Actor Ayesha Omar has opened up about her horrific road accident with celebrity friend Azfar Rehman.
In 2016, Omar was in a car accident with fellow actor Azfar Rehman and their driver on the Karachi to Hyderabad highway. Reflecting on the incident, she explained, “When I got into an accident, I faced my greatest fear of getting into an accident and that someone would come and kidnap and sexually abuse me, which felt worse than death. When it happened, the fear amalgamated.”
She continued, “I was on the highway at the time, and I was in the middle of the road lying there, and a car stopped. A group of six to seven men got out… I have three to four broken bones so I couldn’t move, but I wasn’t bleeding. I was conscious and in shock and was screaming in pain. They came towards me to help but I was scared that they were going to come and sexually assault me. It happened recently with another woman. I had that fear six years ago… I remember bracing for the worst and praying to God to just kill me.”
Sharing how the situation was not what she had feared, the actor asserted the importance of believing in the goodness in people. She said, “But, they were just trying to help… that’s when I realised you cannot let your fears take over your life. Prepare for the worst but you have to believe in a positive outcome.”
Actor Ayesha Omar has opened up about being sexually abused and her struggle as a child of a single parent in a recent interview.
The Karachi Se Lahore star mentioned about childhood, she revealed, “My father passed away when I was less than two-years-old. My mother was a single parent, so I felt the bumps in the road early on in life. I was fortunate enough to get a scholarship to Lahore Grammar School, which is the most prestigious school for girls in the city, and be admitted there. We couldn’t have afforded that education otherwise because we weren’t very stable during my childhood. There was no help from the family either. I was studying in a school with very rich kids, while I came from a family focused on necessities.”
Explaining how her lack of financial resources led to her excelling in other facets of her life, Omar shared, “I wanted to prove that you don’t need to be coming from a home filled with luxuries to be doing well. I was on top of my class, I’d be part of every school activity. I did theatre, puppets, dance, everything. So, I had that drive in me, which I guess came from the trauma I faced. Maybe it was a way of getting acceptance and approval.”
On how, after stepping into her career, she was faced with many difficult situations, the Bulbulay star reflected, “The biggest bumps came during my professional life. The people who I respected and considered my seniors, the kind I expected to offer me protection in times of need, were the ones who turned their backs and hurt me. I was sexually harassed at a very young age. It happened early on in my childhood, and then later in my career as well. People would delay my payments. I had no one to back me up. I’d go and collect my payments on my own. Back then, social media wasn’t a thing so no one was worried about getting exposed. There are so many people who still haven’t paid me my fair share.”
She added, “It wasn’t a one-off incident. It was at a workplace of mine where I was a salaried employee. This was when I was a fresh graduate. When it happened, I was like, ‘What?’ It was a shock. I asked myself what was happening, what was that person doing, how was that acceptable? You wonder if it’s happening to other people. At the time, there was a lot of shame attached to these things, and also a lot of fear.”
The Rehbara diva continued, “If you were to expose a person in a position of authority and who was much older, you fear that they would harm you in other ways. That person can be vindictive. We’ve seen recently the amount of social ostracisation, backlash and trauma a victim has to face if they choose to speak up. I will always give the victims the benefit of the doubt, whether men, women or children.”
Narrating another incident where she made it a point to get her disapproval across, Ayesha said, “There’s a person who has been in this industry for a very long time, who was been a director as well as actor, he met me somewhere and said something very condescending about me in public. I called him later on and told him that I couldn’t speak to him earlier, but that I didn’t like what he said and that it was very disrespectful. He asked, ‘Is this why you called me?’ and when I said yes, he shut the phone. I had to state my boundaries.”
Earlier this week, Actor Naumaan Ijaz made a striking revelation that the Qaid-e-Tanhai hero is too busy to come on his show. “He is too busy. He don’t have time for us, we asked him many times.”
The Fitoor star took to his Instagram stories to share his stance with fans and the media. Faysal stated that he has the utmost respect for Naumaan and if he would have invited him directly, he would have appeared on his show without any doubt.
Now Naumaan has responded to Faysal’s post with a heartfelt note. He praised his junior and clarified that it’s just unfortunate that every time they approached him, he was busy. However Faysal is like a younger brother to him.
Actor Yumna Zaidi appeared on Naumaan Ijaz’s chat show’s latest episode, on which the Pyaar Ke Sadqay star was asked to share the qualities that she finds attractive in the opposite gender.
The Thakan star was quick to reveal the following:
The first quality is the boy’s eyes. The second is his nails, which reflect the man’s hygiene.
The third one is his choice of shoes, whereas the last factor is his voice. It takes these four qualities to charm her.
She was also asked to share the first thought that comes to her mind when she thinks of her four contemporary actresses.
The list included names of A-list stars like Mahira Khan, Sarah Khan, Saba Qamar and Iqra Aziz.
Yumna said that Iqra is “chulbuli/chirpy”. Mahira is the “light of their industry”, Sarah has a “beautiful smile” according to the Ishq-e-Laa diva and r Thakan co-star Saba Qamar, she said that “She’s a very good actor, lethal.”
Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev sealed his place in a second consecutive grand slam final by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 but not without drama after he lost his temper with Jaume Campistol and called him ‘stupid’ and a ‘bad’ umpire during the semi-final clash.
Medvedev took a close first set in a tie-break but was then broken at 4-4 in the second to hand the Greek an opportunity to level the match at a set a piece.
As both players headed to the changeover, Medvedev was warned for a “visible obscenity”, after which he started screaming up at umpire Campistol, complaining about Tsitsipas’ father and coach Apostolos talking to him about the match. (Coaching players during a match is banned in men’s tennis.)
Campistol was unmoved, which enraged Medvedev further.
“Are you mad? His father can’t talk every point. No, are you stupid? Can you answer my question please? Oh my God you are so bad,” Medvedev added.
“How can you be so bad in the semi-final of a grand slam. Look at me! I’m talking to you,” he yelled.
MEDVEDEV BLOWS UP! 😡😡
The Russian has sensationally accused Tsitsipas of being coached and has GIVEN IT to the umpire over it too! 🤯🤯#AusOpen – live on Channel 9, 9Now and Stan Sport. pic.twitter.com/8Xa3qOjvnf
Campistol then called time, to which Medvedev shouted: “what time?”, and then watched as the Russian could not stop Tsitsipas serving out the set.
“Next time, it should be a code violation. If you don’t [call it], what can I call [you]? A small cat?”
The US Open champion took himself off court at the end of the set but as he left, once again implored Campistol to do something about what he felt was blatant coaching.
Medvedev is shooting for back-to-back major titles after upsetting Djokovic in last year’s US Open final.
Like in New York last September, when he stopped Djokovic from completing a calendar Grand Slam of titles, Medvedev will be trying to derail Nadal’s tilt at making men’s tennis history.
Spanish star Nadal will be playing against world number two Medvedev in the final of the Australian Open on Sunday.
The government is likely to increase the prices of petroleum products by Rs10 for the next month in line with the rising rates in the international market, according to Geo News’ sources.
The price of petrol will move up by Rs7 per litre while the rate of diesel will increase by Rs10 per litre. The existing price of petrol is Rs147.83 and diesel costs around Rs144.
However, the official announcement is yet to be made but as per the news outlet, the final decision will be made on January 30.
Previously, an increase of Rs3 in petroleum products was implemented on January 16.
Despite growing inflation in the country, for the ease of public, the government has planned to launch Ehsaas Petrol Cards for motorcyclists to enable them to buy petrol at a subsidised rate.
Lal Kabootar actor, Ahmed Ali Akbar appreciated the acknowledgment by PTI Senator Faisal Javed on his performance in HUM TV’s drama Parizaad.
PTI Senator penned on his Twitter, ” A character getting more fame than the actor behind it, it is a huge acknowledgment of an actor’s outstanding performance. Such is the case with Ahmed Ali Akbar.”
The actor took to his Instagram story to thanked his praise and tagged him as well.
Ehd-e-Wafa actor also thanked TV actor, Zhalay Sarhadi for her praise for his acting in Parizaad.
Multiple Bollywood actors including Vikram Kapadia of Bazaar fame, Darshan Jariwala of Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani fame, and Namit Das of Wake Up Sid fame indulged in an online chat about the drama when the Kapoor & Sons star posted an appreciation note for the drama and it’s star Ahmed Ali Akbar.
Indian designer Manish Malhotra also used the OST of the hit drama for his promotional video proving that Parizaad is not only loved in Pakistan but has a strong following across the border as well.
The last episode of Parizaad will be screened in cinemas nationwide on January 28, 2022 (today)
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on January 24, while answering callers’ questions, during the telecast of the fifth ‘Aap Ka Wazir Azam Aap Ke Sath’, a town-hall-style broadcast where the premier takes questions from the public, said that the corporate sector has made a profit of Rs980 billion.
“I would call them and ask them to increase the salaries of their staff because you have never made such a profit before today,” said PM Khan.
Following PM Khan’s appeal to the corporate sector to increase the salaries of their staff, President and CEO ARY Digital Network Salman Iqbal on Friday announced a pay raise for lower-level employees.
Salman Iqbal said the staff receiving a monthly salary of up to Rs20,000 will be given a raise of 80 per cent. “We have reached this stage with the blessing of Allah Almighty and countless efforts of the team,” he said.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar took to Twitter to congratulate Iqbal and said, “Well done @Salman_ARY for increasing salaries of ARY employees substantially. Big business houses have made exceptional profits in the last couple of years. Hope others will also follow and share the increased profitability with their workers by increasing their salaries.”
Well done @Salman_ARY for increasing salaries of ARY employees substantially. Big business houses have made exceptional profits in the last couple of years. Hope others will also follow and share the increased profitability with their workers by increasing their salaries
Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry praising Salman Iqbal said, “Our salaried class has been affected by inflation and such steps will help this section of society navigate inflation.”
شکریہ سلمان اقبالARY کی طرح باقی میڈیا بھی ذمہ داری کا احساس کریں اور منافع کے ثمرات لوگوں تک پہنچائیں ہمارا تنخواہ دار طبقہ مہنگائ سے متاثر ہوا ہے اور ایسے اقدامات اس طبقے کو مہنگائ سے نبٹنے میں معاون ہوں گے،صحت کارڈ کے ذریعے حکومت نےمیڈیکل اخراجات کا خرچ پہلے ہی اپنے ذمہ لیا ہے pic.twitter.com/egwg9OTiwV
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib said, “@salman_ARY took the initiative to share part of [the] profit with his employees. Others should also pass on benefit to their employees.”
As Prime Minister @imrankhanpti requested all businessmen to share their exceptional profit with their employees during his live Q&A with nation, @salman_ARY took the initiative to share part of profit with his employees. Others should also pass on benefit to their employees. https://t.co/Kb5RRJTwPW
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has called off its sit-in protest in Karachi after the Sindh government agreed to the revisions in the Sindh Local Government Act of 2013 after negotiations successfully concluded between them.
Both parties have signed the written agreement according to which the health and education institutions will be again transferred to the local bodies, said Sindh Minister for Local Government, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah.
While addressing the sit-in protestors, Nasir Shah announced that the provincial government will bring amendments to the Local Government law. The notification will be issued in one to two weeks by the Sindh government.
Both parties also agreed to establish the Provincial Finance Commission, with the mayor and town chairman as members of the commission. It will be awarded once the representatives of the Local Government take power to the authority.
The mayor and chairman will be responsible for the Building Control Authority and other development authorities.
The educational institute, Medical and Dental College will be given back to the Karachi Municipality.
The Solid Waste Management Board will be in control of Mayor Karachi.
Later on, JI Karachi Chief, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman announced that there would be no sit-in protests in different areas of the city.
He said, “With the implementation of this agreement with the Sindh government, we have to get some issues resolved by the federation.”
JI party has been staging sit-in protests for the past 29 days in Karachi. On January 23, Karachi Chief of JI, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman warned that the party will block five entrance points to Karachi if their demands were not met.
Both parties reached an agreement after several protesters of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) got injured from tear gas shelling and police mishandling including the death of one worker on Wednesday. The MQM was attempting to reach the CM House for a sit-in against the Local Government Act.
The police, however, baton-charged the crowd and used teargas shells in an attempt to dissuade them from entering the red zone.
The federal government has planned to launch Ehsaas Petrol Cards for motorcyclists to enable them to buy petrol at a subsidised rate.
Earlier this week, Naya Pakistan Qaumi Sehat Card was distributed by the government, which will provide free medical treatment to all citizens at government and private hospitals.
In a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin, several other proposals were also considered such as subsidised fuel, tax reliefs, rise in income/minimum wages, internships, record tax collection and removal of bureaucratic hurdles.
The government also intends to raise the pay of public sector employees in the upcoming fiscal year 2022-23 budget. Moreover, it has been reported that no consideration was made regarding monetising of bureaucratic perks and privileges.
A meeting was also held to discuss the Kamyab Pakistan Programme progress. It was informed that the first phase of the programme is going successfully and that the loans are being disbursed after fulfillment of requirements to the deserving applicants.
