In an Instagram story shared to her account on Friday, Muneer said every day brought “another horrifying story” and destroyed “another innocent life”. She questioned what had happened to us as a society.

She said the fact that the victim this time was an 18-month-old girl — as per reports — made this incident much more than just “disturbing news”.

“A baby who could not even understand what was happening to her was subjected to unimaginable cruelty,” the actor said.

Muneer asked how many more children had to suffer such a fate before people decided to speak up and how many more innocent lives had to be lost before someone took action.

The actor said we need justice, accountability and stronger protection for our children. “And we need a system where those who commit these horrific crimes know that they will face the full consequences of the law,” she said.

She urged everyone reading her message not to scroll past and go about their lives as they usually would. Instead, she said they should speak up, demand justice and “protect our children”.

Earlier, a number of Pakistani celebrities expressed similar sentiments over the incident. Adnan Siddiqui questioned how depraved people had become that this had become our reality. He said the fact that the victim was just 18 months old and the suspect — a relative of the girl who was arrested on Wednesday — was a teenager, made the ordeal that much more horrific.

Ayesha Omar said the country and society were in “the lowest of lows” and called for people to come together and figure out how to move forward in the aftermath of the tragedy.

According to the FIR registered on the complaint of the girl’s father, the child was taken out by a relative to buy something to eat. When they returned, she was unconscious and taken to a private hospital and then to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, where she died.

The relative — a 17-year-old boy who lived with the family — was arrested on Wednesday on charges of allegedly raping and murdering the child.

Among those calling for justice and accountability was actor Sanam Baloch, who said the news was “devastating” and that “justice must be served”.

Baloch said that being a mother herself, she “can’t even imagine the trauma this family must be going through”. She said the safety of the nation’s children was paramount.

Adnan Siddiqui questioned how depraved people had become that this had become our reality. He said the fact that the victim was just 18-months-old — as per reports — and the suspect was a teenager, made the ordeal that much more horrific. He said he was feeling both “disgusted and heartbroken”.

“There are no words left. Only rage, grief and shame that we have come to this,” said Siddiqui. He prayed for “swift and uncompromising justice for the child and strength for her family”.

Ayesha Omar said the country and society were in “the lowest of lows” and called for people to come together and figure out how to move forward in the aftermath of the tragedy.

“We cannot go on like this anymore,” Omar said.

Srha Asghar said we ought to have some shame as another day brought with it another miserable story. Zhalay Sarhadi, meanwhile, could only plead for God’s mercy in these times.

A number of cases of violence and abuse against children have been reported recently, including two gruesome murders that elicited similar reactions in June.

At the time, Siddiqui said that even animals have an instinct to protect their young and questioned how humans had failed so badly in protecting their own.

Omar said, “The environment all over Pakistan is barbaric,” and that she was “shaken, so, so, so angry and feeling hopeless about this country”.

Both demanded accountability for those responsible for harming children.

Pakistani dramas have frequently explored narcissistic pathology. We call them ‘villains’ without recognising that they are psycho-education disguised as entertainment. Narcissism exists on a spectrum, and can perhaps be divided into two broad categories. Each destroys differently. Each requires a different survival strategy.

Overt narcissism: The shouters

Easy to spot, they are loud, entitled and unapologetic. They demand attention and special treatment and believe rules do not apply to them. And when challenged, they rage.

1. Mubashira Jaffer (Ayeza Khan) in Main — The textbook grandiose narcissist

Mubashira does not just want power. She claims it as a birthright. Her arrogance is her core identity, not a mask. She manipulates, schemes and destroys whoever threatens her position because she genuinely cannot conceive of a world in which she is not the main character.

Narcissism is more than vanity or selfishness. From domineering personalities to subtle manipulators, Pakistani dramas offer striking examples of how narcissistic behaviour unfolds

The clinical markers are unmistakable. She exhibits a sense of self-importance, exaggerates achievements, expects automatic compliance and displays a complete lack of empathy. When her plans fail, she doesn’t reflect — she retaliates. This is narcissistic rage — the violent response to any threat against the fragile ‘god self’ beneath the grandiosity.

Protecting yourself: Bou­n­daries must be impenetrable, stated clearly and enforced. They will test every limit, gaslight, guilt-trip and escalate. Do not negotiate or explain. They thrive on reaction. Calmness is your armour.

2. Farasat Ali (Naumaan Ijaz) in Sharpasand — The malignant manipulator

A darker sub-type, he doesn’t just lack empathy — he enjoys destruction. He destroys the character of women in his neighbourhood who do not submit to him — Shazmeen (Hira Mani), Hafsa (Zuni Sheikh) and Sanam (Hareem Farooq). His cruelty is calculated, not impulsive. He identifies vulnerability and exploits it with maliciousness.

This is narcissism with sadistic features. The pleasure is not just in winning. It is in watching you lose. Farasat seeks submission rather than admiration. He wants to see spirits break. This is the narcissist who will destroy reputations, relationships and people’s sanity — and then claim he was “just being honest.”

Protecting yourself: No contact is the only safe option as there is no reasoning with someone who derives pleasure from pain. Do not engage or confront. Document everything, protect your support system and exit. This is not a person who can be won over. This is a person who must be escaped.

Covert narcissism: The whisperers

Harder to spot, these narcissists play the victim, appear humble, sensitive and even self-deprecating. But beneath the vulnerability lies the same grandiosity — a deep belief that they are special, misunderstood and entitled to endless care. They drain you not with demands, but with need.

1. Nabeel (Mirza Gohar Rasheed) in Goonj — The covert harasser

He does not shout or threaten. He makes covert comments, withholds approval and isolates his target Zarnab (Komal Meer). When she explodes, there is no evidence. He has engineered the perfect crime: abuse that leaves no fingerprints.

In slow-motion gaslighting, the victim begins to doubt her own perceptions. Nabeel’s narcissism is not loud entitlement — it is quiet control. He does not need to dominate openly. He needs to make sure you know, in every interaction, that you are less than him.

Protecting yourself: Tr­u­st your gut. If you feel small, confused, or constantly apologising around someone, pay attention. They thrive on your self-doubt. Keep a journal of interactions. Share with a trusted person. Remember, you are being psychologically conditioned.

2. Raza Haseeb (Usman Mukhtar) in Pamaal — The love-bomber who crushes

Raza is perhaps the most insidious sub-type: the narcissist who loves you into submission. He begins with overwhelming attention, gifts, declarations of devotion. His wife Malika (Saba Qamar), a writer, believes she has found her soulmate. Then slowly, the mask slips.

He critiques her writing, isolates her from her friends, portrays her creativity as a threat to their marriage. He does not yell, he acts disappointed. He sighs when she succeeds. He withholds affection when she asserts herself. He is not a monster — he is a slow poison. His wife does not leave because he is cruel. She stays because he was once so kind — and she keeps hoping that man will return. He never does. That man was the bait. The trap was her hope.

Protecting yourself: Recognise the pattern. Love-bombing is seduction as strategy. Healthy love grows slowly. It does not demand self-abandonment. If someone asks you to shrink so they can feel big, leave… because they are incapable of seeing your worth.

Regardless of their type, narcissists share core features: a fragile self-esteem masked by grandiosity, a profound inability to empathise and a relentless need for a narcissistic supply of attention, admiration or submission.

But here is what they take: reality testing — you stop trusting your own perceptions and self-worth, you believe you are the problem — and hope. You exhaust yourself trying to be good enough.

Is change possible?

Research says yes, but it is rare and difficult. Unlike the dramatic redemption arcs we see on screen, real change requires years of committed therapy. This is the hardest step because narcissism is built on denial.

Therapeutic approaches work by helping the narcissist develop the capacity to understand their own mind and the minds of others — something stunted in childhood. With treatment, reductions in pathological narcissism are possible, but here’s the catch: change only happens when the narcissist wants to change, not because someone demanded it, but because the pain of staying the same has become unbearable. Most never reach that point. And those who do? It takes years, not episodes.

For everyone else, the only healing is the one you do for yourself.

Healing the partner

If you have encountered a narcissist, you know: the damage is not just what they did but what you stopped being. Recovery is not about “getting over it.” It is about rebuilding the self.

1. Identify: This is not about labelling someone but about validating your experience — the confusion, exhaustion and persistent feeling of being either ‘too much’ or ‘never enough.’

2. Grieve: You will grieve the person you thought they were, the relationship you believed you had, the years you lost. Let yourself feel the anger, sadness and relief as valid.

3. Rebuild: Narcissists dismantle your sense of self. Reconnect with your own needs, voice, desires. What do you want, feel and need today? The answers will feel foreign at first. Keep asking.

4. Set boundaries that stick: This means walking away when they are violated. Choose yourself over the fantasy of their change. They will test every boundary. Your job is not to convince them to respect it. But to respect it yourself.

Pakistani dramas have shown us narcissism in all its forms. We fume watching these characters. But the real work begins when we recognise them in our own lives. The question is not “who is the villain?” but “who in your life is making you smaller?”

You do not have to stay small or earn love by disappearing. Narcissists may or may not change. But you can. And that is the only freedom that matters.

Originally published in Dawn, ICON, August 2nd, 2026

“Inspired by the timeless philosophy of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, this song carries the message of Khudi and the spirit of the Shaheen. Iqbal taught us that true strength lies within. A nation rises when its youth discover confidence, character, knowledge and an unshakable belief in their own potential,” the minister wrote in his tweet.

The song, based on a poem by Allama Iqbal, has been released by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and URAAN Pakistan, the ministry’s initiative to spotlight and advance projects and reforms as part of the 5Es National Economic Transformation Plan.

Rather ironically, he wrote that the poet’s Shaheen “never accepts mediocrity and always aims for greater heights”. But what’s more mediocre than a government department using AI to create a song and music video instead of hiring actual Pakistani artists and filming it in our beautiful country?

In 2022, the government released a re-recorded version of the national anthem to make it more inclusive. It featured musicians from all over the country with diverse regional, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and was gender-balanced and inclusive of national musical talent. That’s the kind of content we want to see from our government, not this.

“Today, Pakistan needs a generation of Shaheens — young men and women who choose hope over despair, innovation over stagnation, and hard work over excuses. Under the vision of URAAN Pakistan, we are building a future driven by knowledge, technology, entrepreneurship and opportunity. That future belongs to you,” the minister wrote in his tweet.

It’s unfortunate that a minister, while calling for the youth to “work hard”, is promoting AI slop of this kind. Pakistan is full of talented artists, any of whom could have written, composed and sung this song. We’re not even going to go into the impact AI has on the environment, even as data centres are inaugurated in Pakistan, a country that already faces water scarcity.

AI slop is already taking over the internet. One of the most well-known attempts at replacing actual humans with AI is an inane attempt by Elon Musk, the AI pushing owner of X and Tesla, to recreate The Odyssey using AI because he didn’t like Christopher Nolan’s version, ostensibly for being too ‘woke’, read: not featuring only white people. Three weekends in, Nolan’s The Odyssey has generated a whopping $911 million at theatres around the world and Musk’s plans are still just that — plans shared in a tweet.

Artists around the world are condemning the use of AI, both in writing and in music. Seth Rogen, the American actor and director, recently said that if your first instinct is to use AI to write, you shouldn’t be a writer. Nolan called it a Trojan Horse, just one that’s not stealthy. In 2024, over 13,000 artists, including some of your faves like Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus and actor Julianne Moore, signed an online statement warning about the unlicensed use of artificial intelligence.

Pakistani artists are also fighting this battle. Recently, Hira Tareen cautioned fellow actors to read their contracts properly because a production house tried to get her to sign away her digital likeness. “First, they use AI just to make your posters. Pretty innocent. Then they use your voice for dubbing. Then they call you in for 10 scenes instead of 20, because now the model is training on your existing likeness and footage that they already have. And then, one day, the model is ready and they don’t need to call you in at all,” she said.

There are also arguments against the use of AI to generate music and how it threatens to relegate actual human-made music to mere disposable background noise rather than a meaningful cultural artefact.

This Independence Day, we hope our government will honour actual Pakistani artists — not machines.

Sana posted a picture of the two laughing together on her Instagram account on Sunday with a caption celebrating her team’s win — she plays for Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred, which is partly owned by Bellingham.

Users on X were quick to say the footballer was lucky to be in the presence of Pakistan’s queen (of cricket).

Bellingham himself seemed to have enjoyed the chat, commenting a heart under Sana’s post.

Pakistanis were surprised to see the unusual crossover with two beloved stars from two completely different sports.

Someone brought out the “before GTA 6” gag while they still could — the meme will (hopefully) be put to rest when the game releases in November.

One user knew exactly what they wanted to see — and it wasn’t the footballer.

Bellingham also met — and played a couple of shots with — Pakistani spinner Usman Tariq, leading one user to get a bit jealous over how everyone was living her dream moment with the star.

It was a big day of Pakistani cricket at Edgbaston on Saturday and Sana’s squad even managed to score their first win of the season against their Welsh opponents — Tariq, who plays in Birmingham Phoenix’s men’s squad was not as lucky.

Who knows, maybe they can convince England’s football sweetheart to visit Pakistan sometime and we can all have our fan moments.

His next victim appears to be The Odyssey — the ancient Greek text — which he has pledged to adapt in a way that is “historically accurate” by year’s end using his AI agent Grok.

Now, one would assume the richest man in the world might do this to bring a literary classic to a new generation or maybe to push the boundaries of filmmaking — in some weird, non-human way. But no, dear reader, he is doing it because he’s mad at Christopher Nolan for doing both of those things.

Nolan’s box office hit, which released on Friday, has taken the 3,000-year-old work and adapted it into a story that resonates with a modern audience. It has a diverse cast, a complex protagonist and focuses more on the guilt of war than its glory. Naturally, Musk does not approve.

Instead, the former trillionaire said he would give Mel Gibson $100 million to make the movie with “historically accurate” ships, armour and casting.

We wonder if several centuries from now, someone will try to remake Harry Potter and some obscenely rich person would object, saying the wands need to be made from a long-extinct species of tree endemic to Scotland.

Put the ethical and environmental implications of AI use for a moment and remember that Musk’s support of a cause usually signals that it is not the side to be on.

Really, Musk’s probably just mad that his prediction about the film flopping because it was “woke” didn’t pan out. Instead, The Odyssey had a massive $246 million opening weekend, with people around the world struggling to get last-minute seats at sold out theatres.

It’s also been received an outpouring of critical acclaim for its storytelling, characters and emphasis on practical effects. We can’t imagine anything AI generated could even come close.

As for Nolan, he’s previously dismissed criticism over his casting choices and Americanised dialogue.

“These conversations that happen before people see the film — they’re always irrelevant, because no one having them knows what the film actually is yet,” he told The Telegraph.

It is ironic though, a rich crybaby is feeding one of humanity’s greatest literary works to a computer and presenting its twisted mechanical output as art.

We wonder if Musk has actually read The Odyssey and how he feels about its lessons on hubris.

From Zara Noor Abbas to Talha Chahour and Mawra Hocane, emotions were high on Instagram.

Adnan Siddiqui shared a picture of Spain hoisting the trophy and said, “No offence to Messi and Argentina fans, but today felt like comparing Wi-Fi to [Dial-up]. And if Argentina had won, Egypt and I would have unfollowed football…. Just for a week.😉”

Zara Noor Abbas was the most excited person out there, sharing a video of herself with an on-screen Lamine Yamal.

We can infer from all her posts that she’s a fan of the young star.

Ushna Shah addressed the elephant in the room — the many, many allegations of rigging and unfair decisions plaguing the World Cup and the Argentinian team.

So did Talha Chahour, who shared a picture of Lionel Messi, calling him “FIFA’s favourite child”.

For Maanu, supporting Spain and supporting Palestine went hand-in-hand. Spain’s government has been a vocal supporter of Palestine, recognising its statehood and pushing to suspend EU ties with Israel.

Maanu wasn’t the only one highlighting Spanish — and young star Lamine Yamal’s — support of Palestine. Chahour also shared a picture of Yamal hoisting the Palestinian flag in Barcelona in May while celebrating FC Barcelona’s 29th La Liga title, as did Mawra Hocane.

“When you stand [on] the wrong side of history, it’s bound to get ‘Messi’,” wrote Zhalay Sarhadi.

Asim Azhar shared his thoughts on the match — that Messi deserved the win, but Argentina did not.

He later shared that he wasn’t a Spain fan (England is his team) but he had the opportunity to visit the country recently and found it to be “so warm, beautiful, inclusive”.

There were many, many stars who celebrated Spain’s win. Maria Unera, Naimal Khawar, Mariyam Nafees and Sana Javed all shared their joy online.

Aijazz Aslam congratulated Spain and spoke about how he switched sides. “I was rooting for Argentina at the start. Messi’s magic always pulls me in but somewhere in the middle of that final, I switched sides. Argentina were pushing and playing rough, and it just didn’t sit right with me,” he wrote.

“Spain kept their composure and played the better, fairer game. Well deserved, Spain. What a final.”

Even Samar Jafri, who has on many, many occasions expressed his support for Messi, had to hand it to Spain.

Other Argentina fans, like Sajal Ali, were feeling down.

There were a lot of celebrations of Messi as an individual player and talk of him handing down the GOAT torch to Yamal.

Zarrar Khan said that seeing Messi cry breaks his heart, even though he’s a Ronaldo fan. “The Argentinian football team in general is despicable in how they play football and how pathetic they are as sportsmen, but the past two World Cups have proved what an insane carry-job Messi has been doing and how magical he is,” he wrote.

“What a player, what a career. It has been a privilege to witness. There will never be anyone like Leo Messi.”

“You are the greatest ever to step onto this field. Thank you for the countless memories. No one will ever come close to the legacy you’ve left behind,” wrote Jafri in a post dedicated to Messi.

Sami Khan shared a picture of Messi and Yamal, saying, “From generation to next…From present GOAT to future GOAT.”

Syed Jibran shared a picture of himself and his son wearing Argentinian and Spanish jerseys, captioning it “the Kid vs The Goat”.

And of course, there were the inevitable jokes about Messi and Yamal’s Unicef photoshoot and baby Yamal going on to defeat Messi.

Which side were you supporting?

Congratulations poured in from the world over, including from Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif raised a cheer for Spain and for Palestine. The Palestinians, for their part, were also overjoyed at the victory; we assume Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — who was rooting for the Argentines — was not as pleased. Spain has been a vocal supporter of Palestine.

But the reactions to the match started much earlier, with people weirded out by the uniquely American game. The US hosts used the match’s halftime break to put on a show that included the Muppets, BTS and Justin Bieber. That left a lot of European fans scratching their heads.

The play itself drew some reactions, especially the anger shown by Argentine players both during and after the game — Argentina ended the match with four yellow cards and a red for Enzo Fernandez.

Spain’s near-impenetrable defensive wall that kept Argentina away from their goal throughout the match made life much easier for the Spanish keeper — who ended up winning the Golden Glove for his performance through the tournament.

And when the time came to present the victors with their prize, all eyes were on US President Donald Trump — and FIFA President Gianni Infantino — who got booed as they walked onto the pitch. Trump also managed to linger near the celebrating team long enough to make it a bit awkward.

After a World Cup mired in controversy, that’s it for this tournament, we’ll see all you seasonal football fans again in four years.

Obviously, ARMYs — as the group’s fans call themselves — couldn’t believe what they were reading; their bias not only knew about their favourite foods, he also wanted to try them straight from the source!

Of course, many followers immediately set out to do one of the first things any Pakistani does on a special occasion: cook up some biryani and karahi. To be fair, if any occasion calls specifically for it, it’s this one.

Another very Pakistani thing was how ARMYs wasted no time in using V’s statement to assert that biryani — and karahi — belonged to Pakistan alone. We’re not sure he can be considered a definitive source to settle the debate — not that we realised there even was one.

As for the singer, his motivations became clear when netizens looked at some of his other comments from the same day. From promising to visit Türkiye if offered kebabs to asking a Bangladeshi fan what’s good there — we think he was just hungry.

We’ve always said anyone visiting Pakistan can’t be allowed to leave without trying our delicious food. So, if there are any ARMYs reading this, here’s a list of other iconic Pakistani foods for your favourites to try.

Bon appetit!

People keep asking, ’“Is it available online, or will it come to Netflix?” It’s a reassuring question, because it tells you the film has travelled through word of mouth, through conversations, through people. But it also reveals something important. In today’s world, discovery begins with access. Before audiences engage with a film, they need to know where to find it.

They are asking where it exists. And increasingly, that “where” leads to one place — Netflix.

Federal Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s recent statement is encouraging because it recognises that the issue is not the quality of Pakistani content, but the route through which it reaches global platforms. Our industry has already produced films that meet international creative and technical standards.

India, meanwhile, continues to put out all kinds of content globally, while projects like the upcoming Operation Safed Sagar also present its own side of the region’s history. Streaming is, therefore, not only about entertainment; it also decides which stories the world gets to see and remember.

Now that this conversation has started at the right level, I hope it leads to real and direct access for Pakistani content on global platforms.

Why Netflix matters, especially in Pakistan

In Pakistan, we are not yet a fully subscription-driven market. Local OTT platforms exist, and some are doing serious work. Yet, the average viewer still hesitates to subscribe to multiple services.

But Netflix is different. Netflix has become a habit. A reference point. There is a certain psychology attached to it, a quiet fear of missing out. Viewers who might hesitate to pay for other platforms often make an exception for Netflix, which is why presence on Netflix today is not simply about distribution. It’s about belonging to the global conversation. And absence from it is equally telling. 

The question we are not asking loudly enough is if Pakistani actors enjoy loyal audiences beyond Pakistan, if our music travels effortlessly, if we share the same meme culture, then why are our films not finding consistent space on Netflix for global audiences?

This is not a question of talent, it’s not even a question of audience. It is a question of access.

South Asia, as a streaming region, is largely managed through India. That means content from Pakistan often enters a system shaped by India’s market priorities, their regulatory environment and India’s political sensitivities.

The situation was not always this way. After Modi’s government came into office, cultural exchange between the two countries became almost impossible. And in recent months, particularly following heightened tensions between the two countries, that shift has become even more visible, reflected not only in policy decisions, but also in symbolic moments, whether in the absence of collaboration, cancelled engagements, or even gestures as simple as players choosing not to shake hands.

This does not always translate into direct rejection. It works in subtler ways. Projects get delayed. Decisions remain pending. Risk outweighs opportunity. And gradually, absence becomes normalised.

At the same time, India being the dominant market continues to supply a steady stream of content to global platforms. And not all of that content is exceptional. There are many examples of films that secured immediate global placement despite modest reception, titles such as Ginny Weds Sunny, The Girl on the Train, Jaadugar, Jewel Thief, Maa Behen, Tu Yaa Main, Do Deewane Seher Mein, Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos and Toaster, among others.

That difference in visibility is where the imbalance becomes visible.

Why is access to platforms not direct? 

One of the realities filmmakers face is that access to platforms such as Netflix is rarely direct.

You cannot simply submit a film and expect it to be evaluated. Access typically happens through distributors, aggregators and regional decision-makers, in this case India.

While filmmakers can approach distributors and aggregators, the distribution pathway for Pakistani content is frequently routed through regional decision-making structures based in India. Individually, it is extremely difficult to navigate this system, which is why this is no longer just an industry challenge — it’s a structural one.

Pakistani cinema today is not short on high calibre stories.

Films like Nayab, Kamli, The Legend of Maula Jatt, Luv Guru and the recent Aag Lagay Basti Mein reflect the breadth of storytelling emerging from the country, grounded, character-driven narratives, alongside films that have demonstrated strong audience appeal and numbers. This is an industry that understands both storytelling and spectatorship. This is not an industry lacking range. This is an industry lacking reach.

A large number of Pakistani viewers have watched films such as Dhurandhar, Article 370, Raazi, and Fighter, films that engage directly with themes of nationalism, security, and regional conflict.

Whether one agrees with the narrative or not, these films succeeded in placing their perspective in front of global audiences. That is the real achievement, because once a story reaches viewers, the conversation begins. And once the conversation begins, the narrative takes shape, making all other debates secondary.

Visibility matters. And visibility does not happen by accident. It happens through planning, coordination, and access.

When global audiences repeatedly see narratives about Pakistan but rarely see narratives from Pakistan, a certain image begins to form. Over time, that image becomes reality for those who have never experienced the country themselves. This is not about competing with another industry, it’s about ensuring that our voice exists alongside others.

Here our producers operate in a challenging ecosystem, with limited financing, unpredictable distribution, and a narrow theatrical window. Provincial and federal governments have supported filmmakers through grants and incentives, and those efforts deserve recognition.

But grants alone cannot build a sustainable industry. What we need is a self-sustaining ecosystem. In many countries, films generate revenue even before reaching cinemas through pre-sale agreements with streaming platforms and broadcasters. These deals provide financial stability, reduce risk, and allow filmmakers to invest in stronger production values.

Streaming platforms are not just distribution channels. They are economic engines. They bring revenue. They extend audience reach. They strengthen the industry. And they allow stories to travel.

This challenge cannot be addressed through individual effort alone. A formal engagement between the Pakistani government and global streaming platforms is necessary.

This is not about lobbying. It is about representation. Pakistan must present itself as a content market, not merely a content consumer. Rather than informal outreach, a structured Pakistan content showcase should be organised, which should include curated film screenings, meetings with filmmakers and producers, presentation of audience data and ready-to-license content.

The goal is clear: to create direct visibility and build relationships beyond regional filters.

A mid-level Pakistani film can often be produced at a budget of around $250,000, delivering quality that meets international technical standards. At this level, Pakistan has a competitive advantage  producing strong content at a fraction of the cost seen in many larger markets.

With the right support, this cost efficiency can become a strategic strength.

A national strategy should focus on structured engagement with platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, distribution partnerships and international marketing.

These steps are not theoretical — they are practical and they are achievable.

India recently held a national-level AI summit that brought together global companies, policymakers, investors, and industry leaders to build direct partnerships and signal national intent.

Pakistan’s content industry needs a similar national-level conference on distribution, one that brings key platform decision-makers directly to Pakistan, reduces dependence on regional gatekeepers, and allows us to engage global partners strategically across multiple fronts.

Because the reality is simple: efforts are already being made on many fronts. But without coordinated, diplomatic engagement at the national level, those efforts remain fragmented.

Such engagement should not be reactive. It should be strategic, it should be diplomatic and it should be consistent.

Cinema has a quiet but enduring power. It carries the texture of a people, the rhythm of a city, the dreams of a generation. When films travel, they do not just entertain, they represent.

The pieces were made from a pair of gold medallions discovered in Iran in 1947, which are estimated to be 3,000 years old. They were part of the Ziwiye hoard, a large collection of jewellery, ceramics and other artefacts, parts of which are housed in major museums across the globe.

As with anything over a century old from the region, quite a few questions arose.

Days after the pictures were first shared, people wanted to know how the pieces had made it to a private collection in London. Were they taken out of Iran in a less-than-proper way? Did the people whose culture they represented agree with how they were being used?

And perhaps most importantly, wasn’t it a bit on the nose for Zendaya to be using Iranian cultural heritage to promote an American film about a Greek legend at a time when the US and Iran were on opposite ends of the battlefield?

Some users on X said Zendaya was a repeat offender when it came to insensitivity in fashion after her outfit for another event promoting the film — a white gown from Italian fashion house Schiaparelli — was flown to London via private jet right after it had been shown on the runway at Paris Fashion Week.

Unfortunately, Zendaya is not the first celebrity to appropriate jewellery that mysteriously wound up in Western hands. In January, Margot Robbie promoted her film Wuthering Heights in Los Angeles while wearing the Taj Mahal diamond around her neck.

The diamond had little to do with the film, or its 18th-century setting, but it had everything to do with Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, who had it made for his wife Nur Jahan.

That’s not even the worst case, which might be Cartier’s lending decisions surrounding the Patiala necklace, originally belonging to Maharaja Bhupinder Singh.

As per a report from India Today, the French jewellery house let Emma Chamberlain wear a part of the ornate necklace to the 2022 Met Gala, but refused a request from Diljit Dosanjh to wear it in 2026.

It’s bad enough that they didn’t let an Indian celebrity wear an Indian necklace, but it gets even worse when you realise Dosanjh’s Met Gala look was inspired by the Maharaja who owned it.

At the Nato summit in Ankara, Trump claimed the Islamic Republic of Japan was responsible for launching over 111 missiles at US vessels in recent days.

With their cover blown by Trump’s baffling remarks and their country apparently at war with a global superpower again after an attack on US boats, Japanese people — and others on X — have finally started to open up about what it’s like living in the ‘Islamic republic’.

Cultural insights into the Islamic republic were also shared, especially its animation industry which produces content — which some commentators are calling Hala-nime — to instil moral values in children.

Some users shared what they believe will be updates from the US president on the situation.

People on both sides were calling on their governments to act.

One user said Japan had no need for nukes as they had another nuclear-fuelled super-weapon.

And if any of this caught you by surprise, know that you’re not alone.

With markets tumbling and oil prices rising as war drums, the world waits to see how this conflict will play out.

Cover photo: Reuters

Danish Taimoor, who had been posting about Ronaldo’s successes throughout the tournament, posted a heartfelt farewell to his hero, saying, “I started watching football because of you. I grew up with your matches, celebrated your goals like they were my own, and felt every defeat as if it belonged to me.”

But wait, said a few sharp-eyed users on X. Ronaldo hasn’t been around nearly long enough for Taimoor, whose IMDB says he is 43 years old, to have grown up seeing him on his TV screen. The footballer is two years younger than him.

So, unless Taimoor could see into the future as a child, netizens found the line a bit misleading to say the least.

Memes followed soon after, with users making fun of apparent continuity errors in Taimoor’s message.

A couple of people also found it a bit strange that Taimoor posted a picture of himself instead of his hero to say goodbye.

One user incredulously pointed out the song on Taimoor’s post — ‘Channa Mereya’ by Arijit Singh. 

He wasn’t the only celebrity to wax rhapsodic about the footballer online, but he definitely got the most attention for his tribute.

In a tournament where the host country’s run has been marked by complaints of foreign teams, staff and referees being mistreated and allegations of political pressure to bend the rules of the game, fans around the world are celebrating the result.

In the lead-up to the match, US President Donald Trump had gotten FIFA to overturn a red card given to striker Folarin Balogun. The outcry about the “rigging” was immense and the Belgians were first to say they were playing to keep the game fair.

Fans weren’t too far behind and they brought their meme game with them.

Many people took digs at American sports fans, who only seemed to care about what they insist on calling soccer as long as they were hosting the World Cup. Some even poked fun at themselves.

The loss has also — hopefully — put an end to Americans insisting people call it soccer instead of football. The Devils led the charge on that one too.

With the Belgians having cleared the Round of 16, they now move to the quarter finals where they will face Spain on July 11.

The US exit now leaves defending champs Argentina as the last team from the Western hemisphere. They will be facing Egypt in their Round of 16 draw today (July 7). All teams that have moved on to the quarter finals have so far been from Europe, with one notable exception — Morocco.

The tuition centre was being run in a house in the suburb of Kahna. Construction work was being done on the house when the roof caved in.

Naturally, this inspired an outpouring of grief, with users on X praying for the lost souls and sending messages of strength to their grieving parents.

More than just grief, there was anger at the conditions and negligence that had made this incident possible.

Netizens called for accountability, demanding that those responsible for this incident be punished.

One user asked where children were safe in Pakistan, especially after a series of high-profile incidents of violence against children shook the nation recently.

Another asked what children so young — the youngest victim was five years old — were doing at a tuition centre in the first place. Had our system really failed so badly at educating children that we had to send such little kids to tuition centres after school?

In a statement issued at 7pm on Tuesday, the Lahore Police said rescue efforts had concluded. The statement added that two people, including the house owner, had been taken into custody as part of the initial investigation.

Lahore Deputy Inspector General Operations Faisal Kamran confirmed to Dawn that the other person under arrest was a contractor who had worked on the house.

Roof and building collapses are tragically common in Pakistan, with an incident in Muzaffargarh on Monday killing two young sisters and injuring their cousin. Earlier this month, the roof of an under-construction room collapsed in Faisalabad’s Jaranwala tehsil, claiming the lives of three members of a family.

After the team’s last match, photos of Iran’s Ramin Rezaeian looking devastated while holding the Superior Player of the Match trophy began to trend online, haunting fans, as did a video of him speaking to the media after.

Heartbreak was the dominant emotion online and who can blame them?

Many decried serious issues like lack of accessibility for teams, referees and fans, calling this the most racist World Cup ever.

There was a lot of talk about the problems Iran faced, like not being allowed to stay overnight in the US and having to travel to and from Mexico for games.

Others took issue with Iranian players being asked about things not related to football at all and wondered why the press wasn’t asking players accused of rape of their thoughts on that.

But despite it all, the Iranian team won hearts and people’s respect

Amidst all the heartbreak, there was some humour though. It is X after all.

What are your thoughts on Iran’s elimination from the tournament? Let us know in the comments.

So, in honour of FIFA fever, we’ve created a list of some of the stars the internet is keeping its eyes on during games.

Zidane Iqbal — Iraq

International heartthrob Zidane Iqbal is more than just a part of the Iraqi wonder-team that took the country into the World Cup after 44 years, he’s also the only Pakistani on the pitch.

We know you’re confused, let us explain. Iqbal was born in England to a Pakistani dad and an Iraqi mum. He is eligible to play for any of the three countries and chose to play for Iraq — we love him anyway, he’s one of us.

Erling Haaland — Norway

Six foot five and built like a Viking, Erling Haaland may only be described on the pitch as “a force to be reckoned with”.

Clips of the Norwegian giant chasing down an Iraqi player on the pitch went viral, with the fear in his opponent’s eyes clearly visible.

The Man City striker scored two goals in that game, taking his tally to four and putting him in second place for most goals scored in the tournament so far — right behind Messi.

Alireza Beiranvand — Iran

The most talked about team off the pitch also has the most talked about goalkeeper of the tournament.

Fans are convinced Alireza Beiranvand can block just about anything he puts his mind to, including the Strait of Hormuz if necessary.

He’s also part of a team that’s been doing rounds on social media looking just a little too good, but we’ll get you more on that another time.

Tim Payne — New Zealand

Okay, we’ll admit we haven’t seen any of the Kiwis’ football games, but Tim Payne has become an internet legend after getting a 10,000 per cent boost in his Instagram followers over three weeks.

Payne used to be the “tournament’s least followed player” with 5,000 followers. He now has 5,000,000.

Still, he told FIFA he hadn’t changed from the viral fame and that he was still a “hard-working Kiwi trying to represent our country on the world stage”.

What players are you watching this season? Leave your answers in the comments.

On Tuesday, police in Sargodha arrested four people after a seven-year-old girl was found dead after having gone to a neighbourhood shop. Police arrested four suspects in the case with the prime suspect later being killed during an attempted escape.

On Wednesday, a three-year-old in Karachi was found murdered outside her home. The police surgeon said it was “one of the most horrific” cases she had seen in her career.

The little girl had gone outside to play at noon and her parents began to search for her when she didn’t return around four and a half hours later. Her grandfather found her body stuffed into a bag and left outside their house.

In the aftermath, many of the country’s celebrities had the same questions: how many more innocent lives have to be lost before we ensure our kids are safe?

Adnan Siddiqui, asking God to have mercy on the country, said animals shield their young from harm out of a natural instinct; how then had we humans failed to do the same for our children? He called for predators who targeted children to be given “the harshest punishment allowed by law”.

Ushna Shah called out the lack of meaningful action in Pakistani society in response to such incidents. She said Pakistanis will “blame victims” and “be outraged online”, but will not take steps amend laws to “make punishments for assault more brutal” or even “hold boys accountable for their actions” early in life.

“We will never take women’s rights as human rights. We will continue to blame victims.”

Ayesha Omar struck a similar tone on the need for societal change while talking about the gruesome murder in Karachi.

“The environment all over Pakistan is barbaric. I’m shaken, so, so, so angry and feeling hopeless about this country,” she lamented. “and that’s what they want, for women to always be fearful and hopeless.”

She said the only way out was for the ment of this country to “speak up, step up [and] hold other men accountable”.

Aiman Khan called for “justice, accountability and a society where everyone feels safe”. She said all victims were somebody’s children and no family deserved to go through such trauma.

Iqra Aziz was distraught, saying nobody could say when this cruelty would stop because everyone knew it can be committed with impunity. She said we had convinced ourselves that we can’t send our kids outside our homes, but we couldn’t bring the predators we so feared to justice.

We can only hope that the outrage over these horrific incidents leads to meaningful change in the way we protect our children but as many stars noted, the monsters who abuse these children are not always punished.

The Korean-Canadian rapper was seen wearing a t-shirt with the Confederate flag at a fan event, with his newly founded label Upper Room posting pictures and taking them down soon after.

The flag, which was used by the Confederate States of America during the US Civil War, has come to represent white supremacist ideals and the economic justification of slavery.

Users on X — fans and ops alike — knew this was something he’d have a hard time walking away from.

Seeing the backlash, Upper Room issued an apology on Tuesday. In an Instagram story, it said, “We would like to extend our sincere apologies for the concern, discomfort, and disappointment caused by the vintage T-shirt that appeared in a recently shared photograph.

“The garment was selected solely as a vintage wardrobe item,” it continued. “However, upon recognising the historical significance and sensitivity associated with the symbol displayed on the T-shirt, we took measures to ensure that it would not be visible in any official content. Despite these efforts, the image was subsequently shared externally.

“We take full responsibility for this oversight,” the label said. “Upper Room and the artist unequivocally reject and do not tolerate racism, hate, discrimination, or any form of intolerance. We are also grateful to those who brought this matter to our attention. In response, we will strengthen our internal review procedures for wardrobe selection and content approval to help prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.”

People did not buy it, saying Lee grew up in North America and should have known better.

A user called it “laughable” how the moment Lee gained control over his public image, he pulled this stunt, after remaining generally unproblematic during his time with NCT.

Another said Koreans were sensitive when it came to their own history and expected other people to respect it — as evidenced by the backlash received by Starbucks recently. They said it was wrong of Lee not to afford the same courtesy to other cultures.

Users asked fans not to defend his actions and one even wondered if he had taken inspiration from Nicki Minaj — who has, in recent times, become an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump.

Lee has not addressed the controversy personally, even though some fans are demanding an apology. Upper Room’s statement can be said to be his — he founded the company earlier this month — but many have said that may not be enough in this case.

The name is a reference to a Biblical description of the land that is now Palestine and the ice cream is made with ingredients from Israeli settlements. Apart from the milk and the honey, tubs will also have chocolate chips in the shape of the star of David.

Needless to say, the internet was not on board with Israel co-opting the ice cream brand and users on X were quick to call out how the original founders of Ben & Jerry’s would hate what is going on.

Netizens weren’t surprised that a country built on land stolen from native communities would also steal a beloved ice cream brand’s identity.

Some people tried to guess at what the new flavour might taste like.

Others guessed at what flavours could be coming next.

Many just felt the whole exercise was sad — and maybe even a little pathetic.

Ben Cohen — the Ben of the original Ben & Jerry’s — is a fierce and outspoken critic of Israel and even made a special watermelon-flavoured sorbet in honour of Palestine in November. He was also arrested at the US Senate last month for protesting US complicity in the “slaughter” of Palestinians.

Jerry Greenfield — the other half of the name — resigned from the company in September after saying it had lost its independence when it came to social activism. The two had tried to ban the sales of their ice cream in illegal Israeli settlements in 2022, a move blocked by parent company Unilever.

Meanwhile, netizens of Pakistan — the mediator between the two parties and the third signatory of the MoU — known for their excellent meme game and self-deprecating humour, took to X to poke fun at the bureaucracy and red-tapism that tend to slow down even the smallest of tasks.

Others said these weren’t enough and the advice might be a little dated.

One user, noting that the requirements hadn’t been met by end of day, said the agreement would have to wait till the next day.

The much-awaited MoU is just the first step in the negotiating process; the US and Iran will now spend the next 60 days trying to hammer out a treaty to definitively end the conflict.

The agreement faces some jeopardy from Israeli military actions in Lebanon, which continue despite Iranian stakeholders explicitly declaring fighting had to stop.

Iran and the US have not exchanged fire yet and the Strait of Hormuz has opened to traffic, sending oil prices down.

Quoting a post about Islamabad Chief Traffic Officer Kainat Azhar Khan, he questioned why women were opting to join the police. Chaudhry added that “Most of them are completely useless as cops, also it’s terrible career choice even otherwise.”

The reaction was understandably intense, with journalist Hamid Mir telling Chaudhry this was “male chauvinism” and that he had seen the “same kind of Pakistani men bowing down in front of female diplomats”.

Chaudhry countered, saying he meant competent women should become scientists or entrepreneurs “instead of wasting talent for lust of power” as in his opinion, “cops don’t need to be very capable”.

But evidently most people did not see it that way. Many netizens asked why half of Pakistan’s population should stay away from an important profession.

Others said the minister had disrespected CTO Khan, who was doing her job like any other civil servant.

One user asked Chaudhry if he had any research to back his claim of women not being effective police officers.

Another wondered aloud what a world without women in the police force would look like and how terrible it would be for women as a whole.

Some netizens challenged the minister’s question with another question: why did he become a politician?

Whether it be Khan, Shehrbano Naqvi or Amna Baig, Pakistan’s women have made strides in policing as they have everywhere else. In such times, it’s understandable people aren’t happy with someone trying to put down hard-working women over the internet.

In his speech, the minister said the government would be withdrawing taxes placed on contraceptives and sanitary pads. The move was hailed as a win for women and an important step in providing safe and affordable menstrual care to the public.

Netizens applauded the government for taking the step which will have an immediate, positive impact for the country’s women.

One user pointed out how Pakistan was set to join a lamentably small group of countries that don’t tax menstrual hygiene products.

Others felt the whole idea of taxing such essential goods was “ridiculous”. They were happy to see the taxes go.

There was also acknowledgement of Mahnoor Omer, the women’s rights activist who filed a case in the Lahore High Court against taxing menstrual hygiene product in September. She was later recognised as one of TIME magazine’s Women of the Year for her efforts. Another petition was filed in the Sindh High Court by Karachi’s Alishba Shabbir in November.

Not everyone was convinced this was enough, especially when it came to the adoption of contraceptives in a country severely burdened by overpopulation. One user said the withdrawal of taxes wouldn’t do make to increase their acceptance in Pakistani society.

The removal of the taxes is expected to be implemented in the coming fiscal year, which starts from July 1.

Gwyneth Paltrow, the Academy Award-winning actor and businesswoman, falls into the third category, especially after her ad promoting an Israeli real estate project went viral this week. Yes, right in the middle of a genocide that has killed over 70,000 people.

Netizens, many of whom have understandably strong feelings when it comes to profiting from progress built on the blood and tears of an oppressed people, were not happy.

Those were just the nicer ones — other users on X were far more brutal in their rebukes of the actor.

People couldn’t decide what was worse, that she did this at all or that she did it even though she really didn’t have to.

One user, pointing out Paltrow’s abject refusal to pick a side politically, said this wasn’t really a surprise.

Celebrities were equally enraged. In the comment section of a post talking about the incident, Mahira Khan found the whole thing “sick”while Fatima Bhutto was quick to point out how “genocide sells”.

Iraqi-American beauty mogul Huda Kattan said Paltrow knew “exactly what is happening there”. She called the video “disgusting”.

When so many of their colleagues are willing to call a spade a spade and a genocide a genocide, it really is astounding how so many influential people have no issue working with complicit entities and how many more are willing to pretend none of it is happening.

The Shaheens faced off against neighbouring Afghanistan in the final of the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament in Malé, where they outclassed their opponents 2-0 to emerge undefeated from the tournament.

Naturally, the nation joined its boys in celebrating, starting with senior government figures. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Sindh Energy Minister Nasir Hussain Shah sent love to the team on X.

Netizens followed, some surprised, others hopeful, most just happy to see Pakistan get some good news.

The fact that the boys in green didn’t concede a single goal, not just in the game but the whole tournament, was not taken lightly.

There were cheers for the whole team, but one player stood out in the game. Shayak Dost — the Man of the Match — scored a beautiful bicycle kick in the 24th minute to give Pakistan its first goal of the night.

Head coach Nolberto Solano also received some of the spotlight for bringing Pakistani football to a point where people have hope.

Football, like most sports that aren’t cricket, suffers from a lack of facilities and state support in Pakistan. Users hoped this win would help change that.

After all, Pakistan too deserves to feel the full magic of the beautiful game someday.

While the game has a fan following in Pakistan — especially in Karachi’s Lyari — football has never been a game Pakistanis have done well at internationally. Here’s to hoping we keep getting more wins like these moving forward!

The latest in this horrifying but unsurprising cycle of news is a man who threw acid on a female doctor, Dr Mahnoor Nasir, for saying no to him. Balochistan Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar spoke to the media and shared that the man had been harassing Dr Nasir for months. He also expressed surprise that she had not reported the matter to hospital authorities nor her family.

But as women, we know it’s not surprising at all.

What makes women stay silent? Why don’t women always tell their families or the authorities when men harass, abuse, or blackmail them?

The answer is simple. It’s because both men in the family and men outside of the family exist within the same social structure that was founded on intentional or unintentional collusion between these men. It’s also because, more often than not, the men who commit violence against women are men within their families. So how do we understand family both as a perpetrator and protector in violence against women?

When a man blackmails a woman, a common threat is that he will report the details of her life to her family. This usually includes sending messages, photos and videos as evidence of a woman’s failure to abide by familial, social or patriarchal rules. And often, women do get blackmailed and continue getting blackmailed until they reach a breaking point or until the man loses interest.

What gives a man the confidence that a woman’s family will inflict similar violence — or worse — upon her than he would? What drives a woman to fear that confiding in her loved ones will bring harsher consequences than enduring violation at the hands of another man?

Men within the family and men outside of the family often work towards a similar patriarchal goal of maintaining control over a woman. This shared goal remains implicit, and men fail to see how they collude and cooperate with those who target their daughters and sisters. When women feel like they can’t confide in their families, it is in part due to this implicit collusion.

Women choose not to tell their families when they experience violence because they do a cost-benefit analysis. Often, the decision to tell their families has complex and high costs for women’s lives. Since women’s bodies and what other men do to women’s bodies are often tied to family reputation and stability, telling one’s family about harassment or abuse can lead to increased control over the woman herself, rather than meaningful protection from the man who threatens her.

It leads to more confinement, rather than protection. This shows up in things like: You can’t leave the house anymore because what if it happens again or what if he does something? Don’t go to college or university because everything is lost if honour is lost. Stop going to work because safety comes before money. You can’t be on social media because that’s inviting attention. It’s time to get you married to ward off the violence. We trust you but we don’t trust men or the world.

The perpetrator aims to violate a woman’s autonomy, and the families might end up stripping away whatever remains of it. Telling their families results in more restrictions on women’s access to education, their long-term prospects of financial autonomy, and their access to public spaces. Putting up with seemingly short-term violence for long-term gain appears more reasonable than telling the family and risking their future.

Unintentionally, the family ends up facilitating the perpetrator by controlling their own daughter. Women’s strategic silence then becomes a rational attempt to preserve freedom, opportunity, dignity, and financial autonomy.

Have you ever read the comments under posts that report violence? You might have read comments like, “why didn’t she leave the job if she was being harassed?” “iss ki bhi koi ghalti hogi hi (she must be at fault here too),” “kuch tau aisa hua hoga k mard aisa kernay per majboor hua (something must have happened to compel the man to do this),” “koi aisay hi tau nahi uth k kisi ko maar deta, (no one just gets up and kills someone) one-sided story,” “this is not justifiable lekin aurton ko bhi khayal kerna chahye (but women must be mindful too),” “aisay kapray pehnay gi tau aisa tau hoga (if she wears clothes like this, stuff like this will happen),” “mardon se relation banao gi tau aisa tau hoga (if you have relationships with men, this will happen).”

These comments redirect attention to women, to the victim, instead of holding the aggressor accountable. Often, these comments are made by men where they assure other men that it’s not their fault, that they only react to something that happens to them. This victim-blaming — scrutinising what a woman might have done, said, worn, or failed to do instead of focusing on what a man actually did — also discourages women from confiding in their families.

This focus on hypothetical mistakes by the victim rather than the perpetrator’s real actions creates a sense of anticipatory shame.

It also leads to anticipated skepticism, which includes having to face questions like why didn’t you tell us before, why didn’t you tell us right away or why did you talk to him at all. The family ends up surveilling a woman’s life and scrutinising her behaviour rather than the perpetrator’s. Women might intellectually understand that they’re not at fault but still feel embarrassed, uncertain, and afraid. This increased scrutiny and surveillance, even if it is to protect women, contributes to their decision to tell or not tell their families.

In this crisis of femicide, men often cite examples like those of Abdul Razzaq Khilji, who helped Dr Nasir. While his actions are undoubtedly commendable and deserving of recognition, the frequent emphasis on such examples can reinforce a “male saviour” narrative, where men are portrayed as rescuing women from dangers largely created by other men. While we can appreciate these exceptions, it is critical to address the underlying social conditions that make such interventions necessary. The discussion should shift from individual heroism to the need for systemic change and accountability.

We, as women, are often socialised into a relational understanding of our identity. In other words, we grow up learning about ourselves only as daughters, sisters, and future wives — not as girls and women. Our girlhood or womanhood exists only as we perform various roles. This means we think about ourselves in relation with others more than we think about ourselves. Men, however, are socialised into thinking of their roles as boys and men in the family and society.

This relational sense of identity compels women to think not “how will this affect me” but rather “how would this affect my family or those connected to me?” Women might choose to risk their own safety for the family’s stability and normalcy. We can think of this as socialised coercion, since women sure make these decisions, but often do so within the learned boundaries of their obligations to others.

Women face so much violence in so many forms every day, violence that often leaves no visible trace — trying to please everyone in our roles as sisters, daughters, mothers, wives, constantly looking over our shoulders in the workplace or in public, carefully curating our wardrobes and appearances so as not to invite too much attention or scrutiny, calculating our words in the workplace and in public so as not to say something that a man might misinterpret, shrinking in public under the male gaze, wondering if or when a man will decide to do something more than stare, and if a man does decide to do something more having to decide whether to report it or not, whether to tell our families or not, because kahan tak suno gay, kahan tak sunaaon, (how much can you listen to, how much can I tell you).

Dr Mahnoor Nasir has been shifted to a private hospital in Karachi for treatment and her attacker, later identified by police as Humayun Shah, an employee at the hospital, was kil­led in an encounter with law enforcers while attempting to flee on a bus.

News of her attack has rocked the nation, not only because of the ferocity of it, but because it is far from the first case of a woman being attacked with acid.

“A woman went to WORK today. To SAVE LIVES. And someone threw acid on her face. I can’t. I genuinely cannot,” wrote Mahira Khan in an impassioned Instagram story.

“Dr Mahnoor Nasir [was] attacked inside a hospital. INSIDE A HOSPITAL. This is barbaric. This is evil. I am shaking with rage. This woman deserved safety. Instead she was nearly burned alive by a man who thought he had the right to destroy her,” she wrote.

“It’s time for not just the women but the MEN to speak up. To be louder. To be angrier!!!”

Singer Hadiqa Kiani said what happened to Dr Mahnoor Nasir should shake us all. “It is heartbreaking, horrifying and absolutely unacceptable,” she wrote, highlighting that Dr Nasir’s is not an isolated case.

“For too long, our women have faced violence, acid attacks, harassment and even death simply for existing, working and living with dignity. This must not be treated as another tragic headline,” she wrote.

Kiani implored society to find the courage to protect women before tragedy strikes.

Actor Mariyam Nafees shared a video of herself talking about multiple acts of violence against women in Pakistan.

“If she says no to a marriage proposal, we kill her. If she’s stranded in her car with her kids, we rape her. If she’s a girl, we kidnap her, sell her and rape her. If she gets married,  for some reason or the other, we burn her or kill her. If she’s a doctor, we throw acid on her in broad daylight. If she was born, we throw her in a garbage bin or drown her in a drain. But we talk about clothes because that is the biggest issue of our society — this is, I don’t even know what to say anymore.” 

Actor Saheefa Jabbar Khattak shared a note on Instagram about how morally policing women helps normalise hatred and contempt. 

“When people constantly speak against women’s clothing, their choices, their rights or even their mere existence, they help create an environment where misogyny thrives. The same mindset that shames women for what they wear is part of the culture that enables violence against them, where it’s acid attacks, murdering a wife for refusing sex, or brutalising a woman because she gave birth to a daughter,” she wrote.

“These horrific acts do not emerge in a vacuum. They are rooted in the same belief that women should be controlled, judged and punished for simply existing on their own terms.” 

Filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy shared a screenshot of a story about the attack and said achievement, service or dignity has never protected women from violence.

“The shame belongs to the attacker and to our society that still allows this to happen.”

Actor Amna Ilyas highlighted that in the wrong hands, acid is a weapon.

“A woman should be able to go to work without fearing violence. We need accountability, justice and stricter control over substances that can be used to destroy lives,” she said.

“Another woman, incident, noise, then silence. Get well soon doc! Being an achiever woman in this society, you certainly need a guard. Rip life for a woman,” wrote host Shaista Lodhi, highlighting that the cycle of violence against women always end with the outrage soon dying down and then silence.

Actor Sana Javed called hearing news of the attack “deeply unsettling”.

“There is something extremely wrong when someone can so easily obtain acid and use it to destroy another person’s life. This is no longer just about one incident, it’s about how little has changed,” she wrote in an Instagram story.

Several celebrities shared a video of how to provide first aid in case of an acid attack, much to their regret. Hina Altaf said she her heart broke at having to share it, while Yasir Hussain said he’d seen videos of natural disasters but seeing this one shocked him.

Actor Ayesha Omar shared a lengthy note on the attack, calling it a “psychological one”.

“It’s an attack on her freedom, her professionalism, her independence, her autonomy, her education, her mind, her soul and her spirit. It reminds us of how unsafe women are, not just on the streets but at their so-called safe workplaces and even inside their own homes,” she wrote.

“She goes our to save lives and her own is ruined. By an employee of the same hospital. I’m shaken and shattered…I’m full of anger and rage.”

She called for major “mental reforms” in the country and a deep dive into how to “start shfiting the misogynistic, violent mindset prevalent in Pakistan on a grassroot level” for all tiers of society.

“It’s not about law and order only. It’s about shifting the sick, twisted mindset, otherwise we are heading towards complete collapse and destruction.”

The attack on Dr Nasir is not the first act of violence against a Pakistani woman and it won’t be the last, not when acid is easily available, when men can’t take no for an answer, and when society continues to turn the other way when it comes to protecting women.

On Saturday, a man threw acid at a female doctor at Quetta’s Civil Hospital, severely injuring her. Dr Mahnoor Nasir survived, but with 70 per cent of her body burned, according to hospital sources.

On Thursday, a 64-year-old man surrendered himself to the police in Karachi and confessed to killing his wife for refusing to engage in intercourse with him the night before.

After going through the horror of witnessing so much crime, Pakistanis on X asked how many more women have to go through this before something actually changes.

As always, there were people online blaming the victims of these tragedies, claiming there was some reason why they were attacked, as if women aren’t attacked at random. Netizens were not having it and responded by calling out the real culprits: misogyny and male entitlement.

People were understandably enraged at why, after so many acid attacks, acid was still easily available for any potential attacker to buy and even carry with him into a hospital.

While the Acid Control Crime and Prevention Act, 2011 requires sellers to record the personal details of buyers, the substance remains commercially available and is readily used for domestic applications like drain cleaning.

In the case of the man who murdered his wife, a clip of him emerged where lawyers were huddled around the killer telling him they’d represent him and he was “in the right”. Users on X were horrified, with one shocked the lawyers could do so and still face their mothers, daughters, wives and sisters at home.

Many believed men need to be taught how to take no for an answer.

And of course, for many, the main culprit is always feminism. Many netizens rolled their eyes at people at the scrutiny around feminism and what feminists stand for when women “continue to be killed, raped and burned by acid attacks”.

One user put one of the biggest struggles of being a woman in Pakistan into perspective — no woman is safe from attacks by entitled men.

A lot of people were angry.

The prevalence of violence against women in Pakistan signifies a deep, systemic rot in the way society thinks about and treats women. Until attitudes change and everyone starts seeing women as human beings worthy of respect and rights, we can’t expect anything to improve.

The question is: how many more women need to be killed and injured before society finally has had enough?

There have been multiple reports of fictional clashes between the two cities, with videos showing the use of ‘heavy weaponary’, many of which are being seen for the first time.

Fighting between infantry units has escalated into gruelling close quarters battles, with troops engaging in hand-to-hand combat in the trenches after munitions ran low on both sides.

The fighting took a turn for the worse after forces from Okara deployed a never-before-seen short-range rocket system against the Federation’s troops.

Armoured units soon entered the fight, with Sahiwal’s state-of-the-art light tanks routing Okaran formations, swiftly striking fear into the hearts of enemy troops.

As a countermeasure, Okara’s forces deployed super-fast trucks developed by their scientists at Area-52 — the facility was built by Sahiwal and has since been taken over by Okara after the Republic broke away.

The trucks are expected to be able to break through to the frontlines and provide much needed supplies to the Republic’s forces.

Artillery batteries from both sides have been hammering rival positions, with video showing shells criss-crossing in the air due to the sheer volume of fire on the front.

Okara has established absolute air supremacy in the skies over Sahiwal with its high-tech ‘aircraft’. Sahiwal’s air forces have resorted to using ground-based assets for strikes and have attempted to hit targets as far as Karachi — although reports indicate the strike package got stuck on University Road.

Wing Commander Chahat Fateh Ali Khan, a veteran of the India-Pakistan meme war of 2025, was intercepted by Okara and reportedly remains in custody.

Other cities are taking sides in the conflict and the fighting has spilled into other areas. There are fears this may turn into a major proxy conflict as Lahore has thrown its weight behind Sahiwal.

In response, Karachi has joined the war on Okara’s side with 4,000 men of the elite Korangi Cavalry being sent to support Okaran forces.

Bahawalpur has entered into a mutual defence agreement with Okara.

Muridke and Pattoki — both part of Lahore’s divisional sphere of influence — have rebelled and pledged support to Okara, sending naval units to blockade Sahiwal. Yeah, even we don’t know how that one works.

We have questions, so many questions. What on earth is going on? Who started this? Where is it headed? And how will the economy fare with the budget just days away?

We don’t have any answers yet, please send them in the comments if you do and stay tuned, there may be updates.

Where these mini-dress clad people — presumably women, though he didn’t specify — are roaming is a mystery to us, as it probably is to most of you. It would be educational for us all if he would enlighten us all about where exactly in Punjab women are roaming around in public in short dresses.

“As a father of two daughter I humbly request to madam CM Maryam Nawaz please make a law against those who wear short dresses in public places — bazaars and streets — otherwise we will all be destroyed culturally,” he wrote in his story.

Naturally, people — read: we — are confused. Who is he talking about? What bazaars and streets does he frequent in Punjab where people roam around in short dresses? What do his daughters have to do with his request? And why does he think CM Maryam should be policing what people are wearing?

The reaction online to his request is, of course, mixed. Some are most pleased at this strange statement, happy that our ‘culture’ will be protected from these faceless short dress-wearing people. Others argue that he never mentioned women, and therefore cannot be called misogynistic. Some believed he was talking about men in shorts — also, a much-debated topic in Pakistan. A fourth more sensible group is as confused as us, wondering what prompted this sudden outpouring of concern.

If anyone figures out what he’s talking about, please let us know.