PUBLISHED ABOUT 5 HOURS AGO Peshawar gets back its cultural centre, as a revamped Nishtar Hall opens its doors

If anyone, who had seen the government owned only playhouse -- Nishtar Hall -- during the rule of Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal or later during the coalition government of Pakistan People’s Party and Awami National Party, there is a fair chance one would be stunned to see its new look.

For the first time in almost three decades the sole playhouse in the province has been renovated into an ornate colourful, well-equipped, air-conditioned purpose-built hall. The red curtains and gold-coloured carpeted flooring has completely changed the look. It almost looked like a French playhouse or any theatre one sees in Europe.

Nishtar Hall, inaugurated in 1988 by the then chief minister Arabab Jahangir Khan Khalil, has been an arena which was used for all kinds of religious, political and cultural gatherings during different governments in the province.

There was always a controversy over different kinds of activities and gatherings that were held in it. Some 15 years ago, a ban on any kind of so-called cultural activity was imposed by the provincial government after a performance went from bad to worse at Nishtar Hall. Since then, no government ever bothered to turn this place into a cultural hub or a playhouse to promote drama or theatre. Later, they used it for political and religious functions and seminars.

It is not only the hall itself, but the entrance, the waiting area, restrooms, and even changing rooms have completely had a makeover. Once a very shabby place, it has now a chic look.

Azam Khan, secretary tourism, culture and archaeology, told Dawn that Nishtar Hall was renovated and upgraded as it was needed since long.

“Peshawar, which has seen so much turmoil, needed a place where families could go and watch a play or a musical evening,” said Mr Khan. He added that very soon an animated version of a play of the famous Pashto folklore would be presented in Nishtar Hall.

Nishtar Hall was supposed to be renovated and upgraded under an ADP scheme with a cost of Rs80 million within 12 months but directorate of culture with the help of its in-house experts completed the work in just five months by spending only Rs35 million. The scope of work included sound-proofing, installation of 600 chairs, carpeting, sound system replacement, lighting system, overhauling of air-conditioning system, roof treatment, revolving stage and curtains, gallery renovation, distempering, washrooms and other such developmental works.

The directorate of culture opened the hall for public by holding a medley of cultural musical performances. The families enjoyed the event called “Rich Festival”.

The Revival of Indigenous Cultural Heritage, a programme to revive cultural activities in the 76 tehshils of 25 districts, culminated on the opening of Nishtar Hall over the weekend. The festival had fun-filled musical performances, cultural dances, skits, puppet shows for children and around 30 stalls which displayed the handicrafts and traditional foods.

Man kills sister’s husband

TAXILA: A man killed his brother-in-law in the Sultanpur Village in the limits of the Hassanabdal police station, police said on Sunday.

The victim would often beat his wife from which her brother tried to stop him many times.

On Sunday, when the accused learnt that his sister’s husband beat her again, he killed Razi with a 30-bore pistol and fled the scene. Hassanabdal police registered a case against the accused and handed over the body to the family after an autopsy was conducted at Tehsil Headquarters Hospital.

Elsewhere, a motorcyclist identified as Asif Bhatti from Ahmednagar was killed when he was hit by a speeding dumper on GT Road in the limits of the Wah police station.

In a separate incident a man identified as Abdul Aziz died when he was hit by a motorcycle while crossing the Hazara Road. Separate cases have been registered and further investigations were started.

PUBLISHED ABOUT 4 HOURS AGO Is Fawad's next Bolly co-star Amitabh Bachchan?

Not a lot is known about Jugalbandi, Fawad Khan's rumoured next Bolly flick, except that it's a film about music and is being produced by Salman Khan.

Now, the grapevine suggests that Amitabh Bachchan will also play a prominent role in the film.

According to Filmfare, Amitabh will play the role of a musical guru in the film, while Fawad will play his pupil, orshishya. The film will revolve around this student-teacher relationship.

It is said that Salman Khan is yet to finalise a female lead or director of the film.

Fawad is yet to confirm or deny his involvement inJugalbandi - in an earlier interview, he said he's in talks with several producers and has yet to officially sign on to a film. But one musical role for the star is confirmed in Pakistan, that is, Albela Rahi, a biopic in which he will star as pop sensation Alamgir.

Ali’s hometown joins together in prayer and celebration

LOUISVILLE: Muhammad Ali's younger brother wept, swayed to hymns and hugged anyone he could reach.

He raised his hands to the sky, eyes closed, surrounded by congregants at the church where their father once worshipped.

Rahaman Ali took center stage at the two-hour service at King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church, sitting in a front-row pew with his wife, Caroline.

The church is not far from the little pink house in Louisville's west end where the Ali brothers grew up. It was one of several emotional remembrances Sunday as the city joined together to mourn its most celebrated son, the Louisville Lip.

Later this week, politicians, celebrities and fans from around the globe are expected for a Friday memorial service that Ali planned himself with the intent of making it open to all.

An airplane carrying the boxing great's body landed in his grieving hometown Sunday afternoon.

At services all over town, they recited Ali's words on religion: “Rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, oceans all have different names, but they all contain water,” Ali once said.

“So do religions have different names, and they all contain truth.”

At a Sunday evening memorial at the Louisville Islamic Center, speakers from many faiths — Muslims, Christians, Catholics, Jews — lamented that Ali's death came at a time when political rhetoric is getting more divisive.

They did not mention Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump by name, but the reasons for the theme were clear.

The Republican presidential candidate said he would temporarily ban all Muslims from entering the United States, a proposition Ali used one of his last public statements to rebuke.

“When the clamor of the disaffected targets those considered other we need someone to cry out that people are not born other — we make them other, through our fear, through our prejudice, our hatred, our desire to grasp for more than is rightfully ours,” said Rev. Derek Penwell, who leads a Christian church in Louisville.

“We need a voice who knows that true power is to help us to see that our determination to love in spite of our fear is the greatest expression of power that human beings can muster.”

Ali famously converted to the Islamic faith and refused to fight in the Vietnam War, though it cost him years of his boxing career.

He insisted throughout his life that people of all faiths and colors should come together in peace, and the speakers at the Islamic Center pondered whether anyone else has the strength or statute to take on the fight.

“Now who will push back the agents of hatred and watch our back?” asked Dr. Muhammad Baber.

“When we fight these demons of Islamophobia, who will show the light to our youth surrounded by traitors of terror? ... Who will testify for our innocence in this season of witch hunting?”

Even after his conversion, Ali sometimes attended King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church.

Ali's father, Cassius Clay Sr., a painter, was an active member of the congregation before his death decades ago. He painted a mural of Jesus' baptism that still hangs behind the pulpit.

“There is no greater man that has done more for this city than Muhammad Ali,” the church's assistant pastor, Charles Elliott III, said Sunday morning, drawing a round of “amens” and prolonged applause from the congregation.

Elliott recalled the comical side of the former boxing champion and global humanitarian, who died Friday night at an Arizona hospital.

Elliott said his grandmother was once a nanny to Ali's family.

He visited as a wide-eyed young boy, he said, and recalled the house had an elevator and a parrot who called out: “Here comes the champ, here comes the champ.”

His father, the Rev. Charles Elliott Jr., knew Ali for decades and remembered his generosity.

He recalled when he was raising money in the 1960s to keep a program running to feed the city's hungry, and Ali cut him a check. At the time, the program offered food twice a week, he said.

“He came in and he said, 'Reverend, let's feed 'em every day. I'll give you a check.”

Mexico down Uruguay 3-1 after anthem gaffe

GLENDALE: Mexico defeated Uruguay 3-1 in a stormy Copa America Centenario duel here Sunday that saw both teams finish with 10 men after a pre-match furore over a bungled national anthem.

A pulsating clash at the University of Phoenix stadium in Arizona saw Mexico take all three points in the crucial Group C battle through an own goal from Alvaro Pereira and late strikes from Rafa Marquez and Hector Herrera.

Uruguay's lone strike came from captain Diego Godin, the Atletico Madrid player heading in an equalizer 16 minutes from time that looked to have secured the South Americans a share of the points.

But 37-year-old Marquez's emphatic strike into the roof of the net on 85 minutes fired Mexico 2-1 up before Herrera added a third in injury time to complete a memorable victory for “El Tri”.

Uruguay's players angrily remonstrated with match officials at the final whistle in an ill-tempered finale that capped a miserable afternoon for 'La Celeste'.

Before kick-off, Uruguay's players had looked baffled as they lined up for their national anthem — only for Chile's national anthem to be played by mistake.

Copa America Centenario organizers swiftly apologized for the blunder.

“We sincerely apologize to the Uruguayan Federation, the Uruguay National Team, the people of Uruguay and to the fans for this mistake,” a statement said, blaming the gaffe on “human error.”

When the game kicked off, Mexico took the lead after only four minutes with a goal that owed everything to the guile of PSV Eindhoven midfielder Andres Guardado.

The 29-year-old wide player carved out space for himself on the left flank superbly and then whipped in a wicked cross that sowed panic in the Uruguayan defense as Herrera lurked menacingly.

Alvaro Pereira spotted the danger but as he scrambled to neutralize the threat, succeeded only in powering a header into his own net.

The goal rocked Uruguay who struggled to find their rhythm in the early exchanges.

Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani almost went close to equalizing on the half hour, but his low shot was saved brilliantly by Alfredo Talavera in the Mexico goal.

On the stroke of half time it got worse for Uruguay when Matias Vecino picked up a second yellow card and received his marching orders.

Diego Rolan almost equalized after a superb charging run from his own half by Godin, who laid off to Cavani who fed Rolan, only for the Uruguayan to shoot wide.

Guardado then received a second yellow to earn a red card and from the ensuing free-kick Godin headed Uruguay level — before being pelted with missiles from the overwhelmingly pro-Mexico crowd as he celebrated.

The game appeared headed for a draw but Marquez rifled home score his 16th international goal in 131 appearances to put Mexico 2-1 up and Herrera added his injury-time third.

PM Nawaz's recovery 'on course', says Maryam

KARACHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's recovery is on track, the premier's daughter Maryam Nawaz said on Sunday, nearly a week after the premier underwent surgery.

"PM's recovery on course. Was made to walk several times in the corridor during the day, and up and down a flight of stairs twice," Maryam tweeted.

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Maryam Nawaz Sharif 

✔@MaryamNSharif

Alhamdolillah, PM's recovery on course. Was made to walk several times in the corridor during the day & up & down a flight of stairs twice.

10:48 PM - 5 Jun 2016

 
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Since Nawaz was hospitalised, Maryam has taken charge of media management in the Sharif camp, feeding the press updates on her father's medical condition.

From announcing the prime minister’s decision to undergo the surgery, to tweeting his first picture after the procedure, Maryam’s Twitter feed has provided minute details about how much time the patient would spend inside the intensive care unit (ICU), as well as his tentative plans to come back home.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif underwent a successful open-heart surgery at a London hospital and was moved to an intensive care unit in a stable condition on Tuesday. He is expected to return to Pakistan before the end of Ramazan, Maryam said earlier.

"Three of his arteries were blocked. It will take five or six days for the prime minister to get discharged from the hospital and we expect that he will return home in three to four weeks," she said on Wednesday.

Following his surgery, the premier will be overseeing the affairs of government from London.

Five convicted in Danish tourist gang-rape in New Delhi

NEW DELHI: A court convicted five men Monday of the gang-rape of a Danish tourist in New Delhi in 2014, a crime which put India's record on sexual violence back in the spotlight.

The five were found guilty of the rape and robbery of the 52-year-old woman, who was attacked at knifepoint after losing her way as she returned to her hotel in central New Delhi.

“I pronounce all the accused guilty. Arguments (on sentencing) to be held on June 9,” Additional Sessions Judge Ramesh Kumar told the court in Delhi where media and family members of the accused had gathered.

Three others charged over the attack are being tried separately in the juvenile justice system. A ninth accused, an adult, died before the trial ended.

The Danish woman, travelling alone and in Delhi after visiting the Taj Mahal, had approached a group of men for directions as she returned to Delhi's main backpacker area, reports at the time said.

The assault in January 2014 was the latest in a series of sex attacks on foreigners in India which reignited concerns about women's safety in the country.

A Polish woman had been drugged and raped as she travelled to Delhi with her young daughter in a car, just before the attack on the Danish woman.

India's government toughened jail sentences for rapists and overhauled policing procedures in the wake of the 2012 fatal gang-rape of a Delhi student on a moving bus.

That attack sparked furious mass street protests about high levels of violence against women, as well as global headlines about the treatment of women in India.

On Monday the five accused, escorted by police into court, showed little emotion when the verdicts were read out.

Neither the victim nor members of her family were in court for the verdict.