ISLAMABAD: Hollywood superstars Will Smith and Johnny Depp stole the spotlight at the prestigious Red Sea International Film Festival with a surprise appearance on Tuesday to support the Pakistani film, “Umro Ayyar: A New Beginning.”
The two renowned icons of the American film industry enjoy an extensive fan following worldwide, including in Pakistan, which left the viewers excited about Pakistani film production with their presence.
The Red Sea Festival, set against the picturesque backdrop of Saudi Arabia’s seaside city, Jeddah, serves as a global platform for filmmakers to celebrate and showcase diverse cinematic creations from around the world.
Smith and Depp posed with Umro Ayyar’s executive producer, Huma Jamil Babar, and interacted with the public.
“How exciting it is,” exclaimed a Pakistani journalist, Afshan Younus, who shared a video of Smith getting a locket from Babar. “Hollywood meets Pakistani cinema in style!”
How exciting it is !
Will Smith rocks the UmroAyyar - A New Beginning pendant gifted by Executive Producer Huma Jamil Babar from VR Chili Production. Hollywood meets Pakistani cinema in style!#UmroayyarANewBeginningpic.twitter.com/2a0iZ3G0tX
Another social media user, Nazish Alavi, called the cross-cultural support by the Hollywood actors a “big moment” for her.
“Watching Hollywood superstar Will Smith wearing #UmroAyyarANewBeginning pendant and The Johnny Depp supporting a Pakistani movie is such a big moment for me,” she said. “Best of luck to @TheUMROAYYAR.”
Umro Ayyar is one of the most famous characters from the legendary “Dastan-e-Amir Hamza,” a classical Urdu literary work comprising epic tales, widely read by many in Pakistan.
Speaking to Arab News in May, lead actor Sanam Saeed mentioned that Ayyar’s character was being adapted for the screen in a “new-age way” and receiving a “revamp” for modern times.
“Dastan-e-Amir Hamza” is the Urdu version of the Persian folklore written by Ghalib Lakhnavi in 1855, featuring a collection of stories about magic, adventure, and intrigue.
The film “Umro Ayyar” is an attempt to reimagine the story for a new generation of Pakistani and global audiences.
Pakistani-origin boxer Hamzah Sheeraz wins European middleweight title
Sheeraz floored Tyler Denny with a flash left hook in the opening seconds of the first round before finishing the job with another headshot in the second
The 25-year-old made it 15 successive stoppage victories to improve his record to 21-0 (17 knockouts) as one of British boxing’s rising world title contenders
ISLAMABAD: Hamzah Sheeraz, a British boxer of Pakistani descent, on Saturday defeated Tyler Denny at Wembley Stadium in London to clinch the European middleweight title, British media reported.
The 25-year-old made it 15 successive stoppage victories to improve his record to 21-0 (17 knockouts) as one of British boxing’s rising world title contenders.
Sheeraz floored Denny with a flash left hook in the opening seconds of the first round before finishing the job with another dazing headshot in the second as the referee brought the contest to a halt, Britain’s Sky Sports broadcaster reported.
“I’m a very humble man, humble in life, but I feel great. Massive thank you to everybody for coming out to support me,” Sheeraz was quoted as saying by the broadcaster.
“I always leave it down to my team. This wasn’t a banana skin for me, they got me in here for a reason and I delivered.”
Denny recovered well after being toppled by Sheeraz’s left hook just seconds into the first round and operated low and worked hard to take the fight on the inside. Sheeraz retained his dominance in the second round, operating on the front foot and offering Denny few if any openings.
Sheeraz caught Denny by a sharp combination that left him on the canvas once more, with referee Mark Bates waving off the contest much to the disappointment of the defending champion.
“I’m tired of calling for world title fights now,” Sheeraz said. “Whoever is put in the ring with me, I’m knocking them out. It means everything and more (to be fighting here).”
PESHAWAR: A roadside bomb attack on a convoy of foreign diplomats in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province killed at least one policeman and injured three others on Sunday, a senior police officer said, amid a spike in militant violence in the restive region.
The blast targeted the convoy in Swat’s Malam Jabba, a popular tourist resort in northwestern Pakistan, according to Swat District Police Officer (DPO) Dr. Zahidullah Khan and the Pakistani foreign office.
An advance scout police vehicle was hit by the blast, which resulted in the killing of the policeman and injuries to three others. The group of foreign diplomats has returned safely to Islamabad.
Pakistan has seen a rise in militant attacks in recent weeks, with many of them taking place in KP that borders Afghanistan where Islamabad says groups like the outlawed Pakistani Taliban are hiding and from where they daily target police and security forces.
“It was an improvised explosive device (IED) blast targeting police escorting the foreign diplomats who were visiting different scenic spots in Swat, including religious sites,” DPO Khan told Arab News. “All the diplomats remained safe and returned from Malam Jabba valley.”
Pakistan’s foreign office said the foreign diplomats had returned to the Pakistani capital, extending sympathies to the families of the deceased and injured policemen.
This photo shows a police vehicle, part of a convoy of foreign diplomats visiting Pakistan’s northwest, targeted in a roadside bombing at Malam Jabba in the Swat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on September 22, 2024. A Pakistan policeman was killed and three others injured after a roadside bomb hit a convoy of foreign diplomats in the northwest, police said on September 22. (Photo courtesy: Swat District administration)
“We honor our law enforcement authorities that remain steadfast in the face of terrorists,” it said in a statement. “Such acts will not deter Pakistan from its commitment toward the fight against terrorism.”
Asked about the countries to which the diplomats belonged, Swat Deputy Commissioner Shehzad Mehboob said it was premature to share all the information at the moment.
“We are in the process of confirming their countries of origin, but mainly they are from Central Asian and European countries,” he told Arab News.
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur condemned the attack and expressed sorrow over the killing of a police officer in its wake, according to his office.
“The chief minister has directed senior police officers to investigate the matter and compile a detailed report into the incident,” Gandapur’s office said.
This photo shows a police vehicle, part of a convoy of foreign diplomats visiting Pakistan’s northwest, targeted in a roadside bombing at Malam Jabba in the Swat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on September 22, 2024. A Pakistan policeman was killed and three others injured after a roadside bomb hit a convoy of foreign diplomats in the northwest, police said on September 22. (Photo courtesy: Swat District administration)
Swat, known for its picturesque landscape and historic religious sites, hosts thousands of local and foreign tourists each year.
In 2007, the Pakistani Taliban seized partial control of the district before being ousted two years later in a major military operation. During this time, the militants had unleashed a reign of terror, killing and beheading politicians, singers, soldiers and opponents. They had banned woman education and destroyed nearly 200 schools for girls.
KP, which borders Afghanistan, has witnessed numerous attacks on police, security forces and anti-polio vaccination teams along with kidnappings of civil and military officials in recent months.
Earlier this week, militants opened fire on a security post in KP’s South Waziristan district and killed at least six Pakistani soldiers, the military said.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, including the one on Sunday, but officials in Islamabad say militants associated with the Pakistani Taliban are primarily responsible for violence in the region. Islamabad has even blamed Kabul’s Afghan Taliban rulers for “facilitating” anti-Pakistan militants, a charge Kabul denies.
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad police have dismissed three cops for harassing, blackmailing and illegally detaining a married couple who was visiting a picnic spot in Pakistan's federal capital, a police spokesman said on Sunday.
The couple was en route to Shahdara picnic spot this month and were stopped by a police mobile team in the jurisdiction of the Bharakahu police station, which asked for their marriage certificate. The policemen on duty humiliated and harassed the couple and demanded bribe after they failed to furnish the marriage certificate, according to Islamabad police spokesman Jawad Taqi.
Police constables Asfand Ayaz, Nayab and Sami Ullah separated the woman from her husband and sat her in a police vehicle, where one officer harassed her and took her phone number. Later, another constable, Naimatullah Baloch, repeatedly contacted her on her phone and threatened her for refusing his demands. The couple lodged a complaint with Islamabad's deputy inspector-general for operations and an inquiry confirmed the officers' misconduct.
“As soon as the complaint was lodged, the SSP [senior superintendent of police] investigated the matter and after a thorough inquiry, the three officers involved were terminated from their jobs this week,” Taqi told Arab News on Sunday.
To ensure internal accountability, the spokesman shared, the Islamabad police had a dedicated department, called the Internal Accountability Unit, within the office of the Islamabad police chief.
“Additionally, there is a separate IG [Inspector-General] Islamabad helpline 1715, where complaints against the police can be made in case of any misconduct,” he added.
Taqi emphasized the importance of a proper self-accountability mechanism to ensure that “any individuals damaging the institution's reputation or abusing their authority are held accountable through departmental procedures.”
In a separate case last month, Asim Zaidi, in-charge of the Sangjani police station in Islamabad, was arrested over illegal detention of two citizens, Muhammad Saeed and Shahbaz, for 19 days, without any charges, according to the Islamabad police. The illegal detention came to light after families of the detainees approached a local court. A police inquiry revealed that a case filed by Zaidi against the detainees was "delayed and improper."
In Pakistan, police harassment of citizens has been a pressing issue for years, with numerous reports of citizens facing mistreatment, abuse and unlawful detention. According to the National Corruption Perception Survey 2023 conducted by the Transparency International Pakistan (TIP), police were the "most corrupt institution" in the South Asian country.
Attack on foreign diplomats’ convoy in Pakistan kills police officer, police say
Another four police officers were wounded in the attack, official says
All diplomats were safe and were heading back to capital Islamabad
Updated 22 September 2024
Reuters
PESHAWAR: A roadside bomb hit a convoy of foreign diplomats visiting northwest Pakistan on Sunday, killing a police officer in their security detail, police said.
Swat district police officer Zahidullah Khan said the diplomats were visiting the Swat valley area on the invitation of local chamber of commerce.
“The squad that was leading the convoy was hit by a roadside bomb,” he said.
Another four police officers were wounded, Khan said.
All the nearly dozen diplomats were safe and were heading back to Islamabad, police said.
“All the ambassadors remained safe in the attack and had been shifted to a safe place before their departure to Islamabad,” Deputy Inspector General of police Mohammad Ali Gandapur told Reuters.
The nationality of the diplomats was not immediately clear. A Pakistani foreign office spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.
No one claimed responsibility for the attack.
Pakistani counter-terrorist forces maintain a strong presence in the Swat valley, which has long been a hotbed of Islamist militant insurgency. The militants have stepped up their attacks since late 2022 after breaking a ceasefire with the government.
In 2012, Islamist militants shot and wounded Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai in the valley.
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Pakistan said on Sunday it had held an exhibition in Pakistan’s cultural heart of Lahore to celebrate the Kingdom’s 94th National Day.
The Saudi National Day is celebrated each year on September 23 to commemorate the proclamation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932 by King Abdulaziz.
The Saudi National Day event in Lahore included an exhibition of the Kingdom’s cultural heritage, which was attended by Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki, Punjab Governor Saleem Haider Khan and other dignitaries.
“Pakistani brothers showed their presence and feelings of love with us [at the event],” the Saudi embassy said on X.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong economic, defense and religious ties. The Kingdom is home to over 2.7 million Pakistani expatriates, serving as the top source of remittances for the cash-strapped South Asian country.
Saudi Arabia has also often come to cash-strapped Pakistan’s aid by regularly providing it oil on deferred payments and offering direct financial support to help stabilize its economy and shore up its forex reserves.
“Saudi Arabia supported Pakistan in difficult circumstances and stood by Pakistan in every hour of need,” Governor Khan said, highlighting the strong ties between the two counties.
