Tag: Mansehra

  • Police bar female students from sitting in front passenger seats over harassment

    Police bar female students from sitting in front passenger seats over harassment

    After complaints of harassment, the Mansehra Traffic Police has barred female students from sitting in the front passenger seats of the public transport across the district.

    According to Express Tribune, the ban was imposed by the police in a bid to curb harassment. The women were subjected to harassment by the drivers as the front section of the Suzuki vans and pick-ups is entirely detached from the rear part of the vehicle.

    The windows in the front are also tainted and the driver could get away with harassment. The traffic police warned that cases could be registered against the public transporters if the ban was violated.

    Last month, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had announced the formation of district protection committees (DPC) for swift implementation of harassment law across the province, according to APP. These committees would be headed by a woman Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) to resolve disputes related to domestic violence or harassment at workplaces.

    In January last year, the provincial assembly had passed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace (Amendment) Bill, 2020, targeting the incidents of workplace harassment.

    In case, parties did not agree to the proposed solutions, the case would be referred to District Sessions Judge or Additional District Sessions Judge to decide it within two months. And if any party did not agree with the court’s judgment then appeals against such decisions could be filed in the Peshawar High Court (PHC).

    Under the new act, up to five years of prison time and a penalty or both could be handed. The court can also pass an interim order in such cases.  One-year imprisonment and up to Rs0.3 million fine could be handed in case of violation of the court orders.

  • ‘No jeans, tights, makeup’: Hazara University issues new dress code for students

    The Hazara University in Mansehra has issued a new dress code for students, faculty members and administrative staff.

    According to the notification issued on January 6, female students have been advised to wear abaya/scarf/dupatta in neutral colours without any decorative material. They have also been asked to wear shalwar qameez with dupatta or chaddar.

    Jeans, tights, t-shirts, shorts with jeans or tights, heavy makeup and jewellery have been banned at the university, while female students have also been advised against carrying heavy hand bags.

    Read more – New policy of Bahira University prohibits male, female students from sitting together

    The notification further recommends a dress code for male students which includes, dress pants with dress shirts, dress shoes with socks, shalwar qameez, and warm caps in the winters.

    Shorts, cut-off/toran/skin-fitted jeans, chappals/sleepers of any kind/jewellery, long hair, ponytails, and un-presentable bread have been strictly prohibited for the male students, according to the notification.

    Furthermore, staff and faculty members have been advised to wear “neat, clean and presentable dress and black gown during lectures”.

    “Cut-off/toran/skin-fitted jeans, chappals/sleepers of any kind and jewellery are strictly not recommended for faculty members and staff,” reads the notification.

    Wearing ID cards at all times has also been made compulsory for both students and faculty members.

    Though the new recommendations by Hazara University are being strongly criticised on social media, Spokesperson for the KP government and adviser to CM on Information Kamran Bangash, while talking to Gulf News, welcomed the step saying: “This will end the dress competition between the students and teachers, helping the poor students and their parents. It will also help them focus on their studies.”

  • Police arrest Madrassa teacher accused of raping his 10-year old student

    Police arrest Madrassa teacher accused of raping his 10-year old student

    A Madrassa teacher accused of raping and torturing his 10-year-old student in Abbottabad’s Mansehra was arrested by the police on Sunday.

    The main suspect identified as Qari Shamsuddin will be presented in court Monday.

    According to reports, a child was taken to a hospitalised on Saturday after his madrassah teacher raped him and then beat him.

    The uncle of the victim Ali Gohar lodged an FIR with Pulrah police and said that the medical report of the victim had confirmed that he had been sexually assaulted by owner of the madrassa. The medical report revealed that the child was raped multiple times and had bruises on his elbows and knees and his eyes were swollen. 

    “We want an immediate arrest of the prime suspect in the case as condition of my nephew is still critical,” he added.

    The police have registered a case and arrested four alleged partners of the madrassah teacher, including his brother.

    Police said the education department has also initiated an investigation against the government teacher.

    The madrassah, which was unregistered, has now been sealed and the rest of the students sent home.

    The incident received widespread attention and celebrities demanded for strict action to be taken.

    https://twitter.com/khadijah_shah/status/1211348681707970574?s=20
  • Over 2,000 Afghan families told to vacate Mansehra refugee camps for CPEC security

    Over 2,000 Afghan families told to vacate Mansehra refugee camps for CPEC security

    As many as 2,397 Afghan families living in Mansehra have been served a final notice to vacate their refugee camps for the security of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), ARY News reported.

    According to reports, Mansehra Assistant Commissioner (AC) Talat Fahad has directed the refugees to leave the three camps situated in the area latest by June 30.

    “The decision has been taken to ensure the security of CPEC”, the AC said in a notification issued in this regard.

    According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Pakistan is hosting over 1.4 million Afghan refugees, making the country the second largest host of the refugee population in the world.

    Some refugees have been living in Pakistan for three generations. They have established their business here while some of them have married locals and been deeply integrated into Pakistani society.

    The interim stay of Afghan refugees extended by the Pakistani government is coming to an end on June 30, and Minister of State for States and Frontier Region Shehryar Khan Afridi has affirmed that the country supports voluntary repatriation.

    In a recent meeting, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the UNHCR have agreed to launch an awareness programme to enable Afghan refugees to make a decision to voluntarily return with Pakistan’s facilitation.