KARACHI: Pakistani rights activists and civil society members demanded a judicial inquiry by a sitting high court judge following the killing of a man accused of blasphemy by police officials in the southern Sindh province while holding a news conference at the Karachi Press Club on Saturday.
The incident happened in Pakistan’s Umerkot district where a man named Dr. Shahnawaz Kanbhar was shot dead by the police in an alleged shootout on September 19 after being accused of spreading blasphemous content on social media against the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
This was the second such development since the beginning this month after a police officer killed a blasphemy suspect in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province while he was in custody.
The home minister in Sindh’s provincial administration, Zia-ul-Hasan Linjar, constituted a police inquiry committee to investigate the incident.
“We believe the accused was arrested and killed in a staged encounter [shootout],” Khizar Qazi, the head of the country’s independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in Sindh, told Arab News after the news conference.
“We demand a judicial inquiry by a sitting high court judge and that the police officers involved be charged under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code [dealing with murder],” he added. “Justice must be served for the bereaved family.”
The government has already suspended eight low-ranking police personnel and two of their superior officials while the inquiry is being conducted.
Only a day ago, Amnesty International issued a statement against these “extrajudicial killings,” urging the Pakistani authorities to complete “a thorough, impartial and independent investigation into the incidents and ensure those responsible are prosecuted in fair and transparent trials.”
It also highlighted that four people accused of blasphemy have so far been killed in the country since May 2024.
Blasphemy is an incendiary charge in Pakistan, where mobs have lynched people deemed to have insulted Islam.
Amnesty International also asked Pakistani authorities to repeal the law, saying it had “long helped perpetuate discrimination and violence.”
Rights activists demand judicial probe into police killing of blasphemy accused in Pakistan
https://arab.news/63um5
Rights activists demand judicial probe into police killing of blasphemy accused in Pakistan
- The man was killed in an alleged police shootout in the Umerkot district located in southern Sindh province
- Amnesty International has also asked Pakistan for an impartial probe, fair trial of those responsible for killing
Pakistan’s seafood exports to China hit nearly $255 million in 2025 as market reach widens
- Frozen fish and cephalopods lead exports as shipments expand beyond China’s coastal hubs
- Growth reflects Pakistan’s push to diversify exports and tap China’s inland consumer markets
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s seafood exports to China rose to nearly $255 million in 2025, underscoring Beijing’s growing importance as a destination for Pakistani marine products, according to data from China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) published by state-run APP on Monday.
The figures point to a broader geographic and product diversification of Pakistan’s seafood trade with China at a time when Islamabad is seeking to boost foreign exchange earnings and reduce reliance on a narrow set of export sectors.
“The gains were driven by sustained demand for frozen fish, cephalopods, and a growing range of processed seafood products in both coastal and inland markets,” APP said in a report, citing China Customs data.
Frozen fish remained the single largest export category, contributing about $64.6 million to Pakistan’s seafood shipments to China. Imports were concentrated in major coastal and metropolitan entry points, with Guangdong province emerging as the largest destination by value and volume, importing 8.48 million kilograms worth $15.7 million. Shandong and Beijing followed, each exceeding 7 million kilograms, while Shanghai, Tianjin and Zhejiang also recorded substantial volumes.
At the same time, smaller but notable shipments were recorded in inland provinces including Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou and Chongqing, suggesting a widening distribution footprint supported by expanding cold-chain logistics and growing demand away from China’s traditional port cities.
Cephalopods emerged as another key growth pillar. Exports of frozen cuttlefish and squid reached nearly $31 million, while frozen octopus rose to almost $12 million, reflecting demand from catering chains and seafood processors supplying China’s foodservice and ready-to-cook segments.
Affordable pelagic fish also performed strongly. Frozen sardines, sardinella, brisling and sprats recorded imports of around $14.9 million, supported by household consumption and mass-market food manufacturers.
In addition to core frozen categories, Pakistan exported roughly $14.4 million each in two higher-value segments classified by China Customs as “fish” and “fish products,” indicating a gradual shift toward processed and value-added seafood lines.
Analysts cited in the APP report attributed the overall growth to improved compliance with Chinese food safety standards, expanded approvals for Pakistani processing facilities and competitive pricing backed by Pakistan’s marine resource base. Investments in cold-chain logistics and streamlined customs procedures were also seen as supporting higher volumes and broader market access.
