Tag: Pakistan

  • ‘Pakistan moving forward in criminalising enforced disappearances’: Shireen Mazari

    Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari on Monday said that Pakistan was “moving forward” in its commitment to criminalise enforced disappearances, and emphasised that such acts did not have a place in a democracy.

    As the world celebrates International Day of the Disappeared on August 30, Dr Mazari tweeted that the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Interior approved a bill on enforced disappearances last week.

    “Sadly, time [was] lost because no previous government moved on enforced disappearances,” said Mazari.

    “In our first meeting at the Ministry of Human Rights, we had the then PPP chair of the Senate human rights committee participate. Once introduced in NA it was available on NA website so to say no one knew the content is absurd. No one objected on the floor of the NA or in the committee,” she said.

    She also said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had met Baloch families of “disappeared” persons who provided details about their missing family members. “Some have returned home while others are being traced,” the minister said.

    The minister also hit out at former governments for their lack of response on the issue. “[I] can’t recall any PML-N or PPP prime minister in the last two governments even recognising enforced disappearances, let alone meeting with these families.”

  • Stop moral policing

    Stop moral policing

    One of the favourite pastimes in Pakistan seems to be moral policing. We really don’t believe in the principle of ‘live and let live’. No, we have to interfere in others’ lives, we have to comment on others’ life choices, we have to judge everyone around us and we have to somehow make life difficult for others. 

    Just recently, we saw social media outrage regarding a photoshoot that was deemed ‘obscene’ by senior journalist Ansar Abbasi. Mr Abbasi somehow keeps finding everything ‘obscene’ under the sun, be it a video, an advertisement, a YouTube show, a photoshoot — you name it and Mr Abbasi has seen it. Mr Abbasi tweeted to Deputy Commissioner (DC) Islamabad that the couple must be arrested as they “displayed extreme obscenity in public in the federal capital”. As if on cue, DC Islamabad asked people to share any information they had about the couple and/or photoshoot. Both of them did not think for a second how they could be endangering the lives of the young girl and boy in the pictures. We live in a society that believes in mob justice. But our senior journalists and officials really don’t care, it seems. 

    The Islamabad police booked the couple for an indecent photoshoot under Section 294 of the PPC, which makes “engaging in obscene acts, or singing, reciting or uttering obscene songs, ballads or words, in or near any public place, to the annoyance of others, an offense punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine, or with both”. The law is so vague that anything can be deemed obscene as there is no clear definition of the word in PPC. And this is why it was used against the kids in the photoshoot.

    At around 5:30am on Tuesday (August 24), 10 police officers — one SHO, one ASI, and eight constables — reportedly arrived at the house of the boy, Zulfi, in Lahore to arrest him. They had come to arrest him from Islamabad. The boy’s lawyers got a protective bail from a court so he could not be arrested. But look at the priorities of our state that 10 police officials were sent to Lahore to arrest someone for a photoshoot. A photoshoot!!! Let that sink in. Zulfi is not a terrorist, not a murderer, not a rapist, not a child abuser, but an activist. And the police wanted to arrest him for a photoshoot. We must thank the Islamabad Police for making us feel so safe.

    A woman was assaulted by hundreds of men at Minar-e-Pakistan and the police did not come to help her despite calls, another woman was forcibly kissed by a man while sitting in a rickshaw but nobody helped her, but one photoshoot and one tweet by a vigilante journalist and our police can swiftly be seen in action. 
    We hope that our officials would stop moral policing and let people express themselves however they want. There is already so much intolerance around us. Do not make this society more suffocating than it already is.

  • Woman in Lahore wears clown costume to earn living

    A woman in Lahore wears a clown costume every day to earn her living to avoid begging on the streets, reported Samaa News.

    Saima wanted to become a doctor but she had no idea that she would be working as a clown on the streets of Lahore.

    I have lost a lot in life,” Saima said on Samaa TV’s show Naya Din. “First my father, who died with his dreams, and then my own aspirations.”

    Saima’s father and two brothers passed away within just three years. She had to earn in order to support her ill mother as no one from her family or friends came forward to support her in these difficult times.

    Saima tried to find a suitable job while pursuing her education but due to a tough schedule couldn’t take up any of the jobs as she had to take care of her mother as well. She managed to find one job, which seemed to accommodate her timings.

    “Things went smoothly for four months,” Saima said. But then her boss started making inappropriate demands from her, such as going out for a meal with him.

    “He said in a meeting that I was his wife,” Saima recalled. Saima left he job after being warned of a culture of harassment and exploitation at her organisation by one of her friends who had worked there before.

    Read More: Pakistani girl makes the Guinness world record for donating most hair

    She left the job and was so needy that she even considered begging on the streets.

    But then she saw a kid dressed up as a clown to entertain other children to earn a living. This inspired her and gave her an idea of doing the same. “That child taught me such a great lesson that I could do anything for my mother,” said Saima. When she started working as a clown she felt as if the Saima in her had “died”.

    But even this job is not easy. She has been slapped and called names by men on the street, some of whom think she is a man or transgender behind the mask. She earns Rs700 to Rs800 a day.

    Meanwhile, Chief Minister Punjab, Usman Buzdar has contacted Saima to help her.

  • You can now buy viral Chand Nawab video meme

    The video that went viral in 2008 featuring a local reporter, Chand Nawab has been put up for auction as a Non-Fungible Token (NFT), on a website named Foundation.

    The reserve price for the video on the website is $64,756.60 (around Rs10,787,763.14).

    “I’m Chand Nawab, a journalist and reporter by profession. In 2008, a video of me surfaced on YouTube in which I fumbled while reporting Eid Festival frenzy at a Railway station. While reporting, I was contently interrupted by people, my fumbling and constant irritation made this video viral getting millions of views on YouTube and Facebook,” wrote Nawab while explaining what the video meme was about.

    “My popularity again surged in 2016 when my viral video inspired Indian film maker Kabir Khan to create Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s character in his 2015 blockbuster Bajrangi Bhaijaan,” he added.

    Read more- Viral Pakistani meme makes it to Hong Kong museum

    Earlier this month, the ‘Friendship ended with Mudasir’ meme, which went viral in 2015, was auctioned off as a Non-Fungible Token for $51,530 (roughly Rs8,491,427.73). The sale was concluded on the online platform Foundation, which facilitates live auctions for NFTs.

  • Govt announces fee for Covid vaccine booster shot

    The federal government on Saturday announced to administer booster Covid vaccine shots for people travelling abroad. The government has decided on a fee of Rs 1,270 for the booster shot that will be submitted at the National Bank of Pakistan, ARY News reported.

    As per reports, the federal government has sent a handout to the provincial governments, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) governments for taking measures in this regard.

    The handout stated that the Covid vaccine shots to those planning to travel abroad would be administered at designated centres in the provinces and federal regions.

    Citizens could get the vaccine shots after showing their valid visa and bank voucher.

    Earlier, it was reported that separate counters would be set up at the vaccination centres, where travellers can receive booster shots of approved Covid vaccines for their destinations.

    The sources further said that those wanting to get the shots had to show the travel documents including a visa and they would be given a certificate for the booster shot to be submitted to the authorities during their foreign trip.

  • Video: Guru Randhawa reveals for whom he made the chartbuster song ‘Lagdi Lahore Di’

    Video: Guru Randhawa reveals for whom he made the chartbuster song ‘Lagdi Lahore Di’

    Popular Indian singer Guru Randhawa has revealed that he made the song, Lagdi Lahore Di for an actual model from Lahore who wanted to feature in his music video but couldn’t due to the ongoing political tensions.

    The popular singer worked with Saba Qamar during that time in Hindi Medium, Saba featured in his chartbuster song Tenu Suit Suita Karda.

    Saba Qamar wishes a speedy recovery to Guru Randhawa - Daily Times

    Earlier this year the Patola singer appreciated Sarah Khan’s beauty with an Instagram comment.

    Interestingly Guru belongs to a village on the outskirts of Wagah Border.

  • Shehzad Roy corrects Anupam Kher over video claim

    Shehzad Roy corrects Anupam Kher over video claim

    Singer and social activist Shehzad Roy corrected Bollywood actor Anupam Kher on Friday over a viral video claim.

    Roy had earlier shared the same video on August 11, which was shared by the Bollywood actor. Kher wrongly claimed that video was from an Indian village; the video is actually from Hunza, Pakistan.

    On Friday, Roy re-tweeted Kher’s post, thanking him for his concern and appreciation for the talent.

    “Thanks for sharing the video I shared a few days back. You say that these talented kids are from Bharat, a humble correction, these kids are in fact from Hunza, Pakistan. I am in touch with them and have sent them all the musical instruments they need,” Teri Soorat singer tweeted.

    Kher responded to Roy’s tweet and admitted he stands corrected.

    “Dear @ShehzadRoy ! I stand corrected my friend. I loved the video. Keep up the great work you are doing with these kids!! Love and prayers always!!”

    Shehzad Roy thanked Anupam Kher and said he will keep him “updated about these lovely group of kids and their music”.

  • Taliban will not let Afghan soil be used against any other country: DG ISPR

    Taliban will not let Afghan soil be used against any other country: DG ISPR

    Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj-Gen Babar Iftikhar on Friday, during a press conference in Rawalpindi, said that the Taliban have said they will not let Afghan soil be used against any other country and “we have to take them at their word”.

    The military spokesperson said Pakistan had already taken the necessary measures to guard the border and ensure security in the country, as the situation in war-torn Afghanistan moves at a rapid pace.

    Maj-Gen Iftikhar elaborated that Pakistan had reached out to Afghanistan on multiple occasions to formalise border mechanisms, as it was felt that was the answer to the instability existing along the Pak-Afghan border.

    “The political and military leadership in Pakistan had the foresight that something like this (Taliban takeover in Afghanistan) could happen. So, despite whatever has happened on that side (Afghanistan), the situation on the Pak-Afghan border is normal and under control.”

    “This does not mean nothing can happen but we are prepared and won’t be caught unaware,” he added.

    Pakistan had apprehensions that the situation would unfold in the way that it did and there could be a “spillover”, which is why it took the steps it did, he elaborated.

    So far, 113 flights — both military and commercial — have landed in Pakistan from Afghanistan, he added.

    “While we were involved in this war on terror during the last two decades, we have had three major escalations on the eastern border. At the peak of this period, there were more than 90 terrorist incidents taking place in a year in Pakistan.”

    “After two decades, we can say we have fought off the menace of terrorism very well with the whole-of-nation approach. All these operations are the epitome of insurmountable spirit and supreme sacrifice of the whole nation’s efforts.”

    Responding to another question, DG ISPR said there was no military-to-military contact with other countries for now. However, reports of India using wild animals to attack and conduct surveillance along the Line of Control (LoC) were “concerning”, he said.

    “I hope the world holds them responsible for stooping so low. We are aware of those surveillance means and taking our measures to counter that.”

    Replying to another question, he said that while there was “always a fear of a civil war” taking place in Afghanistan, the situation is volatile and nothing can be said about it as of now.

    “However, right now, there is no civil war in Afghanistan,” he said.

    He said that Pakistan is “hoping for the best” in terms of normalisation of the situation in Afghanistan but would not like to “speculate anything”.

  • At least 15 killed in fire at chemical factory in Karachi

    At least 15 workers of a chemical factory lost their lives after a fire broke out at a factory in Karachi’s Mehran Town on Friday, police and rescue officials told Dawn.

    Talking to Dawn, Korangi SSP Shah Jehan said that so far 15 bodies had been recovered from the factory.

    He said that the police had been informed that there were 25 people still stuck in the building, and feared that they may not have survived.

    According to a spokesman for the Pakistan Rangers (Sindh), the area had been cordoned off and Rangers officials were busy in relief efforts with rescue teams.

    The spokesperson said that the fire had started at a chemical factory in Mehran Town, adding that the fire was now under control and rescue efforts were underway.

    Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) Additional Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said that 13 bodies had been shifted to the hospital so far.

    According to police officials, an Edhi volunteer, Saddam, 30, also sustained injuries while trying to extinguish the fire. The injured were also rushed to JPMC.

    Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and ordered the Karachi commissioner and the labour department to make a report. “How did the incident occur and what safety precautions were being taken,” he questioned.
    He also directed officials to provide the best possible medical aid to the injured and support to the families of the deceased.

  • Pakistani girl makes the Guinness world record for donating most hair

    A Pakistani girl, Zahab Kamal Khan, has set a world record by donating her 5’1″ long hair. She donated her hair to a non-profit organisation.

    Zahab took to her Instagram to share the picture with the caption, “My Dad’s idea changed my life❤️ our 18 year dream finally coming true.”

    “Today i am a Guinness world record holder,” she added.

    Zahab further added, “Today I am very happy to be working with Children with hair loss and grateful to know that my hair is going to help

    Zahab, who is now 30, has been growing her hair for 17 years, ever since she was 13.