Author: newsdesk

  • Bawaal’s cringey comparison of Holocaust with relationships will give you second-hand embarrassment

    Bawaal’s cringey comparison of Holocaust with relationships will give you second-hand embarrassment

    After romanticizing predators and promoting Islamophobia, Bollywood thinks mirroring a toxic relationship with the traumas of the 1945 Nazi reign in Germany is what we have been missing all along.

    Starring Varun Dhawan and Jhanvi Kapoor, the film ‘Bawaal’ explores the troubles of a married couple who decide to visit all of the places in Europe that were deemed important to World War II, deciding that the battlefield would be the perfect backdrop to mirror the traumas of two elite people.

    A scene going viral on Twitter features Jhanvi’s character saying: ‘Every relationship goes through their own Auschwitz”.

    Twitter users slammed director Nitesh Tiwari for reducing a horrifying historical event to domestic spats.

    “Did they go to school or bother to watch any historical documentary?” one user wrote.

    Another clip from the film sees the couple discussing Hitler, with Jhanvi saying:

    “We all too are a little like Hitler, aren’t we? We aren’t satisfied with what we have. We want what others have.”

    Thee trailer for the film, released two weeks ago, featured a scene where Varun Dhavan looks at Hitler’s image and in the backdrop Jhanvi is saying “We’re all a bit like Hitler.”

    Responding to the accusations of ‘tone-deaf’ and ‘insensitive portrayal of a tragedy’, Tiwari spoke to The Hindustan Times about it.

    “While creating a character, you can go back and look at the events and incidents which can play an important role in the overall arc of that character and the relationship in general. It’s not just about Hitler. There are many more things that you may not have seen in the trailer. Every incident has been very carefully chosen that can have an impact on the overall arc.”

    Bawaal has been panned by critics with The Guardian giving it one star and saying it lacked in “fun, pep, humour and charm”. The Hindustan Times called it “the most insensitive film of the year.”

  • Police arrest couple in DIG Jamal’s death inquiry

    Police arrest couple in DIG Jamal’s death inquiry

    Lahore police have arrested a man and his wife for questioning in Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Shariq Jamal’s death inquiry.  

    The police officer was found dead in mysterious circumstances at an apartment on Saturday morning. At the time, conflicting media reports said that the policeman was found dead at his residence, while others said his body was found in an apartment in DHA.

    According to media reports, a couple shifted him to a private hospital in DHA.

    However, after further investigation by the police, it came to light that DIG was at the couple’s flat.

    The husband and wife revealed that the DIG was with them, and they brought him to the hospital after his health took a turn for the worse.

    According to the details, DIG was brought to the hospital at 1:30 a.m. and declared dead on arrival.

    The police confirmed that Shariq Jamal was not at his residence but at an apartment in Lahore, and he had shifted to the hospital from there.

    The authorities have decided to investigate the matter, transferring the body of the DIG to Jinnah Hospital for a postmortem.

  • Govt set to outsource Islamabad International Airport operations for 15-20 years

    Govt set to outsource Islamabad International Airport operations for 15-20 years

    The government has taken the decision to outsource the operations of Islamabad International Airport before the conclusion of its current tenure. The decision comes as part of the government’s strategy to enhance efficiency and service quality at the airport.

    According to details, the concerned authorities are set to issue a tender for the outsourcing of Islamabad International Airport for a duration of 15 years, with the possibility of extending the contract to 20 years to accommodate the interests of interested companies.

    As per the outlined plan for airport outsourcing, the responsibility for passengers’ facilitation services will be transferred from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to the selected private company. This company will be entrusted with the management of the airport, with a primary focus on improving passenger facilities. Furthermore, the company will be responsible for the renovation and management of the duty-free shops within the airport premises.

    A noteworthy aspect of this outsourcing plan is that the current CAA employees associated with Islamabad International Airport will be reassigned to other departments within the airport network. Additionally, several other essential services, including airport terminal services, parking, storage, cargo, and handling, will also be included in the outsourcing process.

    It is crucial to mention that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will retain control over critical functions such as airport security and air traffic control departments. This measure is taken to ensure that crucial aspects of airport operations remain under the direct supervision of the government.

    To safeguard the interests of passengers and ensure accountability, the agreement with the selected company will include provisions that allow the federal government to terminate the contract in case of failure to provide satisfactory facilities and services to travelers.

    Following the initiative at Islamabad International Airport, the federal government also plans to undertake similar outsourcing measures for the airports in Lahore, Karachi, and Skardu, aiming to streamline operations and enhance overall service delivery standards.

    In a related development, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar presided over a meeting of the Steering Committee in Islamabad yesterday, where the progress of work pertaining to the outsourcing of airport operations was thoroughly reviewed. The committee unanimously granted approval to the Ministry of Aviation to proceed with the tendering process for outsourcing Islamabad International Airport. The move is intended to align airport services with the best industry practices and improve the overall travel experience for passengers.

    According to ARY, this strategic decision by the federal government reflects a proactive approach to leverage private sector expertise in managing critical aspects of airport operations, with the ultimate goal of providing enhanced services and facilities to travelers using Islamabad International Airport.

  • School-girl tortured, gang-raped by four men in Islamabad

    School-girl tortured, gang-raped by four men in Islamabad

    A 17 year old schoolgirl in Islamabad was gang-raped by four boys who kidnapped her while she was on her way to school in Sector E-9. The police have arrested three of the four suspects: Atish, Junaid Ansar and Afad Malik while Hassan Shakeel is still at large.

    According to The News, the child’s mother told the police that the girl left for school at 8 o’ clock in the morning when she met a friend of her brother, Atish, waiting for her near the school. Atish kidnapped her by lying to her about an emergency. The boy then took her to village Matiari where three of his friends- Junaid Ansar, Afad Malik and Hassan Shakeel- tortured her. Then, they put a gun to her head, threatening to kill her if she cried or screamed while she was being raped.

    The police has registered a First information report (FIR) under Section 375-A and said that they are hunting down Hassan Shakeel, promising to trace him within 24 hours.

  • Pakistan Stock Exchange surpasses 46,000 mark for the first time in 15 months

    Pakistan Stock Exchange surpasses 46,000 mark for the first time in 15 months

    The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 index experienced significant gains on Friday, rising by over 500 points and closing just below the 46,000 mark.

    The index reached 46,073.61 points at 3:47 pm, showing a notable increase of 675.30 points from the previous day’s closing of 45,398.31. However, by the end of the day, it closed at 45,920.73, up by 522.42 points or 1.15 per cent.

    According to Dawn, Ahsan Mehanti, the Director of Arif Habib Corporation, mentioned that foreign capital was actively buying shares in the energy sector. He attributed the stock market rally to favorable financial results, the Islamabad High Court’s ruling declaring the imposition of a super tax on various companies unlawful, and reports indicating the policy rate would remain unchanged.

    As a result of these factors, the index reached the 46,000 mark after a gap of 15 months, signaling an overall improvement in all sectors. Mehanti also pointed out the positive impact of the recently announced standby agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    Looking ahead, if the market continues to close above 46,000, it is expected to see further growth. Amir Shehzad, Director of First National Equities Limited, referred to the recent market fluctuations as a “technical correction” and expressed optimism that the market could surpass the 47,000 point barrier in the coming week. He believed that maintaining an unchanged monetary policy by the central bank would likely have a positive effect on the market, possibly leading to new record levels.

  • Zara Shahjahan’s Pakistani passport tweet triggers debate on privilege

    Zara Shahjahan’s Pakistani passport tweet triggers debate on privilege

    Designer Zara Shahjahan landed in a social media storm on Friday when her tweet about a recent survey that ranked Pakistani passport as the fourth worst in the world, went viral.

    Her take divided social media with most agreeing with her, while others saying she was unaware of the privilege and wealth she had, easing most travel hurdles

    She had written:

    “This shows nothing. I’ve travelled he world with my Pakistani passport and would never give it up for any other. This is a lie.”

    Some people agreed with the fashion designer, saying that they never had a problem in travelling abroad with the Pakistani passport.

    While others called her out for what they said was an elitist take, sharing their own experiences of difficulty in getting visas.

    One user wrote: “I got my visa after a whole damn year to come to Australia. I applied in 2015 and made it there in 2017. The problem was, that I had a full scholarship and not a lot of my own funds to show. See, if you’ve got a lot of $$$ in the bank, visas can come as easy as this stupid take.”

    https://twitter.com/theD_inDNA/status/1682366267775385601?s=20
    https://twitter.com/someaningfull/status/1682328267515211778?s=20

  • Ishaq Dar, Khwaja Asif in the committee formed by PM to hold consultations for caretaker setup

    Ishaq Dar, Khwaja Asif in the committee formed by PM to hold consultations for caretaker setup

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a five-member committee of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to hold consultations with allies on the upcoming caretaker setup in the country, Geo News has reported

    The provincial assemblies of Sindh and Baluchistan will also be dissolved next month, in August, along with the National Assembly.

    Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Khawaja Muhammad Asif are members of the committee tasked with consulting with allies on the upcoming caretaker setup.

    According to sources in PML-N, the panel will start its work right away. PM Shehbaz has also advised other parties to form such panels, as it will be helpful in the matter of caretaker setup.

    According to multiple sources, one of the major parties in the ruling alliance wants the caretaker PM of its choice.

    Interestingly, the government is not consulting political forces outside the parliament.

    Earlier, the vice president (VC) of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Shah Mehmood Qureshi, had complained that PTI has not been kept in the loop in the matter of the caretaker setup.

  • Govt gives nod to massive power tariff hike to meet IMF demands

    Govt gives nod to massive power tariff hike to meet IMF demands

    In a recent late-night development, the federal cabinet of Pakistan has given its approval for a significant increase in the electricity base tariff. This decision comes as part of the country’s efforts to meet the conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    According to the information provided by insiders, the federal government has decided to raise the basic power tariff for various consumer categories, with the increase ranging from Rs3 to Rs7.5 per unit.

    The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) played a pivotal role in this decision, as the cabinet approved the tariff hike based on Nepra’s recommendation.

    For non-protected residential consumers who use 1 to 100 units, the proposed increase is Rs3 per unit, which will elevate the current cost from Rs13.48 per unit to Rs16.48 per unit.

    Similarly, residential consumers using above 700 units might see a significant increase of Rs7.5 per unit, raising the existing rate from Rs35.22 per unit to Rs42.72 per unit.

    The government has now referred the matter to Nepra, which will conduct a public hearing to gather input and make a final decision before releasing an official notification. If approved, the new tariff will take effect from July 1.

    It is noteworthy that Nepra had already granted the federal government an increase of Rs4.96 per unit in the base electricity tariff on July 14.

    This move aligns with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s commitment to IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, assuring full adherence to the agreement made with the global lender, leaving no room for any violation.

  • Police arrest four suspects involved in allegedly raping, parading women naked in India

    Police arrest four suspects involved in allegedly raping, parading women naked in India

    Police on Friday have taken four individuals into custody in connection with a distressing incident where two women were paraded naked in front of a mob in the northeastern state of Manipur in India.

    Local police confirmed the arrest of the four main accused, as announced on their official Twitter account.

    The action has been taken after over two months of the incident happening in the troubled district. Public outrage exerted pressure on the state government, led by the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and four culprits were apprehended.

    The suspects came to light after a video of the incident surfaced on social media in early May, garnering nationwide outrage. The video depicted the women being subjected to humiliation and harassment by a jeering mob while walking naked along a street in the state.

    The country’s Supreme Court took notice of the horrifying incident and issued a warning to Modi’s government, urging immediate action, with the implication that the court would intervene if necessary.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally broke his silence on the matter, after facing harsh criticism by lawmakers and public. He said that the country was “shamed” by the incident.

    The incident occurred against the backdrop of months of ethnic violence that has resulted in at least 120 fatalities. The situation has been further exacerbated by the imposition of an internet shutdown by the Indian authorities in the area.

  • Another Pakistani artist receives global praise as Ustad Noor Bakhsh gets featured in Guardian

    Another Pakistani artist receives global praise as Ustad Noor Bakhsh gets featured in Guardian

    Ustad Noor Bakhsh made our hearts swell when a viral video on Twitter showed him playing to an enthralled bar in Berlin. The video received more than a million likes on social media platforms, which is amazing because this was the Baloch musician’s first ever tour to Europe.

    Now, Noor Bakhsh has been featured in the prestigious Guardian, where he opened up about how he came to embrace his musical talent. He revealed that he was born in a nomadic family that herded goats and cattle across Makran in Balochistan. At the age of 12, he was selected by his master, Ustaad Khuda Baksh, to become his pupil. Two years later, Noor Bakhsh began performing at weddings and healing ceremonies, and a year later he was singer Sabzal Sami’s accompanist.

    When Noor Bakhsh was 16, he relocated to Turbat where Sami arranged his marriage so he would stay there- and continued to do so for the next 30 years. Noor Baksh still kept pushing himself to learn to sing by listening to the legendary benju player Bilawal and Misri Khan Jamali, who played the alghoza. He went through tragedies in the meantime, including the death of his first wife and then two sons.

    It was through meeting Ahmed, his manager, who teaches Anthropology at Habib University and discovered him after watching a viral video of him on Facebook, when Noor Bakhsh catapulted to fame. He introduced Noor Bakhsh to British-Pakistani DJ and producer Nabihah Iqbal who was organising the first Boiler Room show in Karachi, and described the Baloch musician as incredible, whom she couldn’t just ignore:

    “His music is just incredible and [his instrument] is kind of unusual, even in Pakistan,” gushed Iqbal.