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Donald Lu should be sacked over his ‘sheer arrogance and bad manners’: Khan

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Monday called for the sacking of United States (US) Assistant Secretary of State for Central and South Asia Donald Lu for “sheer arrogance and bad manners”.

In an interview with CNN, Khan said the US diplomat told Pakistan’s ambassador that unless “you get Imran Khan removed in a vote of no-confidence — which was not tabled but he seemed to know about it — Pakistan will suffer consequences”.

“And then goes on to say, of course, if you get rid of him through the vote of no-confidence, all will be forgiven — such arrogance […] by the way Becky, this guy should be sacked for bad manners and sheer arrogance,” Khan told CNN’s Becky Anderson.

“Donald Lu should be sacked for bad manners and sheer arrogance. Imagine asking the Ambassador to get rid of the elected PM.”-@ImranKhanPTI #حقیقی_آزادی_مارچ pic.twitter.com/WLyz89nDVJ

— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 23, 2022

Anchorperson Becky Anderson asked Khan if he had gotten in touch with the US president or state secretary regarding the matter. Khan did not answer, instead of saying that the National Security Council (NSC) meeting had decided to issue a demarche and a protest was registered to the US in Pakistan and Washington.

Anderson said the US had “rubbished” the notion that it was involved in a regime change in Pakistan and asked Khan if he genuinely believed his claim of there being a foreign conspiracy to topple his government.

“What were they meeting [US officials] for? They were the first ones to jump ship and they were the ones who then offered million dollars each to buy my other MNAs who jumped ship later on. Why would the US embassy be interested in our party backbenchers?” said Khan.

Anderson questioned Khan’s visit to Russia, adding that “the optics didn’t and don’t look good, do they?” To which Khan responded, “They didn’t but let me explain to you. This visit was planned a long time back and all stakeholders in Pakistan were onboard. The military wanted Russian hardware, we wanted oil, there was a gas pipeline which was being negotiated for the past six years before my government came in … how would I have known that the day I land in Moscow, President [Vladimir] Putin would decide to go into Ukraine?”

May 24, 2022
Sarwat Gilani, Sania Saeed impress in traditional dresses at the Cannes Film Festival 2022

Pakistani actresses Sarwat Gilani and Sania Saeed walked at the red carpet at the 75th Cannes Film Festival in traditional attires, making local netizens proud.

While the Churails star impressed in an exquisite glittery ensemble with high heels and minimal accessories including earrings and statement rings..

The 39-year-old starlet looked ethereal in her mint green long gowns by Elon.

Senior actress Sania Saeed opted for a vibrant dark blue and pink floral outfit, complete with silver embellishments.

The cast of the Pakistani film Joyland is proudly representing Pakistan at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival along with the director Saim Sadiq.

The category for feature films at Cannes only takes in a limited number of 14 films and it is a moment of immense pleasure that a Pakistani film made the list.

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A post shared by Sania Saeed (@thesaniasaeed)

Alina Khan, a transgender actress, also stars in the film.

Sadiq arrived at the festival in a salmon pink suit paired with a white t-shirt, with Sarwat donning a white, puffy-sleeved dress and strappy black heels for the event. Actor Alina Khan, who starred in Darling, opted for a pink crop top with butterfly detailing, pairing it with a yellow skirt and hair tied into a high ponytail for a daytime-appropriate look.

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A post shared by Festival de Cannes (@festivaldecannes)

It stars Sarwat Gilani, Salman Peerzada, Sania Saeed, Ali Junejo, Alina Khan and Rasti Farooq. The film is produced by Sarmad Khoosat, Apoorva Guru Charan, and Lauren Mann.

May 24, 2022
WhatsApp is cutting support for two iPhones

The meta-owned messaging platform, WhatsApp announced that it will stop functioning on some outdated iPhones in its new update. The company announced that it would stop supporting iOS 10 and iOS 11 devices later this year.

WhatsApp has begun notifying iPhone users running iOS 10 or iOS 11 that they must update their devices in order to continue using WhatsApp beyond October 24. The iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c are the only two devices in the series which will no longer support WhatsApp after October 24.

“After October 24, 2022, WhatsApp will no longer support this version of iOS”. To get the newest iOS version, navigate to Settings > General > Software Update,” the notification says.

WhatsApp will continue to work for iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 users for the time being, and they will be alerted if their iPhones cease running the Meta-owned instant messaging app.

The app already states on its Help Center page that iPhone users must be running iOS 12 or above to continue using the application. WhatsApp requires Android 4.1 or newer for Android users.

The tech giant, Apple is anticipated to unveil iOS 16 at WWDC 2022 next month, and it will be released later this year, possibly around the time the iPhone 14 series is released.

May 23, 2022
Imran Khan makes party decisions based on Bushra Bibi’s dreams: Awn Chaudhry

Former adviser and very close friend to ousted Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, Awn Chaudhry revealed the reason for not attending the oath ceremony of the former premier, saying that he was stopped from attending Khan’s oath-taking after ‘somebody dreamt about it’ at Bani Gala.

“When I was informed about it by Imran Khan himself through a message before the night of the oath-taking, that someone has seen a dream and I cannot attend the oath-taking ceremony, I was hurt badly and thought was this the reward for my hard work? He sent the message at 2am and I have saved it on my phone. It is strange that decisions were made in the party on the basis of dreams,” Awn said.

Aun opened up about the issue while talking to Geo News programme ‘Jirga’s’ host Saleem Safi. Chaudhry said that he had Khan’s message saved and can show it anytime he asks for it.

Safi asked if the person whom Awn is mentioning in relevance to dreams was the first lady, Bushra Bibi. To this Awn said, “Everyone knows who is associated with such dreams and the implementation of work done because of these dreams.”

Anchorperson Safi reminded Chaudhry that Chaudhry was the one who made Khan meet Bushra Bibi and that Khan got married six months before becoming prime minister. So the question is why was not Awn Chaudhry distanced from Khan earlier? To which Chaudhry responded, “I cannot say what the plan was but now it’s pretty clear. Had I committed something wrong, I am sure Khan Saab would have said it to everyone within three seconds. My wrong was my loyalty to Khan Saab. Had my loyalties been somewhere else I would still be there.”

“I am grateful to the Almighty that he showed me the mirror. These people are not the ones to show loyalty to. I was the hindrance between a lot of things. A gang has come in front of Pakistan. The ones who called the shots and did the work in the country. This is the very gang that used to run Punjab. The gang includes the first lady’s friend Farah, Farah Gogi, Ahsan Jameel Gujjar, and then there was another gift which they presented in the face of Usman Buzdar. This was a planned conspiracy,” said Chaudhry.

“I came to Khan Saab and said that you have committed a blunder. I complained that you have given Punjab to such an incompetent man [Usman Buzdar]. The reward i got saying this was, I was taken out of the Punjab cabinet within a week,” revealed Chaudhry.

He said FIRs were lodged against Jahangir Tareen and his children while Tareen helped Imran Khan form governments in the Centre and Punjab. “Tareen allowed Imran Khan to use his plane and bore expenses of party meetings and offices, including Imran Khan’s sit-in at Islamabad. Imran Khan also leveled false allegations against Aleem Khan over his housing society. If he was so notorious, why had you accepted him to your party?” he asked.

Chaudhry said Shehzad Akbar had set up private cells to investigate Tareen after a commission was set up to investigate the sugar crisis. “Tareen also supported Principal Secretary to PM Azam Khan but he asked Imran Khan to form a commission against Tareen,” he added.

Awn Chaudhry alleged that Prime Imran Khan had phoned for closing NAB cases against many people close to him. “The truth will come forth if an inquiry is held,” he added.

Chaudhry said that the PTI chairman had not appointed Pervez Khattak as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister for the second time because he thought he did not obey him as he desired. He said Mehmood Khan had been appointed KP CM because he was a weak person. “Khattak has a political vision and he would have benefited the party better but he was criticised in party meetings,” he added.

May 23, 2022
Good News for Pakistani filmmakers: SHC orders 85% preference for local films

After the mess that local films like Chakkar, Dum Mastam and Pardey Mein Rehne Do faced with regards to their screening times being allotted to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, there has been a major development in the situation.

The Sindh High Court has ordered that local films get 85% of playing time at Pakistani cinemas, with foreign cinemas being allowed 15% of the exhibition space.

According to the high court order, foreign releases must comply by rules of the Motion Picture Ordinance, 1979, which states that internationally produced films screening in Pakistan can be allowed 15% screen space of locally created films are screening as well.

The order states that the defendants must follow the rules of the Motion Picture Ordinance “strictly in letter and spirit” and to provide 85% exhibition time to Pakistani films till the next date of hearing on June 2.

The Sindh High Court suits numbering 754, 754 and 755 have Cereal Entertainment (Adnan Siddiqui and Akhter Hasnain), Wajahat Rauf and Shazia Wajahat, and Farid Nawaz Productions (Yasir Nawaz and Nida Yasir) as plaintiffs, for their films Dum Mastam, Parde Mein Rehne Do and Chakkar respectively.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Central Board of Film Censors, Punjab Film Censor Board, Sindh Board of Film Censors, Competition Commission of Pakistan, J.B. Films, Nueplex Cinemas, Cinepax Cinemas, Cinegold Cinemas, HKC Entertainment and the Karachi District South deputy commissioner.

Local filmmakers called for compensation in the face of damages the films and makers faced with the distribution of screen time, of which the relevant teams have been vocal about on social media.

While chaos has already ensued for local films in the wake of the release of Doctor Strange, this ruling may prove beneficial (if gone unchallenged) for upcoming local releases such as Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad and London Nahi Jaunga. Moreover, while the Marvel film has amassed big figures at the box office, upcoming foreign releases such as The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Memory, and Top Gun: Maverick stand to potentially be impacted by this decision.

Earier this year the Zindagi Gulzar Hai star, Sanam Saeed expressed her disappointment over the absence of posters and standees of her newly released film, Ishrat Made in China, in one of the outlets of Nueplex Cinemas at Minhas Road, Karachi. There were no posters displayed of the film in the cinema.

She took to her Twitter handle to express her concern and tagged JB Films who is the owner of Nueplex cinemas.

She wrote, “A little disappointed in #nuplexcinemas for not putting up any of our film posters, especially on Rashid Minhas Road.”

She also urged the cinema owners to support Pakistani content as Hollywood does not need promotion for superheroes films.

pic.twitter.com/qS67abZi3a

— NueplexCinemas (@NueplexCinemas) March 7, 2022

Meanwhile, Nueplex cinemas also released their official statement and clarified their stance.

According to the cinema management, the distributor/producer is solely responsible for providing promotional material such as standees and posters. It added, “Hence, this issue may be better addressed if it is taken up with them.”

They also explained that the film was given only two dedicated screens throughout the opening weekend at Askari IV and DHA. They urged to bring this matter to the distributor first to resolve the issue.

Ishrat Made in China was released on March 4 along with Hollywood’s superhero film, The Batman starring Robert Pattison in Pakistan.

May 23, 2022
‘Was shaken with her death’: Bollywood’s Alankrita Shrivastava announces Qandeel Baloch’s biopic

Acclaimed Indian filmmaker Alankrita Shrivastava has announced the biopic of Pakistani model and social media star Qandeel Baloch, who was murdered in an honor killing incident in 2016.

Shrivastava, along with producers Vikas Sharma and Sunny Khanna has acquired the rights to the book The Sensational Life and Death of Qandeel Baloch, by Sanam Maher, published by Aleph, it was revealed ahead of the Cannes Film Market.

Shrivastava’s credits include feminist films Lipstick Under My Burkha and Netflix series Bombay Begums.

Baloch, whose real name is Fouzia Azeem, had stoked controversy in Pakistan by living a Westernized lifestyle and posting her thoughts on social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Divorced from her husband, she had been nicknamed “Pakistan’s Kim Kardashian” and “Pakistan’s first social media star.”

“When Qandeel Baloch was murdered in Pakistan in 2016, I was shaken up,” Shrivastava said. “It was a heinous honor killing. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I started watching Qandeel’s videos repeatedly, and I was fascinated. She was so charming and full of life. A poor girl from a small village, who worked her way up to being provocatively famous. She was just 26 when she was killed. And ironically, it’s only after her death that she has been reclaimed as a feminist.”

“Qandeel’s story needs to be told by a sensitive filmmaker who is passionate about women’s stories,” Sharma said. “Alankrita is just the filmmaker for it. And not just because she is an award-winning feminist filmmaker, but because she has so much empathy for her characters. She tells their stories with candor and warmth.”

Khanna added: “Qandeel Baloch’s story is important and relevant. Even today women often continue to be at risk when they dare to express their individuality and challenge the status quo. I believe the world needs to watch stories like this.”

Shrivastava noted: “I see this film as an ode to the courageous spirit of Qandeel Baloch. It will chronicle her sensational and astonishing rise to fame. I hope to piece together the memories of the rebellious, funny and vulnerable young girl, whose life was cut short because she shimmered too bright. The film will celebrate her spunk and lust for life by telling her story without judgment, hopefully the way she would have liked to tell it.”

Recently actor Osman Khalid Butt has challenged the acquittal of Baloch’s brother in the Supreme Court (SC), Barrister Khadija Siddiqi stated on Twitter. She also termed it as a “test case”.

May 23, 2022
When Salman Khan rejected superhit ‘Chak De India’ for his Pakistani fans

A major report in Indian media has unveiled that Bollywood actor Salman Khan rejected the blockbuster film Chak De India to not upset his fans in Pakistan.

Later the film was offered to Shah Rukh Khan in 2007 and the film turned out to be a huge blockbuster. During his interview with The Indian Express, he said that he does not regret not doing the film.

It’s no secret that Shah Rukh Khan’s 2007 hit Chak De! India was first offered to Salman Khan, however, what many might not know is that Salman rejected the film to safeguard his Pakistani fans’ feelings. Talking to The Indian Express in 2007 about the film which went on to become a major hit for SRK and filmmaker Aditya Chopra, the Dabangg actor said, “I don’t regret not doing the film but I agree that my judgement about it was wrong.”

The Ek Tha Tiger hero went on to list two reasons based on which he had rejected the film at the time.

“I had a problem with the climax. My reasoning was that if you lose to Pakistan then you also have to win with Pakistan. I also had a problem with the title. I wish they hadn’t added India to the title. I felt our fans in Pakistan and Bangladesh might feel bad.”

Chak De! India starred SRK as a disgraced hockey player who goes on to coach the Indian women’s hockey team to a world cup victory.

Salman has always greeted Pakistani celebrities with warmth.

May 23, 2022
PM rules out the removal of fuel, energy subsidies ahead of talks with IMF: Miftah Ismail

Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has once again said the government doesn’t plan to increase the prices of petroleum products. Talking to the media at the Karachi airport, he said that Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif had ruled out the possibility of ending the subsidies.

“It will not happen. I have refused. Shehbaz Sharif sahib has refused. Nawaz Sharif sahib has refused,” said Ismail. “I am assuring you that I will not agree to [the terms] that Shaukat Tarin agreed to.”

He said that according to the deal finalised by former finance minister Shaukat Tarin, Pakistan would have to raise the price of diesel by over Rs150 and petrol by Rs100.

Miftah said that Imran Khan took a loan of Rs20,000 billion, which is 80% of the entire amount of loans taken in 71 years of Pakistan’s history.

He further stated that former planning and development minister Asad Umar caused Pakistan a loss of 9.1%, which was a record loss in 52 years.

“Pakistan exported wheat when we [PML-N] left the government but today the country is importing wheat,” Miftah said.

A team comprising State Bank of Pakistan and Federal Board of Revenue officials, as well as Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr Aisha Ghous Pasha and the finance secretary, are already in Doha to negotiate with the IMF.

The talks began on May 18. At the time, Ismail had told the IMF that the government understood the current economic crisis and agreed that it would have to take “tough decisions” while mitigating the effects of inflation on middle to low-income groups.

May 23, 2022
When Sanjay Dutt hit Shah Rukh Khan for ignoring a senior actor

A news story is resurfacing in Indian media about a brawl between Bollywood actors Sanjay Dutt and Shah Rukh Khan, which became physical.

It happened at the Mehboob Studios in late 1990s, when the entire industry had taken out a protest against the Stardust magazine.

It was led by Amjad Khan even though he was very sick and could not even walk, but he was the president of the Cine Artists Association. Khan had just gained popularity but had not joined the morcha and was shooting in the same Studio. He walked down the makeup room and walked past Amjad Khan without even acknowledging him and when Sanjay saw that, he lost his temper and ran after Shah Rukh and held him by his neck, but some friends helped in the scene not turning ugly.

Recently in an interview, the KGF 2 star has revealed how difficult it was to bounce back from addiction, and how poorly he was treated after his stint in rehab.

In a chat with YouTuber Ranveer Allahabadia, he said that doing drugs was the ‘cool’ thing at the time. On how he ‘bounced back’, he said, “I had to make up my mind. What happens when you’re into intense drug addiction, you become a loner. I had become like that. I was a hard nut to crack, and I was at the rehab center for two years, which is rare. I couldn’t just accept that I was a drug addict.”

However, when he experienced fun activities with other patients at the rehab centre, he realised that he had missed out on a lot. “This is what life is, why was I missing that. Ten years of my life I was in my room, or in the bathroom, and not interested in shoots. But this is what life is, and that’s how everything changed.”

Talking about how he bounced back, he said, “When I came back, people used to call me charsi. And I thought, galat hai yeh. People on the road are saying this. Kuch karna padega. So I started working out. I wanted to break though that. And then from charsi, it became a guy with swag and ‘kya body hai’.”

On the work front, Sanjay will be seen next in Shamshera costarring Ranbir Kapoor and Vaani Kapoor.

May 23, 2022
‘Arrest, sexism, political victimisation’: Keep women out of your politics

Politics in Pakistan hits a new low every day. This past week, the nation witnessed two incidents that again prove how women in politics are seen as soft targets to settle political scores. Be it misogyny, sexist remarks targeted harassment or political victimisation — we have seen how women face the brunt of most of these attacks.

Case one: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan passed sexist and controversial remarks about Maryam Nawaz at a political rally in Multan on Friday. Khan said: “I was sent the video of Maryam’s speech in which she took my name so many times with such jazba and junoon that I want to tell her to be careful, your husband might get upset at you taking my name so often.” Khan’s misogynistic remarks about his political rival were uncalled for, and not what was expected from a national leader. One would have thought that a man who is almost 70-year-old, whose first wife has had to deal with perpetual harassment to this date, whose second wife faces a plethora of abuse on a regular basis, and whose current wife has not been spared either, would spare women. Yet he made these comments about Maryam Nawaz while addressing thousands of people looking to him as the future of the country. What message is being sent to our younger generation? That it is okay to sexualise women, that it is okay to mainstream misogyny? Where will it stop is what one wonders.

Case two: Punjab’s anti-corruption department took former human rights minister Shireen Mazari into custody in Islamabad yesterday. A video clip shows female police officers manhandling Mazari after she refused to step out of her car. The way that she was harassed and manhandled and the timing make it look like a clear case of political victimisation.

Pakistan at the moment is facing a national crisis. The new coalition government is finding it hard to stay afloat, the country needs a financial boost from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to survive economically. Serious decisions are to be made for the betterment of the country but what are the male politicians doing instead? Demeaning, silencing, and mocking strong women to put them down. Arresting Mazari because she is a vocal critic while demeaning Maryam because she is giving a tough time to her opponents.

One can criticise anyone’s politics but in the case of women politicians, resorting to personal attacks is unwarranted. Mazari has faced such attacks from the likes of Khawaja Asif and others. Maryam was threatened with violence by Gandapur during the previous government.

No one is above the law but abuse of power can never be condoned, regardless of who it targets or from where it emanates. Khan must apologise for his remarks about Maryam Nawaz. Such misogyny needs to stop against women. The government has released Mazari but she has been arbitrarily arrested because of the whims of a few men. It is high time that men keep women out of their politics. They cannot scare women into quitting.

May 22, 2022