Tag: The Current Exclusive

  • ‘Baloch protestors can stay in Islamabad, protest, or go back home. The choice is theirs’: IHC Chief Justice

    ‘Baloch protestors can stay in Islamabad, protest, or go back home. The choice is theirs’: IHC Chief Justice

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) raised concerns on Friday about the forced repatriation of Baloch protesters, who had experienced harsh police action the day before, back to their province.

    Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard a petition filed by Baloch protesters against unlawful detention, questioning why they were being “forcefully” sent back to Balochistan.

    “They can stay in Islamabad, protest, or go back home. The choice is theirs,” remarked Justice Aamer Farooq

    The police used brutal force on Wednesday night to disperse and detain Baloch demonstrators in Islamabad, who were protesting against enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings in their province.

    Over 200 protesters were taken into custody after encountering tear gas, water cannons, and police batons.

    The government later claimed that more than 90 per cent of the Baloch men and women in custody had been released, except for men “who could not be identified” by the police.

    However, during the IHC hearing on a petition seeking the release of detained Baloch protesters, it was revealed that over 50 Baloch women protesters had gone missing after police took action.

    The court instructed representatives of the protesters and their counsel to approach the Islamabad SSP (Investigation) to record their version and sought a report from the police.

    Petitioners’ counsel Attaullah Kundi and Imaan Mazari appeared before the court, explaining that the police had informed them that buses were waiting to take protesters back home.

    Kundi stated that the police chief had mentioned orders from the prime minister for the repatriation of protesters, and Baloch women were forcefully filled into buses. He further revealed that some Baloch students studying in Islamabad were also coerced into the buses.

    The court expressed displeasure and summoned IG Akbar Nasir in response. The police chief claimed to have arranged transport for the protesters, to which the court questioned why they were sent back forcefully. Chief Justice Farooq emphasized that the protesters had the choice to stay in Islamabad, protest, or go home.

    When asked how many protesters were in police custody, the IG replied that 216 Baloch men and women were at the Kohsar police station of which some had been sent on judicial remand. Out of these, 19 women were released, he added.

    Protesters at the Tarnol police station were released by the local magistrate while 162 detainees were sent on judicial remand, said IG Nasir.

    The court also asked about the number of women who were sent home, those released, and the ones staying at the hostel. It also directed the police chief to arrange a meeting of the women with their counsels.

    “You have to convince them that not one person is missing,” Justice Farooq emphasised.

    Journalist Hamid Mir and Ahmed Butt of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also provided insights during the hearing. Mir highlighted discrepancies in government statements, and Butt emphasized the constitutional right to protest in a democracy.

    The court directed the police chief to arrange a meeting between the detained women and their counsels and ensure transparency in the process.

    The IHC CJ further expressed displeasure over Wednesday night’s events, regretting the police action on protesters. “What kind of a society are we living in? Even if a common person is being unjust, public officeholders should always be careful,” he remarked.

    The court then instructed Kundi to oversee the entire matter and contact the IHC registrar’s office if there was a problem. It further said that all the women staying at the I-10 hostel be released.

    “I will issue a detailed order of today’s proceedings,” Justice Farooq said, adding that the next hearing would be conducted by Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb.

  • Water cannons, arrests for Baloch protestors upon reaching Islamabad

    Water cannons, arrests for Baloch protestors upon reaching Islamabad

    An ethnic Baloch activist leader said on Thursday that Islamabad police detained and assaulted several peaceful protesters, demanding the release of all “missing persons” and an end to “extrajudicial killing” in Balochistan under the leadership of activist Dr Mahrang Baloch and Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC).

    The march started in Turbat, Balochistan, on December 6 after the alleged extrajudicial killing of 24-year-old Balach Baloch.

    According to BYC, when the march reached the capital, the city administration didn’t allow them to protest in front of the press club. Maharng Baloch said in her live video from the Facebook page of BYC that Islamabad police arrested 300 male protesters, eight women, and 10 children.

    Dr Baloch also wrote on X (previously Twitter) on Thursday morning that police transferred the arrested protesters to various police stations in the city.

    “At this time they are taking women and children to another station. We are unable to connect to our male fellows, we fear that the state will abduct them.”

    Islamabad police also said in a statement that “Legal action will be taken against those blocking the road.”

    In a voice message sent to Arab News, Mahrang Baloch said that dozens of young Baloch men had been forcefully disappeared, and now a new wave of “extrajudicial” killing has started.

  • ‘Over make-up, old, meatball’: Ali Azmat’s derogatory remarks on Noor Jehan

    ‘Over make-up, old, meatball’: Ali Azmat’s derogatory remarks on Noor Jehan

    Pakistan’s pop singer Ali Azmat recently appeared on Ahmad Pansota’s show and talked about Pakistani Music and Arts. He also talked about the veteran singer Noor Jehan, a musical legend who is celebrated transnationally.

    While Talking about the music industry of Pakistan’s transition over the years, the Jazba Junoon singer mentioned: “In my childhood, Noor Jehan used to sing on a show draped in Saari with big earrings and extra makeup on. We used to hate that woman.”

    Passing ageist comments, he said: “Looked like a meatball, she was an old age woman at that time and we used to think that it’s not necessary for us to watch it.”

    “This was the time when we accepted the other culture and it became a norm later on,” he added.

    While mentioning the American society, he said that they are also not very fond of the sensationalism and forbid their children to do drugs and adopt it.

    He also said that he is entitled to reject that. “I’m not a person that if Madonna is appearing on screen and I will stick my tongue out,” said Azmat while sticking his tongue out, adding, “Yes it happened but after few minutes someone said to close it, otherwise a fly will enter in your mouth.”

    Meanwhile, the said remarks were strongly opposed by Ahmad Pansota.

  • Samar Khan accused of faking cycling to K2 base camp, clarifies her stance

    Samar Khan accused of faking cycling to K2 base camp, clarifies her stance

    Samar Khan has clarified her stance after a handful of people tried to dismiss her achievement.

    The Current reached out to Samar after her audio clip was leaked on social media by a journalist Jamil Nagri in which she was allegedly being angry at the journalist and locals of Gilgit-Baltistan for dismissing her feat.

    When we asked her about the area she covered on her bicycle and on foot, she said: “Around 15-20 per cent of the trek is paddled by me, in remaining parts I mostly dragged and lifted my bike, as there was hardly a trek for proper walk.”

    When we questioned her about the leaked audio, she clarified: “It’s a leaked WhatsApp audio, where my response has been uploaded on Twitter by a local Balti Journalist Jamil Nagri, whose abuse on social media I was answering at that time. He, with his few friends, started mocking and abusing me on different platforms and the audio is more than this, but a specific chunk has been leaked to use it against me and to get sympathies by using GB (Gilgit-Baltistan) card and arousing emotions of the locals.”

    “Being an athlete, I just rode my bicycle, which made these weak men insecure enough to play these games against me,” she added.

    “I already released my statement on Twitter with an apology but still receiving life threats and abuse.”

    Taking to Twitter, she wrote: “I take complete responsibility of my words but keep in mind it was a personal voice note intended for a single individual, so all of my F’s goes to him only, because nobody can bring here a single public post of mine which spreads hate between #GB.”

    “I offer my apologies to Balti friends whose sentiments got hurt by my words. I am grateful for all the love I always received from GB. I wish the complete abuse would have been shared here instead of uploading a chunk from my response to manipulate people for personal sympathies,” she said in another tweet.

    https://twitter.com/SKhanAthlete/status/1428982990114213888?s=20

    Khan has become the only female cyclist to reach the base camp of the world’s second tallest peak K2. She holds the title of the first Pakistani to summit Mount Kilimanjaro and the Biafo Glaciers in the Karakoram Range on a bike, has set a unique record by reaching the base camp of the savage mountain via cycle.

    Earlier, Samar gave it back with the same dismissiveness.

  • EXCLUSIVE: The real deal to Shahzeb Khanzada’s six pack

    EXCLUSIVE: The real deal to Shahzeb Khanzada’s six pack

    A picture of Journalist and Anchorperson Shahzeb Khanzada with six-pack abs is circulating on social media and fans are amazed to see a serious anchor person with such a hot physique.

    His wife Rushna Khan took to Instagram to share the picture.

    After the picture went viral on social media, we The Current reached to a very close source to Shahzeb and asked some questions about his fitness and daily eating routine.

    The source revealed that Shahzeb wakes up early in the morning and reads the newspaper while having black coffee. The source further added that Shahzeb usually has fruits and juice in breakfast and his usual lunch is six egg whites.

    When we inquired about his workout routine, it was revealed that he works out two hours daily at home as he stopped going to the gym after Covid-19 had started. He trains by himself, without a trainer.

    When we asked about his dinner routine, the source said that Shahzeb has chicken pieces or dry qeema for dinner. No rice, roti or carbs are included in his diet. While it was also revealed that he cheats once in two weeks, it is limited to four or five spoons of rice/biryani along-with other things.

    Shahzeb hosts a Pakistani television evening current affairs talk show, ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ which airs on Geo News every Monday to Friday.

    Also, the hot mug with steam coming out of it on his show contains green tea, the source has confirmed.

  • ‘It was just a mistake’: Iffat Omar clarifies her comment over Bollywood actor’s demise

    ‘It was just a mistake’: Iffat Omar clarifies her comment over Bollywood actor’s demise

    Famous Pakistani host and actor, Iffat Omar has clarified what she meant by a comment, which was severely criticised by netizens from across the border on Friday. The actor mistakenly wrote “wow” on an Indian portal post which announced the death of veteran Bollywood actor Surekha Sikri.

    Elle India took to Instagram to announce Sikri’s demise. The actress passed away at the age of 75 after suffering a cardiac arrest. She had also survived two strokes in the last three years. Surekha Sikri was one of the most prominent names in the Indian cinema and television industry.

    Omar commented on the post, saying: “Wow wow wow,” with a ‘fire emoticon’ which caused an uproar in India, with many people calling it insensitive.

    Iffat clarified that her comment, “It was just a mistake, I just saw the picture and found it so graceful that immediately commented and as soon I realised I apologised,” said Omar while exclusively talking to The Current. She had not realised or read that the Bollywood actor had passed away.

    The Family Front actor also shared the screenshot of her clarification comment with us in which she wrote: “(Oh My God) OMG just read the post. RIP (Rest In Peace) remember her since Bunyad days.”

    While the majority called her out, a few mentioned how this could be a misunderstanding, and the actor might have shared a comment without reading the caption.