Recently a statement made on a live TV show by Pervez Hoodbhoy, a controversial Pakistani activist, went viral on social media in which Hoodbhoy has called Hijabi women (women who wear veils) less progressive and abnormal.

Many people criticized Hoodbhoy for his misogynist comments against hijabi women. Many hijabi scholars and hijabi intellectuals criticized Pervez Hoodbhoy for his negative comments against dressing choice of those women who are devoted to their religion and Islamic culture.

A Pakistani news anchor, Kiran Naz from Samaa News expressed her support for hijabi women and condemned Pervez Hoodbhoy’s negative comments. Kiran Naz, in the middle of her show, wore a Hijab and showed that hijab does not stop a woman from performing her duties. Social media is praising Kiran Naz for her positive approach towards hijab. Many people are calling her a symbol of women empowerment who knows how to embrace hijab along with profession.

The proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority bill will not allow any journalists to spread fake news and remain unaccountable. The new bill will also allow the government to shut down entire media houses for spreading fake news and present them before the court for accountability.

The tribunals will be set by the government and the decision of the tribunal can be challenged in the Supreme Court Of Pakistan. Journalists found guilty can be fined at least Rs.25 million and three years of jail.

As per cabinet officials, Pakistan media Development Authority will effectively deal with fake news, hate speech and make sure timely payment of media workers. On the other hand, Pakistan Human Rights Commission has raised concerns over the bill and extended support to those journalists opposing this bill.

While giving an explanation about her controversial  stance on the Taliban’s government in Afghanistan, Veena Malik in an interview with DW Urdu said that she believes “Afghanistan belongs to Taliban”.

Veena emphasized that ” you said Taliban have captured Afghanistan but actually they have formed their government in the country. It is Taliban’s land for which they have fought a long war.”

The actress recently posted a photo of herself wearing burkha. She revealed in the interview that ” I have been wearing burkha since I was 13. No one has forced me to wear burkha. I always wear it when I go outside because I feel secure and comfortable in it.” When asked that whether she had any plans to go to Afghanistan, she told ” I love Kandhar and I would love to go there”. 

When questioned that Taliban pressurizes women to dress in a specific manner regardless of their comfort, Veena answered ” Taliban have formed their government in Afghanistan and whatever societal norms they’ll implement, I feel like Afghans will happily follow them because they are well aware about their culture and tradition. I think Afghani people are happy as I am not seeing any resistance so better to let them be happy”.

After interviewer asked Veena that whether Taliban’s government in Afghanistan will have its impact on Pakistan, she replied, ” Pakistan is an independent country and people wear all types of clothes here. But I think there should be a certain dress code in showbiz. Government should impose a dress code to let us know the limits we are supposed to stay in”.

When asked about the Taliban’s treatment with the artists, Veena said that she is more worried about the women who are forced to wear skimpy clothes in showbiz industry. “I think we should be more sympathetic to those women in industries who have to wear skimpy clothes forcefully because women feel more uncomfortable there rather than when they are given a proper dress code. I feel that how Taliban treat their artists should be left upon them. We have nothing to do with Afghan government,” Veena said.

She further elaborated, ” I am worried about the industries where there is no proper code of conduct and celebrities are free to do whatever they want. This is scary. People are being subjected to weird things. They should be taught to set boundaries.”

PM Imran Khan chaired a meeting of the Punjab local government system and draft law in Lahore, which was attended by Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, PM’s special assistant on political communication Dr Shahbaz Gill, provincial ministers Muhammad Aslam Iqbal, Mian Mahmood ur Rashid, Dr Murad Raas, Dr Yasmeen Rashid, chief secretary Punjab, commissioner of Lahore city and other high authorities.

Prime Minister Imran Khan directed to uncover individuals bearing “good character” that can be put forward as candidates for the local government elections in Punjab. This meeting was held with the PTI Punjab’s political team on Wednesday in Lahore.

The matter of discussion was opposition faced by PTI in the political and administrative fronts in Punjab. PM directed his political team to prepare for nearing local body elections. He emphasized bringing”Individuals of good character and publicly renowned figures should be accentuated”. He also added to search for such candidates as soon as possible. Moreover, he said that to keep check and balance and assess progress regarding election preparation, Chief Minister should visit party workers once a month. He also augmented the issue of fake votes brought forward by the former government in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

PM Imran Khan was also briefed about the Sohan Lahore project, pollution-related threats, cleanliness and other administrative issues that need to be urgently dealt with.

Author: Amna Sheraz

On Thursday, Fawad Chaudhry the federal Minister for information and broadcasting protected the recent hike in fuel prices, said that in South Asia Pakistani’s fuel prices are still the lowest.

Fawad Chaudhry in his tweet said that Pakistan is importing fuel from the International market which is why the prices have increased in the country.

He further said that the income of 75 per cent populace of the country has increased appreciably and it is the actual success of the PTI government.

According to a notification issued by the Finance Minister Mr Shaukat Tarin on Wednesday, the federal government for the next 15 days of September 2021 increased the price of petrol by Rs.5 per litre.

RS 5.01 per litre in the price of diesel and Rs 5 per litre increase on petrol has been approved by the government.

The increase of Rs.5.46 in the price of Kerosene oil while Rs.5.92 per litre elevated in the rate of light diesel.

The new Afghan government seeks an inclusive government, guarantees women’s rights and has given amnesty. Prime Minister Imran Khan told in an interview with Becky Anderson on CNN. The Afghan Taliban guarantees fundamental human rights and women’s rights in their context.

The crystal clear fact is that the Afghan Taliban wants international recognition. Speaking about the misconception related to Afghanistan, Imran Khan remarked that no puppet government can control the people of Afghanistan as it creates a sense of discredibility among the Afghan nation.

PM Imran Khan raised an appraisal that instead of sitting and talking about the future of Afghanistan, we should incentivize them because this generation of Taliban wants international recognition and wants to put an end to the prevailing country crisis.

Imran Khan also depicted the fact that the current government knows well that without international aid and help, they won’t be able to get stability.The PM further told that we are unable to predict the future of the Afghanistan and Afghan Taliban but can just hope and pray for peace after 40 years.

Earlier this week, Amir Azeem Bajwa, chief of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) gave a recommendation that the social media users continuously posting “inappropriate content” on the social media app “Tik Tok” should be arrested.

This suggestion was given in the perspective of immoral and insensitive content being posted on the app since its introduction in Pakistan.

According to Bajwa, more than 1 million reports have been received on various links and videos. The content being posted on social media shouldn’t breach the societal norms and values of a particular country in which it has been operating, which should be taken under consideration by the administrators and operators of these apps, he added.

Pakistan Telecommunication watchdog has also banned various dating apps before. Moreover, the authorities asked YouTube to block the content which is indecent and objectionable as per the norms of Pakistani society.

This continuity of restricting trash content by the regulatory authorities has not been digested by proponents of “Freedom of expression and speech” who keep on calling this a “cringe and outdated behavior” by the state authorities.
It should be noted that “Tik Tok” has been banned four times by the government authorities of Pakistan and it is still restricted in the present time.