Author: newsdesk

  • Speak up for Gaza: Malala wants to share stories from Palestine after being part of ‘We Are Lady Parts’

    Speak up for Gaza: Malala wants to share stories from Palestine after being part of ‘We Are Lady Parts’

    In the second episode of the new season of ‘We Are Lady Parts,’ viewers got a big surprise: a guest appearance by women’s rights activist Malala Yousafzai.

    The Channel 4 comedy follows an all-women Muslim punk band trying to make it big. The main characters, Amina, Saira, Ayesha, Momtaz, and Bisma, are the show’s heart. Malala, the youngest Nobel Prize winner in history, made a special appearance, stunning the audience.

    In the episode, Bisma’s daughter, Imani, is suspended for throwing eggs at a teacher who removed slavery from the curriculum. She tells her mother, “I did what Malala would do.” This inspired the band to write ‘Malala Made Me Do It,’ with lyrics praising Malala’s bravery.

    Malala appears in a fantasy scene, wearing a beaded dress and a crystal-studded cowboy hat, riding a fake horse in a western-themed setting.
    Malala shared her experience with Vogue, revealing she is a fan of the show. She praised its representation of Muslim characters as leads. At a film premiere, she met the show’s creator, Nida Manzoor, and expressed her admiration for the series. When Manzoor suggested the cameo, Malala was unsure but agreed after seeing the team’s preparations.

    On filming day, Malala enjoyed the experience, from the costume fittings to horse riding with a ladder’s help. She appreciated the detailed costume design, which included a custom dupatta.

    Malala also spoke passionately about global issues, especially the crisis in Gaza, calling for humanitarian aid and peace. She emphasized the importance of shows like “We Are Lady Parts” in connecting people through stories.

    Reflecting on her cameo and the song ‘Malala Made Me Do It,’ Malala expressed pride in its message about education and speaking out. She hopes the new season brings joy to viewers and highlights the importance of humanizing and connecting with others.

    Malala also mentioned her role as an executive producer on the documentary ‘Bread and Roses,’ which focuses on Afghan women fighting for their rights since the fall of Kabul. She hopes the film will raise awareness and support women’s rights in Afghanistan.

  • SC full court to hear petition on reserved seats today

    SC full court to hear petition on reserved seats today

    A full court bench of the Supreme Court (SC) will hear the petition of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) today challenging the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) decision that denied it reserved seats for women and minorities. 

    As per the report of senior court reporter Hasnaat Malik, the apex court will also decide about the live streaming of today’s hearing in the reserved seats case.

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa will lead the 13-member full court bench; however, Justice Musarrat Hilali will not be the part of  bench after falling ill.

    On May 6, the apex court suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to allocate SIC’s reserved seats to other parties.

  • Why Aagha Ali chose Pakistani drama over Bollywood film?

    Why Aagha Ali chose Pakistani drama over Bollywood film?

    Actor and singer Aagha Ali was recently invited as a guest on Showtime with Ramiz Raja.
    The host Hina Niazi asked him, “You had received film offers from neighboring countries, which you couldn’t accept.”

    Aagha Ali replied, “I was offered a Punjabi film a long time ago, and I was shooting a very good drama at that time. I felt that I had just started to gain momentum, you know, it had only been a year since I gained popularity. So, leaving my country and my work to go do a Punjabi film didn’t seem like a good idea at the time, which is why I declined the offer. But now, I’m sure that if another opportunity arises, I will definitely consider it.”

  • Christian man lynched by Sargodha mob dies of injuries after nine days

    Christian man lynched by Sargodha mob dies of injuries after nine days

    A Christian man in Sargodha, who became a victim of a lynch mob last month, died at a hospital in Rawalpindi on Monday, nine days after the unfortunate incident.

    On May 25, Sargodha police rescued Nazir Masih, 70, from a raging mob accusing the victim of desecrating the Holy Quran. The mob also attacked the homes of some other members of the minority community in the district’s Mujahid Colony.

    The crowd knocked on the door of the victim and when he came out he was attacked with kicks and fists and stones were hurled at him. A shoe shop belonging to the Christian family was also set on fire. The walls and doors of the minority community’s homes were also damaged.

    The victim’s nephew denied allegations of discretion.

    A terrorism case had been registered against 44 people and 300/400 unidentified suspects, with more than 100 arrests being made. Meanwhile, the police had also registered a blasphemy case against the Christian man.

    Previously, the rumors of the man’s death spread all over social media but a nephew denied them straight away.

    Today, Dawn talked to the Christian man’s other nephew and he confirmed that his uncle passed away at a hospital in Rawalpindi, adding that his body was being shifted back to Sargodha for the funeral this afternoon.

  • Imran Khan angry at PTI leaders for disowning controversial 1971 post: Asad Toor

    Imran Khan angry at PTI leaders for disowning controversial 1971 post: Asad Toor

    Journalist Asad Toor recently revealed on his YouTube channel that the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan got angry at party leaders because they did not support PTI’s social media team over the controversial Fall of Dhaka post.

    “If you cannot fight, then leave the party,” exclaimed Khan to party members who visited him in Adiala Jail, Toor said.

    “You guys are not fighting but our social media team is, and nobody will disown them. Do not speak ill of them,” Imran reportedly told his party members.

    Earlier this week, Khan’s social media account uploaded a video regarding the 1971 Fall of Dhaka and drew a reference between Mujeeb ur Rehman and Imran Khan. It also called the military actions atrocities.

    PTI leaders scrambled to try and do some damage control by disassociating Imran Khan from the post, claiming he had no control over his social media.

  • Khan, Qureshi acquitted in two vandalism cases

    Khan, Qureshi acquitted in two vandalism cases

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and the party’s vice president Shah Mahmood Qureshi were acquitted on Monday in two cases related to long march vandalism, Geo News reported. 

    Judicial Magistrate Ehtesham Alam cleared the politicians in both cases.

    The court also acquitted other politicians, including Ali Muhammad Khan, Murad Saeed, and former PTI leader Asad Umar in both cases.

    Asad Umar and Ali Muhammad Khan appeared before the court to mark their attendance as the cases were registered against them at Golra Police Station.

    On May 30, the court acquitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in two similar cases related to May 9 violence.

    “Because of insufficient evidence presented by the prosecution, the PTI founder has been acquitted,” the district and sessions court said in its verdict.

  • Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed reunite for ‘Shandur’

    Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed reunite for ‘Shandur’

    The beloved on-screen duo of Sanam Saeed and Fawad Khan is all set to work together once more. Reportedly, the two superstars will reunite for the web series ‘Shandur’. According to rumors circulating on social media, Fawad Khan will be seen playing the character of a Chitrali prince who is fond of playing polo.
    The web series has been shot in the Shandur Pass area of Chitral, Pakistan.

    The web series will be directed by renowned director Asim Raza and the story is written by Umera Ahmed.
    The dynamic duo earlier starred in the superhit drama ‘Zindagi Gulzar Hai.’ The new big-budget web series will be available on the Indian OTT platform Sony Liv, and its shooting is taking place in various locations in the UK and Pakistan.

  • PTI wants CJP Faez Isa to distance himself from cases against Imran Khan, PTI

    PTI wants CJP Faez Isa to distance himself from cases against Imran Khan, PTI

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has called upon the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa to distance himself from cases proceeding against PTI founder Imran Khan and his party workers.

    The PTI core committee expressed concerns on the proceedings, alleging that CJP Isa is biassed against Imran Khan and demanding that the Judge should recuse himself from the cases.

    The party alleged that CJP Isa’s hearing of their cases had a “negative impact” on a fair trial.

    The Supreme Court (SC) is scheduled to hear Sunni Ittehad Council’s reserved seats case on June 3. CJP Isa is leading the bench. Justice Musarrat Hilali will not hear the case due to illness.

    Three judges, including Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, and Justice Athar Minallah, suspended the verdict of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Peshawar High Court (PHC) regarding the allocation of reserved seats to other political parties.

  • Malala and Oxford University announce scholarship for Baloch students

    Malala and Oxford University announce scholarship for Baloch students

    The University of Oxford and the Balochistan government have agreed to provide scholarships to deserving talented students from the province.

    The agreement was formalised at a ceremony attended by Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai. It is also supported by the Oxford Pakistan Programme (OPP) and its benefactors.

    The graduate scholarships will be provided under the umbrella of the Benazir Scholarship Programme.

    The programme will enable talented students from Balochistan to pursue higher education at one of the world’s most prestigious institutions with the help of full scholarship.

    As the signing ceremony began, philanthropist Sarwar Khawaja don­ated 100,000 pounds to initiate the endowment fund.

    Chief Minister’s principal secretary, Imran Zarkoon Khan, an alumnus of Oxford, also attended the ceremony and was praised for his instrumental role in initiating the scholarship programme.

  • T20 World Cup 2024: Namibia defeats Oman by 11 in super over

    T20 World Cup 2024: Namibia defeats Oman by 11 in super over

    In the third match of the T20 World Cup, the match between Oman and Namibia was tied, after which the decision took place in the Super Over. In the first super over of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup, Namibia defeated Oman by 11 runs.

    First inning:

    Oman scored 109 runs in the allotted 20 overs. On behalf of Oman, Khalid Keil scored 34 runs off 39 balls, while Zeeshan Maqsood scored 22 runs off 20 balls and Ayan Khan scored 15 runs off 21 balls. Kaleemullah scored 11 runs off 9 balls while no other batsman could enter double figures.

    Bowling in the first innings, Namibia’s Trumpelman managed to get 4 wickets, David Weise got 3, Gerhard 2 and Bernard Schulz got 1 wicket.

    Second inning:

    Chasing Oman’s target, Namibia’s Jan Frylink scored 45, Niko Davin 24, and captain Gerhard Erasmus scored 13 runs. Apart from this, no other batsman could even enter in double figures.

    Namibia also scored 109 for the loss of six wickets in the alloted 20 over and the match was tied, after which the decision took place in the Super Over.

    Super Over:

    All-rounder David Weise and skipper Gerhard Erasmus came in to bat in the Super Over for Namibia, while Bilal Khan bowled for Oman.

    Weise hit a four off the first ball and then a six off the second, followed by two off the third ball and a run off the fourth. Captain Erasmus hit two fours on the fifth and sixth balls to score 21 runs and Oman got a target of 22 runs to win in the super over.

    Chasing 22 runs Oman could only score 10 runs with the loss of one wicket and Namibia won the match by 11 runs.