Author: newsdesk

  • Meray Pass Old Gentleman Hai? Yumna Zaidi, Humayun Saeed pairing draws mixed reviews

    Meray Pass Old Gentleman Hai? Yumna Zaidi, Humayun Saeed pairing draws mixed reviews

    Yesterday, it was officially announced that actress Yumna Zaidi and Humayun Saeed will be pairing up for an upcoming drama for Green Entertainment, penned by the ‘Mere Pass Tum Ho’ screenwriter Khalil-ul-Rehman Qamar, and produced by Saeed’s wife, Samina Humayun.

    This is the first time the two will be coming together on the screen together. Social media users were thrilled that the actress never stops dominating the screen.

    https://twitter.com/kyakaruun/status/1681005153023926273?s=20

    However, not everyone agreed that the news was exciting, slamming screenwriter Rehman and Humayun Saeed for once more, pairing an older actor with a woman decades younger than him. Yumna Zaidi is currently 33 years old, while Humayun is 51.

    Many were happy with the casting because of the stellar performances both actors have given in past projects, but were concerned because of the age difference.

    Saeed has been criticised in the past for working with younger women as romance leads in films, like Ayeza Khan is 32 years old but had played his wife in ‘Mere Pass Tum Ho’. While in the film ‘London Nahi Jaunga’, Kubra Khan was 30 years old.

    https://twitter.com/xakyanaseem/status/1681199828414476290?s=20

    If we revert back on Pakistan’s pop culture history a bit, then some would remember in 2019, veteran actor Firdous Jamal was a guest on an ARY show where he said that Mahira Khan is of the age where she should be playing grandmother roles. A bit rich considering that men of the same age are still romancing younger women?

    Hopefully, Pakistani dramas can listen and get out of this creepy mindset!

  • Khan, Bushra Bibi to go to court in two days over illegal Nikkah case

    Khan, Bushra Bibi to go to court in two days over illegal Nikkah case

    A District and Session Court of Islamabad has declared the alleged illegal nikkah case of Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi admissible on Tuesday.

    According to the details, notices have been issued to Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to appear in court on July 20.

    Civil Judge Qudratullah handed down the decision, deeming the case worthy of further investigation.

    The court announced its reserved decision today.

    Earlier, on May 13, the court reserved its judgement and then announced that the petition was “inadmissible”.

    The petitioner’s lawyer, Rizwan Abbasi, revealed that the marriage of PTI Chief Imran Khan with Bushra Bibi had taken place during her Iddat, which is not permissable according to Sharia and Islamic tradition.

    It is alleged in this case that Bushra Bibi’s iddat was not completed when she married former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

  • America, Pakistan both agree: Taliban need to make sure Afghanistan isn’t used for deshatgardi

    America, Pakistan both agree: Taliban need to make sure Afghanistan isn’t used for deshatgardi

    The United States of America has reiterated that the Taliban administration is responsible for ensuring that Afghanistan is not used for terrorist activities against other countries.

    The development comes as Pakistan blames the Taliban government of harbouring terrorists linked to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

    “Taliban has the responsibility to prevent Afghanistan from being used as a safe haven for launching terrorist attacks,” US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said during a press briefing.

    Earlier, in an unusual statement, the Pakistan Army slammed the sanctuaries available to TTP in Afghanistan for harming Pakistan’s security.

    At the 258th Corps Commanders Conference (CCC) under the chairmanship of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, the army noted that the TTP had obtained access to the latest weaponry due to their sanctuaries in Afghanistan.

    The military also threatened to take an “effective response” after 12 soldiers were martyred in two attacks.

  • Ariana Grande and husband have reportedly separated after two years of marriage

    Ariana Grande and husband have reportedly separated after two years of marriage

    One less problem without ya?

    Pop singer Ariana Grande has reportedly separated from her husband of two years, Dalton Gomez, according to TMZ. The two have been separated since January and are reportedly heading for a divorce.

    A source told the tabloid that the two had been separated since the Grammy award winning singer had been filming the upcoming musical film ‘Wicked’ and it seems like the rumors are true because the singer was spotted without her ring at the Wimbledon final held on Sunday.

    TMZ further revealed that the two had remained friends and talked a lot on the phone, but there is no chance of their relationship improving.

    The ‘7 rings’ singer had gotten engaged to the real-estate agent in December 2020, getting married in 2021 in an intimate wedding ceremony where only their family and friends were present.

  • Pakistan Army commits full support to govt’s economic revival drive

    Pakistan Army commits full support to govt’s economic revival drive

    In a strong show of solidarity, the Pakistan Army has pledged unwavering support to the government’s ambitious plans for the economic revival of the country. This commitment was reiterated by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir during the 258th Corps Commanders’ Conference held at the General Headquarters (GHQ).

    The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, reported that the conference paid tribute to the brave soldiers who have made supreme sacrifices in defending their homeland against the persistent threat of terrorism. The participants were extensively briefed on the prevailing internal security situation, with special emphasis on the sanctuaries and freedom of action enjoyed by terrorists affiliated with proscribed organisations such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in a neighboring country. The availability of sophisticated weaponry to these terrorists was highlighted as a major factor impacting Pakistan’s security.

    Operational preparedness and training aspects of the army were also thoroughly discussed during the Corps Commanders’ Conference. COAS Asim Munir emphasised the significance of objective training as a cornerstone of professionalism, emphasising the need for remaining vigilant against any potential threats to national security.

    Moreover, the conference shed light on the government’s economic revival plan and the Pakistan Army’s role in uplifting various sectors, including agriculture, information technology, mining and minerals, and defense production. The plan falls under the jurisdiction of the recently established Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), aimed at promoting economic growth and revitalisation.

    It is worth mentioning that the Special Investment Facilitation Council was formed following a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The meeting was attended by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, Chief Ministers, federal and provincial ministers, and other senior government officials. The economic revival plan was unveiled during this meeting, with the objective of bringing about socio-economic prosperity for the people of Pakistan and restoring the country’s rightful position among the international community.

    During the meeting, COAS General Asim Munir expressed the Pakistan Army’s full commitment to support the government’s Economic Revival Plan. The collaboration between the army and the government is seen as crucial in achieving sustainable economic growth and securing a prosperous future for all Pakistanis.

    With the Pakistan Army’s unwavering support and the collective efforts of the government, it is hoped that the Economic Revival Plan will pave the way for a brighter future, enabling Pakistan to reclaim its rightful stature among the comity of nations.

  • Unveiling the ‘Demon Catshark’ and a growing catalog of shark species

    Unveiling the ‘Demon Catshark’ and a growing catalog of shark species

    In the realm of deep-sea exploration, humanity’s quest for knowledge has revealed a plethora of a new shark species, the Demon Catshark.

    Once believed to consist of approximately 360 distinct species, sharks have surpassed expectations with recent discoveries pushing the count beyond 500.

    From the delicate dwarf lanternshark, measuring a mere 20cm (8in) in length, to the colossal whale shark, a filter-feeding gentle giant and the largest known fish on Earth, the diversity within the shark family continues to astonish.

    With no signs of slowing down, scientists are left to wonder what other remarkable findings await them in the uncharted depths of our oceans.

  • ‘Ask Javed Sahib,’ Khaqan Abbasi says doesn’t know when Nawaz will return, hints at staying away from politics

    ‘Ask Javed Sahib,’ Khaqan Abbasi says doesn’t know when Nawaz will return, hints at staying away from politics

    Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said in an interview with ARY News that he is not going to take part in the upcoming general elections.

    “I don’t want to be a part of such a system, perhaps I will work better outside of it,” Abbasi said. “It is my personal assessment that current politics won’t resolve national issues,” he added.

    “This reality seems to me, at least my contesting the election won’t bring any solution,” the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said.

    “I would not contest an election if all stakeholders would not sit together. What will I will do by contesting election in the absence of thinking to resolve the national problems,” he questioned.

    The PML-N leader said that no party can be fragmented, and we should also learn from past experiences.

    On a question about his theory party head Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan, the former prime minister said that “This is Javed Latif’s department, contact him”. “I also used to ask Javed Sahib about the date of Nawaz Sharif’s return,” he said. “This department remained with Ayaz Sadiq for some time, but now Javed Latif is fully in charge”, he added.

  • Ready to hold elections in 60 or 90 days: ECP Secretary

    Ready to hold elections in 60 or 90 days: ECP Secretary

    Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Secretary Umar Hamid has said while talking to SAMAA TV that ECP is ready to hold election in 90 or 60 days after the end of the tenure of the coalition government.

    The ECP secretary said that holding election in 60 or 90 days is a prerequisite of the constitution of Pakistan.
    “ECP has been trying to hold polls, whether the assemblies are dissolved or complete their term,” he added.

    He further added that “The government will tell whether the assemblies will complete their term or not.”

  • Caretaker prime minister should be a politician: Qamar Zaman Kaira

    Caretaker prime minister should be a politician: Qamar Zaman Kaira

    Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said on Monday that the incoming caretaker prime minister should be a politician, adding that political people should be in political offices.

    The PPP leader gave the statement after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the government’s tenure is going to end next month, in August 2023.

    He also said, if the national assembly dissolves before time, then the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will fix a date in the next 90 days for general elections. On the other hand, if the government completes its tenure, the Election Commission of Pakistan will be bound to conduct an election in 60 days.

    The senior PPP leader has said that political offices can only be run by politicians.

    He added that the most elevated political office of the country is that of prime minister. “If a judge, general, bureaucrat, technocrat, journalist, or any corporate sector employee is appointed to it, it will be a disgrace to the post and cannot work.”

    He further asked, “Can I be appointed, on the seat of a judge in a high court or the Supreme Court is vacant? How will I be able to do justice there?”

  • ’22 Qadam’ is the long awaited sports drama Pakistan truly needed

    ’22 Qadam’ is the long awaited sports drama Pakistan truly needed

    It’s no surprise that Pakistan is bursting with stories that desperately need to be told on the big screen, but our attention always falls back to the same old ‘saas bahu jhagray’. But this time, Green Entertainment is proving that good, diverse story telling is back in the game with a series of dramas released last week that have been receiving praise from audiences. Among them ’22 Qadam’ looks like a real game-changer because it is truly the first time that we’re getting a good sports drama, that too about women.

    There haven’t been good sports biopics made on Pakistani players, considering how impressive the list of icons is. There was the rare gem of a telefilm ‘Bhaag Amina Bhaag’ released in 2011, starring Amina Sheikh as female Pakistani athlete Naseem Hamid, who won a gold medal at the 11th South Asian Games in Bangladesh. Since then, a biopic on Shoaib Akhtar was in the works but the former cricket star announced that he was leaving the project. It’s disappointing how no attempt was made by our entertainment industry to explore the lives of sports stars, but it feels like ’22 Qadam’ is taking a step in the right direction. The story revolves around a woman’s passion for cricket, leading her to becoming a national player.

    Helmed by the powerful performances by Hareem Farooq and Wahaj Ali, ’22 Qadam is for all those who grew up loving the Bollywood film ‘Chak De! India’ and how it championed women in sports, a long neglected issue that remains pushed out of the spotlight because of patriarchal assumptions that women can’t play sports, and how underfunded this issue remains. The series focuses on a spirited, confident woman Fari who dreams of becoming a cricket player, and her luck turns around when she gets an opportunity to meet the famous cricket player Sana Mir, who makes a cameo in the second episode as a visitor in a girl’s college, and advises Fari to never give up on her dream. As Fari is climbing up the ladder to success, the series alternates with the story of Jimmy, a former cricket star who after an injury, was forced to give up on the game and take a back seat.

    “When we came up with this concept,” Farooq told The Current when the series was announced. “The thought behind it was that we need to empower women in the best way possible and there is no way better than projecting women in sports. Cricket, especially being the most loved sport in South-Asia.”

    She also stressed on the importance of such a drama that would not only be enjoyed by people, but also educate them about breaking stereotypes, calling ’22 Qadam’: ‘the voice of the unheard’.

    Since the two episodes went up on social media, clearly online audiences share our joy because the feedback has been nothing but positive.