Tag: Punjab

  • Does the Pakistani man understand that no means no?

    Does the Pakistani man understand that no means no?

    A young girl was subjected to torture in Faisalabad. A final-year student, the girl alleged that her friend’s father became interested in her and even wrote her a formal proposal, which she declined. After she rejected the proposal, the accused pressurised her to change her mind. She received death threats. The complainant was even threatened that she could be raped. In videos that have now gone viral, she was subjected to physical and verbal abuse. Her hair was cut off and she was asked to lick shoes in order to humiliate her. She went through this abuse and torture only because she refused to marry a man who was also her friend’s father. This horrific incident shows how fragile Pakistani male egos are because they will not let a woman exercise her free will and choose to say no.

    This isn’t the first incident of its kind. Back in 2018, a bus hostess was murdered in Faisalabad for rejecting a marriage proposal. We witnessed the same shock and horror that we are seeing today but did it change anything? No. Are women allowed to exercise their free will and choose the men of their choice? No.

    In Punjab, the largest province of Pakistan, a total of 77 cases of physical assault were recorded in the month of July alone — 93 women in Punjab were abducted, and 47 cases of sexual assault cases were recorded. As far as domestic violence cases are concerned, Punjab reported 58 cases.

    Women face the same problems across South Asia. In India, Bilkis Bano — an Indian Muslim woman who was gang-raped in the 2002 Gujarat riots — said that her peace has been taken away after the Gujarat government released her 11 rapists. Her rapists were released on August 15, i.e. Independence Day of India. They were convicted in 2008.“How can justice for any woman end like this? I trusted the highest courts in our land. I trusted the system, and I was learning slowly to live with my trauma. The release of these convicts has taken from me my peace and shaken my faith in justice,” said Bilkis in her statement.

    With all the abuse, harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, and rapes being reported not just in our country, but around the region, where are we headed as a society? Where do we go from here? Where do we stand? Has humanity died? What about morality and protection in the name of rule and law? Will women ever be safe, anywhere? Women of Pakistan and across the world deserve better.

  • Punjab on top in sexual, physical assault and domestic abuse cases

    Punjab on top in sexual, physical assault and domestic abuse cases

    At least 133 women were kidnapped and as many as 85 were subjected to rape in Pakistan in the month of July alone, a report has revealed.

    The data has been compiled by the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) and the Centre for Research, Development and Communication (CRDC). The cases that have been reported in mainstream media are added in the report.

    Punjab

    A total of 77 cases of physical assault were reported in Punjab — 93 women in Punjab were abducted, 47 cases of sexual assault cases were recorded. As far as domestic violence cases are concerned, Punjab reported 58 cases. Three honour killing incidents took place. At least five cases of workplace harassment were reported in the province. In July, 42 children were sexually abused and 30 children were kidnapped. Meanwhile, 10 children were murdered and eight child labour cases were reported. 10 cases of physical violence against children were recorded. The province also reported three cases of child marriage.

    Sindh

    Sindh recorded 34 physical assault cases. A total of 20 cases of abduction took place, 16 women were subjected to rape, 15 cases of domestic violence were reported and in the name of honour killing, four women were killed in Sindh. Moreover, two work harassment incidents were reported in the province. Over July, 21 children were sexually abused,13 children were kidnapped from Sindh, 14 children were physically abused while five children were murdered in the province. Three cases of child marriage were reported.

    Islamabad

    Six incidents of physical assault occurred in the capital and 15 cases of kidnapping were reported. 10 cases of rape were reported. Four cases of domestic abuse were reported. Ten children were sexually abused and eight children were kidnapped. Two incidents of physical abuse against children were reported and two children were murdered.

    Balochistan

    The province had no reported case of physical assault. Two cases of abduction were reported during the month of July. Balochistan reported one rape incident. When it comes to domestic violence, Balochistan registered zero such incidents. Three children were sexually abused in Balochistan and four children were kidnapped. No physical abuse case was reported. Two children were murdered.

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

    16 incidents of physical assault were reported, three cases of abduction occurred, 11 cases of rape were reported and17 cases of domestic violence were reported in KP. 32 children were sexually abused and 27 children were kidnapped. 11 cases of physical violence against children were reported and three children were murdered. One child labour case was reported.

    DATADownload

  • Hamza Shehbaz files petition to review SC’s verdict declaring Elahi as CM

    Hamza Shehbaz files petition to review SC’s verdict declaring Elahi as CM

    Former Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Hamza Shehbaz has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court (SC) against the apex court’s July 26 verdict, which declared Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as the Punjab CM.

    Hamza filed the petition through his lawyer Mansoor Awan in which it has been requested that the SC should review the decision of declaring Pervaiz Elahi as the CM of Punjab and the ruling of former Punjab Assembly (PA) Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari should be declared constitutional.

    The review petition stated that the court in its order had “failed” to appreciate that when a justice signs a judgement, then to the extent that judgement is not expressly controverted in the separate opinion, that justice remains bound by the judgement he has put a signature to, whereas the order makes the inverse and counter-intuitive inference because other aspects were covered in the separately rendered decision.

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader further demanded that a full court be constituted to decide the matters involving the interpretation and application of Article 63-A of the Constitution in this regard.

    Earlier, a three-member bench of the SC declared Mazari’s ruling in the Punjab Chief Minister election “illegal” and ruled that Pervaiz Elahi will be the new CM of the province.

  • Mobile phone service suspended in specific areas

    Mobile phone service suspended in specific areas

    To ensure law and order during Muharram processions, mobile phone service was suspended in specific areas and sectors of Islamabad, including G-6, G-7, G-8 and G-9 on Monday night. While sector I-10 and its nearby areas faced long signal outages from 10 pm to 6 am.

    On the 11th of Muharram, the mobile phone service will be halted from 9 am to 10 pm in the areas of Bari Imam, said a press note issued from the office of the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad.

    Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon said the service was suspended in G-6, G-7, G-8 and G-9 from 9 am till midnight and from 10 pm till 6 am in I-10.

    Cellular services will not be available on 10th Muharram from 10 am to 4 pm and from 9 am till10 pm in areas of Bari Imam on 11th of Muharram, the official said.

    After 8 pm, certain areas of Lahore, particularly those near the Imam Bargah, experienced signal outages on Monday, including Nishat Colony, some areas of Cantt, Thokar Niaz Baig, Model Town and Canal Bank.

  • Punjab govt announces construction of stadium in Arshad Nadeem’s village

    Punjab govt announces construction of stadium in Arshad Nadeem’s village

    Punjab Sports Minister Rai Taimur Khan has announced the immediate start of the construction of a stadium in the village of national hero Arshad Nadeem.

    The minister also said that he would welcome Arshad Nadeem himself. He added that a grand ceremony will be organised in honour of all the athletes who won medals at the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2022, including Nadeem.

    He said they have facilitated Arshad Nadeem and will continue doing the same in the future. Further, the minister said that the provincial sports board will continue to take vigorous measures for the promotion of sports.

    Arshad Nadeem made the nation proud by claiming the gold medal in the ongoing CWS in England after a record-breaking effort.

    In the fifth attempt, the Khanewal-born star set a new CWG record of a 90.18m throw and became the first Pakistani to hold the record.

    Following the victory, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and others congratulated him.

    Director General Pakistan Sports Board Asif Zaman also announced a reward of Rs50 lakh for Arshad Nadeem.

    Sindh Provincial Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said: “Before the next Olympics, I am ready to send Nadeem, who won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, to Germany for training at my own expense for two years.”

  • Cleric arrested on charges of raping at least three madrassa students

    Cleric arrested on charges of raping at least three madrassa students

    A cleric who raped children at least three madrassa students was arrested in the Bhutta Wahan area of ​​Rahim Yar Khan, reports Geo Urdu. The rape survivors are aged between 10 to 12 years.

    According to the police, the initial medical report of three children proved that they were being raped.

    The affected children told the media that the cleric had raped six madrassa children so far and threatened to kill them if they told their families about the sexual abuse.

    The families of the children who were raped demanded that strict action should be taken against the cleric and he should be hanged. They said that their children refused to go to the madrassa and revealed that the cleric sexually abused them.

    The madrassa cleric fled from the area. However, a case was registered against him and raids were conducted in order to arrest him.

    In June, the Punjab government said that they would declare an emergency following an increase in rape and sodomy cases in the province.

  • ‘Announcement in six to eight weeks’: Imran directs Punjab MPAs to prepare for general elections

    ‘Announcement in six to eight weeks’: Imran directs Punjab MPAs to prepare for general elections

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday directed party leaders and parliamentarians in Punjab to prepare for the next general elections as they could be announced in six to eight weeks.

    The direction came during separate meetings held at Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Pervaiz Elahi’s office on Sunday.

    Khan congratulated Elahi on the ouster of an ‘unconstitutional and unlawful’ government from Punjab.

    Steps to provide relief to the people of the province were also discussed during the meeting.

    Khan held separate meetings with various party leaders, including provincial chief of the party Dr Yasmin Rashid, former chief Shafqat Mahmood, Mian Mahmood-ur-Rashid, as well as with MPAs from six Punjab divisions.

    Khan has given Dr Yasmin Rashid a two-week ultimatum to reorganise the party in the province.

    Earlier, former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said that an “agreement” has been reached and the general elections will be held in October.

    “Instead of by-elections, matters on new elections have been settled. The nation will soon hear about the date for the elections in October, the formation of a new election commission and a caretaker government,” said Rasheed.

    PTI challenges approval of 11 resignations in court

    PTI General Secretary Asad Umar on Monday (August 1) reached the Islamabad High Court where he challenged the approval of the 11 resignations of PTI MNAs.

    “A petition has been submitted in the Islamabad High Court against the election commission accepting the resignations of 11 members of the assembly of their choice,” the PTI leader said on Twitter.

    Umar said that they have approached the court against the acceptance of the 11 resignations. 

    “On April 11, 125 of our people resigned on the floor of the assembly, and on April 13, Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri accepted their resignations,” Umar said.

    Asad Umar said that PTI MNAs resigned en masse but the election commission’s decision to accept the resignation of 11 members and not 125 is illegal.

    Last week, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) de-notified 11 PTI MNAs following the approval of their resignations by National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf.

    According to the ECP, Ali Muhammad Khan, Fazal Muhammad Khan, Shaukat Ali, Fakhar Zaman Khan, Farrukh Habib, Ijaz Ahmad Shah, Jamil Ahmed Khan, Muhammad Akram Cheema, Abdul Shakoor Shad, Shireen Mehrunnisa Mazari, Shandana Gulzar Khan have been de-notified. 

    PTI to file judicial reference against Chief Election Commissioner

    PTI Information Secretary Farrukh Habib issued a statement on July 30 and said the party had prepared to file a disqualification reference in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against the CEC Sikander Sultan Raja. He said the CEC met PDM leaders after reserving a judgment in the prohibited funding case.

    “By doing so, the chief election commissioner violated his oath, the code of conduct as well as his constitutional duty,” he added.

    According to media reports, PTI decided to file a judicial reference against CEC Sultan Raja. The decision came during a high-level PTI meeting chaired by Imran Khan, where the party leaders reviewed the coalition government’s recent meeting with the CEC and other ECP members.

  • The real story behind Imran Khan sitting on CM Punjab seat

    The real story behind Imran Khan sitting on CM Punjab seat

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan met Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and former federal minister Moonis Elahi at the Chief Minister’s Office on Sunday in Lahore and discussed matters of mutual interest, the political situation, the administrative affairs of Punjab, and the law and order situation.

    A picture of their meeting was shared by Moonis Elahi on social media where Khan can be seen sitting on the CM’s seat while the chief minister sat opposite him. The picture went viral and was widely criticised by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders.

    “No self-respecting, dignified man would sit on someone else’s official seat/chair but this man is hungry for power,” tweeted Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

    “

    “Rude Tosha Fitna Khan sits on the chair of Chief Minister of Punjab,” tweeted PML-N leader Saad Rafique.

    The real story

    However, senior journalist Hamid Mir explained the real reason why Khan was sitting on the CM seat.

    Hamid Mir said that when Khan reached Elahi’s office to congratulate him, Pervaiz Elahi asked the PTI chairman to sit on the CM seat but Khan replied that it is Elahi’s seat.

    Moonis Elahi said to the PTI chairman that they got this seat because of him, so he should sit on it. After Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Moonis Elahi’s insistence, finally Imran Khan sat on the chair of the Punjab Chief Minister.

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
  • 
		
		
    
			
    Signing of declaration of finality of Prophethood (PBUH) for nikkah made mandatory in Punjab
    
			
    Signing of declaration of finality of Prophethood (PBUH) for nikkah made mandatory in Punjab
    
			
    The Punjab local government and community development department has issued updated Form-II of nikkahnama that makes it mandatory for the bride and groom to sign declaration on the belief of finality of Prophethood (PBUH) with immediate effect.
    

    The notification directs all the secretaries of union councils to provide the amended nikkahnama containing the declaration of finality of Prophethood (PBUH) to all nikkah registrars.
    

    The law states, “If any person to whom a licence has been granted under this rule contravenes any of the conditions of such license, he shall be punishable with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees or with both.”
    

    If a nikkah registrar does not use the updated Form-II, a disciplinary action will be taken against the concerned UC secretary.
    

    The Punjab cabinet approved the amendment in March this year. The amendment was approved in the 51st provincial meeting of former chief minister (CM) Punjab Usman Buzdar’s cabinet.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
  • 
		
		
    
			
    Punjab Assembly session: Who will be the new Speaker?
    
			
    Punjab Assembly session: Who will be the new Speaker?
    
			
    The Punjab Assembly (PA) session to elect its new Speaker has started today (Friday). Today’s session will be chaired by Panel of Chairman Wasim Badozai.
    

    The seat fell vacant when the previous Speaker, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, was sworn in as Punjab Chief Minister (CM) after the Supreme Court’s (SC) verdict in his favour.
    

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) have the majority in the Assembly, and have nominated Sibtain Khan as their joint candidate while the Opposition parties, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), have nominated Saiful Malook Khokhar as their joint candidate.
    

    Khan is currently serving as Provincial Minister of Punjab for Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries since 2020.
    

    Sibtain Khan claimed that the PML-N would “fail to cause any interruption” during the Speaker’s election. He hoped that he would win the contest “effortlessly”.
    

    PML-N’s Khokhar said that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) will win. “They [PTI] will know who is better and who is a thief,” he added.