KARACHI: Pakistan’s local Geo news channel announced on Wednesday it could not broadcast a press conference by Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam (JUI-F), a religio-political faction, due to the instructions released by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA).
Rehman’s JUI-F party recently announced to launch an anti-government movement by the end of the month, saying its members would march toward the federal capital, Islamabad, to dislodge the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) administration.
Within an hour of the announcement on Geo, #PoliticizedPEMRA was trending on Twitter.
“I texted a caption and hashtag to my team and it went viral on the social media platform,” Muhammad Sami Swati, head of the social media wing of the JUI-F, told Arab News.
Swati added he had also directed his recently trained team of over 5000 activists to share the livestreaming link of Rehman’s press conference as well.
“In just a little while, about 100,000 Facebook visitors were watching it,” he said.
The JUIF chief wants Prime Minister Imran Khan’s resignation and has threatened to march on Islamabad on October 31. Although other opposition parties have declined his request for a sit-in, all leading political factions, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), have endorsed the march and decided to participate in it.
Recently, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) also dismissed a plea against the protest.
“The entire country will be our war zone,” Rehman said in his news conference that was not allowed to be broadcast on Wednesday. “The war will end only when the government falls.”
“The JUI-F has never received its due share [of coverage], but this time it’s a complete blackout, forcing us to turn to social media to reach out to the public,” Swati, who heads a team of 5000 trained activists and 450,000 registered workers, said.
He added that his party had a massive Facebook presence, but it “recently turned to Twitter” due to the impact of that social media platform. “I recently held workshops in Karachi, Hyderabad and Larkana cities of Sindh where I also shared the party’s ‘code of conduct’ with the workers,” Swati informed.
Shamsuddin Amjad, social media director of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, said religious factions had always focused on social media due to little coverage in print and on television. “We have found a blessing and power in social media websites. They enable every citizen to become a journalist. The wars of narrative are fought on social media,” he said.
Atif Rauf, head of the PML-N social media wing, said that censorship in mainstream media was pushing parties toward social media.
“People want to read and hear the truth and the mainstream media admits that it cannot air or publish it,” Rauf told Arab News, adding: “Several prominent journalists who were not allowed to express themselves on their news networks launched their own YouTube channels, reflecting that social media in Pakistan is more truthful than the country’s mainstream media.”
According to the Global Digital Report released by “We are Social” and “Hootsuite” in January this year, 37 million of the 202.7 million Pakistanis are active social media users.
The figures provide a perfect opportunity to political parties, said social media influencers.
“Political parties use social media not only because mainstream media is being stifled but also because much of the battle of narratives and perceptions has shifted from mainstream to social media,” said Omar R Quraishi, a journalist, social media influencer who has also served as a media consultant to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Quraishi said the opposition parties, however, relied more heavily on social media now.
Arsalan Taj Ghumman, one of the pioneers of the PTI social media team, said the party in power could not ignore social media, either.
“The party in power needs more social media engagement as you have to keep your vote bank intact against all odds. When the mainstream media starts questioning your performance you need to have a strong social media engagement,” Ghumman said.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman goes online ahead of his ‘Azadi March’
Maulana Fazlur Rehman goes online ahead of his ‘Azadi March’
- The religio-political party recently trained 5000 activists to use social media
- The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party was the first political faction that skillfully used social media in Pakistan
Pakistan’s top court conditionally allows military courts to declare reserved judgments in May 9 cases
- Supreme Court says judgments can only be announced in cases in which people can be released before Eid Al-Fitr
- Attorney general says 20 people can be released before the Muslim religious festival is celebrated next month
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday allowed military courts to announce judgments reserved in cases against civilians linked to the May 9 violence that erupted last year after the brief detention of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on corruption charges.
Demonstrators, identified with Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, targeted government buildings and military installations, notably setting ablaze the official residence of a senior army general in Lahore.
This incident prompted a significant crackdown on PTI leaders and supporters, with the government facing allegations of arbitrary arrests and custodial torture, which it denied.
Following the May 9 events, military authorities sought to prosecute civilians involved in the assaults on its properties nationwide. However, the move was challenged, and a five-member Supreme Court bench deemed civilian trials in military courts unconstitutional in October.
The government has since appealed the decision.
The Supreme Court said during the hearing today that only the verdict in those cases should be announced in which the people on trial can be released before the Eid Al-Fitr festivities next month.
“Twenty out of 103 suspects involved in the May 9 incidents will be released before Eid,” Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan told the court. “These 20 individuals will be released following the established procedure.”
The PTI has complained of being unjustly targeted by state institutions since the downfall of its administration in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022.
Khan himself remains behind bars in a high-security prison in Rawalpindi after being convicted in a number of cases in recent months.
PM Sharif seeks swift implementation of Security Council’s ceasefire resolution in Gaza
- The PM says Pakistan stands shoulder to shoulder with Palestinians ‘who are fighting against oppression’
- Pakistan has consistently called for a viable and geographically contiguous Palestinian state at the UN
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday called for the swift implementation of the United Nations Security Council’s ceasefire resolution in the Gaza Strip to end Israel’s relentless military campaign against the people of Palestine which has lasted for over five months.
Israel launched its campaign after a surprise attack was initiated by Hamas on Oct. 7 in response to the deteriorating condition of Palestinian people living under Israeli occupation. Since then, Israel has killed over 32,000 Gaza residents, most of them women and children, by targeting hospitals and residential neighborhoods.
The Security Council demanded an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas earlier this week in what was viewed as a massive legal blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration that has been widely accused of running a genocidal campaign against Palestinians.
The resolution was passed after the United States abstained from the vote.
The Pakistani prime minister mentioned the UN resolution at an iftar-dinner hosted by the foreign ministry to honor the members of the diplomatic community in the country.
“Pakistan welcomes the UN Security Council resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza,” he said while addressing the gathering. “Immediate implementation of the UN Security Council’s ceasefire resolution in Gaza is necessary.”
He noted that Ramadan was a month of peace, blessings and generosity, adding that the gathering reflected his country’s cultural values and interfaith harmony.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with unarmed Palestinians and Kashmiris who are fighting against oppression even during Ramadan,” the prime minister added.
Pakistan has consistently called for a ceasefire in Gaza at the United Nations and other international forums while seeking a viable and geographically contiguous Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders.
Pakistan PM to meet chief justice amid allegations of intelligence meddling in judicial matters
- The meeting was scheduled following the top court’s deliberations over the accusations made by six high court judges
- The judges had complained of coercion by intelligence agencies in a letter to Supreme Judicial Council earlier this week
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to meet Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa today, Thursday, apparently to discuss the allegations made by six Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges in a letter about intelligence agencies’ meddling in judicial affairs.
The meeting is expected to take place a day after the Supreme Court held a full court meeting to deliberate on the issue without issuing a statement or decision.
The six judges, out of a total IHC strength of eight, sent a written request to the Supreme Judicial Council earlier this week to hold a judicial convention to discuss how intelligence agencies put judges under pressure and coerce them to issue desired verdicts.
“The prime minister, along with the attorney-general of Pakistan, is scheduled to have a meeting with the chief justice on the court’s premises at about 2pm today,” the attorney-general’s office confirmed to Arab News over the phone.
It declined to provide further details about the agenda of the meeting.
Prior to the development, Pakistani bar associations called for a transparent inquiry into the matter while reacting to the letter.
“The concerns highlighted in the letter are indeed grave and warrant immediate attention,” Pakistan Bar Council said in a statement, demanding an investigation into the matter by a three-member committee of the Supreme Court judges.
“The contents of the letter depict a troubling narrative of attempts to undermine autonomy of the judiciary and influence judicial proceedings for political ends,” it continued.
The six judges provided various examples of alleged interference, including a case concerning Pakistan’s imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan. They informed that when two of the three judges on the bench deemed a plea to disqualify Khan for allegedly concealing his paternity of a daughter as not maintainable, they faced pressure from “operatives of the ISI [Inter-Services Intelligence]” through their friends and relatives.
The judges also mentioned incidents where their relatives were abducted and tortured and their homes were secretly surveilled, aiming to coerce them into delivering favorable judgments in specific cases.
The Islamabad High Court Bar Association and legal experts also demanded an investigation into the issue, calling it a “serious threat to rule of law and independence of judiciary.”
Speaking to Arab News, Justice (r) Shaiq Usmani said the Supreme Judicial Council had the power to summon anybody, examine the record and evidence and record statements of those involved in a matter. He said it should take the lead and investigate the matter raised by the IHC judges.
“The Supreme Judicial Council should record statements of all those involved in this matter besides examining the available evidence to fix responsibility,” he said. “The whole process could be completed in an in-camera inquiry with integrity and without sensationalizing the matter.”
First Pakistani female Diana Legacy Award winner hopes to spotlight other humanitarians in her country
- Alizey Khan, a law graduate, has been combating food insecurity by distributing ration bags and cooked meals
- Previously, a survivor of the 2014 Army Public School shooting received the award for his deradicalization work
ISLAMABAD: A 26-year-old Pakistani humanitarian worker became the first woman from her country to win the Diana Legacy Award in recognition to her social services this month, prompting her to describe the achievement as an opportunity to bring broader recognition to other people working in her field.
The Diana Legacy Awards are presented biennially, honoring the achievements of 20 young leaders worldwide. This year’s edition of the awards coincided with Lady Diana’s 25th anniversary.
Alizey Khan, the young Pakistani humanitarian worker, is a law graduate who got the award from Prince William on March 14 at a ceremony held in London.
Khan established the Ruhil Foundation in 2016 to combat food insecurity by delivering ration bags and cooked meals to those in need. She did extensive work during the COVID-19 pandemic before providing food and other relief items to flood-hit families in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan provinces.
Speaking to Arab News on Wednesday, she pointed out that many women in Pakistan were engaged in remarkable humanitarian and welfare efforts and deserve global acknowledgement.
“They have not received the same recognition or exposure,” she said. “Therefore, I am grateful for this award as it shines a spotlight on the valuable contributions of Pakistani women. Hopefully, it will encourage more women to step forward, receive nominations and gain recognition through prestigious international awards.”
According to the Diana Award website, Khan’s organization delivered 5,500 monthly food parcels and 10,000 meals between April 2016 and March 2022. It also expanded its focus to education and shelter by raising over $150,000.
Additionally, Khan’s humanitarian venture financed 200 weddings, distributed 600 sanitary pads, provided 1,100 blankets in winter, disbursed 1,000 interest-free emergency loans and gave monthly stipends to 25 transgender people and widows during the same period.
She said that she felt exceptionally proud when it was announced during the award ceremony that she was the first woman from Pakistan to receive the honor. Previously, only one Pakistani, Ahmed Nawaz, who survived the 2014 Army Public School shooting, received the award in 2019 for deradicalization efforts.
“I received the award due to my consistent involvement in humanitarian efforts as I commenced my humanitarian work at the age of 16, and over the past decade, I have significantly expanded both the scope and reach of my initiatives,” she said, adding that youth was considered a positive factor since the jury valued young individuals dedicated to community welfare.
Speaking about her work over the years, she said her primary focus had been on food distribution among deserving individuals that involved several transgender people and widows.
Additionally, her organization provides complete meals at weddings for underprivileged families, having already supported about 200 of them.
“We also undertake the adoption and reform of various orphanages, ensuring their efficient and effective operation by connecting them with our network of donors,” she added.
For the Diana Award, Khan said an individual’s work should demonstrate sustainability and impact over a prolonged period of time.
“Among the 20 recipients of the Legacy Award this year, I had raised the most funding for my projects, enhancing their impact and sustainability,” she added.
Khan said the award offered more than just recognition since it also included a two-year mentoring program with regular sessions with individuals in one’s own field.
“Participants have access to programs where they can connect with experts in the field and access fundraising opportunities,” she continued, adding the attention garnered in the field of welfare work aided in the growth and sustainability of one’s initiatives.
In Rawalpindi, 63-year-old drummer defies modernity to keep Ramadan suhoor spirit alive
- Imam Buksh roams Rawalpindi streets at night during Ramadan, waking up believers for pre-dawn meals
- Drummer says modern technology has threated the tradition but people still appreciate his suhoor wake-up calls
ISLAMABAD: The streets of Satellite Town, an old and upscale neighborhood in the Pakistani garrison city of Rawalpindi, reverberated with loud beats around 2am earlier this week as Imam Buksh pounded his colorful barrel drum with wooden sticks.
Houses and shops lit up behind the drummer and residents peeked out of their homes to catch a glimpse of the 63-year-old who daily roams the streets of Rawalpindi after midnight during the holy month of Ramadan, urging worshipers with his drum beats to wake up for the fast-keeping suhoor meal.
For decades a Ramadan tradition, the nocturnal practice finds itself at odds with modernity as old neighborhoods in the vast garrison city have made way for more modern housing colonies, and the drumbeaters’ usefulness has been eclipsed by TV, mobile phones and alarm clocks.
But Buksh is resolved to preserve the practice and continues his daily drum pounding from 2:30am until the Fajr prayers throughout Ramadan. For him, it’s a way to earn Allah’s blessings.
“I have been doing this here for approximately 16 years, to awaken people [for suhoor] which pleases Allah,” Buksh, who moved to Rawalpindi from the nearby Jhang district to work as a drum-beater at weddings, told Arab News on Monday.
“I fulfill my duty for Allah during the holy month of Ramadan and after completing my daily duty, I return to my place for rest every day … I used to do drum-beating in Rawalpindi back when there were only a few houses, and people used to give a rupee or a few coins as reward.”
Ramadan marks the month in which the Qur’an was revealed on Prophet Muhammad. Fasting, by abstaining from food and water from sunrise to sunset, is one of the five pillars of Islam, a grueling routine the devout repeat every day for a month.
In much of the Muslim world, particularly the Middle East, suhoor drummers call for people to wake up. Often people offer them money for their services.
“If someone gives something I accept it, otherwise I will keep going on my way as it makes me as well as people in the area happy,” Buksh said. “Many people are happy because of my drum-beating and request me from their rooftops to beat it more.”
He said he often got calls from people if he skipped a neighborhood.
“Just the other day, I received a call from someone in a colony where I used to beat the drum last year,” he said. “They asked why I had stopped coming to their area, and I explained that I cannot travel as much now.”
Buksh has four sons who have all followed in his footsteps. Two are drummers in the southern port city of Karachi, while two work from their hometown of Jhang.
Asked about his future plans, he said he wished to perform Umrah or a pilgrimage to the Muslim holy sites.
“I wish that someone would help me go to Umrah or pilgrimage to the holy places,” he said. “Wherever they can send me, I will pray for them and ask for more blessings for them from Allah.”