Three men drowned in a huge pond while making a TikTok video in Karachi’s Rais Goth on Sunday.
According to reports, three friends, residents of Kemari Town, went to Rais Goth for a picnic where they decided to film a TikTok video at the bank of a pond situated near a stone crushing plant in the area.
One of the friends slipped and fell into the pond. His friends then jumped into the pond to rescue him but unfortunately, they all drowned.
After receiving emergency calls, police and rescue officials hurried to the spot and recovered their bodies from the pond which were then shifted to the hospital for medico-legal formalities.
The deceased were identified as Shehzad, Sajjad and Zubair.
Earlier on July 21, a boy had drowned in the Khanpur Dam while trying to take a selfie. The 20-year old was taking a selfie at the edge of the dam. According to details, a 20-year-old was attempting to take a selfie while standing at the edge of the dam when he suddenly lost his balance and fell into the dam.
Cracks have yet again emerged among opposition leaders before they could execute their plans of giving a hard time to the Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.
According to reports, this time it wasn’t the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), differences among which have led to the opposition’s failure to take on the ruling party ever since the formation of the current government.
But this time, Sunday’s all parties conference (APC) witnessed an unpleasant situation when Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who had earlier played a pivotal role in bringing both the PML-N and PPP to talks table, registered a protest for not airing his speech.
“The government used to censor my speech but now in the APC my speech was also censored and this is highly unreasonable,” he complained.
PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari clarified it was on the request of a JUI-F lawmaker as they kept it an in-camera session and would hold a press conference later on; however, Maulana was not convinced.
Senator Sherry Rehman of the PPP said the party was told to arrange for an in-camera address by the JUI-F leader, to which Maulana said, “We did not make such a request.”
Later on during the presser, PPP senior leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said that Maulana’s address was streamed on social media and electronic media may air it by extracting it from the internet.
A study published in Oxford University Press’ Journal of Public Health has found that 36% of Karachi’s residents have coronavirus antibodies and if current trends continue, there is lower chance of a second wave hitting the city due to the masses having achieved herd immunity.
Herd immunity is a form of indirect protection from a contagious disease that occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population has become immune to an infection, whether through vaccination or previous infections, thereby reducing the likelihood of infection for individuals who lack immunity.
Herd immunity develops when a significant chunk of the population has developed antibodies of a disease following infection, thereby reducing the chance of passing it on to others, which the researchers say is 60-70% of the population.
According to the study, conducted between May and July, if 36% of the adult population of Karachi is supposed to be seropositive (positive for COVID-19), then it can be assumed that in the next two-to-three months “∼60% of general population will become seropositive”.
“This assumption or theory if proven right then it will reduce the chance of a second wave in Karachi and increase the possibility of acquiring herd immunity,” the paper adds.
Anadolu Agencyquoted lead researcher, Dr Samreen Zaidi, as saying that further studies show that the seroprevalence rate has reached 60%, as was expected.
“We, on the basis of a gradual drop in cases, and other relevant factors, assume that there are low chances of a second wave of coronavirus,” Zaidi told Anadolu Agency.
However, she acknowledged: “Assumptions are assumptions.”
“The only limitation of this study is that our sample size is small. Therefore, we have recommended further and wide-ranging research on the government level to double-check the results of this study,” she said.
Hematologist and head of NIBD, Dr Tahir Shamsi, also claimed that the country has “almost” attained herd immunity, indicating that there are low chances of a second wave of the pandemic.
“The data this study shows is until July. We are in September now, and the latest statistics, and testing results suggest that the seroprevalence or immunity rate is almost 60% now,” Shamsi told Anadolu Agency.
He said the latest findings would be published after a month.
Pakistan’s young and talented paceman Shaheen Afridi has scripted history by claiming four wickets in four balls.
During Sunday’s Vitality Blast — professional Twenty20 cricket competition for English and Welsh first-class counties — fixture between Hampshire and Middlesex, the left-arm pacer took a wicket with each of his last four balls as he finished with figures of 6-19 from his four overs.
It’s just the sixth time in T20 history that a bowler has taken four wickets in four balls, which is known as a double hat-trick, and Afridi’s figures are the best ever by a Hampshire bowler and the equal-third best by a Pakistani.
Chasing 142 to win, Middlesex were in with a chance of victory when Afridi started his fourth and final over, with the visitors needing 23 to win from 18 balls with four wickets in hand and No.5 John Simpson on 47 not out.
But having conceded a single from each of his first two balls of the over, Afridi shattered Simpson’s stumps with an in-swinger from over the wicket before he set his sights on the Middlesex tail.
Switching to around the wicket, he cleaned up Steve Finn first ball with a nearly unplayable yorker before he secured the hat-trick as No 10 Thilan Walallawita had a swipe across the line and was also bowled.
Afridi then produced another full delivery that knocked over Tim Murtagh’s middle stump to finish the match and ensure his final act in his stint with Hampshire was a memorable one.
An All-Parties Conference (APC) took place on Sunday. Hosted by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the moot was attended by all major opposition parties.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Mian Nawaz Sharif addressed the conference via video link. PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, Vice President Maryam Nawaz, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Mahmood Khan Achakzai of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Mohsin Dawar and several other opposition leaders also participated.
It was, however, Nawaz’s speech that set the tone, reflecting in the APC’s joint resolution.
Just days ago, the APC was being dismissed as just another show without much substance but the former prime minister’s speech changed that perception. The foremost reason why the APC was being dubbed a mere show was due to the opposition’s failure in the Senate (no-confidence move) and the passage of the recent FATF bills in the joint session despite protests. The opposition may not have been successful in these two endeavours but they seem to be on a mission now and they want to do it before the Senate elections in March 2021.
Nawaz said their struggle is not against Imran Khan but against those who brought Imran Khan to power by manipulating the elections. He said there is now a parallel government because there is “a state above the state now”.
The 26-point charter of demands by the APC announced the formation of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), which will be an anti-government movement. APC resolution states that the establishment’s role in politics must end. All state institutions should stay within their constitutional limitations. It also mentions how media is facing the worst censorship, the opposition demands that accountability of Lt Gen (r) Asim Bajwa be ensured, among other things.
The way the government has reacted to the APC and especially Nawaz’s speech shows there is panic among their ranks. From calling the APC “a flimsy attempt to put pressure on the government to back off on accountability” to asking institutions to take notice of Nawaz’s speech, it is quite evident that the opposition has unnerved the government.
The opposition has also given a roadmap and an action plan for the future. From countrywide protests starting soon to resignations from assemblies to vote of no-confidence to a long march in January, the opposition says all democratic options to get rid of the government are on the cards.
It seems that the opposition has decided to finally get serious. It remains to be seen how it all pans out and whether they will give real tough time to the government in the coming weeks and months. But the opposition cannot be written off.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has allotted Rs 50 million for the renovation and restoration of 15 historical sites in the province including the Kapoor Haveli and Dilip Kumar’s house located in Peshawar’s historical Qissa Khwani Bazaar.
According to a report in The Express Tribune, the ancestral homes of Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar are among the 15 historical sites recently identified for restoration by the KP government. It is pertinent to mention here that while Kumar’s residence was declared protected heritage by the Directorate of Archaeology and Tourism in 2013 and later a protected monument, under the Antiquity Act 1997, the Kapoor Haveli was reported to have been converted into a museum in 2012. Despite the special status awarded to the buildings, little to no attention was paid to them and the former residences of the Bollywood stars currently stand in dilapidated conditions. Officials have often cited a lack of resources and funds and legalities surrounding buildings’ ownership as the reason behind their dismal condition.
But as per the latest details, the archaeology department of the province has forwarded a recommendation to Chief Minister Mahmood Khan under which the provincial government will buy the two buildings and restore them.
“The buildings’ ownership had been a long-standing hurdle in the way of their restoration. Certain individuals had claimed their right over the historic properties and there had also been attempted demolitions in the past. But now that the Directorate of Archaeology and Tourism has decided to buy the building and start the long overdue renovation work, the buildings are also expected to open their doors to tourists in the near future,” an official of the archaeology department told the publication, adding that the buildings hold great historic value.
Kapoor Haveli located in Dhakki Munawwar Shah locality is the birthplace of Raj Kapoor, who is considered to be the greatest showman of the subcontinent cinema.
Directorate of Archaeology Director Dr Abdul Samad also shared that restoration work at Peshawar’s ancient Mahabat Khan Mosque is already underway.
Meanwhile, the Awami National Party (ANP) on Friday urged the KP government to acquire and preserve the historic Kapoor Haveli.
In a statement, the party’s provincial spokesperson Samar Haroon Bilour said that the archaeology department was not taking any action to preserve the Kapoor Haveli, adding that the provincial government had been claiming that it had allocated funds for its preservation. Bilour said these claims were incorrect as the building was still private property and funds cannot be allocated for private property. She also offered assistance to the KP government in the conservation of this heritage site.
Earlier in 2018, Rishi Kapoor had requested the Government of Pakistan to preserve his ancestral home and convert it into a museum.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi, at that time, had said, “There was a call from Rishi Kapoor. He requested that his family’s home in Peshawar should be made into a museum or some sort of institution. We have accepted his request.”
Similarly, Shehryar Afridi, who was serving as the Interior Minister at that time had shared that the actor had called him personally with his request.
“He had called me and talked about making his ancestral home into a museum. Now the federal and provincial governments are working on this and will transform the house into a museum soon,” Afridi had stated.
Rishi had last visited Pakistan with Shashi Kapoor and Randhir Kapoor in 1990. They had travelled to Peshawar to see their family’s house and also took some soil from the house to keep their heritage intact. In 2017, Rishi had expressed his desire to visit Pakistan again before he dies but his wish remained unfulfilled as he passed away in April 2020.
Somebody sent this. Picture showing Randhir and me outside the Kapoor Haveli, Peshawar.Warmly greeted as seen in pic pic.twitter.com/TjfugQ9daw
“Not my finest hour,” says Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson as he posts a picture of a broken gate on Instagram.
The 48-year-old then reveals that he literally tore down his own front gate after a power outage caused by a storm rendered it inoperable.
“Not my finest hour, but a man’s gotta go to work,” said Johnson in his caption. “We experienced a power outage due to severe storms, causing my front gate not to open. I tried to override the hydraulic system to open the gates, which usually works when the power goes out — but this time it wouldn’t.”
“Made some calls to see how fast I can get the gate tech on-site, but I didn’t have 45min to wait,” Johnson continued. “By this time, I know I have hundreds of production crew members waiting for me to come to work so we can start our day.”
“So I did what I had to do,” he remarked. “I pushed, pulled and ripped the gate completely off myself. Ripped it completely out of the brick wall, severed the steel hydraulics and threw it on the grass. My security team was able to meet the gate technician and welders about an hour later — and they were apparently, ‘in disbelief and equally scared’.”
Johnson concluded his caption with a plug for his upcoming role as the titular DC superhero in Black Adam.
“And I think I’m one hundred percent ready to be Black Adam,” wrote the actor.
His post has over four million likes with his followers expressing their disbelief at his actions.
Johnson has the honour of being Hollywood’s highest-paid actor two years in a row now, pulling in over $87 million from June 2019 to June 2020.
This makes us wonder what he would do during frequent power outages in Pakistan.
Fahad Mustafa was not joking when he said that Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad will have ‘Mission Impossible type’ stunts – because BTS images and videos hint that the film is packed with a lot of action.
Mahira Khan recently shared a video of herself riding a bike with the caption: “I learned how to ride a bike for Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad. This video was my second day of lessons…so you can imagine how good I actually am.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFUr3LDpKZV/
“I also got a certificate after completing all my lessons,” she added. The actor also shared that she was mentored by trainers at the Pink Riders Pakistan, an institute that helps women across the country learn how to ride motorbikes.
Addressing her co-star Fahad, Mahira also said: “Ajaa meri motor bike pe beth ja.”
In response, Fahad remarked, “Helmet khareed loon. Let me think about it, Mahira. Gira na dena.”
The film’s director Nabeel Qureshi commented that Mahira should have put a song behind the video.
Meanwhile, Mahira’s friends Adeel Hussain and Aima Baig admired the actor’s motorcycle driving skills.
Mahira’s upcoming film Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad was scheduled to hit screens on Eidul Azha but because of the coronavirus lockdown, its release was delayed. Latest reports have suggested that the film’s makers are eyeing a December 2020 release now.
In an unexpected development, former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, who has been residing in London ever since he was allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment despite conviction in corruption cases, on Saturday joined microblogging website Twitter.
PML-N vice president and daughter of the 70-year-old thrice-PM took to Twitter to announce the development that pundits believe could mean a comeback for Nawaz who has been out of the political landscape of the country ever since he was disqualified by the Supreme Court (SC) in the Panama Papers case.
Happy & privileged to announce that in order to stay connected to the people of Pakistan, MNS has decided to join Twitter. His Twitter handle is @NawazSharifMNS#TwitterWelcomesNawazSharif
“Happy and privileged to announce that in order to stay connected to the people of Pakistan, MNS [Mian Nawaz Sharif] has decided to join Twitter. His Twitter handle is @NawazSharifMNS,” Maryam Nawaz tweeted.
The development comes a day after it was announced that Nawaz will attend the upcoming all parties conference (APC) via video link.
Earlier, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had disclosed on his social media handle that he had called the PML-N founder to invite him to virtually attend the upcoming opposition parties’ confab.
Just spoke to Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif. Enquired about his health. Also invited him to virtually attend opposition APC, hosted by PPP, on 20th September.
Yet another proud moment for Pakistan! Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has reportedly been roped in by Disney+ as one of the directors of the Ms Marvel series.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chinoy along with Meera Menon, Adil El Arbi, and Bilall Fallah have been assembled to bring the Pakistani-American superhero’s story to the screen. While Arbi and Fallah are the team behind this year’s Bad Boys for Life, Menon has worked on episodes of The Walking Dead, The Punisher, Titans, Dirty John, and Outlander.
Marvel Studios’ first onscreen Muslim hero, Ms Marvel was introduced in 2014. Written by Bisha K. Ali and co-created by Marvel editor and director Sana Amanat, Ms Marvel is about Kamala Khan, a teen based in New Jersey who one day discovers that she has superpowers. Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige has said that in addition to appearing on the small screen, Kamala Khan will be included in future Marvel films.
The studio is currently searching for an actor to play the hero, whose comics have explored her identity as a Pakistani-American living in a religious family while trying to find her own way.
A celebrated documentarian, Sharmeen 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. The Pakistani-Canadian filmmaker also won Emmys for both projects and has collected a total of six in her career.
Meanwhile, Sharmeen’s team has said that the development has not yet been confirmed by Disney+.
