” she said in response to a question about her potential return.

     

    The Jalan star also spoke about an actress she admired.

     

    “I like Hania Aamir a lot. She is beautiful and talented. I really appreciate how she has transformed herself. I feel like she has accepted everything about herself. She knows who she is. I believe that’s what makes a woman strong. You don’t need to explain to anyone who you are when you already know it yourself,” Minal said.

     

    After giving one hit drama serial after another, Minal took a break from TV serials when she tied the knot with Ahsan Mohsin Ikram on September 10, 2021.

     

    She starred in dramas such as Kaash Main Teri Beti  Na Hoti, Quddusi Sahab Ki Bewah, Mann Ke Moti, Adhoori Aurat, Mere Meherban, Mol, Joru Ka Ghulam, Hum Sab Ajeeb Se Hain, Nand and Ishq Hai.

    Earlier, in a podcast with with Amana Isani Haider’s, actress Minal Khan shared the challenges she faced and how her sister, Aiman Khan, stood by her side.


    “After I conceived, my sister was the first person I told. She was already three months pregnant, and she was so happy for me. She told me, ‘Now you don’t need to think about anything, Minal. I’m here. It’s not difficult; I know you’ll be scared, but I’ll take you along with me on this journey.’ Thanks to her support, I didn’t feel left out,” she said.


    Reflecting on her postpartum experiences, the Nand actress revealed the difficulties she faced after giving birth.


    “After pregnancy, Alhamdulillah, it went smoothly, but postpartum was very difficult. I got sick right after delivery with a severe infection. I had high fever, one night reaching 106 degrees, and my sister, husband and mother were just standing there, praying. In that moment I realized how vulnerable I was… I couldn’t even take a minute off because I was a mother now,” Minal added.

     

  • Saira Banu breaks her silence on separation from A.R. Rahman

    Saira Banu breaks her silence on separation from A.R. Rahman

    Saira Banu, the ex-wife of Oscar-winning Indian composer AR Rahman, has broken her silence on her separation from her husband.

     


    Indian media reports state that Saira Banu introduced herself as Saira Rahman in an audio statement and said, “I am currently in Mumbai. I have not been feeling well physically for the last few months, so I have decided to ‘take a break’ from AR.”

     


    She requested YouTubers and Tamil media not to say anything bad about AR Rahman, stating, “He is a priceless person and the best human being in the world.”

     


    She explained that she had to leave Chennai due to health problems. “I came to Mumbai for my treatment, and this was not possible in Chennai with AR’s busy schedule. I did not want to bother anyone, neither my children nor him.”

     


    She further praised AR Rahman: “He is a wonderful person. And I only request that he be left as he is. I trust and love him more than my own life, and he loves me as much. Therefore, I request you all to stop all false allegations against him, leave us alone, and let him rest in peace. Right now, we have not officially announced anything.”

     


    She stressed that she will return to Chennai soon, but wants to complete her treatment first. “I request you to stop tarnishing his name; he is a priceless personality,” she asked the media. 
    In her statement, Saira Banu did not specify what illness afflicts he. 

     


    Saira Banu announced her separation from her husband after 29 years of marriage.

     


    Saira Banu’s lawyer Vandana Shah released a statement that said that after many years of marriage, Saira has taken the difficult decision to separate from her husband, AR Rahman.

     

     This decision was taken due to complications in their relationship.

     


    The statement mentioned that despite their deep love for each other, the couple felt that due to bitterness and difficulties, a distance had been created between them that both parties are unable to bridge at this time.

     


    Saira requested fans to respect her privacy and emotions during this difficult time.

     


    Later, AR Rahman also issued a message from his X account in which he wrote, “We had hoped to reach 30 years of marriage, but everything in the world has an end that no one has seen. Even the throne of God can tremble due to the burden of broken hearts.”

     


    According to Indian media, AR Rahman married Saira Banu on March 12, 1995. The couple has three children.

     


    AR Rahman and Saira had an arranged marriage. The musician revealed in an interview that his mother had arranged Saira’s marriage.

  • PTI decides to head to Islamabad, again

    PTI decides to head to Islamabad, again

    Days after being forced to retreat to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) amid dozens of casualties at the protest march, the Parliamentary Committee of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to head back to Islamabad with “full preparations”.

     

    As per the details, KP Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur chaired a meeting of the party’s parliamentary committee at the CM House with Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs) and Members of National Assembly (MNAs) in attendance.

     

    During the meeting, the party’s lawmakers expressed confidence in CM Gandapur and discussed law enforcement’s violence against PTI workers in the federal capital. They also put forth their suggestions for the future.

     

    The parliamentary committee expressed displeasure over the party’s central leadership and questioned why was it absent when “law enforcement opened fire at D-Chowk”.

     

    Despite the government repeatedly denying claims regarding the use of lethal rounds, the PTI leadership maintains that dozens of its supporters were killed after security forces opened fire during Tuesday night’s grand clearance operation.

     

    The KP CM had on Friday night also issued threats to the federal government, saying, “We are coming back to Islamabad, and a decision has been made regarding this.”

     

    “We will fight for our rights, and if we do not receive justice, we will respond in the same manner… our children have been martyred,” he said on the floor of the KP Assembly.

     

    Gandapur also responded to the claims regarding the imposition of Governor’s Rule in the province. “We are not interested in power and positions. We cannot be intimidated by such threats. Try us,” he added.

     

    Earlier, Adviser to PM on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah had stated that the federal cabinet, in its meeting, discussed the option of imposing Governor’s Rule in KP.

     

    He said the matter came up for consideration as KP’s resources were being used to “stage violent protests” in Islamabad.

     

    While a majority of federal cabinet members supported the proposal, consensus could not be reached with allies of the ruling PML-N.

     

    Awami National Party (ANP) chief Aimal Wali Khan, while addressing a press conference along with KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Friday, said that Governor’s Rule in KP was not the solution to the ongoing crises.

     

    Governor Kundi himself also opposed Governor’s Rule, but added that he had only heard about it on the news.

     

    Kundi also reacted to a recently-tabled resolution in the Punjab Assembly, which sought a ban on the PTI. “The events of May 9 and November 24 provide enough justification for a ban. PTI has been a disruptive force in the province for years.”

  • ICC meeting on Champions Trophy postponed again

    ICC meeting on Champions Trophy postponed again

    A crucial International Cricket Council (ICC) Board meeting, scheduled for Saturday, to decide on the fate of the hosting of the Champions Trophy has been postponed again. 

     

    Yesterday’s ICC board meeting on the venue of the Champions Trophy could not be decided, after which the meeting was postponed until today.

     

    However, ICC sources now say that the Board meeting will not be held today. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is standing by its stance, while the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has asked for more time after Pakistan’s refusal to buckle to pressure. 

     

    According to Geo, the ICC board meeting is likely to be held in the next 48 hours, while the term of ICC Chairman Greg Barclay is also likely to be extended by one month.

     

    ICC Chairman Greg Barclay’s term was scheduled till November 30. India’s Jay Shah was to take over as ICC Chairman from December 1.

     

    A decision was to be made at the ICC board meeting today on whether the Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan or not.

     

    Pakistan had asked for an acceptable formula for the trophy before the board meeting, and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi informed the ICC of Pakistan’s clear stance.

     

    Earlier, Mohsin Naqvi had said that the Board will bear wounds, but will not let their honour be compromised.  PCB has almost completed all the arrangements for the Champions Trophy.

     

    India’s refusal to come to Pakistan has complicated the matter, and PCB says that a match with India at a neutral venue under a hybrid model is not acceptable.

     

    India is lobbying to take the entire Champions Trophy out of Pakistan, but PCB has prepared to block Indian tactics. The Pakistan Cricket Board will not accept any option without its conditions.

     

    How much will PCB get from hosting the Champions Trophy?

    Pakistan is set to host the Champions Trophy 2025, but do you know how much money the country will get to host the mega event?

     

    According to reports, Pakistan will get $6 million for hosting rights to the ICC Champions Trophy. Pakistan will also have to pay $1.2 to $1.3 million as a premium to the insurance company to insure the tournament. Pakistan will get more dollars from gate money and hospitality, thus deducting the insurance amount and getting about $6 million.

     

    The ICC provides Pakistan with two instalments of $13 million from its income every year in January and July, while India gets 38 per cent of the annual share of ICC income, which is $90 to $95 million.