Author: newsdesk

  • ‘Fool nahi hota, phool hota hai,’ Shabana Azmi giving Urdu lesson to Indian makeup artist will make you smile

    ‘Fool nahi hota, phool hota hai,’ Shabana Azmi giving Urdu lesson to Indian makeup artist will make you smile

    Indian film legend Shabana Azmi has one of the best Urdu dictions in Bollywood. After all, the thespian is the daughter of Urdu poet Kaifi Azmi and the wife of lyricist Javed Akhtar.

    She recently made headlines when she corrected the pronunciation of a makeup artist during a fun glam session.

    Aafreen makeup artist shared their experience on social media, highlighting Azmi’s gentle correction. Azmi humorously remarked, “Fool nahi hota, phool hota hai,” and added, “Fir nahi, phir hota hai. Kash main tum logo ki Urdu theek kar pati” (It’s not ‘fool’ but ‘phool,’ and not ‘fir’ but ‘phir.’ I wish I could fix your Urdu).
    Aafreen from Mumbai expressed admiration for Azmi in a post, calling her the “OG Queen” and writing, “I learned so much from her and am in awe of the knowledge she has to share with us.”

    Azmi is often referred to as the “Urdu Queen” for her eloquence.

    Rekhta-Foundation, an Indian platform that works to promote Urdu literature and poetry, also shared the video.

  • Polio worker gives harrowing testimony of being raped on duty

    Polio worker gives harrowing testimony of being raped on duty

    A polio worker testified before a Jacobabad court on Friday that she was raped while on duty, after medical reports suggested that the crime potentially did take place.

    Jacobabad Deputy Commissioner Zahoor Murri also confirmed that the polio worker was allegedly raped on Wednesday in a nearby village. The DC added that police arrived at the scene of the incident and transferred the victim to a hospital under tight security, where a medicolegal examination was conducted.

    A day after the incident, the victim told the media that she was robbed of her phone and valuables. At the same time, she dismissed allegations of sexual assault.

    She asserted that when she was returning home after administering polio drops to children at the last house on her list when a man robbed her of her mobile phone and money at gunpoint and escaped. “I was so traumatised and my heart was beating so fast that my team leader immediately took me to Jacobabad Institute of Medical Science,” she had said.

    However, on Friday, Jacobabad District and Sessions Judge Syed Sharafuddin Shah presided over a hearing where the victim retracted her old statement and testified that she was sexually assaulted at gunpoint three days ago while she was on duty in the village.

    She also appealed to the judge to allow her to go to her parents’ home, whereupon the court ordered the police to escort her there.

    A District Health Officer report submitted in the court also suggested that the polio worker “might have been sexually assaulted”.

    On the other hand, the court rejected the police report submitted by the local police, observing that it was incomplete. The judge ordered the police to submit a complete report by the next hearing on September 23.

    The court ordered the police to submit a “transparent” report “on [the] basis of ocular and medical evidence”.

    Additionally, the DHO was ordered to submit five years’ worth of records for the polio worker before the court adjourned until the next hearing on September 23.

    After the hearing, the victim’s lawyers held a press conference where they alleged that the police wanted to “spoil the case as they had submitted an incomplete report before the court”.

    The lawyers also alleged that the polio worker had been pressured to give a different statement while in police custody, adding that influential people wanted to protect the suspect as he belonged to the powerful Jakhrani clan.

    On the other hand, local police stated that they ensured the safety of the victim and confirmed that the polio worker was assaulted but she could not give a statement as she was traumatized by the incident.

  • Justice Munib Akhtar walks out of Judicial Commission meeting

    Justice Munib Akhtar walks out of Judicial Commission meeting

    Supreme Court Justice Munib Akhtar walked out of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) meeting, which was held to review the JCP Rules 2024 concerning the elevation of judges to the superior judiciary.

    The News reported that Justice Akhtar asked Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan about the progress of the government’s intended legislation on superior court judges. AGP Awan responded that he should direct his question to Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and stated that the meeting was not the appropriate forum for such questions.

    Following these remarks, Justice Akhtar suggested postponing the meeting but faced disagreement from fellow judges, prompting him to walk out alone. The JCP meeting continued without him.

    The commission, led by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, discussed various clauses of the rules. The meeting was attended by four provincial law ministers and top court judges, including Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, retired Justice Manzoor Malik, and AGP Mansoor Usman Awan.

    There has been no official confirmation regarding Justice Munib Akhtar’s departure from the meeting.

    Earlier, the commission wrote to the chief justices of the five high courts, requesting nominations for candidates to be elevated as additional judges under the 2024 Rules.

  • From flops to TV stardom: Waseem Abbas opens up about 18 failed films

    From flops to TV stardom: Waseem Abbas opens up about 18 failed films

    Veteran actor Waseem Abbas is one of the most successful actors to have made a name for himself in TV dramas, films and theater. But it wasn’t always like this.

    During an appearance as a guest on Showtime with Ramiz Raja, Abbas shared a story about his film career, revealing that 18 of his films flopped.

    Ramiz Raja asked “So your track record in films is also quite something. We’ve heard that out of 19 films, 18 were flops.”

    Waseem Abbas replied, “Out of 19, 18 didn’t work. When my film would flop, and I would be sitting in the studio because we had our own production house, I wasn’t cast by my own production house. I used to tell my father, I don’t want to work in this, and he would ask, ‘Why?’ I would reply, ‘Because the film will fail.’ So, when a producer would come to sign me, I would look at his face and think, ‘Why has he come here? I’ve already given 15 flops, and now he’s back again?’ Then, when the film would be released, I’d ask, ‘Why isn’t that guy showing up at the studio?’ and they’d say, ‘He’s left.’”

  • Father, stepmother arrested after girl tortured to death

    Father, stepmother arrested after girl tortured to death

    A minor girl identified as Muskan was allegedly tortured to death in her Baghbanpura home on Shalimar Road in Lahore.

    The body of eight-year-old Muskan showed clear signs of torture.

    Dawn reports that police took her father and stepmother into custody for interrogation after neighbours claimed they had previously abused the girl over trivial matters.

    A police official told Dawn that a next-door neighbour alerted them when they heard the girl crying.

    However, when they arrived at the scene, police found the girl with severe wounds all over her body.

    She succumbed to the injuries including deep cuts on her neck. Her swollen limbs indicated she had been beaten with a hard object. There were signs of burns on her arms.

    Additionally, police cordoned off certain areas of the house for forensic analysis.

    Muskan’s father had remarried and the young girl had reportedly occasionally faced brutal treatment from her stepmother, according to the neighbours.
    A police investigation is going on to determine the father’s role in the alleged abuse leading to Muskan’s death.

    An autopsy report is awaited.

  • PM Shehbaz Sharif credits ‘friendly nations’ for securing IMF deal

    PM Shehbaz Sharif credits ‘friendly nations’ for securing IMF deal

    Prime Minister (PM) Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif has acknowledged the efforts of friendly countries for facilitating Pakistan in securing the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programme.

    Speaking to young parliamentarians of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), he lauded the efforts of China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, the Army Chief and the incumbent government’s economic plan team.

    PM Sharif said that he hoped the upcoming IMF programme would be the last.

    He clarified that there will be no tolerance for tax evasion and stressed extending tax collection.

    Journalist Fakhar Durrani revealed in Talk SHOCK, a YouTube channel, that the IMF demanded two things from the Pakistan government before approving a seven-billion-dollar loan.

    He claimed that the first demand was a two billion dollars guarantee, which the government fulfilled by securing it from Standard Chartered Bank; the second demand was also fulfilled by securing a guarantee from Saudi Arabia on the deferred oil payment.

  • Ishaan Khatter discusses how ‘objectification’ shaped his role in The Perfect Couple

    Ishaan Khatter discusses how ‘objectification’ shaped his role in The Perfect Couple

    Bollywood actor Ishaan Khatter is gaining attention with his latest Netflix series, ‘The Perfect Couple,’ a murder mystery led by Nicole Kidman.

    Known for choosing diverse roles to break away from the “nepo baby” label, Khatter shared how this experience was groundbreaking for him as a brown actor in Western media.

    In an interview with BBC Asia’s Haroon Rashid, he spoke about being objectified as a South Asian man in the series.

    In The Perfect Couple, Khatter plays Shooter, the richest Indian man who is portrayed as attractive — a rare representation of South Asian men in global cinema.

    Rashid pointed out that while Indian women, like Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone, have been cast in glamorous roles, men from the region are not often shown as desirable.

    Khatter agreed, saying, “Yes, I was objectified. It was one of the things that made the character unique and appealing to me.”

    “It was a stepping stone and a moment in history in that sense. I just thought it was a cool character. It was fun to play into that, and I haven’t played a role like this even back home,” he added.

    While Khatter’s role is admired for his looks, the actor also brought depth to the role. He explained that even though objectification was part of it, Shooter is a complex role, something often missing in Western portrayals of South Asian men.

    “I never felt like I was playing a token diversity role,” Khatter said. “They were casting widely, and I saw the chance to dive into a three-dimensional character. And what a role it was.”

    Khatter’s performance in The Perfect Couple marks a shift in how Hollywood portrays South Asian men.

  • Man suspected of killing three minor sisters acquitted by court

    Man suspected of killing three minor sisters acquitted by court

    A local court in Muzaffargarh has acquitted a brother charged with killing three juvenile sisters by slitting their throats on the parents’ insistence.

    Geo News reported that the parents paved the way for the acquittal of the accused by submitting a consent letter in the court.

    The incident took place in Muzaffargarh’s Thermal Colony, where Basit mutilated his three sisters, seven-year-old Abiha, eight-year-old Zahra and 11-year-old Arisha. The girls’ bodies were found in a residential quarter adjacent to their house.

    Notably, the accused confessed to the murders after his arrest.

    Additional Sessions Judge Chaudhry Muhammad Asif issued an order of acquittal almost two and a half years after the incident.

    DPO Muzaffargarh Syed Hasnain Haider told Geo that a review appeal will be decided after reviewing the written decision of he court which is yet to be issued.

  • Hania Aamir celebrates eight years of acting career

    Hania Aamir celebrates eight years of acting career

    Famous actress Hania Aamir is celebrating eight years in the entertainment industry.

    Sharing an old clip from her early acting days on Instagram, Hania wrote, “This girl had no idea she would come this far. It makes me so happy to know that I’ve met amazing people, made great memories, discovered more about myself, and found the best online community.”

    With 15 million Instagram followers — the most for any Pakistani celebrity on the platform — Hania often shares short vlogs, reels, and relatable everyday photos.

    She thanked her fans for supporting her, even during tough times when she felt like giving up.

    “We’ve been through so much together. And here we are, enjoying life. I love you all,” she said, thanking her audience again for always standing by her.
    Hania also wished for “many more years of happiness, joy, authenticity, and peace.”

    Earlier this year, Hania wrote about mental health struggles, saying there’s “absolutely no shame in talking about mental health or asking for help.”

    Her social media presence, along with her acting talent, has made her even more popular with fans around the world. Her Instagram posts are filled with love and admiration from fans in Pakistan, India, and beyond.

  • ‘PPP not in favour of Governor Raj, but…’; Bilawal Bhutto leaves option open

    ‘PPP not in favour of Governor Raj, but…’; Bilawal Bhutto leaves option open

    Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday said that his party is not in favour of imposing Governor Raj in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), but the option could be considered following the deteriorating security situation in KP.

    Talking to journalists after attending a National Assembly (NA) session, former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto stated, “PPP is generally not in favour of Governor Rule. There are very limited circumstances for it.”

    He remarked that the 18th Amendment to the Constitution made sure that if a governor rule is imposed anywhere, the provincial assembly has the authority to ensure it is not imposed for a longer period.
    Responding to the security situation in Balochistan and KP, he remarked that CM KP is struggling in his own village.

    He said, “The Centre and provincial government must deal with this situation together. For the first time, it is visible that it’s not just a question of national security but also there is a threat to the establishment of peace.”

    Responding to questions about nineteenth constitutional amendment, Bhutto said that it would be made with the representative’s consensus of all parties in the committee.