Tag: social media

  • Watch Khan’s AI version that was live at the virtual jalsa last night

    Watch Khan’s AI version that was live at the virtual jalsa last night

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held the first-ever virtual jalsa in Pakistan amid a crackdown and unsaid ban on their on-ground jalsas.

    Former Prime Minister and founding chairman of PTI Imran Khan addressed his supporters using an audio clip generated by artificial intelligence (AI) during the virtual jalsa.

    The AI-generated audio, played alongside photographs and videos of Khan, garnered over 1.4 million views on YouTube and drew a live audience of tens of thousands on various social media platforms.

    PTI social media lead, Jibran Ilyas, took to X (former Twitter) and wrote, “Founding Chairman Imran Khan’s speech in AI voice. Can’t stop praising Dr Asma for staying up 36 hours to get this done in time, Nausheen for translations and Intazar Bhai for getting notes from the Legend Imran Khan! #PTIVirtualJalsa.”

    In his address, Khan lamented the restrictions on public rallies imposed on his party, emphasizing the alleged abduction of party members and harassment of their families.

    “Our party is not allowed to hold public rallies,” Khan stated, urging his supporters to actively participate in the upcoming general elections. “Our people are being kidnapped, and their families are being harassed.”

    Officials from Khan’s party revealed that the AI-generated speech was derived from a written version approved by Khan himself while he remains incarcerated. PTI organized the virtual rally in response to Khan’s media blackout.

    Murtaza Solangi, the information minister in Pakistan’s caretaker government tasked with overseeing the elections, did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comments.

    Internet services faced serious disruptions on Sunday night as a large number of people complained about difficulties in accessing social media sites where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was holding a virtual election rally.

    Users from different parts of the country reported slow internet speed all across the country, especially in Karachi, Lahore, Mir Pur Khas, and Rawalpindi.
    Downdetector confirmed that website versions were down since around 7 pm in the evening.

    Imran Khan, convicted and sentenced to three years on graft charges on Aug. 5, has been entangled in numerous court cases, some of which are conducted behind closed doors in prison.

  • PTI had a virtual jalsa last night and the internet shutdown all over Pakistan: here is how people are reacting

    PTI had a virtual jalsa last night and the internet shutdown all over Pakistan: here is how people are reacting

    Internet services faced serious disruptions on Sunday night as a large number of people complained about difficulties in accessing social media sites where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was holding a virtual election rally.

    Users from different parts of the country reported slow internet speed all across the country, especially in Karachi, Lahore, Mir Pur Khas, and Rawalpindi.

    Downdetector confirmed that website versions were down since around 7pm in the evening.

    However, PTI supporters have implied that the government deliberately ‘slowed’ the service to thwart people from joining the jalsa.

    It is important to note that PTI says that it has been banned from holding public gatherings and rallies across post May 9 riots. However, as elections loom closer, supporters and party leadership are the making most of modern technology and social media to gain momentum.

    TV Host, Owais Mangalwala, wrote on X, “The speed of the internet has slowed down to the point that nobody can attend the virtual jalsa”.

    Different accounts shared screenshots of the number of responses #PTIVirtualJalsa has garnered all across social media.

    The meme brigade also jumped in to spin the whole situation funnily.

    Taking a jibe at the opposition Usama Ghazi posted a meme:

    Some of the netizens showed their commitment to the party by posting videos of them being part of the jalsa even though virtually. Singer Annie Khalid posted on X.

    The Internet Observatory Authority, NetBlocks, also confirmed internet blockades in various parts of the country.

    The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has said that it is looking into reports that internet services witnessed disruption in “some parts” of the country, reports The News.

    In a statement on Monday, the PTA said the overall situation of internet access across the country was normal.

  • CNN’s Clarissa Ward first Western reporter to enter Gaza without Israeli supervision

    CNN’s Clarissa Ward first Western reporter to enter Gaza without Israeli supervision

    CNN’s chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward has become the first Western journalist to have gone into the Gaza Strip without the Israel Defense Forces’ supervision, reporting from sight what she deemed “absolute horror.”

    Ward entered the besieged strip on Wednesday with UAE medical volunteers and visited a field hospital setup by the Gulf country.

    “Even in that brief window, you really got a sense of the absolute horrors that have been taking place in Gaza,” she said speaking to CNN.

    “I can honestly say I don’t think we’ve ever seen it quite on this scale.” she expressed while reviewing the destruction she witnessed.

    International coverage of Gaza depends on reports from Palestinian journalists, aid teams, health workers, and social media because of Israel’s entry bans.

    As of yet, at least 63 journalists have been killed since October 7 in Israeli airstrikes.

    Ward was initially accused of staging a video in which she can be seen trying to seek a safe place from attacks during live coverage near the Israel-Gaza border. CNN, however, rebutted these assertions, contending the authenticity of the video.

  • Three suspects involved in online sexual harassment arrested

    Three suspects involved in online sexual harassment arrested

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested three suspects involved in online sexual harassment from Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

    According to a spokesperson of FIA, the men, identified as Muhammad Umar, Muhammad Javed and Jibran Khan, have been arrested from different areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

    The spokesperson said the accused have been found involved in sharing pictures and videos of the affected women on social media.

    The accused also kept demanding money under threat of sharing objectionable material.

    The spokesperson further says that investigation has been initiated with the arrested accused.

    Mobile phones and objectionable materials have been recovered from the accused.

  • Saba Faisal has a strange tip for girls who want to marry rich

    Saba Faisal has a strange tip for girls who want to marry rich

    Veteran actress Saba Faisal was a guest on the Samaa show ‘Subh Ka Samaa Madehaa Kay Sath’ where she spoke about girls having unrealistic expectations from marriage, including immediately becoming the owner of a home after marrying a man. Her advise to these girls who wished to become financially secure was, not to look for better jobs, but to marry older man.

    “Today’s girls think they will immediately become owner’s of homes after getting married and have a lot of wealth. They don’t realise that young men are struggling with their jobs in these periods. If you’re looking for financial stability, then a better choice is that you marry a man who is between the ages of 40 or 50. Since he would be able to fulfil all of your needs.”

    Turns out this wasn’t the only housekeeping tip Miss Saba had to offer on the show. She also urged parents to pray for their son’s fortunes, rather than entirely focusing on their daughters because after all it is the son who is responsible for running the entire household. Women can’t become bread winners, Miss Saba? They are solely just burden on their parents because they have to eventually get married and become the responsibility of someone else?

    “Parent’s shouldn’t just pray that their daughters fortunes are good, but they should also pray that their sons are blessed in life. They are the ones who are responsible for handling an entire household, and when they get married they have to get a wife who would take care of the entire family. Men have an enormous responsibility.”

    Can celebrities please stick to solely acting projects and not churn out advice we never asked for?

  • Twitter outraged after TIME magazine sidelines Gaza journalists, names Taylor Swift ‘person of the year’

    Twitter outraged after TIME magazine sidelines Gaza journalists, names Taylor Swift ‘person of the year’

    Time magazine announced yesterday that the coveted title of ‘Person Of The Year’ 2023, went to singer Taylor Swift. The decision was met with severe backlash from the internet, who called it out as another example of how the Western media has silenced journalists in Gaza, who were risking their lives to reveal the realities of the genocide.

    A Twitter user is going viral for drawing a comparison between Ukraine-Russia war and Israel’s aggression.

    Twitter users were outraged at Gazan journalists like Motaz Azaiza, Plestia, Bisan and Saleh being ignored, stressing that censorship lays bare that Gazan lives are considered disposable by the western media.

    Many Twitter users are also criticising Taylor Swift to be a white feminist, after a quote from her article with Time went viral where she spoke about the intersection of capitalism and patriarchy.

    “What has existed since the dawn of time? A patriarchal society. What fuels a patriarchal society? Money, flow of revenue, the economy. So actually, if we’re going to look at this in the most cynical way possible, feminine ideas becoming lucrative means that more female art will get made. It’s extremely heartening.”

  • ‘No justification for attacking innocent people’: Malala calls for ceasefire in interview with Shahzeb Khanzada

    ‘No justification for attacking innocent people’: Malala calls for ceasefire in interview with Shahzeb Khanzada

    Nobel Prize winner and activist Malala Yousafzai was a guest on GEO’s ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’ where she spoke at length about why she stressed on the need to address the gender apartheid in Afghanistan, adding that a ceasefire in Gaza should be demanded by everyone.

    Speaking to host Shahzeb Khanzada, Malala said she has consistently called for a ceasefire since the last month because targeting innocent people cannot be justified.

    “There is no explanation for attacking innocent people. So many children have been killed and families have become homeless because of the attack,” stressed the girls education activist. “I’m worried that there isn’t a lot of pressure right now to stop the war.”

    Malala urged audiences to pressurise their leaders to call for the UN to insert global pressure on Israel to stop the genocide.

    On Tuesday, Malala was the target of outrage when during a 15 minute speech at the Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture, she did not call out Israel for being an apartheid state because of the ongoing Gaza genocide which has now claimed more than 20,000 lives.

    READ MORE: ‘Massive dissapointment’: Malala’s failure to mention genocide in Gaza during lecture has Twitter angry

    Malala also spoke on the show about the Nelson Mandela event where she was the key note speaker, discussing the gender apartheid in Afghanistan, where women and girls face oppression from the Taliban.

    “When I got the opportunity to speak at the Nelson Mandela event, it was important for me to speak about the gender apartheid we’re witnessing today in Afghanistan against women and girls. We can call this situation an apartheid because women and girls are being oppressed and are being deprived of their basic human rights. The state, which is responsible for protecting these women, is the one who is oppressing them.”

    Malala said her lecture addressed the world and the United Nations to urgently address this matter, and to reform the definition of apartheid to include gender in it, so the conversation keeps going forward. She said she will continue to push world leaders to reflect on how women in Afghanistan cannot study, go outside their homes or even visit a doctor without permission from a man.

    Malala also addressed the ongoing Afghan refugee crisis in Pakistan, calling it a “cruel decision” to send young Afghan girls back to a country where they would never be allowed to study again.

    “This is a difficult time for many Afghan families who are being forcefully sent back to Afghanistan. Several of them escaped in 2021 because of the threat of the Taliban’s rise, and among them are several feminist activists whose lives are under threat if they went back. Some of these families had stayed in Afghanistan for 20 to 30 years, and have girls who were studying in schools…I am extremely worried for these girls because she will never be able to see a school if she is sent back to Afghanistan.”

    Malala slammed the government decision as against our “human rights, culture and religion’. She pointed out that in Islam, Muslims are urged to take care of others. The activist urged Pakistani authorities to revoke the decision and give support to Afghan refugees, to prevent little girls from going back to a country which would rob them of their rights.

  • Actress Nausheen Masud passes away from cancer

    Actress Nausheen Masud passes away from cancer

    Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un

    Pakistani actress, television producer and host Nausheen Masood has passed away after a long battle with cancer. She was well known for her role in the famous comedy drama ‘Dolly Ki Ayegi Barat’.

    Her death was announced by her ex-husband Tariq Quraishi in a Facebook post:

    “My ex-wife, Nausheen Masud, passed away this morning after a long and tough battle with cancer. She loved her two sons immensely. They were her babies, her advisors and her eyes lit up whenever she saw them. May she rest in peace leaving behind wondrous memories for her sons.”

    Celebrities have offered condolences on the actress’ passing. Adnan Siddiqui wrote:

    “Farewell to the remarkable Nausheen Masud, dear friend and beautiful soul. Her warmth and style added magic to every moment we shared on and off camera. Grateful for the memories we co-created. Rest peacefully, Nausheen.”

    GEO anchor Shahzad Iqbal shared an endearing memory of Nausheen pushing him to debut in front of the camera. Shahzad wrote on X about admiring Nausheen who was his first boss when he began working.

    “I am sure it’s sad news for many who knew her but it’s extremely sad on personal level as well. I owe her big time for giving me my first break. I had always admired Nausheen Masud as a VJ on a music show in mid 90s and later she happened to be my first Boss when I started working. She hired me as an Associate documentary producer but later she literally forced me to come in front of the camera, first as a business reporter and then as an Anchor. May be she had more faith in me at that time than myself. And there are many more who started their TV careers because she believed in them. May Allah rest your soul in peace.. Please pray for the departed soul.”

    GEO anchor Shahzeb Khanzada also took to Twitter to share his condolences on the actor’s passing, and shared his experience of working with Nausheen during the beginning of his career.

    Actress Zainab Qayoom shared her heartbreak in a tweet, mourning the passing of the actor.

  • ‘Massive dissapointment’: Malala’s failure to mention genocide in Gaza during lecture has Twitter angry

    ‘Massive dissapointment’: Malala’s failure to mention genocide in Gaza during lecture has Twitter angry

    Girls education activist Malala Yousafzai was selected to give the 21st Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Johannesburg. In her speech, the Noble Prize Winner spoke at length about the gender apartheid in Afghanistan against women and girls, with no mention of the genocide of Gaza where the death toll has now crossed 15,000 civilians.

    In an interview with The Associated Press, Malala urged for a ceasefire in Gaza, pointing to attention to the countless schools and homes that have been bombarded in the war, and for war criminals to be held accountable.

    Nelson Mandela was a staunch pro-Palestine supporter, who famously said during his visit to Gaza in 1999 that he “felt at home among compatriots”.

    “There is an apartheid state committing a genocide at the moment which you’ve been disappointingly silent on. If you take away anything from this trip, it should be the courage to speak up about what is happening in the here and now,” wrote a user.

    “Ironic that she mentioned apartheid, reason for Mandela’s struggle, yet not a word about Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians, brutal human rights violation and the ongoing genocide. Nothing but just a mouthpiece can’t be my inspiration anymore,” wrote another user.

    “She’s visiting South Africa, a country with apartheid history and she chooses to stay silent on an ongoing genocide. Mandela would have hated her bigotry if he was alive, his resistance was against the same mindset,” said a tweet.

    Previously Malala released a statement on October 10 grieving for the Palestinian and Israeli children who were caught in the war. Many were quick to slam the feminist activist for failing to recognise that this was a genocide where more Palestinian lives were being lost everyday.

    Many have drawn comparisons between Malala’s silence and climate change activist Greta Thunberg’s outspoken resistance against the genocide of Gaza. Greta published an op-ed for The Guardian where she criticised Israel as the death toll grows in Gaza, with more children passing away from Israeli airstrikes.

  • ‘Not me, Imran Ashraf decided to end the marriage’: Kiran Ashfaque

    ‘Not me, Imran Ashraf decided to end the marriage’: Kiran Ashfaque

    Kiran Ashfaque announced her marriage to PPP official Hamza Asim Chaudhary on Sunday, attracting a lot of attention, some of it from trolls. This was the actress’s second marriage, after her first one was to actor and host Imran Ashraf ended after four years.

    Kiran has boldly stepped up to shut down trolls who bullied the actress for quickly marrying after her divorce, reminding them she didn’t need permission from anyone for moving on. A commentator underneath her wedding pictures bullied the social media influencer for moving on to a man who wasn’t as attractive as Imran, to which Kiran responded:

    “He was the one who decided to end the marriage, no me. But Allah led me to a much better man than him.”

    On Tuesday, the actress shut down another troll who mocked the actress for getting married within a year after her divorce, responding that she wouldn’t sit around crying about her circumstances.

    “You mean I should have kept residing at my parents and remained depressed about my life while my parents were worried about me?”