The wife of famous artist Mansoor Ahmed Rahi has filed an FIR against her son, accusing him of stealing her late husband’s paintings, which are worth over Rs1 billion, police have confirmed on Friday.
On Thursday Mrs Rahi reported theft, even though the incident happened almost eight months ago. Shalimar police registered a case against Rahi’s son and his friends under Section 380 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).
According to the FIR, the couple’s son and six of his friends visited their home in Sector F-11 in Islamabad in January. Later, the son took his parents to dinner, leaving his friends at home.
When they returned, the son took his parents upstairs, but Mrs. Rahi heard noises coming from the basement. When she asked about it, her son said it was nothing.
However, when she went to check, she discovered 70 to 80 of her husband’s paintings had been removed from their frames and rolled up. She claims her son and his friends took the paintings away in a vehicle.
She was deeply shocked and fell ill after learning about her son’s actions, as the paintings were worth around Rs1 billion.
The artist passed away on May 12. Mrs. Rahi, still grieving, now wants legal action to be taken against her son and wants the stolen paintings returned.
Actor Shahzad Nawaz, who actively promotes arts and culture in Pakistan, has stated that the Geo News logo is his creation. Nawaz was a guest on Geo’s Hasna Mana Hai and when host Tabish Hashmi asked him about his work in graphic designing, Nawaz said that he used to make a lot of logo designs. Hashmi said that he had heard that Nawaz had designed the iconic geo news, blue and orange logo.
Shahzad Nawaz replied, “I produced it,” further explaining that, “I conceptualized how the overall persona of Geo News would stand out and how it would appear on the screen.”
Geo News began airing in October 2002 as part of Geo TV. Later, in 2004, Geo TV decided to establish Geo News as its standalone news channel.
Ismat Zaidi, a seasoned actress in the drama industry, has contributed to numerous remarkable projects throughout her extensive career. Even today, she continues to excel in her roles in various dramas. As a guest on Ghazal Siddique’s podcast, she highlighted essential changes required within the industry to foster a more positive environment.
She said, “There should be a criteria for what an artist with so much experience deserves. Many times, the production is paying so much money to an actor who may have started two years ago and ignore the rights of senior artists. I have had these bad experiences in the productions of actors who should have known better.”
Ismat also shared details about bad experiences with new directors. “There was one director who misbehaved and insulted me in front of everyone. I was extremely disappointed,” she lamented. She stressed the significance of mutual respect and kindness in the workplace, urging directors to treat artists with dignity and empathy.
Hundreds of people were arrested Friday when police broke up a large demonstration of mostly Jewish New Yorkers who had taken over the main hall of Grand Central station in protest of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, police and organizers said.
The New York Police Department said at least 200 people had been arrested, while protest organizers put the number at more than 300.
Photos from the scene showed long lines of young people standing in handcuffs and wearing black sweatshirts with the words “Not In Our Name” and “Cease Fire Now” printed in white.
The massive sit-in was called by the group Jewish Voice for Peace-New York City, which said thousands of its members had attended the protest, blocking the main concourse of the city’s central rail station.
Pictures showed the terminal packed with protesters who held up banners reading “Palestinians should be free” and “Mourn the dead, fight like hell for the living.”
Organizers called the peaceful sit-in “the largest civil disobedience New York City has seen in 20 years.”
Rabbis launched the event by lighting Shabbat candles and reciting the Jewish prayer for the dead, known as the kaddish.
“While Shabbat is typically a day of rest, we cannot afford to rest while genocide is unfolding in our names,” said Rabbi May Ye, in a statement released by organizers.
“The lives of Palestinians and Israelis are intertwined, and safety can only come from justice, equality, and freedom for all,” the rabbi said.
Israel launched its bombardment of Gaza after Hamas gunmen stormed across the border on 7 October, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 220 others, according to Israeli officials.
The Hamas-run health ministry said Friday that Israeli strikes on Gaza had now killed 7,326 people, more than 3,000 of them children.
“Ana Dammi Falastini” , a song that won Muhammad Assaf the title of Arab world in 2015, has over the years became the national song of the land-a musical and patriotic piece they rejoice in, in the face of occupying forces. It is one of the key performances of his concerts.
The lyrics can literally be translated as “My Blood is Palestinian”. It proclaims the pride of Palestinian and Arab heritage in its opening words:
Keeping my oath, following my religion
You will find me on my land
I belong to my people, I sacrifice my soul for them
My blood is Palestinian, Palestinian, Palestinian
My blood is Palestinian
The whole chorus of the song is an ode to the years of resistance and resilience of Palestinians in a celebratory, hip tone. Assaf himself was born in the Khan Younis refugee camp of Gaza and this song has been his magnum opus. This refrain got popular during Israel’s attack on Sheikh Jarrah in 2021 and since then has gained the status of an anthem among Palestinians. Nowadays, the song is popular on social media, especially TikTok, where people are using it as a background score in protesting against Israeli aggression.
The story of “Ana Dammi Falastini,” the song anti-occupation supporters are playing to support Palestinians. pic.twitter.com/SQmiQaEJ6t
Earlier in the year, the song was removed from Spotify and Apple Music in an attempt seen as Israel’s way of sabotaging the worldwide popularity of the song even though the platform claimed that it was taken off by the distributor but there is no proof to that. The singer was unaware of the reason as well. Fans around the world slammed the Israeli government for getting triggered by a harmless song.
The song, however, has now transcended boundaries in the most unconventional way. There is a plagiarised copy of the song doing rounds on social media made by Israel reeking of Zionism with Falastini replaced by “Yahoodi”.
On one hand it is a testament to the popularity of the song but on the other a proof of sheer hatred that showcases the mindsets of a class of hegemons.
Assaf however has not given up and there are countless other songs of him paying homage to his homeland. Another of his popular song is “Falasteen Enty El Rouh” which means “Palestine, you are the soul.”
The existence of these artists keep the resistance alive.
A Danish artist owes around 500,000 kroner (Rs14,408,870) to Kunsten museum in Aalborg after submitting two blank canvasses as part of a project called “Take the Money and Run”.
Conceptual artist Jens Haaning presses upon the issues of power and inequality through his work and one of his projects was commissioned by by the Kunsten Museum of Modern Art in Aalborg, Denmark, in 2021 in which he had to recreate banknotes in two pieces.
Haaning, instead, gave two blank canvasses.
He said, “The work is that I have taken their money.”
While the museum did put his work on display, Haaning refused to return the money which he owes. Resultsntly, the museum has taken legal action against the artist.
A court has now ordered him to return the cash – but keep some for expenses.
The court has deducted artist fee and mounting fee from the total sum and order Haaning to refund 492,549 kroner.
BBC spoke with Museum director Lasse Andersson who said that he had laughed out loud when he first saw the two blank canvasses in 2021, and decided to show the works anyway.
“He stirred up my curatorial staff and he also stirred me up a bit, but I also had a laugh because it was really humoristic,” the museum’s director, Lasse Andersson, told BBC’s Newsday programme in 2021.
Haaning, on the contrary, said that he did not intend to pursue the case any further, “It has been good for my work, but it also puts me in an unmanageable situation where I don’t really know what to do.”
While talking to TV2 Nord on Monday, Hanning said that the museum had made “much, much more” money than what was invested because of publicity.
We’ve seen how creative Pakistani artists can get. Every few weeks some art form or the other goes viral. Recently, a viral Tiktok trend re-imagined how Wes Anderson films would look if they’re set in Pakistan, enamoring thousands of people. Now, a Pakistani artist who goes by the name Booray on Instagram, imagined how Batman would shape out if he was in Karachi instead of Gotham.
The results are astounding.
Christian Bale? Nah, Fawad Khan would play Bruce Wayne to a T.
Since the artwork went viral on Twitter, thousands are already hoping that after the success of Maula Jatt, the powerful duo are cast in the film, if it ever gets made.
Hania Aamir, who has often opened up about her fears and insecurities, has penned yet another heartfelt note about her struggles saying that she doesn’t want to be a star who is unapproachable.
Expressing her thoughts on social media, Hania said: “When I took this picture, I was completely shattered inside. I would recite the kalma all the time hoping Allah would give me sabr to deal with the hurt I was feeling. Tears were ready to stream even in this picture and I was keeping it together as a front.”
“I know I express too much on Instagram and let you guys in on what a part of my private life is about but just bear with it because I feel this is how it should be,” she added.
The actor further said: “I don’t think I’m from a generation that believes a celebrity needs to be ‘unapproachable’ to be a star! Actually the quite opposite.”
Explaining her words, Hania said: “A star in my eyes is the one who is compassionate and vulnerable and scared and emotional and brave and knows what being famous means. Someone who knows the importance of their platform, someone who appreciates their followers their blessings and knows the fact that they can use their voice and influence lives for the better.”
“That’s the star I want to be,” she added, urging everyone to be kind to those around them and “most importantly, be kind to your own selves.”
Earlier, Hania had written a detailed note on the importance of self-love and urged people to be kind to each other and accept difference of opinion.
“I pride myself on being the person that I am today,” Hania had said. “Yes, I make the most of each day. Yes, I speak my mind. Yes, you might think I’m too much. I am. I am all of these things. I am extra. Extra. I love more. Laugh more. Feel more. Every emotion is heightened and that is the person that I am.”
Gunga Saain, a specially-abled dhol player, passed away in Lahore, after suffering from a heart attack, Hum News has reported.
Saain was famous across the country for his spiritual dance on the beats of dhol. The famed musician used to dance and perform while playing the dhol himself. He used to perform on Thursdays on the shrine of Baba Shah Jamal in Icchra. He had also performed in various national and international festivals.
Ever since the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June 2020, there has been a lot of debate on nepotism in the film and entertainment industry. While the debate did not gain a lot of traction in Pakistan, it is still being discussed. Ahad Raza Mir, whose father Asif Raza Mir is an established actor, recently discussed the topic on Anas Bukhash’s talk show.
Talking about his childhood, Ahad, who grew up in Canada, said that his father always kept him away from the limelight.
“When I moved back to Pakistan in 2009, I had no idea what this industry was like,” said Ahad.
The actor went on to say that the reason behind this was probably that his father wanted him to make his own independent decisions and not be influenced in any way.
“He just wanted me to live my life,” said Ahad. “He himself is the same outside as he is indoors, it’s not like he becomes a star as soon as he walks out of his house. So I guess he never wanted it to get to my head.”
Ahad then went on to say how there are people who think his presence and success in the industry has everything to do with his father.
“There will always be that criticism that you’re an actor because your father was an actor. But no, I never knew he was and I went to university, studied, worked professionally in Canada for many years and I think I was just fortunate when I came to Pakistan,” said the actor.
He continued: “My career started doing well and people said it’s cause I’m a star kid. But there are doctors whose kids are doctors, there are generations in the army and generations in politics, no one bats an eye. But as soon as there’s a child of an actor who starts doing well, everyone starts yelling ‘nepotism’.”
It is pertinent to add here that Ahad, who debuted in 2017 with Sammi, has several successful projects to his credit including Yakeen ka Safar (for which he bagged a Lux Style Award for Best Actor), Ehd-e-Wafa, and Parwaaz Hai Junoon. He also won the prestigious Betty Mitchell Award for his performance in Hamlet in Canada.
The Betty for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Drama, sponsored by Erin Flash, Realtor, goes to Ahad Raza Mir! #Bettys19pic.twitter.com/IGdUK2xruW
— BettyMitchellAwards (@BettyMitchells) June 25, 2019
During the conversation, Ahad also opened up about his childhood, his decision to move back to Pakistan and marry young.
“I think it was good, pretty normal, kind of hectic because I moved between Pakistan and Canada, so I guess sometimes identity is a challenge,” said Ahad when asked about how his life was while growing up.
Speaking of his relationship with his parents, Ahad said that he is very close to his parents.
“My mom is my best friend and with my dad, there’s this respect factor, not that there’s any formality, but I’m good friends with my dad too,” he said.
Ahad is married to his Yakeen ka Safar co-star Sajal Aly. The two tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Abu Dhabi in March 2020.
Meanwhile, Ahad is reportedly all set to step in as executive producer for upcoming film Kalasha.
