Blog

  • Senate HR Committee takes notice of ban on ‘Zindagi Tamasha’

    Senate HR Committee takes notice of ban on ‘Zindagi Tamasha’

    Two months on, the fate of Sarmad Khoosat’s Zindagi Tamasha still hangs in limbo as the government is yet to decide whether the film can be released or not. The film, which was scheduled to hit screens on January 25, was stopped from being released days before its release after the federal and provincial governments feared public unrest.

    While the Federal Government had said that the film will be reviewed by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), the Punjab Government directed the filmmaker to hold a screening on February 3 so that the film can be reviewed again. However, the screening has not taken place as yet. It is pertinent to mention here that the provincial and central censor boards had earlier cleared the film for release with a few cuts.

    Read more – Council of Islamic Ideology to ‘critically review’ ‘Zindagi Tamasha’

    As governing bodies are still to decide the future of the film, Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokar took to social media to announce that the Human Rights Committee has taken notice of the matter and will be reviewing the film.

    Earlier, Sarmad had also appealed to the Prime Minister, President, Chief of Army Staff and the Chief Justice of Pakistan to facilitate the release of the film.

    https://twitter.com/KhoosatSarmad/status/1217818381149229062?s=20

    Written by Nirmal Bano and directed by Sarmad Khoosat, Zindagi Tamasha starres Arif Hassan, Samiya Mumtaz, Eman Suleman and Ali Qureshi in the lead. The film is centred around a naat khwan Rahat Khawaja (played by Hassan) and his family who are outcast from the society when a secret of Khawaja’s is leaked.

    The official synopsis states: “The film is an intimate portrait of a family as well as a scorching political commentary on little gods on this earth who police our private passions.”

    Read more – Sarmad Khoosat says the ‘film/TV fraternity’ is a joke

    The film premiered at the Busan International Film Festival held in October 2019 where it also won the prestigious Kim Ji Seok Award.

    Watch trailer:

  • Saudi oil giant slammed for dressing migrant worker as a sanitiser

    Oil giant Saudi Aramco has come under fire after photos, showing one of its migrant workers wearing a surgical mask and a large hand-sanitiser dispenser, went viral on social media.

    Twitter users labelled the act by the oil company as “racist” and “classist” as the worker appeared to be walking around distributing sanitiser to staff members inside and outside one of its buildings in wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

    Following the backlash, the company released an official statement in which it expressed its “strong dissatisfaction with this abusive behaviour that was used to emphasise the importance of sanitization, without the approval of the company’s concerned party,” Al Jazeera reported.

    “The company immediately stopped this act and took strict measures to prevent it from happening again,” the statement said.

    However, Twitter users did not buy the company’s apology and demanded them to apologise to the “person himself” and not to the public.

  • Coronavirus: PIA suffers Rs2 billion loss

    Coronavirus: PIA suffers Rs2 billion loss

    The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has suffered a loss of Rs2 billion following the suspension of flights to Saudi Arabia in the aftermath of the coronavirus-triggered temporary ban on Umrah.

    PIA officials told reporters on Tuesday that the airlines’ schedule had been seriously disturbed as tickets of 50,000 passengers had been cancelled so far. They further said that 34 flights to Medina and 13 to Mecca were scheduled weekly for business visa and iqama holders despite fewer passengers.

    Meanwhile, after Iran and Qatar, PIA has decided to temporarily suspend flight operations to Italy to keep a check on coronavirus.

    PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez said in a press release that the national carrier had temporarily suspended its flight operation to and from Milan till March 31. However, he said the passengers having the nationality of any European country could travel to Paris by PIA flights.

    He said on reaching Paris, the passengers would have to manage their onward journey on their own.  The passengers, who had reserved their seats for Pakistan from Milan, would have to travel to Paris on their own to catch a PIA flight.

  • Khalil ur Rehman Qamar has a disgusting response to Adnan Malik’s criticism

    Khalil ur Rehman Qamar has a disgusting response to Adnan Malik’s criticism

    Khalil ur Rahman Qamar, who refers to himself as a feminist, has yet again passed disgusting comments on Adnan Malik after the latter criticised him for his words and actions. While other celebrities have also stepped forward to do the same, what makes Adnan stand out is the fact that he played Khalil in Hum TV’s super hit drama Sadqay Tumhare. The drama was based on the writer’s own love story.

    Read more – Adnan Malik reveals how he feels about playing Khalil ur Rehman Qamar in ‘Sadqay Tumhare’

    Following the Aurat March on March 8, the writer held a press conference in which he said that an “army of hijras (transgenders) has emerged and this has destroyed the entertainment industry.

    “You will sometimes see hijras in the role of the hero,” Qamar laughed, adding “I always check for hijras before casting anyone in my dramas.”

    He continued, “Laikin eik ghalti meray say bhi hogayi (I also made a mistake). Apnay hee role main, Khalil kay role main mainay eik hijray ko cast karliya (In my own role, in the role of Khalil, I cast a transgender).”

    “Yeh mujhe kal pata chala iss liye mujhe pata chala keh mujh se ghalti hogayi (I found this out yesterday so I discovered my mistake yesterday).”

    Though Qamar did not name anyone, his words implied that he was referring to Malik, who played Khalil in Sadqay Tumhare.

    Qamar’s comments were met with a round of laughter and cheering.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B9lqDUJJB7T/

    In the same press conference, Qamar also remarked that women nowadays have nothing better to do than to get botox done or get a new set of teeth.

    “These women just keep changing the wrapper,” remarked Qamar adding, “This changing of the wrapper highlights women’s insecurities.”

    Adnan Malik and Mahira Khan in ‘Sadkay Tumhare’

    Meanwhile, Adnan, who has always been a vocal advocate of women’s rights, explained his take on the controversial Aurat March slogan, Mera Jism Meri Marzi.

    In a long note posted to social media, Adnan wrote that he “understood how ‘Mera Jism, Meri Marzi‘ (my body, my choice) can be triggering to some people” before going on to explain his own interpretation of it.

    Adnan said that he “never saw it solely as a justification for ‘westernisation’ or wearing revealing clothes as so many men in this country do.”

    “But yes,” he continued, “The slogan is inclusive of that also. It’s setting a boundary for men who want to have control over women’s choices.”

    Adnan elaborated that the main issue isn’t the slogan but how someone chooses to interpret it.

    “Most men are triggered because they look at women’s bodies through the lens of ‘Madonna or whore’. Either the female body is sexualised or it’s so sacred that sexualising it is a sin. This is the dichotomy that most men are oscillating between- guilt and shame.”

    After Khalil’s remarks, Adnan shared his post again on social media.

  • PAF F-16 crashes near Islamabad during rehearsal: Pilot martyred

    PAF F-16 crashes near Islamabad during rehearsal: Pilot martyred

    This is a developing story.

    During a parade rehearsal for Pakistan Day on March 23, a Pakistani Air Force F-16 aircraft crashed near Shakarparian, Islamabad.

    WARNING: The visuals of the crash might be distressing to watch.

    An air force spokesperson confirmed the crash and the death of the pilot has also been confirmed. The pilot flying the plane was Wing Commander Nouman Akram – The winner of Sher Afgan trophy for best marksman.

    A board of inquiry has been ordered by Air Headquarters to determine the cause of accident.

    Rescue teams promptly arrived at the crash site.

  • ‘Won’t deny Nawaz met establishment officials from UK, US’

    ‘Won’t deny Nawaz met establishment officials from UK, US’

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah has said that he won’t deny former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s meeting with officials from establishments of the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US).

    The former premier had last month held a meeting with a “mystery man” at his London residence. PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif had brought the man for a meeting with his elder brother Nawaz. The man, who had covered his face, had held a meeting with Nawaz for around 40 minutes until he was guided out the back door of Avenfield Apartments.

    A British journalist of Pakistani origin had, however, recorded a video of the mysterious visitor who didn’t utter a word in response to any questions asked about the meeting. With the video making headlines, speculations regarding the person’s identity had run rife.

    “I won’t deny these meetings. I am not in a position to comment as I have no permission of the party for it,” Sanaullah said when asked about such reports as he spoke to journalists outside the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday.

    “Shehbaz Sharif intends to return home in March,” he further said, adding that the PML-N president would return after the cardiac surgery of ailing ex-PM and his brother Nawaz in London.

    To another question, the PML-N leader said a legal team was holding consultations for extension in bail term of Nawaz as he seeks medical treatment abroad despite jail term after conviction in a corruption case against him.

  • Mansoor Ali Khan opens up about being trolled over attending the Aurat March

    Mansoor Ali Khan opens up about being trolled over attending the Aurat March

    Senior anchorperson Mansoor Ali Khan, known for his hard-hitting shows, is no stranger to online trolling.

    When Marvi Sirmed was abused on live television recently by writer Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar, Mansoor hosted a program with Qamar along with Resham and Dr Aamir Liaquat. Mr Khan then went on to demolish Qamar’s misogyny through logic. This show and his support for Aurat March led to some more trolling.

    WATCH: Resham tells Khalil ur Rehman Qamar that he is not even worth one ‘taka’

    On March 8, Khan went to the Aurat March in Lahore with his wife and his five-year-old son. Journalist Mehmal Sarfraz took their photograph and posted it online along with a few other photographs from the Aurat March.

    The Original Picture

    Trolls photoshopped the blank piece of paper that Khan’s wife was holding.

    Following this, Mansoor posted the original photo along with three photoshopped pictures:

    Talking to The Current, Mansoor said, “I am always ready to get trolled or get targeted on social media by different political trolls or trolls belonging to various groups but this was the first time that the attack was on my family — which had my wife and five-year-old child in the picture.”

    “Obviously I was disappointed and I was angry but my wife is the one who came up and stood next to me and said there is no reason to lose heart. She said: ‘When I decided to go to the Aurat March with you, I knew these things could happen and I was mentally prepared for that. I knew you were standing on the right path and I will wholeheartedly support you. Next year we are not just going to go with our 5-year-old but we will go with all our 3 sons to the Aurat March.’” he shared.

    “Hats off to my wife. If she doesn’t have a problem with all these things, then why should I? Obviously we in Pakistan need a better mechanism to control such things, which unfortunately is lacking. The authorities need to step up a bit to check such things,” he concluded.

    Meanwhile, AFP also ran a fact-check on the photos and confirmed that the words written on the placards were indeed doctored.

    https://twitter.com/AFPAfPak/status/1237293432055398401?s=20

    Earlier in an exclusive interview with The Current, when Mansoor was asked if he ever thought of leaving this profession because his family is targeted, Mansoor said, “Whatever I am today is because of my family. Whenever I am trolled, my family supports me a lot; they tell me to hold my ground no matter what happens and not deter. My family is my source of strength so I give them all the credit.”

    Watch the full interview here:

  • VIDEO: Did William and Kate ignore Meghan at an event?

    In their final round of events as part of the Royal Family, Meghan and Harry attended the Commonweath Day service at Westminister Abbey in London.

    Kate and William were also present at the service and videos and images of the two couples did the rounds in real time. One such video showed visible tension between the two couples and apparently shows the Sussex pair getting ‘ignored’ by Kate and William.

    It is possible that Kate and William exchanged smiles with Meghan as she softly waves at them but since we can’t see their faces, it is unclear that they did respond to her. However, the tension is quite apparent between the two brothers.

    Twitter had a lot to say on the subject.

    https://twitter.com/LondonOutlander/status/1237067932775206923
    https://twitter.com/alexisdaria/status/1237134364972064772
  • Govt clarifies report on Sindh CM’s brother-in-law ‘contracting coronavirus’

    Govt clarifies report on Sindh CM’s brother-in-law ‘contracting coronavirus’

    A Sindh government spokesperson, in an exclusive conversation with The Current, has rubbished reports claiming that Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah’s brother-in-law has contracted coronavirus as the pandemic spreads across Karachi.

    With nine new cases in Sindh, the total number of cases of the new coronavirus — COVID-19 — in Pakistan on Monday rose to 16, out of which two patients are undergoing treatment in Islamabad while one female patient is undergoing treatment at a health facility in Gilgit-Baltistan.

    The development was followed by a private media outlet’s report that one of the persons who had tested positive for coronavirus in Karachi had reached the port city from Syria via Doha on Sunday, and was the brother-in-law of Sindh CM.

    “Asif Hyder Shah is a federal secretary and is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Karachi after testing positive for COVID-19,” the report had claimed.

    The claim, however, was rejected by a spokesperson of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government in Sindh. “Asif Hyder Shah is a federal secretary and brother-in-law of Murad Ali Shah, but he hasn’t tested positive for the virus,” the spokesperson told The Current.

    While it was confirmed that seven persons who reached Karachi from Syria via Doha had tested positive for the coronavirus in the last two days, CM Murad’s brother-in-law wasn’t among them.

    Meanwhile, strict measures have been taken by the government, including extending border closure with Afghanistan for seven more days and installing screening machines at all major airports in the country.

    According to reports, the Sindh government is considering a proposal to issue an advisory requesting a ban on public events, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL), and it is likely that the remaining matches of the PSL to be held in Karachi will be shifted to Lahore.

    A meeting of the provincial authorities has also recommended setting up a health desk at the Karachi airport.

    With the help of the desk, all those entering Karachi through the airport will be screened for the coronavirus. A spokesperson for the health department said health desks will also be established at hospitals, Geo reported.

    The desks at hospitals, named front-line desks, will provide up-to-date information about the spread of the virus in the city. 

    A recommendation to shut schools in the province for a longer period will also be sent to the Sindh CM; exams would, however, be held as per schedule, the Sindh Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah has said.

  • Coronavirus: PSL matches likely to be shifted from Karachi as another two infected

    Coronavirus: PSL matches likely to be shifted from Karachi as another two infected

    Sindh Health Department is mulling over a proposal to issue an advisory for the public and requesting a ban on public events in Karachi, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL), after nine new coronavirus cases were confirmed in the port city on Monday, followed by another two in Sindh on Tuesday.

    According to Geo, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials are in touch with the Sindh government regarding the fate of the PSL matches that are to be held in Karachi over the next two weeks.

    “PCB officials are in constant touch with the Sindh government and attending all the meetings regarding PSL matches in the city,” a PCB spokesperson was quoted as saying.

    The spokesperson further said that the board would follow the Sindh government’s directives. “However, for now, the matches are still scheduled for Karachi.”

    As per the details of the two cases surfacing Tuesday, the first case of the novel coronavirus emerged in Hyderabad. The patient had reportedly come to Pakistan from Doha via Syria. The second case of the virus emerged in Karachi, putting the total tally of cases in the port city at 15.

    The total number of infections in Pakistan has now reached 18.

    ENGRO SHUTS DOWN KARACHI HARBOUR FRONT OFFICES:

    Engro Corporation shut down its offices in the HarbourFront building on Tuesday after an employee was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus. 

    Engro is a Pakistani multinational conglomerate company with subsidiaries involved in production of fertilizers, foods, chemicals, energy and petrochemicals. Its major subsidiaries, Engro Fertilizers, is one of the largest fertilizer manufacturers in the world.

    A statement from the corporation stated that at 1 pm on Tuesday, an employee who worked at the eighth-floor office of the building was diagnosed with the coronavirus. 

    The statement further said that the employee was last in the office for a few hours on Friday, March 6, 2020. The organisation said it had decided to shut its offices for three days “on medical advice from our doctor and in consultation with relevant experts”. 

    “Only as a precautionary measure, all Engro offices at the HarbourFront building shall remain closed over the next three days, with business to resume on Monday, March 16, 2020,” read the statement. 

    The organisation told its employees to work from home for the next three days and stated that upon their return, they will be screened for the novel infection.

    Meanwhile, Sindh education secretary has dismissed rumours claiming that the provincial government was mulling plans to extend school holidays across the province as the coronavirus pandemic worsens.

    Earlier in the day, it had been reported that the provincial health department will send a recommendation to Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah for schools to remain shut for a longer period.

    Speaking to a private media outlet, Khalid Shah said the Sindh government was not considering any recommendations seeking an extension in school holidays. “All educational institutions in Sindh will re-open on March 16,” he said.

    The decision was taken during a meeting of the health department held on Tuesday morning under the chair of the province’s health minister.