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  • ‘Why I march’: 90 per cent people hold bias against women, study reveals

    ‘Why I march’: 90 per cent people hold bias against women, study reveals

    Almost 90% of the global population irrespective of gender holds some prejudice against women, indicated a United Nations (UN) study released ahead of International Women’s Day.

    The UN Development Programme studied 75 countries representing 80% of the world’s population and found that nine in 10 people — including women — hold such beliefs.

    The prejudiced views include: that men are better politicians and business leaders than women; that going to university is more important for men than women; and that men should get preferential treatment in competitive job markets.

    The percentage of those holding at least one sexist bias was largest in Pakistan — where 99.81% of people held similar prejudices — followed by Qatar and Nigeria, both at 99.73%.

    Countries with the lowest population of those with sexist beliefs were Andorra, at 27.01%, Sweden with 30.01%, and the Netherlands, 39.75%.

    France, Britain, and the United States each came in with similar scores, 56%, 54.6%, and 57.31% of people, respectively, holding at least one sexist belief.

    The numbers show “new clues to the invisible barriers women face in achieving equality” despite “decades of progress,” the UN Development Programme said in a statement accompanying the report.

    “The work that has been so effective in ensuring an end to gaps in health or education must now evolve to address something far more challenging: a deeply ingrained bias — among both men and women — against genuine equality,” UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner said.

    The agency called on governments and institutions to change discriminatory beliefs and practices through education.

    Beyond inequalities in education, health, and the economy, the statement also called out one of the report’s most chilling findings: 28% of people believe it is okay for a man to beat his wife.

  • PSL to go pink to raise awareness on breast cancer

    PSL to go pink to raise awareness on breast cancer

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to raise awareness on breast cancer during the Pakistan Super League season 5 (PSL 5) in Lahore and Rawalpindi on March 7.

    Pink ambiance will be produced while the bails will also be branded as pink as part of spreading the message by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The match officials, all the players, and commentators will don Pink Ribbons during the match.

    Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators are to play at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, while a match between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United is scheduled at Pindi Stadium on Saturday.

    The digital screens at the Gaddafi stadium and Pindi stadium will air breast cancer awareness messages.

  • Feroze Khan quits showbiz

    Feroze Khan quits showbiz

    Feroze Khan has announced that he is quitting the showbiz industry and “will only act and provide my services for the teaching of Islam.”

    Feroze’s announcement comes weeks after he deactivated his Instagram account and his wife, Syeda Alizey posted a picture in an Instagram story praying for her husband’s spiritual journey giving rise to speculations that the actor was quitting the entertainment industry.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B8Wfh6yhS3X/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Earlier, Hamza Ali Abbasi had said that he was quitting the industry but later said that he hasn’t quit acting but is, in fact, taking a break to focus on his spiritual journey.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Feroze and Hamza performed Hajj together last year along with Atif Aslam.

    Khan started his career as a host and made his TV debut in 2014 with the drama serial Chhup Raho. He made his film debut with Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai in 2016 alongside Sajal Aly. He later played a lead role in the drama serial Khaani which was a big hit propelling him to stardom. The trailer of his upcoming film Tich Button recently dropped and his latest drama Ishqiya is currently on-air.

    On the personal front, Khan is the younger brother of acclaimed actor Humaima Malick. He tied the knot with Syeda Alizey Fatima Raza in 2018 and has a son with her.

  • ‘First individuals to embrace Islam were women,’ says IHC on petition calling Aurat March ‘anti-Islamic’

    ‘First individuals to embrace Islam were women,’ says IHC on petition calling Aurat March ‘anti-Islamic’

    Reserving its verdict on the maintainability of a petition seeking to restrict the Aurat March for being “unlawful, unconstitutional and un-Islamic”, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has questioned the petitioners’ interpretation of slogans they had objected to.

    “The first individuals to embrace Islam were women,” IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah noted as the petitioners’ lawyers told the court that they sought restrictions on the Aurat March — scheduled to take place across the country on March 8 as the world marks Women’s Day — and shared three slogans that women would chant at such an event, Dawn reported.

    The eight petitioners had earlier appealed to the court to regulate activities like the Aurat March “subject to law, norms, decency and public morality in the best interest of justice and to order the respondents to perform their obligatory duties towards the Constitution and the law of land in this regard and restrain unlawful, unconstitutional and un-Islamic activities forthwith”.

    “In our society, various Islamic laws are being seriously violated. The court hopes that the petitioner also approaches it for the enforcement of all these Islamic laws,” remarked Justice Minallah during the hearing today.

    “The women’s slogans are that they be given the rights that Islam grants them. Can we interpret their slogans by ourselves?” the judge questioned.

    “It is important that you see the Aurat March in a positive light. On your own, how can you interpret these slogans?”

    The judge also questioned the petitioners’ counsel on how many women in the country were given the right to an inheritance, alluding to the difficulties they face despite clear Islamic laws in place.

    “Who ended the practice of burying girls alive?” the IHC chief justice inquired, in response to which the petitioners’ lawyer said Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had done so.

    “In our society, the birth of a girl is still not considered good,” he added.

    The petitioners’ lawyers told the court that they completely supported women’s rights, adding that they were not opposed to the march or to the rights of women.

    They pleaded for the court to pass an order that the march is conducted within the ambit of the law, Constitution and Islam.

    Following the statements of the parties in the case today, the IHC reserved its verdict.

  • National Assembly committee thinks slogan ‘Mera Jism, Meri Marzi’ is ‘immoral’

    National Assembly committee thinks slogan ‘Mera Jism, Meri Marzi’ is ‘immoral’

    In a supposed attempt to curb ‘moral indecency’ allegedly linked to the Aurat March, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting urged the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to direct all media channels to stop telecasting slogans like “Mera Jism, Meri Marzi”.

    The NA body held a meeting on Thursday under the chairmanship of Mian Javed Latif of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

    The committee asked the government to check the telecast of indecent and controversial content on television channels with a special reference to the slogans related to the Aurat March annually held on the International Women’s Day. The committee decided to take up the issue with PEMRA and owners of the electronic media houses.

    A lawmaker, Aftab Jahangir, expressed ‘concern’ over the language used by “certain people in news channel programmes” saying it was repugnant to the Islamic teachings, which no person could “watch in the presence of family members”.

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said Islam was the champion of women’s rights, and anything against the religion and socio-cultural values would not be allowed.

    The constitution gives the right of freedom of speech but being the citizens of an Islamic and democratic country “we have some responsibilities and values”.

    “Nobody would be allowed to ridicule the ‘Islamic way’ of life in the name of freedom of speech,” the SAPM stressed.

    Dr Firdous said it was not an issue of the government but that of the entire society. The government, however, was committed to protecting the constitutional, legal, political, social and economic rights of women.

    ‘NO ONE CAN STOP AURAT MARCH’:

    Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that “no maulana, politician or anchorperson can stop women from holding the march”.

    Speaking at a women convention by PPP Punjab in Lahore on Thursday, he said Benazir Bhutto had always fought against terrorism with courage.

    “The people who say that women would not march should hear loud and clear that they will march and no one can stop them. This path was shown by Benazir Bhutto. The PPP is standing shoulder to shoulder with women of this country and we demand the government provide protection to each and every march and the people threatening women be arrested and cases registered against them.”

    He said women were not begging, rather they were seeking their constitutional rights. “This is Pakistan of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Pakistan of every woman the country. This is not a Pakistan for the conservatives.”

    The PPP, Bilawal added, was a party of prosperity for the people of Pakistan. “Women know the best about the economy of the country because they manage homes. Women will take the PPP’s message of prosperity to every nook and corner of this country.”

    The PPP chief further said that his party had always raised voice for women empowerment.

  • Weekend events in your city

    Weekend events in your city

    Lahore

    Women Festival 2020

    Date: March 8, Sunday

    Time: 10 AM – 7 PM

    Venue: Alhamra Arts Council, Mall Road.

    Meet & Greet of Blogger & Vlogger

    Date: March 7, Saturday.

    Time: 10 AM – 10 PM

    Venue: Hyper bazaar, D Block Commercial, Valencia town.

    Qawwali Night

    Date: March 7, Saturday.

    Time: 8 PM – 12 AM

    Venue: Eatino, 8-B1, Phase 1 PGECHS.

    Islamabad

    Bhangra Night

    Date: March 8. Sunday.

    Time: 7 PM – 10:30 PM

    Venue: The Rock Musicarium, Plot9, Lake view Park, Phase 2, Rawal Lake, Promenade.

    Band Baja Wedding Expo 2020

    Date: 7-8 March, (Saturday – Sunday)

    Time: 11 AM – 10 PM

    Venue: Pak-China Friendship CenterPak China Friendship Center, Islamabad.

    Karachi

    Rang Panchmi

    Date: March 7, Saturday.

    Time: 8 PM – 12 AM

    Venue: Redisson BanquetDHA Phase I, adjacent PSO Petrol Pump, near KPT Interchange.

    1st Women Conference

    Date and Time: Mar 6 at 3 PM – Mar 7 at 8 PM

    Venue: Arts Council of Pakistan, M. R Kayani Road, Karachi.

  • Ahmed Ali Butt makes outrageous claims about ‘Mera Jism, Meri Marzi’

    Ahmed Ali Butt makes outrageous claims about ‘Mera Jism, Meri Marzi’

    ‘Mera Jism Meri Marzi‘ has managed to ruffle more feathers than anything else and Ahmed Ali Butt has joined the bandwagon of those who are criticising the slogan without understanding it.

    In a lengthy message posted to social media, Butt said while he has no sympathies for Khalil ur Rehman Qamar or Marvi Sirmed, he has even little sympathy for the “people who exploit the so-called ‘Mera J Mery XYZ’, adding that it is a western campaign. The actor stated that “When it comes to women’s rights, Islam has the most rights and respect for women.”

    Shehzad Roy, Adnan Malik and activist Nayab Gohar Jan have perfectly explained the slogan for those who are still unable to understand the concept behind it.

    Earlier, singer Quratulain Balouch had passed a problematic statement regarding the Aurat March. She later explained her comment after Twitter schooled her for it.

    https://twitter.com/Quratulainb/status/1235637512736870401?s=20

    Read more – QB comes under fire for saying ‘real feminists don’t waste time shouting for their rights’

  • Indian political organisation plans ‘gaumutra party’ to fight coronavirus

    Indian political organisation plans ‘gaumutra party’ to fight coronavirus

    With the sixth case of coronavirus being confirmed in India, the Hindu Mahasabha — a political organisation formed to protect the rights of the Hindu community and to safeguard Hinduism — has decided to organise a gaumutra [cow urine] party to ensure that the virus doesn’t spread in New Delhi.

    As per the details, Party President Chakrapani Maharaj has told The Print that there was a need to create greater awareness among the people on “how cow urine and cow dung, besides consuming cow products, can help eliminate coronavirus”.

    “Just like we organise tea parties, we have decided to organise a gaumutra party, wherein we will inform people about what is coronavirus and how, by consuming cow-related products, people can be saved from it,” Maharaj, who heads one of the two factions of the Mahasabha, said.

    “The event will have counters that will provide gaumutra for people to consume. At the same time, we will also put cow products like cow-dung cakes and agarbatti made from that. Upon using these, the virus will die immediately.”

    The event will be first organised at Hindu Mahasabha Bhawan in Delhi, following which such ‘parties’ will be held across the country.

    “We are in touch with gaushalas (cow shelters) across the country, who can collaborate and work with us in our mission to eliminate corona,” he said, adding that coronavirus had come to India because some ministers angered it by publicly consuming chicken.

  • Veteran comedian, stage actor Amanullah passes away at 70

    Veteran comedian, stage actor Amanullah passes away at 70

    Veteran comedian and stage actor Amanullah on Friday passed away at the age of 70 after prolonged illness.

    Family sources and senior journalist Dr Shahid Masood also confirmed the news.

    https://twitter.com/Shahidmasooddr/status/1235820998357729280

    Amanullah had on March 3 once again been admitted to a private hospital in Lahore after his health deteriorated.

    He had been shifted to the hospital for the fourth time as his condition was not getting stable. He was suffering from multiple medical complexities such as lungs, kidneys and breathing issues.

    According to Amanullah’s family, he was admitted to hospital after his condition got precarious and that he was on ventilator.

    The family had also appealed to the actor’s fans to pray for his recovery.

  • Fawad Rana to sell Lahore Qalandars?

    Fawad Rana to sell Lahore Qalandars?

    Former Pakistan cricketer Tanvir Ahmed has said that Lahore Qalandars’ owner Fawad Rana might sell his franchise after another disappointing performance in the fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Cricket Pakistan reported.

    Islamabad United defeated Lahore Qalandars by 71 runs on Wednesday, which is the biggest victory margin, in terms of runs, in the history of the PSL. The previous biggest winning margin was 67 runs achieved by Quetta Gladiators against Karachi Kings in 2018.

    “If things don’t change, Fawad might sell his franchise to someone else. The franchise spends a lot of money every year and conducts nation-wide talent hunt trials but the team disappoints on the field every season,” said Ahmed in a YouTube video.

    “What’s the point of trials if the team does not perform?” he asked while also criticising Lahore’s decision to include opener Salman Butt in the lineup in Fakhar Zaman’s place.

    “Salman Butt is not a T20 specialist and it made no sense to include him in the playing XI at the expense of Fakhar Zaman,” he said, adding that Qalandars were doing pretty well in powerplay overs even with out-of-form Zaman not performing.  

    Lahore Qalandars, who are currently at the bottom of the PSL V table with just one win in five games, will next be playing defending champions Quetta Gladiators at 7 pm on Saturday. Their maiden and only win from Tuesday was also against Quetta.