Singer and actor Junaid Khan has revealed that he had slapped actress Sanam Saeed for a scene.
Appearing on Ahmed Ali Butt’s podcast, Junaid talked about the time that he slapped actress Sanam during the shooting of drama series Mata-e-Jaan in 2012.
“Honestly, I still feel bad about what I did, but it was a necessary part of the script, and I was just doing what the director told me to do,” the actor said.
Junaid recalled the uncomfortable experience,
“I didn’t want to do it, but Jabbar and Saeed kept pushing me to actually slap the actress to make the scene look real. I hesitantly did a slow slap, but the director said it wasn’t intense enough for the camera”, Khan added.
Everyone is watching the aftermath of the Karsaz accident that took place in Karachi earlier this week, when Natasha Danish’s speeding SUV collided with several vehicles, killing a father and his daughter on a motorbike and injuring five others. Post-accident videos circulating on social media show Natasha being surrounded by a large, irate crowd as security guards protected her and took her into custody. Natasha appeared disoriented. Meanwhile, people called for her death as the two victims lay dead on the road—a scene that could have ended differently without police and rangers.
While the case is underway in court, people have started their own speculative investigations, suggesting Natasha’s disorientation might be due to alcohol or drugs, and that because she is married into an affluent family, she will get away with it all. On the other hand, her lawyer states she has been undergoing medical treatment for poor mental health for the past five years, describing her as a “psychological patient.”
Natasha should not have been driving, and the loss of 27-year-old Amna and her father is irreplaceable. But would it have been fair if the mob had taken the law into their own hands?
While the majority believe Natasha, being an ‘ameerzaadi,’ must pay with her life, the legal nature of the accident remains undecided.
What does the law say?
According to the Pakistan Penal Code 1860, anyone committing qatl-i-khata by “rash or negligent driving shall, having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, in addition to diyat, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years.”
Similarly, under Islamic law, the punishment for murder, homicide, or injury depends on qisas or diyat, i.e., corresponding punishment for the crime or monetary compensation for the victims or their legal heirs.
In this case, it was not pre-meditated murder. No prior connection between the driver and the victims has been established to suggest that Natasha set out to murder Amna and her father. It was a terrible accident, one that took the lives of two valued citizens and Natasha will have to face the law for the crime she has committed.
Why do people feel the need to enforce the law themselves despite existing rules and regulations? Is this a reflection of growing frustration among the masses, who have repeatedly seen the elite evade justice for crimes? Despite the fact that this case is nothing like the murder of Noor Mukkadam and Shahzeb Khan, Noor who was tortured and murdered by Zahir Jaffer, and Shahzeb who was mercilessly shot by Shahrukh Jatoi, comparisons are continuously – and wrongly – being made on social media.
Could the comparisons explain why people have reacted so violently to Natasha, who was driving an expensive car and dressed in gym clothes, visibly disoriented? Would the reaction have been different to a ‘modestly dressed’ individual who might have been – and looked – less affluent?
Until the social and economic divide in our country is addressed, justice will remain questionable. The rich and powerful are often seen as above the law, while others are seen as seekers of elusive justice. Consequently, cries for ‘mob justice’ and demands to ‘hang her in the city center’ in our social media world will persist. Natasha must face the consequences of her actions, whether accidental or not. She must be given a fair trial and be sentenced for her crimes based on her actions but not on her background.
The incumbent federal government has approved Rs 20 billion special allocation for the Azme-e-Istehkam operation during a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to combat terrorism and extremism.
The meeting, presided over by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, allocated Rs 1.95 billion to Frontier Corp (FC) Balochistan for security expenses of the Reko Diq project and Rs 276.5 million to Frontier Corp Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) for project implementation Letters (PILs) out of Rs 2.23 billion.
Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, initiated by the Pakistan Army, is the seventh operation since the 2000s. It was followed by Rad-ul-Fasad in 2017.
The cabinet also approved Rs 100,000 sugar export at the request of Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain.
The Board of Directors of Lahore Electricity Supply Company (LESCO) has decided not to promote national hero and Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem to 19th grade.
According to Samaa News, LESCO Sports Board had recommended promoting Arshad Nadeem from 18th to 19th grade, but the chairman of the new board has yet to agree.
According to the rules, a sportsman can get promoted to a maximum grade of 18. The LESCO board says that the rules have to be changed to promote Arshad Nadeem.
It has been decided that the summary should be sent to the Water and Power Development Authority Pakistan (WAPDA) Sports Board for Nadeem’s promotion.
Earlier, a ceremony was organized at the WAPDA House in honour of the Javelin Hero and other Olympians. Chairman WAPDA Sajjad Ghani awarded Arshad Nadeem a reward of 50 lakh rupees.
The Pakistani rupee (PKR) experienced a slight decline against the US dollar on Thursday, depreciating by 0.05 per cent in the inter-bank market.
The currency closed at Rs278.67, marking a decrease of Rs0.15 from the previous day’s rate of Rs278.52, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
In comparison with other major currencies, the rupee faced mixed outcomes today:
Currency
Previous rate
Today’s rate
Change (PKR)
Euro
309.59
310.65
1.05
British Pound
362.60
365.10
2.50
Swiss Franc
325.44
328.04
2.60
South Korean Won
—
0.21
—
Japanese Yen
1.9063
1.9165
1.02 paisa
Chinese Yuan
39.03
39.06
3.1 paisa
Saudi Riyal
74.23
74.27
3.87 paisa
UAE Dirham
75.87
75.83
4.06 paisa
PKR vs other currencies
Euro to PKR: The rupee lost Rs1.05, closing at Rs310.65, compared to the previous rate of Rs309.59.
British Pound to PKR: The rupee depreciated by Rs2.50, ending the day at Rs365.10, up from Rs362.60.
Swiss Franc to PKR: The rupee fell by Rs2.60, closing at Rs328.04, compared to Rs325.44 from the previous session.
Won to PKR: The Pakistani rupee was reportedly trading at Rs0.21 paisa against Won
Japanese Yen to PKR: The rupee saw a slight decline of 1.02 paisa, closing at Rs1.9165 versus Rs1.9063.
Chinese Yuan to PKR: The rupee gained 3.1 paisa, closing at Rs39.06, up from Rs39.03.
Saudi Riyal to PKR: The rupee increased by 3.87 paisa, closing at Rs74.27, compared to Rs74.23.
UAE Dirham to PKR: The rupee appreciated by 4.06 paisa, closing at Rs75.83, up from Rs75.87.
Over the current financial year, the rupee has depreciated by 32.82 paisa or 0.12 per cent against the US dollar, while it has appreciated by Rs3.19 or 1.15 per cent since the beginning of the calendar year.
In the money market, the benchmark 6-month Karachi Interbank Bid and Offer rates fell by 63 basis points to 17.69 per cent and 17.94 per cent, respectively.
The domestic currency has remained relatively stable in recent months, hovering around the Rs277-279 range against the dollar, as traders monitor positive economic indicators and await the approval of a new $7 billion Extended Fund Facility from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
On Wednesday, Pakistan’s Finance Minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, stated that the IMF Executive Board meeting on Pakistan is scheduled for September, noting that “good progress” is being made with the IMF.
It is worth noting that this is the third consecutive decline witnessed in the ongoing week.
Additionally, regarding the Pakistani currency, the central bank plans to introduce newly designed currency notes across all denominations next year to enhance security features, according to SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad.
Speaking to a parliamentary body in Islamabad on Wednesday, Ahmad stated that the central bank aims to finalise the new designs by December, with the notes to be issued in phases. Notably, one of the denominations will be a polymer note, he added.
A six-year-old boy missing for four days was found alive in a forest in a mountainous part of northern Vietnam, police said Thursday.
The child was reported missing on Saturday after he failed to return home with his siblings from a celebration at a relative’s house in Yen Bai province.
Police in Lam Giang commune launched a search for the boy and “even dried up a pond as they were afraid he had fallen,” an officer, who declined to give his name, told AFP.
Over the past four days, more than 200 people joined a search for the boy, according to state media.
He was finally found on Wednesday, the police official said.
“We were told that the boy was tired. They gave him things to eat and checked his health. He is ok now,” the police official told AFP.
State media reported that a man had heard crying and discovered the exhausted boy covered in mud, sitting in a cassava bush in the forest.
Lam’s mother, Ly Thi Phai, told the VietnamNet news site of her relief.
“I was so happy that my child had returned alive,” she said.
“I cried because he looked thinner and weaker than before he disappeared.”
According to state media, the boy said he had become lost in the forest and the more he walked, the more disorientated he became.
To survive, he said he drank water from a stream and picked leaves and wild fruits he recognised.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that Pakistan’s former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s trial will be open in a military court if it is connected with the May 9 riots.
Talking on Shahzeb Khanzada’s talk show on Geo News, Asif said, “We don’t have any precedent that any general’s military trial was held in an open court in the country’s history.”
He pointed out that there were 24 convictions during the Imran Khan-led government in the military trial court.
He added, “If the PTI founder faces any trial in a military court, then I can assure you that it would be open to the public and media because he is a civilian.”
Commenting on the May 9 riots, Asif said that manpower was provided by the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan and strategies were done by Faiz Hameed to target military installations.
With his recent remarks on Mahira Khan and Humayun Saeed, veteran actor Firdous Jamal has sparked controversy once more. Despite the backlash he received in the past, Jamal stands firm on his statements, particularly his criticism of Mahira Khan’s looks and acting skills.
Recently, Firdous Jamal appeared as a guest on Dais Book where the host, Junaid Saleem, asked, “Why don’t you like people quickly? You once said Mahira Khan was only fit for mother roles, but then she stunne
d everyone with her performance in Maula Jatt. Did you ever feel afterwards that maybe you shouldn’t have said that?”
Jamal replied, “I still stand by what I said then. I don’t feel any shame in saying it. Her age is evident, and for example, if you find her beautiful, how is that my fault.”
Firdous Jamal asked the host, “Tell me, do you find the Mona Lisa painting attractive?” Saleem replied, “I don’t really get it.”
Jamal then said, “Mahira never looked good to me either.”
The actor then continued in this vein, “The way I see it, for example, if you look at Elizabeth Taylor, Nargis Dutt, or Madhubala, what should I do with the person you’re talking about in comparison?”
Jamal went on to say he didn’t care for Mahira’s looks,
Co-host Soniya Sial asked, “But 90 percent of people find her beautiful, and they also think she’s a good performer. What do you say to that?”
Firdous, “If 90 percent of people are crazy, should I become one too? I have my own way of thinking and my own perspective.”
The conversation then shifted to Humayun Saeed, where the host asked, “Humayun Saeed, who is currently considered Pakistan’s most expensive actor and is seen as a pinnacle of acting in the country, often receives immense admiration from his fans. Given his stature, do you think his acting deserves higher recognition, or should we perhaps give him a bit more credit for his performances?”
Firdous Jamal said, “Where does Humayun Saeed stand among the great actors? Is he in the league of legends like Marlon Brando or Stephen Boyd, I don’t think so.”
The host Junaid Saleem said, “Sir, he (Humayun Saeed) charges a lot of money.”
“Come on, even a prostitute charges money, so what’s the big deal if Humayun Saeed charges a lot,” Jamal replied.
Indian authorities in Assam state have introduced a bill that would require Muslims to register their marriages and divorces, with the chief minister claiming the measure will help stop child marriage.
The bill is seen as a state-level step towards the government’s proposed common civil code of law, which Muslim activists bitterly oppose as an attack on their faith.
India’s 1.4 billion people are subject to a common criminal law. Still, personal matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance are governed by varying rules based on the traditions of different communities and faiths.
In Assam, it is already mandatory for other religions to register marriages with civil authorities.
Assam’s state government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said the bill would be tabled during the next state assembly.
“Our basic intention is to stop child marriages,” Himanta Biswa Sarma, chief minister of the northeastern state, told reporters Wednesday.
Sarma said the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill would not restrict religious rituals, but only ensure marriages and divorces were registered.
The bill will “provide safeguards and benefits… especially to women and prevent the menace of child marriages,” he said.
Modi said this month he wanted to press ahead with a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to standardise laws for personal matters across faiths and religious communities.
Many communities, particularly Muslims, fear a UCC would encroach on their religious laws.
Modi maintains it would serve as an equaliser.
“Those laws that divide the country on the basis of religion, that become reason for inequality, should have no place in a modern society,” Modi said during an Independence Day address on August 15.
“That is why I say: the times demand that there is a secular civil code in the country.”
Modi won a third successive term in office in June but was forced into a coalition government for the first time in a decade.
The BJP’s Hindu nationalist rhetoric has left India’s Muslim population of more than 220 million increasingly anxious about their future.
Following the news of the alleged rape of a 5-year-old girl in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Lahore, the staff of the facility and the Young Doctors Association (YDA) are protesting. Consequently, the Lahore police has now registered a case on the allegations.
Dawn’s Imran Gabol reported that the protest is led by the young doctors of the hospital. Their demonstration was also joined by the staff and students of the hospital as well as adjoining facility of the Fatima Jinnah Medical University (FJMU).
The protestors demanded a thorough investigation into the alleged rape of a minor girl in the premises of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. “The students of FJMU/SGRH demand transparency and an investigation of the case. The students further demand the administration to answer their criminal silence. If such incidents are covered up and silenced, it raises a question mark for the hospital administration,” the demand said.
The Case
ARY News reported that a sanitation worker identified as Abid Maseeh allegedly molested the minor child in the hospital when she was admitted on the third floor. The report said that the mother of the child refused to proceed with the case, but the police arrested the worker.
ARY News reported the accused later confessed by stating that he was overpowered by “evil desires”.
Meanwhile, Dr Hafiz Moinuddin, SRG hospital’s medical superintendent, told Dawn.com that the girl was sleeping with her mother in a corridor when a sanitary worker “touched” her at 2am in the night. He said the girl screamed and woke her mother up, prompting several people in the hospital to gather on the spot.
The sanitary worker was then taken to the security room, where the security in charge called the police and handed over the suspect to them.
Dr Moinuddin asserted that Abid was not a hospital employee and that the company responsible for hiring him had also fired him following the incident.
He also informed Dawn that the hospital administration was taking special measures for the security of the attendants of patients and would not tolerate any mismanagement.
The FIR was registered at the Civil Lines police states that the police received a call that a suspect had harassed a woman’s daughter on the hospital’s third floor. Upon arriving, the police were informed that the suspect was a sweeper at the hospital who was surrounded by a crowd after the girl had created noise.
In its editorial, Express Tribune said, “The hospital’s version may well be true, but then why the attempts to obstruct the course of a probe? Why the text of the FIR did not mention rape? One fails to understand why the country’s law enforcement moves at a snail’s pace to even register a report in such cases. Why the reluctance?”
Videos of doctors and paramedical staff protesting outside the hospital are widely shared on social media, where they criticise the FIR, ask for better security and allege that the hospital administration is downplaying the incident, covering up the matter and silencing the victim’s family.
So many took to social media and voiced their opinion. Nida Kirmani posted that, “The admin of Ganga Ram Hospital is trying to cover up the sexual abuse of a 5-year old patient & threatening students of Fatima Jinnah Medical Uni for protesting. They must hold themselves & their staff accountable & provide support to the victim & her family.”
Saadia Ahmed posted about the incident, commenting that “this region is unlivable for the vulnerable.”
