Tag: Benazir Bhutto

  • ‘Sheikh Rasheed’s abusive comments are a result of his training by PML-N’: PTI’s Shahbaz Gill

    ‘Sheikh Rasheed’s abusive comments are a result of his training by PML-N’: PTI’s Shahbaz Gill

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (PM) Dr Shahbaz Gill criticised Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed’s abusive language and said he had been trained by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

    Speaking on Geo News programme ‘Capital Talk’, Gill said that Sheikh Rasheed had previously been jailed for insulting former PM Benazir Bhutto.

    Gill also clarified that when PM Khan called Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari ‘Sahiba‘, it was due to a slip of tongue.

    Gill further said that the slip of the tongue of the premier was similar to when he had talked about the borders of Germany and Japan.

    Criticising the Opposition parties, Gill said that the use of abusive language was the culture of PML-N and PPP. “We are suffering because of them.”

    PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Thursday said, “I want to request the media to play the footage of the speeches of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ministers where they have made personal attacks against me. Imran Khan Sahib used to praise them for making such comments, clap at them. I too am someone’s daughter.”

    Maryam added, “Yes, your [PM Khan] wife [Bushra Bibi] is of respect to us. The standard you want to set for your wife, the same standards should have been there for the deceased Kalsoom Nawaz [wife of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif]. When I used to go to check on my mother from our London apartment to the hospital, three to four PTI workers used to abuse me. When my son Junaid used to leave, they used to abuse his mother.”

  • 2021: 11 beautiful Pakistani and Indian brides that shined this year

    2021: 11 beautiful Pakistani and Indian brides that shined this year

    The year 2021 has been an eventful year for new couples despite the Covid-19 pandemic. We have chosen a total of 11 beautiful brides from Pakistan and India belonging to different walks of life, who made the news.

    The glamorous Pakistani brides that made the list are:

    BAKHTAWAR BHUTTO-ZARDARI

    Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari, daughter of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari, tied a knot with lawyer Mahmood Choudhry on January 29. She chose to wear a lehenga with a combination of white and gold that resembled her mother’s wedding dress, along with the reflection of her own personality. The dress highlighted traditional and modern aesthetics. It was uniquely designed with handwoven embroidery by designer Wardha Saleem.

    MANSHA PASHA

    Actor Mansha Pasha got married to famous human rights activist and lawyer Jibran Nasir on April 10 in Karachi in an intimate wedding ceremony. The nikkah was solemnized by Islamic scholar, Javed Ghamidi on the internet. She opted for a white and silver elegant lehenga designed by Zuria Dor with matching jewellery. She wore a necklace and earrings with white pearls along with a teeka. She had a separate dupatta with gotta which enhanced the lehenga’s design. Fans flooded their Instagram with best wishes and prayers for the lovely couple when they announced their nikkah.

    MINAL KHAN

    Pakistani Actor, Minal Khan got married to Actor Ahsan Mohsin Ikram in a star-studded event on September 10. Minaal wore a red royal traditional dress with classic gold and pearl jewellery including a teeka, jhoomar, rings, earrings and necklace. Her dress was designed by fashion house Anas Abrar. According to the designer, 55 artisans put their hard work into the outfit. She wore jewellery by Ali Javeri Jewelers.

    MALALA YOUSAFZAI

    Pakistani Nobel laureate, Malala Yousafzai tied a knot with Asser Malik on November 9 in an intimate nikkah ceremony at home in Birmingham. This is the most surprising event as no one was expecting it. She announced her nikkah on Twitter. Her husband is the General Manager High Performance of the Pakistan Cricket Team. She wore a simple pink dress with light embroidery and a dupatta with gotta. In jewellery, she wore only a teeka and a wedding ring. Her simplicity enhanced her natural beauty.

    AYESHA SAIF KHAN

    Ayesha Saif, daughter of Saif-ur-Rahman Khan (former head of Ehtsaab Bureau and a close confidante of Nawaz Sharif) married Junaid Safdar, son of Maryam Nawaz, on December 15 in Islamabad. She was wearing a full embroidery golden lehenga designed by Bunto Kazmi. It was complemented by green emerald and diamond jewellery. Their supporters were stunned over her beauty at the wedding and gave lots of blessings to her.

    MARIAM ANSARI

    Pakistani actor, Mariam Ansari tied the knot with Former Cricketer, Moin Khan’s son, Owais Khan in February and their Valima was held on December 25 in Karachi. She chose to wear an elegant ethereal beige lehenga designed by Elan. In jewellery, she opted for a pearl and stone studded choker and small teeka.

    STUNNING INDIAN BRIDES OF 2021

    DIA MIRZA

    Bollywood star, Dia Mirza exchanged wedding vows with an Indian businessman, Vaibhev Rekhi on February 15 in Mumbai. She wore a red banarasi silk saree with a golden border. She wore green and gold bangles with a teeka and drop chandelier earrings. Her fans congratulated her for breaking the stereotypes of getting married for the second time.

    YAMI GAUTAM

    Bollywood and South Indian actor, Yami Gautam married Uri: The Surgical Strike’s Director, Aditya Dhar on 4th June in the ceremony with limited guests. The intimate ceremony was held at Yami’s farmhouse in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. At her wedding event, she wore a traditional red saree that belonged to her mother. Her saree was covered with gold embroidery. Her maternal grandmother gifted the dupatta and the traditional Pahaadi Himachali Nath to the actor. Her heirloom jewellery includes a regal gold choker, teeka, and kalire decorated with cowries and coconut. She wore red and gold bangles.

    DISHA PARMAR

    Indian television actress, Disha Parmar exchanged her wedding vows with Indian singer Rahul Vaidya on July 16 in Mumbai. Their event was considered a big fat Indian wedding. She opted for an unusual dress, a red lehenga with broad motifs of peacocks at the bottom. The mirror work (ablas) was done creatively on her blouse. She opted for heavy accessories, including a choker with green pearls and earrings. She also wore a traditional nath and teeka with red bangles.

    PATRALEKHA

    Bollywood actor, Rajkummar Rao and Patralekha Paul got married on 15th November in Chandigarh after dating for 11 years. Patralekha chose to wear a red embroidered saree and dupatta as a veil designed by Sabyasachi. A sweet message was written around the border of dupatta in the Bengali language, “Amar poran bhora bhalobasha aami tomaye somorpan korilam (I surrender my heartfelt love to you).” Her elegant jewellery turned her into a graceful bride on her memorable day. She wore a matha matti with embedded stone and a heavy choker, nath and earrings. She also wore some gold kadhas and kundan bangles.

    KATRINA KAIF

    The most anticipated marriage of the year so far. Bollywood actors, Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal tied the knot on December 9 at the Six Senses Fort in Rajasthan. She opted to wear a bright pink lehenga with a gold embroidered blouse. The outfit was designed by Sabyasachi. She wore heavy jewellery which included a gold choker, jhumka earrings, a double matha patti, a traditional nath and custom made kaliras.

  • Islamabad Chief Justice says no need to investigate audio recordings if evidence is not brought to court

    Islamabad Chief Justice says no need to investigate audio recordings if evidence is not brought to court

     The Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court (IHC), Athar Minallah on Wednesday remarked that why the court should investigate a case when the concerned appellants didn’t bring any audio before the bench, reports The News.

    The court was hearing the inquiry commission to probe into the alleged video of former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar.

    The Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Javed said the petition has been filed under Article 199-C of the Constitution.

    “Why are people choosing only one prime minister and coming to court as their proxy? Thousands of people were sacked. No video in their respect came. It is a proxy war. Today everyone is saying he has two videos and he has four videos. This is the season of harassing and pressurising judges,” said AGP.

    “Sometimes an audio, sometimes some concocted affidavit is released,” the attorney general said, referring to an affidavit by former Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Judge Rana Shamim in which he accused ex-CJP Nisar of colluding to deny bails to Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz before general elections 2018.

    “If a facility is given to one PM, then why was it not given to Bhutto,” asked the AGP.

    Salahud Din Ahmed, president SHCBA, said the AGP was holding bar associations responsible for every case. “See the statements given by Prime Minister Imran Khan against the judiciary and judges. It is now being said to either do accountability of the last 70 years or not at all to divert attention.”

    The petitioner argued that the judiciary was being made controversial through different tactics and the court could stop this practice by probing the allegations against judges. At this, the attorney general responded that all matters of the past could be sent to parliament. “One appeal against conviction in the Avenfield Reference is being heard in this court. That one appeal has perplexed the entire judiciary,” Khalid Javed added.

    While acknowledging that those whose cases would be affected by the alleged audiotape had not approached the court, Ahmed said his stance was that courts were being made controversial. The judiciary could stop that from happening by ordering an inquiry, he added.

    The IHC chief justice observed that any audio or video could be constructed in today’s age of advanced technology. “Anybody can make audio and ask for an investigation. The court remarked if we declare the petition seeking an investigation into audio maintainable, then what will be the impact on the pending appeals?”

    Justice Minallah noted, however, that the matter of the affidavit was different because the person concerned — Rana Shamim — had himself approached the court. “You’re unsure yourself about the [authenticity of] the audiotape you’re mentioning. A commission can be formed when there are grounds. The people who have cases [which could be affected by it] have not brought the audiotape to the court. Why should we [take action]? Is there anyone to take ownership of the audiotape?” he questioned.

  • Bakhtawar Bhutto announces the name of her son

    Bakhtawar Bhutto announces the name of her son

    The daughter of late Benazir Bhutto and former President Asif Ali Zardari, Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari, took to Twitter to announce the name of her son.

    “Mir Hakim Mahmood Choudhry,” tweeted Bakhtawar. She added that Mir Hakim is named after her late maternal uncle Mir and her late paternal grandfather Hakim Ali Zardari.

    Last week, Bakhtwar took to Twitter and informed her fans and followers with a health update, saying that her little baby boy is currently in a Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) but getting stronger.

    Bakhtawar tweeted, “Thank you for all the love & celebrations welcoming our little baby boy to the world.”

    Bakhtawar’s son was born on October 10.

  • ‘I welcome PM Khan’s approach on Afghanistan, hope he creates same consensus within Pakistan’: Bilawal Bhutto

    ‘I welcome PM Khan’s approach on Afghanistan, hope he creates same consensus within Pakistan’: Bilawal Bhutto

    Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto, while giving an interview to BBC, said that he welcomed Prime Minister Imran Khan’s approach to Afghanistan. He said that recognising the Afghan Taliban government should come after international consensus.

    “While I welcome the approach, I hope he [PM Khan] creates that consensus within Pakistan. The Pakistani parliament, unfortunately, has not met ever since the recent developments in Pakistan, stakeholders within Pakistan have not been consulted.”

    “We continue to encourage the new regime in Afghanistan to live up to international expectations if they want international recognition,” said Bilawal.

    Speaking on women’s rights and providing them safety in Afghanistan, Bilawal said, “There have been complaints from journalists in Afghanistan that women are protesting for their rights and we are concerned that girls are not being allowed to go to schools.”

    Bilawal said that as soon as the situation in Afghanistan developed, the PPP called for the government of Pakistan to hold a session of the parliament.

    “As with various issues in our country, we have been unable to form a national consensus. We require an inclusive foreign policy that is per the will of the parliament, not of any individual,” he said.

    Chairman PPP further said that we are very concerned about the potential blowback of the developments in Afghanistan as well as the links between Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He said that we have suffered immensely at the hands of violent extremism.

    “I lost my mother, the former prime minister Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, to Islamic extremism within Pakistan. In order to counter the threat of extremism, we need determination from the government of Pakistan to ensure no space for terrorism or extremism.”

    Journalist Yalda Hakim asked a question about the civilian government having little say in matters, to which Bilawal responded by saying that it was true that the democratic space in Pakistan was ‘shrinking’, especially during Imran Khan’s government.

    “In order for that space to be regained, it is the choice of democratic people of the country to play an active role in the political system, through the parliament and media,” said Bilawal.

    Chairman PPP added, “Everyone seems to be blaming one another, but it is important to work together for a positive outcome for the sake of the region. For the women and youth of Afghanistan who have so much potential, it is worrisome that their potential is in danger.”

    “The people of Pakistan and Afghanistan are both exhausted due to the war, we hope for the best but should also prepare for the worst. We are already seeing an increase in the activities of TTP within Pakistan … we have to tackle this issue through the United Nations to ensure that the vulnerable people, ethnic minorities and women of Afghanistan receive aid,” added Bilawal.

  • ‘Nawaz Sharif was more interested in cricket and by chance became PM’: Imran Khan

    ‘Nawaz Sharif was more interested in cricket and by chance became PM’: Imran Khan

    Prime Minister Imran Khan, while addressing the launching ceremony of Defence Analyst Ikram Sehgal’s book, said, “I was friends with both former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif. Sharif was more interested in cricket and by chance, he became prime minister.”

    Speaking about his early days in politics a little over two decades ago, PM Khan said, “I knew them [Benazir and Nawaz] personally and they both offered me party tickets again and again, but I was opposed to their corruption and challenged them,” the premier recalled. 

    The premier said he had studied politics in university and therefore understood international politics, but every country has its own culture of politics. “I had no knowledge of Pakistani politics and that is how I began my career in it,” he said.

    Taking a jibe at the opposition, PM Khan said that the leaders of Pakistan’s political parties spent their summers abroad and never thought about the country. 

  • Mehwish Hayat set to play Benazir Bhutto in her biopic, ‘the deal is signed’

    Mehwish Hayat set to play Benazir Bhutto in her biopic, ‘the deal is signed’

    National Award-winning actress Mehwish Hayat is all set to play the role of Pakistan’s first and only female Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in her forthcoming film.

    The Load Wedding actress appeared on Geo’s ‘Aik Din Geo Ke Sath’ on which she confirmed the news that “the deal is signed”.

    A few years back the actress had shown interest in doing a biopic of the late Benazir Bhutto.

    When the host asked Mehwish if the news of her playing Benazir is true, Mehwish said, “InshAllah. It is a huge subject and a very complicated one, her story is so inspirational. [I think] that our current generation and the one that is to come, need to see her contributions, struggles, progress, her life.”

    The Jawani Phir Nahi Aani star added, “She was the first woman Prime Minister of the country. The world needs to know about her.”

    The announcement received polarizing response on social media. Benazir’s daughter, Bakhtawar, slammed the idea stating that no consent was sought from the family for the project.

    On the work front, Mehwish will be seen next in Humayun Saeed’s London Nahi Jaunga.

  • VIDEO: Zardari is life-long chairman of son-in-laws’ union, I am the general secy, says Capt (r) Safdar

    As both the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) reportedly pour in efforts to save the sinking ship of the opposition alliance amid growing differences, a statement by PML-N’s Capt (r) Muhammad Safdar has left netizens in fits of laughter.

    Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Safdar said the media shouldn’t expect him to comment over the straining relations between the PPP and the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

    “[PPP chief] Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is like a brother to me while his father [and PPP co-chairperson] Asif Ali Zardari is the life-long president of the son-in-law’s union. I am the general secretary,” said the son-in-law of former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif.

    So, Safdar went on to say, he shared a lot of relations with the PPP leadership and wouldn’t give any statement.

    Earlier, his wife and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz also refused to answer a journalist’s query regarding reports of the PPP backstabbing the opposition alliance.

    ZARDARI & SAFDAR:

    The son of Hakim Ali Zardari, a landowner from Sindh, Zardari rose to prominence after his 1987 marriage to PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s daughter Benazir Bhutto, who became the PM of Pakistan after her election in 1988.

    After his wife’s assassination in 2007, Zardari, the new co-chairperson, led the PPP to victory in the 2008 general election.

    Safdar, on the other hand, married Maryam Nawaz in 1992 while he was serving as a captain in the Pakistan Army and had been the military secretary to then PM Nawaz Sharif.

    After retiring from the military, he joined the civil service. He joined politics after returning to Pakistan from exile in 2007 along with the Sharif family and is now a key PML-N leader.

  • Bakhtawar’s nikkah dress took over 7000 hours to make

    Bakhtawar’s nikkah dress took over 7000 hours to make

    Karachi-based fashion designer Wardha Saleem who designed Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari’s nikkah outfit has revealed that the jora took over 7000 hours to make.

    Read more – Designer spills details on Bakhtawar’s green reception jora

    In a recent interview with BBC Urdu, the designer shared the process that went behind designing the gold outfit and also addressed rumours surrounding the dress.

    “She [Bakhtawar] was very clear what she wanted,” revealed Wardha, adding that the bride wanted to wear a colour combination similar to Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s white and gold wedding dress but also wanted it to reflect her own personality.

    Read more – Bilawal shares unseen family photo from Bakhtawar’s wedding

    Addressing rumours of using gold and diamonds in the outfit, Wardah said: “Neither did we use a gold wire nor did we put in diamonds on this dress.”

    “It was made with locally sourced fine material that is available for any designer to use,” stated Wardha.

    The designer also revealed that 90 craftsmen were involved in making the dress and that it took over 7000 hours to complete because it all the embroidery was done with the hand.

    “If you calculate in normal working hours this goes to about 6 to 7 months,” said Wardha, adding that the craftsmen worked in double shifts of 24 hours, reducing the preparation time to two and a half months.

    Wardha further said that Bakhtawar was the dream bride as she was very cooperative and did not interfere in the process, adding that she had complete trust in her [Wardha].

    The designer also revealed that she also designed Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari’s outfits for Bakhtawar’s mehndi and reception.

    Meanwhile, Bakhtawar’s makeup artist Shamain also opened up about her nikkah look saying: “It was a pleasure to be the wedding makeup artist for the delightful Bakhtawar.”

    “Bakhtawar requested subtle and glowing looks, that felt very much in line with who she is. Getting to know Bakhtawar in the process, and her genuine love for art and culture, I was inspired to create a natural glowing look, which was complemented by sleek, modern hair- stylish and standout, like the lovely bride herself,” said Shamain further.

    Bakhtawar and Mahmood Choudhry tied the knot on January 29 in an intimate nikkah ceremony at Bilawal House. The nikkah was preceded by a mehndi and followed by a grand reception.

  • Bilawal shares unseen family photo from Bakhtawar’s wedding

    Bilawal shares unseen family photo from Bakhtawar’s wedding

    Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has shared an unseen family photo from Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari’s wedding celebrations while wishing his sister Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari on her birthday.

    The picture which also features Bakhtawar’s husband Mahmood Choudhry shows Bilawal and Aseefa enjoying a light moment as the bride and groom pose for the photograph.

    Bilawal also shared pictures of himself and his siblings from their childhood and one of him and Aseefa with their late mother Benazir Bhutto in the post.

    Similarly, Bakhtawar also shared an old picture with Aseefa while wishing her on social media.

    Meanwhile, newlyweds Bakhtawar and Mahmood visited Garhi Khuda Baksh in Larkana, days after their wedding. Bakhtawar shared pictures their visit on social media.

    Garhi Khuda Bakhsh is a small village in Ratodero, notable for the Bhutto family mausoleum, where Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Murtaza Bhutto, Nusrat Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto are buried.

    Read more – ‘All in the details’: Bakhtawar shares closeup of mehndi outfit

    Bakhtawar and Mahmood tied the knot on January 29 in an intimate nikkah ceremony at Bilawal House. The nikkah was preceded by a mehndi and followed by a grand reception. While pictures and other details from the wedding festivities were limited considering the ‘no cellphone’ policy at the event, Bakhtawar while thanking everyone for their prayers and wishes, had promised that the couple “will be sharing [their] joy” with their wellwishers through the moments captured.