Lahore: Prominent host and model Mathira on Friday opened up about the recent abduction of renowned dramatist Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar.

In an interview with a YouTuber, Mathira expressed, “What happened to Khalil-ur-Rehman was entirely wrong and should not have occurred,”.

Mathira revealed that, while she lacks complete details, she heard that Khalil-ur-Rehman was kidnapped and assaulted after meeting a woman late at night. She stressed that it was inappropriate for him to meet a woman at such a late hour.

 

 

 

 

 

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When discussing her own safety practices, Mathira stated that she would never attend a project meeting scheduled late at night, preferring to attend such meetings in the morning or during the day. She added, "I wouldn't even leave the house at night for my father."

Without mentioning Khalil-ur-Rehman by name, Mathira commented, "Meeting girlfriends at 4 amis inappropriate; such meetings should not occur at that hour."

A few days prior, Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar reportedly went to meet a woman in Lahore at night, where he was allegedly kidnapped and assaulted. He was purportedly abducted under the guise of discussing a drama project, tortured, and had money stolen from him.

Following the incident, the police filed a case against the responsible gang and arrested the main suspect, Amina Urooj, along with other individuals involved in the kidnapping of Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar.

Paris: Renowned stars are set to perform at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, which will take place along the Seine River on Friday.

While the official line-up remains a closely guarded secret, three performers are widely speculated to be part of the event:

Lady Gaga

One of the top-selling artists globally, Lady Gaga, known for her extravagant showmanship and vibrant costumes, is anticipated to perform. Born Stefani Germanotta, she is famous for her infectious electropop beats and dramatic performances. Lady Gaga won an Oscar for "Shallow," a song she co-wrote for the 2018 film "A Star is Born." In the film, she also performed the iconic "La Vie en rose" by French legend Edith Piaf, whose songs are expected to be featured in the Olympic ceremony. Recently, Lady Gaga was spotted arriving at a hotel in Paris ahead of the event.

Her expected appearance at the Olympics coincides with a busy year. She announced her return to the studio to work on a new album and is also set to appear as Harley Quinn in the upcoming "Joker" movie, premiering at the Venice Film Festival in late August. Reflecting on the power of music, Lady Gaga once said, “Music is one of the most powerful things the world has to offer. No matter what race or religion or nationality or sexual orientation or gender that you are, it has the power to unite us.”

Celine Dion

Canadian superstar Celine Dion is rumored to make a comeback after battling a rare illness, as highlighted in a recent documentary. She has been seen taking selfies with fans in Paris throughout the week. Sources suggest she might perform Piaf’s stirring love anthem "Hymne A l’Amour" at the ceremony. If she performs, it will be her second Olympic appearance since the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Dion, who revealed her diagnosis of Stiff Person Syndrome in December 2022, has vowed to return to the stage despite her condition. She told NBC in June, “I’m going to go back onstage, even if I have to crawl. Even if I have to talk with my hands, I will. I will.” Over her decades-long career, Dion has sold over 250 million albums and won two Grammys for her rendition of "My Heart Will Go On," the theme song from the 1997 film "Titanic."

Aya Nakamura

Franco-Malian R&B sensation Aya Nakamura, 29, is currently the most listened-to French-speaking singer in the world, with seven billion streams online. Known for hits like "Djadja" and "Pookie," Nakamura has faced criticism from right-wing activists over her potential Olympic performance.

The backlash followed reports that she had discussed performing a song by Piaf with President Emmanuel Macron.

Although neither party confirmed this, Macron publicly supported Nakamura for the Olympic ceremony. Critics from far-right and conservative circles have accused her of "vulgarity" and disrespecting the French language in her lyrics.

Born Aya Danioko in Bamako, Mali, she moved to the Paris suburbs as a child. In a 2020 interview, Nakamura stated her music explores “feelings of love in all their aspects” and emphasized, “I have made my own musical universe and that is what I am most proud of. I make the music I like, even if people try to pigeon-hole me.”

Lahore: Online bikers providing ride-hailing services faced significant disruptions due to Section 144 imposed by the Punjab government on Friday, coinciding with protests called by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamat-e-Islami Pakistan (JI) against electricity bills and inflation.

The ban on pillion riding, a consequence of Section 144, rendered bikers unable to work in Lahore and other cities across Punjab. This also affected citizens who rely on these ride-hailing services, leaving many without transportation options.

Naeem Khan from Gulberg Main Market mentioned that his brother couldn't work the entire day due to the restrictions. He urged authorities to consider the livelihood of bike riders when imposing such bans, suggesting they should be exempt from the pillion riding ban. "The authorities must remember that people also work as bike riders and should be exempted from this ban," he said, noting that police constables were actively stopping pillion riders throughout the city.

Bashir Ahmed, a resident of Ishra, shared his frustration, saying, “I tried multiple times to hire a bike ride to Thokhar Niaz Baig but couldn't. The bikers were reluctant to provide services due to fear of police arrest." Another individual in the Anarkali area echoed this sentiment, noting that a bike rider refused to come, citing police actions under Section 144.

Azhar Siddique Advocate criticized the imposition of Section 144, calling it a violation of fundamental rights. "People are just stopped, booked, and harshly treated by the police whenever this section is imposed," he stated. Siddique suggested that if such a ban is necessary, it should be properly regulated to protect fundamental rights. He noted that exemptions are often made for ambulances and women in other instances and that bikers should similarly be exempt to continue supporting their families.

On Thursday, the Punjab Home Department issued a notification imposing a three-day ban on public gatherings, rallies, sit-ins, and protests from July 26 to 28, citing "terrorism threat" concerns. The order stated that the ban aimed to maintain law and order and protect citizens' lives and properties, as public gatherings could be vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

Local authorities were instructed to enforce the order strictly. Earlier in the week, similar restrictions were in place under Section 144 from July 21 to 27 due to security concerns. The Home Department emphasized that public gatherings could be targeted by terrorists and miscreants, posing a serious threat to law and order.