Connect with us

Entertainment

MQM-P raises concern as security withdrawn from lawmakers, senior leaders

Published

on

MQM-P raises concern as security withdrawn from lawmakers, senior leaders


MQM-P leader Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui (second from right) addresses a press conference in Karachi on April 4, 2023. — X/@MQMPKOfficial
  • MQM-P ‘calls emergency press conference’ over security removal.
  • Federal ministers Khalid Maqbool, Mustafa Kamal lose security.
  • Security of Farooq Sattar, Anis Kaimkhani, Ali Khurshidi withdrawn.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) expressed serious concerns after security was withdrawn from its key ministers, lawmakers, and leaders in the early hours of Tuesday.

Security has been abruptly withdrawn from leaders of the MQM-P, including federal ministers and members of the Sindh Assembly, triggering concern within the party, sources said.

The development follows sharp criticism by MQM-P ministers and MPAs against the Sindh government, particularly over the Gul Plaza tragedy.

Sources privy to the development told Geo News that the party leadership had issued strong statements against the provincial government following the deadly blaze at the shopping centre that claimed 73 lives with a search operation still in progress to find missing persons.

Security cover has been withdrawn from Federal Ministers Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Mustafa Kamal, senior leaders Farooq Sattar, Anis Qaimkhani, as well as MQM-P’s Opposition Leader in the Sindh Assembly Ali Khurshidi.

The party sources described the development as alarming and decided to hold an emergency press conference to respond to the withdrawal of security and to outline the MQM-P’s position on the matter.

Last week, the MQM-P, a key ally of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led coalition government, demanded that Karachi be declared a federal territory under Articles 148 and 149 of the Constitution, calling it necessary “for the sake of Pakistan”.

Expressing anger over the Gul Plaza fire, MQM-P leader and Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal criticised the Sindh government, saying Karachi cannot be left at its mercy.

Kamal questioned: “How many more accidents must we endure? How many more bodies must be recovered? How many more children will fall into open drains and die?”

He added: “This democratic terrorism in Sindh should end immediately”, and called for the 18th Amendment to be abolished, claiming it has become a “cancer for the country”.

The Sindh government, however, rejected the criticism, saying MQM-P was politicising the tragedy.

Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said: “Those who burnt the people alive for extortion are politicising the Gul Plaza fire.”

Memon also criticised the timing of Kamal’s remarks against the 18th Amendment, urging political debate to occur on the assembly floor instead of outside rhetoric, which he said would achieve nothing.





Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Entertainment

Zayn Malik shares personal video message on ‘Mind of Mine’ 10th anniversary

Published

on

Zayn Malik shares personal video message on ‘Mind of Mine’ 10th anniversary


Zayn Malik celebrates one decade of debut album ‘Mind of Mine’

Zayn Malik is celebrating 10 years of his debut solo album Mind of Mine with a heartfelt message.

Earlier this week, the former One Direction star took to his Instagram Stories to post a short video of himself sharing the milestone with his supporters.

Clad in a black leather jacket the Dusk Till Dawn hitmaker expressed his gratitude for all the love all this time.

“Zayn here,” he began in the brief clip. “It’s been exactly 10 years since the release of Mind of Mind, so I thought I’d just do a little video just to say thank you so much for all the support.”

Zayn Malik shares personal video message on ‘Mind of Mine 10th anniversary

“Love you guys,” the Die For Me singer continued. “It means the world.”

He wrapped up the personal video message, joking, “hopefully I don’t look too old,” flashed a bright smile and waved at his admirers.

For the unversed, Zayn, now 32, released Mind of Mine, his debut solo studio album on March 25, 2016.

It came out exactly one year after his departure from the boy band, consisting of Liam Payne (late), Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson.

The lead single, Pillowtalk, debuted at number one in both the UK and US, making Zayn the first British male artist to achieve this with a debut single.

He dropped Like I Would as the second official single, which leaned more toward an uptempo, dance-pop sound.

A collaboration, titled Wrong, with American singer Kehlani served as the final single from the album.

Moreover, a notable track is Intermission: Flower, a Sufi devotional sung in Urdu, reflecting Zayn’s British-Pakistani heritage.





Source link

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Antonio Banderas opens up on ethnic stereotyping in Hollywood

Published

on

Antonio Banderas opens up on ethnic stereotyping in Hollywood


Antonio Banderas opens up on ethnic stereotyping in Hollywood

Antonio Banderas has spoken candidly about the ethnic stereotyping he faced when he first arrived in Hollywood, recalling being told bluntly that his Hispanic background limited him to villainous roles, and explaining why breaking out of that box still means so much to him.

“They said, you are here, like the blacks and the Hispanics, to play the bad guys,” the Oscar-nominated actor told The Times

The irony of what came next is something he clearly savours. 

“The problem was a few years later I had a mask, hat, sword and cape and the bad guy was Captain Love, who was blond and had blue eyes.”

That role was, of course, Zorro, the gutsy hero Banderas played in The Mask of Zorro in 1998 and The Legend of Zorro in 2005. 

But it was a cat, not a swordsman, that he considers the most culturally significant step forward. 

Puss in Boots, the character he first voiced in Shrek 2 in 2004, reached an audience that nothing else could quite match. 

“Even more important is Puss in Boots, because it’s for young kids. They see a cat that has a Spanish, even an Andalusian accent and he’s a good guy.”

He has now voiced the character across five films, including the critically lauded Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022, which earned an Oscar nomination. 

However, the 65-year-old confirmed last year that he has not yet been approached for Shrek 5, due in cinemas on 30 June 2027. 

“I’m not so far, and I’m not being called for that,” he told Parade

Puss in Boots did very well. Number two got a nomination for the Oscar, and the movie behaved beautifully at the box office. But I am totally satisfied with the five Puss in Boots that I did. I don’t know what is going to happen in the future. Maybe they [will] call me tomorrow.”





Source link

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Kerosene hiked to Rs433.40 per litre, petrol, diesel held steady as PM intervenes

Published

on

Kerosene hiked to Rs433.40 per litre, petrol, diesel held steady as PM intervenes


A worker holds a fuel nozzle to fill fuel in a car, after the government announced the increase of petrol and diesel prices, at a petrol station in Karachi, September 16, 2023.— Reuters
  • Govt to pay OMCs Rs95.59 on petrol, Rs203.88 on diesel under PDC.
  • PM blocks petrol, diesel hikes, bears Rs56bn to protect consumers
  • Highlights diplomacy, says Pakistan leading talks with Iran, Gulf.

KARACHI: The federal government has increased the price of kerosene oil by Rs4.66 per litre, bringing it to Rs433.40 per litre, effective from March 28, according to a notification issued by the Petroleum Division. 

Petrol and diesel prices, however, remain unchanged at Rs321.17 and Rs335.86 per litre, respectively, despite significant increases in the global oil market.

The Petroleum Division said petrol and diesel prices were held steady to shield consumers from international price shocks. 

The government will pay oil marketing companies Rs95.59 per litre on petrol and Rs203.88 per litre on diesel under the Petroleum Development Cess (PDC), as per the notification.

This latest adjustment follows a March 21 revision, when kerosene prices had surged to Rs 428.74 per litre, marking a sharp increase earlier in the month. 

The repeated revisions reflect ongoing pressure on domestic fuel pricing amid volatile global markets and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Consumers and businesses continue to feel the ripple effects of rising fuel costs, making this latest hike in kerosene closely watched across the country.

Meanwhile, a few hours before the March 28 announcement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the nation on the fuel crisis. 

PM Shehbaz revealed that he had rejected a summary to raise petrol by Rs95 per litre and diesel by Rs203 per litre, keeping the prices of both fuels unchanged for now, despite global surges. 

“The government will bear the additional cost, estimated at Rs56 billion, to protect consumers,” the premier said during the televised address.

He also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic role in the Middle East, including ongoing talks with Iran and Gulf countries, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar leading the negotiations. 

Shehbaz vociferously credited CDF Field Marshal Asim Munir and stressed Pakistan’s active diplomacy day and night to promote peace.





Source link

Continue Reading

Trending