Author: Ali Qasim

Hiba Bukhari stuns in bright red for Rukhsati

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Hiba Bukhari and Arez Ahmed were joined by family and celebrity friends for their wedding celebrations.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYgetTgvY0v/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Saturday marked the Fitoor star’s Rukhsati where the diva slipped into a bright red Lehenga paired with heavy gold jewelry. Groom Arez kept his look dapper in a black Sherwani and matching Turban.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYfqe3gv80t/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The lovebirds, who said their vows earlier this week, were spotted smiling ear-to-ear in viral photos on the internet. Earlier Hiba took to her Instagram Stories to share her pre-makeup look from the day.

The event, that was held in Karachi, was attended by various media personalities including Rabia Mughni.

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REAL MAGIC OF COKE STUDIO SEASON 14 REVEALED

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Celebrating the Real Magic of Pakistani music, Coke Studio has proudly released the official trailer for Coke Studio Season 14 – revealing the boundary-pushing artists that light up the season.

The Season is a new vibe, premised on the fact that music in 2022 is revolutionized. Fans are mainlining music direct and uncensored – the way creators intended. Bedroom producers and social media poets grab the same loyalty from their followers as mainstream stars. And they’re not afraid to say what’s on their mind.

If the old rules have gone up in smoke, it begs the question: what does a 14-year-old platform like Coke Studio really know about today? To answer that you have to take a look at the Coke Studio Season 14 roster; envisioned, assembled and let loose by visionary producer and curator Zulfiqar (Xulfi) Jabbar Khan.

It’s a mad mash-up of Gen Z soloists and the grandmasters that lit the way. This year’s reboot also embraces the bond between music, aesthetics and attitude. Each of the thirteen songs comes with a unique video, created by some of Pakistan’s most progressive directors including Kamal Khan, Murtaza Niaz, Jamal Rahman and Coke Studio veteran Zeeshan Parwez. Production managers and stylists were also invited to let their imaginations go wild. Visual storytelling is shoulder to shoulder with music this year because Pakistan’s film industry (having a low-key renaissance of its own) is impossible to ignore. With Pakistan’s premium live sound expert Ishaq Nazir and sound tech squad that included Sherry Khattak and Turaab Khan in pivotal roles, the result is a confessional season wrapped in delicious visuals and sound.

The cuts radiate optimism and big dreams. There are Abida Parveen, Naseebo Lal and Faisal Kapadia. There are Atif Aslam, Ali Sethi and the incandescent Meesha Shafi, Momina Mustehsan and Quratulain Balouch. But there is also formerly-indie-now-Grammy-nominated Arooj Aftab and socials-big artists like Hasan Raheem, Kaifi Khalil and Shae Gill – seriously talented performers on the cusp of blowing up. There are also risky cross-overs like Young Stunners in a ballad and metal overlaid by Faris Shafi. Dynamic performers such as Soch, Asfar Hussain, Lahore Jazz Ensemble, Zain-Zohaib, Karakoram, Eva B, Abdul Wahab Bugti and Ameer Buksh, Butt Brothers and Justin Bibis round out the roster. It’s all held together by visionary collaborators like Abdullah Siddiqui, ActionZain, Talal Qureshi, Adnan Dhool, Arsalan Hasan and Rovalio. Fusing them all together was the masterstroke of Xulfi and Coke Studio.

The season features an excellent line-up of instrumentalists, including Kami Paul, Veeru Shan, Awais Kazmi, Action Zain,  Melvin Arthur,  Saad ul Hasan, Haroon Daniel, Payam Mashrequi, Arsalan Hasan, orchestra section led by veterans Nijat Ali and Javed Iqbal, choir led by Turaab Khan, Asad Ali, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Bilawal Lahooti, Omair Farooq, Zain Peerzada, Sherry Khattak, Annan Noukhez, Yusuf Ramay, David Joseph, Aziz Kazi, Waqas Hussain, Rohail Nawab, Haider Abbas, Faiz Qazi, Joshua Amjad, Muzammil Hussain, Gul Muhammad and Mairah Khan.

Coke Studio 14 navigates hairpin turns in values and expectations as a platform for the thinkers of today. The performers, producers, directors and designers hold a mirror to the anxieties and the euphoria of now. It’s a complex ecosystem based on cooperation, not competition.

Their art verbalizes a collective feeling that we’re stumbling towards Faiz’s Promised Dawn. The lights have clicked on. We’re no longer shivering on the margins of the world, questioning whether we dare to exist. This is the era of Pakistan’s self-actualization, and as Pakistan’s biggest cultural export, Coke Studio knows it. “Artistic, talented, progressive – if we get our powers together, we are amazing” says Xulfi “For me, Coke Studio can open peoples’ hearts to Pakistan.” Each contributor bared their soul this season, embracing where they come from, speaking with conviction and man, it’s a joy to say: they’re ours, they’re ours, they’re ours. 

 The season reveal video can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGXJ0c7XU88. The first episode of Coke Studio Season 14 will be released on 14th January 2022.

In the meantime, be sure to listen to your favorite songs from Coke Studio on Spotify https://open.spotify.com and keep yourself logged on to www.cokestudio.com.pk and https://www.instagram.com/coke_studio to follow the Coke Studio journey.

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Fans speculate separation of Ahad Raza Mirand Sajal Aly on missing from Saboor Aly’s Mayun,

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Sajal Aly and Ahad Raza Mir are making fans raise eyebrows yet again. 

While elder sister Sajal is seen at the forefront of wedding festivities of Saboor Aly and Ali Ansari, husband Ahad Raza Mir is missing in action.

This comes after the Ehd-e-Wafa star seemingly skipped Saboor’s Baat Pakki and Sajal’s Khel Khel Mein premiere, sparking rumours of estrangement from wife.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYW9LFpPKmr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

In the viral video shared by various social media accounts, Sajal is spotted in a green lehenga, laying Haldi on the blissed couple sans Ahad.

“Where is Ahad ??” asked one Instagram user in the comments. “So separation is confirmed?,” added another.

In a recent interview, Sajal addressed her ‘rushed’ wedding with Ahad, detailing how the actor wanted to marry as soon as possible in fear of losing her.

“I asked Ahad why he had been in such a hurry to get engaged. He told me that he had been afraid that, if he didn’t ask me to marry him, he would lose me, and I would marry someone else.” 

 

Meesha Shafi talks about Ali Zafar harassment in court: ‘No eyewitness’

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Meesha Shafi is addressing the sexual harassment allegation against Ali Zafar in court. The Jugni Ji singer, who appeared before the judge in the second session of Ali Zafar’s counter case on defamation, confessed that the singer groped her in public in 2017.

Upon asking if there was an eye witness to the incident, Meesha detailed that she herself is not an eye witness since she ‘felt’ the harassment, did not see it.

“Yes, even I myself am not an eye witness to this incident. I felt it [but] I did not see it.”

“Did you look behind to see if it was the plaintiff’s hand,” the lawyer counter-questioned. “There was no other hand near me and it certainly was not my hand,” she responded.

“Is it correct that there was a drummer sitting behind you and the plaintiff,” the counsel then asked to which Meesha replied that a drummed was at least “4-5 feet away”.

All witnesses from the day Meesha claims she was harassed, have opposed to her accusations. They shared that Shafi even hugged Zafar right after the ‘jam session’ ended.

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Saboor Aly, Ali Ansari begin wedding festivities with laughter-filled Mayun!

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Saboor Aly is all-set to say her wedding vows to Ali Ansari!

The power couple is adding its name to the list of celebrity weddings this year. Both Saboor and Ali were joined by family including sister Sajal Aly for an intimate Mayun ceremony Wednesday night.

Turning to her Instagram later, Saboor dropped an adorable photo from the event where she can be seen rubbing turmeric on Ali Ansari’s face.

“بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ (In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficient, the Most Merciful) captioned Saboor alongside the photo.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYW9LFpPKmr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Groom Ali too, shared a photo from the day on his photo-sharing app, putting up the same caption as the Fitrat star’s.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYW9LAJBZOb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Saboor and Aly announced their engagement in 2021. The lovebirds are all set to tie the knot this week.

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ICC ratings: Kohli now ranks below Babar across all three cricket formats .

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli has slipped below Pakistan captain Babar Azam in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) batting rankings across all three formats of cricket — Test, ODI, and T20I.

Kohli was already below Babar in the ODI and T20I rankings, but after the latest rankings were released, the Indian batter slipped two positions and is now at the ninth spot, with 747 rating points.

The ex-Indian ODI and T20I captain managed to score 53 runs in the Centurion Test against South Africa — averaging only 26.50.

Kohli was two places above Babar, who gained a spot, and is now at the eighth spot, with 750 rating points in the Test category.

The Indian batter, in the ODI rankings, is at second place — a spot below Babar, who is at the top of the list. The Pakistan batter has 873 rating points, while Kohli has 844.

In the T20I rankings, Babar is sitting at the second spot, with 805 rating points, while Kohli is not even in the top 10. The Indian batter is at the 11th spot, with 657 rating points.

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PSL 2022: Inzamam Ul Haq appointed Peshawar Zalmi president

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Pakistani batting great Inzamam ul Haq has been appointed the president of Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Peshawar Zalmi weeks ahead of the mega sports event of the country.

The much-awaited seventh edition of the PSL is starting January 27. Peshawar Zalmi announced the news on their official Twitter account on Thursday.

The veteran cricketer had been affiliated with the Yellow Storm as a mentor in the last season of PSL. Javed Afridi, chairman of Peshawar Zalmi welcomed Inzamam once again to the “Zalmi family”.

“Izamam ul Haq is a legend and his inclusion would benefit the Zalmi cricketers,” said Afridi.

He said that the cricketers will get to learn a lot from Inzamam. Earlier, on Wednesday, Peshawar Zalmi unveiled the playing jersey for the much-anticipated seventh edition of the PSL. According to a statement issued by the franchise, the Zalmi Kit is designed to represent the historic city of Peshawar and Pakistan’s national animal Markhor.

“The traditional designs of Peshawar, which is also known as the city of flowers, has been included in the kit, as well as representation of historic locations of Peshawar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Islamia College, Ghantaghar Peshawar, Khyber Pass and K2,” the statement highlighted.

The PSL’s latest edition will be played in Karachi from January 27 to February 7 and in Lahore from February 10-27. The first match will be staged under the lights of the National Stadium, where Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans will go head-to-head.

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Ahmed Ali Akbar requests for ‘Parizaad’ naswar after chips hit market .

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Ahmed Ali Akbar is enjoying every bit of his massive success with drama Parizaad.

The star, who garnered love from fans around the world with his serial, turned to his Instagram on Tuesday to share a photo from a chips pack by a local manufacturer.

“YaAllah tera shukr Bas ab naswar bhi (Thanks to Almighty Allah! Now we need Naswaar) he hilariously captioned alongside his satirical post.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYUA0Cjt9QV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Parizaad is a story of a boy born in an underprivileged family. The drama also stars Mashaal Khan, Ushna Shah, Saboor Aly, Yumna Zaidi and more.

 

Farewell, BlackBerry smartphone!

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

BlackBerry is pulling the plug on service for its once ubiquitous business smartphones, which were toted by executives, politicians and legions of fans in the early 2000s.

The move marks the end of an era as the phones, which sported a tiny QWERTY physical keyboard, pioneered push email and the BBM instant messaging service.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama, one of its most celebrated users, made headlines in 2016 when he was asked to give up his BlackBerry and replace it with an unnamed smartphone.

Blackberry lost favor with users with the advent of Apple’s touchscreen iPhones and rival Android devices. In recent years, the company pivoted to making cybersecurity software and embedded operating systems for cars.

Social media was alight with tributes. One Twitter user reminisced it was a “fabulous machine” and hoped the company’s phones would be resurrected.

In a document published in 2020, the company said it would take steps to decommission legacy services for BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry OS operating systems and added devices running on them would no longer be supported and may not be able to receive or send data, make phone calls or send messages reliably.

A U.S. judge on Monday rejected the company’s bid to dismiss a lawsuit claiming it defrauded shareholders by inflating the success and profitability of smartphones using BlackBerry 10 OS, and said the class-action case could go to trial this fall.

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Punjab health minister Yasmin Rashid tests positive for COVID-19

Posted on by Ali Qasim

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Punjab Minister for Health Dr Yasmin Rashid on Tuesday tested positive for coronavirus, a spokesperson for the lawmaker confirmed, as Pakistan faces a rising number of Omicron cases.

The health minister is isolating at home, the spokesperson said, adding that she got herself tested after her son tested positive upon his arrival in the United States.

The spokesperson said Dr Rashid attended a meeting regarding dengue today, where the province’s chief secretary was also in attendance. “All the participants of the meeting have been asked to get themselves tested.”

The fifth wave of COVID-19, which is driven by the Omicron variant, is spreading rapidly, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) had said Monday as Pakistan reported its highest number of daily infections in over two months.

While addressing the epidemic curve chart data, the national immunisation plan, and disease prevalence across the country in a morning session, the NCOC confirmed that the positivity rate in Karachi has risen from 2% to 6% in the last three days, with the highest number of positive instances.

As of January 3, Pakistan recorded 372 cases of the Omicron variant, as per the  the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination.

The country confirmed its first case of the highly-transmissible variant on December 13 from its most populous city, Karachi. Three weeks later, the variant, which was first reported by South Africa and Botswana, has spread to its major cities.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan confirmed that a total of 372 infections of the variant have been recorded, with most of the cases being reported in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.

Dr Sultan added that Omicron was “now in most large countries, and forms an ever increasing proportion amongst the cases detected.”