The drama will reportedly challenge traditional gender roles.
The cast of the web series includes Saba Qamar, Naumaan Ijaz, Uzma Hassan, Gul-e-Rana and Agha Mustafa Hassan. The web-series has been shot in different areas of Lahore.
An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad has sentenced three men to death over blasphemous posts on social media.
The verdict was reserved in the case on Dec 15, 2020 after a four-year long trial.
ATC judge Raja Jawad Abbas, while announcing the verdict, said the prosecution succeeded in proving its case against the accused.
All three accused, Abdul Waheed, Rana Noman Rafaqat and Nasir Ahmed, have been found guilty, the ruling pronounced.
A 10-year imprisonment sentence and Rs100,000 fine was also awarded to a professor, reported Geo.
Blasphemy is a sensitive topic in Pakistan. Rights advocates have long been demanding a reform of the controversial laws, introduced by military dictator General Ziaul Haq in the 1980s.
Human rights groups say blasphemy laws are often misused to persecute minorities or even against Muslims to settle personal rivalries. Such accusations can end up in lynchings or street vigilantism.
Navin Waqar, in a recent Instagram interaction, opened up about her choice of staying single.
Waqar, who shot to fame with Humsafar, was married to Azfar Ali. The couple parted ways in 2015, after three years of marriage. Since then Navin has chosen to stay single.
Navin, while talking about her relationship status, said: “There is nothing wrong in staying single.”
“It is one of the most important phases in a woman’s life where she is independent, where she is getting to live her dreams, achieve her goals, live life to the fullest,” she continued.
Navin also expressed that she is frustrated with never-ending questions related to her marriage.
“So many aunties ask me when I am getting married. And my usual reply to them is that it is better to be single and happy than marry the wrong person.”
She further advised women to not listen “to any kind of trash talk that comes your way”.
“Understand that life is a gift and you are on this earth to do beautiful and amazing things and you do not have to get married in order to achieve that,” said the actor. “If anybody who is single right now, I think its a great time to make a bucket list and achieve all the things you want.”
“Single girls do not let it get to you,” she added. “Enjoy your life.”
Navin was recently seen in ARY Digital’s Bewafa alongside Ali Rehman Khan and Ushna Shah. She is currently playing a prominent role in Hum TV’s horror series, Chalawa.
Besides Navin, Mehwish Hayat had also said that a woman can be totally happy without marriage and children.
“Let’s not let society dictate the way we want to lead our life,” Mehwish had said. “I have come to realise that it is possible for a girl in her early 30’s to be totally happy without being married and with children. It’ll happen when it will and not to some timetable.”
In a first, the newly appointed chief of Ruete Hilal Committee, Maulana Abdul Khabir, has expressed his willingness to adopt scientific knowledge in moon-sighting “within the limits of Shariah”.
According to Dawn, Khabir made the remarks during a meeting with Federal Minister of Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry who had over the past year made headlines for his tussle with former committee chief Mufti Muneebur Rehman over the Islamic calendar and moon sighting.
The meeting came after Fawad informed Khabir about setting up observatories in Islamabad for moon sighting.
“In this modern age, every problem has been solved with the help of scientific knowledge and only nations that use science are making progress. Islam and science are not contradictory but the importance of knowledge in Islam distinguishes it from other religions,” the publication quoted Fawad as saying.
The minister reportedly assured Khabir of full cooperation, adding that his office would support the committee to reach consensus with the help of science.
Earlier, Muneeb had opposed Fawad’s offer to use technology in moon sighting and expressed dismay over the minister developing a five-year lunar calendar containing all dates of Islamic events in Pakistan, including Ramzan, Eidul Fitr, Eidul Azha and Muharram.
The new chairperson, however, has expressed willingness to cooperate and even asked the federal minister to make every effort to take Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai on board to reach a nation-wide consensus on moon sighting.
Mufti Popalzai, of Peshawar’s Qasim Ali Khan mosque, had also opposed use of science and latest technologies.
Maulana Khabir has said he would also like to bring the committee on a visit to the ministry to brief them on the importance of scientific research and how it could benefit all, reports say.
The Henley Passport Index has released its annual report ranking the world’s strongest and weakest passports despite there being limited travel in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Henley Passport Index is based on data provided by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) and covers 199 passports and 227 travel spots. Asian residents continue to have the world’s most powerful travel documents.
As the report doesn’t take temporary restrictions into account, Japan tops the list offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival service to tourists from 191 destinations around the world.
The best passports to hold in 2021 are of Japan with 191 destinations, Singapore with 190, South Korea and Germany with 189, Italy, Finland, Spain and Luxembourg with 18, and Denmark along with Austria with 187 destinations.
Followed by Denmark are Sweden, France, Portugal, Netherlands and Ireland with 186 destinations.
Many countries around the world have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to less than 40 countries.
Passports with the lowest ranking include North Korea with 39 destinations on the 103rd rank, Libya and Nepal with 38 destinations, 105 Palestinian territories with 37, and Somalia along with Yemen on the 106th rank with 33 destinations to offer visa-free arrival.
Pakistan ranks 107th on the list with 32 destinations for the second time in a row, followed by Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, India, and Tajikistan.
UAE is on the 16th position rising from 62nd position from 2006 back when the index began. UAE provides visa-free/visa-on-arrival access to 173 destinations.
The State Bank of Pakistan has witnessed a 1.98 per cent increase in its foreign exchange reserves after an influx of $261 million during the week ending on December 31, 2020.
According to the data issued by the central bank on Thursday, the current exchange reserves stand at $13.4 billion as of now. The state-run news agency, APP, reported that overall liquid foreign currency reserves, including net reserves held by the banks, SBP excluded, stood at $20,512.1 million.
Net foreign reserves held by commercial banks clocked in at $7.09 billion. According to the State Bank, the increase came on the back of official inflows of the government.
On Wednesday, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) gained over 500 points to cross the 45,000-point threshold for the first time since May 2018. According to the reports, “Exploration & production and oil & gas marketing sectors rebounded strongly, whereas cement and fertilizer sectors continued with previous day’s positive momentum.”
“International crude oil prices jumped significantly on the conclusion of agreement among OPEC+ countries, which became the basis for an uptick in E&P stocks. Cement sector leaped on the expectation of an increase in cement price in the northern region, while banking sector contributed positively in anticipation of annual results.”
Veteran wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal is shocked and disappointed over ignorance by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Taking to Twitter, Akmal expressed his feelings and wrote: “Shocked and disappointed. As a senior and season[ed] player, I have not been treated well.”
Akmal also requested PCB and Director Domestic Cricket Nadeem Khan to look into the matter.
“Cricket is my passion and I want to play it but…I rest my case to My Allah,” he added.
Later, while replying to Twitter users, the cricketer further expressed his disappointment over his non-selection.
Meanwhile, Akmal has been keeping himself busy in the gym and with his YouTube channel. He has interviewed many cricketers on his channel, including Mohammad Amir and Imam-ul-Haq.
Fellow cricketer, Mohammad Hafeez showed his support amd wished Kamran good luck for his future.
Obviously surprising but u r a Fighter & m sure u wil be back in the feild soon . U inspired & evolved many so stay strong & positive. Believe on working hard as u always do. Best wishes @KamiAkmal23https://t.co/UeNoJtAFuF
Prime Minister Imran Khan has once again asked the Hazara protesters to bury the dead bodies of the coal miners killed in the Mach attack.
Speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad, Imran urged the protesters not to “blackmail the premier” because “anyone will be able to blackmail the PM then”, including the Pakistan Democratic Movement.
According to the PM, the government has accepted all demands of the protesters, but their demand that they will not bury their dead unless the prime minister visits them is akin to blackmail.
“Anyone will blackmail the prime minister then,” he said, adding that the PDM will also use this ‘tactic’ against him. “This blackmail has also been ongoing for two-and-a-half years,” he said referring to the opposition to his government.
The PM said he has already told the minority community that he will visit them after the burial. “I am using this platform to say that if you {Hazaras] bury them today, I will go to Quetta today to meet the families of the slain miners,” he added.
He also termed the protesters decision of not burying the dead bodies ‘illogical’.
PM Imran’s remarks come after Balochistan’s Shia Hazara community continued to protest for a sixth straight day in freezing temperature, refusing to bury their dead. On Sunday, 11 miners were kidnapped from their compound and killed by the armed men. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State.
Subsequently, thousands of protesters blocked Quetta’s key western bypass, demanding that PM personally visits them and assure them of security.
Protests are also being held in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad against the murder of the minority group members.
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday held a meeting with a delegation of YouTubers to discuss an alleged propaganda campaign against the opposition and journalists critical of the government policies, claimed a journalist in a tweet.
Adeel Raja, an investigative journalist and producer, says the details of the meeting were not made public fearing criticism in the light of the Hazara protests. Raja said that the YouTubers “were tasked to improve the image of the government and target journalists and opposition”.
10 youtubers met with Prime Minister Imran Khan yesterday, were taksed to improve the image of government and target journalists and oppisition. Pictures were withheld to avoid criticism due to Machh Killings.. Expected to be released in a few days.
Meanwhile, Punjab CM’s focal person on digital media, Azhar Mashwani, rejected claims made by the journalists. He said it was “not a meeting” but an “interview by digital media publishers and Youtubers”.
⚠️Twisted & Fake News⚠️
It was an interview by Digital Media Publishers & Youtubers not a meeting and it will be released after a few days, as per our past practice.
Why Mainstream Media is too insecure of Digital Media? Apny 10 interviews thek, hamara 1 b bardasht nahi? https://t.co/GDejaOczEA
Mashwani’s remarks were also endorsed by PM’s focal person on digital media, Dr Arslan Khalid. Dr Khalid said it was a not meeting, but a question-answer session with the premier. He added that the video of the session will prove the journalist “wrong again”.
Azhar is right here. It was a Q& A session with Digital Publishers/Youtubers & not meeting Adeel. Ur source is wrong and video will prove you wrong again.Very credible names asked Questions. Producer of a Tv talk show shouldn’t think low of Digital Media. https://t.co/vkipu33lNC
The news of the meeting between the PM and social media influencers prompted a response from the senior journalists, including Hamid Mir, who commented that the PM has time to meet with Youtubers and Turkish artists, but he has no time for grieving Hazara people.
Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai has appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan to visit the Hazara community who are protesting in Quetta after 10 coal miners were brutally killed by terrorists five days ago.
In a tweet, Malala wrote: “I am short of words to express my grief over the brutal killings of Hazara miners. This is not the first time that this has happened. But I hope it is the last.”
She added that the whole country is mourning the tragedy before requesting PM Imran to visit the victims.
I am short of words to express my grief over the brutal killings of Hazara miners. This is not the first time that this has happened. But I hope it is the last. The whole country is in mourning.
The families of the departed have also been protesting for five consecutive days and have refused to bury the slain coal miners until the premier visits them.
Meanwhile, PM Khan has requested the members of the Hazara community to bury their loved ones and has assured them that he stands with them in their time of suffering.
I share your pain & have come to you before also to stand with you in your time of suffering. I will come again very soon to offer prayers and condole with all the families personally. I will never betray my people’s trust. Please bury your loved ones so their souls find peace.
On the other hand, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawazvisited the protesters on Thursday to express solidarity with them.
