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  • ‘Pata nahi yeh saza thi yaan kya’: Nida Yasir breaks down on her show

    ‘Pata nahi yeh saza thi yaan kya’: Nida Yasir breaks down on her show

    Host and actor Nida Yasir recently arranged a special episode of her morning show, Good Morning Pakistan in which all the celebrities who lost their loved ones showed up.

    The stars shared their painful phases of life and how they coped up with that permanent loss.

    She also shared about the death of her mother and the biggest regret she has in her life. Nida broke down into tears while sharing her plight during her mother’s demise.

    “The day after I reached the Maldives I got to know that my mother passed away. During Covid, I was not even able to come back at once because of the corona test and other safety measures. The next morning I found out about my mother’s death, I just spent the whole day praying to Allah to create an easy way for me so I can go back home and see my mother. This thing hurts me the most that I was not there with my mother during her last moments.”

    She added, “My sisters always make me understand that it is very difficult to forget those last moments as they are very painful. I don’t know if that was it a punishment Allah gave me or something else but it will always remain the biggest regret of my life.”

    Earlier this year the Chakkar producer made headlines for refusing a male fan’s request of selfie. The Nadaniyaan diva could be seen saying in the video that I don’t take pictures with men.

    Later, a clip from The Current’s exclusive interview with Nida is resurfacing on web in which she stated the reason of doing so.

    “The reason is that I have seen photographs of a lot of actresses on random pages with captions. They [other actresses] must’ve posed considering them their fans but the captions on Facebook etc say ‘Meet my friend, [XYZ],” she said.

    “I don’t judge anyone ever since, but I’ll get photographed with families, with female friends, but not with male fans,” Nida Yasir remarked.

    Recently we chatted again with Nida over her career, controversies and friendships.

  • Suleman Shehbaz’s legal team sends Rs1bn defamatory notice to PTI’s Imran Ismail

    Suleman Shehbaz’s legal team sends Rs1bn defamatory notice to PTI’s Imran Ismail

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s son, Suleman Shehbaz, served a defamation notice worth Rs1 billion to former Sindh Governor Imran Ismail for alleging that he owned a solar panel business and was taking undue benefits from the government, reports Geo News.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Ismail alleged in his tweets on July 3 that instead of strengthening ties with Turkey during his visit last month, PM Shehbaz had signed solar energy contracts with Ankara, which would benefit Suleman.

    The legal counsel of Suleman warned Ismail that if he does not fulfill the requirements within 14 days of receiving this notice, then legal action will be taken against Ismail.

    In response, Ismail said he welcomed the notice but asked in what capacity the PM’s son had sent him the notice.

    “The person who is a fugitive has sent me a notice. I stand by my claim of solar panels. The Sharif family is a business mafia, which uses the country for its businesses.”

  • ‘Mai ne video banaayi hui hai, agar mujhe kuch hua toh public ko sab pata chal jayega’: Imran Khan

    ‘Mai ne video banaayi hui hai, agar mujhe kuch hua toh public ko sab pata chal jayega’: Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said on Tuesday that he knows the names of those who were involved in the conspiracy to oust his government but said he is quiet for the sake of the country as he doesn’t want to harm Pakistan.

    Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Khan claimed that he has recorded a video that involves information about those who have committed “treason”. He said, “Mai ne video banaayi hui hai, agar mujhe kuch hua toh public ko sab pata chal jayega“, (I have recorded a video. If something happens to me, it will be made public). He added that if “they keep sidelining and harassing us, I will tell everything”.

    About the cases registered against Khan and his party members, he said this is being done to “shut them up”.

    “I have never seen such fascism in Pakistan, such a situation is leading Pakistan towards anarchy,” he said. Khan further added that the government can control the media but not social media. “Everyone has a voice now.”

    Khan also condemned the recent incidents of attacks on journalists. He posed a question, ” I ask the judiciary, has martial law been imposed? I ask them whether human rights have been suspended in the country?” Khan said that terrorism cases have been registered against them to keep them quiet.

    Criticising the incumbent government, the PTI Chairman said, “They will accept Israel as a state, will provide Pakistan’s bases to the United States, and will discard the Kashmiri people to establish better relations with India.”

    Moreover, Khan urged the public to come out to vote on July 17 in the Punjab by-elections. “PTI has to win the by-elections despite the election rigging,” adding that this is “jihad ” for the country.

    Khan said that Pakistan can only be saved from this crisis through transparent elections while saying that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) cannot be trusted.

  • Pakistani, Indian fans send love to Fawad for his debut role in Ms Marvel

    Pakistani, Indian fans send love to Fawad for his debut role in Ms Marvel

    Note: This story contains no spoilers

    Fawad Khan has finally made an appearance in the fifth episode of Ms Marvel. Fawad Khan is playing a character of a man from the pre-partition era. Pakistani actors Mehwish Hayat, Samina Ahmed and Nimra Buch are also playing important characters in the Marvel series.

    Internet users not only from Pakistan but from across the border are going gaga over Fawad Khan for his debut role.

    Read more- Ms Marvel slammed in reviews for being ‘Pakistani, Muslim’

    Have a look at some of the reactions:

    https://twitter.com/underooswebsss/status/1544592463427297286?s=21&t=EA3lbFMRfEHLGy71C08Wyg
    https://twitter.com/nimkislut/status/1544635475880579073?s=21&t=WpovarQkEovzCpdaF29XVw
    https://twitter.com/michaelnotscoot/status/1544586190304604162?s=21&t=WpovarQkEovzCpdaF29XVw
    https://twitter.com/faheemishere/status/1544630096098738176?s=21&t=EA3lbFMRfEHLGy71C08Wyg

    Ms Marvel is currently streaming on Disney+. Marvel’s first Pakistani Muslim woman superhero is being played by Iman Vellani.

  • Anti-Narcotics Force recovers 280 kg of drugs

    Anti-Narcotics Force recovers 280 kg of drugs

    The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) carried out three operations on Tuesday in Islamabad, Peshawar, and Quetta, where they were successful in recovering 280 kg of drugs and apprehending six suspects, along with a woman.

    111 kg of drugs, including 64.8 kg of Chars and 46.8 kg of opium, were found in a vehicle during an operation near the Motorway Toll Plaza in Islamabad, according to a spokesman for ANF Headquarters. Three suspects, Hamad, Qaiser, and a girl named Shumaila were also detained.

    Another operation was carried out by ANF Peshawar near Gora Qabristan, G.T. Road Peshawar, and 108 kg of opium and 38.4 kg of charras were seized from a Kia Sportage vehicle.

    Imran Ashraf, another suspect, was captured by the raiding group, and a gun was found in his hands. In the third operation, two motorcycle riders named Saifullah and Bismillah were in possession of 22 kg of charras when an ANF raid was conducted on Samungli Road in Quetta.

  • Absar Alam asks who is the mastermind behind attacks on journalists after his attackers arrested

    Absar Alam asks who is the mastermind behind attacks on journalists after his attackers arrested

     Police have arrested the accused who shot at and injured journalist and former PEMRA Chairman Absar Alam last year, reports Umar Cheema for The News.

    Absar Alam’s attackers not only confessed to making a life attempt on him but also admitted that they were tasked to hit another journalist, Asad Ali Toor. However, the attackers changed their plans after the hype created after the attack on Absar.

    Taking to Twitter, Absar said that he is thankful that for the first time assailants who attacked journalists were arrested. However, he went on to question the details that have come to the surface after the arrest. “Who was giving information and instructions from Pakistan about me and Asad to this person from Germany?”

    “Who is the real mastermind behind the murderous attacks on journalists by criminals in Germany and France?”

    “The big test of the police, intelligence agencies, and the government has now begun,” tweeted Absar.

    In April 2021, Absar was shot in Islamabad. He was walking in the F-11 park near his home when he got shot.

    In May 2021, journalist Asad Ali Toor was attacked by three unidentified men, who broke into his apartment and tortured him.

  • In a first, Sindh Assembly passes bill to reserve job quota for transgenders

    In a first, Sindh Assembly passes bill to reserve job quota for transgenders

    The Sindh Assembly has passed a bill reserving 0.5 per cent of positions in various provincial government offices for members of the transgender community.

    Mukesh Kumar Chawla, the Sindh Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, introduced the bill in the House. After the bill was approved, the Sindh government became the first in the nation to set aside a job quota for the underrepresented transgender minority.

    “The transgender people are a marginalised and vulnerable segment of our society. The history of transgender community in Pakistan is fraught with violence, socio-political exclusion, economic inequality and emotional insensitivity. In this respect, it is to empower and include such a vulnerable and weak community in the mainstream of the society. For this purpose, it has been decided to reserve a 0.5 per cent quota for transgenders.”

    There are 10,418 transgender people in Pakistan as of the most recent census, which was conducted in 2017. Of them, 24 per cent reside in Sindh. Approximately 206 of the 41,000 open positions across all government departments, according to government authorities, will be filled by transgender people.

  • Hyderabad will finally get Rescue 1122 service by 2023

    Hyderabad will finally get Rescue 1122 service by 2023

    Deputy Commissioner of Hyderabad Fuad Ghaffar Soomro, who also serves as acting Director-General of the Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA), revealed that Hyderabad would launch its 1122 emergency service by the following year.

    Additionally, Garbage disposal in the city will also become operational by the next month due to the recent contract that has been inked.

    He was addressing the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI) members in this location on Tuesday night. The Site area filtration facility, he claimed, had been rendered operational and would shortly be turned over to the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa).

    According to him, Hyderabad’s water quality is superior to Karachi’s. He also noted that the city’s power outages had grown since the introduction of 1000 MW of energy. He claimed the water supply and drainage industries were being impacted.

    He committed to resolving the problems with marriage gardens and reception halls. Underpasses, he added, were also necessary for the metropolis. For the renovation and adornment of roundabouts and greenbelts, he requested the assistance of the business community.

    He gave the business community his word that problems with the fruit market would be taken care of within a timely manner.

    In his welcome speech, HCCI President Adeel Siddiqui noted that rising gas costs, electricity and gas prices, as well as unannounced power outages, were all contributing to a decline in production at small and medium-sized businesses.

    He claimed that industrialists were having difficulties as a result of administrative hurdles. He claimed that the city needed an effective firefighting apparatus. He said that several parts of Latifabad lacked access to even drinkable water.

  • Missing mountaineers Shehroze and Fazal located

    Missing mountaineers Shehroze and Fazal located

    Mountaineers Shehroze Kashif and Fazal Ali who had gone missing missing while descending the summit of Nanga Parbat have been traced, Shehroze’s father confirmed to Geo News.

    “Both Shehroze and Fazal are moving towards camp three,” he said. However, he said that no one had assisted his son and Fazal and they are returning on their own.

    Shehroze Kashif hails from Lahore and Fazal Ali from Shimshal of Gilgit-Baltistan’s Hunza district.

    The ninth-highest peak in the world, Nanga Parbat, was successfully ascended by the duo Tuesday. Shehroze took the honour of being the youngest mountaineer in the world to ascend Nanga Parbat, a mountain that is regarded as being the deadliest and fiercest.

  • Twitter sues Indian government over content removal directives

    Twitter sues Indian government over content removal directives

    Twitter has sued the Indian government to challenge some of its takedown orders, a source familiar with the matter revealed, further escalating the tension between the American social giant and India.

    In its lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Karnataka High Court, Twitter alleges that New Delhi has abused its power by ordering it to remove several tweets from its platform.

    The lawsuit follows a rough year and a half for Twitter in India, a key overseas market for the firm, where it has been asked to take down hundreds of accounts and tweets, many of which critics argue were objected because they denounced the Indian government’s policies and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Twitter partially complied with the requests but sought to fight back against many challenges. Under India’s new IT rules, which went into effect last year, Twitter has little to no room left to individually challenge the takedown orders.

    The tension between the two was apparent on May 24 last year, when Delhi police, controlled by India’s central government, visited two offices of Twitter — in the national capital state of Delhi and Gurgaon, in the neighboring state of Haryana — to seek more information about Twitter’s rationale to label one of the tweets by ruling partly BJP spokesperson as “manipulated media.”

    Delhi police said it had received a complaint about the classification of the spokesperson’s tweet and visited the offices to serve Twitter India’s head a notice of the inquiry. In a statement, the police said Twitter India’s managing director’s replies on the subject had been “very ambiguous.”

    Twitter at the time described the episode as “intimidation.”

    The company has “concerns with regards to the use of intimidation tactics by the police in response to enforcement of our global Terms of Service, as well as with core elements of the new IT Rules,” it said.

    Twitter India managing director resigned from the firm last year.

    Twitter is not the first tech giant to sue the Indian government. WhatsApp sued New Delhi last year, challenging new regulations that could allow authorities to make people’s private messages “traceable,” and conduct mass surveillance.

    It’s unclear if the new lawsuit will impact Twitter’s proposed acquisition by Elon Musk.