Princess Shaikha Mahra of Dubai announced her divorce from Sheikh Mana on Instagram. The couple had a daughter just two months ago. Shaikha Mahra (Princess) posted a picture with the caption, “Dear Husband, As you are occupied with other companions, I hereby declare our divorce. I divorce you, I divorce you, and I Divorce You. Take care. Your ex-wife.”
Social media response to her announcement was divided; some praised her choice, others believed it should remain secret. The princess is the daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai.
Sheikh Mana and Princess Shaikha Mahra tied the knot on May 28, 2023. The princess has unfollowed her ex-husband on Instagram and deleted some of their shared photos.
Bangladesh ordered schools across the country on Tuesday to close indefinitely after six students were killed as protests over quotas for coveted government jobs turned into deadly clashes, prompting the mobilisation of paramilitaries to keep order.
Following escalating demonstrations against civil service hiring policies, every high school, Islamic seminary, and vocational education institute in the country was told to remain shut until further notice.
Tuesday saw a significant escalation in violence as protesters and pro-government student groups attacked each other with hurled bricks and bamboo rods, and police dispersed rallies with tear gas and rubber bullets. Demonstrators mobilised in cities, defying earlier calls by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Supreme Court to return to class.
Three died in Chittagong and had signs of “bullet injuries”, hospital director Mohammad Taslimuddin said, adding that another 35 had been injured during clashes in the port city.
Border security force deployed in Dhaka, Chittagong and three other cities as protesting students demand end to job quota system
Another two died in Dhaka, where rival student groups threw bricks at each other and blocked roads in several key locations that ground traffic to a halt in the megacity of 20 million.
Police inspector Bacchu Mia confirmed the deaths to AFP, saying one had succumbed to head injuries, while at least 60 people were also injured.
In the northern city of Rangpur, police commissioner Mohammad Moniruzzaman said a student had been killed in clashes there. He did not give details as to how the student died, but said police had fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse protesters.
Rangpur Medical College hospital director Yunus Ali said the “student was brought dead to the hospital by other students”.
Tauhidul Haque Siam from Rokeya University told AFP that ruling party supporters had attacked anti-quota protesters, while police fired rubber pellets from shotguns. “Police opened fire from their shotguns on the protesters,” Siam said, adding he had been injured.
He said the dead student had been “killed in the firing”. But it was not possible to independently verify his account.
As the day wore on and with some key highways around the country blocked by the protesters, authorities deployed the paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) force in five major cities, including Dhaka and Chittagong.
They had been tasked with controlling “the law and order situation in view of the quota protests”, a BGB spokesman said.
‘Violence against peaceful protesters’
Tuesday clashes came a day after confrontations between anti-quota demonstrators and members of the ruling Awami League’s student wing that left over 400 people injured in Dhaka.
“We are not here to do violence,” said a protester in Dhaka who declined to give their name for fear of reprisal. “We simply want our rights. But the ruling party goons are attacking our peaceful protests.”
Near-daily marches this month have demanded an end to a quota system that reserves more than half of civil service posts for specific groups.
Critics say the scheme benefits children of pro-government groups that back PM Hasina, 76, who won her fourth consecutive election in January after a vote “without genuine opposition”.
Amnesty International afterwards urged Bangladesh to “immediately guarantee the safety of all peaceful protesters”.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller also denounced the “violence against peaceful protesters”, prompting a rebuke from Bangladesh’s foreign ministry.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to provide free solar systems to one lakh families across the province.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has instructed officials to provide solar systems to impoverished families experiencing load shedding in the province. Under this initiative, each eligible family in Pakhtunkhwa will receive a 2 KV solar system.
These include solar panels, inverters, wiring equipment, bulbs, and fans.
Faisalabad’s Chak Jhumra police on Monday arrested a so-called faith healer who allegedly raped the 16-year-old daughter of his disciple. The girl was reportedly working at his residence.
A city police spokesperson said a police team arrested the suspect in a raid on a place in Faisalabad where he was hiding.
Police say that the girl, the daughter of a follower of the suspect, was left at his house to work as a house-help.
The victim told the police that the suspect had been raping her for the last four months.
Her medical examination also revealed that she was pregnant.
Dawn reports that Punjab Women Protection Authority (PWPA) chairperson Hina Pervez Butt visited the survivor on behalf of the chief minister.
The Sindh Food Authority (SFA) has ordered a private company to immediately withdraw 11 packaged snacks from the market after a laboratory test declared them “unfit” for human consumption.
“— Slanty Vegetable, Snackers Hot Masala, Snackers Pizza, Twitch Classic, Potato Sticks, Cheese Ball Masala, Cheese Balls Cheese, Kai Korean Hot, Kai Spicy Mala, Kai Mala Wok and Kai Korean Kimchi have been found by examination not fit for human consumption,” told SFA Director General Muzamil Hussain Halepoto to Imtiaz Ali from Dawn.
Mr Halepoto directed the management of the said company to withdraw the products from the market within three days.
He asserted that after the deadline, legal action would be taken against the company.
He said around two and a half months ago, the said company had submitted 24 products for registration. The SFA had submitted its samples to the Food Testing Laboratory established at the Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Karachi, which had declared 11 of them unfit for human consumption.
The products were submitted for testing on March 6.
“It was found by examination of the test reports dated April 19 that the products did not meet the minimum required safety and quality standards and, therefore, were not fit for human consumption and pose a potentially significant health hazard to the public and it is also a serious violation of the law and regulations,” said the letter addressed to the private firm on Monday.
The SFA chief has issued an order for “initiating full food recall” against the products.
The DG’s order also provides a ‘remedy’ to the accused person /company. “If it feels aggrieved by such order, (the company/person) may pursue appropriate remedy i.e. appeal under relevant law of the said Act to the SFA Board within a period of one week,” says the letter.
Halepoto called for other provincial food authorities to look into the issue in their respective jurisdiction for the safety of public health.
Ashura Muharram processions are being held nationwide today to commemorate the great sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and Karbala martyrs.
On the day of Hazrat Hussain’s (RA) martyrdom in Karbala by the Yazidi army, funeral gatherings are being organised in various cities, and processions are being conducted.
Stringent security arrangements have been implemented across the country, with mobile phone services also shut down in many cities.
Karachi:
The main procession of 10th Muharram started from Nishtar Park in Karachi and is proceeding along its traditional route, passing through MA Jinnah Road, Tibet Center, and concluding at Hussainia Iranian Kharadar.
Mobile phone services are disrupted in several areas of the city today, and there is a prohibition on double riding of motorcycles, display of weapons, use of helicams, and flying drones in the city.
Lahore:
The main Ashura Day procession in Lahore commenced from Nisar Haveli within Mochi Gate and will culminate at Karbala Game Shah this evening.
Mobile phone services will remain suspended today only in procession and assembly areas throughout Punjab.
Peshawar:
Twelve processions have been initiated from different Imam Bargahs in Peshawar, with the first procession commencing from Imam Bargah Syed Ali Shah Rizvi.
Security for the processions involves 14,000 deployed police officers, bomb disposal units clearing procession routes, and closure of cellular and mobile phone services along all procession routes.
Quetta:
In Quetta, mobile phone services are suspended, and double riding of motorcycles is prohibited. The main procession will follow designated routes and conclude at Imam Bargah Hazara Nasirabad before Maghrib prayer.
Islamabad:
The main Ashura Day procession in Islamabad began from Imambargah Colonel Maqbool and will conclude at Imambargah Al-Padiq following designated routes.
In Rawalpindi, the Ashura Day procession started from Imambargah Ashiq Hussain Teli Mohalla, with partial suspension of mobile phone services in surrounding areas.
Mobile phone and internet services have been shut down in Muzaffarabad on Ashura Day.
An owner of a loader rickshaw cut off a buffalo’s tongue for eating fodder from his rickshaw, reports Geo.
The incident took place on July 15 in a village near Shahpur City. The culprit has been identified as Bilal.
As per the details shared by the police, Bilal was putting fodder in his loader rickshaw when a buffalo started eating it. He got enraged and cut its tongue off. A case has been registered against the suspect at the request of the buffalo owner. Bilal has been arrested. Meanwhile, DPO Sargodha has ordered an investigation and sought a report.
The Livestock Department also conducted a medical examination of the buffalo, which confirmed that its tongue had been bitten.
During the month of Muharram, people from Shia communities worldwide find solace and a deep spiritual connection by listening to nohas, emotional elegies that pay tribute to the sacrifice of Imam Hussain (A.S) at Karbala. Recited by noha khawans, who convey the sorrow, bravery, and resilience of Imam Hussain’s story, Nohas resonating deeply with the audience and providing comfort and inspiration.
Nadeem Sarwar, Ya Hussain (A.S)
This noha is renowned for its lyrics and emotional rendition by Nadeem Sarwar, invoking the spirit of Imam Hussain (A.S).
Farhan Ali Waris , Ayyam e Hussain (A.S)
Farhan Ali Waris is known for his soulful voice and deep connection to the tragedy of Karbala, reflected in this touching noha.
Mir Hasan Mir ,Ya Ali (A.S)
Mir Hasan Mir’s rendition of Ya Ali is highly respected for its lyrical depth and devotion to Imam Ali (A.S), resonating strongly with listeners.
Shadman Raza, Abbas (A.S) Shadman Raza’s tribute to Hazrat Abbas (A.S) captures the bravery and sacrifice of Imam Hussain’s (A.S.) loyal companion in a poignant manner.
Ali Shanawar, Zainab (S.A) Ali Shanawar’s noha Zainab honors the courage and resilience of Hazrat Zainab (S.A), depicting her pivotal role after the tragedy of Karbala.
Punjab government has decided that cellphone services would remain partially suspended on the 9th and 10th of Muharram in different parts of the province.
The spokesperson for the Punjab Home Department says cellular services would be suspended only in the surrounding areas of processions and Majalis. “Mobile services will be partially suspended in Gujranwala, Narowal, Toba Tek Singh, Bhakkar, Mandi Bahauddin, Wazirabad, Rajanpur, Faisalabad, Bahawalnagar, Hafizabad, Gujrat, DG Khan and Jhang.”
However, the spokesperson clarified that cellular services will not be completely suspended in any city of the province.
In a bid to ensure safety of the citizens, the partial suspension of mobile signals will continue from 8am till 10pm during the 9th and 10th of Muharram, he added.
The spokesperson informed that cellular network services will be suspended at 28 locations in Rawalpindi, 15 locations in Rahim Yar Khan, 11 locations in Mianwali and Bahawalpur.
Meanwhile, the services will remain suspended at 10 places in Layyah, seven places in Muzaffargarh and six places in Nankana Sahib.
The cellular service would remain active in Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Sargodha, Khushab, Sialkot, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Vehari, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Okara and Chiniot, the official statement asserted.
“The Royal Oman Police have responded to a shooting incident that occurred in the vicinity of a mosque in the Al-Wadi Al-Kabir area,” police said in a statement.
The force gave an initial toll of four killed and “several others” wounded at the mosque in eastern Muscat.
Such an attack is rare in the Sultanate, which has regularly played the role of mediator in regional conflicts.
The United States embassy in Muscat issued a security alert following the shooting and cancelled all visa appointments Tuesday.
“US citizens should remain vigilant, monitor local news and heed directions of local authorities,” the embassy wrote on social media platform X.
Footage verified by AFP shows people fleeing near Imam Ali Mosque, its minaret visible, as gunshots ring out.
A voice can be heard saying “oh God” and repeating “oh Hussein”, referring to the imam who Shiites view as the rightful successor to the Prophet Mohammed.
Shiites this week mark Ashura, an annual day of mourning that commemorates the 7th-century battlefield martyrdom of Hussein.
Police said that “all necessary security measures and procedures have been taken to handle the situation” in their statement.
“The authorities are continuing to gather evidence and conduct investigations to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident,” the force said on X.
