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  • Hassan Minhaj says New Yorker lied and he has the receipts

    Hassan Minhaj says New Yorker lied and he has the receipts

    American Comedian of Indian origin Hasan Minhaj, most famous for his Netflix standup special “Patriot Act” has lately found himself in a heated controversy post a New Yorker article which questioned the authenticity of anecdotes he has shared over the time in his performances.

    Hasan’s comedy is mostly centred around the racism faced by the diaspora and his quintessential ‘desi’ upbringing in a country like America. He has jokingly called himself ABCD (American Born Confused Desi). The article, titled Hasan Minhaj’s “Emotional Truths” criticised him for exaggeration of some of the incidents he has told, specifically his high school prom experience, an encounter with an FBI informant and a fictionalised anthrax scare.

    The writer of the article related his experience of seeing Hasan at a comedy club where he had said that “Every story in my style is built around a seed of truth,” he reportedly has acknowledged that his comedy is seventy percent emotional truth-this happened-and then thirty percent hyperbole, exaggeration and fiction. He was further accused of using racism and islamophobia as a medium to establish his career.

    Minhaj has released a video on his YouTube channel and Instagram handle in response to this article. “With everything happening in the world, I’m aware that even talking about this now feels so trivial, but being accused of faking racism is not trivial. It is very serious and demands an explanation” he stated in the beginning. Treading on the safe side, he further acknowledges that “I made artistic choices to express myself and drive home larger issues affecting me and my community, and I feel horrible that I let people down.”

    However, he goes on to explain his side of the story for he felt that the article painted him in a negative light and a “con artist” who uses racism and Islamophobia to “advance his career”.

    While relating the prom story he referred to the doxed girl as Bethany Reed to protect her identity. Messages from the girl after a show displayed appreciation for his support and protection.

    He appreciated the creative liberty he has taken with the story of FBI informant in his show The King’s Jester but the underlying objective was to highlight the issue of FBI infiltration in Muslim communities. Using humour and presenting the story in an engaging manner is his forte and part of a job as a comedian. His intention was not deceive but to convey a tint of truth that comes with it.

    Lastly, Minhaj responded to the allegation of fabrication in his story of anthrax scare where he framed it in a way as to let audiences feel the shock he and his wife went through. The character of the investigator was certainly introduced to balance it out.

    He delineated in detail about his two roles. One of the storyteller comedian and the other of a political comedian. “In my work as a storytelling comedian I assumed that the lines between truth and fiction were allowed to be a bit blurrier and I totally get why a journalist would be interested to know where that line sits,”

    Minhaj reasserted, “If the reporter was genuinely curious about the idea of truth in standup, they would have had to report that the majority of my stories are true. But their article led with the opposite.”

  • ‘Importance of finding someone who accepts you for who you are’: Sarah Majeed talks about Fairytale

    ‘Importance of finding someone who accepts you for who you are’: Sarah Majeed talks about Fairytale

    We’ve seen several romance dramas in Pakistan make a splash and then fade away. But this year ‘Fairy Tale’ emerged out of the blue and shifted the Pakistani entertainment scene like nothing else before. It was composed of new actors, and was given a terrible time slot, but a few weeks later it became a stand out drama, and made the writer Sarah Majeed a star overnight.

    Pakistani women would never recommend Pakistani dramas to others, but suddenly ‘Fairy Tale’ is the sole drama that created a female fan cult no other drama has developed. There are groups dedicated to fan girling on Hamza Sohail, the internet’s new boyfriend, and fan-fics written online about Umeed and Farjaad, but most importantly Sarah Majeed was hailed by modern women for making a progressive drama at a time there seemed to be a dearth of them.

    The Current had a chat with Sarah Majeed about how she formulated the idea of the drama, it’s gorgeous and feisty female lead Umeed and how she created a feminist drama in an entertainment industry known for championing misogynist tropes.

    Q. First of all, what inspired you to write a drama like ‘Fairy Tale’? Did you get any inspiration that made you want to write this rom-com?

    Sarah: Fantasy always sparks my imagination and inspires me to create a magical world where happiness, pure friendship, family bonds and unconditional love can be found.
    I aim to bring laughter and warmth to viewers, reminding them of the beauty of love and the humorous moments that come with it.

    Q. Did you have a personal preference for who you wanted to pick to play Umeed and Farjaad? Or did you go with Sehar and Hamza Sohail after their auditions?

    Sarah: No, all credit goes to Mahesh Waswani and Saira Ghulam Nabi. But I was very happy to know that Hamza Sohail and Sehar Khan are playing the role of Farjad and Umeed.

    Q. No one was expecting ‘Fairy Tale’ to become an overnight success the way it did- because it featured unknown actors and was given a bad time slot- but it exceeded expectations to get international praise. How did you feel about all of that?

    Sarah: This is an amazing and incredible success and proof that content is everything and we can gain popularity by creating progressive content too.
    I also would like to appreciate the entire team of Fairytale, because of all of them, this journey of success was possible.

    Q What is more endearing about Fairy Tale is how it has established a cult following on Twitter- which is not something a lot of Pakistani dramas are remembered for. A lot of young women have fan accounts, group chats and even fan fictions dedicated to Umeed and Farjaad! Why do you think this drama has established such a strong following of women online?

    Sarah: The charm of a fairy tale is that it is an ordinary story written and acted in a very special way. I focus on relevant and relatable content and incorporate modern storytelling techniques.
    I am grateful to my fans for their amazing support. I am overwhelmed by all the love and support! Thank you, fans, for making our drama trend!

    Your support fuels my passion. Sending you all my love and thanks.

    Q. When we come to Umeed, what fans love about her most- and the thing she is criticised for- is that she’s super loud and makes mistakes all the time. But every time in interviews this critique is brought up after Season one, you’ve been quick to shut it down. This is quite a shift in how female leads are treated, seeing how another critically acclaimed drama with a loud and bold female lead, but the writer consistently approved the idea that she should be slapped by the male lead.

    Sarah: As a writer, I have immense love for all my characters, not just Umeed. Because I spend so much time making and preparing them, they become like my dear friends. I invest in their stories, their growth and their journey. I think that’s the sign of a passionate writer who really cares about his/her craft. I embrace my characters with love and they guide me in making them authentic and compelling characters. My viewers can feel this love too.

    Q. Farjaad embodied the literal opposite of what we typically see male leads on screen do, which is that he is a powerful and successful man but he never overshadows Umeed and uplifts her more often. Could you tell us why you chose to craft him in this way?

    Sarah: Men like Farjad are rarely seen be it on screen or in real life. That is why I created Farjad. Farjad is a powerful and successful male character who promotes and supports the heroine. By making sure he doesn’t overshadow her, I’ve tried to create a balanced dynamic that celebrates the strengths of both characters.

    Farjad allows Umeed to shine and grow, while still showing the positive qualities of the male character.

    It’s all about creating a story that empowers and inspires.

    Q. ‘Fairy Tale’ can be seen as a feminist rom-com, but it’s made in an entertainment industry where mostly viewer ratings demand screenplays include miserable women rather than happy ones. Writer Syed Mohammad Ahmed made this intelligent insight how entertainment producers- and audiences to an extent- aren’t mostly fond of seeing women happy and independent on screens, and which is why most progressive dramas have a hard time establishing a popular following. Would you agree with him on this?

    Sarah: Oh, I understand what you’re saying. It’s true that usually happy female leads on screen may not get as much attention as other types of characters. However, it’s important to remember that representation is key. By showcasing happy and positive female characters,we can inspire and uplift audiences.

    Yes, it can be a challenge for progressive dramas to gain popularity initially. Sometimes, it takes time for the audience to tell a new and innovative story. But remember, quality and authenticity always prevail in the long run. I believe in creating thought-provoking content, staying true to my vision, and engaging with my target audience. In time, my progressive drama will find its dedicated fans and make a positive impact.

    Q. A lot of drama writers we see achieve fame in Pakistan have written shows that were based on misogynist tropes like Khalil ul Rehman Qamar, which is the anti-thesis of the message surrounding ‘Fairy Tale’. Does this put any kind of pressure on you regarding the kind of dramas you want to write, but also balancing the expectations of what the entertainment industry wants?

    Sarah: Yes, I understand exactly what you mean. Misogynist tropes can be harmful and perpetuate negative stereotypes about women. It is very difficult to challenge and avoid such tropes in storytelling. Let’s strive for more inclusive and positive representation on screen!

    Q. Among a lot of the secondary characters we’ve seen fleshed out in Season Two, Haya is a beloved one among fans because she steps out of the Sati savitri trope a lot of fans felt she was boxed in during Season One.

    Sarah: Of course! Haya has learned from her past experiences and overcome her flaws and has tried to change from a sati savitri girl to a balanced character.

    I know watching Haya’s character grow is incredibly satisfying and inspiring for the audience. So, I did not forget to give opportunities to all my characters be it Haya, Pasha Sahab, Umeed, Farjad, Sameer, Niggo, Zeenat Chachi, Hilal Pasha and Aago Jaan all to grow and develop.

    Q. A lot of writers talk about using music to get into their characters. Do you do the same thing, or do you do something else to get into the minds of your characters?

    Sarah: Not any specific thing I do, it all depends on my mood.

    Q. After the success of your drama, what message do you wish the entertainment industry would take from the love story of Farjaad and Umeed?

    Sarah: The message from the love story of Farjad and Umeed is that stories can be written and created without evil characters and evil deeds and still be appreciated. Love can be found in unexpected places and is worth taking risks for. Fairytale reminds that relationships can be messy, but they can also bring joy, growth, and connection. This story emphasises the importance of communication, vulnerability, and finding someone who accepts you for who you are.

    Q. Will we see you writing more rom-coms in the future?

    Sarah: InshAllah

  • Gold price surpasses Rs213,000 per tola in Pakistan

    Gold price surpasses Rs213,000 per tola in Pakistan

    The price of gold in Pakistan has experienced an upward trend, marked by a noteworthy increase of Rs2,000 per tola within the domestic market on Saturday.

    This surge brings the price of one tola of gold to Rs213,300, as reported by Muhammad Arshad, the chairman of the All Pakistan Jewellers Manufacturers Association.

    Similarly, the price of 10 grammes of gold also saw a significant increase, rising by Rs1,714 to reach Rs182,870.

    On the international front, gold prices are also experiencing an upward trend, currently standing at $1,987 per ounce. 

    However, in the spot market, gold fell by 0.3 per cent to $1,976.19 per ounce by 1:42 pm ET (1741 GMT), and  US gold futures settled 0.3 per cent lower at $1,987.80.

    Other precious metals displayed mixed performance, with silver slipping by 1.3 per cent to $23.05 per ounce, platinum rising by 0.3 per cent to $897.58, and palladium gaining 3 per cent to reach $1,131.03.

  • Complete communication blackout in Gaza: What we know about day 22

    Complete communication blackout in Gaza: What we know about day 22

    Israel vs Hezbollah

    Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that three missiles were fired on HezbollahAs a result of Israel-Hezbollah exchange of fire, nearly 29,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, the UN reports.

    International Organization for Migration states that so far, 28,965 people have been displaced, mainly in the south, an increase by 37 per cent since October 23.

    Israel hits 150 underground targets in Gaza

    The Israeli army claims to have attacked 150 underground targets in the north of the Gaza Strip, including tunnels used by “terrorists”, resultantly killing a number of Hamas members in overnight air raids.

    Gaza communications blackout

    The Gaza strip is now experiencing a blackout of communications as Israel destroyed feeder lines and towers, cutting off phone networks and the internet, the Palestine Telecommunications Company says.

  • Iranian teen has expired after allegedly being beaten up over violation of hijab laws

    Iranian teen has expired after allegedly being beaten up over violation of hijab laws

    Update : “Armita Garawand, a student in Tehran, died an hour ago after intensive medical treatment and 28 days of hospitalisation in intensive care,” reported the Borna news agency affiliated with the youth ministry.

    The 17-year-old ethnic Kurd, who was declared “brain dead” a week ago, had been hospitalised at Fajr Hospital in Tehran since October 1 after she fell unconscious on the metro.

    In September, lawmakers voted in favour of toughening the penalties, which include jail sentences of up to 10 years for women who violate the dress code.

    The reformist daily Ham Mihan called on the authorities to “allow independent media to investigate” the incident in order to persuade the public.

    Previously it was reported that Armita Geravand, a 16 year old in Tehran, is allegedly the latest victim of Iranian morality police. In a controversial incident that took place in a metro station, she is likely to be “brain-dead” as reported by state-media. 

    Iranian authorities have vehemently denied any such claims of altercation on the Tehran Metro station with the female policers. They say that the girl collapsed due to low blood pressure. 

    Humanitarians such as Kurdish-Iranian Hengaw groups have claimed otherwise of the reason behind the teenager’s collapse. They made her hospitalisation public, showing her pictures in an unconscious state and alleging that the teen had not undergone any operations owing to her fragile health condition. She was admitted to the hospital on October 1 and since then she has been in a critical condition under a tight security presence. Her mother was also reportedly arrested around the hospital but was released afterwards. Her father has told the Hengaw group that he has been informed by the medical team that “her brain is no longer functioning and there is no hope of recovery.”

    As for the footage published by Iranian  Media it can be seen that an unconscious body has been dragged out of the train by the female officers. Amnesty International has opined that there is “mounting evidence of a cover-up” because the analysis shows that the footage has been edited with the frame rate increased and over three minutes of footage is missing. They believe that the family and friends affirming state narrative are saying this under duress. They have not been allowed to visit her and even the journalist who went in to report was detained briefly. 

    The stringent hijab laws in Iran became a point of controversy with the death of 22 year old Mahsa Amini, last year in September 2022. The extremely controversial and unfortunate near-dead condition of this young girl has further raised concerns. 

    Just a couple of days ago, two Iranian Journalists were sentenced to long periods of imprisonment on charges of covering the protests held all across the country after Amini’s death. 

    To read more: https://currentold.perceptiond.net/iran-sentences-two-women-journalists-for-covering-mahsa-aminis-protests/

  • PCB seniors ignoring Babar Azam, Rashid Latif claims

    PCB seniors ignoring Babar Azam, Rashid Latif claims

    Rashid Latif, the former wicketkeeper of the Pakistan team, has claimed that seniors in Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have begun to ignore the national team captain Babar Azam.

    Yesterday, South Africa defeated Pakistan by one wicket after a sensational match, marking Pakistan’s fourth consecutive defeat in the World Cup.

    The national players and Babar Azam are facing severe criticism.

    Speaking on a TV show, the former wicketkeeper claimed that Babar Azam has been sending messages to the Chairman PCB Management Committee, the Chief Operating Officer, and the Director of International Cricket for two consecutive days, but the three big men of the Cricket Board have refused to answer.

    Rashid Latif claimed that Zaka Ashraf, Salman Naseer, and Usman Wahla were constantly ignoring the messages sent by Babar Azam.

    According to the former Test cricketer, the PCB has told the players that the central contract they have signed will not be accepted and the players will have to sign a new central contract.

    Rashid Latif says that many stories will come out after the World Cup, but the Pakistan Cricket Board has not yet confirmed or denied Rashid Latif’s statement.

    It should be noted that the Pakistan Cricket Board had announced the central contract for the players a few days before the start of the World Cup, in which Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi included in the A category and their salary was fixed 61 lakhs per month while B The salary of the players included in the category was fixed at 43 lakhs per month.

  • Imran Khan ‘fears for his safety’ in jail

    Imran Khan ‘fears for his safety’ in jail

    Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s bail plea was rejected by the Islamabad High Court on Friday in a case involving the leaking of state secrets.

    The court also turned down his petition to cancel the FIR in the cipher case.

    The charges relate to the alleged unauthorized communication of classified information, with potentially severe penalties of death or up to 14 years imprisonment.

    Imran Khan’s defense team argued that the case didn’t align with specific sections of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and that as a former prime minister, he had constitutional immunity from prosecution.

    However, the prosecution contended that the act applied to all citizens and that his actions had jeopardized national security.

    The court emphasized that the disclosure of the classified document during a political gathering was not within the scope of his duties as prime minister.

    It also noted that only the country’s president and governors possess constitutional immunity while in office, not the prime minister.

    The rejection of Imran Khan’s bail request was due to the seriousness of the allegations and the potential penalties involved.

    Furthermore, concerns were raised about the contested cipher copy remaining in his possession.

    Meanwhile, Imran Khan has expressed fears for his safety, stating concerns that there might be another attempt on his life while he is in jail.

    Police open probe on May 9 events

    An official inquiry into the events of May 9 has been opened by police in three districts of Punjab province against Imran Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the deputy chairman of the party.

    The police teams from Kasur and Faisalabad asked specific questions during the initial investigation, but the PTI leaders chose not to answer them.

    Teams from Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, and Kasur police have commenced their interrogations of Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi within Adiala Jail.

    Permission for these interrogations was granted by a court established under the Official Secrets Act.

    The police team from Rawalpindi is expected to return to Adiala Jail in the coming days to interrogate Shah Mehmood Qureshi and the former prime minister.

    Meanwhile, the teams from Faisalabad and Kasur have completed their preliminary investigations, according to jail sources.

    The jail administration has made special arrangements to make these investigations easier.

    As part of ongoing attempts to determine what happened on May 9 and the roles that different people played in those occurrences, investigations are being conducted.

  • Stalker arrested after she approached BTS’s V with marriage certificate

    Stalker arrested after she approached BTS’s V with marriage certificate

    According to Korean media, a female stalker was arrested after she trespassed BTS member V’s residence. The woman caught the singer off-guard while presenting him with their marriage certificate. She has been arrested by authorities.

    Soompi reported the woman followed V into his residence’s elevator, wanting to speak with them, before she presented him with their fake marriage certificate.

    The female stalker has a history of stalking V, media reports say this is not the first time she approached the singer.

    BTS’s agency BigHit Entertainment addressed the situation with a statement saying they do not tolerate the personal lives of their artists being breached in this manner.

    “We are responding with a no-tolerance policy to stalking crimes that disturb our artist’s personal life and threaten their safety.”

    V assured his fans he was alright by sharing a selfie on Weverse and captioning it “he he I’m okay don’t worry.”

    Previously, BigHit Entertainment announced in a statement on Weverse they were going to take legal action against fans who repeatedly trespassed the personal boundaries of the boyband members by sending packages directly to their homes. They noted legal proceedings were underway against perpetuators which related to sexual harassment, spreading misinformation and defamation.

    READ MORE: BTS’s managment to take legal action against fans sending gifts to idol’s homes

    “Hello. This is BigHit Music. Our company regularly initiates legal proceedings against perpetrators of malicious activities related to BTS, including defamation, personal attacks, sexual harassment, the spread of groundless information, and ill-intentioned criticism. We would like to provide an update on these important activities. During this quarter, we filed multiple criminal complaints with law enforcement agencies based on evidence related to acts infringing on the rights of the artists, including defamation, submitted by our fans as well as collected through our own monitoring.”

    The statement revealed several of the packages sent to the boyband member’s residences caused harm to their families, who have now filed criminal complaints against them on grounds of stalking.

  • PML-N will win elections, predicts Ahsan Iqbal

    PML-N will win elections, predicts Ahsan Iqbal

    Ahsan Iqbal, senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said on Saturday that his party will secure the majority in the upcoming general elections scheduled for late January next year.


    Speaking to media in Lahore, the former planning minister recalled the ouster of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, saying he was ousted as the premier through a conspiracy in 2017.’


    ‘’Nawaz Sharif was not given a level playing field in 2018,” he observed.


    Opining on the elections, he said, ‘’Elections in the country should be held on time to bring economic stability to the country.’’


    He lavished praise on Nawaz Sharif, saying, ‘’It was Nawaz Sharif who addressed the problems in line with power outages”, Samaa has reported.
    The former planning minister also said, ‘’Nawaz Sharif has said that institutions should play their role to take the country out of the economic quagmire.’’

  • Weather: Karachi to have a light rainfall

    Weather: Karachi to have a light rainfall

    Breaking the streak of hot weather in Karachi and Southern Sindh, winds from the West will bring light rainfall in different parts of the city along with the lowering of temperature. 

    The Meteorological Department has stated that this system of winds will cause a light shower of rain in Tesar Town, Kathor, M-9 motorway, Gulshan e Maymar, and Malir Highway. 

    However, the central part of the city will not experience any downpours.