Category: Uncategorized

  • Yasir Hussain reveals he once lived with a ghost

    Yasir Hussain reveals he once lived with a ghost

    Halloween means that everyone gets a chance to share their encounters with the supernatural.

    Yasir Hussain, while speaking to a local media publication, revealed that he once lived with a ghost.

    “I used to live in a two-bedroom apartment,” shared the actor. “While I lived in one of the rooms, a supernatural old man used to live in the other.”

    He continued: “I don’t know what he was but he never disturbed me. In the morning, he would come into the lounge and say his Fajr prayers and when my friends would come over, he would go into the kitchen and start moving the utensils. I would call out to him not to make noise because my friends were over and he would stop.”

    “I never got scared but my friends did,” said the actor.

    Read more – ‘Just better yourself’: Anoushey Ashraf hits back at Yasir Hussain

    Sharing another spooky incident, Yasir said that when he was shooting for horror drama Dareecha in a house in Karachi’s PECHS area, strange things would keep happening there.

    “Shoots would get stalled and things would move around themselves,” shared the actor. “One day, the woman from whom the house had been rented came around and said to one of the crew to take care of her son. He asked her where her son was and she said that he lived in the home.”

    “We later found out that someone had committed suicide in the home after which the woman had moved away and rented it out,” added the actor.

    Yasir, however, said that such things don’t bother him and he doesn’t get scared by them.

  • Forced conversions

    Forced conversions

    According to her parents, a 13-year old Christian girl Arzoo Raja was abducted by a man in his 40s, forcefully converted to Islam and then married to him. Then a local court dismissed the plea moved by her family to send her to a shelter home so that she was released from the custody of her older Muslim spouse. The court said that Arzoo Raja accepted Islam willingly and she told them that she was not abducted and was not forced to marry the 44-year-old.

    Even if the girl says she was not forced to convert to Islam and did it wilfully, how is child marriage being allowed? The husband says she is 18 and so does she in an affidavit but NADRA records show she was born in 2007. Her marriage certificate does not mention her age or details of her CNIC. A medical certificate needed to prove a person is 18 was not provided either. Legal experts say that child marriage is a very integral part of forced conversions. They say that the law against child marriage is inadequate. Some believe that all child marriages should be prohibited and declared invalid but legal age of girls is something that many religious leaders do not agree with.

    The National Commission for Minorities has finalised a draft law to curb forced conversions but the law will be finalised only after consultations with the provinces and the leaders of all schools of thought. Senate Committee on Minorities’ Rights led by Senator Anwarul Haq Kakar is also working on the issue of forced conversions by getting all stakeholders, from minorities to religious leaders, on board.

    Forced conversion of Hindu girls in Sindh is an issue that has been highlighted a lot. Minorities’ representatives say that why is it that only their girls are converted and not men. But in some cases, the conversions are not forced. They are be due to economic reasons or to get away from families but the tool to justify these conversions is consent. “Why is it that mainstream religious parties are never involved in conversion of girls from minority communities and only fringe groups like Mian Mithu’s, etc?” a parliamentarian questioned while speaking to The Current. They said that administrative laxity, if turned to agility, can decrease the cases of forced conversions.

    Despite laws, their implementation is more important. We hope the courts will not give a stamp of approval to child marriages and forced conversions. Minorities are as much citizens of Pakistan as the Muslims.

  • CM Buzdar announces Rs 5 Billion relief package for Hafeez Center affectees

    Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar, during his visit to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce, announced a relief package of Rs 5 billion for the traders affected by the fire at Hafeez Center.

    According to details, the government will collaborate with Punjab Bank to provide soft loans up to Rs 1.6 billion to almost 207 victims to help them recover and resume their business activities.

    Punjab Bank has already started offering these loans to victims at a camp office in the IT tower. Soft loans will be given for shop purchases, renovation, construction, and purchasing of supplies.

    Meanwhile, Hafeez Center is currently sealed for inspection, and many traders have shifted their shops to other centers.

    According to reports, the rents of the nearby shopping plazas and centers have skyrocketed since the fire incident at Hafeez Center. Many traders have voiced their displeasure on the local administration’s decision to seal Hafeez center as they have not been able to resume their business, traders that have moved to nearby plazas are also willing to move back to Hafeez Center.

    It is being reported that the government’s initiative to provide the relief package will take some time to come to fruition.

  • ‘A legend has departed’: Fawad Chaudhry mourns Sean Connery’s demise

    ‘A legend has departed’: Fawad Chaudhry mourns Sean Connery’s demise

    Movie legend Sean Connery, who shot to international stardom as the suave British agent James Bond has passed away at the age of 90.

    According to BBC News, Sean died overnight in his sleep, while in the Bahamas. His son said that he had been “unwell for some time”.

    The Oscar-winning actor, who was best known for his portrayal of 007 in the popular movie franchise, was the first star to play the iconic role on the big screen and went on to appear in seven films. He was largely regarded as being the best actor to have played 007 in the long-running franchise, often being named as such in polls.

    Sharing the news on social media, Fawad said: “A legend has departed…Rest in Peace Sean Connery”.

    Adnan Sami also mourned the actor’s demise.

    Connery was raised in near poverty in the slums of Edinburgh and worked as a coffin polisher, milkman and lifeguard before his bodybuilding hobby helped launch an acting career that made him one of the world’s biggest stars.

    Tall and handsome, with a throaty voice to match a sometimes crusty personality, Connery played a series of noteworthy roles besides Bond and won an Academy Award for his portrayal of a tough Chicago cop in The Untouchables (1987).

    He was 59 when People magazine declared him the “sexiest man alive” in 1989.

    Connery was an ardent supporter of Scotland’s independence and had the words “Scotland Forever” tattooed on his arm while serving in the Royal Navy.

    When he was knighted at the age of 69 by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth in 2000 at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, he wore full Scottish dress including the green-and-black plaid kilt of his mother’s MacLeod clan.

    The actor celebrated his 90th birthday in August this year.

    Some of his other noteworthy works include The Hunt for Red October, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Untouchables and The Rock.

  • Minal Khan says ‘Jalan’ is ‘forever special’

    Minal Khan says ‘Jalan’ is ‘forever special’

    Minal Khan has said that her ongoing drama Jalan, which made headlines for its controversial storyline is ‘forever special’.

    Sharing the poster of the drama on social media, Minal said: “Forever special. Forever grateful.”

    View this post on Instagram

    Forever special❤️ Forever grateful❤️

    A post shared by Minal Khan (@minalkhan.official) on

    In an earlier post, the actor said that she misses playing Nisha.

    Jalan had gained attention for its problematic storyline which followed a woman Nisha flirting and later marrying her own brother-in-law Asfandyar. Minal plays Nisha in the drama, who is a selfish girl and wants everything her sister Misha (Areeba Habib) has. Misha, on the other hand, dotes on her sister and will do anything that will make Nisha happy. Nisha gets engaged to her cousin Ahmer (Fahad Sheikh) who loves her intensely but after her engagement, Misha gets married to the super-rich and handsome Asfandyar (Emmad Irfani).

    Nisha, seeing her sister’s expensive gifts and big house breaks her own engagement with Ahmer, accusing him of physically abusing her and playing the victim in front of Asfandyar to gain his sympathy.

    View this post on Instagram

    I know you all hate Nisha??‍♀️ #Jalan #Feedback☠️

    A post shared by Minal Khan (@minalkhan.official) on

    Meanwhile, Misha finds out she is pregnant but totally oblivious to her sister’s evil plans, invites her into her home to stay for a while. Nisha continues to estrange her sister from Asfand, luring him into liking her and finally succeeding. Asfandyar divorces Misha, who goes into premature labour and delivers a baby boy. Nisha, on the other hand, runs away from home and pushes Asfi to marry her asap. When Misha finds out that her sister is marrying her ex-husband, she lights herself on fire and dies. Nisha does not regret any of her actions and tries to secure her husband’s wealth.

    In September, the drama was banned by PEMRA over ‘immoral content’ but the ban was later suspended by the Sindh High Court (SHC).

    Directed by Aabis Raza, Jalan has been penned by Sidra Sehar Imran and produced by Fahad Mustafa and Dr Ali Kazmi under the banner of Big Bang Productions.

  • PM Imran’s love for wife Bushra, who has ‘great wisdom’, melts hearts

    PM Imran’s love for wife Bushra, who has ‘great wisdom’, melts hearts

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said he could not have survived without his wife Bushra Bibi who is his soulmate and has great wisdom.

    “I discuss everything with her… the problems I face in the government and dealing with complex situations,” the premier said while speaking to German magazine Der Spiegel.

    “Only a fool doesn’t talk about everything with his wife,” he said.

    It, however, wasn’t the first time PM Imran praised his wife for her wisdom. Upon the completion of Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s first 100 days, he had credited her for handling “such a difficult life” with grace.

    In an earlier interview, the premier had said that he plans to stay with his wife Bushra Bibi till last breath. Commenting on his marital life, he had acknowledged his wife to be a blessing from Allah.

    INTERVIEW TO DER SPIEGEL:

    On Friday, the premier also expressed concern over India’s antics in occupied Kashmir and warned that the region was a hotspot that could “flare up at any time”.

    He urged the United States (US) to treat it in an “evenhanded” manner, saying that Washington was under impression that India could limit China’s influence in the region. “But it is a completely flawed premise.”

    “India is a threat to its neighbours… to China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and to us,” he said and added the extremist government in New Delhi was inspired by the fascist Nazi state from the 20th century.

    In the wide-ranging interview, the premier also spoke of the US presidential election, Afghan peace process, regional and global stability, Islamabad’s ties with Beijing, Pakistan’s COVID-19 response, economic challenges facing the country and the new law prohibiting media to report on the military.

  • ‘Abhinandan’s release’: Banners calling Ayaz Sadiq ‘traitor’ surface in Lahore

    ‘Abhinandan’s release’: Banners calling Ayaz Sadiq ‘traitor’ surface in Lahore

    Days after Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ayaz Sadiq made a controversial statement about the release of Indian pilot Abhinandan, banners have surfaced in several localities of Lahore calling him a “traitor”.

    The posters displayed on the arterial roads, such as The Mall and Main Boulevard, called Sadiq “Mir Jaffar and Mir Sadiq”, as they featured his photo alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Wing Commander Abhinandan.

    The banners are allegedly put up by the ‘patriotic citizens’ of NA-129 — a constituency where Ayaz Sadiq defeated PTI’s Aleem Khan in 2018 general elections.

    These posters accused Ayaz Sadiq of peddling Indian narrative, as they equated his action to that of Muslim politicians [Mir Jaffar and Mir Sadiq] who joined the East India Company against their India rulers.

    Mir Jaffar played a role in the British conquest of Bengal, while Mir Sadiq was instrumental in the defeat of Mysore.

    RELEASE OF ABHINANDAN:

    Sadiq, a former National Assembly speaker, is under fire for accusing the government of taking the decision to release the India pilot under pressure.

    Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi had “begged the opposition to release Abhinandan, otherwise, according to the FM, India would have attacked Pakistan at 9 pm that day,” the lawmaker had said during a session of the National Assembly.

    In response, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Babar Iftikhar held a press conference to set the record straight about the events surrounding the capture and release of the Indian wing commander.

    “Yesterday such a statement was given in which facts were attempted to be twisted surrounding the events that day,” the military spokesperson said during the media briefing.

    On Friday, Federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz hinted at legal action against Ayaz Sadiq for accusing the government of releasing Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman of the Indian Air Force (IAF) under pressure. “What Ayaz Sadiq said is not forgivable,” he tweeted, adding that law will take its course now.

  • Doctor identifies robber who looted him during treatment at Karachi hospital

    Doctor identifies robber who looted him during treatment at Karachi hospital

    A doctor at a Karachi hospital on Thursday identified his patient as a robber who robbed the doctor a few days back in the city. 

    According to reports, an injured person was brought to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) in Karachi. During treatment, Dr Arif recognised him as the same person who had mugged him along with his partner some days back.

    The hospital’s administration informed the police about his presence and after further inquiry, it was revealed that the accused identified as Kashif had sustained injuries after he escaped arrest during a police encounter in the Bilal Colony area of the New Karachi.

    “We have recovered a 30-bore pistol from his possession and a mobile phone,” said the police, adding that the search for his accomplice is underway.

    The robber has been shifted to a ward after doctors said his condition was stable after initial treatment.

  • Chitral to get its first five-star hotel

    Chitral to get its first five-star hotel

    National Tourism Coordination Board (NTCB) Chairperson Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari has initiated the development work of the first five-star hotel in Chitral.

    The hotel ‘BeJaan’ is being built under the public-private partnership, and will cost $30 million.

    The hotel will have 80 bedrooms, two restaurants, and a hall with a 500-person seating capacity.

    Anwar Aman, an overseas Pakistani who is the sole investor in the project, has named the hotel after his mother ‘BeJaan’.

    The hotel will not only provide state of the art accommodation and dining facilities to tourists but will also create employment opportunities for the locals.

    While addressing the groundbreaking ceremony, NTCB Chairman said that the government has taken numerous measures to facilitate the private sector to actively participate in promoting tourism across the country.

    He added that the PTI government has also formulated a comprehensive plan to project Pakistan as a customised brand all over the world.

    Besides, NTCB is also preparing to launch a dedicated e-portal that will promote Pakistan’s tourist attractions worldwide.

  • PML-N stands by Ayaz Sadiq’s ‘unforgivable offence’

    PML-N stands by Ayaz Sadiq’s ‘unforgivable offence’

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to stand by its party leader Ayaz Sadiq over a controversial statement pertaining to Indian pilot Abhinandan’s release, saying Sadiq was being targetted to settle political scores.

    In separate statements, PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal and Rana Sanaullah defended the former National Assembly speaker and said the government was blowing his remarks out of proportion. The statement came a day after the government spokesperson accused Sadiq of committing an “unforgivable offence”.

    PML-N General Secretary Ahsan Iqbal said that there was nothing illogical about Ayaz’s statement, explaining that “a weak economy translates into a weak defence”. “Accumulative national strength is reliant to an extent on armed forces and to a larger extent on its economic and foreign policy depth.”

    Meanwhile, Sanaullah, who heads the party’s Punjab chapter, said the government’s attempts to link the statement with the Indian narrative were problematic.

    “If Ayaz Sadiq’s choice of words was not right, where was the National Assembly speaker? The government is linking the opposition’s statements with the Indian narrative,” he remarked. The situation will get out of control if things continue in the same manner, he warned.

    Meanwhile, at least two complaints were registered against the PML-N leader for issuing a controversial statement on the floor of the National Assembly. These complaints were lodged at the Civil Lines police station, Lahore, and Secretariat police station, Islamabad.

    The complainants accused the lawmaker of “hurting the sentiments of the nation” and malign Pakistan on a global level.

    Dunya News reported that the complainants were forwarded to the legal departments of the police for consultation and action would be taken accordingly.

    On Friday, Federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz hinted at legal action against Ayaz Sadiq for accusing the government of releasing Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman of the Indian Air Force (IAF) under pressure. “What Ayaz Sadiq said is not forgivable,” he tweeted, adding that law will take its course now.