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Category: Lifestyle

  • 10 children sexually abused in Pakistan every day from Jan to June: report

    10 children sexually abused in Pakistan every day from Jan to June: report

    More than 10 children were the victims of sexual abuse on average every day between January and June, a report by child protection organisation Sahil says.

    The report titled “Six Months Cruel Numbers 2021”, states that the average number of children subjected to abuse has increased by two children per day in comparison with the last year’s first six months’ report.

    “This year, 81 daily national and regional newspapers were monitored during January-June 2021 to collect data on child sexual abuse, abduction, missing children, and the cases of early forced marriages,” stated the report.

    The data used in the report is collected from all four provinces of Pakistan including Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), besides Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit Baltistan (GB). The report revealed that a total of 1,896 cases of child abuse were reported in the period.

    Of these, 1,084 cases were of sexual abuse against children, 523 were cases of abduction, 238 cases of missing children, and 51 cases of child marriages.

    The report further states that 53% (1,013) of the victims were girls and (883) 47% were boys.

    It revealed that “children from the age group 6-15 are most vulnerable to abuse”.

    As many as 640 children from 11 to 15 years and 409 children from the age bracket 6-10 were subjected to different types of abuse during the last six months, the report added.

    According to the report, in 1,045 cases, the abusers were acquaintances, while they were strangers in 430 cases, relatives in 49 cases, female accomplices in 47 cases, seminary/school teachers in 38 cases, neighbours in 37 cases, and family members in 32 cases.

    In addition to this, the data showed that 60% of the total cases were reported from Punjab and 6% from the ICT.

    The rest of the cases were reported from other provinces — 26% from Sindh, 5% from KPK, and 3% from Balochistan, and AJK & GB.

    Of the total cases, 58% were reported from rural areas and 42% cases from urban areas.

    Sahil has been working since 1996 on child protection, especially against child sexual abuse (CSA).

    Sahil aims to develop a society and environment where every child should be safe, secure, and protected from abuse, especially from sexual abuse.

  • ‘Rent a brother’: Startup helps people to beat loneliness

    ‘Rent a brother’: Startup helps people to beat loneliness

    A startup, ‘Rent a bro’, in Karachi has started a setup to help people cope with loneliness, especially after the pandemic hit the globe.

    The founder of the startup told Independent Urdu, “I started this service because I was doing research when I got to know that we have problems like rejection, loneliness and acceptance. So I took this initiative and it is going very well.”

    “Rent a bro is inspired by Rent a sister — a company in Japan that helps people to cope with loneliness. So I started this because I am a male and I think it is a perfect name for a Pakistani startup,” he added.

    Talking about the process, he said that an Instagram handler asks our clients why they need a brother and then we provide them this service after analysing their answers.

    The meeting can be online and in-person. It depends on the client’s preference.

  • Zahir Jaffer’s parents knew Noor Mukadam was being held hostage: Islamabad High court

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has rejected the bail applications submitted by Zahir Jaffer’s parents, Zakir Jaffer and Asmat Jaffer, in the Noor Mukadam murder case. The IHC, in the order, has said that Zahir’s parents knew that Noor Mukadam was being held hostage by their son, Geo Urdu has reported.

    The IHC t wrote in its judgment that despite having information, Zahir’s parents did not inform the police. The guard has also stated that he had informed Zakir Jaffer.

    “Asmat and Zakir will stay in jail until the case trial is completed,” Justice Aamer Farooq ruled. He also directed the trial court to complete the trial within eight weeks.

    Read more- ‘It is very hard to imagine a life without her’, Noor Mukadam’s sister demands justice

    Noor was found murdered at a residence in Islamabad’s upscale Sector F-7/4 on July 20. Her death sparked national outrage, including protests and candlelit vigils across the country.

  • Students protest against ‘mismanaged’ MDCAT

    Students from across the country are protesting against the management of the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) for conducting ‘mismanaged’ Medical and Dental College Aptitude Test (MDCAT).

    Students claim that there were administrative problems during the test. The software and hardware used by PMC for the exams had malfunctioned. They claim that the servers used for the exams were frequently down.

    The protesters want the Pakistan Medical Commission to conduct the MDCAT again on a single day across the country.

    https://twitter.com/BeSyed_/status/1443121616314159107?s=20

    As per reports,  PMC called the students for negotiations after which a five-member delegation held a meeting with the PMC management. However, they could not reach any decision and students are still protesting.

    Students plan to march towards PM House today (Wednesday) at 6pm to stage further protests.

  • Wedding cards should mention only ‘Covid vaccinated guests’ allowed, Punjab issues notification

    The Punjab government has said that wedding invitation cards should mention that only “vaccinated guests” will be allowed to participate in a wedding. A notification by the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department on Tuesday says that unvaccinated people will not be permitted to enter wedding halls across the province.

    The notification also says that all the staff of the wedding halls would have to display “fully vaccinated” badges while discharging their duties.

    The provincial government has also made vaccination a requirement for those seeking various services in the private and governmental sectors. As per the notification, international travelers arriving in Pakistan would have to be fully vaccinated by October 31.

    In the last 24 hours, Pakistan has recorded 1,560 new cases of Covid-19.

  • Rape suspect flees from police custody during medical check-up

    Rape suspect flees from police custody during medical check-up

    A suspect detained in a sexual assault case escaped from Karachi’s Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) where he was undergoing treatment a few days ago, Dawn reported.

    As per details, the man was arrested by the Saeedabad police a couple of weeks ago. He was sent to jail by a local court on judicial remand. He was not feeling well so the doctors recommended his treatment at the JPMC.

    Read More: Mother of two raped in Rawalpindi at job interview

    “The Undertrial prisoner was brought here at the JPMC a few days ago and being treated at a respective ward,” said an official at the Saddar police station. “On Friday, he managed to unlock his handcuffs and fled. The two constables posted to keep an eye on him have been booked [for negligence] and arrested,” he added.

    Some reports claim that the suspect has been arrested again from the Saeedabad area.

  • Son reunites with mother after 70 years

    An 80-year-old man in Bangladesh has been reunited with his nearly 100-year-old mother after about 70 years with the help of social media, AFP reported.

    As per details, Abdul Kuddus Munsi in his childhood was sent to live with his uncle but lost touch with his family after running away and being adopted by two sisters.

    “This is the happiest day of my life,” the 82-year-old said from Brahmanbaria, the eastern border district where he was born in 1939.

    Read More: Father reunited with kidnapped son after 24-year search

    In April, a businessman shared a video of Kuddus on Facebook, requesting help finding his parents. Kuddus only remembered the name of his parents and his village from the first decade of his life.

    A distant relative in the village spotted the post and informed Kuddus that his mother, Mongola Nessa, thought to be in her late 90s, was still alive.
    So Kuddus — himself a father to three grown-up sons and five daughters — travelled about 350 kilometers (220 miles) from the western city of Rajshahi, to end the decades of estrangement.

  • Legendary Comedian Umer Sharif sets off to the US for medical treatment

    Legendary Comedian Umer Sharif sets off to the US for medical treatment

    Veteran comedian Umer Sharif has boarded an air ambulance and is on his way to the US for medical treatment.

    The air ambulance will take him to Washington DC via Germany. He is accompanied by his wife Zareen Umer and a six-member medical team.

    Earlier today, Sindh Government Spokesperson Murtaza Wahab announced that Sharif was on his way to the airport.

    Doctors in Karachi declared him fit to travel despite initial concerns on Monday that he was too unwell. According to his wife, his blood pressure had dropped and the air ambulance had threatened to leave.

    The ambulance landed in Karachi Monday morning but Sharif was unable to board immediately as his doctors had advised against air travel. He underwent a series of tests before getting the green light from his medical team.

    The veteran’s medical condition became a subject of national concern after he made a video appeal to Prime Minister Imran Khan to help him secure a visa to travel abroad for medical treatment. The federal government assured help and the Sindh government also stepped in, sanctioning Rs 40 million for his treatment.

    Actor Reema Khan also announced that her husband, cardiologist Dr Tariq Shahab, had agreed to perform the surgery on Sharif. Several other celebrities called for prayers for Sharif.

  • Girl kills boyfriend after hitting with smartphone

    Girl kills boyfriend after hitting with smartphone

    A woman in Argentina killed her boyfriend by hitting him with a smartphone on his head, ARY News reported.

    A criminal court in Argentina is hearing the case of 22-year-old Roxana Adelina Lopez for murdering Luis Dario Guantay. The incident took place at the victim’s rented home. Luis suffered a blow on his head and he was rushed to a hospital where he underwent surgery for brain injuries but could not make it. 

    The reason for the row is not yet known. An investigation is underway and Roxana Adelina Lopez is out on bail.

    After Luis’ death, his mother reported the case to the police and asked for action against the woman.

  • Lahore woman sentenced to death for claiming to be prophet

    A woman from Lahore has been sentenced to death by a sessions court after claiming to be a prophet, Wajid Ahmad Sheikh reported for Dawn. She has been charged under section 295C of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The court has also fined the convict with Rs50,000.

    “It is proved beyond reasonable doubt that accused Salma Tanveer wrote and distributed the writings which are derogatory in respect of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and she failed to prove that her case falls in exception provided by section 84 of PPC,” ruled Additional District & Sessions Judge Mansoor Ahmad Qureshi in his 22-page verdict.

    Section 84 deals with crimes committed by those who are mental.

    A case against Salma Tanveer was registered at Nisthar Colony Police Station in 2013.

    The court record shows that the FIR was lodged by the prayer leader (Khateeb) of Jamia Masjid Anwar-e-Madina in Bahadurabad neighbourhood of Lahore. The prayer leader, Qari Iftikhar Ahmad Raza, alleged that Salma Tanveer, principal of a local school, had published and distributed pamphlets in the area “whereby she denied khatam-e-nubuwat of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)”.

    The FIR alleged that the woman had used derogatory remarks and claimed “her own nubuwat”, according to the court record.

    The woman’s counsel, Mian Muhammad Ramzan, had argued that the suspect was of unsound mind at the time of occurrence. He said the magistrate concerned had ordered mental examination of the suspect, which remained pending without any fault on the part of the suspect.

    The defence counsel further argued that the comparison of writing from photocopies was not possible as tampering had been made in the photocopies of the alleged documents.

    A report by the Punjab Institute of Mental Health (PIMH) declared Salma Tanveer fit to stand trial.

    “The question, however, that arises for consideration is whether in law such abnormality can be treated as sufficient to exculpate the accused for the serious crime committed by her, even though it falls short of legal insanity,” held the judge.

    The judge ruled that the law in the country did not recognise such lesser forms of mental abnormality and the plea of diminished responsibility was not available as a defence in a criminal prosecution.