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  • ‘Arresting Imran Khan will only strengthen PTI’, warns Asad Qaiser

    ‘Arresting Imran Khan will only strengthen PTI’, warns Asad Qaiser

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaiser has warned that if former Prime Minister Imran Khan is arrested then it would make the party more powerful.

    Asad Qaiser also said that the government could detain party chief Imran Khan in the run-up to general elections. Stating that the incumbent government is “panicking”, Asad Qaiser said that the rulers can go to any length to stop Imran Khan. However, he reiterated that PTI doesn’t care about such matters.

    “This [Imran’s arrest] would only end up strengthening the PTI,” he said.

    Responding to National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s decision to accept the resignations of 34 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNAs, the former Speaker called the action a “great injustice” to his office.

    Qaiser said, “You should take the law and the Constitution into account while making decisions when you hold a constitutional position. Therefore, instead of granting the wishes of political figures, you must act in accordance with the law,” he remarked.

  • ‘Keep Shining’ Sajal Aly, others rally behind Azam Khan after he calls out trolls

    ‘Keep Shining’ Sajal Aly, others rally behind Azam Khan after he calls out trolls

    Pakistani cricket player Azam Khan addressed trolls in an Instagram post for consistently berating his performance and body shaming him. The cricket player shared a screenshot of his comment from the Instagram page @ESPNcricinfo and in the next post, he shared a picture of a board where where he had pasted negative remarks given about him.
    In the caption, Khan shared that although life had consistently thrown barricades in his path because of his body weight, he was always ready to overcome all odds and train harder to become his best self.

    “Always waking up to new challenges every day, particularly with so much negative energy on social media. But the goal remains the same, playing the game I love at the highest level and working every day to become the best version of myself that I can ever be, Inshallah ameen.♥️
    #loveandpeacetoall.”

    Actress Sajal Aly sent praises to the cricket player in the comments section, reminding him to keep shining.
    “Hardwork always pays off! Keep working hard keep shining.”

    Fans on Twitter also sent their solidarity to Azam Khan, reminding the cricket player that it was his talent and hard work that has kept him in the spotlight.

  • ‘It’s time’: Jacinda Ardern unexpectedly resigns

    Jacinda Ardern unexpectedly resigned as the Prime Minister of New Zealand on Thursday after being in office for almost five years.

    Leaving her country and the world stunned, the popular 42-year-old leader announced that she will not contest in the upcoming elections, scheduled to be held in October.

    “I am leaving because with such a privileged role, comes responsibility, the responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead and also when you are not,” she said, adding that she, “no longer has enough in the tank to do it justice”.

    She said, “I am human. We give as much as we can for as long as we can and then it’s time. And for me, it’s time.”

    Arden said told reporters that she would be doing a disservice to her country by continuing.

    The Labour Party will now vote to find her replacement on Sunday.

    Arden became the youngest female head of government in the world in 2017, when she was elected prime minister at just 37 years of age.

    She won international acclaim for her handling of a terror attack on two Muslim mosques and the Covid-19 pandemic, and became only the second world leader after former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to give birth while in office.

  • Muneeb Butt files cyber stalking report against Feroze Khan for leaking personal details of wife and sister-in-law

    Muneeb Butt files cyber stalking report against Feroze Khan for leaking personal details of wife and sister-in-law

    Actor Muneeb Butt has called out Feroze Khan for leaking the phone numbers and home addresses of his wife, Aimen Khan, and sister Minal Khan.
    “Leaking my family’s personal details on your social media trying to play smart by uploading the notice of a law firm and then deleting it,” Butt wrote on Instagram, addressing the embattled Feroze. “Whoever is suggesting this to you has thrown you into deep trouble my friend I feel bad for you now you will have to face all of this… Initially I thought it’s a stupid mistake waited for 24 hours but no apology or excuse proved that it was a deliberate move, I thought you were better than that seriously. Complaint registration/ verification process has been completed FIA cyber circle has intiated the inquiry. The process has started, you will have to taste your own medicine now wait for the call.”

    The next screenshot was of the cyber stalking complaint Butt had filed against Khan at the Cyber Crime Reporting Center, and in the caption he had written:
    “It’s easier to mention your and your family’s personal phone number and residence details here but there is a difference! I still respect your family as mine and would never do that to them.”

    Butt also took a dig against Khan’s lawyer, Faique Ali Jagirani, by sharing a screenshot of his Youtube channel where the lawyer had uploaded details of the ongoing case between Khan and his ex-wife, Alizeh Sultan. In the caption, Butt criticized the lawyer for profiting off from the case for the sake of adding subscribers.

    “Change your lawyer. Advocate shb MashAllah gaining Youtube subscribers from your case. This case will go on until he gets a silver button!”

  • Pakistan gets $2 billion from UAE, with $1 billion additional loan in pipeline

    Pakistan gets $2 billion from UAE, with $1 billion additional loan in pipeline

    Finance Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Wednesday that the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has rolled over their deposit of $2 billion with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

    In a tweet, the minister highlighted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had discussed the rollover with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, during his recent visit to the country.

    The UAE agreed to give Pakistan $1 billion and roll over an existing $2 billion loan on January 12, according to the Pakistani information minister, as the nation’s central bank’s foreign reserves had shrunk to only three weeks’ worth of imports.

    The UAE’s financial assistance gave the nation, which is still recovering from devastating countrywide floods that have cost more than $30 billion in damage, some solace.

    Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan, announced the loans as he began a two-day trip to the United Arab Emirates. In a statement, Sharif stated, “This support will help us weather economic hardships.

    He met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan and was scheduled to speak with other government representatives and business executives about commercial and economic potential, according to Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.

    External finance is essential for Pakistan’s faltering economy because the IMF’s ninth review to approve the transfer of a fresh $1.1 billion tranche of money to Pakistan has been on hold since September.

    According to Geo, SBP’s foreign exchange holdings dropped to an alarming $4.3 billion level, barely enough for three weeks’ worth of imports, according to the bank. Net foreign exchange reserves held by commercial banks stood at $5.8 billion, and total liquid reserves at $10.1 billion.

  • Amusment park shut down for two hours for Cristiano Ronaldo, family by Saudi officials

    Amusment park shut down for two hours for Cristiano Ronaldo, family by Saudi officials

    Portugese born football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has moved to Saudi Arabia with his family to join the Al-Nasr football club. Details about his deal have revealed that Ronaldo’s two year contract will earn him over $200 million a year, making him the world’s highest paid soccer player.
    During his stay in Riyadh, the football player and his family have been treated with immense respect and hospitality by the Saudi people. Recently, report emerged that Saudi officials shut down an amusement park for over two hours, in order for Ronaldo and his family to enjoy a day out there.
    Ronaldi’s partner, Gina Rodriguez, shared pictures of their outing on her Instagram page.

  • ‘Depression, anxiety: Nine superstars who opened up about battling mental health issues

    ‘Depression, anxiety: Nine superstars who opened up about battling mental health issues

    A strong misconception about celebrities is that they lead a life laced with glitz and glamour so they are always happy and in high spirits, which isn’t true. It is important to realize that mental illnesses do not have any fixed causes or reasons behind them. The manifestations of them, likewise, take various forms. Lately, with an increased awareness surrounding mental health in Pakistan, a number of celebrities, both national and international, have come out with their struggle with depression.

    Hina Altaf

    When Hina Altaf talked about her fight with depression, she was one of the first celebrities to talk about this issue in detail. She shared the symptoms she had and everything she did which helped her on Samina Pirzada’s show. She also talked about how the environment in her house affected her mental condition. Hina also gave credit to the doctor who totally turned her life around. Hina Altaf also talked about schizophrenia, another mental disorder that people do not know much about. She made it a point that she talked about her fight with depression in every talk show because according to her that is what her therapist recommended. Hina’s interviews definitely helped people understand depression and they went viral. She used her fame for this constructive purpose and while doing so, Altaf also healed herself.

    Mawra Hocane

    Mawra Hocane along with her sister Urwa talked about depression rather casually when they were invited as guests in Nida Yasir’s morning show. They were criticized and made fun of after they remarked that the kind of food they eat causes depression and food can also cure depression. They were criticized for their ill-informed opinions and that is when both sisters decided to talk about their own struggles with depression and anxiety. While replying to someone on Instagram, Mawra Hocane shared that she had been battling with anxiety and she also showed her support for all those people who were fighting with the disorder. This was Mawra’s way of telling the world that she was not ill-informed but she too was going through the same turmoil. She also cited different sources which supported her claim that processed food adds to depression. People however continued to mock her. Mawra did not let the criticism stop her from sharing how she fought with anxiety and once again through social media shared her journey and hoped to spread awareness about anxiety.

    Pakistani Celebrities Who Fought Depression and Anxiety

    Mahira Khan

    Superstar Mahira Khan spoke with Sara-Jane Mee about the importance of mental health awareness and her new role as an ambassador for the British and Asian Trust. The Bin Roye star Two years back when a fan asked her on Twitter whether there is any cure for depression, the Raees diva shared a piece of advice to those who are suffering from mental illnesses, urging them not to be afraid to speak up about depression. “Don’t be afraid of getting help. Talk about it. Ask questions. Read. Reach out to people,” she responded. “There is no shame in reaching out for help. Sometimes talking therapy helps. Other times meds do. But it’s important to go to the right people who can guide you through it,” added Mahira.

    Momina Mustehsan

    In 2018 when model Anam Tanoli took her own life after fighting depression, Momina Mustehsan spoke about her own struggle with depression through an Instagram post. She posted her picture and wrote, “I was going through turmoil not very long ago. It happens to the best of us. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and we all hit points in our lives sometimes when all seems to be falling out of our control.” This was not the first time that Momina talked about her struggle with depression. She made several videos in which she talked about her struggles in detail and she also had a special message for the trolls. Momina’s struggle basically showed that celebrities too sometimes find it really hard to cope with the demands of their work and they of course are under severe scrutiny continuously which adds to the deterioration of their mental health. Momina Mustehsan came under severe criticism for ‘photographing’ herself while she was depressed. Earlier in a video post, Momina talked about her struggle with depression and tried to make people understand the disorder.

    Usman Mukhtar

    Usman Mukhtar talked about the impact childhood experiences have on a person’s mental health. He talked about being an overly anxious adult to the extent that it impacted his eating habits and as a result of that he gained a lot of weight. He shared that he was sent to a boarding school when he was really young and the bullying there coupled with the pressure of coping on his own impacted his mental health. He stayed in the boarding school for 5 years and feels that it shaped his personality in such a way that he finds it difficult to cope with many situations.

    Imran Abbas

    Following model Anam Tanoli’s tragic incident, Imran Abbas shared a post on his Instagram explaining how mental illnesses are not a joke and how there is a collective need for introspection, as a society.

    To put it in Abbas’ words, “Please don’t look down to people suffering from depression, mental ailment, stress, and anxiety. Before judging anyone or making fun of someone (specially who is deceased and who can’t explain/ clarify her/himself) we must look around and try to be nice to people who are suffering from the circumstances which can lead a person to suicide (which certainly is one of the most forbidden acts in our religion).”

    Further down in his post, he said, “In our society, it’s so convenient to slut-shame an actress and model, scoff at anyone for any rhyme or reason. Making jokes about people who’ve committed suicide does not make you a comedian. It is not dark humor, it is condemnable humor.”

    Imran had previously also opened up his depression, in an interview with Times of India. He mentioned how not being able to do Aashiqui 2 put him in a depressive phase. Even hearing somebody sing “Tum Hi Ho” triggered him.

    Hira Mani

    Hira Mani’s interview with Samina Peerzada has been a memorable one for many reasons. The Kashf star talked about depression and that she was going to a therapist to cure her depression. She stated that when she entered showbiz, she became too competitive and materialistic. Because of this, she went into depression, she was constantly trying to own things that other popular actresses had. Then a moment of realization changed everything for her. She realized that the reason for her depression was that she was trying to find happiness where there was none. Hira cried while talking about this phase of her life and had an important message for her listeners as well.

    Nausheen Shah

    Nausheen Shah revealed on Ahsan Khan’s show that she was struggling with depression and anxiety when she was shooting for Deewar-e-Shab been fighting depression for almost 7 years and although she went to see the doctor, she did not get the kind of help she was expecting to get. The doctor gave her a relaxant and Nausheen Shah started abusing the drug because it brought short-term relief. One day she completely broke down in front of her co-actor Shahroz Sabzwari and he pointed her in the right direction. Shah is still fighting depression but with the help of medicine and experts to guide her. Nausheen talked about her struggle with depression in Ahsan Khan’s talk show. She has also been part of seminars that help spread awareness about depression.

    Juggan Kazim

    Juggan Kazim often talks about mental health because she has gone through a really difficult period of her life when she was in an abusive marriage. Juggan got really depressed and had low self-esteem. When her son was born, her life got meaning but the abusive marriage left her broken. She often talks about the importance of therapy and how important it is to seek help in such situations.

    Other Artists

    Yashma Gill

    Actor Yashma Gill shared in multiple interviews that she came from a broken family which impacted her mental health. She was depressed and anxious. She started avoiding her family and was over-dependent on friends. At the age of 19, she was diagnosed with clinical depression. She worked hard in order to come out of this mental state and eventually found solace in the family. She also moved to Australia for further studies and the change in environment helped.

    Senior actor Salma Hassan opened up about how therapy helped her over the years. She is also one of those few celebrities who talked openly about post-partum depression; a topic that is often considered taboo even in this day and age. She discussed the issue in detail and talked about the stigma attached to therapy. She shared how she was on medication for depression and later on turned to therapy when she felt that her daughter was getting affected due to her mental condition.

    Actor Babar Khan also talked about the extreme depression he went through after his beloved wife Sana Khan passed away in a tragic incident. Babar Khan made a television appearance after many years and talked about how depressed he got and also attempted to take his own life. Babar Khan’s struggle with depression has been a long fight that finally ended when he had his first daughter and he felt that his life had meaning now. Even now Babar Khan hardly ever gives interviews and struggles with staying happy.

    Singer Nouman Javaid was so depressed that he tried to kill himself. His suicide attempt was initially termed as an accident but later on, Nouman talked openly about how difficult it was for him to fight depression. While talking about the tough times he had been going through Nouman said in an interview, “I was in depression for quite some time before finally attempting suicide. I was facing issues in life but I wish to make it clear that Fariha was not the only reason behind my depression; there were a number of other things involved.” Nouman Javaid’s marriage with Fariha ended weeks after his suicide attempt. Before attempting suicide, Nouman also posted a status saying “mein chala” (I am going). In a recent interview, Nouman said that he was focusing on namaz and his work to help him deal with heartbreak and now he was content with his life.

    Pakistani Celebrities Who Fought Depression and Anxiety
  • Aishwarya Rai Bachchan under fire over non-payment of land tax

    Aishwarya Rai Bachchan under fire over non-payment of land tax

    Bollywood star Aishwarya Bachchan was served notice over non-payment of agricultural tax. The tax amounting to INR 21,960 was pending on a 1-hectare land which she owns in Adwadi village of Sinnar taluka of Nashik district. Reportedly, even after repeated reminders and opportunities by the district administration of Nashik, she allegedly avoided paying the tax for an entire assessment year.

    Not only Aishwarya but around 1200 property owners were issued notices by the Sinnar Tehsil Office. As per the latest update, her legal advisor has responded to the notice and will clear the dues today.

    “Legal advisor of the actress met us today and told us that the tax will be paid by tomorrow,” Sinnar tehsildar Eknath Bangale informed The Indian Express on January 17. Further speaking to the media publication, Bangale said, “She has invested in a windmill. The land was bought in 2009. She has paid the tax for all these years. Only the tax for this particular assessment year is pending.”

    He added, “Our revenue assessment year starts in August. We have sent her a demand notice twice but there was no response. Now on January 9, we have again sent a notice to her to pay the tax. We had given her 10 days’ time, but now her advisor told us that the tax will be paid by tomorrow.”

    On the work front, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was last seen in last year’s Ponniyin Selvan 1, directed by Mani Ratnam. She played the roles of Nandini and Mandakini Devi. The actress will reprise the roles in the sequel Ponniyin Selvan 2, which is set for April 2023 release.

    Panama Scandal

    The Dhoom 2 star hit the headlines last year as she was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate in New Delhi to appear before them in the Panama Papers leak case.

    The actor reached the ED office in Jam Nagar in New Delhi on Monday in afternoon. Now, after 6 hours of questioning, Aishwarya was snapped leaving the ED office.

    Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. File photo

    As per a report, the Dhoom 2 star arrived at the ED office on Monday for a probe regarding the alleged forex violations as per the Panama Papers. 

    Aishwarya leaves ED office 1

    The Fanney Khan diva, whose name came up in the matter, had reportedly submitted all the documents in connection with the alleged forex violations related to the Panama Papers.

    Aishwarya leaves ED office  2

    After questioning for almost 5 hours, Aishwarya was snapped leaving from the ED office premise on Monday evening. She was summoned earlier as well in the same matter.

    However, she had twice asked for more time from ED in the case. The actress can be seen being escorted by security in the photos.

    The media could be seen waiting for the her outside the ED office. 

  • Shah Rukh, Dwayne Johnson, Tom Cruise make it to the ‘Richest Actors’ list

    Shah Rukh, Dwayne Johnson, Tom Cruise make it to the ‘Richest Actors’ list

    As per a recent list released by the World of Statistics, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan is the third richest actor in the world with a net worth of $770 million.

    The list is led by Seinfeld star Jerry Seinfeld and Tyler Perry with $1 billion. They are followed by Dwayne Johnson, with $800 million. Shah Rukh Khan is the only Indian on the list. SRK, apart from acting, has a sports business, his VFX company, and a host of other business ventures.

    Top Gun star Tom Cruise follows Khan on the list with $620 million. The only other non-American, apart from SRK, on this list is Jackie Chan with $520 million. George Clooney and Robert De Niro end the list with $500 million.

    Apart from his sea-facing mansion Mannat, Shah Rukh Khan also owns a holiday home in Alibaug. The Alibaug farmhouse is located on the Deja Vu farms and reportedly spans over 20,000 square meters. SRK and his family often host get-togethers and parties at this house. Apart from this, he also reportedly owns a home in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, named Jannat, and another in Park Lane, London. 

  • ‘Naye army chief ke saath koyi relationship nahin hai’: Imran Khan

    ‘Naye army chief ke saath koyi relationship nahin hai’: Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said on Wednesday that his party currently has no relationship with the new military leadership.

    The reporter from BBC asked that there is a general opinion that the government cannot take any economic decision due to political instability. Some observers claim that Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s campaign is adding to this instability.

    Imran Khan’s responded by saying, “Someone should ask him why he overthrew our government by plotting.” He claimed that his government had the best economic performance in the past 17 years. “What mistake were we making that they brought down (our) government together with an army chief? After that, it was not handled by them.”

    Imran Khan revealed that he and Shaukat Tarin, the then finance minister, together told General Bajwa that if you create political instability, to succeed in this conspiracy, no one will be able to manage the economy. “And that’s what happened,” Imran said.

    “It was not handled by them. The market quickly lost faith in him. They were taking their NRO-2. Chaos began to arise in the country. So just ask (any) business personality today. Is it because of us? As soon as they arrived, they realised that they did not have a road map. What General Bajwa has done together with them, even an enemy would not have done to Pakistan.”

    The former Prime Minister alleged that rhe current government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had come into power through horse-trading. He remarked that coalition rulers have kept themselves above the law and ended corruption cases that they were booked in years back. “Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari, and Maryam Nawaz — all of their cases have been forgiven.”

    He said that in a bid to move towards free and fair elections, his party “sacrificed” two assemblies — Khyber Pakhtunkwa (KP) and Punjab. “Now this government will be forced into holding elections in April,” he predicted.