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Author: News Desk

  • India’s Karni Sena announces INR 1 crore award to whoever cuts tongue of ‘Tandav’ makers

    India’s Karni Sena announces INR 1 crore award to whoever cuts tongue of ‘Tandav’ makers

    Amazon Prime’s Tandav continues to be mired in controversy despite an apology by the makers. In the latest development, India’s Karni Sena has announced a Rs 1 crore award to the person who will chop of the tongue of Tandav’s makers.

    Read more – ‘Tandav’: A weak script saved by brilliant performances

    According to reports, Maharashtra Karni Sena chief Ajay Sengar has said: “We will give Rs 1 crore reward to anyone who slits tongue of those who insults Hindu gods and goddesses in the web-series.”

    Sengar added that even though Tandav makers have apologised for hurting religious sentiments, it is not enough and it will not be accepted.

    The political drama has been facing massive controversy ever since it released on Amazon Prime on January 15. An FIR was also lodged against the makers, for hurting religious sentiments.

    Read more – After ‘Tandav’, case filed against ‘Mirzapur’ for ‘damaging social harmony’

    Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, Tandav stars Saif Ali Khan, Sunil Grover, Dimple Kapadia, Sarah-Jane Dias, Gauahar Khan, Kritika Kamra, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, and Dino Morea in lead roles.

    Earlier, the team of Tandav had issued an unconditional apology, saying: “Tandav is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to acts and persons and events is purely coincidental. The cast and crew did not have any intention to offend the sentiments of any individual, caste, community, race, religion, or religious beliefs or insult or outrage any institution, political party or person, living or dead.”

    “The cast and crew of Tandav take cognizance of the concerns expressed by the people and unconditionally apologize if it has unintentionally hurt anybody’s sentiments,” added the statement.

    The creators also agreed to implement changes in the series in order to pacify viewers who have been hurt because of the content.

    Moreso, Saif Ali Khan, who plays the ruthless Samar Pratap in the show, has been given police security in wake of the threats.

  • Govt of Pakistan’s official Instagram following one ‘мαиσ вєℓι ??’ besides president, PM, ministers

    In what appears to be a rather confusing episode, it has emerged that the official Instagram account of the Pakistani government is following an account titled ‘мαиσ вєℓι ??’, purportedly run by one Maham, among the total 14 accounts it follows, including President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and his teammates.

    While it is not yet confirm who the handler of the account is or why it is followed by the government of Pakistan, netizens seem to be having a field day coming up with theories as to why does the official government handle follows it.

    Among other users followed by the official account are:

    President Arif Alvi

    PM Imran Khan

    Information Minister Shibli Faraz

    Radio Pakistan

    PM’s ex-information aide Asim Saleem Bajwa

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi

    Foreign Office of Pakistan

    PM’s aide in capacity of Minister of State Zulfi Bukhari

    Ministry of Overseas and Human Resource Development

    Kashmir Committee Chairperson Shehryar Afridi

    PM’s aide on Youth Affairs Usman Dar

    The complete list can be viewed here.

    UPDATE: Later in the day, The Current was informed by sources that someone from the government’s social media team had accidentally followed the account.

    They further said that the Instagram account had now been unfollowed.

  • WHO includes Madina among world’s healthiest cities

    WHO includes Madina among world’s healthiest cities

    The holy city of Madina has been acknowledged as the world’s healthiest cities by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

    As per reports, the holy city is believed to be the first city having a population of more than 2 million to be recognised under the organization’s healthy cities program.

    The city’s integrated program included a strategic partnership with Taibah University to record government requirements on an electronic platform for the organisation’s review.

    It gained the authorization after WHO team said that it complies with the global standards required to be included in the list of the world’s healthiest cities.

    Meeting goals set by the Madinah Region Strategy Project and the launch of a “Humanising Cities” program were included in the criteria of the accreditation.

    A total of 22 government, community, charity, and volunteer agencies helped prepare for the WHO accreditation.

    As per the world health organisation, “a healthy city is one that is continually creating and improving the physical and social environment for its citizens”.

    It also works on expanding those community resources which enable people to mutually support each other in performing all the functions of life and developing to their maximum potential.

  • What’s the story behind ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans in New Delhi?

    What’s the story behind ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans in New Delhi?

    After an 11-hour long investigation, the Indian police have finally cracked the case of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans in New Delhi.

    Police had detained two men and three women following the reports that they were heard chanting ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans. However, after investigations, it was revealed that the slogans were raised in a “lighter vein” as a part of a cycling game near Delhi’s Khan Market metro station on late Saturday night.

    The police said that they have not registered a case against them following the investigation.

    “Ahead of Republic Day, police said, they were on high alert when they received a call around 1 am about a group shouting slogans, praising Pakistan,” Indian Express reported.

    “Two families…had rented Yulu bikes they were racing, and they had named each other after countries like India, Pakistan, Japan and Australia. They were cheering each other on by shouting these names when some locals heard them shout, ‘Pakistan zindabad’,” the report quoted the police officials as saying.

    During interrogation, police found the family had named the 14-year-old boy ‘Pakistan’ during the game, the newspaper reported.

    “When the boy was slow, others, which included his parents, shouted ‘Pakistan haar gaya… peechhe reh gaya,’ and when the boy started speeding, they cheered him with ‘Pakistan Zindabad’,” said the officer.

    However, following the questioning, all of them were allowed to leave.

  • Indian pilot dead after helicopter crashes in occupied Kashmir

    Indian pilot dead after helicopter crashes in occupied Kashmir

    An Indian pilot was killed while another received critical injuries after an army helicopter crashed in the occupied Kashmir’s Kathua district on Monday, reported Indian media.

    Both pilots were rushed to a hospital after the crash that occurred due to a technical error. According to media reports, the chopper was coming from Pathankot when it was forced to make a crash-landing in an army area in the Lakhanpur belt of the district.

    Two pilots of the helicopter were injured in the incident, he said, adding that they were rushed to a military base hospital. “Tragic news coming in. We have one pilot fatal casualty,” a defence spokesperson was quoted by the media as saying.

    In October 2019 a Dhruv helicopter of the Indian Army carrying the then chief of the force’s Northern Command Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh and other officers had made an emergency landing following a technical glitch in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch, according to a report in Hindustan Times.

  • Sharmeen Obaid defends stance on Turkish actors

    Sharmeen Obaid defends stance on Turkish actors

    Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy continues to defend her stance on Turkish actor despite receiving immense backlash and criticism.

    In a series of stories on Instagram, Chinoy backed her opinion questioning her followers and presenting facts.

    “Let’s play a game,” wrote the award-winning director before questioning how many Pakistani films were made in 2020 and how many brands slashed their budgets last year.

    Chinoy then went onto say that “every industry that the government want to see grow has protections” because of which imports are taxed and/or discouraged.

    “When you have budgets and work for Pakistani actors, then begin to import foreign ones,” continued the filmmaker. “Bollywood and Hollywood can afford to do that – we cannot.”

    She then urged her followers to invest in “your own people and industry first”.

    “I welcome the day when our industry will thrive and we will afford to welcome talent from overseas but not when I see our own struggling without work,” she added.

    “Too bad the truth isn’t always pretty,” concluded Chinoy.

    Sharmeen’s comments come after she was trolled for disapproving Peshawar Zalmi’s decision to appoint Esra Bilgiç as the face of the team.

    “I find this hilarious!,” Sharmeen had said. “A Turkish actress whose country doesn’t even play the sport will now be a mascot for cricket.”

    “What happened to Pakistani actresses by the way?” she said further. “Did they all disappear that we have to get foreign ones? Whatever is left of our industry will die if you keep paying Turkish actors for jobs Pakistani actors can do!”

    Diriliş: Ertuğrul has been trending in Pakistan ever since its first episode aired on PTV Home in Ramzan 2020. Pakistanis are loving the drama series and it has become a sensation in the country. According to some estimates, millions of people have tuned in to watch the show on PTV and YouTube.

    Recently, several Turkish actors from the super hit series Diriliş: Ertuğrul have visited Pakistan for different purposes. From Engin Altan Düzyatan (Ertuğrul Bey) to Cavit Çetin Güner (Dogan Alp) and Celal AL (Abdur Rehman Alp), almost every prominent actor from the drama series has visited different cities of the country.

  • Bilal Abbas, Aiman Khan, Sajal Aly among top Global Asian Stars under 30

    Bilal Abbas, Aiman Khan, Sajal Aly among top Global Asian Stars under 30

    Sajal Aly, Aiman Khan, Bilal Abbas Khan and Danyal Zafar have made it to UK-based publication Eastern Eye’s list of ’30 under 30 Global Asian Stars’.

    “The future belongs to the young and one look at rising South Asian stars globally shows it is looking very bright,” said the publication while announcing the list.

    “These terrific talents, bringing something unique to diverse artistic fields, are already breaking boundaries at a very young age and giving us hope at a time when we all need it. Eastern Eye decided to put a spotlight on the brightest of these artists for a first-of-its-kind 30 under 30 global Asian stars to look out for in the coming years,” adds their statement.

    Here’s what the magazine had to say about the four stars and what they had to say in return:

    Bilal Abbas Khan

    “He may have only made his acting debut in 2016, but the Pakistani actor has had a rapid rise since then and starred in a massive number of marvellous projects. The 27-year-old has positioned himself perfectly as the future of film and TV in his country. With more big film and TV projects on the way, he is one to look out for.”

    Speaking about the recognition Khan said: “This is a great honour and I feel humbled to be part of Eastern Eye’s prestigious list. It is the love of my fans that keeps me striving to keep pushing the benchmarks and try harder. I hope and look forward to keeping the pace going in 2021.”

    He added that he never saw this coming and was truly ecstatic.

    Sajal Aly

    “The 27-year-old actress has had a boss-like presence on Pakistani television for over a decade and established herself as an A-list superstar. She will add to her already burgeoning list of world-class projects with more work in major film and TV productions, where she will be the centre of attention,” said the publication.

    Sharing the news on social media, Sajal posted an emoji to express her happiness over the accomplishment.

    Aiman Khan

    “She may only be 22-year-old, but the talented actress is already the most followed Pakistani celebrity on Instagram [with almost eight million followers]. The small screen superstar has been lighting up television for nearly a decade and has the world at her feet right now. With no shortage of offers, she will pick projects carefully and build on her immense popularity.”

    Danyal Zafar

    “The 24-year-old singer, songwriter and musician has inherited all the talent of his superstar elder brother Ali Zafar. The young Pakistani star has been quietly bubbling away with stunning songs, which are getting him noticed globally and ones that will see him cross multiple musical frontiers.”

    Meanwhile, others on the list include Iman Vellani (who will be playing Ms Marvel in the upcoming series), Bollywood stars Alia Bhatt and Guru Randhawa and British-Pakistani singer Zayn Malik. Bigg Boss contestants Shehnaaz Gill and Asim Riaz also made it to the list.

  • Bakhtawar celebrates birthday with Bilawal, Aseefa, says she is ‘sticking to 30’ this year

    Days before she ties the knot, Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari is celebrating her 31st birthday with brother Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and sister Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari.

    Sharing a picture of herself with her siblings and Khala Sanam Bhutto, Bakhtawar thanked everyone for their wishes, joking that she is “sticking to 30” this year because “2020 didn’t count right?”

    Sharing the same picture from a different angle, Bilawal also wished his sister a very happy birthday. As per details, the PPP Chairman has suspended his political activities for a week to participate in his sister’s wedding.

    Bakhtawar is all set to tie the knot on January 29 with Dubai-based businessman, Mahmood Choudhary. A spokesperson of Bilawal House has revealed that the nikkah will take place on January 29 while the baarat is scheduled for January 30. All events are expected to take place at the bride’s residence in Karachi.

  • Maryam says no U-turn on long march, mass resignations

    Amid reports of a rift in the opposition’s ranks, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Maryam Nawaz has said that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) will decide on Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) proposal to move a no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    Addressing media persons after a parliamentary meeting of the PML-N, Maryam Nawaz said every decision regarding the anti-government movement will be taken through consensus.

    Speaking about the long march and mass resignations, she said the PDM is united and the time will come soon when it will march on Islamabad and resign en masse.

    It was the first time Maryam presided over a meeting of the PML-N. The pictures of PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and former foreign minister Khawaja Asif, who are incarcerated, were also placed in the meeting as symbolic gesture.

    On Saturday, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had said that the opposition should bring a no-trust vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan to send his government home. His remarks had prompted a strong response from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), with its leader Ahsan Iqbal asking the PPP chairman to show the numbers.

    The response had given rise to speculations of a rift between the PPP and other PDM parties.

    Subsequently, in an apparent attempt to bridge the rift, former president Asif Ali Zardari said the PPP and the PDM will send the “failed and incompetent” government home by all means.

    In a statement issued by PPP leader Chaudhry Manzoor on Sunday, the former president said that the next few months were “very important for the future of the country’s politics”.

    According to the PPP co-chairman, the PDM is united and would use all means to send the government home. “These selected rulers will fall with their own weight and they just need the last push,” he added.

  • Learn from Pathans how to own your language, says Yasir Hussain

    Learn from Pathans how to own your language, says Yasir Hussain

    Yasir Hussain recently schooled a social media user over their comment regarding English language being a necessity, asking them to be proud of their language.

    A social media user recently commented that though “Urdu is our language, English is the part of our education, and we need to learn English too instead of ignoring it.”

    Responding to the comment, Yasir said: “Do you know anything about China? And Russia? And Spain? And the rest of Europe? They don’t speak English.”

    “Apni zabaan pe fakhar karo [Feel proud of your own language],” added the actor.

    Later, sharing his response, Yasir further remarked: “Ziada door na bi jayen, humein Pathan bhai sekha dein gay zaban ko kesey own kiya jaata ai [You don’t have to look far. Our own Pathan brothers can teach us how to own your language].

    Earlier, Yasir had said that “we have made Urdu a symbol of illiteracy,” and the “English language cool”. Sharing his thoughts on the Cannoli incident and the criticism the owners received for humiliating their manager, Yasir said: “[The] interesting fact is that owner of Cannoli made fun of their manager’s English and everyone (including my actor fraternity) raised their voice in English.”

    Meanwhile, ever since the video of Cannoli owners mocking their manager went viral on social media several celebrities including Adnan Siddiqui and Sheryar Munwar have come forward to condemn the incident and slam the women for their distasteful comments and behaviour.