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KARACHI: Aspiring vocalists from across Pakistan lined up to chase stardom as Pakistan Idol returned to the country after a 12-year hiatus with a star-studded jury, wider reach, and a renewed promise to spotlight the country’s untapped musical talent.

Pakistan Idol is part of the global ‘Idol’ franchise, a reality television singing competition format created by British producer Simon Fuller and developed by British firm, Fremantle Limited, which also owns non-scripted formats like Got Talent and The X Factor.

The MHL Global production company, which secured rights for Pakistan Idol 2025 from Fremantle, last month announced that Badar Ikram will produce the show, with Fawad Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, former Strings band mate Bilal Maqsood and Zeb Bangash as judges.

The first episode of the show went on air on Oct. 4, followed by the second on Oct. 5., broadcast on seven Pakistani TV channels simultaneously.

“Pakistani talent is our real asset. If we don’t provide them with our platform, then it would be an unfair thing,” Rahat Fateh Ali Khan told Arab News, on the sidelines of the auditions in Karachi.

“It isn’t a good thing that the show has come back after 12 years but the best part is that we have come fully prepared this time.”

Ikram said producing the show is “an honor and a responsibility” for him.

“We are determined to deliver a show that reflects the passion, diversity, and raw talent of Pakistan,” he said in a statement prior to airing of the first episode.

“From auditions to the grand stage, our team is working tirelessly to ensure the audience experiences the magic of music and storytelling at a truly global standard.”

The first edition of Pakistan Idol aired in Dec. 2013, featuring Bushra Ansari, Hadiqa Kiani and Ali Azmat as judges.

Auditions of participants from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Multan and Sukkur are being aired since Saturday, Oct. 4, trying to make it to the top 30 contestants that will eventually lead to 16 finalists on the show.

Maham Tahir, who hails from the Rahim Yar Khan district, said her audition experience was “really good” and she found the judges to be “kind.”

“[Platforms like Pakistan Idol] are very important for us. Singers like myself, who aren’t valued in the world on a big level, are valued by platforms like these,” Tahir, a student of Lahore’s GC University who was among the top 30 contestants, told Arab News.

“I am fortunate [to make it to the next round]. It’s a miracle for me.”

Bangash, the only woman on the judges’ panel, said they were also looking for females as much as they were looking for male singers.

“Although, I have to say that there are more contestants that are men,” she said, “but that has nothing to do with the platform. I think, as the seasons keep progressing, we’re going to have more and more interest from women.”

Bangash shared they were judging the performances based on a number of things.

“We are trying to be as transparent as we can but at the end of the day, I say that judging music is an interesting idea to begin with because it’s creative expression,” she said. “So, sometimes, it’s subjective, sometimes it’s just the moment [and] sometimes it’s just the song selection.”

Pakistan Idol Season 2 will also be streamed worldwide via UAE-based platform, Begin, that has secured the rights for the show. Viewers in ��������, UAE, Canada and the US will be able to watch it on the Begin app. For those based in the UK, Germany, India, Australia, South Africa and Nigeria, the show can be watched directly via begin.watch.

“The international distribution of Pakistan Idol demonstrates how far South Asian entertainment has come in reaching global audiences,” MHL Global Director Zoya Merchant told Arab News.

“We are proud to see a format rooted in local culture and talent become accessible to viewers worldwide. This collaboration with Begin represents an important step toward integrating Pakistani creativity into the broader entertainment ecosystem.”

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday condemned “unprovoked” firing by Afghan forces along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, promising a befitting response to the incursions.

The firefights broke out along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border late on Saturday when the Afghan Taliban attacked Pakistani posts, according to security officials from both countries. It followed an alleged Pakistani airstrike in Kabul this week.

Pakistani security officials said that they were responding “with full force” to what they called unprovoked firing from Afghanistan. The exchange of fire took place at more than six locations along the border, they said.

The Taliban forces said they captured three Pakistani border posts. Pakistani security officials said their military had destroyed several Afghan posts. Video footage shared by Pakistani security officials showed gun and artillery firing toward Afghanistan, lighting up the night sky.

“The firing by Afghan forces on civilian population is a blatant violation of international laws,” Pakistani Interior Minister Naqvi said in a statement.

“The game of fire and blood that Afghanistan is playing is linked with our eternal enemy,” he said, in a clear reference to India.

The border skirmishes come during Afghan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s weeklong visit to India, where said on Saturday Pakistan should not blame Afghanistan for its internal problems.

Afghanistan this week accused Pakistan of breaching its airspace and bombing a border town, while Islamabad has frequently voiced concerns about cross-border militancy from Afghan soil in recent months.

“Afghanistan will also be given a befitting reply like India that it will not dare cast an evil eye at Pakistan,” Naqvi said.

His statement was a reference to a four-day military conflict between Pakistan and India in May, which saw the two neighbors attack each other with drones, artillery and fighter jets.

Enayatullah Khowarazmi, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense, said it was a retaliatory operation for Pakistan’s violation of Afghan airspace. He said the attack concluded at midnight local time.

“If the opposing side again violates Afghanistan’s airspace, our armed forces are prepared to defend their airspace and will deliver a strong response,” Reuters quoted Khowarazmi as saying.

There was no immediate response from Pakistan on whether the clashes had ended. The Pakistan-Afghanistan border runs for 2,600 km (1,615 miles).

Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban administration of harboring militants of the Pakistani Taliban who attack Pakistan, with the support of Pakistan’s adversary, India. New Delhi denies the charge, while the Taliban say that they do not allow their territory to be used against other countries.