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  • Vasan Bala reveals what happens when you work with Alia Bhatt

    Vasan Bala reveals what happens when you work with Alia Bhatt

    Working with Alia Bhatt is nothing short of magic, says filmmaker Vasan Bala.  

     

    In a recent interview with Mashable India, the Jigra director revealed the exceptional qualities that made Alia a joy to work with.

    Bala blamed Karan Johar’s incomplete script for the film’s box-office struggles but praised Alia Bhatt’s impressive work ethic.

    The Monica, O My Darling director highlighted Alia Bhatt’s exceptional ability to adapt effortlessly on set.

    “Alia stands out because she is always prepared and quickly understands a director’s needs without lengthy explanations”, he said.

    Vasan Bala praised Alia Bhatt’s simplicity and professionalism on set saying, “She has no entourage, nothing, she’s always ready.”

    “Sometimes, all it took was a simple gesture from me for Alia to grasp exactly what I envisioned for a scene,” Vasan Bala added.

    Jigra, starring Vedang Raina and Alia Bhatt, released on October 10, 2024, and earned only INR 55 crores at the box office.  

    The film’s cast includes Vedang Raina, Akansha Ranjan Kapoor, Yuvraj Vijan, Manoj Pahwa, Dheer Hira, and Jasan Shah.

    However, despite the film’s commercial failure, Vasan Bala’s remarks reflect Alia Bhatt’s remarkable ability to deliver her best on screen, making her an exceptional actor to work with.

     

     

    Earlier, Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt is back with an intense, thrilling role in her upcoming film Jigra.

    The short trailer released yesterday shows Bhatt in all her intensity as she takes off on a rescue mission to free her brother. The teaser is set to a cover of the old classic song ‘Phoolon Ka Taaro Ka’ and promises intense action and emotional depth.

    After their parents’ deaths, Bhatt and her brother, played by Vedang Raina, had to survive on their own. Due to their father’s suicide leaving a long shadow over their lives, Alia Bhatt’s character is determined to save her brother from everybody.

    The film, produced by Karan Johar and written and directed by Vasan Bala Jigra, will be released in cinemas on October 11.

    Earlier, actress Divya shared a story on her Instagram on Saturday, saying, “Went to Citi Mall PVR for Jigra show. Theatre was totally empty, all theatres going empty everywhere.”

    She continued, stating, “Alia Bhatt me sach mein Bahut Jigra hai.. khud hi tickets karide aur fake collections announce kar diye. Wonder why paid media is silent.”

    The official Instagram account of Dharma Movies posted a picture of Jigra’s box office collection during its opening.

  • Guard guns down colleague in Karachi

    Guard guns down colleague in Karachi

    A security guard was killed on Thursday in a shooting incident in Karachi’s North Nazimabad area during a heated argument with his colleague.  

    The incident occurred in the jurisdiction of Shahrah-i-Noor Jehan police station, where a private security guard, identified as Ali Abbas, was gunned down in North Nazimabad’s Block-J near Rainbow Bakery over a personal dispute.


    Central Senior Superintendent of Police Zeeshan Shafiq Siddiqi told Dawn that two guards of the bakery fought with each other before one of them opened fire on the other.


    The suspect, named Rafiq, fatally shot Ali and managed to escape from the crime scene. 


    The victim’s body was taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for autopsy and fulfilling medicolegal formalities.


    Police have recovered the weapon used in the crime, and raids are being conducted to find Rafaqat. 


    Further investigations are underway.

    Simultaneously, a person died after being shot in the Jat Land Bhangipara area of Karachi.


    The victim’s father told the police that the victim, named Jagdesh, opened the door of the house, entered and fell immediately.


    His brother took him to the hospital, where it was found out that Jagdesh was shot in the heart.


    Speaking of the incident, the police said that the matter is mysterious as to how the victim was shot. However, according to witnesses, the sound of a gunshot was heard.


    The police have started an investigation into the mysterious murder, and efforts are being made to find out the real reason behind it. 


    Earlier in June this year, a security guard killed a young TikToker in Karachi, making headlines across the country.


    CCTV footage of the incident went viral.


    Saad Ahmed, 24, who used to create content on TikTok, was making a video near Serena Mobile Mall in the city’s Buffer Zone area when a guard, identified as Ahmed Gul, 35, opened fire on him, causing him to fall to the ground.


    In Karachi, where the population exceeds 20.3 million, the crime rate is high. A report by ARY News suggested that there have been more than 66 thousand incidents of street crime reported in the city. As a result, the residents heavily rely on security guards to safeguard their businesses, malls, and residential areas, yet they are not paid well.


    They are often both underpaid and not trained enough but are required to fulfil demanding shifts of at least 12 hours without any break.

  • ‘Love You Kareena Kapoor,’ says Khaqan Shahnawaz after controversy

    ‘Love You Kareena Kapoor,’ says Khaqan Shahnawaz after controversy

    Some comments hit like a sleigh ride; others crash harder than a reindeer with a bad landing especially when Bollywood royalty is involved.


    Rising star Khaqan Shahnawaz recently posted a video and picture on his Instagram, celebrating Christmas with celebrity friends like Kubra Khan and Gohar Rasheed. 

    In the video, he said, “You guys take too much tension, I just post and let it be.” 
    In the caption, he wrote, “Love you @kareenakapoorkhan, don’t believe the haters. I meant no disrespect.”


    Earlier, he has been slammed for passing disparaging remarks about Bollywood superstar Kareena Kapoor Khan, sparking criticism from both Indian and Pakistani fans.


    During an appearance on a private TV show, a fan expressed interest in seeing Shahnawaz act alongside Kareena. He jokingly replied, “I can play her son. Yeah, I can play her son.” He added that the Jab We Met star is much older than him.


    The joke, such as it was, did not sit well with Kareena’s fans, who quickly voiced their disapproval on social media. 


    One fan commented, “Kareena wouldn’t even know who he is, I’ve never even seen a drama of his.” 


    Another labeled Shahnawaz as “full of himself.” The clip, shared widely on Instagram, received many angry comments, fueling the backlash.


    Meanwhile, Kareena Kapoor Khan recently posted heartwarming photos on Instagram, including one of Saif walking amid dried trees with a red heart emoji. Another photo showed Taimur in front of a large, beautifully decorated Christmas tree with the caption “Mera Beta” (My Son) and a red heart emoji.


    Despite the controversy, Kareena seems unaffected, focusing on her family and festive celebrations.

  • The smoking trap: How tobacco companies are burning Pakistani farmers

    The smoking trap: How tobacco companies are burning Pakistani farmers

    Tobacco cultivators were hit hard when the annual procurement target for national and multinational companies was announced after a two-month delay. As per Dawn News, companies are reducing their procurement targets for the upcoming year in what appears to be a deliberate attempt to harm tobacco cultivators.

    Companies have reduced their total tobacco purchases by 2.5 million kgs, which brings their total demand for 2025 down to a little under 75 million kgs as per sources who relayed these statistics to Dawn.

    The reduction in demand is the second consecutive cut as demand stood at 77 million kgs in 2024 while in 2023, the combined company demand for tobacco stood at a high 85.5 kg in 2023.

    At first glance, it seems as if a fall in demand wouldn’t necessarily have posed an issue for farmers as companies are supposed to announce their demand levels to the Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB) in advance. This observation has its merits as farmers can simply choose to grow crops other than tobacco that have a respectable level of demand in the economy.

    However, tobacco companies announced their quotas after the wheat sowing period had ended. Farmers are stuck now growing tobacco despite knowing it might never get loaded onto trucks bound for company warehouses.

    Moreover, it is to be noted that the high level of tobacco demand in the previous years resulted in tobacco farmers to expand their supply significantly. A drop in demand now will undoubtedly hurt farmers as they will struggle to find buyers for their yields.

    Legislation to protect farmers from precisely this situation exists, however, companies violated this law. As per The Martial Law Order (MLO) 487, which oversees the trade of tobacco, companies are supposed to disclose the volume of tobacco they aim to purchase by October 31.

    As such, farmers can freely choose whether they want to grow tobacco for these companies or if they should switch to other crops such as wheat.

    Farmers are growing agitated now and few can say their frustrations are not justified. Farmers have fallen victim to the exploitative practices of the tobacco buying companies.

    What is especially concerning is that farmers are looking towards the PTB, which is supposed to offer them protection. However, the PTB has no plans to hold the companies accountable for exploiting farmers by violating MLO 487.

    Farmers will now have to suffer financial losses due to companies not informing them on time. This could devastate the rural agricultural economy and deter investors from entering into business dealings with farmers.

    It will be interesting to see now what farmers do with the excess tobacco in the upcoming year. The solution may not be as far as many think it is. The Middle Kingdom, China, up north happens to be the largest importer of tobacco being responsible for 16.5 percent of all tobacco imports worldwide.

    Perhaps Pakistan’s geography will prove favourable for farmers not just to grow tobacco but also to export it.

  • Saim Ayub named among ICC’s ‘Emerging Cricketers’ of 2024

    Saim Ayub named among ICC’s ‘Emerging Cricketers’ of 2024

    Pakistani batter Saim Ayub has been listed by the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) as one of its ‘Emerging Cricketers’ of 2024.

    While Saim has been nominated for the 515 runs he has scored in nine ODI matches with an average of 64.37, Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis, West Indies’ Shamar Joseph and England’s Gus Atkinson have also been added to the list.

    Here’s all you need to know about these emerging players’ performance:

    Saim Ayub (Pakistan)
    515 runs in 9 ODIs | Average: 64.37

    Saim emerged as Pakistan’s dynamic new opener in 2024, delivering outstanding performances in ODIs. He made his mark during Pakistan’s historic away series wins against Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

    In South Africa, Ayub smashed two centuries in three matches, earning the ‘Player of the Series’ honour in a 3-0 sweep — the Proteas’ first-ever whitewash at home. He also starred in Pakistan’s first ODI series win in Australia in 22 years.

    Ayub contributed with the ball as well, taking five wickets at an economy of 4.63.

    In Paarl, Ayub was instrumental in Pakistan’s series-clinching win against South Africa. After dismissing Aiden Markram, he anchored a tricky chase of 240 with a composed 109 off 119 balls, sharing a crucial partnership with Salman Agha (82). His knock included 10 fours and three sixes.

    Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka)
    1451 runs in 32 matches | Average: 50.03

    Kamindu Mendis became a key player for Sri Lanka in 2024, matching Sir Don Bradman’s record by reaching 1,000 Test runs in just 13 innings. He scored 1049 runs in nine Tests at an incredible average of 74.92, including five centuries and three fifties.

    He also led Sri Lanka’s scoring on England tour with 267 runs in three Tests, helping secure their first Test win in England in 10 years.

    His career-best 182 came during a 2-0 home series win against New Zealand, a crucial result for Sri Lanka’s ICC World Test Championship hopes. His marathon innings, featuring 16 fours and four sixes, earned him ‘Player of the Match’ honours.

    Gus Atkinson (England)
    52 wickets in 11 matches | Average: 22.15

    Gus Atkinson burst onto the Test scene in James Anderson’s farewell match, taking 52 wickets in 11 games this year. He shone at home with 34 wickets in three Tests and played a key role in England’s historic series win in New Zealand, claiming 12 dismissals in three matches.

    Atkinson also impressed everyone with the bat, smashing a 101-ball century against Sri Lanka at Lord’s.

    During his Test debut at Lord’s, Atkinson claimed 7/45 in the first innings and 12/106 overall — the fourth-best figures by a debutant in men’s Tests — earning ‘Player of the Match’ as England triumphed by an innings and 114 runs.

    Shamar Joseph (West Indies)
    29 wickets in 8 Tests | Average: 26.75

    Shamar Joseph made an instant impact in his debut Test series in Australia, helping West Indies secure their first win there since 1997. He took 13 wickets in two matches, including two five-wicket hauls.

    Joseph continued his impressive form at home, taking 12 wickets in the series against Bangladesh and South Africa, solidifying his place as a key bowler for the Windies.

    Joseph’s heroics at the Gabba were unforgettable. After being hit while batting, he returned with the pink ball to deliver a match-winning 7/68. His efforts secured an eight-run victory, making West Indies only the second team to beat Australia at the Gabba since 1989. He was also named ‘Player of the Series’.

  • Pak-SA Test: Third day’s play delayed as rain lashes down

    Pak-SA Test: Third day’s play delayed as rain lashes down

    The third day’s play of the first Test between Pakistan and South Africa has been delayed as rain lashes the Centurion.

    The pitch and scoreboard have been covered. It rained heavily last night, and light rain is continuing.

    Pakistan will resume its second innings with three wickets for 88 runs on its quest for two runs to end South Africa’s first-innings lead.

    Pakistan scored 211 runs in its first innings, in response to which the South African team was bowled out for 301 runs.

    In the Centurion Test, South Africa was bowled out for 301 in the first innings, and Pakistan were 88 for three at the end of the second day’s play.

    On the second day of the Centurion Test, South Africa resumed their first innings at 82 for 3. Captain Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram added 70 runs for the fourth wicket, with Bavuma out for 31.

    For the fifth wicket, Markram and Bedingham shared a 42-run partnership. Bedingham scored 30 runs, Vereni and Marco Jensen scored two each, and Rabada scored 13 runs.

    In the last wicket partnership, Bosh and Pietersen added 47 runs, with Corbin Bosh batting well and scoring 81 runs.

    South Africa was bowled out for 301 and took a 90-run lead over Pakistan in the first innings.

    For Pakistan, Khurram Shahzad and Naseem Shah took three wickets each, while Amir Jamal dismissed two players.

    When Pakistan started the second innings, Saim Ayub and Shan Masood were dismissed for 28 runs each, and Kamran Ghulam also left the field after scoring four runs.

    When the second day’s play ended, Pakistan had scored 88 runs for the loss of 3 wickets, needing two more runs to end South Africa’s first-innings lead.

    Babar Azam was unbeaten on 16, and Saud Shakeel was not out on eight runs.

    Day 1 of the game:

    On the first day of the game, South Africa won the toss and decided to bowl first, in response to which Pakistan was all out for 211 runs.

    Kamran Ghulam was the standout batsman for Pakistan in the first innings, facing 71 balls and scoring 54 runs with the help of 8 fours and 1 six.

    Pakistan lost the first wicket for 36 runs when captain Shan Masood had scored 17 runs, after which young batsman Saim Ayub was dismissed for 14 runs for a total score of 40.

    Former national team captain Babar Azam was dismissed for only four runs, but he completed his 4000 runs in the Test match. The Pakistan team had to suffer its fourth loss for a total score of 56 when Saud Shakeel scored 14 runs.

    After him, Kamran Ghulam was dismissed for a total score of 137, then Muhammad Rizwan was dismissed for 27 runs for a total score of 142, Bush bowled Amir Jamal for a total score of 189 after scoring 28 runs, and then the very next over, the Pakistan team had to suffer a loss in the form of Salman Ali Agha who could score 18 runs.

    After Salman Ali Agha, Naseem Shah was dismissed without scoring a run, and then Khurram Shahzad returned to Pauline for 11 runs on a total score of 211; Mohammad Abbas was not out with 10 runs.

    For South Africa, Dean Pietersen took five wickets, while Karan Bosh took four wickets and Marco Johnson took one wicket.

    The Pakistan team took three wickets in 22 overs by the end of the first innings, with Khurram Shahzad taking two and Mohammad Abbas taking one wicket.

  • Economy closes 2024 strong despite politcal unrest, terrorist activities

    Economy closes 2024 strong despite politcal unrest, terrorist activities

    Like previous couple of years, 2024 also witnessed Pakistan’s economic woes as political uncertainty continued to grip the country. However, it also saw Pakistan beginning to escape the depths of the economic quagmire in which it was bogged down.

    As the year comes to a close, we take a look at 2024’s most important events that shaped the country’s business landscape and the impact these events had on the economy.

    Political Economy

    Political clashes and marches from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) significantly damaged the economy. At the peak of political clashes, a colossal Rs190 billion were lost every day the protests continued. Businesses were forced to cease operations multiple times throughout the year as protesters choked vital roadways or forced the government to cut off access to certain cities, especially the federal capital.

    The timing of some of the protests was especially insidious considering the fact that they were held on the same day as the start of the high-profile Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit or when a Belarusian delegation led by its president reached Pakistan. While this was an attempt to highlight local issues on the global stage, the timing was damaging as international investors prefer to not invest in countries marred by political uncertainty.

    Islamabad’s measures to crack down on the protests were equally damaging. The decision to close major highways such as M-1, M-4, M-11 and M-14 caused immense losses to businesses. For instance, fuel tankers remained stranded on highways while stations ran out of fuel to sell, resulting in pump owners remaining unable to realise revenues.

    Furthermore, slowing internet speeds during protests hindered business activities at an unpresented level. Freelancers working for international clients faced communication issues, causing delays. These delays significantly strained customer-client relationships, which led to Pakistani freelancers losing out on contracts.

    Internet slowdowns and VPNs being banned also disrupted the operations of IT exporters. Thus, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement about aiming to achieve a $25 billion IT export target seemed counterintuitive amid policies hurting the very sector they aim to develop.

    Economy unhinged by terrorism 

    Pakistan has been beset by terrorism for far too long. Terrorism surged during the Soviet-Afghan war in 1979 and as it stands, terrorists still have a significant negative impact on Pakistan’s economy.

    Terrorist attacks on foreign nationals continued in Pakistan in 2024. An attack outside Karachi airport on Chinese engineers aimed to sour Pak-China relations and reduce the inflow of foreign direct investments (FDI). However, terrorists have been unable to derail Pakistan from the path of economic prosperity as China poured an unprecedented amount as investments into Pakistan.

    China’s FDI levels sat at $404 million in the first quarter of FY 2024-25. Despite the attack against its nationals, China’s FDI levels surged by 164% in comparison to the same quarter of the previous year and formed 44.8% of total FDI in Pakistan in this quarter.

    Loans and Investments

    Islamabad was able to successfully negotiate and oversee the release of $1.1 billion as part of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) $7 billion extended fund facility package. This marked the beginning of a surge in business activities as investor confidence in the economy was restored.

    The KSE-100, which is the benchmark index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), started the year at around 63,000 points which now hovers around 110,000 points. This represents a remarkable increase of approximately 75 percent in the index’s value.

    Experts are predicting that the bull run of the PSX might run into the next year as political tensions between PTI and Islamabad might ease up due to ongoing negotiations.

    Apart from local developments, international investments remained strong too. PM Shehbaz’s visits to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Qatar were able to bring in $600 million and $3 billion from both countries, respectively.

    Pakistan also managed to sign eight Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with Belarus to strengthen trade ties between the two countries. It is also to be noted that KSA and Pakistan managed to sign 27 MOUs valued at $2.2 billion, which were to be invested in various sectors of the economy. This was a significant step in the positive direction for cash-strapped Pakistan.

  • Chaos at Dallas event: Hania Aamir faces backlash amid allegations of unprofessionalism

    Chaos at Dallas event: Hania Aamir faces backlash amid allegations of unprofessionalism

    The drama at celebrity meet-and-greets often rivals a prime-time soap opera — and Hania Aamir’s Dallas event was no exception.


    After the meet-and-greet ended abruptly, an event organizer criticized the actress and her manager Maida Azmat for their behavior. 


    Some fan videos showed people saying, “She just walked away from here; we paid for this.” 


    Earlier, Hania Aamir had a meet-and-greet event in Canada, which coincided with the premiere of the last episode of Kabhi Kabhi Tumka. She did not attend the premiere and went to Canada to meet her fans instead.


    After this incident, Canada-based heavenlyentertainments event organizers also claimed that similar issues had occurred during a previous event in Canada, alleging that Aamir did not fulfill her commitments and caused delays. According to the organizer, Aamir was “enjoying events outside while neglecting her responsibilities and causing stress for the team.” They further described her attitude as “unprofessional and disrespectful,” citing several specific issues.


    The organizer alleged that “Hania Aamir did not spend the committed time at a single event” and “intentionally delayed her appearance on stage by sitting in the car.” Despite being “paid a significant amount,” she allegedly failed to engage with the organizers and instead “attended external events and enjoyed herself at the organizers’ expense.”

    They also accused her of “smiling for the public while giving the organizers a hard time backstage.” Additionally, the organizer mentioned that her visa was about to expire, a fact that Aamir and her manager reportedly failed to disclose until the last moment, causing “additional financial burdens and stress.”


    The organizer expressed sympathy for the team behind the Dallas event, stating that they faced similar challenges, including refunding attendees and managing unexpected logistical issues.


    Sadaf Haider’s Statement


    Sadaf Haider, a blogger and culture commentator based in Dallas, commented on the incident, stating:


    “I don’t usually comment on such foolish incidents, but this has become a scandal because of the way Hania Aamir and her (mis) manager Maida Azmat have pushed a deceitful narrative. I have spoken to multiple sources attending the event both backstage and in the audience. No assault, verbal or physical, occurred. Hania and Maida are using the language of feminism as a cudgel to cover their bad behavior and threaten promoters. Many things happen on tour – that is between you and your promoter (who, by the way, spent $50,000 on this tour). Do not punish your fans who paid good money to see you.”


    Sadaf haider criticized the lack of response from Fahad Mustafa, who was present at the event with Hania Aamir.

    Sadiq Saleem, a journalist, shared his thoughts on the issue, posting on Instagram:


    “Manager: noun. Definition: The one who ruins careers: a self-proclaimed media and PR guru specializing in turning potential leads into missed opportunities, one bad decision at a time.”


    Hania Aamir’s Response


    Hania Aamir responded to the situation in a detailed Instagram story, explaining that she left the Dallas event early because an event organizer verbally abused her and her manager, Maida Azmat.


    Aamir emphasized her love and respect for her fans and expressed regret over the event’s sudden end. She stated:


    “Everyone saw videos of me walking to the crowd and taking pictures, and everything was fine. When I was going back to my seat, I heard one of the organizers verbally abuse my manager. So, I walked up to her and asked what had happened, and told the man (one of the organizers) that he cannot speak to her like this. She was so distraught that she went backstage. I followed her to make sure she was okay and Fahad [Mustafa] being a gentleman also came to check up on her.”


    Backstage, Aamir and her co-stars started taking pictures with fans. However, she claimed that the organizer chased after them, allegedly calling them names and telling them to leave the premises.


    “[He] called off the security protocols and verbally assaulted us even more (people had to hold him back). We were rushed out by our promoter Arif Khan to not further escalate anything and we managed a personal means of transport to get back safely to the hotel.”


    Aamir highlighted the importance of respect and the right of women in male-dominated fields to stand up for themselves. She added:


    “Thirdly, we as a fraternity put in a lot of effort to make our fans happy. And such people with their theatrics are mostly trying to paint us black. I don’t know, maybe it does something for their ego. But promoters/organizers need to step up and make sure such clowns don’t ruin the events and the experience for the fans and the artists.”


    Aamir also called on media outlets to be responsible with their journalism and avoid leveling allegations against artists without facts. She apologized to her fans, saying:
    “Last but not the least, I would like to apologize to every single one of you who came. And I dearly love every single one of you. I am sorry things had to end this way. Just have to get through with the bad days I guess.”


    Support from the Entertainment Industry


    Soon after Aamir’s statement, she received overwhelming support from the entertainment fraternity, with many decrying the disrespect she faced.


    Fellow actor Yashma Gill praised Aamir and Azmat for handling the situation professionally and bravely.


    Actor Maya Ali condemned the disrespect and expressed pride in Aamir for her graceful handling of the situation.


    Internet personality Umer Khan, known as Ukhano, emphasized that no one should have the right to disrespect the stars.


    Actor and musician Azaan Sami Khan stated that artists were being unfairly blamed without understanding the complete context.


    Radio personality Anoushey Ashraf highlighted the importance of respect and condemned the disrespect shown towards Aamir.


    Filmmaker Nabeel Qureshi pointed out that such issues with promoters have always existed, resulting in most artists and fans suffering.


    Fashion stylist Aarinda Noor stressed that no one had the right to disrespect anyone and emphasized the importance of responsibility.


    Despite the controversy, Aamir’s co-star Fahad Mustafa has not yet commented on the situation.

  • Negotiating with Taliban is establishment’s policy, not Imran Khan’s: Najam Sethi

    Negotiating with Taliban is establishment’s policy, not Imran Khan’s: Najam Sethi

    Senior analyst Najam Sethi has stated that negotiating with Taliban and resettling terrorists back in the country was the military establishment’s policy, not Imran Khan’s.

    “From 2008 to 2018, at least fourteen negotiations or settlements were made with the Taliban. There is a history of Pakistan’s capitulation when dealing with these terrorists. If you remember, there was also a time when the Taliban were referred to as good but misguided Muslims,” stated Sethi on Samaa News. 

    “Imran Khan was simply the spokesperson of the establishment, and these were the establishment’s policies. Khan couldn’t have done anything about it,” concluded Najam Sethi.

    Sethi’s statement comes right after Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Friday: “The entire nation is paying the price with its blood for the policy of bringing back and settling in Afghanistan under its own stubbornness, but such a person is still incapable of learning from his mistake.”

    Pakistan has consistently blamed its neighbouring country, Afghanistan, since 2022 due to a stark increase in terrorism in the country. 

    “Terrorist outfits are being provided sanctuaries and support and are allowed unrestrained activities on Afghan territory,” stated the DG ISPR.

    “All evidence related to terrorism can be traced back to the safe havens enjoyed by terrorists in Afghanistan. The army chief has a clear and straight-forward stance on this: that Pakistan has reservations on banned organisations’ sanctuaries, support, and unrestrained activities on Afghan territory,” he asserted.

    The DG ISPR also added: “From September 2023 till now, 815,000 illegal Afghan citizens have gone returned [to their Afghanistan].”

    Pakistan targeted Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) camps late Tuesday night with airstrikes in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province, reportedly killing and wounding multiple suspected terrorists. Dawn News reported that Pakistani fighter jets targeted TTP camps in the Murgha and Laman areas of the Bernal district in Afghanistan.

    An X post by the Afghan Defence Ministry also confirmed Pakistan’s targeted attack. However, it claimed that the fatalities from Pakistan’s airstrikes included a number of children and other civilians.

    “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan considers this a brutal act against all international principles and blatant aggression and strongly condemns it,” the ministry said.

    This is the second time in 2024 that Pakistan has targeted TTP camps inside Afghanistan. Previously, it launched two airstrikes into Afghanistan’s Paktika and Khost provinces in March, targeting multiple terrorist hideouts.

  • Top five most loved on-screen couples in 2024

    Top five most loved on-screen couples in 2024

    Pakistani dramas are loved worldwide by Urdu speakers. The realistic stories, relatable characters, and attractive actors keep audiences glued to their screens. Recently, many Pakistani stars gained global fame after their dramas became super hits. Young stars like Hania Aamir, Fahad Mustafa, Bilal Abbas Khan, and Durefishan Saleem have millions of followers thanks to their blockbuster shows.

    A key factor that attracts younger viewers is on-screen chemistry. A good on-screen couple can make viewers overlook any flaws in the story or direction. Every season, we see new on-screen couples that become fan favorites. Here are some of the most loved on-screen pairs from recent Pakistani dramas.


    Sharjeena and Mustafa – Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum stars


    Hania Aamir and Fahad Mustafa as Sharjeena and Mustafa portrayed a love bound by tragedy, leaving a lasting impact despite limited screen time.

    Shibra and Shahmeer – Ishq Murshid


    Ishq Murshid was a huge hit for Hum TV. The chemistry between Bilal Abbas Khan’s Shahmeer and Durefishan Saleem’s Shibra was magical, making them a beloved pair.


    Mahnoor and Shahram – Jaan e Jahan


    Ayeza Khan and Hamza Ali Abbasi finally came together on screen in Jaan e Jahan, a pairing fans had been waiting for since Pyare Afzal. Their on-screen pairing was a treat for fans.


    Apanna and Barlas – Khaie


    Mahenur Haider and Shuja Asad as Apanna and Barlas became a popular on-screen couple in Khaie. Their chemistry overshadowed Barlas’ dark character.


    Meenu and Dr Nofel – Zard Patton Ka Bunn


    Zard Patton Ka Bunn entered our lives softly but left a lasting impact with its thoughtful exploration of women’s challenges in Pakistan. The final story felt like a well-hosted dinner party, with each character and message adding a unique flavor.