Category: Uncategorized

  • Ayeza Khan set to display her dancing skills in her Laapata, Saba and Mahira appreciate

    Ayeza Khan set to display her dancing skills in her Laapata, Saba and Mahira appreciate

    Ayeza Khan is set to play a TikToker in her forthcoming big-budget drama Laapata costarring Ali Rehman Khan, Sarah Khan and Gohar Rasheed.

    Her character Geeti makes musical and dance oriented videos including songs from some Bollywood chartbusters of Madhuri Dixit and late Sridevi. She will also be donning Mahira Khan’s Noori attires from her film Superstar.

    Her contemporaries Mahira Khan and Saba Qamar expressed their excitement and appreciation by commenting and liking her posts on social media platforms.

    The Meray Paas Tum Ho actress earlier announced her tribute for Mahira Khan and the veteran Indian actresses like Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit.

    Ayeza announced the same on her Instagram account. Her character name is Geeti who loves making musical TikTok videos in this Khizer Idrees directorial.

    The much awaited drama serial will go on air on July 28th.

  • ‘I condemn the murder, it is a heinous crime,’ Zahir Jaffer’s father speaks to reporters

    ‘I condemn the murder, it is a heinous crime,’ Zahir Jaffer’s father speaks to reporters

    While being taken to court in police custody, alleged killer Zahir Jaffer’s father, Zakir Jaffer spoke to the reporters present. He said, “I condemn the murder, it is a heinous crime, I sympathize with the Mukadam family its a very tragic incident and I would personally like to make a request to Mr Mukadam because I know him personally, and my family knew the girl socially as well…it’s a very heinous crime and I would like justice to prevail”.

    When the same reporter asked him about how he found about about the incident, Zakir replied, “that is a very long story.”

    The mother of Zahir Jaffer, Asmat Adamjee did not speak to the media present and walked with the police with her face fully covered.

    Asmat Adamjee being taken to court in police custody

    The court gave the police a two-day remand for the parents of Zahir Jaffer and they are to remain in police custody.

    READ MORE: Leaked audio reveals what happened in the #JusticeForNoor case

    Meanwhile, TherapyWorks, the counselling company which came to Zahir’s aid on his father’s request, has been sealed in Islamabad by the police.

  • ! نور اکیلی تھی

    کچھ دن پہلے میں نے “تھپڑ” کے  نام سے ایک فلم دیکھی ۔ کہانی ایک ہنستے بستے جوڑے کی تھی جہاں مرد گھر چلا رہا تھا ، اور عورت  جس کا نام امرتا تھا، اس کا گھر سنبھال رہی تھی ۔ امرتا کو ایک مثالی بہو کے طور پر دکھایا گیا اور وہ خوش بھی دکھ رہی تھی ۔ لیکن ان کی یہ مثالی بہو اس وقت مثالی نہیں رہتی جب اسے ایک گھر کے فنکشن میں اس کا خاوند غصے میں آ کر چہرے پر تھپڑ مار دیتا ہے ۔ اورغصہ بھی اس کو کسی اور پر ہوتا ہے ۔ وہ تھپڑ اتنا اچانک تھا کہ میرا دل سہم گیا۔ میں نے سکرین پر غور کرنا شروع کر دیا اس امید پر کہ کوئی تو آگے آ کر امرتا کا ہاتھ تھامے گا ، اس کو حوصلہ دے گا اس کے لیے آواز اُٹھائے گا ۔ لیکن وہ اکیلی کھڑی رہی ۔ اس بھرے مجمعے  میں امرتا کے اپنے والدین بھی آگے نہیں آئے ۔ وہ اس تھپڑ کی ذلت لے کر اکیلی کھڑی رہی ۔ اس ایک لمحے میں اس کے اپنے بھی اپنے نہیں رہے تھے  ۔عورت ہوتے ہوئے اس سین میں عورت کے اکیلے پن نے مجھے اپنی والدہ کا ایک واقعہ یاد دلا دیا ۔ وہ اس وقت اکیلی تھی جب ان کے چہرے پر ان  کے خاوند نے تب تک تھپڑ مارے جب تک ان کے چہرے سے خون نہیں نکل آیا ۔ انہیں بھی بچانے کوئی نہیں آیا ۔ وہ خود ہی اپنے زخموں کو سہلانے لگیں ۔ اور اگلے دن شوہر کے کہنے پر لپسٹک لگا کر لوگوں کے سامنے آئیں جیسے کچھ ہوا ہی نہیں ۔ گال پر نیل، سوجا ہوا چہرا،پوری کہانی سنا رہا تھا ۔ لیکن نا ان سے کسی نے پوچھا کہ کیا ہوا تم ٹھیک تو ہو اور نہ انہوں نے بتایا ۔  اس بھری محفل میں ، میری ماں اکیلی تھی ۔ جسے جانتے بوجھتے نہ کوئی دیکھ پایا ، نہ کچھ کہہ پایا ۔

    اس اکیلے پن کا احساس  کچھ اور گہرا ہوا جب کچھ دن پہلے اسلام آباد میں نور کو بے رحمی سے قتل کر دیا گیا ۔ نور اس گھر کی دیواروں میں ، اس شخص کے رحم و کرم پر ، وہاں موجود نوکروں کی چہل پہل میں ، اکیلی تھی ۔ وہ جانتے تھے کہ کچھ غلط ہے ، لیکن وہ غلط کے ساتھ تھے ، اور نور اکیلی تھی ۔ ان آخری لمحات میں جب نور کی چیخیں سنی ان سنی کر دی گئیں ، نور اس خوف کے ساتھ اکیلی تھی ۔ وہ انسان جس پر نور نے یقین کیا ، ان آخری لمحات میں نور اس یقین سے محروم تھی ۔ نور اکیلی تھی ۔ اور جب نور نہ رہی ،تو اس کا ماضی اور حال اس  دنیا کے سامنے اکیلا تھا ۔ نور کی زندگی پر جو بھی سوال اُٹھا ، نور اس سوال کے سامنے اکیلی تھی ۔ “نور وہاں کیوں گئی؟ نور وہاں کیا کررہی  تھی؟ کچھ کیا ہوگا جو یہ ہوا ہے ؟ نور کی اس لڑکے سے دوستی تھی ؟ نور نے شادی کیوں نہیں کی ؟ نور کے ماں باپ نے اسے جانے کیوں دیا؟ ۔” سوال ہزار ہوئے ،اور سب نور سے ہوئے  ۔ ان سوالوں کے سامنے ، ہر الزام کے سامنے ، نور اکیلی تھی ۔

    اگر آپ اس جرم سے متعلق معلومات غور سے دیکھیں ، تو زیادہ تر اخباروں میں مجرم کے نام کا ذکر ہی نہیں ۔ظاہر جعفر جس نے نور کو اس بے رحمی سے قتل کیا ، اس کا نام یا تو ہے ہی نہیں یا پھر سرسری سے ذکر کے ساتھ  “بزنس مین کا بیٹا ” آیا ہے ۔ اس پورے کیس کی تحریروں میں بھی نور اکیلی تھی ۔ ظاہر کا ذکر بہت کم ملا ۔ جب بھی ملی ، نور ہی ملی ۔

    “تھپڑ” فلم میں امرتا کے اپنوں نے ہی اس کو تھپڑ پڑنے کے بعد کہا “باہر آؤ لوگ کیا سوچیں گے “۔ میری والدہ کے نیلوں سے بھرے پر چہرے پر کہا گیا کہ لپسٹک لگا کر باہر آؤ ، لوگ کیا کہیں گے ۔ لیکن نور ۔۔۔۔ نور تو چلی گئی ، اور لوگوں نے بہت کچھ سوچ بھی لیا ، کہہ بھی دیا ۔ اس سب کہنے سننے میں ، نور اکیلی تھی ۔

     اگر کوئی نہیں تھا ، تو وہ ظاہر جعفر تھا ۔ اگر کوئی سوال نہیں اُٹھا ، تو ظاہر پر نہیں اُٹھا ۔ ظاہر سے کسی نے نہیں پوچھا کہ اس نے یہ سب کیوں کیا ۔ کسی نے نہیں پوچھا کے ظاہر نے نور کو گھر میں بند کیوں کیا تھا ۔ ظاہر سے کسی نے نہیں پوچھا کہ وہ لڑکی کے ساتھ کیا کر رہا تھا ۔ اگر پوچھا سب نے تو بس اک سوال  ۔۔۔۔۔۔ کیا نور ظاہر کیساتھ اکیلی تھی؟ 

    ایک عورت ہوتے ہوئے میں نے کبھی اتنا اکیلا محسوس نہیں کیا جتنا اب کیا ہے۔ امرتا کا تھپڑ کے بعد اکیلا کھڑا رہنا، میری ماں کا مار کھانے کے بعد سب کا خاموشی سے سامنا کرنا، اور نور کا آخری لمحوں میں اتنا بےبس ہونا، مجھے بلکل اکیلا کر گیا ہے۔ میرا یہ یقین پختہ ہوگیا ہے کہ میرے ساتھ کچھ بھی ہوا، میری زندگی میں کوئی بھی مشکل آئی تو میں اکیلی کھڑی ہونگی۔ اور میں جو کچھ بھی کہوں گی، ہر بات کا حرف آخر یہ سماج متعین کرے گا۔ اور میں اکیلی ہونگی!

    میری بہنوں، سہیلیوں، مائیں اور دنیا بھر کی عورتوں! یہ تمہاری آزادی اور حق کی جنگ ہے اور اسے تم نے اکیلے ہی لڑنا ہے!

  • Leaked audio reveals what happened in the #JusticeForNoor case

    Leaked audio reveals what happened in the #JusticeForNoor case

    In a leaked audio of Therapy Works, a counselling centre, it was revealed that Zahir Jaffer was a therapist for students.

    Despite being suspended from the programme, Zahir was an observer for level 5, which is an advanced level where students are allowed to take clients, but was not practically involved in the programme.

    Zahir was, however, allowed to take students as clients.

    As per the leaked audio, some time back, Zahir had a fight with his mother while he was in the United Kingdom (UK) and the police had to be called. He had a history of hard drinking and drug use. Despite his history, Therapy Works admitted it was wrong on their part to enroll him into the programme, level 3.

    Other social media accounts are stating that Tahir Ahmed stated that when Zahir’s brother got married earlier this year, Zahir was enraged about not being the center of attention. After which he started behaving very erratically.

    Tahir recommended that Zahir see someone for therapy but Zahir’s father, Zakir Jaffer refused.

    Senior Journalist Salman Masood writes, “Zahir detained Noor against her will for almost two days at his house in an upscale Islamabad neighbourhood. He forced her to make a phone call to her parents and lie about being in Lahore when family and friends started searching for her. Her efforts to escape remained unsuccessful.”

    A guard at the house saw Noor Mukadam trying to escape as she jumped off the balcony. When she jumped off the balcony, she landed on the Air Conditioner Unit ( Condenser). Zahir too jumped off from the balcony and grabbed her. The guard tried to help her but Zahir grabbed her by her hair and took her back into her room and locked the door. There was no other way inside the room, reports Geo News.

    Therapy Works sent their people after Zahir’s father had called for help. The people who came to the scene went up the balcony using a ladder. One of the men got into the balcony and Zahir came running with a knife to stab him. He saw what Zahir had done to Noor. The Therapy Works team grabbed Zahir and tied him up.

    Meanwhile, a neighbour had gone to the Koshar Police station to inform them about the happenings at Zahir’s residency. By the time the police reached, the team of Therapy Works had tied up Zahir.

    Noor was murdered and then beheaded. SSP Investigation Ata-ur-Rehman said, “When we arrested him, he was sound and in his senses. He may have had a past history [of taking drugs] but at least at this time he was completely in his senses.”

    The SSP also stated that while initially, the police had stated that Noor had been shot, there was now no evidence of her being shot. They did find a firearm at the residence but there was no proof that the gun was used on Noor.

    SSP Investigation Ata-ur-Rehman, said that the statements of the victim’s parents, and the suspect’s father, besides two security guards, have been recorded.

    The interior ministry has decided to put the alleged killer of Noor Mukadam on the Exit Control List (ECL) at the request of the Islamabad Police.

    Tahir Ahmed is also under investigation for Therapy Work’s alleged role in the incident.

  • Justice for us

    Justice for us

    Every week, nay every day, we hear of incidents of violence against women. A couple of weeks ago, the viral video of Usman Mirza harassing and subjecting a couple to sexual assault made the headlines. Then we heard of a man who shot his wife, Saima, in front of his children in Peshawar just this month. On July 15, another man tortured and killed his wife, Quratulain, in Hyderabad; they had four children. After each news, we think about what could be worse. But this cycle never ends as we hear of another shocking incident one after another. 

    This week, Noor Mukadam was murdered in Islamabad by Zahir Zakir Jaffer. A son of an influential businessman, Zahir is a dual national. According to the police, Zahir held Noor captive for a couple of days in his house before beheading her. She tried to escape once but was captured again by her tormentor. Noor’s gruesome death has left every woman wondering what it means to be a woman in a patriarchal society where no woman is safe just because of her gender. 

    Noor’s murder has sent shockwaves across the country. People are protesting and asking for justice. Details of this case leave one feeling completely helpless. We cannot even fathom the plight of her parents, her family. We didn’t know Noor personally but her murder feels so personal. Just reading how her mother kept saying that she leaves it in Allah’s hands (Allah ke hawaalay, Allah ke hawaalay) makes us cry in anger and agony. Why do women have to keep suffering? These incidents are not in isolation. It has everything to do with the fact how we treat our women in general, how misogyny is prevalent in our society, how toxic masculinity is present in almost every household, and how there is so much inequality between genders.

    Pakistan ranks 153 in the Global Gender Gap Report 2021 out of 156 countries. We have slipped two spots since last year as Pakistan’s gender gap had widened by 0.7 percentage points.  Have we ever wondered why? There are at least 1,000 honour killings each year as per reports. Women are killed, maimed, beaten up, raped, sexually assaulted, kidnapped, and much more. Whenever such incidents make headlines, there are always those who say this will tarnish our country’s image instead of saying that we need to change and reform our society. Fingers are almost always pointed at women, never at men who are the perpetrators of violent crimes against women. When we blame the victims and survivors, we — in essence — end up justifying the crime and giving impunity to the criminal. This must stop. Our justice system also needs to deliver. Conviction rates in most cases of violence against women are low. It makes women feel even more insecure. 

    Let’s make our women safe. Let’s teach our children about gender equality. Let’s call out each and everyone who blames the victims. Let’s call out patriarchy and misogyny for what it is instead of making up excuses for violent crimes. Let women live. 

  • ‘Jao jahanum mein’: Saba Faisal blasts netizen over personal comments on her son’s alleged divorce

    ‘Jao jahanum mein’: Saba Faisal blasts netizen over personal comments on her son’s alleged divorce

    Saba Faisal’s son Salman Faisal married Neha in 2019 in a series of lavish events. The ceremony was attended by a plethora of celebrities including Cheekh‘s Saba Qamar. Earlier in 2021 gossip mills were abuzz with the separation and divorce rumours of the young couple.

    Saba Faisal's Daughter-in-Law Confirms Separation Rumors

    Neha recently confirmed the separation rumours with a cryptic comment.

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is neha-reply.jpg
    Saba Faisal's Daughter-in-Law Confirms Separation Rumors
    Saba Faisal's Daughter-in-Law Confirms Separation Rumors
    Saba Faisal's Daughter-in-Law Confirms Separation Rumors

    Netizens flooded the Thora Sa Haq actor’s comment section on her Eid pictures with family members.

  • ‘Let me remind to most men, you are the problem’: Anoushey Ashraf claps back at trolls

    Anoushey Ashraf has clapped back at trolls for criticising her over the dance video she recently posted. “I mostly got love for my dance video but some men were so upset by me living on ‘my’ terms it was ridiculous,” wrote the host turned actress.

    “They called it a mujra, not our culture and they willingly abused me, sent me threats and called my family names. For one video, which according to their standard is not ‘our’ values,” she added.

    Last week she urged netizens to respect and love their animal of sacrifice this Eid-ul-Azha. The Sehra mein Safar actress also requested people to sacrifice their animals in the the most “humane way possible”.

    “Closing in on that time of the year where I always reach out to those on my Instagram urging them to care, respect and love their animal of sacrifice to the absolute fullest. A few things; Please make sure to remember it’s a ‘sacrifice’ NOT ‘slaughter’ and it takes place in the most humane way possible,” said Anoushey in an Instagram post.

  • Hockey stick, ball stolen again from statue of Samiullah Khan

    Hockey stick, ball stolen again from statue of Samiullah Khan

    A thief in Bahawalpur again stole a hockey and a ball from the statue of the former hockey player, Samiullah Khan.

    As per reports, the thief made a video after stealing the hockey then put it back on the statue.

    Police say they have initiated a search operation to look for the suspect. While the cantonment board has announced to install CCTV cameras with the statue.

    Earlier, the police arrested a suspect identified as Noman for stealing hockey and a ball from the statue of Samiullah Khan.

  • PSL seven to be played in January-February 2022 to avoid clash with IPL

    PSL seven to be played in January-February 2022 to avoid clash with IPL

    The seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be played in Pakistan from January-February next year, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed after consulting the six franchises. The tournament is expected to start in early January and continue till the third week of February.

    As per the press release issued by PCB, the schedule has been drawn up despite a date clash with the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia.

    Lahore and Karachi will host 17 matches each, with the final to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

    The regular PSL window, since 2016, has been in February-March, but in 2022, Pakistan is hoping to host Australia. That forced PCB to work a window either before the series against Australia or after, and neither window was without its share of clashes. April-May clashes with the IPL, and that affects the broadcasting and commercial arrangements. It is also likely to affect player availability. That window will also overlap with the month of Ramzan.

    The January-February period isn’t free either, because the BBL takes place then, and a number of premier T20 players are expected to be occupied there. There is also the issue of the weather in the Punjab province of Pakistan, which tends to be foggy in winter. To deal with the weather, the PCB has decided to start the PSL in Karachi, which is in the Sindh province, in January, and then travel to Lahore, in Punjab, in February, when it is likely to be more conducive.

    The Covid-19 pandemic has hampered the PSL schedule for the past two seasons, as it has the cricket calendar around the world. The fifth and sixth editions of the tournament were both played in two chunks. The 2021 edition started in February in Pakistan but was postponed after 14 matches and completed in June in Abu Dhabi. In 2020, the tournament started on time in February, but though the league stage was completed by March, the playoffs could only be held in November.

    The seventh edition of the PSL will also have fresh broadcast and commercial partners after the previous deals concluded this year after a three-year run. The PCB has confirmed that it is presently working at a framework for the evaluation of the rights and their subsequent sale. The PCB is expected to hire an independent consultant to evaluate the value of the brand. In the last cycle, the PCB had secured a 358% rise in the broadcast deal, worth approximately USD 36 million.

  • #JusticeForNoor: Zahir Jaffer to be put on ECL

    #JusticeForNoor: Zahir Jaffer to be put on ECL

    The interior ministry has decided to put the alleged killer of Noor Mukadam on the Exit Control List (ECL) at the request of the Islamabad Police, reports The News.

    The police chief also directed the team to obtain his criminal history, if any, from England and the United States.

    Briefing IGP Islamabad about the progress of the case, SSP Investigation Ata-ur-Rehman, said that the statements of the victim’s parents, and the suspect’s father, besides two security guards, have been recorded.

    A forensic team has also provided evidence after their investigation, the police chief was told.

    The IGP said that all the evidence obtained from the incident “should be forensic”, adding that the Therapy Works team should also be approached as part of the probe.

    Noor’s father had earlier said that he has served the country as an ambassador and only seeks justice. He wants justice from Prime Minister Imran Khan and the courts.

    Noor Mukadam, 27, was beheaded. Her post-mortem report states that she was stabbed several times and then beheaded in Islamabad.

    The incident took place on July 20 in F-7/4 in Islamabad, reportedly at the residence of Zahir Jaffer, who was arrested for Noor’s murder.