A bill seeking criminal proceedings against anyone who defames the military, has been approved by National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior.
The bill, under which the said act is punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of Rs500,000 or both, will now be presented before the lower house of the parliament.
According to sources, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have opposed it as a violation of right to freedom of expression.
However, it received the votes of a majority during the NA body’s meeting.
Last year, the National Assembly had introduced the Criminal Law Bill, 2020, to make intentional defaming and insulting the armed forces as a punishable felony.
According to an insertion 500A in the Pakistan Penal Code Act 1860, anyone who deliberately ridicules or slanders the armed forces or member of the armed forces shall be found guilty.
England pacers Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood and Sam Billings have raised their voice and spoken in support of Moeen Ali after author Taslima Nasreen’s Islamophobic tweet.
Taslima, in a now-deleted tweet, had said that the England all-rounder would have joined the militant Islamic State (IS) group had he not been playing cricket.
“If Moeen Ali were not stuck with cricket, he would have gone to Syria to join ISIS,” Taslima had said.
Jofra Archer did not take it lightly and wrote: “Are you okay? I don’t think you’re okay.”
The Bangladeshi-Swedish author later tried to calm things down, claiming that her tweet on Moeen was “sarcastic”.
“Haters know very well that my Moeen Ali tweet was sarcastic,” said Nasreen. “But they made that an issue to humiliate me because I try to secularise Muslim society and oppose Islamic fanaticism.”
“One of the greatest tragedies of humankind is pro-women leftists support anti-women Islamists,” she added.
Haters know very well that my Moeen Ali tweet was sarcastic. But they made that an issue to humiliate me because I try to secularize Muslim society & I oppose Islamic fanaticism. One of the greatest tragedies of humankind is pro-women leftists support anti-women Islamists.
Domestic English cricketer Ben Duckett also extended his support to Ali, saying: “This is the problem with this app. People being able to say stuff like this. Disgusting. Things need to change, please report this account!”
Nasreen’s tweet also sparked outrage on social media.
Heartening to see the way British Cricketers have stood up for #MoeenAli after Taslima Nasreen's hideous tweet. Wish our chaps would take a cue or two and speak their mind, not just coordinate their hashtags.
Another form of #extremism. Anyone with a beard is a Taliban and IS terrorist. This stupidity must always be given a shut-up call, always, like this great English player has done to support his team mate… #MoeenAli#taslimanasreenpic.twitter.com/5bRJ0HakhR
Moeen (Ali) wants people to know he is Muslim and Asian and British and that there is no conflict between any of those. Not easy for those to understand who has made a profession selling bigotry. #MoeenAlihttps://t.co/wsOw3bfgN8 via @cricketmonthly
Taseelma Nasreen is an Islamophobic maniac. Moeen Ali is a devout Muslim, excellent cricketer, human bng, associated wid charity works 4 kids, ambsdr for free cricket coaching. Has shown concern abt British Muslims joining terrorist organisations such as Al Qaeda & ISIS.#MoeenAlipic.twitter.com/CKDMwC3ybG
Shame on you @taslimanasreen. You will be remembered as a garden variety bigot not a writer, certainly not a rationalist or feminist. https://t.co/tjjeheBmdJ
Moeen Ali's presentation reminds me of Hashim Amla. Both exhibit the same disciplined conduct and politeness on and off the field. An absolute role model #MoeenAli@benstokes38@JofraArcher
Meanwhile, Moeen’s father Munir Ali also spoke about the hurt it has caused and how his son has broken stereotypes while following his heart and faith.
Speaking about the tweet, Ali said: “I am hurt and shocked to read Taslima Nasreen’s vile remark against my son Moeen. In her “clarifying” tweet, where she described her original remark as sarcasm, she also says she stands against fundamentalism.”
“If she looks into a mirror, she will know what she tweeted is what is fundamentalist – a vicious stereotype against a Muslim person, a clearly Islamophobic statement. Someone who doesn’t have self-respect and respect for others can only stoop to this level,” he continued.
Munir further said: “Truth be told, I am really angry, but I know I would be playing into the hands of people like her if I let my rage get out of control. If I get to meet her someday, I will tell what I really think of her on her face.”
“For now, I would ask her to pick a dictionary and see the meaning of sarcasm. It’s not what she thinks it is. It’s not spewing vile poisonous stuff against someone you don’t even know and then retracting it by saying it was sarcasm. Of all the people to pick on for her agenda, I can’t believe she has chosen my son. Everyone in the cricketing world knows the person he is. Let me reiterate for those who don’t,” he concluded.
The matter had risen when Ali, Chennai Super King’s new recruit for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, had requested to remove the logo of a liquor brand from his jersey.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s production house Dhoni Entertainment has announced that it will produce India’s first animated spy series Captain 7 in collaboration with Indian brand licencing company Black White Orange (BWO). According to reports, Captain 7 will feature India’s captain cool in whole a new avatar.
Speaking about his upcoming venture, Dhoni, in a statement said: “The concept and story is great. It will bring to life my other passions along with cricket.”
Dhoni’s wife and co-producer and director of Dhoni Entertainment Sakshi Singh Dhoni added: “When BWO came to us with the concept of an animation fiction show based on Mahi, we were on board. A whole lot of adventure awaits you with Captain 7.”
The announcement was also made through the official Twitter account of Dhoni Entertainment. The first season of the series is scheduled to release next year.
'Captain 7' – the beginning of India’s first animated spy universe based on MS Dhoni’s attributes, from the house of Dhoni Entertainment and Black White Orange..7️⃣ We can already feel the action! 🤩@msdhoni@SaakshiSRawatpic.twitter.com/04v4SqsVmT
— Dhoni Entertainment Pvt Ltd (@DhoniLtd) April 7, 2021
“Creating aspirational Indian brands was one of the core thoughts when we started BWO,” said Founder and CEO of BWO Brands Bhavik Vora.
“While our focus has been licensing, we’ve always explored clutter-breaking new avenues. This is our first foray into original content and what better way than to take MSD’s legacy forward,” he added.
The winner of a major Sri Lankan beauty prize has suffered head injuries after a tussle on stage.
Beauty queen Pushpika De Silva won the ‘Mrs Sri Lanka’ title at a ceremony on Sunday. Moments after the crown was placed on her head, the 2019 winner seized Mrs De Silva’s crown, claiming she could not be awarded the title because she was divorced.
Though the judges had announced Ms De Silva the 2021 winner at the final in a theatre in Colombo, the 2019 winner, Caroline Jurie, stripped Mrs De Silva of her crown, citing a pageant rule that competitors must be married and not divorced.
“There is a rule that you have to be married and not divorced, so I am taking my first steps in saying that the crown goes to the first runner-up,” Mrs Jurie told the audience while taking off Mrs De Silva’s crown.
She then placed the crown on the runner-up, prompting a tearful Mrs De Silva to walk off stage. The video of the incident has gone viral on social media.
The organisers later apologised to Mrs De Silva, after they confirmed that she was only separated and not divorced and returned the prize to her.
Meanwhile, Mrs De Silva, in Facebook post, said that she had to go to a hospital to be treated for head injuries after the incident.
The pageant winner said that she would take legal action for the “unreasonable and insulting” way she was treated.
“There are a lot of single mums like me today who are suffering in Sri Lanka,” said Mrs De Silva, addressing a press conference. “This crown is dedicated to those women, those single mums who are suffering to raise their kids alone.”
According to a report, the national director of Mrs Sri Lanka World, Chandimal Jayasinghe, has said that the crown would be returned to Mrs De Silva on Tuesday.
“We are disappointed,” he said, adding: “It was a disgrace how Caroline Jurie behaved on the stage and the Mrs World organisation has already begun an investigation on the matter.”
Police have questioned Mrs Jurie, who is the current holder of the ‘Mrs World’ title, as well as Mr Jayasinghe, about the incident.
The Mrs Sri Lanka World beauty pageant is a major contest in the country. The prime minister’s wife was among the guests at the ceremony.
The Bureau of the FIFA Council has suspended the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) with immediate effect due to third-party interference, which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA Statutes.
According to a press release by FIFA, this situation was prompted by the recent hostile takeover of the PFF headquarters in Lahore by a group of protestors and an alleged decision by certain individuals to remove the FIFA-appointed normalisation committee of the PFF led by Haroon Malik and to hand over the leadership of the PFF to Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah.
FIFA issued a letter warning that, should the illegitimate occupation of the PFF headquarters not be lifted and the office bearers recognised by FIFA not be permitted free access to the building to carry out their mandate, the matter would be immediately submitted to the Bureau of the Council for decision.
A statement by the governing body confirmed that Bureau of the FIFA Council suspended the PFF with immediate effect due to third-party interference, which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA Statutes.
“This situation was prompted by the recent hostile takeover of the PFF headquarters in Lahore by a group of protestors and an alleged decision by certain individuals to remove the FIFA-appointed normalisation committee of the PFF led by Haroon Malik and to hand over the leadership of the PFF to Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah,” it said.
The group led by Ashfaq Shah stormed into PFF headquarters last month, forcing Haroon Malik and the NC to vacate the office and its control.
FIFA had termed the takeover ‘illegal’ and issued an ultimatum that NC should be handed over the PFF control by March 31 otherwise Pakistan could face a suspension.
The Ashfaq group had ignored the deadline and announced to continue its hold over PFF headquarters.
As the situation remains unchanged, the Bureau of the Council has decided to suspend the PFF.
This suspension will only be lifted once FIFA has received confirmation from the normalisation committee of the PFF that the PFF’s premises, accounts, administration and communication channels are again under its full control and it can continue to carry out its mandate without further hindrance.
Earlier, the Provincial Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Punjab, Rai Taimoor Khan Bhatti had addressed the issue and promised to play a pivotal role in resolving the issue with a “positive solution” but nothing has happened yet.
پاکستان فٹ بال فیڈریشن کے تنازعہ پر کردار ادا کرنے کا فیصلہ،فریقین سے رابطہ کیا جارہا ہے۔فیفا کی جانب سے پاکستان کی رکنیت معطل ہونے سے عالمی سطح پر ملک کی بدنامی ہوگی۔بحیثیت حکومت ملک میں فٹ بال کے فروغ اور سہولیات کی فراہمی کا کام کررہے ہیں۔جلد تنازعہ کا مثبت حل نکلے گا۔
Five months after testing positive for COVID-19 for the first time, Jawad Ahmad has tested positive for the virus again.
Sharing the news on social media, Ahmad said: “I contracted COVID again. Don’t know if I’ll survive or not.”
The singer-turned-politician further said: “Yes, I’ve enough money for its treatment if it gets worse, but truth is that it is no more fun to just keep living in this world full of poverty, helplessness and deprivation.”
“One needs to change it before going to heaven,” added Jawad.
I contracted COVID again. Don't know if I’ll survive or not. Yes, I’ve enough money for its treatment if it gets worse,but truth is that it is no more fun to just keep living in this world full of poverty, helplessness & deprivation. One needs to change it before going to heaven.
Ahmad, whoentered politicsa few years ago with the Barabri Party Pakistan is very vocal about the rights of marginalized groups.
The vision of his party is “to establish a truly democratic state based on equitable distribution of wealth, equality of right over resources so that whatever is found, grown and produced in this country is equally accessible to all and equal access to opportunities regardless of race, religion, gender, and ethnicity.”
A woman in China who was attending her son’s wedding realised that the bride-to-be was actually her long-lost daughter.
As per details, the woman recognised the girl from a birthmark on her hand during the wedding ceremony, which took place in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. She then asked the bride’s parents if the girl had been adopted.
The family, at first, was stunned at the question because they had not told anyone that the bride is not their actual daughter.
However, they later revealed that they found the girl on the roadside more than 20 years ago and adopted her, saying that they have always regarded her as their own daughter to love and take care of.
The bride after finding out the truth burst into tears of joy, describing the moment “happier than the wedding day itself”.
Fortunately, the wedding did not get cancelled as the groom’s mother revealed that she had adopted the boy after giving up all hope of finding her daughter.
Prince Harry will produce a documentary about the Invictus Games for disabled military veterans — the first series under a lucrative deal he and wife Meghan Markle signed with Netflix after moving to California last year.
The series will join competitors – all service members who’ve suffered life-changing injuries or illnesses – as they train for the next games in The Hague.
Harry, who served with the British military in Afghanistan, will appear on camera and executive-produce Heart of Invictus, a multi-episode series which follows competitors as they train for next spring’s competition in The Hague.
“This series will give communities around the world a window into the moving and uplifting stories of these competitors on their path to the Netherlands next year,” said Harry in a statement.
The program will be the first released by the couple’s Archewell Productions, which inked a sprawling deal with streaming giant Netflix last September to produce “impactful” films and series.
“As Archewell Productions’ first series with Netflix, in partnership with the Invictus Games Foundation, I couldn’t be more excited for the journey ahead or prouder of the Invictus community for continuously inspiring global healing, human potential and continued service,” said Harry.
No financial terms were disclosed, but the deal is reported to be multi-year and exclusive to Netflix.
Multiple other projects rumoured to be in development include a nature documentary series and an animated series focused on inspiring women, although former Suits star Markle has no plans to return to acting.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the Archewell Productions team are building an ambitious slate that reflects the values and causes they hold dear,” said Netflix content chief Ted Sarandos.
“From the moment I met them, it’s been clear that the Invictus Games hold a very special place in their hearts, and I couldn’t be happier that their first series for Netflix will showcase that for the world in a way never seen before.”
Harry has previously appeared in Paralympics documentary film Rising Phoenix, and launched the first Invictus Games back in 2014.
The couple first went public together at the Games’ September 2017 edition.
The Olympics-style sports event taking place in The Hague in the Netherlands was initially scheduled for 2020 but was twice delayed to spring 2022 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
As well as following their training, the series will also dive into the competitors’ “powerful stories of hope and resilience.”
The couple quit the British royal family and moved to California last year.
An explosive interview they gave to Oprah Winfrey last month — in which they claimed an unnamed royal had asked how dark their baby’s skin would be — plunged the monarchy into its biggest crisis since the death of Lady Diana.
A seemingly hardliner lawyer has taken to court controversial cleric Mufti Abdul Qavi for advising transgender persons to get married.
In his petition, the lawyer has termed the cleric’s statement purely “unnatural”, adding that “such sinful acts would trigger vulgarity in the society”.
In a recent interview, Qavi had advised transgender persons to get married. In an ambiguous statement, he had said that members of the transgender community “can tie the knot like anyone else if they claimed to have either male or female abilities”.
Transgender people have a gender identity or gender expression that differs from the sex that they were assigned at birth.
Reacting to legal action against him, Qavi has maintained that whatever he has said “is also mentioned in the Holy Quran” and if he has said something wrong he is ready to apologise.
He said that a case could not be registered against him over the said statement.
Police in Dubai have arrested 11 Ukrainian women and a Russian man for their involvement in a nude photoshoot on a high-rise balcony after footage of the same went viral, foreign media reported.
Dubai is a top destination for the world’s Instagram influencers and models, who fill their social media feeds with bikini-clad selfies from the coastal city’s luxury hotels and artificial islands.
But the city’s brand as a glitzy foreign tourist destination has at times provoked controversy and collided with Emirates’ strict rules governing public behavior and expression based on Islamic law.
The nude photoshoot scandal comes just days before the holy month of Ramzan and as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky lands in nearby Doha, Qatar, for an official state visit.
Over the years, Dubai increasingly has promoted itself as a popular destination for Russians on holiday. Signs in Cyrillic are a common sight at the city’s major malls.
Dubai police announced earlier this week they had arrested a group of people on debauchery charges over a widely-shared video showing naked women posing in broad daylight on a balcony overlooking the city’s upscale Marina neighborhood
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on Tuesday that 11 of the detained women were Ukrainian, while a Russian diplomat in Dubai said the photographer who filmed the naked women held Russian citizenship.
Police declined to identify those detained. More than a dozen women appeared in the video and the nationalities of the others arrested were not immediately known.
