Author: newsdesk

  • Maryam Nawaz comes under fire for wearing fur coat while Punjab goes through smog crisis

    Maryam Nawaz comes under fire for wearing fur coat while Punjab goes through smog crisis

    Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has come under fire on social media for wearing what appears to be a luxurious fur coat in London while addressing Punjab’s smog crisis on November 12.

    The optics for the Punjab’s Chief Minister aren’t good as the citizens of the province, and in particular Lahore, go through one of the worst climate catastrophes in history. 

    A dark haze has engulfed Punjab’s major cities, including Lahore and Multan, with poor visibility. Furthermore, traffic on the motorway is also suspended due to the smog crisis. 

    Nasa’s satellite images show both Lahore and New Delhi shrouded in thick smog with no green cover.

    Netizens criticised the timing of Mayam’s visit overseas as her province is experiencing a crisis. CM Punjab, while talking to reporters, stated, “We are taking action against smog and will eliminate this smog in a few years. I am so sorry for the fact that this problem has been pushed to such an extent because they [previous government] had no concern for such a serious issue.”

    Netizens on X (formerly Twitter) couldn’t help but notice the fur coat Maryam Nawaz had adorned with one user writing, “Inflation is ending in Punjab – Maryam Nawaz. The fur coat is currently worth 24,000 dollars to 71,000 dollars, the price of glasses is 1,140 dollars, Hermes Birkini bags are 60,000 dollars, making fun of Pakistanis.”

    Another social media user criticised Maryam’s presence abroad, writing, “Smog will be fixed in a few years, says Maryam Nawaz while cosplaying as Sicilian Mafia donned with “fox fur” breathing fresh air in london as Form-47 CM of Punjab where Millions suffer with persistent Respiratory diseases, flu, cough, headache etc.”

    One user wrote, “Maryam Nawaz’s most recent public appearance shows that the govt is not taking this issue seriously. So many ppl in this country could fix this issue and advise our politicians on optics. From jokes being made to moving to Karachi, to fur lapels and blaming old cars. We’re doomed.”

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari took to X to post a screenshot of Air Quality Indexes of different cities with Karachi having a relatively better score. Bhutto wrote, “Dear Pakistan, move to Karachi. ”


    Interestingly enough, this isn’t the first time Maryam Nawaz has come under criticism from the public for wearing expensive items. In 2022, when Pakistan was hit with devastating floods, Maryam Nawaz was seen wearing a fur coat (Ermanno Scervino) worth $4,648 (Rs1,029,789.5 including duties & handling fees included), according to News 360.

  • Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal’s picture fuels rumors of Hera Pheri 3

    Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal’s picture fuels rumors of Hera Pheri 3

    Akshay Kumar was recently spotted at Mumbai’s Kalina Airport with his Hera Pheri co-stars Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal, with the trio posing for photographers, sparking speculation among fans about Hera Pheri 3.

    Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal were seen walking with Akshay Kumar to the suite where Akshay took his co-stars on a tour of his martial arts academy. The three actors are part of the fan flavourite Hera Pheri franchise.

    Suniel Shetty wrote on Instagram, “The Dhoom Dhadka Orchestra is back but this time it’s not Hera Pheri, just all the action! Akshay Kumar is off to the 16th Kudo International Tournament.”

    Hera Pheri is a classic comedy film that was released in 2000 with Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal in lead roles. The story of the film revolves around three people who accidentally get caught up in the world of crime and try to solve the cases in a humorous way. This film raised the bar for comedy in Indian cinema and it is still alive in the hearts of people today.

    Then Hera Pheri is the sequel of the same series, in which the same three actors are seen again in lead roles. The story of this film also revolves around crime and problem solving in a humorous way. The sequel was also successful. 

    Both the films of the Hera Pheri franchise created a special place in the hearts of the audience and now fans are focused on demanding Hera Pheri 3 from the film’s stars and creators.

  • Bilawal Bhutto under fire for ‘downplaying’ smog

    Bilawal Bhutto under fire for ‘downplaying’ smog

    The Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party is currently under criticism after making insensitive remarks amidst the stifling smog engulfing the upper regions of Pakistan, particularly in Punjab and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

    In a post on X (formerly Twitter), which was later shared on Instagram by the PPP, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari shared a chart showing the air quality index (AQI) readings of Pakistan’s major cities on November 10 at 9 p.m. Peshawar topped the list with an AQI of 591, followed by Multan (573) and Lahore (479). He captioned it, “Dear Pakistan, move to Karachi.”

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    Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Maleeka Bokhari shared an image of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz strolling in London and a screenshot of Bilawal’s post with the caption, “These two images highlight the level of two so-called leaders, both competing for the PM slot. Maryam Nawaz and Bilawal Bhutto are both symbols of nepotism and dynastic politics, receiving on-the-job training to govern 240 million people. One of them needs a Climate change Minister as her PA to carry her bag. The other one finds the state of Pakistan’s toxic air quality funny.”

    Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, and Chief Secretary Zahid Akhter Zaman are currently in London, and their absence from the country was called out by Lahore High Court Justice Shahid Kareem during a November 11 hearing on the smog situation in Lahore. He remarked, “All those responsible are outside the city.”

    CM Maryam Nawaz can be seen wearing a fur coat and branded shades as she addresses the media, saying that the issue of smog cannot be fixed “overnight”. She further asserted that “we are doing what we can to control this in our capacity.”

    Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif also joined the ongoing discourse on smog, stating that crop burning was unreasonably blamed for air pollution, while vehicles are the biggest contributors.

    Khawaja shared a chart showing that total emissions from transport were 127 gigagrams, compared to just 5.97 gigagrams from stubble burning.

    Notably, the minister’s post did not mention the source of the chart or when the readings were taken. He emphasised that the chart shows the “real culprits” contributing to smog, while the public is being misled into believing that stubble burning – which has been occurring “since the time of Mohenjo Daro” – is the primary cause of the pollution.

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    In another post, Khawaja also endorsed an order by Lahore High Court Justice Shahid Kareem to close markets at 8 p.m., a measure that, according to him, “has yet to be implemented.”

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    He also pointed out that markets in Lahore remain open from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., blaming traders for being “intransigent” on the issue. Additionally, he called out political leaders who were unwilling to address the problem because of “political expediency.”

    Currently, Lahore (AQI 374) ranks second in the World Air Quality Index, while Delhi (AQI 547) tops the list, with a difference of  173 points between the two cities.

  • China urges Pakistan to allow its own security for their workers in Pakistan: report

    China urges Pakistan to allow its own security for their workers in Pakistan: report

    China is pushing Islamabad to permit its security staff to protect thousands of its citizens working in the country, sources have told Reuters.

    On October 6, an explosion near Karachi Airport killed two Chinese engineers and injured 11 people, an attack that was seen as a major security breach.

    The banned outfit Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) had taken responsibility for the blast. 

    Recent attacks and security failures have reportedly angered China, prompting Pakistan to initiate formal negotiations for a joint security management system.

    Reuters spoke to five Pakistani security and government sources with direct knowledge of the previously unreported negotiations and demands on condition of anonymity, as the talks are sensitive, and reviewed a written proposal sent by China to Pakistan.

    One official stated: “They (Chinese) want to bring in their own security,” adding that Pakistan had not agreed so far.

    The source and two other officials said there was a consensus on setting up a joint security management system and that Pakistan was amenable to Chinese officials sitting in on security meetings and coordination.

    However, neither China nor Pakistan officially confirmed the off-record talks.

    Privately, Beijing has expressed frustration. At one recent meeting, the Chinese side provided evidence that Pakistan had failed to follow security protocols agreed on twice in recent months, three officials told Reuters.


    “It was a grave security breach,” admitted one of the officials investigating the bombing.

    Speaking at a press conference on November 11, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar confirmed that during an intelligence-based operation, one of the masterminds of the suicide bombing, Javed alias Sameer, and his accomplice Gul Nisa, were arrested at CD Highway near Umar Goth Chowk, Karachi, while riding a bike. The two had entered Karachi via Hub.

    “An investigation revealed Javed’s direct involvement in the suicide bombing, while Gul Nisa had facilitated [him],” Lanjar added.

    “On Oct 6, the terrorist checked out of the hotel. He later picked up his other accomplices near Jail Chowrangi in the vehicle that would be used in the attack. They circled the airport and then returned to a park near the Marriott Hotel.”

    “From there, they recorded the suicide attacker’s final video on a mobile phone and sent it to their BLA commander. At around 9:30 pm, they reached Karachi Airport. The suicide attacker and one of his accomplices remained in the vehicle while the third accomplice entered Karachi Airport,” Sindh Home Minister said.

  • Yashma Gill gets mind-blowing number of marriage proposals on Dil Ka Rishta

    Yashma Gill gets mind-blowing number of marriage proposals on Dil Ka Rishta


    Actress Yashma Gill has been blown away by the overwhelming response she received on the matrimonial app Dil Ka Rishta, with over 10,000 marriage proposals pouring in from all over the world.     After growing frustrated with the demands of traditional matchmaking, Yashma decided to take matters into her own hands and joined the app, where she quickly became the center of attention. Now, the question remains: who will she choose as her future partner?

    During an interview on Mazaq Raat, Yashma shared the surprising challenges she faces in finding a suitable match, admitting that it has become quite expensive.

    “From 10:00 in the morning to 10:00 pm at shooting we’re all busy, so there’s no time to look for a husband.     So what I did was, I was sitting on the set, and I looked up online marriage bureaus. I thought, let me ask them what’s going on. I asked if they could suggest any good matches, the marriage bureau asked me for a video call to see whether Yashma Gill was available or not. I was like, what’s going on. After all that, they sent me a message saying, ‘To register, we charge four lakh, and after the relationship is finalized, we ask for eight llakh,” Yashma said.

    Dil Ka Rishta is designed to help individuals find potential life partners.     It allows users to create profiles, browse through matches, and connect with others seeking relationships.

    On Life Green Hai, Yashma Gill was asked what qualities should her partner have.

    In response, she said, “I want to marry someone who is a nice person, somebody who has good moral values, somebody who has good ethical values.” 


    The actress emphasized the importance of her partner having fear of God, as it helps them understand how to care for others and present themselves with good manners.


    During the conversation, the Haq Mehar actress revealed, “My mother has completely different thoughts about my marriage and nowadays, she’s asking our employee for my friend’s number so she can convince my friend to marry my cousin.”

    Yashma Gill has starred in drama serial such as, ‘Meri Saheli Meir Bhabhi’, Iltija, ‘Qurban’, ‘Ghar Titli Ka Par’, ‘Kab Mere Kehloage’, ‘Haara Dil, ‘Azmaish’, ‘Bebaak’, ‘Khel’ and ‘Haq Mehar.

  • KP’s natural resources are not PTM’s dowry: DG ISPR

    KP’s natural resources are not PTM’s dowry: DG ISPR

    Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, DG of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has issued a controversial statement on Tuesday while addressing cadets in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying that the natural resources in the province are not Pashtun Tahafuz Movement’s (PTM) “birthright or dowry.”

    “Understand what they [PTM] are asking. They say that KP has chromite, copper, oil and gas, and nobody is allowed to touch it. Very good…then develop it yourself. Allah has bestowed Pakistan with abundant natural resources, not just KPK. Did PTM get these resources in their inheritance? Or they got it as dowry?”

    The military’s media wing chief referred to the recent Jirga held on October 11 by the PTM. The jirga claimed to address key issues affecting the Pashtuns, including security concerns, political autonomy, and socio-economic challenges in the region. 

    It should be noted that the October 11 Jirga was a continuation of previous jirgas, including the 2022 Bannu Jirga, leading to further discussions on Pashtun rights.

    In 2022, the jirga presented 25 points, one of which included: “The national right of the Pashtun people over all natural resources of the Pakhtunkhwa region be recognized. The provisions of the Pakistani constitution be implemented in the real sense, and oil refineries be built in the Pakhtunkhwa province.”

    During his address, the DG ISPR criticised the notion of “creating divisions on ethnic bases.” “The jirga is a noble tradition, but the concept of their demands is wrong. This concept of protecting Pashtuns from non-Pashtuns is wrong. The Army is composed of 25% Pashtuns. Our ancestors made this country in the name of Allah, not on an ethnic basis. This thinking is that if one is from a certain clan, one could be superior to any other human being – that is jahaalat [ignorance].”

    “Would you like to be associated with ethnicity? But Hazaras also live in the KP; Hindkos and Chitralis are also here. More than 10 million Pashtuns are settled in Punjab. Karachi has Pashtun people, and we are a diverse society. This concept is entirely wrong,” stated the DG ISPR.

    PTM supporters on social media criticised DG ISPR for his speech while using the hashtag #WeStandWith11OctJirga. One user took to X to express their disappointment with the DG’s statement, writing, “DG ISPR says that the Pashtuns got the resources on the land in dowry, so did the Pakistani army get it in dowry? Mr. DG, we will have authority over our resources very soon, God willing, our resources are not for the generals to buy, and these resources were given to us by Allah a long time ago, Pakistan has completed 75 years, which is younger than our grandfather I am sorry to hear your conversation like this.”

  • South Korean actor Song Jae-rim found dead

    South Korean actor Song Jae-rim found dead

    Renowned South Korean actor and model Song Jae-rim has been found dead at his home.

    According to Korean media, the 39-year-old actor’s body was discovered on Tuesday, November 12, in his apartment in the Seongdong district of Seoul.

    Officials reported that a two-page letter was also recovered from Song Jae-rim’s residence.

    Although the exact cause of his death is not yet known, police authorities confirmed that there is no evidence of foul play or criminal involvement in the death, while further investigations continue.

    According to Korean media reports, Song Jae Rim’s funeral will be held on November 14 in Yeouido.

    Following the news of his passing, fans took to social media in shock and grief. 

    Song Jae Rim began his acting career in 2009 and gained fame for his roles as a bodyguard in the historical drama Moon Embracing the Sun (2012) and a ruthless killer in Two Weeks (2013).

    He appeared alongside Kim So Eun in the fourth season of the popular reality show.

    We Got Married, which significantly boosted his popularity and earned him the Best Couple Award at the MBC Entertainment Awards in 2017.

    Some of Song

    Jae Rim’s popular dramas include Secret Garden, Cool Guys, Hot Ramen, Inspiring Generation, and I Wanna Hear Your Song.

  • Azaz Syed asks NADRA Chief about dual role; General Munir Afsar gives vague answer

    Azaz Syed asks NADRA Chief about dual role; General Munir Afsar gives vague answer

    Veteran journalist Azaz Syed, known for his candid and probing questions, has asked the serving Chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Lieutenant General Munir Afsar a question about his appointment, termed illegal by many legal experts. 


    On Tuesday, the journalist was present in Parliament House where he asked Lieutenant General Munir Afsar about his alleged illegal appointment as Chairman of NADRA during the interim government, to which the General replied, “It’s a sub judice case; contact Lahore High Court for clarification.” 

    Responding to the journalist’s question about serving two posts simultaneously, one as Chairman of NADRA and the second as a serving army officer, Munir Afsar substantiated it by saying: “The founding Chairman of NADRA was also serving.”

    Chairman NADRA seemed to have mostly dodged the journalist’s questions in the video Azaz filmed. 

    Lieutenant General Munir Afsar was appointed as the NADRA Chairman on October 2, 2023, during the interim government, following the retirement of the then-serving Chairman of NADRA, Tariq Malik.

    Ashba Kamran, a citizen, had approached the Lahore High Court about the appointment of an in-service army officer as chairman of NADRA by maintaining that the appointment was “in violation of the provisions of NADRA Ordinance, 2000.”

    She asserted that the caretaker government is not mandated to call decisions on permanent policy matters and urged the court to remove Munir Afsar as NADRA Chairman.

    Citing the unofficial approach of the caretaker government and the lack of qualifications evaluation over appointment, Justice Asim Hafeez declared the appointment of Munir Afsar as Chairman of NADRA “unauthorised” and in violation of NADRA’s rules.

    “Lest anyone misunderstand this, we make it clear that the appointment to any post under the government can only be made after a proper advertisement has been made, inviting applications from eligible candidates,” the order of the verdict said.

    However, the federal government challenged the ruling of Justice Asim Hafeez.

    Lahore High Court division bench, on September 11, 2023, overturned the single bench decision and restored the position of Munir Afsar as NADRA Chairman.


    When asked about the alleged illegal appointment of Munib Cheema, Munir Afsar stated: “You should ask the Auditor General (AG)” about the appointment, noting, “I hadn’t made an appointment.”

  • Babar Azam donates Test jersey to Usman Khawaja’s foundation

    Babar Azam donates Test jersey to Usman Khawaja’s foundation

    Batting maestro Babar Azam has donated a Test jersey to Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja for his foundation in Brisbane.

    Speaking on the occasion, Khawaja said, “I am collecting donations for the foundation; Babar Azam gave me his Test jersey; I am grateful to him. Babar is a great cricketer of Pakistan.”

    Babar said, “I am in touch with Usman Bhai; we keep talking during matches. I promised him that if I could support him in any way, I would definitely do it. It is an honour for me to have done something for his foundation.”

    A three-match T20 series between Pakistan and Australia is starting tomorrow.

    Pakistan has already defeated Australia in the three-match ODI series by 2-1, a rare feat achieved after 22 years on their home ground.

  • Which Bollywood superstar made Naseem Vicky blank out on stage

    Which Bollywood superstar made Naseem Vicky blank out on stage


    Imagine being on stage in front of a crowd, with one of Bollywood’s biggest superstars watching, and suddenly, you forget your joke. 

    That’s exactly what happened to Naseem Vicky, one of Pakistan’s most beloved comedians, during a performance for Comedy Nights Bachao. 
     
    Talking about the experience on Gup Shab, Naseem shared the unforgettable moment from his career that left him speechless.
     A fan from the audience asked, “Have you ever forgotten your joke during a performance?”
     
    Naseem Vicky replied, “Yes, it actually happened once when I went to perform for Comedy Nights Bachao.  There were celebrities sitting in front of me, including Mika and Salman Khan. My joke was that I was going to roast them. I had planned to tell Salman Khan, ‘Make me your son,’ and he would reply, ‘How can I have such an old son?’ I had this punchline ready. But, my mother had just passed away, and I was grieving. That was the first time in my life that I went up on stage and couldn’t remember my script. I was blank. I kept trying to recall it, but couldn’t. Then, suddenly, there was a blast on set, and the transformer blew up. Allah helped me, and after a little while, I regained my composure. It was a very tough episode for me because my mind was focused on my mother.”
     
    Co-host Rabbania Shirjeel asked, “What do you think, if we compare Pakistan to India, where do comedians and theater artists have more opportunities?”  
     
     “They have more opportunities there in India, here, our comedians work very hard. We don’t get written material, we don’t get ready-made content. What they do is they perform, they do comedy. Here, we focus only on punchlines. If we were given proper comedy situations, we would do amazing work. We have fantastic comedians here like Iftikhar Thakur, Qaisar Piya, Nasir Chinati, Agha Majid, and many others who have not been used properly. There are so many people who are just not getting an opportunity, and they could do wonders in films and television if they were given the right roles. The only issue is that the majority of them don’t know English, and that’s why they are one step behind. But if they get proper opportunities, the film industry in our country could be amazing, and sitcoms could become really successful,” the Heer Da Hero actor replied.
     
     
    When asked about bringing elements from the Indian industry to Pakistan or taking elements from Pakistan to India to change the industry, Naseem Vicky shared his insights: 


    “What happens is, if you don’t have a good script, you can bring all the best cameras, locations, costumes, and everything else, but it won’t work. If the script is good, then you can make a short clip with simple resources, and it will be great. The script is the key. I would also advise Vasay Bhai to write films like the Punjabi films in India and then make them. Don’t worry about money. Just focus on the quality of the work. The rest will follow.”