Weekly News Round-Up (1st – 7th January)
This week in the news, find out about new Pakistani movies and TV shows being released in 2022, why Djokovic is detained in Australia, what Coke Studio 2022 has in store for us and more! Read on to find out all the news you’ve missed this week.
Tennis Star, Novak Djokovic Faces Deportation From Australia
"The world, in my opinion, have been suffering enough to not follow the rules." Here's what Rafael Nadal said when asked about rival Novak Djokovic's attempt to enter Australia https://t.co/vbpkW9mecB via @quicktake pic.twitter.com/sIx0hXGx7G
— Bloomberg (@business) January 6, 2022
On the 5th of January, Novak Djokovic flew to Australia to defend his 21st Grand Slam title. However, he never made it past border control due to his failure to provide officials with evidence of double vaccination or an adequate medical exemption. Before his departure, he had claimed on social media that he had received an exemption to play in the tournament without being vaccinated. Djokovic has contracted Covid before and his vaccination status still hasn’t been made public yet. The Australian Open beings on the 17th of January and Djokovic is currently being held at an immigration detention facility in Melbourne and faces deportation. He has a full-court hearing scheduled on Monday where more details will be revealed about the exemption status he was granted and the documentation he provided immigration officials. (Source: Sky News)
Justice Ayesha Malik Makes History As First Female Judge Nominated For Pakistan’s Supreme Court
Congratulations not just to Justice Ayesha Malik but to Pakistan for having its first female Supreme Court judge. One woman judge in the Supreme Court is still too few but a good start for more to come!! #JusticeAyeshaMalik pic.twitter.com/uFcLkkXJeU
— Nighat Dad (@nighatdad) January 6, 2022
This week, Pakistan’s top judicial commission nominated a female judge to the supreme court for the first time in the country’s history. The appointment has been supported by the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Gulzar Ahmed, and will now be sent to a parliamentary panel for confirmation. Justice Ayesha Malik’s nomination is a welcome step towards gender equality in Pakistan and for more female representation in higher offices. Justice Malik has given some landmark verdicts in her career such as the outlawing of virginity tests for female rape survivors. “It is a humiliating practice, which is used to cast suspicion on the victim, as opposed to focusing on the accused and the incident of sexual violence”, she had stated in her verdict that outlawed the practice predominantly practised in Punjab. (Source: The Guardian)
Saboor Aly & Ali Ansari Get Married!
Finally it happened… big day 💌🔐🤍 @Iamsajalali #SaboorAly #SajalAly pic.twitter.com/9qFRUPFiRQ
— areesha🩺👩🏻⚕️ (@enchantingsahad) January 7, 2022
Saboor Aly and Ali Ansari finally tied the knot on the 7th of January 2022 after announcing their engagement in May last year. Their daytime nikkah was attended by family and friends and included Urwa Hocane, Zara Noor Abbas, Aiman Khan and more! Saboor looked elegant in traditional gold attire and maximalist jewellery, while Ali looked dapper in a white sherwani and turban. We congratulate the newlyweds on their nikkah!
Abdullah Siddiqui Reveals His Role As An Associate Producer On The Upcoming Season Of Coke Studio
In an Instagram post this week, the multi-talented Abdullah Siddiqui revealed that he had been working as an associate producer on the upcoming season of Coke Studio for most of 2021. He expressed his gratitude to Xulfi and thanked him for ‘trusting him(Abdullah) with his(Xulfi) brainchild and for taking him on the greatest artistic journey of his life so far. Abdullah Siddiqui also hinted at an amazing collaboration with a mystery artist stating, “P.S. I also got to sing a song. With the coolest collaborator, one can ask for.” We’re definitely excited for what’s in store this year and can’t wait for the new season of Coke Studio to air!
Usman Mukhtar & Ushna Shah To Star In A Gripping Crime Thriller
#BreakingNews #UsmanMukhtar and #UshnaShah to Star in a Crime Thriller
— Danial Mughal (@iDanialMughal) January 4, 2022
Usman will be seen playing a Police officer while Ushna will be essaying the Role of a Cricketer in this Upcoming Crime-Thriller.
Movie is already Going For Shoot.
Film will be directed by Zaheer-ud-Din pic.twitter.com/4aEm4URfWs
The talented duo will be starring in a crime thriller directed by Zaheeruddin, under the banner of Dareechay Films. The film has yet to be titled and details are currently kept under wraps, However, filming for the movie will begin in Lahore this month and it has been revealed that Usman Mukhtar will play the role of a police officer opposite Ushna Shah who will star as a cricketer. This will be their first movie together and we wish them the best!
Sang e Mah All Set To Release This Week
In other news, the first episode of the most-awaited show of 2022 starring Atif Aslam, Kubra Khan and Hania Amir will be aired in cinemas across Pakistan on the 8th of January 2022 and air on Hum TV the next day, 9th January, for television audiences.
Sang-e-Mah is penned by Mustafa Afridi and directed by the highly celebrated Saife Hasan. With this talented duo calling the shots, Sang-e-Mah is bound to leave a mark on its audiences, just like Sang-e-Mar Mar. Besides Atif Aslam, we will be seeing another newbie in the project, Zaviyar Ejaz, who is Nauman Ijaz’s son. We are currently watching Zaviyar on Qissa Meherbano Ka. Hania Amir will also be seen in the drama. Besides these three, the lead cast will remain the same as Sang-e-Mar Mar which includes Nauman Ijaz, Sania Saeed, Umair Rana, and Kubra Khan. The story, however, will be completely different.
Speaking to FUCHSIA, Saife Hasan revealed that Sang-e-Mah is an issue-based story about Pashtun tribal areas. The story revolves around a long-standing tradition called “Ghagh” which means “Ailaan” in Urdu. The tradition involves forcing girls to marry men who have made an “announcement” or a “call” to marry them against the girls’ will. According to Saife Hasan, the tradition still stands in some areas and the drama aims to shed light on the issue.
