A 17 year old schoolgirl in Islamabad was gang-raped by four boys who kidnapped her while she was on her way to school in Sector E-9. The police have arrested three of the four suspects: Atish, Junaid Ansar and Afad Malik while Hassan Shakeel is still at large.
According to The News, the child’s mother told the police that the girl left for school at 8 o’ clock in the morning when she met a friend of her brother, Atish, waiting for her near the school. Atish kidnapped her by lying to her about an emergency. The boy then took her to village Matiari where three of his friends- Junaid Ansar, Afad Malik and Hassan Shakeel- tortured her. Then, they put a gun to her head, threatening to kill her if she cried or screamed while she was being raped.
The police has registered a First information report (FIR) under Section 375-A and said that they are hunting down Hassan Shakeel, promising to trace him within 24 hours.
A LinkedIn user named Fizza Ijaz recently posted about receiving her order from a female KFC rider, Meerab.
Meerab belongs to Lahore and is currently pursuing a degree in fashion designing.
“Today I ordered KFC in Lahore and received a call from a female saying: ‘Hello, I am your rider speaking’,” the post read.
“I got so excited that I stood outside the gate to receive her and we (my friends and I) spoke to her for a good 10 minutes about many things including her pursuits, passion and bike riding skills. Meet Meerab from Youhanabad, Lahore.”
“She is pursuing an undergraduate degree in Fashion Designing and does her night duty as a KFC rider to cover her fees. She intends to remain a rider for another 3 years until she graduates post which she plans to launch her own Fashion Brand!”
The post has received over 50,000 likes and over 1,500 comments.
Meerab’s university fees are paid by the KFC Female Higher Education Scholarship Programme.
Asma Yusuf, KFC Pakistan’s Cheif People Officer (CPO), commented, “Thank you so much for the shoutout Fizza Ijaz Meerab makes us so proud! She’s not only a KFC Pakistan Dame Rider but is also continuing her education journey with the KFC Female Higher Education Scholarship Program. Indeed, there’s no force stronger than a woman who has decided to rise.”
‘Woman of bad character’ is one of the phrases we often hear when the word ‘abortion’ is mentioned in our country. Abortion means the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy. Abortion sparked a debate after the United States (US) Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, a landmark ruling that granted the right to abortion. The court determined that there is no constitutional right to an abortion, leaving it up to the states to decide whether or not to allow abortions.
According to a 2020 article in ‘Soch writing’, Pakistan has an annual abortion rate of 50 per 1,000 women as per a 2012 survey, the highest in South Asia and one of the highest in the world. (A previous study estimated a rate of 27 per 1,000 women in 2002).
So at present, we understand the meaning of abortion but what we don’t understand is why is it required. A woman conceives a child, but somehow her circumstances lead her to the “choice” of not having the child anymore, and “she ends up deciding of quitting the will to bring a child into this world”. What happens next? She decides to “abort” the baby. Will she be “allowed” to do so? What if the woman was raped and conceived the child as a result of sexual assault? What if she is in an abusive marriage and doesn’t want to risk another life at the hands of her partner? What if the child conceived is a serious threat to the mother’s health? What if both parents are drug addicts? What if they don’t have the financial means to nurture a child? What if both parents carry childhood traumas that they haven’t fully recovered from? What if they are simply not ready? The situations are plenty but they all lead to one word, “choice”. A choice that a woman and her partner must have. A choice to decide when to bring another life into this world and their lives.
Women in Pakistan are no different. They are clearly seeking abortions, and medical practitioners often refuse to perform them or do so only in secret, which are very risky and at times, very expensive —in general, both seekers and providers of abortions tend to believe the procedure is against religion or Pakistani law, or both. So where does it lead us? Education on abortion must be taken up as a priority by the health practitioners and by the individuals involved. Yes, abortion is a big step and comes with its own weight and worries but one’s mind and body should be allowed to make a choice. A choice that doesn’t lead to a judgement about a woman’s character but will only be considered a choice which she freely made for herself. Her body, her choice.
An Australian woman has allegedly been killed by her father-in-law in Sargodha. Sajida Tasneem was allegedly killed in front of her father at a home she shared with her in-laws on June 11.
Sher Muhammad Khan, Tasneem’s father, claimed that his son-in-law Ayub Ahmed had coerced his daughter into leaving their Perth, Western Australia home and travelling to Pakistan with her three children, reports The Guardian.
Mukhtar Ahmad, Tasneem’s father-in-law, is accused of taking Tasneem’s passport.
The girl’s father reported to the police that on June 11, he allegedly saw Mukhtar abusing his daughter. He discovered them in a restroom at around 1:45 pm. After entering the restroom, Sher Muhammad Khan found Tasneem’s mouth was allegedly filled with a piece of cloth by Ahmad.
The man then allegedly used an axe to strike Tasneem in the head. Mukthar Ahmad has been booked under murder charges.
After Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti ordered the police to rescue a girl kidnapped in broad daylight from the Shadbagh neighbourhood by Sunday evening, police retrieved her.
The accused was apprehended in Arifwala and the girl was found. The victim, a 10th-grade student, was riding back home after taking the exam, with her brother when the motorcycle was hit by a car. Two armed men exited the vehicle, one grabbing the girl’s hand and forcing her inside the vehicle, while the other man aimed his rifle at her brother, preventing him from resisting. The kidnappers drove away after abducting the teenager.
The LHC chief justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti took notice of the event and instructed the IG Punjab to rescue the woman and present her in court. In connection with the case, the IGP, the CCPO, and other senior officers appeared before the Chief Justice on Sunday, promising to rescue the girl before the deadline.
Kidnapper Abid was the girl’s ex-fiance, according to the CCPO Lahore. The perpetrator kidnapped the victim because he was bitter about the end of their engagement. The kidnappers promptly turned off their cellphones following the event. The girl was rescued from Arifwala and the culprits were apprehended after the IG enlisted the help of the IB and CTD.
While reacting to Aurat March’s statement in which the forum strongly condemned the constitutional crisis in Pakistan and the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA), Federal Minister Shireen Mazari dropped a controversial tweet.
A day earlier in a tweet, the Aurat March criticised Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, saying: “We condemn the political circus that has been kicked off due to the fragile masculine ego of a person who has sabotaged democratic processes just to save the perception of his individuality and to stage a dirty manoeuvre for his comeback to power.”
We condemn the political circus that has erupted due to the fragile masculine ego of a person who has sabotaged democratic processes just to save the perception of his individuality and to stage a dirty manoeuvre for his comeback to power.#NoConfidenceMotion#AuratMarch2022pic.twitter.com/Y4xccTJI6T
— Aurat March – عورت مارچ (@AuratMarchKHI) April 3, 2022
The statement clearly didn’t sit well with Mazari. She replied in disagreement, saying that “This [statement] shows Aurat March has little to do with genuine issues faced by women in Pakistan and more with politics and political agendas. Since many here have NGOs funded from abroad this statement, while condemnable, is not surprising. Fact is the US sought regime change and we do not accept it.”
This shows Aurat March has little to do with genuine issues faced by women in Pak & more with politics & political agendas. Since many here have NGOs funded from abroad this statement while condemnable is not surprising. Fact is the US sought regime change & we do not accept it https://t.co/7GwhsyPYWg
Indirectly hinting at Mazari, Aurat March Lahore released a brief statement, saying, “We cannot be asked to stay in our lane when the politics of this country deeply impact us.”
Aurat March Lahore believes that the feminist movement is not apolitical. We are just as impacted by the political machinations in assemblies and courtrooms as the rest of the country, and we have as much of a right to comment on it.#AsalInsaaf#AuratMarch2022#AuratMarchpic.twitter.com/giRbSVZT84
The statement reads, “Aurat March does not accept funds from, partner with, or endorse any political party, NGO or corporation. We reject the idea that activism should be apolitical.”
“We will continue to engage with politics, not only because it has a tangible impact on our lives, safety and wellbeing but because we are unafraid to stand up to institutions of political power,” the statement further reads.
A Pakistani woman who spent four years in an Indian prison, after living there without a visa, has returned to the country with the help of Pakistani authorities, reports Arab News. Indian authorities handed over Sumaira and her daughter to Pakistani authorities at Wagah border.
As per media reports, Sameera Abdul Rahman was born in Karachi. She met an Indian man in Qatar and married him by going against her family. Her husband brought her to India without a visa in 2016. Later, both of them were sent to jail.
In 2017, Rahman gave birth to a daughter in prison. Rahman was released from jail and placed in a detention centre after paying a million-rupee fine to the Indian government.
In a message, she sent through her lawyer to BBC, Rahman had earlier said, “I have been punished by law for the mistake I made, but my sorrows and pains are not diminishing. The family had already separated, but now the husband in India has also turned away. At the moment, my only recourse is my country, Pakistan.”
In 2018, the Pakistani High Commission was given consular access to Sumaira Rehman. Later, the Interior Ministry in Islamabad received a letter from the Pakistani High Commission confirming Sumaira Rehman’s nationality.
A Qari allegedly stabbed a 12-year-old girl to death in Rawalpindi, as reported by Geo News. The perpetrator fled after committing the crime, but authorities apprehended him later that day with the murder weapon. The accused has been arrested along with the murder weapon.
As per the police, the 21-year-old Qari named Adil from Abbottabad used to visit the victim’s house to teach her the Holy Quran. The victim’s parents had barred the Qari from coming to their home after the girl complained about him, saying that he was trying to do immoral acts with her.
Adil followed the girl to her tuition centre and stabbed her in the neck with a sharp weapon.
The police reached the scene as soon as they received information about the incident, gathered evidence and sent the girl’s body to the hospital for a postmortem.
As per SP Rawal Babar Javed Joya, the accused confessed to the murder, saying that he killed her because the victim’s family was suspicious of him.
میری والدہ کی زندگی میں دو چیزیں ہیں جو پچھلے 16سال سے نہیں بدلیں ۔ ایک ان کا ٹی وی چینل جو کہ ہمیشہ ہم ٹی وی رہا ہے اور ایک میں بذاتِ خود جس کو نا چاہتے ہوئے بھی ان کو دیکھنا پڑ رہا ہے اور چونکہ میں نے اپنی والدہ کے آخری دم تک ساتھ نبھانے کا وعدہ کر رکھا ہے تو میری زندگی میں بھی ہم ٹی وی اٹل حقیقت کی طرح موجود ہے ۔ وہ جیسے کہتے ہیں کمبل مجھے نہیں چھوڑتا ،ایسے ہی ہم ٹی وی مجھے نہیں چھوڑتا ۔
میں باقی چینلز کے بارے میں نہیں جانتی لیکن ہم ٹی وی پر پچھلے 16 سال سے میں نے صرف ایک ہی چیز دیکھی ہے ۔ مظلوم عورت، سسکتی، بلکتی عورت۔ مجبور عورت ، مار کھاتی عورت اور مار کھانے کے بعد آخر میں اسی شخص سے محبت کرنے والی عورت ۔ میری والدہ کے کمرے سے میں نے سوائے ان کی ہنسی کے ،کبھی کسی قسم کی ہنسی نہیں سنی ۔ کیونکہ ہم ٹی وی پر کوئی نہیں ہنس رہا ہوتا ۔ مرد چلا رہا ہوتا ہے اور عورت رو رہی ہوتی ہے ۔ 100 قسطوں میں سے 98 قسطوں میں عورت روتی رہتی ہے اور 100ویں قسط میں اچانک عورت کو مرد سے پیار ہو جاتا ہے اور ایسے ہو جاتی ہے پیار کی جیت۔
اس سب کے بعد میری والدہ کو بھی ہنستے ہوئے ڈرامے سمجھ ہی نہیں آتے ۔ وہ کسی ہنسی مذاق والے پروگرام پر یہی کہتی ہیں “اے کی اے؟” (یہ کیا ہے؟) میں ان کو الزام نہیں دونگی کیونکہ روتی، بلکتی اور تڑپتی عورت کو دیکھنے کی ان کو عادت ہو چکی ہے۔اب ہنستی ہوئی عورت یا سجی سنوری عورت کچھ عجوبہ سا لگتی ہے ۔ کچھ یہی حال میری والدہ کا ہوا جب انہوں نے نیا ڈرامہ “دوبارہ ” دیکھنا شروع کیا ۔ اس ڈرامے میں حدیقہ کیانی جو کہ مہرو کا کردار ادا کر رہی ہیں کی چھوٹی عمر میں شادی ہو جاتی ہے ۔ ساری عمر خاوند کے مطابق زندگی گزاری ۔ہر طرح کا شوق ختم کر دیا ۔ بچے بھی ہو گئے ۔ اور جب خاوند کی وفات ہوئی تو مہرو نے ایک آزادی کو محسوس کیا ۔ مہرو کو لگا کہ وہ اپنی زندگی کے 20 سال واپس جی سکے گی ۔ اس نے شوخ چنچل کپڑے پہننے شروع کیئے ۔ اس نے بچوں کے ساتھ فٹبال کھیلا ۔ اس نے پارک میں واک شروع کی۔ اور مہرو نے اپنے ہی بیٹے کی شادی پر خوب چمکیلے کپڑے بنوائے ۔ مہرو نے واقعی 20 سال بعد اپنے آپ کو پانے کی کوشش شروع کر دی ۔ لیکن ہر رشتہ دار نے ،دوست نے اور حتی کہ اپنے ہی بیٹے نے مہرو کو ہر قدم پر یاد کروایا کہ “تم بیوہ ہو مہرو۔ تمہیں یہ چیزیں نہیں جچتی۔تم بس خاوند کی یاد میں زندگی گزارو “۔ خاوند نہیں رہا ، تو تم بھی ختم ہو جاؤ ۔ وہ مہرو، جس کا بچپن چھینا ، جس کے 20 سال صرف بیوی بن کر گزرے ، نا کہ عورت ، اب جب اس مہرو کو سانس لینے کا موقعہ ملا ، اس کے سانس کو خاوند کے سانس کے ساتھ بند کرنے کو کہا گیا ۔ اسے یاد کروایا گیا کہ تم بیوہ ہو۔ بیوہ۔بیوہ، بیوہ۔
میری والدہ کو مہرو کے بچپن میں شادی سے ہمدردی ہوئی لیکن ان کے لیے یہ بات شدید ناگوار ہے کہ ایک “بیوہ عورت” اتنا سجے کیوں ؟ ایک بیوہ عورت اپنے خاوند کی یاد میں گھٹ کے مر کیوں نہیں رہی؟ میں یہ دہرانا چاہوں گی کہ میں اپنی والدہ کی سوچ پر حیران نہیں ہوں ۔ وہ اس جنریشن سے ہیں جب عورت صرف بیوی اور ماں ہوتی تھی،اور کچھ بھی نہیں ہوتی تھی ۔ اور ماں یا بیوی خود مختار کیسے ہو سکتی ہے؟
یہ تو خیر قصہ ایک بیوہ عورت کا ہے ۔ جب میں یہ کالم لکھنے کی ناکام کوشش کر رہی تھی تو اسی وقت مریم نواز کی کچھ تصویریں سوشل میڈیا پر شیئر کی گئی۔ وہ بھی ان کے بیٹے کی شادی کی تقریب میں سے تھیں ۔ مریم نواز اپنے اکلوتے بیٹے کی شادی پر بہت ہی جوش و خروش سے تیار ہوئیں ۔ میں یاد کرواتی جاؤں کہ نہ وہ بیوہ ہیں اور نہ ہی کوئی اور مسئلہ ۔ وہ اپنے خاوند کے ساتھ ویسے ہی ہیں جیسے میں ہم ٹی وی کے ساتھ ہوں۔لیکن مریم نواز کی سجاوٹ سے جو صفِ ماتم بچھا ، وہ دیکھنے سے تعلق رکھتا ہے ۔ کسی نے انہیں یاد کروایا کہ وہ 170 سال کی ہیں ، انہیں شرم آنی چاہیئے۔ کسی نے ان کو یاد کروایا کہ وہ نانی ہیں ، جیسے نانی ہونا کوئی گالی ہو۔ کسی نے ان کو یاد کروایا کہ وہ چور ہیں ۔ پھر کسی نے یہ بھی کہا کہ سرجری سے ایسی ہوئی ہیں ۔ مجھے یقین ہے کہ ان کی سجاوٹ کو اگر پتا چلے کہ اس سجاوٹ کے بارے میں کیا کہا جا رہا ہے تو یہ سجاوٹ بھی ملک چھوڑ کے چلی جائے ۔
ان دونوں قصوں کو دیکھ کر میرے ذہن میں بس ایک ہی بات آئی ۔ ” تم عورت ہو ، تم مرکیوں نہیں جاتی ؟” وہ معاشرہ جہاں 60 سال کے رنڈوے کو بھی کنواری لڑکی چاہیئے، وہاں ایک بیوہ عورت کے ناچنے پر اتنا واویلا؟ وہ معاشرہ جہاں مرد دوسری شادی سب کچھ چھوڑ کر کر لے ، وہاں ایک عورت کے اپنے بارے میں سوچنے پر اتنا واویلا ؟ وہ معاشرہ جہاں” چاند سی بہو لاؤنگی ” ہر کسی کا ارادہ ہے ، اسی چاند کی روشنی پر اتنا واویلا؟
عورت ہو عورت بن کر رہو کہنے والوں سے کوئی تو کہے ، انسان ہے، انسان بن کےرہنے دو !
As part of solid waste management (SWM) initiatives under TREK (Travel Responsibly for Experiencing Ecotourism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), a two-day training was conducted in Chitral by Nestlé Pakistan, in partnership with Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the World Bank.
TREK was unveiled in December 2020 by Prime Minister Imran Khan, as part of World Bank financed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Integrated Tourism Development (KITE) project. TREK was also listed as one of federal government’s key achievements of 2020.
In June 2021, TREK communication campaign was launched in Nathiagali to promote responsible tourism in the Galiyat region. On the launch, 2,000 reusable bags were handed out to Galiyat Development Authority (GDA) for local tourists and hotel association. Radio and social media campaigns have been launched; furthermore, signboards emphasizing the importance of clean Galiyat were also installed across the region.
A two-day training titled “TREK for Healthier Kids” was held in collaboration with the Nestlé for Healthier Kids (N4HK) program in August 2021. It concluded with a certificate distribution ceremony for teachers, distribution of 4,000 reusable bags and 2,300 N4HK books to children in Galiyat. N4HK is one of Nestlé’s global Creating Shared Value initiatives that empowers parents, caregivers and educators to foster healthier eating, drinking and lifestyle habits among school age children.
An extensive two-day training on waste management and sustainable tourism in Swat as part of TREK’s community engagement initiatives. The training comprised of sessions on categorizing waste, importance of recycling, learning to conduct waste audits, basic food safety and importance of WASH compliance among others. The event concluded with souvenir distribution for participants by Ghulam Saeed, Director General Directorate of Tourist Services and Touseef Khalid, Project Director KITE. We have also donated 2,000 reusable bags among communities in Swat.
Under the TREK initiative, more than 130 public and private sector participants including 20 women have been trained at the three locations of Swat, Galyat and Chitral. The initiative has also engaged the local communities through training and awareness session on nutrition and hygiene for school children of Galyat.
“We are delighted that community engagement activities such as waste management training and awareness campaigns for tourists are coming to fruition, as part of TREK,” said Tashfeen Haider, Additional Secretary, Tourism Department, KP government, adding that Department of Tourism through KITE project is working on SWM cycle by providing equipment to area development authorities of Galyat, Kaghan, Chitral, Kalam and Kumrat. Moreover, contract for feasibility study and engineering design of sanitary landfill sites have been awarded through the KITE project.
Kiran Afzal, Senior Private Sector Specialist, of the World Bank shared, “KITE project is now implementing activities for tourist facilitation in Chitral which will be complemented by TREK’s initiatives for SWM.”
Talking about the initiative, Waqar Ahmad, Head of Corporate Affairs & Sustainability, Nestlé in Pakistan & Afghanistan said, “Our partnership with the government on TREK, will help realise our vision for shaping a waste-free future, by driving new behaviour for a cleaner environment.”
“At Nestlé, our vision is that none of our packaging, including plastics, ends up in landfill or rivers. To achieve this, we have set ourselves the commitment of ensuring 100% of our packaging is reusable or recyclable by 2025,” he added.
The two-day SWM training comprised of sessions on categorizing waste, importance of recycling, learning to conduct waste audits, basic food safety and importance of WASH compliance among others. The event concluded with souvenir distribution for participants by Ghulam Saeed, Director General Directorate of Tourist Services, Hassan Abid, Deputy Commissioner Chitral, and Touseef Khalid Project Director KITE.
Nestlé Pakistan’s commitment to TREK includes 2 pillars: A massive awareness
campaign focusing on Reduce, Reuse and Recycle and a Community Engagement plan which includes activities that will help in countering the issues of waste, pollution and destruction of wildlife, in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 12, 13, 15 and 17.
