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.”

Islamabad:  Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) claimed that around 1,150 of its activists were detained across various cities while attempting to march to Islamabad to protest against rising inflation.

JI's protest targets the recent sharp increase in electricity prices, while PTI's nationwide demonstrations are focused on calling for the release of its founder, Imran Khan, and other detained leaders.

The federal capital has been heavily fortified with containers, effectively cutting it off from nearby Rawalpindi and surrounding areas.

The strict security measures, including road blockades, have been implemented to prevent protest gatherings, leading to significant traffic disruptions across the city.

Section 144 remains in effect in both Punjab and the federal capital, banning assemblies, processions, and protests ahead of planned opposition rallies.

Law enforcement personnel have been deployed throughout Islamabad to ensure compliance with the restrictions, and citizens are advised to avoid participating in unauthorized activities.

Several JI members were arrested by the Islamabad police while attempting to gather at D-Chowk in defiance of Section 144. Additional arrests occurred in Lahore as protesters attempted to march towards the capital.

In response to the restrictions and arrests, JI's Rawalpindi Emir Arif Sherazi announced that the sit-in would be relocated to Liaquat Bagh instead of D-Chowk, where it will continue until the party’s demands are met. JI Emir Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, leading a march from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is expected to join the protest at Liaquat Bagh.

Rawalpindi Central Police Officer Khalid Mahmood Hamdani stated that JI was granted permission to hold a rally at Liaquat Bagh under certain conditions. He assured that the situation remained peaceful and warned that any attempts to disrupt it would not be tolerated.

Addressing the protestors at I-8 Islamabad, Hafiz Naeem declared that the protest was a fight for the people's rights and called for the release of detained JI members. He emphasized that the sit-in was only beginning and vowed that the protesters would remain until their demands were met.

Roads from Rawalpindi to Islamabad were blocked with containers as JI protesters attempted to enter the capital.

The police deployed at the Faizabad interchange managed the incoming protesters, while roads leading to Parliament House from D-Chowk were blocked with barricades.

 Traffic continued to flow without major disruptions, and protesters at these locations were either dispersed or detained.

The authorities stated that protests in the Red Zone are not permitted due to its sensitive nature.