Author: newsdesk

  • After police’s rebellion, army to probe ‘kidnapping’ of Sindh IG

    After police’s rebellion, army to probe ‘kidnapping’ of Sindh IG

    As the controversy surrounding the arrest of Capt (r) Muhammad Safdar rages on, army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has ordered a probe into the alleged abduction of Police IG Mushtaq Mahar by the Sindh Rangers.

    According to a statement shared by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Gen Bajwa has directed Karachi Corps commander to “immediately inquire into the circumstances to determine the facts and report back as soon as possible”.

    The probe announcement by the army chief came after Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari demanded that Gen Bajwa take notice of the incident.

    Bilawal said that every police officer in Sindh, from a station house officer to senior police officers, were wondering who had “surrounded IG Sindh Mushtaq Mahar’s office at 2am on Sunday night”.

    “Who were the two persons who went inside the IG’s house at 2am and where was our IG taken at 4am in the morning?” he asked.

    SINDH POLICE DEMORALISED:

    The pressure inflicted on the police to arrest Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader has demoralised the provincial police. In a leave application to the government, the IGP along with a dozen officers sought two-month leave over the treatment meted out to their department.

    This move prompted a visit of Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah and PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to the IG House. It seems that the visit was fruitful as the police high-ups decided to postpone their leave plan for 10 days. They said the decision was taken “in the larger national interest” and pending the conclusion of the inquiry into how the arrest of PML-N leader Mohammad Safdar unfolded.

    ARREST OF CAPT SAFDAR:

    Safdar was arrested from his hotel room in the early hours of Monday from his hotel room for raising slogans at the mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, and jumping over the grill surrounding the grave. The Sindh government led by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had distanced itself from the matter soon after the arrest.

    Afterwards, the Sindh police tweeted that the arrest was lawful, but the tweet was deleted soon after it was put up. But after few hours, the tweet was updated again, wherein the police said that Safdar was arrested as per law.

  • 25 years of DDLJ: Five things you didn’t know about the film

    25 years of DDLJ: Five things you didn’t know about the film

    One of Bollywood’s most iconic films Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is celebrating 25 years. The lead actors of the film – Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol – got nostalgic about the film and changed their Twitter display names to Raj Malhotra and Simran, their characters from the movie.

    Every 90s desi kid has seen the film multiple times and to celebrate the film’s silver jubilee, The Current brings to you five things you (probably) did not know about the film.

    1. SRK initially refused to play the role of Raj

    SRK, who is also know as the ‘King of Romance’, reportedly did not want to be part of the project because he just couldn’t connect to the character of Raj Malhotra.

    “Raj was unlike anything I had done before,” the actor had said. “There were films like Darr, Baazigar and Anjaam, in which I had portrayed negative characters. Also, I always felt that I wasn’t cut out to play any romantic type of character. So, when I was presented with the opportunity by Adi [director Aditya Chopra] and Yash Ji of essaying the role, I was excited to work with him but had no idea how to go about it and also if I would be able to do it well.”

    He further shared: “Actually, I always felt Adi’s love for me made him cast me. I found the character endearing and sweet in the right way — the-over-the-topness is my contribution. It was one of those roles that I realised can do with me using a version of my real self so you might see some quirks, habits and mannerisms that were true to my off-screen persona, especially the sense of humour part.”

    Khan also said that he is very shy around women and did not know how he would pull off the romantic scenes in DDLJ.

    “I was told by many people that I looked unconventional, very different from what the perception of a leading man was. I did feel, maybe, not being handsome enough or as they called it then ‘chocolatey’ would make me unsuitable for romantic roles. Also, I am very shy and awkward with ladies, and I did not know how I would say all the loving, romantic bits,” he had said.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CGjkRjKJAIm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    2. Kajol thought that Simran was a “little boring”

    Kajol, while talking about her character Simran had confessed that she had found her to be a “little boring”.

    “I thought Simran was a little boring, to be honest, but I recognised her”, the actor said. “I realised there is a lot of Simran in almost everybody we know, there is always that wanting to do the right thing in someone. A lot of people don’t do the right thing but we always want to do that. You want to get that approval; you want to get that feeling of you are approved of and that you are doing something right in the world. So, yes Simran was like that. I thought she was just cool, a little old-fashioned but cool.”

    3. The film was made on a budget of INR 4 crores

    The film, which was also shot in Europe and London, was made on a budget of INR 4 crores. Though it doesn’t seem like a lot by today’s standards, it was a pretty hefty amount back in the day. However, the money was well spent as the film went on to collect Rs 89 crores in India and INR 13.5 crores in the overseas market in the year of its release i.e. 1995.

    4. Raj and Simran’s car ride through Zurich had a special backseat guest

    SRK and Kajol weren’t the only two enjoying a ride through Zurich in the former’s cherry red convertible. Director Aditya Chopra, who wanted to monitor the scene closely, was actually lying across the car’s backseat during all the romantic scenes.

    5. It is the longest running film in the history of Indian cinema

    DDLJ is the longest-running film in the history of Indian cinema. The film is still being shown at the Maratha Mandir theatre in Mumbai.

  • ‘IG was kidnapped’: Hamid Mir takes a dig at Kamran Khan for contesting his claim

    ‘IG was kidnapped’: Hamid Mir takes a dig at Kamran Khan for contesting his claim

    As a leave request to the Sindh government by the high-ups of the provincial police strengthened the claim that the IG was detained by the Sindh Rangers for the arrest of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Capt (r) Safdar, senior journalist Hamid Mir took a dig at journalist Kamran Khan for trying to refute his claim about the police chief’s detention on the basis of “irrefutable sources”.

    The tweet by the Geo News anchorperson came on the heels of a news report which revealed that the high ranking officers of the service have sought a 60-day leave. An application signed by AIG Special Branch Imran Yaqoob, a copy of which is available with The Current, said that he submitted the request for leave after the police high command was “ridiculed and mishandled” leading to the demoralisation of all ranks of the Sindh Police.

    In his recent tweet, Mir was referring to a statement made by Kamran Khan wherein he contested his claim about the detention of IG Mushtaq Mahar by the Rangers to force him to sign Safdar’s arrest warrants.

    Following the arrest of Safar, Mir had tweeted: “Unfortunate incident. Sindh Govt informed PML-N leader Muhammad Zubair that IG [insector general] Sindh was kidnapped by Rangers at 4 in the morning he was brought in sector commander’s office where addnl IG was already present and were forced to issue the orders for the arrest of Cpt Rtd Safdar [sic],” Mir claimed in a tweet.

    At this, Kamran Khan, who is an anchorperson at Dunya News, said that the IG was “fully onboard with the arrest”. Maintaining that internal rifts were affecting the affairs of the joint opposition’s Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), Kamran Khan had quoted sources as saying that all claims regarding the IG’s arrest were not true.

    Alluding to the application by the Sindh police officials, Mir asked Khan that what does he have to say about it now. He went on to advise him not to “refute his future reports” on the basis of the so-called “irrefutable sources”. “These irrefutable sources also called me with this claim, but go and ask them what I told them,” he said.

  • IG among senior officials of Sindh police seeking leave after Capt (r) Safdar’s arrest controversy

    IG among senior officials of Sindh police seeking leave after Capt (r) Safdar’s arrest controversy

    A day after it was reported that Sindh police was pressurised to register a case against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Capt (r) Safdar, high ranking officers of the force have sought a 60-day leave.

    According to reports, several senior officers, including Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mushtaq Mahar, have decided to go on leave.

    The officials also include the additional inspector general (AIG) of Karachi, Special Branch AIG and several deputy inspector generals (DIGs).

    An application signed by AIG Special Branch Imran Yaqoob, a copy of which is available with The Current, says that he submitted the request for leave after the police high command was “ridiculed and mishandled” leading to the demoralisation of all ranks of the Sindh police.

    A day earlier, soon after the “inappropriate” arrest of Capt (r) Safdar from his hotel room in Karachi, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) led Sindh government had distanced itself from the development.

    Amid criticism aimed at alleged rifts among the ranks of the joint opposition — the PPP purportedly going after allied PML-N — it was claimed that the provincial police chief had actually been forced to go after Capt (r) Safdar.

    Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday reportedly took notice of the incident.

    “Taking notice of Karachi incident, COAS has directed Karachi Corps commander to immediately inquire into the circumstances to determine the facts and report back as soon as possible,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

  • Rana Sanaullah booked in attempted murder case

    Rana Sanaullah booked in attempted murder case

    Gujranwala police have booked Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Rana Sanaullah, Khurram Dastgir, and Imran Khalid Butt for allegedly trying to run over police officials after they asked the politicians to stop their vehicle.

    The first information report [FIR] was registered on the complaint of a sub-inspector at Satellite Town police station. According to the FIR, four PML-N supporters attending the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) Gujranwala public meeting on October 16 attempted to hit the police personnel with their vehicle.

    Earlier in the day, Gujranwala police booked at least Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) members over violation of coronavirus SOPs during its power show in the city last week.

    The case registered at the Civil Lines police station against the PDM workers alleged that the political workers flouted measures put in place to contain COVID-19 and also blocked roads.

    Last week, the joint opposition held its first rally in Gujranwala as it kicked off its anti-government drive. The rally was termed by the opposition a resounding success, but the government called it a flop show.

    Police had also booked over 100 people, including internet service providers, sound system organisers and residents in at least seven FIRs [First Information Reports] for violating coronavirus guidelines ahead of the gathering in Gujranwala.

  • Fact check: Bilawal did not say eggs are Rs200 per kilo

    Fact check: Bilawal did not say eggs are Rs200 per kilo

    Claim: Bilawal Bhutto said eggs are PKR 200 per kilo

    Fact: Bilawal Bhutto’s video was doctored to make it sound like he confused the duodecimal system and the metric system

    In the aftermath of a Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) power show in Gujranwala, a video of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has been making rounds on social media platforms and Whatsapp groups.

    In the video, the PPP chairman has seemed to get the metric and duodecimal (dozenal) systems confused. In the video, while taking a dig at the rising inflation, Bilawal purportedly said that ‘eggs are being sold for Rs200 per kg and potatoes Rs100 per dozen’ due to the poor economic policies of the government.

    But did Bilawal really say that? No.

    A fact-check ran by The Current revealed that the PPP chief has said no such words and video circulating on social media websites was altered to humiliate the opposition leader. In the original video, Bilawal said the due to poor economic policies of the government, people were forced to pay Rs200 for a dozen eggs, Rs100 for a kilogramme of potatoes’ and so on.

    The fake video was shared by pro-government supporters who took jibes at the PPP chief for mixing the metric system with the duodecimal system. It garnered many views on Facebook and Twitter and was shared hundreds of times on the Whatsapp groups.

    A crime reporter of ARY News, Iqrarul Hassan also swallowed the bait and posted the video on his Twitter account. He, however, removed the video and issued an apology after it was revealed that the video was fake. Iqrar said he couldn’t tell whether the video was fake because the mic was in front of Bilawal’s face.

    VERDICT: FALSE

  • Newspaper office sealed in occupied Kashmir for ‘speaking out’ against govt

    In another attempt to stifle the press freedom, the authorities in India-occupied Kashmir have sealed the office of Kashmir Times, one of the oldest newspapers in the occupied region, for “speaking out” against the government.

    The Estates Department sealed the office, which is located in the press enclave in the main city Srinagar. The move prompted a strong response from the editor of the newspaper, who termed it a vendetta.

     Anuradha Bhasin said the government’s action was a “vendetta for speaking out” while noting that no process of law was followed. “No eviction notice was served on us and neither was there any formal communication,” the Press Trust of India quoted her as saying. 

    On her Twitter handle, she wrote: “Today, Estates Dept locked our office without any due process of cancellation & eviction, same way as I was evicted from a flat in Jammu, where my belongings including valuables were handed over to ‘new allottee.’ Vendetta for speaking out! No due process followed. How peevish!” 

     Reporters without Borders (RSF) termed the act an attack on press freedom. 

    “The office of The Kashmir Times, one of the most respected newspapers of the region, has just been sealed by the local govt after its editor AnuradhaBhasin was recently manhandled. @RSF_inter is appalled by this new attack on press freedom in the valley,” it said. 

  • Sanam Saeed receives flak for criticising opposition parties

    Sanam Saeed receives flak for criticising opposition parties

    With the Pakistan Democratic Movement holding rallies in different parts of the countries in a bid to oust the government, Sanam Saeed has criticised them for “creating more mess and chaos like always”.

    “Utter disgrace,” remarked the actor.

    However, the actor received immense criticism for her tweet following which she later deleted it.

    Meanwhile, other members of the entertainment industry including Shaan Shahid, Haroon Shahid and Omair Rana have condemned Capt (r) Safdar and PML-N for raising slogans at the mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan and jumping over the grill surrounding the grave.

  • Woman pushed into well by Instagram friend for rejecting marriage proposal

    Woman pushed into well by Instagram friend for rejecting marriage proposal

    A 22-year-old woman in the Indian state of Bengaluru spent three days in an open 60-foot-deep well without food or water after an Instagram friend of hers allegedly pushed her into the well for rejecting her marriage proposal. Indian media reported that the incident took place in a village near Devanahalli.

    According to details, on October 13, a villager heard someone shouting from the well, upon which the villagers called the fire and rescue department. A team of police, fire, and emergency officials reached the spot with a crane and rescued the woman. The woman’s hand was fractured during the fall.

    The woman revealed that she came to meet her 22-year-old Instagram friend named Adarsh. The two had become friends on Instagram a month back. Adarsh wanted to meet her personally, so the woman took a bus from her village and arrived in Devanahalli on October 10.

    “I reached Devanahalli around 5.30 pm, and he picked me up on his scooter. He told me that he would show me his farmhouse and took me there. He started expressing his desire to marry me. I rejected his proposal, saying I’m already married and have a son. But he didn’t listen and started forcing me to marry him. He threatened to kill me if I rejected his proposal and pushed me into the well. He fled the spot, cursing me that I would die there,” she told police.

    The police later arrested her ‘friend’, who said that he was upset because the woman rejected his marriage proposal.

    Police said the woman luckily survived the fall because of the bushes in the well. They took her to a nearby hospital for the treatment of the injuries she sustained.

  • Gujranwala protesters booked for violating coronavirus SOPs

    Gujranwala protesters booked for violating coronavirus SOPs

    Gujranwala police have booked at least Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) members over violation of coronavirus SOPs during its power show in the city last week.

    The case registered at the Civil Lines police station against the PDM workers alleged that the political workers flouted measures put in place to contain COVID-19 and also blocked roads.

    The FIR nominates Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Khurram Dastgir, Chaudhry Mehmood Bashir, Salman Khalid Butt, and Muhammad Bashir Virk among others.

    Last week, the joint opposition held its first rally in Gujranwala as it kicked off its anti-government drive. The rally was termed by the opposition a resounding success, but the government called it a flop show.

    Police had also booked over 100 people, including internet service providers, sound system organisers and residents in at least seven FIRs [First Information Reports] for violating coronavirus guidelines ahead of the gathering in Gujranwala.

    COVID-19 GUIDELINES FLOUTED:

    The massive gathering also blatantly flouted the anti-coronavirus measures, especially at a time when the second wave is in the offing. It is understandable that social distancing was not possible in a small stadium, but face masks — an effective precautionary measure — were also conveniently ignored.

    Out of the party leaders, only some were covering their faces, but they too removed them once they started addressing the gathering. PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz and JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman and his party leaders did not wear masks at all. As for the crowd, a negligent number of people bothered to wear face masks as a measure to contain the spread of COVID-19.