As per details, Daniel, a resident of Washington DC arrived in Pakistan after falling in love with 27-year-old TikToker Afshan Raaj who hails from Rawalpindi.
Daniel accepted Islam and married Raaj. She also changed her name to Hafsa. The couple’s love story began when they started liking each other’s videos on TikTok.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Raaj said that Hafsa liked and commented on his TikTok video a few months ago after which they began talking to each other. He said that he is very lucky as Hafsa converted to Islam to marry him, adding that he has a lot of respect for his wife as she left her native country and came all the way to Pakistan to marry him.
On the other hand, Hafsa said that before making this decision, she did detailed research on Islam. Hafsa said that she added followers of different beliefs and religions in a Whatsapp group after which concluded that Islam is the religion for eternal peace and happiness in life and hereafter. She clarified that she took this step by her own will and was not pressurised by anybody to change her religious beliefs.
Hafsa further said that she is very fond of Asian culture and is trying to learn Urdu. She said that based on her experience, she finds Pakistanis very hospitable.
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar has announced that the government plans to open registrations for COVID-19 vaccination for citizens of all age groups after Eid, which is around mid-May.
According to a report in Gulf News, the minister made these remarks while talking to senior media persons in a press meet. He also said that Pakistan will be able to vaccinate more than 125,000 people per day after Eid.
Pakistan Vaccination by Govt as of April 8, 2021
80 plus can be vaccinated at home (Expect info soon on how to arrange)
Single shot avlb only for 70 above
65 and above simply WALK IN to ANY center nationwide for 1st 2nd
50 to 64 ONLY when Date received with "Tasdeeqi" code
“We began a phase-wise approach at the beginning [and are expanding it now],” said Umar during the meeting, adding that the coming five to six weeks are very critical for Pakistan in the fight against coronavirus.
The minister said that the private sector had also started vaccinations and so far 14,000 people have been vaccinated through that, while 1.1 million were inoculated as part of the government campaign.
Umar also relayed that China was Pakistan’s “primary source” for vaccination and that the CanSino vaccine would also be available in the country after Eid.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is all set to start manufacturing the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V locally in collaboration with Russia in the coming months.
Vaccinations of people 60 and above commenced on March 10, while registrations for people above 50 started from March 30.
Pakistan is currently battling with its third wave of COVID-19. According to the NCOC, Pakistan has recorded 5312 cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours and 105 people have lost their lives to the deadly virus.
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s former wife Jemima Goldsmith has schooled him on the topic of rape, saying that the “onus is on men”. PM Imran in an interactive session with the public on Sunday had blamed rising rape cases on “vulgarity” when asked what his government is doing to curb the surge in rape cases and sexual violence, especially against children.
Pakistanis had strongly criticised the premier and told him that rape is an act of violence and has nothing to do with the way a person dresses.
PM Khan’s words made it to international publications and now Jemima has criticised him for his remarks.
Sharing a report, Jemima quoted an ayat with which she wrote: “The onus is on men.”
Goldsmith added: “I’m hoping this is a misquote/ mistranslation. The Imran I knew used to say, ‘Put a veil on the man’s eyes not on the woman’.”
I'm hoping this is a misquote/ mistranslation. The Imran I knew used to say, "Put a veil on the man's eyes not on the woman." https://t.co/NekU0QklnL
Responding to Jemima’s comments, Focal Person to the Prime Minister on Digital Media Dr Arslan Khalid said that PM Khan “never engaged in victim blaming”.
“DailyMail has misinterpreted his comments about purdah which in Islam is for both male and female,” said Dr Khalid. “Rest he talked about how society must act against trends that harmfully influence young minds and turn them into sexual predators.”
He never engaged in victim blaming. Dailymail has misinterpreted his comment abt Purdah which in Islam is for both male & female. Rest he talked abt how society must act against trends that harmfully influence young minds & turn them into sexual predators.https://t.co/nBX8kglwVB
Dr Khalid also shut down other media outlets and said that they are reporting a “total misrepresentation of what he said.”
Total misrepresentation of what he said. PM didn't engage in victim blaming. Instead,he referred to how his Gvt has introduced a robust anti rape law & how society must act agnst trends tht harmfully influence young minds & turn them into sexual predatorshttps://t.co/PhtTlkDyZ9
Later, a spokesperson of the government said that misperceptions are being created about PM Khan’s comment regarding the incidence of rape in the country.
The spokesperson said that while expressing deep concern about it, the Prime Minister spoke about the societal responses and the need to put our efforts together to eliminate the menace of rape completely. Unfortunately, part of his comment, consciously or unconsciously, has been distorted to mean something that he never intended.
The statement further said: “The Prime Minister said that our strict anti-rape laws alone will not be able to stem the rise in sex crimes. The whole society has to fight it together including lowering exposure to temptation.”
“Prime Minister emphasised a holistic solution with the society and the stringent legal remedies, which are already in place, working together to eliminate the scourge. Plucking a line out of the statement would always distort the perspective and would not serve the narrative of the actual comment.”
“PM Imran Khan remains fully committed to utilise all avenues at the government’s disposal to tackle the incidence of rape. He believes that all of us have a role to play in the fight and hoped that we would do so,” concluded the statement.
Meanwhile, Pakistanis have all sorts of reactions to Jemima’s statements with some asking her if she still loves PM Khan and others rallying for her to become Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday held an interactive session with the general public via phone calls in which he answered their questions and responded to their concerns.
During the session, while responding to a question about what the federal government is doing to curb the recent surge of rape cases and sexual violence especially against children, PM Khan instead of laying out his government’s plans blamed the rising cases on vulgarity.
“Purda ka hukm isi liye ha”
No! ‘Parda’ ka hukm is liye nahi hai! Purda was NEVER meant to avert temptation.
Quran says that no one will be answerable for another person’s sins. The idea that women hide themselves up so that men don’t commit any sin is against Quranic values. pic.twitter.com/2oBBcNiMF9
The premier’s comments caused an uproar on social media, prompting Pakistanis to not only bust myths related to rape but also call him out for his insensitive remarks. Some even shared their own personal experiences to make it more clear that why rape happens and why it is never okay to blame the victim.
Repeat after me.
The only one to be blamed for rape of a woman is “ The Rapist”.
In Sept 2020, I had to sit through a torturous hearing of a 20 yr old woman raped repeatedly by her own blood father for 8 years in Karachi East District and Sessions Court.
Pray tell more, how rape is about sexual desires of men towards children, that too their own.
— Zuhaib Ahmed Pirzada (@zuhaib_pirzada) April 5, 2021
To anyone channeling Prime Minister Imran Khan and thinking rape is because of 'fahaashi' or lack of 'pardah'. No, rape is: NOT the woman's fault, NOT because she was wearing less clothes and so she 'asked for it',
Dear @ImranKhanPTI rape is a result of power imbalance not temptation. Rapists control their urges when they've fear of retribution, accountability & conviction and when they're made free from such fears due to gendered social structures just like ours they'll even rape an infant
So easy to blame women and their pardah for fahashi, but don’t actually hold men accountable for being sexual perverts. @ImranKhanPTI – it’s not acceptable to victim blame almost 50% of your nation. Just not acceptable. https://t.co/tDcIOLumNq
Study found that "most convicted rapists could not remember what their victims were wearing."
"In one study, 1 in 3 college men said that they would force someone to have sex if they could get away with it, and that has nothing to do with clothing."https://t.co/EUbmz5nPJX
Still pushing the “rape happens because women show skin” discourse is sooooo lazy. Really, dude? After all the work, the research, the campaigns, the flipping logic, this is the conclusion you draw? Exercise some of that brain lard and then maybe we can actually talk solutions.
This is so common! It happens 2 school going girls, women.All of us. Using public transport/walking streets I wear my knapsack upfront. Its a shame. These streets belong 2 women as well. It will take persistence /perseverance 2 break this mould of self entitled toxic masculinity https://t.co/tjrSNzRAdP
A woman's body belongs 2 her. Our bodies are sensitive & often women themselves are not given the mental freedom 2 understand how amazing & intricate our bodies are. No man has the right 2 force himself upon you. If you feel unheard, unseen, trapped & disrespected, find support🙏🏽
Saudi Arabia has announced that only people immunised against COVID-19 will be allowed to perform the year-round Umrah pilgrimage during the month of Ramzan.
Al Jazeera, quoting the Saudi press agency, reported: “Immune persons who [have] received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine/immune person after 14 days of receiving the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine / immune person who has recovered from the infection will [only] be allowed to perform Umrah.”
It further said that “Umrah permits and visit permits for the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah will increase operational capacity during the month of Ramadan, which begins next week.”
The holy sites, which draw millions of pilgrims every year, are a key revenue earner for Saudi Arabia, which hopes to welcome 30 million pilgrims to the Kingdom annually by 2030.
Billionaire make-up mogul Huda Kattan has said that she has “had enough” of filters and photo editing, as they have warped modern beauty standards into something “unrealistic”.
Kattan – popularly referred to as Huda Beauty – is calling for greater transparency when photos have been manipulated through editing and filters.
The 37-year-old make-up blogger wants the public, influencers and beauty brands to highlight when pictures have been enhanced – through a hashtag or disclaimer that makes it clear when a photo has been digitally altered, saying that without this people are being sold “lies”, which can have the detrimental effect of damaging their self-confidence and self-esteem.
According to a survey by Girlguiding, more than a third of girls and young women refuse to post pictures of themselves unless they’ve changed aspects of their appearance – typically with editing and filters.
Speaking to Sky News, Huda said: “I look at my daughter – she’s nine – she thinks it’s normal to use filters and I don’t like that. Is she going to grow up in a world where people are honest? Could that possibly happen? Is that too much to ask?”
“I’ve had enough,” added the makeup mogul. “When are we going to start being real? If I was scrolling through social media and I saw [a disclaimer], I would feel better about myself… because I would know there were experts involved to make this photo/person look the best they can.”
Huda clarified that she does not have a problem with the use of filters, saying that they are problematic only when you fail to “recognise the person”.
She says that is when they create “unrealistic, unhealthy standards” that need to be challenged.
Kattan further said that she has personally committed to not using any filters on her skincare social media account.
A household name in the world of makeup, Huda started her cosmetics line Huda Beauty in 2013. As her online presence grew, so did her company – which Forbes valued at over $1bn (£800m) in 2018.
The make-up artist and entrepreneur left the finance world for make-up eight years ago because she felt “ugly”. Transforming her face, she says, was her way of fitting in. But in the ’90s – this was through make-up, not technology.
“When I first got into make-up, I felt ugly. It was a tool that made me feel complete, worthy,” said Huda. “I felt there was something lacking in me that lacked beauty… and if I put concealer on, foundation, changed my brows, put tonnes of mascara on that somehow I would look and feel better… but I was wearing a mask.”
Fast forwards a few years and the rise of filters on apps like FaceTune, Snapchat and Instagram have radically changed the game. Now, within the press of a button, users can take pictures that create the effect of physical make-up. This form of augmented reality allows users to radically change the appearance of their face – with typical options allowing users to achieve a contoured face, tanned and flawless skin, plumper lips, voluminous eyelashes and brightly coloured eyes.
“Airbrushing, Photoshop and filters have morphed beauty standards into something that is so unrealistic,” said the makeup artist, adding: “[These levels of] beauty are never really attainable. You will always need to use something else – that’s the danger.
Acknowledging her role in the problem, Huda said: “Some people say I’m part of the problem – fair. There was a time I had too much Botox, too much fillers… I am a part of a big problem, and I admit that. I’m also stuck in this revolving door, stuck in this never-ending game.”
Kattan said that she now wants to be part of the solution – and claims she is speaking out as it is time to “break that habit” of overthinking how we look in pictures.
She wants all people – men and women alike – to move towards the “powerful” place of “self-acceptance”.
She admits it is a “long journey” – but one she will keep fighting.
“I’m in contact with a lot of founders (of beauty brands) and have asked them to join me… and I haven’t got any response from them,” said Huda. “I’m hoping to put more pressure on them. I haven’t got a response just yet.”
“I don’t know what everyone is so afraid of,” added the makeup artist.
Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine is now available privately in Pakistan and people can buy it from private labs and hospitals across the country.
AGP Pharma Managing Director Kamran Mirza told Jang that the Russian vaccine is now available for people above 18 across the country. Here’s a list of places offering the vaccine in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad.
Karachi
Vaccines are available at OMI Hospital, Ziauddin Hospital and South City Hospital in Karachi.
The price of the vaccine has been fixed at Rs12,268 in addition to the service charges.
Make-up Artist Natasha Khalid recently opened up about juggling a career with motherhood, giving her followers an insight into what her typical day looks like.
“I’m routinely asked in comments and DMs about how it is I juggle everything I do so perfectly while looking good ‘all the time’,” said Natasha posting a picture of herself with her baby in her PJs. “My husband took this picture of me on an average night and this is my reality 99% of the time.”
The makeup artist continued: “Juggling baby duties while meeting deadlines, running masterclasses/student corrections, planning YouTube shoots, reworking Instagram/Facebook content while also planning home/baby schedules/duties is gruelling most days and I tend to get most of my work done at night once Noor sleeps as that is when I can quiet my mind to focus.”
“I tend to predominantly be in oversized pyjamas with a curly top knot and no makeup,” said Natasha further, adding: “In most of what I juggle and do, my time takes a major hit.”
Natasha said that the reason why she shares these snippets is “because it’s so easy to believe looking at a certain angle that we see on social media that people may have it ‘together’ or may not ‘struggle at all’.”
“What seems seamless is due to perfect lighting/filters but is all an illusion,” added Natasha. “Being a working woman and a wife/Mama and your own person is a full-time job and to me, this picture right here is what is ‘imperfectly perfect.”
“For all those women who follow me and find themselves in the same boat, remember this is reality and the rest of it is fun but always a curated illusion,” said the makeup artist.
Mahira Khan, who is single mother, commented on Natasha’s post saying: “I want a baby, [in] my arms.”
Other mothers also thanked Natasha in the comments section for sharing her experience and giving them confidence and support.
Last year, after giving birth Natasha shared an endearing message for all new mothers out there highlighting body positivity and the pressure women face after giving birth.
A British company Ivy & Normanton has launched a range of hijabs designed specifically for female advocates to wear in court. The initiative has been welcomed by Muslim women across the United Kingdom because no specific brand made hijabs for female advocates.
Speaking to Arab News, the designers said they hoped to inspire more young Muslim women to join the legal profession.
Barrister and founder of Ivy & Normanton Karlia Lykourgou, while talking to the publication, said: “I think people aspire to be what they can see.”
“To keep encouraging diversity at the bar, we have to make sure that those who don’t fit the white, male stereotype have the tools they need so other young people can see them and believe they have a place in the profession too,” she said further, adding: “The Ivy & Normanton hijab was developed so other women could easily find a piece of clothing that expresses their identity as a Muslim and an advocate and get on with the job.”
According to the brand’s website: “I&N hijab was created in collaboration with hijab wearing members of the legal profession to be perfectly designed for court.”
“Made of 100% organic bamboo silk, it’s moisture-wicking and hypoallergenic to keep you cool in the summer and comfortable in winter, and is a perfect size and shape for tucking into a suit jacket or into a collarette, so you can express your identity as a person and a professional.”
