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  • Atiqa Odho lashes out at PEMRA for banning ‘Pyar Ke Sadqay’

    Atiqa Odho lashes out at PEMRA for banning ‘Pyar Ke Sadqay’

    ICYMI, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has banned the repeat telecast of Pyar Ke Sadqay and Ishqiya saying that the content of the dramas is against the “morals” of society.

    Read more – ‘Pyar Ke Sadkay’: All’s well that ends well

    While the makers of the dramas have not commented on the matter, Atiqa Odho, who had a leading role in Pyar Ke Sadqay lashed out at PEMRA for their decision.

    “Really PEMRA? Is this the democratic way of life?,” questioned Odho.

    “Television dramas bring up important social problems which need correction. It helps educate people about mental health, social injustices, hypocrisy, abuse, misuse of power, etc. If we start to brush things under the carpet and not bring them out for discussion, we will never grow as a nation towards positive change,” said Odho.

    She added: “Stop treating viewers as if they are dumb and don’t have exposure to the rest of the world! PEMRA should be making policies to create more social awareness through Pakistani dramas and not reducing content to falsified garbage.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CE3lW6tg5DO/

    While PEMRA did not clarify what they found offensive in the drama, it is being assumed that the scenes which showed the father-in-law hitting on his daughter-in-law are what PEMRA felt was against “Pakistani values”.

    Directed by Farooq Rind and written by Zanjabeel Asim Shah, Pyar Ke Sadkay also featured Bilal Abbas Khan, Omair Rana, Yumna Zaidi, Salma Hassan, Srha Asghar, Khalid Anam, Gul e Rana and Shermeen Ali.

    Both Ishqiya and Pyar Ke Sadqay have completed their primetime run and are being re-aired. PEMRA’s notification banned their repeat telecast and said that the dramas can also not be aired on ARY Zindagi or HUM Sitaray sub-channels either.

    PEMRA has also directed the makers of Jalan to review its content and script and modify it in accordance with Pakistani values.

    Meanwhile, Chairman PEMRA Muhammad Saleem Baig on Tuesday held a meeting with United Producers Association in Karachi for “sensitizing topics and trends in dramas.”

  • ‘Wrestling giant John Cena’ admitted to Islamia College Peshawar

    ‘Wrestling giant John Cena’ admitted to Islamia College Peshawar

    While most people know John Cena to be one of the most prominent American wrestlers, a recent incident has landed his name in an unexpected place — a merit list of a college in Peshawar, Gulf News reported.

    Screenshots of Cena’s name on the merit list of the Bachelor of Computer Science programme at the Islamia College Peshawar went viral online and prompted netizens to joke and make memes.

    After the news went viral, some netizens even photoshopped Cena’s pictures with the graduates from the college. The list, however, not only had Cena’s name on the seventh place but also listed another American wrestling legend, The Undertaker, as his father.

    “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,” media reports quoted the college as saying.

    It confirmed that someone had applied through a fake name, bank code, roll number and grades.

  • Teenager spends over Rs 200,000 of grandfather’s pension on PUBG

    Teenager spends over Rs 200,000 of grandfather’s pension on PUBG

    A 15-year-old Indian boy spent more than 200,000 Indian rupees (INR) from his grandfather’s bank account on Player Unknown’s Battleground (PUBG). The boy reportedly used the money from his grandfather’s pension account on the game’s in-app purchases.

    For the unacquainted, in PUBG you require something known as UC (Unknown Cash) to buy skins, crates, and other in-game items. UC can be bought through in-app purchases, a known feature within the game.

    The matter came to light when the boy’s 65-year-old grandfather received a text message from his bank that only INR 275 was left in his account in May. He immediately filed a complaint at a police station, suspecting fraud.

    A few months later, his complaint was transferred to the Cyber Cell Hub that traced the user of the funds back to the man’s grandson. The teenager had used the money for in-game purchases without even telling his grandfather.

    Read more – PUBG to add Chitral National Park, Badshahi Mosque, Noor Mahal, Clock Tower in maps

    The amount had been transferred from the account to a Paytm wallet through OTP, which belongs to a 23-year-old man named Pankaj Kumar who confessed that his friend had been using the wallet. The friend turned out to the complainant’s grandson.

    The boy told that he started playing the game only this January. He confessed that he used his grandfather’s pension for in-app purchases. He also confessed that he had deleted the OTP text messages from his grandfather’s phone.

    No legal action was taken against the teenager as his grandfather decided not to proceed with the complaint. 

  • ‘Backstabbing’: Imran govt auditing coalition partners, Chaudhrys of Gujarat, in UK

    ‘Backstabbing’: Imran govt auditing coalition partners, Chaudhrys of Gujarat, in UK

    Ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) key coalition partners, the Chaudhrys of Gujarat, are being audited by Pakistani authorities to see if they own any assets in the United Kingdom and the British Virgin Islands (BVI).

    According to sources, the Pakistani government, in a move being considered “backstabbing”, is making extensive inquiries into the potential assets owned directly or indirectly by Pervaiz Elahi, Chaudhary Shujaat, Moonis Elahi or any of their family members.

    The authorities have sent at least two requests to the British government seeking assistance in the pursuit of the alleged assets but the search has not yet yielded positive results, reports said.

    The first request to the UK government’s Home Office was made by the federal government around two years ago, soon after the PTI and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) entered into a coalition. The request was on behalf of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

    A similar letter seeking to trace Moonis’ alleged assets was also sent to the BVI. Both the Home Office and the BVI had informed Pakistani officials that they were unable to trace the assets.

    Sources say a new request – not initiated by NAB – was sent in recent months to find out if Moonis, his father, his uncle or other family members own any assets in the UK.

    The trace is based on suspicions that Moonis owns assets in the UK and possibly elsewhere too, but nothing has been identified so far.

    The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) had written in April 2013 that Moonis was a shareholder of a BVI offshore company called Olive Grove Assets Ltd and that this company was set up with the help of the UBS Switzerland AG.

    Pervaiz Elahi’s son created the offshore structure in 2006 in the BVI but no asset has ever been linked with the aforementioned offshore company yet, claimed the ICIJ.

    “All of my assets and investments have been duly declared in my tax returns. Yes, we are their coalition partners. If this is happening, I am not surprised. After a failed attempt to marginalise and persecute the opposition, they have decided to target their allies,” Moonis said while speaking to a private media outlet.

  • ‘Just better yourself’: Anoushey Ashraf hits back at Yasir Hussain

    ‘Just better yourself’: Anoushey Ashraf hits back at Yasir Hussain

    ICYMI, Anoushey Ashraf and Yasir Hussain have been debating over Yasir’s comments on Turkish actors. While Anoushey initially said that their exchange was a very “fun public debate”, it appears that it ended on a bitter note after Yasir remarked that Anoushey should have sent him a message on Whatsapp instead of criticising him publicly.

    Later, while commenting under a social media post which discussed Yasir’s denial of calling Turkish actors ‘kachra‘ and his request to Anoushey to not connect every statement of his to Diriliş: Ertuğrul, Anoushey posted a long comment in which she hit out at her colleague and advised him to “Just better yourself and be the best ambassador you can be for Pakistan in your capacity.”

    “If anything, open a production house that only takes in new talent. That’d be amazing and loved by all,” she added.

    Concluding her comment, Anoushey said: “Respect before friendship Yasir. Respect for all.”

    While Yasir did not respond to Anoushey’s latest comments, he posted this image on his Instagram story Tuesday afternoon.

    Earlier, when it was reported that Yasir had likened Turkish actors to kachra, Anoushey had called out her colleague for his comments and reminded him “that no one is kachra for one.” However, Yasir denied making these comments about Turkish actors and hit back at Ashraf saying that Pakistanis have always preferred international brands over local ones.

    Anoushey had responded to Yasir’s comments by saying that “It’s dangerous to insinuate I’m not Pakistani enough because I chose to purchase an Indian saari.”

    “We all support local and always will,” said Anoushey.

    Anoushey’s comments were widely circulated on social media, which upset Yasir, who then expressed his disappointment with Anoushey for calling him out on social media instead of sending him a message on Whatsapp.

    “Don’t need this kind of fame buddy,” said Anoushey in response to Yasir’s comment. “Just stood up for what I thought was right.”

    It is pertinent to mention here that earlier Anoushey had defended Yasir when he had likened Turkish dramas to landay ke kapray. After Yasir had been strongly criticised and been at the receiving end of personal attacks, Anoushey had urged her followers to respect Yasir’s decision and not abuse him because that’s what Ertuğrul would have done.

    “Yasir shared an opinion,” wrote Anoushey. “Your Ertuğrul wouldn’t have lectured, hated and abused him. He would have seen it as ‘exploring two sides to a story’.”

  • Majority of young adults in the US now live with their parents

    Majority of young adults in the US now live with their parents

    A record number of young adults in the United States (US) have had to move back in with their parents because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a recent analysis by the Pew Research Center has shown.

    About 52% of 18-to-29-year-olds are now living with one or both parents. This is recorded for the first time that more than half of that age group has lived with their parents, the research center said. 

    The highest historical value was previously recorded in the 1940 census towards the end of the Great Depression when 48 percent of young adults lived with a parent.

    The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic downfall that took place mostly during the 1930s. Though the timing of the Great Depression differed across the world, it began from the United States in 1929 and continued until the late 1930s in most countries. It was the longest, deepest, and most widespread depression of the 20th century. 

    The graph shows that the share reached its lowest point in 1960 at 29 percent. It has increased gradually ever since, hitting 49 percent by February 2020. The Pew Research Center states that the number of 18-29-year-olds living with a parent increased by 2.6 million since February and the total number stood at 26.6 million in July.

    According to Pew polling conducted in June, among all of the grown-ups who moved as a result of the pandemic, 28% said that they wanted to avoid the spread of the virus, 23% moved because their college campus shut down and 20% wanted to spend time with their family.

    Money seems to have played a big part in young people’s decisions, as young Americans have faced some of the worst financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In April and May, 40% of workers ages 18 to 29 reported that they’d lost their job or taken a pay cut.

    According to the June poll, about 18% of all adults who moved because of COVID-19 said that the biggest reason was related to money or losing their job.

  • IG Punjab removed after standoff with CCPO Lahore

    IG Punjab removed after standoff with CCPO Lahore

    Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Shoaib Dastagir has been removed after a standoff with Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Umar Sheikh. CCPO Lahore is accused of speaking against the IGP. Shoaib Dastagir will be the fifth IG to be changed in Punjab. Since 2008, Dr Syed Kaleem Imam, Muhammad Tahir, Amjad Javed Saleemi, Capt. (R) Arif Nawaz Khan and Shoaib Dastagir have served at the post of IG Punjab.

    Inam Ghani has been appointed as the new IGP, announced Special Assistant to PM on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill on Twitter. An official notification has also been issued.

    Inam Ghani appointed new IG Punjab

    According to reports, former IGP Dastagir got upset when CCPO Sheikh allegedly told his subordinates that on any sensitive issue, the Lahore police must seek his permission even if they receive directions from the Central Police Office (CPO).

    Also Read: ‘Will reform Punjab police first after assuming power’, vows Imran Khan

    As per a report published in Dawn, Dastagir met Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar on Monday and requested him for a “transfer to any other suitable place”, saying he would not continue as the provincial police chief until the removal of the CCPO. He is also said to have skipped office on Monday and met with the CM in plain clothes, giving the Punjab government the message that he would not accept Mr Sheikh as the CCPO at any cost.

    Shoaib Dastagir has now been posted as Secretary Narcotics Control Division according to an official notification.

    Dastagir transferred as Secretary Narcotics Control Division

    More details about differences between former IGP and CCPO in this video report:

  • Two brothers from Peshawar make Pakistan’s ‘first’ ultralight helicopter

    Two brothers from Peshawar make Pakistan’s ‘first’ ultralight helicopter

    Two brothers from Peshawar, Qazi Sajjad Ahmed and Qazi Tufail Ahmed have built Pakistan’s ‘first’ ultralight helicopter.

    The two brothers, who belong to Landhi Arbab, a village on the outskirts of the provincial capital, have demonstrated its capability through a successful lift-off.

    Talking to a private news outlet, Qazi Sajjad Ahmed said, “I had watched a James Bond film in 1978, which inspired me to design an ultralight aircraft.” 

    “In 2005, I had submitted a request to the [then] prime minister for financial assistance for accomplishing the feat, which was forwarded to the Pakistan Army. I received a letter from the ministry of defense production and was subsequently interviewed by a major.”

    Sajjad told that the helicopter has been built at a cost of over Rs 1.5 million and can fly up to 6,000 feet. 

    He further said that it can also be used for aerial spraying. While the government acquired special aircraft from Turkey to spray pesticides on locust-infested areas, his helicopter can do so at a cheaper cost.

    The aircraft has been registered with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCCA). Tufail, who is a professional pilot, has requested for government support to bring further improvements to their aircraft.

  • Naumaan Ijaz says he cheated on his wife and got away with it

    Naumaan Ijaz says he cheated on his wife and got away with it

    Naumaan Ijaz, who is popular for his unfiltered take on the Pakistani drama industry, has found himself at the receiving end of criticism after an old interview of his went viral on social media. In the interview, the actor talks about cheating on his wife and getting away with it because he is such “a great actor”.

    When host Iffat Omar asks Naumaan the secret behind his successful marriage, Naumaan said that he is very lucky as far as his wife is concerned.

    Iffat then remarked that artists are ‘aashiq mizaaj log‘ and asked Ijaz if he ever felt his heart waver, to which the actor replied, “Multiple times”.

    “But then how do you control it; know your limits,” asked Iffat.

    “I don’t control it,” laughed Naumaan in response. “I fall in love daily. I am a very loving person. If I come across a woman who is beautiful inside out and has a difficult personality, I fall in love with her.”

    “Toh phir aap karletay hain ishq,” questioned Iffat.

    “Main karleta hoon ishq,” said Naumaan, adding that his wife doesn’t find out because he is such “a great actor and an intelligent man.”

    When Iffat probed further and asked about the reaction of those he gets involved with, Naumaan said that they know and reciprocate but their husbands don’t find out.

    “I need to learn a few things from you,” chuckled Iffat in response.

    Naumaan with his wife and son

    Later, while discussing the #MeToo movement, Naumaan said that this movement has arisen because “we have distanced ourselves from deen (religion).”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CE4FuY5pXKp/

    Read more – Humayun Saeed vs Naumaan Ijaz: What’s going on?

    Soon after the clip went viral, social media users slammed the actor for endorsing infidelity and passing misogynistic comments.

    https://twitter.com/MashasDissent/status/1303138837963603971?s=20

    Some social media users also called out Iffat for not handling Naumaan’s comments in an appropriate manner.

    https://twitter.com/amnaaa_02/status/1303077172035358723?s=20

    While Naumaan is yet to address the matter directly, he posted a cryptic message on social media.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CE3YYVFhFUF/
  • Man blows up kitchen while trying to swat fly

    Man blows up kitchen while trying to swat fly

    A man in France accidentally blew up part of his house while trying to chase a fly with an electric swat.

    According to details, the 80-year-old man was eating his dinner when the constant buzzing of a fly around him irritated him. He picked up an electric fly swatter to aim at it. At the same time, a gas canister was leaking in his home. 

    A reaction between the fly swatter and the gas resulted in an explosion, destroying the kitchen and partially damaging the roof of his house. 

    Fortunately, the old man was not seriously injured and only suffered a burn on his hand. The man has moved to a campsite while his family repairs his house.