While Pakistanis enjoy the Turkish series in Urdu on their TV screens, Reema has voiced her criticism against the government’s decision to air the drama on PTV. The actor supported her colleague Shaan’s comments and said that the Turkish series should not be aired on “our national channel”. Shaan had earlier remarked that the state-owned channel should we working towards uplifting the local entertainment industry and should not be spending money on imports. In response to Shaan’s comments, Senator Faisal Javed Khan had clarified that Ertuğrul was a gift to Pakistan from the President of Turkey.
While speaking on her Ramzan transmission, the actor said, “Our artists have raised their voice [against its airing]. Why is foreign content being aired on national television?”
“When you have plenty of local content and your artists are sitting at home, why is there a need to spend money and promote foreign content,” questioned Reema, adding, “It really hurts us. Because we’re the one paying taxes, not foreign artists.”
“Shaan nay haq ki awaaz uthayi hai.”
Reema’s guests Madiha Maqvi and Faisal Subzwari agreed with her comments and said that the government should promote local artists.
British journalist, film producer and former wife of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, Jemima Goldsmith, has reacted to senior Pakistani journalist and analyst Amir Mateen trying to give her what seemed to be parenting advice.
As per the details, Jemima recently tweeted about how her son is relieved that he can now play sports “but only with her [due to the lockdown]”, drawing reactions from Pakistani Twitterati among whom she remains immensely popular even years after her separation with cricketer-turned-politician Imran.
My son is very relieved he can now play football & cricket… but only with me.
Not at all. I think you are rated as the best mom. Can’t think of anybody who enjoys as much empathy as you. Pl go ahead and handle your kids the way you want to. You will be loved either way https://t.co/LDQDvGyfq3
“It was a joke. [British PM] Boris Johnson announced this eve you can play sports but only with members of your own household,” Jemima said in a subsequent tweet.
It was a joke. Boris Johnson announced this eve you can play sports but only with members of your own household.
In response to which, Mateen made Jemima realise how “she had lived here long enough to understand that even her jokes are taken seriously in Pakistan”.
Sorry my bad. Even your jokes are taken seriously in this country. You have lived here long enough to understand that. But then English jokes and your PM are not easily understood. Forgive me pl
Former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari has said that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan is following the footsteps of former military ruler General (r) Pervez Musharraf, adding that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has ruined national consensus.
Speaking to PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira on the coronavirus crisis and the evolving political situation in the country, Zardari criticised the government, saying that it wants to curtail constitutional and financial powers of provinces.
“This government is fighting the opposition instead of fighting coronavirus,” he said.
Referring to PPP’s past tenure, the former president stated that when he came to power in 2008, the country was a victim of terrorism and division. “We conducted the Swat operation through national consensus and brought peace [throughout the country],” the former president asserted.
The PPP and the PTI have been trading barbs over the past few weeks. On Tuesday, after being criticised for the second consecutive day by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the Parliament House, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had demanded that the foreign minister either withdraw his statement against PPP or resign from his position.
The minister had spoken at length about PPP’s style of governance and the participation of the province in national decision-making, saying that the former ruling party was focused on only provincial politics rather than thinking of the entire country.
Controversial cleric Allama Zameer Akhtar Naqvi, who has time and again made headlines for his claims such as possessing the antidote for coronavirus, has allowed netizens to continue making memes about him.
“Continue making memes… those who don’t listen to me seriously are able to understand my teachings by going through these funny memes,” he said in a viral video doing rounds over social media.
WATCH VIDEO:
He went on to say that none of his words are to be considered as something funny, but those who are able to understand them in a funnier way may continue to do so as long as they understand his teachings.
Naqvi went on to “pretend” getting mad at those making memes about him, and later clarified that he was a “master of articulation” and his earlier viral “nahi bataoonga” rant was a prank that he played on netizens.
“Stop making a fool out of yourself by all these comments you post. Learn the art of balance. If you follow me, you will be successful,” he maintained.
A few days earlier, Allama Zameer Akhtar Naqvi had also claimed to possess the antidote for coronavirus. This claim was highly criticised by Pakistanis who believed that this claim showed how non-serious Pakistani clerics were in dealing with this global health crisis.
The Calgary Zoo in Canada is sending two giant pandas back to China due to a shortage of bamboo. A lack of flights due to the COVID-19 pandemic has caused issues with shipments of high-quality bamboo imported from China, forcing the zoo to make the difficult decision.
“When you’re looking after the welfare of animals, you need to put the politics and business aside,” said Calgary Zoo president Dr Clement Lanthier. “It is too much of a risk for the health and welfare of (the pandas).”
Er Shun and Da Mao have been in Calgary since March of 2018 and were expected to remain through 2024 as part of a 10-year agreement between Canada and China. The pair spent their first five years at the Toronto Zoo.
The facility had originally been importing bamboo from China to Calgary directly but when those flights were cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis, they began receiving the bamboo via Toronto. However, when flights from China to Toronto were scaled back, it affected the regularity of their shipments. Delivery times were also slower than normal causing poor quality bamboo.
They began bringing bamboo in from the United States but Er Shun and Da Mao refused to eat it, preferring the taste of Chinese bamboo instead.
According to Dr Doug Whiteside, a senior veterinarian at The Calgary Zoo, this can happen because giant pandas have a specific taste and smell for bamboo and are selective eaters.
The new coronavirus may never go away and populations around the world will have to learn to live with it, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.
As some countries around the world begin gradually easing lockdown restrictions imposed in a bid to stop the novel coronavirus from spreading, the WHO said it may never be wiped out entirely, AFP reported.
The virus first emerged in Wuhan in China late last year and has since infected more than 4.2 million people and killed nearly 300,000 worldwide.
“We have a new virus entering the human population for the first time and therefore it is very hard to predict when we will prevail over it,” said Michael Ryan, the WHO’s emergencies director.
“This virus may become just another endemic virus in our communities and this virus may never go away,” he told a virtual press conference in Geneva. “HIV has not gone away — but we have come to terms with the virus.”
More than half of humanity has been put under some form of lockdown since the coronavirus crisis began.
But the WHO warned there was no way to guarantee that easing the restrictions would not trigger a second wave of infections. “Many countries would like to get out of the different measures,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“But our recommendation is still the alert at any country should be at the highest level possible.”
‘LONG WAY TO GO’:
Ryan added that there was a “long, long way to go” on the path to returning to normal, insisting that countries would have to stay the course.
“There is some magical thinking going on that lockdowns work perfectly and that unlocking lockdowns will go great. Both are fraught with dangers,” the Irish epidemiologist said.
Ryan also condemned attacks on healthcare workers that were linked to the pandemic, saying more than 35 “quite serious” such incidents were recorded in April alone in 11 countries.
He said the attacks were often over-reactions from ill-informed communities — while others were more sinister.
“Covid-19 is bringing out the best in us, but it’s also bringing out some of the worst,” he said. “People feel empowered to take out their frustrations on individuals who are purely trying to help.
“These are senseless acts of violence and discrimination that must be resisted.”
But he insisted that in finding a way to conquer the virus was a chance for humanity to take major steps forward by finding a vaccine and making it widely accessible.
“It’s a massive opportunity for the world,” Ryan said.
Turkish drama series Diriliş: Ertuğrul has created a sensation in Pakistan to the point that there is nothing else anyone can talk about. The drama has become the most-watched television show in Pakistan this Ramazan and is being widely discussed on social media and in Whatsapp groups.
Following the excitement, Khalil ur Rehman Qamar announced that he is working on a historical saga similar to Ertuğrul. The writer said that it was time to “introduce our heroes to the younger generation who don’t know them”.
Speaking to a private media outlet, the writer said, “We have decided to make a serial on a great Islamic hero. I am currently doing research, reading various books and will start writing it in a week.”
The writer further shared that he will once again join hands with the team of Meray Paas Tum Ho for this and will cast Humayun Saeed as the lead hero. Nadeem Baig will direct the show while Humayun’s production house Six Sigma Productions will produce it.
Qamar added that he has been asking Humayun to “work on something like this for the last twelve years” but due to limited facilities, they have been unable to turn their dream into reality.
While Qamar refrained from sharing further details, he said that the TV show will match international standards and will be based entirely on facts. He said that the team will soon hold a joint press conference to formally announce the project and other details.
The writer appreciated Ertuğrul and said that he “salutes” the creators of it and the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for producing this masterpiece. He also lauded Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to air this series in Urdu for Pakistani audiences.
“Ertuğrul was the hero of the Muslims, whether the serial is made by Turkey or any other country, heroes don’t change,” said Qamar.
On the other hand, Humayun while talking about the project said that he hopes it will be the “grandest drama ever produced in Pakistan”.
“I had contemplated making a historical drama nearly two years ago, which is when I saw Ertuğrul,” said Humayun. “When I saw Ertuğrul‘s popularity in Pakistan as soon as it started airing on PTV, I was even more convinced that we needed to create a historical drama of our own.”
“We are yet to decide who the story will be based on and the planning is still in its initial stages, but yes, Khalil sahab is writing it,” he added. Some reports are suggesting that the drama will on the great warrior of Islam Sultan Salahuddin Ayubi.
Diriliş: Ertuğrul is being aired in Urdu on PTV on the recommendation of PM Imran who wanted to “help youngsters connect with their roots.”
Set in 13th century Anatolia, before the establishment of the Ottoman Empire Diriliş: Ertuğrul illustrates the struggle of Ertugrul Gazi, the father of Osman I – the founder of the Ottoman dynasty.
With Ramzan underway, Mehwish Hayat has come forward to share “a piece of her heart” with her fans in this Holy month.
The actor recently shared a video of herself reciting the naat Karam Mere Aaqa. Mehwish shared that this naat is very special to her and she hopes that it touches her fans the same way it touched her. While speaking about it onPTV’s Ramzan Transmission, Mehwish also said that the first time she heard the naat, it touched her to so much that she started crying.
The naat has been penned by M Ali Zahoor while the music has been composed by Yousuf Salahuddin, better known as Mian Salli.
Watch it below:
I feel blessed that this Ramzan I am able to share a piece of my heart with you. This naat-e-Rasool-e-Maqbool (S.A.W) is very special to me.I hope it touches you in the same way it touched me. “Karam mere Aaqa” 🤲🏻 Composed & Prod by Mian Yousuf Salahuddin. Lyrics by M. Ali Zahoor pic.twitter.com/IZErIGvYtJ
As the teasers of Bushra Ansari’s latest drama, Zebaish, hit the screens and are doing the rounds on social media, the veteran actor says she is done with “saas-bahu” dramas which is why she decided to work on something different. Ansari remarked that drama makers need to move away from the traditional storylines which depict a mazloom larki and focus on something with more substance. And from the look of the teasers, it appears that she has succeeded in achieving that because the teasers of Zebaish promise a story which is dark yet intriguing.
Without giving away the theme or plot of the drama, Ansari said that her upcoming drama Zebaish, which she has also written, aims to step away from the typical storylines that build on a woman’s distress. She said as drama makers, it is their responsibility to upgrade the audiences.
Talking about Zebaish, Ansari said that the drama’s story has multiple interconnecting tracks.
“The drama will focus on the complexities of human nature and how one’s behaviour defines their life,” said Bushra while speaking to The Current about it from Toronto where she is currently isolating.
She said that the drama will show raw human emotion and shed light on the human feelings of insecurity and selfishness. The actor further shared that in order to make the serial entertaining for the viewers, they have added a lot of glamour and drama. The teasers also show shrine culture and when asked about this, Ansari said that the spiritual and Sufistic elements have also been weaved into the plot.
Shedding light on her character, Ansari said that her character is of a simple, yet confident woman, and how relationships and loss affect her personality and life. She also revealed that she plays a glamorous star in the drama.
The drama also features Ansari’s sister Asma Abbas, niece Zara Noor Abbas and Zara’s husband Asad Siddiqui. Talking about why she chose her family members, Ansari joked that it was convenient. However, she added that the actors suited the characters she had written and it’s not like she was giving them a big break.
“Asma, Zara and Asad are already well-established actors, so it’s not like I am launching their career. I wanted people who would be willing to listen, learn and not show unnecessary attitude on set which is why I decided to go with people I know,” said Ansari. She added that this was also the reason they managed to wrap up the shoot within four months because there were no unnecessary delays caused by actors and their “tantrums”.
“Asma, being a veteran is a professional, while Asad apna bacha hai,” said Bushra. “He was so involved in the drama that he would sometimes shock me too – the director made him rehearse 25 times for some scenes and he would willingly oblige. And Zara, Allah na karay woh nakhray karay. Uss say pehlay hee hum ussay seedha kardein.”
Other cast members include the legendary Shabbir Jan and Babar Ali, both of who were the director’s call. Both the actors will play Ansari’s husband in the serial.
When asked where she got the inspiration for the drama, Bushra shared that stories are all around us but developing a plot and writing a screenplay is what is tough. She revealed that it took her seven months to pen the screenplay for Zebaish because she was tied up in other commitments. She added that she has several other stories in mind but because the process of doing a drama is so tedious, it takes time for things to come into shape.
The drama has been directed by Iqbal Hussain and Ansari shared that though she had written the screenplay, she gave the director full authority to make any changes he wanted. She praised Ahmed for being a master at his craft and said that no one does dramatic elements and dialogues better than him.
Meanwhile, Zara Noor Abbas, on the other hand, had earlier shared that the project was very close to her heart as it was shot during a very difficult phase of her life.
After the pictures of the crowded marketplaces did the rounds on social media, celebrities are urging people to stay at home in order to stay safe from the virus.
Sanam Saeed, who was stranded in Thailand for a couple of weeks due to the virus, took to Twitter and questioned, “Do we really need to run to the markets for Eid shopping?”
Do we really need to run to the markets for eid shopping? Will we go back to our old ways without showing any change? Please ehtiyaat say bahir jaain. This is another crucial time since everyone is rushing out together at once. Maybe try celebrating eid differently this year?
Earlier, actor Ushna Shah and Shaniera Akram had also expressed disappointment at people for not taking the necessary precautionary measures.
Seeing footage of traffic blocked roads, congested streets and market places and hundreds of people without even a mask on. This country makes me want to cry
