With the Aurat March scheduled to take place this weekend, things are heating up with the controversy surrounding it keeps getting bigger. So far, a petition has been filed and dismissed in the Lahore High Court, an acclaimed writer verbally abused a social activist on live television and posters and murals of the march have been torn down in different cities.
Amidst all the debate, singer Quratulain Balouch, popularly known as, QB posted a controversial statement on Twitter. QB gained popularity after she sang the title track – Woh Humsafar Tha – for Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan’s super hit drama Humsafar.
The singer’s comment sparked outrage, following which women, including Senator Anny Marri and model Eman Suleman, took to social media to school her.
No. Just NO. And also, it’s not “her” rights she shouts for. It’s yours. And the “real feminist” will continue to shout for you and others like you – even though really, you don’t deserve it. https://t.co/hiRMXc4xzA
If real feminists had not shouted for OUR rights you would not be enjoying the privilege of using YOUR voice to sing. And today you would not have this platform and that blue tick. ♀️ https://t.co/WUtze6qNPo
Real feminists dont put down other women who vocalize their demands. Dont paint our struggle as hysterical by using words like “shouting”. If you dont have the moral courage to stand with us, the least you can do is not stand in our way because of your internalized misogyny. https://t.co/lgbCCIwlLp
— Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir (@ImaanZHazir) March 5, 2020
A real feminist not only shouts for her rights but everyone else’s too. Including yours. Be grateful to the women who came before you and fought for your right to speak. Stop making ignorant statements. Stop telling women to suffer quietly. https://t.co/tBNX7xDWYo
Almost 800,000 people commit suicide every year, which makes a fatality rate higher than wars, cancer or homicide, says the World Health Organization (WHO).
In view of the aforementioned staggering figures, Reddit — an American social news aggregation website — has announced a new tool for suicide prevention by teaming up with Crisis Text Line — a global not-for-profit organisation providing free confidential crisis intervention.
According to the details of the service that will be effective from March 10 this year, it will allow users to report those, who they believe are at risk, so that Reddit can provide them with prevention resources.
The reported user will get a private message with suicide prevention resources and a recommendation to text ‘CHAT’ to 741741 — the number for the Crisis Text Line.
Once the Reddit user has reached out to the text line, a trained crisis counselor will be available for support.
This is not the first time a social media platform has offered to provide suicide prevention help. as Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat also have pages listing global suicide prevention resources.
An intermediate student has been found dead in the washroom of a Unique Group of Institutions (UGI) academy on Wahdat Road in Lahore.
The body was recovered by the police, following which protests by students erupted as the deceased’s family alleged murder.
As per reports, 22-year old Mohammad Naeem was found dead with his nose bleeding. Naeem had gone to the academy on Monday but not returned home. His family called him on his mobile phone, but when nobody answered, they visited the academy where the staff didn’t allow them to enter the premises, claiming that Naeem had already left.
Khurram, a relative of the deceased has told the media that on failing to contact him, Naeem’s family once again went to the institute where his class fellows told them that his motorbike and bag were still there. However, the staff refused to let them enter the building.
The family then reported the matter to the police.
Police officials, along with the family, later went to the academy and after searching, found the boy‘s dead body in a washroom. The family insisted that Naeem was murdered, demanding registration of a case and arrest of his killer(s).
Refuting the family’s claims, media manager of UGI, Zunair Chaudhry, told The Current that the body was found in a toilet stall that was locked from the inside. “The family kept on going to the wrong campus where the guard also told them that it wasn’t the one their son attended.”
The body was recovered after eight to nine hours and initial post-mortem reports have declared that the cause of his death was a brain haemorrhage, he added.
Superintendent of Police Capt (r) Mohammad Ajmal has also rejected the family’s claims of Naeem being murdered, saying the washroom was locked from inside when the police found the dead body.
The SP said the blood from the nose of the deceased suggested that either he consumed drugs or was suffering from some serious disease that caused his death. He added that the doctors who examined the body were also, as of yet, not certain about the cause of death.
“The actual cause of death will be figured out in the light of the postmortem examination report that is still awaited.”
Meanwhile, students of the institution on Wednesday took to roads, seeking justice for their fellow.
With the Aurat March scheduled to take place this weekend, things are heating up and the controversy surrounding it keeps growing. Till now, a petition has been filed and dismissed in the Lahore High Court, an acclaimed writer verbally abused a social activist on live television and posters and murals of the march have been torn down in different cities.
The slogans and posters of the Aurat March have created the most amount of controversy, in particular, ‘Mera Jism, Meri Marzi’. While some say the slogan is “vulgar” and is used by women marchers in “an attempt to westernise the Pakistani society”, the marchers themselves say it pertains to “the right of choice and safety of women and even minor girls who are subjected to sexual assault in this very society.”
It was also this slogan which Khalil ur Rehman Qamar was criticising when journalist Marvi Sirmed murmured it as he was speaking causing him to spew abuse towards her. Qamar’s actions sparked a whole new debate in which several members of the entertainment industry got involved.
Mahira Khan, who was one of the first actors to condemn Qamar for his words and actions, posted a note to social media in which she talked about why she marches.
“We are a country getting used to the idea of equal rights, Me Too, Times Up. All of us, as those in positions of power and privilege should speak a language that a common man would understand. We don’t march for ourselves. We march for those who can not march for themselves,” she wrote.
I’m sure those who have been organizing the Aurat March are experienced, have been working for years for the cause of women..they have a better idea of what should and should not be done. I write out of pure observation. #WhyIMarchpic.twitter.com/D3AUQYM3Re
Agree wholeheartedly. Using this platform to be a provocateur is going to be playing into the hands of those who call all protests “fahashi” and all demands “liberal agenda”. I hope come March 8th, we see ppl on both sides understand each other better not the other way around. https://t.co/QvOWpygj1L
Meanwhile, some organisers of the Aurat March disagreed with Mahira’s comments and explained to her that provocative and instigating posters are there to demand attention.
It is our urban morality that finds certain language or slogans provocative. The discomfort is something those feeling it need to process & figure out for themselves, not those expressing the slogans. Each slogan reflects a lived reality. A social ill. Discrimination. Inequality.
Protests by virtue of their design and purpose are supposed to shock and make people take notice and think, which the posters and slogans from last years did. A protest where you placate is not only oxymoronic but also just plain moronic. https://t.co/KYg6sMtLmM
All the concerns were raised, had placards. You’re right to think the women organizing and volunteering their efforts for the March have a better idea. Why not amplify their voices instead? Their social media accounts are very active and informative @AuratMarchKHI@AuratMarch
This sounds an awful lot like tone policing…. plus a bit condescending to be fairly honest. I’ll say this as many times as it needs to be said. We WERE holding placards that highlighted all the issues mentioned. ♀️ https://t.co/AdULZDrblE
Responding to the explanations, Mahira said that she stands corrected, adding that she still “believes that certain things said/written out of rage dissuade us from engaging in dialogue which brings about change.”
You’re right. Also, #merajismmerimarzi is not what I was talking about when I said ‘careful about the words we put out’. In any case, I stand corrected. https://t.co/mr3iq2LD85
Farieha, I still believe that certain things said/written out of rage dissuade us from engaging in dialogue which brings about change. This is my opinion. And I shall continue to engage with people like you.I feel sad and strange saying this – but thank you for not abusing me. https://t.co/sd6kEByExP
To improve social and health indicators in Pakistan, World Bank has approved $300-million financial package, including a loan of $200-million, reported Express Tribune.
The loan has been approved under the Punjab Human Capital Investment Project that will strengthen services regarding health and social protection for poor and vulnerable households in various districts in Punjab.
World Bank Country Director for Pakistan Illango Patchamuthu said that “investing at the start of life, especially for girls and women, is essential to empower citizens to thrive.”
He further added, “the project would help the Punjab province to invest in early years now to create a productive workforce for the future. The project is also aimed at increasing the quality and uptake of health services, including maternal care, immunisation and childbirths attended to be qualified professionals, reaching up to 18 million people.
It will provide early childhood education and skills training for young parents and will improve systems to more efficiently manage economic and social inclusion programmes.”
The recent Human Capital Index (HCI) has highlighted that an average girl born in Pakistan will have realized only 40% of her overall human capital potential by the time she turns 18.
Pakistan’s high stunting rate among children under five and poor educational and learning outcomes also highlights the challenging human capital outcomes.
Pakistan ranks 76th out of 100 countries on the inclusive internet index 2020 released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), reported DAWN.
The ‘Inclusive Internet Index’ place countries on the availability, affordability, relevance and the readiness of masses to use it. This annual report is generated by Facebook.
This report covered 100 countries, which includes 91 per cent of the world’s population and 96pc of global GDP.
On a benchmark of one (best) to 100 (worst), Pakistan stood at the 76th place out of the total countries surveyed. Apart from the global index, Pakistan ranks 24th out of 26 Asian countries.
The fundamental reasons for this ranking are gender gaps, low levels of digital literacy and relatively poor network quality, according to the EIU report.
In terms of availability — a category that examines the quality and breadth of available infrastructure required for access and levels of internet usage — Pakistan ranked 86th out of 100.
The country fared relatively better on affordability (57th) that is described as the cost of access relative to income and the level of competition in the internet marketplace.
In terms of readiness — measured on the basis of access to the internet, including skills, cultural acceptance, and supporting policy — the country ranked 64th. Finally, Pakistan stood 71st on relevance, which is the existence and extent of local language content and relevant content.
Looking at South Asia, Pakistan ranked the lowest, Bangladesh at 70th, Sri Lanka at 56 and India on the 46th spot.
The first country ranked in this year’s index is Sweden, followed by New Zealand and the United States. Australia and Denmark both ranked fourth, followed by South Korea, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Spain.
Among the global worst are Burandi at 100th, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi and Burkina Faso.
Tens of thousands of Uyghur Muslims, who face persecution in neighbouring China, have been transferred out of the country’s western Xinjiang province and delivered as workers to major factories as part of a government scheme, a report by The Independent has claimed while citing the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI).
As per the details, the Australian think tank has identified 83 global brands, including Apple, Nike, Samsung and Sony among others whose supply chains in China are employing Uyghur Muslims in conditions that could amount to forced labour.
China has been accused of detaining more than a million Uyghurs in Xinjiang as part of what it calls a campaign to tackle Islamic extremism. It initially denied this, before recently saying that all those in the “vocational centres” had “graduated” and been given jobs.
The ASPI report, based on analysis of government documents and local media reports, said the Uyghurs continued to live “a harsh and segregated life” once they entered the workforce of major factories.
More than 80,000 Uyghurs had been transferred far from their homes to work in at least 27 factories across nine provinces, it said.
There, the workers continued to be subject to surveillance, banned from practising their religion, forced to take part in mandarin language classes and restricted in their travel back to Xinjiang.
“Under conditions that strongly suggest forced labour, Uyghurs are working in factories that are in the supply chains of at least 83 well-known global brands in the technology, clothing and automotive sectors, including Apple, BMW, Gap, Huawei, Nike, Samsung, Sony and Volkswagen,” the think-tank said in the introduction to its report.
While ASPI describes itself as an independent think-tank whose core aim is to provide insight for the Australian government on matters of defence, security and strategic policy, the Chinese government has denied violating the rights of its workers, describing the report as “following along with the United States’ (US) anti-China forces that try to smear China’s anti-terrorism measures in Xinjiang”.
Khalil ur Rehman Qamar, who is rather infamous for his misogynist views both on and off the screen, has stirred a storm once again after he launched into verbal vitriol against journalist and rights activist Marvi Sirmed on live television.
The incident sparked widespread debate on social media and TV channels, following which journalist Mansoor Ali Khan invited Qamar to his show to discuss the matter and understand why Qamar did what he did.
Qamar was extremely unapologetic about abusing a woman on live television iterating that she started it. When the anchor probed him further, Qamar lashed out on him and the two exchanged heated words on the matter. However, the anchor managed to settle the matter before inviting his other two guests – Resham and Dr Aamir Liaquat – to the show.
Resham, who was initially part of Qamar’s directorial Kaaf Kangana but later opted out of the movie, said that Qamar is a big name in the country, remarking that he has been blessed with a lot of respect and love, an honour most writers usually don’t get.
Referencing to Qamar recent superhit drama Meray Paas Tum Ho, Resham continued, “Main kehti hoon keh yeh do takay ki aurat ka dialogue likhnay wala Khalil ur Rehman Qamar aaj khud aaj eik takay ka bhi nahi raha (I will say that the Khalil ur Rehman Qamar who wrote the infamous ‘do takay’ dialogue, is not worth a taka today).”
Resham further said that she, as a woman, was a big fan of the writer’s work and like other women, would make her family watch his dramas. She said that Qamar because of his actions has turned all those women against him. She reminded him that he has only been given respect and love by his fans, but people die to work with him. However, he lost all that respect with his actions.
The actor also appealed to PEMRA take notice of Qamar’s comments and take action against him.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9UwXJ7hzJY/
Meanwhile, Dr Aamir Liaquat said that Qamar needs medical treatment and should be kept in an isolation ward because he does not know how to interact with people. Dr Liaquat’s comments elicited a peal of laughter from Resham. Dr Liaquat further added that everyone’s opinion needs to be heard and that no one has the right to abuse others.
Qamar on Tuesday had appeared on a talk show to discuss the aftermath of a petition against the forthcoming Aurat March being trashed by the Lahore High Court (LHC). The petition calling the march “un-Islamic” with a ” hidden agenda to spread vulgarity” was wrapped up by the court that said it couldn’t be banned under the law of the land.
Qamar appeared to have a problem with the slogan, ‘Mera jism, meri marzi‘ and was commenting on it when Marvi murmured the same. This irked Qamar who started abusing her.
While some say the slogan ‘mera jism, meri marzi’ is “vulgar” and is used by women marchers in “an attempt to westernise the Pakistani society”, the marchers themselves say it pertains to “the right of choice and that to safety of women and even minor girls who are subjected to sexual assault in this very society”.
With Lahore Qalandars failing to gain winning momentum after being crushed by 71 runs in the match against twice champions Islamabad United, the latter have poked fun at the former for losing their fourth match out of the total five they have played so far.
“Naraz ho? @lahoreqalandars,” tweeted Islamabad as Lahore struggled to chase a huge target of 199 runs. The Qalandars were all out for 127 in 18.5 overs.
Earlier, only four of Lahore Qalandars’ batsmen could get into double figures — Usman Shinwari (30), Ben Dunk (25), Salman Butt (21) and Mohammad Hafeez (10).
For Islamabad, left-arm paceman Rumman Raees and left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar claimed three wickets each for 29 and 31, respectively, while skipper Shadab Khan took two wickets.
United had plundered a big score of 197 for the loss of only three wickets after being put to bat. Luke Ronchi and Colin Munro provided a fine start with an opening wicket stand of 103 runs.
Colin Munro top-scored with an unbeaten 87 — eight fours and three sixes during his 59-ball innings –, which contributed to Islamabad’s third victory in six matches of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has issued a show-cause notice to Neo News following the fiasco that took place on the show Ayesha Ehtesham Kay Sath, where Marvi Sirmed and Khalil ur Rehman Qamar were guests.
The authority sent the notice for the language for the use of ‘vulgar’ language on the show. The notice was issued after famed writer Qamar and social activist Marvi Sirmed were involved in a verbal spat during the show.
Qamar’s use of abusive comments against Sirmed stirred a debate on social media with artists, journalists and politicians condemning the incident and calling for a boycott of Qamar.
Following the incident, Executive Director of the channel Nasrullah Malik and the host of the show Ayesha Ehtesham both have apologised but people are calling for stricter action to be taken.
@marvisirmed Please accept my sincere apology on the incident which happened today on our screen. Being Head of NEO NEWS I am extremely sorry for that and strict action will be taken. We condemn the behaviour of Khalil Qamar. Nasrullah Malik Executive Director NEO NEWS
Meanwhile, acclaimed actor Resham also appeared on a show in which she appealed to PEMRA to not only take action against the channel and the host but also against Khalil ur Rehman Qamar.
