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  • Humayun Saeed reveals Shah Rukh Khan once told him Pakistani films should release in India

    Humayun Saeed reveals Shah Rukh Khan once told him Pakistani films should release in India

    Humayun Saeed spoke with Indian publication Bollywood Hungama where he talked about his hit drama ‘Mere Pass Tum Ho’ which is set to release on Zindagi across India. The actor also opened up about his memory of working next to Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan back in 2005, when the two performed together for the Zee Cine Awards.

    Saeed revealed that the Bollywood Badshah was incredibly sweet, treating the actor with a lot of respect because Humayun was not sure about how the performance should take place. Khan also told Humayun that he felt Pakistani dramas should be released in India:

    “There was a lot of excitement when I met Shah Rukh. He was very sweet to me. We were in his room and he made me sit with him and discussed Indian and Pakistan films with me. That time there was a Mehreen Jabbar and a Shaan film in the theatres and SRK was talking about them. He said that Pakistani films should be released in India and vice versa. He made me comfortable. Since I had just come the previous day to the sets, I did not know exactly what to do. Shah Rukh said ‘main sambhal lunga.’ The overall moment was very special.”

    Actor Adnan Siddiqui also gave an interview to Indian Express where he said that there should be no boundaries when it comes to art, and also felt that Pakistani audiences were much more tolerant compared to Indian ones.

    “Art has no boundaries, but artistes have a certain boundary, which shouldn’t be there. There should be healthy cultural exchange. I believe that the kind of tolerance–pardon me for being so blunt–but our tolerance, in comparison to Indian audience is much higher. We accept Indian artistes, Indian cricketers, we accept everything good about India. But when this thing goes across the border, it becomes very political. I don’t know why.”

  • NA continues hasty legislation despite outrage

    NA continues hasty legislation despite outrage

    According to the report filed by Amir Wasim in Dawn, the National Assembly (NA) approved 12 more bills on Wednesday.

    Along with debates over legislation, the NA saw a verbal altercation between Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf and South Waziristan MNA Ali Wazir when the legislator accused Pakistan’s intelligence agencies of “installing” the Taliban government in neighboring Afghanistan and demanded that those responsible for bringing the Taliban back to Pakistan be held accountable.

    The angry speaker warned the MNA not to talk about sensitive matters related to Pakistan’s security forces, and then switched off the mic for Ali Wazir, declaring his words “anti-Pakistan”.

    During the passage of the bills, members of different allied parties in the coalition government complained that the PML-N didn’t take them into confidence in the matter of the bills.

    Some members were also concerned about a bill passing amendments to the Secrets Act, granting powers to intelligence agencies to raid and detain common citizens without warrants.

    Federal Minister for Science and Technology Agha Hassan Baloch has also said that BNP-M doesn’t want to be part of this hasty legislation. PPP lawmaker Shahida Rehmani and JUI-F’s Aliya Kamran were also against the passage of the bill.

  • Social media shocked at sudden take down of popular Facebook group Soul Bitches

    Social media shocked at sudden take down of popular Facebook group Soul Bitches

    Social media users were left shocked on Wednesday when they discovered that popular community group Soul Bitches has been taken down from Facebook without any warning.

    Soul Bitches was a popular community group on Facebook where women from all over Pakistan could share their stories and seek refuge in situations of abuse or domestic violence.

    In a statement to The Current, the co-founder Rabeeya revealed that the platform gave no warnings before abruptly shutting down the group:

    “Facebook didn’t get any prior warning! They just took it down. I am working with meta to get it back up.”

    On Soul Bitches’ Instagram page, a statement was posted explaining what had happened.

    “We deeply regret to inform you that Facebook has unexpectedly deleted or disabled our beloved Soul Bitches page. We want you to know that we’re tirelessly working to understand the reasons behind this action to get our cherished platform back up and running,” the post read. “We want you to know that we are tirelessly working to understand the reasons behind this action and to get our cherished platform back up and running.”

    The co-founder of the group, Rabeeya, shared a post on her Instagram stories, where she thanked social media users for their support.

    “Throughout its existence, this group had not only ralied for women’s causes but extended its compassion to animals as well. It was built for women navigating different circumstances, a space where friendships had forged, unwavering support, regardless of the highs and lows we encountered…The countless instances of being targeted, bullied, and made a spectacle of are not unfamiliar to us. We, as a community, fought those lows together to preserve the openness and freedom of Soul Bitches.”

    Social media users expressed their dismay at the shutdown of the website, lamenting how online spaces for women were shrinking rapidly.

    “People hated Soul Bitches,” one user wrote. “Because women exchanged stories & became smarter about what they should or shouldn’t tolerate. Women told each other about their legal rights. Women gave advice to those in need. The page empowered women. This is sad. Not shocking.”

    “Facebook is a toxic place for women,” tweeted Digital Rights Activist Hija Kamran. “But SB was a way to seek care, support & a sense of community for them. I’m not sure why the group must have been deleted, but it sure seems like an attack on women’s access to safe spaces on a deeply misogynistic platform.”

    The Current has reached out to the co-founders of Soul Bitches, as well as to Facebook for a comment and will update the story as soon as they respond.

  • PM Shehbaz says didn’t care about ‘taunts’ of being called establishment’s man

    PM Shehbaz says didn’t care about ‘taunts’ of being called establishment’s man

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that he did not care about taunts labelling him “establishment’s man”.

    At the inauguration ceremony of the Barha Kahu bypass project in Islamabad, the Prime Minister said, “I was called the establishment’s man, but I did not care about those taunts […] I never met army chiefs for personal reasons; the only motive behind those meetings was to ensure that the establishment and governments take the country forward together.”

    Acknowledging that in his 38 year long political career, he met many army chiefs but only to ensure that, “Islamabad’s government and Rawalpindi’s establishment remain on the same page.”

    Mentioning rumors that he was close to former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and military dictator, the late General Pervez Musharraf, Shehbaz asked what did he get.

    “Nawaz Sharif was thrown into jail and so was I. He went to Attock, so did I. He went to Landhi jail, so did I. Nawaz Sharif was exiled, so was I. Even my family was exiled,” he commented.

  • Sending heart emojis to women online can land you in jail in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia

    Sending heart emojis to women online can land you in jail in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia

    In a surprising move, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have both passed laws that criminalise the sending of heart emojis via WhatsApp and other social networking sites, considering it an act of incitement to debauchery and harassment, respectively.

    According to Kuwaiti lawyer Haya Al Shalahi, individuals found guilty of sending heart emojis in Kuwait may face severe consequences. A conviction of this offence could lead to up to two years of imprisonment, along with a fine not exceeding 2,000 Kuwaiti dinars.

    Likewise, in Saudi Arabia, the consequences are equally harsh. Sending ‘red heart’ emojis on WhatsApp may result in a jail term ranging from two to five years, accompanied by a fine of 100,000 Saudi Riyals, as per Saudi law.

    Saudi cybercrime expert Al Moataz Kutbi highlighted that certain images and expressions used in online conversations, like red hearts, could be deemed harassment within the country’s jurisdiction. The act might lead to a lawsuit being filed by the aggrieved party, turning it into a serious offence.

    Moreover, for repeat offenders in Saudi Arabia, the financial penalty could escalate to a staggering 300,000 Saudi Riyals, coupled with a maximum imprisonment of five years.

    The rationale behind these strict measures is to combat online harassment and protect individuals from potentially harmful or inappropriate content shared through emojis. Authorities in both countries view such seemingly innocuous expressions as having the potential to incite indecent behaviour or cause emotional distress to recipients.

    As social media and messaging platforms continue to play a significant role in modern communication, governments are increasingly taking measures to regulate online interactions and enforce cyber laws. Individuals in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are now urged to exercise caution in their online communication to avoid potential legal consequences.

    It remains to be seen how these laws will be enforced and how they will impact digital communication practises in both nations. In the meantime, citizens are encouraged to be aware of these recent legal developments and adapt their online behaviour accordingly.

  • Sindh government initiates training women to drive pink buses

    Sindh government initiates training women to drive pink buses

    The Sindh government has decided to start a programme to train women to drive its pink buses, The News has reported.

    In the 10th board meeting of the Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) on Wednesday, provincial minister for Information and Transport Sharjeel Inam Memon approved the decision to train women to drive the pink buses in Karachi.

    According to the provincial minister, this initiative would not only be good for gender equality but also perfect in terms of women’s safety and security during their commutes.

    He also said that empowering women is the vision of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

    The introduction of an environment-friendly electric taxi was also discussed as aninitiative, as it would create a positive environmental impact and provide people with employment opportunities.

    The Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project was also discussed during the SMTA board meeting.

  • Pakistan Stock Exchange surpasses 49,000 points, reaches new high since 2017

    Pakistan Stock Exchange surpasses 49,000 points, reaches new high since 2017

    The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a remarkable surge on Thursday as it extended its bullish momentum, crossing the 49,000 level and reaching its highest point in six years. This impressive rally was fueled by positive economic data and a series of favourable factors contributing to investor confidence.

    During the intraday trade, the PSX’s benchmark KSE 100-share Index experienced a significant gain of 560.20 points, amounting to a 1.15 per cent increase, ultimately settling at an impressive 49,324.50 points. This milestone represents the index’s highest level since June 9, 2017, marking a notable achievement for Pakistan’s financial markets.

    The impressive growth of the benchmark index has been sustained since Pakistan signed a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a substantial $3 billion Standby Agreement. Since the agreement’s signing, the market has witnessed an extraordinary upswing, with the benchmark index having gained an impressive 7,871 points.

    Market analysts and experts have identified multiple reasons behind the consistent surge in the market. Among these factors is the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) decision to maintain the policy rate, effectively keeping the status quo. The SBP’s prudent approach to monetary policy has contributed to stability and encouraged investors to take bullish positions in the market.

    Furthermore, the positive economic data, both from domestic and international sources, has also played a pivotal role in bolstering investor confidence. With indicators pointing towards a strengthening economy, investors have been encouraged to increase their stakes in the market, resulting in the record-breaking performance of the Pakistan Stock Exchange.

    As the market continues to show resilience and upward momentum, financial experts and policymakers are cautiously optimistic about the future outlook. They emphasise the importance of sustaining a positive economic trajectory through sound policy measures and a vigilant approach to market dynamics.

    Market participants and investors are closely monitoring the developments and will likely adjust their strategies in response to any shifts in economic indicators and policy decisions. The surge in the Pakistan Stock Exchange serves as a testament to the country’s economic potential and its ability to attract local and foreign investors to participate in its thriving financial markets.

  • Central leader Iftikhar Durrani ‘abducted’, PTI claims

    Central leader Iftikhar Durrani ‘abducted’, PTI claims

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has said that a central leader of the party, Iftikhar Durrani, went “missing” from Islamabad on Thursday.
    PTI said in a statement that the core member of the party was “kidnapped” from the capital city of the country.

    Iftikhar Durrani, a former special assistant on media to former Prime Minister Imran Khan, was considered a close aide of the PTI chairman.

    Despite the passage of multiple hours, as yet there is still no information about the PTI leader’s whereabouts.

    PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari strongly condemned the “abduction” of Iftikhar Durrani.

  • PTI may be considered ineligible for election symbol, warns ECP

    PTI may be considered ineligible for election symbol, warns ECP

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has cautioned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that it may be found ineligible to receive an election symbol due to its failure to hold intra-party elections.

    ECP summoned PTI Chairman Imran Khan to appear before it on August 4 (Friday) at 10 am, “failing which the Commission under Section 215 (5) of the Elections Act, 2017, may declare your political party ineligible to obtain election symbol for future election(s)”.

    According to previous notices, the PTI’s intra-party elections were scheduled for June 13, 2021, according to the party’s constitution. PTI was informed/reminded to hold intra-party elections within the timeframe specified in sections 208, 209, and 215 of the Elections Act of 2017, but the party failed to “provide the requisite certificate to this effect.”

    The ECP had instructed parties to include a list of symbols they prioritize with their applications, as well as the signature of the party head.

    “Every application must include the address of the head office of the political party,” the election commission said.

  • ‘Sirf Tum’ is a love story about obsession and the limits of madness

    ‘Sirf Tum’ is a love story about obsession and the limits of madness

    Geo TV’s new drama serial has quickly gathered a lot of eyeballs. The series is about two main leads who are poles apart in their personalities, family background and lifestyles.

    Starring Anmol Baloch and Hamza Sohail, written by Seema Munaf and directed by Mazhar Moin, ‘Sirf Tum’ is a production of 7th Sky Entertainment.

    Love and jealousy are the cornerstone of the story. Hanan (played by Hamza Sohail) and Abeer (played by Anmol Baloch) are the main characters. Abeer lives abroad with her mother and stepfather. At the beginning , we see that Abeer and Hanan are close friends while Hamza (played by Mohsin Abbass) falls in love with Abeer.

    The drama is a showcase for the acting skills of both the main leads and Mohsin. Supporting cast is also engaging.

    We can expect the drama to go further into exploring the jealousy and obsession angles as the story progresses.