Dr. Fahad Mirza, husband of Pakistani actress Sarwat Gilani, has made surprising revelations about his first marriage and subsequent breakup with actress Sarwat Gilani.
Breaking his silence, Dr. Mirza shared, “I broke up with Sarwat when I was 25 to 26. After she left, I felt like a living corpse, utterly disappointed and financially struggling. I didn’t even have money for cigarettes or phone calls. I prayed for guidance, and Allah sent someone into my life – my first wife.”
According to Dr. Fahad Mirza, at that time he met the woman who was 15 years older than him, she also had three children. “I was so broken at that time that I married her. She was 15 years older and a mother of 3 children but still I decided to marry her.” According to the actor and doctor, he then left home and started living with his first wife because he felt that Sarwat and he broke up “because of family”. He says that when he started living with his wife, “everyone started to think that I was worthless, even my father said that I was not fit to become a surgeon.”
Mirza recalls that when he joined civil hospital, he was being paid Rs 12,000 as salary. “After this job I used to go to the library and study, during this time my wife took care of me, she used to send me food, give me pick and drop. She supported me at every step because she was wise, mature, she taught me a lot. Even after separation, I am still thankful to my wife for guiding me, otherwise I would have destroyed myself.”
As the nation braces for the upcoming general elections, Karachi police is facing a substantial shortage of 14,300 security personnel, including female officers.
As per The News, Khadim Hussain Rind, the additional inspector general (AIG) of Karachi, revealed that the city’s police force had initiated robust security arrangements for the elections scheduled for February 8.
However, he underscored the significant shortfall in required personnel.
“Over 46,076 police personnel are needed for the election security plan, while Karachi Police have only 31,776. The required number of female police personnel is also not available,” said the AIG.
He elaborated on the specific needs for female personnel, highlighting, “At least 3,200 female personnel are required for security arrangements at women’s polling stations while we have 1,200 female personnel. The KPO faces a shortage of 2,000 lady cops.”
As per the security plan, eight police personnel are required for the most sensitive, six for sensitive and four for normal polling stations each. In Karachi, there are 2,033 most sensitive stations, 3,008 sensitive stations, and 308 polling stations are declared normal, while 16,264, 18,048, and 1,232 personnel respectively are required for them.
Rind disclosed that 35,544 personnel would be assigned to duty at 5,349 polling stations in the megacity.
Additionally, a quick response force is set to be deployed at polling stations, with 3,892 personnel assigned to 2,774 buildings. Furthermore, 4,210 police officers will be placed on reserve duty under the supervision of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), accompanied by nine Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), 16 Superintendents of Police (SPs), 57 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), and 107 Station House Officers (SHOs).
The AIG outlined plans to allocate 2,430 personnel for various election commission offices, welfare duties, hospitals, and miscellaneous tasks.
However, he emphasized the glaring shortage of 14,300 police personnel and revealed that multiple options were under consideration to address this gap. Possibilities include deploying lady health workers, and polio staff, or hiring private security guards, anti-encroachment, excise police, anti-corruption, or forest department personnel to bolster the existing security measures.
As the elections draw near, efforts are underway to mitigate the shortfall and ensure the safety and integrity of the electoral process in Karachi.
As the general elections loom closer, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has disclosed its roster of candidates for both the National and Punjab Assemblies, drawing attention for granting tickets to more than 30 family members, as reported by The News.
The announcement was made by Ishaq Dar, PML-N’s Head of Election Cell, marking a pivotal moment in the party’s preparations for the upcoming political showdown.
In a notable revelation, 36 candidates have familial ties, including father-son, father-daughter, husband-wife, brother-in-law, mother-son, father-in-law, and uncle-nephew relationships among them.
Candidates of PMLN who are father-son, father-daughter, husband-wife, brother-in-law, mother-son, father-in-law and uncle-nephew.
Nawaz Sharif and his daughter will contest the National Assembly polls from Lahore.
Similarly, Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz will…
PML-N stalwarts Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz are set to contest the National Assembly polls from Lahore, while PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz will participate in both the National Assembly and provincial assembly polls.
Malik Saif ul Mulook Khokhar, the President of PML-N Lahore, and his son Faisal Ayub, have secured tickets for the National and provincial assemblies, respectively.
Afzal Khokhar and his nephew Irfan Shafi Khokhar from Lahore are also contesting on PML-N tickets.
From Dera Ghazi Khan, former minister Awais Leghari and his son Amar Leghari are nominated for National Assembly seats in Rajanpur.
Additionally, former minister Khawaja Saad Rafique is vying for a National Assembly seat, while his brother Salman Rafiq is contesting for a provincial assembly seat, both from Lahore.
In Muzaffargarh, former minister Syed Basit Bukhari and his daughter Syeda Shahr Bano Bukhari have been fielded as candidates.
From Bahawalpur, Iqbal Chanar is nominated for a National Assembly seat, with his son Zaheer Iqbal Chanar is contending for a provincial assembly seat.
Chaudhry Khalid Javed Waraich and his son Uqba Waraich are PML-N’s candidates for the National and provincial assemblies from Toba Tek Singh, respectively.
Yaqoob Shaikh is contesting for the National Assembly from Jhang, while his wife Rashida Yaqoob is running for a provincial assembly seat.
Notable leaders like Daniyal Aziz didn’t make it to the list.
PML-N ticket distribution extends to various regions, including Kasur, Vehari, Dera Ghazi Khan, Taunsa, Lodhran, Khanewal, and Sheikhupura, with candidates such as Rana Hayat, Begum Tahmina Daultana, Amjad Farooq Khosa, Siddique Baloch, and Mian Javed Latif, among others.
Notably, the PML-N has introduced eight new faces in Punjab for National Assembly tickets, including Bilal Azhar Kayani and Attaullah Tarar. The party has also allocated tickets to six women for the National Assembly and three for the provincial assembly in Punjab, showcasing a diverse candidate pool.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has awarded four party tickets for general seats in provincial and national assemblies to minority candidates.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has given one party ticket to minority candidate Lalchand Malhi from NA-213 Umerkot Sindh.
The PPP nominated Sakhawat Masih, a ground worker from Narowal, for NA-76 Narowal, along with giving tickets to Doctor Mahesh Kumar Malani from Tharparkar for NA-215 Mithi/Tharparkar.
Malani was the only Hindu MNA on general seat in the National Assembly from 2018–2023.
PPP is also fielding Seth Hari Ram Kishori Lal from Mirpurkhas, for P.S-45 Mirpurkhas-I.
He was also the only Hindu member of the provincial assembly (MPA) on a general seat from 2018–2023.
Dr. Saveera Parkash from PK-25 Buner is also a PPP candidate, the first female Hindu candidate from the region.
American and British forces have launched fresh raids on Yemen’s capital, Houthi rebel forces confirmed on Saturday, a day after the allies carried out dozens of strikes on the country.
The latest raids targeted Al-Dailami airbase in Sanaa, which has been under Houthi control since 2014, a statement released on their official media stated. “The American-British enemy is targeting the capital, Sanaa, with a number of raids,” Al-Masirah TV posted on X, formerly Twitter, citing its correspondent in Sanaa.”The American-British aggression targeted the Al-Dailami base in the capital, Sanaa,” it added.
Raids on Yemen follow weeks of Houthi attacks on Israel’s ships in the commercial Red Sea in protest against the war on Gaza.
The strike on a Houthi radar site comes a day after scores of attacks across the country heightened fears that Israel’s aggression on Gaza could engulf the whole Arab region.
The Houthis warned that US and British interests were “legitimate targets” after the initial strikes. Britain, the United States and eight allies said strikes carried out on Friday had aimed to “de-escalate tensions”, but the Houthis vowed to continue their attacks. Hussein al-Ezzi, the rebels’ deputy foreign minister, said the United States and Britain would “have to prepare to pay a heavy price”.
The rebels have controlled much of Yemen since a civil war erupted in 2014 and are part of the “axis of resistance” against Israel and its allies.
Violence involving these groups in Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria has surged since the war in Gaza began in early October.
BREAKING: Massive United States fleet of warships seen off the coast of Yemen.
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UN chief Antonio Guterres called on all sides “not to escalate” in the interest of regional peace and stability, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Friday, days after adopting a resolution demanding the Houthis immediately stop their attacks.
At the meeting, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield warned that no ship was safe from the threat posed by Houthis to shipping in the Red Sea.
Russian ambassador Vassili Nebenzia denounced the “blatant armed aggression” against the entire population of the country.
Red Sea attacks and the politics of the Middle East
The Houthis have intensified attacks on what they deem Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea- through which 12 percent of global maritime trade normally passes- since October 7.
The United States and Britain launched strikes on Friday that targeted nearly 30 locations using more than 150 ammunitions, US General Douglas Sims said, updating earlier figures, and President Joe Biden said he did not believe there were civilian casualties.
Biden called the strikes a successful “defensive action” after the “unprecedented” Red Sea attacks and said he would act again if the Houthis continued their “outrageous behaviour”.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the Houthis’ breach of international law warranted the “strong signal”, with his government publishing its legal position justifying the strikes as lawful and “proportionate”.
Nasser Kanani, spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry, said the Western strikes would fuel “insecurity and instability in the region” while “diverting” attention from Gaza.
The Houthis fired “at least one” anti-ship ballistic missile in retaliation on Friday that caused no damage, according to Sims.
The United States said it did not seek conflict with Iran, with National Security Council spokesman John Kirby telling MSNBC there was “no reason” for an escalation.
Middle Eastern leaders voiced concern at the violence, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan describing the strikes on Yemen as disproportionate and saying: “It is as if they aspire to turn the Red Sea into a bloodbath.”
Saudi Arabia said it “is following with great concern the military operations” and called for “self-restraint and avoiding escalation”. The kingdom is trying to extricate itself from a nine-year war with the Huthis, though fighting has largely been on hold since a truce in early 2022.
Palestinian freedom fighting group Hamas said it would hold Britain and the United States “responsible for the repercussions on regional security”.
‘Death to America’
Hundreds of thousands of people, some carrying Kalashnikov assault rifles, gathered in Yemen’s capital Sanaa on Friday to protest, many waving Yemeni and Palestinian flags and holding portraits of Huthi leader Abdulmalik al-Huthi, an AFP journalist reported.
5 million people protested in Yemen today. Does The United States and Israel know what they got themselves into? This is terrifying, pic.twitter.com/MBRw9f8X5r
In Tehran, hundreds rallied against the United States, Britain, and Israel, burning the three countries’ flags outside the UK embassy while voicing support for Gazans and Yemenis, an AFP correspondent reported.
In Gaza, Palestinians lauded Houthi support and condemned Britain and the United States. “No one is standing with us but Yemen,” said Fouad al-Ghalaini, one of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians left homeless by Israel’s bombardment of Gaza City
— Federal Investigation Agency – FIA (@FIA_Agency) January 12, 2024
According to Director FIA Karachi Zone Zaeem Iqbal, the suspect was posted as a cashier in the branch of a private bank located in Sadar area of Karachi. He has been accused of embezzling a total of three crore, 29 lakh and 78 thousand rupees by issuing, without permission, fake cash transits to various branches under the guise of excess cash.
According to the initial investigation, no request for cash was received from the above branches, while the suspect did not hand over the said amount to the van used for cash transit after making cash entries last year in May, June and July.
As per FIA, the suspect had fled after cheating. After his arrest, raids are being conducted to apprehend others from the group.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced a list of its candidates for National Assembly (NA) seats for the upcoming general elections, set to take place on February 8, 2024.
The former ruling party has opted to nominate candidates from all 266 national assembly seats throughout Pakistan. Nonetheless, numerous constituencies have been labelled as ‘pending’, primarily due to disagreements in candidate selection.
In all, the naming of candidates in at least 34 NA constituencies is pending, including from Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Kasur, Khanewal, Sahiwal, and Pakpattan.
Former prime minister and founder of PTI, Imran Khan, is currently in Adiala jail after being convicted in the Toshakhana case. His nomination papers have been rejected.
Surprisingly, PTI has nominated candidates to compete against its former close ally Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, and his nephew, Sheikh Rashid Shafiq.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan is a candidate from NA-10 Buner-I, while Omar Ayub Khan is contesting from NA-18, Haripur.
عام انتخابات برائے 8 فروری 2024 کیلئے پاکستان تحریک انصاف نے امیدواروں کی فہرست جاری کر دی، تفصیلات کیلئے لنک : https://t.co/H1T1sfJ1Pd
The Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) has stated in a report that over 10 million individuals faced displacement while 2.1 million homes were damaged in Sindh and approximately 100,000 in Balochistan in the devastating floods that hit Pakistan in 2022. The findings of the report reveal that due to financial constraints, there is a possibility that low-income migrated families will not return to cast their votes in the upcoming general elections.
The lack of Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) and damaged pathways to polling stations jeopardise participation of the flood-affected communities, reports Dawn.
A study by CPDI, conducted in Sindh and Balochistan, identifies multiple problems faced by flood-affected communities which may adversely affect voter turnout. It shows key issues, notably the absence of CNICs and damaged pathways to potential polling stations or school buildings.
While highlighting the issues, CPDI urged authorities to take immediate measures to facilitate voter turnout in the flood-affected areas specifically in Khairpur, Naushahro Feroz, Naseerabad and Jaffarabad.
The qualitative assessment was undertaken in the severely affected provinces of Sindh and Balochistan, highlighting various critical issues, including the absence and delays in obtaining national identity cards, damaged infrastructure such as roads and designated polling stations/school buildings, waning interest in political leaders due to insufficient post-disaster rehabilitation efforts, and concerns about the displaced community’s return to exercise their voting rights.
Additionally, individuals with lifelong injuries may be bedridden, posing a challenge for their participation in the general election (GE) 2024. These findings underscore the multifaceted challenges affecting the electoral landscape in flood-affected regions.
A significant number of flood victims lost their CNICs (at least one in every household), delays in renewal of CNICs are primarily because of the crowded and limited number of Nadra centres established at village level, residents added that mobile registration vans of Nadra initially helped but were later discontinued.
“Furthermore, daily wage earners also find it financially burdensome to visit Nadra centres. CPDI urges the authorities to take immediate action to ensure that eligible voters in flood-affected regions receive their CNICs before elections. Moreover, damaged roads and access tracks force voters to take longer alternative routes to reach polling stations, reported in all villages of selected districts in Sindh and Balochistan.
“Increased distances, combined with high transportation costs, will likely discourage voters, particularly women, elderly, differently-abled and low-income individuals, from travelling to cast their votes. With over 40 per cent of school buildings damaged and incomplete recovery efforts, newly designated polling stations may be distant, posing accessibility challenges for flood-affected residents on polling day without adequate transportation,” the report stated.
Fresh from its wins at the Golden Globes, Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” on Wednesday topped the nominations for the influential Screen Actors Guild Awards, which are key to Oscars success.
The SAG Awards, voted on by Hollywood actors, are likely to enjoy a profile boost of their own this year as they are broadcast globally on Netflix -an awards show first for the world’s biggest streamer.
“Oppenheimer,” which tells the story of the inventor of the atomic bomb, earned nods for Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., and Emily Blunt, as well as “outstanding performance by a cast” – the SAG Awards’ top prize.
Nolan’s three-hour epic, which earned nearly $1 billion and received rave reviews from critics, is rapidly becoming the clear favorite for the Academy Awards in March.
“Barbie” -the other half of last summer’s “Barbenheimer” box office phenomenon, and the year’s highest-grossing film -picked up nominations for Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, and the overall cast.
The surreal comedy based on the wildly popular doll also picked up a nomination for its stunt performers.
The other films with three acting nominations were the historical epic “Killers of the Flower Moon” -despite its leading man Leonardo DiCaprio missing out — and the scathing satire “American Fiction,” starring Jeffrey Wright.
Both movies are nominated for best cast, with the musical remake “The Color Purple” rounding out that category.
This year’s SAG Awards gala, held on February 24, will be streamed on Netflix, as the platform slowly moves into hosting live events.
The Screen Actors Guild will bestow a lifetime achievement award on Barbra Streisand.
In a statement, SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher praised the EGOT -Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony – winner as “a colossal icon with a relentless work ethic, evolving with each stage of her remarkable journey.”
Speeches at next month’s gala are certain to feature multiple references to last year’s Hollywood strikes, which saw the industry shut down as SAG-AFTRA – along with the writers’ guild -went head-to-head with studios.
A deal was finally reached to end the actors’ strike in November.
While Netflix will host the gala, none of its films were nominated for the night’s biggest prize.
But the streamer did land five movie nominations, including Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan for Leonard Bernstein biopic “Maestro,” and Jodie Foster and Annette Bening for “Nyad.”
Elsewhere, Globes winners Paul Giamatti and Da’Vine Joy Randolph picked up nods for “The Holdovers,” as did Emma Stone and her co-star Willem Dafoe for “Poor Things.”
All four films missed out on nominations for Outstanding Cast.
The winner of that prize has gone on to win the best picture at the Oscars in three of the past four years (“Parasite,” “CODA” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once”).
Actors represent the biggest branch of the membership of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which votes for the Oscars.
The SAG Awards also honor television, with “Succession” on top with five nods, followed by “The Bear,” “The Last of Us” and “Ted Lasso,” all on four.
Hollywood’s Directors’ Guild also announced its own nominations Wednesday.
Both Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” and Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” again made the shortlist of five nominees for the Directors Guild of America’s best film.
They were joined by Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon, “Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers,” and “Poor Things” from Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos.
Umar Farooq Dar, accused of stealing the birthday cake of party leader Nawaz Sharif in Gujranwala has now been given party tickets to contest the upcoming elections.
Umar Farooq Dar took to Twitter and expressed hope to win the elections under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, and Maryam Nawaz. He is going to contest the elections from PP-64.
انشاءاللہ قائد میاں نوازشریف صدر مسلم لیگ میاں شہبازشریف اور چیف آرگنائزر مسلم لیگ ن مریم نوازشریف کے اعتماد پر پورا اترتے ہوئے اللہ کے فضل و کرم سے سرخرو ہونگے!!! pic.twitter.com/OkvQ0Iqu32
Journalist Majid Nizami shared the news by posting on X that Umar Farooq Dar, who collected Nawaz Sharif’s birthday cake from the bakery for free, has been issued MPA ticket by PML-N from Gujranwala. He also took a jibe at the politician that his devotees have collected cakes that were not theirs.
بیکری سے نواز شریف کی سالگرہ کا کیک مفت اٹھانے والے عمر فاروق ڈار کو گوجرانولہ سے ن لیگ نے ایم پی اے کا ٹکٹ جاری کر دیا
قائد کی محبت میں ہم آشفتہ سروں نے۔۔۔ وہ کیک اٹھائے ہیں جو ہمارے بھی نہیں تھے https://t.co/1k4OizxUbu
