Latest news with #Karachi-born
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Indian Express
3 generations of Pakistan nationals, including a 2-year-old, detained in Rajkot, awaiting deportation orders
A two-year-old child in Rajkot, son of a Pakistan national, who, in turn, had been brought to India before the age of five by his Karachi-born mother, who had married an Indian, is likely to be deported across the border. Three generations of this family, including 50-year-old Rizwana, her 29-year-old son Zeeshan — both with Pakistan passports — and her two-year-old grandson, were detained by the Lodhika police on Saturday. The local police are awaiting a call from senior officials regarding further action to be taken in the matter. While Rizwana and her son Zeeshan are accused of overstaying their visa for 26 years, the child has been detained because he was born to a Pakistani father and an Indian mother. According to the Rajkot Rural Police, ASI Jayvirsinh Rana and Head Constable Anil Gujarati of the Local Crime Branch (LCB) were out patrolling when they received information that Rizwana, wife of Munaf Ibrahim Tataria, is a Pakistani national who had overstayed her visa. Police Inspector I M Sarvaiya, who conducted an investigation, found that Rizwana was originally a resident of Lyari town of Karachi, was born in 1975 in Lyari, and married Munaf Ibrahim Tataria, an Indian, in 1992 when he had gone to Pakistan on a work permit. Zeeshan was born while Tataria was in Pakistan. While Tataria returned to India in 1994, Rizwana and their son Zeeshan came to India on July 30, 1999, and never went back. According to this timeline, Rizwana has lived more than half her life in India, while Zeeshan was brought up in India even before he was 5 years old. The Lodhika police said that Zeeshan despite being a Pakistan national, allegedly illegally married an Indian woman in 2021 and they have a son who was born on September 10, 2022. Inspector Sarvaiya said he is awaiting further orders from top officials regarding their deportation. Rajkot Rural SP Himkar Singh remained unavailable for comment. If deported, the break in ties between the two countries is likely to tear asunder two families — Rizwana will lose her husband Munaf, her son Zeeshan will have to leave behind his Indian wife and their two-year-old son his mother on the international border.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Days after Samiya Hijab's MMS was leaked, Pakistani TikToker now gets trolled over reel on Indo-Pak war tension
When you thought the internet could not get any messier, Pakistani TikTok star Samiya Hijab decided to stir the pot a little more. Days after chaos erupted after an alleged MMS of hers leaked online, which she claims is a deepfake, Samiya has now posted a reel on Instagram, poking fun at the India-Pakistan geo-political situation. And of course, the internet had thoughts. Samiya Hijab's reel on the Indo-Pak situation In the reel, Samiya delivered a tragicomic take on the life of 2004-2005 born kids. According to the Karachi-born social media content creator, there has been one disaster after another in the sub-continent. From the 2005 earthquake in her early years (Samiya was born in 2004) to a pandemic while she was in her late teens, life has been a series of serious events, she describes in the reel she posted. She also goes on to mention that the streak of bad luck continues as clouds of war between India and Pakistan following the dastardly Pahalgam attack on April 22, 2025 - in which 26 Indians were killed - weigh on her impending wedding. Not mincing words, she also implies that her generation must have been cursed in another life to be facing this level of cosmic 'bad luck'. Netizens react to Samiya Hijab's video While many could not help but be amused, others were quick to point out the obvious: "Who gets married at 20-21 anyway?" The Comment section turned into a battleground of its own, with some agreeing while others critiquing her for being "too casual" considering her own situation after the MMS scandal erupted. The irony of Samiya sharing funny content while the internet is still buzzing over her alleged explicit video was not lost on anyone. Netizens pointed out how unfazed she appeared, with some admiring her nerve and others accusing her of being tone-deaf. Who is Samiya Hijab and what is happening with her? For those living under a rock, Samiya recently broke down on social media claiming the viral video was a fake, created using AI, and blamed an ex-boyfriend for orchestrating the whole nightmare. Samiya hijab Kii video leak Kerna wala banda #samiyahijab She has reportedly filed a formal complaint with Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing, demanding a thorough probe. This echoes previous scandals where other Pakistani influencers like Minahil Malik, Maryam Faisal, Sajal Malik, and Zarnab Shastri also found themselves battling deepfake controversies.
Arab News
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
At Art Dubai, Pakistani artists find the space missing at home
KARACHI: Pakistani artists have been receiving increasing international recognition, but many still grapple with limited opportunities and visibility at home, a participant at a major Gulf art fair said this week. Her comments coincided with Art Dubai 2025, the Middle East's leading contemporary art fair, where 10 Pakistani artists are exhibiting their work this year. The event, running since 2007, draws galleries and collectors from across the globe and has become a vital platform for people with creative abilities in places like Pakistan. 'It's wonderful that we as artists who have been invisible because of the greater struggles of [our] country are visible through this platform in the Gulf,' said Faiza Butt, a London-based Pakistani artist currently attending the fair, told Arab News over the phone. 'It's really a matter of pride that despite all the odds, Pakistani artists continue to appear, and work and make themselves visible, especially female artists.' Butt maintained Pakistani artists are shaped by the country's complex realities, adding that is what gives their work its depth. 'Our social and political struggles really feed the artists' imagination,' she said. 'Art doesn't come from a happy place. So one of the reasons our artists are so strong is because our country has gone through a great deal of strife.' She also credited the country's mature art education institutions, such as the National College of Arts in Lahore and the Indus Valley School of Arts in Karachi, for nurturing generations of artists despite systemic challenges. Karachi-based visual artist Sana Arjumand, who is also exhibiting at the fair, echoed similar views. 'There is now more and more interest coming into Pakistani art because we are really making very good art,' she said. 'Because of so many different experiences here [in Pakistan], we have that informed kind of making of art. It's more vibrant and alive. It stands out as well — that is why more and more interest is coming here.' Arjumand, who studied painting at NCA, said her early work focused on self-reflection but has since evolved to include themes of Sufism, mysticism and human interconnectedness with nature. Her new work, presented at the fair, explores the idea that human behavior mirrors elements in the natural world. 'It's for everyone,' she said. 'It has a storyline that anybody can relate to.' A total of ten Pakistani artists, including one posthumously, are featured in the fair's Contemporary Art section. Among them is the late Sadequain, whose pioneering calligraphy and figurative works helped define Pakistan's post-Partition art movement and continue to influence generations of artists. Also exhibiting are Rasheed Araeen, a Karachi-born conceptualist known internationally for his contributions to British minimalist and postcolonial art, and Imran Qureshi, whose fusion of classical Mughal miniature techniques with contemporary themes has earned him acclaim worldwide. Other featured names include Anwar Saeed, celebrated for his explorations of identity and sexuality, and Shezad Dawood, a London-based multidisciplinary artist with Pakistani and Indian heritage. Butt is being represented by Grosvenor Gallery in London, which is exhibiting her work alongside that of Anwar Saeed under a shared curatorial concept focused on representations of the male form. 'The female figure is represented enough in the arts,' said Butt. 'Anwar and I both discuss the male form but with our own unique politics based on our unique ethnography. But we are both Pakistanis, and there are overlaps in our concerns.' She will also deliver a talk on behalf of Saeed, reflecting on his practice and political engagement through art. Despite global attention, Butt stressed that Pakistan lacks the institutional and financial infrastructure to support a thriving art scene. 'Art is a very priced project, and Pakistan cannot afford having art fairs or a very established art market,' she said. 'Pakistani artists get absorbed by galleries from other countries.' She described Art Dubai as a great opportunity for artists in her country. 'Dubai is a very stable financial hub of the Gulf region,' she continued. 'It has welcomed a great deal of migration from India and Pakistan. You get a diverse audience. It's a beautiful coming together, in a positive way, of ideas, culture and exchange of thought.'
Gulf News
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf News
Inside Pakistani star Anoushey Ashraf's dreamy Mehndi in Turkey: Colour, couture, and a whole lot of heart
Dubai: Anoushey Ashraf knows how to make an entrance — and this time, it wasn't just on-air. The celebrated Pakistani actress, RJ and former VJ has officially kicked off her wedding celebrations in great style, starting with an intimate-yet-glamorous mehndi ceremony set against the stunning backdrop of Turkey. Though she quietly tied the knot in a low-key nikkah last June, the Karachi-born talent is now celebrating her love story with a full-blown festive affair — and the internet simply can't look away. Clad in a kaleidoscopic Nomi Ansari gharara, Anoushey brought a riot of colour and charisma to every frame. The look, equal parts heritage and haute, was a perfect match for her infectious spirit. Her husband Shahab opted for a timeless white sherwani — understated, classic, and utterly dapper. From their romantic, reel-worthy couple dance to Anoushey's sassy solo performance to Makhna, the night was a masterclass in modern desi celebration — vibrant, emotional, and unapologetically joyful. Her grand descent down a flower-lined staircase on her father's arm set the tone for the evening — emotional, meaningful, and straight out of a fairytale. Guests showered her with cheers, petals, and prayers. But the most touching tribute came not from the stage, but from a guest, who wrote: 'She's the centre of our little universe — quite literally the middle child, the glue that holds us together. Flying in from Karachi to attend birthdays, Eids, or just to give me company when I was down… she's always shown up for all of us. Watching her shine in this moment with Shahab — our handsome 'third boy' — is everything." Among those present were close friends and celebrity well-wishers such as Ayesha Omar, Ali Hamza, and her longtime confidant Dino Ali, who shared a moving tribute of his own. The wedding looks were equally dazzling — Anoushey and her sister Alizeh wore vibrant Nomi Ansari creations, while Anushka and the bride's sister-in-law turned heads in Nickie Nina ensembles. If this mehndi is anything to go by, Anoushey Ashraf's wedding journey is shaping up to be nothing short of magical — wrapped in love, style, and the kind of joy that lingers long after the music fades.
