Category: Uncategorized

  • Sushant Singh Rajput’s fans call for boycott of Alia Bhatt’s ‘Sadak 2’

    Sushant Singh Rajput’s fans call for boycott of Alia Bhatt’s ‘Sadak 2’

    Soon after filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt released the first poster of his comeback directorial feature Sadak 2, starring daughters Alia Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt, it was met with massive trolling and hatred. The film which was scheduled to release in cinemas on July 10, will now directly release on OTT service Disney+HotstarVIP.

    Ever since the suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajput last month, Bhatt has been at the receiving end of hate on social media, like many Bollywood celebrities and bigwigs who have been accused of promoting nepotism and scuttling the chances of outsiders.

    Following the announcement and release of the poster, netizens and fans of the late actor unleashed their anger and hatred in the comment sections on different social media platforms and called for audiences to boycott the film. While Alia and Mahesh limited the comment section on Instagram, only allowing those who they follow to comment, Mahesh did not do the same on Twitter, following which he received a barrage of hate comments on the microblogging platform.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CCBQpM9gImB/

    Reacting to his tweet, netizens slammed the filmmaker, holding him responsible for Sushant’s deteriorating mental condition and threatened to boycott Sadak 2.

    “Guy who declared 26/11 as RSS ki Sazish and his own son helped terrorists to identify the places, tried to declare Sushant as mentally unstable, having a relationship with lady younger than his daughter, lowest scum possible…Don’t know why this guy is not in jail,” declared a social media user.

    “When you put END to someone’s life intentionally, you’ll soon release your END,” wrote another user.

    “We are not interested… get lost,” retorted another user.

    A user responded by sharing the poster of Sushan’s upcoming last film Dil Bechara, which will also be released on Disney Hotstar instead of cinemas. Sushant’s fans also began to trend the hashtag #JusticeforSushantSinghRajput on social media.

    https://twitter.com/Anshika29437517/status/1277827360826355712?s=20

    However, Alia’s co-actor Aditya Roy Kapur, who shared the poster without limiting the comment sections was met with heavy trolling and hate speech aimed at Mahesh and Alia.

    Sadak 2 is a follow-up of Bhatt’s 1991 hit Sadak and is produced by his brother Mukesh Bhatt. The sequel reunites the original film’s lead pair of Sanjay Dutt and Pooja Bhatt and also stars Alia and Aditya. The film also marks Mahesh’s return to filmmaking after 20 years.

    Meanwhile, Disney+Hotstar also received flak for not giving equal representation to all the films releasing on the platform at their virtual press conference. While Alia, Abhishek Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Varun Dhawan and Akshay Kumar were in attendance, Kunal Kemmu or Vidyut Jammwal were not invited, leading to online criticism. Both the actors also expressed their reservations and disappointment on social media.

  • Meesha Shafi extends support to victims of harassment at Lahore school

    Meesha Shafi extends support to victims of harassment at Lahore school

    Meesha Shafi, who is one of the pioneers of the #MeToo movement in Pakistan, has extended her support to women and girls who have broken their silence over being sexually harassed by their male teachers at a private school in Lahore.

    In a tweet, the singer said that she feels “like the pain and trauma I have suffered is worth so much.”

    “Your bravery is my reward. I am with you all,” said Shafi, who had accused Ali Zafar of sexual harassment in April 2018, propelling the #MeToo movement in Pakistan.

    When a follower suggested that victims should opt for the legal route, Meesha responded with sarcasm.

    On Sunday, dozens of girls came forward with accounts of harassment and inappropriate behaviour by teachers at Lahore Grammar School (LGS) 1A1 Ghalib Market Branch. The management of the school, including female teachers, also came under fire for brushing the matter under the carpet for years. It is pertinent to mention here that most of the girls studying at the school were minors at the time.

    Such incidents had reportedly been going on for the past four or five years and the victims had been reporting the matter to the admin and their teachers. However, they took no action and resorted to victim-blaming. Strict and immediate action was only taken after the girls shared their ordeal on social media and the matter became public.

    According to details, students have come forward and shared their experiences of being harassed by three teachers namely Aitezaz Rehman Sheikh, Umer Shareef and Zahid Iqbal Warraich. All three teachers were fired soon after the allegations surfaced.

    Following the uproar on social media, Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari said that she has taken serious notice of the allegations and has alerted regional offices of the ministry. Education Minister of Punjab Dr Murad Raas also said that he will personally deal with the case.

  • Europe bans PIA

    Europe bans PIA

    • UK, which is no longer a part of the EU since after Brexit, has also banned certain PIA flights

    Amid the controversy around the alleged fake licences of hundreds of Pakistani pilots, operations of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in Europe were on Tuesday banned for six months by the European Union Air Safety Agency (EASA).

    According to a spokesperson of the national carrier, EASA has suspended PIA’s authorisation to operate in European Union member states for six months effective July 1, 2020 at midnight.

    A statement from the national carrier added that PIA would discontinue all its flights to Europe temporarily.

    All passengers booked on its flights to European destinations will have the option to either extend their bookings to a later date or get a full refund.

    “PIA is in contact with EASA to allay their concerns and to take necessary corrective measures along with filing the appeal against the decision,” the press release said.

    The national flag carrier said it “sincerely hopes that with reparative and swift actions taken by the Pakistani government and PIA management, earliest possible lifting of this suspension can be expected”.

    Meanwhile, according to journalist Murtaza Ali Shah, United Kingdom (UK), which is no longer a part of the EU since after Brexit but remains subject to EU law, has also suspended PIA flights from and to Birmingham, Heathrow in London, and Manchester with immediate effect.

    “The UK Civil Aviation Authority is required under law to withdraw PIA’s permit to operate to the UK pending EASA’s restoration of their approval that it meets international air safety standards,” the journalist quoted a spokesperson as saying.

    The moves follow the grounding of hundreds of pilots whose licences Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan termed “dubious”. Most pilots were affiliated with PIA.

  • Singer Haroon ties the knot

    Singer Haroon ties the knot

    Lockdown weddings have become a trend with many celebrities getting married during this time. The latest celebrity to tie the knot is Haroon of the 90s pop band Awaz. The singer got married in a low-key ceremony amidst close family members and friends.

    The couple looked amazing in the shades of white and muted gold. While Haroon donned an outfit by Amir Adnan, his bride’s trousseau was done by Warda Qutub Khan. According to details, Haroon’s wife Farwa hails from Gilgit-Baltistan which explains why the singer posed with a Pakol (Chitrali cap) on his head.

    Pictures from their nikkah went viral on social media.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CCBe4mihDD6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CCBe881BUA4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CCBfBCAhyV5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Haroon is not only a renowned singer and songwriter but he is also the creator and director behind the Pakistani animated TV series Burka Avenger, which has won two prestigious international awards.

  • Hamza Ali Abbasi’s take on religion irks fellow actors

    Hamza Ali Abbasi’s take on religion irks fellow actors

    By now everyone knows that Hamza Ali Abbasi has taken a break from acting to focus on his spiritual journey and getting a better understanding of Islam. The actor turned evangelist also often shares his thoughts and understanding of religion on social media.

    Recently Abbasi tweeted that he fails to understand why we need a Messiah or an Imam when we have the Quran.

    When a follower shared his thoughts on the matter, Hamza said that he is “referring to terms that denote self-proclaimed directly divinely guided people.”

    Read more – Hamza Ali Abbasi says he is the ‘happiest’ he has ever been

    Hamza further asserted that all problems within Islam exist today because we have started neglecting the Quran.

    Following Hamza’s comments, Mohsin Abbas Haider and Shahroz Sabzwari expressed their reservations and disagreed with Abbasi. While Mohsin advised Hamza to keep learning, Sabzwari commented that he fails to understand why some people become the thaikaydaar (custodians) of Islam.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Hamza supported Haider’s former wife Fatima Sohail when she accused him of domestic abuse and cheating.

    “We need to make a horrible example of Mr Mohsin for all those men who dare raise there hand on the female servants of Allah & try to justify it,” Hamza had said.

    On the other hand, Yasir Hussain supported Hamza’s stance and said that he is saying the right thing.

  • Shireen Mazari takes notice of harassment at Lahore’s private educational institutions

    Shireen Mazari takes notice of harassment at Lahore’s private educational institutions

    Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari has taken notice of allegations of harassment and inappropriate behaviour by instructors at two of Lahore’s premier private institutions. While the minister did not name the institutions, it is being speculated that she is referring to Lahore Grammar School 1A1 Branch (Ghalib Market) and the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

    In a Twitter update, Mazari said that she has taken notice of the matter and that the regional offices have been alerted on the matter.

    The Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR) also announced that they have taken notice of matter and said that assistance is available on their helpline 1099.

    Earlier in the day, The Current reported that the management of LGS 1A1 Ghalib Market Branch, including female teachers, had come under fire for covering up harassment and inappropriate behaviour by instructors for years. It is pertinent to mention here that most of the girls studying at the school were minors at the time.

    Read more – Private school in Lahore comes under fire for covering up harassment

    Such incidents had reportedly been going on for the past four or five years and the victims had been reporting the matter to the admin and their teachers. However, their teachers had been covering up for their colleagues and brushing the matter under the carpet. They resorted to victim-blaming and refused to take any action. Strict and immediate action was only taken after the girls shared their ordeal on social media.

    According to details, students have come forward and shared their experiences of being harassed by three teachers namely Aitezaz Rehman Sheikh, Umer Shareef and Zahid Iqbal Warraich.

    Similarly, students and alumni of LUMS shared their experiences of being harassed by instructors and fellow students on a private group. Some of the students have also decided to pursue the matter and their perpetrators through legal channels.

  • VIDEO: Khawaja Asif, Fawad Chaudhry trade barbs in National Assembly

    VIDEO: Khawaja Asif, Fawad Chaudhry trade barbs in National Assembly

    The National Assembly (NA) on Monday approved the federal budget for the fiscal year 2020-21. The session, however, was yet again marred by an altercation, this time between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif and Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry.

    “Sir, bass vee kar deo [sir, please stop]” Fawad was heard as saying as Asif addressed the Lower House of the parliament.

    To this, Asif replied, “Tuvaaday mutalak mai aisiyaan aisiyaan gallaan karaanga, Khuda di qasam tavanu jagaah nayi labnni ais hall ich [I will say such things about you that you will not find a place in this hall].”

    Asif went on to say that for the past few days, Fawad had been “involved in some activities”, to which the federal minister said the PML-N leader would not “find any space in Sialkot — Asif’s hometown — either” and asked him to apologise for his remarks.

    NA Speaker Asad Qaiser kept on asking both the lawmakers to stop.

    “No cross talk please… sit down please. Please, Fawad Sahib. Take a seat. Khawaja Sahib, continue please.”

    “No, how can you let this happen? How can one person say anything and not apologise? How dare he? He must apologise!” Fawad said.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Speaking to The Current, Fawad said he was discussing something with Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri.

    “Khawaja Asif got upset because we were not paying attention to his speech. Then he made up some lies about me, for which I asked him to apologise.”

  • Every day I’m told it’s my last in power… I am the only choice: PM

    Every day I’m told it’s my last in power… I am the only choice: PM

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said that every day he is told by someone that it, or the day after, is his last in power, but he knows he can “easily complete his five-year tenure”.

    Addressing a dinner reception hosted at the PM House to muster support of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers as well as coalition partners for the passage of budget 2020-21 in the face of its rejection by the joint opposition, the premier asserted that his government would definitely complete its five-year term because he was determined to face every challenge.

    “I am the only choice,” he said, adding that all rumours regarding his government’s uncertain fate and the challenges facing his administration would cease to exist “if he strikes a deal with people”.

    He was of the opinion that opposition leaders had a bigger stake than the ruling PTI.

    According to Dawn, a participant of the event quoted PM Imran as saying that the members of opposition parties had a bigger stake because if PTI leaders lose the election they would only lose their seats while “if opposition leaders lose them, they would go to jail”.

    Responding to the allegation that the government was being run by a team of non-elected people, the premier said, “If we have included some non-elected members in the cabinet, they [opposition parties] had filled the slots with their relatives.”

    He reportedly also asked PTI leaders and all government allies to get the budget passed on Monday with a significant majority and spoke about the recent hike in petroleum prices, corruption as well as coronavirus in the country.

    The function concluded after the PM’s address, as no one spoke after him on the occasion.

    As many as 14 MNAs belonging to the Imran-led PTI, Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) Baloch­istan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), Pakistan Awami Muslim League (PAML) did not attend the dinner, reports said.

    It merits a mention that a day later, the National Assembly has approved the federal budget for the fiscal year 2020-21, despite the opposition’s vow to not let it sail through the house.

  • FAST University expels students over making memes

    FAST University expels students over making memes

    FAST Lahore has reportedly expelled students over making and sharing memes about the university on social media. 

    The university’s administration has also issued a notification demanding an apology from students that posted ‘defamatory memes’ on Facebook. According to the notification, six students were expelled and the academic grades of many other students were downgraded. The notification also directed students to post an apology on their social media accounts.

    Read more – Private school in Lahore comes under fire for covering up harassment

    “Failure to comply with the orders will render the respondent liable for either cancellation of the degree; or blacklisting; or reporting to authorities for trial under cyberbullying and harassment laws; or all of the mentioned punishments,” the notification read.

  • Private school in Lahore comes under fire for covering up harassment

    Private school in Lahore comes under fire for covering up harassment

    The management of Lahore Grammar School (LGS) 1A1 Ghalib Market Branch, including female teachers, has come under fire for covering up harassment and inappropriate behaviour by instructors for years. It is pertinent to mention here that most of the girls studying at the school were minors at the time.

    Such incidents had reportedly been going on for the past four or five years and the victims had been reporting the matter to the admin and their teachers. However, their teachers had been covering up for their colleagues and brushing the matter under the carpet. They resorted to victim-blaming and refused to take any action. Strict and immediate action was only taken after the girls shared their ordeal on social media.

    According to details, students have come forward and shared their experiences of being harassed by three teachers namely Aitezaz Rehman Sheikh, Umer Shareef and Zahid Iqbal Warraich. To make things easier to understand, here’s a breakdown of the details:

    Aitezaz Rehman Sheikh

    Aitezaz Rehman Sheikh, who used to teach politics and served as a MUN coach had been sending obscene pictures and messages to his students. The students accused him of being manipulative and said that he would coerce girls on international trips.

    Aitezaz Rehman Sheikh

    Zahid Iqbal Warraich

    Similarly, Sir Zahid Warraich, who taught Chemistry to A’ and O’ Levels used to inappropriately touch his students and make them uncomfortable during class.

    Umer Shareef

    Sir Umer was reportedly a member of the admin who would make girls uncomfortable with his stares and glances.

    For more stories, click here.

    Following the outrage on social media, the management of LGS 1A1 immediately fired the instructors and barred them from working at any branch of LGS.

    A few students have also accused Omair Rana’s wife Maira Omair Rana for not taking action and “slut-shaming” the girls who came forward to report. One of the students has also accused the actor of exhibiting inappropriate behaviour.

    https://twitter.com/kaalakawaa/status/1277180064841396225?s=20

    LGS is one of the mose prestigious school for girls in Lahore, with several branches across the city. The management of each branch is separate.