Pakistani actress Saba isn't making her Bollywood debut with Ajay Devgn's Shivaay

Amid the tension escalating between India and Pakistan over Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Uri and the threat by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to Pakistani artistes to leave India, a story started floating around that Ajay Devgn's Shivaay marks the Bollywood debut of popular Pakistani actress Saba Qamar.

However, the publicity team of Shivaay has strongly denied it. "There are media reports doing the rounds that Pakistani actress Saba Qamar is making her debut with Shivaay. However, as the official publicists of the film we would like to clarify that actress Saba Qamar or any other Pakistani actor/ actress is not a part of Shivaay," the statement read. Directed by Devgn, Shivaay slated for a Diwali release stars apart from the actor-director, Sayyeshaa Saigal and Polish actress Erika Kaar.

The Sharifs and a mockery of democracy

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/full-text-of-nawaz-sharif-s-speech-at-un-general-assembly/story-bdlcijC6NbfJgnjYupBBhN.html

Courtesy Hindustan Times, a full text of Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's speech at the the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is now at your doorstep. As a Pakistani, you would now look at him with reverance. The Orgasanisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) would further eulogise him for 'exposing' India on Jammu & Kashmir (J&K).

Well done Mr. Sharif. But not just in the capacity of an Indian, but as a human being, any individual with a sense of logic would only laugh at you. Your speech only vindicates the fact that the Government of Pakistan only dances to the whims and fancies of its Army currently led by Raheel Sharif. Well, he shares your surname. Not only does he share your surname, he also makes it sure that you are kept on your toes and you abide by the instructions coming from Rawalpindi.

For your armed men, India is an obsession despite the fact that every time, your Generals tried to foment trouble in India, you were given a befitting reply. Mr. PM, you pretend to be a custodian of peace in the sub-continent, but to be fair and honest, it's sad there was no mention of the killing of Indian soldiers at Uri. Yes, you endorsed terrorism by once again hailing a terrorist like Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Wani (who was killed by our forces on July 8) as a martyr. Now, you yourself know that your nation does give protection to the likes of Masood Azhar, Hafeez Saeed and others whose one-point agenda is to destabilise India.

But let me not implicate you. It's not your fault. Even if you intend to make a difference and offer a hand of friendship to India, your Army chief would react, even if his days on the job are numbered. But, being the Prime Minister of a country that boasts its democratic credentials, you would have done a better job by asserting your views based on democratic norms. But Sir, you are scared because your country has a history of being a witness to coups (you being a victim of two of them).

The Panama Paper leaks (some of your kins' names have been mentioned), a loss to the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) in the Karachi Mayoral elections, allegations of rigging in the elections in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), honour killings, atrocities on minorities and so on have only made you a lame-duck PM. Even your Supreme Court passes a ruling that the actually limits the say of the Prime Minister in financial matters. To add to it, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Anwar Zaheer Jamal alleges that some political parties in Pakistan pamper terrorists. Never before, if memory doesn't betray, any Chief Justice in any other country has been so candid. 

But we pity you. Even if you are a good person with noble intentions, you have no choice except surrendering to the might of the Armed forces. The reason is simple: Pakistan makes a mockery of democracy. The lawmakers only speak but do not mean what they say because the Generals are watching. 

Sorry Mr. Prime Minister, you are helpless. Despite being elected by the people, your hands are tied. Watching you speaking at the UNGA, one would not envy you because you don't have the most enviable job in the world. Being Pakistan's Prime Minister is the toughest responsibility one could imagine. 

God bless Pakistan! God bless Pakistanis! The road will only get tougher with time and even China and Turkey would turn their backs on Pakistan. After all, economy matters and in terms of trade and business, India marches way ahead of its neighbour.     

   

Personal diary: A glimpse of the brighter side of a country called Pakistan

To start off, I owe a lot to Harsh Mander and his article for Scroll.in titled #SeditionThis: Why I believe Pakistanis are the most gracious people in the world. A wonderful piece of writing that puts all doubts to rest. He's the inspiration behind this piece. 

Yours truly may not have travelled to Pakistan, but he has always had a soft corner for its peoples. If it's cricket on one hand, it's the picturesque locales of the country that have always made him inquisitive to explore the country. And let's not forget the likes of Wasim Akram, Imran Khan, Shahid Afridi, Atif Aslam, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Fawad Khan and Saba Qamar, big names from across the border this writer has always admired.

On a personal front, my personal experiences with Pakistan and Pakistanis as a whole have been cherishing enough. If my Karachi-based friend Umar Wahidi comes across as a person who never gives up on logic, during my days as a scribe, whenever I had to dial a Pakistani number, I never hesitated. And every time I spoke to one from across the border, I felt as if I was conversing with an Indian.

Be it Humaima Malik or Akram or Afridi, the co-operation from these big shots from Pakistan will always remain embedded in my heart. Never did it strike to me that they hailed from a nation, which had so many scores to settle with India.

Talk of Akram, I forced him to give me an exclusive despite the fact that he was running against time. But he was as charming as ever. On the treadmill, he told me that he was actually listening to Hindi numbers while shedding some calories. And Afridi (he may not remember), said, "You are from Hindustan Times (the newspaper I was working with)? Yes, I know you have an appointment with me. Go ahead."  

On the contrary, as a journalist, I was kept waiting by a Bengali superstar who said he had no time because his work came first. Similarly, a versatile Bollywood actor, in Kolkata to shoot for a film directed by a filmmaker who has left for his heavenly abode, tested my patience and finally gave in.


Anyways, am I getting too personal? Yes, I am. To come back, Pakistan has never disappointed me personally. Yet, cross border terrorism disturbs me. Biased Pakistani media coverage at the behest of the political and military establishments out there is contradictory to what an average Pakistani feels.

I would second Kannada actress Ramya who says Pakistan is not hell as opposed to Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar's statement. She faces sedition charges and I dread facing the same after this article goes online. But, being a true patriot and an Indian and living in a democracy that allows freedom of speech (Yes even keeping Kanhaiya Kumar in mind), I would suggest that it's time to bring the civil society into action and it's only then can we expect some respite. 

Far-fetched? May be, but that's a way out or else, even the all-party delegation's visit led by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to the valley will yield no result. Talk to all stakeholders in Kashmir, but also take into confidence the ordinary Kashmiris. And when you talk to Pakistan, spare a thought for those ordinary citizens of the country who refuse to charge a penny if an Indian buys anything from them.  

To wind up, I am in love with that section of Pakistan, which doesn't spew venom at my country and which is sick and tired of the protracted enmity with India. But I am certainly not friendly with those elements who survive on anti-India plank. Similarly, looking within, people with vested interests from my own country do not make their way into my good books. Beyond politics and diplomacy, there's something called humanity. And I bet be it Karachi or Lahore or Islamabad or New Delhi or Mumbai or Kolkata or Chennai, there are still some human beings left who think beyond political vendetta.  

If I am booked on sedition charges, I am up for it, as I have spoken my heart out.

Allah Hafiz!!   
Also check https://digantaguha.blogspot.in/2016/05/beyond-guns.html