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Tag: Pakistan

  • Ali Rehman thinks being compared to THIS Hollywood heartthrob is a compliment

    Ali Rehman thinks being compared to THIS Hollywood heartthrob is a compliment

    In a recent interview with Independent Urdu, Pakistani actor Ali Rehman Khan expressed his surprise and admiration after being compared to a Hollywood heartthrob for the first time.

    Ali Rehman, known for his role in ‘Bebasi,’ was pleasantly surprised and flattered when he was compared to Ryan Gosling. He praised Gosling’s ability to handle serious roles and excel in comedy. “It’s a big compliment to be compared to him. He’s a very big actor,” Ali said.
    “Personally, I have never felt a resemblance… He is one of my favorite actors because I think that Ryan Gosling does serious roles with finesse but his comedic timing, too, is extraordinary. His film ‘Bad Guys’ is one of my favorites. His performance in it is just amazing,” he added.


    Talking about his life, Ali, originally from Islamabad but now living in Karachi since six years, described Karachi as a busy metropolitan city compared to the more laid-back Islamabad. “Karachi is a bustling metropolitan city where day and night merge into one. In Islamabad, you feel the difference between day and night very strongly,” he explained.


    Ali loves Karachi, highlighting its dynamic atmosphere and delicious food, especially the famous dishes of Burns Road. “I love the food on Burns Road. As actors, we can’t eat a lot because we have to watch our diets, but you can find great food anywhere in Karachi,” he said.


    Looking ahead, Ali said he wants to work with leading actresses of Pakistani cinema like Mahira Khan, Sanam Saeed, and Sajal Ali, praising their talent and the potential for diverse opportunities such collaborations could bring.

  • X working with Pakistan govt to ‘understand concerns’ over ban

    X working with Pakistan govt to ‘understand concerns’ over ban

    Islamabad, Pakistan – Social media platform X said Thursday it would work with Pakistan’s government “to understand its concerns” after authorities insisted an ongoing two-month ban was based on security grounds.

    The platform, formerly known as Twitter, has been rarely accessible since February 17, when jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party called for protests following a government official’s admission of vote manipulation in the February election.

    “We continue to work with the Pakistani Government to understand their concerns,” X’s Global Government Affairs team posted, in their first comments since the site was disrupted.

    The Interior Ministry on Wednesday said X was blocked on security grounds, according to a report submitted to the Islamabad High Court where one of several challenges to the ban is being heard.

    On the same day, the Sindh High Court ordered the government to restore access to social media platform X within a week.

    “The Sindh High Court has given the government one week to withdraw the letter, failing which, on the next date, they will pass appropriate orders,” Moiz Jaaferi, a lawyer challenging the ban, told AFP.

    The court’s full decision is expected to be published this week.

    Both the government and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had for weeks refused to comment on the outages.

    “It is the sole prerogative and domain of the federal government to decide what falls within the preview of terms of ‘defence’ or ‘security’ of Pakistan and what steps are necessary to be taken to safeguard National Security,” said the interior ministry’s report, submitted by senior official Khurram Agha.

    The interior ministry suggested intelligence agencies were behind the order.

    The closure of a social media service “when there is request from any security or intelligence agency” is “well within the scope of provisions of the PTA act”, the report said.

    Digital rights activists, however, said it was designed to quash dissent after February 8 polls that were fraught with claims of rigging.

    Access to X has been sporadic, occasionally available for short cycles based on the internet service provider, forcing users to use virtual private networks.

    Mobile services were cut across Pakistan on election day, with the interior ministry also citing security reasons.

    It was followed by a long delay in issuing voting results, giving rise to allegations of tampering.

    Khan’s opposition party had already faced heavy censorship in the weeks before the election, banned from television channels and from holding rallies, forcing its campaign online.

    Despite the crackdown, his party won the most seats but was kept from power by a coalition of rival parties that had the backing of the military.

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    © Agence France-Presse

  • Army orders to investigate EX-ISI chief Faiz Hameed, journalist Kamran Yousaf reports

    Army orders to investigate EX-ISI chief Faiz Hameed, journalist Kamran Yousaf reports

    Pakistan army has formed a high-level inquiry committee to investigate alleged accusations to investigate former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Faiz Hameed for allegedly misusing power while serving as the director-general of ISI, journalist Kamran Yousaf has reported.

    People familiar with the development said that the investigation has been conducted at the directions of the Supreme Court (SC) and the Ministry of Defence.

    Faiz Hameed was appointed as DG-C in ISI and later became the head of the intelligence agency. His name was involved in multiple controversies, including the Faizabad Dharna case. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also accused him of engineering his removal from office in 2017.

    However, the Pakistan Army has decided to investigate the case through a high-level inquiry committee. “A high-level inquiry committee has been constituted under a Major General, which will look at every aspect related to this matter in detail.”

    ‘There is a strict and highly transparent system of self-accountability in the Pakistan Army, and by promoting this system, all such allegations are investigated with great seriousness, and those responsible are also given severe punishment so that the self-accountability of the Pakistan Army is maintained,” Express TRIBUNE reported.

  • Zee Zindagi set to release ‘Mrs. & Mr. Shameem’ for Pakistani viewers

    Zee Zindagi set to release ‘Mrs. & Mr. Shameem’ for Pakistani viewers

    The Indian-owned Zindagi website’s ‘Mrs. & Mr. Shameem’ was previously not accessible for viewing in Pakistan. Now, after almost two years, the channel has decided to broadcast it on YouTube.


    ‘Mrs. & Mr. Shameem’ explores love and marriage beyond traditional roles, showcasing the bond between Shameem and Umaina as they navigate challenges together. With a rich music album featuring soulful tracks like ‘Dillagi’, the series blends drama, romance, and social commentary. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary journey of love and resilience, starting April 26th.


    The series, consisting of 20 episodes, airing every Tuesday and Friday at 7:30, promises an exceptional viewing experience. Saba Qamar plays Umaina, a character who challenges societal norms.

  • Ali Abbas thinks women adore him because he respects them

    Ali Abbas thinks women adore him because he respects them

    Actor Ali Abbas is well-known for his strong work ethic and professionalism. During an appearance on ‘Mazaq Raat’, his colleague and host Imran Ashraf revealed that Ali seems to attract a lot of female attention, and almost everyone he meets develops feelings for him. Imran was curious to understand why Ali always comes across as the good guy.


    Ali said, “I have always respected women and I am very chivalrous around them, which warms everyone up around me. I am also very intense in romantic acting, but I make my co-stars comfortable. All these factors combined have endeared me to everyone.”
    Ali further shared, “I also have one-sided love, and that is for Mahira Khan. I have always admired the superstar since her days as a VJ, and that fan love will always remain.”


    This is what he said:

  • ‘Holding her belly’: pregnancy rumours spread after Iqra Aziz’s latest picture

    ‘Holding her belly’: pregnancy rumours spread after Iqra Aziz’s latest picture

    In the lively world of Pakistani entertainment, fan favorite stars Iqra Aziz and Yasir Hussain always stay in the news.

    The famous couple and their adorable son Kabir Hussain, make their Instagram stories even more joyful.
    Iqra Aziz, who is making fans happy in the famous TV show ‘Burns Road Kay Romeo and Juliet,’ and also doing great in ‘Maanat Murad,’ has decided to take a break from work. She wants to spend more time with her family.

    At Wajahat Rauf’s Qawali Night event, Iqra Aziz and Yasir Hussain snapped photos that they shared. This got fans wondering.

    Many fans noticed that Iqra Aziz seemed to gently touch her belly in some pictures. Some excited fans thought this might mean she’s pregnant again. They also saw a happy glow on her face. Fans flooded social media with good wishes and prayers for the couple’s happiness.

  • NAB clears Nawaz Sharif in Toshakhana reference

    NAB clears Nawaz Sharif in Toshakhana reference

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has cleared Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif of any wrongdoing in the Toshakhana vehicle reference.

    The anti-graft body has requested the accountability court to clear the former prime minister of any charges. The court directed NAB to include PML-N leaders in the investigation.

    The court may acquit Nawaz Sharif from the Toshakhana reference, as the watchdog stated in its report submitted before the court today, highlighting that the car in question was not a part of the Toshakhana at the time of purchase by the former prime minister.

    The anti-corruption body found that the Saudi government gave a car to then-Prime Minister Nawaz in 1997, which he deposited in Toshakhana.

    The report stated that in 2008, then prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani offered Nawaz Sharif to buy the same car.

    Therefore, the PML-N head didn’t buy the car from Toshakhana. Instead, he bought it from the federal transport pool. According to the NAB report, Nawaz Sharif didn’t use a fake account to buy a car.

  • Junaid Niazi shows fatherly love in video with daughter

    Junaid Niazi shows fatherly love in video with daughter

    Actor Junaid Niazi has delighted fans by sharing an adorable video featuring his daughter, Ezzah, on his official Instagram account. The heartwarming video shows Ezzah applying makeup to her father’s face, complete with red blush and lipstick. Junaid patiently allows his daughter to do a makeover, and we must say, Ezzah does a good job. Alongside the video, Junaid affectionately wrote, “World’s best makeup artist”.

    Is there a more adorable makeup artist out there? We don’t think so! Watch the endearing video below:

  • Fiza Ali criticizes Adnan Siddiqui for fly comment as KRQ supports him

    Fiza Ali criticizes Adnan Siddiqui for fly comment as KRQ supports him

    Actor Adnan Siddiqui faced a lot of criticism after making a comment comparing women to house flies on TV. He said it was just a joke, but people didn’t like it. TV host Fiza Ali even talked about it on her morning show, criticizing the veteran actor.

    Fiza started by saying, “As a woman, I feel upset. Adnan Siddiqui, you called women flies. You’re famous, so you need to be careful about what you say.”

    Fiza reminded Adnan of the risks of making such a statement, even as a joke. “You have made these comments about women, but remember, you have women in your life. Do you view your mother as a fly? Your sister? Your daughter? If she goes out in the world to study, and some other guy says she is just like a fly, how would that make you feel? Would you like it,” she asked.
    “You should have thought before speaking. You need to say sorry. You owe it to all women. Just upload a video apologizing. It will make people respect you.” And to make herself clear, Fiza ended by saying, “Women are NOT flies.”

    While fans agreed with Fiza in the comments, some other celebrities saw Adnan’s comments differently. Controversial screenwriter and director Khalilur Rehman Qamar defended Adnan during an Eid show.

    “He’s a good man,” said KRQ when asked about it. “I know him. He’s a friend. He respects women a lot. Sometimes when you’re trying to say something, you might end up saying the wrong thing.”

    To explain, KRQ called Adnan during the show and asked about the comment. Adnan clarified, “I was on Nida’s show, and a fly kept bothering me. I wasn’t comparing women to flies. I just used the fly to say that when you chase women, they might avoid you.”

    Both men agreed that Adnan’s comments were just a joke. Adnan criticized today’s society, saying, “You can’t speak plainly anymore. If you call someone black, deaf, or fat, people criticize you. Even though I’m Pathan, I can’t play a Pathan role without people thinking I’m making fun of all Pathans.”
    “Agreed, agreed,” concurred KRQ.

    A little while later, KRQ shared his thoughts on the topic. He said, “A joke is supposed to make people laugh, nothing more.” With Adnan’s comment spreading quickly, it’s uncertain how much longer people will keep talking about it.

  • Interior Ministry ordered banning of Twitter in Pakistan

    Interior Ministry ordered banning of Twitter in Pakistan

    The Ministry of Interior, headed by Mohsin Naqvi, has accepted that it directed Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to ban X, formerly Twitter. The Ministry revealed this information in a reply to the Islamabad High Court (IHC), after the court had asked why the social media platform had been shutdown.

    In its reply to the IHC, the Ministry quoted the controversial 2021 social media rules stating that Twitter had not registered itself in Pakistan nor signed any MoU with the government of Pakistan.

    The reply to IHC said, “As a foreign entity operating in Pakistan, Twitter/X is subject to the regulatory framework of the country, including the compliance with legal directives issued by the Government of Pakistan.”

    It further said, “The ban on Twitter/X serves as a necessary step to address this regulatory vacuum and compel the platform to respect the sovereignty and legal jurisdiction of Pakistan.”

    The Ministry’s reply also said that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has forwarded numerous requests to Twitter/X through PTA to block those accounts involved in a defamatory campaign against CJP Qazi Faez Isa and criticized the lack of cooperation from Twitter/X.

    It also mentioned that TikTok was also banned for a while by Pakistan, after which the company signed an MoU to abide by local laws, address content moderation issues, and enhance cooperation with Pak authorities.

    Meanwhile, the Sindh High Court (SHC) also directed the Ministry of Interior to revoke its letter regarding the suspension of X within one week.

    “What are you [interior ministry] achieving via shutting down trivial things […] The world must laugh at us,” said SHC Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi.

    As of now, X/Twitter has been inaccessible in Pakistan for the last two months.