Tag: human rights

  • Taliban call for Muslim nations to recognise them

    Taliban call for Muslim nations to recognise them

    Afghan Prime Minister (PM) Mohammad Hassan Akhund has called on Muslim nations to be the first to officially recognise the government that seized power in Afghanistan in August.

    “I call on Muslim countries to take the lead and recognise us officially. Then I hope we will be able to develop quickly”, Akhund said and stressed that it’s for the public.

    No country has yet recognised the Taliban government. After they gained power, they promised rights for women but they are largely excluded from government employment, and secondary schools for girls are closed.

    According to the recently released report by United Nations (UN), jobs have dried up and women’s employment levels are extremely low by global standards.

    The lack of work also threatens to worsen child labour levels in Afghanistan, where only 40 per cent of children aged five to 17 years old attend school. Moreover, the UN has warned that half the population is threatened with food shortages.

    Last month, a special meeting of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was held to discuss the Afghanistan crisis. However, Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister (FM) was excluded from the official photograph taken during the event.

  • Want a hotshot space in jail? Report reveals bribery makes influential prisoners live easy

    Want a hotshot space in jail? Report reveals bribery makes influential prisoners live easy

    It has been revealed in a report that the powerful and rich class in prison are bribing guards for special perks and facilities.

    A team led by Director-General (DG) Human Rights visited the jails and submitted its report to the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

    The report said that prison officials acknowledge that they are under intense political pressure. It has also been revealed that influential prisoners from Jhelum and Mianwali are being kept in Adiala Jail due to pressure from the Home Department. The report also revealed that inmates of Bhakkar Jail had provided evidence of money transfer to jail authorities.

    According to the report, the brother of one of the prisoners gave evidence of giving one lakh 40,000 to a jail guard.

    The report further suggests that prison officials are not aware of basic human rights. The prison meeting registers also indicate discrimination against inmates for meeting times and frequencies.

    The report also states that when senior police and prison officials are shown around the premises, not all that is shown and told is true. The report recommends training in human rights for prison officials.

  • 2021: Not-so-silly government blunders of the year

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) has completed three years of its mandated constitutional term. During these years, ministers and officials including the Prime Minister (PM) himself have made countless blunders.

    Here is a list of top blunders made by the sitting government.

    1- PM Imran Khan

    ‘Human rights and women rights are different’

    At the platform where PM Imran Khan was supposed to talk about the Afghanistan crisis, he said human rights and women’s rights are different. The speech resulted in a lot of backlash as a series of severe discriminatory rules were already enacted by the Taliban across Afghanistan.

    Blamed rape cases on vulgarity

    A sensitive topic in Pakistan, the premier commented on rape in Pakistan and later was schooled not only by Pakistanis but also his ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith. While responding to a question about what the federal government is doing to curb the recent surge of rape cases and sexual violence especially against children. Khan instead of laying out his government’s plans blamed the rising cases on vulgarity.

    2- Punjab CM Usman Buzdar

    The Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab Usman Buzdar hardly remains in limelight. But when he does something he makes sure to be in the headlines. Just like previous Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif, Buzdar paid a “surprise visit” to the tourism office and transferred the additional secretary “for being absent from duty” while not being aware that the officer held the additional charge of the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) Managing Director. She was at her other office. His government termed it as a ‘deliberate attempt’ to malign the CM.

    3- Fawad Chaudhry

    Quick question: ‘Adrak Garlic hota ha ya Lasan Ginger’. Well, if you are confused you gotta listen to our federal minister.

    Addressing a press conference on inflation, Fawad had a brain-freeze moment, when he couldn’t exactly recall what garlic meant in Urdu. The incident happened as the minister was talking about the decrease in price for garlic and onions. The minister was heard saying, “Garlic is adrak (ginger).” Isn’t it relatable?

    4- Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan

    In a horrific event that resulted in the loss of 65 lives. PTI’s leader Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan made a shocking statement. She said, “By the grace of Almighty Allah, ever since the government came into power, this is the first train accident that happened in this year 2021″. Later, she termed it out of context.

  • ‘Human rights and women rights are different’: PM Khan

    ‘Human rights and women rights are different’: PM Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan during his address at the 17th extraordinary session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) said that human rights and women’s rights are different.

    “We must understand that when we talk about human rights, every society is different, every society’s idea of human rights and normal rights is different,” said PM Khan.

    “The Pakhtunkhawan province, which borders Afghanistan because the culture is similar because there the Taliban are predominantly the Pashtun movement and there are more Pashtuns on our side of the border,” said the premier, adding, “The city culture is completely different from the rural culture.”

    https://twitter.com/mSaleemJaved/status/1472515320850038785

    “Culture in Kabul was always different to culture in rural areas. Just like in Peshawar it is completely different from the culture to the district adjoining the Afghanistan border,” said the prime minister.

    “I will give you an example. We give stipends to the girl’s child parents to put the girls in school but in tribal districts or districts adjoining Afghanistan, if we are not sensitive to the cultural norms of those people, even with stipends they will not send the girls to school,” said the premier.

    “But if we are sensitive to their cultural norms, without stipends they are willing to send their girls to school,” said PM Khan adding, “So this sensitivity I am afraid when we are talking about human rights and women’s rights we have to be sensitive about this.”

    PM Khan’s words received some criticism online.

  • Afghan footballer rumoured to be executed by Taliban, allegedly committed suicide before takeover

    Afghan footballer rumoured to be executed by Taliban, allegedly committed suicide before takeover

    News of an Afghan female footballer, Mahjabeen, beheaded by the Taliban in Kabul is making rounds on social media. As per a news report, in an interview with the Persian Independent, one of the coaches of the Afghan women’s national volleyball team confirmed that the athlete had been killed, but said that no one other than Mahjabeen’s family knew the exact time and manner of the incident.

    However, a journalist associated with TOLO News took to Twitter to clarify that the news of her beheading was false. The journalist claimed that Mahjabeen committed suicide 10 days before the takeover of the Taliban when he was heading TOLO news’ news-gathering.

  • Taliban acknowledge PM Khan’s efforts for peace in Afghanistan

    Taliban acknowledge PM Khan’s efforts for peace in Afghanistan

    Taliban spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Information and Culture Zabiullah Mujahid praised Prime Minister Imran Khan and appreciated his efforts to promote peace in the war-torn country.

    Speaking to Afghan media in Kabul, Mujahid said countries were criticising the Taliban government for human rights violations without recognising it.

    “We think this is a unilateral point of view,” he stressed.

    On the other hand, Taliban expanded their interim cabinet but failed to appoint any women, despite the international outcry that followed their initial presentation of an all-male cabinet.

    The international community had categorically stated that recognition of the Taliban government would not be possible until it gives women and minorities their due rights.

    Zabihullah Mujahid defended the latest additions to the cabinet, saying it included members of ethnic minorities, such as Hazaras, and that women might be added later.

    Mujahid was also asked about the recent restrictions imposed on girls and women, including a decision not to allow girls in grades six to 12 to return to classrooms for the time being.

    He suggested this was a temporary decision, and that “soon it will be announced when they can go to school”. He said plans were being made to allow their return but did not elaborate.

  • Hindu temple vandalised in Rahim Yar Khan

    Hindu temple vandalised in Rahim Yar Khan

    A video clip of a mob attacking a Hindu temple in Rahim Yar Khan (RYK) is doing the rounds on social media. People are urging Prime Minister Imran Khan to take action against the mob.

    Hundreds of people reportedly vandalised a Hindu temple in Bhong town and blocked the Sukkur-Multan Motorway (M-5) after a nine-year-old Hindu boy, who allegedly urinated in a local seminary, was granted bail by a local court on Wednesday.

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication, Dr Shahbaz Gill, said in a tweet that the PM Office had taken notice of the sad and unfortunate incident.

    He said that the prime minister had directed the district administration to probe the matter and take strict action against the culprits.

    Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed has also taken notice of the attack on the Hindu temple in Rahim Yar Khan and has set a hearing in relevance to the matter tomorrow.

    Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari tweeted, “The act was a violation of the Constitution and the basic human rights of Pakistanis. Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR) is in touch with RYK police since yesterday to ensure action against perpetrators – got a report – following up – our Parl Secy going to visit today.”

    There are reports of some old monetary dispute between Hindu and Muslim groups in the area, which was stated to be the actual cause of the unrest.

    A small town close to the River Indus and Sindh-Punjab border, Bhong houses a number of gold traders who originally hail from Ghotki and Dehrki (Sindh).

  • Gigi Hadid calls out anti-Semitic people for ‘spreading hate’

    Gigi Hadid calls out anti-Semitic people for ‘spreading hate’

    Gigi Hadid has called out anti-Semitic supporters of Palestine, calling them “hypocrites” for spreading hate towards the Jews.

    “Anti-Semitic people who are using the pro-Palestine movement as an excuse to be violent and/or hateful towards Jewish people should be ashamed of themselves,” wrote the supermodel on Instagram.

    Hadid further added: “Their actions are hypocritical to the real Free Palestine. I’ve said this before and I want to make it clear again: By speaking out for equal rights of Palestinian people, I am never condoning violence or hate against the Jewish community.”

    “It is unacceptable, especially in the name of another marginalised group,” said Gigi, adding: “Everyone the right to feel safe regardless of their religion, where they’re from,or the actions of their government.”

    Sharing another post on her account from a Palestinian, Hadid said: “If you’re pro-Palestine with anti-Semitic intentions, I’m telling you to distance yourself away from the Palestinian cause as much as possible. We don’t want your support. We will not have your ignorance bastardize our fight for equal rights and justice. Which is all in the name of humanity.”

    The supermodel further said: “Palestine is a human rights cause. If you’re using this to intimidate members of the Jewish community, who have done you no harm – then you’re defeating the purpose of our cause. And I ask you [to] stay away from us. Do not raise our flag. You are equally hurting us. Sincerely, a Palestinian.”

    When Gigi earlier extended her support towards Palestine, she had clarified that she “condemns anti-Semitism” and is not trying to kill anyone.

    Meanwhile, Gigi also rubbished fake news circulating on social media about Dior cutting ties with sister Bella Hadid for supporting the Palestinian cause.

    Meanwhile, Hadid has also been accused of anti-Semitism after the supermodel voiced support for the people of Palestine amid Israeli violence.

  • Mahira Khan urges Shireen Mazari to protect minorities, ‘lead by example’

    Mahira Khan urges Shireen Mazari to protect minorities, ‘lead by example’

    Mahira Khan has urged Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari to “lead by example” and look into giving protection to minorities after a 200-strong mob attacked a Christian family in Okara.

    Read more – Mahira Khan wants more swift action against child rapists

    The actor tagging Mazari in a tweet wrote: “Dear Shireen Mazari, your attention needed here please. We need to lead by example.”

    According to reports, Christian boys were beaten in a Muslim-majority village in the Okara district of Punjab following which a mob of villagers attacked the Christian community in the area.

    Father Khalid Mukhtar, parish priest of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Chak 5 said the attack was sparked following an attack on Catholic youngsters on May 14.

    “The boys were cleaning the church when one of the Muslim landlords, passing by the church, accused them of throwing dust on him. They attacked the boys and then raided 15 houses of our community the next day,” said the priest.

    Mangta Masih, a labourer lost his thumb when the mob attacked his house.

    “We hid our women inside while they tried to break in,” said Masih. “One of them grabbed me from behind and another struck with a sickle blade. I tried to prevent the blow with my right hand. I fell down and they kept beating us with batons.”

    He further shared that the attackers were “armed with glass bottles, stones, axes, batons and bricks”.

    “Others used stairs to climb to our roofs and started breaking our furniture. We pleaded to spare the women but the attack continued for half an hour,” said Masih.

    Another woman who was wounded in the attack said that the mob “broke the locks, grabbed our hair and pulled us out one by one”.

    “Young girls were assaulted and left with torn clothes,” said the woman, detailing the horror. Christian activists have been sharing disturbing footage of the attack on social media.

    Following the attacks, Father Mukhtar conducted a meeting of parish committee members on May 16 at St. Thomas Church, gathered statements of the injured and filed a complaint at the local police station.

    The local deputy superintendent of police visited the site and assured locals that a first information report (FIR) would be registered against the assailants under Section 452 (house trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

    Meanwhile, Osman Khalid Butt also urged the Federal Minister to take notice and protect religious minorities in the country.

  • UN honours PIA official who went viral for soothing baby during flight

    A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) official, Touheed Daudpota, who went viral for soothing a restless baby on-flight has been honoured by the United Nations (UN).

    Sharing the news on social media, PIA said that Daudpota was declared the ‘He for She’ champion by the UN Women Pakistan for “displaying empathy, gender sensitivity, respect and care to a woman passenger, upholding long traditions of ‘Great People To Fly With’.”

    A senior flight attendant, Daudpota was praised on social media after photos of him helping an exhausted mother calming her crying baby during a flight went viral.

    Touheed, the cabin crew manager on board, held the baby in his arms and walked to make the baby fall asleep.

    This act of the PIA staffer won hearts of many people as the national flag carrier’s flight was moving towards Karachi from Islamabad.