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Tag: Pakistan

  • Pakistan rejects ‘politically motivated’ US human rights report

    Pakistan rejects ‘politically motivated’ US human rights report

    Pakistan has rejected the US State Department’s human rights report “2023 Country Report on Human Rights Practices”, terming it “unfair, based on inaccurate information and completely divorced from the ground reality.”

    Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch gave a press briefing in which she said, “These reports use a domestic social lens to judge human rights in other countries in a politically biased manner. This year’s report is once again conspicuous by its lack of objectivity and politicisation of the international human rights agenda.”

    She pointed out the “double standards” by the United States on humanitarian issues and underscored that the US and the world continue to downplay or ignore the gross human rights violations such as in Gaza and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

    Baloch said that only a politically motivated report could ignore the alarming situation in Gaza.

  • CJP Isa says has received no complaints of ‘interference’ in judiciary

    CJP Isa says has received no complaints of ‘interference’ in judiciary

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa stated on Thursday that he did not receive any complaints of interference in the judiciary by any High Court judge.

    “Since I have been Chief Justice [of the Supreme Court of Pakistan], I have not received a single complaint from any high court judge that there has been any interference in their work,” Justice Isa said while speaking at Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA).

    Isa also stated that if there were any complaints of meddling then it would have happened before his tenure.

    “So, this is a thing to bear in mind that interference is not acceptable but at the same time nothing has been reported to me during … my watch,” said CJP Isa.

    The statement comes after six judges of Islamabad High Court (IHC) last month wrote a shocking letter to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) alleging blatant interference by intelligence agencies in judicial matters.

  • Imran Khan was against IHC Justice Babar Sattar’s appointment

    Imran Khan was against IHC Justice Babar Sattar’s appointment

    Nadeem Afzal Chan, former advisor to Imran Khan, stated in a talk show with Geo’s Shahzeb Khanzada that Imran Khan was against the appointment of Babar Sattar as a judge of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

     “Imran Khan said that he writes and speaks against us so we will not let him become a judge,” Chan narrated.

    Nadeem said he intervened by saying, “He’s [Justice Babar Sattar] a very fair person and people like him will be beneficial for us in hard times.”

    But the former Prime Minister did not agree with him and even told his party member Ali Muhammad Khan to speak against the judge in the parliamentary committee.

    Shahzeb Khanzada asked Nadeem that would he give the same advice to the current ruling government that they shouldn’t go against these judges. Nadeem replied, “Absolutely, we should appreciate those judges who are free and fair.”

  • Shocking number of people have ‘love marriages’ in Pakistan: Survey

    Shocking number of people have ‘love marriages’ in Pakistan: Survey

    In Pakistan, marrying a person of choice is usually looked down upon considering the shame attached to it and lack of option and privilege to interact with people.

    Which is why the result of Gallup’s new survey comes as no surprise.

    Gallup Pakistan, the well-known public opinion polling agency, has released a new survey on social attitudes, according to which only five per cent of people in Pakistan get married to people of their choice, aka love marriage.

    Whereas 85 percent of the country’s marriages are arranged.

  • 22-year-old fakes his own kidnapping in Muzaffargarh

    22-year-old fakes his own kidnapping in Muzaffargarh

    A 22-year-old man staged his own kidnapping to trick his father into giving him two million rupees, reports Dawn News.


    Two days ago, Muhammed Ahmad, son of Mushtaq Mahra, went missing from Rohillanwali, 25 km from Muzaffargarh city. His father approached police by calling 15, complaining about his son being abducted by Katcha gangs of Sindh.


    Rohillanwali police registered a case. A day later, Mushtaq received a call from his son who told his father that he had been kidnapped by the Katcha area gangs of Sindh who demanded two million rupees as ransom for his release. He told his father that the kidnappers would kill him if they did not get the money.


    Police took action, reaching the Katcha area of Ranipur in Sindh, and located Ahmad by using modern technology and recovered him.


    The SHO said that Ahmad had faked his kidnapping and his ‘kidnapper’ kept calling his parents, demanding the ransom amount.


    During the investigation, police came to know that Ahmad wanted to marry a girl of his choice while his parents opposed it. He made a plan with his friend to get a money from his father and contract a love marriage. Police arrested Ahmad and his accomplice who was with him in Ranipur.

  • Palestinian stories shine at Arab film festival in Berlin

    Palestinian stories shine at Arab film festival in Berlin

    The ALFILM festival in Berlin is standing strong in its promise to highlight Palestinian stories, even when faced with tough opposition. Despite the difficulties and tensions around discussing Palestine in Germany, the festival organizers are determined to give these important stories a platform.


    Pascale Fakhry, the director of ALFILM, knows it’s harder now, but she’s still committed to the festival’s mission. She says, “It feels like an impossible task right now. It doesn’t even feel like an act of courage. It feels like a suicide somehow, honestly.”


    But the festival keeps going, knowing how important it is as a big part of Arab culture in Germany. Fakhry says it’s crucial to keep talking and sharing stories, even when things seem tough.


    Even though there have been some tough moments, like questions from authorities about the festival’s venues, the organizers stay strong in their goal of creating a diverse and welcoming cultural space.


    In a time when antisemitism is growing and tensions are high, the festival is a symbol of strength and unity. Filmmakers from around the world are encouraged to speak out, even on sensitive topics.


    This year, the festival is focusing on Palestinian cinema with a special section called “Here is Elsewhere: Palestine in Arab Cinema and Beyond.” One documentary, ‘Bye Bye Tiberias’ by Lina Soualem, tells stories of Palestinian women and their strength through generations, showing how history still affects them today.


    Stories like Soualem’s are important because they challenge stereotypes and make sure Palestinian voices are heard. Even when it’s hard, the ALFILM festival keeps fighting to share these stories and promote understanding through art and cinema.

  • Bushra Ansari connection with husband’s children is so wholesome

    Bushra Ansari connection with husband’s children is so wholesome

    Renowned actress Bushra Ansari recently shared a heartfelt revelation in her latest vlog, announcing her marriage to Iqbal Hussain. Despite being married for a few years, Ansari had kept her marriage private to avoid societal judgment. However, she felt it was time to introduce her husband to her fans.


    In her vlog, Ansari discussed the importance of transcending age differences, praising her husband’s maturity. She emphasized that a strong marriage requires mutual understanding and the ability to overcome past challenges, which both she and Iqbal have faced in their previous relationships.


    Ansari also spoke warmly about her relationship with her husband’s sons, who are now studying in Canada. She shared the close bond they have developed with her own daughter, who resides in the same neighborhood. Ansari highlighted how their shared experiences, including having a grandson around the same age, have strengthened their family ties.


    Furthermore, Ansari candidly addressed the sensitive topic of divorce, acknowledging that sometimes relationships simply do not work out despite efforts to make them succeed. She emphasized the emotional toll of divorce, stressing that “no one enters marriage with the intention of ending it.”

  • Friend kills 17-year-old for eating his girlfriend’s burger

    Friend kills 17-year-old for eating his girlfriend’s burger

    A 17-year-old young man was allegedly killed by his close friend for eating a zinger burger the suspect had ordered for his ‘girlfriend’, the police investigation has concluded in Karachi.


    The victim was identified as Ali Kerio, son of Javed Kerio, a Karachi District South sessions judge, while the suspect shooter, Daniyal Nazeer Mir Bahar, is the son of Nazir Ahmed Mir Bahar, a retired Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), reports Danial Syed of Geo News.


    As per initial investigations, Daniyal invited his girlfriend, Shazia, to his house — located in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase V — where his friend Ali Kerio and his brother Ahmar Kerio were also present. The suspect ordered two zinger burgers for himself and Shazia, but Ali purportedly consumed half of one burger, which enraged Daniyal so much that he seized his security guard’s assault rifle and opened fire on Ali, who later succumbed to gunshot injuries on the way to the hospital.


    The unfortunate incident happened on Feburary 8.


    The investigating officer (IO) has submitted the report to higher authorities, implicating the police officer’s son in the crime. Daniyal is currently in jail as the legal proceedings of the case continue.

  • Maryam Nawaz wants more women in police department

    Maryam Nawaz wants more women in police department

    Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab Maryam Nawaz addressed the passing-out parade ceremony at Chuhng Police Training College, giving in a speech in which she said that the government wants more women in the police department.

    “I salute you all. I am happy the first sword of honour has been awarded to a woman police officer. I am proud of you. I was waiting for this event since taking the oath as chief minister,” she remarked.

    She stated that she is happy to see 530 women passing out, adding that “When I wore the police uniform for the first time, I realised it is a big responsibility.”

    The newly elected chief minister also said that right now, 7,000 women police officials are performing their duties in Punjab.

    “I want to increase women’s participation in Punjab police. Lady cops are superhuman. Women are softhearted, so they forgive,” she added.

  • Sher Afzal Marwat refused to remarry because it is a “big injustice” to women

    Sher Afzal Marwat refused to remarry because it is a “big injustice” to women

    In our patriarchal culture, societal norms often facilitate men who remarry if there are no children – or a male child – from the first marriage.

    But Sher Afzal Marwat, a senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member, has different views as he related a personal event from his life in a podcast with Nadir Ali.

    “In 2007, my wife asked me to remarry because it had been six years and we didn’t have a son yet,” Marwat said.

    Marwat related that his father was alive at the time and in Pathan culture there is a lot of societal pressure to marry again for children.

    His wife permitted him to remarry in a serious conversation.

    Marwat recounted, “I took some time to think and told her that I cannot do this injustice to you just because I want children.”

    Marwat emphasized, “It would be a big injustice to any woman, let alone your wife if you bring a second wife just for your happiness.”

    “A woman has a life too, she leaves everything behind for a man when she gets married,” said Sher Afzal Marwat.