Thousands of women marched across several Indian cities overnight and Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for strict punishment for crimes against women, as outrage and protests against the gruesome rape and murder of a doctor escalated. Holding candles and posters that said “reclaim the night”, women held marches across cities, including the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, where the rape and murder of a trainee doctor last week has triggered protests by fellow medics, demanding better and safer working conditions. Many government hospitals in cities across India suspended all services except emergency departments earlier this week, as junior…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
QUETTA: The Balochistan government has decided to bear the costs of passport issuance for daily-wage earners living in the Pak-Afghan border areas as they staged a protest sit-in in Chaman despite reaching a deal with the government last month on the issue of border crossing. The protests were launched in October 2023 to press the government of Pakistan to reverse its decision of imposing a one-document regime for border crossing from both sides. The Balochistan government, after holding negotiations with the protesting daily wagers and traders, accepted their demands, including the border crossing on the Pakistan’s national identity card and Afghan ID card up…
ISLAMABAD: Capital police spent the day trying to establish the identity and nationality of a foreign national, who was found bound and gagged on a roadside on Wednesday morning. Police officials told Dawn they received information about a woman, who had been abandoned on the roadside in Sector G-6/1-3. When a police team reached the spot, they were faced with a young woman in her mid-20s. She introduced herself as a Belgian citizen and told police she arrived in Islamabad around six months ago. She claimed that she had been living with a man and alleged that he had repeatedly raped her.…
QUETTA: As the nation grapples with the scourge of terrorism and militant attacks with alarming frequency, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has declared that there is no room for violence in the country, and the notion of disgruntled individuals holds no significance. “Pakistan will emerge as the fortress of Islamic nations, where every individual can live a peaceful and prosperous life,” he said while addressing a flag-hoisting ceremony at the Balochistan Assembly’s lawn on Wednesday. Senator Ishaq Dar, who also holds the foreign affairs portfolio, urged the nation to come together in unity to elevate Pakistan to the level envisioned…
ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a flood alert for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, forecasting heavy rains in the province from August 14 to 18. According to the NDMA, various regions, including Hazara, Malakand Division, Peshawar, Bannu, D.I. Khan, Hangu, Haripur, and Kohat, are expected to receive significant rainfall during this period. Also, rainfall is anticipated in the areas of Kurram, Lakki Marwat, Mohmand, Orakzai, and Waziristan. The NDMA has warned of the potential for flooding and an increase in water flow in rivers and streams due to the heavy rains. Authorities have been advised to take precautionary measures…
PESHAWAR/QUETTA: A head constable was martyred and a constable suffered injuries when unidentified militants hurled a hand grenade on a check post in Mayar locality of Lower Dir district, while security check posts, a police station, a local hotel and a railway crossing bridge also came under similar attacks in some other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. After an intense exchange of fire with the militants, security forces and police claimed to have repulsed most of the attacks including those on a check post at Shangla’s tourist spot Yakhtangay, in Jamrud tehsil of Khyber district, a check post and…
Freelancing platform Fiverr has made several accounts in Pakistan “unavailable” due to possible “internet disruptions”, workers using the site have said, while rights activists have lamented the issue. A day ago, a body of internet service providers alleged that the government’s heightened efforts to monitor internet traffic had resulted in a significant nationwide slowdown of services. Internet users have speculated that the disruptions were the result of a firewall being installed by the government to monitor and keep check on users. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), however, denied that the issue was caused by a firewall. Last week, users had faced difficulties in accessing social media platforms —…
Citizens in various cities of Pakistan faced internet connectivity issues on Thursday, amid already-existing concerns of service disruptions. The outage comes just a day after a body of internet service providers (ISPs) alleged that the government’s heightened efforts to monitor internet traffic had resulted in a significant nationwide slowdown of services. The Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (Wispap) said internet speeds over the past few weeks plummeted by 30 to 40 per cent and warned that the situation had become so dire that many businesses were considering relocating their operations to other countries. Major online platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp…
Three retired military personnel were taken into military custody in connection with court martial proceedings against former spymaster Faiz Hameed for his alleged involvement in victimising the owner of a private housing society, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release on Thursday. According to the statement, three retired officers were under military custody for “actions prejudicial to military discipline”. “In connection with the FGCM proceedings of Lt Gen (Retd) Faiz Hameed, three retired officers are also in military custody for their actions prejudicial to military discipline,” the military’s media affairs wing said. “Further investigations of certain retired officers…
ISLAMABAD: Amid growing concerns from the business community, the internet service providers on Wednesday alleged that the government’s heightened efforts to monitor internet traffic had resulted in a significant nationwide slowdown of services. A statement issued by the Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (WISPAP) said the government’s decision to enhance security and surveillance has had an unintended consequence, severely crippling the country’s digital economy. “Over the past few weeks, internet speeds have plummeted by 30 to 40 per cent, creating a chaotic situation for businesses and individuals who rely heavily on fast, reliable connectivity.” The association said…
