Tag: Pakistan

  • Meet Abdul Hadi, legal eagle and Imaan Mazari’s husband

    Meet Abdul Hadi, legal eagle and Imaan Mazari’s husband

    Daughter of former federal minister Shireen Mazari, Imaan Zainab Mazaari Hazir, recently married the love of her life Abdul Hadi Ali Chattha, in a ceremony in Islamabad.

    Have you searched on Google who is Imaan Mazari’s husband?

    Abdul Hadi Ali Chattha is the Vice Chairman of the Human Rights Committee, Punjab Bar Council and Founder of Fair Trial Defenders Legal Aid Cell.

    Well, we got a chance to talk with him and as a Multani, I am filled with happiness and joy that Imaan married someone who was born and raised on a farm (Pind) in Multan.

    Abdul Hadi Ali Chattha did his O levels and A levels from Beaconhouse and went to Newcastle University UK for LLB Hons.

    He takes pride in being a Multani and honestly, so do I.

    When asked when the couple first met, Hadi said, “We first met in F-8 Katcheri because I was there for a client and got introduced to Imaan. We appeared in court together for that case.”

    He started working at AGHS legal aid cell with the late human rights giant Asma Jehangir after coming back from the UK.

    After her death, he worked at Justice Project Pakistan with Barrister Sarah Belal.

    When asked why he left the U.K. or cities like Islamabad and Lahore and came back to Multan, Hadi said, “In 2018 I came back to Multan and established my legal aid cell, Fair Trial Defenders Legal Aid Cell, to give back to the people of my land. We provide free legal representation to clients who can’t afford legal expenses. We have a core team of six lawyers with my co-founder Suleman A Zeb.”

    What do you love the most about Imaan?

    “It’s very difficult to answer that because it’s everything about her.”

    He was initially attracted because of her passion and bravery for the work she does. It’s also the side of her no one else knows, she keeps it hidden from the public eye.

    Head over heels in love with Imaan, Hadi said, “I have never met anyone like her. She’s the only one of her kind.”

    Since Imaan has been to jail recently, I asked him if he would go to jail for her. “I would go to jail with her. No one’s arresting my wife unless they arrest me too.”

    Hadi has decided to move his practice to Islamabad, getting an office there in June 2023. “We will be living in Islamabad, serving the people in Multan through Legal Aid Cell.”

    I asked if they intended to start a podcast together Hadi said nothing of the sort is happening in the near future.

    Hadi has been a great support and core organizer of Aurat March Multan since 2020. He looks after all the legal matters and NOCs required.

    When asked whether the couple will be seen in Aurat March Multan 2024 together, Hadi said, “Maybe one year in Islamabad March and one in Multan March. Wherever our comrades need us. “

    The most thoughtful part is that they didn’t have a wedding hashtag or an extravagant wedding. “We both wanted it to be as small and intimate as possible. We feel guilty being extravagant especially because of what is happening around us with our Baloch brothers and sisters and the situation in Gaza.”

  • Indian singer B Praak stunned by Farhan Saeed cover of his song

    Indian singer B Praak stunned by Farhan Saeed cover of his song

    Indian singer B. Praak was left amazed after hearing a song in the voice of Pakistani singer Farhan Saeed.

    A recent concert held in Dubai starred artists from both India and Pakistan. Various videos of the event have gone viral on social media.
    Singer B. Praak’s captivating performance kept the audience entertained for hours. Pakistani singer Farhan Saeed also joined B. Praak on stage, expressing happiness at seeing Pakistani celebrities at the concert. When Farhan sang a couple of verses from Praak’s hit, the Indian singer lit up with a beaming smile.
    Farhan Saeed, Mehwish Hayat, Salman Iqbal, Sana Shahnawaz, Samina Humayun, and Humayun Saeed attended the event. Indian celebrities like Vivek Oberoi were also present. Farhan Saeed said, “Today, we are not here for singing but to enjoy your songs.”

    Here are some beautiful pictures:

    Farhan Saeed
    Farhan Saeed
    Farhan Saeed
    Farhan Saeed

  • ‘It’s my great honour to be called Daughter of Buner’: Dr. Sawera Prakash on Indian TV

    ‘It’s my great honour to be called Daughter of Buner’: Dr. Sawera Prakash on Indian TV

    Dr. Sawera Prakash, the first Hindu woman to contest general elections from Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, recently appeared on a talk show on an Indian TV channel and amazed the host with her honesty and confidence.

    She was asked by host Sudhir Chaudhary of Aaj Tak TV about whether Muslim voters in Pakistan will ever vote for a Hindu woman to which Miss Prakash replied that she fully believes that. “The positive response I have been receiving has exceeded my expectations.” She asserted that she has never felt discriminated against, neither as a minority nor as a woman, during her campaign. Upon this the interviewer told her that it feels like she has embraced Pakistan like no other, even though she is a Hindu. Sawera promptly reminded him she was born in Pakistan and being a citizen, she is a patriot. She especially mentioned that she has been given the title of “Daughter of Buner” and this makes her responsible towards not just her district but her country as well.

    Sudhir Chaudhary however kept on trying to rattle the calm Dr. Prakash, asking her about the situation of minorities in Pakistan. He quoted disgraced former cricketer Danesh Kanaria who has said that he could not flourish because of his minority status. Miss Prakash vehemently denied that by saying that she is getting support from people of her district, an area which is traditionally conservative yet they own her. Punjab and Sindh must be more open towards minorities, she implied.

    Towards the end, the interviewer asked her about Ram Mandir which is about to be opened in Ayodhya, India, built on the site of Babri Masjid, and whether she would come to visit. Dr. Sawera answered that she has never thought about it.

  • Faisal Qureshi wants Indian films screened in Pakistan

    Faisal Qureshi wants Indian films screened in Pakistan

    Actor Faysal Quraishi wants to restore the splendor of Pakistani cinema but has an unusual plan to do so.

    In an interview the veteran performer gave to Independent Urdu, he talked about the film industry in Pakistan and how it can be revived.
    “I am a very patriotic person,” he said. However, he emphasized that to make Pakistani cinema thrive, it’s crucial to screen Bollywood films in theaters. “I know that our people want to watch Bollywood movies in Pakistan, so we cannot impose our will on them.”

    The actor mused about building good relationships with India, stating that, “We got a great opportunity to work in India. However, due to political tensions and conflicts, those paths closed, and we often shut down routes that bring money to our country.”

  • ECP rejects nomination papers of Dr Ammar Ali Jan

    ECP rejects nomination papers of Dr Ammar Ali Jan

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has on Saturday rejected the nomination papers of the leader of the Haqooq-e-Khalq Party (HKP), Dr Ammar Ali Jan, from PP 160 Lahore.

    The HKP leader and well-known activist claimed that all his documents were cleared during the scrutiny process, but unknown forces intervened.

    He also said in one of his tweets on X (previously Twitter): “My nomination papers for PP160 have been rejected by ECP. All documents were cleared during the scrutiny process, but invisible forces intervened later. We will go to High Court and have this decision reversed. The selection process will fail, and democracy will prevail.”

    He also wrote on X that HKP staged a historical rally at Shanghai Bridge on Sunday, alleging that police threatened HKP workers and tried to disperse the gathering.

    Dr Ammar Ali Jan is a known teacher and activist who leads social work in underprivileged localities of Lahore. During Imran Khan’s government, he was a leading critical voice, subjected to targeted harassment by the police.

  • Heavy penalties on traffic violations to be imposed from today

    Heavy penalties on traffic violations to be imposed from today

    Drivers violating traffic rules on motorways and national highways will pay a heavy price for transgressions from today (January 1).

    National Highways and Motorway Police have revised fines, applicable from January 1.

    As per the details released by NHMP, the fines range from Rs. 750 to Rs. 3000 for covering the backscreen partially or completely and not following the stop-line protocols respectively.

    The details of the rest of the fines are in the tweet below:

  • Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s convoy attacked in DI Khan

    Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s convoy attacked in DI Khan

    Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s convoy came under attack in Dera Ismail Khan on Sunday.

    The politician’s convoy was fired from multiple directions at the Yarik Interchange, the party’s spokesperson, Mufti Abrar, told Geo News on Sunday, adding that the attack took place while the vehicles were passing through the DI Khan area.

    He also confirmed that Maulana Fazlur Rehman is safe.

    Fazlur Rehman’s brother, however, denied the attack on the party chief, claiming that Maulana was at home when the incident happened.

    “Maulana’s car stopped for refueling near the Yarik interchange [when the incident happened],” he added.

    Maulana has expressed concerns many times about security issues in the DI Khan area. He also said on December 5 that “There is no police in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, and Lakki Marwat. Can the polls be staged in this situation of unrest?”

    Earlier this week, Fazl had warned that his party will hold Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja responsible if party workers came under attack during electioneering.

  • Petrol, diesel price in Pakistan to remain unchanged for first two weeks of January 2024

    Petrol, diesel price in Pakistan to remain unchanged for first two weeks of January 2024

    The interim government has chosen to uphold the current petrol price in Pakistan for the initial two weeks of January 2024.

    This decision is attributed to the absence of any significant decrease in global crude prices and amidst a stable exchange rate between the Pakistani rupee and the US dollar.

    The diesel price will also stay unaltered for the upcoming fortnight.

    As a result of this development, the prices for petrol and diesel will persist at Rs267.34 and Rs276.21 per liter, respectively.

    These revised prices will be effective from January 1, 2024.

    Earlier in the month, the government had reduced the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs14 and Rs13.5, respectively, following the bi-weekly revision.

  • Our people of the year 2023: Motaz and Mahrang

    Our people of the year 2023: Motaz and Mahrang

    2023 saw the world witnessing war and injustices on a global scale, and the rise of indigenous leadership. It is said that leaders are not born, they are made. The war on Gaza and some indigenous movements have caused a paradigm shift in the collective consciousness of people by changing the way pop culture approaches celebrity culture. This time the choice was not hard. Heroes of 2023 are neither politicians nor actors, they are people who have not deliberately made their way to the limelight. Circumstances made them stand up for the cause they stood for.

    Motaz Azaiza

    Motaz, the photojournalist famously known as “The Eye of Gaza”, has emerged as the world’s window into Gaza. His Instagram and Twitter accounts provided a very real and horrifying peek into the oppression carried out by the Israeli forces.

    The world saw his transformation over a short time, as the war lingered on for more than 80 days. From grey hair at 24 to his struggle to have access to the internet, the world him document the horrors unfolding in Gaza’s genocide. His followers increased from thousands to millions and he became that one person who people prayed for when seen offline for a long time.

    This young man graduated from the University of Gaza in English Language Literature, pursued his passion for photography, and struggled as a freelancer in the limited options available in Gaza but his efforts got recognized post-October 7. His valour and commitment got appreciated in the form of him being declared the “Man of the Year” by GQ Middle East and the pictures taken by him making it to Times Top 100 Photos of 2023.

    “No one is safe, nowhere is safe, and fear is everywhere. Either I stay at home or I go outside. Why should I stay at home? I have to stand up and show the world the truth through the camera lens,” Motaz told The New Arab in an interview and this encapsulates the motive behind his work.

    Mahrang Baloch

    Mahrang, a student leader from Balochistan, is again a leader crafted by circumstances. At 30, she is leading a movement against the extra-judicial killings and missing persons in the country.

    Mahrang was just a young girl when her father was forcibly abducted and later found dead with signs of torture back in 2009. According to her, this incident changed her life completely. Unfazed, she became vocal about the inhumane acts. Her brother faced the same persecution in 2017 but that made her even more resolute to speak against this injustice. She actively led different movements in her student years. Mahrang was a student leader in 2020 when the removal of the quota system at Bolan Medical College emerged and she led the campaign to oppose the suggestion successfully as she believed that this quota system preserve opportunities for students from remote areas.

    The human rights activist describes herself as a political worker and an advocate of #endenforceddisappearences.

    She is currently leading the sit-in by Balcoh protestors in Islamabad, becoming the voice of tens of thousands of Baloch suffering the loss of their beloved in the province through the platform of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee. The death of Balach Baloch instigated a new wave of awareness about the issue and this time Mahrang is determined to not let the phenomenon of the “Baloch Genocide” go unnoticed.

    Both causes are close to our hearts, inspiring us with their bravery and determination.

  • Top three blunders by Pakistani celebrities in 2023

    Top three blunders by Pakistani celebrities in 2023

    Pakistani celebrities found themselves in the spotlight in 2023 for various reasons, and unfortunately, not all were positive. Let’s delve into the top three blunders that grabbed public attention:

    From social media missteps to controversial statements, these incidents stirred discussions and raised questions about the responsibility that comes with fame.

    Nida Yasir faced online mockery after mistakenly stating on Shoaib Akhtar’s show that Pakistan won the 1992 Cricket World Cup in 2006. Netizens swiftly responded with humor, sharing memes and comments about the gaffe. Yasir, known as the ‘queen of memes,’ has previously been trolled for various reasons, maintaining her reputation for unintentional comedic moments on live television. Twitter users seized the opportunity to share their amusement, once again making Yasir the center of online humor.

    Sehar Khan faced backlash for inaccurately labeling Priyanka Chopra’s ‘Barfi’ character. Critics highlighted the importance of using respectful language regarding mental health.

    Sehar apologized, acknowledging her mistake and emphasizing her respect for those with mental disabilities. The incident underscores the responsibility celebrities bear in shaping public perceptions.

    TikTok couple Sehar Hayat and Samir Rasheed faced severe criticism for conducting a poll on social media, asking followers whether they wanted to see a Valima vlog or Sehar in the hospital. After Sehar fell ill, Samir shared a picture of her in the hospital, sparking accusations of a tasteless publicity stunt. The couple deleted the poll amid backlash, with netizens condemning the prioritization of social media over Sehar’s well-being. The controversy drew attention from model Mathira, who called out the perceived fakery. Critics questioned the authenticity of their actions, fueling a social media storm.