Tag: trending

  • Tight security arrangements for Kate & William’s Pakistan visit

    Tight security arrangements for Kate & William’s Pakistan visit

    The day has finally arrived. Prince William and Kate Middleton are expected to arrive in Pakistan Monday night and extensive security arrangements have been made for their visit.

    According to The Telegraph, more than 1,000 police officers will be deployed to ensure foolproof security to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Details of the five-day trip, described as “the most complex” by Kensington Palace, have also been kept under wraps. Officials privy to the matter have said their itinerary will be tightly guarded by the military, with local media being informed of details at the last minute.

    The goal of such detailed arrangements is “to secure the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as Pakistan hopes the visit can repair the country’s image.”

    Kensington Palace in a statement, earlier this month, had shared that the royal couple’s trip “will range from the modern, leafy capital of Islamabad to the vibrant city of Lahore, the mountainous countryside in the North, and the rugged border regions to the West.”

    The royal couple is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi on October 15 after which they will visit Lahore and Chitral.

    Meanwhile, UK envoy Thomas Drew has said that the royal couple’s visit would show Pakistan as “a forward-looking country”.

    In a video message on Twitter, Drew said, “Most importantly, they hope to meet as many Pakistanis as possible during the course of the visit. They are looking forward to building a lasting friendship with the people of Pakistan.”

    Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi while speaking on the royal visit said: “This is a goodwill visit, and they want to promote good relations between Pakistan, England and our new generation.”

    Kate and William’s visit to the Commonwealth’s second-most-populous country was announced in June and planned at the request of Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It will be the first trip to Pakistan by members of the royal family since Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, travelled there in 2006.

  • Seminary caretaker ‘unleashes’ pet lion on worker

    Seminary caretaker ‘unleashes’ pet lion on worker

    A caretaker of a Shahdara seminary allegedly unleashed his pet lion on an electrician for demanding his wages.

    According to reports, the caretaker of Imambargah Sada-e-Imam Hussain Ali Raza had hired an electrician Mohammad Rafique to do some work at the Imambargah. After Rafique completed his work, he asked Raza to give him his wages but Raza asked him to come some other day.

    Later, the caretaker kept delaying the payment and finally when Rafique insisted, he got annoyed and unleashed his pet lion on him.

    The lion mauled the electrician’s arm and severely wounded him on his face. Rafique suffered multiple injuries in the incident.

    The complainant said that during the attack, the suspect and his three unidentified accomplices watched from aside and did nothing to rescue him. Upon hearing his screams and cries, some passer-bys rushed to the scene and managed to rescue him.

    The police after verifying the details said that a case was lodged against Raza under Section 324 of the Pakistan Penal Code for attempted murder. Though the incident happened more than a month ago, the complainant said he filed a case after the suspect refused to get his wounds treated as per his commitment and denied him the compensation he had been promised.

  • People have questions after watching the trailer of ‘Kaaf Kangana’

    People have questions after watching the trailer of ‘Kaaf Kangana’

    There is no doubt that Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar is a household name in Pakistan. The man has penned several mega-hit plays including Pyaare Afzal, Bunty I Love You, Landa Bazaar, Sadqay Tumhara and more recently Meray Paas Tum Ho. He has also written the blockbuster Punjab Nahi Jaungi starring Humayun Saeed and Mehwish Hayat.

    Recently, Qamar decided to don the director’s hat and direct his first feature film. After several hitches along the way which included changes in the cast and release date, his film Kaaf Kangana is finally hitting the screens on October 25. Even the trailer has gotten a makeover. But despite all that has been done, the film’s trailer failed to impress the audiences. In fact, Pakistani Twitter is lit with comments mocking the film and its Kashmir-related dialogues.

    https://twitter.com/Audere_Hassan/status/1182972912917200898?s=20

    References to Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta’s Veer Zaara were made.

    Some people commented that the earlier trailer was better.

    https://twitter.com/TweetingForDays/status/1182977946514006021?s=20

    Watch the trailer here:

    https://www.facebook.com/NueplexCinemas/videos/530089601102262/

    Khalil-ur-Rehman’s directorial venture has faced several challenges along the way. The film began with Sohai Ali Abro as the lead but soon after, she quit and was replaced by Urwa Hocane. Farhan Saeed was also roped in for the film but the couple decided to bow out of the film later. The film’s leads Eeshal Fayyaz and Sami Khan were finalised after this.

    Meanwhile, Resham was also supposed to be part of the film but dropped out a day before the shoot for reasons not known.

    Apart from Sami and Eeshal, the film starres Ayesha Omer, Fiza Ali, Saba Hameed, Abi Khan and Sajid Hasan. Neelam Muneer will be doing an item song in the film.

    Kaaf Kangana is scheduled to hit the screens on October 25.

  • Fazl offered ‘tempting political package’ to call off Azadi March

    Fazl offered ‘tempting political package’ to call off Azadi March

    Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has rejected a “tempting political package” offered to call off his upcoming anti-government ‘Azadi March’, The Current learnt Saturday.

    The right-wing political party leader and a vocal critic of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, has announced taking to the roads of the capital on October 31 against the incumbent government’s “selection to power” after “fake election”.

    With the announcement stirring up the country’s dormant political scene overnight and forcing the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to devise a counter-strategy against the challenge, sources have informed The Current of a covert offer recently made to Fazl.

    “Maulana [Fazl] was offered a tempting political package to call off his upcoming protest,” they said.

    Refusing to answer this scribe’s queries pertaining to the details of the offer, sources said that while some leaders had urged the JUI-F chief to consider it, others, including Fazl himself, were against striking any deals and his refusal had also led to “threats from certain quarters”.

    “But the threats didn’t deter him, in fact, he is more determined than ever. The main reason behind his determination remains the fact that the people trying to convince him have backstabbed him in the past.”

    “This is why Fazl has now told the people urging him to call off the march to fulfil their promises first,” sources added.

    To a question pertaining to the motive behind the offer, they said, “Maybe the ruling party fears that opposition will resort to actions similar to those carried out by its workers and leaders during its infamous 126-day siege led by Imran [Khan].”

    “But Maulana has clarified that it will be a peaceful campaign as he doesn’t want any clashes with state institutions.”

    Sources also quoted Fazl as saying that he was ready to join hands with any political leader except PM Imran. “Maulana told this to a close aide of the premier because he believes Imran has made their rivalry a personal one,” they said, adding that PTI government’s actions towards the JUI-F chief and his companions had also played a major role in it.

    ‘NO COMPROMISES NOW’:

    Speaking to The Current, Fazl’s brother and JUI-F Senator Attaur Rehman said that the party had given the federal government an August deadline to step down some three months back, but the warning wasn’t taken seriously.

    “Fazl had demanded Imran Khan to step down or be ready for a long march to Islamabad. Now we’re all set for it,” he said.

    Adding that he was not aware of any offers being made to his party chief, Rehman further said that the government had lost its chance to strike a deal. “We won’t make any compromises now.”

    AZADI MARCH:

    Voicing his concerns against the alleged rigging that marred the country’s last general election, Fazl has announced staging a sit-in at D-Chowk in the federal capital’s red zone — the same place where Imran had demonstrated for five months against then PM Nawaz Sharif in 2014.

    Fazl was earlier approached by leaders of the two major opposition parties — Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) — and requested to postpone the lockdown plan and Azadi March till November, but he has made it clear that it was not his individual decision and he was obliged to stand by that of JUI-F’s Central Working Committee.

    The march — earlier scheduled for October 27 — will now be held three days later on October 31 as according to Fazl, his party would now join Kashmiris in observing the previously announced date as black day in protest against the Indian occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.

  • Atif Aslam’s ‘Wohi Khuda Hai’ for Coke Studio 12 will give you goosebumps

    Atif Aslam’s ‘Wohi Khuda Hai’ for Coke Studio 12 will give you goosebumps

    After a disastrous Season 11, Coke Studio is back with Rohail Hyatt donning the producer’s hat. Anticipation and expectations for this season is high given the producer and the line-up.

    Season 12 opened with Atif Aslam’s rendition of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s immensely popular qawaali Wohi Khuda Hai. It comes as no surprise that Atif has nailed his performance and delivered a beautifully soothing track.

    The hamd penned by Muzaffar Warsi reflects the praise of God as the omnipotence, who maintains the balance and harmony in the universe.

    And we’re not the only ones blown away by Coke Studio’s opening track – it had 400K plus views on Youtube in its first one hour. Twitter is also lit with #CokeStudio12, #WohiKhudaHai and Atif Aslam trending.

    Atif has dedicated this beautiful rendition to his five years old son. Listen to it here:

  • Breakthrough expected on Kashmir during PM Khan’s Saudi visit: report

    Breakthrough expected on Kashmir during PM Khan’s Saudi visit: report

    A breakthrough on Kashmir is expected during Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Saudi Arabia.

    According to Geo News, the major development will happen during PM Khan’s meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman.

    As per a Foreign Office schedule, PM Khan is expected to leave for Saudi Arabia on October 29 on a two-day official visit to attend Future Investment Initiative Conference on the invitation of King Salman. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be attending the conference which will take place in Riyadh.

    PM Khan has been vocally raising the matter of Kashmir ever since the Modi-led government revoked the special status granted to Indian occupied Kashmir on August 5. He also highlighted Indian atrocities in the occupied territory while addressing the United Nations General Assembly session in September.

    Meanwhile, PM Imran is also expected to visit Iran this month to mediate between Riyadh and Tehran.

  • PM Khan declared ‘Man of the Year’

    PM Khan declared ‘Man of the Year’

    Prime Minister Imran Khan’s popularity keeps on rising.

    Jordan’s Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center has named PM Khan as its ‘Man of the Year’ in its recent list of the most persuasive Muslims in the world.

    According to Arab News, the center is an autonomous research entity with the Royal Aal Al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in Jordan.

    At the same time, PM Imran Khan has also become the sixth most popular world leader on Twitter, boasting 10.5 million followers.

    “If The Muslim 500 was in print back in 1992 and I was the Chief Editor then, I would have nominated Imran Khan as our Muslim Man of the Year because of his brilliant performance in cricket, which culminated in Pakistan winning the 1992 Cricket World Cup — a sport I have always admired for its combination of elegance and intense competitive play,” said Professor S Abdallah Schleifer, a Professor Emeritus of Journalism in the American University in Cairo, who chose Imran Khan as winner of the title.

    Schleifer was quick to add that Khan’s role in cricket was not the only criteria for him being bestowed with the title. He was also impressed with Khan launching a successful fund-raising campaign to establish Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, which is devoted to both the care of cancer victims and its research.

    “This was his magnificent response to the loss of his mother to cancer in 1985 and given Khan’s extraordinary popularity with Pakistanis both at home as well as among the large number of Pakistani expats – along with his own, no doubt, generous personal contribution — he raised sufficient funds so that by 1994, the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital opened its doors in Lahore whereby 75 percent of its patients receive free-care,” he added.

    However, it was PM Khan’s desire for peace with neighboring India which earned him the title, Schleifer said.

    Khan assumed the office of Prime Minister of Pakistan last year after devoting 22 years of his life to building an opposition political party that was committed to reform and confronting Pakistan’s civilian political establishment over the issue of embedded corruption and mismanagement, the report said.

    This and his other accomplishments, professor Schleifer says, are detailed in the biography that accompanies his ranking (Number 16) in the latest edition of The Muslim 500.

    “But what is particularly to his credit is that upon taking office in August 2018, Khan made it quite clear that one of his top priorities was to work for lasting peace with India,” Schleifer said.

  • Women banned from being part of JUI-F’s ‘Azaadi March’

    Women banned from being part of JUI-F’s ‘Azaadi March’

    The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) has decided to not allow women to attend its October 27 anti-government march towards Islamabad.

    According to reports, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman wrote to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) informing them of the decision to not include women in the upcoming Islamabad sit-in. The reason behind this decision has not yet been shared.

    The JUI-F chief is preparing to take down the government with his Azaadi march and has said the march would only end when the government falls.

    Speaking at a press conference, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said: “The entire country will be our battleground,” adding that people from all over the country will be joining the march.

    It is important to note than in the past Maulana Fazlur Rehman has been very critical of women’s participation in Prime Minister Imran Khan’s PTI jalsas. He had compared PTI sit-ins to mujras.

    Meanwhile, in 2015 Maulana Sahab had asked the armed forces to launch a military operation against women wearing jeans all over Pakistan saying that the immodesty of women is the cause behind earthquakes, inflation and other kinds of disasters. He went on to say that if a woman is not covered like a ‘sack of flour’ she is a mobile weapon of mass destruction for her state.

  • ‘Over 36,000 mobile phones snatched in Karachi this year’

    ‘Over 36,000 mobile phones snatched in Karachi this year’

    A report by the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee’s (CPLC) documenting the rate of street crimes in Karachi during the first 10 months of 2019 has stated that almost 36320 mobile phones were snatched and stolen during street crime incidents in the provincial capital.

    Apart from that approximately 21,000 motorbikes and 13,000 cars were either stolen or taken on gunpoint from citizens. The committee also shared that over 60 people including policemen were killed in the last three months.

    Compared to January 2018, there was a sharp rise in street crimes in January 2019.

    Meanwhile, the Sindh Police has set up the ‘Street Watch Force’ to control street crimes in Karachi. The police department has established the force comprising of 1,870 police personnel who perform their duties on bikes.

  • Here’s everything that happened at the Hum Awards

    Here’s everything that happened at the Hum Awards

    The annual Hum Awards took place in Houston and it was a glitzy affair, though we did feel a bit that the star quotient was less this year. There was no Fawad Khan, Ahad Raza Mir, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Osman Khalid Butt or Sajal Aly. In fact, the stars of Hum TV’s latest film Superstar – Mahira Khan and Bilal Ashraf – also didn’t make an appearance.

    Nonetheless, the night was lit and there were some fun performances and skits to keep viewers and those in attendance hooked.

    Starting with red carpet pictures of couples

    • Noman Ejaz & wife
    • Farhan Saeed & Urwa Hocane
    • Yasir Hussain & Iqra Aziz

    The divas

    • Kubra Khan
    • Mawra Hocane
    • Sanam Jung

    The show began with everyone reciting the National Anthem.

    After which Haroon performed his evergreen Dil Se Maine Dekha Pakistan.

    Mikaal Zulfiqar & Ali Rehman Khan hosted the show and entertained the audiences with their antics on stage, while Ahmed Ali Butt brought his quirkiness.

    Azaan Sami Khan and Hania Aamir gave a scintillating performance – perhaps a nod to their upcoming film.

    Asim Azhar paid a tribute to Alamgir.

    Abida Parveen mesmerised the crowds with her performance.

    Mehwish Hayat and Ahsan Khan wrapped up the event with a grand finale.

    Here’s a list of everyone who took home an award.

    Best Director

    Kashif Nisar for Dar si jati hai Sila

    Most Impactful Character

    Noman Ijaz for Dar si jati hai Sila – Winner

    Best Drama Writer

    Bee Gul for Dar si jati hai Sila & Saima Akram Chaudhry for Suno Chanda

    Best On-screen Couple

    Iqra Aziz and Farhan Saeed for Suno Chanda (Popular and Jury Winner)

    Best Drama Serial

    Suno Chanda – Popular Winner

    Best Actor, Male

    Jury – Noman Ijaz for Dar si jati hai Sila

    Popular – Farhan Saeed for Suno Chanda

    Best Actor, Female

    Jury – Yumna Zaidi for Dar si jati hai Sila

    Popular – Iqra Aziz for Suno Chanda

    Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Male

    Tipu Shah for Suno Chanda

    Yasir Hussain for Baandi

    Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Female

    Nadia Afgan – Suno Chanda

    Best Actor in a Negative Role

    Noman Ijaz for Dar si jati hai Sila

    Lifetime Achievement Award – Alamgir