Frieha Altaf has landed up in the line of fire after a video of hers joking about Meera’s mental health went viral on social media. Reports of Meera being admitted to a mental facility in the United States were doing the rounds on social media and television for the past couple of days.
In the video, Frieha could be heard laughing and telling a group of people “Meera ko mental institution main daal diya gaya hai (Meera has been put into a mental institution).”
And none of these ‘educated, enlightened yogis’ stopped @FriehaAltaf from cracking this disgusting joke? Did they all REALLY find it funny to publicly make fun of someone’s mental health or is their life a high school where you bully to be part of the cool kids? pic.twitter.com/wFaUhTwvWu
The video did not go down well with the public, who called out the former model for her “insensitive” and “callous” remarks.
When will our celebrity/influencers understand that they hold great responsibility while posting things online. What makes Frieha altaf think that its funny to laugh on meera’s mental illness like that. Privileged and ignorant at the same time. pic.twitter.com/ixrR3fEkFH
Frieha Altaf is like every other person we come across who will tell everyone to ‘look out for friends’ and ‘be there for people’ when they hear about somebody with mental issues but will poke fun of the same thing in their circle and call it light humour.
How insensitive and pathetic you must be if you’re making fun of someone’s condition that too on such sensitive issue. The woman who calls herself PR Mogul, Frieha Altaf pic.twitter.com/0oPgyytPHa
Meanwhile, speaking exclusively toThe Current, Meera’s manager Hasan said that the actor is doing perfectly fine and is working on a few projects in the States. He said that Meera does know who started this terrible rumour and asserted there is no truth to it.
However, somereportsclaim that Meera has been discharged from the mental facility after Captain Naveed paid $50,000 for her ‘bail’.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has said that it rejects any attempts to further gag the fundamental right of freedom of expression in the name of preventing defamation and disrespect of the armed forces.
In a statement, Senator Farhatullah Babar expressed grave concern over a bill moved by a PTI MNA and approved by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior seeking to amend the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) to send anyone to jail for two years with fine Rs 500,000 or both for what has been described as ‘defamation of the army”.
He said that Section 500 of the PPC already provides punishment for the defamation of anyone, and the addition of Section 500-A is aimed only at gagging freedom of expression guaranteed under Article 19 of the constitution in name of national security. It is not acceptable and will be opposed at every platform he said.
“The nation has witnessed enough of how behind the facade of ‘national security’ citizens have disappeared mysteriously, national resources diverted, internment centres set up, ex-tribal areas made a no-go area, foreign and security policies hijacked and security establishment’s business and commercial empire expanded exponentially.”
Section 500-A is liable to be grossly misused in the name of national security as Section 295-C has been misused in the name of religion, he said.
“Defence forces working within their constitutional limits are universally admired and do not need any legislation to protect their honor and respect. Similarly, no legislation can stop people from questioning those who transgress their limits with impunity,” he said.
While the PPP and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) reportedly tried to block the bill from approval by NA Standing Committee on Interior, saying it was a violation of right to freedom of expression, some government members have also expressed concern.
While Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari had earlier blocked a similar bid to curb criticism, Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry has now said it was an “absolutely ridiculous idea”.
absolutely ridiculous idea to criminalise criticism, respect is earned, cannot be imposed on people, I strongly feel instead of new such laws Contempt of Court laws should be repealed …. https://t.co/iKMuaK6gwU
In a tweet, he said he strongly felt that instead of introducing new laws to quell criticism, the laws dealing with contempt of court “should be repealed”.
The Punjab government has said that disgruntled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Tareen is an important pillar of the party and had worked hard to form the government of Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar.
Speaking to Geo News, Special Assistant to Punjab CM Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan had come to power on the manifesto of the supremacy of law and a corruption-free Pakistan.
Awan, while responding to a question on accountability, said all those PTI leaders and ministers who were accused of corruption had returned to their positions after getting themselves cleared from the charges.
The spokesperson dismissed media reports claiming that the government is taking revengeful action against Tareen.
Tareen is facing charges of corruption in the sugar scandal and multiple cases have been filed against him.
Amid his ordeal, reports had claimed the sugar baron was defecting to rival Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
While the claims have been rubbished, any truth to the same could serve a severe blow to the ruling PTI, especially in Punjab where Buzdar is in power owing to the support of a number of loyal-to-Tareen MPAs.
The PTI leader, after appearing in court on Wednesday, had said that his loyalty to PM Imran was being tested, but that he is not parting ways with the PTI.
While responding to a question, Awan said that Tareen would never take a step that would harm PTI and that he had played an important role in forming the Buzdar government and taking forward the policies of the PTI government.
“Jahangir Tareen will never want to see PTI getting weak on the political front. In pursuance of PM Khan’s mission he was active as a soldier,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Punjab government has reportedly prepared a list of the PTI members who were in contact with Jahangir Khan Tareen.
CM Buzdar is set to hand over the list to the premier, which would be followed by a final decision on said lawmakers’ fate.
Tareen loyalists maintain that he also played a major role in securing PM Imran the recent vote of confidence and without his support, the government is struggling owing to a thin majority in Punjab.
Imran Abbas has stepped in to defend Meera after reports of her being admitted to a mental facility in the United States started doing the rounds on social media and television.
“Meera called me this morning to clarify to all of our media/social media that she is perfectly fine and there is nothing wrong with her mental health,” wrote Abbas on social media. “Kindly don’t sensationalise the story and make fun of her. Calling someone mentally unstable is not a bloody joke.”
“She doesn’t need your sympathies or prayers to be fine. Kindly don’t show this fake concern by putting status. Let’s pray for our sick society, news channels and social media which can actually push anyone to commit suicide by their petty jokes and flimsy humour,” the actor added.
Meanwhile, speaking exclusively to The Current, Meera’s manager Hasan said that the actor is doing perfectly fine and is working on a few projects in the States. He said that she does know who started this terrible rumour and asserted there is no truth to it.
When asked about the video of Meera’s mother Shagufta Zahra, in which she appeals to Prime Minister Imran Khan to bring back her daughter, Hasan said that Zahra is elderly and hard of hearing. He added that Meera had recently gone to get vaccinated for COVID-19 and had narrated details of her experience to her mother who misunderstood them.
On the other hand, speaking to a local media outlet, Meera’s mother claimed that reports of the actor being admitted to a mental facility were true.
“I received a call from Meera on April 5 and she kept crying,” Zahra told the media outlet. “She was telling me that the US police is sending her to a psychiatric facility. She did not tell me why they were doing that, but said she repeatedly told them that she was an actor and not mentally ill.”
Speaking to the same media outlet, Meera’s manager Muhammad Qasim and another family member trashed the reports and Zahra’s claims saying that “Meera is perfectly fine, both in terms of her mental and physical health”.
Qasim alleged that the actor’s mother is spreading rumours to resolve a personal dispute. Meanwhile, the family member said that Meera is in fact in touch with her father and there is more to the story than what is being discussed on social media.
As per the latest ‘reports,’ Meera has been released from the psychiatric facility after her husband Captain Naveed paid $50,000 to get her released. The report further claimed that the actor has been given 48 hours to leave the United States.
The Current has reached out to Meera for further clarification.
England pacers Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood and Sam Billings have raised their voice and spoken in support of Moeen Ali after author Taslima Nasreen’s Islamophobic tweet.
Taslima, in a now-deleted tweet, had said that the England all-rounder would have joined the militant Islamic State (IS) group had he not been playing cricket.
“If Moeen Ali were not stuck with cricket, he would have gone to Syria to join ISIS,” Taslima had said.
Jofra Archer did not take it lightly and wrote: “Are you okay? I don’t think you’re okay.”
The Bangladeshi-Swedish author later tried to calm things down, claiming that her tweet on Moeen was “sarcastic”.
“Haters know very well that my Moeen Ali tweet was sarcastic,” said Nasreen. “But they made that an issue to humiliate me because I try to secularise Muslim society and oppose Islamic fanaticism.”
“One of the greatest tragedies of humankind is pro-women leftists support anti-women Islamists,” she added.
Haters know very well that my Moeen Ali tweet was sarcastic. But they made that an issue to humiliate me because I try to secularize Muslim society & I oppose Islamic fanaticism. One of the greatest tragedies of humankind is pro-women leftists support anti-women Islamists.
Domestic English cricketer Ben Duckett also extended his support to Ali, saying: “This is the problem with this app. People being able to say stuff like this. Disgusting. Things need to change, please report this account!”
This is the problem with this app. People being able to say stuff like this. Disgusting. Things need to change, please report this account! https://t.co/uveSFqbna0
Nasreen’s tweet also sparked outrage on social media.
Heartening to see the way British Cricketers have stood up for #MoeenAli after Taslima Nasreen’s hideous tweet. Wish our chaps would take a cue or two and speak their mind, not just coordinate their hashtags.
Another form of #extremism. Anyone with a beard is a Taliban and IS terrorist. This stupidity must always be given a shut-up call, always, like this great English player has done to support his team mate… #MoeenAli#taslimanasreenpic.twitter.com/5bRJ0HakhR
Moeen (Ali) wants people to know he is Muslim and Asian and British and that there is no conflict between any of those. Not easy for those to understand who has made a profession selling bigotry. #MoeenAlihttps://t.co/wsOw3bfgN8 via @cricketmonthly
Taseelma Nasreen is an Islamophobic maniac. Moeen Ali is a devout Muslim, excellent cricketer, human bng, associated wid charity works 4 kids, ambsdr for free cricket coaching. Has shown concern abt British Muslims joining terrorist organisations such as Al Qaeda & ISIS.#MoeenAlipic.twitter.com/CKDMwC3ybG
Shame on you @taslimanasreen. You will be remembered as a garden variety bigot not a writer, certainly not a rationalist or feminist. https://t.co/tjjeheBmdJ
Moeen Ali’s presentation reminds me of Hashim Amla. Both exhibit the same disciplined conduct and politeness on and off the field. An absolute role model #MoeenAli@benstokes38@JofraArcher
Meanwhile, Moeen’s father Munir Ali also spoke about the hurt it has caused and how his son has broken stereotypes while following his heart and faith.
Speaking about the tweet, Ali said: “I am hurt and shocked to read Taslima Nasreen’s vile remark against my son Moeen. In her “clarifying” tweet, where she described her original remark as sarcasm, she also says she stands against fundamentalism.”
“If she looks into a mirror, she will know what she tweeted is what is fundamentalist – a vicious stereotype against a Muslim person, a clearly Islamophobic statement. Someone who doesn’t have self-respect and respect for others can only stoop to this level,” he continued.
Munir further said: “Truth be told, I am really angry, but I know I would be playing into the hands of people like her if I let my rage get out of control. If I get to meet her someday, I will tell what I really think of her on her face.”
“For now, I would ask her to pick a dictionary and see the meaning of sarcasm. It’s not what she thinks it is. It’s not spewing vile poisonous stuff against someone you don’t even know and then retracting it by saying it was sarcasm. Of all the people to pick on for her agenda, I can’t believe she has chosen my son. Everyone in the cricketing world knows the person he is. Let me reiterate for those who don’t,” he concluded.
The matter had risen when Ali, Chennai Super King’s new recruit for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, had requested to remove the logo of a liquor brand from his jersey.
A seemingly hardliner lawyer has taken to court controversial cleric Mufti Abdul Qavi for advising transgender persons to get married.
In his petition, the lawyer has termed the cleric’s statement purely “unnatural”, adding that “such sinful acts would trigger vulgarity in the society”.
In a recent interview, Qavi had advised transgender persons to get married. In an ambiguous statement, he had said that members of the transgender community “can tie the knot like anyone else if they claimed to have either male or female abilities”.
Transgender people have a gender identity or gender expression that differs from the sex that they were assigned at birth.
Reacting to legal action against him, Qavi has maintained that whatever he has said “is also mentioned in the Holy Quran” and if he has said something wrong he is ready to apologise.
He said that a case could not be registered against him over the said statement.
Police in Dubai have arrested 11 Ukrainian women and a Russian man for their involvement in a nude photoshoot on a high-rise balcony after footage of the same went viral, foreign media reported.
Dubai is a top destination for the world’s Instagram influencers and models, who fill their social media feeds with bikini-clad selfies from the coastal city’s luxury hotels and artificial islands.
But the city’s brand as a glitzy foreign tourist destination has at times provoked controversy and collided with Emirates’ strict rules governing public behavior and expression based on Islamic law.
The nude photoshoot scandal comes just days before the holy month of Ramzan and as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky lands in nearby Doha, Qatar, for an official state visit.
Over the years, Dubai increasingly has promoted itself as a popular destination for Russians on holiday. Signs in Cyrillic are a common sight at the city’s major malls.
Dubai police announced earlier this week they had arrested a group of people on debauchery charges over a widely-shared video showing naked women posing in broad daylight on a balcony overlooking the city’s upscale Marina neighborhood
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on Tuesday that 11 of the detained women were Ukrainian, while a Russian diplomat in Dubai said the photographer who filmed the naked women held Russian citizenship.
Police declined to identify those detained. More than a dozen women appeared in the video and the nationalities of the others arrested were not immediately known.
Disgruntled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Khan Tareen has said that his loyalty to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan was being tested, but he is not parting ways with the ruling party.
Speaking to the media after he arrived at a banking court to attend his bail hearing, he was reacting to claims by Shehla Raza of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
Raza had a day earlier claimed that Tareen was soon joining the PPP.
“Not one, not two but three FIRs have been registered against me,” he said on Wednesday. “Out of the 80 sugar mill owners, all they could see was Jahangir Tareen,” he said, questioning why he was being subjected to “revenge”.
The PTI leader said his “loyalty was being tested”. He added that an inquiry against him, relating to the sugar crisis, has been going on for the last year.
He lamented that his accounts as well as those belonging to his son, Ali Tareen, had been frozen. “Why have my accounts been frozen? Who is doing this? Who benefits from this?” he asked. Tareen said he was “asking for justice from (PTI) [League of Justice]”, adding that he was a friend, but being “pushed towards enmity”.
In response to a question, Tareen said it was time to expose those involved in a conspiracy against him. He said PM Imran could expose the person who was hell-bent on exacting revenge against him.
Despite his grievances against the ruling party, Tareen said he was not parting ways with the PTI. “I am a member of the PTI and will remain so,” he said.
When a reporter asked Tareen whether he was about to meet former president and PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari, he said the reports were baseless.
After a barrage of criticism, Iffat Omar has admitted her fault and apologised for jumping queue to get vaccinated.
“I am sorry. I am ashamed. I apologise from the bottom of my heart. I will repent,” wrote the model-turned-actor on Twitter.
Omar had received harsh criticism after pictures and videos of her getting vaccinated for coronavirus went viral on social media with netizens accusing her of jumping the queue to get vaccinated when more deserving citizens still have to wait.
At the time, only those aged 60 and above could avail the free vaccine under the government drive, while those aged 50 could get registered for a shot and there was no commercially available vaccine against the coronavirus in Pakistan.
In the video that was widely circulated on social media, Omar was seen getting vaccinated alongside Federal Minister for Housing and Works Tariq Bashir Cheema and other relatives of his at the minister’s residence.
Federal Minister for Housing and Works Tariq Bashir Cheema supervises the Covid-19 vaccination of his entire family – at his home pic.twitter.com/hpZ681frMF
Cheema had initially denied accusations of jumping queue and claimed that a team from the University of Health Sciences (UHS) had arrived at his residence to administer a ‘booster shot’ of a ‘trial vaccine’.
The minister said the same team had earlier administered the first dose of the trial vaccine to his family at their residence.
Meanwhile, Omar at that time had told people to “take it easy”.
In a now-deleted tweet, the actor had said that she received a booster shot of the Chinese vaccine CanSino.
However, Pakistani Twitterati had called her out on the claim, pointing out that CanSino was a single-dose vaccine and does not require a booster shot.
A private airline flight made an emergency landing at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport after developing a technical fault.
The development on Monday came after SereneAir’s Karachi-Islamabad flight ER-502 returned to the port city’s airport half an hour after taking off.
According to reports, the airline issued a statement in this regard, saying that the plane developed a technical fault after takeoff, and the captain decided to land it back in Karachi after acquiring permission from the control tower.
Reports further said that Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar was also onboard.
The aircraft’s engine had developed a fault, and engineers are working to fix it.
It is being reported that another engine of the same plane had developed a fault earlier.
