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  • Fahad Mustafa’s father became my guarantor for marriage: Ali Gul Mallah

    Fahad Mustafa’s father became my guarantor for marriage: Ali Gul Mallah

    Renowned comedian Ali Gul Mallah, who gained widespread fame with his iconic “Bhale” dialogue in Ishq Murshid, recently opened up about his struggles in both his career and personal life. He revealed that the girls’ families refused to consider him for marriage because of his acting career, and it was only when Fahad Mustafa’s father vouched for him that he was able to get married.

    Ali Gul Mallah appeared on Mathira’s show, where he spoke about his journey from hardship to success.

    During the conversation, he shared, “I was born in Jacobabad, Sindh. My mother passed away when I was a child.” He added that he had a sister, and after his mother’s passing, his father remarried and had more children.

    Recalling his tough childhood, he revealed, “I was very close to my mother. After her death, my life changed. People started hitting, taunting, and ignoring me. That’s when I learnt to bear my sorrows through comedy.”

    Ali Gul Mallah said he was a huge fan of film star Nadeem and was inspired to act after watching the movie Dil Lagi. He started working in a garage, imitating actors.

    However, his challenges did not end there. He shared, “I used to earn money for tea and food by performing in theatre plays in Jacobabad. But because of poverty and people’s hatred, I once tried to commit suicide.” Fortunately, a theatre writer, Hameed Bhutto, saved his life and guided him.

    In 1996, he moved to Karachi to pursue acting but faced extreme financial difficulties. “I didn’t even have 500 rupees per month to pay my flat rent,” he recalled.

    Talking about his marriage struggle, he said, “The girl’s parents refused to accept my marriage proposal because I was an actor, even though they were my maternal uncles.”

    He then revealed how he finally got married, saying, “My maternal uncle was a big fan of Salahuddin Tunio, so I took him along to propose.” When Fahad Mustafa’s father vouched for Ali, he finally got married. “Now, I have three children,” he added.

    Sharing details about his family, he said, “My eldest son is studying cybersecurity at university, while my other son and daughter are in college. My youngest son is interested in acting.”

    Discussing his viral Bhale dialogue, he explained, “I used to say ‘Bhale’ in my Sindhi comedy YouTube videos, and Ishq Murshid director Farooq Rind had seen those videos.”

    He further shared how his role in the drama was unexpected: “Farooq Rind called me for a scene and said my role wasn’t originally in the script. There was just a mention of a vegetable seller, and he wanted me to do it with my Bhale dialogue.”

    Ali Gul Mallah’s powerful delivery made the dialogue an instant hit. “People loved my dialogue, and from there, I reached new heights of fame and became loved all over the world,” he concluded.

  • I’m barred from meeting friends, speaking to my children: Imran Khan

    I’m barred from meeting friends, speaking to my children: Imran Khan

    Imprisoned former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has complained that despite court orders, he was barred from meeting friends, speaking to his children on the phone, or accessing his diary and books.

    In a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Imran Khan’s message read, “This week, my sisters were also denied a meeting with me,” adding that he had just one meeting with his political colleagues, which was scheduled entirely at the discretion of jail authorities.

    Calling the Balochistan government “illegitimate,” he remarked that, being a Pakistani and a former Premier, he is deeply concerned about the ongoing situation in Balochistan marked by a sharp rise in terrorism. “It is the fundamental duty of the state to address the grievances of the people of Balochistan,” he added.

    “The situation in Balochistan cannot improve unless the genuine public representatives are brought into the mainstream, their voices are sincerely heard, and the fate of the region is decided in accordance with the will of the people. Sheer force can never resolve this issue. It would rather deepen the crisis and fuel further instability,” he stressed.

    Emphasising that terrorism can be addressed by engaging in dialogue with Afghanistan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said that as Pakistan shared a 2200-kilometre border with Afghanistan, “peaceful negotiations are the only way forward.”

    He said that despite strained relations with the Afghan government during his tenure, his party engaged in direct talks with them, adding that the implementation of policies over three years during his reign had successfully eliminated terrorism.

    “However, after our tenure, the adoption of Biden’s policy led to numerous issues, and today, the public is bearing the consequences in the form of increased terrorism. The current government’s lack of seriousness is evident from the fact that neither during the PDM (Pakistan Democratic Movement) regime nor under the present administration has the Foreign Minister visited Afghanistan or undertaken any serious diplomatic initiatives,” he said.

    PTI’s founder complained that the ToshaKhana case trial, which was being conducted within the jail premises, had been arbitrarily halted without explanation. 


    “Previously, the verdict in the Al-Qadir Trust case was deliberately delayed so that my case could be presented before handpicked judges in the Islamabad High Court following court packing. After extensive legal efforts, when my appeal was finally scheduled for hearing, objections were raised, further delaying the matter until after Eid,” he said.

    Imran Khan maintained that the above-mentioned reasons clearly prove that the “imposed government’s primary goal is to keep me in jail at all costs,” as his cases have no legal standing and will be overruled whenever they are heard on merits. “This is a fixed match being played under a well-orchestrated plan,” he added.

  • Hania Aamir joins Diljit Dosanjh in Indian Punjabi film Sardaar Ji 3

    Hania Aamir joins Diljit Dosanjh in Indian Punjabi film Sardaar Ji 3

    Pakistani actress Hania Aamir is set to make her Indian Punjabi film debut alongside renowned singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh in Sardaar Ji 3.

    According to Indian media reports, Diljit Dosanjh has officially announced the release date of the film. Sardaar Ji 3 is scheduled to hit cinemas on 27 June this year.

    The film’s cast includes Hania Aamir, Diljit Dosanjh, and Nirav Bajwa in lead roles.
    Fans are thrilled and surprised to see Hania starring alongside Diljit, making this a highly anticipated cross-border collaboration.

  • Philippines teen stuns World No. 2 Iga Swiatek to reach Miami Open semis

    Philippines teen stuns World No. 2 Iga Swiatek to reach Miami Open semis

    19-year-old wildcard Alexandra Eala from the Philippines defeated world number two Iga Swiatek 6-2, 7-5 on Wednesday, securing her place in the semi-finals in a shocking upset at the Miami Open.

    Ranked 140th in the world, Eala made history as the first woman from her country to reach the quarter-finals of a WTA 1000 event. She capitalised on an uncharacteristically poor performance from Swiatek, maintaining her composure even after trailing 4-2 in the second set.

    Eala broke Swiatek’s serve for the eighth and final time when the Polish star was trying to stay in the match at 6-5. Overwhelmed with emotion, Eala could hardly believe her victory.

    “I’m just in disbelief right now. It’s so surreal,” she said in her post-match interview.

    “I’m so happy and so blessed to be able to compete with such a player on this stage,” added Eala, who has now defeated three Grand Slam champions on her way to the semi-finals. Before beating four-time French Open winner Swiatek, she also overcame Jelena Ostapenko and Madison Keys.

    Eala’s journey to success began at the age of 13 when she moved to Spain to train at Rafael Nadal’s academy in Mallorca. She was supported courtside by Toni Nadal, Rafael’s uncle and former coach.

    “It meant a lot that he showed up here. It showed the confidence he had in me and the confidence the academy had in me,” she said.

    Eala will now face the winner of the quarter-final clash between Britain’s Emma Raducanu and American Jessica Pegula.

    “Just because I won this match or the one before doesn’t make the next one any less tough. If anything, it will be even tougher, so it will take everything I have,” she said.

    Meanwhile, Swiatek admitted she wasn’t at her best and is now turning her focus to the clay court season.

    “I’m sure I wasn’t playing my best game. My forehand collapsed a little, so it wasn’t comfortable, and Alexandra took advantage of that and pushed me. She definitely deserved to win this match,” Swiatek said.

    “I don’t want to dwell on this loss too much. It’s important to learn from it, but I’m looking forward to playing on clay,” she added.

  • Temperatures above normal, less rains; PMD forecasts alarming weather

    Temperatures above normal, less rains; PMD forecasts alarming weather

    The Pakistan Metereological Department (PMD) has made an alarming forecast for the coming months, predicting temperatures to rise 3 C to 5 C above normal. 

    Chief Metereologist Muhammad Afzal addressed a press conference on Wednesday in Islamabad, where he stated that the country had recorded a 42 percent drop in winter rainfall, with Sindh receiving 63 percent less rain, Balochistan 53 percent and Punjab 41 percent, driving water levels in dams and reservoirs to reach “dead levels”. He warned that rain forecast for the coming few months for northern regions of Pakistan shows below normal levels, threatening water availability for agricultural and domestic use. 

    The shortage could lead to crop failures, the spread of diseases, and negative impacts on wildlife. He stressed that the public should use water wisely to mitigate the crisis.

    Continuing in the vein of further bad news, PMD warned that urban areas could witness heatwave conditions. 

    Intense heat may also trigger glacial melts, increasing the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). 

    While Pakistan typically receives 19.4 percent of its annual rain between April and June, a less than normal forecast could lead to groundwater depletion. 

    PMD has said that temperatures around Eid will remain 2 C to 3 C higher than normal with most of the country battling hot and dry weather. 

    However, a wet spell with rain, thunderstorms, and snowfall over mountains is expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and northern Punjab on March 26-27.

  • Turkish student detained by US immigration agents

    Turkish student detained by US immigration agents

    US authorities have detained a Turkish university student, the latest action taken against a foreign learner associated with pro-Palestinian campus activism as President Donald Trump cracks down on the movement.

    Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk was detained by federal agents late Tuesday in the town of Somerville, Massachusetts, the school’s president said in a statement.

    Ozturk filed a motion demanding authorities show lawful grounds for her detention and a judge issued a decision barring officers from removing her from Massachusetts, according to legal filings made public Tuesday.

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detainee locator tool showed that Ozturk was in custody Wednesday, although it did not state where.

    Ozturk co-authored an article in the university student newspaper The Tufts Daily in March 2024 criticizing the college’s handling of student anger around Israel’s war in Gaza.

    According to the newspaper, Ozturk is a doctoral candidate in the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development.

    A protest was planned for 2130 GMT Wednesday in Somerville to oppose Ozturk’s detention, according to the Cambridge Day news site.

    Trump has targeted prestigious universities that became the epicenter of the US student protest movement sparked by Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, stripping federal funds and directing immigration officers to deport foreign student demonstrators.

    Critics argue that the campaign amounts to retribution and will have a chilling effect on free speech, while its supporters insist it is necessary to restore order to campuses and protect Jewish students.

    At New York’s Columbia University, immigration officers detained one student, permanent resident Mahmoud Khalil whose lawyers are fighting his deportation, while a judge thwarted efforts to detain another, Yunseo Chung.

    Separately, a number of university professors sued the Trump administration in Massachusetts Tuesday, arguing its campaign targeting foreign academics was illegal.

    “The policy prevents or impedes Plaintiffs’ US citizen members from hearing from, and associating with, their non-citizen students and colleagues,” the lawsuit reads.

    In addition, the American Association of University Professors and the American Federation of Teachers asked a New York judge to declare Trump’s slashing of $400 million from Columbia’s budget unconstitutional and to restore the funding.

    Columbia announced Friday a package of concessions to the Trump administration around defining anti-Semitism, policing protests and oversight for specific academic departments.

    They stopped short however of some of the more strenuous demands of the Trump administration, which nonetheless welcomed the Ivy League college’s proposals.

  • Men can’t handle one wife, how will they keep more women happy: Saman Ansari

    Men can’t handle one wife, how will they keep more women happy: Saman Ansari

    Actress and TV host Saman Ansari has shared her views on men marrying multiple times, questioning how a man who struggles with one wife can manage more. 

    Saman Ansari recently appeared on the FHM podcast, where she spoke about her personal experience with marriage and discussed the complexities of men marrying multiple times.

    During the conversation, she revealed, “My first marriage lasted for 16 years, and shortly after the divorce, my ex-husband got married again.”

    She explained that, as a mother who was also focused on building her career, she did not remarry immediately after the divorce but eventually did so later.

    Reflecting on her ex-husband’s quick remarriage, she remarked, “If he now thinks he already had an affair with that woman, it would be wrong. It is not my concern—he should know and understand his own actions.”

    When asked about second marriages, Saman Ansari emphasized that clarity is key, stating, “If a man indicates at the time of his first marriage that he might marry again, then there will be no problem.”

    She further added, “Many women accept a man’s multiple marriages, so he should state in the marriage certificate from the beginning that he may marry again.”

    However, she stressed the importance of mutual understanding between spouses, saying, “The issue of a second marriage is a personal matter between a man and his first wife. They should resolve it with understanding.”


    Regarding religious and ethical obligations, she noted, “A man should take permission from his first wife before marrying again. As far as I know, religion also emphasizes that a man must seek his first wife’s consent before a second marriage.”

    Summing up her stance, she questioned the practicality of multiple marriages, asserting, “Men can’t handle one wife, so how can they keep more than one woman happy?”

    She concluded by stressing that even if a man remarries, “It is his duty to provide equal rights and happiness to all women.”

  • Spain’s 2030 World Cup chief resigns over stadium fixing scandal

    Spain’s 2030 World Cup chief resigns over stadium fixing scandal

    Maria Tato, the head of Spain’s 2030 World Cup organising committee, has resigned after being accused of unfairly changing the stadium selection process to benefit one city over another, according to media reports.

    Reports claimed that the rankings for potential host stadiums were altered to favour Anoeta in San Sebastian, while Balaídos in Vigo was unfairly removed from the list.

    Vigo’s mayor, Abel Caballero, expressed his frustration on social media platform X, saying: “On June 25, 2024, Balaidos was on the list of 11 stadiums in Spain, but by June 27, it was removed. This is very serious. We demand an explanation on who changed it, why, and based on what criteria.”

    The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has not responded to media inquiries regarding the issue.

    Spain is set to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Portugal and Morocco. Spain will have 11 host cities, including major venues like Barcelona’s Camp Nou and Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu, while Portugal will have three stadiums and Morocco six.

    The RFEF has faced several scandals in recent years. Former president Luis Rubiales resigned in September 2023 after controversially kissing player Jenni Hermoso during Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory celebrations.

    His successor, Pedro Rocha, was later suspended for exceeding his authority, and Rafael Louzán took over leadership in December 2024.

  • VIDEO: Indian wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan trolls Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan

    VIDEO: Indian wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan trolls Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan

    Pakistan’s ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan has now become a target of trolling by emerging Indian wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan.

    During a conversation with IPL umpire Anil Chaudhary, Kishan took a subtle dig at Rizwan while discussing umpiring standards and players’ approach to making appeals.

    During a franchise practice session, umpire Anil Chaudhary jokingly remarked, “You’ve become quite smart! You’ve played many matches under my umpiring. Now, you only appeal when necessary, but earlier, you used to appeal a lot. What changed?”

    Ishan Kishan responded,  “I think umpires have become sharper now. If you appeal too often, they might not give out even when it’s a genuine dismissal. It’s better to appeal at the right time so that they trust your judgment.”

    He further added, “If I start appealing behind the stumps like Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan, you guys wouldn’t give it out.”

    Kishan also commented, “To be honest, there are some umpires we feel happy to see in matches, but there’s always room for improvement.”

    His remarks came at a time when Rizwan was under criticism for excessive appealing during recent matches.

    Meanwhile, fans took to social media to criticise Ishan Kishan, arguing that he hasn’t been in cricket long enough to comment on a senior player like Rizwan.

  • Australian women’s captain praises six-year-old Pakistani girl’s batting skills

    Australian women’s captain praises six-year-old Pakistani girl’s batting skills

    Australian women’s cricket team captain Alyssa Healy has joined the growing list of admirers of a six-year-old Pakistani girl whose impressive batting skills have gone viral on social media.

    Speaking on a podcast, Healy showed amazement at the young girl’s talent. “She looks incredibly skilled. It’s unbelievable to see such batting ability at just six-years-old,” she said.

    Jokingly, Healy added, “I feel like she was hitting the ball even better than me!”

    The viral video highlights the increasing interest of young girls in sports, particularly cricket. Healy was especially impressed by the child’s technique. “Her shots were executed beautifully. Her cover drive was a treat to watch, and the pull shot she played was strikingly similar to Rohit Sharma’s pull shot,” she remarked.

    “She looks like a special talent. This girl should definitely play for Pakistan,” Healy said, adding in jest, “I think she should be in the T20 World Cup squad!”