Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • Bushra Ansari reveals struggles she faced in her first marriage

    Bushra Ansari reveals struggles she faced in her first marriage

    Bushra Ansari was a guest on Nida Yasir’s talk show where among many things, she opened up about her abusive first marriage and the ways her husband, Iqbal Ansari, restricted her from the things she used to love. Ansari and her ex-husband parted ways after 36 years of marriage. The veteran actress said in the interview that she was quite naive when she got married:
    “Girls who are around 19 or 20 years old when they’re getting married, it’s not easy for them to stand up for their rights, and most of the time they don’t want to. I believe that young people are very innocent and idealistic, which is why it is easy for an older person to enter their lives and mold them to his taste. Especially it is your parents and other relatives who complain about your bad habits to your husband, and encourage him to keep a strict control over you. But girls are very naive when their getting married, they’re like jelly. But I’m proud of this generation today because women are well-educated and also know how to stand up for themselves.”


    Ansari went on to share how she followed the customs of her time to obey and act according to the wishes of her husband, hoping that he might like her and be happy but instead of that, she was expected, all the time, to do what he said.


    “He asked that i remove my nose pin, which I loved, but I agreed. He also said don’t wear ghararay on your wedding so I decided to switch to wearing sari’s. Then he also said don’t wear mehndi on your hands on your wedding, I agreed. Even though this wasn’t a twenty year long affair, but we only knew each other for three months and then we got married.”


    “I thought that if I would say ‘theek hai jee, aap ki marzi’, then everything would be fine. Because once he is happy, then I would also be happy. Whatever he said, I would do. He said stop going to your friend’s house, I agreed. I thought that he was a temple, and I was running around it. But this was the kind of mindset women from this generation used to follow because they were told this is how they must remain happy in their marriages. I’m not saying you should completely rebel and refuse to be nice to your husband, because sometimes listening to someone’s request is a good thing and they acknowledge you. Otherwise you listen to them once, then they keep expecting you to listen to everything they have to say.”

    You can watch the complete interview here:

  • Biopic on Dada: Ranbir Kapoor to play the role of Saurav Gangully

    Biopic on Dada: Ranbir Kapoor to play the role of Saurav Gangully

    Biopic on Dada: Ranbir Kapoor to play the role of Saurav Gangully

    Ranbir Kapoor has bagged another covered role, getting selected to portray Saurav Ganguly, the Dada of Indian cricket, in an upcoming biopic.

    Ganguly, considered one of the greatest Indian captains, played for his country from 1992 till 2008 when he retired from all formats of the game.

    After his retirement from cricket, Ganguly has remained involved in the sport as a commentator and administrator. He was the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 2019 to 2021.

    Shooting of the biopic will start soon after the promotion of Ranbir Kapoor’s new film
    “Tu Jhuuti May Makaar” is over.

    Film makers have not announced the full cast yet but it is confirmed that Ranbir Kapoor will do the lead role. As per details, MS Dhoni, also known as Saurav Ganguly’s talent pick in 2006 series against Pakistan, will also be essayed in the film.

    The movie will be directed by filmmaker Hansal Mehta and produced by Shemaroo Entertainment in association with Joy Ganguly, Saurav Ganguly’s brother.
    The biopic is expected to showcase Ganguly’s journey as a cricketer and his rise to becoming the captain of the Indian cricket team. It will also delve into the controversies that he faced during his career, including the infamous 2002 feud with former Indian coach Greg Chappell.

  • Six terrorists shot down by CTD in Lakki Marwat operation

    Six terrorists shot down by CTD in Lakki Marwat operation

    At least six terrorists were gunned down during an operation in the Dadowala area of Lakki Marwat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), counter-terrorism department (CTD) officials have confirmed.

    According to the CTD, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the slain terrorists who were involved in terror attacks and assaults on security forces.

    CTD added that the operation was launched after it received information regarding the presence of the terrorists in Dadowala. The department added that the terrorists were planning to launch an attack on the Abbasia police check post.

    Terrorism is rising again across the country as attacks increased since the end of the ceasefire with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) last year.

  • Yamaha passes sales tax burden to customers: YBR 125G price increased to Rs353,000

    Yamaha passes sales tax burden to customers: YBR 125G price increased to Rs353,000

    Yamaha has recently announced its first price increase of 2023, affecting all of its motorcycles. The latest announcement marks the second increase in prices since December, with the highest increase being up to Rs3,500.

    Despite this, Yamaha has implemented the smallest price increases compared to its competitors and has only raised its bike prices once this year.

    In contrast, Yamaha increased its bike prices seven times last year. Due to the persistent economic issues in Pakistan, dealers and industry experts are anticipating further price hikes this year.

    According to recent data, a significant proportion of bike manufacturing has been localised in Pakistan. As such, there appears to be little justification for motorcycle manufacturers to frequently and substantially increase their prices.

    VariantOld Price (Rs)New Price (Rs)Increase (Rs)
    YB 125Z305,500308,5003,000
    YB 125Z DX327,000330,5003,500
    YBR 125336,000339,5003,500
    YBR 125G349,500353,0003,500
    YBR 125G (Matte Gray)352,500356,0003,500
  • Aurat March 2023: Feminism in the time of crisis

    Aurat March 2023: Feminism in the time of crisis

    Feminist social movement Aurat March has unveiled their theme for this year: Feminism in the time of crisis.


    The movement elaborated on the significance behind this theme on Twitter, revealing that it will address the ongoing security, climate and economic issues currently plaguing the country.

    “We demand a feminist response to these crisis: one that centers the voices and experiences of one of the most affected and prioritizes justice and equity for all.

    These responses must be democratic and equitable. A Pakistan plagued by regional, ethnic and class inequity is unacceptable. We cannot afford to ignore the intersectional impacts of these crises any longer.

    Pakistan is plagued with challenges on multiple fronts including security and safety crisis, economic crisis, climate crisis and a relentless crisis of gendered violence. We know that these issues are deeply rooted in the patriarchal system that prioritize masculine politics and ignores the needs and rights of gender minorities and marginalized communities.

    It’s time to demand a better future for all.

    Join us on 8th March.”

  • Twist in Barkhan tragedy as woman believed dead recovered alive

    Twist in Barkhan tragedy as woman believed dead recovered alive

    The Barkhan tragedy has taken a twist on Wednesday night when an autopsy report revealed that the body believed to be that of Giran Naz, a woman allegedly imprisoned in a private jail in Balochistan, is of an unknown teenager.

    Giran Niaz with her daughter and four sons were recovered alive in the late hours of Wednesday night after three separate search operations were conducted in different locations. The autopsy conducted on the female corpse recovered from a well, thought to be that of Naz, showed that the body was of a young woman aged around 18 years, who had been raped and shot in the head thrice.
    Police on Wednesday had earlier arrested Sardar Khetran from Quetta on charges of killing Naz and her two sons.

    Giran Naz along with her children is in protective custody and will be handed over to representatives of the Marri tribe.

    What is the back story?

    Sardar Abdur Rehman Khethran, 64, head of the Khethran tribe in Balochistan’s Barkhan, allegedly runs a private jail in the province, and the three bodies recovered in Haji Koat were imprisoned in the same private jail. Khethran wanted Mohammad Marri, who worked as a guard for him, to testify against his son Inaam Shah in a fake police case about a property clash. Marri refused to testify against Inaam after which Khethran imprisoned eight members of his family in his private jail including his wife Giran Naz Bibi, six sons Mohamad Nawaz, Abdul Majid, Abdul Qadir, Abdul Sattar, Abdul Ghaffar, Mohammad Imran and a teenage daughter Farzana.
    Khethran also had Marri arrested, however, he was released after spending three and a half years in jail. After getting released, he started to look for ways to release his family from the private jail.
    Marri, with the help of Inaam Shah, smuggled a cellphone inside the private jail where his wife and kids were being detained.

    A video of Giran Naz Bibi was recorded while she was carrying a Holy Quran. She claimed in the video that Sardar Khethran is holding them captive.

  • President Alvi approves mini-budget amidst concerns of pushing Pakistanis into deeper poverty

    President Alvi approves mini-budget amidst concerns of pushing Pakistanis into deeper poverty

    President Dr Arif Alvi has given his approval for the Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2023, also known as the mini-budget, under Article 75 of the Constitution, which requires the president to assent to a bill presented to him within 10 days.

    National Assembly had passed the Rs170 billion mini-budget with some modifications, which will have an annual impact of about Rs550 billion.

    The budget’s approval has brought Pakistan closer to an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) but at the cost of pushing people deeper into the poverty trap.

    The majority of the taxation measures were implemented, although the president had not given his assent when the National Assembly passed the bill.

    Finance Minister Ishaq Dar admitted during his wind-up speech that inflation was unbearable for the people and blamed the maladministration of the previous government of former prime minister Imran Khan.

    Dar also admitted that the news stories about Rs675 billion to Rs700 billion taxes were not untrue and the IMF had demanded those measures, which the government did not accept. Dar added that almost all major issues with the IMF had been sorted out, and Pakistan is now very near to the staff-level agreement.

  • Ayesha Omar addresses her rumored affair with Shoaib Malik

    Ayesha Omar addresses her rumored affair with Shoaib Malik

    Ayesha Omar made headlines in both Pakistan and India when her sensual photoshoot with the former Pakistani cricket player Shoaib Malik went viral on social media. Rumors began swirling about estrangement between Malik and his wife, former Indian tennis player Sania Mirza, with speculations of a divorce in the works. Omar and Malik became the target of gossip, with stories of the two having an affair which led to the cricketer’s marriage falling apart.


    Now on a talk show with Shoaib Akhtar, Omar made it clear that she isn’t interested in married men.

    “I will never be attracted to a married or committed man ever. Everyone knows me… that goes without saying,” she said.

    When Akhtar asked her about the controversial photoshoot, Omar responded that the rumors of their affair started in India and then arrived in Pakistan.


    Previously in 2021, an instagram user had taunted Omar by asking her when she will be getting married to Malik, and she shut down the rumor directly:

    “Absolutely now. He is married and is very happy with his wife. I respect Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza a lot. Shoaib is a good friend of mine and also a professional colleague. He respects me a lot as well. There are also relationships like these which don’t revolve around marriages,” wrote the Bulbulay actor.

  • Six Pakistani dramas that revolve around female friendship

    Six Pakistani dramas that revolve around female friendship

    Pakistani dramas aren’t the first option one would think of when looking for strong female representation and well written, complex characters. Pakistani screenwriters and drama creators have for long refused to acknowledge the power of storytelling. They refuse to believe it is necessary to have positive depictions of women on screen rather than relying on the same age-old mantra ‘aurat he aurat ke sabse bari dushman hoti hai.’


    Our television screens are littered with tropes that demonize women who actually seek their own independence rather than being obsessed men. Characters like the gold digger, the career-obsessed heartless woman, or fighting saas/ bahu are the norm. It seems like most dramas are obsessed with getting the right amount of misogynist and sexist content in order to get better ratings.


    However, there are a few dramas that were able to get representation right and give the viewers depictions of what wholesome friendships can do to a woman’s life. In the spirit of the upcoming Aurat March, here is our selection of Pakistani shows that have gotten female friendships represented properly.

    1 Akhri Station (2018)

    Written by Amna Mufti and directed by Sarmad Khosat, the series is a wonderful depiction of how women suffering from abuse and trauma can come together to revel in their pain and find their catharsis together. At a train station in Lahore, a group of women meet up and begin opening up to each other about the kind of suffering they had undergone. Produced by Kashf Foundation, the mini series didn’t shy away from exploring tabooed topics like sexual abuse, mental illness, HIV/ AIDS and acid attacks.

    2 Churails (2020)

    Written and directed by Asim Abbassi, the drama made waves across Pakistan when it was released in 2020. It is now regarded as a powerful feminist drama that centers around women coming together to take revenge on their abusers. When stay-at-home mother Sara Khan finds out that her husband, Jameel, has been cheating on her with several women, she vows to get back at him. After blackmailing him to send her money, she and a group of close friends open a secret agency, disguised as a boutique, where they help other women who are suffering from abuse or are unhappy in their marriages.

    3 Sar-e-Rah (2022- on going)

    One of the most well-rated dramas currently playing on ARY, it accurately captures how one woman who breaks away the shackles of patriarchy can help other women do the same, regardless of being from different backgrounds. When Rania’s father suffers a heart attack, his family loses their source of income. She decides to step up and follow his footsteps to become a taxi driver. At first, Rania faces immense difficulties because of harassment and backlash from strangers, as well as from family members who keep taunting her with ‘log kya kahenge’, but she refuses to let harsh criticism keep her from becoming the breadwinner. Soon, Rania is able to use her power and knowledge to help other women suffering from the same issues.

    4 Tanhiyaan (1985)

    When it comes to powerful dramas, Tanhaiyaan will always remain part of the discussion for being one of the earliest dramas depicting women living their lives to the fullest, and refusing to obsess about a man’s approval. The legendary Haseena Moin had written powerful, complex female characters and championed social issues in her dramas. The show revolves around two sisters, Zara and Saniya, who are visiting their aunt in Karachi when they find out that their parents have passed away in a car accident. Because of their father’s debts, the sister’s lose their home and have to adjust to their new life in Karachi, while Zara fixates on becoming rich and regaining the house and furniture she had lost.

    5 Raqeeb Se (2021)

    Penned by the powerful Bee Gul, the drama revolves around the issue of domestic violence and women finding solace in each other’s company to escape their abuse. Sakina escapes her abusive husband’s home by arriving at her former lover Maqsood’s home with her daughter, where she meets his wife. Seeking shelter and rejected by Maqsood, it’s his wife, Hania who helps Sakina find ground in their new home.

    6 Kuch Ankahi (2022- on going)

    If you’re reminiscing about the days of PTV dramas that had not held back from addressing social issues, then this drama is the perfect blend of comedy and social awareness. The plot revolves around the three elder sisters and their home in Karachi, where their father is facing pressure from his siblings on the ownership of their home. The eldest sister, Samiya is being pressurized by her mother to marry someone and facing taunts about her age, and her siblings, as well as phupoo, help her find her own voice.

  • China’s $700 million loan to boost Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves

    China’s $700 million loan to boost Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves

    Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has announced that the Board of China Development Bank has approved a credit facility of $700 million for Pakistan, and all formalities have been completed.

    This announcement was made through a tweet, and the loan is expected to be received by the State Bank of Pakistan this week, which will help to boost the country’s forex reserves.

    According to Reuters, the credit facility, provided by the state-owned China Development Bank, will increase Pakistan’s forex reserves by about 20 per cent. This comes at a time when the country is in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to unlock funds from a $6.5 billion bailout. The loan is in addition to other facilities that China has already extended to Pakistan, and a finance ministry official has stated that the money could arrive as early as Thursday.

    China Development Bank did not respond to a faxed request for comment. Currently, China is Pakistan’s largest creditor, and its commercial banks hold approximately 30 per cent of the country’s external debt.