Latest news with #Mustafa
Express Tribune
16 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Mustafa Amir murder: Armughan's father granted bail in illegal arms case
Listen to article A local court has granted bail to Kamran Asghar Qureshi, the father of Armughan, the main suspect in the Mustafa Aamir murder case, in an illegal arms case. The bail application was heard by the Additional District and Sessions Judge (South), who approved the bail against a surety bond of Rs100,000. During the hearing, defence counsel Khurram Awan argued that the case was baseless and registered solely because the accused is Armughan's father. He claimed that Kamran has been wrongfully implicated in multiple cases. The judge remarked that the accused should be released if not wanted in any other case. According to the prosecution, the Anti-Violent Crime Cell had booked Kamran Asghar Qureshi after recovering illegal weapons from his possession. A total of four FIRs have been lodged against him. Earlier, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Karachi had extended the physical remand of Armughan, the prime suspect in the Mustafa Amir murder case, for an additional seven days. The court directed the investigation officer to submit a progress report at the next hearing. Prosecutors argued that more time was required to recover a laptop and mobile phone, which they believe contain crucial evidence. Armughan's defence counsel opposed the request, claiming that police had completed their investigation and further remand was unnecessary. However, the court sided with the prosecution and approved the extension. During the hearing, the judge inquired whether the seized evidence had been properly sealed, to which the investigation officer confirmed compliance. The court also permitted Armughan's parents to meet him briefly. Moreover, according to a report, Armughan had allegedly confessed to the crime and explained the reasons behind Mustafa's murder. The report revealed that Armughan ran a call centre at a bungalow in Defence Housing Authority's Khayaban-e-Momin area, where 30 to 40 boys and girls worked, along with 30 to 35 security guards stationed at the premises. The bungalow had allegedly housed three lion cubs illegally. An interrogation report also shed light on Armughan's involvement in business and drug use. Before Mustafa's murder, Armughan, along with his friend Shiraz, planned to burn Mustafa's car and had previously intended to harm him. The report revealed that in 2019, Armughan was involved in a case regarding drug import, but he secured bail in that matter. According to the investigation, Armughan himself was a drug user. On New Year's Eve, Armughan hosted a party at the bungalow, where Shiraz was also present until 3 am. However, Mustafa did not attend the party. The following day, Armughan and Mustafa had a personal dispute, which escalated into a violent confrontation. On January 6, Armughan invited Shiraz to the bungalow to take drugs together, and Mustafa arrived at around 9 pm. During this encounter, Armughan assaulted Mustafa with an iron rod. Armughan and Shiraz stripped Mustafa of his clothes, bound his hands and feet with a white sheet, and dragged him down the stairs. Mustafa's car was parked in the bungalow's parking lot, and they placed his body in the trunk of the car, after which they took him to Hub. The report further details that Armughan instructed two employees to clean blood stains from the room. Armughan also took Mustafa's clothes, mobile phone, and internet device. When they could not find fuel in the car, Armughan took a fuel can from the bungalow. The report explains that Armughan discarded Mustafa's mobile phone and other belongings on the way. They arrived in Hub around 4:30 am, poured petrol on the car, and set it on fire. Armughan and Shiraz then walked to a hotel for breakfast. A hotel employee noticed a weapon, and the two men fled the scene. After walking for several hours and hitching rides, they made their way back to Karachi.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Nobody's content with the 'content'
Recently, Fahad Mustafa's old comments against family vlogging and the overuse of the word 'content' resurfaced online and caused an uproar among Tiktokers and YouTubers. "'Content' is the most overrated word in this country. There is no such thing as content. Everyone is selling their families. They haven't even left graveyards alone. They go to their mother's grave, and record themselves saying I'm missing my mother, please pray for her. What kind of 'content' is this?" Mustafa had said when asked about sharing the screen with digital content creators during a TV appearance. "I can tell a good or a bad story. But I can't sell my family. I can't sell myself. If you go on a film or TV shoot, it takes time to do this. They can't understand that this takes us 8 to 10 hours since they live in a 10-second world." While the comment offended the Instagram, TikTok and YouTube content creators especially Rajab Butt, as Ricky Gervais says, "Just because you're offended doesn't mean you're right." This back-and-forth has sparked a debate between the traditional media vs digital 'content'. But it's not a clash between Mustafa and Butt. The actor didn't even mention the YouTuber by name. The scope of this is much bigger than a forced, illogical personal feud. Content overload What Mustafa spoke about is a worldwide concern of artists in the face of countless challenges faced today. Be it AI coming in as a wrecking ball to destroy authentic human expression, shorter attention spans engineered over the last decade by social media overconsumption or the declining understanding of storytelling and art due to the aforementioned issues, there are already more than enough battles artists today are fighting to preserve their chosen media and forms of expression. This is not to defend shows like Mustafa's Jeeto Pakistan, which feed into the same Black Mirror-esque humiliation-in-exchange-of-gifts convention. But Mustafa has created work with a certain artistic integrity in film and TV both, namely Actor in Law and Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum. However, phone cameras and social media platforms combined today have created an illusion that everyone is an artist, actor, or filmmaker. While the democratisation of the media has had numerous benefits, and this is certainly not an issue of gatekeeping, talking into a camera and showing what you cooked for lunch does not exactly require an abundance of talent or skill. There are many arguments to be made against family vlogging. The internet is full of stories of disgruntled and traumatized individuals forced by their in-house vlogger, be it a parent or a child, to be documented 24/7 for the sake of views. But the crux of the matter isn't even that. It's the fact that 'content' has replaced art, cinema and storytelling. The issues start with the usage of the word 'content' which piles up every artform into one giant automated factory where every creation serves the algorithm and the algorithm, in turn, feeds it back to us. It disintegrates the distinguishing characters of each art form and strips it of any value. This is why Mustafa's comments about the word ring true. If everything is content, then there's no difference between a feature film that takes years to produce and a bag of apples. This argument doesn't devalue platforms like YouTube which can be used for a myriad of purposes from education to art and music and everything in between. It criticizes the forced homogeneity of all art forms. And family vlogging is definitely not an art form. Casting influencers In recent years, even in Hollywood, we have seen a number of so-called social media influencers turn to film and TV. But none comes to mind when thinking about who has excelled and been recognized for their skills. One can bring up Logan Paul but he has succeeded in WWE and pro-wrestling is a vastly different kind of storytelling than film or TV. Films which star the influencers usually land on streaming platforms which again play by the algorithm and casting content creators becomes essentially the same as product placement or a gimmick to cater to the said individual's social media following. Earlier this year in an interview with Variety, Ethan Hawke also lamented the fact that filmmakers are being forced to cast based on Instagram following. He said, "Sometimes I'll be setting a movie up and someone will say, 'Oh, you should cast Suzie.' I'm like, 'Who is she?' 'She has 10 million followers.' I'm like, 'OK cool, has she acted before?' 'No, but ' And you're like, 'Wow, so this is going to help me get the movie made? This is crazy.' So if I don't have this public-facing [platform], I don't have a career? And if I get more followers I might get that part? What?" Just because someone is a social media 'content' creator doesn't automatically mean they'd be good at acting or creating any kind of art. The mindset involved in both is on the opposite ends of the spectrum. That ties in with another question: aren't most studio films made with the intent of profit and hence, they cast bankable actors to attract their fanbase. How is that different from casting a digital content creator? One response to that would be that the bankable actors can usually, if not always, act and do their job well. It's the same as when Pakistani media networks and digital platforms tried to make the 'Chaiwala' into the next big star after he went viral for his looks. It didn't work. As a filmmaker, there's a massive difference between working with trained professionals and amateur enthusiasts. Most of the time, the lack of understanding of the process results in a low-calibre work. But we live in a world where everyone only wants to be on screen and get those 15 minutes of fame. And if 10-second reels can do that, who would spend months and years to tell a good story?
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Forgery racket busted in Bareilly; two arrested
Bareilly police have busted an interstate gang creating fake government documents, including Aadhaar and PAN cards, domicile certificates, income and caste proofs, and even academic marksheets, authorities said on Friday. The forgery racket was being run under the guise of a Jan Seva Kendra (public service centre) in the Bhojipura area, they added. Acting on a tip-off, police raided Azhari Jan Seva Kendra and Aadhaar Card Center on Friday and uncovered a sophisticated setup used for creating forged documents. Two prime accused, identified as Mohammad Faheem alias Guddu and Ziaul Mustafa, were arrested from the centre. Both had been running the illegal operation for nearly a year, earning lakhs of rupees through fake documentation, authorities said. Confirming the arrests, superintendent of police (north) Mukesh Chandra Mishra said investigations are ongoing to identify potential clients and other members of the racket. 'We are tracing the source and destination of these forged documents. The racket may have wider links across states,' Mishra said. According to police, the accused were operating from the Pachdaura Dohariya area within Bhojipura police station limits. Faheem, who had prior experience with Aadhaar enrolment while working for Baroda U.P. Gramin Bank, used his technical knowledge to set up the forgery racket. He was joined by Mustafa, who had been preparing for NEET after passing Class 12. The accused reportedly began their fraudulent activities after Faheem was removed from his Aadhaar operator role due to a complaint lodged with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). The complaint stated that he was illegally charging ₹100 per Aadhaar card, violating the standard charges of ₹18 for new enrolments and ₹13 for updates. After being dismissed, he opened the Jan Seva Kendra and brought Mustafa, a Class 10 pass, on board to expand their operations, police explained. During the raid, police recovered a huge cache of forged documents and hi-tech equipment. The seized items included a laptop, a PVC card machine, a monitor, a CPU, two printers/scanners, a DSLR camera, a webcam, a camera stand, a large fingerprint scanner, two small thumb scanners, two camera control units, and three mobile phones, officials said. Among the documents recovered were 20 fake birth certificates, 15 forged domicile certificates, five fake income certificates, 15 forged stamp papers, a fake Bihar Board Class 10 marksheet, a fake UP Board Class 10 marksheet, 20 fake Aadhaar cards, two PAN cards, 44 black plastic Aadhaar cards, and a fake voter ID card. Despite their modest educational backgrounds, both Faheem and Mustafa managed to set up a technically advanced facility capable of producing forged documents that could deceive even trained officials, police said adding authorities were scanning the seized digital devices to collect data and trace possible links to similar operations elsewhere.
The Star
5 days ago
- Health
- The Star
‘Eat right to reduce microplastic toxicity'
PETALING JAYA: Purple sweet potato, black glutinous rice (pulut hitam), black seeds, roselle and red dragon fruit – put more of these on the table. Health experts say these types of food help fight the inflammatory and toxic effects of microplastics in the body, with reports highlighting that Malaysians are the world's top consumers of small plastic particles, ingesting an average of 502.3mg of it daily. Toxicologist Prof Dr Mustafa Ali Mohd said while completely avoiding microplastics would be unrealistic, eating more of specific foods offered a practical and science-backed approach to reducing their risks. 'Microplastics are everywhere and we're consuming them. They potentially affect our liver, nerves and cause mild inflammation,' said Dr Mustafa of the Global Institute for Leadership and Management, Singapore. 'To help reduce inflammation, we need to consistently consume antioxidants. 'The best source for antioxidants are black seed (habbatus sauda) and monk fruit (luo han guo). 'Black seed contains thymoquinone – a very important anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound,' the dean of the institute's Medicine and Wellness programme said in an interview. According to a study published last year in the Environmental Science and Technology journal, Malaysia was tops among 109 countries in the consumption of microplastics, which are plastic particles less than 5mm in size. Nutritionist Dr Nurul Husna Shafie said another natural antioxidant, anthocyanins, has been shown to reduce toxicity caused by microplastics, by alleviating oxidative stress and inflammation in reproductive tissues. 'They may also help improve gut health by reducing microplastic-induced gut dysbiosis and inflammation,' said the official from the Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Universiti Putra Malaysia. Dr Nurul Husna said meta-analyses indicated that dietary anthocyanins could reduce oxidative stress biomarkers and enhance the body's antioxidant capacity. 'Specifically, anthocyanins reduce stress biomarkers such as malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidised LDL (Ox-LDL) and isoprostanes. 'They also boost antioxidant defences by increasing total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and the activity of key enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx),' she said. She said anthocyanins were pigments responsible for the red, purple and blue colours in fruits, vegetables and grains. 'In Malaysia, common anthocyanin-rich food includes purple sweet potato, black glutinous rice, roselle, red pitaya (dragon fruit), butterfly/blue pea flower (bunga telang), eggplant and red cabbage,' she said. She added that they could be easily incorporated into one's daily diet. 'Purple sweet potatoes can be steamed or boiled for breakfast, used in traditional kuih, made into chips for snacks or served as healthy desserts. 'Traditional Malaysian food such as ulam and fermented items like tempeh and tapai are often rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals, which support the body's detoxification processes,' she said, suggesting fresh food over processed ones and using water filters. Dr Mustafa said that while including antioxidant-rich food in one's daily diet was an effective way to reduce the effects of microplastics in the body, it was equally important for people to minimise their overall exposure to these toxins. 'Do not dispose of or burn plastics carelessly, as it can break down and release particles into the air which we then inhale. 'Avoid storing food in plastic containers, especially when it comes to hot, oily or highly acidic food, even if these containers are labelled as food-grade. 'There is a high likelihood that microplastics can leach into food, as certain conditions can cause the plastic to break down and mix with what we consume,' he said. Sahabat Alam Malaysia honorary secretary Mageswari Sangaralingam advised consumers to reduce the use of plastic containers. 'We need to break free from plastics. Replace plastic containers and products with safer, durable materials. 'Bring your own non-plastic, reusable containers when buying takeaway food. Replace plastic baby bottles with glass bottles. 'Babies and infants are particularly vulnerable to health risks associated with microplastic exposure,' she said.
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- Health
- The Advertiser
Call for sanctions on Israel over Gaza food blockade
A former cabinet minister is urging Australia to sanction Israel for blocking food from people in Gaza, ramping up pressure on Labor ahead of an international conference aimed at advancing Palestinian statehood. Labor backbencher Ed Husic, who was the first Muslim federal cabinet minister, is calling on his government to prepare targeted sanctions against Israeli officials overseeing the military campaign in Gaza against Hamas. Israel blocked aid and medical supplies entering the strip for 11 weeks and has begun letting in small amounts that international aid organisations say are a drop in the ocean of what is needed. More than two million people face starvation and the health system is at risk of collapse due to a shortage in medical supplies and Israeli strikes against facilities. Asked whether the war in Gaza had the hallmarks of a genocide, Mr Husic said it was "hard to avoid making a conclusion in your own mind that it will probably end up being called that". Israel strongly denies accusations of genocide. Mr Husic said Australia needed to put in place targeted sanctions against Israel's Netanyahu government and Israel Defence Forces for breaches of humanitarian law if the full blockade was not ended. He said the conflict should be a catalyst to fast-track recognition of a Palestinian state, something Labor has committed to doing under certain caveats, so a broader two-state peace solution could be reached. Australia is preparing to send representatives to a high-level conference in June focused on a two-state solution. The conference was mandated by the United Nations and is being co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. More than 1000 people were expected to attend an event at Parliament House on Tuesday evening about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza featuring Australian doctor Mohammed Mustafa and hosted by independent senator David Pocock. Dr Mustafa volunteered in Gaza, providing medical care during two postings, and wants to build a children's hospital there. Dr Mustafa was born a Palestinian refugee, and the emergency physician's family was displaced by Israel. "If I can put aside my trauma and my pain, now I'm asking the other side to put aside their trauma and their pain, because what we're witnessing right now is catastrophic," he said. "We need everybody to come together and stop what's going on." Israel's ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, has been contacted for comment. More than 53,000 people in Gaza have been killed, according to local authorities, after Israel retaliated following an attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023. The October 7 attack killed 1200 people and resulted in 250 hostages being taken, according to Israel's tallies. Canada, France and the UK last week warned of "further concrete action" if Israel doesn't halt its military campaign and lift aid restrictions. Using starvation as a method of warfare is a war crime, according to international law experts. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously said Israel's actions in Gaza were completely unacceptable and "the idea that a democratic state withholds supply is an outrage". A former cabinet minister is urging Australia to sanction Israel for blocking food from people in Gaza, ramping up pressure on Labor ahead of an international conference aimed at advancing Palestinian statehood. Labor backbencher Ed Husic, who was the first Muslim federal cabinet minister, is calling on his government to prepare targeted sanctions against Israeli officials overseeing the military campaign in Gaza against Hamas. Israel blocked aid and medical supplies entering the strip for 11 weeks and has begun letting in small amounts that international aid organisations say are a drop in the ocean of what is needed. More than two million people face starvation and the health system is at risk of collapse due to a shortage in medical supplies and Israeli strikes against facilities. Asked whether the war in Gaza had the hallmarks of a genocide, Mr Husic said it was "hard to avoid making a conclusion in your own mind that it will probably end up being called that". Israel strongly denies accusations of genocide. Mr Husic said Australia needed to put in place targeted sanctions against Israel's Netanyahu government and Israel Defence Forces for breaches of humanitarian law if the full blockade was not ended. He said the conflict should be a catalyst to fast-track recognition of a Palestinian state, something Labor has committed to doing under certain caveats, so a broader two-state peace solution could be reached. Australia is preparing to send representatives to a high-level conference in June focused on a two-state solution. The conference was mandated by the United Nations and is being co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. More than 1000 people were expected to attend an event at Parliament House on Tuesday evening about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza featuring Australian doctor Mohammed Mustafa and hosted by independent senator David Pocock. Dr Mustafa volunteered in Gaza, providing medical care during two postings, and wants to build a children's hospital there. Dr Mustafa was born a Palestinian refugee, and the emergency physician's family was displaced by Israel. "If I can put aside my trauma and my pain, now I'm asking the other side to put aside their trauma and their pain, because what we're witnessing right now is catastrophic," he said. "We need everybody to come together and stop what's going on." Israel's ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, has been contacted for comment. More than 53,000 people in Gaza have been killed, according to local authorities, after Israel retaliated following an attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023. The October 7 attack killed 1200 people and resulted in 250 hostages being taken, according to Israel's tallies. Canada, France and the UK last week warned of "further concrete action" if Israel doesn't halt its military campaign and lift aid restrictions. Using starvation as a method of warfare is a war crime, according to international law experts. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously said Israel's actions in Gaza were completely unacceptable and "the idea that a democratic state withholds supply is an outrage". A former cabinet minister is urging Australia to sanction Israel for blocking food from people in Gaza, ramping up pressure on Labor ahead of an international conference aimed at advancing Palestinian statehood. Labor backbencher Ed Husic, who was the first Muslim federal cabinet minister, is calling on his government to prepare targeted sanctions against Israeli officials overseeing the military campaign in Gaza against Hamas. Israel blocked aid and medical supplies entering the strip for 11 weeks and has begun letting in small amounts that international aid organisations say are a drop in the ocean of what is needed. More than two million people face starvation and the health system is at risk of collapse due to a shortage in medical supplies and Israeli strikes against facilities. Asked whether the war in Gaza had the hallmarks of a genocide, Mr Husic said it was "hard to avoid making a conclusion in your own mind that it will probably end up being called that". Israel strongly denies accusations of genocide. Mr Husic said Australia needed to put in place targeted sanctions against Israel's Netanyahu government and Israel Defence Forces for breaches of humanitarian law if the full blockade was not ended. He said the conflict should be a catalyst to fast-track recognition of a Palestinian state, something Labor has committed to doing under certain caveats, so a broader two-state peace solution could be reached. Australia is preparing to send representatives to a high-level conference in June focused on a two-state solution. The conference was mandated by the United Nations and is being co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. More than 1000 people were expected to attend an event at Parliament House on Tuesday evening about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza featuring Australian doctor Mohammed Mustafa and hosted by independent senator David Pocock. Dr Mustafa volunteered in Gaza, providing medical care during two postings, and wants to build a children's hospital there. Dr Mustafa was born a Palestinian refugee, and the emergency physician's family was displaced by Israel. "If I can put aside my trauma and my pain, now I'm asking the other side to put aside their trauma and their pain, because what we're witnessing right now is catastrophic," he said. "We need everybody to come together and stop what's going on." Israel's ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, has been contacted for comment. More than 53,000 people in Gaza have been killed, according to local authorities, after Israel retaliated following an attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023. The October 7 attack killed 1200 people and resulted in 250 hostages being taken, according to Israel's tallies. Canada, France and the UK last week warned of "further concrete action" if Israel doesn't halt its military campaign and lift aid restrictions. Using starvation as a method of warfare is a war crime, according to international law experts. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously said Israel's actions in Gaza were completely unacceptable and "the idea that a democratic state withholds supply is an outrage". A former cabinet minister is urging Australia to sanction Israel for blocking food from people in Gaza, ramping up pressure on Labor ahead of an international conference aimed at advancing Palestinian statehood. Labor backbencher Ed Husic, who was the first Muslim federal cabinet minister, is calling on his government to prepare targeted sanctions against Israeli officials overseeing the military campaign in Gaza against Hamas. Israel blocked aid and medical supplies entering the strip for 11 weeks and has begun letting in small amounts that international aid organisations say are a drop in the ocean of what is needed. More than two million people face starvation and the health system is at risk of collapse due to a shortage in medical supplies and Israeli strikes against facilities. Asked whether the war in Gaza had the hallmarks of a genocide, Mr Husic said it was "hard to avoid making a conclusion in your own mind that it will probably end up being called that". Israel strongly denies accusations of genocide. Mr Husic said Australia needed to put in place targeted sanctions against Israel's Netanyahu government and Israel Defence Forces for breaches of humanitarian law if the full blockade was not ended. He said the conflict should be a catalyst to fast-track recognition of a Palestinian state, something Labor has committed to doing under certain caveats, so a broader two-state peace solution could be reached. Australia is preparing to send representatives to a high-level conference in June focused on a two-state solution. The conference was mandated by the United Nations and is being co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. More than 1000 people were expected to attend an event at Parliament House on Tuesday evening about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza featuring Australian doctor Mohammed Mustafa and hosted by independent senator David Pocock. Dr Mustafa volunteered in Gaza, providing medical care during two postings, and wants to build a children's hospital there. Dr Mustafa was born a Palestinian refugee, and the emergency physician's family was displaced by Israel. "If I can put aside my trauma and my pain, now I'm asking the other side to put aside their trauma and their pain, because what we're witnessing right now is catastrophic," he said. "We need everybody to come together and stop what's going on." Israel's ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, has been contacted for comment. More than 53,000 people in Gaza have been killed, according to local authorities, after Israel retaliated following an attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023. The October 7 attack killed 1200 people and resulted in 250 hostages being taken, according to Israel's tallies. Canada, France and the UK last week warned of "further concrete action" if Israel doesn't halt its military campaign and lift aid restrictions. Using starvation as a method of warfare is a war crime, according to international law experts. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously said Israel's actions in Gaza were completely unacceptable and "the idea that a democratic state withholds supply is an outrage".
