Dr. Sawera Prakash, the first Hindu woman to contest general elections from Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, recently appeared on a talk show on an Indian TV channel and amazed the host with her honesty and confidence.
She was asked by host Sudhir Chaudhary of Aaj Tak TV about whether Muslim voters in Pakistan will ever vote for a Hindu woman to which Miss Prakash replied that she fully believes that. “The positive response I have been receiving has exceeded my expectations.” She asserted that she has never felt discriminated against, neither as a minority nor as a woman, during her campaign. Upon this the interviewer told her that it feels like she has embraced Pakistan like no other, even though she is a Hindu. Sawera promptly reminded him she was born in Pakistan and being a citizen, she is a patriot. She especially mentioned that she has been given the title of “Daughter of Buner” and this makes her responsible towards not just her district but her country as well.
Sudhir Chaudhary however kept on trying to rattle the calm Dr. Prakash, asking her about the situation of minorities in Pakistan. He quoted disgraced former cricketer Danesh Kanaria who has said that he could not flourish because of his minority status. Miss Prakash vehemently denied that by saying that she is getting support from people of her district, an area which is traditionally conservative yet they own her. Punjab and Sindh must be more open towards minorities, she implied.
Towards the end, the interviewer asked her about Ram Mandir which is about to be opened in Ayodhya, India, built on the site of Babri Masjid, and whether she would come to visit. Dr. Sawera answered that she has never thought about it.
Actor Faysal Quraishi wants to restore the splendor of Pakistani cinema but has an unusual plan to do so.
In an interview the veteran performer gave to Independent Urdu, he talked about the film industry in Pakistan and how it can be revived. “I am a very patriotic person,” he said. However, he emphasized that to make Pakistani cinema thrive, it’s crucial to screen Bollywood films in theaters. “I know that our people want to watch Bollywood movies in Pakistan, so we cannot impose our will on them.”
The actor mused about building good relationships with India, stating that, “We got a great opportunity to work in India. However, due to political tensions and conflicts, those paths closed, and we often shut down routes that bring money to our country.”
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has on Saturday rejected the nomination papers of the leader of the Haqooq-e-Khalq Party (HKP), Dr Ammar Ali Jan, from PP 160 Lahore.
The HKP leader and well-known activist claimed that all his documents were cleared during the scrutiny process, but unknown forces intervened.
He also said in one of his tweets on X (previously Twitter): “My nomination papers for PP160 have been rejected by ECP. All documents were cleared during the scrutiny process, but invisible forces intervened later. We will go to High Court and have this decision reversed. The selection process will fail, and democracy will prevail.”
He also wrote on X that HKP staged a historical rally at Shanghai Bridge on Sunday, alleging that police threatened HKP workers and tried to disperse the gathering.
Dr Ammar Ali Jan is a known teacher and activist who leads social work in underprivileged localities of Lahore. During Imran Khan’s government, he was a leading critical voice, subjected to targeted harassment by the police.
My nomination papers for PP160 have been rejected by ECP. All documents were cleared during the scrutiny process, but invisible forces intervened later. We will go to High Court and have this decision reversed. The selection process will fail and democracy will prevail.
— National Highways & Motorway Police (NHMP) (@NHMPofficial) January 1, 2024
National Highways and Motorway Police have revised fines, applicable from January 1.
As per the details released by NHMP, the fines range from Rs. 750 to Rs. 3000 for covering the backscreen partially or completely and not following the stop-line protocols respectively.
The details of the rest of the fines are in the tweet below:
2023 saw the world witnessing war and injustices on a global scale, and the rise of indigenous leadership. It is said that leaders are not born, they are made. The war on Gaza and some indigenous movements have caused a paradigm shift in the collective consciousness of people by changing the way pop culture approaches celebrity culture. This time the choice was not hard. Heroes of 2023 are neither politicians nor actors, they are people who have not deliberately made their way to the limelight. Circumstances made them stand up for the cause they stood for.
Motaz Azaiza
Motaz, the photojournalist famously known as “The Eye of Gaza”, has emerged as the world’s window into Gaza. His Instagram and Twitter accounts provided a very real and horrifying peek into the oppression carried out by the Israeli forces.
The world saw his transformation over a short time, as the war lingered on for more than 80 days. From grey hair at 24 to his struggle to have access to the internet, the world him document the horrors unfolding in Gaza’s genocide. His followers increased from thousands to millions and he became that one person who people prayed for when seen offline for a long time.
This young man graduated from the University of Gaza in English Language Literature, pursued his passion for photography, and struggled as a freelancer in the limited options available in Gaza but his efforts got recognized post-October 7. His valour and commitment got appreciated in the form of him being declared the “Man of the Year” by GQ Middle East and the pictures taken by him making it to Times Top 100 Photos of 2023.
“No one is safe, nowhere is safe, and fear is everywhere. Either I stay at home or I go outside. Why should I stay at home? I have to stand up and show the world the truth through the camera lens,” Motaz told The New Arab in an interview and this encapsulates the motive behind his work.
Mahrang, a student leader from Balochistan, is again a leader crafted by circumstances. At 30, she is leading a movement against the extra-judicial killings and missing persons in the country.
Mahrang was just a young girl when her father was forcibly abducted and later found dead with signs of torture back in 2009. According to her, this incident changed her life completely. Unfazed, she became vocal about the inhumane acts. Her brother faced the same persecution in 2017 but that made her even more resolute to speak against this injustice. She actively led different movements in her student years. Mahrang was a student leader in 2020 when the removal of the quota system at Bolan Medical College emerged and she led the campaign to oppose the suggestion successfully as she believed that this quota system preserve opportunities for students from remote areas.
یکم جولائی 2011 میرے سیاسی استاد اور میرے والد عبدالغفار لانگو کو 2 سال جبری گمشدہ کرنے کے بعد انکی مسخ شدہ لاش ریاست نے ہمیں تحفے میں دی۔اپنے مہروان والد کے خون آلود چہرے کو دیکھتے انکے تابوت کے پاس بیٹھے ہم پانچ بہنوں اور ہمارے اکلوتے بھائی کی زندگیاں یکسر بدل گئی۔ pic.twitter.com/OC1EBJS9Ky
The human rights activist describes herself as a political worker and an advocate of #endenforceddisappearences.
She is currently leading the sit-in by Balcoh protestors in Islamabad, becoming the voice of tens of thousands of Baloch suffering the loss of their beloved in the province through the platform of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee. The death of Balach Baloch instigated a new wave of awareness about the issue and this time Mahrang is determined to not let the phenomenon of the “Baloch Genocide” go unnoticed.
Both causes are close to our hearts, inspiring us with their bravery and determination.
Pakistani celebrities found themselves in the spotlight in 2023 for various reasons, and unfortunately, not all were positive. Let’s delve into the top three blunders that grabbed public attention:
From social media missteps to controversial statements, these incidents stirred discussions and raised questions about the responsibility that comes with fame.
Nida Yasir faced online mockery after mistakenly stating on Shoaib Akhtar’s show that Pakistan won the 1992 Cricket World Cup in 2006. Netizens swiftly responded with humor, sharing memes and comments about the gaffe. Yasir, known as the ‘queen of memes,’ has previously been trolled for various reasons, maintaining her reputation for unintentional comedic moments on live television. Twitter users seized the opportunity to share their amusement, once again making Yasir the center of online humor.
Sehar Khan faced backlash for inaccurately labeling Priyanka Chopra’s ‘Barfi’ character. Critics highlighted the importance of using respectful language regarding mental health.
Dear Sehar, The proper term to use here is autistic. Jhilmil wasn’t abnormal or a psychopath;she was autistic.When someone with a disability/psychological disorder is referred to as “abnormal” it conveys the wrong idea that those with disabilities are deviant or strange.(1/3) pic.twitter.com/sS1WtJ5GQq
Sehar apologized, acknowledging her mistake and emphasizing her respect for those with mental disabilities. The incident underscores the responsibility celebrities bear in shaping public perceptions.
In a recent interview I meant to say I want to do a role of a differently abled person but due to slip of tongue, I mistakenly said something else. I should have gathered my thoughts before answering the question to express myself better. (1/2)
TikTok couple Sehar Hayat and Samir Rasheed faced severe criticism for conducting a poll on social media, asking followers whether they wanted to see a Valima vlog or Sehar in the hospital. After Sehar fell ill, Samir shared a picture of her in the hospital, sparking accusations of a tasteless publicity stunt. The couple deleted the poll amid backlash, with netizens condemning the prioritization of social media over Sehar’s well-being. The controversy drew attention from model Mathira, who called out the perceived fakery. Critics questioned the authenticity of their actions, fueling a social media storm.
Pakistan was the ‘best performing destination’ in terms of tourism during the first nine months of 2023, according to the ‘World Tourism Barometer’ published by the World Tourism Organisation of the United Nations, reported Dawn.
Pakistan made a remarkable 92 percent recovery to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, as the country experienced a 115 percent surge in foreign tourist arrivals compared to the previous year, signaling a robust comeback post-Covid.
With the recovery reaching 115 percent and projections of international receipts reaching $1.3 billion by the end of the year, Pakistan stands as a beacon in tourism resurgence, showcasing its potential on the global stage, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director Aftab Rana said.
He attributed this success to the concerted efforts in tourism promotion. Pakistan actively participated in six major global events to project the tourism potential in the country.
A strategic online outreach, along with the launching of the “Salam Pakistan” tourism brand in August 2023, contributed significantly to attracting a diverse range of visitors from across the globe.
Minister of State for Tourism Wasi Shah congratulated the PTDC team and industry partners for the achievement, expressing optimism for a stronger performance in 2024 despite existing challenges. Mr. Rana spoke highly of the collaborative efforts of PTDC, provincial tourist departments, and private sector operators, emphasising the role of global events in expanding international partnerships.
According to the WTO Tourism Barometer, other leading best performing destinations were Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Turkiye, and Romania among countries from Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East. Egypt and Serbia were at the bottom of the destination countries list.
Key findings of the barometer show international tourism recovered 87pc of pre-pandemic levels in January-September 2023.
An estimated 975 million tourists traveled internationally between January and September 2023, an increase of 38 percent over the same months of 2022, though 13 percent fewer than in 2019.
International tourism receipts could reach $1.4 trillion in 2023, about 93pc of the $1.5tr earned by destinations in 2019.
These results reflect the strong recovery of demand in 2023. By regions, the Middle East continued to lead the recovery by regions in relative terms, with arrivals 20pc above pre-pandemic levels in the first nine months of 2023. Europe, the world’s largest destination region, reached 94pc of pre-pandemic levels, supported by robust intra-regional demand.
Africa recovered 92 percent of pre-crisis visitors during these nine months and the Americas 88 percent. In Asia and the Pacific, arrivals climbed to 62 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
By sub-regions, North Africa (+5pc), Central America (+4 percent), and Southern Mediterranean Europe (+1 percent) continued to exceed pre-pandemic levels in January-September 2023.
International arrivals are expected to reach 1.3 billion overall in 2023, up 33 percent over 2022 and almost 90 percent of pre-pandemic levels, in line with UNWTO scenarios published in January.
Against this backdrop, international tourism is well on track to fully recover pre-pandemic levels in 2024 despite economic challenges and uncertainty derived from certain geopolitical tensions and conflicts, WTO says.
In all honesty, 2023 was more like a crazy roller coaster than a democratic process when it comes to Pakistani politics. Here are some of the significant events that happened this year:
Assemblies dissolved
On January 14, 2023, the provincial assembly of Punjab was dissolved while on January 16, 2023, Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was dissolved as former Prime Minister Imran Khan was pushing for early national elections.
May 9
On May 9, 2023, former prime minister and founder chairman of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan was submitting his biometric data for a court appearance when paramilitary forces broke down a window inside the court to get to apprehend him.
The dramatic and sudden arrest of the former cricket star turned leader resulted in violent clashes between supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and law enforcement agencies protests to mark the arrest of the former Prime Minister turned into riots.
Several military installations, including GHQ and the Lahore corps commander’s official residence, were attacked across the country within hours of Imran Khan’s detention.
May 9, termed a “black day” by the Pakistani state, ended up provoking a harsh military crackdown on Khan’s party.
PTI Dismantled
Thousands of PTI members, including many women, were rounded up and arrested after May 9 riots.
More than two dozen members of PTI resigned from the politics following the protests.
Notable figures like Shireen Mazari, Asad Umer, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, Fawad Chaudhry, Maleeka Bokhari, Abrar ul Haq, Murad Ras, Ali Haider Zaidi, Imran Islamil, Usman Dar, Farrukh Habib, Sadaqat Ali Abbasi, Andleeb Abbas, Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Shaukat Tarin and others either left PTI or quit politics.
Imran Khan Jailed
Police arrested Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Lahore on August 5, 2023, after a court sentenced him to three years in prison for illegally selling state gifts, potentially barring the opposition leader from contesting an upcoming election.
On September 26, 2023, Imran Khan was shifted to the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi from Attock prison, a day after the Islamabad High Court ordered authorities to relocate him to the high-security jail.
Qazi Faez Isa
On September 17, 2023, Justice Qazi Faez Isa was sworn in as the 29th chief justice of Pakistan.
A ceremony was held at Aiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad during which President Arif Alvi administered the oath of office. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir were also present.
Justice Isa was accompanied by his wife, Sarina Isa, while he was taking oath.
Imran Riaz ‘safely’ returns
On the evening of May 11, 2023, police arrested Imran Riaz Khan, a former anchor with the privately owned broadcaster Express News and host of a YouTube channel with over three million subscribers.
Imran Riaz Khan, often called Imran Riaz, was trying to flee the country over fears of his arrest. At the time, authorities accused him of inciting people to violence through his reporting.
He was said to have been freed a few days later, but there was no trace of him and police denied keeping him in custody.
On September 25, 2023, his lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq took to X (former Tiwtter) and posted a picture of Imran Riaz, after his return, stating that the recovery took a long time due to “countless difficulties, a weak judiciary” and the ineffectiveness of the Constitution. He also shared a photo of him with Khan.
The rift between Zardari and Bilawal
On November 23, 2023, the former president of Pakistan and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari‘s father, Asif Ali Zardari, during an exclusive interview with Hamid Mir on Geo News’ program “Capital Talk”, said that Bilawal is “inexperienced” and that it would take some time for him to gain more exposure, on Thursday.
“Bilawal is much more talented than I am, but he isn’t experienced,” he said.
On November 24, 2023, in a seeming act of defiance to his father, Bilawal changed his profile picture on X on Friday afternoon, to a photo with his mother Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister and head of the PPP till her assassination in 2017.
PPP denied all the claims of a rift between the father-son duo.
Afghan Refugees Repatriation
On October 3, 2023, Pakistan’s caretaker government announced it would carry out mass deportations — known under domestic law as an Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan — asking all concerned to leave the country before 1 November. Although the plan purported to apply to all foreigners residing in the country illegally, it appears designed to target Afghans, millions of whom have sought refuge in Pakistan over the years.
As of December 29, 2023, the total number of allegedly illegal Afghans who left Pakistan reached 453,480 and the process is still underway.
Nawaz Sharif Returns
On October 21, 2023, Pakistan’s thrice-elected former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) supremo Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan, ending four years of self-imposed exile in London.
Nawaz Sharif was disqualified when the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) announced its decision on July 28, 2017, in the Panama Papers case. After that, Nawaz Sharif and three of his children were referred to an accountability court, which was ordered to file corruption cases against Sharif’s family within six weeks.
In July 2018, the expelled prime minister was imprisoned for 10 years in the Avenfield properties corruption case, an assets-beyond-means trial.
In the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case, the PML-N supremo was sentenced to seven years in jail on December 24, 2018. Nawaz Sharif was taken to Adiala jail in this case, and then he was shifted to Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail on the very next day. He was also fined Rs1.5 billion and US$25 million in this case.
The former prime minister was released from jail in March 2019. After that, the Lahore High Court (LHC) allowed Nawaz Sharif to go to London for treatment for fast-depleting platelet levels, and then he left for London in November 2019.
Elections Date Announced
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced on November 3, 2023, that 8th February 2024 is the poll date for the General Elections for the National Assembly of Pakistan and Provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
The date was announced by the President House in a statement following a meeting between the top election officials and President Alvi, hours after the election commission lawyer told the Supreme Court that elections will be held on February 11.
PTI New Chairman
On December 2, 2023, The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) on Saturday elected Barrister Gohar Ali Khan as the new chairman in the intra-party elections held on the directives of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Gohar won the chairman’s position unopposed.
The change was forced on the party after the Election Commission of Pakistan warned the PTI last month that it risked losing its emblem – a cricket bat – unless an internal ballot was held for party officers.
Election symbols are crucial in a country where the adult literacy rate is 58 percent, according to World Bank data.
Baloch Long March
Demanding the release of all “missing persons” and an end to “extrajudicial killing” in Balochistan under the leadership of activist Dr Mahrang Baloch and Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), the march started in Turbat, Balochistan, on December 6 after the alleged extrajudicial killing of 24-year-old Balach Baloch.
According to BYC, when the march reached the capital, the city administration didn’t allow them to protest in front of the press club. Maharng Baloch said in her live video from the Facebook page of BYC that Islamabad police arrested 300 male protesters, eight women, and 10 children.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has submitted a review petition on Saturday to the Peshawar High Court (PHC) challenging the decision of its single-judge bench regarding the iconic electoral symbol of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the ‘bat’.
The high court issued its verdict on December 26 regarding PTI’s petition that contested the ECP’s decision, which had deemed the party’s internal polls “unlawful” and stripped it of using the ‘bat’ symbol.
While announcing the reserved verdict, the PHC suspended the ECP’s order and restored the party’s ‘bat’ symbol till a final decision on the petition. The court also stated that a double bench will hear the matter after winter vacations.
The ECP, in its plea, has urged the court to review the intra-party elections of the PTI and its determinations concerning the election symbol. The Commission, in its plea, urged the court to schedule the petition for consideration by a division bench, emphasizing broader public interest. The commission asserted its responsibility to conduct elections with honesty, justice, and fairness in accordance with the law. The petition read that Article 218(3) allows the electoral body to organise and conduct the elections, adding that the ECP is also responsible for making all necessary arrangements ahead of the polls.
“This court […] observed that election is a process which starts with the issuance of the election programme and consists of the various links and stages in that behalf as, filing of nomination papers, their scrutiny, the hearing of objections and the holding of actual polls. If any of these links is challenged it really (is) tantamount to challenging the said process of election,” it said.
An accountability court in Islamabad granted a six-day physical remand for former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday in connection with a case involving misappropriation in construction projects in Jhelum.
The court noted that the case investigation should be concluded, ensuring Fawad’s access to his legal counsel. The ex-minister is scheduled to appear in court on January 5, 2024.
Fawad was taken into custody earlier this month by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with the corruption case. NAB Chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmed Butt authorized the issuance of an arrest warrant for the politician. Subsequently, the individual was suspended from Adiala jail, where they were already held in connection with a separate fraud case.
The former minister’s lawyer and brother, Faisal Chaudhry, and NAB Prosecutor Sohail Arif were also present in the courtroom.
