Category: Pakistan

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) The Centre for Excellence in Journalism at the Institute of Business Administration Karachi (CEJ-IBA) recently organized a webinar that focused on unravelling the media coverage of the unfortunate motorway rape incident. The session was moderated by CEJ-IBA lecturer, Ms. Muna Khan. Panelists included Editor, Digital Properties, Ms. Mahim Maher and Director, Uks Foundation, Ms. Tasneem Ahmar. 

Speaking during the session, Ms. Ahmar stated, “Mera jism mere marzi is not a vulgar slogan – it unpacks what women have been going through since decades.  Pictures of rape victims are revealed, while the rapist is bought to the court with a veil on his face.” She further added that journalists should do every story of crime as if it has happened to someone they knew/know. 

Also speaking at the session, Ms. Maher stressed, “The first rule of journalism is doing no harm. Journalists do not need to use the word ‘allegedly’ in their copy. They can just say what the person has said.”

The hour-long session, which was live streamed on Facebook, concluded with a Q&A session. 

Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) Dawlance is pioneering an unmatched level of customer-care and convenience, with a special after-sales service campaign, providing relief to its customers whose appliances and electronics have been affected by the recent heavy rains, all over Pakistan. This reliable consumer-durables company has waived-off ‘Labour Charges’ and ‘Visit Charges’ for the rain-affected customers. Only spare-parts cost (if any) will be charged to the customer, while repairing a rain-damaged home-appliance.

As the current monsoon rain-storms and floods have devastated people all over the country, Dawlance has taken tangible measures to ease the sufferings of its customers. This special offer will be valid all over Pakistan for Dawlance rain-affected appliances only and will continue till the 15^th of September, 2020. If any Dawlance appliances are malfunctioning due to rain, the customers can simply send a complaint to our call-centre along with a picture of the appliance (optional). Rain-affected customers will be served on priority.

The Director Sales & Marketing at Dawlance – Syed Hasan Jameel stated that; Dawlance is Pakistan’s market leader in home-appliances and a fully owned subsidiary of Arcelik – the largest Turkish enterprise and the second-largest manufacturer in Europe. In Pakistan Dawlance-Arcelik is consistently elevating the standards of quality, while inspiring a service-culture in the industry. Currently, our after-sales personnel are making relentless efforts to provide relief and convenience to the rain-affected customers and help them overcome this unfortunate misery.

Dawlance Service Network has a nationwide outreach, to promise 24/7 Customer-Care with a highly responsive Call-Center and the largest network of more than 250 touch-points, delivered by highly trained, well-equipped, after-sales service technicians.

Lahore – Zakra -e- Ahle Bait Syeda Kubra Fatima addressing the Majlis -e- Azza at Khaima -e- Sadaat , Lahore .

Police department in the province needs not to be only professionally trained for effective policing, it needs professional handling of the public affairs to engage with stakeholders including the media, participants argued in a webinar series, ‘Police Awam Saath Saath’.       

The Webinar series focused on building a network of alliances between Police, Media and the civil society, is currently being held across the country. A story competition on police reforms under this initiative has already started receiving articles and digital stories and was also launched in Lahore. Moderated by Zafarullah khan, a renowned civic education expert,  the opening session of PMSS in Lahore brought out the best in participants regarding their genuine concerns about people reforms and potential role of the media in this regard.

Sheraz Hassnat from HUM News, banking on his years of crime reporting, presented his reservations about efficient training of crime reporters. “Unfortunately, crime reporter’s associations are not on the same page and there exists a visible power struggle” he added.  He also said that the Police department should also invest in training of their officers regarding their engagement with the media.

Arshad Dogar from City 42 advocated about rights of underprivileged and said that discussion should move away from elites because nobody in Pakistan preserve or talk about rights of lower sections of the society or even the lower ranks of the police.

Muhammad Rauf from 92 News discussed about International best practices and shed light on recruitment dynamics of Punjab Police. Shahid Nazir from Urdu Point pointed out the redundancy and superficial nature of reforms in the past and how they can become productive. He appreciated the initiative ‘Police Media Sath Sath” for its sustainable nature.

Ahmer Khokar (ARY) and Abdullah Mughal (Business Recorder) talked in depth regarding political influence over police that bears down on its authority and impedes effective community policing.

Assistant Professor from Punjab University, Shazeb Khan moved the discussion from micro factors to macro factors that have laid the foundations of current policing structure. “All institutions are interlinked and it is impossible to talk about reforms in one without discussing  the other”. Umaima, a web editor from The News on Sunday, appreciated the transformed mechanism of addressing public’s grievances by Punjab Police through adopting technological innovations. She also emphasized the need for rigorous inclusion of women in police and in-house psychologists to take care of mental health of police staff considering their complex and dangerous duties.

At the end, all participants formally entered into the alliance with the program by pledging to strive for productive media and police relations. This effort will eventually sustain the aims of the initiative “Police Awam Sath Sath”, a program working on re-writing the dynamics between police and masses. 

“Karam mere Aaqa” in Mehwish Hayat’s voice is not only soulful but has left Ashiqan e Rasool listening to it on loop!

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Mehwish Hayat is a critically acclaimed Pakistani actress known for her distinct roles in numerous movies and films. She was awarded Tamgha e Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan in 2019 for her services in promoting Pakistani cinema.

PTV Home’s Ramzan transmission hosted by distinguished actor Ahsan Khan premiered the Pakistani Actress’s new naat on their transmission yesterday.  The Kalam not only left the listeners enthralled but also allowed them to feel the love of Prophet (SAW) in their hearts.

“Karam mere Aaqa” has been written by Muhammad Ali Zahoori, and composed by Mian Yousaf Salahuddin.  Zahoori is famous for his urbanity of rendition of naat. Mian Yousaf Salahuddin is the maternal grandson of Allam Iqbal and is an illustrious Pakistani Socialite, a philanthropist, and an ex-politician.  Hayat expressed her feelings live on the transmission, as to how she fell in love with the composition the way Salahuddin has produced it. Hayat has always appreciated naatkhuwani since childhood.  After ensuing her career, she always wanted to record a naat as a hadia to the Prophet (SAW).

On the occasion of her naat’s release at Ahsan Khan’s show Ramzan Pakistan on PTV, Hayat shared that Salahuddin has composed various Kalams that have left people inspired.  Hayat felt lucky to have her first naat originated by him and mentioned her admiration for his eulogies.

GCT CEO said that it was the first time that the students of the GCT schools belonging to underprivileged families settled in different towns of Sindh had been given the opportunity to present their extra-curricular skills at the prime venue of Arts Council on the occasion of Children Carnival. 

Ahmed Shah, President, Karachi Arts Council, meets delegation of Green Crescent Trust headed by its CEO Zahid Saeed. The delegation comprises of Faizan Jawed, Musaddiq Aziz, Farhan Baig and Wasiuddin.

Lahore – Rich tributes were paid by senior journalists and leading intellectuals to late Zafar Iqbal Mirza (ZIM) and lauded his services for quality journalism at a Reference held at Safma. Imtiaz Alam, Secretary General of Safma, said Mr ZIM was a great professional journalist who kept higher professional standards while defying the restrictions employed by the dictators Mr I A Rehman, spokesperson of HECP, recalled his contribution to print journalism and for a free press in Pakistan. He called upon the younger generation to follow his example as a role model for maintaining high professional standards. Lamenting current state of a suppressed freedom of expression, Dr Akmal Hussain observed that a civilised society cannot be created without freedom of speech and flourishing of new ideas. He lauded ZIM for his civilised defiance and steadfastness against tyranny. Senior journalist Husain Naqi recalled ZIM’s services for Pakistan Times, Dawn, Viewpoint, Punjab Punch and Sajan. He said that ZIM was a flawless editor and columnist, who trained and helped successive generation of journalists. His colleague Masoodullah Khan taked about the versatility of his friend and recalled how he helped friends and the needful. Ms Saleema Hashmi expressed her admiration for his humanism, virtuousness and friendliness and as a lover of art. Mr ZIM represented the old tradition of clean journalism and was a praise worthy gentleman who was not only a distinguished journalist but also a very decent human being. In his dearth, We have lost an iconic personality of media, who had set high standards that are now missing in the mainstream media.

Islamabad (Muhammad Yasir) While taking the public interest litigation on the implementation of Police Order 2002 in Islamabad Capital Territory, Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court Honorable Justice Athar Minallah has ordered immediate implementation of the Police Order 2002 in place of the colonial era Police Act, 1861.   

The Police Order 2002 was promulgated on 14^th of August 2002 as Chief Executive’s Order No. 22 of 2002 and it replaced the police Act of 1861 (V of 1861). The primary objective of the Police Order 2002 was to reform the police in such a way that it could “function according to the Constitution, law, and democratic aspirations of the people of Pakistan”. The Police Order 2002 aims to create a police service, which is “professional, service-oriented and accountable to the people”. Furthermore, it envisages a police service, which is also efficient in prevention and detection of crime as well as maintenance of public order.  

That as per the Article 1 (3) of the Police Order , 2002 it is mandatory for the Federal Government to enforce and follow the said Order from the day the local governments are established in Islamabad Capital Territory. The continuing non-implementation of the Police Order vitiates the spirit of the fundamental rights given to the citizens under Articles 9 and 10 of the Constitution of Pakistan given that the citizens of Pakistan continue to be subject to a colonial law of policing despite there being a valid law to replace it.

Syed Raza Ali, Chief Executive Officer of Peace & Justice Network through his counsel Yasser Latif Hamdani, Haider Imtiaz, and Fatima Tu Zara Butt filed a writ petition before Islamabad High Court, Islamabad, seeking implementation and enforcement of the Police Order, 2002 in the Islamabad Capital Territory, instead of Police Act, 1861 as mandated by the Article 1 (3) of the Police Order 2002.

On 13^th September 2019, the writ Petition was fixed for hearing before the Honorable Chief Justice Mr. Athar Minallah. The petitioner’s counsel Mr. Yasser Latif Hamdani prayed for the writ of mandamus to ensure that Islamabad Chief Commissioner and Police Department implements the Police Order 2002 which should have come into force as soon as the local government in Islamabad were formed. The Police Order 2002 is a departure from the colonial era policing that sought mob control. It seeks to reconceptualise the idea of policing as public service in a modern democratic nation state by making the police servants of the people imbued with a spirit of public service.

Notices have been issued to the Chief Commissioner and Police Department for their presence in next date on 11^th October, 2019.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Federal Minister of Religious Affairs Pir Noor-ul-haq Qadri said that Pakistan was a safe country for the minorities and protection of their sacred places were responsibility of the government.

Speaking at the celebrated 549th birth anniversary celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Devji, he said that opening of the Kartarpur border for Sikh pilgrims proved that the government of Pakistan love and care the minorities while prime minister of Pakistan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) given their support to such initiatives.

“Pakistan wants peace and brotherhood in the region while India was doing negative propaganda against Pakistan”, he said.

Hundreds of Referendum campaigners from North America, Europe and UK celebrated 549th birth anniversary celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Devji, besides running the “Referendum 2020” campaign in Nankana Sahib under the banner of Pro-Khalistan advocacy group “Sikhs For Justice” (SFJ).

The Pro-Khalistan advocacy group “Sikhs For Justice” (SFJ) is running a secessionist campaign to liberate Punjab from Indian occupation.

“Referendum 2020” banners and “Khalistan” flags with the life size portrait of Shaheed Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale were placed throughout the Nankana Sahib complex. SFJ activists also distributed T-Shirts and Q&A pamphlet on Punjab Independence referendum among the devotees who are visiting Pakistan from more than thirty countries.

Sarbjit Banur, one of the chief campaigners of the Referendum 2020 from UK giving the message of the legal advisor to SFJ Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said that the SFJ will initiate the registration of votes for Referendum 2020 during next years scheduled 550th birth celebrations at Kartarpur Sahib. Furthermore, a permanent office of SFJ will also be established in Lahore to coordinate the registration of Referendum votes and which will also serve as information center for the Sikhs in Punjab, he said.

He said that the Referendum 2020 Campaign was not act of terrorism or crime as claimed by Indian Governments. Rather, he stressed that the Punjab Independence Referendum 2020 is a peaceful democratic campaign for right to self determination through ballot not bullet”.

He vowed to counter domestically and internationally every move of the Indian authorities to maliciously label the indigenous peoples’ campaigns for right to self determination as terrorism. Referendum2020 is a community financed non-violent secessionist movement and resistance against occupation of Punjab and any attempts to crush Pro Khalistan movement will result in legal consequences at international level.

He mentioned that the SFJ in its London Declaration, had already announced to hold the first ever non-binding referendum among the global Sikh community on the question of secession from India and reestablishing Punjab as an independent country. In November 2020, SFJ announced to hold the polling for referendum the polling will be held in major cities of North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Kenya and the Middle Eastern Countries and Indian governed Punjab.

General Secretary Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) Gopal Singh Chawla talking to the media after the celebrations said that they support the Referendum 2020 of SFJ. This initiative is the right of Sikh community of the world and India could not be suppressed the justified demand of SFJ. He further said that the government of Pakistan was supporting the Sikh community and opening of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor was a long awaited demand of the Sikhs fulfilled. He said that government of Pakistan made historic step and Indian government should not step back from it now.