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  • ‘I regret turning down Datto’s character in Tanu Weds Manu Returns’: Sidra Batool

    ‘I regret turning down Datto’s character in Tanu Weds Manu Returns’: Sidra Batool

    Actress Sidra Batool bagged the ‘Best Actress’ nomination for her performance in Hum TV’s Ishq Humari Galliyon Mein in 2014.

    The Umeed diva revealed in an exclusive conversation with The Current that after seeing her work in Pakistani dramas on Indian channel Zee Zindagi, she was approached by mainstream directors for leading roles in A-list Bollywood movies.

    She confessed that she regrets turning down the character of Datto in Anand L Rai’s Tanu Weds Manu Returns opposite R Madhavan and Kangana Ranaut. The role required her a language course of three months apart from physical training since the character was of a Haryanvi athlete. Sidra was later replaced by Kangana who already had a role in the film.

    Sidra elaborated that her mother didn’t allow her to work in a Bollywood film. The film became a huge blockbuster at won several awards.

    Sidra concluded the interview by saying that her mother has promised her that she’ll allow her to take up a film offer in the future, especially if its a sequel of Tanu Weds Manu Returns.

    The Bin Roye star launched her YouTube channel recently and promised to stay connected with her fans.

  • Eidul Azha: Govt issues guidelines for cattle market to curb Covid-19 spread

    Eidul Azha: Govt issues guidelines for cattle market to curb Covid-19 spread

    The Federal Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation, and Coordination on Tuesday issued guidelines for Eidul Azha in line with the government’s Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

    As per reports, the document has been issued to provide health guidelines to the general public, cattle vendors and customers to control the spread of COVID-19 by practicing social distancing and  following precautionary measures at the cattle market while buying or selling a sacrificial animal.

    Guidelines for sellers:

    • Animal vendors will have to follow the following guidelines while selling an animal at the cattle market.
    • It is necessary for all animal vendors and sellers to get vaccinated with any of the available COVID-19 vaccines in the country. Those without proof of vaccination (first dose or complete course) may not be allowed to do business in the market.
    • Every seller must wear a face mask covering nose and mouth all the time.
    • The seller should wash their hands with soap and water frequently or use an alcohol-based (70%) hand sanitiser.
    • Stalls should be set up at a distance of at least two metres from each other while ensuring enough space between animals. The supporting arrangements must be made by the local authority.
    • Seller and customers should try and maintain a safe distance of two metres. 
    • Seller and customer must not shake hands and avoid any other physical contact 
    • The seller must keep a disinfection formulation with 0.5% diluted bleach or 60%-80% dilute alcohol solution to disinfect the most frequently used surfaces by customers. 
    • Each salesperson must wear gloves for touching the animals. 
    • Any seller with symptoms of cough, sore throat, fever etc., would not be allowed to sell animals in the market. They will have to arrange a replacement for themselves.
    • Each seller must ensure queue control and maintaining the advised two metres distance in his allocated space in the market/ mandii. 
    • The sellers must keep themselves aware of the updated instructions issued by the government and should strictly follow them.

    Read More: Eid ul Azha: 5 things that can only happen in Pakistan

    Guidelines for Customers:

    • The buyer must wear a surgical/medical mask properly (cover nose and mouth) at all times.
    • The customers should not go to the market/ mandii if they are feeling any flu-like symptoms, cough, sore throat or fever.
    • Sanitise hands properly before and after going to the market.
    • Buyers should also wear gloves if they plan to touch the animals.
    • People visiting the market should avoid touching the surfaces in the market unnecessarily. 
    • Maintain two metres distance from the seller or other peoplepresent in the market.
    • Follow the safety guidance provided by the local management and cooperate with the staff
    • If a customer observes non-compliance to the guidelines by the individual seller, remind them and/or report to the local authorities.

  • Sharmeen Obaid made film after three reported cases of acid attacks, says DG Rangers Sindh

    Director-General (DG) Sindh Rangers Major-General Iftikhar Hassan Chaudhary has said that Pakistan is not as bad it is portrayed in the international media, Geo News has reported. He was speaking at Dow University in an event to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse day on Monday.

    He said that Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy’s Oscar-winning film Saving Face was made after three incidents of acid attacks were reported in Pakistan. He went on to add that more than 800 incidents of acid attacks were reported in London but no film was made and neither did the media report on it.

    DG Rangers further said, “There have been 10,000 knife attacks in the UK, but no one knows. Do you think London is safe? We are not as bad as we are portrayed, and we have also started to think negatively about ourselves due to the constant negative portrayal.”

    Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy’s production house SOC Films has been nominated in two Emmy Award categories.

    Sharmeen is a two-time Academy Award winning filmmaker who took home Oscars for 2015’s A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness, which explored the aftermath of an attempted honour killing, and 2012’s Saving Face, which highlighted acid attacks on women in Pakistan.

  • ‘Shah Mahmood went around asking to be made PM instead of Gillani,’ Bilawal warns Khan

    ‘Shah Mahmood went around asking to be made PM instead of Gillani,’ Bilawal warns Khan

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi engaged in a heated debate ahead of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s speech in the National Assembly (NA) today.

    Bilawal said that according to parliamentary rules, when a voice vote is challenged, another voice vote is conducted. “If that is also challenged, then it is your duty to count the votes,” Bilawal said, addressing Speaker NA Asad Qaiser.

    In his speech, Bilawal said that if the government hadn’t “rigged” yesterday’s vote on the federal budget, the whole world would have seen that the prime minister did not have 172 votes. After criticising the government over the provisions of Budget 2021-22 and condemning the legislative process conducted on Tuesday, the PPP chairman left the House after his speech. 

    “He spoke a lot about [parliamentariy] procedures; I would also like to speak on procedures a bit,” said FM Qureshi after Bilawal’s speech.

    The foreign minister lashed out at the PPP chairman for levelling allegations of violating parliamentary tradition.

    “Where did he go after making his speech? I want him to return,” he added. 

    “I would like to ask Bilawal Bhutto to return to his seat; come back to the field and listen to us now,” the foreign minister stated. 

    Bilawal Bhutto returned to his seat amid huge applause from the Opposition benches. 

     A war of words then ensued between the two.

    “What are you talking about? In Sindh, where you have the government, you did not allow the Opposition leader to speak,” said Shah Mahmood.

    He said that the charter of diplomacy states that the chairmanship of the provincial Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is given to the Opposition. “Have you done that? Have you given the Opposition representation in the provincial standing committees? What parliamentary tradition are you talking about?” questioned Mahmood. In comparison, the Opposition is being given more time in the National Assembly, he said. Qureshi also questioned the absence of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif during yesterday’s session.

    “The leader of the Opposition wasn’t present during the debate on the finance bill while 25 Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) members were missing.” Qureshi added that the Opposition would not be able to suppress the government by making noise, holding the former responsible for spoiling the atmosphere of the lower house.

    “Listen to me today with open ears, if Imran Khan will not speak, then neither Bilawal nor Shehbaz shall speak,” said Mahmood.

    In response to the foreign minister, Bilawal said that he would like equal time to respond to all the times Mahmood mentioned his name in his speech. “If you don’t allow me to complete my speech, otherwise I will see how Imran Khan speaks in the Assembly [today].”

    “We know Mahmood the most among all, PM Khan will come to know who he [Mahmood] is,” said Bilawal.

    Bilawal said that Qureshi was criticising the very partythat had made him the foreign minister and the president of the party’s Punjab chapter.

    “Mr Speaker, I would ask you to tell PM Khan to recognise him [Mahmood]. I have been seeing him my childhood. I have heard him say Jiye Bhutto and Agli bari, phir Zardari to protect his ministry,” he said. Bilawal also questioned his role as foreign minister, holding him responsible for being involved in making deals on Kashmir.

    “When the United States is withdrawing from Afghanistan, he should be focusing on arranging a phone call with President Joe Biden due to Pakistan’s strategic importance. It is a matter of shame that our premier doesn’t even have the importance to get a phone call,” he said.

    https://twitter.com/SassuiZafar/status/1410183896529002499

    Bilawal said, “Mahmood talked about Sindh, What happens in Sindh Assembly is suppose to be discussed in Sindh Assembly.” He further added that the Sindh Assembly Speaker had banned Opposition lawmakers for creating a ruckus. “The Pakistan Resolution was passed from the Sindh Assembly,” he said, adding that the Opposition had not presented a single cut motion during provincial budget proceedings. “This shows you their seriousness.”

    “I would like to request the prime minister to order the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to tape Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s phone. When Shah Mahmood was our foreign minister, he used to campaign around the world that the party should make him the prime minister in place of Yousaf Raza Gillani. That is why we sacked him from the post of foreign minister,” said Bilawal.

    The foreign minister responded to the PPP leader’s accusations, telling him that he also knew Bhutto “since he was a little kid”. 

    He hit back at the PPP chairman by referring to him as a “bacha” (child).  

    “I know you since you were a kid and I also know your father as well,” Qureshi added.

  • ‘Hira slapped a friend and asked her to get off the car as she called me a comedian’: Salman Saqib

    ‘Hira slapped a friend and asked her to get off the car as she called me a comedian’: Salman Saqib

    Salman Saqib, famously known as Mani has revealed a secret about his wife Hira Mani on Ahsan Khan’s Show that she slapped a friend of hers and asked her to get off the car in the wee hours of the night when she called her husband a comedian.

    Read more – ‘Firdous Ashiq Awan should hire Maryam Nawaz’s doctor for grooming’: Hira Mani

    The Chupke Chupke actor was asked to share a secret of his wife that her fans are unaware of. Talking about an incident, he said: “Once a friend of Hira’s said that your husband is a comedian and Hira slapped her so hard and asked her to get off the car and it was late night.”

    “My driver called me and told me that madam has gone insane, and this incident happened about nine years ago. I asked him what happened and he said I don’t know the reason but they are fighting. I told him that whatever happens, please drop her at her home,” said Mani while laughing with Hira embarrassingly.

    This secret left Ahsan Khan in splits.

  • Bilal Ashraf and Maya Ali ooze crackling chemistry in their latest fashion film

    Bilal Ashraf and Maya Ali has appeared together in a fashion film for HSY’s  latest bespoke couture collection Khayaal and the fresh reel couple is oozing crackling chemistry.

    They both create magic whenever they come together and these pictures are a proof of it.

    From the past few months, Maya Ali and Bilal Ashraf have been churning BFF goals all over social media with their pictures and comments. They were recently seen in Ahsan Khan’s chat show, Timeout With Ahsan Khan.

    They also appeared together in Quetta Gladiators official anthem.

  • VIDEO: Groom carries bride on shoulders across a flooded river

    VIDEO: Groom carries bride on shoulders across a flooded river

    A groom in Bihar, India carried his new bride on his shoulder to carry her across a monsoon river in spate.

    As per reports, the incident happened in Sindgmari Ghat in Dighalbank block in Bihar’s Kishanganj district. The entire area has been flooded by the overflowing Kankai river.

    The groom, Shiv Kumar Singh and his relatives were returning from a village located on the other side of the river. After the marriage ceremony, the couple and all the guests were travelling on a boat. After travelling some distance, the boat got stuck in the sand.

    “We had no option but to travel by boat to dry place on the bank of river. So I immediately decided to travel the distance carrying her on my shoulder,” Singh said.

    “The bridge on Kankai river near Singhmari was proposed some 10 years ago. The people of Kishanganj and adjoining districts are forced to use boat to cross the river. The state government is callous,” the groom’s relative Rahul Singh said.

    Read More: Bride slaps groom after getting out of car at in-laws’ house on wedding day

    “This incident is an example of development of Bihar claimed by the Nitish Kumar government. Road connectivity to most of the villages adjoining rivers is cut off from the rest of the state. Hence, boat is the only option for us. Such a situation is arising in almost every place affected by the monsoon flood,” Rahul Singh said.

  • Mouni Roy congratulates Mahira Khan on completing a decade in the entertainment industry

    Mouni Roy congratulates Mahira Khan on completing a decade in the entertainment industry

    Superstar Mahira Khan celebrated 10 years of acting career recently with a special post on Instagram, the actress was showered with love from local and transnational celebrities.

    Indian actress Mouni Roy of Gold fame dropped a heartfelt message under Mahira’s post.

    Mahira will be seen next in the Fawad Khan starrer Neelofar and Mouni is set to be featured as an antagonist in Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt’s Brahmastra.

  • ‘Azfar Rehman thinks he’s a great actor but he’s absolutely not’: Yasir Hussain

    ‘Azfar Rehman thinks he’s a great actor but he’s absolutely not’: Yasir Hussain

    Yasir Hussain appeared with his wife Iqra Aziz on The Couple Show, hosted by Aagha Ali and Hina Altaf. The Jhooti star said on the show that Azfar Rehman thinks that he’s a great actor but he’s absolutely not.

    Amongst the many questions that were asked from Yasir, one required him to name an actor who thinks he is a really good performer, but actually is not.

    The Lahore Se Aagay actor replied: “Azfar Rehman! Azfar thinks he is a very good actor but he isn’t a good actor at all.”

    In another interview, talking about his “controversial” comments, he said that, “I went on a show and was asked some controversial questions. They told me that if I will not answer the questions then I have to drink some spicy drinks. I had no other option but to answer those questions – it was either that or I give myself a stomach ulcer. I even took my name or their name to play safe but they told me saying that taking our or your name is not allowed. So I had to take some names.”

  • Fawad Chaudhry slams Sindh High Court’s decision to ban TikTok

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has criticised the Sindh High Court (SHC) for banning the video-sharing app TikTok. On Monday, SHC banned TikTok across the country till July 8 for spreading immorality and obscenity in the country.

    “Pakistan will never come out of its economic crisis if judicial reforms are not undertaken,” the minister wrote in a tweet.

    Fawad Chaudhry further added: “My head is spinning after reading yesterday’s verdicts on TikTok ban and the removal of the NBP president. What are our courts doing?”

    Chaudhry said that the country has already suffered losses worth billions of dollars due to judicial activism.

    TikTok ban has been imposed for the third time in Pakistan. Earlier this year in March Peshawar High Court (PHC) banned TikTok, over immoral content, but the ban was later lifted in April.

    Last year, Pakistan blocked the app on October 9, 2020. The ban was lifted after the TikTok management assured the Pakistani authorities that it will block all accounts repeatedly involved in spreading obscenity and immorality.