The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested two people in Faisalabad after a girl in the United States (US) committed suicide because of the ‘obscene content’ shared by them, ARY has reported. However, as per Dunya, three suspects have been arrested in this case.
According to the FIA, the suspects blackmailed the girl by sharing content concerning her with her classmates. “As a result of this, the girl committed suicide in the United States,” said FIA.
According to details, the arrested individuals met the teen on social media and obtained her pictures and videos. As per the agency, the US embassy has formally requested that the suspects be prosecuted.
A private channel New Vision TV, the broadcaster of ARY UK, has issued an apology on air to the former finance minister Ishaq Dar, who is currently residing in London.
In an apology aired by ARY UK, the channel said, “We unconditionally apologise to Ishaq Dar for the significant distress, upset and embarrassment which these broadcasts have caused him.”
“Dar never managed the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU), never impeded its work, nor did he do anything to protect anybody in any case including the alleged Chaudhry Sugar Mills case”.
According to Dawn, the defamatory remarks were made in two news shows which were aired in 2019. A transcript of the Special Minister Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Shahzad Akbar’s claims on the show that Dar did not allow the FMU to function. It was also alleged that Dar had taken these steps to protect individuals involved in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills money laundering case.
Sources told Dawn that Dar issued proceedings against the channel in July 2020 and later served a claim in the UK High Court. In 2021, ARY UK made an offer for amends — a procedure in which a defendant in an action for defamation may make a written offer to publish an apology and pay damages. Acceptance of such an offer terminates defamation proceedings and parties settle the matter between themselves.
Dar along with a restriction and an apology had claimed damages for libel of around 200,000 pounds.
In a statement shared with Dawn, the former minister said, “I have never been involved in corruption or any unlawful activity and never used any influence against any institution. The allegations made by the pro-government media house and Shahzad Akbar were aimed at damaging my reputation but Allah SWT has been most kind and the TV channel has accepted in the UK judicial process that the allegations were fabricated, false and untrue. The TV channel has accepted that I was maligned and nothing wrong has been done by me.”
Pehli Si Muhabbat may not be high on masala and is developing slowly, rather at a snail’s pace, but it certainly comes with a strong message. The latest episode of the drama (Episode 9) sheds light on a topic often overlooked in Pakistani dramas – the importance of a woman’s consent in marriage.
Aslam (Sheheryar Munawar) and Rakshi (Maya Ali) have finally started telling family members about their love for each other and their desire to marry. Aslam has broken off his engagement with Bushra (Hina Afridi) and has let his Mamu know that he cannot marry her. On the other hand, Rakshi’s father Faizullah (Shabbir Jan) has decided to finalise Rakshi’s rishta with his friend’s son. When he tells his wife Nargis (Rabia Butt) of this, the conversation that follows needs to be broadcast everywhere loud and clear.
When Faizullah tells his wife that in their riwaj and culture, girls are not consulted before their own marriage, Nargis says: “Allah nay auraton kay baaray main jo ahkamat diye hain na, unkay baaray main bhi thora sa jaan lo. Waisay tum mard bhi na baray theek ho. Deen bhi sirf mardon ka rakhtay ho. Nikkah say pehlay Allah nay beti ki marzi janana zaruri kiya hai.”
In response, Faizullah dismisses Nargis’ comments, saying that she doesn’t know anything.
“Allah ki kitaab na humain bhi parhayi jaati hai Faizullah. Bismillah aur Ameen toh humari bhi hoti hai,” adds Nargis before leaving Faizullah to reflect on her words.
In a country where women are often overlooked in the rishta process and told that the elders (read: men) in their family decide their future, such scenes and conversations give the audiences food for thought and can enable the wheels of change. It is also refreshing to watch this on-screen because most dramas paint those women wanting to marry of their choice as besharam (shameless) and wanton with their end also usually terrible.
Kudos to Faiza Iftikhar for these brilliant dialogues and to Anjum Shehzad for wonderfully executing the scene. Butt has been a powerhouse of talent throughout the episode, conversing through her eyes and body language and delivering one blazing scene after another – whether it was her conversation with Faizullah, confrontation with Niggi Apa or the way she handled Rakshi.
Another person who is really standing out in the drama is Munawar. Sheheryar has owned Aslam to the very core and the scene in which he gives Niggi Apa a taste of her own medicine makes you cheer on him.
Now that Aslam and Rakshi’s secret is out in the open, it will interesting to see what happens next. All I hope is that the drama starts moving faster else audiences will lose interest.
Punjab police have arrested the prime suspect of the motorway gang-rape case, ARY has reported citing sources; but the claim has been dismissed by the senior-most police officer of Punjab as well as Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s aide Dr Shahbaz Gill.
According to reports, Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Inam Ghani has dismissed reports that a suspect in the Lahore motorway rape case had been arrested, terming them as incorrect.
“News on the arrest of a suspect on TV channels and social media are incorrect,” said IGP Ghani, adding that he would share any development in the case with media as he was monitoring the investigation himself.
“Such unconfirmed news affects the case and is also misleading for the public,” said the top cop.
He also said that pictures of the woman and the suspects being shared on social media were fake, and urged media to not run reports before confirming them. “We will soon arrest the accused and bring them to justice,” Ghani vowed.
Earlier, ARY cited Punjab government sources as saying that search for the second suspect involved in the gang-rape was underway.
The claim was, however, also dismissed by Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill, who said it was incorrect but the police were working hard.
Jeeto Pakistan host, Fahad Mustafa has unveiled the five celebrity captains for the Jeeto Pakistan League, which will take place in the month of Ramzan.
According to his announcement, Humayun Saaed will be the captain for Karachi Lions, Sarfaraz Ahmed for Quetta Knights, Adnan Siddiqui for Lahore Falcons, Shaista Lodhi for Peshawar Stallions and Sana Javed for Islamabad Dragons.
The year’s edition of the popular gaming show has been reinvented keeping in mind the coronavirus outbreak and calls for social distancing. PEMRA had earlier also banned TV shows from having any live audiences in their studios and has prohibited displaying cars, bikes and other appliances on the show since many people are suffering from financial issues due to the lockdown.
According to ARY, the five teams will compete against each other live every day, just like in a cricket match. New people will play games on the show as part of different teams while maintaining social distancing and whoever makes more runs in a day will score more points.
In the end, there will be a final play-off. Live callers will be able to call in and support their particular cities. The tagline of the show is also: ‘Ab khelega poora Pakistan!’
The coronavirus pandemic has forced major changes in all industries across the world. Ramzan shows, in particular, have been majorly impacted by the pandemic.
Blockbuster drama serial Meray Pass Tum Ho continues to create a buzz nationwide. While some viewers anxiously are waiting for the last episode, others hate what the drama portrays.
Recently, a petition was filed in Lahore’s civil court to stop the last episode of the drama from being aired. The petitioner, Maham, had filed a plea to stop the release of the last episode because it has had a negative impact and continues to degrade the status of women in our society.
The civil court, after hearing the arguments of the petitioner had issued a notice to the makers and producers of the show to present their arguments in court on January 24, 2020.
However, the court on Friday after examining statements and documents from representatives of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Auhtority (PEMRA) and ARY Digtal, Civil Judge Naila Ayub dismissed the petition and said that show had received clearance from the censor board of Punjab to screen in cinemas so there was nothing inappropriate in it.
The last episode of Meray Pass Tum Ho, which starres Humayun Saeed, Adnan Siddiqui, Ayeza Khan and Hira Mani is set to air in cinemas and on TV screens at 8pm on January 25, 2020.
In what appears to prove the rumoured rift between certain leaders of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has called out Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan for her “illiterate” remarks regarding Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar.
The SAPM had said that those criticising CM Buzdar were criticising Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and it would be “the premier’s failure if the provincial chief executive of Punjab failed”.
“Why?” Fawad said while quoting Awan on a private media outlet’s talkshow Monday night. “I’d say it is an illiterate comment,” he said, to which the anchor asked if the minister was sure about what he was saying regarding a colleague.
“Whoever says such a thing… it’d be a dumb thing to say,” Fawad maintained, adding that Buzdar was to held accountable for his performance and PM Imran for his own.
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To this, the anchor said that the premier was accountable for both his performance and that of CM Buzdar.
Continuing to train guns at the Punjab CM, Fawad urged Buzdar to step aside, and said the federal government could not deliver effectively without the support of the provinces.
Raising questions over the performance of the Punjab government, the minister said that they had made promises with the people of change and accountability and good governance ahead of general election, but unfortunately nothing had changed in Punjab.
He maintained that around 62 per cent of the total budget went to provinces but they were not delivering appropriately. Fawad added that the federal government was doing whatever it could for the masses.
Iqra Aziz is returning to the silver screen with a new drama titled Jhooti. The drama also features her real-life beau Yasir Hussain as well as Ahmed Ali Butt, with whom she will be sharing the screen for the first time.
The trailer for the drama, directed by Ramish Rizvi, was released during Meray Paas Tum Ho‘s Episode 21 Saturday night. While the first teaser of the drama was intruiging as it showed Iqra playing a strong, resilient woman, the second teaser was the one which was problematic because it showed Iqra playing a woman who fakes being domestically abused. The teaser sparked outrage and drew the irk of netizens who took to social media to voice their frustation.
We’ve spent decades producing films/dramas which either vilify women or showed them as inferior to men. Entertainmemt media has the power to shape societal values. We need role models & survivors not “ibrat ke nishaans”. When you can reach millions, have the right message
First a drama on only the wife being disloyal which probably never happens here and then a drama on a girl faking abuse which is also a rarity. Pakistani dramas are really going places and so are the artists taking up these projects. Should totally boycott such shit shows https://t.co/aCjQ5c43FM
Irresponsible choice from ARY and Iqra Aziz. Such a storyline is not needed in a society where women are already not believed when they say they’ve been harassed/raped/beaten. I’m hoping there’s more to this drama than how it seems right now. Show ka naam bhi ‘jhooti’ hai ♀️ https://t.co/bt7t10W9KD
ARY’s Jhooti is not only a representation of deep culturally imbedded attitudes towards women, but it also gives me the feeling that they just ran with whatever script gives them edge and shock value – because presenting real stories of domestic violence is too “boring” right?
I believe teasers are meant to tease but this #Jhooti teaser is too problematic. Unless it’s a story of a girl who fakes bruises because no one would believe how abusive her husband/susral is otherwise or is a revenge story bringing abusers to justice, I don’t see any redemption.
While the actors or makers of the drama have not yet responded to the controversy, speaking to a local media outlet earlier, Ahmed had shared that Iqra is playing the role of a compulsive liar and that the plot will focus on her character and how everything and everyone gets affected by her behaviour.
A private media outlet’s microphone hits Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Shehbaz Sharif in the face. The former Punjab chief minister is rather infamous for his signature “mic drops” as emotions take over while addressing gatherings.
