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  • Imran Khan calls on PTI to organize nationwide protests

    Imran Khan calls on PTI to organize nationwide protests

    Founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has announced a series of nationwide protests by his party, including the federal capital Islamabad, with the aim of achieving the “independence of judiciary.”

    Addressing his supporters through a statement issued from Adiala Jail Rawalpindi on Monday, Khan announced that protests will be held at D Chowk Islamabad on October 4, at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore on October 5, and in Mianwali, Faisalabad and Bahawalpur on October 2 as well, Tribune has reported.

    Meanwhile, section 144 has been imposed at Faisalabad for October 2 and 3.

    Predicting that the protests would be peaceful, Khan said, “We have always protested peacefully, but this system has failed to protect us.”

    Imran Khan also backed Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur in his conduct on the recent PTI protest in Rawalpindi, stating, “Gandapur awakened the province’s people.”

    PTI called a nationwide protest despite a freshly passed public order law which noted: “Every party wanting to hold a protest has to appoint an event coordinator who would write to the district magistrate for permission to hold the gathering at least seven days before the intended date of the event.

    It also added, “Upon receipt of the application, the district magistrate, before granting permission, shall examine the prevailing law and order situation and obtain security clearance reports from law enforcement agencies.”

  • Indian poet stands with Palestinians, refuses American award

    Indian poet stands with Palestinians, refuses American award

    Indian poet Jacinta Kerketta has declined an award from an American organization as an act of protest against Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

    Jacinta Kerketta was selected for the ‘Room to Read Young Author Award 2024’ by an Indian non-governmental organization in collaboration with USAID, for her children’s poetry collection Jirhul. However, she refused to accept the award, citing the USA’s involvement in the Gaza genocide.

    “The local organization that selected me for the award works for children’s education, but it is funded by organizations like USAID, which do business with arms companies responsible for the massacre of children in Gaza,” she said.

    She added, “How can the business of armaments and the care for children coexist when the world of children is being destroyed by these same weapons?”

    She concluded, “Books are important for children, but thousands of children were killed in Palestine, and elders are unable to protect them.”

  • Nadeem Baig says awards have ‘no value’ after Arsalan Naseer wins against Naumaan Ijaz

    Nadeem Baig says awards have ‘no value’ after Arsalan Naseer wins against Naumaan Ijaz

     
    Director Nadeem Baig has raised concerns about the credibility of awards shows in the entertainment industry.
     
    Recently, Baig appeared as a guest on Say It All with Iffat Omar, where he talked about how Arsalan Naseer won the Best Actor award, beating Naumaan Ijaz.
     
    “For instance, in front of Naumaan Ijaz, Arsalan Naseer, who just entered the industry through YouTube, he gets an award for Best Actor. I’m sorry, this surprises me. Actually, such awards don’t exist in Pakistan. There is one award for fashion, and they have to include the film and TV category so that they have good attendance and good faces sitting in the front row. They give five awards each for film and TV. So it’s about the category. You cannot put Sajal Aly and Saba Hamid in the same category, it will be very unfair.”
     
    Talking about the credibility of the current awards show, he categorically stated:

    “I think the awards that are being given, they hold no value. I’m not saying this lightly, I mean, when something is so public, if you don’t acknowledge it, it diminishes your worth. The awards you give then lose their significance. It’s as if everyone just shows up today and gets one of these social media awards, including Lux, I don’t know what the format is, but when the public is voting, it can be hacked. You can hire 500 people to vote or do something else. At the end of the day, what happens is that you receive a surprise there that leaves you  stunned.”

  • Baloch Artist Akhtar Chanal reveals secrets behind ‘Dane Pe Dana’ and the ‘Afghan Jalebi’ controversy

    Baloch Artist Akhtar Chanal reveals secrets behind ‘Dane Pe Dana’ and the ‘Afghan Jalebi’ controversy

    Akhtar Chanal Zahri, the renowned Balochi folk artist, has talked about his popular hits, emerging Balochi musicians, and the controversy surrounding his song ‘Afghan Jalebi,’ during the 35-day international cultural fair organized in collaboration with Geo Digital and the Karachi Arts Council. The fair features performances by artists from 40 countries, and Pakistani folk artists are making a mark with their unique styles.

    His popular song ‘Dane Pe Dana’ is the one that catapulted him to fame. However, he changed the song after hearing it from a fakir and first performed it for a local news network.

    He said, “I had gone to Qalat, where I heard a fakir singing this song in a beautiful style. I changed it, and when I sang the song, I was amazed by the love and affection I received from people. It was a miraculous song that eventually made it to Coke Studio.”

    “Currently, I am upset with the Coke Studio people, for several reasons which I will explain later,” he added.

    Regarding the song ‘Afghan Jalebi,’ which is from an Indian movie and sung by Pakistani musician Asrar Shah, Akhtar Chanal was asked about his connection to the song and whether he knew the film’s story was anti-Pakistan.

    In response, he said, “I got a call that an Indian film was being made, and they wanted me to sing a song in it. I said okay, send the song. The lyrics sounded very inappropriate; the song had a very tapori style. I said, sir, I am a folk artist—I can’t sing these lyrics.”

    He further explained, “They kept following up with me and asked me to sing. Then they said, ‘Akhtar Bhai, if you don’t like the lyrics, you can change the words.’ So I sang the song. My original version was released online, but the version in the film was sung by Pakistani musician Asrar.”

    Regarding the film, he added, “I did not know that Katrina Kaif and Saif Ali Khan were in it, but later I realized the film had an anti-Pakistan storyline, so I decided to step away from it.”

    He also congratulated new and emerging Baloch artists including Kafi Khalil, Wahab Bugti, and Eva B, for the popularity of ‘Kanha Yaari’ and their role in promoting Balochi music.

    Balochi music is very popular in the Middle East, and Akhtar Chanal explained the reason behind its appeal.

    “This style of music has an attraction that draws listeners to it. Despite language differences, people are becoming fans of Balochi music after hearing it.”

    He also congratulated the President of the Karachi Arts Council, Ahmed Shah, and Jang and Geo News for organizing the International Cultural Fair. He said, “I have dedicated myself to those who know the value of art and music. The arrival of international artists in Pakistan helps present a positive image of the country. Such fairs should continue to be held.”

  • Pakistan rickshaw driver and martial artist breaks India’s Guinness World Record

    Pakistan rickshaw driver and martial artist breaks India’s Guinness World Record

    Pakistani martial artist Arshad Mehsood, a rickshaw driver from South Waziristan, broke the Guinness World Record previously held by Indian Chinmay Sharma.

    Indian martial artist had 334 elbow strikes in one minute, while Arshad Mehsud of Pakistan broke the Indian record by a large margin by making 373 elbow strikes.

    Talking to Geo News, Arshad said, “My father has passed away. I belong to Upper South Waziristan, and now I go to the fight club every day after driving a rickshaw in Dera Ismail (DI) Khan.”

    Arshad is a disciple of Presidential Award Winner and Guinness World Record Holder Irfan Mehsood.

    More than 20 Irfan students have made Guinness World Records.

  • Who is Urvashi Rautela’s favourite Pakistani cricketer? Actress reveals

    Who is Urvashi Rautela’s favourite Pakistani cricketer? Actress reveals

    Indian actress and model Urvashi Rutela has named her favourite cricketer from Pakistan during an interview at the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) red carpet in UAE, and no prizes for guessing who it is.

    Yes, its Naseem Shah, the man the internet suspects is Urvashi’s crush.

    A Pakistani journalist asked Urushi, “Who is your favorite player in the Pakistani team?”

    Urvashi replied that Pakistan has a good team, and Naseem Shah is a very good cricketer.

    Urvashi has been trending on social media in the past because of Naseem Shah. In 2022, she shared a fan made edit of her and Naseem smiling on Instagram.

    After this, she sent greetings and congratulations to the Pakistani star on his appointment as an honorary DSP, attracting media attention. Naseem once replied, “Thank You”, but later clarified that his manager handles his social media, and he responded to her.

  • Will Musaddiq Malek work with Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar again?

    Will Musaddiq Malek work with Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar again?

     
    In an exclusive interview with The Current Life, actor and director Musaddiq Malek shared his thoughts on working with controversial writer Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar.
     
    We asked, “You have worked with Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar, a very controversial writer. Would you like to work with him again?”
     
    Musaddiq Malek said, “I would love to work with him again because the problem in Pakistan is that good writers should be utilized for good scripts. And he should not be asked to appear on channels for his opinions about others. I think of Khalil saab as having the same respect as my father. You can’t discuss much with your father, I can’t explain much to my father and you can’t explain much to Khali Saab.”

      “Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar is a good writer. Make him write good scripts, that’s all he should focus on. Inviting him on channels and capitalizing on his own point of view and you already know he will say anything and you will continue to use it. I think just very bad low morals,” the Noor Jahan director added.
     
     
    Musaddiq also talked about how some TV channels invited KRQ with the intention of getting controversial statements out of him. “It’s not just about Khalil saab, but all channels, that invite him with a plan just to get something out of him,” he observed.
     
     
    Musaddiq Malek has worked as an actor in dramas such as Alif, Meray Paas Tum, and Noor Jahan. He also worked as a director in Habs, written by Aliya Makhdoom, and Noor Jahan, written by Zanjabeel Asim Shah.

  • ‘Agar social media regulate nahi ho sakta tou usse shut down kar dena chahiye,’ says Azma Bokhari

    ‘Agar social media regulate nahi ho sakta tou usse shut down kar dena chahiye,’ says Azma Bokhari

    Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokahri expressed concern on Monday over fake content on social media sites in her case and suggested that social media apps should be blocked if they are not regulated.

    Speaking to the media during her appearance at the Lahore High Court (LHC), She said, “Social media platforms are making money in Pakistan but are not accountable to anyone. If social media apps cannot be regulated, they better be shut down.”

    The information minister pointed out that social media was being regulated all over the world except in Pakistan.

    She further added, “Social media cannot be run without regulation. Whenever we talk about regulation of social media, the talk of freedom of speech comes in the way.”

    “Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials complain that they cannot question social media apps due to lack of capacity. This highlights the state of social media affairs in Pakistan, where everyone is free and unaccountable,” Azma Bokhari concluded.

  • Another Pakistani cricketer marries Indian woman

    Another Pakistani cricketer marries Indian woman

    Another Pakistani cricketer has decided to make an Indian girl his life partner. Pakistani cricketer Raza Hassan got engaged to a non-Muslim girl named Pooja from India in America. The engagement ceremony took place in New York.

    According to the cricketer, a formal wedding ceremony will be held in January-February. Raza said that Pocha is deeply interested in the religion of Islam and will soon become a Muslim.

    32-year-old left Pakistan permanently and settled in America and represented Pakistan in one ODI and 10 T20 international matches.

  • Shehbaz Sharif’s UN speech becomes most watched among world leaders, claims govt

    Shehbaz Sharif’s UN speech becomes most watched among world leaders, claims govt

    The incumbent government on Monday claimed that Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) speech got more views than any world leader’s on the official YouTube channel of the UN.

    Quoting the statistics of the UN Centre for Public Opinion Research, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said that PM Shehbaz Sharif was watched by 1,370,000 viewers on the UN official channel.

    PMO further stated that on Al Jazeera’s TikTok account, PM Shehbaz Sharif’s address was watched by around 1.6 million viewers.

    During a hard-hitting address on Friday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif slammed Israel at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, highlighting the brutal assault on Gaza, the Ukraine conflict and India’s violent actions in occupied Kashmir.