Author: newsdesk

  • Swabi woman undergoes surgery to become ‘Umer Qureshi’

    Swabi woman undergoes surgery to become ‘Umer Qureshi’

    A woman hailing from the Swabi district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa became a man after successful surgery on Friday.

    Talking to The Express Tribune, the woman’s brother Inamul Hassan said that his sister is an EDO education at Razzar Tehsil in Swabi. She earlier had two surgeries in Haripur district as well.

    The unmarried woman is in her 40s and lives with her parents in a village, Yar-e-Hussain.

    “A final decision about her sex would be announced after full recovery from procedures,” stated Inam.

    Photo via The Express Tribune

    Expressing his joy for having another brother in the family, Inam said he has six sisters and two brothers but now would have an elder brother as Umer Qureshi, referring to his sister with her new name.

    Read more – Pakistani passport fourth weakest in world; only stronger than Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan

    A senior official in the district education office said that it will be the decision of the provincial education ministry to let her continue on the position of EDO or change it as she is not a “woman” anymore.

    She needs a medical certificate from relevant doctors after going through such procedure as it is a legal requirement in such cases, the official explained.

    “I cannot comment on her future assignments as it’s purely provincial ministry’s domain and what rights would she enjoy at her office… all I can say is that she would need to produce medical certificates,” he added.

    “The gender changing procedures conducted abroad are considered legal, but here due to legal restrictions and religious reason, we hide our patients from the public while the family also keeps quiet,” a doctor, who wished not to be named, told The Express Tribune.

    He explained that the process required two surgeries, one for changing the gender and the other for dominating the sex they were given by the nature, adding such patients have symptoms of both genders but procedures can be different from being simple to complex depending on the body structure of the patient.

    “After the procedures, we always issue the patients certificate for changing their names and genders in legal documents. If they are serving in public offices then they need to make changes in the respected department as well,” he added.

    He further said that the people should not hesitate for such procedures if they have such symptoms.

    “Don’t be shy about what you really are. Such procedures are mostly conducted in Thailand or other countries, but it needs legal coverage in Pakistan to avoid legal restrictions.”

    He revealed that he usually performs 20 to 30 such procedures a year but people refuse to receive their certificates and try to hide the changes.

  • VIDEO: Indians fall in love with Pakistani ‘journalists with spine’ over press conference boycott video

    VIDEO: Indians fall in love with Pakistani ‘journalists with spine’ over press conference boycott video

    Indians have fallen in love with Pakistani media persons, lauding them and calling them “journalists with spines” after a video of a group of the same boycotting a press conference went viral on social media.

    In the viral video, one of the journalists, namely Riaz Gondal, can be seen calling out government officials for making media persons wait for hours for the press conference. “We have been waiting for two hours. Corruption in Jhelum is rampant. All government officials are looting the people in the name of welfare,” he tells the officials upon their arrival.

    “But since you have wasted our time, we are boycotting your press conference,” Gondal adds as all journalists then remove their mics from the podium.

    Though the exact details are not yet available, a social media user claimed that journalists boycotted the deputy commissioner’s press conference.

    The video has been watched and shared over a million times, especially across the border — where media is time and again accused of being a lapdog of the government.

    Here’s how Indians showered praises on the professionals on this side of the border:

    “Backbone of Pakistani media,” wrote a user in Hindi.

    https://twitter.com/sd1733/status/1381792107988316163
  • ‘Nand’ ends after 146 episodes with Gohar’s death

    ‘Nand’ ends after 146 episodes with Gohar’s death

    ARY Digital’s masala-packed drama Nand finally came to a close on April 13 after 146 episodes with main antagonist Gohar’s death. The drama had everything from miscarriages to scheming nands and bhabhis and even plastic surgery.

    Gohar’s domineering, jealous, and unsympathetic nature led her to a painful and heart-rending death. For those who haven’t watch the finale and want to know, Gohar died after her second husband poisoned her.

    Nand originally featured Faiza Hasan, Shahroz Sabzwari, Minal Khan, Aijaz Aslam, Maha Hasan, and Ayaz Samoo in the lead and revolved around three couples, Gohar (Hasan) and Jehangir (Aslam), Saqib (Sabzwari) and Rabi (Khan), and Hasan (Samoo) and Farwa (Maha).

    The drama busted rating charts with Hasan’s unbeaten acting. After ruining everyone’s lives and getting exposed Gohar got perfect retribution for her evil deeds – she lost her mind and started living on the streets following which audiences believed the drama was close to an end. But turns out the makers had other plans up their sleeves. They turned the drama into a Pakistani version of a Star Plus drama.

    The drama had taken a complete turn from when it began and the titular character Gohar aka the Nand had gotten a face transformation and Hasan, who initially played the role and was a major attraction, was replaced by Javeria Saud.

    The Nand was not the only one who had undergone a change but another female protagonist Rabi (played by Minal) died in Episode 95 that aired on January 13, 2021. Rabi and her daughter Dua died in a car accident in Germany, where they had gone to visit Rabi’s sister-in-law.

    However, even after Saud replaced Hasan, many watched the drama but soon began to lose interest because the drama dragged on tirelessly.

    With multiple new faces taking the story forward, Gohar did not learn from her mistakes and continued on different ventures making life for those around her hell.

    After eight long months, the drama’s makers decided to end everyone’s suffering, including those of the audiences, and wrap up the show. While many viewers loved the drama giving it strong ratings, it drew mixed reviews with many wanting it to end. Hence, in an attempt to leave audiences satisfied, the drama makers gave Gohar a painful and tragic death for all the havoc she caused in other people’s lives.

    Meanwhile, announcing the news of the drama’s conclusion, Aijaz Aslam wrote: “Finally it’s over. A beautiful year-long journey has come to an end on a very high note. Thank you, everyone, for your love and support which kept the viewership graph higher and higher all the way till the end.”

    Produced by Fahad Mustafa’s Big Bang Entertainment, Nand has been written by Sameena Aijaz and directed by Zeeshan Ali Zaidi.

  • Here’s how you can plan an eco-friendly wedding like Dia Mirza

    Here’s how you can plan an eco-friendly wedding like Dia Mirza

    Weddings are a lavish affair in the subcontinent with most families leaving no stone unturned for the perfect wedding. These grand weddings not only leave pockets empty but are also very damaging to Mother Earth given how much waste they produce.

    Read more – Indian wedding leaves behind 4000 kgs of garbage

    Bollywood star Dia Mirza, who is known to be one of the most committed champions of sustainability, decided to go against the norm when she tied the knot earlier this year, using her fame and influence to bring about a positive change. The model, actor and producer, whose environment-friendly efforts have also been recognised by the United Nations, opted for a sustainable wedding not only with her bridal look (an heirloom-worthy Benarasi sari) but also with the design and decor of the venue.

    Talking to Brut India, Mirza shared how she planned her zero-waste wedding and gave tips on how you can plan yours too.

    Handmade Gifts

    “People love to give gifts to announce their weddings and stuff so even with that, we made sure we had handcrafted woven baskets, made by artisans and we sent everybody a plant,” shared Dia.

    Local Decor

    “All our decor, which was primarily the use of wasted twigs and woods and locally-grown flowers,” said Dia. “I think when we think of big events for weddings, we tend to use exotic flowers from all over the world, there’s obviously the carbon footprint of transport, etc.”

    Sharing how to make the decor sustainable, Mirza said: “Making it sustainable, would entail going local and it also makes it just easily accessible, earthy and beautiful. And we wanted a very earthy wedding. All the decor elements were natural and locally available. A lot of them were recyclable and were obviously on hire so they would get recycled again.

    No Food Waste

    “We chose to keep the ceremony and the wedding extremely intimate and private,” said Dia. “That ensured that we had good control on numbers. We knew exactly who ate what. We ensured we knew exactly how many vegetarians and non-vegetarians were attending the wedding. We made sure we did food plating accordingly. And of course, we ensured that there was absolutely no food waste.”

    Sustainable Fashion

    “We tend to make garments that we can only wear once and never wear again and it’s most unfortunate,” lamented Dia.

    She shared: “The last time around, I auctioned my clothes and this time around, I made sure I got a garment that I could reuse, wear again and again, and actually pass on, as a very wearable and beautiful item of clothing.”

    “So I choose a sari. Even my husband chose an outfit that he could continue wearing through life and wouldn’t have to just wear it on that one day and hang it up in the cupboard and never touch it again,” shared the actor.

    No Plastic

    “There were no plastic straws, there was no plastic cutlery, there was no plastic bottles, or water on those horrible, dreadful little bottles that people serve water in,” said Dia. “We, in fact, bore an additional cost on water, because we chose glass bottles which are more expensive than plastic bottles but we said we’d rather do that and reduce cost on something else and create all that plastic waste which was so unnecessary.”

    “So, we’re very proud at the end of that day and that evening because we succeeded in creating a completely sustainable event,” she added.

    Dia chose to get married in her home garden, which is close to her heart. It’s also the home of her favourite mango tree, which became the highlight of the evening.

    Using elements of the venue as part of the decor is a great eco-friendly decor idea.

    Dia tied the knot with Mumbai-based businessman Vaibhav Rekhi in an intimate ceremony on February 15. The couple is also expecting their first child together.

  • ‘Salt Bae’ accused of stealing artwork featuring himself

    Nusret Gökçe, popularly known as Salt Bae, is being sued for $5 million by a Brooklyn-based artist William Hicks, who claims the social media star has used his artwork without permission all over the world, the New York Post has reported.

    According to details, Brooklyn-based artist William Hicks filed a lawsuit filed in the District Court for the Southern District of New York on April 12, suing the renowned Turkish butcher, chef, and restaurateur for $5 million in damages after Gökçe reportedly printed his art on menus, takeout bags, and signs at international Nusr-Et Steakhouse locations in Turkey, Greece, and the United Arab Emirates without permission. Hicks claimed that Gökçe never sought a license to use the artwork and has yet to compensate him for use of the copyright.

    “Defendants also unilaterally decided that they would instead unlawfully adapt, create, and distribute unauthorized derivative versions of the original works … to display in Nusr-et steakhouse locations in at least Abu Dhabi, Ankara, Etiler, Mykonos, and Bodrum Yalikavak Marina,” read the court documents.

    Hicks allegedly sent a cease-and-desist letter demanding that they stop using the original artworks in April 2020, but Gökçe and the companies “doubled down on their already widespread infringement, expanding their willful use of the Infringing Materials to locations in Doha, D Maris Bay (Turkey), Boston, Dallas and several additional locations in Istanbul.”

    Earlier, in 2019 the famous chef came into news for underpaying those working in his restaurants.

  • VIDEO: Guinness World Record for longest hair gets first haircut

    VIDEO: Guinness World Record for longest hair gets first haircut

    A woman who set the Guinness World Record for the longest hair in her teenage years got her first haircut after 12 years.

    Hailing from India, 18-year-old Nilanshi Patel donated the cut hair for display at the Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Museum in Los Angeles.

    She first set the Guinness record for longest hair on a teenager when she was 16 while her hair length was 5 feet, 7 inches long. She broke her own record for the second time with hair measuring 6 feet, 6.7 inches long before her 18th birthday.

    Read more – Man left with half a house after spending more than Rs10 crore on dream house

    “My hair gave me a lot — because of my hair I am known as the ‘real-life Rapunzel,’ now it’s time to give back,” Patel said.

    She said she had initially thought of donating her hair to make wigs for children with cancer, but her mother convinced her that it should be displayed in the museum to inspire others.

    Her mother, Kaminiben Patel, had a deal with Nilanshi that she would donate her own hair to the cancer wig program if her daughter agreed to give hair it for museum display.

    “I love my new hairstyle. I feel proud that I’m going to send my hair to the US museum– people will see and be inspired by my hair,” said Patel.

  • Faysal Quraishi spotted having Iftari with street children

    Faysal Quraishi spotted having Iftari with street children

    Faysal Quraishi along with wife and their children opened their first Iftar with street children in Karachi.

    Pictures of Faysal and Sana having iftari at Save Our Children Foundation went viral on social media. The couple and their children could be seen celebrating the true spirit of the Holy Month by opening their first fast on the streets of Karachi while observing COVID-19 SOPs.

    The children were thrilled to have Faysal sharing the first Iftar of this year’s Ramzan with them.

    Read more – Faysal Quraishi urges society to support rape survivors

    “Iss Ramazan bachon ko iftar karwayien…izaat e nafas majroh kiye bina,” said the actor talking about his experience.

  • PM, aide continue defending accountability drive

    PM, aide continue defending accountability drive

    Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the government would uphold the law without discriminating between the weak and powerful, as he slammed sugar mill owners for hiking up sugar prices.

    Responding to a question on Jahangir Tareen’s hearings while addressing media persons in Sargodha, the PM said: “I am ready to listen to everyone’s reservations, but there is one thing they should understand. Sugar prices increased by Rs26 in a year or so.”

    An increase of Rs26 per kg in sugar prices translates into Rs120-130 billion, and this huge sum of money went from the citizens’ pockets to the sugar mills, PM Imran Khan said.

    “It is obvious: the government has to work in the best interests of the people and we’ve asked the FIA (Federal Investigation Agency) to probe the matter. During the investigation, several horrific things were revealed to us.”

    The premier said he was ready to speak to those who had reservations against the proceedings, but stressed that the government would uphold the law — the same law that is applicable to everyone.

    PM Imran Khan said the “elite and the powerful are the actual menaces behind the country’s downfall.”

    “If you combine the amount of corruption done by all poor people in jails, it will amount to a maximum of Rs2-3 billion.”

    The premier, speaking on PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif’s bail, said if they are unable to convict people against whom evidence was available, the country could not prosper.

    A day later, on Thursday, his aide on accountability and interior Shahzad Akbar said it was regrettable that a few were threatening watchdogs for questioning them “only for personal gains”.

    He was tweeting on reactions by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to the transfer of 127 kanals of land belonging to the Raiwind residence of the Sharif family back to the government.

    Punjab Revenue Department was ordered, however, a court in Lahore approved the stay order and summoned all parties to the case on April 27. 

    The court of civil judge Faheemul Hassan Shah issued the stay order after Nawaz Sharif’s nephew Yousuf Abbas Sharif and other members of the Sharif family, through their lawyers, approached the court. 

  • Hania Aamir has a message for her haters

    Hania Aamir has often been on receiving end of criticism for her lively and unfiltered presence on social media. The actor, who recently hit four million followers on Instagram, took to her social media handle to address the hate she receives.

    Read more –‘Don’t pit women against women’: Hania Aamir responds to backlash on using beauty filter

    “It’s very sad that there are very few people left in this world who are real and genuine,” said the actor. “And those who are [real and genuine] are afraid because people call them with weird names [such as] ‘sokha‘, when they are only trying to be as original as possible.”

    “All they are doing is keeping the child inside them alive. It’s vulnerability, it’s innocence, and not trying to be somebody they are not,” said Hania further, adding: “All they want is happiness for themselves and the people around them.”

    Hania continued: “It doesn’t make sense, when you hate on them.”

    “I just read a comment which said ‘Oh I unfollowed her because she was like crossing her limits’. What are you talking about man?,” questioned Hania. “All I talk about is love and respect and coexisting with different opinions, and that’s it.”

    “I love you all, man. Don’t miss out on my content,” concluded Hania on a humorous note.

    Earlier, Hania had also posted a lengthy note in which she talked about self-love and urged people to be kind to each other and accept difference of opinions. In her note, Hania also questioned why people can’t be happy in others happiness.

  • Pakistani passport fourth weakest in world; only stronger than Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan

    Pakistani passport fourth weakest in world; only stronger than Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan

    Pakistan has ranked as the fourth weakest passport in the world, only stronger than war-torn Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, on the Henley Passport Index.

    The Henley Passport Index assesses the travel documents based on how many countries citizens can access without a visa, using information from the International Air Transport Association.

    It does not take into account any temporary pandemic-related travel restrictions.

    Based on the index, Japan is the most powerful passport with access to 193 countries, Singapore has come second with access to 192 countries. Germany and South Korea share the third place with each giving access to 191 destinations.

    Despite a military coup, Myanmar has secured the 94th spot in the index with access to 47 destinations whereas India and Bangladesh stand at the 84th and 100th ranks, respectively.

    China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have climbed from the 90th position to 68th, and 65th position to 15th, respectively.

    European Union (EU) countries make the majority of countries ranked on the top 10 list of the Henley Passport Index. The report reveals that the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) have dropped down to seventh place, together with Switzerland, Belgium, and New Zealand.

    Among other countries, the passports of which are ranked among the most powerful are Italy, Finland, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Netherlands, Ireland, Sweden, Malta, Greece, and Norway.

    The gap between Japan that holds first place and Afghanistan’s access to other countries is 167.