Tag: Pakistan

  • Comedy shows are taking off in Pakistan: what you need to know

    Comedy shows are taking off in Pakistan: what you need to know

    After watching tons of videos of standup comedians online from all across the globe, getting hold of tickets of a show in Pakistan, No Offence was such a pleasant surprise. Expectations were high and excitement was going through the roof.

    First and foremost, we need to have more standup shows in the country to give a boost to the comedy landscape of Pakistani entertainment. It was thoroughly refreshing to see a live comedy show. Many in the audience, especially uncles, found most jokes relatable and laughed their lungs out.

    The show was held in Ali Auditorium on Ferozpur Road on a foggy winter night in Lahore. Expected to get defrosted by the warmth and hysteria of jokes, we were introduced to Mohsin Ejaz performing for the first half. His set literally was the music to the ears. The situations he created with old classic songs had some really good laugh-out-loud moments. The way he compared the nineties music of Bollywood and Pakistan and how he made Mehdi Hassan the pioneer of stalkers because of his song “Zindagi mein to sabhee” is one such example. He proved the power of his vocal chords and the audience appreciated him by singing along. His set did take a dramatic turn towards the end which hit the right chord and made us all emotional (you’ll have to go and see to understand). The use of dark humor was done in the right proportion.

    The audience was charged up when we were introduced to Dawar Mehmood, the man of the hour. He started off by acknowledging his association and training by the legendary Anwar Maqsood. The stakes were high now. He started off nicely by doing a set about PIA air hostesses and how Punjabi humour does not appeal to a Karachiite. One could sense a hint of Moin Akhtar in them. His mention of the jokes shared by Anwar Maqsood were legit taking a dig at the current political landscape had a healthy amount of sarcasm in them. The way he relayed the story of his show getting cancelled because of Lahore’s obsession with Imran Khan during the days of his arrest was indeed funny. It would have been great had he just remained there because even though, the show was meant to be inoffensive, the jokes about cheating men, the Me Too movement, and feminism were archaic if not offensive. In today’s day and age, we are past these jokes, aren’t we?

    In a nutshell, it is a great attempt for a start and Kopykats deserve all the applause for initiating this.

  • In a first, man sentenced to three years in jail for marital rape

    In a first, man sentenced to three years in jail for marital rape

    In a legal first, a man has been sentenced to three years in jail after he was found guilty of having non-consensual sex with his wife, a punishable act under Section 377 (unnatural offences) of the Pakistan Penal Code, The News has reported.

    Additional Sessions Judge (South) Ashraf Hussain Khowaja announced the reserved judgment in Karachi after recording evidence and final arguments from both the defence and prosecution sides.

    He sentenced the convict named Javed to three-year rigorous imprisonment and ordered him to pay a Rs30,000 fine. If he fails to pay the fine, he would have to undergo an additional one month of simple imprisonment.

    “From a perusal of evidence brought at the trial by the prosecution, it appears that the victim has fully established a commission of sodomy with her by the accused being her husband,” the judge observed.

    “Though the victim/complainant contradicted some facts relating to the period of her stay with the accused, putting her signature on the memo of site inspection at PS, suffering from disease of piles and her age which are immaterial facts which would not be fatal to the prosecution case,” he added.
    The judge noted the medical evidence supported this version. On the other hand, he said the accused failed to establish “enmity” that her wife loved somebody else and therefore she implicated him falsely. The convict’s sisters who appeared as defence witnesses failed even to disclose the name of the alleged affair of the victim, he added.

    The victim testified that her husband would commit sodomy with her despite her attempts to stop him. About two months after their marriage, she informed her mother-in-law, who didn’t say anything to him, she said, adding that then she disclosed her ordeal to her sister and brother, after which she lodged an FIR against her husband on November 23, 2022.

    Advocate Bahzad Akbar of the Legal Aid Society, who represented the complainant, contended that sodomy falls within the definition of rape and marital rape in this case after an amendment brought to Section 375 of the Pakistan Penal Code in 2021.

    He said that the woman’s testimony and medical evidence corroborated the charges against the accused, requesting the judge to punish Javed as per the law.
    “I am not sure about other provinces but this is certainly the first such conviction over marital rape in Sindh following the amendment,” he told The News.
    He added there are no known convictions on charges of marital rape in the country. An FIR had been lodged under Section 377 of the PPC at the Chakiwara police station on the woman’s complaint.

  • ECP takes notice of attack on candidate’s election office in Lahore

    ECP takes notice of attack on candidate’s election office in Lahore

    Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja took notice of an attack on the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate’s election office in Lahore’s Sattoo Katla area.

    On Friday morning, the Lahore office of Manzar Abbas Khokhar, the candidate from the PPP, was targeted in an attack involving a Molotov cocktail (petrol bomb).

    “The banners on the gate were burned after catching fire from the petrol bombs while the attackers stole the chairs and other things,” added PPP’s spokesperson.

    He added that Khokhar’s son filed an application at the Township Police Station. The police said that they would take legal action against the attackers after investigating the matter.

    At the same time, the ECP’s spokesperson stated that they have received instructions to file a First Information Report (FIR) following a complaint lodged by the PPP.

    PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the attack, saying that targeting the election office of the candidate was “open terrorism.”

  • Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza had divorced before his marriage: Geo

    Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza had divorced before his marriage: Geo

    Former Indian tennis player Sania Mirza and Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik have divorced before his marriage, pictures of which he shared on social media on Saturday morning, Geo has said.

    Rumors that the two were divorcing had been circulating for a while. Sania Mirza often shared pictures of herself and her son on social media, but Shoaib Malik was not in those photos. Recently, Sania Mirza posted a message on social media, saying that both marriage and divorce are tough decisions.

    On the other hand, Shoaib Malik and actress Sana Javed announced their marriage on social media on Saturday. This has led to discussions on whether Sania and Shoaib are divorced or just separated. So far, there has been no official statement about their divorce.

    Geo has reported that Sania Mirza was unhappy with Shoaib Malik’s involvement with other women, and she ignored him for a long time. It is said that Sania Mirza decided to end their marriage when she could no longer tolerate the situation.

  • Pakistan sees 18th straight month of decline in auto financing

    Pakistan sees 18th straight month of decline in auto financing

    In December 2023, automobile financing in Pakistan recorded a significant decline, reaching Rs251.25 billion, marking a 25.55 per cent year-on-year drop and a 2.26 per cent month-on-month decrease. 

    This contrasts with Rs333.747 billion in December 2022 and Rs257.06 billion in November 2023, as revealed by the latest central bank data.

    Notably, this marks the eighteenth consecutive monthly decrease in automobile financing, attributed to factors such as elevated interest rates, a surge in car prices, regulatory constraints on loan acquisition, and increased taxes on automobile imports and components.

    According to data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), consumer financing for house building reached Rs208.15 billion by the end of December 2023, reflecting a 3.17 per cent year-on-year decrease. 

    On a monthly basis, house building financing showed a marginal increase compared to the previous month’s Rs206.92 billion.

    Simultaneously, financing for personal use amounted to Rs244.41 billion, experiencing a 3.84 per cent year-on-year decline and a 0.64 per cent month-on-month decrease, indicating a challenging trend in the lending landscape for various purposes.

  • ECP releases postal ballots for February 8 elections

    ECP releases postal ballots for February 8 elections

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has started providing postal ballot papers as general elections are set to take place on February 8, draw nearer.

    The development was announced by the electoral body today.

    ECP confirmed that all eligible individuals can cast their votes by January 22 through the postal ballot paper.
    An application form for the postal ballot is also available on the ECP’s website.

    Through the postal ballot, the voter can send his vote to the District Returning Officer (RO).
    Pakistan’s upcoming general elections, scheduled for February 8, are witnessing extensive preparations by the ECP. The electoral body is actively working to guarantee comprehensive arrangements nationwide, aiming for a foolproof electoral process.

    To ensure strict security measures in place ahead of the polls, the ECP issued it’s “Code of Conduct for Security Personnel”, warning them against bias while being on election duty.

  • Quetta becomes even colder; Drizzle expected in Karachi

    Quetta becomes even colder; Drizzle expected in Karachi

    Cold weather has increased in different cities of Balochistan after rain spells while a drizzle is expected in Karachi tonight (Saturday). The cold wave in other parts of the country is likely to become stronger, the Meteorological Department has said, reports Geo.

    The coldest temperature during the last 24 hours was hit in Skardu, where the mercury dropped to minus 9 degrees Celsius.

    The federal capital, Islamabad, is shrouded in dense fog which is affecting the flight schedule. Three international flights to Islamabad have been grounded in Karachi and Lahore. Due to low visibility, more than 500 flights have been delayed in the first 20 days of 2024.

    The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy fog in the plains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Upper Sindh during the next few days. Karachi is likely to remain partially cloudy during the next 24 hours, while the possibility of drizzle has also been indicated at some places this evening. On Sunday and Monday, the city is expected to be partly cloudy and cool at night.

    The minimum temperature of the coastal city is expected to be between 13 and 15 degrees Celsius, while winds will continue to blow from the northeast and southwest in the city throughout the day.

  • Dear Shoaib and Sana, public marriages should have public closure

    Dear Shoaib and Sana, public marriages should have public closure

    Needless to say, today’s big story has hit some people hard — and harder hit are the ones who were taken by surprise. We still remember the time when Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza got married.

    Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza married in a traditional Muslim ceremony in Hyderabad, India in 2010, followed by a Valima ceremony in Sialkot, Pakistan. Izhaan, the couple’s first child, was born in 2018.

    The rumours of Sania and Shoaib’s separation were around for a long time, but nothing was confirmed. There was an ongoing debate on social media which spiked whenever they either stopped following each other or removed pictures from Instagram.

    On the other hand, Sana Javed and Umair Jaswal’s marriage was also under discussion as rumours of their separation were widely spread on social media. In November 2023, speculations about the couple’s separation gained traction as users observed that Sana Javed and Umair Jaswal had deleted all traces of their shared moments from their Instagram accounts.

    Recently, Sania posted a story on Instagram which stated, “Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard….Life will never be easy. It will always be hard. But we can choose our hard. Pick wisely.” And people felt for her, picking up that something was yet again, not okay. And she wasn’t able to fully express it, yet.

    Even now, stories are circulating through sources that Shoaib and Sania have divorced – with no comment by the reportedly former couple themselves

    We aren’t here to moral police two of our biggest superstars. But we would like to say, we expected that seasoned celebrities would show their fans a better, more respectful way to starting new chapters in their lives. Sania, Shoaib, Sana, Uzair, there are people who connect with them, follow them, want to be like them, which is why we would’ve appreciated an understanding of what’s going on.

    Sania, throughout this process, has said nothing. Amidst all this, Shoaib posts a picture with Sana, announcing his third marriage, and while we are happy for the new couple and their new beginning — we do have to ask — perhaps it might have been better to give their fan following who are invested in their lives, closure.

  • Social media in frenzy on Shoaib Malik’s wedding

    Social media in frenzy on Shoaib Malik’s wedding

    Cricketer Shoaib Malik and actor Sana Javed have caused media frenzy and social media uproar early on Saturday morning when both announced that they had gotten married, complete with photos from the ceremony. In the photos, they are wearing similar outfits while hugging each other. The caption says “Alhamdullilah” and quotes the Holy Book: “And We created you in pairs.”

    The sudden announcement surprised many because Shoaib Malik was married to tennis star Sania Mirza, and Sana Javed was married to singer Umair Jaswal. There had been no official confirmation of the two marriages ending.

    Social media was taken by surprise but is not holding back.

    Someone on X (formerly Twitter) said, “Shoaib Malik got married again, but King Babar hasn’t married yet,” along with a thinking John Cena GIF. Another X user asked, “Did Shoaib Malik and Sana Javed really get married? This is why Malik Sahab was supporting Sana when half the showbiz was speaking out against her.’”

    One fan joked, “Now I know why Shoaib Malik was so excited on Jeeto Pakistan.” Another person on X made a joke, “Where did you guys first meet: Jeeto Pakistan – Ramzan transmission.” Some people from across the border were also upset.

    Here are some reactions:

  • Aik, do, teen….. nahin, pooray sau; Khushab’s ‘Madhuri’ loots 100 men

    Aik, do, teen….. nahin, pooray sau; Khushab’s ‘Madhuri’ loots 100 men

    A Khushab woman named Nasreen, also known as Madhuri, has been accused of marrying more than 100 people in the last eight years to steal money from them. She was finally arrested by the police from Khushab along with her gang of dacoits, reports City 42.

    A differently-abled man named Junaid made a request in the open court of DPO Khushab Tawqir Muhammad Naeem, stating that a woman named Nasreen married him but ran away after two days, stealing household goods and cash.

    It was found out that Nasreen alias Madhuri is a resident of Quaidabad Tehsil of Khushab. Further investigations revealed that the woman had cheated several people along with a gang which included her fake parents and a fraudulent nikahkhwan.

    Police arrested the con woman and her gang, while Junaid was returned his three lacs rupees. Police officials have revealed that the gang’s operating style involved luring men into marriage and then exploiting them.