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  • Riz Ahmed is the first Muslim to bag ‘Best Actor’ nomination at Oscars

    Riz Ahmed is the first Muslim to bag ‘Best Actor’ nomination at Oscars

    Riz Ahmed, who played the role of a drummer who begins to lose his hearing in the Sound of Metal charted history by becoming the first Muslim to be nominated in the leading actor category at the Academy Awards.

    This is also for the first time that two Asian actors have been nominated in the Best Actor category. Nine of the 20 acting nods went to non-white performers, including Riz and a South Korean Yuh-Jung Youn of Minari, in what Variety Magazine described as the most diverse acting Oscars slate ever.

    Sharing his excitement on social media, Riza said: “Wow! I’m honoured to be nominated by my fellow actors alongside such inspiring performances, and am grateful to the Academy for their support and encouragement.”

    “I’m equally thrilled for our visionary writer-director Darius Marder and the brilliant Paul Raci As well as our editor Mikkel, sound designer Nicolas, and co-writer Abe Marder,” he added.

    “These nominations represent the time, generosity and talents of so many — all of our incredible cast, crew, producers,” said the actor further. “Sound of Metal is about how a health crisis can cut you off from your life and loved ones, and force you to grow in unexpected ways. In a challenging year for so many, I hope this story can inspire us to forge new and deeper connections with ourselves and others.”

    “And in particular I’d like to thank my mentors in the drumming, addiction recovery, and D/dead communities” Riz concluded.

    Meanwhile, six nods each were earned by the other best picture contenders The Father, Black Panther story Judas and the Black Messiah, Korean-language drama Minari, Nomadland, #MeToo revenge tale Promising Young Woman, 1960s Vietnam War courtroom drama The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Amazon Studio’s deaf drama Sound of Metal.

    The late Chadwick Boseman also got a first Oscar nod for his final film, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

    The nominations were announced from London by presenters Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. The Academy Awards would typically have happened by now but this year will be telecast on April 25. The film academy said Monday that the show will be held at both its usual home, the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, and the city’s railway hub, Union Station.

    This year’s awards season — typically a month-long circuit of screenings, cocktail parties and schmoozing — has been entirely virtual, taking much of the buzz and predictability out of the Oscars. Eligibility was extended to early 2021 releases and to movies that bypassed theatres.

  • Zardari asks Nawaz Sharif to return to Pakistan

    Zardari asks Nawaz Sharif to return to Pakistan

    Former president Asif Ali Zardari has reportedly asked former prime minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to return to Pakistan in the ongoing meeting of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

    According to reports, Zardari asked Sharif to return to Pakistan while discussing the resignations from the assemblies. He also said that “if we have to fight together, then we have to go to jail together as well”.

    “I have spent 14 years in jail,” said Zardari. He also complained about Ishaq Dar not returning to Pakistan for the Senate elections. Zardari asked both Sharif and Dar to return to the country, saying that if they return to the country, then the PPP will submit its resignations to Nawaz Sharif.

    Zardari said that if the opposition resigns from the assemblies now, it will strengthen Prime Minister Imran Khan as well as the establishment.

    Sources say that Maryam Nawaz has said her father’s life is under threat. She asked Asif Zardari to give a guarantee that nothing will happen to Nawaz Sharif upon his return.

    Later, after the meeting, core members of the PDM including Maulana Fazl ur Rahman, Maryam Nawaz and Yousuf Raza Gilani addressed a press conference in which they confirmed Zardari’s request.

  • Momin Saqib receives Commonwealth Youth COVID-19 Hero award

    The Commonwealth has named British-Pakistani student Momin Saqib as its Youth COVID-19 Hero. The award ceremony was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was streamed live on Facebook.

    “In March 2020, Momin launched ‘One Million Meals,” an emergency response to the COVID-19 crisis,” read an official statement. “Led by volunteers, the programme has provided over 100,000 meals and beverages in over 200 locations to frontline key workers, NHS staff, homeless people and vulnerable families affected by the pandemic, including through 47 hospitals, trusts and food banks.”

    The Commonwealth Youth Awards “have brought innovative, scalable and replicable projects of young people to the forefront of global leadership and have kicked local projects into the international arena for nearly two decades.”

    Momin shot to fame after a video of him expressing his disappointment over Pakistan’s poor performance during the ICC World Cup 2019 went viral on social media. Saqib has also ventured into television and is currently part of two Hum TV productions: Raqs-e-Bismil and Be Adab. He will also be part of Adnan Siddiqui’s upcoming production Dam Mastam.

  • Ahmed Ali Butt teases Vasay Chaudhry after Mehwish Hayat calls him out for body-shaming

    Ahmed Ali Butt seems to be having a blast after a clip of Mehwish Hayat schooling Vasay Chaudhry for body-shaming Butt went viral on social media. In a series of Instagram stories, the Jhooti actor posted memes and GIFs to express his thoughts and react to the matter. It is pertinent to mention here that Butt and Chaudhry are close friends and are just indulging in harmless banter.

    Hayat, who recently appeared on Vasay’s show Ghabrana Mana Hai, called out the host after he joked about Butt’s weight.

    When asked which Pakistani actor she thinks would be fit to play Ertuğrul, Mehwish named Humayun Saeed and Fahad Mustafa. She also said that Ahmed Ali Butt would make a good supporting character on which Vasay interrupted her and joked: “Ahmed Ali Butt ghoray ke uper aur woh ghora bhaage bhi“.

    Responding to Vasay’s remark, Mehwish said: “Don’t talk to me about body shaming. You cannot do that in front of me.”

    The actor further said: “Pass them [body shaming jokes] when you are with friends, but when you will do this on this platform, people will listen and pick, and they will repeat it.”

    “Who will be responsible then?” she questioned. However, Vasay continued to defend himself, saying that Butt himself passes such jokes.

    During the interview, Mehwish also talked about the criticism she faced on receiving the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz and dealing with online trolling and criticism.

    “Mujhe milna chaiye tha, ya nahi milna chaiye tha sab ko haq hai is baare me bat karne ka. Laikin mujhe mila kisi aur waja se other than my talent and hard work that is where I put my foot down,” said Hayat, while talking about her accolade.

    Read more – Fawad Chaudhry recommended Mehwish Hayat for Tamgha-e-Imtiaz

    Talking about the social media trolls and responding to the suggestion of turning off the comments section, Mehwish said: “Turning off comments section means you are coward, or are doing something wrong “

    Meanwhile, Vasay also took the ‘controversy’ in stride, saying “Ghabrana Mana Hai (You are not allowed to panic).”

  • VIDEO: Shahveer Jafry recreates Lahore Qalandars anthem with his ‘wolfcrew’

    Shahveer Jafry and his ‘wolfcrew’ recreated the Lahore Qalandars anthem in a video that went viral on social media.

    Read more – Shahveer Jafry stirs controversy with claims of ‘hi-fiving’ PSL players

    In the video, Shahveer along with fellow YouTubers Hashir, Zarrar Khan, Khaqan Shahnawaz and other friends can be seen singing the anthem in a desi Punjabi style on their way to Gwadar.

    Later, Jafry shared a picture of all the boys chilling in the bus.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Jafry, Zarrar and Khaqan will soon be seen in a web series titled Baarwan Khiladi, which is being produced by Mahira Khan and Nina Kashif under their production house Soulfry Films.

    According to details, the web series is featuring Danyal Zafar, Jafry and Kinza Hashmi in the lead is “a story about friendships, relationships, unity, failure, success, love and courage.”

    The series has been penned by Shahid Dogar and directed by Adnan Sarwar of Motorcycle Girl fame. Saba Faisal, Sarmad Khoosat and Mira Sethi are also part of the cast.

  • Meesha Shafi shuts down fake reports of being sentenced to three years jail

    Meesha Shafi has trashed and shut down fake news reports which stated that she is being “sentenced to 3 years in jail for falsely accusing Ali Zafar of sexual harassment”.

    “Another day, another campaign spreading false information,” wrote the singer on Twitter. “Speaking up is way more exhausting than being groped.”

    Meesha further said: “This is why we end up suffering in silence. Sending lots of love and solidarity to all who speak up. It’s hard!”

    Meesha’s lawyer Asad Jamal also trashed the reports saying that “no such verdict has been passed by [the] trial court in the frivolous criminal defamation case instituted by Ali Zafar.”

    According to a report published in Samaa News, the entire matter started when fake news claiming that Shafi has been given a three-year sentence in a defamation case filed by Zafar started flashing on different Indian media outlets.

    On March 12, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ)published an article titled ‘Pakistani Singer Faces Prosecution for Accusing Pop Star of Groping Her‘. The report explained how Meesha “set off the country’s most high-profile #MeToo debate when she accused a fellow pop star of groping her. And now she was being prosecuted on a criminal defamation charge and is facing possible prison time.”

    UK-based tabloid Daily Mail misinterpreted the article in WSJ and wrote a misleading and false headline, which the Indian media picked and ran without verification. It is pertinent to add here that Zafar is a well-known name in India as he has worked in several successful Bollywood films.

    Later, Meesha also shared how she deals with “propaganda, abuse and false information”, detailing an hour-by-hour account of her day.

    Earlier, the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan approved Shafi’s harassment case against Ali Zafar for hearing, which meant that the SC granted permission to hear the appeal based on its legal points and will deliberate whether Shafi’s accusations of sexual harassment come under the workplace harassment law.

    Background of the case

    In 2018, Meesha first came forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Ali Zafar. She later filed a complaint with the provincial ombudsperson. After her appeal was rejected, she approached Governor Punjab, who upheld the ombudsperson’s decision. Meesha then challenged the Governor’s decision in Lahore High Court which again dismissed Meesha’s case for hearing on grounds that she did not have an employer-employee relationship with the accused.

  • Bride in Mardan asks for Rs 100,000 worth of books as ‘Haq Mehr’

    Bride in Mardan asks for Rs 100,000 worth of books as ‘Haq Mehr’

    A bride in Mardan has asked her husband to give her Rs 100,000 worth of books as Haq Mehr.

    According to details, Naila Shamal Safi is a writer and says that she wanted books to highlight their importance in our daily lives. Naila is a resident of Tangi area of ​​North Safi Charsadda while her husband Dr Sajjad Jwandun is a resident of Bhai Khan area of ​​Mardan. Dr Jwandun has completed his Ph.D in Pashto while Naila is currently pursuing her Ph.D.

    https://twitter.com/syedazmatjmc/status/1371132721687322626?s=20

    Haq Mehr is the obligatory gift or dower given to the wife by the husband at the time of nikkah.

    Talking to BBC Urdu, Dr Sajjad said that he was happy to hear about his fiancee’s demand and hopes that this step will pave the way to end the practice of asking a big amount in Haq Mahr.

    “In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, boys are often asked for Rs 10 to 20 lacs in Haq Mehr, while different demands are made for dowry,” said Dr Sajjad, adding: “People criticise when the first step is taken against the norm but our work is appreciated by all so far and I think the world has come a long way so we must move forward.”

    Naila said that she is now in a relationship with not only her husband but also with the books.

    “I have a lot of books in my bedroom and other rooms in my house. We have put some books in the cupboards but many are still in cartons. I will set those up after my wedding rituals,” she shared.

  • PDM to decide on long march, resignations today

    PDM to decide on long march, resignations today

    The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) will decide on long march and resignations from assemblies today in a meeting chaired by PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

    Maulana Fazl, while talking to the media on Monday had said that in his personal opinion, without submitting resignations, the Opposition alliance does not stand to gain much benefit from the long march.

    PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz also said that the issue of resignations will be decided in the PDM meeting on Tuesday. She said the PML-N will try to convince those who don’t agree on resignations.

    “We have also agreed to their ideas before and they should also help us with the last push to get rid of this government in the larger interest of the nation,” said the PML-N VP.

    On the other hand, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is said to be reluctant when it comes to resigning from the assemblies.

  • Pakistan concerned as Sri Lanka mulls banning burqa, shutting Islamic schools for national security

    Pakistan ambassador in Colombo and a United Nations expert have expressed concerns over Sri Lanka’s proposed move to ban the wearing of burqas.

    Last week, Sri Lanka announced plans to ban the wearing of burqas and said it would close more than 1,000 Islamic schools known as madrassas, citing national security.

    Pakistan’s ambassador to Sri Lanka, Saad Khattak, tweeted the ban would “only serve as injury to the feelings of ordinary Sri Lankan Muslims and Muslims across the globe.”

    The United Nations’ special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Ahmed Shaheed, tweeted that the “burqa bans are incompatible with [international] law guarantees of the right to manifest one’s religion or belief & of freedom of expression.”

    On Saturday, Sri Lanka’s minister of public security, Sarath Weerasekara, called the burqa a sign of religious extremism and said it has a direct impact on national security.

    Weerasekara signed a paper on Friday seeking Cabinet approval to ban burqas.

    The wearing of burqas in Sri Lanka was temporarily banned in 2019 soon after the Easter Sunday bomb attacks on churches and hotels that killed more than 260 people in the Indian Ocean island nation.

    Two local Muslim groups that had pledged allegiance to the Daesh group, or Daesh, have been blamed for the attacks at six locations — two Roman Catholic churches, one Protestant church, and three top hotels.

    Sri Lanka also plans to ban more than 1,000 religious seminaries, saying they are not registered with the authorities and do not follow the national education policy.
    The decision to ban burqas and seminaries is the latest move affecting Sri Lanka’s minority Muslims they make up about 9 per cent of the 22 million people in Sri Lanka.

  • Yasir Hussain lists his favourite ‘underrated’ actors

    Yasir Hussain lists his favourite ‘underrated’ actors

    Yasir Hussain has shared a list of his favourite “but sadly underrated actors of the Pakistani drama industry”.

    Read more – Yasir Hussain vs Nausheen Shah: Who said what?

    Taking to Instagram stories, the Lahore Se Aagey actor shared a collage of the actors which included Anoushay Abbasi, Hasan Ahmed, Furqan Qureshi, Afraz Rasool and Zain Afzal.

    Meanwhile, earlier in an interview with a local media outlet, when Yasir was asked to name an actor who should have stayed on television instead of doing films, the actor had named Shahroz Sabzwari.

    Responding to Yasir’s comments, Sabzwari had said: “I think everyone has their own opinion and I respect Yasir’s. I respect everyone’s opinions, whether it comes from someone in my family or a random person on the street. No one has been subjected to flak the way I have.”

    The actor further said: “And he’s [Yasir’s]… I know him. So if that is what he thinks, then that’s fine by me.”

    “I own all my characters and my films. One of them Chain Aye Na was a dead flop, but I own it. I think everyone should do that too. A bad film or a character that doesn’t work for you should never define your potential. An actor is only done when he tells himself in the mirror that he is done,” expressed Sabzwari.

    “Yasir is entitled to his opinion and if you ask me mine, I will say that I respect all the actors around me,” said Shahroz, adding: “Even someone who plays a minor role is significant to me because when the camera is rolling, even saying ‘Assalamualaikum, kaisay hain aap’ becomes a task.”