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  • Deadly attacks, decomposing bodies, lack of services: What we know about day 39

    Deadly attacks, decomposing bodies, lack of services: What we know about day 39

    Deadly weapons used against Gaza

    The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has revealed that Israel has dropped more than 25,000 tonnes of explosives on the Gaza Strip since October 7, equivalent to two nuclear bombs.

    In comparison, the United States dropped the Little Boy nuclear bomb on Hiroshima during World War II, yielding 15,000 tonnes of high explosives and wrecking everything within a 1.6km (1-mile) radius.

    Plan to bury decomposing bodies in Al Shifa compound

    Reuters reported that a doctor Ahmed Al Mokhallalati and Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qudra have claimed in separate telephone interviews that more than 100 dead bodies are presently unburied and have begun to decompose, “creating an acute sanitary crisis”.

    “We are planning to bury them today in a mass grave inside the Al Shifa medical complex. It is going to be very dangerous as we don’t have any cover or protection from the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross), but we have no other options, the corpses of the martyrs began to decompose,” said Qidra. “The men are digging right now as we speak.”

    Qidra claims the number of bodies accumulated at Al Shifa at about 100 whereas Mokhallalati said it was about 120.

    More than half of Gaza hospitals non operational

    According to the World Health Organization, 22 of 36 hospitals in Gaza are out of service “due to lack of fuel, damage, attacks and insecurity”.

    While calling for an immediate ceasefire, the UN’s health agency also warned that the remaining 14 hospitals “have barely enough supplies to sustain critical and life saving surgeries and provide inpatient care, including intensive care”.

    Water supplies on hold due to lack of fuel

    The United Nations reported that infrastructure for the operation of water and waste management in southern Gaza is no longer functioning.

    “Due to lack of fuel, public sewage pumping stations, 60 water wells in the south, the two main desalination plants in Rafah and the Middle Area, the two main sewage pumps in the south, and the Rafah wastewater treatment plant have all ceased operations,” the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated, citing the organisation’s Palestinian relief agency UNRWA.

    “Coupled with the shutdown of municipal sanitation work, this is posing a serious threat to public health, increasing the risk of water contamination and the outbreak of diseases.”

    At least 42 journalists killed since October 7

    The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has revealed that at least 42 journalists and media workers have been killed since October 7 as Israel intensified its attacks, stating that the period was the most deadly for journalists since the CPJ’s data collection began in 1992.

    Credits: Al Jazeera

  • Genocide in Sudan: What is happening?

    Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, has been home to 6,000,000 people. This year, on April 15, a confrontation ensued between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group.

    The rise in hostilities in April 2023 stemmed from weeks of strain between the RSF and the SAF over “security force reform during negotiations for a new transitional government”. The RSF and SAF had jointly upended Sudan’s transitional government in October 2021.

    In the course of a few short days that very month, more than 4,000 people were wounded and 500 people were killed.

    In addition to the casualties, 40 out of 59 hospitals have been bombed and are now out of service.

    Resultantly, there is an extreme dearth of water, food, and fuel since the fighting has continued to escalate as powerful weapons, airstrikes and artillery have been used. The civilians, on the other hand, are ensnared in the crossfire.

    Since April, Action on Armed Violence has noted 102 incidents of explosive violence in Sudan and 1,830 civilian casualties, making 2023 Sudan’s deadliest year since 2010.

    However, the United Nations humanitarian chief revealed in October that since April, the paramilitary group has killed up to 9,000 people and created “one of the worst humanitarian nightmares in recent history”. Similarly, in November, Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project recorded over 2,800 political violence incidents and more than 10,400 fatalities.

    Additionally, over 300,000 refugees have reportedly fled Sudan’s war seeking safety and refuge in Chad where already 580,000 displaced people reside.

    The situation in Sudan is now exacerbating with serious concerns for women and children being abducted, chained, and held in “inhuman, degrading slave-like conditions” in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Darfur.

    Brief background

    The Darfur war goes back to its origins of alienation of non-Arab tribes by Khartoum’s policies, paving a path for grievances. The trouble spiralled on February 26, 2003, when a newly-founded group known as the Darfur Liberation Front (DLF) — later called the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) — claimed an attack on Golo, the headquarters of Jebel Marra District.

    Along with the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), the group then instigated a revolt to protest the Sudanese government’s discrimination against its non-Arab population, and sought bipartisanship within the Arab-ruled Sudanese state.

    The-then President, Omar al-Bashir, countered the situation by backing and arming Arab militias known as Janjaweed to fight the insurgency in Darfur.

    Named the Popular Defence Forces, they operated in alliance with Sudanese government forces to exterminate the African Fur, Masalit, and Zaghawa ethnic groups which produced the rebels.

    And even though a ceasefire was called in 2004 and African Union (AU) troops deployed, the UN revealed that the conflict and the leading humanitarian crisis (callous attacks, disease, and hunger) had killed 300,000 people by 2007 and displaced 2.5 million.

    Mediation attempts in Abuja (2006), Tripoli (2007) and Doha (2009) were unsuccessful in resolving the friction between Khartoum and the rebel forces in Darfur.

    The United Nations Security Council had permitted a joint UN-AU peacekeeping mission in July 2007 but after its exit in 2019, the local armed groups took up from where they left.

    Children of Sudan

    Currently, 19,000,000 (19 million) children are out of school in Sudan while 10,400 schools have been shut down.

    They are vulnerable to the present and long term perils such as displacement, sexual violence, war recruitment, and death.

    Moreover, without resources, illnesses such as cholera are also at an all time high.

  • ‘Stop assuming things’: Mohib Mirza slams cheating rumours

    ‘Stop assuming things’: Mohib Mirza slams cheating rumours

    Actor Mohib Mirza has addressed rumours surrounding his second marriage to actor Sanam Saeed, debunking claims he cheated on his first wife Aminah Sheikh, his spouse from 2005 to 2019, and the mother of his child. The secrecy behind his and Sanam’s relationship led to allegations that Mohib had cheated on Aminah, leading to a divorce.

    The actor appeared on the FHM podcast where he cleared the air by saying that the two began a relationship after his divorce.

    “Who is assuming this?” the actor responded to the accusations. “Do you have my divorce certificate or does Wikipedia say so? My marriage had ended when I pursued Sanam.”

    “No one can question this because I have my divorce deed with me, I know what had happened,” the ‘Razia’ actor fired back. Mohib reminded the audience his and Sanam’s relationship was a private affair, and it is their prerogative to reveal it to the public or not.

    Opening up about the couple’s wedding, Mohib revealed that it was a private event with only five people present at Sanam’s house.

  • Bilawal Bhutto advises Nawaz Sharif to focus on Lahore

    Bilawal Bhutto advises Nawaz Sharif to focus on Lahore

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has advised Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif to focus on Lahore, just as the latter makes his way to Balochistan. Bilawal also said that Nawaz Sharif should do something for his party, which is facing problems in Punjab.

    “Mian sahab has been adviced to visit other provinces. I would suggest that he should stay in Lahore and focus on its problems,” said the PPP chairman during a presser in Mithi, calling on  PML-N to do politics on its own and stop relying on others.

    The former foreign minister passed the remarks after PML-N declared its intention to collaboratively participate in the elections with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P).

    Nawaz is visiting Balochistan to meet several political leaders, including from the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP). There is also a possibility of a seat adjustment agreement with the party.

  • Two PIA flight attendants go missing in Canada

    Two PIA flight attendants go missing in Canada

    Two flight attendants, Khalid Meh­mood and Feda Hussain, slipped away in Canada shortly after Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK 772 landed in Toronto.

    The spokesperson for PIA confirmed the ‘escape’ of the two senior flight attendants who vanished from the airport instead of coming back to the country.

    “On its scheduled return to Islamabad, the two senior crew members did not turn up in Toronto. The flight of the national flag carrier had to return back to Islamabad without the two flight attendants,” the spokesperson told the Dawn.

    Similar incidents have been reported in the past when members of the flight crew sneaked away upon arrival in Canada. Four of them have slipped away in 2023.

    According to ARY News, PIA has now issued a directive to include flight attendants aged above 50 years among crew members of international flights to Canada and other countries. This age limit is imposed in light of instances of young air hostesses and cabin crew slipping away upon arrival.

    Local authorities in Canada have been informed about the two staff members and their services would be terminated after a departmental investigation.

  • PCB considers names for replacement of foreign coaching staff

    PCB considers names for replacement of foreign coaching staff

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has started considering names for replacement of foreign coaching staff.

    According to sources, Director of Cricket Mickey Arthur, coach Grant Bradburn, and batting coach Andrew Potek are likely to leave their positions.

    PCB has agreed to have local coaches instead of foreign coaches, leading to a series of meetings between Chairman PCB Management Committee Zaka Ashraf and former captains.

    Morne Morkel, bowling coach of the Pakistan cricket team, resigned on Monday.

  • ECP rejects PTI’s claim of appointing retired officers as DROs, ROs in election 2024

    ECP rejects PTI’s claim of appointing retired officers as DROs, ROs in election 2024

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) claims that the electoral body is appointing retired officers as district returning officers (DROs) and returning officers (ROs) for the upcoming general elections on February 8 next year.

    On Monday, ECP’s Media Coordination and Outreach Wing said in a statement that the electoral watchdog didn’t take any such decision.

    “All media reports regarding the appointment of District Returning Officers/ Returning Officers are baseless and contrary to the facts. The media ran misleading news about the appointment of retired officers as District Returning Officers/Returning Officers. The commission is yet to take any such decision,” the ECP spokesperson said.

    He also stated that ECP has written a letter to provincial chief election commissioners and asked for the list of DROs and ROs to finalise the names. He also mentioned that the matter is in process and ECP will appoint the best candidates to make the general elections free, fair, and transparent.

    “It is being looked at from different angles so that the general elections are fair and transparent. The Election Commission is well aware of all its constitutional responsibilities,” the Election Commission said.

    On the other hand, PTI leader Omar Ayub tweeted on X (previously Twitter) that ECP is appointing retired officers as DROs and ROs to make the upcoming polls controversial. PTI’s Core Committee warned that the people will resist if their election mandate was stolen.

  • Supreme Court fines Punjab govt Rs10 Lacs for wasting its time

    Supreme Court fines Punjab govt Rs10 Lacs for wasting its time

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan has imposed a fine of ten lacs (Rs1 million) on the Punjab government for wasting its time by filing a frivolous case, ordering the administration to pay the money to the owner of the land they used without permission.

    The three-membered bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa dismissed the provincial government’s appeal filed against the verdicts of an appellate court along with the high court in favour of the land owner.

    The case was about a piece of land that the Punjab government constructed a road on in Gujranwala in 2007. The nine-marlas were never paid for. Liaqat Ali, the affected man, took to court, challenging the government and both lower courts decided in his favour.

    In the hearing on Monday, the Chief Justice questioned how the state built a road on the land without the permission of its owner and without paying him. “Neither the owner had gifted his land for construction of the road nor the state had acquired the said land,” Justice Qazi Faez Isa remarked and asked the Additional Advocate General Punjab as to why he had filed such a frivolous application in the court. “Is it our job to teach the provincial law officer the constitution,” the CJP reproached.

  • American rapper goes viral for displaying names of Palestinian toddlers killed by Israeli airstrikes

    American rapper goes viral for displaying names of Palestinian toddlers killed by Israeli airstrikes

    Rapper Marcus Morton (who goes by his stage name redveil) has gone viral for a recent performance at a concert.

    The rapper was performing at Camp Flog Gnaw, one of the biggest music festivals of America, when he broke off from singing to make a meaningful gesture.

    The rapper took a moment to display the names of all Palestinians toddlers who were killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, where now more than 12,000 civilians have died. The named ended with the display of the website ceasefiretoday.com, which provides a list of ways Americans can pressurise their governments to end the genocide of Gaza.

    ‘It’s not complicated, don’t let no body tell you that s***,” Marcus was seen telling the crowd. “Go to this f***ing website right now, call your reps, demand a f***ing ceasefire.”

    X (formerly Twitter) users celebrated redveil’s solidarity to the Palestinian liberation movement, declaring him to be the sole musician who took a stand despite knowing it could have affected his career.

    “This is unprecedented. That moment we’d been waiting for; that cultural shift which delegitimizes Israel and will lead to it’s dismantling; of unapologetic calls for liberation— is upon us. Who would’ve imagined such crowds in the US screaming Free Palestine even 5 years ago?!”

    More class and morality than Rihanna, Beyonce, and Tiffany Hadish compiled.

    “The bar for artists has been massively raised,” praised several activists.

  • Honda Civic sales in Pakistan drop by 72.36%

    Honda Civic sales in Pakistan drop by 72.36%

    Sedan car sales experienced a significant downturn, particularly notable in Honda Civic sales, which suffered a substantial decline of 67.33 per cent in October 2023 on a month-over-month basis and 72.36 per cent on a year-over-year basis in Pakistan. 

    This decline can be attributed to production interruptions, elevated car prices, and a reduction in car financing. 

    Specifically, Honda Atlas Cars Limited reported the sale of only 379 Civic units in October 2023, a notable drop from the 1371 units sold in October 2022.

    In contrast, Toyota Corolla sales exhibited a relatively better performance, with a 24.19 per cent decrease on a month-over-month basis and a 56.69 per cent decrease on a year-over-year basis in Pakistan. 

    To provide precise figures, Toyota Indus Motor Company sold 796 Corolla units in October 2023, as opposed to the 1838 units sold in October 2022.