Tag: Jinnah

  • 77 years of independence: Patriotism in Pakistani movies

    77 years of independence: Patriotism in Pakistani movies

    Pakistani cinema has a well-known genre of patriotism. From classic to modern, the movies have told stories of struggle, victory, and love for the nation, inspiring generations with unforgettable characters and storylines.

    Here are some films centered on patriotism:

    Parwaaz Hai Junoon (2018)

    The film is about the brave soldiers of the Pakistan Air Force; their lives, relationships, duties, and hardships.Parwaaz Hai Junoon is written by Farhat Ishtiaq and directed by Haseeb Hassan.

    Sherdil (2021)

    The film revolves around Haris Mustafa, an under-training cadet who progresses from the academy to becoming a Flight Lieutenant in the PAF, fighting through personal and professional issues to achieve his dreams.Sherdil is written by Noumaan Khan and directed by Afzal Jafri.

    Yalghaar (2017)

    This action-packed war drama highlights the bravery of Pakistani soldiers and explores the effects of military operations. Yalghaar is written and directed by Hasaan Rana.

    Waar (2013)

    The film is about a former Pakistan Army officer, Major Mujtaba Rizvi, who joins a counter-terrorism operation to stop a major terrorist attack and seek revenge against the Indian spy who killed his family. Waar is written by Hassan Raza and directed by Bilal Lashari.

    These films showcase the diversity and richness of Pakistani cinema’s portrayal of patriotism and independence.

    There are also films based on the biopics of national heroes:

    Jinnah (1998)

    The film is based on the life of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, who successfully campaigned for an independent country and became its first Governor-General.Jinnah is written by Akbar Ahmed, Farrukh Dhondy, and Jamil Dehlavi, and directed by Jamil Dehlavi.

    Salute (2016)The film depicts a Pakistani schoolboy from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who sacrifices his life to prevent a suicide bomber from entering his school.This film is a tribute to Aitzaz Hasan. It is written and directed by Shehzad Rafique.These films explore diversity and richness of Pakistani cinema’s portrayal of patriotism and independence.

  • Fact Check: Monkeypox DID NOT reach Lahore

    Fact Check: Monkeypox DID NOT reach Lahore

    Claim: Two patients with monkeypox have been admitted into Jinnah Hospital

    Fact: Medical Superintendent Jinnah Hosptial confirms that no patients with monkeypox have been admitted

    On May 23, 2022, Dr Farooq Nawaz Sahil, a resident pulmonologist at Services Hospital Lahore tweeted that 2 patients with monkeypox have been admitted to Jinnah Hospital, Lahore and are being treated in the hospital’s isolation ward. ProPakistani, a digital media platform, shared the tweet on its website which became an extremely concerning public health update, reporting the first 2 cases of monkeypox in Pakistan.

    Although shortly after his tweet, Dr Sahil deleted it, the news spread like wildfire, primarily because the residual fear of a global pandemic has not completely worn off.

    The ProPakistani post coincided with the national Institute of Health (NIH) and World Health Organization’s (WHO) warnings to expect a global rise in the number monkeypox cases reported. This made it more likely to be believed and spread a panic within social media users who started sharing it repeatedly. Some of these posts can be found on Facebook and Twitter here, here, here here, here, here, here and here.

    Team Current established correspondence with Jinnah Hospital, Lahore and confirmed with the Medical Superintendent Dr Tahir that no such cases have been reported and in fact this false information has disrupted the hospital’s environment by creating unnecessary panic in citizens in Lahore. National Institute of Health Pakistan also tweeted earlier today, clarifying that no cases of monkeypox have been reported so far.

    Verdict: FALSE

    What is Monkeypox?

    Monkeypox is a virus and a usually self-limited disease with symptoms lasting from two to four weeks. It is transmittable through close contact (lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets, bedding) with an infected person or animal. It is a viral zoonotic disease and its clinical representation is similar to smallpox. According to the WHO report, past outbreaks were not extremely widespread and increasingly got better managed with modern medicine.

    In May 2022, multiple cases of monkeypox were identified in several countries where occurence of monkeypox is not a regular phenomenon and so WHO and NIH issued warnings against the disease and suggested strongarming medical screening at border entrances.

  • Equal citizens

    Recently, we heard about two bakeries in Karachi that refused to write ‘Merry Christmas’ on cakes. Both Delizia and Aunty Munaver turned away customers who wanted cakes with Christmas greetings. It is deeply disturbing to see such acts of bigotry in a country whose founder and others who fought for its freedom believed in rights for all and equality regardless of caste, creed, and faith. Yet we see how non-Muslims in Pakistan continue to face discrimination on a regular basis.

    Today, when we celebrate Christmas with our Christian brethren and wish them a day full of joy, we hope that our society will change for the better. Today is also the birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who taught us the meaning of tolerance and who believed in pluralism and inclusiveness.

    We often repeat and quote Jinnah’s August 11 speech but it is important to reiterate what he said again and again: “We are starting in the days where there is no discrimination, no distinction between one community and another, no discrimination between one caste or creed and another. We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one state.”

    This is what Pakistan stands for as this is what our founder taught us. It was good to see many people raising their voices against those bakeries that refused to write Merry Christmas on their cakes. It was social media outcry that led to Delizia bakery management on the backfoot and saying that it was an individual act. Whether it was an individual act or not can be ascertained as this isn’t the first time that such an incident took place. This year, we saw the horrible lynching of a Sri Lankan national. The government took strong exception to the incident and promised to take action against all those responsible. But the incident also showed how intolerance has seeped into our society. It is this bigotry and intolerance that has to end. On the birth anniversary of Jinnah, we should pledge to make this Jinnah’s Pakistan and not a Pakistan where extremism prospers. Once again, Merry Christmas to all those celebrating. 

  • ‘Govt unable to retrieve Quaide Azam’s 29-kanal property from land grabbers in Lahore’s Gulberg’

    ‘Govt unable to retrieve Quaide Azam’s 29-kanal property from land grabbers in Lahore’s Gulberg’

    Despite efforts made over the span of more than a year, Punjab’s anti-corruption department has failed to retrieve Quaide Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s property from land grabbers in Lahore, it has been claimed.

    According to Lahore-based journalist Rehan Tariq, the 29-kanal land owned by the founder of Pakistan in the provincial capital’s Gulberg area has been occupied while shopping malls and plazas have been constructed on lands linked to his sister and “Mother of the Nation”, Fatima Jinnah, as well as the country’s first prime minister (PM) Liaquat Ali Khan.

    The journalist went on to claim that the anti-corruption department launched a probe into the matter in December 2019 and it also sought record from the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) besides other public offices.

    “Officials also acquired Jinnah’s will regarding the land and prepared a source report,” Tariq said, adding that Jinnah’s property consisted of Arazi Khasra No 2181, 2129, 2200, 2180, 21825, 2184.

    Now shopping malls and plazas have been built on the land dedicated to a trust, he claimed.

  • ‘Ginnah’: Photos of alcoholic drink named after Jinnah go viral

    ‘Ginnah’: Photos of alcoholic drink named after Jinnah go viral

    After pictures of an alcohol brand named ‘Ginnah’ went viral on social media, the Indian media outlets, mostly, have started reporting that the bottle was named after the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

    According to the photos whose veracity is unconfirmed as of now — except that it has garnered many reactions on Twitter — it is a drink “enriched with the essence of randomly selected fresh herb, whole spice and dried fruits”.

    Also, the back label of the bottle reads: “Muhammad Ali Jinnah was the founder of Pakistan that came into being in August 1947 as a secular state. Decades later, the country was pushed over the cliff by a military dictator [Gen Ziaul Haq] aided by supporters in Washington D.C.”

    It went on to say Jinnah, more commonly known as ‘The Great Leader’, would never have approved of the country Gen Zia turned Pakistan to for the designs of the “clergy”. It also referred to Jinnah’s rather exquisite lifestyle, saying he indulged in gin and whiskey throughout his life.

    “In memory of the man of pleasure who he was: ‘Ginnah’,” the bottom of the label reads.

    A Twitter user posted photos of the gin named ‘Ginnah’ after the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam.

    Fashion designer Deepak Parwani wrote: “The world has move on to this #Jinnah.”

    While some social media users are still wondering if these photos are legit.

    The alcohol in Pakistan was criminalised by PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who came to power in 1970s, to appease the religious lobby. Before that, it was readily available in the big cities of Pakistan. Following Bhutto, Gen Zia made Islamic laws stringent and Pakistan starting moving away from the idea of a modern Muslim state.