At least three journalists affiliated with the Jang/Geo Media Group have allegedly been forced to deactivate their Twitter accounts, Urdu News reporter Waseem Abbasi has claimed.
According to Abbasi, Wajih Sani, Umar Cheema and Azaz Syed “suddenly and suspiciously” deactivated their accounts “amid concerns about increasing censorship in the country”.
Top Pakistani journalists Umar Cheema, Azaz Syed and Wajih Sani have suddenly and suspiciously de-activated their twitter accounts amidst concerns about increasing censorship in #Pakistan..#PressFreedom
In a subsequent tweet, the journalist claimed that all three were safe and had “only been asked to deactivate their Twitter accounts”. He, however, did not disclose who exactly had “asked” the three journalists to deactivate the accounts.
Twitter handles of both Azaz Syed and Umar Cheema, on the other hand, remain deactivated. Meanwhile, it is being speculated that the journalists have been forced to deactivate the accounts by their employer.
JANG group should clarify if they have pressurized journalists #azazsyed and #UmarCheema to deactivate their Twitter accounts and if yes, why so?
Federal Minister for Postal Services and Communications Murad Saeed has vowed to take action against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz for not paying the Motorway toll tax.
According to reports, Maryam Nawaz, who was en route Mandi Bahauddin from Lahore, for her rally refused to pay the toll tax on the motorway. As a result, a scuffle broke out between PML-N workers and motorway officials.
Motorway police claimed that almost 80 vehicles, which were part of Maryam’s entourage, also passed the toll without paying the tax. They added that they let them go because they did not want to create unnecessary chaos. However, the search for those involved has been started.
Maryam’s attitude angered Murad Saeed, who vowed that he will take stern action against her. He said that Maryam will now have to pay the tax with a fine. The minister asserted that every citizen is equal before the law and discrimination will not be done between the poor and rich.
Meera Jee is without a doubt the undisputed Queen of Lollywood. Though Meera hasn’t had any filmy appearances in recent times, she has often dominated headlines, sometimes for all the wrong reasons. But that hasn’t stopped her from expressing herself and this is perhaps the single most reason why I’m such a fan of hers.
Meera’s much-awaited comeback film Baaji released the past weekend and I jumped at the first opportunity to watch it. As I sat through the film, I couldn’t help but connect the Meera onscreen to the Meera I had grown to know over the course of the past 3 months.
Let’s rewind to March 2019. I had just joined The Current and we were making a list of people we can interview. I had previously briefly spoken to Meera about her various plans and met her at the Lux Style Awards. On every occasion, Meera had been forthcoming, friendly and cooperative, contrary to what I heard about her superstar behaviour, so I added her to our list of interviewees. Her onscreen character, Shameera, was a reflection of this. Shameera was also someone with a big and open heart.
March 7 2019
I gave Meera Jee a call and to my surprise, she picked up the phone on the first bell. I introduced myself and expressed my desire to interview her. She told me that I will have to come and meet her at her parlour within half an hour because she wants to meet me before she can commit to an interview.
Thirty minutes later, I was sitting in the parlour’s lobby waiting for Meera to get free. The wait lasted for more than an hour before someone finally came and escorted me to the makeup room where Meera was getting ready. She was on the phone when I entered. Her superstar persona could be felt everywhere and she gestured me to sit on the seat next to her’s. As soon as her phone call ended, she turned to me and asked me what exactly I wanted. I rattled off, explaining to her the interview we want to do with her before she dramatically cut me off with the wave of a hand and told me to first tell her about myself.
After satisfying her questions, I once again started talking about the interview when the phone interrupted us again. Khair by then Meera was ready and she decided that we should move the meeting to her house.
Ignoring all warning bells in my head, and the fact that it was a close friend’s mehndi that day, I followed Meera to her house, where I stayed for more than 2 hours. Out of those 2 hours, a little more than one was spent waiting for her to get free. When we finally got down to talking about the interview, it was almost 8′ o clock. Meera wanted me to run through the questions with her and design the interview so we can shoot it in one go. Meera and I discussed everything down to the smallest of detail and she was good with everything but when I asked her for a date, she said she will discuss with her manager and let me know. All good. I left her house feeling proud of myself for scoring an interview with the one and only Meera.
The next few days were spent trying to get a follow-up from her but with little success. By then Baaji had also been announced, so I was sure that I’ll be able to get an interview. Little did I know.
April 10
In a miraculous twist of faith, we were able to get through to Meera and she asked us to come over and discuss the interview with her and finalise a date. Once again, I went over to her house where we spent 2 hours discussing the interview. Once again, Meera didn’t give us a date and told us that her manager will be in touch.
The next week and weeks to come were spent constantly trying to get in touch with Meera. She continued to remain unavailable. It turned out that she had gone to the United States for a visit. Meera sent me pictures from her trip and told me that she’ll give me an interview once she’s back. She also asked me if I could go over to her house and get her phone fixed for her.
Meera does know how to travel in style
May 30
Baaji’s trailer releases and promotions begin in full swing. I reach out to the PR team of Baaji and ask them to set up an interview with the cast of the film.
June 22
Baaji’s team lands in Lahore and the movie’s PR representative invites us to the hotel, where the team is staying, for a media interaction between 5 and 8 pm. At 6.45pm we reach the hotel only to find out that the media interaction has ended and that there has been a change of plans so the team will now be leaving for a mall visit. This totally puts me off because I had come with everything ready and no one had informed me that the scheduled has been changed. I get into an argument with the PR representative who kept insisting that I came late and that I should have asked her before coming. Ridiculous right? It’s not like I was late or anything. But what can one do?
Meera Jee is seated in the hotel’s restaurant and I walk up to her hoping that maybe she’ll be more accommodating. Nishoo Jee and Meera’s manager are also sitting on the table with us. After we exchange pleasantries, Meera tells me that she’s exhausted since she hasn’t eaten food all day and that I should ask the director to line up something later at night. I have no problems with that so I agree and we move on to having a conversation about her film and how tiring promotions can be.
Meera then tells the PR lady, who’s also in the background, to line up an interview. She curtly informs me that the cast of Baaji has back-to-back mall visits that day and that they will give me an interview when they return from Dubai. Talk about being a total let down. Uss point tak bilkul bas hogayi and I was so upset that I have no words for it.
Uskay baad, cast Dubai say jakar wapas bhi aagayi aur film bhi release hogayi magar mujhe interview nai mila.
As I sat through the film, it felt almost unreal watching Meera on screen. The woman who I had been chasing for the past three months was right in front of me and every movement of hers, every word she spoke was so real that in a few scenes I almost felt I was sitting with her. Kudos to Meera for giving a flawless and natural performance. As someone who enjoys over the top drama, I absolutely loved the film.
The film’s storyline was not the most original, but it was captivating. Each scene flowed into the next and there was no part of the film which felt dragged. It might have been Saqib Malik’s debut film but his years of experience shone through in every scene. The shots and the aesthetics were beautifully done. The hair, wardrobe and makeup team deserve a special round of applause. The leading ladies look absolutely gorgeous in every scene.
Each actor nailed their roles but Meera stole the spotlight. The film was made for her, or rather she was made for this film. Whichever way she likes. Meera is proof that no matter how many faces come and go, she will be evergreen. Like her character in the film says, “Love me or hate me, but you can never replace me.”
Aamir Liaquat finds ways to make it to the headlines one way or another. And this time he wants credit for PTV’s revival.
Recently PTI Senator Faisal Javed Khan tweeted that PTV is “on its way to revival” and is making profits.
#PTV Yet another institution which was destroyed by Khan’s predecessors,is on its way to a revival. Being in loss of Rs1291M in 2015. Now it’s in Profit of 310M Uprooting corruption, poverty alleviation & strengthening institution-PM Khan’s top prioritieshttps://t.co/wOTOrZ0XBI
— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) July 5, 2019
Aamir, who hosted a Ramazan transmission on the state-owned channel, replied to Faisal’s tweet asking him to give him some credit for playing a role in PTV’s revival.
فیصل بھائی یہ بھی تو بتا دیجیے کہ رمضان نشریات سے پی ٹی وی نیوز کو کتنا فائدہ پہنچا؟ تھوڑا کریڈٹ اپنے بھائی کو بھی عنایت فرمادیجیے۔۔۔ بہت سارا پیار https://t.co/CuNrd4BwSo
— Aamir Liaquat Husain (@AamirLiaquat) July 5, 2019
While Faisal himself did not respond to Aamir’s tweet, some Twitter users took notice of Aamir’s tweet and decided to troll him.
An anonymous Twitter user who goes by Baaji Please commented that self-praise is for losers to which Aamir replied that he’s not self-praising before asking Baaji not to hate on him.
باجی یہ خود نمائی نہیں مردہ پرستی سے بچانا ہے آپ کو میں پسند نہیں، ٹھیک! لیکن اُصول فطرت کو میری نفرت میں پائمال نہ کریں مرجھانے کے بعد تو چمن میں بھی پھولوں کی قدر نہیں ہوتی لیکن یہاں مرنے کے بعد باجیاں بھی آنسو بہاتی ہیں زندگی میں اعتراف حقیقت کی بات کررہا ہوں آپ کوتکلیف؟
— Aamir Liaquat Husain (@AamirLiaquat) July 5, 2019
Baaji responded to Aamir saying she doesn’t like the fact that he’s begging for recognition.
Dr Farhan Virk, who likes to insert himself in all situations, came to Aamir’s defense saying that Baaji is jealous of Aamir’s success. He said that Aamir single-handedly made PTV profitable by giving it time and effort without any greed.
آپ کو عامر بھائی کی کامیابی پسند نہیں۔ ایسے بول دیں۔
یہ عامر بھائی کا ہی کمال ہے جو پی ٹی وی منافع بخش ہوا ہے۔ وہ اپنا وقت اپنی محنت بغیر کسی لالچ کے ایک قومی ادارے کو دے رہے ہیں۔ سلام ہے عامر بھائی آپ کو pic.twitter.com/ZizE5nvuh4
Baaji then asked Farhan if he’s implying that Aamir didn’t charge for the PTV transmission to which Aamir replied that he took “aatay main namak kay barabar paisay.”
جی باجی میں نے آٹے میں نمک کے برابر پیسے لیے اگر بتادوں تو آپ کو بھی افسوس ہوگا
— Aamir Liaquat Husain (@AamirLiaquat) July 5, 2019
The arguments between the three continued and Aamir asserted that he did the Ramazan show on PM Imran Khan’s insistence and that the PM knows about his sacrifices for his country. Frankly speaking, the rest of the tweets were boring and unnecessary.
فرحان بھائی فیصل بھائی جانتے ہیں میں نے 17 گھنٹے اس چینل کے. لیے محنت کی جس پر کبھی رمضان نشریات نہیں ہوئیں بس خان صاحب نے اتنا کہا تھا یہ کرنا ہے عامر اور تم کرو گے خان صاحب کا حکم سر انکھوں پر بس تھوڑا دکھ ہوا تو لکھ دیا اس پر بھی معذرت خواہ ہوں
— Aamir Liaquat Husain (@AamirLiaquat) July 5, 2019
باجی اب بس کردیں میری دل آزاری ہورہی ہے یہ صرف خان صاحب کو معلوم ہے کہ میں نے پی ٹی وی نیوز کے. لیے ٹرانسمیشن پیسوں کے لیے کی یا ملک کے لیے
— Aamir Liaquat Husain (@AamirLiaquat) July 5, 2019
When Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp all were down earlier this week, we all panicked slightly and wondered to do with all the free time. Because let us admit, social media is a very important part of our lives. But imagine having to do without it for long periods of time and having to use emails for communication.
Students of the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) might have the answer to that as the university has banned the use of social media on campus, as well as the hostels. As per reports, students will no longer be allowed to use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube or WhatsApp. They will only be permitted to use those social media pages that have been approved by the Vice Chancellor. Official Facebook pages of university societies have also been instructed to shut down.
Negative comments on any UET page will also be checked and action taken. Students who continue to use social media will be investigated under the Pakistan Cyber Law 2016.
This is not the first time the UET management has taken such actions. Previously, UET made it compulsory for female students to wear a scarf or dupatta while imposing a ban on sleeveless shirts and capri pants. For male students, wearing shalwar kameez on Fridays was made compulsory.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to take action on complaints against unwarranted promotional text messages and calls to telecom customers.
Hearing a citizen’s petition questioning business promotions by different companies on Friday, Justice Shahid Jamil Khan observed that mobile phone users frequently complained about receiving text messages from water tank cleaning service providers.
The PTA representative stated that there was no mechanism to control such text messages being received on a daily basis. However, the judge said that the authority could take action against mobile numbers used for sending these unnecessary promotions.
The petitioner’s lawyer, on the other hand, demanded that PTA being a regulatory body be ordered to ban such promotional activities on phones.
The hearing was then adjourned till July 19 and the judge hinted at summoning the PTA chief if an action was not taken on complaints against unwanted text messages and calls.
Indian tennis star and Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik’s wife, Sania Mirza, has said she is proud of her husband, who announced retirement from ODI cricket following Pakistan’s last match of the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
“Today I retire from One Day International [ODI] cricket. Huge thank you to all the players I have played with, coaches I have trained under, family, friends, media and sponsors. Most importantly, my fans. I love you all. PakistanZindabad,” the all-rounder tweeted, ending his career spanning over 20 years.
Today I retire from One Day International cricket. Huge Thank you to all the players I have played with, coaches I have trained under, family, friends, media, and sponsors. Most importantly my fans, I love you all#PakistanZindabadpic.twitter.com/zlYvhNk8n0
As soon as Malik announced his decision, Sania took to social media to congratulate the veteran on an astounding career.
“Every story has an end, but in life, every ending is a new beginning. Shoaib Malik, you have proudly played for your country for 20 years and you continue to do so with so much honour and humility. Izhaan and I are so proud of everything you have achieved but also for who you are,” she wrote.
“I am retiring from one-day cricket. I’m sad as I’m leaving the format I loved the most but this will allow me to spend more time with my family and concentrate on the Twenty20 World Cup next year,” Malik had said in a press conference after the match against Bangladesh Friday.
Malik played 287 ODIs and scored 7,534 runs with nine hundreds. His performance in the 2019 World Cup, however, left his fans disappointed.
The golden rule of parenting is: ‘Don’t make plans to go anywhere if you have a baby.’ Because chances are that you will either end up not going or you will regret it.
That said, there’s something comforting about not being able to go out for a fancy dinner or having to dress up and being stuck at home with a baby who refuses to sleep. In short, plans ruined, clothes changed, makeup wiped off and food delivery options decided.
It is also strange that the minute food is ordered, and a show to binge watch is decided, the baby decides to pass out and sleep like it’s the best sleep of their lives.
Italian Express in Lahore, is the perfect Lahori comfort food. I specifically add the word Lahori to this because if there is one thing I have learnt about the Lahori palette is that they like their pasta terribly overcooked and super duper saucy.
Italian Express is a small joint, which started off as a delivery service before turning into a small restaurant. The manager, who is an amicable and lovely fellow, recommended the pasta, which tasted more like Maggie noodles. Don’t get me wrong here. I do appreciate a bad pasta sloshed with Sriracha which hits the spot and Italian Express is terribly good at being bad comfort food.
On the other hand, their pizza is the food of memories, with the taste of the 90s and notes of Ginos. Something a reviewer on their Facebook page doesn’t get. The user had lamented: “I ordered special thin crust pizza for the very first and the last time…the sauce was way too tangy, poor quality cheese and that too with extra mixing of cheddar very less topping and overly cooked tortilla base with too much oil like a paratha…guys do you even know how to make pizza. Pathetic.”
Though the reviewer gave them no stars, he obviously didn’t understand how most Pakistanis crave the cheddar mozzarella pizza – the Kings and Queens of Karachi, The Uno of Lahore – the tangy sauce, which is a little ketchupy and of course, the thin crust that is soggy with crispy ends.
It’s what reminds us of our childhood. Waiting outside pizza places, kids piled in a car, parents waiting, taking the pizza home in piping hot boxes and salivating at the thought of getting that first slice. Its bad pizza but it’s just so good because it transports you back to a time you fondly miss and rarely have the time to remember.
So as you sit on your bed, eating your pizza in your pjs, watching a subtitled version of Netflix’s Money Heist, it’s the closest you get to a perfect night in. And munching down on memories, you look at that sleeping child and hope you can give her food that gives you the same kind of terrible tasting comfort.
A 15-year-old girl has accused her mother of having her “sexually assaulted for money” after she refused to get into a relationship with the alleged rapist, Geo News reported.
Reports quoted the Gulistane Johar resident as saying that her mother was “a woman of bad character” and eight months ago had told her to get into a relationship with a man named Javed.
“Upon refusal, she [the mother] beat me up and had me raped by Javed over and over for many months. In return, she took money from him,” the victim claimed in the First Information Report (FIR) against her mother.
She further said that her mother had released a fake video of sexual assault on social media and filed a rape case against a man named Raza Bugti. “My mother had gotten into an argument with Bugti and forced me to support the allegations against him.”
When the victim refused, her mother allegedly beat her up and threatened to make the same rape allegations against her brother, Kabeer.
