Manzar Naqvi's Metro Matters 24-06-17

Warm welcome extended to players returning with ICC Champions Trophy

Congratulations to all Pakistanis for winning the ICC Champions Trophy defeating their arch-rivals India. Thousands of cricket fans, including dignitaries, thronged the Jinnah International Karachi to give a hero's welcome to the triumphant Pakistani cricketers on their return home from England after thrashing arch-rivals India in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy during the reported week.

Holding the trophy, Pakistan's ODI and T20I captain Sarfraz Ahmed emerged from Karachi's Jinnah International Airport amid loud cheers and chants of 'Long live Sarfraz!' as a police band played patriotic songs nearby.

"[We've won] thanks to Allah and the prayers of the whole nation," Sarfraz said in a brief comment as he jostled his way through a crowd of fans. Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair and Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar were also present at the airport to welcome the winning captain.

I would like to mention here that the Great British Commentator Rob Smyth writes these memorable words about Team Pakistan:

"I used to think that Pakistan were the most interesting team in the history of sport. I now realise that they're the most interesting team in the history of mankind. Their ability to teleport between farce and genius is unparalleled, and at best they are like watching sport directed by David Lynch. Nothing makes a blind bit of sense, key characters appear out from nowhere, supernatural forces are at work and inanimate objects can talk. All you can do is run with the mood and the madness.

"This Captain is different: He is not glamorous. Is not shy to express himself in rustic & broken English in front of cameras, even to the extent of consciously creating humor about his lack of fluency in English language.

"With least regard to his star image with Lollywood or Bollywood crowd or bill board attraction, he very proudly holds his infant son in his arms & affectionately shares jubilation & smiles with his hijab wearing wife standing in middle of Oval ground with her after the spectacular win.

"These images are flashed on screen before he walks up to the victory stand to receive the championship trophy.

"He is Hafiz-e-Quran & now we know why this singular honor has been bestowed upon him during Ramazan. He is different but he is champion of the champions."

EMI Pakistan releasing this Eid 3 Music Videos & Album by Zoheb Hassan, Asad Ahmed & Schaz Khan

As the month of Ramazan comes to a close, EMI Pakistan is busy preparing to release songs, videos and albums by 3 veteran Pakistani artists.

The month of July will first see Schaz Khan's video release for her song called "Mein Udaan Hoon". Following this, Pakistani music enthusiasts and instrumental music fans will be treated with the release of Asad Ahmed's first solo album Rebirth coupled with the first video from this album called Animal. Towards the end of July, EMI Pakistan will also unveil album, Signature and video, "Silsalay" by Zoheb Hassan.

Zeeshan Chaudhry, COO of EMI Pakistan, commented: "We, at EMI Pakistan, are very excited about the upcoming releases, not only because this is our first spell of new releases, but also because all the videos have been produced by us. At EMI Pakistan we are trying to set a new benchmark for music video production quality in the Pakistani market. Through these projects we hope to demonstrate our commitment to the music fraternity. We not only aim to help them hone their talent and skills, but we hope to encourage, nurture and develop them as well. But above all EMI Pakistan wants to provide artists a promising platform upon which they can grow."

EMI Pakistan aims to continue the fight for artists' rights whether it is copyrighting issues, piracy issues or getting anyone who uses a musician's work to pay them for it. EMI Pakistan is back to help the music industry flourish once again and to provide support to upcoming talent.

Iftar dinner hosted by   Iranian CG Ahmed Mohammadi at Karachi

Ahmed Mohammadi, Iranian Consul General hosted an Iftar dinner during the week which was attended by a large number of Ulema and Mushaikh from every sect and elites of the city. The dinner was looking a best event towards the unity of Muslims without discrimination of different sects. In his address on the occasion, Consul General appreciated the services of Ulema. He said that our Muslim brothers and sisters in Palestine are suffering immense pain and hardships under the pressure of the tyrant Israeli regime, some elements are arming and funding the terrorists to kill Muslims in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and now in Iran which was hit just a few days back. The question is: Why innocent children and civilians on streets, that too when they are on fasting, be killed? What is the sin of the oppressed people and children of Yemen for which they must be bombed, that too by the so-called Islamic countries?

Mohammadi said, thirty-eight years ago, Imam Khomeini named the last Friday of Ramazan as the Day of Quds, and the Great leader Hazrat Ayatollah Khamenie has also termed the painful issue of  Palestine as the issue of the Muslim World.