Author: newsdesk

  • Tributes pour in for screen legend Qavi Khan

    Tributes pour in for screen legend Qavi Khan

    On Sunday night, Qavi Khan breathed his last, bringing an end to a long and celebrated career in film and television. The veteran actor who had been regarded as one of the most celebrated performers in the Pakistani entertainment industry, had acted in more than 200 films and dozens of drama serials. He was a fan favourite, gracing screens across the country for many decades in iconic dramas like ‘Aangan’ and ‘Ishq Jalebli’.
    Tributes are pouring in from celebrities and fans alike. Actors who had worked with Khan shared their grief on social media and also shed light on the experience they had while performing with him.

    Actor Nadia Jamil shared a video clip of Khan and a picture of them together, remembering Khan for “his words, his kindness, his work, his talent and his heart.”

    Singer and actor Farhan Saeed termed the actor as an irreplaceable part of the television industry

    Actor Sophia Mirza shared a clip of her first drama serial with Khan, and praised him for being an “academy for actors.”

    Actor Sami Khan sent a tribute to Khan as a ‘great human being’

    Actor Adnan Siddiqui remembered Khan as someone whose ‘stature in the industry will remain unmatched’.

  • Aurat March not allowed to take place at same venue as Haya March, security to be withdrawn if location not changed, warns administration

    Aurat March not allowed to take place at same venue as Haya March, security to be withdrawn if location not changed, warns administration

    Aurat March, scheduled to take place on March 8 to protest injustices against women and minorities has been denied permission to hold a public rally by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rafia Haider.

    While talking exclusively to The Current, activist and one of the volunteers of Aurat March, Leena Ghani, said that they had applied for a Non-Objection Certificate (NOC) on February 13 for the march to be held on the decided date. However, the administration backed out at the last moment.

    “At the time, in a meeting with deputy commissioner Rafia, she assured us. However, later she sent a rejection letter,” Ghani revealed.

    She said that in the letter, the administration has also banned them from gathering at Lahore Press Club, from where the march typically starts every year.

    About the meeting they had with Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operations on Friday, she mentioned that they kept on insisting on changing Aurat March venue. “It seems like they have promised Nasir Bagh to Haya March organisers for a gathering, that’s why they want us to pressurise now.”

    She also added that police have said that security won’t be provided if they don’t change the venue. However, the organisers remained adamant that security should be provided regardless of the fact that where they want to protest.

    Moreover, she mentioned that NOC is just a formality, and in the past, a verbal agreement used to take place.

    “NOC is not needed in order to exercise your constitutional right to march,” said Ghani.

    Now, she said that they are going to move Lahore High Court (LHC) to challenge the decision.

    Sabahat Rizvi challenges denial of NOC to Aurat March

    Earlier, the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) Secretary Sabahat Rizvi challenged the decision of DC Haider.

    The development took place after DC’s decision was condemned and criticised by organisations including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).

    Many people have argued that it is an attempt to suppress women’s voices and prevent them from exercising their constitutional rights.

    ‘We will march’: Aurat March determined despite NOC denial

    NOC was denied on the grounds of “security concerns, controversial banners and posters, strong reservations by the general public and religious organisations and the likelihood of clashes with members of Jamaat-i-Islami’s Haya March.”

    Reacting to the denial of the NOC, organisers have remained adamant that they will march on the decided date as they don’t require a NOC to exercise their constitutional rights.

    “Women, khawaja sara community, transgender persons, gender non-conforming people, and allies of the Aurat March have the right to assembly under Article 16 of the Constitution of Pakistan,” they said.

    They highlighted that “large crowds are allowed to gather for PSL, but a peaceful gathering of women and gender minorities is being silenced and denied their constitutional right to assembly.”

    They added the administration has forgotten that the courts have already upheld their right to hold Aurat March in 2020. 

    It is not the first time that the city’s authorities have imposed such a restriction. Last year, the organisers in Lahore had been urged to cancel the rally over safety concerns. The march was also arbitrarily cut short by the district administration despite being given permission.

  • In Bannistan, slaps get more praises than hugs

    Bannistan: the name that keeps circulating every now and then on social media, because it defines what it means to be a resident of Pakistan.

    In an era of inflation, robberies, the never ending rise of lynch mobs and rape cases, rather than looking for ways to encourage joy and laughter, we’ve pointed our pitchforks towards anything and anyone celebrating to their own beat. Whether it is women dancing in the streets, a bride dancing the night away on her wedding, the most simplest forms of affection and love will irk and anger us because after all, the most important rule in the land of Bannistan is to never let joy prevail.

    In the darkest times of humanity, it is our films and dramas that have sustained us and provided us with a glimmer of joy. Like when the Covid-19 pandemic shut down our lifestyles, we turned to films and movies to cope with the fear of surviving this deadly disease. Another poignant example is shown in the documentary ‘The Romantics’ when Aditya Chopra recalls how when there were a few weeks left before the release of his rom-com ‘Rab Nay Banadi Jodi’, the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai took place which wrecked destruction and fear across India. Terrified of the anticipated backlash, Chopra narrated how despite many of his colleagues insisting him to push the film’s release forward, he refused. Because as he declared: this was a more critical time than ever that people had a reason to find joy.

    Films aren’t just a form of entertainment, but a powerful medium to give solace to those struggling to find joy. It is also a powerful tool that can reach across masses beyond than politicians to spread messages about social issues. In this time more than ever, we need our films to teach empathy and love to their audiences, but the rules are completely opposite in the land of Bannistan. Because here, what gets the most ratings is divorces, crying bahus, slaps, incest and anything that involves fear and oppression.

    A scene from a Pakistani drama ‘Tere Bin’ has been going viral since yesterday because it featured a couple sleeping in the same bed together, along with the caption “Censor board is sleeping?” Because in the land of Bannistan, nothing makes us clutch our pearls more than a man and a woman being happy with each other.

    Mind you, this is the first time this drama began circulating widely among national discourse for literally a five minute scene where the two are soundly sleeping next to each other, but several other instances of violence depicted in the same drama had not received the same amount of rage. In the last 30 episodes of the same show, we watch a woman being forcibly married to her cousin, placed under house arrest and barred from meeting her foster parents, slapped by her fiance, slapped by her mother in law, tried to commit suicide. Did you ever hear about such scenes? Nope, because this consistent oppression and cruel manner of stamping out joy is what keeps Pakistanis happy. We hate joy. We hate watching women in consensual, happy relationships.
    What is a tragedy in this mess is this limited, but moving scene from Tere Bin is just a drop in the thousands of dramas Pakistanis celebrate and champion to promote family values everyday, which are littered with misogynist messages and scenes depicting violence and abuse.

    Our censor board sent several notices to ‘Dil Na Umeed Tou Nahi’ because apparently, it is a sin to depict how vulnerable children from lower class families are easy targets for sex trafficking, but a drama like ‘Mere Pass Tum Ho’ get’s a theatrical screening across Pakistan because it shows us for who we really are, a women-hating nation whose biggest nightmare is a woman getting financially independent and wanting a comfortable lifestyle. Any time there has been an attempt to tell moving stories that championed voices of the oppressed, or tried to encourage dialogues about empathy or love, we stamp it out because it’s alien to us. Label them as ‘un-islamic’ and vulgar because we’re a nation of soul suckers, who can’t thrive properly unless we’re watching the misery of others before us.

    It’s imperative now more than ever that we re-think the success formulae of our dramas and movies, especially the kind of messages they are sending to their audiences. Because if a five minute scene featuring a brief intimate moment between a couple is enough to create a national storm, what does it reveal about the way men and women view each other in Pakistan. Pakistani women deserve better stories than what Pakistani audiences are providing them. Our younger generation doesn’t deserve to grow up knowing that a happy couple is a sinful couple, but should remember that like Chopra said, it’s essential that in times of tragedy we try to look for ways to uplift each other.

  • ‘Dekha mein kitna smile karti hoon’: Jaya Bachchan’s interaction with the press goes viral

    ‘Dekha mein kitna smile karti hoon’: Jaya Bachchan’s interaction with the press goes viral

    Veteran actress and politician Jaya Bachchan wouldn’t consider celebrity photographers to be her best friends, as in the past few years she has had a few altercations with them when they tried to approach her at events.
    However, lag raha tha bahaar agayi when Bachchan pleasantly posed for photos with two other women and cheekily remarked, “dekha mein kitna smile karti hoon.”

    Since yesterday, this clip has gone viral on Twitter with users calling Bachchan an icon for her hilarious interaction with a photographer.

    Same with us

    Perhaps the most iconic moment of this entire interaction

    Truly the GOAT

  • Child actor Emaan Khan opens up about ‘being dark’ in the entertainment industry

    Child actor Emaan Khan opens up about ‘being dark’ in the entertainment industry

    Emaan Khan is currently winning hearts across Pakistan with her moving perforomance as Neha in the drama ‘Kuch Ankahi’.
    She was recently a guest on Fuchsia Magazine’s talk show where she opened up about being shamed for her skin color when she was in the early stages of her career.
    Khan recalled an instance when a director commented about her dark skin to her mother while she was auditioning.
    “When I came here I had to listen to a lot of hurtful comments about my complexion. My color is a bit dull. When I was young I had gone somewhere for an audition, so they called me in and then ask ‘Is this Eman?’ And my mother said ‘Yes’.
    “‘She’s so dark!’ they said right away. And I remember at that point tears came to my eyes.”
    Khan recalled that the people told her mother that they were looking for fair skinned people for this project, and didn’t want people like her.
    Khan further mentioned how her mother stood up for her at that point:
    ‘I went outside and stood there. From inside, I could hear my mother saying ‘From now onwards, Emaan will never work with you’. And this has happened. Recently, they called me again and my mother refused to allow them to work with me again.”
    Khan said that she will never be ashamed of her own skin color because she likes it so much. She also revealed how makeup artists will try to encourage her to lighten her skin for shoots.
    “They would say to me ‘Tum na thori white base use kya karo’ And I would simply tell them that this is my complexion and this is the base I will keep using. I don’t need any suggestions from you. I know what exactly I have to do here.”
    Khan said directors still do taunt her about not having fair skin, but she refuses to work in the same project and leaves, and finds better opportunities because of these insults.

    Listen to the complete interview here:

  • Celebrities defend Sami Khan after misbehavior on ‘The Fourth Umpire Show’

    Celebrities defend Sami Khan after misbehavior on ‘The Fourth Umpire Show’

    Actor Sami Khan was trending on Twitter yesterday when a clip of his appearance at “The Fourth Umpire”.

    The hosts of the comedy show used inappropriate expressions about Khan’s career. In the clip shared by Galaxy Lollywood, the actor can be seen being asked about his film career, pay grade and other questions that are deemed insulting

    As this clip went viral, celebrities came to defend Khan and criticized the hosts of ‘The Fourth Umpire’ for their cruel behavior.

    Muneeb Butt defended Khan as an “amazing artist and phenomenal actor” and called out the host Sheikh Qasim for his misbehavior

    “Sami bhai is an amazing artist and a phenomenal actor no one has a right to insult him like this Strongly condemn this act of sheikh Qasim he should apologise!”

    Actresses Ayesha Omar and Armeena Khan also came to Khan’s defense, by pointing out that the clip was not funny at all and was infact, quite uncomfortable to watch.

    “This was so uncomfortable to watch. @sami_khan.official is a fabulous actor and one of the most respectful, committed, professional and joyful people to work with and bravo to him for handling this with so much grace. degradating your guests or anyone else is not funny at all. If he wasn’t successful, he wouldn’t be a guest in their show” wrote Ayesha Omar.

    Armeena Khan said “So rude and not funny at all. Sami is a phenomenal actor, incredibly popular within the fraternity, a true professional. A gentleman and one of my fav co-stars. He maintained his composure despite all the insults thrown at him here. You’re the best Sami!”

    Actor Ghana Ali shared that Khan had many succesful shows in the past, and because he wasn’t currently the most popular actor doesn’t mean he won’t ever be.

    “Is this man ok? there are so many hit projects of his , if Sami bhai dosent have successful career then who does he’s consistently on top from years hes an amazing actor! And extremely humble , how can they even allow him to talk to him like that … that’s a shame”

    Sami Khan addressed the controversy on his Instagram stories last night where he shared that success and failure was not in the hands of people, but rather in the hands of God.

  • Customers express frustration over inability to pay for Netflix with Islamic Cards while being charged Sood for late payments

    Customers express frustration over inability to pay for Netflix with Islamic Cards while being charged Sood for late payments

    A Faysal Bank customer expressed his discontent with the bank on Facebook after his credit card was converted into a shariah-compliant card called “Noor Islamic Card”. The customer complained that he is unable to make transactions with Netflix or use the card for any “unislamic” purposes.

    He posted on Facebook, saying, “Just converted my Faysal Bank Credit into Noor Islamic Card. Now I can’t use the card on Netflix, bcoz they have become Islamic, and they cannot allow their customers to use their card on any unislamic things.”

    Other users also commented on the post, with one user pointing out that the bank still charges interest, which they refer to as Musawah payment, if a bill is not paid on time. Another user claimed that their conventional credit card was converted into a Noor Islamic Card without their consent and the bank’s response to their complaint was unsatisfactory.

    Many users expressed their frustration with the bank’s service, with some even stating that they would be closing their Faysal Islamic Card account due to the Netflix payment issue. One user also pointed out that Meezan Bank has the same policy regarding Netflix transactions.

    Another user shared their experience, stating that their Faysal Bank card did not work when they tried to buy movie tickets and food at the bank’s food court on the same day that their card was converted from a conventional card to an Islamic one. It was only then that they realized that their card had been converted.

    The conversion of conventional credit cards into shariah-compliant cards is a growing trend in Pakistan’s banking sector. While this is seen as a positive move by some customers, others are skeptical of the benefits and limitations of shariah compliant cards.

  • ‘Kapray istari karne ke liye frying pan bhi nahin deeya,’ Asad Umar jokes after being released from jail

    ‘Kapray istari karne ke liye frying pan bhi nahin deeya,’ Asad Umar jokes after being released from jail

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar has been released from Rajanpur District Jail after he voluntarily got arrested as part of his party’s Jail Bharo Tehreek (voluntary arrest movement).

    After the release, Umar praised party workers for participating in the movement.

    In another tweet, he took a jibe at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice-President Maryam Nawaz, joking that jail officials did not provide him with a frying pan to iron his clothes.

    Several other prominent leaders also got released from jail including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Senator Azam Swati and Zulfi Bukhari.

    Swati, after being released from Raheem Yar Khan district jail, said that “political engineering should stop now”. 

    PTI’s Zulfi Bukhari and Fayyaz ul Hassan Chauhan were released from Sargodha jail, while former Punjab Governor Umar Sarfaraz Cheema, Azam Khan Niazi, Sadaqat Abbasi, Ejaz Khan and others were also among the released PTI workers.

    The movement had been announced by PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the wake of the coalition government’s spree of arrests of key PTI leaders. However, after the Supreme Court’s verdict about the elections, the PTI chief called off the movement.

    LHC orders release of arrested PTI leaders during Jail Bharo Tehreek

    Earlier, Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered the release of the arrested leaders of PTI during Jail Bharo Tehreek.

    Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh issued the order on the application of Fawad Chaudhry. The court suspended the detention orders of Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar and other party leaders..

    The court also asked the parties, including the Punjab government, to respond on March 7.

    It is pertinent to mention here, that PTI leaders Shah Mahmood, Asad Umar and other leaders and activists were arrested from Lahore and transferred to other jails in the province.

  • City in Sindh goes viral for being ‘super-clean’, where Muslim, Hindu residents clean up together

    A few days ago, Mithi, a city in Sindh, went viral on Twitter for its clean roads and responsible citizens who have kept their surroundings neat.

    “Zero litter or garbage This is one of the streets within Mithi City. The picture is captured at 4:00 PM, after the rush hours. The usual cleaning happens once a day, early in the morning. Now compare it to urban cities Diff in civic sense between Jahil log & parhe likhe log”

    Soon, other residents of the city spoke up and confirmed that the people of this area ensure that Mithi remains clean.

    https://twitter.com/Smahaseghani/status/1631571150458216449?s=20

    Activist and painter Zulkfiqar Bhutto commented that he had also visited Mithi and regarded it as ‘the cleanest city I’ve ever seen in Pakistan’.

    Mithi is a small town located near Tharparker, Sindh, and is also known as the only place where 80% of the population comprises of Hindus.

    The area is known for the strong interfaith harmony between Muslims and Hindus, as Dawn writer Hassan Raza noted that in this town, Muslims will not slaughter cows out of respect for Hindus, and Hindus will not hold any marriage ceremonies or celebrations during the month of Muharram.

    “In our village, Hindus and Muslims have been living together for decades and there has not been a single day, when I have seen a religious conflict. No loud speaker is used for Azaan at the time when Hindus are worshiping in their temple, and no bells are rung when it is time for namaz. Nobody eats in public when it is Ramazan and Holi is played by every member of the village.”

    BBC Urdu also ran a story in 2021 about how in Mithi, both Hindus and Muslims come together to celebrate the Holi festival.