Tag: Sindh

  • Sindh police clashes with protestors, journalists for violating section 144

    Sindh police clashes with protestors, journalists for violating section 144

    Police on Sunday confronted protestors for defying section 144 during a demonstration against the extra-judicial killing of blasphemy suspect Dr Shahnawaz Kunbhar and “extremism in Sindh.”

    The demonstrators had gathered outside the Karachi Press Club (KPC), for a protest organised under the “Sindh Rawadari March”, to condemn the murder of Dr Shahnawaz, who was shot dead by the police in Mirpurkhas on September 19 under blasphemy accusations, Dawn News reported.

    The Sindh Rawadari March brought together progressive voices from all over the province, including human rights defenders, trade unions and feminist movements.

    According to Tribune, the confrontation between law enforcement officials and protestors led to the arrest of over 100 individuals outside KPC, Metropole hostel and Jinnah Hospital.

    The Karachi police also cracked down on journalists, stopping them from covering the peace march.

    Simultaneously, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) organised a counter-protest at KPC, and police halted them at Teen Talwar, near Capri cinema.

    President Karachi Press Club Saeed Sarbazi claimed, “Police closed all routes leading to the press club with containers and buses, and even reporters and camera persons were not allowed entry.”

    Karachi South Deputy Commissioner (DC) Altaf Sario stated that section 144 was imposed due to the risk of riots and violence not only in Karachi but also in other parts of Sindh.

    Meanwhile, Senator Sherry Rehman apologised for the police crackdown on protestors outside KPC on behalf of her party.

    She wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “I apologise on behalf of the party. Am told that TLP was advancing from the other side and the police were on hair trigger alert after the recent attacks on foreigners and the advise to not protest until SCO is over, but still, the situation could have been handled differently.”

    “We are a democratic party, and the rights of citizens have to be protected and respected even if they were in violation of today’s 144. I have spoken on the phone from Islamabad to many who were mistreated, and I apologised and appreciate their understanding. Because this is important. Many of us are sorry and shamed. Will inform the leadership as well,” Sherry Rehman further noted.

  • Father hangs himself and three children in Umerkot

    Father hangs himself and three children in Umerkot

    The bodies of a man and his three children were found hanging from trees in Umerkot, Sindh.

    ARY News reported that the police said the bodies were found by Bhodar Farm police in a mango orchard.

    “The deceased have been identified as Chaman Kolhi 32, a resident of Kunri, and his three children,” the police confirmed.

    As per the initial investigation, Chaman Kolhi allegedly committed suicide with his three children because of domestic problems.

    Chairman of the Human Rights Council of Pakistan, Jamshed Hussain, shared the picture of the hanging bodies and posted, “A father of three committed suicide along with the children because of poverty.”

    The police told the media that the bodies of the man and the children were removed and shifted to a local hospital.

  • Sindh govt unaware: NAB recovers Rs 6 trillion worth of land

    Sindh govt unaware: NAB recovers Rs 6 trillion worth of land

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has recovered 90 per cent of 18 lac acres of land in Sindh of which the provincial government was reportedly unaware.

    Prominent journalist Asif Bashir Chaudhary has revealed on a YouTube show ‘Talk SHOCK’ that NAB sent notices to the occupants of the land, ordering them to show the documents as proof of ownership. However, they failed to produce the required documents.

    “Possession land belongs to Sukkur and Karachi forest reserves,” he revealed, adding that the Ministry of Forest did not have a record of land.

    He revealed that Chairman NAB Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmad, who had complete documents of recovered 16,200,00 acres, presented to Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah.

    The CM Sindh was, reportedly, unaware of the news.

    “The estimated cost of recovered land is six trillion rupees,” he concluded.

  • MDCAT trends on X as students get swamped with problems

    MDCAT trends on X as students get swamped with problems

    Thousands of students from across the country appeared in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) on Sunday. Since then, social media is abuzz with allegations of paper leaks and mismanagement in the way exams were conducted.

    As per Dawn, leaked papers and mismanagement have been reported in six exam centres, whereas exams were held in five cities across Sindh. In NED University of Engineering and Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), students and their parents had to go through trouble when they arrived. In some of the other centres, many had to wait for hours to enter the centre.

    Some reported that the MDCAT paper leaked at midnight, and it was 70 to 80 percent similar to the actual paper.

    However, Dow University has dismissed these allegations, stating that “the paper that went viral on social media is different from the MDCAT paper.”

    Videos of students protesting inside Shahid Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) against wrong answer keys of the multiple choice questions in the official exam have surfaced on social media.

    Students from Sindh posted pictures of alleged leaked questions and compared them with the original one, implying that rampant injustice was meted out to hardworking students.

    Some also posted about long lines outside Karachi’s NED University, pointing out the poor arrangements.

    Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) said in a statement, “In Lahore, there were eight centres but here in Karachi only two centres were set up. The students and their parents were humiliated.”

    Another student posted a screenshot of the denial of Dow University on Facebook, stating that the comments section was turned off. “Turning comments won’t turn off the truth. We demand accountability,” he stressed.

    Students from Islamabad also lamented the release of the wrong answer key by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, which is affecting the expected result deeply.

    In Balochistan, students claim that some students were allegedly caught cheating during an exam in Quetta.

    As for the recent update, the students online are claiming that SZABMU has decided to award six grace marks to the students on the issue of wrong answer keys.

  • Sindh Culture Minister takes action over missing artwork

    Sindh Culture Minister takes action over missing artwork

    Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Minister for Culture and Tourism in Sindh, has formed a two-person investigating commission to investigate the disappearance of painter Safdar Ali Soomro’s artwork .

    The Director General of Antiquities and the Director General of Culture make up the committee which will conduct a thorough investigation and provide a comprehensive report on the missing artwork

    Minister for Cultural Tourism Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah said, “We have initiated a comprehensive investigation, and further action will be taken based on the findings. Any negligence or misconduct will be addressed accordingly.”
    Big Bang issued a statement on their Instagram account, saying,

    “As artists and producers ourselves, our sympathies go out to the concerned individual. This being said, Big Bang Entertainment would like to clarify that we have no involvement in this matter. The location for this specific shoot was rented, and as per our agreement, all assets present, including the painting in question, belonged to the venue owners.”

    “Unfortunately, this is beyond the control of our production team, and we encourage the artist to directly address the matter with the concerned parties. We hope for a swift and fair resolution and expect all stakeholders to respect the unprecedented success and acclaim Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum has organically achieved these past few weeks.”

    Safdar Ali Soomro, a talented artist from Daharki in Ghokti, Sindh, never imagined that his paintings would be featured in the smash hit drama Kabhi Mein Kabhi Tum.

    The trending serial has captured the hearts of viewers both in Pakistan and abroad, with its characters and storyline receiving widespread praise.

    However, an unexpected twist occurred when artist Safdar Ali Soomro recognized his lost paintings hanging in the background in one of the episodes.

    In an exclusive conversation with The Current, Safdar shared the story of his missing artwork. Graduating from the University of Sindh with a focus on fine arts, Safdar created 16 paintings for his thesis, all in blue monochrome, under the theme ‘Innocent Faces.’ These works were displayed at his university’s Benazir Art Gallery, after which he sought exhibitions in Karachi.

    “After the display, I took my paintings to Karachi to explore the market. I had already participated in two or three local exhibitions while I was at the university. I saw an ad on Frere Hall’s social media inviting artists to submit their paintings for an exhibition. I submitted my paintings to their Sadeqain Art Gallery, and they made an entry in their book. I might have received a receipt, but I don’t have it anymore.”

    Before bringing his paintings to Karachi, he had already showcased his work in a few university exhibitions.

    Safdar submitted his paintings to Frere Hall, but to his dismay, he was informed that they had gone missing. Seven years later, in 2024, he was surprised to see his artwork featured in episode 17 of Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum.

    “ I want to say that whoever’s paintings they are, they should get the credit. No third party should take credit for my work. I am the owner of those paintings, and I have proofs and my signature on them,” Soomro added.

    The Current reached out to Big Bang Productions, who clarified that they had nothing to do with the paintings and only paid rent for the scene shot at Frere Hall. The problem now lies at Frere Hall’s doorsteps, with many questions still unanswered.

  • Holiday for Sindh students just around the corner

    Holiday for Sindh students just around the corner

    The provincial government has announced that all public and private schools across Sindh will remain closed on Monday, August 26, to mark the Chehlum of Imam Hussain (RA).

    The official notification states that a steering committee of the Sindh education department decided on the closure of educational institutes.

    The event marks the 40-day mourning period after the martyrdom date of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his 72 companions in the Battle of Karbala on the 10th of Muharram.

  • PPP leader Saeed Ghani terms Punjab govt’s relief in bills a ‘political stunt’

    PPP leader Saeed Ghani terms Punjab govt’s relief in bills a ‘political stunt’

    Sindh Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani mocked the Punjab government’s recent move to give relief to the masses by reducing electricity prices for just two months, terming it a “political stunt.”

    He said this in response to Punjab’s government’s decision to provide relief to the public by rescuing Rs 14 per unit on electricity bills for two months (August and September).

    Ghani remarked that it was the federal government’s responsibility to provide people with cost-efficient electricity, saying, “Rs 45 billion are being expended for relief for two months only, while scores of relief works could be done with that Rs 45 billion.”

    “The question is what will happen after two months. The consumers will be paying the same [high] prices,” the PPP leader stated.

    Interestingly, Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori asked Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Sunday to announce a Punjab government-like relief in electricity bills.

  • Torrential rains predicted in the coming week

    Torrential rains predicted in the coming week

    Torrential rains have been predicted in the country from August 14 to August 18.

    The weather department shared details of the new spell, saying monsoon winds from the West, Arabian Sea, and Bay of Bengal will affect the country. Heavy rains will descend in some places in Islamabad, Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir.

    There is a possibility of light rain in the coastal areas of Sindh during the evening or night of August 15 to August 18, according to the meteorological department.

    Additionally, rain continues in various districts of Balochistan, and the Meteorological Department has predicted a new spell of rain with wind and thunder in 16 districts from August 15.

    Meteorologists have also warned of strong winds and thunderstorms in the coastal areas of Khuzdar, Lasbela, Awaran, Kalat, Zhob, Barkhan, Musa Khel, Mastung, Sibi, Shirani, Kohlu, Bolan, Harnai, Nasirabad, Jafarabad and Makran during August 15 to 18. Intermittent rain and heavy rain in some places have been predicted.
    6.6 mm of rain was recorded in Barkhan and Kalat during the last 24 hours.

    Besides this, Monday was the hottest day in Nokundi, with a maximum temperature of 47 degrees Celsius.

  • PMLN Sindh President to replace Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori

    PMLN Sindh President to replace Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori

    Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) and its coalition government ally, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), have agreed to change the Governor of Sindh, Kamran Khan Tesori.

    According to a Geo News source, the incumbent Sindh governor could be replaced by PML-N Sindh president and former head of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Bashir Memon.

    While responding to the report, MQM denied that the Governor will be changed.

    A spokesperson of MQM said, ‘’The Centre has not contacted us yet in this regard’.”

    PPP Sindh General Secretary Waqar Mehdi said, ‘’Kamran Tessori better go on leave until the PMLN chooses the new Governor of Sindh’’.

    In April this year, sources made similar claims that former Sindh caretaker chief minister Justice (retired) Maqbool Baqar could be appointed governor of Sindh.

  • Asad Shah charged in Fatima’s murder

    Asad Shah charged in Fatima’s murder

    An Anti-Terrorism Court in Khairpur has convicted four individuals in the case involving the death of a minor maid, Fatima Fariro, from last year. The convicted are Pir Asad Shah, Hina Shah, Pir Fayaz Shah, and Imtiaz Mirasi.

    The four offenders have been charged by the court in connection with Fatima’s murder that happened at Ranipur Haveli in Ranipur village near Khairpur city in Sindh province.

    The hearing has been adjourned until August 12. The witnesses’ statements will be recorded at the next hearing.

    Background:

    On August 14, 2023, 10-year-old Fatima was allegedly tortured to death in a mansion in Ranipur.

    Pir Asad Shah, Fayaz Shah, Hina Shah, and Compounder Fayaz have been named as the main suspects in the murder case.

    The case of the young maid’s murder is currently under review in the anti-terrorism court in Khairpur.

    Main suspect Asad Shah was arrested after the case was highlighted, and a video revealing the girl’s suffering before her death was also released.