Author: newsdesk

  • Pakistan won’t surrender to extremism, says PM Kakar

    Pakistan won’t surrender to extremism, says PM Kakar

    Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has said that Pakistan will continue the fight against terrorism and will not surrender under any circumstances.

    While talking to the media on Wednesday, Kakar stated that Pakistan is his homeland, adding that, “We will take it forward according to our strategy.”

    In reference to the recent incident of martyrdom of security personnel in Waziristan on Tuesday, the caretaker PM said that acts of terrorism cannot weaken the nation.

    He also emphasised that the sacrifices of the martyrs will not be forgotten.

    The prime minister also expressed happiness over the successful rescue of eight individuals in the Battagram cable car operation and praised the efforts of the military forces, the district administration, and villagers.

  • Usama Khan, Yumna Zaidi set to star together in sports film ‘Nayab’

    Usama Khan, Yumna Zaidi set to star together in sports film ‘Nayab’

    It is confirmed now that actor Usama Khan will star along side nation’s darling Yumna Zaidi in the sports film ‘Nayab’. This will be the first time the two will be co-starring together on the big screen.

    Yumna Zaidi set expectations high when in an interview with Independent Urdu, the actress revealed that her character Nayab is a girl from Karachi who dreams of becoming a cricketer, but is hesitant to follow her dreams, fearing patriarchal society backlash.

    “It’s a brilliant story and it is meaningful,” the ‘Tere Bin’ actress gushed. “The whole team is trying their best to execute it the way it should be. Now that we’ve chosen good content, we want to do justice with it so that the audience also enjoys it when they go to the cinema.”

    Speaking about how much she has been practicing to learn how to play cricket, admitting that she had never picked up a bat or ball before this shoot.

    “I believe that cricket is almost a craze in Pakistan but I don’t know why or how but I had never picked a bat or ball before this shoot. I have been practising a lot. From the initial ABCs of cricket to practice matches on the final pitch, it’s been a long process and I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

    But Yumna elaborated that she did her best to learn all she could about the sport in an effort to do justice to her character, to avoid stereotyping the role

    “When you’re trying to perfect an accent for a role, or representing a tribe in a drama, you have to work very hard to avoid stereotyping them. It’s the same with this role. All of my attention, my focus has been here. I want to do justice to this character, to this girl who worships cricket.”

    Yumna became uber-popular with her portrayal of Meerab in the drama ‘Tere Bin’. Her co-lead and real-life best friend Wahaj Ali has gone to greater heights with the Green Entertainment drama ’22 Qadam’. We are happy to witness the two consistently setting the bar higher, and reviving the sports genre that the Pakistani entertainment industry truly needed.

  • Fact check: Is Jemima Khan on Tiktok?

    Fact check: Is Jemima Khan on Tiktok?

    English film producer and screenwriter Jemima Khan has finally shut down rumors surrounding her fake social media accounts, clarifying that she is not on the social media platform TikTok.

    The screenwriter of ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ has taken to her X account to share a picture of two fake Tiktok accounts, telling her followers that neither of them were hers.

    The filmmaker released ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ in Febuary 2023, which starred Pakistani actress Sajal Aly along with Lilly James and veteran English actress Emma Thompson. The film received positive reviews from audiences and even won four awards at the National Film Awards including  Best Screenplay, Best British Film, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor.

  • ‘I am fine’: Heath Streak confirms good health amidst false death rumours

    ‘I am fine’: Heath Streak confirms good health amidst false death rumours

    Heath Streak heard about reports of his death at his home in Zimbabwe. These rumours quickly spread, leading to global tributes. However, Streak clarified to Sportstar that he’s actually in “good health, recovering from cancer.” He expressed disappointment at the careless spread of such rumours, emphasising his ongoing recovery from cancer.

    Earlier, Henry Olonga, a former colleague, wrongly announced Streak’s death on social media. Since Streak lacks a social media account and has been battling colon cancer since May, he couldn’t counter the false news. 

    Streak mentioned that he is recuperating from cancer, acknowledging some strain due to treatment but overall feeling fine. He clarified that, despite the social media reports, he is very much alive and on the path to recovery.

    Later, Olonga retracted his statement and apologised for the earlier post. A renowned figure in Zimbabwe cricket, Streak was banned by the ICC in 2021 for breaching the anti-corruption code in 2018. Streak achieved 216 Test and 239 ODI wickets. Following his international cricket career, he coached various international teams, including Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, and IPL teams like the Kolkata Knight Riders and the now-defunct Rajkot franchise.

    Streak’s cricketing achievements include being the first Zimbabwe player to secure 100 wickets in Tests and ODIs. He’s the sole cricketer from Zimbabwe to achieve the 100 Test wickets and 1,000 Test runs milestone, as well as amassing 2,000 runs and taking 200 wickets in ODIs. 

    Streak debuted in Test and ODI formats in 1993 and became the team’s captain during the 1999–2000 season.

  • BJP Minister says Aishwarya Rai got beautiful eyes after eating fish

    BJP Minister says Aishwarya Rai got beautiful eyes after eating fish

    Sexism kay bina kya saans nahi le saktay mard hazrat? It seems like even on the other side of the border, male public figures feel the need to make gross comments about female celebrities. Yesterday the Minister of Tribal Welfare in India, Vijaykumar Gavit, held a meeting with fishermen, where he emphasised the importance of fish consumption by highlighting the beauty of superstar Aishwarya Rai’s looks. The minister said that she had glowing skin and sparkling eyes because she eats fish, a hack he suggested others should try.

    “People who consume fish on a daily basis develop smooth skin and their eyes sparkle…Did I tell you about Aishwarya Rai? She lived near the seashore in Mangaluru. She would consume fish daily. Have you seen her eyes? You will also have eyes like hers. The fish contain some oils, it makes your skin smooth.”

    When the comment went viral on social media, many users trolled the BJP politician for his bizzare attempt to encourage others to eat more fish, while some criticised the sexism.

    Other politicians criticised Gavit for his claims, with the NCP legislator Amol Mitkari saying that the politician should focus more on tribal issues rather than making such ‘frivolous comments’.

    BJP MLA Nitesh Rane said, “I eat fish daily. My eyes should have become like that (like those of Aishwarya Rai). I will ask Gavit sahib if there is any research on this.”

  • Girls from Peshawar take lead in annual SSC examinations

    As results were declared by all educational boards in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, girls from Peshawar Model Schools secured the top three positions in the annual secondary school certificate (SSC) examinations.

    According to Dawn News, this is the first time in the history of the province that SSC examinations results were announced simultaneously by all the educational boards.

    Adan Shahid from Peshawar Model Girls High School-II Dalazak Road secured the first position by obtaining 1,086 marks out of 1,100. Lubna Alam of Peshawar Model School Charsadda is the runner up with 1,083 marks.

    The third position was taken by Aneeba Asad and Musfira Gul of PMS-II Dalazak Road by with 1,082 marks each.

    The four students not only topped the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Peshawar but also secured maximum marks in all the boards in the province. 

    A formal ceremony was held at the Chief Minister’s House on Tuesday. Chief Minister Mohammad Azam Khan was chief guest on the occasion.

    According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s House, the overall success rate in the examination under the BISE Peshawar is 86 percent.

  • Bye bye, Zaka Ashraf?

    Bye bye, Zaka Ashraf?

    Zaka Ashraf, appointed as the chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in July, may be removed from the highly coveted post, media reports have said.

    Before being nominated the Chairman of PCB, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Ashraf to the Board of Governors of the board at the behest of the ruling coalition’s main partner, Pakistan People’s Party(PPP).

    However, Zaka Ashraf was not elected as chairman due to a court injunction, after which he was appointed as the head of the management committee.

    Following the end of the previous government’s term earlier this month, the Election Commission has called for the cancellation of all appointments for political reasons, prompting the Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) to write to the prime minister asking for the appointment of Zaka Ashraf and two others.

    Read More: Pakistan beat Afghanistan by 142 runs in first ODI

    IPC secretary Hanif Orakzai wrote in a letter to the principal secretary to the prime minister that the names of Zaka Ashraf and Federal Land Commission chairman Pir Syed Ahmed Nawaz Shah were under the ministry’s oversight.

    If Zaka Ashraf is also ousted, the new chairman will become the fourth PCB chairman in less than a year.

  • Veteran actor Akbar Khan passes away

    Veteran actor Akbar Khan passes away

    Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un

    Actor Akbar Khan, known for portraying character roles, has passed away in Karachi on Tuesday after suffering from an undisclosed illness.

    He was a painter and a sculptor of note, with acting credits that include critically acclaimed dramas like ‘Parizaad’, ‘Dil Ruba’ and the popular sitcom ‘Bulbulay’.

    Hum TV sent condolences to the late actor’s friends and family members on Instagram.

    Adnan Siddiqui remembered Akbar Khan for his contributions to the entertainment industry:

    “May Allah grant him higher place in Jannah . Aameen.”

    Actors like Yashma Gill and Yasir Hussain posted condolences for the late actor’s passing on their Instagram stories.

  • JIT to conduct forensic test of audios linked with Bushra Bibi

    JIT to conduct forensic test of audios linked with Bushra Bibi

    The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has decided to test two audios alleged to feature the voice of former first lady Bushra Bibi, in the ToshaKhana case. On Tuesday, the JIT decided to conduct a forensic test of audios as during the investigation, Bushra Bibi has denied that it was her voice.

    The JIT is currently investigating the ToshaKhana case against former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi.

    In Bushra Bibi’s recent appearance before the JIT, two audio clips were played for her. After hearing the audio clips, she said that the voice was not her’s.

    In one of the recordings, she is allegedly heard reprimanding someone for taking pictures of the things being brought from Toshakhana to Banigala House. In the second recording, she is talking to the then assistant to the prime minister, Zulfi Bukhari, about the watch at the center of the case, gifted by Saudi Arabia to Imran Khan when he was Prime Minister.

    These audios went viral on social media platforms, igniting a conversation about how involved Bushra Bibi was in the matter.

    It should be noted that Bushra Bibi appeared before the JIT on August 15 and was questioned for 20 minutes. She responded to each of the 20 questions asked by the JIT.

  • Koyi bacha hai? Star stuffed cast for Pakistan’s first Netflix series

    Koyi bacha hai? Star stuffed cast for Pakistan’s first Netflix series

    Its now official that Pakistan is about to get it’s first ever Netflix drama, starring our own actors. In July journalist Hassan Kazmi broke the news on social media, announcing that Lollywood’s A-list celebrities like Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan and Hamza Ali Abbasi are set to star in a Netflix adaptation of Farhat Ishtiaq’s novel ‘Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samiat Lo’, with director Momina Duraid on board.

    Now, Variety has revealed kay waqai mein the drama will live up to its name by leaving no actor behind, as the cast is chockfull of Pakistani A-listers like Sanam Saeed, Ahad Raza Mir, Bilal Ashraf, Maya Ali , Iqra Aziz , Hania Aamir , Khushaal Khan, Nadia Jamil , Omair Rana and Samina Ahmed.

    According to the publication, Momina Duraid will serve as the show runner, and her firm Momina Duraid Films FZ, will be producing the series. The show is currently being shot in US, Italy and Pakistan.

    The novel revolves around Sikandar, a Harvard law student who undergoes an incident that compels him to keep people away. He then comes across Lisa when he’s travelling to Italy, an energetic artist with a troubled past.

    Ishtiaq’s other novels ‘Humsafar’ was adapted into the critically acclaimed 2011 drama, starring Mahira and Fawad. Her other novels have also been turned into screen fare, including ‘Bin Roye’ which was adapted into a 2015 film starring Humayun Saeed and Mahira, and ‘Yakeen Ka Safar’ which was adapted in 2017 into a drama starring Sajal Aly and Ahad Raza Mir.

    Fawad is riding high on the blockbuster ‘The Legend Of Maula Jatt’ which also starred Mahira Khan and Hamza. He is set to come back to television screens with the series ‘Barzakh’ starring Sanam Saeed, and directed/ written by Asim Abbas.