Category: Uncategorized

  • ‘Real men do not stop women from excelling,’ says Yasir Hussain

    ‘Real men do not stop women from excelling,’ says Yasir Hussain

    Yasir Hussain, who never shies away from expressing his love for wife Iqra Aziz, has publicly appreciated his wife and mother-in-law for being empowered women.

    “My beautiful wife Iqra with her proud mother Asiya Aziz (Pakistan’s first female Careem driver) sitting in her daughter’s new car,” said Yasir, while posting a picture of the duo.

    “Powerful aurton k chehry pe alag hi glow hota hai (powerful women glow differently),” said the actor further, adding: “Apni maon, behnon, betiyon aur biwi ko roknay walay insecure hotay hain, mard nahi (Those who stop their mothers, sisters, daughters and wives [from excelling] are insecure. They are not real men).”

    Replying to Yasir’s post, Iqra said: “And this is why I fall for you all over again.”

    Iqra’s mother was Pakistan’s first female cab driver in Karachi and raised two girls as a single parent.

    Meanwhile, Iqra on several occasions has opened up on her relationship with Yasir saying that he is her biggest support and encourages her to achieve her goals.

    “I chose Yasir because he always speaks the truth and does not differentiate among people,” the actor had said. “He respects everyone and gives them their due credit. In addition to this, he knows how to respect a woman. After my mother and sister, no one has given me more confidence than him.”

    She further said: “This is important in these times that a man, your husband, supports you in your work, your dreams and wishes to see you succeed in your life.”

  • ‘Meera is perfectly fine’

    ‘Meera is perfectly fine’

    Imran Abbas has stepped in to defend Meera after reports of her being admitted to a mental facility in the United States started doing the rounds on social media and television.

    “Meera called me this morning to clarify to all of our media/social media that she is perfectly fine and there is nothing wrong with her mental health,” wrote Abbas on social media. “Kindly don’t sensationalise the story and make fun of her. Calling someone mentally unstable is not a bloody joke.”

    “She doesn’t need your sympathies or prayers to be fine. Kindly don’t show this fake concern by putting status. Let’s pray for our sick society, news channels and social media which can actually push anyone to commit suicide by their petty jokes and flimsy humour,” the actor added.

    Meanwhile, speaking exclusively to The Current, Meera’s manager Hasan said that the actor is doing perfectly fine and is working on a few projects in the States. He said that she does know who started this terrible rumour and asserted there is no truth to it.

    When asked about the video of Meera’s mother Shagufta Zahra, in which she appeals to Prime Minister Imran Khan to bring back her daughter, Hasan said that Zahra is elderly and hard of hearing. He added that Meera had recently gone to get vaccinated for COVID-19 and had narrated details of her experience to her mother who misunderstood them.

    On the other hand, speaking to a local media outlet, Meera’s mother claimed that reports of the actor being admitted to a mental facility were true.

    “I received a call from Meera on April 5 and she kept crying,” Zahra told the media outlet. “She was telling me that the US police is sending her to a psychiatric facility. She did not tell me why they were doing that, but said she repeatedly told them that she was an actor and not mentally ill.”

    Read more – Meera loses her phone, seeks help on social media

    Speaking to the same media outlet, Meera’s manager Muhammad Qasim and another family member trashed the reports and Zahra’s claims saying that “Meera is perfectly fine, both in terms of her mental and physical health”.

    Qasim alleged that the actor’s mother is spreading rumours to resolve a personal dispute. Meanwhile, the family member said that Meera is in fact in touch with her father and there is more to the story than what is being discussed on social media.

    As per the latest ‘reports,’ Meera has been released from the psychiatric facility after her husband Captain Naveed paid $50,000 to get her released. The report further claimed that the actor has been given 48 hours to leave the United States.

    The Current has reached out to Meera for further clarification.

  • Hyundai’s upcoming car can run house appliances

    Hyundai’s upcoming car can run house appliances

    Electric vehicle (EV) makers are always looking for ways to increase the appeal of their potential buyers by increasing the novelty and utility of their cars.

    The latest example is of Hyundai’s Ioniq 5. One of its commercials shows a group of happy and energetic individuals on a camping trip enjoying activities like working out, cooking meals, and watching TV, with all their electronic appliances connected to the Ioniq 5.

    Ioniq 5 can give 3.5 Kilowatt (KW) of power to run appliances like refrigerator, treadmill or run a stove.

    Hyundai aims to seek the attention of young people and they are trying to catch up with the EV pioneers like Tesla and the Volkswagen Audi Group (VAG), among others.

    Hyundai claims to be the first automaker that has developed a car capable of both power consumption and power supply features.

    To meet the competition, General Motor Company (GMC), Tesla and Rivian will also add this feature to their upcoming cars.

    Hyundai has also added the option to add solar power to the car, and it will give an additional 1,300 Kilometer (KM) range to travel.

    Pakistanis often argue that such developments are of no relevance to our market, but bear in mind that the normalisation of EVs across the globe is inevitable, which is why Pakistan’s goal should be to promote EVs in a positive light to facilitate a paradigm shift in Pakistan’s growing automotive market.

  • Inflation and other troubles: 73% Pakistanis believe country headed in wrong direction

    A recent survey by IPSOS Pakistan has revealed that nearly 73 per cent people believe the country is headed in the wrong direction.

    At least 1,000 people from all over the country participated in the latest survey that was conducted during the third week of March.

    Inflation has become the biggest issue for Pakistanis, as two-thirds of survey participants described the current economic situation as bad with increasing skepticism about any betterment in their conditions.

    Nearly 23 per cent found nothing wrong in the policies of the incumbent government while around 70 per cent expressed concern.

    Some 38 per cent of the participants believed there wouldn’t be any improvement in economic conditions in the next six months while 29 per cent viewed the same time period as one during which good news on the economic front will be here.

    33 percent maintained their moderate perspective on this.

    Inflation and unemployment were among the greatest concerns of the people in almost all parts of the country.

  • Pakistan becomes the first Asian team to win two bilateral series in South Africa

    Pakistan has become the first Asian team to clinch two bilateral series in South Africa as they defeated the hosts by 28 runs in the third and final One-Day International (ODI) at Centurion.

    Their victory was built on Fakhar Zaman’s brilliant century, his second in as many matches, captain Babar Azam’s 94, Hasan Ali’s sparkling 32 not out, and Mohammad Nawaz’s and Shaheen Shah Afridi’s three-fers.

    Fakhar stretched his excellent run of form from Johannesburg to Centurion as the left-handed batsman smashed 104-ball 101, embellished with nine fours and three sixes that set the platform for Pakistan to post 320 for seven. Babar was named player of the match award, while Fakhar was awarded player of the series. 

    Babar provided the tourists with a perfect start to the innings after being asked to bat by Temba Bavuma with a 112-run partnership with Imam-ul-Haq, who scored a breezy 57 off 73, and 94-run stand for the second wicket with Babar, whose exquisite strokeplay saw him strike seven fours and three sixes off 82 balls.

    South Africa looked in all sorts of troubles against the Pakistan openers as the two left-handed batsmen stroked the ball around the dial and rotate the strike at will. It was not until the 22nd over when Imam stepped down the wicket in search of a maximum that South Africa got their first breakthrough and handed an easy catch to the long-on fielder.

    Fakhar’s dismissal in the 36th over which sparked a collapse as Pakistan slipped from 206 for one to 257 for six in 10.4 overs. Pakistan, who had by then looked certain to post an imposing total, found themselves struggling to cross 300-run mark.

    Read more – Why is the Pakistan cricket team so dramatic?

    Then came Hasan Ali, whose last outing in the format was in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019. He plundered Jon-Jon Smuts for four sixes in the penultimate over before Babar hit Andile Phehlukwayo for two sixes and a four in the last as Pakistan brought up 43 runs in the last two overs.

    Hasan’s posted a scorching 32 not out from mere 11 balls. His knock also included a four.

    In a rare instance, South Africa’s spinners delivered as many as 28 overs with Maharaj outshining his teammates with three for 45. Aiden Markram took two wickets for 48.

    Janneman Malan and Aiden Markram provided South Africa a quick start with a 54-run partnership in nine overs. Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Markram with a length delivery which took the inside edge on its way to Sarfaraz Ahmed’s gloves.

    Debutant Usman Qadir dismissed Smuts before Mohammad Nawaz’s left-arm orthodox accounted for Malan, Bavuma and Heinrich Klaasen as the hosts found themselves tottering at 140 for five.

    Fifties from Kyle Verreynne and Phehlukwayo brought South Africa back into the contest as they put a 108-run stand for the sixth wicket before Haris Rauf sent the former back to the pavilion in the 44th over. Phehlukwayo became Hasan’s first wicket in the next over and Haris struck again in his next.

    South Africa lost their final wicket on the third ball of the final over on a scorching Shaheen’s yorker.

    Experts, colleagues, former cricketers and other notable people congratulated the team for a historic win.

    Man of the Match for the second time in the series, Babar dedicated this series to Pakistan, saying: “Alhumdulillah, this series win is for you Pakistan.”

    “Extremely proud of this champion team. Special shout out to Fakhar Zaman [and] his remarkable innings,” added Babar. “Well played South Africa.”

    Meanwhile, Man of the Series Zaman, while talking about his victory, said: “Absolutely honoured to be the part of this amazing team. Top efforts by everyone.”

    Pakistan will now face Proteas in four T20Is before moving to Zimbabwe, where they are scheduled to play two Test matches and three T20Is.

  • Imran Abbas to host a Ramzan transmission from Turkey

    Pictures of Imran Abbas having a ball in Turkey were recently doing the rounds on social media making us all very envious of his Turkish adventures. Turns out the actor is in the country for work and will be hosting a Ramzan Transmission from the heart of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul.

    As per details, the show titled Baran-e-Rehmat is being produced by Emax Media Productions and will be aired on AAJ Entertainment and AAJ News.

    Not only that, Reema will co-host the transmission with Abbas from Pakistan.

    Meanwhile, Abbas was also spotted hanging out with popular Turkish actors including Yeşim Ceren Bozoğlu (Hazal Hatun in Kuruluş: Osman) and Cenk Kangöz (Diriliş: Ertuğrul). Abbas also visited the sets of Kuruluş: Osman.

    Other celebrities who have been roped in for Ramzan transmissions include Ahsan Khan and Rabia Anum Obaid, who will be hosting a show on PTV.

  • Police arrest two suspects for selling fake COVID-19 vaccine in KP

    Police arrest two suspects for selling fake COVID-19 vaccine in KP

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Wednesday claimed to have detained two suspects for selling fake COVID-19 vaccine in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

    As per reports, FIA’s Deputy Director Abdur Rehman, during the hearing of a case relating to COVID-19 vaccine price at Peshawar High Court, said that they have recovered a huge quantity of fake medicines and coronavirus vaccine from their possession.

    Rehman told the court that the investigation agency also traced a factory manufacturing fake COVID-19 vaccine and other medicines used for the deadly disease in Lahore. The deputy director added that relevant authorities had already left for Lahore to seal the facilities.

    Meanwhile, last year in March, the police had arrested an alleged doctor selling a COVID-19 vaccine. According to details, police carried out a raid at a fake clinic where the doctor claimed to have COVID-19 vaccine. The police arrested him and shifted to an unknown place for an investigation into the matter.

    According to SSP South, the man arrested was a dentist by profession and was identified as Dr Dedar.

    “He is booked under various sections of Pakistan Penal Code for fooling people,” the officer had said.

  • Iffat Omar promises to get 10 people vaccinated

    Iffat Omar promises to get 10 people vaccinated

    Iffat Omar has promised to get 10 people vaccinated after jumping queue to get vaccinated herself at Federal Minister for Housing and Works Tariq Bashir Cheema’s residence in Lahore. The model-turned-actor also admitted her fault and apologised for her actions after receiving a barrage of criticism and backlash.

    Responding to a social media user, Omar said that not only will she forgo the second dose, but she will also get 10 people vaccinated.

    When the user told her why he was angry over her actions, Omar said: “I regret and [am] really ashamed but I will fix it.”

    “Please accept my forgiveness,” she added.

    The model further made her intentions clear by responding to other users and asserting that she will get 10 deserving people vaccinated against the virus.

    Omar had come in the line of fire after a video of hers receiving the COVID-19 vaccine at Cheema’s residence went viral on social media with netizens accusing her of jumping the queue to get vaccinated when more deserving citizens still have to wait. At the time, only those aged 60 and above could avail the free vaccine under the government drive, while those aged 50 could get registered for a shot and there was no commercially available vaccine against the coronavirus in Pakistan.

    The minister had initially denied accusations of jumping queue and claimed that a team from the University of Health Sciences (UHS) had arrived at his residence to administer a ‘booster shot’ of a ‘trial vaccine’.

    The minister said the same team had earlier administered the first dose of the trial vaccine to his family at their residence.

    Meanwhile, Omar at that time had told people to “take it easy”.

    In a now-deleted tweet, the model had said that she received a booster shot of the Chinese vaccine CanSino. However, Pakistani Twitterati had called her out on the claim, pointing out that CanSino was a single-dose vaccine and does not require a booster shot.

  • ‘The onus is on men’: Jemima schools Imran on rape

    Prime Minister Imran Khan’s former wife Jemima Goldsmith has schooled him on the topic of rape, saying that the “onus is on men”. PM Imran in an interactive session with the public on Sunday had blamed rising rape cases on “vulgarity” when asked what his government is doing to curb the surge in rape cases and sexual violence, especially against children.

    Pakistanis had strongly criticised the premier and told him that rape is an act of violence and has nothing to do with the way a person dresses.

    PM Khan’s words made it to international publications and now Jemima has criticised him for his remarks.

    Sharing a report, Jemima quoted an ayat with which she wrote: “The onus is on men.”

    Goldsmith added: “I’m hoping this is a misquote/ mistranslation. The Imran I knew used to say, ‘Put a veil on the man’s eyes not on the woman’.”

    Responding to Jemima’s comments, Focal Person to the Prime Minister on Digital Media Dr Arslan Khalid said that PM Khan “never engaged in victim blaming”.

    “DailyMail has misinterpreted his comments about purdah which in Islam is for both male and female,” said Dr Khalid. “Rest he talked about how society must act against trends that harmfully influence young minds and turn them into sexual predators.”

    Dr Khalid also shut down other media outlets and said that they are reporting a “total misrepresentation of what he said.”

    Later, a spokesperson of the government said that misperceptions are being created about PM Khan’s comment regarding the incidence of rape in the country.

    The spokesperson said that while expressing deep concern about it, the Prime Minister spoke about the societal responses and the need to put our efforts together to eliminate the menace of rape completely. Unfortunately, part of his comment, consciously or unconsciously, has been distorted to mean something that he never intended.

    The statement further said: “The Prime Minister said that our strict anti-rape laws alone will not be able to stem the rise in sex crimes. The whole society has to fight it together including lowering exposure to temptation.”

    “Prime Minister emphasised a holistic solution with the society and the stringent legal remedies, which are already in place, working together to eliminate the scourge. Plucking a line out of the statement would always distort the perspective and would not serve the narrative of the actual comment.”

    “PM Imran Khan remains fully committed to utilise all avenues at the government’s disposal to tackle the incidence of rape. He believes that all of us have a role to play in the fight and hoped that we would do so,” concluded the statement.

    Meanwhile, Pakistanis have all sorts of reactions to Jemima’s statements with some asking her if she still loves PM Khan and others rallying for her to become Prime Minister.

    https://twitter.com/_kiteRunnerr/status/1379832932454572035

    https://twitter.com/Sareyeh/status/1379829614495870977

  • NA body approves bill seeking criminal proceedings against anyone defaming military

    A bill seeking criminal proceedings against anyone who defames the military, has been approved by National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior.

    The bill, under which the said act is punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of Rs500,000 or both, will now be presented before the lower house of the parliament.

    According to sources, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have opposed it as a violation of right to freedom of expression.

    However, it received the votes of a majority during the NA body’s meeting.

    Last year, the National Assembly had introduced the Criminal Law Bill, 2020, to make intentional defaming and insulting the armed forces as a punishable felony.

    According to an insertion 500A in the Pakistan Penal Code Act 1860, anyone who deliberately ridicules or slanders the armed forces or member of the armed forces shall be found guilty.