The drama will reportedly challenge traditional gender roles.
The cast of the web series includes Saba Qamar, Naumaan Ijaz, Uzma Hassan, Gul-e-Rana and Agha Mustafa Hassan. The web-series has been shot in different areas of Lahore.
Pakistani singer, Momina Mustehsan has requested Prime Minister Imran Khan to visit Machh mourners.
In a tweet addressed to PM Imran, the Baari singer wrote: “The nation mourns in solidarity with our Hazara kin.”
“It is crucial to show solidarity at this hour – regardless of conspiracies, those responsible and those trying to politicize,” said Mustehsan, requesting PM Imran to reconsider his stance.
“Please do not wait for them to bury their deceased, they need your shoulder to cry on,” she added.
“Honorable Prime Minister, all eyes are on you. The entire nation is well aware of the persecutions faced by Hazara community for far too long,” said Momina further. “They are one of us and we are one of them.”
Speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad, PM Imran had urged the protesters not to “blackmail the premier” because “anyone will be able to blackmail the PM then”, including the Pakistan Democratic Movement.
According to the PM, the government has accepted all demands of the protesters, but their demand that they will not bury their dead unless the prime minister visits them is akin to blackmail. “If they’ll bury their deceased, I will then visit them,” said the PM.
Earlier, Malala Yousafzai also requested the Prime Minister to visit Machh mourners.
Meanwhile, the Oscar winner filmmaker, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy criticised PM to give preference to Turkish filmmakers over Machh mourners.
An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad has sentenced three men to death over blasphemous posts on social media.
The verdict was reserved in the case on Dec 15, 2020 after a four-year long trial.
ATC judge Raja Jawad Abbas, while announcing the verdict, said the prosecution succeeded in proving its case against the accused.
All three accused, Abdul Waheed, Rana Noman Rafaqat and Nasir Ahmed, have been found guilty, the ruling pronounced.
A 10-year imprisonment sentence and Rs100,000 fine was also awarded to a professor, reported Geo.
Blasphemy is a sensitive topic in Pakistan. Rights advocates have long been demanding a reform of the controversial laws, introduced by military dictator General Ziaul Haq in the 1980s.
Human rights groups say blasphemy laws are often misused to persecute minorities or even against Muslims to settle personal rivalries. Such accusations can end up in lynchings or street vigilantism.
Navin Waqar, in a recent Instagram interaction, opened up about her choice of staying single.
Waqar, who shot to fame with Humsafar, was married to Azfar Ali. The couple parted ways in 2015, after three years of marriage. Since then Navin has chosen to stay single.
Navin, while talking about her relationship status, said: “There is nothing wrong in staying single.”
“It is one of the most important phases in a woman’s life where she is independent, where she is getting to live her dreams, achieve her goals, live life to the fullest,” she continued.
Navin also expressed that she is frustrated with never-ending questions related to her marriage.
“So many aunties ask me when I am getting married. And my usual reply to them is that it is better to be single and happy than marry the wrong person.”
She further advised women to not listen “to any kind of trash talk that comes your way”.
“Understand that life is a gift and you are on this earth to do beautiful and amazing things and you do not have to get married in order to achieve that,” said the actor. “If anybody who is single right now, I think its a great time to make a bucket list and achieve all the things you want.”
“Single girls do not let it get to you,” she added. “Enjoy your life.”
Navin was recently seen in ARY Digital’s Bewafa alongside Ali Rehman Khan and Ushna Shah. She is currently playing a prominent role in Hum TV’s horror series, Chalawa.
Besides Navin, Mehwish Hayat had also said that a woman can be totally happy without marriage and children.
“Let’s not let society dictate the way we want to lead our life,” Mehwish had said. “I have come to realise that it is possible for a girl in her early 30’s to be totally happy without being married and with children. It’ll happen when it will and not to some timetable.”
In a first, the newly appointed chief of Ruete Hilal Committee, Maulana Abdul Khabir, has expressed his willingness to adopt scientific knowledge in moon-sighting “within the limits of Shariah”.
According to Dawn, Khabir made the remarks during a meeting with Federal Minister of Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry who had over the past year made headlines for his tussle with former committee chief Mufti Muneebur Rehman over the Islamic calendar and moon sighting.
The meeting came after Fawad informed Khabir about setting up observatories in Islamabad for moon sighting.
“In this modern age, every problem has been solved with the help of scientific knowledge and only nations that use science are making progress. Islam and science are not contradictory but the importance of knowledge in Islam distinguishes it from other religions,” the publication quoted Fawad as saying.
The minister reportedly assured Khabir of full cooperation, adding that his office would support the committee to reach consensus with the help of science.
Earlier, Muneeb had opposed Fawad’s offer to use technology in moon sighting and expressed dismay over the minister developing a five-year lunar calendar containing all dates of Islamic events in Pakistan, including Ramzan, Eidul Fitr, Eidul Azha and Muharram.
The new chairperson, however, has expressed willingness to cooperate and even asked the federal minister to make every effort to take Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai on board to reach a nation-wide consensus on moon sighting.
Mufti Popalzai, of Peshawar’s Qasim Ali Khan mosque, had also opposed use of science and latest technologies.
Maulana Khabir has said he would also like to bring the committee on a visit to the ministry to brief them on the importance of scientific research and how it could benefit all, reports say.
The Henley Passport Index has released its annual report ranking the world’s strongest and weakest passports despite there being limited travel in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Henley Passport Index is based on data provided by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) and covers 199 passports and 227 travel spots. Asian residents continue to have the world’s most powerful travel documents.
As the report doesn’t take temporary restrictions into account, Japan tops the list offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival service to tourists from 191 destinations around the world.
The best passports to hold in 2021 are of Japan with 191 destinations, Singapore with 190, South Korea and Germany with 189, Italy, Finland, Spain and Luxembourg with 18, and Denmark along with Austria with 187 destinations.
Followed by Denmark are Sweden, France, Portugal, Netherlands and Ireland with 186 destinations.
Many countries around the world have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to less than 40 countries.
Passports with the lowest ranking include North Korea with 39 destinations on the 103rd rank, Libya and Nepal with 38 destinations, 105 Palestinian territories with 37, and Somalia along with Yemen on the 106th rank with 33 destinations to offer visa-free arrival.
Pakistan ranks 107th on the list with 32 destinations for the second time in a row, followed by Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, India, and Tajikistan.
UAE is on the 16th position rising from 62nd position from 2006 back when the index began. UAE provides visa-free/visa-on-arrival access to 173 destinations.
The State Bank of Pakistan has witnessed a 1.98 per cent increase in its foreign exchange reserves after an influx of $261 million during the week ending on December 31, 2020.
According to the data issued by the central bank on Thursday, the current exchange reserves stand at $13.4 billion as of now. The state-run news agency, APP, reported that overall liquid foreign currency reserves, including net reserves held by the banks, SBP excluded, stood at $20,512.1 million.
Net foreign reserves held by commercial banks clocked in at $7.09 billion. According to the State Bank, the increase came on the back of official inflows of the government.
On Wednesday, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) gained over 500 points to cross the 45,000-point threshold for the first time since May 2018. According to the reports, “Exploration & production and oil & gas marketing sectors rebounded strongly, whereas cement and fertilizer sectors continued with previous day’s positive momentum.”
“International crude oil prices jumped significantly on the conclusion of agreement among OPEC+ countries, which became the basis for an uptick in E&P stocks. Cement sector leaped on the expectation of an increase in cement price in the northern region, while banking sector contributed positively in anticipation of annual results.”
Veteran wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal is shocked and disappointed over ignorance by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Taking to Twitter, Akmal expressed his feelings and wrote: “Shocked and disappointed. As a senior and season[ed] player, I have not been treated well.”
Akmal also requested PCB and Director Domestic Cricket Nadeem Khan to look into the matter.
“Cricket is my passion and I want to play it but…I rest my case to My Allah,” he added.
Later, while replying to Twitter users, the cricketer further expressed his disappointment over his non-selection.
Meanwhile, Akmal has been keeping himself busy in the gym and with his YouTube channel. He has interviewed many cricketers on his channel, including Mohammad Amir and Imam-ul-Haq.
Fellow cricketer, Mohammad Hafeez showed his support amd wished Kamran good luck for his future.
Obviously surprising but u r a Fighter & m sure u wil be back in the feild soon 👍🏼. U inspired & evolved many so stay strong & positive. Believe on working hard as u always do. Best wishes @KamiAkmal23 👍🏼 https://t.co/UeNoJtAFuF
The team behind Diriliş: Ertuğrul, including Celal AL (who plays Abdur Rehman Alp) and producer of the Ottoman epic Kamal Tekdin, after being welcomed by Adnan Siddiqui and Humayun Saeed, enjoyed a delightful dinner in Islamabad on Thursday.
The dinner, which was hosted by The Legend of Maula Jutt producer Ammara Hikmat saw several Pakistani celebrities including Imran Abbas, Faisal Qureshi, Ahmad Ali Akhbar, Yasir Jaswal, Adnan and Humayun in attendance.
Pictures of the guests enjoying themselves were widely shared on social media.
Earlier in the day, the delegation met with Adnan and Humayun, with whom Tekdin Films and TRT production have signed a deal with as partners. Adnan had earlier shared that the partnership will infuse freshness in Pakistani content. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz and Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir Shehryar Afridi were also part of the meeting.
Sharing pictures from the meeting, Adnan said that it didn’t feel like they were meeting Celal for the first time. He added that Celal says that he’s fallen in love with Pakistan and our hospitality.
Later, the delegates also had a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan. According to a press release, the meeting discussed in detail the proposed television series being created in collaboration between Pakistan and Turkey on the Khilafat Movement among other future projects and the lost glory of the Pakistani entertainment industry.
PM Khan, during the meeting, emphasized on showcasing the golden era of Muslims’ Rule in the subcontinent in dramas and films to apprise the youth about that golden age and to foil negative propaganda and designs.
The PM said that the Pakistani film and drama industry needed to work for the promotion of local culture to apprise western-influenced youth of their indigenous values and to protect them from social evils, adding that the Pakistani film and drama industry will flourish by producing quality content. This will also provide a substitute for the superficial and glamourized broadcast content to the youth.
Meanwhile, producer Tekdin said that the Turkish team is very happy over Pakistan’s cooperation in this project, which will highlight cultural commonalities between the two countries. He said it will also help strengthen people to people contact.
The Prime Minister, while appreciating the project, assured the Turkish team that his government will provide full cooperation in this regard.
Pakistan’s Turkish guest Celal is thoroughly enjoying his stay in Pakistan and prayed that the love and brotherhood between Turkey and Pakistan lives long.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has once again asked the Hazara protesters to bury the dead bodies of the coal miners killed in the Mach attack.
Speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad, Imran urged the protesters not to “blackmail the premier” because “anyone will be able to blackmail the PM then”, including the Pakistan Democratic Movement.
According to the PM, the government has accepted all demands of the protesters, but their demand that they will not bury their dead unless the prime minister visits them is akin to blackmail.
“Anyone will blackmail the prime minister then,” he said, adding that the PDM will also use this ‘tactic’ against him. “This blackmail has also been ongoing for two-and-a-half years,” he said referring to the opposition to his government.
The PM said he has already told the minority community that he will visit them after the burial. “I am using this platform to say that if you {Hazaras] bury them today, I will go to Quetta today to meet the families of the slain miners,” he added.
He also termed the protesters decision of not burying the dead bodies ‘illogical’.
PM Imran’s remarks come after Balochistan’s Shia Hazara community continued to protest for a sixth straight day in freezing temperature, refusing to bury their dead. On Sunday, 11 miners were kidnapped from their compound and killed by the armed men. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State.
Subsequently, thousands of protesters blocked Quetta’s key western bypass, demanding that PM personally visits them and assure them of security.
Protests are also being held in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad against the murder of the minority group members.
