A journalist recently asked the Minister of State for Climate Change, Zartaj Gul if her beauty is natural or she uses some special cream for the glow.
The question made the minister blush, and she responded with a smile saying: “I am from the tribal area and have come to power after winning election from Dera Ghazi Khan. I am highly exposed to sunlight, dirt and smog because I am involved in practical politics. The beauty that you see on my face is all that is left (compared to before).”
Turkey and Pakistan should not meddle in France’s domestic affairs, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has said after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan denounced French President Emmanuel Macron’s “anti-Islam” agenda and called for a boycott of French goods.
The comments from Erdogan and Imran were the latest expression of anger in the Muslim world over blasphemous images being displayed in France of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).
Erdogan, in his statement, also questioned Macron’s mental health, prompting Paris to recall its ambassador in Ankara.
Joining Erdogan, Imran also denounced Macron’s remarks on the publication of caricatures, calling them “encouragement of Islamophobia”.
“By attacking Islam, clearly without having any understanding of it, President Macron has attacked and hurt the sentiments of millions of Muslims in Europe and across the world,” the premier had said.
“It should shock each one of us that foreign powers are meddling with what is going on in France,” Darmanin toldFrance Inter radio earlier this week, adding he was referring to Turkey and Pakistan, where parliament passed a resolution urging the government to recall its ambassador from Paris.
The National Assembly (NA) on Monday unanimously passed a resolution condemning the caricatures and the “resurgence of Islamophobic acts” in some countries.
“Turkey should not meddle with France’s domestic affairs,” Darmanin added.
The row has its roots in a knife attack outside a French school on October 16 in which a man of Chechen origin beheaded Samuel Paty, a teacher who had shown pupils blasphemous caricatures of Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) in a civics lesson on freedom of speech.
Macron, who met representatives of France’s Muslim community on Monday, has pledged to fight “Islamist separatism”, saying it was threatening to “take over” some Muslim communities in France.
Budding actor Ameer Gilani, who won applause for his role in the recently concluded Sabaat as Hassan Fareed, has launched his own YouTube channel where he released his first song titled Sabaat.
Gilani has also penned the lyrics for the soulful melody as well as done its original composition. Meanwhile, the music video has been directed by Usman Mukhtar.
Later, in an Instagram post, Ameer said that the song was in response to the love he has received from his fans.
“Mere pyaaray doston,” said the actor. “Mein bata nahi sakta ke aap ka pyaar kitna special hai. Mein ne koshish ki hai ke likh ke bayaan karoon. I’m sure this represents the feeling of the entire team.”
He also said that the song was a small gift from the team of Sabaat to their audiences.
“Ek chhota sa gift humari taraf se. Ek aakhri baar Sabaat ke liye. Aap ka Aur humara saath ho Sabaat.”
A Russian YouTuber burnt down his luxurious Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S in protest against the German car manufacturer.
Mikhail Litvin who has 4.95 million subscribers on YouTube burnt down his Mercedes because he was annoyed with the service of the car company.
His Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S reportedly broke down numerous times after he bought it from an official dealership in May last year. The YouTuber sent the car for repair to the dealer five times, but the repairs did not help.
After the recent breakdown, the dealer stopped replying to him. Litvin then poured fuel on his luxury Mercedes in the middle of an empty field and set fire to the vehicle, Times Now News reported.
In the video, he said, “I thought for a long time what to do with my Shark after the conflict with Mercedes. In my opinion, the idea is FIRE! That’s all … The end … I’m not happy.”
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Babar Iftikhar has set the record straight about the events surrounding February 27 — the day Pakistan downed two Indian Air Force (IAF) planes and captured an Indian pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
“Yesterday such a statement was given in which facts were attempted to be twisted surrounding the events that day,” the military spokesperson said during a media briefing that came a day after former National Assembly speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq among other senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) parliamentarians accused the government of taking the decision to release the pilot under pressure.
Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi had “begged the opposition to release Abhinandan, otherwise, according to the FM, India would have attacked Pakistan at 9 pm that day,” they had claimed.
Reacting to the claims that have been made a mountain of by Indian media, Maj Gen Iftikhar said that after the Pulwama incident, on February 26, India violated all international principles and attacked Pakistan. “They not only faced defeat but humiliation all over the world,” Geo News quoted him as saying.
“Our timely response derailed their efforts. Their planes and the explosives they had come to rain down on the Pakistani people, they instead dropped on empty mountains. They left in a panicked state after being confronted by our planes.”
WATCH FULL MEDIA BRIEFING:
He said that in response, the Pakistan Army, in accordance with the people’s wishes, sought to “teach the enemy a lesson”.
“On this decision, all civil and military leadership was on a single page. We responded with full might in the light of day and shot down two planes, along with arresting their pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan [Varthaman],” said the ISPR DG, recalling the events.
He said that the enemy was in such a panicked state that it shot down its own helicopter.
“We gave them a bloody nose and they are still hurting.”
Maj Gen Iftikhar said that Pakistan secured a “clear victory” that day against India. He said not only was India’s hollowed state of preparedness exposed that day but the entire Pakistani nation’s heads were held high.
He said this triumph was not only celebrated in Pakistan but the entire world recognised it. “India held its non-availability of Rafale jets accountable for the defeat,” he added.
The ISPR chief said that the government of Pakistan, in a measured and responsible move, decided to “give peace a chance” and hand over the captured war prisoner Wing Commander Abhinandan over. “The move, which was in accordance with the Geneva Convention, was lauded by the entire world.”
PML-N LEADER’SCLARIFICATION:
Ahead of the military spokesperson’s briefing, Sadiq questioned Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s motives behind delaying a meeting related to Abhinandan on the day of his capture.
He lambasted the Indian media for “distorting” his comments from the National Assembly session a day earlier when he had alleged that the government took the decision to release the IAF pilot under pressure.
“One thing is clear: Abhinandan did not come to Pakistan to distribute sweets; he had attacked Pakistan,” the PML-N leader said.
Ayaz Sadiq says Indian media twisting his statement to NA, says it’s a reality PM Imran Khan asked for NRO for Abhinandan who attacked Pakistan and should not have been returned to India pic.twitter.com/JR6hukAuZp
He noted that PM Imran Khan had convened a meeting of parliamentary leaders pertaining to the Indian pilot but it saw a considerable delay in starting. “The prime minister, through Foreign Minister [Shah Mahmood Qureshi], had said that Abhinandan should be handed over to India immediately.
“What was the reason for a delay in the meeting?” Sadiq asked. “Was he taking dictation from Modi?”
“Did he not consider it appropriate to share with us [the reason for a delay]?” he inquired.
‘GOVT FEARED INDIAN ATTACK’:
Sadiq on Wednesday had said that FM Qureshi “was present in the meeting, which PM Imran had refused to attend”.
“India never attacked Pakistan but the government nonetheless handed over Abhinandan to the Indian authorities,” he had said, adding that it was the PTI government and not the opposition that had passed an ordinance to “facilitate” Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.
Reacting to his claims, the FM regretted how “responsible people were making irresponsible statements”.
BIG: Pakistan’s Member of Parliament Ayaz Sadiq makes explosive claim, says, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi begged before them to let Wing Cdr. Abhinandan cross back to India or else at 9pm that day India would launch attack on Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/OOjCkj39rY
He said he had not expected the former NA speaker to say Pakistan let go Abhinandan under pressure and that his comments were “contrary to the truth”.
Qureshi explained that in the meeting, the government had taken all parliamentary leaders into confidence regarding the intelligence reports it had received but made no mention of the captured Indian pilot. “Highly irresponsible statements are being issued for political gains,” he lamented while also slamming the opposition for its stance on Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.
“These people are misleading the nation on the issues of Kulbhushan and Abhinandan,” he had maintained.
Sultan of Swing Wasim Akram, who was recently vacationing in Turkey, says that Pakistan should take inspiration and model itself on Turkey.
“If Pakistan should model itself on any country, it should be Turkey,” said the former left-arm pacer who was vowed by the Turkish people’s “hospitality, food and their ability to welcome the world”.
“Pakistan has so many untapped resources, InshAllah we will get there one day,” added Akram in his tweet.
If Pakistan should model itself on any country, it should be Turkey. Their hospitality, their food, their ability to welcome the world, MashAllah they have done well. Pakistan has so many untapped resources, InshAllah we will get there one day pic.twitter.com/bPi4JBWURz
Wasim, his wife Shaniera and their daughter Aiyla have been having a great time on their first trip to Turkey. They have been keeping their fans updated with pictures and videos from there.
The former cricketer also referred to Istanbul as a “mesmerising city”.
Turkey appears to be Pakistanis favourite vacation spot this season. Several Pakistani celebrities including Komal Aziz Khan, Imran Abbas and Kinza Hashmi have also been spotted there.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who has become apt at addressing political rallies and press conferences in Urdu after initial hiccups, is taking language lessons from party stalwart Shehla Raza.
The PPP chairman had had teething problems at the outset of his political career has a much stronger grip on the language.
The PPP leader and former Sindh Assembly speaker, who was featured in The Current Life, said it was true that Bilawal was taking Urdu lessons from her.
“My heart grows every time I see him speak Urdu. Yesterday (while addressing Gujranwala rally), you must’ve seen that when he was delivering his speech, he had noted down his points in English. He used to take a look at his points and then talk,” said Shehla.
According to the former speaker, the PPP chief used to speak Urdu as a kid but having stayed away from the country for such a long time, his ability to speak the national language suffered.
Shehla Raza said she couldn’t stand Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fayyazul Hasan Chohan, Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed and would never appear on TV show alongside them.
The PPP leader also revealed that she had gotten her leg fractured twice during her career as a politician.
US vice presidential candidate for the democratic party, Kamala Harris, who is the first US senator of South Asian descent, came from a small south Indian village near the city of Chennai, called Thulasendrapuram. The residents of the village have taken pride in the fact that a person whose family originally hailed from their village will become the second-most powerful person in the world’s richest country, if she wins the elections.
“We are really hoping she wins,” said the head of Thulasendrapuram’s village committeeGurunathan, who is planning to hold a special prayer at the local temple on election day, “the village has received global fame because of her. She is our pride.”
“From Thulasendrapuram to America” declares one of the many banners put up in the village. Kamal Harris 35-year-old California-based niece also tweeted a picture of one of the banners plastered in the village.
Preparations are being made in the local temple to conduct an “abhishekam” – a Hindu ritual – to pray for Harris’ victory.
There is also a different sentiment being expressed by some members of the village. “…I think she is not proud of her Hindu roots, she identifies herself as a Christian,” the temple’s caretaker, SV Ramanan, said, “though she has reconnected with her Indian connection on the campaign trail, she has mostly played up her image as an American.”
A knifeman on Thursday beheaded a woman besides killing two others and injuring dozens of worshippers in an attack inside a church in Nice on the Côte d’Azur — the Mediterranean coast of southeastern France.
According to reports, the killings happened at 9 am inside the Notre-Dame basilica in the city centre. There were unconfirmed reports in the French media that at least one of the victims had been beheaded.
Police described the scene as a “vision of horror”.
The attacker was shot and injured by police and was taken to hospital.
The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, said the attacker had repeated “Allahu Akbar” several times while he was being arrested and handcuffed by police.
He said a woman victim had been decapitated but he had no details of how the two others were killed.
The attack comes less than two weeks after history teacher Samuel Paty, 47, was beheaded outside his high school after showing his class blasphemous caricatures, including one of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) during a discussion on free speech.
In spite of the parents’ plea seeking the return of their underage girl, the Sindh High Court handed the custody of a 13-year-old Christian girl child to a Muslim who allegedly coerced the teenager into marriage after her abduction and forced conversion.
Newsday Pakistan, an outlet focused on minority rights, reported the court as saying that Arzoo Raja had converted to Islam and married 45-year-old Ali Azhar out of her own free will; therefore, she was allowed to live with her husband. The court also ordered the police not to arrest Azhar and the other persons nominated in the FIR [First Information Report] by the girl’s family and to ensure the security of the couple.
Ghazala Shafique, a rights activist based in Karachi, said the Sindh High Court’s refusal to take into account the documented age of Arzoo Raja, 13, and the falsification of documents had shocked the family and the entire Christian community.
“According to the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) records, Arzoo’s age is 13, as she was born on July 31, 2007,” she said. Sexual intercourse with a girl below the age of 16 is statutory rape and carries a death sentence or a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison in Pakistan.
This is the second case of forced conversion of underage Christian girls in Karachi in a year. In October 2019, 14-year-old Huma Younas was kidnapped and forcibly converted to Islam, according to reports.
In Faisalabad, Punjab province, 14-year-old Maira Shahbaz was kidnapped and forcibly married and converted to Islam earlier this year.
