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  • ‘I raised my hand to protect my family’: Bilal Saeed responds to viral video

    ‘I raised my hand to protect my family’: Bilal Saeed responds to viral video

    A video of Bilal Saeed physically assaulting a young girl and a boy in the presence of the police went viral on social media Thursday evening.

    According to reports, the girl and the boy in the video are Bilal’s brother and sister-in-law. The singer allegedly also wanted to file an FIR against his brother but no case was registered as the two parties later reconciled. The report further claimed that Bilal has refused to comment on the matter.

    On the other hand, Geo News reported that the incident occurred on January 10 within the remits of Sundar Police Station.

    Soon after the video went viral, Bilal shared a video of his house with broken items and claimed that the destruction was done in his absence.

    “I know how to respect women and I know how to protect a woman too! I raised my hand to protect my family,” wrote Bilal in the caption. “This is what they did to me while I was away from my house!”

    The singer further said that he has been a victim of blackmailing.

    “And that’s not about it I have been the victim of their blackmailing and unfair behavior for a very long time,” claimed Bilal. “I stayed quiet because obviously as an artist my priority is my career but these people have been taking advantage of my situation for a very long time.”

    The video has now been removed from social media.

    Later, in an official statement, Bilal said: “Every human has the right to live with dignity and security, regardless of gender. I am a believer of peace, however, I also believe in establishing boundaries when that peace is repeatedly compromised by another, regardless of gender.”

    He continued: “When the safety and dignity of a person is violated and jeopardized over and over again, he, unfortunately, is left with no option but to react.”

    Meanwhile, this is not the first time Bilal has been involved in controversy. Last year, the singer came under fire for shooting his music video inside Masjid Wazir Khan.

  • IN PICTURES: Fawad Khan, Maya Ali spotted at HSY’s star-studded bash

    IN PICTURES: Fawad Khan, Maya Ali spotted at HSY’s star-studded bash

    Trust Hassan Shehryar Yasin, better known as HSY, to throw a star-studded bash. The designer-turned-actor recently celebrated his drama debut and opening of his luxurious ‘HSY Mansion’ with his friends from the industry. The designer is all set to open Pakistan “largest most luxurious couture studio” for “a one of a kind bridal couture experience.” The designer also announced that he will be officially opening his studio with a solo show in March.

    The pre-event party saw all the A-listers including Fawad Khan, Maya Ali, Ali Zafar, Adnan Siddiqui, Sarwat Gilani and Ayesha Omar in attendance. Pictures from the party were widely circulated on social media. Check them out below:

    HSY recently made his acting debut with drama serial Pehli Si Muhabbat alongside Maya, Sheheryar Munawar, Rabia Butt, Saba Faisal, Nausheen Shah and Shabbir Jan. Written by Faiza Iftikhar and directed by Anjum Shahzad, Pehli Si Muhabbat is described as “an intense love story”. The OST of the drama has been composed by Ali Zafar.

  • Twitter users are stereotyping Pakistani actors with hilarious memes

    Twitter users are stereotyping Pakistani actors with hilarious memes

    All actors fear being stereotyped and it appears that their worst fears just came true because Pakistani Twitter has started typecasting Pakistani drama actors.

    Audiences on Twitter have put together a list of actors who always end up doing the same type of roles. Actors who have ‘meme-d’ include Yasir Nawaz, Junaid Khan, Agha Ali, Hira Mani, Minal Khan and Gohar Rasheed. Check out some of the memes below:

    https://twitter.com/Maliiihaarif/status/1357040809560985618?s=19
    https://twitter.com/maniac_says/status/1357032494500052992?s=19
  • UNESCO declares Lahore a ‘City of Literature’

    UNESCO declares Lahore a ‘City of Literature’

    The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has declared Lahore the ‘City of Literature’ making it the first city in the country to have received this title.

    In a ceremony held at the Alhamra Art Center’s Burney Garden, government officials including Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan and UNESCO director spoke about the importance of Lahore as a center of learning and warmth. According to a report in Dawn News, Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar was also supposed to attend the event but could not make it due to prior commitments. 

    Speaking at the event, UNESCO Director Patricia Mcphillips said: “[Lahore] has a rich vibrant culture and is now in the network of cities recognised by Unesco for its literary status.”

    On the other hand, Dr Awan, speaking at the event, said that it was a historic day for the people of Lahore as the city would now be globally known as the ‘City of Literature’. Dr Firdous said that “Lahore is the city of flowers, monuments, writers and Sufi saints”, adding that the government would take special measures to celebrate Lahore’s status by organising literary activities round the year.

    “We have to revive Lahore’s culture related to literary sittings and poetic symposiums,” remarked Dr Firdous.

    A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed between the Lahore Arts Council and UNESCO at the occasion.

    Earlier in November 2019, UNESCO included Lahore in its list of cities that have been designated as Unesco Creative Cities. A total of 66 cities were selected for 2019’s list.

  • VIDEO: Shireen Mazari accused of ‘making obscene gestures at opposition MNA’

    Former prime minister (PM) Raja Pervaiz Ashraf among other opposition members have accused Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari of “making obscene gestures at an opposition MNA” in a claim that has been rubbished by the latter.

    “I could not even dare to explain the kind of gestures made by the minister,” media quoted the former premier as saying after yet another session of the National Assembly was marred by ruckus by both government and opposition members during each other’s turn to speak on the floor.

    According to the details of Wednesday’s episode in the lower house of the parliament, the government tabled the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill that seeks open balloting in upcoming Senate polls. Minister for Law and Justice Farogh Naseem presented the bill amid loud slogans and protest by the opposition against the said amendment.

    As the session continued, a heated exchange of words took place between three members of the parliament when Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Agha Rafiullah tore his copy of the bill and tossed it in the air in front of Speaker Asad Qaiser.

    After the incident, the speaker’s desk was surrounded, books were banged on the desks to disrupt proceedings, whistles were blown and Rafiullah claimed that Mazari allegedly hand-signalled the number five at him; taking it as Moutza.

    Moutza is the most traditional gesture of insult among Greeks. It consists of extending and spreading all fingers of the hand and presenting the palm towards the face of the person to be insulted with a forward motion. It is often coupled with swear words.

    Rafiullah was furious; he refused to tolerate it; brought the matter to everyone’s attention and the commotion almost turned into a quarrel when a couple of ruling party MNAs, including Malik Anwar Taj, accused him of throwing papers on Speaker Asad Qaiser, The Express Tribune reported.

    Rafiullah, however, denied the allegation and once again drew the house’s attention to Moutza.

    Ex-PM Ashraf expressed annoyance over the alleged insulting gesture, regretted treasury benches’ behaviour and reminded them that they don’t have the numbers needed for making a constitutional amendment.

    When given the floor, Mazari, on the other hand, alleged that Rafiullah swore at a woman MNA from the treasury benches and threw papers on Qaiser’s face.

    “I was only seeking your attention,” she told the speaker when asked to explain her gestures.

    WATCH VIDEO:

  • Greta Thunberg’s tweets part of ‘larger conspiracy’: Delhi police file case against Swedish activist

    Greta Thunberg’s tweets part of ‘larger conspiracy’: Delhi police file case against Swedish activist

    A day after Greta Thunberg, a teenage climate change activist hailing from Sweden, came out in support of the Indian farmers along with other celebrities, the New Delhi police have registered an FIR against her for “conspiring against the state of India”.

    According to reports in the Indian media, the global activist was accused of conspiracy for her tweets in support of the farmers who have been protesting against the new agri reforms for the past two months. The government has refused to pay heed to their demands, resulting in an impasse.

    “Greta has been accused of creating disharmony and for being a part of a larger conspiracy. The agenda was exposed after she accidentally shared the propaganda tool kit which included campaign strategy for holding protests across the world over India’s farm laws,” a TimesNow reported claimed.

    Thunberg, and US singer Rihanna created a flutter in India by wading into months-long farmer protests against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s agricultural reforms. Tens of thousands of young and old farmers have blocked roads leading into New Delhi for more than two months, sheltering in tractors from the cold.

    A tractor rally by farmers last week in New Delhi turned violent. Police responded by shutting down the internet, digging ditches, driving nails into roads and topping barricades with razor wire to prevent farmers from entering the capital again.

    “Why aren’t we talking about this?!” Rihanna said in a Twitter post, sharing a CNN article on the demonstrations with her 100.9 million followers on the platform, using the hashtag #FarmersProtest.

    Separately, India has also announced that it would jail Twitter employees for letting journalists tweet about the protesting farmers in India.

    INDIA INCENSED BY TWEETS:

    The international celebrity tweets triggered an online storm in India, where the farmers’ protests have become one of the biggest challenges to Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi since he took power in 2014. Modi has asserted the laws are necessary to modernise India’s agriculture sector, but farmers fear they would be placed at the mercy of big corporations.

    India’s government has bristled at international remarks on the protests, calling them an “internal matter”.

    In an official statement, the foreign ministry said that the celebrities needed “a proper understanding of the issues”.

    “The temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments, especially when resorted to by celebrities and others, is neither accurate nor responsible,” read the statement, with the hashtags #IndiaTogether and #IndiaAgainstPropaganda.”

  • John Cena to perform in Pakistan in July, says report

    John Cena to perform in Pakistan in July, says report

    John Cena, the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstar, and other wrestlers will visit Pakistan in July this year to participate in a wrestling event being organised by a private company.

    According to media reports, Cena, who has millions of fan in Pakistan, will be performing in Karachi and Islamabad during his visit to the country. A report claimed that all matters have been settled with the US wrestler and Hollywood actor.

    Cena, 43, is arguably one of the best professional wrestlers in the history of the sports.

    Pakistan had organised the Ring of Pakistan event last year wherein professional wrestlers from across the world participated.

    The popularity of Cena in Pakistan can be gauged by the fact that he made it to the merit list of the Islamia College, Peshawar, after someone submitted a fake admission form in his name. According to local media reports, the college administration had confirmed that someone had applied through a fake name, bank code, roll number, and grades and got into the college.

    At the time, the administration had said: “Incidents like these take place in online admission. Someone played a joke through the application. However, as soon as we came to know of it, we removed him from the system.”

    https://twitter.com/MahmailF/status/1303065544686436353
  • NCOC allows PSL 2021 to have limited spectators

    NCOC allows PSL 2021 to have limited spectators

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has granted permission to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to have spectators at the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) scheduled to commence from February 20. As per details, stadiums will be allowed only 20 percent spectators of the total capacity.

    According to a press release issued by PCB, the decision means around 7,500 ticketed spectators will be allowed access inside the National Stadium in Karachi per match day, while around 5,500 will be able to attend each match day at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

    During the course of the event, the NCOC and the PCB will continue to work together and monitor the situation before a decision to increase crowd numbers for the three playoffs and the final is made.

    The NCOC made the decision following a detailed and comprehensive briefing by the PCB officials, in which they assured that the event organisers and the PCB will strictly follow the government’s COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), including social distancing.

    The press release further said that PCB will soon announce its ticketing policy to provide further clarity to the fans on how they can purchase tickets and the process to enter/exit the venues during the matches.

    Read more – PSL 2021: Interesting picks and drops

    Thanking NCOC, PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani said: “I am thankful to the NCOC for trusting the PCB and allowing limited fans to watch the live-action of the HBL Pakistan Super League 2021. This is an endorsement that the PCB is an institution, which is capable of planning and then successfully implementing COVID-19 SOPs during its marquee event being staged in Pakistan for the second successive year.

    He added: “Fans are the PCB’s biggest asset and we are delighted that no matter a small number, but some will be able to have access to the matches. Their presence will add flavour and excitement to one of the biggest and most challenging leagues in the cricket calendar.”

    “I am optimistic that if we can maintain strict protocols during the HBL PSL 2021 matches we will have a strong case for more fans in the 2021-22 season in which we have to host high-profile international teams such as New Zealand, England and the West Indies as well as quality domestic events, including the National T20 Cup, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the Pakistan Cup,” concluded Mani.

    The HBL PSL season six will be played in Karachi and Lahore from February 20 to March 22.

  • Justice Isa holds referendum on country’s press freedom situation in court; no hands raised

    Justice Isa holds referendum on country’s press freedom situation in court; no hands raised

    Supreme Court’s (SC) Justice Qazi Faez Isa has expressed serious concerns over the press freedom situation in Pakistan, holding a referendum on freedom of press in his court.

    “Tell me… is media free in Pakistan?” Justice Isa asked the attorney general while hearing the case regarding local government elections with Justice Maqbool Baqir.

    The top court judge asked the reporters present in the courtroom to raise their hands if media was free in the country. Even though a number of media persons were present, nobody raised their hands.

    At this, Justice Isa said, “The people who are behind curbs on media must go to jails.”

    “The country is systematically being damaged. The poor are crying,” he added.

    Justice Baqir, on the other hand, remarked that a judge should avoid discussing such things but for how long could one remain silent on a situation such as the prevailing one. “It is not an ideal situation.”

    Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) submitted schedule of local bodies elections to the court.

    The election watchdog, in its reply to the apex court, stated that local government polls will be held in Punjab on July 20 while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Cantonment Boards will hold the election on April 8.

    The commission further said that decision regarding date of the elections in Sindh and Balochistan will be taken on February 11.

    Last Thursday, the top court had asked the ECP to furnish a comprehensive reply within a week on holding the polls.

  • ‘Emily in Paris’ writer surprised with Golden Globe nomination

    The nominations for the 78th annual Golden Globe Awards were unveiled on Wednesday, and Netflix’s Emily in Paris ended up receiving two nominations – Best TV Series (Musical or Comedy) and Best Performance by an Actress in a TV series (Musical or Comedy).

    The unusual nominations did not sit very well with audiences who were upset with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association – a 90-member group known, and often criticised for, unpredictable choices – for snubbing out favourites such as I May Destroy You and Bridgerton.

    Read more – Every Pakistani girl wants to be ‘Emily in Paris’

    Interestingly, even the writers on the show are surprised with the nominations.

    “I’m a writer on the show. I tried to avoid reading its criticism, but I don’t live under a rock. It never occurred to me that our show would be nominated,” said Deborah Copakenn, a writer on the show.

    In a piece for The Guardian, Copaken said: “Emily in Paris aired a few months after I’d spent June and July marching for racial justice through the streets of New York with my kids. I could definitely see how a show about a white American selling luxury whiteness, in a pre-pandemic Paris scrubbed free of its vibrant African and Muslim communities, might rankle. Our show also aired soon after I read Caste by Isabel Wilkerson and gobbled down Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You, a work of sheer genius about the aftermath of a rape. ‘That show,’ I told everyone who would listen, ‘deserves to win all the awards’.”

    She continued: “When it didn’t, I was stunned. I May Destroy You was not only my favourite show of 2020. It’s my favourite show ever. It takes the complicated issue of rape – I’m a sexual assault survivor myself – and infuses it with heart, humour, pathos and a story constructed so well, I had to watch it twice, just to understand how Coel did it.”

    Copaken added that though she is excited about the nomination, “but that excitement is now unfortunately tempered by my rage over Coel’s snub. I May Destroy You did not get one Golden Globe nod is not only wrong, it’s what is wrong with everything.”

    Created by Darren Star of the Sex and the City fame, Emily in Paris follows Emily as she navigates her life in Paris and tries to add an “American touch” to the firm she works at. The series has been produced by the show’s star Lily Collins.

    In November 2020, Netflix announced that it was renewing Emily in Paris for a second season.

    Note – An earlier version of the story wrongly credited Abby Govindan as a writer on the show after she tweeted: “As the creator of Emily in Paris, can I just say…why the f*** were we nominated for a Golden Globe. I made that show as a prank.”