Tag: Pakistani Media

  • ‘Khuda ka khauf karo, PML-N chali jayegi’: Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar schools Punjab police

    ‘Khuda ka khauf karo, PML-N chali jayegi’: Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar schools Punjab police

    Writer Khalil Ur Rehman Qamar took to his social media handle to school Punjab police for their conduct with the protestors.

    While posting a video of a protestor, Qamar penned a heartfelt note.

    The Mere Paas Tum Ho writer stated that “the government will eventually go but you (police) will only be left with hatred in your kitty.”

    Large-scale skirmishes between the Punjab police and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers erupted in the provincial metropolis on Wednesday when the law-enforcers blocked their routes for their participation in the ‘Azadi March’, announced by party chairman Imran Khan.

    Dozens of PTI workers and leaders were arrested including former Punjab health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, Andaleeb Abbas, Zubair Niazi, Mian Mamunur-Rasheed, Ejaz Chaudhry, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, and former vice chairman Chief Minister’s Complaint Cell Nasir Salman. However, most of the leaders were released soon after their arrest.

    The party workers responded to the call given byImran Khan, who had been demanding immediate dissolution of assemblies and announcement of date for general election. The government’s plan that not a single vehicle should get out of Lahore,however, failed.

    Police tear-gassed and lathi-charged the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf marchers at Batti Chowk and Bhatti Gate area whenthey attempted to remove containers, placed on roads. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaflawyers and workers had scuffles with the police outside Aiwan-e-Adl and Post Master General Office. Police subjected lawyers to torture outside the Aiwan-e-Adl. A Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader, Zubair Niazi,was injured during a scuffle with the police. He was also arrested, but lawyers managed to rescue him from police. Lawyers also removed barriers from in front of Aiwan-e-Adl.

    The lawyercaravan clashed with the police, broke barriers and left for Islamabad. Police damaged busses, hired by lawyers for the marchers. The marchers were also intercepted at Shahdara. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf workers removed all containers at Batti Chowk, Ravi Bridge, Niazi Chowk and Shahdara and cleared the roads to move towards Islamabad.

    Meanwhile, another Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf caravan, led by Hammad Azhar, managed to overcome obstacles and leave Lahore for Islamabad. However, he received a minor injury. The police stopped the PTI workers about 100 metres before the Ravi Bridge.

    Police refused to allow Dr Yasmin Rashid to move towards Batti Chowk. When she tried to move ahead, the policemen hit her vehicle with a heavy stick,damaging badly the windscreen. Shahdara and Farrukhabad areas were turned into battlefield where the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf workers offered resistance and managed to cross the city by removing the obstacles.

    The marchers threw tear-gas shells back at police and threw stones and bricks. Police resorted to baton-charge and fired tear-gas shells from Ravi Toll Plaza to Shahdara Chowk, which forced the PTI workers to disperse for some time.

  • Shahzeb Khanzada warns of December crisis, Hammad Azhar ignores question in heated debate

    Shahzeb Khanzada warns of December crisis, Hammad Azhar ignores question in heated debate

    Energy Minister Hammad Azhar appeared in Geo News’ programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath on Monday, during which the minister indulged in a heated debate with the host of the programme, Shahzeb Khanzada.

    During the show, Khanzada asked Azhar about the expected shortfall of gas in the winter season but the minister refused to answer the question. The minister kept refusing to answer the question about an expected gas crisis in December saying that he will appear again to talk about it.

    The federal minister said that he has only come to talk about the facts presented on Friday’s episode of the programme. The host mentioned that in Friday’s programme, he did talk about the expected shortfall of gas in the winter.

    The show on Friday, October 15, shared data from a report, compiled by Nepra, on the performance of the Ministry of Energy and asked the question: why is the ministry delaying the purchase of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is costing the public dearly.

    Khanzada claimed earlier that he had invited the minister on his show 27 times, but the minister refused to come.

    Earlier in Friday’s show, Khanzada warned of the expected gas shortage during the winter season as Pakistan will not have the required number of LNG cargoes. He explained that during the winter season the government will only have 10 LNG cargoes. The government has the capacity to have 14 LNG cargoes but in the winter, the demand for LNG is more than 14 cargoes.

  • Nobel Peace Prize for journalists

    Nobel Peace Prize for journalists

    The importance of free media and freedom of expression was highlighted once again when journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov won the Nobel Peace Prize for their fights to defend freedom of expression in the Philippines and Russia. Both of them have done work that led to threats from the rulers of their respective countries.

    The Norwegian Nobel Committee said in a statement that Ressa and Muratov won the Nobel for “their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace”. The statement added that “they are representatives of all journalists who stand up for this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions”.

    It is an honour for journalists around the world that people of their fraternity were awarded the most prestigious award for standing up for free media. At a time when journalists are facing problems and many countries are clamping down on free media, it gives journalists more strength and courage when their struggle is recognised. 

    Read more- Journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov win 2021 Nobel Peace Prize

    Unfortunately, like many other countries, the space for free media is fast shrinking in Pakistan. The government claims that the Pakistani media is more independent than even western countries but the fact of the matter is that censorship has increased over the years, journalists have faced physical attacks in the capital but no one has been arrested, and relentless attacks against journalists continue online as well.

    The government claims that they do not shy away from sharing facts with the media but in a recent report published in The News, it says that when Geo News sent approximately 400 different queries to 36 key institutions in the past nine months under the Right to Information (RTI) law but 90 per cent of them were either not responded to or simply declined by them. Only 43 (10 per cent) queries were partially responded to by them through either very little or patchy information in 2021.

    It is pertinent that the government realises that the media is not its enemy. Media will act as a watchdog and it is media’s job to report the truth. Journalists will continue to do their job and such tactics will not make them stop. A free and vibrant media is critical for democracy. One should believe in more freedom, not less. Long live media freedom.

  • Zoya Nasir shuts down trolls criticising Saba Qamar’s outfit

    Saba Qamar has ended up on the moral brigade’s radar after pictures from her birthday celebrations went viral on social media. Saba, who wore a blue off-shoulder dress to her party, has irked some social media users who then harshly criticised the actor for her choice of outfit.

    While Saba did not bother with the trolls, Zoya Nasir, who is very vocal about her opinions, shut them down, saying: “These are the same men (and women) who, if run into Saba Qamar, would shamelessly beg for a selfie with her and would take pride in showing to their peers that they had the honour of meeting her.”

    Zoya, who is often at the receiving end of criticism for her outfit and life choices, earlier also defended a bride after former actor Noor Bukhari criticised her outfit on her wedding day.

  • Kubra Khan hits back at media outlet for misreporting her comments

    Kubra Khan has hit back at a local media news outlet for misreporting her comments about un-following Prime Minister Imran Khan on Twitter. Khan, in an interview, had shared that she unfollowed PM Khan (and Hamza Ali Abbasi) on Twitter because she didn’t want any political updates.

    Read more – ‘Masterstroke’: Celebrities, cricketers jubilant over PM Imran’s Vote of Confidence

    Sharing the misreported news on Twitter, Kubra said: “I am and will always one of the biggest supporters of [PM] Imran Khan.”

    “I don’t need to follow him on “social media” to show my support,” said the actor further, adding: “But thanks for adding the negative connotation?”

    Earlier, during the 2018 General Elections, Kubra had said that if she had the option to vote, “it would be no other than PTI.”

    Meanwhile Kubra follows only four people on Twitter: Vasay Chaudhry, Gohar Rasheed, Iqrar ul Hassan Syed and Fahad Mustafa.

  • Adnan Siddiqui, Christian Turner pledge to promote cultural ties

    Adnan Siddiqui and British High Commissioner to Pakistan Dr Christian Turner have pledged to promote cultural exchange between the United Kingdom and Pakistan.

    Sharing pictures of their meeting, Siddiqui said: “In these times of global inclusivity, the world is an oyster in every sense of the word. I firmly believe that cross-cultural exchange across all fields will shape the new order of diplomacy.”

    He said the two have pledged to further Pakistan-England ties through “education, entertainment, and cricket.”

    The actor also thanked the British High Commissioner for his time, writing: “May our friendship grow personally and diplomatically.”

    Responding to Siddiqui’s post, Dr Turner said: “The pleasure was mine.”

    “Great to hear about Mere Pass Tum Ho and discuss UK-Pakistan dosti,” he added.

    Later, Dr Turner shared another picture with Siddiqui and The Legend of Maula Jutt producer Ammara Hikmat and wrote: “Pakistan’s TV and films attract a big following in the UK, working to boost the industry”, hinting towards future cross-cultural collaborations between the two countries.

    Recently, Humayun Saeed announced that he and Siddiqui are working on a project in collaboration with Turkish artists.

  • Mansha Pasha is upset with limited narratives, unlimited restrictions in Pakistan

    Mansha Pasha is upset with limited narratives, unlimited restrictions in Pakistan

    After it was reported that renowned Bollywood filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next project Heera Mandi would explore the hidden culture of Lahore’s red-light area, Mansha Pasha has shared her thoughts on the matter and expressed her dissatisfaction with the news.

    In a tweet, the Laal Kabootar star wrote: “India is making a film on Lahore and the infamous Heera Mandi of yesteryears. Because we live in a country where fictional narrative is often censored and everyone keeps arguing about what is or isn’t “morally acceptable” fiction, others make most of the opportunity taking up the stories that are native to our country, brand them and sell them to the rest of the world.”

    “In the end what will be left will be our stories told from someone else’s mouth. Sad,” she added.

    According to reports, Heera Mandi is Bhansali’s passion project. While the cast has not yet been confirmed, rumours are abuzz that other than Alia Bhatt, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit, Deepika Padukone, Parineeti Chopra, Manisha Koirala, and Vidya Balan are also being considered for the project.

    Heera Mandi is expected to release on a digital platform. However, it is unclear whether the upcoming project will be a web series or a film.