Latest news with #Imran
New Straits Times
12 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Abid's 'Memori' reflects real-life bond with late father
DIRECTOR Abid Hussain will always remember the time he and his late father bonded best, during the final years of his life. And while his father is gone, his legacy of love remains in Abid's heart forever, and the director came up with tear-jerking family drama Memori, boasting a star-studded cast of A-list Malaysian stars. At the recent preview of Memori in GSC Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur, Abid who is marking his first feature film, described Memori as a poignant tale of a strained relationship between a father and son, shaped by turbulent events of the past. He said: "It follows a son searching for a reason to forgive, and a father gradually losing his memory to Alzheimer's disease." Abid added that the movie which opens in cinemas on July 31 is set against the stunning backdrop of Kuala Terengganu, and 90 per cent based on his father's final days. "The protagonist Imran is based on me, while his father Dr Hassan is based on my father," said Abid, adding that unlike the setting of Memori, he bonded with his father in the Klang Valley. "The story begins when Imran and his wife Rina discover that Hassan's memory is fading. "He starts seeing people and things that don't exist, and when they take him to a doctor, the shocking truth is revealed - his memory is fading fast," said Abid. "Imran who has not had a good relationship with Hassan, is forced to spend quality time with his father, and recreate stories of his past in order to remind him of his family. "By constantly reminding Hassan, Imran creates in his father's mind short bursts of good memories that help improve their soured relationship, as well as that between Imran and his wife." Memori's cast is headlined by veteran actor Datuk Hilal Azman as Hassan, Singaporean Hisyam Hamid as Imran, Diana Danielle as Rina, Anas Ridzuan as their neighbour Mamat, and Aanantha Rajaram, Pushpa Narayan and Aajay Suresh as their family friends the Jega family. MARK Abid said that Memori had already made its mark across major film festivals globally. "It has been officially selected, nominated, and has won more than 20 awards, including Film of the Year, Best Film, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Editor, and Best Producer, among others," he said. "The film has been celebrated in festivals in Los Angeles, New York City, Mexico, China, Berlin, India, Tokyo, Singapore, and the Philippines." TERENGGANU Produced by Creative Stew Sdn Bhd in association with Golden Screen Cinemas, it has Abid's wife Zakiah Malek as executive producer. Filming took place around Kuala Terengganu in July last year. Zakiah said: "Memori is a story born from sorrow, love, and gratitude. "It explores how we carry emotional baggage from our past, often forgetting the limited time we have with those we cherish. "At its core, it's about the journey of letting go in order to find something we've longed for our entire lives." HEARTWARMING Hilal said that he thoroughly enjoyed working with Abid, Zakiah, Hisyam and Diana to bring Hassan's tragic but heartwarming story to life. "We've worked superbly as a team, and Abid is a gem of a director who knows exactly what he wants for every scene." Diana said that Memori was a powerful movie, full of emotion, and she could wholly relate to the characters. "It is a very Malaysian family story that deals with illness, and parent-child relationships which are topics close to my heart," she said, adding that she got along great with Hisyam and Hilal on the set. "I went straight into Memori out of love for its beautiful story, and my utmost respect for Abid and his father," she said, adding that she had known the director for some years. FIRST Abid said that it was his first film with Hilal, Hisyam and Diana and he had the three of them in mind when he created their characters. "Hisyam pushed himself to the limits. He cannot swim but braved himself to go into the water in the drowning scene," he said. Hisyam said: "My character Imran is a son who runs away from his problems and is somewhat selfish and insensitive. "Nevertheless, he loves his father Hassan dearly." BEACH Hisyam added that he liked having the movie set by the beach. "The sea is a metaphor for family love. It tied in beautifully with Imran's and Hassan's main bone of contention, a childhood incident when the father forced the son to swim by throwing him off the boat," he said, adding that he spent the longest time submerged in the water and was proud of his achievement. "Besides the scene where Imran gives his father a nice, warm shower, my favourite scene is the one where Imran and Rina get into an argument which reveals the persons that they are."
Express Tribune
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
SC adjourns Imran's bail pleas hearing
Listen to article The Supreme Court adjourned on Monday the hearing of bail appeals filed by former prime minister Imran Khan until 12 August. The PTI founder had approached the apex court after the dismissal of his bail applications in the May 9 rioting cases by the Lahore High Court (LHC). The adjournment followed a request by Salman Safdar's legal representative, Salman Akram Raja, who asked the bench to reschedule the hearing for next week and issue notices accordingly. The case was taken up by a two-member bench led by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi. However, the bench declined the request to advance the hearing, opting to defer the proceedings for nearly two weeks. The bail petitions are now set to be heard on August 12. The LHC, led by Justice Shahbaz Ali Rizvi, had previously rejected Imran's bail, citing his alleged involvement in planning attacks on military installations in anticipation of his arrest on May 9, 2023. Imran appealed to the Supreme Court on July 26, arguing that the prosecution had presented three conflicting narratives linking him to the alleged conspiracy, all of which were rejected by various courts. The first version involved two police officials, Hassam Afzal and Asmat Kamal, who reportedly overheard the conspiracy on May 7 and May 4, respectively. This claim was dismissed by the ATC-III Lahore due to late disclosure and insufficient evidence, leading to bail in FIRs 366/23 and 1078/23. The second version alleged incitement through media statements but failed due to a lack of incriminating material and was rejected by the LHC. The third version relied on new witness statements, including from PTI leaders Sadaqat Abbasi and Wasiq Qayyum, but was also disbelieved by ATC-I Rawalpindi, which discharged co-accused Bushra Imran on August 20, 2024. Despite the rejection of all three versions by competent courts, the LHC denied Imran's bail on June 24, based solely on statements from the two police officers. Imran's petition argues that the case qualifies as one of further inquiry, entitling him to post-arrest bail under Section 497(2) CrPC 1898.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
32-yr-old, his father held for murder of stepmom
Vasai: A 32-year-old man has been arrested for killing his stepmother, whilst his father faces charges for concealing evidence. The incident came to light when authorities received information on July 27 regarding a suspicious death that occurred on July 26, where the deceased was buried without a post-mortem examination. The investigations by the Mira-Bhayandar Vasai-Virar crime branch at a first-floor flat in Vasai West led to the questioning of Imran Khusru and his relatives. CCTV footage and circumstantial evidence pointed towards Imran's involvement in the crime. During interrogation, he confessed to attacking Arshiya Khusru, 61, after she refused to give him Rs 1.8 lakh for an online game. He fatally injured her by smashing her head against the kitchen wall and kicking her face when she fell. Before fleeing, he stole her gold bangles and chain. His father, Amir Khusru, 65, upon learning about the incident, cleaned the bloodstained floor and procured a death certificate. He informed relatives that she died from injuries sustained from an accidental fall, after which she was buried according to community customs. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The authorities have registered cases under sections pertaining to murder, evidence tampering, withholding information, theft and criminal conspiracy. Both accused will appear before the court on Tuesday.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
4 days ago
- Business
- First Post
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif to make final call as hockey team faces financial hurdles to participate in Pro League
Pakistan hockey team needs approximately $2.5 million to compete in the FIH Pro League 2025-26 but they are struggling to raise funds and the federation is now dependent on PM Shehbaz Sharif. read more Pakistan hockey team has been invited to take part in FIH Pro League, but need to raise required funds first. Image: Imran butt on X Pakistan hockey team's participation in the upcoming FIH Pro League 2025-26 now depends on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's decision, as the Pakistan Hockey Federation struggles to arrange the required $2.5 million to take part in the tournament. The FIH Pro League is a top-tier hockey contest in which the world's best teams play against each other over two legs. Pakistan had initially failed to qualify for the Pro League after losing to New Zealand in the 2024-25 FIH Nations Cup. However, they have been offered a chance to join the tournament by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Wednesday after New Zealand pulled out of the contest. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistan hockey faces financial crisis Pakistan have to confirm their participation by 12 August, but the cost involved in participating in the tournament is proving to be a stumbling block. As per an estimation by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), the team will need 700 million Pakistani Rupees (approximately $2.5 million) to complete the whole campaign. However, the cash-strapped PHF finds itself unable to raise the money, approaching the Pakistan Sports Board for the funds. Reportedly, the Pakistan Sports Board has informed the hockey federation that it doesn't have enough funds. The PSB has also asked PHF to clarify where the funds allocated to them since last year have been spent. 'Concerning the invitation to participate in the FIH Pro League, [the] members authorised the PSB president Rana Sanaullah to take the final decision. It was agreed that a formal letter, outlining the rationale and objectives of participation, would be sent by the PSB President to the Prime Minister,' Pakistan Sports Board said after a meeting with the hockey federation, as per Dawn. Now the ball is in Pakistan PM Shebaz Sherif's court as he is likely to take a final call on the team's participation in the hockey Pro League tournament. Incidentally, Pakistan also missed participation in the inaugural Pro League in 2019 due to a financial crisis. They were later fined 170,000 euros by the PHF.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Imran urges leaders to set aside differences
PTI founder Imran Khan has ordered every member of his party to immediately set aside all internal differences and focus solely on the party's August 5 protest movement, "for which no meaningful momentum is being built at present". In a special message dated July 22 released from Adiala Jail, the former prime minister described PTI leaders' internal rifts at this "critical juncture" as "disgraceful and condemnable" and warned that anyone found engaging in factionalism within the party will be expelled. He said he was fighting for the future of our generations, and every sacrifice he made was for that cause. "To create rifts within the party at this time would be a direct betrayal of my mission and vision," he added. According to the PTI founder, the "so-called government formed through Form 47" has crippled the judiciary through the 26th Constitutional Amendment. "The way biased judges are now delivering blatantly unjust verdicts under these courts is visible to the entire nation. We must launch a robust campaign to liberate the judiciary, for no nation can survive, let alone progress, without judicial independence." Imran said his greatest success is that despite unprecedented oppression, the public stands with him. "On February 8th (2024), the people expressed their trust in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf by voting for you even in the absence of an electoral symbol. After such a clear mandate, it is the moral and political responsibility of every party member to become the voice of the people," he added. At the beginning of the message, Imran Khan claimed that never in the history of Pakistan had any political leader been subjected to the treatment that he was currently enduring. He said former PM Nawaz Sharif committed corruption worth billions and was nevertheless granted every possible comfort in prison. "In contrast, never before has the innocent and apolitical spouse of a political figure been imprisoned under such inhumane conditions as those imposed upon Bushra Bibi." The PTI patron-in-chief stated that he was enduring the harshest prison term in the country's history solely for the supremacy of the Constitution and in service of my nation. On Thursday, Judge Shahrukh Arjumand of the Special Central FIA Court adjourned till July 26 the hearing of the Toshakhana-II case in which Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi are key accused. During the hearing held inside a courtroom in Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail, both Imran and Bushra were presented. Later, talking to the media outside the prison PTI's Central Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, Imran's sister Aleema Khan and PTI Senator Ali Zafar, stated that the Toshakhana-II trial should be declared null and void, as a closed-door trial is a violation of the Constitution and the law. They said Imran's sons, Kasim Khan and Sulaiman Khan, have both confirmed their plan to come to Pakistan. They said it was their constitutional right to meet their incarcerated father. In this regard, a formal constitutional petition is being filed in the Islamabad High Court this week. The purpose of filing the petition is to ensure that the jail authorities have no legal grounds to deny the meeting. The petition is expected to be filed at any time, they added.
