Pakistani director takes Karachi’s untold stories to Palm Springs Film Festival 

Pakistani director takes Karachi’s untold stories to Palm Springs Film Festival. (Photo courtesy: Stray Dogs Come Out at Night Facebook Page)
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Updated 16 June 2020
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Pakistani director takes Karachi’s untold stories to Palm Springs Film Festival 

  • Bangash says he wanted to draw attention to high suicide rate among young men in the country
  • Short film will be screened at virtual edition of prestigious event which ends on June 22

KARACHI: It’s a Karachi we all know but seldom talk about; and to start the conversation is an 11-minute short film by Pakistani-Canadian director, Hamza Bangash, which has been selected for screening at the virtual edition of the renowned Palm Springs International Festival (PSIF) this year.

Bangash says it’s his attempt to share some of Karachi’s untold stories by night.

“Although fiction, the film is inspired by the stories I heard,” Bangash, 29, said in an exclusive interview with Arab News on Tuesday.

Titled Stray Dogs Come Out At Night (SDCOAN), the film revolves around a young masseur named Iqbal and his acceptance of life as an HIV-positive person. 

In addition to being screened at the PSIF 2020, which runs from June 16-22, the film has also been nominated in two of its award categories – Best Live Action Short, and Vimeo Staff Pick Award.

Bangash said the film’s name is a metaphor used to describe the plight of young men in the country who are “often brutalized and not given enough opportunities” and a “revolt against toxic masculinity” that is rampant in society.

“The lives of the maalishwalas (masseurs) as shown in the film are more or less similar to those of stray dogs, who are in every nook and corner of Karachi and come out at night,” he said.

Iqbal, played by Pakistani actor Mohammad Ali Hashmi, lives with his uncle, Khurram – veteran actor Adnan Shah Tipu – in a one-bedroom apartment of Karachi. 

Both are uneducated migrants from Punjab, miles away from their families, navigating a new life in an alien city.

Khurram is a masseur, too, but has over the years learnt the tricks of the trade and how to survive the abusive nature of the profession. 

Their only respite is a visit to the city’s Sea View Beach, and it’s during one such afternoon when Iqbal – weighed down by life’s tribulations – feels drawn to the sea in an unusual way.

Bangash said, through the film, he wanted to explore the reasons for the increasing incidents of suicide among young men in the country.

“Iqbal’s character embodies the most common traits behind those taking their lives in our country; young, poor, isolated – with limited education and even more limited opportunities for growth,” he said.

His observations are not unfounded.

According to a 2012 report by the World Health Organization (WHO), around 13,000 people had killed themselves in Pakistan that year, with a significant drop in the suicide rate four years later where more than 5,500 took their lives in 2016. 

There was no recent data available on the topic.

Bangash said, while the numbers have improved significantly, the problems remain, and despite SDCOAN taking two years to make, “it was all worth it.”

“I spent eight months in research and finally shot the film in October 2018 over 48 hours, on a tiny budget. Then, I spent over a year-and-a-half in post-production and completed it in December 2019,” he said.

The efforts finally paid off, and the film premiered at France’s Clermont-Ferrand International Film Festival in February 2020. 

“After Clermont, the film was supposed to tour across Europe and North America, but coronavirus hit and festivals started to get canceled. I’m so grateful for our recent selection at Palm Springs. The festival programmer even called us one of the highlights of this year’s edition!” he said.

However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing from the start, with casting issues being one of his core problems, to begin with.

“We must have reached out to dozens of actors; no one was willing to come on board. We got really lucky with both Mohammad Ali Hashmi and Adnan Shah Tipu who is one of the few actors with international experience in art-house cinema,” he said.

Another issue was that film was entirely in Punjabi – a language that Bangash did not speak.

“It was really interesting to write a script in English, convert it to Urdu, and then work on the dialogues with my actors who speak in Punjabi. The experiences which both Hashmi and Tipu brought to the film, as native Punjabi-speakers, really helped mold the film into what it is today,” Bangash said.

He added that while he knew of Tipu due to the length and breadth of his performances in theater and film, he’d spotted Ali during one of his stage shows.

That was the first rung of the ladder, with Ali spending months in research to get into the skin of Iqbal’s character.

“After meeting up with many malishwalas during our research, we picked one for our character and I tried my best to adopt his mannerisms into my acting,” Ali, 26, told Arab News.

He added that the experience was emotionally draining and took him weeks to “get out of character.”

Ali narrates an incident when, during research, they were standing outside a restaurant “in their characters’ get up” and the management staff thought they were masseurs and pushed them away.

“At that point, I realized the humiliation, pain and agony that these people go through on a daily basis,” he said.

As for Bangash, he said he was happy that the film was being showcased on a distinguished platform, adding that winning the award was never a priority.

“It would be incredible to win, but it’s such an honor just to be competing in Palm Springs,” he said.


Pakistan, China hold joint military drill amid Beijing’s concerns over attacks on nationals

Updated 6 sec ago
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Pakistan, China hold joint military drill amid Beijing’s concerns over attacks on nationals

  • Warrior VIII, which began on November 19, aims to bolster counterterrorism capabilities
  • Pakistan’s army chief interacted with the participants of the exercise and praised their morale

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on Friday visited the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) in Pabbi, located in the Gujrat division of Punjab province, to observe a joint counterterrorism exercise between the Pakistan Army and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China, said an official statement.
The three-week “Warrior VIII” exercise, which began on November 19, is the eighth iteration of bilateral training aimed at bolstering counterterrorism capabilities and enhancing military cooperation.
The exercise comes as China’s security concerns in Pakistan have grown following a spate of attacks targeting Chinese nationals working on dozens of lucrative projects in the country.
“The COAS was briefed on the scope and conduct of the exercise,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said. “He also interacted with the participants of the exercise.”
Thousands of Chinese nationals have been working on the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for nearly a decade, with several of them being targeted by different militant groups operating in Pakistan.
Earlier this year, in March, a suicide bomber attacked a convoy near Besham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing five Chinese engineers. A few months later, in October, a bombing near Karachi airport targeted Chinese workers ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Islamabad.
Beijing has voiced concerns over the safety of its citizens working in Pakistan and has reportedly proposed a joint security mechanism.
However, the foreign office said this month the two countries have a “robust dialogue and cooperation” on a range of issues, including counterterrorism and the security of Chinese nationals in the country.
It also expressed the government’s resolve to work with Chinese authorities to ensure the safety and security of their nationals, as well as their projects and investments.
According to Voice of America, Warrior VIII is the first joint counterterrorism exercise between the two countries in five years.
The ISPR said General Munir also praised the professionalism and high morale of the officers and soldiers participating in the joint military exercise.


European aviation safety agency lifts Pakistan airline ban — minister

Updated 29 November 2024
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European aviation safety agency lifts Pakistan airline ban — minister

  • The development will revive PIA’s European flights, strengthen the government’s privatization drive
  • Pakistan’s Airblue has also got Third Country Operator authorization to fly to European destinations

KARACHI: The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has lifted a ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights after a span of four years, Defense and Aviation Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif announced Friday, commending all the relevant officials who made the breakthrough possible.
The ban on PIA flights was imposed in 2020 after a crash in Karachi killed 97 people, followed by a former Pakistani aviation minister’s statement claiming that nearly 40 percent of local pilots held “dubious” licenses.
This statement raised global concerns about safety oversight, leading to the grounding of PIA’s European operations.
The suspension added to PIA’s financial troubles, as the debt-ridden national carrier continued to incur losses amid its struggle to recover from a tarnished reputation. The government also faced difficulties privatizing the airline, a condition set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during recent loan negotiations, due to its precarious financial situation.
“It is a momentous day to announce that the European Commission and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has lifted the suspension on PIA flights to Europe,” the aviation minister wrote in a social media post.

He also announced that the decision granted Third Country Operator (TCO) authorization to another Pakistani airline, Airblue, marking a significant development for the aviation sector.
TCO authorization granted by EASA allows non-European airlines to operate commercial flights into, within or out of European Union airspace.
Airblue, Pakistan’s second-largest airline, operates domestic and regional routes and is expected to explore European operations following the TCO authorization.
Responding to the development, PIA lauded the lifting of the ban as a testament to its adherence to international safety standards.
“This milestone ensures that the entire nation can once again travel directly to European destinations with their national airline,” the airline said in a statement, adding it had worked tirelessly over the past four years to meet EASA’s safety requirements.

“The PIA administration will remain fully compliant with EASA and its rules and regulations,” it added.
Asif credited the lifting of the suspension to reforms in Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), which he said were aimed at aligning the regulator with international standards.
“I am grateful to the European Commission and EASA for conducting a transparent process and our commitment to ensuring aviation safety in Pakistan,” he said in the social media message.
The development is expected to help revive PIA’s European operations and strengthen the government’s privatization efforts by improving the airline’s appeal to potential investors.


Pakistan receives 38,000 Hajj applications in 10 days

Updated 29 November 2024
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Pakistan receives 38,000 Hajj applications in 10 days

  • Total number of applications received so far is 11,000 more than during the corresponding period last year
  • Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210, evenly split between the government and private tour operators

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs said on Friday that 38,000 Hajj applications had been received in the first 10 days of the submission period, 11,000 more than during the same period last year.
The surge comes as Pakistan prepares to send 179,210 pilgrims for the annual Islamic pilgrimage in 2025, under a quota evenly divided between government and private Hajj schemes.
“By the tenth day, 38,000 Hajj applications have been received,” a ministry said in a statement, adding that designated banks would continue accepting applications over the weekend. The final deadline for submissions is Dec. 3.
Pilgrims under the regular Hajj scheme can secure their booking with an initial payment of Rs200,000 ($719), according to the statement.
Pakistan has steadily improved facilities for pilgrims in recent years.
One key initiative is the Makkah Route Initiative, which streamlines immigration processes by enabling pilgrims to complete formalities at their departure airports.
Initially tested in Islamabad in 2019, the program was later expanded to Karachi, benefitting tens of thousands of travelers.
Efforts have also included the launch of a mobile application, Pak Hajj 2025, to provide pilgrims with essential updates, flight details and navigation assistance in Saudi Arabia.
Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, attracts millions of Muslims annually to Makkah, with Pakistan consistently being among the largest contributors of pilgrims.


ICC talks continue on fate of Pakistan Champions Trophy

Updated 29 November 2024
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ICC talks continue on fate of Pakistan Champions Trophy

  • Event’s fate has been hanging in the balance since India declined to visit Pakistan
  • ICC meeting adjourned without a decision but will reconvene ‘in the next few days’

KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) said talks were continuing to settle uncertainty around next year’s Champions Trophy, sources told AFP, after India refused to travel to host nation Pakistan.
The event’s fate has been hanging in the balance since earlier this month, when the ICC said India had declined to visit Pakistan for the eight-team tournament.
The nuclear-armed neighbors have fought three wars since being carved out of the subcontinent’s partition in 1947 and that rivalry is often reflected on the cricket field.
A meeting by the Dubai-headquartered ICC was held briefly on Friday but adjourned without a decision, according to several sources with knowledge of the talks who were not authorized to speak to media.
“All parties continue to work toward a positive resolution,” said one source, adding that “it is expected that the board will reconvene in the next few days.”
The Pakistan Cricket Board has previously ruled out proposals allowing India to play in a neutral third country, insisting the full schedule from February 19 to March 9 must be staged on their turf.
Another source said the “Pakistani stance remains the same” following Friday’s brief meeting.


No let-up in Kurram fighting in Pakistan as death toll hits 98 amid fragile ceasefire

Updated 29 November 2024
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No let-up in Kurram fighting in Pakistan as death toll hits 98 amid fragile ceasefire

  • Tribal elders in the area say dozens of families have moved from the region to safer locations
  • Pakistani parliamentarian from Kurram puts the death toll at 110, seeking government intervention

PESHAWAR: Sporadic gunfire and violence persist in Pakistan’s Kurram district despite a ceasefire brokered last weekend by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) administration in the region, following sectarian clashes that have killed 98 and injured over 130 in the last nine days, a police official said Friday.
Kurram, a former semi-autonomous tribal area bordering Afghanistan, has a long history of violent conflicts that have claimed hundreds of lives over the years. A major conflict in the district, triggered in 2007, lasted for years before being resolved by a jirga, or council of tribal elders, in 2011.
The recent clashes in the restive district broke out when gunmen attacked a convoy carrying members of the minority Shiite community in Lower Kurram on November 21, killing 41 people.
Wazir Hussain, a police official stationed in the region, told Arab News that the ceasefire agreement had collapsed, adding that there was no let-up in clashes.
“Armed clashes have continued throughout the district,” he said over the phone. “There is a huge problem of communication because mobile signals and Internet have not been working for days.”
“Almost 98 people have died and over 130 injured in nine days of violence,” he continued. “Ceasefire agreement is nowhere and both the sides have been hitting each other’s positions with small and heavy weapons.”
Last Sunday, the provincial spokesperson of KP, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, announced in a statement that the two warring sides had agreed to temporarily halt attacks and enforce a seven-day ceasefire.
The development followed Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s statement that his administration was working toward a ceasefire before formulating a strategy to prevent such incidents in the future after consulting local elders.
Hameed Hussain, a Pakistani parliamentarian from Kurram, also confirmed while speaking to Arab News that the ceasefire brokered by the KP authorities had failed to hold up in all these days.
He said the death toll had exceeded 98 and stood at 110.
“Only last night’s clashes in Kalkuna, Badshah Kot and other villages have left 18 people dead,” he informed, adding that jirga members were trying to pacify the situation, but the government was finding it difficult to enforce its writ in the area.
Hussain said he had spoken with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a day earlier and briefed him about the situation.
“I told the PM that the government should at least secure the roads in Kurram for passengers to travel securely,” he added. “The prime minister promised to ensure durable peace in the area and take steps to resolve the issue.”
Kurram’s Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud told the media the district administration was making efforts to implement the ceasefire agreement.
“A breakthrough to halt attacks and enforce the ceasefire is expected soon,” he added.
The clashes in Kurram mark one of the deadliest incidents in the region in recent years, following outbreaks of sectarian violence in July and September that killed dozens.
According to local elders, dozens of families have moved from the region to safer locations to avoid casualties.