The dargah in Delhi

The Nizamuddin Dargah in the Indian capital houses the burial site of revered Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya, also regarded as the respected saint of Delhi. The dargah is a complex of tombs, mosques and stalls and is centred on the location where Nizamuddin Auliya was buried.

Sunanda Pushkar death: Police probing suspected foreign hand from Pakistan, Dubai

NEW DELHI: In its probe into the death of Sunanda Pushkar, Indian police are seeking the list of passengers who travelled from Dubai and Pakistan to New Delhi, and vice versa, on and around January 17 — the day the wife of former Indian minister Shashi Tashoor was found dead in a New Delhi hotel, a report on the Times of India's website quoted sources as saying.

Though none of the police officers were willing to confirm the details, sources were quoted as saying that the Foreigners Registration Office or Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) which comes under the intelligence bureau had been asked for the information.
Read| Shashi Tharoor's wife died 'unnatural death': autopsy
 
The request indicates that the involvement of a ‘foreign hand’ in the incident was being investigated.
About the passenger list being obtained, sources said that among other people who entered and exited India’s capital city around the time of death, the New Delhi Police was also trying to determine if any person from Pakistan or Dubai had visited the Indian capital or left it on the day Sunanda Pushkar was found dead.
Sources further said that after obtaining the list of passengers, investigators will select ‘suspicious’ travellers and try to question them.

They added that more than a thousand passengers will be needed to be checked.
Some investigators have said that the possibility of suicide as a cause of Pushkar's death has not yet been ruled out.

Pushkar was a Dubai-based entrepreneur before she married Shashi Tharoor in 2010.
Also read: Angry wife outs Shashi Tharoor's 'affair' on Twitter

She was found dead in a five-star hotel in New Delhi under mysterious circumstances on Jan 17 this year, a day after she had accused Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar of “stalking” her husband and of trying to “break” her marriage when she was away for medical treatment for three months.

Tarar had denied Pushkar’s accusation of an affair between her and the former high-flying UN diplomat.

A song for Sindh: When a Hindu woman meets a Muslim man

One of the curses of the post-colonial upbringing is the loss of location, not of actual geography or the tangible physicality of a place, but of its linear connections to the past.

Those are ones that exist in story and fable, are reflected in vision and song.

It is this severed saga of Sindh, hacked apart by colonisation and migration that author Bina Shah’s new novel, A Season for Martyrs attempts to piece together.

What history has torn apart, let fiction bring together and so it is in the tale of Ali and Sunita, inhabitants of Sindh’s tumultuous present, man and woman, Muslim and Hindu.

In Shah’s telling, theirs is a love that is much like Sindh’s lore, threatened, delicate and secret. Ali is a journalist, harbouring like so many millions of Karachi’s children; dreams of escape to a foreign land. Sunita is by virtue of indigenous connection, a child of the land; rendered less by the arithmetic of Pakistan’s new nationalism, its awkwardness with the hyphenation of a Hindu-Pakistani.

We all know this erstwhile present, its bombings, its shifty politicians, its unpromising prospects; all of it so overwhelming and punishing. Less of us can see the threads that connect it to the conflicts of our forbears, trace in our longings the fears and desires of worriers past; who struggled also with the fears of loss.

It is this delicate thread that A Season of Martyrs mines from the past; a history rich with wisdom of Sufis, whose meditations were directed into the same distant horizons as our own, whose wandering steps sifted the same sandy soil. In the skein spun by Shah, the verses of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai’s Shah jo Risalo, the story of Jeandal Shah and the Talpurs and so many others become alive and relevant juxtaposed against its know present.

Despite its depths, however, Shah’s delving into Sindh’s past to enable its literary resurrection is not the idealised encounter that tempts so many post-colonial authors in their search for the untouched and untainted.
It is not simply the mystic, the edifying or the beautiful that she brings back for us from the archives; it is also the condescending, which was the heart of the colonial and is perhaps its most scathing legacy.

The reminiscences of the British officers that were once stationed in Sindh are recalled forming a literary backdrop against the colonialisms of today. One of them is poignantly represented in Ali’s visit to the American Embassy, its endless security cordons, its infantilisation of the anxious natives all trying to get out of the land they fought for, are connected to.

Like a carefully wrought tapestry, the unequal contours of these power relations of now and then come together in the story of A Season For Martyrs.

The resurrection of history, its threading together is a task long due, not simply for the Pakistani but also for global audiences of the English novel.

For those at home in Sindh, the task of reading this book is attached to the task of re-learning what is familiar but encroached and encrusted with myriad contemporary hatreds, of the Hindu, the feudal, the homosexual and the migrant.

For those who look in from the outside, it is a corrective against the decontextualised, much dramatised and ultimately distorted version of Pakistan and consequently of Sindh, as a homeland only for terror and trouble.

'Doosri Biwi' is my last television commitment for some time: Fahad Mustafa

Fahad Mustafa seems to be on a ride that only goes up. From his game show, Jeeto Pakistan to breaking numerous rating records to his stellar performance in the blockbuster Na Maloom Afraad, it is evident that his career is booming.

Recently, there had been rumours that he would be taking a sabbatical from television but talking to Dawn.com over the telephone, the actor reassures that's not entirely true. The charming and ever-so-polite star shared: "I'm working on my new drama called Doosri Biwi (the working title for which was Poora Chand Adhoora Hai) at the moment, which is my own production and will be aired on ARY Digital. My upcoming movie, Mah-e-Meer's co-director Anjum Shahzad is making a comeback to television and will be directing the serial."

The talented game show host added that Hareem Farooq and Maha Ansari are also part of the cast.

Better sore than sorry: How to get a toned body

Want to sip from the fountain of youth? Simply get moving — fitness is the key.
The pictures of toned celebrities from Cameron Diaz (42) to Sandra Bullock (50) may depress you beyond belief but they should be inspiring you. Sure the celebs have hugely expensive nutritionists, chefs, trainers and plastic surgeons on speed dial, but the fact remains that the slide into pudgy middle age isn’t inevitable.
The youthful vibrancy of older celebs isn’t just down to Botox, plastic surgery and liposuction. Stars in their mid forties like Jennifer Anniston have lean, toned, younger looking bodies. Celebrities are showing us the amazing potential of the human body, even at age 40 or 50.

Jeanette’s HIIT Insanity class. – Photo courtesy: Studio X Facebook Page

The phenomenon isn’t confined to Hollywood. Socialites of all ages from New York to Karachi have taken the fitness fad to heart and are showing off toned, designer-clad bodies.

In Karachi, you’ll run into these women at Jeanette’s classes (such as her Insanity class which is extremely popular) at Studio X or Sheema’s classes at CORE. You’ll see them weight training under the eyes of the trainers at Shapes or Structure.

In Lahore, they can be found doing yoga with Zainab Abbas or Zumba at Knowledge Factory. They’ll be queuing up for the trainers at Suk Chan or even kick-boxing.

There’s a reason that the 42-day challenge has become so popular in both cities — people are realising that they can drastically improve their fitness levels and their appearance in a relatively short time.

Middle-aged spread isn’t a myth. As women age, their metabolism slows down. This is why women in their forties suddenly find themselves gaining weight, even when they haven’t started eating more. According to some experts, your metabolism can decline about 25 per cent in your forties — that means you would have to drop almost a meal a day just to stay the same weight.

Weight gain can be insidious. You only need to gain a couple of pounds a year to be nearly a stone heavier at the end of a decade. But keeping fit as you age isn’t just about looking good, it can also stave off osteoporosis and muscle loss.

The good news is you don’t have to go on crash diets or starve yourself to look good. Crash diets put your body into starvation mode and your metabolism actually slows down. This is why dieters often find themselves putting on more weight the minute they stop their diet.

The key to weight gain or loss is your Resting Metabolic Rate (RBM). This determines how many calories you burn when you are at rest. RBM depends on your age; weight and muscle mass, although it’s also affected by genetics. The good news is that you can boost your metabolism in the short term with exercise and in the long term by building muscle mass.

Your RBM changes throughout your lifetime. It’s very high in your teens as you go through puberty. This is why teens can pack away huge quantities of food without seeming to gain a pound. Your RBM levels off in your early twenties and then starts to fall. It spikes during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but only enough to allow you an extra 300 calories while pregnant and 500 calories when breastfeeding. Once you hit your forties, your RBM declines more rapidly — particularly once you hit menopause.

So what does RBM really mean? 
Well, your body constantly burns calories — even when you are doing nothing. While each pound of fat burns two calories a day to sustain itself, each pound of muscle burns six calories a day — even when you aren’t exercising. This is why adding muscle boosts your RBM. Also a strength training session uses muscles all over your body, boosting the number of calories you burn that day.

Building muscle also supports weakening joints and adding Yoga or Pilates to your exercise regimen will help with balance and flexibility, both of which will help stave off the effects of aging. Exercising judiciously can also limit declines in bone mass, helping prevent osteoporosis as you age.


So what’s the ideal exercise regimen for a woman?
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Depending on your age and fitness levels, your exercise regime should include a mix of cardio and strength training. Cardio means anything that raises your heart rate — walking, running, aerobics or cycling all work.

The best way to improve your cardiac capacity and burn more calories is to aim for high-intensity-interval-training (HIIT). For example, run until you are tired, then walk until you get your breath back, then run again and so forth. HIIT delivers a longer and more sustained rise in RBM than low or moderate intensity workouts.

This should be supplemented by weight training. If you aren’t a fan of the bulky-muscled look (what woman is?), don’t panic. Lifting heavy weights doesn’t automatically result in bulk.

According to Sheema at CORE: “Many of my clients worry about lifting heavy weights, but you need to lift heavier weights to build muscle. You should be lifting enough weight that your muscles are hurting by the 10th repetition. You should not be doing more that 12 to15 repetitions for building muscle.”

Many people recommend using low weights for many repetitions rather than high weights for a smaller number of repetitions, but Sheema calls the former endurance training. You can increase endurance training at the expense of strength training if you are in maintenance mode, but building muscle needs genuine strength training.

Bear in mind that if you have a lot of fat on your arms and legs, you may end up looking bulkier initially anyway. This is because you are building muscles under the fat. As you continue with your exercise regime, you will eventually lose that fat and end up with a toned look.

I like taking on characters that empower women: Sanam Saeed

Is there anything Sanam Saeed can't do? Having done an array of roles in her short but rewarding five year career, she presented jealousy in Daam and Kadoorat; independence and confidence in Zindagi Gulzaar Hai and Shukk and resilience in Talkhiyan, all of which have been praised by critics.

How does she choose her roles?
"I like stories with a message or a moral. I like taking on characters that could be role models for young girls, or roles that empower women. I think it's very important," Sanam told Dawn in an email interview.
"Sometimes, however, I have to choose a role that is slightly different to the ones I naturally pick to add diversity to my work."

Zindagi Gulzar Hai catapulted the A-list celebrity to new heights of fame when it aired on the Indian television channel, Zee Zindagi. She admits that her character of Kashaf from Zindagi Gulzar Hai is the one closest to her heart and furthermore comments on the success of the show in India.

"It made me feel very proud for being a part of the Pakistani television industry, I feel this is a huge step for us. I am overwhelmed by the responses I get from across the border," said the 29-year-old actor.

Sanam Saeed and Fawad Khan in a scene from 'Zindagi Gulzar Hai'.

Talking about working in Bollywood, the Firaaq leading lady conveys that she is open to the possibility: "I would [work in Bollywood], as I feel a Pakistani actor can bring something new to the table. They have all the talent in the world there [in India], I'd like to do something different with them. Or a project that works towards bridging the gap between the two countries."

The actor further said that she would love to work with Tabu, who she calls "versatile and everlasting" (much like herself, we feel!).

Also read: I may work in Bollywood films: Sanam Saeed
However, there are many Pakistani media personalities who promote extreme patriotism and feel our talent should stick to developing the entertainment industry in Pakistan.

The Zindagi Gulzar Hai starlet comments nonchalantly: "I think everyone should be free to make their own choices. Those who want to flee, those who want to stick to just Pakistani content can do just that and those who want to dapple in new territory should be allowed to. There is plenty of talent here [in Pakistan] that will help in the growth of our industry. What's the worry I say?"

Sanam's role in Firaaq is being lauded by the audience. With her deadpan voice and an expressionless face, she has portrayed the reserved Paiman masterfully.
When asked about her experience, the multi-talented artist admits: "Paiman was a tricky character to play. I had to work at making sure I didn't fall too flat, or become boring. It certainly was a challenging role. I'm used to being assertive, and speaking my mind in other plays, but Paiman does transition into that stage as the story progresses."

Sanam Saeed as Paiman in 'Firaaq'. - dramasonline.pk

From modelling to dominating the television drama spectrum and performing in theatre as well to appearing in Coke Studio as a back-up vocalist, Sanam is now set to appear in her first feature film Mah-e-Meer, starring Fahad Mustafa and Iman Ali among others. The film is slated to release soon.

Talking about her character in the film, Sanam shares: "I play a shaairah who gives in to commercialism unlike the rebellious anti-politics shaair played by Fahad Mustafa. I play a supporting role in adding to the conflict in the story."

Praising her co-stars, she adds: "It was a treat to work with Sarmad Sehbai. I wish actors had more teachers like him. Anjum Shezad is another person I would love to work with again."

Sanam's other favourite co-stars include: "Mehreen Jabbar, Sarwat Gilani, Adeel Hussain, Yasir Nawaz, Ayesha Khan, Mohib Mirza, Fawad Khan, Hina Bayat, Uzma Gillani to name a few! I've been lucky to work with a lot of great people. I have enjoyed my time with the cast, crew and directors on every project. They have all taught me so much."

So what does she enjoy most — television, film or theatre?
"I love being on stage, nothing compares to it. I was afraid of films, but I've had my taste of it and I think it's my second love," shares the Mera Naseeb star. "I enjoy the rehearsals and the pace at which a film is shot compared to television. I don't know how much I'll still like it after appearing on the big screen though, that is the true test I have not been through yet."

Having appeared in her fair share of musicals such as Grease, Chicago, and Mamma Mia!, Sanam feels that the state of theatre production in our country is in despair: "[There are] no sponsors and no funding. We need investors who are willing to save the theatre from becoming a dying art and would want it to thrive and grow and reach greater heights."

Sanam in the musical 'Grease'

We all know about the characters that she plays, but who is Sanam as a person?
Saying that she can relate to most of her characters, Sanam discloses: "I am an oxymoron, shy and confident at the same time. I stand by what I believe in, I'm not afraid to speak up for what I think is right. I am a slightly private person like majority of the characters I have played."
No wonder the former model is tight-lipped when we inquire about her recent engagement and ask her about her impending nuptials and who the lucky man is. Tactfully avoiding giving any details, the actor replies: "I'm the lucky girl and the wedding is early next year."

Will she continue to work after marriage?
"I can't imagine I would do anything else," says Sanam.
The actor has it all figured out in order to strike a balance between her professional and private life: "You prioritise, you don't be lazy. If you make the effort to keep the balance, anything is possible. Hard work, honesty and support make it all happen."

Sanam is not only a pretty face who has the acting chops to go with it; she is also a philanthropist. She actively participates in social causes and recently did a fundraiser for the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital.


Stressing on the importance of celebrities giving back, she says: "Everyone may not pay attention to the incredible work that some people are quietly doing, but they will pay attention to celebrities. We do have a social responsibility and it is important to be aware of that. We can spread awareness and social messages because of the fact that we are familiar faces to people, we are relatable to people through some of the characters we play.

In the long run, I hope that my work pays off in the bigger picture and that as a celebrity I am able to contribute to society through these wonderful organisations."

The first official trailer of Furious 7

Check out the first official trailer of Furious 7, the upcoming Fast and Furious movie directed by James Wan and starring Vin Diesel, the late Paul Walker (R.I.P.), and Jason Statham:

Plot:
“Ian Shaw (Jason Statham) seeks revenge against Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew for the death of his brother.”

The cast also includes Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Elsa Pataky, Lucas Black, Djimon Hounsou, Tony Jaa, Ronda Rousey, Nathalie Emmanuel, Kurt Russell, Cody Walker, and Caleb Walker.
The film will open in theaters on April 3, 2015.

Amir Khan's PK Teaser Launched Watch 3 Parts

Lead actors Aamir Khan & Anushka Sharma of the much-awaited ‘PK’, launched the first teaser on Diwali .
PK movie will be releasing on 19th december.

PART 1



PART 2

High five for Microsoft Lumia 535

 

Today sees the launch of the new Microsoft Lumia 535, our “5x5x5” smartphone package bringing a 5-inch screen, 5-megapixel front- and rear-facing camera, and free integrated Microsoft experiences (such as Skype and OneNote) to more people at an affordable price.

Lumia 535 comes in two flavors: 3G Single SIM, or 3G Smart Dual SIM, both loaded with Windows Phone 8.1 and the Lumia Denim Update right out of the box.
That means you’ll get a hugely personal experience with features including one-swipe Action Center, Word Flow, Live Folders and Cortana (where available).
Featuring the same wide-angle, 5-megapixel front-facing camera as the Lumia 730 and Lumia 735, the Lumia 535 not only provides you with crystal-clear imagery and the Lumia selfie app, but you’ll also be able to get more in shot during those Skype calls.

For all those other non-selfie photographs, the rear-facing 5-megapixel camera with flash and the Lumia Camera app are at hand to beautifully and effortlessly capture the world.
With a 5-inch display, 1.2 GHz quad-core processor, and 1GB RAM, hoverboarding through an underground metro system with Subway Surfers, editing documents in Microsoft Office, or posting your Lumia selfies to Instagram is super-easy.
When it comes to storage, the Lumia 535 comes with 8GB of memory. If you need more, simply slide in a microSD card, with support up to 128 GB, or use the 15 GB free OneDrive storage to store all your photos or documents.

Designed to be tough and durable and stay as vibrant and colorful as the day you bought it, the Lumia 535 is inherently colored and available in cyan, bright green, bright orange, white, dark grey, and black.

Accessorize

To add an extra layer of protection or some additional style, a cover has been created that perfectly complements the Lumia 535.

Interested in big sounds? The Lumia 535 supports Bluetooth LE and can connect easily to the Portable Wireless Speaker, or for those with wires try the Coloud Bang.
Lumia 535 3G Single SIM and Lumia 535 3G Dual SIM will be available in selected markets in November. Pricing for Lumia 535 and Lumia 535 Dual SIM will vary by market and operator, but is estimated to be around 110 EUR before taxes and subsidies.

SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 4 REVIEW

 

 

Premium Screen (Quad HD Super AMOLED Display)

The precise colour saturation and the high contrast of 5.7'' Quad HD Super AMOLED display will drive you to feel the fluent and vivid colour as if you are looking with the naked eye. High resolution boasts tremendous viewing experience. Truly optimised for web-browsing and e-booking. Click to read more.

Making 'Dumber' sequel more fun than the first

LOS ANGELES: Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels made another Dumb & Dumber film because fans asked for it, and the two actors said making the sequel was more fun than working on the 1994 original.
"We were kind of just meeting each other as we were doing the first one," Daniels said in a recent interview. "You got two different acting styles going on — is it going to even work? And the first one, we guessed right, and it did ...
"Now it's just a lot easier. We know more, we know what's funny, we know the two characters well — all the stuff we didn't know in the first one we already know in the second one, so we just get to do it again, only we hope better."
"And we were blood doping," Carrey added. "So that made it easier."
Daniels and Carrey reprise their roles as painfully dim pals Harry and Lloyd in Dumb & Dumber To, opening Friday. Reuniting on a sequel 20 years after the original wasn't hard, Carrey said.
"Honestly, it was like we just did it yesterday and boom, we were back in it," he said. "It was a fantastic, familiar feeling."
Daniels was delighted to return to comedy after spending the past three seasons starring in the Aaron Sorkin TV drama, The Newsroom.
"Comedy is a joy," he said. "There's a freedom to it. There's a fearlessness to it that you don't get in everything else. It was a thrill to do."

Na Maloom Afraad's Kubra Khan to make Bollywood debut with 'Welcome to Karachi'

Pakistani model and actor Kubra Khan (also known as Rabia Khan), who played the bank manager in the recently released Pakistani hit film, Na Maloom Afraad, is now all set to make her Bollywood debut with film Welcome to Karachi.

"I am playing the lead girl in this project working alongside the amazing Arshad Warsi and Jackky Bhagnani," Kubra told in an email interview.

Kubra further shared that she was independently approached by the casting director, who had seen some of her previous works.

"I had to go through the traditional auditions and the team happened to like my work so here I am," said Kubra.

Kubra also shared a picture of herself with her co-stars while working on the set of Welcome to Karachi:

According to Times of India, Irrfan Khan was initially approached to play the lead male role, but he refused when he found out that Kubra Khan was playing the lead female role. The actor apparently wanted Bollywood actor Nargis Fakhri to be cast opposite him.

When asked to comment on Irrfan's decision, Kubra said: "I have a lot of respect for Irrfan Khan and he certainly has the right to his opinion. I don't think there is anything wrong in wanting to work with a colleague of his choice."

Speaking about the success of Na Maloom Afraad, Kubra shared that the film's success also changed things for her.

"In terms of work, things had changed shortly before the release of Na Maloom Afraad," said Kubra.

"However, after the success, receiving such warm response and acceptance from the audience it is extremely overwhelming. I am extremely grateful to Nabeel Qureshi (director) and Fizza Ali Meerza (producer) for making me a part of this amazing project."

Directed by Ashish R Mohan, Welcome to Karachi is a satire about two Indians who get stranded in Karachi without any proper travel documents.
The film is expected to release in 2015.

After Fawad, India goes gaga over Mahira

With the incredible success of Humsafar on India's Zee Zindagi, the drama's leading lady Mahira Khan has wooed her Indian fans and is now visiting Mumbai to meet them.

During media interactions in Delhi, Mahira was repeatedly asked the same questions: when she will work with heart throb Fawad again, and whether she will sign a Bollywood film.

The success of Humsafar in India, courtesy Zindagi TV, has won millions of hearts. Indian publications say the drama is a "breath of fresh air" and say it is a must watch due to the chemistry between Fawad and Mahira.

Humsafar had its finale on November 8 on Zee Zindagi and the channel has now hosted a competition on its Twitter account called #MadforMahira in which fans are asked to express their appreciation and love for the actor to get a chance to meet the stunning star in Mumbai.

The channel also tweeted that Mahira has reached Mumbai and has attended the Zindagi press conference:

The first time you see me in ‘Kill Dil’, you will whistle: Ali Zafar

Ali Zafar needs no introduction. The multi-talented star is known for his acting and singing – and recently, even for his painting.
But how is he as a person?
Ali comes across as having one the most optimistic personalities.
Having been the first from our media fraternity to cross the border to India, Ali says it’s irrelevant to think that he’s paved the way for other Pakistani actors to perform in Bollywood.
However, speaking of his first visit to Mumbai during the shoot of Tere Bin Laden, Ali shares that he had expressed to a friend his desire to become a Bollywood hero, but his friend had instantly snubbed him, saying nothing of that sort has ever happened or will ever happen.
But Ali’s persona exudes extreme positivity.
“I believe that everything a human being can ever dream of can come true if they work at it sincerely and with a positive mindset,” Ali said during a telephone interview from India.
“I worked very hard during the shoot of Tere Bin Laden,” Ali reminisces. “I was staying in a hotel for a month, away from family and feeling homesick. But I made sure that the kind of experience I give to my producers is such that they should be encouraged to not just work with me again, but also any Pakistani for that matter, because that sets a precedent.”

Ali Zafar as Tutu in 'Kill Dil'. – Publicity photo

Ali believes it’s a great step that more Pakistanis are now working in Bollywood and becoming part of successful ventures.
“I would like to take pride in the fact that I’ve always vouched for this,” says the inspiring artist. “I would like more Pakistanis to come to India and vice versa, because I believe that the more the exchange between people and art, the easier it will become for us to understand each other and realise the things which we can never do by staying at a distance.”
But why don't we see that many Bollywood celebrities come to work in Pakistani films?
Ali explains that the reason is simple, based on commerce and infrastructure.
“India has the biggest film industry at the moment, churning out one film a day on an average,” says Ali. “There’s a lot more room to have people come here [in India] to film, whereas Pakistan is an nascent industry; it has just started to develop and will take a while to grow.”
Ali, however, says he’s very delighted to know that the Pakistani industry is finally on the right track and believes that the exchange is already happening.
“We’ve had Naseeruddin Shah appear in Pakistani film Zinda Bhaag and we’ve had Indian artists coming in TV commercials from Pakistan,” adds Ali.
He explains that just as Hollywood is a big industry and artists from around the world going there to perform better, Bollywood too, over a period of time, has become a place where people now consider going to be recognised internationally.
He also hopes that the Pakistani industry receives the same level of respect with its growth.
“I hope that the Pakistan film industry goes to that level one day when people from all over the world would want to come to Pakistan, because of Pakistan.”
But industry stars like Shaan have clearly expressed that for Pakistani industry to grow to that level, it is essential for our actors to stay and perform here in Pakistan.
Ali, however, has a different opinion and chooses to look at things in a “logical fashion”.
“We must look and ponder over the mechanics of how the Pakistani film industry has grown,” says Ali, talking about the time when the industry was suffering due to the quality of films that were being produced at the time.
Ali explains that before Indian films were allowed in our cinemas, Pakistani industry was making films, which were not appealing to the masses and the industry was losing the audience.
“In 2007 for the first time, Indian films were allowed back in [Pakistani] theatres, which propelled the audience to step out of their houses and start going to the cinemas again,” Ali elucidates.
“This helped to bring more business and more cinemas, to the level that when Waar came in 2013, we [the Pakistani film industry] had reached to a level where we could produce 23 crores,” he stresses. “Now how did that happen? Indian films made a big contribution in doing that.”
Ali emphasises on taking a realistic approach: “We should indulge in more productive thought processes rather than regressive ideologies and move on, because it’s only good for us and the next generation, that is my humble opinion.”
Ali speaks proudly of his upcoming Bollywood film Kil Dill, clearing any doubts fans may have of him playing a supporting role.
“That is far from the truth,” says Ali. “Kill Dil is a story about two friends, Dev (played by Ranveer Singh) and Tutu (myself) who are picked up from a garbage can one day as children and they grow up to be assassins, working for Bhaiyaji (played by Govinda).
Dev falls in love; I (as Tutu) sustain my love with a gun and hence the conflict arises,” shares Ali.
Though Ranveer’s character has a love angle, Ali says his own character is a more serious, dominating guy in the equation.
Ali has no doubts that his fans will love Kill Dil as he says enthusiastically: “When you see the entire film, I assure you that I would make you all proud.”
He takes pride in his role and gushes: “From the first time that you see me on screen, you’ll whistle – and you’ll come out whistling and clapping.”
Ali passionately talks about his experience while working with his co-stars, Ranveer Singh, Parineeti Chopra and Govinda.
“The equation was fantastic; the chemistry was fantastic,” muses Ali.
“I have no words for the kind of appreciation I got for my work. Govinda praised my acting and said that after this, I would get a Hollywood film,” Ali laughs, clearly pleased with the compliment.

Ali Zafar, Govinda and Ranveer Singh in a scene from 'Kill Dil'. – Publicity photo

“I always wanted to create a niche for myself, a new kind of cinema with new kinds of roles," Ali adds. "I would coin the term as ‘alternative commercial cinema’ – an edgier, new age cinema which makes people experience something new and I have tried to do that with Kill Dil.”
With a hint of anticipation in his voice, Ali adds: “I hope that Kill Dil becomes the biggest film of my career so far and I hope that people go and enjoy it.”
So what’s next for Ali after Kill Dil?
A believer of “quality over quantity”, Ali says he takes his time to sign up projects and currently he hasn’t taken up anything new.
“I want to concentrate on my music and get my album out,” he shares.
Ali also confides that he’s refusing further projects in India, as he wants to make a film in Pakistan.
“I’m writing something now and I want to produce something for Pakistan and take Pakistan to an international level.”

Humayun Saeed to release new film 'Jawani Phir Nahi Aani'

Pakistani actor Humayun Saeed got fans worried when he and his wife suffered injuries in an accident in Bangkok while scouting for locations for his new movie earlier this month. However, fans now have reason to rejoice because the actor has recovered from his injuries and is back to work on his upcoming movie, Jawani Phir Nahi Aani.

Talking to Dawn over the phone, Humayun confirmed that he is in good health now and is returning to Bangkok in a few days to start work on his movie, which will be produced under the banner of his production house, Six Sigma Plus.

Giving us more details, the Main Hoon Shahid Afridi star revealed the cast and the gist of the plot: "It's a comedy movie so it doesn't have a serious plot. It's a funny twist on how some wives don't give their husbands any space.

We have an ensemble cast which includes Hamza Ali Abbasi, Ahmed Butt, Wasay Chaudhry, Mehwish Hayat, Sarwat Gillani, Sohai Ali Abro, Ayesha Khan and myself. Javed Sheikh and Omar Shareef will also be part of the movie and we are still in talks with Bushra Ansari to bring her on board."

The actor added: "It's going to be a really fun movie with five to six hip songs and will be shot in Bangkok. We just want it to be an entertainer!"

The 43-year-old actor has a lot on his plate and will be next seen in Malik, a biopic based on the life of business tycoon Malik Riaz. He will also star alongside Shaan in Arth 2 and Yalghaar and is also cast in Hamza Ali Abbasi's much anticipated Kambakht.
Jawani Phir Nahi Aani is slated to release in 2015.
Also Read: Humayun Saeed, wife injured in Bangkok car crash

Pakistan successfully test fires Hatf-VI ballistic missile

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan on Thursday conducted a successful training launch of intermediate range Shaheen-II (Hatf-VI) ballistic missile, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported.

The successful launch was the culminating point of the Field Training Exercise of Army Strategic Forces Command.

The ISPR further added that the purpose of the launch was to ensure operational readiness of a Strategic Missile Group besides re-validating different design and technical parameters of the weapon system.

Shaheen-II Missile is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads to a range of 1500 kilometres.
The launch, which had its impact point in the Arabian Sea, was witnessed by the Director of General Strategic Plans Division, Lieutenant General Zubair Mahmood Hayat and Commander Army Strategic Forces Command, Lieutenant General Obaid Ullah Khan.

Other witnesses included Chairman National Engineering and Scientific Commission (Nescom), Mr Muhammad Irfan Burney, senior officers from the strategic forces and scientists and engineers of various strategic organisations.

While addressing the participant troops and scientists at the launch area, Director General Strategic Plans Division Lieutenant General Zubair Mahmood Hayat congratulated them on achieving yet another milestone towards consolidation of full spectrum credible minimum deterrence.

He appreciated the operational preparedness and readiness of the Army Strategic Forces Command, which made the successful launch of Shaheen-II Weapon System possible. He also showed his full confidence in the existing robust Strategic Command and Control System.

He further reiterated that Pakistan is a peace-loving nation and has no aggressive designs against any one. Pakistan’s Strategic Forces are fully capable of safeguarding security of the mother land against any aggression, he said.

The successful test launch and achievement of this Range milestone has also been warmly appreciated by President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who congratulated the scientists and engineers on their outstanding achievement.

PCB to appeal for Amir but not for Butt, Asif

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will seek relaxation for fast bowler Mohammad Amir under the revised anti-corruption code of the International Cricket Council (ICC) but has ruled out appealing for Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said the board wile file an appeal with the ICC within a week for the 22-year-old Amir.

“Our legal department is preparing the documents to file in Amir's case but at present we have no plans to do the same for Salman Butt or Asif,” Khan told reporters in Lahore on Thursday.

Former captain Butt, Asif and Amir were all banned for spot-fixing during the Pakistan team's tour of England in 2010. The spot-fixing took place during the fourth test at Lord's.

The trio, who also served jail sentences in the United Kingdom, have been given minimum five year bans by the anti-corruption tribunal of the ICC but while the ban for Butt and Amir ends in August, the former also has been given a two-year suspended sentence.
Read also: Amir to benefit from revised ICC anti-corruption code

“Amir's case is different from those of Butt and Asif. These two have still not really accepted their guilt. We want them to do more first to convince us they are repentant,” Khan said.
“First they convince us they want to reform themselves and then we will decide when to approach the ICC.”

He said Amir had co-operated with the PCB and ICC in reforming himself. Khan, however, ruled out an immediate return for Amir to competitive cricket.
 “It is a process under the new anti-corruption code and it will take time. Only the ACSU can give relaxation to a banned player,” he said.
Under the revised code, a banned player can apply to ICC's ACSU to allow him to resume playing domestic cricket before the end of his ban.

Former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria is also serving a life ban for spot-fixing since 2012.

Hafeez reported for illegal action: ICC

ABU DHABI: Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has been reported with a suspected illegal bowling action during the first Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said Thursday.

“The match officials' report, which was handed over to the Pakistan team manager Moin Khan, cited concerns about the legality of the 34-year-old's bowling action,” the ICC said.

Pakistan won the match by 248 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Hafeez's bowling action will now be scrutinised further under the ICC process relating to suspected illegal bowling actions reported in Tests, one-day matches and T20Is.

As per the ICC rules on dealing with the suspect action, Hafeez is required to undergo testing within 21 days, and, during this period, Hafeez is permitted to continue bowling in international cricket until the results of the testing are known.

Hafeez is the second Pakistani behind Saeed Ajmal, also an off-spinner, to be reported in a major crackdown on bowlers with suspect actions the ICC launched in June this year.

Besides Ajmal, Sri Lanka's Sachitra Senanayake, New Zealand's Kane Williamson, Bangladesh's Sohag Gazi and Zimbabwe's Prosper Utseya -- all off-spinners - were reported and subsquently suspended to allow remedial work on their actions.

Zimbabwe match referee Andy Pycrot was the common official in both the Ajmal and Hafez cases. He was also the match referee when Ajmal was reported during the Galle Test against Sri Lanka in August this year.

Kashmir killings: Indian soldiers get life in jail for ‘fake encounter’

NEW DELHI: An Indian military court has sentenced seven soldiers to life in prison for killing three Kashmiri youths in a rare ruling against the army, the tense region's top official said Thursday.

Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the soldiers shot dead the youths in 2010 after staging a gun battle and claiming they were trying to sneak across the disputed border from arch rival Pakistan.

“This is a watershed moment. No one in Kashmir ever believed that justice would be done in such cases. Faith in institutions disappeared,” Abdullah said in a Tweet.
Also read: Indian army men face court martial for 'fake encounter' in Kashmir
 
Rights groups have long accused the thousands of Indian soldiers deployed in Kashmir of acting with impunity, as they search for militants fighting against Indian rule for independence or merger of the region with Pakistan.

Families of the victims claimed the army lured the three close to the de-facto border that divides Kashmir between India and Pakisan, on the promise of jobs and money, before staging the “fake encounter”.

The killings in Machil sector sparked widespread protests in Kashmir at the time, leading to 120 deaths in battles between demonstrators and security forces, according to the Press Trust of India news agency.

“I hope that we never see such #Machil fake encounter type of incidents ever again and let this serve as a warning to those tempted to try,” Abdullah said.

The army declined to confirm when the military court's ruling was handed down. According to local media, court martial proceedings began in January this year against the seven and ended in September.

Amnesty International applauded the sentences, but called for allegations of human rights abuses to be probed by civilian courts instead of the army itself.
 “For justice to be the rule and not the exception, all cases of human rights violations should be investigated and prosecuted by independent civilian authorities,” Amnesty India programmes director Shailesh Rai said.
Under an emergency military law known as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, soldiers deployed in Kashmir cannot stand trial in civilian courts without express permission of the federal government in New Delhi.

In January, a military court exonerated five army officers over the killing of five civilians 14 years ago, sparking clashes between angry Kashmiris and police and the closure of shops and schools in protest.

About a dozen rebel groups have been fighting Indian forces since 1989 for Kashmir's independence or for its merger with Pakistan. The fighting has left tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, dead.

India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over the picturesque Himalayan region of Kashmir.

Facebook Aims to Deliver Real News to Mobile News Feeds

Facebook appears poised to deepen its footprint in the mobile publishing world, whether the industry is prepared for it or not. In a sense, Facebook wants to become a content syndicator -- allowing publishers to post directly to its mobile app News Feeds in return for a share of ad revenue. It could be beneficial to consumers, assuming they enjoy the scenery in Facebook's walled garden.

 Facebook has been meeting with publishers to discuss better ways of collaborating, according to an article published this week in The New York Times.

Facebook apparently wants to implement a more seamless way for mobile users to access news and magazine articles, as well as other content developed for digital sites, directly from their News Feed.

Facebook is considering inviting publishers to post their content inside its mobile app, where it would be hosted by Facebook's servers, the Times reported.

In exchange, Facebook would share ad revenue with the publishers.

Audience Network Success Stories

Facebook clearly has placed all bets on its mobile ecosystem and has been positioning it to be as welcoming as possible to third-party developers and publishers.

Earlier this month, for example, it expanded access to its mobile monetization tool, Audience Network, so that outside players could leverage Facebook's 1.5 million advertisers and millions of users that sign in to apps using their Facebook credentials.

Early stats from some users of the Audience Network suggest it could be a profitable play for them, at least in the short run.

Glu, the maker of "Kim Kardashian: Hollywood," has said that Facebook's Audience Network has delivered CPMs, or, cost per 1,000 impressions, that are twice the return of other ad networks.

Shazam, a music recognition and sharing app, said that the Audience Network increased its revenue from ad networks by 37 percent.

Brand Exposure or Brand Dilution?

It follows then that publishing directly on Facebook, presumably taking advantage of the site's advertising algorithms, formidable knowledge base of users, and impressive mobile IT infrastructure would be a win-win. That assessment is bolstered by the pitch Facebook apparently is making to publishers -- namely, that mobile news sources are not providing a favorable user experience for their readers.

That's not necessarily so, according to Nick Eubanks, vp of digital strategy for TrafficSafetyStore.com.

"I believe the move for Facebook to support ad revenue via hosted publishing will be bad for publications in the long run," he told the E-Commerce Times.

"I think it will eat into publications' overall revenue and dilute brand affinity and mindshare,"

Eubanks added, "as the publishing platform tends to get the most conscious credit for content."

Over time, it will pull audiences away from publishers as destinations, he predicted, while propping up Facebook as a more trusted source.

Virality vs. Quality

Some news publishers would benefit and probably not be too concerned about losing their hard news creds, though, said Dave Yoo, COO of 3Q Digital.

"Publishers that focus on virality over quality of content could have an advantage here," he told the E-Commerce Times. "Additionally, those that post more on a blog roll frequency could benefit."

By publishing on Facebook, the site would give up control over curation of its content, Yoo acknowledged.

On the other hand, many news destinations these days are an aggregation of in-house reporting and syndicated news from sources such as The AP, he pointed out.

"What Facebook seems to be doing here is attempting to create another layer of syndication across all publisher content out there."

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British-Iranian volleyball woman gets one year in jail

TEHRAN: A British-Iranian woman who was arrested in Tehran after trying to attend a volleyball match has been sentenced to one year in jail, her lawyer was reported as saying Sunday.
The case of Ghoncheh Ghavami, a 25-year-old law graduate from London, has attracted attention at the highest political level, given her dual nationality.
She was detained on June 20 at Azadi ( “Freedom” in Farsi) Stadium where Iran's national volleyball team was to play Italy, and although she was released within a few hours she was re-arrested days later.
She eventually went on trial behind closed doors last month.
“According to the verdict she was sentenced to one year,” her lawyer Alizadeh Tabatabaie was quoted in Iranian media as saying.
No reason was given for the conviction though Ghavami had been accused of spreading propaganda against the regime, a broad charge often used by Iran's judiciary.
Asked if the sentence could be reduced, Tabatabaie, who has not been allowed to visit his client, said: “Considering that Ghoncheh Ghavami has no criminal record, the court can alleviate the verdict.
“In a meeting Ghoncheh had with her mother on Wednesday, she said no new charges have been filed against her.“

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Hunger strike

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So far, Ghavami has been held in the capital's notorious Evin Prison for 126 days. Last month she spent 14 days on hunger strike.
A Facebook page where her friends and family have campaigned for her release features photographs of her against the slogan: “Jailed for wanting to watch a volleyball match”.
Officials, however, have said Ghavami was detained for security reasons unrelated to the sporting event.
An update on the Facebook account appeared to corroborate the one year sentence and it criticised the lack of transparency shown by the judiciary.
“This morning Ghoncheh's family and lawyer returned empty handed from branch 26 of Revolutionary court,” it said, referring to Saturday.
“It is not clear to her family and lawyer as to what the current legal basis of her detention is. A fair and just legal process according to Iran's legal framework is the basic right of every Iranian citizen. Why are these rights not upheld in Ghoncheh's case? “
Ghavami's arrest came after female fans and even women journalists were told they would not be allowed to attend the volleyball match.
National police chief General Esmail Ahmadi Moghaddam said it was “not yet in the public interest” for men and women to attend such events together. “The police are applying the law,” he said at the time.
Women are also banned from attending football matches in Iran, with officials saying this is to protect them from lewd behaviour among male fans.

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Cameron intervention

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British Prime Minister David Cameron raised Ghavami's case during a meeting with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani in September at the UN General Assembly in New York.
Cameron underlined “the impact that such cases had on Iran's image in the UK,” a Downing Street spokesman said at the time.
The verdict also comes with Iran under international pressure over its human rights record.
When Rouhani, a self-declared moderate elected last year, has been questioned about a soaring number of executions and detentions under his rule, he has stressed the judiciary is independent of his government.
However, many of the more than 100 diplomats at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva last week voiced outrage at the situation of political prisoners, women and religious minorities in Iran.
They also decried arrests and harassment of journalists, forced confessions and lack of access to fair trials. Mohammad Javad Larijani, secretary general of Iran's High Council for Human Rights, responded by saying his country had made great progress in the past four years.
His comments came after the UN's special rapporteur on Iran, Ahmed Shahhed, said the Islamic republic has executed at least 850 people in the past 15 months.

Indian PM condemns 'shocking' Wagah border bombing

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned Sunday a “shocking” suicide bomb blast at the main Pakistan-India border crossing that killed at least 55 people.

“Terror attack in Pakistan near Wagah Border is shocking. I strongly condemn such a dastardly act of terrorism,” Modi said on his Twitter account.

“My condolences to the families of the deceased. Prayers with the injured.“ India has stepped up security along its side of the border in the wake of the attack near the Pakistani city of Lahore that tore through crowds of spectators leaving after a daily ceremony to close the frontier.

The explosion came at Wagah border gate after the “flag-lowering” ceremony, a display of military pageantry that attracts thousands of spectators every day on both sides of the border, and is popular with foreign tourists.

R.P.S Jaswal, deputy inspector general of India's Border Security Force which guards Wagah, said security has been increased although “our side is secure”.

“A red alert has been issued keeping in view the blast across the border in ... Pakistan,” Jaswal told AFP by phone from his base near the Indian city of Amritsar.

The neighbours have had frosty relations since independence from Britain in 1947, fighting three full wars, two over the territory of Kashmir.

Sunday's attack comes amid heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed countries after a resurgence of cross-border shelling along the disputed frontier in Kashmir.

From tuk, tuk to world record for Misbah

ABU DHABI: Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq broke the test record for the fastest fifty and equalled the quickest century feat barely three weeks after withdrawing from the one-day side for poor form and slow batting.

The 40-year-old smashed a 21-ball fifty and a 56-ball hundred on the fourth day of the second Test, which put his team in sight of a 2-0 series win, their first series win in 20 years against Australia.

Misbah's 57-ball 101 lifted Pakistan to 293-3 declared in the second innings, setting a huge 603-run target for Australia who finished the day on a shaky 143-4.

It proved to be a Super Sunday for Misbah, often castigated by experts and fans alike for his “tuk, tuk" (Urdu word for the sound coming from the bat when a defensive stroke is played) style of batting.

Misbah said it was a great honour for being bracketed with West Indian legend Viv Richards who hit a 56-ball hundred against England at Antigua in 1986.

“I think it's the biggest honour for me,” said Misbah.

“I am nowhere near to him but scoring a hundred in a similar number of deliveries is really something that I will remember the whole of my life."

Misbah broke South African Jacques Kalli's record of the fastest test fifty, which he made off 24 balls against Zimbabwe at Cape Town in 2004.

Misbah said he didn't know about the record until a team-mate told him.

“Somebody ran to me when I was on 80 informing me that I was just ten balls away from making a record."

“But in either case I was trying to hit every ball and that really couldn't make any difference. But it is always good to have these sort of records ... as it gives you some sort of satisfaction and scoring 100 is always special for a batsman in a Test and nothing is better than that."

Misbah said ups and downs are common in a sportsman's life.

“It happened a lot in my life even as it happens with every sportsman, “said Misbah of his withdrawal from the third one-day match in Abu Dhabi.

“You have tough times but if you believe in yourself, keep on working hard and stay calm it really pays off.

“Specially, I would like to thank everybody around me for supporting me to come out of that phase."

Misbah felt his quick scoring will help in next year's World Cup, which Australia and New Zealand co-host in February-March.

“It was a really important situation for me considering what happened in the recent past and especially ahead of the World Cup,” said Misbah, who scored just nought and five in the two one day internationals he played against Australia in the series that Pakistan lost 3-0.
“It was important for me to get back in to form and regain confidence."

“As a unit we have performed and we dearly needed to. This performance is hugely important as we all got the momentum and confidence ahead of the World Cup,” added Misbah.

TTP splinter groups claim Wagah attack; 60 dead

Volunteers transport the body of a blast victim after a suicide bomb attack near Wagah border on November 2, 2014. A suicide bomber killed at least 45 people November 2 at the main Pakistan-India border crossing - AFP

LAHORE: At least 60 people were killed on Sunday in a blast near the Wagah border, the responsibility of which was claimed separately by the outlawed Jundullah and TTP-affiliated Jamaat-ul-Ahrar outfits.
Victims include 10 women and seven children, while more than 110 people have been injured.
Punjab police chief Inspector General Mushtaq Sukhera told AP that the bomb exploded outside a restaurant near a paramilitary soldiers' checkpoint at Wagah border on the outskirts of Lahore city. He also added that the explosion could have been the result of a suicide blast.

Relatives gather around the bodies of blast victims after a suicide bomb attack near the Wagah border. -AFP Photo

Lahore police chief Amin Wains confirmed it was a suicide attack. “People were returning after watching the parade at Wagah border when the blast took place. Ball bearings were found at the scene,” he said.
Emergency has been declared at all hospitals in Lahore. Prime Nawaz Sharif has taken notice of the explosion and called for a report on the incident.
Wagah is the only road border crossing between the Indian city of Amritsar and the Pakistani city of Lahore.
An Indian security official told Reuters that the Indian side of Wagah border is “safe” after blast on Pakistani side.

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TTP splinter groups claim responsibility

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The Jamaat-ul-Ahrar splinter group of the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the Wagah border attack as its spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan, speaking to Dawn on telephone from Afghanistan, said it was carried out by one of their men.
When asked if it was more than one suicide bomber, he said one man carried out the attack.
"We will continue such attacks in the future," Ehsan said.
"Some other groups have claimed responsibility of this attack, but these claims are baseless. We will soon release the video of this attack," he said.
"This attack is revenge for the killing of innocent people in North Waziristan," the banned militant group's spokesman said.
Earlier Jundullah, another outlawed group which was behind a suicide bombing that killed at least 78 Christians at a church in Peshawar last September, had also claimed responsibility for the Wagah border attack.
The spokesman of the splinter group of the TTP Ahmed Marwat via telephone said that the attack is a reaction to military operation Zarb-i-Azb and Waziristan operation.
Jundullah and the much larger Pakistani Taliban are among loosely aligned militant groups that frequently share personnel, tactics and agendas. Claims for specific incidents are often hard to verify.
The group has claimed various attacks including the October 23 attack on Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Quetta .
On September 22, 2013, a twin suicide bomb attack had killed 127 people at a Peshawar church. This was the deadliest attack on the Christian minority in the history of Pakistan. Jundallah had wasted no time in accepting responsibility of this attack too.
18 Shia Muslims traveling from Rawalpindi to Gilgit-Baltistan on a bus in February 2012 were stopped in Kohistan and massacred based on their religious affiliation by individuals dressed in Military uniforms. Jundallah had also claimed responsibility for the act by contacting the media.
In June 2013, Jundallah had claimed responsibility for the killing of tourists and their Pakistani guide in Gilgit–Baltistan. The tourists were mountain-climbers who had hoped to climb Nanga Parbat. The dead included five Ukrainians, three Chinese, and their guide.

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Scenes at the hospital

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As most of the dead and injured were shifted to the nearby Ghurki Hospital, reporters said the premises was swarming with police, security agencies and the families of victims.
Hospital administration confirmed that at least 40 dead and over 50 injured have been received by hospital authorities.
“We received 35 bodies including those of women and children and 60 to 70 were wounded,” Deputy Medical Superintendent of Ghurki Hospital near the Wagah border crossing, identified only as Dr Khurram, told domestic television channels earlier.
Later, medical superintendent Dr Iftikhar confirmed that over 100 people have been brought to Ghurki Hospital. More injured have been shifted to Lahore hospitals as GH does not have the capacity to treat further patients.

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Timing of explosion

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The explosion reportedly took place as the Rangers concluded the ceremony at Wagah, and the flags were being lowered.
For years, a military flag-lowering ceremony that takes place every evening at the Wagah border post, which draws crowds of partisan tourists who cheer every hostile strut and stare traded by the border guards on both sides.

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DG Rangers confirms suicide blast

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Director General Rangers Punjab Khan Tahir Khan confirmed that the explosion is a suicide blast.
"The parade venue is about 600 metres ahead of the blast site. Because of the strict checking the suicide bomber detonated the bomb away from the parade venue."

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Blast site

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Footage shows shops and nearby buildings destroyed at the site of the blast. Security and rescue personnel rushed to the site of the blast.
Journalists have been instructed to clear the area, which the Rangers have cordoned off for security reasons. Forensic teams are currently present at the site and are collecting evidence as part of the investigation.
An eyewitness speaking to DawnNews said people were coming out of the shops when the bomb explosion took place."There were several bodies at the scene of the blast. It was a very powerful blast.”