Face of the popular music band Overload, Farhad Huamayun, passed away Tuesday morning.
The official page of the band posted on Facebook,” The magnificent Farhad Humayun left us for the stars this morning. Stoic in the face of challenges, uncompromising in his values, generous to a fault, witty as hell! Fadi was far too ahead of his time, both in spirit and art,”
Farhad has won multiple awards in his eighteen year career, including Lux Style Award and HUM TV award for his music.
Farhad has also collaborated with other music icons such as Atif Aslam and Meesha Shafi. He recently shared a video of his concert on Instagram.
Amid the recent criticism on Prime Minister Imran Khan over his remarks on rape, musician Rohail Hyatt has come forward to defend the premier.
In a detailed Twitter thread, the musician said that PM Khan’s words were taken out of context and that he never said that rape is justified.
“As a leader he is simply speaking to us about the ground realities of what is around us,” said Hyatt. “Yes indeed there is a sickness out there and one can contest if the better solution is to target the oppressor as opposed to the oppressed.”
Hyatt added that as a father he would give similar advice to his child “to be mindful of how you dress in our society”.
He’s not saying it’s justified! As a leader he’s simply speaking to us about the ground realities of what is around us. Yes indeed there is a sickness out there and one can contest if the better solution is to target the oppressor as opposed to the oppressed.
“There’s a sad trend by a certain group to attack IK on all such matters, labelling him as a ‘right-minded’ individual,” continued Hyatt, saying that he sees him “closer to [the] centre”.
There’s a sad trend by a certain group to attack IK on all such matters labelling him as a ‘right-minded’ individual. I see him closer to centre but to every leftist out there, even the centre is way to too much to the right.
Elaborating his point further about extremist views, Hyatt said: “One wants to cover from head to toe and the other wants to strip-down from head to toe as a display of their preferences.”
They are both the same actually. Extremists! Both shout to kill the other and they both hate everything except their own ways. One wants to cover from head to toe and the other want to strip-down from head to toe as a display of their preferences.
Shehzad Roy is not one to keep it subtle. From social issues to the lack of infrastructure and utilities in Pakistan, the singer and musician aptly uses social media to raise his voice and create awareness.
Known for his timeless songs like Laga Reh, Roy has returned to the music industry with yet another masterpiece. Titled Kon Kis Ka Aadmi Hai, the song highlights Pakistanis curiosity to know who is working for whom and their habit of making assumptions rather than seeking the truth.
The most plausible aspect of Roy’s songs in their ability to address serious issues with a touch of humour. Kon Kis Ka Aadmi Hai adds elements of hip hop and street dance to an otherwise simple song which features Roy performing with a guitar.
Most interestingly, the song manages to mention Modi and the current farmers’ protest in India, the capture of Wing Commander Abhinandan by Pakistan, and the two-faced nature of people, all of whom have some sort of agenda to fulfil.
The cherry on top in the video directed by Faisal Qureshi is the presence of Roy’s son, Sikandar Alam Roy, on drums followed by his punchline at the end of the song. Pakistan-based Australian artist Gabrielle Brinsmead also makes a special appearance in the video with a Cello.
The song has been gathering praises from its listeners who definitely seem enthusiastic about Roy returning to the world of music with yet another powerful song.
Best song with msg after decades. Love it❤️ the best part.. Your son on drums
Pashto folk singer Zarsanga Bibi is reportedly living in a tent along with over 200 family members after the culture department took back her official residence in Kohat district.
Popularly referred to as the ‘melody queen’, Zarsanga Bibi has requested for help and demanded the culture department to provide her with a residence so that she can live the last years of her life in peace, comfort and dignity.
Zarsanga Bibi said that the current pandemic has worsened living conditions for her and her family, forcing her to beg.
According to details, the singer and her sons have rented a shop in Kohat Bazaar where they have kept over 2,500 awards, certificates and medals of the singer.
“I appeal to President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan to take notice of my miserable plight. I just want a piece of plot where I could feel proud that my contributions fetched me at least a state given shelter. I at this stage and age have no other wish,” said Zarsanga.
She said that she had rejected offers from Afghanistan and several other countries, saying that she only worked for Pakistan and that her country has been her identity and she would live and die with it. She added that she would never leave Pakistan despite her current situation and the disappointing attitude of relevant authorities.
“I have over 200 sons and daughters and grandchildren and they all depend on me,” says Zarsanga Bibi. “The government had allotted me an official residence in Kohat for two years and on termination the specified time, I along with my extended family was forced to live once again in the tents in the open air where we have to pay Rs15, 000 as rent to the owner of the land.”
Shahzada, the elder son of the living legend, said that his mother was suffering from chest infection and had other multiple health complaints. He said that despite multiple appeals and requests, no official responded to his family sufferings.
Ever since the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June 2020, there has been a lot of debate on nepotism in the film and entertainment industry. While the debate did not gain a lot of traction in Pakistan, it is still being discussed. Ahad Raza Mir, whose father Asif Raza Mir is an established actor, recently discussed the topic on Anas Bukhash’s talk show.
Talking about his childhood, Ahad, who grew up in Canada, said that his father always kept him away from the limelight.
“When I moved back to Pakistan in 2009, I had no idea what this industry was like,” said Ahad.
The actor went on to say that the reason behind this was probably that his father wanted him to make his own independent decisions and not be influenced in any way.
“He just wanted me to live my life,” said Ahad. “He himself is the same outside as he is indoors, it’s not like he becomes a star as soon as he walks out of his house. So I guess he never wanted it to get to my head.”
Ahad then went on to say how there are people who think his presence and success in the industry has everything to do with his father.
“There will always be that criticism that you’re an actor because your father was an actor. But no, I never knew he was and I went to university, studied, worked professionally in Canada for many years and I think I was just fortunate when I came to Pakistan,” said the actor.
He continued: “My career started doing well and people said it’s cause I’m a star kid. But there are doctors whose kids are doctors, there are generations in the army and generations in politics, no one bats an eye. But as soon as there’s a child of an actor who starts doing well, everyone starts yelling ‘nepotism’.”
It is pertinent to add here that Ahad, who debuted in 2017 with Sammi, has several successful projects to his credit including Yakeen ka Safar (for which he bagged a Lux Style Award for Best Actor), Ehd-e-Wafa, and Parwaaz Hai Junoon. He also won the prestigious Betty Mitchell Award for his performance in Hamlet in Canada.
The Betty for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Drama, sponsored by Erin Flash, Realtor, goes to Ahad Raza Mir! #Bettys19pic.twitter.com/IGdUK2xruW
— BettyMitchellAwards (@BettyMitchells) June 25, 2019
During the conversation, Ahad also opened up about his childhood, his decision to move back to Pakistan and marry young.
“I think it was good, pretty normal, kind of hectic because I moved between Pakistan and Canada, so I guess sometimes identity is a challenge,” said Ahad when asked about how his life was while growing up.
Speaking of his relationship with his parents, Ahad said that he is very close to his parents.
“My mom is my best friend and with my dad, there’s this respect factor, not that there’s any formality, but I’m good friends with my dad too,” he said.
Ahad is married to his Yakeen ka Safar co-star Sajal Aly. The two tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Abu Dhabi in March 2020.
Meanwhile, Ahad is reportedly all set to step in as executive producer for upcoming film Kalasha.
While some followers congratulated the actor for his feat, others felt he was showing off. However, Abbas was quick to respond to them telling them that he was proud to represent his country internationally. However, he later turned off the comments section of his post.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has sent another notice to Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (RFAK), seeking an explanation for his alleged bank accounts.
According to reports, the FBR has asked RFAK to submit a reply by January 15. The singer reportedly failed to satisfy the FBR about his alleged bank accounts, after he was served with the initial notice in December 2020.
The FBR started investigating RFAK’s finances in October last year. Later, in December, the FBR traced the alleged bank accounts and the singer was asked to submit a reply by December 23.
Meanwhile, the FBR recently also sent a tax notice worth 58 million to Atif Aslam after the audit of his income for the year 2018. According to details, Aslam has been given one month’s notice to pay the tax. If the singer fails to pay the due amount, the revenue board will make the recovery by freezing his bank accounts.
Jawad Ahmad has expressed that Pakistan also needs a farmers’ movement like the one happening in India.
Speaking to the Times of India about his new song Kisana, the singer-turned-politician compared the conditions of farmers in India and Pakistan saying: “The third-world economies are still largely based on primitive methods and tools of agriculture and we need a peasant’s rights movement all over the world, including Pakistan.”
He added that he made the song after seeing how India’s farmer movement is being recognised by the farmer community across the world.
Kisana, which was released in the last week of December has already gathered thousands of views and is making waves across the border. The music of the song has been composed by Sahar Ali Bagga.
The song’s description states: “Kisana is a revolutionary song for peasants of the world, to inspire and motivate them to struggle for their rights. It is a dedication by Jawad Ahmad to all the global peasant movements.”
Meanwhile, the song calls peasants the providers of the world, saying that the farmers are the ones who give food to judges and police officers, so they should be respected.
Ahmad, who entered politics a few years ago with his ‘Barabri Party Pakistan’ is very vocal about the rights of marginalized groups. The vision of his party is “To establish a truly democratic state based on equitable distribution of wealth, equality of right over resources so that whatever is found, grown and produced in this country is equally accessible to all and equal access to opportunities regardless of race, religion, gender, and ethnicity.”
Farmer’s Protest
Thousands of farmers have gathered at Delhi’s gateways to demand a repeal of the Centre’s three new farm laws. The protesting farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana as well as Uttar Pradesh, are worried the new laws will eliminate the safety cushion of a Minimum Support Price and procurement system while rendering ineffective the mandi system that ensures earnings for various stakeholders in the farm sector.
70 people have reportedly died during the ongoing protests and though several rounds of talks have happened between farmer unions and the government, a solution has not yet been reached.
To honour the late Junaid Jamshed on his fourth death anniversary, Pakistanis are paying rich tributes to the singer on social media.
The famed singer-turned-religious scholar passed away on this date in 2016 after a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-661 carrying 48 passengers and crew crashed on the way to Islamabad from Chitral. Jamshed and his wife were among the 48 people killed in the plane crash.
‘WeLoveYouJunaidJamshed’ was the top trending hashtag on Twitter on Monday with several politicians and other renowned personalities remembering the late singer.
#WeLoveYouJunaidJamshed Remembering Shaheed Junaid Jamshed on his 4th Death Anniversary. May Allah grant him highest place in Jannat and all the people died in same plane crash four years ago on 7th Dec 2016 . Ameen. pic.twitter.com/qfBMAEs7yu
More than a hundred thousand people die each day all over the world. Unless we are related to them in any form, their death goes unnoticed for the rest of the world. Thankyou JJ for giving us beautiful songs and make my childhood memorable ❤️#junaidjamshed#RIPpic.twitter.com/f4JKx3BMLr
— Syed Shoaib ਸਈਅਦ ਸ਼ੋਏਬ سید شعیب (@SyedShoaib_) December 7, 2020
#junaidjamshed7th Dec 2016 on this day we lost a great person Words can’t describe you. You’ll always remain alive in our hearts.
Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s throne bearer, Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has reached five million subscribers on YouTube, becoming the first Pakistani musician to achieve this milestone.
With a total of 207 videos uploaded, and the recent Gham-e-Ashiqui crossing 3 million views, the ustaad celebrated the victory by expressing gratitude to his fans and followers on social media.
The legendary singer shared the news on his Instagram account saying: “5 Million YouTube subscribers – Thank you for the love and support”.
Later he posted a video of himself cutting a cake and thanking his fans for their continued love and support.
Khan began formally training for his skill at the age of seven, and performed publicly for the first time, when he was nine, at the death anniversary of his grandfather. Since then, he has released more than 50 albums including performing at numerous high-profile concerts across the world.
Khan has sung over 100 Bollywood songs – much of his global following is also accredited to Bollywood. He has also won several awards there and is reportedly Salman Khan’s favourite.
Rahat became the first Pakistani to perform at any Nobel Prize concert when he was invited to the concert at the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. He performed Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s most memorable qawwali Tumhe Dilagi” and Mast Qalandar.
The singer was also presented an honorary shield from Oxford University where he got to perform in one of the world’s most historical music rooms.
