Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned in Adiala jail, has categorically signalled that his party was ready for talks with the military establishment, Dawn News has reported.
However, while talking to reporters at Adiala jail, Khan set three preconditions for the talks: the return of PTI’s alleged ‘stolen mandate’, the release of all of the party workers currently detained, and transparent elections.
Earlier, Khan’s sister Aleema Khan delivered a message from Imran Khan to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir to “become neutral for the sake of Pakistan.” In 2022, Khan repeatedly berated the army’s leadership for being “neutral”, repeatedly saying that only animals are neutral.
Khan stated that his party has never levelled allegations against the army, saying that even a “spoilt child” was liable to criticism.
He also recalled that General Ziaul Haq was responsible for the judicial murder of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and General Yahya Khan was responsible for the fall of Dhaka.
Khan stated that the party had already nominated Mehmood Khan Achakzai for negotiations and urged the military to nominate their representative for talks.
Actress and digital content creator Fatima Effendi is never afraid to speak her mind. Recently, she appeared as a guest on ‘FHM Podcast’ where she talked about her unfiltered thoughts on extramarital affairs, social media, and the changing dynamics of relationships.
Fatima said, “These days’ men are a bit scared before they start affairs as they fear being found out on social media and their wives leaving them. This is a change from what used to happen before.”
Fatima highlighted that women frequently target the other woman when they find out about an affair. “When an affair comes to light, women should not target the other woman. Women should look at their own men instead of looking at the women around them.”
About society’s growing materialism, she said, “Today, people have become materialistic, and it’s alarming that single women now go for married men, not because they love them but because they only want financial stability.”
Fatima Effendi and Kanwar Arsalan have two sons together after their marriage in November 2012.
Pakistan, grappling with a shortage of US dollars, has seen a significant outflow of foreign exchange as international investors repatriated dividends and profits at unprecedented levels.
In fiscal year 2024 (FY24), foreign investors withdrew $2.2 billion, the highest outflow since the $2.3 billion withdrawn six years ago. This surge, representing a dramatic 569.2 per cent year-on-year increase, is primarily due to a low base in FY23.
The country’s foreign exchange reserves were critically low in FY23, prompting the government to impose restrictions on dollar outflows to avoid a potential default. Consequently, repatriations fell sharply to $331 million, an 80.3 per cent decrease from FY22, marking one of the lowest figures on record.
A pivotal change occurred in June 2023 when Pakistan reached a Staff Level Agreement (SLA) worth $3 billion with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The agreement mandated the removal of capital controls and a shift towards a more functional foreign exchange market. This move, driven by foreign pressure and the IMF’s conditions, resulted in the lifting of these restrictions, leading to a substantial increase in outflows in FY24.
In particular, May 2024 set a record with the highest monthly outward remittance of $918.1 million.
Notably, the outflow for the year exceeded the total foreign investment of $1.52 billion. Key sectors contributing to this outflow included Financial Business, Power, and Communications, with the Financial Business sector repatriating the most at $638.6 million.
Among the countries, the United Kingdom led with $558.57 million in repatriated profits, a substantial increase from $20.14 million the previous fiscal year. The UAE and Netherlands followed in repatriation figures.
Despite the significant outflow, there is an optimistic outlook for Pakistan’s economy. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has confirmed that there are no outstanding profit repatriation payments, alleviating concerns of foreign companies and potentially attracting new investors. The recent Fitch rating upgrade further supports the country’s economic stability.
On a positive note, Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves saw a 110 per cent increase, reaching $4.92 billion in FY24.
However, JPMorgan has cautioned that unresolved dividend backlog issues might impact the PKR in the short term. Addressing these could improve transparency and enhance the attractiveness of Pakistan as an investment destination.
Director Asim Abbasi sent a clear message to the critics of his web series ‘Barzakh’. Asim Abbasi shared a picture of the show on his Instagram story, where a person replied saying, “Please don’t add more to the fire by saying he ‘chose’ Saifu. They’re asking to boycott the show, and you’re giving them more reasons to so it. Glorifying these characters in the name of art is distasteful. It was wrong churails, its wrong here.”
On which Asim Abbasi, who is also the writer of Barzakh, replied, “With all due respect, if you find queer non-heteronormative storylines distasteful please do not watch my content.” Fawad Khan is playing the characters Saifullah and Lorenzo. The statement comes in response to a scene in episode 3 featuring an almost kissing moment between two male characters.
Asim Abbasi tagged the producers of web series with the caption on his story, “Shailja Kejriwal Waqas Ali and I will always champion rights of all, and tell stories that we believe in.”
The main plot of Barzakh is to explore the mysteries of life, the afterlife, and the enduring power of love. Set in the beautiful Hunza Valley, the story follows a 76-year-old recluse who invites his estranged children and grandchildren to his remote valley resort for a special event his wedding to the ghost of his first true love.
Looking for a good laugh? Check out these five hilarious K-dramas on Netflix that will keep you entertained. From witty characters to funny situations, these shows are a must-watch!
Chicken Nugget
Choi Min-ah, a young woman, is turned into a chicken nugget in a bizarre accident. Her father, Seon-man, and her admirer, Go Baek-joong, embark on a mission to understand the machine that caused this transformation and find a way to bring her back to human form. The series blends humor with heartfelt moments as they navigate through corporate hurdles, personal dreams, and odd challenges. Despite some slow episodes, ‘Chicken Nugget’ offers a mix of parody, comedy, and touching emotions. Now available to stream on Netflix in hindi.
Trailer:
King The Land
‘King The Land’ is another great Korean drama to watch in Hindi on Netflix. Released in June 2023, it even topped Netflix’s global non-English viewing rankings. According to Netflix, the story is about a charming heir in a tense inheritance battle who clashes with his hardworking employee known for her irresistible smile, which he can’t stand. The drama is praised for its beautiful story, excellent cast, stunning cinematography, original soundtracks, and comedy scenes.
Trailer:
True Beauty
Adapted from the popular webtoon, ‘True Beauty’ by Yaongyi, this K-drama tells the story of a high school girl who learns makeup to hide her insecurities. According to IMDb, the plot revolves around a girl who, after being bullied for her looks, transforms into a beautiful “goddess” using online makeup tutorials and quickly becomes popular. When she meets the most popular boy in school and her childhood friend, who secretly likes her, her life changes in unexpected ways. “True Beauty” is packed with hilarious comedy, touching friendships, and romantic moments.
Trailer:
Strong Girl Bong-soon
‘Strong Girl Bong-soon’ is about a woman with superhuman strength. Released in February 2017, it became JTBC’s highest-rated drama. According to Netflix, the story follows Bong-soon, who uses her strength to fight evil and bring justice while getting involved in a love triangle with her CEO boss and a cop she likes. The drama’s mix of comedy, fantasy, and romance made it a global hit.
Trailer:
She Would Never Know
Adapted from the web novel “Senior, Don’t Put on That Lipstick” by Elise, this romantic comedy follows a dedicated cosmetics brand manager and her younger colleague, who secretly has a crush on her. Netflix describes the plot as a rookie employee at a cosmetics company pursuing his senior co-worker to turn his unrequited crush into a romantic office relationship. ‘She Would Never Know’ offers a fresh take on workplace romance with humor, comedy, romance, and heartfelt moments.
Rajeev Khandelwal speaks out against banning Pakistani actors in India
At a time when cross-border collaborations between Indian and Pakistani artists have dwindled down to almost zero, Rajeev Khandelwal, the actor famous for drama Kahin To Hoga, has spoken up against the ban.
In a recent interview with Bollywood Bubble, Rajeev talked about his experience working with Humayun Saeed’s production and recalled the warm reception he received from Pakistani fans. “The Pakistani audience has always shown me so much love and respect. I remember loving the kind gifts I received and the wonderful conversations.” Khandelwal said.
He then said, “No artist, whether from Pakistan or anywhere else, should face a ban based on political factors. Such decisions should not dictate the career paths of actors.”
Rajeev Khandelwal also worked in the Pakistani drama Sun Leyna (2006), which was written by Seema Ghazal and produced by Humayun Saeed.
A retired army officer, Lieutenant Colonel Akbar Hussain, has been court-martialed by a military court after he was found guilty of inciting mutiny among army personnel, which led to his removal from duty.
The court handed him a sentence of 14 years of rigorous imprisonment on May 10 of this year, while his rank was forfeited on July 26.
Previously, the infamous PTI-affiliated Major (retd) Adil Farooq Raja and Captain (retd) Haider Raza Mehdi were also court-martialed on charges of sedition and violation of the Official Secrets Act of 1923.
The court found Adil Farooq Raja and Haider Raza Mehdi guilty on October 7 and October 9, 2023, respectively, following due judicial process. They were sentenced to 14 and 12 years of rigorous imprisonment, respectively, and their ranks were forfeited effective November 21, 2023.
More than 55,000 Canadian Sikhs voted in the Calgary Khalistan Referendum, dedicated to nine pro-Khalistan Canadian Sikhs who were assassinated by the Indian army in an armed clash.
The families of different Sikh separatist leaders flew in to cast votes and show support for the Khalistan referendum.
Geo’s Murtaza Ali Shah reported that Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a New York attorney and founder of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), addressed the charged crowd and vowed to bombard the Indian Independence Day, held on August 15, with the Khalistan Referendum campaign from Red Fort to Ranchi. Pannun said that the SFJ, through a global referendum campaign, has equipped every Sikh household with a “powerful bomb that will only explode during Khalistan Referendum voting to liberate Punjab from Indian occupation.”
The choice is yours; either kill your enemy or kill the Indian system, said Pannun to a roaring crowd of thousands waiting to cast a vote in the Khalistan Referendum. He said: “SFJ’s choice of weapon is vote while India’s Modi is using violence to stop Khalistan Referendum. At present, pro-Khalistan Sikhs are not going to kill anyone in retaliation. Still, SFJ is going to kill the Indian system that is responsible for the genocide of Sikhs and the genocide of Punjab. In 1929, Shaheed Bhagat Singh bombarded the Indian legislative assembly to liberate India from British rule.”
Following Pannun’s speech, the Punjab Referendum Commission (PRC) announced to the crowd that the next phase of the Khalistan Referendum would take place in New Zealand in a few months.
Thousands of Sikhs queued from 4 am till 6 am at Calgary’s iconic Municipal to participate in the Khalistan Referendum, voting for creating an independent state of Khalistan for the Sikh nation. The nine Canadian national Sikhs assassinated by India for their political beliefs are Shaheed Lakhbir Singh Rode, Shaheed Bhupinder Singh Kooner, Shaheed Harjinder Singh Para, Shaheed Talwinder Singh Parmar, Shaheed Surinder Singh Shinder Commando, Shaheed Balbir Singh Khaira, Shaheed Jathedar Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Shaheed Mohinder Singh Kooner and Shaheed Surinder Singh Ravi.
Sikhs who gathered outside the city hall were carrying flags of Khalistan. The road outside has been decorated with large posters of Sikhs who embraced martyrdom for the Sikh causes – and are revered by the Sikhs across the world. The banners carried pictures of Sikh heroes and paid tribute to them.
Throughout the day, Calgary’s town hall echoed with slogans of “Khalistan Zindabad”, “Punjab banal ga Khalistan”, “Delhi banal ga Khalistan,” Rajasthan banal ga Khalistan”, Modi, stop terrorism against Sikhs”, India is a terrorist state”. The Sikhs said they will adhere to the principle set by their Gurus and will always look up the examples set by Sikh freedom fighters, including Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was assassinated last year by Indian agents in Surrey.
Veteran Khalistani leaders and President of the Council of Khalistan, Dr Bakhshish Singh Sandhu, said the turnout had amazed everyone. “The queue at one point stretched to nearly four kilometres. This is the measurement of Sikhs’ desire for freedom from India.
All the voting phases in the Khalistan Referendum are being held under the guidance and supervision of a panel of non-aligned direct democracy experts from the Punjab Referendum Commission (PRC). The Commission’s approved third-party staff conducts the whole voting process, from registration to supervision of ballot boxes and sealing the ballots at the end of the voting day to maintain the highest level of transparency. The PRC is conducting the voting on the question of “Should Indian Governed Punjab Be An Independent Country?” with two options of “Yes” and No”.
The Khalistan Referendum voting started on October 31, 2021, from London, UK, and has so far been held in several countries and cities across the UK: Geneva, Switzerland; Rome and Milan (Italy); the Australian cities of Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney; the American cities of San Francisco and Sacramento; the Canadian cities of Brampton, Mississauga, Malton (Ontario), Surrey Vancouver (British Columbia), and now Calgary.
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is heading to the U.S. for urgent eye treatment after a recent procedure in Mumbai did not go as expected.
According to Indian media, Shah Rukh Khan is scheduled to fly to the U.S. on Tuesday, July 30, to address complications from the earlier treatment.
A source close to the actor revealed that Khan had undergone an eye procedure at a Mumbai hospital on July 29, but it did not go as planned. The actor is now being rushed to the U.S. for further treatment.
Details about his condition and the specifics of the treatment are currently unavailable.
Police have arrested the mastermind behind a honey trap scheme targeting controversial writer Khalilur Rehman Qamar. Hassan Shah and his accomplice, Rafiq, were taken into custody in Peshawar. Shah is accused of leading a 12-member gang, including women, that allegedly trapped Qamar and then released compromising videos of him.
The police report reveals that Qamar was tricked into visiting a woman’s house, where he was recorded without his knowledge. Shah is accused of distributing these explicit videos online.
Qamar had previously claimed he was kidnapped. The investigation is ongoing, with Shah and Rafiq currently in custody. In total, 12 people, including the woman involved, have been arrested in connection with the case.
Qamar reported being abducted and robbed in Lahore. He alleged that Amna Urooj invited him to her house under the pretense of discussing a drama project. Once there, he was kidnapped by armed men, who later released him after taking a significant ransom was paid.
The FIR indicated that the kidnappers stole Qamar’s mobile phone, watch, and cash, and withdrew Rs250,000 from his ATM card. Qamar also stated that he was blindfolded and left in a deserted area before the suspects fled.
