Founder of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan said in an interview with Reuters that it would be “foolish” not to have excellent relations with the Pakistan Army while also clarifying that he held no grudges against the United States, whom he previously blamed for conspiring against his government in 2022.
“Given Pakistan’s geographical position and the military’s significant role in the private sector, it would be foolish not to foster such a relationship,” said Khan.
He also clarified that he criticises certain “individuals” in the army but not the institution, saying, “The miscalculations of the military leadership shouldn’t be held against the institution as a whole.”
Today, August 5, marks a whole year since Khan was arrested and charged with multiple crimes, ranging from selling state gifts to leaking state secrets.
Last week, Khan offered “conditional negotiations” with the military establishment if “clean and transparent” elections were held and the “bogus” cases against his supporters were dropped.
Khan also reiterated that talking with the government was futile since, according to him, the government has no public support.
A Canadian man of Pakistani origin was set on fire at his store in Surrey, British Columbia, on Friday.
Rahat Rao is now fighting for his life in an intensive care unit.
Known to be an active member of the local Canadian-Pakistani community, he was the owner of a currency exchange business in the Surrey Central area.
An initial investigation conducted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) says that Rao was attacked by a man who first threw a fire accelerant on him and then escaped after setting him ablaze.
Canadian news outlet Global News talked to an eyewitness who said that she was inside the currency exchange store when a man engulfed in flames came running from the back of the business, screaming. A relative of the shop owner told her the man was set alight in a robbery attempt, she said.
Local police have also released the photograph of the alleged attacker, presumed to be 25-year-old, and the white Mini Cooper he drives.
Dawn reports that media speculations were growing about a possible connection with the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was slain in the same town last year.
Previously, the RCMP had intelligence and concerns about Rao’s safety and had told him to install more cameras.
Hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi protesters demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resign, clashed with government supporters on Sunday, with dozens killed in one of the deadliest days since demonstrations began.
Rallies that began last month against civil service job quotas have escalated into some of the worst unrest of Hasina’s 15-year rule and shifted into wider calls for the 76-year-old to step down.
At least 91 people were killed on Sunday alone, including 14 police officers, with the rival sides battling with sticks and knives and security forces firing rifles, taking the total killed since protests began in July to at least 261.
Police said protesters attacked their officers, including storming a station in the town of Enayetpur.
“The terrorists attacked the police station and killed 11 policemen,” said Bijoy Basak, a deputy inspector general.
AFP journalists reported hearing sustained crackles of gunfire after dark on Sunday, with protesters defying a nationwide curfew.
Mobile internet was tightly restricted.
‘Final protest’
In several cases, soldiers and police did not intervene to stem the protests, unlike the past month of rallies that repeatedly ended in deadly crackdowns.
Demonstrators in the capital Dhaka, surrounded by a tightly packed and cheering crowd, waved a Bangladeshi flag on top of an armoured car as soldiers watched.
Asif Mahmud, one of the main leaders in the civil disobedience campaign, called on supporters to march on Dhaka on Monday. “Prepare bamboo sticks and liberate Bangladesh,” he wrote on Facebook on Sunday. “The time has come for the final protest,” he said.
Brought to justice
Vast crowds of protesters packed into Dhaka’s central Shahbagh Square on Sunday, with street battles in multiple sites.
“There were clashes between students and the ruling party men,” police inspector Al Helal said, adding two young men were killed in Dhaka’s Munshiganj district.
“One of the dead was hacked in his head and another had gunshot injuries.”
Another policeman, who asked not to be identified, said “the whole city has turned into a battleground”.
Two people were killed in the city of Kishioreganj, where protesters torched a ruling party office, police said.
Some former military officers have joined the student movement and ex-army chief Gen Ikbal Karim Bhuiyan turned his Facebook profile picture red in a show of support.
“We call on the incumbent government to withdraw the armed forces from the street immediately,” Bhuiyan told reporters on Sunday alongside other ex-officers, condemning “egregious killings, torture, disappearances and mass arrests”.
“Those who are responsible for pushing people of this country to a state of such an extreme misery will have to be brought to justice,” he said.
No longer about job quotas
Current army chief Waker-uz-Zaman told officers at the military headquarters in Dhaka on Saturday the “Bangladesh Army is the symbol of trust of the people”.
“It always stood by the people and will do so for the sake of people and in any need of the state,” he said, according to a statement, which did not say explicitly whether the army backed the protests.
The demonstrations attracted people from all strata of Bangladeshi society. Rap songs calling for people’s support have spread widely on social media.
“It is no longer about job quotas,” said Sakhawat, a young female protester who gave only one name, and called Hasina a “killer”.
A group of 47 manufacturers in the economically vital garment sector said they stood in “solidarity” with the protesters.
Obaidul Quader, general secretary of the ruling Awami League, has called on party activists to gather “in every district” nationwide to show their support for the government.
The unrest began in July over the reintroduction of the quota scheme, which reserved more than half of all government jobs for certain groups. It has since been scaled back by the country’s top court.
Actor, Afzal Khan, also known as Jan Rambo, has many complaints against the government, stating that for his 32 years of service in entertainment industry, he has not received the recognition he deserves.
Recently, Khan, and his wife, Sahiba, appeared as guests on ‘Subh Ka Samaa Madeha Kay Sath.’
During the interview, the host, Madeha Rizvi, asked, “Afzaal bhai, do you have any grievances with the industry?”
Afzal Khan replied, “Yes, I do, despite acting in almost 200 films, including “The Donkey King,” which was dubbed in multiple languages and gained international recognition, I still feel undervalued.” While talking about awards and honors in the industry, he said, “If awards were given on merit, it would be a matter of pride.”
Afzal Khan also spoke about his mother-in-law, Nishoo Begum, who, he said, also did not receive the recognition she deserved. “If she didn’t get her due recognition, what chance do I have?” he asked.
A mentally challenged person in Rawalpindi was tied to a pole and assaulted by several people, including a traffic warden. As the video went viral, police took action and arrested four people, including the warden.
The incident took place in the Race Course area. Police said that the traffic warden also beat up the victim, promising that departmental action will be taken against him. Raids are going on to arrest the other suspects.
A case has been registered against the suspects in the Race Course police station.
Samaa show ‘Mukalma,’ hosted by Ayesha Jahanzeb, controversial screenwriter Khalil ul Rehman Qamar and his co-writer Sahil Adeem faced backlash after an online clash on misogynistic views on women’s rights.
In one of the episodes that went viral, audience member Azba Abdullah, who is also an employee of Samaa, confronted Adeem about his claim that 95 percent of women in Pakistan are uneducated. The exchange escalated when she demanded an apology from him for calling girls “jahil.”
Adeem responded by citing religious text, leading to a heated argument in which Qamar jumped in, hijacking the debate by being disrespectful to Azba. The host eventually calmed the situation down and moved on to another guest.
Following this incident, rumors circulated that Samaa TV had fired Azba. The Current spoke exclusively to her to get her side of the story.
Here’s what she had to say about the incident:
“The show was not planned at all. I was on the show because it was running late, and many audience members had already left, so the office staff filled in.”
Azba went on to narrate that they were told that the show would be about women’s rights. “When Adeem called girls ‘Jahil,’ I simply asked him to apologize to all women. In response, he started quoting Quranic verses, which was irrelevant to the discussion. This led to Khalil ul Rehman Qamar becoming disrespectful. The video that surfaced is heavily edited because Khalil ul Rehman Qamar used abusive language towards me, which was cut out. No action was taken against me; in fact, the issue reached higher management, and they decided to cancel the show. I have not been pressured or terminated; these rumors are baseless,” she added.
He explained that the purpose of the show was to facilitate face-to-face debates, similar to how people post their stories on Instagram.
“However, people got so heated during these debates that they turned into controversies,” he added.
The team had planned many topics for future discussions, such as religion and education, which could have led to even more controversies, Asim pointed out.
Shailja Kejriwal, the chief creative officer at Zee Entertainment’s Zindagi channel, is on a mission to unite Indian and Pakistani artists and writers. In a recent interview with Press Trust of India, Kejriwal expressed her desire to see more collaborations between talents from both countries, despite the challenges posed by political tensions.
Shailja Kejriwal said, “My ultimate desire, I don’t know whether it will happen or not, is that we collaborate… writers and artists from both sides should be on a set together. I am trying to follow that path. Hopefully, we will be able to do something because we flourish more if we are open and inclusive.”
It has been a journey of one step forward, two steps back for the producer who was instrumental in making Pakistani actors like Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed, and Mahira Khan household names in India by showcasing dramas such as Zindagi Gulzar Hai and Humsafar through the Zindagi platform launched in 2014.
The channel Zindagi, led by Kejriwal, has successfully produced a number of projects with Pakistani actors and directors. Popular series like Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam, Churails, Mrs. & Mr. Shameem, and the new web series Barzakh starring Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed are among the noteworthy productions. The channel has aired iconic Pakistani dramas like ‘Thakan’, Shukk, Pyarey Afzal, Meri Beti, Mere Harjai, and Main Bushra.
Kejriwal highlighted her commitment
“I felt my work would be incomplete if I didn’t play a role in bringing these artists back. My ambition extends beyond just pan India. My dream is to unite South Asians and Asians through collaboration,” Shailja added.
Abubakar Shak’s british accent in ‘Khudsar’ has earned him both praise and criticism but he’s not letting the haters get to him.
During an interview with BBC Asian Network’s Haroon Rasheed, he was asked about becoming a viral sensation. “My first scene, in which I asked about my stepmother, went viral. I didn’t want to use words like ‘My foot,’ as those are used by others. All I did was read the script. I wanted to change, but I was unable to do so. I brought it up to the director as well,” he replied.
Abubakar also talked about his accent: “I grew up in England, so my accent’s a mix of geographically a lot of places like Swansea, Cardiff, London, Glasgow, and Manchester.”
When asked about the criticism to his accent, he replied, “But even if I was putting on some fake Britisher, why is it bothering you so much,” he asked the trolls.
Use of Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a must in Pakistan where many sites are blocked by the state including a site as important as X (formerly Twitter).
While the irony is that the site is very actively used by both government officials and the public, it’s still used via VPNs.
A VPN establishes a digital connection between your device and a remote server owned by a VPN provider, creating a point-to-point tunnel that encrypts your data, masks your IP address, and lets you bypass website blocks and firewalls on the internet.
To ensure that online experiences are safer, more accessible and more secure, we bring you a list of VPNs that are best for Pakistanis to use:
ExpressVPN
High-Speed Servers: Offers fast, reliable performance that is ideal for streaming and browsing.
Robust Security: Utilizes AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, DNS/IPv6 leak protection, and trusted server technology for enhanced privacy.
User-Friendly: Simple setup and intuitive apps across various devices.
Bypass Censorship: Effectively circumvents geo-restrictions and online censorship.
Advanced Protocols: Includes Lightway protocol for speed and reliability.
24/7 Support: Accessible customer service via live chat and email.
NordVPN
Extensive Server Network: Over 5,000 servers in 60 countries, offering diverse and fast connections.
Double VPN & NordLynx: Double VPN is for extra encryption, and NordLynx (based on WireGuard) is for high speeds.
Strong Privacy: No-logs policy, CyberSec ad blocker, and Onion over VPN for added privacy.
Obfuscated Servers: Hides VPN usage to bypass sophisticated censorship.
Dedicated IP: Option for a static IP address for specific uses.
User-Friendly: Intuitive interface and reliable performance.
Surfshark
Affordable: Competitive pricing with feature-rich plans.
Unlimited Devices: Allows unlimited simultaneous connections on one account.
Robust Security: AES-256 encryption, CleanWeb ad blocker, and MultiHop for double VPN.
Camouflage Mode: Conceals VPN usage to avoid detection.
NoBorders Mode: Facilitates use in highly restrictive environments.
Whitelisted Feature: Customizes VPN usage for specific apps or websites.
CyberGhost
User-Friendly: Easy-to-use interface with straightforward setup.
Dedicated Streaming Servers: Optimized servers for streaming platforms and bypassing geo-blocks.
Strong Privacy: No-logs policy, NoSpy servers in the company’s data centres, and multi-layer encryption.
Streaming Profiles: Configures VPN settings for various activities like streaming or torrenting.
Secure Wi-Fi: Automatic activation of VPN on unsecured networks for added protection.
Private Internet Access (PIA)
Customizable Settings: Offers extensive options for encryption and protocols.
Strong Privacy: No-logs policy and MACE ad/tracker blocker for enhanced privacy.
Affordable Plans: Cost-effective with flexible payment options, including cryptocurrencies.
Port Forwarding: Improves performance and access to specific services.
Transparency: Regular security audits and a commitment to operational transparency.
Extra VPNs that claim to be reasonable and secure are:
PureVPN
Global Network: Extensive server locations in 140+ countries.
Strong Encryption: AES-256 encryption and secure protocols.
Streaming and Bypassing: Effective at unblocking popular streaming services.
Dedicated IP Option: Available for specific needs.
Ivacy
Affordable Plans: Cost-effective with good features for the price.
Strong Privacy: No-logs policy and robust security.
Wide Server Coverage: Servers in numerous locations worldwide.
Split Tunneling: Allows traffic routing through or bypassing the VPN.
In footage that went viral on social media platform X, MPA Iqbal Wazir of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTI-P) can be seen giving a slurred speech in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly while speaker Babar Saleem Swabi calls him “drunk.”
“Iqbal Wazir’s behaviour is not appropriate,” exclaimed the speaker, before calling the sergeant-at-arms to kick him out of the premises. Meanwhile, a verbal spat continued between Wazir and other members of the KP Assembly.
“He is not in his senses,” the speaker can be heard saying in the small clip.
