LAHORE : PML-N leaders Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shahbaz Sharif were released from Kot Lakhpat prison on Friday on parole to attend the funeral prayers Begum Shamim Akhtar.
Earlier, the Punjab home department had issued notification for the release of Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shahbaz on five-day parole.
According to the notification, the release of Shehbaz Sharif and his son will be for five days. The dead body of Sharifs’ mother will be brought to Lahore to be buried at their Jati Umra residence.
The funeral prayers of Begum Shamim Akhtar will be offered on Saturday evening at Medical City Complex.
Earlier on Thursday, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had approved the release of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shahbaz on parole for five days to receive the body of her mother at Lahore airport and to offer her funeral prayers.
The lawyers had pleaded for their 15-day release on parole, however, the provincial government approved their five-day release besides allowing Shehbaz Sharif to receive the body of her mother at the airport.
Built in the 19th century according to the specifications of Carol I, Romania’s first King, the Peleș Castle is an image of the monarch’s aesthetic mindset, combining the German and Italian neo-Renaissance.
Peles is located near the town of Sinaia, in the Prahova County, and it is one of the most famous castles in Romania, maybe even more than Corvin Castle, Bran Castle, or the Rasnov Fortress. The blood ties between the members of the Romanian and the British royal families, the Russian dynasty and the royal families of Germany and Greece, as well the Romanian Queen’s tireless patronage of arts, have attracted to the castle the most resonant names of the 19th and early 20th century.
History of Peles Castle
When King Carol I of Romania visited the location on which the beautiful castle now stands, he was amazed by the stunning scenery of the Carpathian Mountains that surround it.
The construction of Peles Castle was commissioned by King Carol, and on August 22, 1873, the foundations were laid in the form of a hunting house and a summer retreat for the Romanian royal family. The castle was designed by the German architect Johannes Schultz in a Neorenaissance style that combined numerous features of classic European styles.
Besides the castle, other constructions were erected, such as a power plant, the Economat Building, the royal stables, the guards’ chambers, and the Foisor hunting lodge. Later additions were also built between 1893 and 1914 by the Czech architect Karel Liman.
Peles became the first castle in Europe fully powered by locally produced energy, with the electric system being completed in 1884 and the central heating system in 1897. The castle was completed in 1914, and it remained a royal residence until 1947.
After the forced abdication of King Michael I, Peleș was seized by the Communist regime in 1947, together with all the properties of the royal family. In 1948 the whole estate was closed, and numerous pieces of art were moved to the Art Museum in Bucharest. Peles Castle was then opened as a museum in 1953 by the communist regime, and it remained so until 1975 when it was closed again due to its advanced state of deterioration. Between 1975 and 1989, the castle was constantly renovated and was also used by the communist regime as a retreat for the heads of state that visited Romania. After the Romanian Revolution of 1989, the castle was once again opened to the public, and in 2007 it became the property of King Michael.
Inside and around Peles Castle
The inner courtyard, with its medieval air, carries the tourists back in time. The Sovereigns’ Gate opens the journey into the castle, and a monumental marble staircase leads up to the Hall of Honor, the official reception space that witnessed the presence of royal guests, from Emperor Franz Joseph to the Crown Prince of Japan. Peles Castle also hosted numerous artists such as George Enescu or Jacques Thibaud, that were the guests of Queen Elizabeth of Romania, the wife of King Carol I.
The impressive castle spreads over an area of 3,200 square meters, housing 160 rooms that impress through their beauty and sophistication.
The best known is the Great Armory Room, hosting some of the finest collections of arms and armor, with over 4,000 pieces of weaponry that were collected or received as a gift, mainly from Western and Eastern Europe, but also from other regions of the world.
Great Armory Room
The interior of the castle, especially the main hall, is beautifully decorated with sculpted wood and the stained glass windows make it a true symbol of elegance and royalty.
Another outstanding part of the castle, the Royal Library, is home to unique manuscripts decorated in gold. Many of the rooms of the castle are decorated so that they resemble the styles of various cultures from throughout the world. Due to its remarkable architecture and to the artistic value of the exhibits it houses, the castle is one of the elite monuments in Europe and in the world.
The Moorish room decorated in red and golden
The music Room
Throughout the year, the Peles Museum hosts several permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Ceramics exhibition
Peles Castle is hosting the ceramics exhibition, with over 5,000 pieces of faience, floor tiles, and porcelain gathered from the greatest European authors and ceramic centers of the 19th century.
It was established by Queen Marie between 1914 and 1927, with later pieces being purchased by the Peles Museum throughout 1970, from both private owners as well as antique stores.
Among the pieces of art, the exhibition includes Chinese vases from the 18th and 19th centuries, Japanese pottery from the great workshops of Atari and Satsuma, Persian ceramics from the 17th and 18th centuries, and European art from throughout Paris, London, or Vienna.
Ceramics at the Peles Museum
Horology exhibition
Throughout his life, King Carol was widely appreciated for his punctuality.
The horology exhibition in Peles displays over 50 clocks of various styles and typology, from the private royal collection. It includes grandfather clocks, pendulum table clocks, fireplace clocks, alarm clocks, pocket watches, and more.
Most of them belonged to King Carol I, but the collection also includes pieces that belonged to Queen Marie, Carol II, and King Michael. Most of the clocks date back to the 19th century, but the collection also includes clocks from the 18th and 20th centuries.
King’s Carol I pocket watch
Hidden underground passages and stairs that melt into the steep slopes of the mountain complete the majestic ensemble. Just as in fairy tales, lockers open up not into wardrobes, but into splendid suites. Exploring Peles Castle becomes as much an adventure as an aesthetic experience.
A Saxon influence can be observed in the interior courtyard facades that have rich and ornate the face work similar to northern Europe alpine architecture and allegorical hand-painted murals. King Carol insisted that Peleș Castle should be welcoming to anyone who wanted to admire it closely and enjoy its royal atmosphere and lovely views of the mountains. Therefore, the castle’s park and terraces surround it, with flowerbeds and fountains, turrets, pavilions, galleries and balconies concealed by ivy.
Thus, it is no wonder that many of those who visited Peles claim that it is one of the most beautiful castles in Europe.
Peles Castle in popular culture
The fairy-tale features of Peles Castle and its historical authenticity also designate it as a one of a kind setting for professional photo sessions and film productions. In fact, Peles Castle was chosen to represent the home of the eccentric billionaire Penelope played by Rachel Weisz in the film “The Brothers Bloom”, released in 2009, also starring Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo.
The 2017 American Christmas romantic comedy film “A Christmas Prince” released on Netflix used Peles Castle as place for filming. A sequel, titled “A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding”, was released in 2018 and another one in 2019, “A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby”.
Pelisor Castle
The younger brother of Peles Castle and part of the same complex is Pelisor Castle.
The construction was commissioned by King Carol I, and it was built between 1899 and 1902. It was meant to be the residence of the Romanian royals, King Ferdinand and Queen Marie. It was designed by a Czech architect in the Art Nouveau style, and it has several chambers, a chapel, and a golden room. Many of the artistic decisions regarding the design were made by Queen Marie, and she even helped decorate and paint it.
NIAMEY : Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said Pakistan desires peace in Afghanistan and the dignified and honorable return of Afghan refugees to their homeland.
He was talking to Afghan counterpart Mohammed Haneef Atmar on the sidelines of the 47th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Niamey, Niger.
FM Qureshi said Pakistan will continue to play its conciliatory role in enduring peace and stability in the neighboring country. He maintained that the Afghan leadership should keep an eye on the elements which want to sabotage peace efforts in Afghanistan.
FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations with Afghanistan.
The Afghan foreign minister lauded Pakistan’s sincere efforts in the Afghan peace process.
Last week, while addressing a joint press conference along with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani following their one-on-one meeting, PM Imran Khan had shown concern over increasing violence in Afghanistan despite ongoing peace talks.
Pakistan would be happier over peace in Afghanistan and added that Islamabad played its role in peace talks. He had also assured every possible support of Pakistan for peace in Afghanistan.
The premier had underlined the need to further strengthen economic ties between both the neighboring countries.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a policy-based $300 million loan for Pakistan to improve its trade competitiveness, help export diversification, and aid its macroeconomic stability.
“While COVID-19 hit Pakistan at a critical point in its macroeconomic recovery, the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure stability have started showing encouraging results this fiscal year,” said ADB Principal Public Management Specialist Hiranya Mukhopadhyay.
He added that the programme will support these efforts and help Pakistan to improve its export competitiveness — now more important than ever given the impacts of the pandemic.
The programme seeks to help Pakistan recover its current account deficit and continue facilitating the country’s export diversification.
The ADB programme explicitly mentions tariff and tax-related reforms in Pakistan. Ostensibly meant to help improve and further strengthen key institutions, including accreditation bodies, the Export-Import Bank of Pakistan, and the Pakistan Single Window, these preconditions for Pakistan intend to reduce or abolish tariffs and ad hoc duties on a large number of raw materials and intermediate goods.
Steps are also intended to introduce e-commerce, strengthen key institutions involved in facilitating trade, and enhance the export certification process.
The ADB has noted that since 2004, Pakistan has registered a rise-and-fall pattern of export growth reflecting underperformance in its export industry and long-term decline in export competitiveness. This has been compounded by the lost export growth from COVID-19, which has reduced high-income countries’ demand for manufacturing goods and disrupted the supply of raw materials.
The ADB is coordinating its efforts with other development partners and donors while the program is running concurrently with International Monetary Fund-led reform initiatives.
Former fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar launched a tirade against New Zealand after the Pakistan cricket team were handed a warning of being sent back to the country if found violating coronavirus protocols for the second time.
New Zealand Government confirmed that six Pakistan players were tested positive for the coronavirus.
It also claimed that the players from the touring squad violated the safety protocols inside the bio-secure bubble.
The announcement did not sit well with the Rawalpindi Express who voiced his anger in a video posted on his YouTube channel.
“The remarks were below the belt,” the 45-year-old said. “I want to remind them that this is not some club team they are talking about. This is the Pakistan national side.”
He added that Pakistan cricket team does not need to tour Down Under in the first place. “It won’t be the end of the world if the tour gets cancelled nor our players are that inept.”
The former pacer went on to say that New Zealand should be indebted to the Green Caps as they will be earning the revenue generated from the broadcast rights of the five-match tour.
Akhtar said that he was angry over the fact that New Zealand had the nerve to hand a warning to Pakistan which is the greatest country on this planet. “So be careful in what you say next time.”
He advised Babar Azam’s side to give a befitting reply to the Black Caps by thrashing them in the three-match T20I series.
ISLAMABAD – A delegation of the Hashim Group of Turkey led by Emir Han Demir, Head of Operations visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry to hold a meeting with Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan President and showed keen interest to set up joint ventures in Pakistan. Abdul Rehman Khan Vice President ICCI, Malik Jahangir Jan, Country Director Pakistan, Hashim Group, Tasleem Khan Legend Hotel Islamabad and M. Aslam Khokhar Executive Member ICCI were also present at the occasion.
Emir Han Demir said that Hashim Group has business interests in many fields including real estate, mining, tourism, car designing and education in Turkey and they were now exploring Pakistani market for JVs and investment. They said that Pakistan’s economy has great potential to grow and they wanted to bring construction technology and investment to Pakistan to capitalize on the potential business opportunities. They said that the education sector was another area of interest for them and they were looking at the prospects of bringing partners to Pakistan to invest in education, mining and other sectors. They said that they were setting up an office in Pakistan so that they could take benefit of emerging business and investment opportunities here.
Speaking at the occasion, Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that Pakistan and Turkey enjoyed exemplary strong relations that should be transformed into thriving trade relations as the existing volume of bilateral trade between the two countries was not reflective of their actual potential. He said that Pakistan and Turkey have shown interest to sign an agreement to provide dual nationality to their citizens and stressed that this process should be expedited that would help in increasing bilateral trade and investment between the two countries. He said that Pakistan and Turkey should also finalize FTA that would give a significant boost to bilateral trade.
Briefing the Turkish delegation about the prospective areas of JVs and investment in Pakistan, Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan said that Pakistan offered great investment opportunities in construction, mining, tourism, automobile, housing and other sectors and urged that Turkish investors should capitalize on these opportunities through JVs and investment. He said that Pakistan’s economy was now showing good prospects and time was ripe for Turkish investors to increase their presence in Pakistani market. He said that by investing in Pakistan, Turkish companies could get easy access to Central Asia and many other markets for exports. He said that Turkish companies should transfer technology to Pakistan and help in accelerating the pace of industrialization in our country. He assured that ICCI would fully cooperate with Turkish investors in finding right partners in Pakistan. He said that ICCI was actively working to attract FDI towards Pakistan by encouraging the foreign investors to take benefit of the emerging opportunities for business and investment in Pakistan.
Colombo Kings beat Kandy Tuskers in one-over eliminator in the opening game of the Lanka Premier League 2020 at Hambantota on Thursday.
Kandy, being sent to bat first, made 219-3 on the back of half-centuries by the opening pair of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Kusal Parera.
The wicketkeeper-batsman top scored with 87 off 52 deliveries with nine boundaries and four sixes to his name whereas Gurbaz chipped in with six boundaries and as many maximums.
Manpreet Gony, Dushmantha Chameera and Qais Ahmed picked up a wicket each.
In reply, the Colombo side managed to tie the game at the expense of seven wickets courtesy of a 46-ball 80 by player-of-the-match Dinesh Chandimal. His knock included 12 boundaries and two sixes.
Kings, batting first under the Super Over rules, managed 16-1 whereas Tuskers were restricted to 12-0.
Pakistani actor Mehwish Hayat has the perfect wish for her ‘Superman’ brother Danish Hayat on his birthday. She feels lucky to have a brother like him.
Taking to her Instagram account, Mehwish remarked that she feels so proud to have her brother on her side. She also shared numerous throwback pictures with her brother.
“Cliched it may be, but its the only way I can truly express how much having a brother like you mean to me, said Mehwish. “Every time on your birthday I get emotional thinking about how lucky I got! I feel so proud to have you by my side, protecting me from the sorrows and shielding me in times of trouble.. You’re my Superman !!!”
Mehwish credited her brother for her success and called him her role model.
“Without any shadow of a doubt, I would not be where I am today without you..! You should be a role model for every brother in the world!” said Mehwish. “May God give you every possible reason to smile and be happy always and forever. Above all, be thankful to me for tolerating you for another year… !”
Earlier, Mehwish announced that she has been selected to be a part of 2020 Oscar Pakistani committee along with fashion designer Hassan Sheheryar Yasin.
The actor said she was looking forward to seeing the nominated films and choosing one as Pakistan’s official submission.
The Islamabad metro bus service was suspended temporarily Friday morning after some of its employees staged a protest at the station near IJP Road.
The bus ticketing staff said that they haven’t been paid salaries in three months.
“It has become difficult for us to provide for our families now,” said a protester. “Every time we ask for our salaries, we get nothing but false promises.”
The protesters said that they have contacted the Rawalpindi DC Office but no one has been listening to them.
Waqar Ahmed, an employee of the private company responsible for the ticketing service, said that the salaries will be released once they get the clearance.
The service remains suspended for people who require tickets. Those who have metro cards can travel without hassle.
All mothers are the same whether the mother is of the rich or the poor, is like a cool shade for her children. Mother is the name of a selfless lover and life-long best friend. She is a blessing to her children and such a blessing is removed from their heads on her death. Similarly, the blessing of a mother has also been taken away from Mian brothers whenthe mother of Mian Nawaz Sharif and MianShehbaz Sharif left and became dear to Allah Almighty. The news of the demise of Begum ShamimAkhtar, the mother of the Sharif brothers, was heard all over the country with feelings of grief and sorrow.May Allah raise the ranks of the late and give patience to those who are left behind that the loss of a mother is a great shock.On this occasion, the manner in which the grief was expressed by various sections of the society, including the President and the Prime Minister, is commendable because there is nothing more than humanity and mothers are the same for everyone.
People who have had the opportunity to meet Ms. ShamimAkhtar, see her at a party or listen to her talk, all think she was a straightforward, devout housewife who had nothing to do with any political activity or worldliness except that whoever came before her and greeted her with respect, she used to pray for him endlessly in his gentle and kind tone. While the late MajeedNizami says that Ms. ShamimAkhtar is no ordinary woman, a general impression is that the iron personality and temperament of their father Mian Muhammad Sharif is very much involved in the upbringing and training of Sharif brothers, this impression is not so wrong, but in my personal opinion, their mother’s share is much greater. One aspect of Ms. ShamimAkhtar’s personality was that of a loyal and dignified housewife, but at the same time she was also a spiritual woman, which is why the Mian brothers, especially MianNawaz Sharif would come to her service before every decision and first inform her of his plans, decisions and political adventures and then take any action only after her permission.
In this regard, Mujeeb-ur-RehmanShami and JameelAtharQazi support it in such a way that this family, accustomed to luxuries, suffered a series of misfortunes after 1999. These people not only lost power andwere sent to jails, but there were trials like the deaths of Mian Sharif, Abbas Sharif and Kulsoom Nawaz, but at all these stages, unlike a traditional woman, she did not weaken her husband and sons but stood behind them like a rock. InMian Nawaz Sharif and MianShehbaz Sharif’s success, the role of their mother’s patronage and guidance is paramount. The Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had refused to go abroad when he fell ill in jail and efforts were made to send him out of the country. At this stage too, the higher authorities had contacted his mother and requested her to do so. That his son’s health is bad, if it worsens, it will be very complicated, so you persuade him to send abroad, and this crisis was also averted from the mobilization of the late ShamimAkhtar, Eventhough she left this world and played an important role in the national life despite being a pure housewife, she will be remembered in the political history of Pakistan for her role.
Begum ShamimAkhtar lived a full life and along with her family’s prosperous life, she also witnessed and endured the hardships that befell this family in different periods and kept on urging her children to always be steadfast. She had gone to London after the release on bail of Mian Nawaz Sharif and was staying with him. For the last month, her health has been deteriorating and due to her ill health, she went to Allah Almighty. Her body is being brought to Pakistan and the burial will take place at a designated place next to her husband Mian Sharif.The Punjab government has made a commendable decision by announcing the release on parole of her detained son MianShehbaz Sharif and grandson HamzaShehbaz for attending the funeralof the deceased, which should be carried out without any hesitation. Since it is a basic requirement of humanity to act generously on such occasions, they should be released on more days than expected as people from all over the country have to come for condolences of their late mother.
Unfortunately, due to the lack of tolerance in our politics, the tradition of not tolerating each other even in times of joy and sorrow is getting stronger. Of course, the release of MianShehbaz Sharif and HamzaShehbaz on parole by the government is a positive decision, but it does not seem possible for Nawaz Sharif to return to the country with his mother’s body as he fears that he will be punished by law as soon as he returns. In any case, he must abide by the laws and justice of the country. However, Nawaz Sharif has had to bear the trauma of the death of his father, wife and mother during the hardships of his political life, but our politics is so ruthless that even after hearing the news of the death of Begum Mian Muhammad Sharif’s death, the PDM leaders did not feel the need to cancel their ongoing rally in Peshawar or turn it into a condolence rally. While Maryam Nawaz left the meeting without giving a speech after hearing the news of her grandmother’s death, the tragedy of Begum Mian Muhammad Sharif’s demise is an equal part of the grief of the entire Sharif family, because mothers are the same for everyone. May Allah Almighty elevate her to a high position in Paradise, Ameen
