Actor Mikaal Zulfikar has expressed his opinion regarding a second marriage.
Mikaal was the guest on a T.V. programme, and opened up about his personal life as well as issues within the industry.
In response to a question about the second marriage, the actor said, “My father advises me to marry a foreigner; he often says, ‘Do what I have done and marry a foreigner.’ Well, I have had the experience of marriage in Pakistan. To be honest, I don’t think about getting married again because I have two kids, and I am at peace. I want to live like that.”
Mikaal Zulfiqar’s first marriage was with Sara Bhatti, which ended in 2017 after seven years.
Caretaker federal minister, Gohar Ijaz, said on Tuesday in a press conference that the election is a matter of Pakistan’s honour, adding that the caretaker government is fulfilling its responsibility of holding elections ‘with honesty’.
He also said that the law and order situation is now better in Sindh. He further mentioned that the police and civil armed forces have the ability to overcome any adverse law and order situation.
Ijaz also mentioned that there are no issues between election candidates in Balochistan, and all political parties in the province are in communication with each other.
He also said that Pakistan is threatened by forces that want to destabilise the country. However, the country’s security system can protect Pakistan from those forces.
Hamza Ali Abbasi does not like item numbers and he’s never hidden his dislike for the songs. While participating in a recent episode of a podcast, the actor once again strongly opposed item number songs .
In a video clip taken from the interview, Hamza Ali Abbasi openly talks about common songs and item numbers along with fellow artistes.
The host can be seen questioning the actor about item numbers, to which Hamza Ali Abbasi replies, “I don’t support item numbers.” He then draws a clear line between what constitutes an item number and what qualifies as music. He gives an impassioned plea for a shift away from explicit sexual content.
“We give ourselves false comfort that one is hot, one is vulgar or one is sexy. There is no such thing as either an item number or normal songs with nothing in between, there is a difference between the two.”
He further clarified that songs which only show dance and no nudity are normal songs which he does not oppose, however, he stressed that he will never support any song which is an item number.
Actress Hania Aamir, also present in the interview with Hamza Ali Abbasi, agreed with him and said that these issues need to be discussed openly so that films can be improved.
Murtaza Solangi, the Caretaker Information Minister, has stated that the government has not given any instructions yet to suspend mobile or internet services on February 8.
Solangi also stated that the local administration can take any decision as a result of any adverse law and order situation in the area. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) can give directions to internet provider to suspend the internet in a specific area.
He encouraged the public to use their democratic right to vote, as “it shows their patriotism and their love for democratic continuity in the country.”
Perched on her traditional charpai bed, Naeem Kausir says she would like to vote in Pakistan’s upcoming election — if only the men in her family would let her.
Like all the women in her town, the 60-year-old former headmistress and her seven daughters — six already university-educated — are forbidden from voting by their male elders.
“Whether by her husband, father, son or brother, a woman is forced. She lacks the autonomy to make decisions independently,” said Kausir, covered in a veil in the courtyard of her home.
“These men lack the courage to grant women their rights,” the widow told AFP.
Although voting is a constitutional right for all adults in Pakistan, some rural areas in the socially conservative country are still ruled by a patriarchal system of male village elders who wield significant influence in their communities.
In the village of Dhurnal in Punjab, spread across crop fields and home to several thousand people, men profess myriad reasons for the ban of more than 50 years.
“Several years ago, during a period of low literacy rates, a council chairman decreed that if men went out to vote, and women followed suit, who would manage the household and childcare responsibilities?” said Malik Muhammad, a member of the village council.
In this photograph taken on January 29, 2024, Malik Muhammad, a member of the village council, speaks during an interview with AFP in Dhurnal of Punjab. — AFP
In this photograph taken on January 29, 2024, Malik Muhammad, a member of the village council, speaks during an interview with AFP in Dhurnal of Punjab. — AFP
“This disruption, just for one vote, was deemed unnecessary,” he concluded.
Muhammad Aslam, a shopkeeper, claims it is to protect women from “local hostilities” about politics, including a distant occasion that few seem to remember in the village when an argument broke out at a polling station.
Others told AFP it was simply down to “tradition”.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has stressed that it has the authority to declare the process null and void in any constituency where women are barred from participating.
In reality, progress has been slow outside of cities and in areas that operate under tribal norms, with millions of women still missing from the electoral rolls.
The elders in Dhurnal rely on neighbouring villages to fill a government-imposed quota which maintains that 10 percent of votes cast in every constituency must be by women.
Those who are allowed to vote are often pressured to pick a candidate of a male relative’s choice.
In the mountainous region of Kohistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province home to almost 800,000 people, religious clerics last month decreed it un-Islamic for women to take part in electoral campaigns.
Fatima Butt, a legal expert and a women’s rights activist, said women are allowed to vote in Islam, but that religion is often exploited or misunderstood in Pakistan.
“Regardless of their level of education or financial stability, women in Pakistan can only make decisions with the ‘support’ of the men around them,” she said.
Pakistan famously elected the world’s first Muslim woman leader in 1988 — Benazir Bhutto, who introduced policies that boosted education and access to money for women, and fought against religious extremism after military dictator Zia ul-Haq had introduced a new era of Islamisation that rolled back women’s rights.
However, more than 30 years later, only 355 women are competing for national assembly seats in Thursday’s election, compared to 6,094 men, the election commission has said.
Pakistan reserves 60 of the 342 National Assembly seats for women and 10 for religious minorities in the Muslim-majority country, but political parties rarely allow women to contest outside of this quota.
Those who do stand often do so only with the backing of male relatives who are already established in local politics.
“I have never seen any independent candidates contesting elections on their own,” Zara Butt added.
Forty-year-old Robina Kausir, a healthcare worker, said a growing number of women in Dhurnal want to exercise their right to vote but they fear backlash from the community if they do — particularly the looming threat of divorce, a matter of great shame in Pakistani culture.
In this photograph taken on Jan 29, 2024, Robina Kausir, a healthcare worker, looks on during an interview with AFP in Dhurnal of Punjab. — AFP
She credits part of the shift to access to information as a result of the rising use of smartphones and social media.
“These men instil fear in their women — many threaten their wives,” she told AFP.
Robina, backed by her husband, is one of the few prepared to take the risk.
When cricketing legend Imran Khan swept to power in the 2018 election, Robina arranged for a minibus to take women to the local polling station.
Only a handful joined her, but she still marked it as a success and will do the same on Thursday’s election.
“I was abused but I do not care, I will keep fighting for everyone’s right to vote,” Robina said.
Actress and television host Juggan Kazim has made a comeback in the mini-series Gunah, proving that she still has the ability to captivate audiences. Despite facing challenges, including a difficult divorce, she now has a wonderful family with her second husband and openly shares her experiences.
During a guest appearance on Masarrat Misbah’s show, Juggan shared valuable advice for singles considering remarriage, especially moms. She emphasized the importance of taking the time to meet the person, involving the kids in the process, and making a thoughtful decision. Juggan herself followed this approach with her second husband, Faisal Naqvi, taking six months before committing to the relationship. Although Faisal’s kids initially took time to accept their relationship, things eventually worked out.
She said, “Women with children should take a cautious approach, and involve their children in the decision-making process.” The actress-turned-host highlighted the significance of investing time and effort into blending families, especially when stepchildren are involved. According to Kazim, “Patience is key, as it took time for Faisal’s grown-up children to warm up to their new family dynamics.”
Juggan also expressed her concerns about the trend of easy divorces in today’s society. She shared her personal struggle and highlighted the toll it takes on individuals internally. While she discouraged stigmatizing divorce, she expressed worry that society is normalizing the easy way out, which could influence younger generations. Juggan stressed the importance of making a genuine effort to make a marriage work, as she believes that commitment is lacking in today’s culture.
Popular actor Gohar Rasheed has talked about a concerning trend in the entertainment world, stating that just having fair skin is seen as enough to become an actor. He pointed out that some people even spend a lot of money on injections to lighten their skin quickly and get roles in the industry. The actor from ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ highlighted, with a bit of criticism, that having fair skin might be the only thing that matters in getting good opportunities in the entertainment field.
“No matter how good someone is at acting, they will be chosen for roles just because they have fair skin,” he said.
Pointing out that someone with fair skin might not even know how good they are at acting, Gohar said that the production company still recognizes their talent and tells them about their skill in acting. “After the fair complexion injection, the person’s journey to becoming an actor begins, and they are offered a variety of roles,” he said.
He asked everyone to recognize biases and deal with the fact that there is racism in our nation. He said, “We need to admit that we are a racist nation.” When someone asked Gohar how long it took for him to realize he doesn’t meet traditional beauty standards, he said, “I used to mention I wasn’t conventionally good-looking, but I have realised that I am the most conventional.” Explaining further, he said, “Being conventional means being like most people, and I feel like I connect with most folks.” This implies that his personality fits in with what’s typical in society, unlike those who stand out mainly because of their exceptionally good looks, particularly fair skin. “People with fair complexions are unconventional and unique,” Gohar stated.
Many actors in the entertainment industry have admitted that having fair skin helped them get chances, while others have shared that they initially faced rejection because of their darker complexion.
The Caretaker Information Minister, Murtaza Solangi, said on Monday that over 120 million people will vote on February 8, as the general elections are scheduled on the same date.
According to PTV, he passed the remarks while addressing a ceremony.
Murtaza Solangi also said that the caretaker government helped the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to make the election process smooth.
“Elections are just two days away,” he added. “People will choose their representatives by exercising their right to vote.”
The information minister also said that according to the constitution, elected representatives will run the country.
People across Pakistan are showing support for their Kashmiri brothers and sisters’ fight against human rights abuses in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) by observing Kashmir Solidarity Day on Monday.
The Ministry of Kashmir Affairs issued a press release, stating that they have made all necessary arrangements to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day.
The ministry is organising solidarity walks all over the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir. In Islamabad, a rally on Constitution Avenue showed support for the Kashmiri people.
A minute of silence was also observed at 9:30am to pay homage to the martyrs of Kashmir.
“Posters and billboards have been displayed around important Avenves, airports, and railway stations to highlight the plight of Kashmiri people,” said the statement.
Additionally, educational institutions across the country have arranged debate and declamation contests along with essay writing competitions for the occasion.
President Dr Arif Alvi has said that the right to self-determination is a cardinal principle of international law, but regrettably, the Kashmiri people have not been able to exercise this inalienable right.
In the viral video, the makeup artist can be seen doing the actress’ hair. At one point, he smilingly says that Hania Aamir is getting married next month.
The actress herself gets confused.
Seeing Hania’s expression, Babar asks, “Is it funny,” to which Hania says that it is not funny at all. Babar says that he had tried to arranged Hania’s marriage multiple times, to which Hania responds that this series should now come to an end.
Babar Zaheer then promises that he will not spread such rumors in the future.
So there you have it. Just two friends cracking jokes about marriage. There’s no reason wedding happening next month.
