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  • ‘Want India and Pakistan on set together,’: Producer of Barzakh Shailja Kejriwal

    ‘Want India and Pakistan on set together,’: Producer of Barzakh Shailja Kejriwal

    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.

  • The best VPNs for use in Pakistan

    The best VPNs for use in Pakistan

    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.
  • Tom Cruise set to pull major stunt at Paris Olympics

    Tom Cruise set to pull major stunt at Paris Olympics

    Olympics 2024 are set to conclude with a bang, courtesy of Hollywood’s own daredevil, Tom Cruise. The Top Gun actor will perform a heart-stopping skydiving stunt to mark the end of the Games in Paris and hand over the torch to Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympiad.
    Cruise attended the opening ceremony of the Games.


    During the women’s swimming competition, Cruise said, “It’s awesome. Great stories, great athletes. It’s incredible what they have to do, the sense of accomplishment.”

    Preliminary data from Comcast’s NBCUniversal shows that 28.6 million US viewers watched the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, making it the most watched summer Games opening night since London in 2012.

  • PTI founding member killed in Lahore

    PTI founding member killed in Lahore

    Update

    In a new twist to the story, police claim that the murder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding member Dr Shahid Siddique was planned by his son.

    Siddique was shot dead in Valencia Town, Lahore, on August 2 when he was returning from the mosque after offering Friday prayers. His son was present at the crime scene but remained unhurt.

    Police alleged that Siddique’s son, Qayyum, planned his father’s murder with a friend because he wasn’t allowed to marry a girl of his choice by his father.

    Qayyum had made a deal of Rs. 5 million for the murder of his father in January for the same reason, said police, adding he paid Rs20 million for the second attack on Siddiqui. Dr Shahid was attacked in January as well, but police remained unsuccessful in finding the culprits at the time.

    Police said that the same son who was the mastermind behind the murder led his father’s funeral prayer.

    Previous

    One of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s founding members, Dr Shahid Siddique, was shot dead in Valencia Town, Lahore, yesterday as he returned from the mosque after offering Friday prayers.

    As he was returning from the Khizra Mosque in the H-block of Valencia Town, an unknown man approached him and opened fire.

    The victim suffered four bullet wounds and was taken to a nearby hospital where he passed away.

    IG Punjab Usman Anwar ordered immediate action to arrest the perpetrator(s) and sought a detailed report from DIG Operations.

    PTI leaders expressed shock and condemned the incident, with Zulfi Bukhari saying that he was “devastated to learn the assassination of Dr Siddique.”

  • Emmad Irfani talks about life and love after son’s death

    Emmad Irfani talks about life and love after son’s death


     
    Actor and model Emmad Irfani has captivated audiences for years with his looks and remarkable acting talent.

    Recently, Irfani appeared as a guest on Haute Talk, hosted by Amna Isani.
    During the interview, the host asked the former supermodel about the tragic death of his son. “You went through a personal tragedy, and I don’t know how comfortable you are talking about it, but could you share how it impacted your work?”

    Getting emotional about his son Zaviyar’s passing, Emmad replied,
    “Yes, his death did affect my work. And I will just say don’t cry because it’s worse, smile because it just happened. He was an angel sent from the heavens. Before that, I think he taught me a lot about life; before that, I was snowboarding through life. After becoming a father, I realized why I was here, and I believe that this is the power of true unconditional love. You work on yourself, you become better, and you realize that there are people who depend on you. He came for a specific purpose, and he wanted to tell me to make something out of myself.”
     
    The actor said that he has changed since the incident, becoming a different person. “Although this is a major setback and there can never be healing, I have learned that one may move on in life by using their work as therapy. Work and time have the ability to heal,” Irfani said.
     
    Currently Emmad Irfani is starring in Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, which airs every Monday and Tuesday at 8:00 PM on ARY Digital. The drama is written by Farhat Ishtiaq, directed by Badar Mehmood, and produced by Big Bang Entertainment.

  • Bangladesh students call for nationwide civil disobedience; seek Hasina’s resignation

    Bangladesh students call for nationwide civil disobedience; seek Hasina’s resignation

    Student leaders rallied Bangladeshis on Saturday for a nationwide civil disobedience campaign as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government weathered a worsening backlash over a deadly police crackdown on protesters.

    Rallies against civil service job quotas sparked days of mayhem last month that killed more than 200 people in some of the worst unrest of Hasina’s 15-year tenure.

    Troop deployments briefly restored order, but crowds hit the streets in huge numbers after Friday prayers in the Muslim-majority nation, heeding a call by student leaders to press the government for more concessions.

    Students Against Discrimination, the group responsible for organising the initial protests, urged their compatriots to launch an all-out non-cooperation movement from Sunday.

    “This includes non-payment of taxes and utility bills, strikes by government workers and a halt to overseas remittance payments through banks,” the group’s Asif Mahmud told AFP.

    Mahmud’s fellow student leaders also said another round of nationwide rallies would be staged on Saturday.

    “Please don’t stay at home. Join your nearest protest march,” Mahmud wrote on Facebook.

    Students are demanding a public apology from Hasina for last month’s violence and the dismissal of several of her ministers.

    Read more: 195 killed, 4000 arrested amid police crackdown in Bangladesh

    They have also insisted that the government reopens schools and universities around the country, all of which were shuttered at the height of the unrest.

    Crowds on the street have gone further, chanting demands for Hasina to leave office.

    Hasina, 76, has ruled Bangladesh since 2009 and won her fourth consecutive election in January after a vote without genuine opposition.

    Her government is accused by rights groups of misusing state institutions to entrench its hold on power and stamp out dissent, including the extrajudicial killing of opposition activists.

    Demonstrations began in early July over the reintroduction of a quota scheme — since scaled back by Bangladesh’s top court — that reserved more than half of all government jobs for certain groups.

    With around 18 million young Bangladeshis out of work, according to government figures, the move upset graduates facing an acute employment crisis.

    The protests had remained largely peaceful until attacks on demonstrators by police and pro-government student groups.

    Hasina’s government eventually imposed a nationwide curfew, deployed troops and shut down the nation’s mobile internet network for 11 days to restore order.

    Foreign governments condemned the clampdown, with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell this week calling for an international probe into the “excessive and lethal force against protesters”.

    Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters last weekend that security forces had operated with restraint but were “forced to open fire” to defend government buildings.

    At least 32 children were among those killed last month, the UN said Friday.

  • PTI confused on Sher Afzal Marwat expulsion

    PTI confused on Sher Afzal Marwat expulsion

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) official page on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, announced the cancellation of the basic party membership of maverick leader Sher Afzal Marwat for a “gross violation/ breach” of discipline.

    In an interesting development, however, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has termed the notification “fake” even though the post still hasn’t been removed from the party’s social media platforms.

    “The notification regarding cancellation of Sher Afzal Marwat’s membership is fake. It’s not possible,” stated Gohar, clearly signalling rifts within the party leadership over Marwat’s future.

    In the notification, it was said that Marwat was on notice and was asked to “restrict himself, and his statements to within the limitation as outlined in the letter. A committee was setup to monitor his statements, media appearances and tweets.”

    It further stated that if Marwat was an honourable person he would resign from the NA seat because he won as a nominated PTI candidate and seek re-election.

    Meanwhile, Marwat has accepted the party notification on X, saying, “I respect the party’s decision, but let me make one thing clear: I was Khan’s soldier.”

    He also stated that Khan had been misguided about him and that he would clarify his position in front of Imran Khan.

  • Mohisn Naqvi finds drunkards sleeping in Islamabad police station

    Mohisn Naqvi finds drunkards sleeping in Islamabad police station

    Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi paid a surprise visit to Kahna police station in Islamabad, where he found drunkards sleeping in one of the rooms.

    Geo News reported that Naqvi reached Kahna police station without informing police officials. There, he found investigating officers absent from the room where petitioners were seated. Upon inquiring about why the officers were absent, the sub-inspector could not answer any of his questions.

    The interior Minister visited the front desk and lockup cell and asked questions about the cases of arrested people. He also expressed disgust over the smell of cigarette smoke in the front desk room.


    In one of the rooms, he found two sleeping drunkards, and the interior minister tried to wake them up but couldn’t.

    Mohsin Naqvi was angry upon seeing the condition of the police station and also suggested that there is no justification for parking so many motorcycles there; most should be returned to the owners.

    The Interior Minister ordered the release of the four people arrested on charges of parking their cart in the wrong place after completing the necessary legal process.


    Naqvi asked to address the requests of all the petitioners instead of making them wait that long.

  • What is the government’s new name for the TTP?

    What is the government’s new name for the TTP?

    Journalist Iftikhar Firdous has posted on X, formerly Twitter, that Pakistan’s interior ministry has ordered all government officials to use the term “Fitna al Khawarij” (FaK) for the banned terrorist organisation Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in all official documents.

    According to the notification issued by the interior ministry, TTP has tried to damage Islam by distorting its image.

    Historically, the Kharijites were an Islamic sect which emerged during the first civil war, called the First Fitna, in the Islamic community.

    The website Islamqa.info defines Khawarij as followers of whims and desires who have deviated from the path of Sunnat.

    Social media reacted sarcastically to this government decision.

  • Ishq-e-Bilal: Five unforgettable dramas starring Bilal Abbas Khan

    Ishq-e-Bilal: Five unforgettable dramas starring Bilal Abbas Khan

    Actor Bilal Abbas Khan has made a name for himself as a fearless and versatile actor who continually challenges barriers in the roles he chooses (we obviously love him). He is now preparing himself to captivate audiences in ‘Mann Jogi.’
     
    Here are the five of Bilal Abbas’ most unforgettable performances:
     
     
    O’ Rangreza
     
    Bilal played a tough character in O’ Rangreza. The drama is about a man who is obsessed with a famous actress and treats his wife badly. His daughter tries to win his approval by copying the actress and being the perfect child. The drama is written by Saji Gul and directed by Kashif Nisar.


    Cheekh
     
    Cheekh is written by Zanjabeel Asim Shah and directed by Badar Mehmood, The main plot of Cheekh is the trials and tribulations of a woman, Mannat, who seeks justice for the murder of her friend, Nayyab.
    Bilal Abbas Khan delivered a remarkable performance, showcasing his range and depth as an actor. His character, Wajih Taseer, remains one of his most memorable roles, alongside seasoned actors Saba Qamar. Bilal also got nominated for Best Actor at the Hum Style Awards for his role.


     
     
    Pyar Ke Sadqay
     
    The story of Pyar Ke Saday is of Abdullah and Mahjabeen, who are madly in love with each other and attempt to overcome several challenges while trying to be together . They come together in the unexpected arranged marriage. The drama is written by Zanjabeel Asim Shah and directed by Farooq Rind. Bilal played the character of Abdullah, a sensitive and emotional young man.


     
    Ishq Murshid  
     
    Bilal Abbas’s recent hit drama Ishq Murshid can’t be missed. He played two characters in the drama as Shameer Sikander and Fazal Baksh. Abbas played both characters really well. The drama received was a huge success, reaching the highest TRP and massive views on YouTube. Bilal and Dur-e-Fishan Saleem (Shibra) chemistry was praised and loved by fans. Ishq Murshid is written by Abdul Khaliq Khan and directed by Farooq Rind.


    Mann Jogi
    An upcoming drama, Bilal will be appearing along with Sabeena Farooq and Mirza Gohar Rasheed. Bilal will be playing the role of a spiritual leader in Mann Jogi. The drama is written by acclaimed writer Zafar Mairaj and directed by Kashif Nisar.