The stellar trio of actresses Tabu, Kareena Kapoor Khan & Kriti Sanon will be seen together in producer Rhea Kapoor’s forthcoming madcap comedy film The Crew.
Promised to be a laugh riot, it is set against the backdrop of the struggling airline industry. It tells the story of three women, who work and hustle to move on with life.
Commenting on the occasion of the announcement, Kareena Kapoor Khan said: “‘Veere Di Wedding’ holds a special place in my heart. Working with Rhea and Ektaa was an incredible journey. So when Rhea came to me with her new project ‘The Crew’ I was quite intrigued. This also means I get to share screen space with two stellar actresses, Tabu and Kriti. I am looking forward to starting this project and can’t wait to bring this trifecta to the fold.”
As the three women in the film try to make their way forward, their destinies lead to some unwarranted situations leading them to get caught in a web of lies.
Kriti Sanon, who is now busy with promotions of her upcoming film ‘Bhediya’, said: “I always look forward to strong characters and unique stories and ‘The Crew’ is one of them. I am thrilled to work with two powerhouses of talent, Tabu ma’am and Kareena.”
“I’ve always admired and looked up to them and their work. I’ve met Tabu ma’am on a few occasions and she has always been extremely warm. Bebo is simply iconic, I’ve been a fan girl.”
She added: “On the other hand, Rhea and Ektaa are just phenomenal, strong producers who have backed empowering and progressive female characters and subjects. I’ve always wanted to do a fun quirky all girls film and this one just ticked all the boxes and I instantly loved the script! Can’t wait for the journey to begin.”
Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said that he is the one who in the entire history of the game, brought in a neutral umpire to get fair results.
Khan was talking on TRT World’s “The Newsmakers” with Andrea Sanke, when the anchor asked, “You want the military out of Pakistan’s politics, or do you want the military on your side in Pakistan’s politics?”
Khan replied: “Let me say one thing. In the two hundred year history of test cricket, and international cricket, I am the captain who brought the neutral umpires. I am the one who actually brought in the neutral umpires in cricket because we wanted a fair result.”
“You must understand, for me right now, the most important thing in Pakistan is how do we get out of the quagmire, how do we get out of this situation”, he stated.
Question: Do you want the military out of Pakistan politics or on your side?
Answer: Look Andrea, I am the captain who brought neutral umpires in test cricket. pic.twitter.com/SBT3BLRaww
During the interview, Khan again mentioned the names of PM Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Major General Faisal Naseer as the minds behind the assassination attempt on his life. “We are governed by criminals”, Khan said.
He reiterated that he wants an independent investigation. “We are a popular party in Punjab but we couldn’t get a case registered against them because the provincial police refused,” he told the host.
“If they turned out to be innocent in the investigation so it’s fine. At least it’s my right, they almost killed me”, Khan said.
He claimed that all the investigative agencies in the country are under these three people [Shehbaz, Sanaullah and Faisal Naseer].
About Naveed, the gunman who shot at the former Prime Minister, Imran Khan said, “After 20 minutes of the incident, a man appears and says that I shot Imran”.
Khan raised a question: “Who brought him on television? Police are not allowed to do this unless a proper investigation is carried out.”
Stressing that he was more determined now, Imran Khan said that he was expecting something to happen. “I predicted this four months ago that there was a plot against me,” he said.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former prime minister and a senior leader of the ruling coalition, also spoke with The Newsmakers and called the allegations levelled by Khan tragic. “It is a tragedy that a person of Imran Khan’s stature, who served as the prime minister of the country, would stoop so low to accuse the [sitting] prime minister and intelligence officials of being behind this shooting,” he said.
Abbasi said the shooting took place in a province that Khan’s PTI party controls and called for an investigation to ascertain the motivation behind this shooting. “The shooter has been arrested and the truth should come out. I think for Imran Khan to speculate and try to gain political points out of this is something that is very much not acceptable,” Abbasi said.
Imran Khan rejected Abbasi’s statement, saying he does not need popularity gained by accusing others.
Khan called on the Chief Justice (CJ) of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial to be “more assertive” when it comes to dispensing justice.
“Justice persists when every person, even the most powerful, is brought under the rule of law. I, as the head of a province, can’t get the three people to be investigated, imagine what the situation will be for the common man,” he said, adding that PTI’s movement for “real struggle” demanded rule of law.
Pakistan has defeated New Zealand by seven wickets to reach their first T20 World Cup final since winning the competition in 2009. Pakistan restricted New Zealand to 152-4, before reaching their target with five balls to spare as the skipper banished his Super 12 blues with 53 from 42 deliveries in an opening stand of 105 from 76 balls with Mohammad Rizwan (57 off 43).
Pakistan reaching the final after a not-so-good start has triggered a meme fest on Twitter. Have a look at the memes:
Suggestions are being made to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) by “certain elements” to convince Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa to continue as the head of the armed forces, reports The News.
According to the newspaper’s sources, a suggestion was given to the government to give an extension to the incumbent army chief, and dissolve the government so that an interim government could form which would then continue for six to seven months.
However, it has been reported that the party has said “no” to these options. PM Shehbaz and his senior party leadership insist on completing the term of the present assemblies and holding the next elections in October-November 2023. According to the party, the appointment of the COAS is at the discretion of the Premier and key military appointments would be made as per the law and Constitution.
It is pertinent to mention that COAS Bajwa is set to retire by the end of November, a time frame that he has reportedly verbally confirmed multiple times.
It was also reported a few weeks ago that Imran Khan, former Prime Minister and Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been seeking the continuation of the incumbent army chief until the new elections are called.
In an interview with Kamran Khan on Dunya News, Khan suggested that COAS Bajwa, be given an extension in his tenure of service.
Talking about the possibility of appointing a new Army Chief, Khan said, “There can be a provision in relevance to the selection of the new COAS. When the next government comes, they can appoint a new COAS.”
In November 2016, a private video of actor Rida Isfahani got leaked and went viral on social media. The controversy affected her career in a huge way and she lost out on work. Now the artist has discussed the matter on Nadir Ali’s podcast for the first time.
Allegedly her ex-fiancé, who was DOP betrayed her and leaked her private moments.
Rida said, “I would discuss it with you because you respect women. If your trust is breached, then it means it is the end of humanity. I would say it’s Allah who gives respect and who reveals your bad side in front of others, sometimes, the punishment comes early because Allah doesn’t want someone special to fall astray.”
She added, “Well, my trust was broken by my fiancé. I convinced my parents for him. My mindset was conservative as I wanted to be with one person. I had a relationship with DOP. He wasn’t even wealthy, he proposed to me and I accepted. After three years of my engagement, he leaked my pictures when I was in the US. People urged me to do a press conference but I didn’t as it was his deed, this is my tragedy and it will go to my grave with me. People don’t forgive and keep accusing you for your past and I have been facing this. I was also cut down from projects after this. I contacted him through agencies after this because I was clueless at that time, his act was bad, I will be embarrassed in front of my loved ones who never said a bad word to me after this tragedy, they were so hurt.”
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has written a letter to Chief Justice (CJ) Umar Ata Bandial to request him to form a judicial commission to investigate the attempted assassination on Imran Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The premier said that the investigation of the incident was being “mishandled” and in its aftermath a “derogatory campaign” had been launched against the leadership of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and state institutions.
Putting forward five questions before the SC, Shehbaz Sharif has asked which law enforcement agencies were responsible to provide security to Imran’s convoy. He also questioned whether security protocols and other SOPs were put in place to secure the convoy and whether these protocols were adhered to. “What are the facts of the incident itself,” the letter says.
“Whether law enforcement agencies and administrative authorities complied with the prescribed investigation, evidence collection, and handling procedures following the incident,” reads the letter.
The last questions were: “Whether the investigation into the incident is being deliberately impeded? If yes, by which actors and why? Whether the shooting was a result of a criminal conspiracy hatched to assassinate Imran or the act of a lone shooter? Who are the actors responsible in either scenario?”
PM’s letter to CJ about Arshad Sharif’s death
In another letter to the SC, PM Shehbaz — who is currently in Egypt—wrote a letter to CJ Bandial and sought the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the death of slain journalist Arshad Sharif.
The journalist was killed in a “mistaken identity” case last month in Kenya by local police.
The Premier suggested the CJ focus on five questions — through which procedure did Arshad Sharif go abroad in August 2022? Who facilitated Sharif’s departure abroad? Was any federal or provincial agency aware of any threat to Sharif? Was any organisation or administration aware of any threat to Sharif? If Sharif’s life was in danger, what steps were taken to save him? What were the circumstances, and reasons under which Sharif went to Kenya from UAE? What is the truth behind the shooting incident in which Sharif died?
The premier asked the chief justice to form a commission comprising all the justices of the SC. He also assured the apex court that the federal government would provide full support to the commission.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Azam Swati has submitted an application to the Human Rights Cell of the Supreme Court (SC), requesting to “safeguard sanctity, honour, privacy and respect of the Senator after the leak of him and his wife’s private recorded video.”
“My daughter told me, while also sobbing & crying uncontrollably, that Mama says it is a video of her and myself as husband and wife, adding that main part
of video is genuine it was taken while we were on a visit to Quetta on 20th August, 2022″, Azam Swati told SC HR Cell. pic.twitter.com/vuWCVRyClF
In the petition, it is stated that the “applicant brought the honorable court’s attention towards this most inhuman and unethical incident.”
Swati narrated the incident including details of how he got to know about the video when an unknown number sent the clip to his wife. He said that the “main part of the video is genuine and it was taken when the couple was staying in Quetta.”
After watching the video, Swati said, “My wife called me after watching, remembering and confirming the details of the video. She was sobbing uncontrollably and was hardly able to utter any words.”
Moreover, the senator named Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Assistant Director Ayaz, D.G, FIA, DGC Faisal Naseer and Brig. Fahim and others “who are involved in committing the heinous crime, violation of human rights, privacy and dignity of man.”
He said that the people who were involved in his earlier custodial torture had sent this private video to his wife and son to blackmail him.
‘What happened to you is very tragic’: CJP Bandial to Azam Swati
On November 8, during the hearing of PTI chief Imran Khan’s contempt of court case in SC, when Swati appeared before the court, Chief Justice (CJ) Umar Ata Bandial spoke to him that “What happened to you is very tragic”.
The Chief Justice corrected Swati that he had never stayed in the rest house of the SC, to which Azam Swati replied, “Yes, you are right, I had stayed in Quetta Federal Lodge.”
“Your case is ongoing in Human Rights Cell. The court is careful in this matter, the case will be seen according to the law,” said the CJP.
Swati asked whether he can show the alleged video to anyone other than the judges. To this, the CJ directed Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to remove the alleged video of the senator To this, the PTI leader said that “The video that will be removed may not be the one that was sent to me”.
The same day Swati said that he will show the recorded private video of him and his wife to the SC and will tell the court which clips of the video are fabricated and which are real.
Talking to media outside of the apex court, Azam dismissed the FIA assessment of the video as being “fake and edited”.
“Why did we [me and my wife] say that the recorded video is of Quetta,” the senator added.
Moreover, the senator appealed to CJ for justice. He also urged the Chairman of the Senate, Sadiq Sanjrani, to follow the constitution.
Prior to this, Swati had alleged that the video was recorded when he and his wife had visited Quetta where he stayed at the Supreme Court Judicial Lodges. According to Swati, Chairman Sanjrani had arranged his stay. However, the SC issued a clarification stating that Senator Azam Swati “Never used/stayed in Supreme Court Judges Rest House at Quetta”, adding that according to the Balochistan Special Branch, Swati stayed at the Balochistan Judicial Academy (Judicial Complex Quetta), which is not under the SC’s control.
Chairman Sanjrani had also issued a statement where he condemned the video and also said that he provided Swati and his wife with the best and safest accommodation as guests in Quetta.
Pointing fingers towards FIA’s Assistant Director Ayaz Khan, the senator said General Headquarters (GHQ) should summon him [Ayaz] so that he can reveal the truth “that on whose orders he arrested me and raided my house.”
میری تو صرف اتنی سی درخواست تھی کہ FIA کے اسسٹنٹ ڈائریکٹر سے پوچھا جائے کس کے کہنے پر میرے گھر پر ریڈ ہوا، پوچھا جائے کس کے کہنے پر مجھے بے لباس اور تشدد کیا گیا، آخر وہ نامعلوم افراد کون تھے؟۔ @AzamKhanSwatiPk#رُکنانہیں_جھُکنانہیںpic.twitter.com/A29OmNP4W9
Earlier, Chairman Sanjrani formed a 14-member special committee to probe the alleged “obscene video” of Swati.
On November 5, Swati broke into tears during a press conference, alleging that he and his wife were secretly recorded in a room and he was informed about it by his daughter.
In an interview with CNN’s Becky Anderson, former Prime Minister Imran Khan named two of the three people he has alleged are behind the attack on him, however he surprisingly did not name the third person.
Talking to Anderson, the Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said that three bullets were removed from his right leg while some shrapnel was left inside his left leg and that it would take him “four to six weeks” to resume his activities after the assassination attempt in Wazirabad.
Khan also said that there were two shooters and hinted at the possibility of a third gunman. “There was this guy who fired the first volley … then there was another volley [that] came in over our heads because we were falling,” he added, terming the attack a “planned assassination attempt”.
He also alleged that a cover-up of the incident was underway, saying that is why he had called for an independent investigation and for three people to resign — who Khan claims are responsible for the attack. Khan then named Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and mentioned a senior intelligence official but surprisingly did not name him during the interview.
“How did I get the information? From within the intelligence agencies.”
When asked about the source of his pre-emptive information about the attack, Khan referred to his term in power and said he had “connections with intelligence agencies.”
“How did I get the information? From within the intelligence agencies. Why? Because most people are appalled by what is going on in this country. What is happening in Pakistan is unprecedented,” he told CNN, adding that if his allegations were wrong, then an inquiry would prove them wrong. He questioned that he could, as the intended target of the attack, “not name the people I’m suspicious of planning this attempt on me.”
“We don’t need to accuse people get more popular in this country.”
Pakistan’s former PM @ImranKhanPTI tells me he does not need to blame any government for being ousted in order to get back into power. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/CRs7NUsnPQ
The former Premier also alleged that two months ago, an agency produced a video that accused him of blasphemy. He stressed that his opponents had “picked up and ran with” the video while he had said right then at the time that it was a “planned thing”.
A First Report Information (FIR) has been registered against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s attempted assassination in Wazirabad almost a week after the tragic incident.
The FIR has been lodged at the City Police Station in Wazirabad with sub-inspector Aamir Shahzad as the complainant.
The prime suspect, Naveed, who was captured at the crime scene, has been nominated in the FIR. The report was registered under various charges including terrorism, murder and attempt to murder with sections 302, 324, 440 and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 included.
According to the FIR, Imran Khan and other PTI leaders were headed to Wazirabad from Allahwala Chowk, when at 4pm, the accused, Naveed opened fire from the left side of the container, killing Muazzam son of Nawaz of Bharoki Cheema, who was a participant in the rally. Moreover, the FIR says the gun attack left Imran Khan wounded.
PTI’s leaders have categorically rejected the FIR, while social media was flooded with the party’s supporters dismissing the report.
PTI’s Secretary General Asad Umar tweeted, “The reality of the established system in the country came to the public. Not a few individuals, but the whole system was exposed to the nation.”
ملک میں قائم نظام کی حقیقت عوام کے سامنے کھل کر آ گئ. چند فرد نہیں بلکہ پورا نظام برہنہ ہو گیا قوم کے سامنے #FIR_Rejected
PTI’s senior leader Fawad Chaudhry pointed out that the names of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Major General Faisal were not mentioned in the FIR and thus the party rejected it.
تحریک انصاف اپنا مؤقف دے چکی ہے اگر FIR میں شہباز شریف، رانا ثنااللہ اور فیصل نصیر کے نام شامل ہیں تو یہ FIR قانونی ہے ان ناموں میں کوئ بھی تحریف تحریک انصاف کو قبول نہیں اور ہمارے نزدیک FIR کاغذ کا بے وقعت ٹکڑا ہو گی
PTI leader Shireen Mazari said the FIR was an “attempt at a complete cover up by the three accused through the power of their positions and the state.”
The FIR registered in Wazirabad thana is sheer mockery of the law & SC order. An attempt at a complete cover up by the 3 accused thru the power of their positions & the State. Seems regime change conspirators hellbent on destroying Pak totally for their own ends. #FIR_Rejected
The FIR was registered after the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday directed Faisal Shahkar, Inspector General (IG) of Punjab Police, to register it.
The Chief Justice (CJ), Umar Ata Bandial, warned that the court would take suo motu notice if the FIR of the attack was not registered within 24 hours.
Actor Sonya Hussyn recently shared that she has sent her film Tich Button‘s producer Urwa Hocane a legal notice due to a “breach in the contract” whereby she was not paid her contractual dues for the project.
In the legal notice, the Azaadi star’s legal team addressed the matter by reminding Urwa that she “entered into contractual relations” with their client. “Under express terms and conditions”, she agreed to pay Sonya a certain amount upon completion of the shooting, which began on February 2, 2020, and ended on June 5, the same year.
The notice states that even though Sonya performed her part of the contract “in exceptional circumstances” such as the outbreak of Covid-19, she was not paid her due “despite repeated requests and reminders” accounting for a “breach in the contract”.
It noted that after quite some time, “in stark convention and blatant violation of contract”, the Meri Shehzadi diva “fraudulently” attempted to pay Hussyn Rs500,000.
Hussyn returned that cheque and “unequivocally refuses to be a prey of [Urwa’s] fraudulent scheme,” according to the notice. Sonya is demanding the payment agreed upon in the contract which is “still outstanding”.
Additionally, she demanded Rs5 million for “general damages” on account of “distress, dismay, mental torture, humiliation and embarrassment” within 14 days of the receipt of the notice for the “undesirable and unwanted circumstances” created by Urwa.
Upon failure to comply with this, Sonya instructed her legal team to “institute civil and criminal legal provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 for criminal breach of trust, cheating, fraud, and misrepresentation” and file a civil suit in court and seek recovery of payment, general damages and attachment of Urwa’s immoveable and moveable assets.
Urwa’s Response
Urwa has now addressed the matter in an interview “I am not aware that Sonya Hussyn has sent any notice to me, I mean I am just a call away, we have been shooting the film for so long which a lot of things might happen. We should speak to each other and find out, I am sure there should be some misunderstanding, we all are mature enough and can resolve issues, why sabotage a project like this? I am also worried about such a notice, it’s not like that, she’s been a team, and I know the process has become longer but we understand and will address this misunderstanding, maybe Sonya Hussyn would have called me.”
Farhan Saeed’s Reaction
While opening up about the absence of his co-stars Sonya Hussyn and Feroze Khan from the film’s promotions, Farhan Saeed said, “they are an integral part of the film, at the trailer launch, Sonya didn’t appear because she was a Toronto for awards, Feroze Khan was absent from promotions because he was in Saudi Arabia for the Umrah, I even said to Qasim, ‘we should ask Feroze to pray for film’s success, I wish they join us in in future promotion but they worked beautifully.”
Farhan retorted, “Maliha, problems are in every project. I can’t agree with the thing that a project doesn’t have any problem let me tell you every project has issues, especially in films, however, I would say that you should own the project wholeheartedly. If you ask me, there are zero regrets and hard feelings, every one has his own career choices and graphs.
Sonya’s Statement
In a recent interview with Hasan Choudary, she discussed her dispute with the Tich Button’s makers.
Talking about it Sonya said, “I think, everyone knows now why I’m missing from promotions of Tich Button, the thing is out already, the public knows why I’m not seen, payment dispute was the main issue, also, sometimes, your chemistry and vibe don’t match with some people and that’s why I’m distant.”
She further added, “I took Urwa’s name because Urwa was the only producer who approached me, she was the main face behind it, she was the one who signed the contract with me, that’s why I sent her a notice, I addressed Urwa specifically because I had a contract with her. I talked to all producers before sending the notice, it was last option to approach legally. However, on Ahsan’s show, I mistakenly said something but he created it a big thing.”
