Renowned Pakistani TV producer Rashid Dar has sadly passed away on 15 march 2024 . Known for his iconic dramas like ‘Sona Chandi’, ‘Andhera Ujala’ and ‘Man Chalay Ka Sauda’
Dar’s contributions to the industry were immense. He battled cancer and passed away in Lahore at the age of 84. His funeral prayers were held near his home in Mozang, Lahore.
Rashid Dar’s demise marks another loss of a legend in the Pakistani entertainment industry. His work during the golden era of PTV has left an indelible mark on viewers worldwide.
May his soul rest in peace, and may his family find solace during this difficult time.
Tag: topnews
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PTV legend Rashid Dar passes away
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Amid ‘Katespiracy’, Meghan Markle returns to Instagram
Meghan Markle, the wife of Britain’s Prince Harry, is launching a new lifestyle brand seemingly named after the couple’s oceanside California home. An Instagram page and website for American Riviera Orchard went live without advance warning Thursday, both featuring a gold-colored crest for the new venture.
The logo featured the word Montecito, the celebrity enclave where the couple have lived since 2020, which is close to Santa Barbara — itself sometimes known as the American Riviera. The social media account’s biography simply reads: “by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex.”
A representative for the duchess confirmed her participation in the new venture to AFP, without providing further details. American Riviera Orchard appears to be a kitchen and lifestyle-themed brand.
Thursday’s launch was accompanied by a grainy, retro-style promotional video in which Meghan Markle is seen arranging flowers and baking in a kitchen. A mailing list offered users the chance to sign up to become “the first to know about products, availability, and updates from American Riviera Orchard.”
Harry and Meghan, who is American, quit royal duties in 2020 and relocated to California. Their official Instagram handle has not posted since then. Meghan’s personal social media accounts and former lifestyle blog were both closed before the couple married.
In recent years, the couple have pursued a variety of media ventures. They criticised Britain’s royal family in a string of high-profile outpourings including a Netflix documentary series and Harry’s blockbuster autobiography Spare.
The couple had a Spotify-exclusive podcast deal, which came to an end last year after just one show. Netflix also dropped an animated series created by Meghan but an executive for the streaming giant in January said multiple projects from the couple, including a movie, remained “in very early development.”
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Fazila Qazi shares advice for insecure wives
Veteran Actor Fazila Qazi recently joined Nida Yasir’s show, Shan e Suhoor, with her whole family. They talked about their strong bond and how Fazila manages her home life. She said, “I always involve my boys in chores. Kaiser helps me in the kitchen and I’ve taught all my kids to do household tasks.” She also praised her younger son’s cooking skills.
When asked if she ever doubted her husband Kaiser, Fazila replied, “I have never doubted him. I am not insecure.” Offering advice to insecure wives, she suggested staying busy with work or household chores. She said, “When you’re idle, negative ideas come to mind.”
Fazila stressed the importance of trusting one’s partner. She advised, “People should trust the person they’ve accepted into their lives.”
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Mawra Hocane advocates for the simplicity of love: ‘It’s Not Love If It’s Not Easy
In today’s world of undefined relationships, understanding love can be tough for many. But actress Mawra Hocane is absolutely clear about how you know when you’ve found your special someone.
Speaking in a recent interview with Something Haute, Mawra described love as a place where you can be your true self. The ‘Neem’ actress believes that intimacy and authenticity are key components of love. She said, “Being in love means being your true self.”
Recognizing that life can get chaotic, especially for celebrities like herself, Mawra emphasized that love shouldn’t add to complexity. “Life is already so complicated that love should be easy,” she observed, clarifying that by easy, she doesn’t mean being lazy.
“The only effort you should have to make in love is to give love. But if it’s taking a lot of effort then it’s probably not love. It should be clear and easy.”
Despite her deep thoughts on love, Mawra made it clear she’s not currently romantically involved. When asked if love is clear and easy for her, she replied, “Well, it’s not because I’m not in love.”
Expanding on her views, Mawra pointed out the difference between family bonds and romantic relationships. She highlighted that while family ties are given, love is a choice. She said, “There’s just so much in life you don’t choose. But love, you’re choosing.” -
Olivia Munn got all clear mammogram before being diagnosed with breast cancer two months later
Actor Olivia Munn revealed Wednesday that she had undergone a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer. The X-Men: Apocalypse and The Newsroom performer took to Instagram to tell followers her news, just days after she attended the Oscars ceremony with her partner, comedian John Mulaney.
The 43-year-old said the cancer had been discovered almost a year ago after her doctor noted she was at elevated risk for the disease and suggested she undergo an additional scan, 12 months before a routine screening.
“I wouldn’t have found my cancer for another year -– at my next scheduled mammogram,” she told followers. After initial tests, a biopsy was ordered. “The biopsy showed I had Luminal B cancer in both breasts. Luminal B is an aggressive, fast-moving cancer,” she wrote, adding that the double mastectomy was performed 30 days later.
“I went from feeling completely fine one day to waking up in a hospital bed after a 10-hour surgery the next,” she wrote in a post, with photos taken apparently during her treatment. “I’m lucky. We caught it with enough time that I had options. I want the same for any woman who might have to face this one day.”
Munn walked the red carpet at Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood, where Mulaney presented an Oscar, and later attended the celebrity-filled Vanity Fair after-party.
Munn’s small screen credits include The Daily Show with Jon Stewart as well as a role in Aaron Sorkin’s HBO drama The Newsroom. Her movie credits have included Magic Mike, The Predator and Office Christmas Party.
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Actor Asad Malik shares top fitness secrets
Famous actor Asad Malik recently had a chat on Hum News where he talked about how he stays fit, especially during Ramadan. He shared helpful tips for staying healthy while fasting.
He said, “Fasting has always been easy for me. I never found it hard. But some very healthy people struggle with fasting at first. Eventually, they get used to it, while some never do, maybe because they don’t want to.”
Talking about staying fit, he stressed the importance of good eating habits, saying, “How you eat is really important. Even if you eat good food, it won’t help if your eating habits are bad. Always avoid eating until you’re stuffed. Drink a glass of water before every meal, and avoid cold water. Eat only half of your meal and wait two hours to finish the rest. Eating smaller portions won’t make you gain weight.” He also said he takes honey every morning as a health tonic.
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‘Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood have right to appeal in cipher case,’ says Islamabad High Court
Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ruled that the appeals of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi against their convictions in the cipher case are maintainable.
The court invited both the prosecution and defense counsel to present their arguments starting Monday.
Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, comprising the IHC division bench, resumed the hearing on the appeals concerning Mr. Khan and Mr. Qureshi’s convictions and 10-year sentences each in the cipher case.
During the previous hearing, special prosecutor Hamid Ali Shah raised objections regarding the maintainability of the appeals filed by Mr. Khan and Mr. Qureshi. Mr. Shah highlighted that the Official Secrets Act, enacted in 1923, did not provide the right of appeal except during the trial proceeding. He contended that since the trial court had already convicted the two leaders, the conviction should be considered final, as there was no provision for the right of appeal.
However, Barrister Salman Safdar, representing Imram Khan, argued that if the law did not grant the right of appeal against conviction, the court should consider this as a case of first impression.
He emphasized that the former prime minister and former foreign minister were convicted under the law used to prosecute espionage suspects. Mr. Safdar pointed out that superior courts had ruled in numerous cases that convicts could not be left without a remedy.
He added that while the high treason case did not provide the right of appeal, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1976, designated the Supreme Court as the forum for appeal.
The bench ultimately concluded that the appeals were maintainable and decided to proceed with hearing the case on its merits.
Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood have been jailed for 10 years in a case where they were charged with leaking state secrets.
What is Cipher case
Cipher is a classified cable, which in this case, was sent to Islamabad by Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington in 2022.
Immediately after his removal as prime minister in April 2022, Khan said that the United States had a hand in his removal. He also raised a paper during a jalsa and claimed it to be Cipher. Washington and the Pakistani military have denied his accusations. Khan later toned down his rhetoric against the US.
But a US-based news outlet, The Intercept, in August 2023 published what it claimed to be a “cipher” that hinted the US administration wanted to remove Khan from power. Khan maintains his ouster in April 2022 was orchestrated by the country’s powerful military and his political opponents.
The Intercept published purported details of a conversation between Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed Khan, and Donald Lu, the assistant secretary of state for the US Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, on March 7, 2022.
The conversation took place under two weeks after Khan visited Moscow, on the day Russia invaded Ukraine. In the exchange, Lu raised concerns about Khan’s visit to Russia and Pakistan’s neutral stance on the Ukraine war.
“I think if a no-confidence vote against the prime minister succeeds, all will be forgiven in Washington,” Lu allegedly told Asad Majeed Khan, who sent the details of the conversation to Islamabad through a secret diplomatic cable.
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EU denies receiving any communication from PTI regarding GSP+
European Union’s delegation has expressed that they have not yet received any official communication from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) about the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) trade status currently held by Pakistan.
Samar Saeed Akhtar, the Press Officer for the EU Delegation, clarified the EU’s stance to Dawn, stating, “We have not received any official communication from PTI regarding GSP+.”
In a press conference held on Wednesday, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar alleged that PTI spokespersons, purportedly receiving directives from incarcerated party members, are orchestrating a scheme to undermine Pakistan’s GSP+ status. He claimed that PTI’s criticism of the government’s treatment of its founder, Imran Khan, in prison serves as a pretext for their efforts to jeopardize the country’s trade privileges.
Furthermore, Tarar accused PTI of engaging in a conspiracy to destabilize Pakistan’s economy, citing PTI’s alleged correspondence with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as evidence. He emphasized the incumbent government’s commitment to economic recovery and lambasted PTI for purportedly prioritizing political gain over national interests.
In response to Tarar’s claims, a PTI spokesperson categorically denied any intention of petitioning the EU to revoke Pakistan’s GSP+ status, dismissing the allegations as baseless and accusing Tarar of disseminating falsehoods. The spokesperson highlighted PTI’s dedication to national prosperity and defended Imran Khan’s role in facilitating the IMF program, attributing delays to the incompetence of previous administrations.
Pakistan has been benefiting from the GSP+ program since 2014. This initiative, devised by the EU, aims to incentivize developing countries to uphold human rights principles, labor rights, environmental conservation, and good governance through trade incentives, including reduced tariffs for exports to the EU market. However, this preferential status is contingent upon the country demonstrating significant progress in implementing 27 international conventions covering various rights and governance issues.
The EU meticulously monitors compliance with these conventions, relying on reports from the UN and other international bodies, and conducts regular assessments through on-ground missions. These evaluations are then reflected in reports to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, with biennial reviews conducted in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022. The latest review highlighted ongoing concerns regarding enforced disappearances and declining media freedom.
In October, the European Parliament extended Pakistan’s GSP+ status until 2027, allowing duty-free exports on 66 percent of product tariff lines to the European market.
However, the EU retains the authority to withdraw the GSP+ status if a beneficiary country fails to meet the program’s stringent criteria. This withdrawal process typically involves a period of dialogue aimed at rectification but may result in the suspension of benefits if issues are not adequately addressed, as evidenced by the case of Sri Lanka in 2010 over human rights concerns.
The European Parliament, in April 2021, adopted a resolution urging a review of Pakistan’s GSP+ status due to an “alarming” increase in blasphemy allegations and mounting attacks on journalists and civil society.
Read more: Understanding GSP+ status: What it means for Pakistan’s trade relations
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Humayun Saeed opens about why he started working
Humayun Saeed may now be one of Pakistan’s highest paid stars but how did he make his way to the entertainment industry?
The actor recently shed light on the driving force behind his unwavering dedication to his craft.
In an interview on the show Shan e Suhoor, host Nida Yasir delved into Saeed’s remarkable work ethic, prompting him to reveal the personal motivations that have fueled his career.“I started working at a young age and even used to tutor kids,” Saeed disclosed during the candid conversation. He then opened up about the pivotal moment when his brother suffered an injury, resulting in paralysis, which significantly increased his familial responsibilities.
“It made me realize the importance of hard work and dedication,” Saeed said, reflecting on the challenges he faced early in life.
Despite his rise to fame and success, Saeed emphasized that his humble beginnings continue to shape his character. “I’ve struggled and worked hard since I was very young, and that’s what keeps me grounded,” he stated, highlighting his commitment to maintaining humility despite his celebrity status.
Saeed’s revelation offers a glimpse into the personal journey that has molded him into one of the industry’s most respected figures, showcasing the resilience and determination that define his professional endeavors.
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Is Imran Khan living a ‘luxurious’ life in jail? Atta Tarar explains
In a press conference held on Wednesday, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar asserted that incarcerated founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan is living a luxurious life in jail.
The former Prime Minister has three rooms, a kitchen, and access to exercise equipment, among other amenities desired by the detained leader, Tarrar elaborated.
The minister said that PTI has been actively seeking the revocation of the country’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Plus status from the European Union (EU). The GSP+ status, initiated in 2014 and recently extended until 2027, grants Pakistan favorable trade terms, including duty-free or minimal-duty exports to the European market, to foster good governance and sustainable development.
Minister Tarar alleged that PTI spokespersons, purportedly receiving directives from incarcerated party members, are orchestrating a scheme to undermine Pakistan’s GSP+ status. He claimed that PTI’s criticism of the government’s treatment of its founder, Imran Khan, in prison serves as a pretext for their efforts to jeopardize the country’s trade privileges.
Furthermore, Tarar accused PTI of engaging in a conspiracy to destabilize Pakistan’s economy, citing PTI’s alleged correspondence with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as evidence. He emphasized the incumbent government’s commitment to economic recovery and lambasted PTI for purportedly prioritizing political gain over national interests.
In response to Tarar’s claims, a PTI spokesperson categorically denied any intention of petitioning the EU to revoke Pakistan’s GSP+ status, dismissing the allegations as baseless and accusing Tarar of disseminating falsehoods. The spokesperson highlighted PTI’s dedication to national prosperity and defended Imran Khan’s role in facilitating the IMF program, attributing delays to the incompetence of previous administrations.
The exchange underscores escalating tensions between the ruling government and the opposition party, with both sides trading accusations amid mounting economic challenges. As Pakistan navigates through critical issues, including inflation and unemployment, political discord continues to cast a shadow over efforts to steer the nation towards stability and growth.
When asked about the ban on X (former Twitter) in Pakistan, the information minister claimed that there is no ban on the platform and people are using it.
We counter-checked his claim and X is still not accessible in Pakistan without a virtual private network (VPN).