Roshan Bibi, a 28-year-old woman from Ghazar, saved her husband and children in a firing incident on a bus in Chilas.
On December 2, when terrorists fired at a bus in Chilas, Roshan Bibi laid her one-and-a-half-year-old son, four-year-old daughter and husband on the floor of the bus and she herself lied down on top of them to protect them. Six shots were fired.
Roshan Bibi along with her husband Syed Ahmad Shah and two children were travelling to Karachi at the time.
In the tragic incident of firing on the bus, nine people were killed and 26 people were injured.
Roshan Bibi was injured and shifted to Gilgit, where three bullets were removed from her body during an operation while three are still reportedly in her body, which are yet to be removed.
Roshan Bibi has been transferred to a private hospital in Karachi.
Justice Shahid Karim on Friday ordered local authorities to fine late-night restaurants a whopping 50,000 rupees. The Lahore High Court (LHC) has imposed a fine on restaurants and cafés violating the time bar imposed on eateries to curb smog. Last month the court ordered the government to close restaurants, particularly in the Johar Town area, by 10 pm as a measure to tackle smog, Arshad Ali reported on Samaa News.
The court also directed the government to take immediate action against those running cafes without permission. In addition to that, the court sought a reply from the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) about the final date for the completion of city underpasses till the next hearing.
“If the underpasses are allowed to be renovated even during the day, then how many days will it take to consult on this and give a date of completing the decoration of the underpasses,” the judge remarked.
The court also sought a report on green projects from the Central Business District (CBD).
“Has Central Business District (CBD) launched any green projects,” the court inquired. “They are erecting high-rise buildings, but who will start the green project,” the court further inquired. Judicial Water Commission said that CBD had said that they would start the green project. The court issued stay orders against the launch of the new CBD project on Walton Road. The court sought a report from the CBD on the next hearing on Monday.
Denmark’s Parliament on Thursday passed a law widely known as the Quran Law, banning the “inappropriate treatment” of religious texts. Offenders now face a fine or up to two years in jail after a vote followed a five-hour debate in parliament and 94 members voted in favour, 77 against.
During Thursday’s heated debate in Denmark’s 179-strong parliament, The Folketing, many opposition MPs argued against the bill but the country’s center-right coalition government of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen argued that criticising religion would remain legal, as the bill would only have a marginal impact.
It follows a series of burnings of Islam’s holy book that led to uproar in Muslim countries.
Denmark and neighbouring Sweden have recently seen several street protests over such incidents, raising security concerns in Scandinavia.
Palestinian poet, writer, literature professor, and activist Dr. Refaat Alareer was killed in an Israeli airstrike, announced on Thursday evening.
“My heart is broken, my friend and colleague Refaat Alareer was killed with his family a few minutes ago,” wrote his friend, the Gazan poet, Mosab Abu Toha.
Breaking, my heart is broken, my friend & colleague Refaat AlAreer was killed with his family minutes ago. Refaat is a university professor & writer & editor. I don’t want to believe this. We both loved to pick strawberries together. I took this photo of him this summer. pic.twitter.com/8OoZ7lN0Lq
The Israeli airstrike also killed his brother, his sister, and four of her children. He is now survived by his wife, Nusayba, and their children.
Dr. Alareer was one of the leading contemporary authors in Gaza who settled on writing in English to tell stories of the besieged strip. He was one of the most prominent voices conveying details of the atrocities Israel is committing to global audiences.
He had been working as a professor of literature and creative writing at the Islamic University of Gaza since 2007.
His other contributions included co-editing Gaza Unsilenced (2015) and being editor of Gaza Writes Back: Short Stories from Young Writers in Gaza, Palestine (2014).
Dan Sheehan quotes in LitHub that in his contribution to the 2022 collection Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire, titled “Gaza Asks: When Shall this Pass?”, Refaat writes:
“It shall pass, I keep hoping. It shall pass, I keep saying. Sometimes I mean it. Sometimes I don’t. And as Gaza keeps gasping for life, we struggle for it to pass, we have no choice but to fight back and to tell her stories. For Palestine.”
He was also one of the founders of We Are Not Numbers, a nonprofit organisation founded in Gaza following the 2014 Israeli attack and devoted himself to establishing “a new generation of Palestinian writers and thinkers who can bring together a profound change to the Palestinian cause.”
In November, Alareer published a poem on X entitled “If I must die” that was shared tens of thousands of times. It concludes with the words: “If I must die, let it bring hope, let it be a tale.”
Via his X (formerly Twitter) account, “Refaat in Gaza“, Dr. Alareer also openly condemned Israeli atrocities being committed in Gaza and was also vocal against the US who has been supporting Israel in its operations.
Refaat Alareer, Palestinian writer and reporter from Gaza, before he was killed along with his family: “If I get killed by Israeli bombs or my family is harmed, I blame Bari Weiss and her likes.” pic.twitter.com/OZecUDz4y2
“My message to the free people of the world is to move, to pressure, to mobilize and take to the streets…People in Gaza want to be safe, we don’t want to be killed.”
Palestinian academic and activist Refaat Alareer spoke to Democracy Now in Oct. He was killed today by Israel. pic.twitter.com/PdspIK7Bkn
The announcement of Dr. Refaat Alareer’s death evoked a cascade of sorrow and anguish across social media, shared by his friends, colleagues, former students, and followers:
I’ve just learned that Dr. Refaat Alareer, along with several family members, has been murdered in an Israeli airstrike.
I’m in tears and sick to my stomach as I write this.
I had the great honor to spend time with Refaat during my time in Gaza, including harvesting olives with… pic.twitter.com/UYV3ahkQXi
I’ve known Refaat Alareer (@itranslate123) since I was 17. He taught me my first English writing course. More than a teacher, he was a mentor, a friend, and he truly cared about his students beyond the classroom. His passion was the English language, but he didn’t teach it as a… pic.twitter.com/bseUxnCBNo
— Jehad Abusalim جهاد أبو سليم (@JehadAbusalim) December 7, 2023
“Israel is going to kill us anyways. Israel wants us kneeling… So why not fight back and die in dignity?”
Dr Refaat Alareer, one of the most articulate voices from Gaza on social media, was murdered by Israel in an airstrike yesterday. This was him speaking on BBC on Oct 8 https://t.co/q7rrhKJAUf
In his recent interview in October, “There is no way out of Gaza. What should we do… drown? Commit mass suicide? Is this what Israel wants? And we’re not going to do that.. I am an academic, Probably the toughest thing I have at… https://t.co/Ruoilvq3pFpic.twitter.com/Q1QytMiZYx
The federal government has announced the schedule for winter vacations for educational institutes functioning under the administration.
Vacations in federal educational institutes will officially commence from December 25 to December 29. However, Federal Directorate of Education officials said that the institutes will close on December 22, which falls on Friday, and reopen on January 1, 2024, reports Geo.
In Sindh, holidays will start on December 22 and end on December 31.
In Punjab, vacations will start on December 18, 2023, in public and private schools across the province and continue till January 1, 2024.
On the occasion of International Volunteer Day, a Factor VII patient, Aniqa, was made an honorary in-charge for a day in Sargodha city.
Factor VII deficiency is a rare disorder that is born due to lack of protein. Lack of production of factor VII leads to inability to form blood clots that can result in excessive wound bleeding.
As an aspiring police officer, she was given the opportunity to administer the Police Protection Center for the day.
While she was on duty, Aniqa gave a lady constable a two-day leave, met DPO Faisal Kamran along with other office matters, and also expressed her desire to become SHO for a day.
The District Police Officer (DPO) issued an order to depute Anika as an honorary SHO for a day
عالمی رضاکارانہ دن کے موقعہ پر فیکٹر 7 کی مریض بچی کو ایک دن کے لئے انچارج پولیس تحفظ مرکز سرگودھا بنا دیا گیا انیقہ پولیس افسر بننا چاہتی تھی ڈی پی او محمد فیصل کامران نے بچی کی خواہش پر اس کو ایک دن کے لئے اعزازی انچارج پولیس تحفظ مرکز سرگودھا تعینات کیا@MFKpsp@OfficialDPRPPpic.twitter.com/0k6eKWbYoR
Caretaker Punjab government has announced the new fee for the learner’s driving licence, as part of the decisions taken in the 33rd meeting of the provincial cabinet, reports The News.
After the cabinet’s approval, the fee for the learner’s driving licence in Punjab has been increased from Rs60 to Rs1,000.
The cabinet decided that the increase in the licence fee would come into effect from January 1, 2024.
However, citizens of the United States and Pakistani citizens living in the US, Canada and any other foreign country can get a driving licence by paying $100 online, the provincial cabinet’s official press release stated.
Last month, the Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered the authorities to arrest motorists driving without a licence and expressed displeasure over the violation of traffic rules. Justice Ali Zia Bajwa passed the remarks while hearing an appeal filed by the suspect challenging the insertion of Section 302 (premeditated murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Muhammad Bilal Pasha came under the spotlight as a candidate who cleared CSS examination, securing 85th position in the prestigious test having come from a humble background. In an old video that emerged after the result, he was seen standing next to his father against the backdrop of a brick wall, advocating about keeping the field open for those who work hard for it. He credited his father for his hard work.
He then got interviewed by TV Channels to share his struggle of being a son of a mason, yet reaching for the stars.
I still remember the day when he passed his CSS, he were called on the morning show at “Hum News “and I was having breakfast at that time and Bilal’s story was heart touching, a boy that came from lower middle class family. I don’t know where Bilal was posted 1/2#BilalPashapic.twitter.com/8MioaNifeJ
On November 27, the sad news of his demise surfaced online. #BilalPasha is trending on Twitter since the news broke out. He allegedly committed suicide.
Bilal was serving as a Chief Executive Officer in the Bannu Cantonment Board. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Cantt Azmat Khan, Pasha was suffering from mental stress for several days which led to the suicide.
The police said that they found Pasha’s body covered in blood inside his residence where he shot himself. They added that his body has been moved to the District Headquarters Hospital, Bannu, reports Geo.
According to a media report, the police have launched an inquiry into the incident to find out whether Pasha committed suicide or was murdered. They also said that he had a bullet wound in his head.
His funeral prayers were offered in his home district of Khanewal. His father talked to BBC, stating that the last conversation he had with his son was on Saturday in which he told him that he is getting a transfer.
The old man who worked hard to raise his son was crying at the loss. Ahmed Yar told BBC that a week ago his son was telling him about the tiresome job and that he want to either quit or get time off so that he could just sleep and unwind.
Bilal’s father talked about how he was not able to reach him after the last call and that his friend broke the news to him.
Bilal separated from his wife a few months into the marriage about two to three years ago.
He pledged to be a guiding light for those who can not afford to join big academies for CSS preparation in his initial viral video and fulfilled the promise by becoming a mentor for many.
His unfortunate death has diverted people’s attention towards the importance of mental health.
Senior CSP Hamza Shafqaat tweeted about all those who have committed suicide in past years stressing how they are not mere numbers but people dealing with mental health issues.
Following CSS officers committed suicide in last few years .. 2 PAS , 2 PSP , 2 Audit and 1 MLCG. These are not mere numbers; they are not just a few faces #MentalHealthMatters#CSSpic.twitter.com/J0GksR1XQg
Many of his seniors and other colleagues are expressing grief in social media messages. Zoha Malik Sher wrote, “The passing of our colleague, Bilal Pasha, is a moment of grief, not a topic for discussion.”
In this difficult time, let’s prioritize empathy. The passing of our colleague, Bilal Pasha, is a moment of grief, not a topic for discussion. May Allah grant peace to the departed soul, strength to his family, and may we collectively honour his memory with sensitivity
“Politically incorrect, but amusingly ironic is the fact that many of the civil servants putting up hefty, poignant statuses/tweets about this would be really small people in their own offices, doing their best to make it a toxic environment for those working under them.”
They will copy-paste beautiful sentiments about mental health because it is apparently the correct thing to do, without ever stopping to think how their own demeanour and conduct is absolutely vitriolic for those around them. There is no introspection. https://t.co/nyvPBHqHjn
Another officer of 46th Common, Mirza Bilal Hassan tweeted, “I have never met Bilal Pasha and i can never feel the agony he went through. Civil service is rotten to its core and is frequently killing people. It is high time for the young civil servants to speak up and alter the old, rotten, corrupt, and inhumane values of civil service OR WAIT FOR THE NEXT/YOURS DEATH.”
For a person who is Fair , Just, intelligent, and Compassionate, civil service and our society are death beds. Its a Murder by Depression. Depression shoved down his throat by seniors, horrible working culture, continuous helplessness to do right, family and friends, and a mental… pic.twitter.com/mR0m9fTC5i
Bilal’s father and brother have been interviewed by different media outlets where they denied any knowledge of him being depressed. The two have also narrates stories of his hard work and commitment to the job while maintaining humility.
Bilal’s father clearly told Urdu Point that there was no work-related pressure on his son.
Bilal’s eldest brother talked about his last conversation with his sibling and said that he inquired about his son’s studies with Bilal and the latter told him that he is doing fine and will become a CSP in the future.
Many of Pasha’s students are demanding an investigation into his death, expressing dissatisfaction over the declaration of his demise as a suicide. To them, he was a happy-go-lucky person, patriotic and optimistic. There are an ample number of tweets with #JusticeforBilalPasha.
#JusticeForBilalPasha The authorities must thoroughly investigate the incident of his death so as to save the other civil servants and those having so much fame like Mr. Pasha from such a painful end. pic.twitter.com/VlXQKjItew
We demand an immidiate impartial judicial inquiry into this tragic inicident as we have seen biased behavior of @KP_Police1 So an independednt judicial investigation team must be comprised to probe into it and bring out the complete truth and #JusticeForBilalPasha
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, famous for his eccentric statements, spoke at the first National Mothers’ Meeting in 11 years held in Pyongyang, emphasising the importance of mothers in preventing a decline in birth rates. He framed it as a collective responsibility to strengthen national power. Kim got emotional during his speech while women in the audience were seen sobbing as well.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un looked emotional and wiped his eyes at a meeting of mothers, state television showed.
Kim made speeches at the start and end of the event, drawing attention with a call for more births and more children in his socialist state. pic.twitter.com/4YuLjtIdHG
Addressing the women as “Dear Mothers”, he pleaded with them to fulfill their role as birth-givers against the rising concerns of a drop in the North Korean birth rate. “Preventing a decline in birth rates and good childcare are all of our housekeeping duties we need to handle while working with mothers,” Kim was quoted as saying by the news agency Reuters at the event for mothers in Pyongyang on Sunday.
He also thanked mothers for their role in strengthening national power.
“I too always think about mothers when I have a hard time dealing with the party and the state’s work,” Kim said.
Experts highlight the unique societal challenges influencing North Korea’s fertility decline, noting Kim Jong Un’s public appearances with his daughter, Ju Ae, as potential efforts to encourage family values.
His pleas reflect the government’s determination to the cause of counterbalance South Korea’s older population.
The United Nations Population Fund estimates that as of 2023, the fertility rate, or the average number of children being born to a woman, stood at 1.8 in North Korea, amid an extended fall in the rate during recent decades.
The decline in fertility has been attributed to various factors, including urbanisation, delayed marriage, and women’s participation in the workforce. However, North Korea’s birth rate is still higher than most of its neighbours. The fertility rate remains higher than in some of North Korea’s neighbours, which have been grappling with a similar downward trend.
South Korea saw its fertility rate drop to a record low of 0.78 last year, while Japan saw its figure drop to 1.26.
A new report by Reuters reveals that as per estimates, there has been at least a 50 per cent rise in paediatric patients in Lahore hospitals due to respiratory issues caused by poor air quality.
According to provincial health minister Dr. Javed Akram, hospitals are on high alert with extra beds and ventilators on standby for additional emergency cases.
The UN children’s agency highlights that outdoor air pollution across the world contributed to 154,000 deaths of children aged below five in 2019. As for Pakistan, it is one of the top five causes of death among the entire population among whom young children and the elderly are the most vulnerable and severely affected.
“Children are physiologically more vulnerable to air pollution than adults because their brains, lungs and other organs are still developing,” said UNICEF, further explaining that children breathe twice as fast as adults which increases their exposure to the pollutants.
