Tag: trending

  • National Assembly, Islamic Ideology Council unite in condemning Swat mob lynching incident

    National Assembly, Islamic Ideology Council unite in condemning Swat mob lynching incident

    The National Assembly of Pakistan on Sunday passed a resolution condemning the recent Swat mob lynching incident, demanding action against the culprits.

    The resolution, presented by Federal Law Minister Nazir Tarar, was approved by a majority vote.

    “Action must be taken against the perpetrators of such heinous acts,” stated the resolution.

    It further underscored the need for both federal and provincial governments to ensure the protection of minorities.

    “Although we may have our differences, we must unite on certain fundamental issues. Any incident akin to the one in Swat, regardless of where it occurs in the country, should prompt immediate and decisive action by the respective governments,” stated the law minister.

    Furthermore, the Chairman of the Islamic Ideological Council (IIC), Dr Allama Muhammad Raghib Hussain Naeemi, also strongly condemned the incident, saying, “No individual or group is allowed to punish anyone legally, morally, or according to Sharia.”

    He further said that the accused should be identified through forensic and mobile geo-location in the Swat case and punished according to the law.

    Chairman IIC also said that in Islam, burning a person’s body is a great sin; there is an intense punishment for this act.

    On June 20, an unfortunate incident took place when a man accused of blasphemy was lynched and burned by a violent mob in Swat district.

  • Hasan Iqbal Chisti slammed for misogynistic song against girl’s education

    Hasan Iqbal Chisti slammed for misogynistic song against girl’s education

    Clerical singer Hassan Iqbal Chisti, known for singing controversial songs that he claims are devotional, is again under fire for yet another rendition against girl’s education, titled ‘Apni Dhi Schoolo Hata Le| Othy Dance Kardi Payi Ae|’ [Take your daughter out of school, she is dancing there.]

    Chishti was slammed by social media for his misogynistic approach.

    Social activist Asma Azam lambasted him: “They can see girls dancing in the school but not the children getting raped in the Madrassas. Is it approved or Halaal for them?”

    Another netizen, Maria Amir, wrote, “As if there isn’t enough ridiculous bigoted, backwards propaganda against girls education in our part of the world already, scum like this are now making ‘music videos’ …. so they can hate on ‘girls dancing in school.”

    Sumaira Khalid posted, “Is dancing for clerics like these Halaal?”

    Mohammad Hassan expressed his anger over this song cum kalam by writing that this satanic cleric should be sent to jail and beaten for this. “It is a matter of shame for those who support these clerics.”

  • Is Pakistan considering striking TTP in Afghanistan under Operation Azm-e-Istehkam?

    Is Pakistan considering striking TTP in Afghanistan under Operation Azm-e-Istehkam?

    The Khorasan Diary has posted an alert on X (formerly Twitter) on June 23 that a high-ranking official from the government told the outlet that the government may start surgical strikes against the Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) inside Afghanistan.

    The post read, “A high-ranking Pakistani official has revealed that the government may authorise cross-border operations against Pakistani Taliban hideouts as part of the newly announced nationwide operation against militant outfits.”

    It further elaborated, “Pakistani government will not hesitate to pursue and neutralise terrorist targets across the border,” the official stated on condition of anonymity.”

    In recent years, terrorism in Pakistan has seen a surge as it accuses neighbouring Afghanistan of inaction against the TTP.

    Pakistan also conducted cross-border strikes against the terrorists inside Afghanistan this year as the Afghan authorities shifted the blame on Pakistan that dealing with TTP is Pakistan’s own responsibility.

  • Govt, opposition not on same page about new military operation, Azm-e-Istehkam

    Govt, opposition not on same page about new military operation, Azm-e-Istehkam

    During Sunday’s turbulent National Assembly (NA) session, the government and opposition were contentious over the matter of a new military operation, Azm-e-Istehkam, to eliminate terrorism from the country.

    Lawmakers from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) voiced concerns during the session that they were not taken into confidence about the new operation.

    After this, PTI walked out of the session and returned after an hour, leading to the PTI MNAs’ address. Opposition party leaders chanted slogans during the session, including “End the operation” and “We want peace.”

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had announced a fresh military operation, named Azm-e-Istehkam, on Saturday to eradicate militants from the country.

    The Central Apex Committee on National Action Plan (NAP) consist of top authorities from all the provinces, approved the new anti-terrorism operation. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was also part of the decision-making committee after increasing terrorist attacks in the country, especially in KP and Balochistan.

  • World Bank, Asian Development Bank approve millions of dollar loans for Pakistan

    World Bank, Asian Development Bank approve millions of dollar loans for Pakistan

    The World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have approved big loans for Pakistan.

    Asian Development Bank

    Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank signed a $250 million policy-based loan agreement to promote sustainable infrastructure and services through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).

    The agreement also aims to develop post-flood infrastructure, emphasizing climate resilience and gender considerations in project planning.

    A technical assistance grant of $700,000 was allocated for program implementation, with an additional $950,000 approved for PPP pipeline development and capacity building.


    World Bank

    The World Bank has approved loans of $535 million for Pakistan, focused on two key areas: the Crisis Resilient Social Protection (CRISP) Programme and the Sindh Livestock and Aquaculture Sectors Transformation Project.

    The CRISP Programme includes a $400 million loan to improve security schemes, particularly through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), to build resilience among vulnerable households against economic and climate shocks.

    The World Bank defends criticism against BISP by stressing the need to strengthen social protection despite increasing poverty rates exacerbated by recent economic challenges and climate shocks.

    Additionally, the World Bank approved $135 million for the Sindh Livestock and Aquaculture Sectors Transformation Project, which targets climate-smart practices and enhances competitiveness among small and medium producers in Sindh. This initiative aims to benefit over 940,000 farm families, strongly emphasising gender inclusivity and provincial capacity building.

  • Anger after fireworks trigger Greek forest fire

    Anger after fireworks trigger Greek forest fire

    Firefighters said Saturday that fireworks launched from a yacht started a forest fire on the Greek tourist island of Hydra, near Athens, sparking widespread anger.

    The fire, which started on Friday evening, has been brought under control, authorities said.

    The blaze was “caused by a fireworks launched from a boat and burned the only pine forest on the island in a place that is difficult to access and has no road,” said the island’s seasonal firefighting team on Facebook.

    The island’s mayor, Giorgos Koukoudakis, told public television channel ERT that he was “outraged that certain people are starting fires in such an irresponsible manner.”

    The news also sparked fury on social media.

    Greece has recently toughened penalties for arson, with perpetrators now facing up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to 200,000 euros.

    The country has been bracing for a particularly difficult summer as authorities warned that strong winds and high temperatures mean there was a “very high risk” of forest fires.

    The Mediterranean country recorded its first heatwave of the year last week, with temperatures passing more than 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit) in some locations.

    Greek firefighters on Friday battled wildfires fanned by three days of fierce winds that left at least one person dead.

    Last year, a fierce two-week heatwave was followed by devastating wildfires in which 20 people died.

    Scientists warn that human-caused fossil fuel emissions are worsening the length and intensity of heat waves worldwide.

    Rising temperatures are leading to extended wildfire seasons and increasing the area burnt by the blazes, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

  • Imran Khan writing book in jail, journalist Zahid Gishkori reveals

    Imran Khan writing book in jail, journalist Zahid Gishkori reveals

    Senior journalist Zahid Ghishkori has revealed on Neo TV on Friday that incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan is writing a book in Adiala Jail.

    A close friend of the PTI founder stated that Khan has been dedicatedly writing the book over the past few months, adding that the book will be about Khan’s achievements and highlights of his political career.

    According to the journalist, Khan has already completed the 300-page book, but it is not clear whether he will publish it after his release or during incarceration.

    Gishkori confirmed that the book’s does not have a title as yet, but he was of the opinion that wide audiences will relate with the topics and stories in the book.

    Gishkori also predicted that the book will be a bestseller and might set new sales records.

  • Pakistan’s first Human Milk Bank in Sindh suspended

    Pakistan’s first Human Milk Bank in Sindh suspended

    Following a recently revised fatwa from Dar ul Uloom Karachi, the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN) in Karachi announced on Friday the suspension of its ‘Human Milk Bank’ and referred the matter to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) for further guidance.

    “Initially, the Human Milk Bank was established after seeing and receiving a fatwa from Darul Uloom Karachi, which provides religious endorsement to proceed,” the notification stated, elaborating on the basis of establishing SICHN.

    However, a recently revised fatwa issued by Darul Uloom Karachi dated June 16, 2024, has prompted SICHN to discontinue the functionality of the Human Milk Bank and seek further guidance from Dar ul Uloom.

    Pakistan’s first Shariah-compliant Human Milk Bank and Early Childhood Center at SICHN was inaugurated on June 10 by Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuho, along with officials from UNICEF and the Pakistan Pediatric Association (PPA).

    It was intended to provide breast milk to babies “born before 34 weeks of gestation or less than 2 kg of weight” who could not receive the required nutrition from their mothers.

    The official statement also highlighted details of the fatwa, issued on December 25, 2023, that were made conditional for the endorsement of the milk bank, e.g., that Muslim children only be given Muslim women’s milk, ensuring kinship, hygiene, and that this service should be provided free of cost.

    However, the recent fatwa available on Dar ul Uloom Karachi’s official website includes a detailed analysis of the establishment of a milk bank that did not comply with Shariah laws because of the hard maintenance of the concept of kinship and other religious concerns.

  • Swat blasphemy lynching; ‘Whoever kills is a murderer’ says religious scholar Assim Alhakeem

    Swat blasphemy lynching; ‘Whoever kills is a murderer’ says religious scholar Assim Alhakeem

    Religious extremism and mob vigilantism across the country are on the rise. With the recent instance of the mob lynching of a man accused of blasphemy in Swat, a Twitter user asked renowned Saudi cleric Assim Alhakeem whether killing a person who has committed blasphemy is allowed in Islam.

    The religious scholar replied, “This is prohibited and whoever does this is a murderer and must be executed by the Muslim ruler if the heirs of the victim demands a life for a life.”

    On Thursday night, a violent mob invaded the police station in Swat where the suspect had been taken into custody, assaulting him till he died, then burned his body in the Madyan area of Swat district.

  • PTI demands court martial for Gen Bajwa

    PTI demands court martial for Gen Bajwa

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has demanded on Friday that former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa should be held accountable for violating his oath.

    PTI made the demand after former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Muhammad Zubair claimed that Bajwa was in contact with PML-N president Nawaz Sharif two months before the ouster of incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    Zubair said on Kashif Abbasi’s show that Nawaz Sharif and the former army chief met multiple times in London.

    Following Zubair’s revelations, PTI demanded that the former army chief should be court-martialled for “dragging the military into politics, tainting its reputation, and putting national security at risk.”

    PTI said in its press release that “Jati Umra elites” are responsible for every conspiracy against the constitution, law and democracy in the country.

    The party allegedly blamed Bajwa by saing “Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa is a national criminal in every respect as he put the institution of army, country, Constitution and democracy at stake for his personal interest.”