As Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum wrapped up, fans went into mourning, bereft of their favourite show. Millions across the border tuned into the finale and then through a cosmic touch, one Indian fan ran into the series’ star Bushra Ansari at a restaurant.
Veteran actress Bushra Ansari thanked the audience for making the drama a huge success, even though she missed the final episode. She portrayed the character of Shagufta in Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum.
The finale episode of Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum aired on November 5, 2024.
Bushra Ansari talked about the show in a recent vlog on her YouTube channel, offering details of her emotions after the drama ended.
“Well, Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum has ended, and I was here, I missed it, the last episode where everyone was there. Watching it made my heart happy and sad at the same time because I wasn’t there. But you all liked it so much, it was so good, MashaAllah, our project. This is what you call when Allah’s help is with you, everything works out well. And all our lovely children, Emmad, Fahad, Naeema, and Hania, they have won everyone’s hearts. You guys liked them so much, and I’m really, really happy.”
Reflecting on the international impact of the drama, the Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum actress shared a fun anecdote when she met an Indian fan.
“Alhamdulillah, and I’m so grateful to God and all of you for appreciating it so much, and I’m really happy that you all took this play so far. MashaAllah, our Indian audience is also very encouraging. One night, I went to a restaurant for dinner, and the girl serving us was so nervous, smiling, and acting a little restless. Then she came up and said, ‘You’re a Pakistani artist, we watched Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum.’ I said, ‘Yes, absolutely.’ She even took pictures. It feels good that our work is appreciated across the border as well,” Bushra Ansari added.
She praised the team behind the success of Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum.
“Farhat Ishtiaq wrote such a beautiful romance in such a unique style, I had done a play written by her before, and she writes very well. This is all a team effort, everyone behind the camera is part of it, there are so many elements that go into making it. And my own collaboration with Javed has always been so lovely. We had so much fun on set, you must have seen an old clip I posted a few months ago where Javed and I were having a blast,” the Aangan Terha actress said.
Bushra Ansari thoughts concluded with a powerful message about the universal appeal of good content.
“Our kids are such a hit there. Now, I think if there were no boundaries, no fights between India and Pakistan, our kids would be at the top right now. The point is that content is what matters. It doesn’t matter whether you’re wearing simple clothes or bold clothes. People enjoy it when the content is good,” Bushra Ansari concluded.
Author: newsdesk
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Bushra Ansari was served by Indian KMKT fan in Canadian restaurant
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Punjab govt reveals total number of cases against Imran Khan
The Punjab government on Tuesday submitted a report to the Lahore High Court (LHC) regarding the total number of registered cases against the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, in the province.
According to a report submitted by Punjab Assistant Advocate General Muhammad Farrukh Lodhi, 54 cases have been registered against the former premier in Punjab.
“Out of 54 cases, 21 cases have been registered against incarcerated founder PTI in Lahore alone, 19 cases in Rawalpindi division, and seven in Sheikupura,” the report said.
“Five cases in Faisalabad and one case in Gujranwala have also been registered against Imran Khan,” it added.
Assistant Attorney General Sardar Ameer Hamza Dogar also submitted a report in LHC, as per which, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had registered three cases against the incarcerated former PM.
The development comes after Noreen Khan, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, filed a petition in the LHC seeking details of the cases against her brother in Punjab.
It may be noted that former PM Khan was arrested from his residence in Zaman Park, Lahore, shortly after his conviction in the Toshakhana case in August last year and has been in jail since then on multiple charges.
Currently, he is held in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail under high security and with B-class facilities due to his status as a former prime minister.
Earlier, the founder of PTI was also kept in Attock Jail.
He is facing several cases, including the £190 million reference and a new Toshakhana case.
Meanwhile, speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Barrister Salman Safdar, the lawyer of the PTI founder, claimed that Imran Khan will soon be acquitted in the Al-Qadir Trust case, noting that in the worst scenario, if the party founder was even convicted, “the sentence will be suspended within 15 days.”
“All cases against Imran Khan have vanished, including both Toshakhana one and Toshakhana two,” Barrister Salman Safdar said.
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Hajj 2025 Policy: Pilgrims allowed to pay fee in instalments
The federal government has announced the Hajj Policy for 2025, which permits pilgrims to pay their Hajj fee in instalments.
The authorities have stated that a total of 179,210 pilgrims from Pakistan will perform Hajj in the coming year.
Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain shared the Hajj Policy 2025 in a presser on Monday.
While millions of Muslims from around the world come to Saudi Arabia for the annual religious congregation, Pakistan notably receives one of the highest Hajj quotas from Saudi Arabia.
Hajj quotaThe minister informed the media that the “Hajj quota has been divided with a ratio of 50-50 between the government and private Haj schemes”, with 89,605 seats each reserved for the state and the private Hajj schemes, respectively.
However, 5,000 seats will be kept for sponsorship under the government Hajj scheme and
30,000 seats will be reserved for sponsorship by private Hajj tour operators.Additionally, foreign exchange must be sent through a banking channel to participate in the sponsorship scheme.
Unlike in previous years, the government clarified that the sponsorship scheme will operate on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and will be exempt from balloting.
The minister also mentioned that the government will use foreign exchange collected through the sponsorship scheme exclusively for Hajj-related expenses in Saudi Arabia.
Details of stay in Saudi ArabiaThe Government Hajj Scheme includes the traditional long stay of 38 to 42 days.
Meanwhile, the short stay will be for 20 to 25 days.
Religious Affairs Minister also asserted that each organised private Hajj group must consist of at least 2,000 pilgrims in compliance with Saudi rules.
Cost of HajjAs per Hajj Policy 2025, the cost of Hajj is expected to range between Rs1,075,000 to Rs1,175,000, while the additional cost for the Qurbani as part of the mandatory ritual of Hajj will be Rs55,000.
The minister has revealed that all the applicants choosing double-bed and triple-bed accommodation in Makkah will have to deposit an additional amount of Rs 75,000 and 220,000, respectively.
InstalmentsThe government has also introduced an instalment policy for paying Hajj dues.
Rs200,000 must be deposited along with the Hajj application under the Government Hajj Scheme as the first instalment.
The second instalment of Rs400,000 must be deposited within 10 days of balloting.
The remaining amount, however, as part of the third and last instalment, must be deposited by February 10.
The minister noted that there would be a deduction of Rs50,000 on a refund of the first instalment and a deduction of Rs200,000 if the third instalment is not deposited after the balloting, but there would be no deduction for refunds if an application is withdrawn before the last date of submission.
No refund policy will apply after February 10.
In case of the applicant’s death, the deductions will not be applied.
The process of receiving applications for the upcoming Hajj will begin from November 18 to December 3, while balloting will be held on December 6.
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New rules in place for attendants with passengers on Karachi Airport
The Vigilance Department of Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has announced new rules for all the people coming along to pick up or see off passengers.
The department attributed the decision to measures taken to tighten security at Karachi Airport.
New rules have been imposed on those who come to receive or send off passengers.
Geo’s Tariq Abul Hassan has reported that it is mandatory to carry a copy of the ticket for those who come to pick up or leave passengers at Karachi Airport.
Additionally, attendees will be asked to show tickets when asked for checking by security agencies at the time of entry to the airport.
Gone are the days when the whole family could come to drop off one person about to board as the Vigilance department has announced that only four people will be able to go to the airport with one passenger.
If the attendees do not have a copy of the ticket, they will not be allowed to enter the airport.Geo’s sources said that under the new rules, citizens who come to pick up the passengers will also have to carry ID cards to be allowed entry into the premises and must facilitate verification for airport security staff.
Notably, these steps have been taken in view of the recent terrorist attack near Karachi Airport.
A massive terror attack occurred last month on a road near the airport, killing three people — including two Chinese nationals — and injuring at least 16 others.
So far, the Karachi police and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) have arrested three terrorists, including the mastermind and a woman accomplice.Sindh Home Minister Zia Ul Hassan Lanjar on Monday announced the arrest of three terrorists, who were found to have used 70-80 kilogrammes of explosives planted in a double-cabin vehicle. The attacker crashed the explosives-laden car into the coaster bus carrying the Chinese nationals as it approached the airport.
Geo’s sources from the Pakistan Airports Authority said, “These steps aim to enhance security and minimise risks to airport visitors and personnel.”
The Vigilance Department of Pakistan Airports Authority has prepared the plan, and implementation will begin soon. -
‘Will personally announce date of protest march’: Imran Khan
Founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan stated on Monday that he will personally announce the date of an upcoming protest march.
Speaking to journalists at Adiala Jail Rawalpindi, the former Prime Minister said that with full preparation, he will call for an upcoming March protest against the incumbent government; Imran Khan’s X (formerly Twitter) account posted the message.
Imran Khan’s message noted: “Our action plan was announced during the rally at Swabi. This time, our protest will continue, and our people will not go back to their homes until the constitution, democracy, and judicial independence are restored and our innocent workers and leaders are freed.”
Earlier, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur on Saturday, while addressing the Swabi rally, had already predicted that the jailed founder of PTI would soon announce the date of the protest in the ongoing month (November).
“I am conveying Imran Khan’s message to you that Khan will call for the date of the March protest this month (November), which would be that this time, when we leave, we will inform our families that if we do not return home, perform our funeral prayers,” CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur quoted incarcerated Imran Khan message in a Swabi rally on Saturday.
Referring to the PTI’s potential march on Islamabad, Gandapur firmly stated: “We will not return until the release of the PTI founder.”
Responding to the decision-maker power in his party, Ali Amin Gandapur said that only party founder Imran Khan has the power to make decisions in the PTI.
Jailed Imran Khan further said that he is ready to make every sacrifice to achieve genuine freedom for Pakistan.
Furthermore, the founder of PTI also directed the PTI officials, members of parliament, organisers, party ticket holders, workers, and supporters to finalise preparations and begin efforts for on-ground mobilisation.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister (PM) Advisor for Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, while appearing on the Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath,’ warned, “When they (PTI) speak about wearing shrouds, funeral prayers (…) they are giving a free hand to law enforcers to launch a crackdown against them.”
Rana Sanaullah advised that PTI should demand to hold a “democratic and peaceful” protest or rally to fulfil its demands instead of a “do or die” March call towards Islamabad.
PM Advisor for Political Affairs further said that the incarcerated PTI founder wished the opposition to be eliminated through the establishment.
Criticising the founder of PTI’s harsh policy of “will not spare anyone,” Sanaullah maintained: “His [PTI founder] stubbornness led himself and the country to trouble.”
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Mikaal Zulfiqar calls THIS his best performance
Mikal Zulfiqar has-been in the industry since a long time, working away in many hit projects. So which one is his favourite?
The actor delivered one of his most remarkable performances by playing a toxic, narcissistic and controlling character in Jaisay Aapki Marzi. Critics and fans praised his portrayal of the flawed and complex role.
During a recent appearance as a guest on After Hours with Ushna Shah, Mikaal opened up about his favourite role.
Mikaal said he considers Jaisay Aapki Marzi his best performance despite the character being negative.
“It was one of my best performances, even though the character wasn’t very likeable, he was toxic, narcissistic and controlling, but the writing was fantastic, and the scenes were really well done. My character was so full of himself, thinking he was superior to everyone else. Playing him was a lot of fun, and Saba Qamar did an amazing job of making it feel real,” the actor said with enthusiasm.
Mikaal said the response to his portrayal m was overwhelming. “I received heartfelt messages from women who said they could relate, sharing how their husband were just like that. While it was rewarding to know people connected with the character, it was also sad to hear about their struggles.”
Mikaal Zulfiqar also shared the emotional impact of the role on his audience, especially the women who were familiar with toxic relationship dynamics“I received long messages from female fans who told me they have been suffering the same in their lives, and their husbands are also like that. It was great to see that people were relating to it, but I felt sad for those women,” Mikaal Zulfiqar said.
The Dil-e-Nadan star believes that commercial success is an aspect of any project, as an actor, he knows how much effort goes into creating a drama, and for it to have meaning, it must reach a wide audience:
“I believe that the commercial success of project is crucial in today’ time, if you are putting in all that hard work and your project doesn’t become a commercial success, what the point , What do you gain from a drama that only reaches ten people, when you’re working so hard, it should be seen by a large audience.”
Mikaal Zulfiqar has starred in dramas such as, Saiqa, Dil Hai Chota Sa, Kiasay Kahoon, Pani Jaisa Piyar, Shehr –E- Zaat, Talafi, and Mann Pyasa.
Dil-e- Nadaan , written by Sadia Akhtar and directed by Saima Waseem, is his latest offering. -
Iddat case direct consequence of overseas PTI followers’ attack on Generals: Sher Afzal Marwat
In yet another controversy, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) maverick leader Sher Afzal Marwat blamed overseas PTI protestors’ targeting of state institutions for the predicaments of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“We have been subjected to unsurmountable oppression – what is the reason behind it? This punishment being given to us is due to the inexcusable actions of PTI’s digital media followers,” remarked Marwat on ABN News.
“If they protest within limits and do not hurl abuses at Pakistan’s state institutions. We have never given them permission to abuse our state institutions using PTI’s platform. Believe me, even this Iddat case that was made up against Khan – that case was a direct consequence of those overseas digital adventurists. They named and hurled abuses at Pakistan Army Generals, and made up fake scandals of actresses, which is why we suffered,” revealed Sher Afzal Marwat.
Marwat, known for being outspoken, often faces challenges from within his party. In May 2024, Marwat was kicked out of PTI’s core and political committees on the direction of party founder Imran Khan following his remarks about Saudi Arabia. Marwat, in an interview, alleged that the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia was behind Khan’s ouster from power.
Then, in August this year, PTI official page on X, formerly Twitter, announced the cancellation of the basic party membership of maverick leader Sher Afzal Marwat for a “gross violation/ breach” of discipline.
Yet confusion spread quickly when PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan termed the notification “fake.”
“The notification regarding the cancellation of Sher Afzal Marwat’s membership is fake. It’s not possible,” stated Gohar, clearly signalling rifts within the party leadership over Marwat’s future.
In the notification, it was said that Marwat was on notice and was asked to “restrict himself, and his statements to within the limitation as outlined in the letter. A committee was set up to monitor his statements, media appearances and tweets.”
Furthermore, the last controversy took place when Marwat was called out by PTI’s Salman Akram Raja when he said, “Sher Afzal Marwat must control himself; we are giving him a chance if he wants to play a role in the party if he does not show discipline, we will take action.”
It all started when Sher Afzal Marwat while talking to Matiullah Jan, stated that he did not vote for the Hamid Khan group in the recent Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) elections. “I did not want to vote for Hamid Khan’s candidates in the SCBA, neither did I want to vote for the other group’s candidates, so I did not vote,” said Marwat.
Matiullah Jan, with a surprising reaction, asked Marwat whether his action put PTI at a disadvantage.
He replied: “How did I put PTI at a disadvantage? Hamid Khan passes some statements or other arguments against me. He should be thankful that I did not campaign against his candidates; otherwise, I could have had 30-40 votes. Nobody came to me to ask for any votes.”
In a deleted post on X, Marwat wrote: “I am very saddened by the statement issued by Mr Salman Akram Raja adv against me. I was willing to work with you, but neither you are my boss nor do you have any authority to control me. Please bear in mind for all times I am only answerable to Khan sb and Chairman Barrister Gohar. Nobody else matters. Thank you.”
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Why are you not coming to Pakistan for Champions Trophy? Suryakumar responds to Pakistani fan
Indian T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav has responded to a question asked by a Pakistani fan about not coming to Pakistan to play in the Champions Trophy.
A video has gone viral on social media, in which Surya is seen standing in a gaming zone with fellow cricketer Rinku Singh, surrounded by fans. A Pakistani fan asked Suryakumar, “Why are you not coming to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy?”
The Indian captain replied, “It is not in our hands.”
The Indian team is currently playing the T20 series against South Africa in Africa.
Earlier, Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma said that the decision to go to Pakistan or not is not in the players’ hands; both boards will decide. Rohit said, “Our focus is on the Champions Trophy; if we get permission to visit Pakistan, we have no issue.”
India has decided not to come to Pakistan in the Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan in February next year, while the Pakistani government has asked it to boycott the matches if India does not come.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has started considering the Minus India formula by adopting a strict stance on the decision of the Indian Cricket Board not to send its team to the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy.
If the India-Pakistan dispute over the Champions Trophy is not resolved, ICC will also suffer financial loss. Pakistan’s policy against Indian behaviour will affect the ICC’s income in the current cycle.
India is scheduled to host 4 ICC events from 2024 to 2031. The Pakistani government’s policy of not sending a team to India may make it impossible for Pakistan to participate in these events. There has also been a stir in the ICC since the current position of the Pakistani government.
India is scheduled to host the Women’s World Cup next year, the T20 World Cup in 2026, the Champions Trophy in 2029 and the World Cup in 2031. Pakistan’s withdrawal from these events will affect the ICC’s broadcast revenue.
The BCCI has informed ICC that the Indian team will not go to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.
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11m children under five exposed to hazardous smog in Punjab: Unicef
The toxic smog has reached alarming levels and almost engulfed entire north and central Punjab, including the provincial capital, and some parts of south Punjab in the last few weeks, more than 11 million children under the age of five are currently exposed to toxic air across the province.
“The worse air quality will affect young children and pregnant women the most,” United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) country representative Abdullah Fadil cautioned the other day.
The intensity of smog could be gauged from the fact that it peaked in Multan a couple of days ago after Lahore despite ‘so-called’ anti-smog measures adopted by the Punjab government.
The smog-related diseases have also prevailed as a good number of people, especially children, are being admitted to hospitals in different cities.
Realising the gravity of the situation, the provincial authorities restricted all outdoor activities in Lahore, including school closures, a ban on entry in parks and open eateries and closure of shops at 8pm last week.
On Monday, the provincial government also banned all outdoor activities in Multan, Gujranwala, and Faisalabad, the most affected districts after Lahore, till November 17.
“Approximately 12% of deaths in children under five in Pakistan were due to air pollution but the impact of this year’s extraordinary smog [on children and pregnant women’ will take time to assess,” UNICEF’s Fadil said.
“Young children are most affected because of smaller lungs and lack of immunities. They also breathe twice as fast as adults and consume more air, often through the mouth, along with pollutants, leading to life-threatening respiratory diseases,” he noted.
The Unicef representative further said that the potential impact of air pollutants could be extreme on babies’ developing lungs and brains, as breathing in particulate air pollution could damage brain tissue and undermine cognitive development, with lifelong implications and setbacks.
“When pregnant women are exposed to polluted air, they are more likely to give birth prematurely, face respiratory issues, and their babies may have a low birth weight.”
The Unicef, Fadil added, was supporting awareness measures as part of the Punjab government’s official plan to reduce the smog. “The global body is also advocating and working with government departments to reduce emissions with the help of strategies like transitioning to renewable energy,” he maintained. -
Dr. Numair ya Dr. Strange? Usman Mukhtar defends his character in Jafaa
Usman Mukhtar’s performance in Hum TV’s hit drama Jafaa has won over fans with his character, Dr. Numair, stirring up heated debates online. One of the most talked-about scenes is when Dr. Numair takes his newborn baby to the hospital for a DNA test.
The scene sparked controversy on social media, with fans sharing their thoughts. Usman Mukhtar, who read all the feedback, shared his perspective on the matter.
He defended Dr. Numair’s actions, saying, “Numair’s journey may not be perfect, and he’s certainly not handling things well, but imagine how this news might affect someone who believed he was infertile for most of his life.”
Usman also addressed Andaleeb’s character and her reaction to Numair’s actions. He explained that her response was completely justified, adding, “She feels unsettled by Numair’s unpredictable behavior, which leaves her confused and frustrated. When she heard about the DNA test, my wife, Zunaira, said, ‘If I were in her place, I would’ve broken your face!’”
Usman also shared that he chose the Jafaa script because it tackles important social issues like domestic violence and infertility, which are often stigmatized or ignored in society.
He also posted on Instagram: “I know, I know, everyone’s frustrated with Numair right now! But here’s the thing, sometimes we underestimate the impact of personal struggles, especially with respect to men who feel societal pressure to always appear strong and in control.
Trauma isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey, and everyone handles it differently. Numair’s journey may not be perfect, and he’s certainly not handling things well, but imagine how this news might hit someone who believed he was infertile for most of his adult life.
Jafaa last night wasn’t just about mistakes, it was a look into the silent battles that can shape how we respond to the unexpected.”