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  • Gohar Rasheed sparks conversation on color bias in entertainment industry

    Gohar Rasheed sparks conversation on color bias in entertainment industry

    Popular actor Gohar Rasheed has talked about a concerning trend in the entertainment world, stating that just having fair skin is seen as enough to become an actor. He pointed out that some people even spend a lot of money on injections to lighten their skin quickly and get roles in the industry.
    The actor from ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ highlighted, with a bit of criticism, that having fair skin might be the only thing that matters in getting good opportunities in the entertainment field.

    “No matter how good someone is at acting, they will be chosen for roles just because they have fair skin,” he said.

    Pointing out that someone with fair skin might not even know how good they are at acting, Gohar said that the production company still recognizes their talent and tells them about their skill in acting.
    “After the fair complexion injection, the person’s journey to becoming an actor begins, and they are offered a variety of roles,” he said.

    He asked everyone to recognize biases and deal with the fact that there is racism in our nation. He said, “We need to admit that we are a racist nation.”
    When someone asked Gohar how long it took for him to realize he doesn’t meet traditional beauty standards, he said, “I used to mention I wasn’t conventionally good-looking, but I have realised that I am the most conventional.”
    Explaining further, he said, “Being conventional means being like most people, and I feel like I connect with most folks.” This implies that his personality fits in with what’s typical in society, unlike those who stand out mainly because of their exceptionally good looks, particularly fair skin.
    “People with fair complexions are unconventional and unique,” Gohar stated.

    Many actors in the entertainment industry have admitted that having fair skin helped them get chances, while others have shared that they initially faced rejection because of their darker complexion.

  • Bilawal promises to change Karachi if elected

    Bilawal promises to change Karachi if elected

    Former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has promised to change the map of Karachi if he comes into power after winning the upcoming general elections set to take place on February 8.

    The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman promised to ensure Karachi receives its fair share of rights by securing representation in both the provincial and national assemblies.

    “Other parties are contesting polls for their benefits, but the PPP will work for Karachi and protect its mandate,” he said.

    Bilawal Bhutto also stated that everyone other than PPP is engaged in the politics of hatred and revenge.

  • Electioneering in Sindh – V

    Electioneering in Sindh – V

    In this part, we will discuss candidates’ prospects from Hyderabad division, i.e. Tando Mohammad Khan, and Badin districts. There are four National Assembly (NA) and nine provincial assembly (PA) seats in these three districts of Sindh.

    The PPP’s Syed Naveed Qamar is being challenged by 16 candidates on NA 221, which is the sole NA seat of district Tando Mohammad Khan. His main opponents are Mir Ali Nawaz Talpur of GDA, Ahmed Noonari of Khadmeen-e-Sindh, Mohammad Irfan of PTI and Imtiaz Hussain of MQM-P. Naveed Qamar won this seat in the 2018 elections by securing 76,077 votes, while GDA’s Ali Nawaz Talpur and PTI’s Abdul Jabbar Memon got 45,169 and 15,450 votes respectively. Although the PPP candidate has a lead over his close rival from GDA, an interesting contest is expected here.

    In PS 66, 20 candidates are contesting the polls. Among those, Ali Nawaz Talpur of GDA, M. Javed Rajput of MQM-P, Aijaz Ali of JI, Ambar of JUI-F, Pir Muhammad Ali Sarhandi of TLP, M. Altaf Nizamani of PTI and Syed Aijaz Hussain Shah of the PPP are prominent candidates. PPP’s Aijaz Shah won this seat in 2018 by getting 32,659 votes while Mir Ali Hyder Talpur of GDA and Altaf Nizamani of PTI got 20,736 and 13,801 votes respectively. Although Aijaz Shah seems to be all set for victory, nothing can be said till the announcement of the election results.

    On another PA seat, PS 67, a total of 12 candidates are competing for success. Dr. Qadir Magsi, a nationalist contesting from the platform of Khadmeen-e-Sindh, Khurram Karim Soomro of PPP and Abdul Rahim of PTI are prominent candidates on this seat. Abdul Karim Soomro of PPP, father of the present PPP candidate, previously won this seat by beating Abdul Rahim Katiar of GDA and Abdul Latif Soomro of PTI. Nationalists and supporters of Qadir Magsi are confident that he may pull a surprise.

    Badin is one of the real battlegrounds during the 2024 elections. Two friends turned foes, Asif Zardari and Zulfiqar Mirza, are fighting for electoral supremacy on two NA and five PA seats. Mirza clinched Badin in 2017 local bodies elections but could defend just one NA and one PA seat in the 2018 general election. After the restoration of nomination forms by the court, they are still in a legal battle for getting GDA’s symbol. Until they get their symbols, official GDA candidates are Mir Hussain Bux Talpur, Muhammad Hassam Mirza, Mansoor Ali Nizamani, Mir Abdullah Khan, Hasnain Ali Mirza, Muhammad Hassam Mirza and Ameer Hassan Panhwar on NA 222, 223, PS 68, 69, 70, 71 and 72 respectively. The PPP has fielded five winners of the 2018 elections, one runner-up and one new face, which are Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur, Rasool Bux Chandio, Muhammad Halepoto, Mir Allah Bux Talpur, Arbab Amir Amanullah, Taj Muhammad Mallah and Ismail Rahu on NA 222, 223 PS 68, 69, 70, 71, 72 respectively. A close contest is expected on all constituencies except PS 72 Badin-V, where PPP’s Ismail Rahu is in a better position against GDA’s Ameer Hassan Panhwar.

    There are only one NA and two provincial assembly seats for grabs in Sujawal district. Ayaz Ali Shah Sheerazi of the PPP is up against Molvi Muhammad Saleh Alhadad of JUI-F, Muhammad Ramzan Lashari of MQM, Ghulam Sarwar Khatti of TLP and Mumtaz Ali Shah of PTI on NA 224. PPP’s Ayaz Shah Sheerazi won this seat in 2018 by getting 130,000 votes against MMA’s Molvi Saleh, who got 11,184 votes. On PS 73 Sujawal-I, Hussain Shah Shirazi of PPP, Dhani Dino Jakhro of TLP, Muhammad Ismail Memon of JUI-F, Juman Sindhi of Khadmeen-e-Sindh, Deedar Ali of PTI and Manzoor Ali Mallah of MQM-P are notables. PPP’s Shah Hussain Shirazi won this seat in 2018 and he is the frontrunner in 2024 elections as well. Ghulam Fatma of MQM, Muhammad Ali Malkani of PPP, Najeebullah of JUI-F, Ghulam Sarwar Khatti of TLP, and Muhammad Ashraf Thaheem of Khadmeen-e-Sindh are the main contenders among 15 candidates on PS 74 Sujawal-II. Muhammad Ali Malkani of PPP won this seat in 2018 while TLP’s Ghulam Muhammad Naeemi stood a distant second. PPP’s Malkani is a strong candidate on this seat.

  • Mayor of Karachi lambasted on social media following Karachi rains

    Mayor of Karachi lambasted on social media following Karachi rains

    The recent rains in Karachi have sparked heavy criticism of the city’s governance on social media.

    With the main arteries blocked following the rain on Saturday, the city has been flooded while movement has been disrupted.

    Karachi’s mayor Murtaza Wahab of the PPP is under fire on social media, especially now that the elections are around the corner.

  • More than 120 million people will vote on February 8, says Murtaza Solangi

    More than 120 million people will vote on February 8, says Murtaza Solangi

    The Caretaker Information Minister, Murtaza Solangi, said on Monday that over 120 million people will vote on February 8, as the general elections are scheduled on the same date.

    According to PTV, he passed the remarks while addressing a ceremony.

    Murtaza Solangi also said that the caretaker government helped the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to make the election process smooth.

    “Elections are just two days away,” he added. “People will choose their representatives by exercising their right to vote.”

    The information minister also said that according to the constitution, elected representatives will run the country.

  • Pakistanis observe Kashmir Solidarity Day

    Pakistanis observe Kashmir Solidarity Day

    People across Pakistan are showing support for their Kashmiri brothers and sisters’ fight against human rights abuses in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) by observing Kashmir Solidarity Day on Monday.

    The Ministry of Kashmir Affairs issued a press release, stating that they have made all necessary arrangements to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day.

    The ministry is organising solidarity walks all over the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir. In Islamabad, a rally on Constitution Avenue showed support for the Kashmiri people.

    A minute of silence was also observed at 9:30am to pay homage to the martyrs of Kashmir.

    “Posters and billboards have been displayed around important Avenves, airports, and railway stations to highlight the plight of Kashmiri people,” said the statement.

    Additionally, educational institutions across the country have arranged debate and declamation contests along with essay writing competitions for the occasion.

    President Dr Arif Alvi has said that the right to self-determination is a cardinal principle of international law, but regrettably, the Kashmiri people have not been able to exercise this inalienable right.

  • Hania Aamir surprised by Babar Zaheer’s playful joke about her marriage

    Hania Aamir surprised by Babar Zaheer’s playful joke about her marriage

    No, Hania Aamir is not getting married next month. No, Babar Zaheer was not lying when he said Hania was getting married.
    Confused? Let us explain.

    It all started when makeup artist Babar Zaheer cracked a joke about the actress getting married. “Hania Aamir is getting married next month.”

    A video featuring Zaheer and Hania is going viral on social media platform Instagram.

    In the viral video, the makeup artist can be seen doing the actress’ hair. At one point, he smilingly says that Hania Aamir is getting married next month.

    The actress herself gets confused.

    Seeing Hania’s expression, Babar asks, “Is it funny,” to which Hania says that it is not funny at all.
    Babar says that he had tried to arranged Hania’s marriage multiple times, to which Hania responds that this series should now come to an end.

    Babar Zaheer then promises that he will not spread such rumors in the future.

    So there you have it. Just two friends cracking jokes about marriage. There’s no reason wedding happening next month.

  • Nomaika Mehak Case: Will Ashfaq Satti be held accountable for attempted murder?

    Nomaika Mehak Case: Will Ashfaq Satti be held accountable for attempted murder?

    All eyes are on the court in hopes that justice will be granted

    Ashfaq Ishaq Satti, a well-known television anchor on ARY News, is currently being investigated after his 27-year-old wife, Nomaika Mehak, revealed that he had been physically abusing her and threatened to kill her.

    Images shared on Nomaika’s Facebook post show severe bruises on her face and arm. Sources say that the entirety of her injuries — and the dark veracity of Satti’s barbarity trumping all bounds — has not been revealed to the public due to a sense of discomfort attached to sharing of sensitive details in a conservative society like ours.

    Lawyer and political activist, Jibran Nasir, who has taken up Nomaika Mehak’s case, says that the exact details of the nature of injuries cannot be shared because it is “up to Nomaika to share if she so pleases”. However, he shared that 13 visible injuries have been noted in the Medical Examination otherwise, whereas X-ray and ultrasound results are pending.

    Former anchorperson and entrepreneur Rabia Anum, who has been actively supporting Nomaika, shared on social media that Nomaika “continues to experience sleeplessness and intense pain”.

    What’s Next?

    According to Jibran Nasir, Ashfaq Satti has not been granted pre-arrest bail and is currently on an interim pre-arrest bail. His bail is set for February 12 for arguments when the judge will either confirm or dismiss the bail.

    On the other hand, the police has received the preliminary medical examination report, and has conducted site inspection and recorded statements of Nomaika and her family.

    “As a matter of principle, there should be no justification and no tolerance for violence against women. However, getting justice through courts is unfortunately a time-consuming and exhausting journey for any victim/survivor in this country. We will pursue the case to ensure a fair and transparent investigation and justice for our client,” states Nasir.

    “The first medical examination conducted at Abbasi Shaheed was tainted with mala fide. The woman medico-legal officer (WMLO) did not even bother looking at the injuries and only wrote down injuries she saw on Nomaika’s face and that too weren’t properly examined. After we were engaged as counsel, we moved an application with the Police Surgeons Office and got a detailed and proper examination of all injuries. We are thankful to the Police Surgeon Dr. Summaiya for her effective and prompt response to our application as required by the law in such cases.”

    Message to the Public

    Talking to The Current, Rabia Anum asserts that the public demanding ‘two sides of the story’ need to understand that “there are never two sides of the story when there is domestic violence”.

    “If a woman is crude or disrespectful, you have the choice to simply leave her. But you cannot ever kill her,” she adds. “Agar aurat buri hai tou uss se rishta khatam kerain, uss aurat ko nahin.”

    Anam further iterates that according to Nomaika, Satti tried to kill her. He strangled her, he choked her, he covered her face with the pillow and threatened to kill her and hide her body away.

    “The truth is that if people are given the actual details of the injuries, it will bring shivers down their spine,” added Rabia Anum.

    Background

    Ashfaq Ishaq Satti was lambasted on social media after his wife posted photos on Facebook depicting injuries on her face and body, allegedly inflicted on her by her husband. This also resulted in his suspension from ARY news where he has been a working as a tv anchor.

    In her account, 27-year-old Nomaika Mehak writes that she was almost beaten “to death” by her husband Ashfaque Ishaque Satti who “repeatedly” threatened to kill her and then hide her body. The pictures she uploaded show the extent of violence inflicted, including extensive bruising and swelling.

    After the post was publicly published, ARY news suspended News Anchor Ashfaque Ishaque Satti “with immediate effect till the law takes its course”.

  • Gold price in Pakistan falls by Rs1,200 per tola, breaking winning streak

    Gold price in Pakistan falls by Rs1,200 per tola, breaking winning streak

    In a reversal from its recent gains, gold prices in Pakistan opened the new week in the red, witnessing a decline of Rs1,200 per tola for 24-karat gold, bringing it to Rs214,800 on Monday.

    The Karachi Sarafa Association reported a decrease of Rs1,029 in the 10-gramme 24-karat gold, settling at  184,156. The 10-gramme 22-karat gold closed at Rs168,810.

    This comes after a notable surge last week, where gold prices rose by Rs2,100 per tola due to an upswing in international prices. Contrary to gold, silver prices remained steady in the domestic market, with 24-karat silver selling at Rs2,600 per tola and Rs2,229.08 per 10-gramme.

    The international context reveals a 0.8 per cent drop in spot gold during today’s early trade session, amounting to $16.18.

    This decline is attributed to a rise in US Treasury yields and the dollar, fueled by diminished expectations of a rate cut. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell dismissed the idea of lowering interest rates in the spring, expressing confidence in inflation returning to the 2 per cent target, according to Reuters.

    Adding to the pressure on domestic gold prices is the Pakistani rupee’s continued success against the US dollar. As the PKR maintains its positive trajectory, it further contributes to the challenges faced by the domestic gold market.

  • Bilawal urges people to vote for “arrow” if they want to stop lion

    Bilawal urges people to vote for “arrow” if they want to stop lion

    Just days before the February 8 general elections, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari launched criticism at all opposing political parties as election campaigning reached its peak.

    While addressing an election rally in Hyderabad, Bilawal asked his audience to vote for arrow, the symbol of the PPP, if they want to block the lion, the symbol of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

    Stressing the need for hard work, the ex-foreign minister asked the participants, “You just get PPP to win [elections]. I will handle this lion.”

    The PPP chairman also criticised the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P). “If people ask you to vote for ‘kite’, then tell them, ‘We will not vote for those who raise anti-Pakistan slogans.’”

    Reply that the kite will be ripped apart, he added. The PPP leader urged the people not to waste their vote on any independent candidate — an apparent reference to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed candidates.

    PTI candidates are taking part in the upcoming general elections as independent candidates after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) didn’t allot them their election symbol (bat).