Tag: Pakistan

  • PM Imran Khan proposes death penalty as law for raping kids

    PM Imran Khan proposes death penalty as law for raping kids

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has proposed that death penalty be fixed for all those involved in child sexual abuse cases, a private media outlet quoted PM’s Special Adviser on Information Firdous Ashiq Awan as saying.

    She said that the premier, during a meeting of the federal cabinet on Tuesday, expressed concern over the rise in misuse of internet for child pornography and subsequent increase in incidents of child sexual abuse.

    “He [PM Imran] addressed the ministries of human rights, law and interior in detail and gave them the responsibility of analysing the existing juvenile laws regarding sexual exploitation, rape of children and other violent behaviours,” she said.

    Awan added that all three ministries have been instructed to prepare an implementation plan and bring it before the cabinet so that the growing menace can be curbed with an effective law besides a mechanism of deterrence and awareness.

    CHILD ABUSE IN PAKISTAN:

    A recent minor rape and murder case is of 10-year-old Farishta, who was abducted from Islamabad earlier this month. The culprits are still at large, while at least two police officials have been arrested for negligence on PM Imran’s orders.

    According to a report released by NGO Sahil last month, cases of child abuse increased by 11 per cent in 2018 as compared to 2017, with more than 10 children suffering from some form of abuse every day in Pakistan.

    Last year had begun with the horrific rape and murder of six-year-old Zainab Ansari, sparking widespread outrage and protests across the country after the minor’s body was found in a trash heap in Kasur on January 9.

    ‘#JusticeforZainab’ became a rallying cry for an end to violence against children and Imran Ali, who was convicted for the rape and murder, was executed nine months after the child’s death.

  • CWC’19: Inzamam hopeful of Pakistan ending losing streak against India

    CWC’19: Inzamam hopeful of Pakistan ending losing streak against India

    Chief selector Inzamamul Haq is confident that the national cricket team will finally break its six-match losing streak in the World Cup against India when it takes on the arch-rivals on June 16.

    Pakistan have never won against India in a world cup match, but the former skipper feels that they can post a breakthrough victory this time around when the two teams meet in Manchester next month.

    “People take an Indo-Pak match very seriously and some even go on to say that ‘we will be happy even if only we can win against India during the World Cup’,” Inzamam was quoted as saying by a cricket website.

    The veteran of 120 Tests, however, said that the mega cricketing tournament was not just about the match against India, and “Pakistan have the potential to beat other sides as well”.

    Pakistan go into the 2019 World Cup having suffered 10 successive ODI defeats and were also beaten by Afghanistan in a warm-up match on Friday.

  • United opp divides people: All you should know about Bilawal’s Iftar

    United opp divides people: All you should know about Bilawal’s Iftar

    As leaders of major opposition parties joined hands to attend an Iftar dinner hosted by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday, their united stance against the government left social media divided.

    ATTENDANCE:

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz, PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) senior leader Liaquat Baloch, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Sherpao and Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leaders Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar were all in attendance for the event organised at Zardari House in Islamabad.

    AGENDA:

    Bilawal is working to unite all opposition parties and his Iftar was an opportunity for them to reach consensus on launching an anti-government movement after Ramzan.

    The grand show of around ten political parties discussed strategies against the government. Sources had earlier informed The Current that the meeting was set to unite opposition leaders against the country’s economic crisis — falling rupee value and inflation.

    It was decided that solutions will be found to the issues the country is facing and all opposition parties will launch a protest inside and outside the parliament after Eid.

    They also agreed that the government has failed in running the affairs of the country and after Eid, an All Parties Conference (APC) would be held where a joint strategy would be formulated.

    The meeting also expressed concerns over “political victimisation” by the National Accountancy Bureau (NAB).

    PM IMRAN’S REACTION:

    Meanwhile, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan hit out at the opposition and said, “Today certain people have gathered for an event but we really know that it is because of them that Pakistan has not moved forward.”

    He said that the economy was being used “as a source of blackmail by corrupt political mafia”.

    DIVIDED SOCIAL MEDIA:

    Some social media users lauded Bilawal and Maryam as the new faces behind the two biggest opposition parties in the country, “taking forward the ideas of their parents” — former PMs Benazir Bhutto and Maryam Nawaz.

    https://twitter.com/always_opposed/status/1130139351558631424

    Meanwhile, some others stepped up to criticise the “unholy alliance”.

    https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1130080776899452928

    https://twitter.com/Faisal_Kp01/status/1130382713062678528
  • Pakistan not taking any wickets ‘to avoid PM Imran’s wrath’, explains Ramiz Raja

    Pakistan not taking any wickets ‘to avoid PM Imran’s wrath’, explains Ramiz Raja

    Explaining why Pakistani bowlers have been unable to defend 300 plus totals in the last couple of games, commentator and former cricketer Ramiz Raja has made some funny post-match remarks.

    Instead of coming down hard on the team for losing the ODI series to England ahead of ICC World Cup 2019, the former skipper chose to be sarcastic.

    Taking to Twitter to reveal bits of conversation between Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Pakistan team members, Ramiz shared how the former had called out some team members on “silly wicket-taking celebrations”.

    “Ever since being called out by PM Imran Khan on silly wicket-taking celebrations, this team it seems has decided to not take any wickets to not invite the wrath of the great man! Keeping trouble free, the Pak bowlers,” he tweeted jokingly and added a wink emoji at the end.

  • CSS exams to be held in Urdu

    CSS exams to be held in Urdu

    The Senate has passed a resolution to allow aspirants of Central Superior Services (CSS) to take their examinations in Urdu alongside English.

    The resolution, passed on Monday with majority, was moved by
    Jamaate Islami (JI) Senator Sirajul Haq.

    In defence of his resolution, the JI chief said that Article 251 of the Constitution clearly directed to implement Urdu as the official language, however, it could not have been executed even after 45 years.

    Taking the floor, State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said if the decision was implemented in haste, the drop out percentage in the exams would increase.

    “Students should be given an option to attempt the exams in their
    preferred language,” he added while assuring the upper house of implementation.

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Sassui Palijo, on the
    other hand, opposed the resolution and said English was an international
    language.

    “Countries like China, France and Germany, who were so concerned about their languages, are also promoting English to prepare their people to compete at the international level,” she added.

    Palijo further said that it would not be wise to “confine talents
    to Urdu language”.

  • Imran Khan’s role in Indian elections; dinner with Modi?

    Imran Khan’s role in Indian elections; dinner with Modi?

    An image has been shared multiple times on social media alongside the claim it shows Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi dining with his Pakistani counterpart, Imran Khan.

    The claim is false as PM Imran’s photo has been doctored to make it appear as though Modi is sitting beside him, reported AFP Fact Check, a blog that focuses on fact-checking in response to the multiplication of disinformation online.

    The post’s Hindi language caption translates to English as:
    “The one with the green cap looks a little familiar.”

    Meanwhile, another picture breaking the internet showed Indian National Congress chief Rahul Gandhi in Modi’s place.

    The Hindi language caption of that image translates to
    English as: “Who is this eating chicken biryani beside Miya Imran? Now the
    people will judge. This is Pappu’s condition.”

    Miya is an honorific for Muslim males, while Rahul Gandhi is
    often referred to as “Pappu” – which means “fool” or
    “simpleton” in Hindi – by supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata
    Party (BJP).

    A reverse image search on Google found the image was doctored from this photo, which was posted on Twitter on July 5, 2015. The photo shows PM Imran dining with his then-wife Reham Khan.

    Modi’s BJP has been accusing the Congress of playing for Pakistan.
    It has even claimed that Islamabad “wants to fix the polling results in favour
    of Congress”.

    Things, however, took an unexpected turn after PM Imran said
    there was better chance of peace between the neighbouring countries if
    hardliner BJP was elected to power.

    The statement was not very well received by a majority of
    people right before the general polls in world’s largest democracy. Congress said
    Pakistan had “now officially allied” with Modi and voting for him was “a vote
    for Imran Khan”.

    Seeking votes in national defence’s name and aggression towards Pakistan ahead of elections is not new to Indian politicians. The outcome of the 2019 general polls will also give a verdict on Modi’s hyper-Hindu nationalism that raised his nationalist BJP to power in 2014.

  • Indian parliamentarian all praise for PM Imran

    Indian parliamentarian all praise for PM Imran

    Indian National Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has praised Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan for remembering the King of Mysore, Tipu Sultan, on his death anniversary, Hindustan Times reported.

    The Lok Sabha member took to Twitter to praise PM Imran for the interest he shows in the history of the subcontinent.

    “One thing I personally know about Imran Khan is that his interest in the shared history of the Indian subcontinent is genuine and far-reaching,” he tweeted.

    “He read; he cares. It is disappointing, though, that it took a Pakistani leader to remember a great Indian hero on his punyathithi,” Tharoor added.

    The tweet came after the premier paid a tribute to Tipu Sultan on his death anniversary on May 4.

    “Today 4th May is the death anniversary of Tipu Sultan – a man I admire because he preferred freedom and died fighting for it rather than live a life of enslavement,” PM Imran had tweeted.

  • Lost in Lahore

    Lost in Lahore

  • Tired of being bored? Here’s how you can explore your city

    Tired of being bored? Here’s how you can explore your city

    Karachi – Mohatta  Palace

    Art, architecture, and culture come to play at this 20th-century residential palace, which has now been converted into an art gallery and museum surrounded by trees and statues.

    While we were doing our research, a Karachi historian told us a lesser-known story about the palace. She told us that the building was constructed by Mohatta, a Hindu Marwari business, for his wife who was ill. The doctors suggested that her illness could be cured if she gets refreshing winds from the sea. Thus, Mohatta had this fascinating structure built on a large piece of land facing the sea.

    Lahore – Badshahi Mosque

    While taking a stroll through the masjid, one is almost transported back in history. The red bricks and perfectly round domes signify traditional Mughal architecture.

    Historians say that the Badshahi Mosque was initially planned to guard a strand of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) hair.

    The mosque is also famous for its unique echo system. The Muazzan used to recite the azan at one corner but the sound of it would be heard all around, as if he was speaking in a microphone. The sound system was destroyed when the floor was replaced, but one can still experience its remains.

    Islamabad – Pakistan Monument

    Everyone who visits this place says that it’s a must-visit. The Pakistan Monument in Islamabad represents all four provinces of Pakistan. Who knew that one day we would have five provinces?

    Apart from the large structure, the place also has a museum where you can learn about Pakistan from realistic models, which are informative and fun.

    Bahawalpur – Derawar Fort

    The fort was initially known as Dera Wal is one of the oldest and most architecturally fascinating forts in Pakistan. Located in the heart of the magnificent Cholistan Desert, the Derawar fort is also connected to other forts in the Cholistan through a network of underground tunnels.

    There is an old canon of historic value in the courtyard of the fort that was used against enemies during war. The walls inside the structure are damaged but their former glory is still intact.

    Tomb Shah Rukne Alam Multan

    Shah Rukn-e-Alam was an eminent Sufi from Multan, also known as the city of saints and sufis. The shrine of Shah Rukn e Alam is one of Pakistan’s architectural treasures. The shrine itself, its ambience and the presence of qawwals in the courtyard give you a peaceful vibe. A large number of devotees from every corner of the country visit Multan annually to attend the urs.