The wealth of Farah Khan has grown exponentially during the three and a half years of rule of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at the Centre and in Punjab.
Farah Khan is a close friend of the first lady of Pakistan, Bushra Bibi. Her wealth grew four times from Rs231 million in 2017 to Rs971 million in 2021. Her filing for the tax year 2018 was nil, reports Fakhar Durrani for The News.
The News investigations reveal that Farah Khan’s fortune increased ever since the premier appointed Usman Buzdar as Chief Minister Punjab.
“Farah, as per the documents, also availed the whitening of black money scheme (Tax Amnesty Scheme) in 2019 during Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s government and declared assets worth Rs328 million under the Tax Amnesty Scheme 2019.”
“The total assets of Farah Khan reached Rs699,137,839 inside Pakistan, Rs15,749, 479 outside Pakistan in the form of a flat in the UAE. Hence the total assets inside and outside Pakistan were recorded at Rs714,887,318. The net assets were reported as Rs697,502,318.”
Umar Cheema in his special report for The News writes, “Farah’s penchant for luxury items is also evident from her bid to buy a luxury car, Porsche, which she got booked through Porsche’s Pakistani dealer and paid a part amount of it (Rs33 million) as advance. This she declared in the nomination papers she submitted for the Senate election in March 2021. Later, Farah pulled out from the Senate race.”
“Her Birkin bag whose price is stated to be around $90,000 has been in the news. Her picture of holding the bag while sitting in a chartered plane is in circulation. The purse made by the French luxury brand Hermès is prepared on order. One can’t just get it by visiting a store. The order has to be placed months in advance,” writes Cheema.
Brooklyn-based Pakistani singer, Arooj Aftab who recently won a Grammy Award for her song, Mohabbathas shared her conversation with the Korean pop group, BTS during the main event.
At the request of the Pakistani ARMY, Arooj made a special video to share the experience of her interaction with BTS.
Aftab said that she went up to them and asked to take a photo. BTS members congratulated the singer while taking a photo. When she told “the Pakistani BTS ARMY loves you”, BTS said, “Thanks”.
Arooj also mentioned the man, Hafeez Hoshiarpuri, behind the beautiful song, Mohabbat who wrote the poetry of it. She gave huge respect to him and all those who contributed to her success.
On the question about the Grammy award, it would mail with her printed name. There is a rule in Grammy Awards that management takes back the award and then delivers it with your winner’s name on it via mail.
Veteran Bollywood actor Zeenat Aman has carved her own niche in the Hindi film industry over the decades, the Don star has at multiple occasions opened up about being abused by her former husband Sanjay Khan.
Sanjay, was married to another woman, model Zarine Katrak with three children when he fell in love with the actress on the sets of film Abdullah.
She tied the knot with Khan at Jaisalmer in 1978 and got separated in 1979. Many warned Zeenat when she was to get married to Sanjay. But, according to Cine Blitz magazine, she defended him saying “I love this man. Don’t you understand? I will back his every move and I will make him a king one day.”
Things between Sanjay and Zeenat became ugly in 1980, according to an article by The Quint, the actor was reported thrashing Zeenat Aman black and blue at a five-star hotel in Mumbai.
things between Sanjay and Zeenat became ugly in 1980, according to an article by The Quint, the actor was reported thrashing Zeenat Aman black and blue at a five-star hotel in Mumbai. This didn’t happen in a close chamber, instead, as per the Cine Blitz magazine and few other media reports, there were several onlookers present, who didn’t lift even a single finger to help the ace actress.
This didn’t happen in a close chamber, instead, as per the Cine Blitz magazine and few other media reports, there were several onlookers present, who didn’t lift even a single finger to help the ace actress.
Sanjay summoned the actress in Mumbai, while she was shooting in Lonavala for some other project. He was furious and demanded Zeenat to leave everything at once and reshoot a portion of a song from their flick, Abdullah. But, Zeenat refused to do so, as she was busy with other work commitments. In response, Sanjay Khan accused her of being sexually involved with the makers of the film.
Naturally, Zeenat felt disrespected and she was exasperated from Sanjay’s accusations against her. In order to clear the air and talk to her ex-husband, she immediately left for Sanjay’s house. As he was partying at the Taj hotel, she decided to meet there. Zarine, Sanjay’s first wife was also present at the party. While Zeenat intended to just discuss her dates with the actor, their conversation scaled up turning the atmosphere of the party cold.
Zeenat was still not willing to make a scene, but she was unaware of what was coming next for her. Sanjay took the actress to an adjoining room, and as per a report by The Quint, he beat her up. Cine Blitz and a few media publications also claimed that every time the actress fell, Sanjay lifted her up by her hair and continued hitting her. Unfortunately, this was not it. At this point, Sussanne Khan’s mother and Sanjay’s current wife, Zarine Katrak entered the chamber and began cheering her husband on.
The news first came out when Cine Blitz, printed an article about the same. Here are some pictures from the magazine that describe the incident.
While Zeenat was being beaten up the guests of the party stood like statues, it was a worker of the hotel, who rescued Zeenat. After all this, she was in the hospital for weeks. Due to the accident, her jaw was broken, which was set right surgically. But, her beautiful eyes were never the same.
Her right eye was irreparably damaged. The worst part is, it wasn’t the first time that Sanjay had beaten his ex-wife. Zeenat’s doctor revealed to Cine Blitz, “Once before she was given a black eye and kicked in the ribs so hard that I insisted on an X-Ray for fear of a crack.”
During or after her recovery, Zeenat didn’t report Sanjay Khan to the police, because it is believed that she was still in love with him.
Morning show host Shaista Lodhi is currently hosting PTV’s morning show, she recently invited celebrity couple of Faizan Sheikh and Maham Aamir and played a customised rapid fire round with them.
On being asked for an advice for actor Aagha Ali, the Mera Naam Yousaf Hai star was quick to state that, “Aagha should act more and never host.”
Host Shaista gave a dramatic response to his statement and walked away from the camera while controlling her laughter, whereas Maham was slightly embarrassed on his blunt response.
He continued, “Shazia once asked that who shouldn’t host? To which I answered that Aagha shouldn’t.” Especially when you are co-hosting, you should let the co-host do their job also.”
Actress Maham Aamir also stated that, “their shouldn’t be a gender factor in hosting.” They hinted towards the Mere Bewafa star hosting The Couple Show with his wife Hina Altaf.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZTRd-Bowg4
You can get exclusive details in our new show, Maslay Aur Masala:
Earlier this year on his show Faizan has lashed out at Punjab government for halting the release of Abu Aleeha’s Javed Iqbal starring Yasir Hussain and Ayesha Omar.
The hosting duo of Faizan and Aadi Adeal Amjad criticised the decision and justified the film by saying that the film based on a serial killer has viewer rating of over 13 years old, so it shouldn’t be an issue in their perspective.
Aadi went onto compare it with the Hollywood biggie Joker, and asked that if they can release Joker then why not Javed Iqbal.
Abu Aleeha’s film Javed Iqbal: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer. The Ayesha Omar and Yasir Hussain-starrer, which is set for its countrywide premiere tomorrow (January 28) after several months of postponement, has had its release in Punjab halted by the Punjab government, according to the director.
The film is based on the investigation into Javed Iqbal, the serial killer who killed 100 young boys in Lahore and sent evidence of his crimes to the authorities and media in 1999. The film has been directed by Abu Aleeha who has written the screenplay of the film as well. It’s been produced by Javed Ahmed Kakepoto.
Several social media platforms reported about Javed Iqbal’s release being halted by the Punjab government, despite having clearance from all censor boards. The report was later confirmed by Abu Aleeha on Twitter. “The latest news is that [Chief Minister] Sardar Usman Buzdar’s government has stopped the showing of Javed Iqbal. This unwarranted action comes after the censor board approved the film, which is why we will be [taking the matter] to the high court,” he said.
The film had its Karachi premiere at Nueplex Cinema on January 25, attended by the cast and crew as well as other members of the entertainment fraternity.
Earlier, this year in July Faizan called out Pakistan’s justice system in a series of Instagram stories. The Mazedaar Show host slammed the system by adding hashtags reflecting violence against women and children in the country.
The left-arm pacer bowler, Shaheen Afridi is celebrating his 22nd birthday on April 6. He also achieved a 200 international wickets milestone in the last T20 match against Australia played last night.
His father-in-law, Shahid Afridi has also shared beautiful birthday wishes and congratulated him on taking 200 International wickets on Twitter.
He wrote, “May Allah bless you always and give you more success, continue to serve Pakistan. Congratulations also on the 200 International wickets milestone, many more to come.”
Happy Birthday @iShaheenAfridi stay blessed and continue to shine! May Allah bless you always and give you more success, continue to serve Pakistan. Congratulations also on 200 International wkts milestone, many more to come.
— Shaheen Shah Afridi (@iShaheenAfridi) April 5, 2022
Fans also sent birthday wishes to Shaheen Afridi on Twitter.
Happy birthday dear Shaheen Afridi bhai. May you live long! May ALLAH bless you and keep you healthy! Always do best for Pakistan cricket. pic.twitter.com/UxYfeeaRSR
Musa Maneka, son of first Lady Bushra Bibi, has categorically said that his mother’s close friend Farah Khan’s “corruption” has nothing to do with the Maneka family.
“Farah Khan has settled in Dubai and our family has no link with the alleged deals done by Farah Khan,” said Musa while speaking to Geo News.
The first lady’s son Musa told Geo News that Farah Khan has “nothing to do” with the Maneka family. And what she did with his mother and Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan was “not right”.
Just spoke to Bushra Bibi’s son Musa Maneka who told me that @farahkhan_92 has betrayed his family & left for Dubai with the intention of settling there. Musa denied any involvement of his family in Farah’s deals and said that she would have to pay for her actions. #ImranKhanpic.twitter.com/NKCPdYiQpG
“Farah Khan set off for Dubai on April 3 and reached there through a foreign flight EK623 from Lahore. She used a Pakistani passport and attended an iftar dinner in Abu Dhabi yesterday. According to family sources, Farah was invited to the iftar dinner by Maryam Riaz, sister of Bushra Bibi,” reports The News.
Geo News’ Lahore Bureau Chief Raees Ansari visited Farah Khan’s village near Sheikhupura. He said that Farah Khan has built a hospital, school, and roads in a very short time in this village, which looks more developed than all the villages of Punjab.
Farah Khan become controversial after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) dissident Abdul Aleem Khan levelled a number of allegations against former Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, on April 4, saying that he was involved in bribery over transfers and postings in Punjab. He also accused Farah Khan, of being complicit in these transfers.
Aleem Khan accused Farah Khan of corruption with the connivance of her “contacts in the power corridors”. Later, rumours started making rounds suggesting that Farah Khan left for Dubai on Sunday in the wake of the no-confidence motion.
It is pertinent to mention here that Farah joined PTI four years ago. She was also present during the wedding ceremony of PM Khan and Bushra Bibi.
Deputy Speaker of Punjab Assembly Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari summoned a crucial session to vote on Chief Minister (CM) Punjab at 7:30pm on Wednesday (today).
Following this, it has been reported that Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has submitted no-confidence motion to remove the deputy speaker. While reacting to the news, Mazari said that he can still preside over the session.
However, journalist Hamid Mir said that the gates of the Punjab Assembly have been sealed.
According to local media channels, the deputy speaker issued a written order for convening session of the assembly on Tuesday. The order reads: “Deputy speaker orders that instead of the earlier announced date of April 16th, the next sitting of 40th session of Punjab Assembly will now be held on Wednesday at 7:30pm.”
Talking to Geo News, Mazari clarified that today’s session agenda includes vote on the election of a new CM Punjab. He said, “I have released the order of the day in the light of Supreme Court directions.”
“We are answerable to the apex court. We will not postpone the voting and will try our best to complete the process today”, he added. While talking about the confusion regarding the session dates, Mazari claimed that Punjab Assembly staff have not been cooperating with him and Assembly staff is responsible for the confusion.
When asked about the legal status of his order, Mazari said that it is just an order that needs the Assembly secretariat’s signature, without which the session cannot be held. He added that the Assembly staff and Secretariat Assembly should issue a gazette notification on his order but they are not following the legal procedures
On the contrary, PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi told Dawn that the notice circulating on the media is ‘fake’ as it does not have a diary number and is written on a plain piece of paper. He asserted that the session would be held on April 16.
In a tweet, journalist Ahmad Waleed claimed that spokesperson of the Punjab Assembly has also said that the session will be convened on April 16, adding that “no notification” was issued for today’s meeting.
پنجاب اسمبلی کاُاجلاس 16 اپریل کو ہی ہو گا۔ آج کے اجلاس کا کوئی نوٹیفکیشن جاری نہیں ہوا۔ ترجمان پنجاب اسمبلی اسمبلی اجلاس آج ہی ہو گا۔ ڈپٹی سپیکر پنجاب اسمبلی۔ #Punjab
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry, while speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday, lost his cool and called journalist Matiullah Jan “kiraye ka aadmi [ a hired man]. The statement of the former minister came as he was questioned about First Lady Bushra Bibi’s friend Farah Khan.
Here is what happened.
Fawad Chaudhry: “I will take questions later … Commando Saab one minute …. Statement of facts has been submitted by Prime Minister…”
Matiullah can be heard speaking in the background, “Where did Farah Khan go? Why did she run away from the country?”
Fawad Chaudhry: “I will talk first, and then you will speak.”
Matiullah kept asking his questions and that’s when Fawad called him out and said, “Kiraye pay aatay hain is tarha kay loug, [People like him are hired].”
Matiullah got angry at being called ” a hired man” and then said that it was actually Fawad who is a ‘kiraye ka tattu,” [a hired fool] and that’s when the heated argument geared up.
Fawad and Matiullah abusing each other
Though other journalists tried to settle the matter, both Fawad and Matiullah hurled continuous derogatory remarks and abusive words at each other.
Fawad was asked to apologise but refused. His refusal to offer an apology ended up with journalists announcing that they are boycotting media talks of all PTI leaders.
Veteran writer and one of the giants of Urdu novel in the country, Mustansar Hussain Tarar, has refused to accept the Kamal-i-Fun award announced by the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) in Islamabad. The writer claimed it was “controversial and tainted.”
The award was jointly announced for Tarar and Seraiki poet Dr Ashu Lal, who has already refused to accept the award immediately after its announcement, saying that he could not accept an award from ‘a fascist state that’s anti-people and anti-art’.
The Kamal-i-Fun award carries prize money of Rs1m too.
Tarar, famous for his novels and travelogues, raised the question as to why the tradition of the award was violated and the rules of the award ignored. He said the move was similar to dividing Sitara-i-Imtiaz, the highest civilian award of Pakistan, between two persons.
“It’s just ridiculous. Sometime back, I came to know the ‘half of the award’ has been awarded to Dr Ashu Lal. He, according to his ideology, refused to accept the award. I think he is right (in rejecting the award) because it was injustice not only to me, but to him as well that he had to share the award’.
Tarar said, “It’s difficult for me to accept the award that’s tainted and controversial. It’s against my creative integrity. That too at the age of 83 and after the creative process of 60 years. No, it’s not acceptable to me”.
However, he expressed gratitude to the members of the PAL committee for their love and kindness as they voted for him. “I am obliged to them and I hope they will understand my point of view”. At the end of his message he thanked his readers, saying that whatever status as a writer he had got was due to his readers. “I get a Kamal-i-Fun award from my readers on (publication of) my every book. They don’t consider me a half-writer but a complete writer.”
Tarar has already received Sitara-i-Imtiaz in the category of literature from the government of Pakistan for the year 2016.
On March 31, Dr Yousuf Khushk, chairman of PAL, announced the names of Mustansar Hussain Tarar and Dr Ashu Lal, selected for the Kamal-i-Fun award for 2020 after a meeting of the award committee at the PAL office. The selection for the award was made by a panel of writers and intellectuals, including Kishwar Nahid, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Mahmood Sham, Muhammad Izharul Haq, Dr Anwar Ahmad, Dr Rauf Parekh, Parveen Malik, Dr Riaz Majeed, Hafeez Khan, Mohammad Hameed Shahid, Dr Abaseen Yousufzai, Nasir Ali Syed, Dr Abdul Razaq Sabir, Dr Zulifqar Sial, Taj Joyo, Dr Ziaul Hasan, Dr Rubina Shaheen, Dr Qasim Naseem, Harris Khalique and Dr Wahid Bux Buzdar.
According to a press release issued by the academy, the Kamal-i-Fun award is bestowed upon a Pakistani writer in recognition of his/her literary services of lifetime. It was launched in 1997. The National Literary Award for books published in various national and regional languages of Pakistan was also announced on the occasion for the year 2020.
After his rejection of the award, Ashu Lal was hailed by the Seraiki speaking people for raising his voice against the state; however, some sections criticised him as well. Some others urged him to accept the award, terming it recognition of Seraiki language, but he remained adamant, due to his ideology. Now rejection of the literary award by Mustansar Hussain Tarar, considered by some as the most famous and the best living novelist of Urdu language from Pakistan, has raised more questions about it and the decision of the award committee.
PTI dissident Abdul Aleem Khan on Monday criticised Prime Minister Imran Khan and accused him of not being “sincere to the nation”.
Once a close aide of the PTI chairman, Aleem has grown disillusioned over the past few years and recently took a position against the party by deciding to support the joint opposition in the Punjab Assembly.
Talking to the media in Lahore today, he said he regretted dedicating 10 years of his life to the party. “I have supported the PTI with great loyalty, hard work and kept my ego aside. We thought there would be a Naya Pakistan in the face of Imran Khan,” he said.
“I’m sad that the person I spent 10 years of my life for is not sincere with the nation.”
Aleem criticised the premier over a number of issues ranging from the National Accountability Bureau “hounding” him to his insistence on retaining Usman Buzdar as the chief minister and then the nomination of PML-Q leader Pervez Elahi as the new Punjab CM.
Aleem rued that he had been branded a “traitor to the PTI” as he called out his critics and claimed that no one in the party had sacrificed more than him.
In a similar vein, he issued a challenge to the prime minister to bring forth any evidence of corruption against him, for which he said he was imprisoned for six months.
“Why wasn’t a reference made against me? What proof do you have? Bring it in front of the nation and tell them that these were Aleem Khan’s misdoings and corruption … I promise that if I turn out to be lying then I will shoot myself.” he said.
The PTI dissident levelled a number of allegations against Buzdar as well, saying that he was involved in bribery over transfers and postings in Punjab. He also accused Farah Khan, an associate of the first lady, of being complicit in these transfers.
He said any investigation would uncover who she (Farah) was forwarding the money of her alleged corruption while responding to a question about whether the first lady was also involved in supporting Farah.
Aleem criticised the prime minister for Sunday’s dissolution of the National Assembly as well, questioning what had stopped him from doing so before. He said that the premier could not dissolve the assemblies once a no-confidence resolution was submitted against him.
Actor Haroon Shahid took to his twitter handle to call out Aleem for his shocking remarks against Imran Khan.
#surprise@abdul_aleemkhan I remember working for you when I used to work at a digital media agency and we were running your social media pages. Bohat si baatain Hain waisay WhatsApp par meray paas pic.twitter.com/h5zYbjMhOe
The Verna hero stated that he has many proofs against Aleem since the time he was working for the politician’s digital company, which he might spill to the media.
I think it would only make the workers and supporters more charged up if Khan Saab publicly expresses regret for all the people who had to vote for the likes of Amir Liaqat, Aleem Khan, Noor Alam etc. because electable politics was the need of the hour. I had to vote for Aleem https://t.co/tHj5IbUDIT
The Qayamat actor also express his regret on voting for Aleem in the past because of the PTI factor.
In April 2021, the Amanat star lauded the efforts of Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar for keeping the city of Lahore well-maintained.
“On a drive this morning I realized how well Lahore is maintained,” wrote the Qayamat actor on social media. “Yes, there was a phase when there were issues with the waste management but this morning was a pleasant surprise to see horticulture, waste management, and traffic police all doing their job well.”
“Well done Buzdar,” he added.
Haroon further said: “I’ve started to realise that Buzdar and his team have been working without many PR antics and their work is now showing.”
“There’s a whole PR cell working against him both from within and outside but frankly he’s slowly defying them with his work,” he added.
I’ve started to realize that Buzdar and his team have been working without many PR antics and their work is now showing. There’s a whole PR cell working against him both from within and outside but frankly he’s slowly defying them with his work.
