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  • PICTURES: Fawad Khan celebrates daughter’s third birthday

    PICTURES: Fawad Khan celebrates daughter’s third birthday

    National heartthrob Fawad Khan rarely makes public appearances which means that when he does, pictures and videos of him go viral.

    Fawad and wife, Sadaf recently celebrated their daughter Elayna’s third birthday with a princess-themed party and pictures from the event are super cute.

    Family photos

    The one of the Mama and baby

    Sadaf looks absolutely chic in this rose pink dress. Perfect for a day-time event.

    The one of the gang

    Ahmed Ali Butt ho aur selfie na ho – aisa ho nai sakta.

    The celebrity Mommy gang

    The decor of the event was done by Peppermint Parties.

  • VIDEO: ‘Even my mother-in-law was looted in Karachi,’ regrets Sindh IG

    VIDEO: ‘Even my mother-in-law was looted in Karachi,’ regrets Sindh IG

    A video of Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kaleem Imam regretting how his own family members, including his in-laws, have also been looted in Karachi, is going viral over the internet.

    “My mother-in-law was looted… my nephews were looted, my sister and brother were also looted, but I am still smiling in front of you,” the IGP can be heard as saying in the video of his address at a seminar on community policing in Karachi.

    “Just imagine how my married life would be after my mother-in-law was forced to give up her jewelry,” he said, adding that unemployment and illiteracy were to be blamed for street crime in the port city.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    https://youtu.be/fAd89B2JuSo

    The IGP then claimed that police have largely overcome the menace of serious crimes in Karachi and it was now working hard to eliminate street crime.

    According to a recent survey, at least 31 people have been killed and 282 injured while resisting robberies in Karachi so far this year.

  • Pakistan Railways continues charging dams fund on train tickets

    Pakistan Railways continues charging dams fund on train tickets

    Despite setbacks and disinterest of the people in contributing to the Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams fund, Pakistan Railways (PR) is continuing to charge passengers with a surcharge of up to Rs10 on all tickets.

    As per the details, the said surcharge was implemented by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in September last year so as to collect money for the construction of dams while fearing a water crisis in the near future.

    PR had earlier decided to increase fares for all classes to contribute to the fund and the surcharge on tickets was imposed on the directives of Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed.

    The authorities had decided to charge Rs1 on Rs100 economy class tickets and Rs2 on tickets worth more than Rs100. An additional amount of Rs10 is being charged on air-conditioned class tickets as no category has been exempted from the surcharge.

  • Tight security arrangements for Kate & William’s Pakistan visit

    Tight security arrangements for Kate & William’s Pakistan visit

    The day has finally arrived. Prince William and Kate Middleton are expected to arrive in Pakistan Monday night and extensive security arrangements have been made for their visit.

    According to The Telegraph, more than 1,000 police officers will be deployed to ensure foolproof security to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Details of the five-day trip, described as “the most complex” by Kensington Palace, have also been kept under wraps. Officials privy to the matter have said their itinerary will be tightly guarded by the military, with local media being informed of details at the last minute.

    The goal of such detailed arrangements is “to secure the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as Pakistan hopes the visit can repair the country’s image.”

    Kensington Palace in a statement, earlier this month, had shared that the royal couple’s trip “will range from the modern, leafy capital of Islamabad to the vibrant city of Lahore, the mountainous countryside in the North, and the rugged border regions to the West.”

    The royal couple is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi on October 15 after which they will visit Lahore and Chitral.

    Meanwhile, UK envoy Thomas Drew has said that the royal couple’s visit would show Pakistan as “a forward-looking country”.

    In a video message on Twitter, Drew said, “Most importantly, they hope to meet as many Pakistanis as possible during the course of the visit. They are looking forward to building a lasting friendship with the people of Pakistan.”

    Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi while speaking on the royal visit said: “This is a goodwill visit, and they want to promote good relations between Pakistan, England and our new generation.”

    Kate and William’s visit to the Commonwealth’s second-most-populous country was announced in June and planned at the request of Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It will be the first trip to Pakistan by members of the royal family since Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, travelled there in 2006.

  • Seminary caretaker ‘unleashes’ pet lion on worker

    Seminary caretaker ‘unleashes’ pet lion on worker

    A caretaker of a Shahdara seminary allegedly unleashed his pet lion on an electrician for demanding his wages.

    According to reports, the caretaker of Imambargah Sada-e-Imam Hussain Ali Raza had hired an electrician Mohammad Rafique to do some work at the Imambargah. After Rafique completed his work, he asked Raza to give him his wages but Raza asked him to come some other day.

    Later, the caretaker kept delaying the payment and finally when Rafique insisted, he got annoyed and unleashed his pet lion on him.

    The lion mauled the electrician’s arm and severely wounded him on his face. Rafique suffered multiple injuries in the incident.

    The complainant said that during the attack, the suspect and his three unidentified accomplices watched from aside and did nothing to rescue him. Upon hearing his screams and cries, some passer-bys rushed to the scene and managed to rescue him.

    The police after verifying the details said that a case was lodged against Raza under Section 324 of the Pakistan Penal Code for attempted murder. Though the incident happened more than a month ago, the complainant said he filed a case after the suspect refused to get his wounds treated as per his commitment and denied him the compensation he had been promised.

  • Review – ‘Salam – The First ****** Nobel Laureate’

    Review – ‘Salam – The First ****** Nobel Laureate’

    As Dr Abdus Salam walks on to the stage at the Nobel ceremony of 1979, there is almost a whiff of costumery, of a flamboyant display of identity. In front and behind him in the procession are men in a uniform of “penguin” tuxedoes. And there is Dr Salam, resplendent from the top of his whipped-cream turban, the black sherwani, the white shalwar, down to his up-curled khussas. He was clearly fond of his three-piece suits too. But on that day in Stockholm: I am Muslim, I am Pakistani, his attire shouted. The world heard him, but his country did not.

    Such is the premise of Salam: The First ****** Nobel Laureate, the fourteen years-in-the-making documentary about Dr Abdus Salam streaming now on Netflix. It is not a film about the science that made the man, but the politics of his identity. Should it matter that an internationally feted theoretical physicist is of the minority Ahmadi faith? It did to both Dr Salam and Pakistan.

    Produced by Pakistanis Zakir Thaver and Omar Vandal and directed by an American-Indian, Anand Kamalakar, it has already won awards and been seen in 30 countries on the festival circuit as well as private screenings in Pakistan. However, the film’s release on Netflix makes it far more accessible, particularly where it matters, in Pakistan.

    Stitched together with rare archival footage, newspaper clippings and interviews of colleagues, wives, children, admirers, assistants and associates, Salam is threaded through with details and footage that were unseen or not commonly known.

    Particularly memorable is his moment in Stockholm, his interaction with the two men who broke his heart and condemned his community to a virtual prison – Bhutto and Zia – and his funeral attended by the thousands.

    Moreover, the documentary does not paper over his flaws: his whacky ideas, his vanity, his quirks, his testiness; genius becomes more humane in its layers. The story of the young boy from a small town in a developing country who ended up rubbing shoulders with global scientific superstars should just be inspirational, but it also leaves you heartbroken.

    Dr. Abdus Salam, a theoretical physicist, Nobel laureate, twice-married, Pakistani-for-life, global citizen, rags-to-researcher, died over two decades ago, but his life is still so achingly contemporary. The politics of identity are foremost in this age of right-wing populism.

    I travelled to Rabwah several years ago, to the hostel where men and women of the Ahmadi faith live in a state of limbo, hiding, or waiting for their asylum papers to come through. Their stories of everyday discrimination and brute violence never leave you.

    Dr Salam’s grave

    It is a well-kept town with broad tree-lined roads, a state of the art hospital and educational facilities, ringed by the Kirana hills and encircled by hate. Here is where Dr Salam chose to be buried, the Muslim on his gravestone effaced, his life and work all but forgotten in the country where he derived his identity, where he deserved recognition, and where he wanted to promote scientific research the most.

  • Cafe Rustic – A burger lover’s delight

    Cafe Rustic – A burger lover’s delight

    Nestled in a quiet corner in Shaheen Market, E-7 Islamabad is a tiny eatery called Cafe Rustic. According to the cafe’s Facebook page, the eatery is the “dream mixed with a perfect dash of passion, vision and perseverance” of two foodie friends. With Cafe Rustic, they hope to present a “handcrafted selection” of foods from around the world. Though the eatery has several options on the menu, it is their burgers that really stood out.

    Considering burgers are a staple diet of millennials, it was actually my teenage son who introduced me to this cosy, little cafe. Though I was content with my favourite joints in Islamabad, I decided to give this place a shot and I’ve been a regular ever since.

    I’m not really a big fan of chicken burgers, so I opted for their lamb burger and voila! I was sold. The patty was thick, juicy, with just right amount of toppings. And the best part is that the burger was not sloppy. Lamb burgers are tricky to make and not everyone can get them right, but Cafe Rustic managed to nail it with their offering. The size of the burger is also adequate and leaves you more than full.

    Watch how they make their lamb burger in this video:

    https://www.facebook.com/caferusticislamabad/videos/688691434935829/

    Meanwhile, my friend ordered their chicken burger and he was quite satisfied with it. According to him, the chicken burger was the right amount of juicy and full of flavour – it struck the right balance between mild and spicy – which was a winner. The bun was also great as it didn’t crumble.

    Apart from their burgers, we also tried their fries. Cafe Rustic offers three different types of fries – Halloumi, Green and Sweet Potato – and each one of them has a unique flavour, are absolutely delicious and a must-try. Their Halloumi fries, in particular, are excellent- they are crunchy, fried to perfection, and have an amazing taste.

    Photo Credits – Momina’s Space

    As far as the drinks are concerned, once you’re done eating, you will definitely need their Peshawari Tea to wash down all the food and digest it. Other than that, their coffee is authentic and frothy – absolutely loved it.

    The only problem with the eatery is that it is small and there is not much place to sit which can be a little overwhelming and a nuisance, especially if you’re a bigger crowd.

    Nonetheless, the place is a must-try for everyone who loves their meat and is looking to try some succulent, gourmet burgers. Hope the owners can maintain the standards and their interest in keeping it alive.

  • Artists put up riveting performances on JPP’s event on ‘World Day against the Death Penalty’

    Artists put up riveting performances on JPP’s event on ‘World Day against the Death Penalty’

    Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) in collaboration with House Ltd and Highlight Arts observed World Day against the Death Penalty by organising an evening marked by riveting live performances by artists.

    The event, titled We’ve Been Waiting for You, was attended by a large number of students, artists, enthusiasts, the legal fraternity and members of the civil society.

    11 artists put up live performances around the themes of death penalty, confinement and isolation in detention using their bodies. The artistes explored the idea of how prisoners saw themselves and how the outside world saw them. All performances took place side by side in different rooms of Bari Studios in Lahore.

    The performances were curated by Natasha Jozi and Ryan Van Winkle was the creative director. Performers included Mariam Waheed, Kanwal Tariq, Ahmed Khan, Baqir Ahmedi and Fatima Butt.

    JPP is a non-profit organisation based in Lahore that represents Pakistani prisoners facing harsh punishments at home and abroad. One of its key areas of work is to highlight human rights violations through public engagement campaigns, including documentary films, theatre and public art exhibitions.

  • People have questions after watching the trailer of ‘Kaaf Kangana’

    People have questions after watching the trailer of ‘Kaaf Kangana’

    There is no doubt that Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar is a household name in Pakistan. The man has penned several mega-hit plays including Pyaare Afzal, Bunty I Love You, Landa Bazaar, Sadqay Tumhara and more recently Meray Paas Tum Ho. He has also written the blockbuster Punjab Nahi Jaungi starring Humayun Saeed and Mehwish Hayat.

    Recently, Qamar decided to don the director’s hat and direct his first feature film. After several hitches along the way which included changes in the cast and release date, his film Kaaf Kangana is finally hitting the screens on October 25. Even the trailer has gotten a makeover. But despite all that has been done, the film’s trailer failed to impress the audiences. In fact, Pakistani Twitter is lit with comments mocking the film and its Kashmir-related dialogues.

    https://twitter.com/Audere_Hassan/status/1182972912917200898?s=20

    References to Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta’s Veer Zaara were made.

    Some people commented that the earlier trailer was better.

    https://twitter.com/TweetingForDays/status/1182977946514006021?s=20

    Watch the trailer here:

    https://www.facebook.com/NueplexCinemas/videos/530089601102262/

    Khalil-ur-Rehman’s directorial venture has faced several challenges along the way. The film began with Sohai Ali Abro as the lead but soon after, she quit and was replaced by Urwa Hocane. Farhan Saeed was also roped in for the film but the couple decided to bow out of the film later. The film’s leads Eeshal Fayyaz and Sami Khan were finalised after this.

    Meanwhile, Resham was also supposed to be part of the film but dropped out a day before the shoot for reasons not known.

    Apart from Sami and Eeshal, the film starres Ayesha Omer, Fiza Ali, Saba Hameed, Abi Khan and Sajid Hasan. Neelam Muneer will be doing an item song in the film.

    Kaaf Kangana is scheduled to hit the screens on October 25.

  • Fazl offered ‘tempting political package’ to call off Azadi March

    Fazl offered ‘tempting political package’ to call off Azadi March

    Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has rejected a “tempting political package” offered to call off his upcoming anti-government ‘Azadi March’, The Current learnt Saturday.

    The right-wing political party leader and a vocal critic of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, has announced taking to the roads of the capital on October 31 against the incumbent government’s “selection to power” after “fake election”.

    With the announcement stirring up the country’s dormant political scene overnight and forcing the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to devise a counter-strategy against the challenge, sources have informed The Current of a covert offer recently made to Fazl.

    “Maulana [Fazl] was offered a tempting political package to call off his upcoming protest,” they said.

    Refusing to answer this scribe’s queries pertaining to the details of the offer, sources said that while some leaders had urged the JUI-F chief to consider it, others, including Fazl himself, were against striking any deals and his refusal had also led to “threats from certain quarters”.

    “But the threats didn’t deter him, in fact, he is more determined than ever. The main reason behind his determination remains the fact that the people trying to convince him have backstabbed him in the past.”

    “This is why Fazl has now told the people urging him to call off the march to fulfil their promises first,” sources added.

    To a question pertaining to the motive behind the offer, they said, “Maybe the ruling party fears that opposition will resort to actions similar to those carried out by its workers and leaders during its infamous 126-day siege led by Imran [Khan].”

    “But Maulana has clarified that it will be a peaceful campaign as he doesn’t want any clashes with state institutions.”

    Sources also quoted Fazl as saying that he was ready to join hands with any political leader except PM Imran. “Maulana told this to a close aide of the premier because he believes Imran has made their rivalry a personal one,” they said, adding that PTI government’s actions towards the JUI-F chief and his companions had also played a major role in it.

    ‘NO COMPROMISES NOW’:

    Speaking to The Current, Fazl’s brother and JUI-F Senator Attaur Rehman said that the party had given the federal government an August deadline to step down some three months back, but the warning wasn’t taken seriously.

    “Fazl had demanded Imran Khan to step down or be ready for a long march to Islamabad. Now we’re all set for it,” he said.

    Adding that he was not aware of any offers being made to his party chief, Rehman further said that the government had lost its chance to strike a deal. “We won’t make any compromises now.”

    AZADI MARCH:

    Voicing his concerns against the alleged rigging that marred the country’s last general election, Fazl has announced staging a sit-in at D-Chowk in the federal capital’s red zone — the same place where Imran had demonstrated for five months against then PM Nawaz Sharif in 2014.

    Fazl was earlier approached by leaders of the two major opposition parties — Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) — and requested to postpone the lockdown plan and Azadi March till November, but he has made it clear that it was not his individual decision and he was obliged to stand by that of JUI-F’s Central Working Committee.

    The march — earlier scheduled for October 27 — will now be held three days later on October 31 as according to Fazl, his party would now join Kashmiris in observing the previously announced date as black day in protest against the Indian occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.