Latest news with #Faraz
Khaleej Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Transformation journey: UAE's evolution from 1993 to a global hub
Maliha and Faraz came to Dubai in 1993, and since then, the UAE has been their home. Faraz arrived in Dubai on a five-day visa, hoping to find a job in a land that was still in its infancy stage of development. 'When we first came to the UAE, we lived in the city of Sharjah, which bordered Dubai. I joined the Bank of Oman, which later came to be known as Mashreq Bank. Dubai at the time had started to show signs of development but was still sparsely populated and dotted with a few high-rise buildings,' Faraz recalls. Faraz and Maliha have witnessed the rise of the UAE over almost three decades. When they moved to the UAE, the country was very different. The infrastructure was still world-class but not as extensive as we see it today. Most banks were located on Al Fahidi Street, commonly known as Bank Street. In those days, the Clock Tower was an important landmark. Maliha recalls coming to Dubai and not knowing what to expect. She had moved from the US and initially thought she would have to make a lot of adjustments. In no time, however, she got used to life in Dubai, where the Pakistani community at that time was small and very supportive of each other. 'It is astonishing to see the speed with which the UAE has developed. When we came to the UAE, we could see the Trade Centre from our apartment in Sharjah. There was one mall and only two golf courses,' she shares. The UAE at that time had started to show signs of further development. However, at the time, it was difficult for women to make a mark in the workforce. Mostly, women taught in schools or found related work. Today, this has changed by many folds. We see women in every field. The gender difference is a thing of the past, and we see women employees in all kinds of jobs. As parents of two boys, Faraz and Maliha are full of praise for the UAE, where they have managed to raise them in a safe and healthy environment. The UAE offers one of the best schooling systems and, without a doubt, the safest environment for raising children. However, the students who leave the UAE are now coming back and serving the community. This trend is becoming more perpetuated as we are seeing a large number of the younger generation opting to work in the UAE rather than working abroad. Both Maliha and Faraz are of the opinion that great leadership is single-handedly responsible for the exemplary progress of the UAE. The vision of its leaders cannot be replicated. It has been exceptional. The rulers of the UAE have provided a first-class structure and an upbeat environment for startups and investments. The bureaucracy has always been conducive for investors from around the world. New investments are encouraged and facilitated by the government. This makes the UAE extremely attractive for investors. Faraz's own experience at Mashreq, and later at Dubai Islamic, has been a very successful career journey. 'Though Faraz has now retired, the facility of the Golden Visa has given us the opportunity to continue living here. The UAE offers us a very safe environment, a robust lifestyle and a medley of cultures very hard to find elsewhere,' Maliha says. Dubai, from a trading country, has changed into a mega financial hub. The focus on tourism, education, medical systems, and world-class infrastructure has facilitated economic growth exponentially. 'In the financial sector, the UAE has realised the need for modern tools and that the offerings on the trade side and treasury side should be world-class. The UAE has very successfully implemented this, and today it stands tall as a financial hub globally,' Faraz concludes.
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Convicts can't travel abroad, PHC tells Shibli
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday dismissed a petition by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Senator Shibli Faraz against the placement of his name on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL), ruling that a convicted person cannot be permitted to travel abroad. A two-member bench, comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Dr Khurshid Iqbal, heard the matter. Faraz's counsel, Bashir Khan Wazir, informed the court that while his client's name had been removed from the Exit Control List (ECL), it was subsequently placed on the PNIL. He acknowledged that the petition had been filed before his client's conviction, which had altered the circumstances. Justice Syed Arshad Ali observed that Faraz now had only two legal options, to serve his sentence in jail or seek bail from the court. "We cannot turn a blind eye. How can we allow a convicted person to travel abroad?" the judge remarked. The government counsel submitted a report confirming that Faraz's name had been moved from the ECL to the PNIL. The defense stated that Faraz intended to surrender before the court and requested disposal of the petition. The bench accepted the request and closed the case. Bail extensions for PTI leaders In separate proceedings, the PHC extended the protective bail of PTI Peshawar Region President and MNA Atif Khan, MNA Shahid Khattak, and Senator Mishaal Azam until September 2, barring authorities from arresting them in any registered case. The court also directed the federal government to provide complete details of all cases filed against them. Hearing petitions filed by the three leaders and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister Meena Khan, the same bench was told by their counsel that numerous cases had been lodged against them without providing specifics. The Assistant Attorney General admitted the government's report was still pending and assured the court it would be submitted at the next hearing. In Meena Khan's case, the Assistant Deputy Attorney General revealed that three cases were registered against him in Islamabad, with no pending inquiries at NAB or FIA. The court disposed of his petition, advising him to approach the relevant trial courts. Azam Swati moves contempt petition Meanwhile, PTI Senator Azam Swati once again faced a travel ban when stopped at Peshawar Airport. He filed a contempt of court petition through Advocate Ali Azeem against the federal government, FIA, and other authorities, alleging violation of court orders that had directed the removal of his name from all stop-lists. Swati contended that despite the PHC's recent acceptance of his plea to remove his name from the ECL and Passport Control List (PCL), it was added to the PNIL in defiance of the
Time of India
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Theatre must ask what society doesn't, says Faraz Khan
Faraz Khan, a Mumbai-based actor and director, believes that 'theatre should provoke, not pacify.' With his upcoming shows in Bengaluru, he brings together satire and social commentary, reviving his long-running play The Open Couple and presenting a new reading of Ajay Krishnan's Butter and Mashed Banana, which explores censorship and identity. Excerpts from a conversation: 'CENSORSHIP BEGINS IN THE ARTISTE'S MIND' For Faraz, censorship doesn't start with official authorities; it begins in the artiste's mind. 'We keep asking ourselves, 'Can I say this? Should I say this?' That's when you realise the real censorship is internal. There's a subtle pressure not to offend or be 'too much',' he says. 'A DIRECTOR'S JOB IS TO LISTEN TO THE PLAY' Faraz approaches direction with a sense of attentiveness. 'I always begin by asking, 'What does this text want?' Not what I want it to be. The politics, rhythm, pauses, and even the humour are all there in the writing. My job is to bring it out, not layer my cleverness on top of it,' he explains. 'WE NEED TO STOP RECYCLING THE SAME PLAYS' To Faraz, theatre should challenge, not comfort. 'We keep staging the same thing. But why not bring out new voices or rediscover forgotten Indian texts? There's a rich archive of Indian stories we haven't explored,' he adds. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo 'BENGALURU IS ALWAYS WILLING TO BE SURPRISED' 'There's something special about Bengaluru. The audience doesn't rush to react; they sit with a performance, even if it's unfamiliar or challenging. Whether it's Kannada, English, or experimental Tamil plays, this city makes room for all kinds of voices. And, the audience is open to being surprised,' says Faraz. 'YOUNG AUDIENCES ASK DIFFICULT QUESTIONS' Despite the dominance of short-form content, Faraz finds hope in younger audiences. 'They show up, they listen, and they're not afraid to ask tough questions after a show. That curiosity and that willingness to engage is where theatre truly grows,' he says.
The Hindu
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
The Open Couple to visit Bengaluru, courtesy La Compagnie Dramatique
La Compagnie Dramatique, a theatre collective from Hyderabad is in the city and will present two engaging performances this weekend. The first is a theatrical reading of Ajay Krishnan's Butter and Mashed Banana, followed by the The Open Couple the next day. The Open Couple was written in 1983 by Italian playwright Dario Fo and his wife Franca Rame. It is a farce that explores the ideas of equality, hypocrisy and politics in a marriage. According to Faraz Khan, who is directing this production of The Open Couple, 'the writing was beautiful and the satire brilliant,' reasons he felt were more than enough to take up the play, apart from the legacy of Darian Fo who was a revolutionary in his own right. Even though he was captivated by Darian's work, Faraz who saw himself as a 'dramatic' actor, was reluctant to take on comic works until he was persuaded by fellow actor Vaishali Bisht's argument that 'theatre requires imagination'. 'I believe all good writers craft like music and there is a beautiful, poetic sort of rhythm within the dialogues of Darian's work. I began getting a lot of interesting ideas and soon I knew I wanted to treat certain sections of the play with sound,' says Faraz. 'I realised I didn't have to think so much; I could trust my instinct and direct the piece,' he adds. The Open Couple by La Compagnie Dramatique debuted in Hyderabad in 2013 and has been staged around 45 times across the country since then. Following a break in 2017, the troupe revived it again last year. 'It is something we are proud of because we've applied a lot of different nuances to it, including commedia dell'arte, which is an Italian comedic art form,' says Faraz. La Compagnie Dramatique will also be presenting a theatrical reading of Ajay Krishnan's Butter and Mashed Banana, a play they found at The Drama Library, an online repository of plays by little and not-too-well known writers, which is maintained by The Basha Centre for Performing Arts in Bengaluru. 'It is a marvellous piece of writing and one piece every member of our group felt we could perform when we read the entire script. We have received permission from Ajay for the reading,' says Faraz, adding that audiences will be treated to a cross between 'a reading and a staged production.' Butter and Mashed Banana will be presented on August 8 at Atta Galatta at 7.30pm; The Open Couple will be staged on August 9 at Jagriti Theatre at 3.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets available on BookMyShow
Time of India
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Lahore court issues warrant for PTI's Shibli Faraz, summons Imran Khan in 2023 police clash case
A Lahore court on Friday issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Senate opposition leader and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shibli Faraz and summoned the party's founder Imran Khan in connection with a case involving an alleged attack on Islamabad Police outside Khan's residence last year, Dawn reported. The case pertains to an incident from March 2023, when the Islamabad Police registered a first information report (FIR) against Imran Khan, Shibli Faraz, and around 150 PTI workers. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category The charges included harassing and issuing life threats to a police team that had visited Zaman Park in Lahore to arrest the former prime minister for skipping hearings in the Toshakhana case, Dawn stated. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search Ads Get Info Undo According to the FIR lodged by Race Course police, Islamabad Secretariat Station House Officer (SHO) Nadeem Tahir alleged that "Imran, with the connivance of Faraz and 150 charged party workers, committed a crime by dodging and barring the Islamabad police from discharging their duty." Judicial Magistrate Sohail Rafique, who is presiding over the case, ordered the non-bailable arrest warrant for Faraz and also summoned the authorities at Adiala Jail to present Imran Khan in court on July 30, Dawn reported. Live Events Citing Dawn, the Islamabad Police had initially decided to call off the "operation" after PTI leader Faraz informed them that Imran was "not available" at his residence. However, Imran later addressed supporters from the same location, confirming his presence. The police then said that action would be taken against Senator Faraz for "misrepresenting facts" and obstructing lawful procedures. Earlier this month, several PTI leaders received decade-long prison terms from anti-terrorism courts in Lahore and Sargodha in connection with the violence that followed the May 9, 2023, protests, Dawn noted. Additionally, on Thursday, an Islamabad district and sessions court sentenced 13 PTI supporters to six months in jail over cases linked to the party's "Final Call" protests in November last year.
