Actress Mawra Hocane has put all rumors about her marriage to rest with her latest Instagram post.
In a recent update on her Instagram account, Mawra Hocane confirmed that she’s not planning to get married anytime soon. She shared pictures from what appears to be a wedding, possibly from the set of her upcoming drama, with her millions of followers on the social platform.
In the pictures, Mawra looks stunning in a beautiful yellow and gold outfit, adorned with floral jewelry and fresh makeup. Alongside the photos, she wrote, “NOOOO it’s not my wedding… not now, not next week, not next month, not this year… now if we are done with the gossip.. here’s a little bts from my next..ty,” clarifying the situation for her fans.
The pictures went viral among her followers, receiving numerous likes and comments.
Iqra Aziz likes being in front of the camera while Yasir Hussain is more into being behind the camera.
The popular couple might be in the same industry but have varying interests. Iqra and Yasir always express their love and admiration for each other and they make time for each other as well.They recently went on a lovely date night. Iqra shared pictures from their date with her fans. Take a look at their sweet date night photos below:
Dozens of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers were reportedly arrested in Lahore amidst allegations of violent protests, prompting PTI leader Latif Khosa to vow continued demonstrations until their “mandate” is recognized.
Speaking to the media in Lahore, Khosa emphasized the party’s singular demand for an audit of election results, stating that the government must address this issue before progress can be made.
Khosa also called for the release of PTI founder Imran Khan, leaders, especially female leaders, and workers, asserting that the party will persist in its protests to defend the people’s right to self-governance and elect their representatives. “I will register an FIR against them for kidnapping. We’ll see how this government can run,” he said referring to police’s arrest of PTI workers as abduction.
He asked the police to tell on whose order they were carrying out action against the political activists. Khosa revealed his own experience at the police station where he was detained for six hours, highlighting that although he wasn’t mistreated, he asserted his immunity as a sitting MNA against arrest without permission from the National Assembly speaker.
Regarding the charges against PTI’s Salman Akram Raja for blocking roads, Khosa insisted that their protest was peaceful and demanded surveillance camera footage to verify if arteries were indeed obstructed.
Earlier, around 40 PTI leaders and workers were booked under serious charges including terrorism, abduction, interference in public affairs, and harassment, following protests on Mall Road in Lahore against alleged election rigging.
The FIR alleged that PTI leader Hafiz Farhat Abbas incited activists to damage public property and that Abbas, along with others, opened fire and assaulted a police constable.
It claimed that PTI leader Hafiz Farhat Abbas incited the party activists to damage public properties. Henceforth, they damaged a government vehicle too, it added.
Abbas along with four to five other unidentified persons opened fire and manhandled a police constable tearing his uniform, the FIR said adding police detained the PTI leader and recovered a pistol from him. The FIR mentioned that batons and clubs were recovered from 42 suspects arrested by police.
Meanwhile, several PTI leaders, including Latif Khosa and Salman Akram Raja, were taken into custody during police actions in various cities as the party staged nationwide protests against alleged election manipulation and theft of its mandate in the recent elections.
PTI supporters rallied in cities like Rawalpindi, Karachi, Kandhkot, and Tank, responding to the party’s call for demonstrations against what they perceive as electoral malpractice.
Its the age of TikTok and YouTube, with influencers on the platforms becoming more famous than ever before. Sehar Hayat is one of those popular TikTok stars from Pakistan. She often gets lots of attention on social media for things happening in her life. Recently, Sehar got married to singer Sami Rasheed. Their wedding was a big deal on social media.
Now, Sehar is going to have a baby soon. So, her family organized a special event called a “Goud Bharai” to celebrate. They decorated their hands with henna and arranged a fun golf cart for Sehar’s entrance.
A recently released image of Kate Middleton, issued by Kensington Palace to put all rumors about her health to rest, has ended up creating new controversies.
Various news agencies have issued notices not to use the image of Kate and her three children, including the Associated Press (AP), Reuters, Getty Images, and Agence France-Presse (AFP). All three on Sunday night withdrew it and told media outlets to “kill” the photo from their systems and archives because they believe that it has been manipulated.
The AP said the photo had been withdrawn because upon “closer inspection, it appears that the source had manipulated the image” and the photo showed an “inconsistency in the alignment” of the left hand of Kate’s daughter, Princess Charlotte.
The AFP said the image could not be used as it had been “altered” without elaborating.
Reuters said it had deleted the image “following a post-publication review”.
Kensington Palace did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The photo was posted on the royal couple’s official X account on Sunday accompanied by a caption thanking the public for their “kind wishes and continued support over the last two months” and wishing the public a Happy Mother’s Day.
The image was reportedly taken by Kate’s husband, Prince William, during the past week on the grounds of Windsor Castle just outside of London.
Background
The release of the image, which remained online on Sunday night despite the withdrawal notices, came after Kensington Palace announced in January that Kate, 42, had been hospitalised for surgery and would take a break from official royal duties until after Easter.
The lack of details about the reasons for her surgery and her prolonged absence from the public has prompted a plethora of speculation and conspiracy theories about her condition.
Kate last appeared in public on Christmas Day while attending a church service at the royal family’s Sandringham estate.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has recommended 19 names to President Asif Ali Zardari to be inducted into the federal cabinet, according to a summary forwarded to the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Monday.
As per Geo news, the federal cabinet is expected to take oath today at 3 pm at the President House.
The list of recommendations for federal ministries includes several prominent names from the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), such as Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif, Ishaq Dar, and others. Additionally, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui from MQM-P and Abdul Aleem Khan from Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party are also among those recommended.
Furthermore, Senators Ishaq Dar and Musadik Malik have been recommended for appointment as federal ministers under clause 9 of Article 91 of the Constitution, as their Senate term is set to end on March 12.
The clause permits the prime minister to appoint individuals outside of parliament to the federal cabinet for a period of six months.
Three additional names recommended for induction as federal ministers under clause 9 of Article 91 are Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ahad Khan Cheema, and Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi.
Shaza Fatima is the sole woman recommended for inclusion in the federal cabinet. She is slated to take oath as a state minister under clause 1 of Article 92 of the Constitution, according to the summary.
Sources indicate that while the Prime Minister initially plans to keep the cabinet small, more ministers will likely be inducted in the second phase.
The swearing-in of the federal cabinet follows Prime Minister Shehbaz’s oath-taking as the 24th premier of the country a week ago, and President Zardari’s inauguration as the head of state a day earlier, attended by all dignitaries.
Palestinian women in general and journalists, in particular, have set the bar with their resilience against what is now largely perceived as the most well-documented genocide of this century.
This Women’s Day, the world paid tribute to their untiring efforts, yet it is important to mention here that it is not enough since the besieged strip has been wreaked for more than six months now.
Palestinian journalists observed in real time the tragedy that women and children are experiencing due to the devastating war since October 7 last year. At least 63 women in Gaza are killed daily as a result of the Israeli war, with the majority being mothers, The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) reported on Friday.
“On International Women’s Day, the women in Gaza continue to endure the consequences of this brutal war,” the agency shared. “At least 9,000 women have been killed, and many more are under the rubble,” the statement added.
Hind Khoudary
Hind Khoudary is one such face the world is now fully familiar with because of her on-ground reporting and the compassion she has shown over time. She was paid tribute to by her fellow journalist Ali Jadallah in an Instagram post where he praised her for her commitment to her profession and towards Gaza.
However, he added, “As the ‘International Women’s Day’ is celebrated around the world on March 8th, Palestinian women start to work with the first hours of the day to provide for their families despite the difficulties experienced amid Israeli attacks.”
Hind, 28-years-old, has been working in the media since 2017. In an interview with Anadolu, she pointed out that the current situation in the Gaza Strip affects all Palestinian women regardless of their professions.
“While the world celebrates Women’s Day, Palestinian women are being displaced from their homes,” she said. “I am not just a journalist covering the war. Rather, I am a displaced person. I left my family and my husband and chose, despite the circumstances, to remain in Gaza and cover the war,” she added further.
In one of her posts on Instagram, she shared how she doesn’t have clean clothes to wear anymore and how she struggles hard during her periods. “I am also wearing two pants above each other because I don’t have any joggers anymore. The last time I showered was ten days ago. On my period for the second time during the past 30 days and yet I am still standing despite all the cramps,” Hind wrote.
Noor is a TV presenter and a reporter who has been reporting about the ongoing situation in Gaza. She made a huge sacrifice by evacuating her children from Gaza just for them to be able to have food and water but she remained in Gaza to continue reporting about the havoc endured by Palestinians.
In one of her posts, she wrote: “It’s hard to work in a location, where you know that there is dead bodies still stuck under the rubble. But it’s a story that should be told.”
Roba is a Palestinian journalist who has shown sheer commitment to her job even when her children were sick or when Israel was bombing buildings in real-time.
Doaa, 27, a photographer, reports the horrors befallen upon Gazans by the Israeli forces. “On International Women’s Day, we want to convey the image of women who are subjected to the most horrific massacres in Gaza,” she said in an interview with Anadolu.
“During this war, the occupation targeted women, children, and innocent people,” she pointed out. “We lack everything, including privacy. There are no bathrooms, and we struggle to convey the real picture,” Baz asserted.
Duaa Tuaima
Duaa Tuaima is a photojournalist whose Instagram is a window that opens into the reality of the suffering in Gaza.
Bisan is another popular name. A storyteller and filmmaker by profession from northern Gaza, Bisan has been documenting the displacements, bombings, and genocide in Gaza from day one. Her vlogs and videos in collaboration with different platforms are raw and insightful. “Hi, this Is Bisan from Gaza and I am still alive” is the line she says at the beginning of every vlog and it is ironically sad and hopeful at the same time.
In another, she posted about living in fear since the war started. “For 150 days, I have been afraid of cement ceilings. I do not want to be crushed to death when a missile lands. I sleep in a tent, and I am like hundreds of thousands suffering cold at times, heat at times, and disease and hunger at other times,” she wrote in an Instagram post.
11-year-old war reporter Sumayya Wushah was featured in Al Jazeera’s videos as Gaza’s youngest journalist reporting about the destruction in a confident tone. She is inspired by Shireen Abu Akleh, the Al-Jazeera journalist who was killed by the Israeli army in 2022.
Palestinian women took center-stage in internet discourse surrounding Women’s Day on Friday with artwork and rich tributes.
Al-Jazeera wrote about the five most prominent women from Gaza. From doctors to activists, these are some of the women showing bravery amid Israel’s war on Gaza. These women include Bisan the journalist, Dr. Amira Al-Assouli who saved the life of a child from Israeli snipers by risking her own life, Nadina Abdullatif the child activist from Gaza, Deema Alswiti who caught the world’s attention after posting about her life in Gaza and Sara Alsaqqa, the first woman surgeon in Gaza who safely brought a child in the world while stuck in a room during Israeli bombing.
Palestinian-Greek athlete Samia Kallidis posted a heartfelt women’s day message for the women of Gaza and called out the world for the blatant hypocrisy.
Along with these beautiful art pieces, women all around the world took to roads for peaceful marches in commemoration of Women’s Day and raised slogans in solidarity with the oppressed women of Gaza.
PSL, the Pakistan Super League, is a big deal in Pakistan with loyal fans. Right now, PSL Season 9 is in full swing, and Jazz recently hosted a dazzling party at Karachi Beach to celebrate the ongoing excitement of Season 9. The event was a star-studded affair, with Pakistani celebrities like Hareem Farooq, Sidra Niazi, and Yashma Gill gracing the occasion, alongside international sensation Erin Holland. Against the backdrop of Karachi’s scenic coastline, guests enjoyed music and a tasty menu, highlighting the deep connection between cricket and entertainment in Pakistan. Here are some captivating moments from the Jazz PSL Party. Take a look:
After seven years of relentless struggle and facing criticism, television host Tanzeela Mazhar, a former anchor at Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) News, finally received justice in her battle against sexual harassment as she was acquitted in a defamation case filed by her harasser.
الحمدللہ ۔:: عدالت نے سابق ڈائریکٹر کرنٹ افئیرز پی ٹی وی آغا مسعود شورش کے جانب سے دائر کئے گئے ہتک عزت کے کیس سے بری کر دیا ہے۔ یہ کیس گزشتہ سات برس چلتا رہا ۔ یہ لڑائی میں 15 برسوں سے لڑ رہی ہوں ۔ یہ لڑائی جیت یا ہار کی نہیں ایک اصول کی ہے ۔ میں نے اس سارے عرصے میں بہت لوگوں…
Mazhar’s ordeal began in January 2017 when she bravely exposed Agha Masood Shorish, former director of current affairs on the state television, on X (formerly Twitter) for making “unwelcome advances” towards her in 2009.
She shared that he took her off-screen after she confronted him. Screenshots of her chat added to the post revealed the harassment against her and another journalist, Yashfeen Jamal.
In November 2017, PTV terminated Shorish, and the decision followed a series of investigations, with a total of five inquiries launched against Shorish, three of which specifically addressed allegations of sexual harassment.
The severity of the situation prompted 14 producers from PTV to lodge a formal complaint against Shorish in the Islamabad High Court, elevating the issue to the national platform.
The matter garnered further attention when it was brought up in the National Assembly, prompting the Information Ministry to issue a notification for Shorish’s termination.
Since 2017, Mazhar has been fighting the criminal defamation lawsuit that was filed against her soon after she raised the matter of sexual harassment.
“It is about not losing your ground”
She believes, “It is not about winning or losing a case, it is about not losing your ground. When you talk about harassment, you are slapped with defamation cases by your harassers because they want you to step back from your ground.”
The former PTV anchor asserted that this is a pattern that has been seen in multiple cases. Her co-complainant Yashfeen Jamal’s out-of-court settlement and statements made life difficult for her as that impacted her case.
Mazhar faced backlash from her journalist fraternity and struggled to find a job. She now works as Head of Programming and Current Affairs at GTV News Pk.
She is also the co-founder of Women in Media Alliance, a support center, which seeks to promote fair and inclusive representation of women in media organizations across Pakistan. They believe in highlighting the work of women affiliated with different mediums and providing them with a platform to get their voices heard.
Court Hearings and Societal Pressure
“Men of the family and home, nobody likes that a woman of your family goes every morning to deal with a court case because that is how our society is,” explains Tanzeela while remembering how she was never exempted from a court hearing, faced warrants due to absence, even when she was traveling somewhere for work or there was an emergency.
She saw the ordeal as an opportunity, all thanks to her nerves of steel. She went back to university and became a lawyer.
“The message to their egos as they felt they were punishing me, it all changed because the case went on for so long that I eventually started appearing in uniform. He tried to use every influence he had, his father was influential, so he had contacts with everyone, from bureaucracy to the judiciary to intelligentsia, but I fought against him,” she said with a spark in her eyes and a smile on her face.
Mazhar’s Resignation and Response from Management:
The fallout from the allegations against Shorish had a significant impact on PTV’s workforce. In March of the same year, Mazhar announced her resignation expressing her disappointment with the handling of the situation.
She criticized the leadership, particularly referencing statements made by Maryam Nawaz and her party regarding the respect of women. Mazhar’s departure marked a poignant moment, highlighting the pervasive issue of moral corruption within the institution.
Legal Battles and Renewal of Contracts:
Meanwhile, the legal ramifications of the scandal continued to unfold. In February, PTV management renewed the contracts of Mazhar and her colleague, Jamal, amidst ongoing legal battles.
Shorish retaliated by filing a defamation suit against Mazhar and Jamal, further complicating the situation. Despite mounting pressure, State Minister for Information, Marriyum Aurangzeb, assured the public of the impartiality of the inquiry committee tasked with investigating the harassment complaints.
Timeline of Events and Parliamentary Intervention:
The timeline of events reveals a complex web of inquiries and bureaucratic procedures. In January, the inquiry committee submitted its report to the PTV managing director, albeit with delays.
Women lawmakers in the National Assembly demanded clarification on the lack of action taken against Shorish, amplifying the voices calling for accountability. The internal turmoil within PTV was further exacerbated by a circular issued by management, warning employees against making public comments on the ongoing investigations.
Amidst the turmoil, Tanzeela Mazhar took to social media to publicly disclose her experiences with Shorish.
In January 2017, she exposed Shorish’s unwelcome advances towards her on Twitter, shedding light on the pervasive issue of sexual harassment within PTV. Screenshots of personal conversations added weight to her claims, sparking a public outcry and igniting a national conversation about workplace harassment.
In October 2018, Mazhar revealed that the internal inquiry conducted over the past two years was inadequate. She recounts facing bullying and threats throughout the process. Despite the eventual sacking of the director, the consequences do not include accountability for harassment.
Additionally, Mazhar and her colleague Yashfeen Jamal navigate through two defamation lawsuits, both criminal and civil, further adding to the complexity of their situation. Mazhar’s journey involves recounting her experiences before probing committees and courtroom appearances, all while facing stigmatization from her offenders.
Three years after filing her complaint against harassment at PTV, Mazhar finally received the inquiry report on August 20, 2019, upon approaching the Federal Ombudsman Secretariat for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH). However, the report was classified as a secret document, further complicating Mazhar’s quest for justice. Her appeals for redress from the PTI government also went unanswered.
She attended court hearings to confront criminal defamation charges on October 9, 20, and 22, November 16 and 23, in the same year reflecting the ongoing legal challenges she faced in her fight against harassment.
In 2020, Mazhar appeared at the Federal Ombudsman Secretariat for Protection against Harassment to present her arguments for challenging the inquiry report by PTV. She alleged that the inquiry was not conducted fairly and promptly, highlighting that the report was not shared with her until July 2019.
Finally, on September 15, her appeal against PTV’s report was brought before the ombudsman for an additional hearing. Despite the initial expectation of concluding the report within 30 days, the process extended to a prolonged duration of three years.
In September 2021, the court refused to accommodate Mazhar’s medical concerns during her trial, despite her being pregnant and nursing a fractured foot.
Finally, on January 30, 2024, a Pakistani trial court acquitted Tanzeela Mazhar in the criminal defamation case, bringing an end to her seven-year-long legal battle.
Throughout this ordeal, Mazhar’s resilience and determination to combat harassment have been evident. Her victory serves as a reminder of the importance of standing up against harassment and seeking justice, even in the face of adversity.
“I was fighting for a larger cause, and I want women to keep fighting. It took 15 years of my life, this has made me a new person and has increased my passion to fight for gender rights,” she gives her message.
