In his inaugural address at the Scout Auditorium, the newly appointed Chief of Metropolitan Traffic Police, DIG Ahmed Nawaz Cheema, stressed the importance of fostering a positive relationship with the public among traffic officials.
Under his directive, traffic officers are prohibited from issuing challans between 5pm and Iftar, with the aim of ensuring smooth traffic flow to facilitate citizens’ journey home.
Instead of immediately penalising families for traffic violations, Cheema advocates for a more lenient approach, urging officers to issue warnings in such cases. He stressed the gravity of one-way violations, highlighting their potential to cause accidents and disrupt traffic flow, and highlighted the need for strict enforcement.
Furthermore, Cheema underscored that any misconduct or confrontation by officers will result in disciplinary action. Challan officers are instructed to only issue fines for moving violations, while addressing the issue of obstructive parking by cars, rickshaws, and motorcycles.
According to Express News, to enhance accountability and transparency, officers are required to wear body-worn cameras during challan issuance. Additionally, Cheema has mandated unity among officers and officials.
Among other directives, strict adherence to the fast lane on Shahrah-e-Faisal and the utilisation of designated bike lanes by motorcyclists are enforced. Moreover, the removal of illegally parked six and nine-seater rickshaws has been ordered.
Cheema has instructed all sections to prominently display timing boards for vehicle lifting in their respective areas, with vehicles only to be towed in cases of double or illegal parking.
An Anti-Terrorism Court on Monday has granted post-arrest bail to three suspects allegedly involved in the harassment of a woman in Ichra market for wearing a shirt with Arabic script printed on it, reports Dawn.
The suspects, identified as Muhammad Nadeem, Adil Sarwar, and Altimash Saqlain, were arrested and sent to jail on judicial remand after the court denied further custody to the police on March 19.
The lawyers for the suspects argued in the court that the police arrested their clients without any evidence, and only under pressure to show performance to the government.
Judge Arshad Javed allowed bail petitions of the suspects subject to furnishing surety bonds of Rs100,000 each.
The judge also disposed of pre-arrest bail petitions of two other suspects — Maulana Aleemuddin Shakir and Khalid Shehansha — as withdrawn in the light of a discharge report submitted by the police.
In the FIR lodged a week after the incident it was stated that dozens of people accused a woman of blasphemy in Ichra bazaar as they confused the Arabic text printed on her shirt with Quranic verses. The mob threatened to kill the woman. A police team led by ASP Sheharbano Naqvi rescued the woman and shifted her to a police station.
The UN Security Council for the first time on Monday demanded a ceasefire in Gaza, with the United States, Israel’s ally which has vetoed previous bids, abstaining.
The resolution, which demands an “immediate ceasefire” for the ongoing holy month of Ramzan that leads to a “lasting” truce, went through, with all other 14 Security Council members voting “yes”.
France demands a “permanent ceasefire”, urging work on a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
“This crisis is not over. Our council will have to remain mobilized and immediately get back to work. After Ramadan, which ends in two weeks, it will have to establish a permanent ceasefire,” said France’s UN representative, Nicolas de Riviere.
What does abstention for the US means?
The US abstention from a vote on a UN Security Council resolution demanding a Gaza ceasefire does not signal a change in Washington’s policy, the White House said Monday.
It does not represent a “shift in our policy,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told journalists, saying the US backs a ceasefire but abstained because the resolution did not condemn Hamas.
The United States said that a ceasefire voted for Monday by the United Nations can “only” be implemented once Hamas begins releasing hostages it still holds.
“A ceasefire can begin immediately with the release of the first hostage,” Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN, said after the United States, which vetoed previous drafts, abstained in the UN Security Council vote. “This is the only path to securing a ceasefire.”
Israel’s response to US abstention
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office that the US abstention on a UN Security Council Gaza ceasefire call hurt Israel’s fight against Hamas and the effort to release hostages.
“It gives Hamas hope that international pressure will allow them to accept a ceasefire without the release of our abductees,” Netanyahu said, cancelling the departure of a delegation set to leave for consultations in Washington.
Four women, detained for allegedly stealing jewellery belonging to PML-N’s Member of Punjab Assembly Uzma Kardar, have accused police of physical torture and stripping them in the presence of the MPA during the investigation process.
The jewellery theft case was registered at the Model Town police station. However, the suspects, who are employees of a private housing society club have denied the allegations.
The MPA suspected that two instructors and two club employees were involved in the theft. It was stated in the FIR that after attending the assembly session, she had gone to the club for swimming. She put the jewellery in her purse, which was kept in the club’s locker. Upon her return, she found out that jewellery worth Rs4-5 lakh had been stolen.
SP Model Town told The News that four female employees of the club were detained after registration of the theft case. They were released after Uzma Kardar’s husband was taken into confidence on the matter. He said the club management also vouched for them and declared them innocent. He said the matter was still under investigation with the help of club’s surveillance cameras and management’s statements.
MPA Uzma Kardar has called it “completely fabricated lies just to cover up systematic theft”. She emphasised that the women were investigated in front of her and were not detained for the night.
Dr Mehboob Ahmed, Assistant Professor of the English Department in Government College University, Lahore, has been suspended till an inquiry into the allegations of harassment against him are completed.
In a notification issued by the Vice Chancellor of Government College University, it has been said that till the investigation of the incident, Assistant Professor Dr. Mehboob will only be able to come to the college in connection with his case. “The Vice Chancellor has directed Dr Mehboob is suspended till the outcome of the probe is unveiled. He is directed to visit the campus only when he is officially invited to attend the proceedings of the probe,” the notification stated.
All the staff of the university, including the faculty and the director of the English department, have been barred from issuing any statement about the incident.
Vice Chancellor GCU says that they are worried about the incident that happened in the English department on March 19 and that the harassment will not be tolerated under any circumstance.
In a video that emerged on March 20 shows the professor being beaten up by a former student in front of university staff and some students. Consequently, many students took to social media complaining to have witnessed the perverse attitude and demanding an investigation into the matter.
Global superstars Penelope Cruz and Angelina Jolie are raising their voice for the starving people of Gaza.
Cruz, the Spanish actress famous for Vanilla Sky, shared a United Nations Instagram post about the imminent famine in Gaza and how people in the besieged strip are starving to death.
A longer Eid holiday this year across Pakistan may just be on the cards. As per meteorological forecasts, Eid-ul-Fitr is expected to fall on Wednesday, April 10th..
Ramadan is set to comprise 29 days, as per the predictions of the Meteorological Department. Consequently, the celebration of Eid is expected on April 10th, leading possibly to six holidays.
Traditionally, Eid holidays start a day earlier to the actual celebration, allowing for a period of preparation and festivity. In light of Eid falling on a Wednesday, the government has announced a four-day holiday, extending from Tuesday till Friday. Adding the ensuing weekend, it will turn out to be a six-day long break.
A video of a professor being beaten by a student is doing the rounds on both mainstream and social media and has invited a myriad of views and interpretations. The details around the incident are more appalling than disconcerting, including allegations that the alleged harasser Dr Mehboob is being backed by the administration, more so by the Head of the Department, Dr Sajjad Ali Khan.
The video that went viral on March 20 featured a woman throwing hard-bound thesis books, among other things, at the professor who is trying to avoid them. Other girls in the office can be heard expressing their shock. The victim, who was later identified as Zaliha Javaid, remained unfazed, hurling abuses towards him while pulling his hair.
University records laid out that Zaliha is an alumni-a graduate of the Biotechnology Department back in 2016. Owing to the standard education policy, in the first two years of the four-year programme, all the students have to study four courses of Compulsory English throughout the degree. This connects the dots. Many publications painted it as a case of on-campus harassment but it is evident that she was a former student.
As the video came out, many ex-students start posting about his problematic behaviour. Mariam Naqvi on Twitter posted a screenshot of a student who recalled incidents quoted by some seniors about the manipulative behaviour of Dr Mehboob and how he “promised marriage and sought sexual favours from students and then abandoned them saying his family did not agree.” Marium shared that, “being a student of this person I know.” She shared how people like him exploit young students using their power.
Shireen aka BadmaashKhatoon posted in a story on Instagram the allegation that the professor has been a harasser from the beginning and many from the literature department and the debating society knew that. “It took a woman to ruin her life to expose his vile behaviour,” she stated.
An audio clip of another former female student is also making rounds accusing that “a network of harassers” has been operating inside the university which force students to get involved in explicit activities.
Students talked to The Current on the condition of anonymity, sharing how the professor lacked decency and was rude with them. “He does not even know how to talk properly. He fail students in bulk and exploits them. He is the reason our degrees are getting delayed,” a female student elaborated.
Former lecturer at the English Department and currently a news anchor Saad ul Hassan related, “Individuals like Mehboob Ahmed…exploit university grading systems to bolster their perceived power and proceed to harass and abuse students, causing severe mental, physical and emotional harm.”
Saad went on to allege that this is because of facilitators like Dr Sajjad, the Head of the English Department, that harassers like Mehboob Ahmed abuse students without fear of repercussions. Dr Sajjad will use his leverage “to influence students into providing statements in support of Mehboob,” according to Saad.
HOD Dr Sajjad’s statement refers to Zaliha as “the assailant” who was “accompanied by an accomplice”. In his message to his colleagues he laid out the timing of the incident and how Dr. Mehboob was subjected to a harrowing attack. He implored the faculty to join him ‘in support and solidarity to Dr Mehboob”.
The statement by the university director also lays out how violent Zaliha was. It is important to mention that he avoids taking the name of the professor but appreciates him for his professionalism. He further stated that an investigation has started.
The partiality hinted clearly in the statements coming out from inside the university raise questions and has been widely criticised.
Former student and students’ rights activist, Haider Butt from the platform of Progressive Student’s Collective wrote that, “We call for a fair investigation into the matter. The investigation should be conducted by an independent committee.”
Mohiba Ahmed, a former graduate and a prominent women’s rights activist, posted on X, “It is unfortunate to witness an important issue of sexual harassment at Government College University Lahore being reduced to dirty university politics.” She recounted how Mehboob Ahmed was notorious for his sexual exploits. “Yet he was never held accountable for his actions,” she lamented. She held HOD Dr Sajjad complicit and stressed that “he should not be allowed near this investigation.”
The investigation into the matter is the key yet the efficacy makes it questionable as the statement from Progressive Students Collective Lahore explains that, “the student body of GCU Lahore has been dealing with the administration’s ineffective anti-harassment committees and the biased result of such committees.”
Reinstating professors allegedly involved in harassment
The bottom line is this dilemma which promotes the predatory behaviour rampant in the educational institutions. In 2018 a student from the batch of 2017-2021 took up the case of a professor from the history department, Saeed Butt, who was accused of passing innuendos and sexual harassment. It took months for the investigation to start, only when the new Vice Chancellor took charge. After a number of students presented their testimonies, the result was not favourable as the professor continued working meanwhile, and even though expelled afterwards, he has resumed working with the change of the administration. This is one example. Lecturer Javaid Bajwa from Physical Education Deaprtment ousted for the allegations of sexual harassment is reinstated as well. It is a proof that the university is at their side.
This one individual has exposed more than what was already out: harassment, manipulation of students, department politics and how the university administration plays party to this perverse behaviour by not condemning the action and the doer.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has announced 100 million rupees aid for the Palestinians.
Finance Advisor Muzzamil Aslam says that the KP government is following the footsteps of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf’s founder, Imran Khan and because of his principles, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has announced a donation for Palestine in this difficult time.
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif has said, “This money will be used to buy basic necessities for the Palestinians in Gaza.”
He also added, “The KP government stands with the oppressed people of Gaza in this difficult time and urges the international community to play its role in helping and supporting the Palestinians. Pakistan is one of the prominent countries that has not recognized Israel till date. We support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state whose capital is Bait ul Muqqadas.”
The number of martyred Palestinians has exceeded 32,000 and more than 74,000 have been injured in Israeli attacks in Gaza.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have released a statement after Princess of Wales Kate Middleton announced she is receiving treatment for cancer.
“We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace,” the warring couple said in a statement.
Both the couples were last seen together for a surprise walkabout in Windsor following the death of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022.
Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on the long Walk at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022. KIRSTY O’CONNOR/POOL/AFP VIA GETTY
Before the Princess of Wales shared the latest news about her health, PEOPLE was told by a family source that Prince Harry and Meghan were in the dark about Kate’s abdominal surgery and recovery.
“They are aware of everything that goes on back in England, but are being left out of any details regarding Kate,” the source told PEOPLE. “There is clearly no trust.”
In a video, Kate requested “privacy and space” as she and Prince William are trying to make it through this “tough time.”
“This of course came as a huge shock and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family,” she said.
