Sunday, July 11, 2021

Music Video - #BillyJoel #WeDidntStartTheFire #Rock Billy Joel - We Didn't Start the Fire

The longest war: America’s war in Afghanistan is ending in crushing defeat

The consequences of the conflict for Afghans, already catastrophic, are likely to get worse.
“I want to talk about happy things, man!” protested President Joe Biden in early July, when reporters asked him about the imminent withdrawal of the last American forces from Afghanistan, expected sometime in the next few weeks. No wonder he wants to change the subject: America has been fighting in Afghanistan for 20 years. It has spent more than $2trn on the war. It has lost thousands of its own troops and seen the death of tens of thousands of Afghans—soldiers and civilians alike. Now America is calling an end to the whole sorry adventure, with almost nothing to show for it.
True, al-Qaeda, which sparked the war by planning the 9/11 attacks from Afghanistan, is no longer much of a force in the country, although it has not been eliminated entirely. But that is about as far as it goes. Other anti-American terror groups, including a branch of Islamic State, continue to operate in Afghanistan. The zealots of the Taliban, who harboured Osama bin Laden and were overthrown by American-backed forces after 9/11, have made a horrifying comeback. They are in complete control of about half the country and threaten to conquer the rest. The democratic, pro-Western government fostered by so much American blood and money is corrupt, widely reviled and in steady retreat.
In theory, the Taliban and the American-backed government are negotiating a peace accord, whereby the insurgents lay down their arms and participate instead in a redesigned political system. In the best-case scenario, strong American support for the government, both financial and military (in the form of continuing air strikes on the Taliban), coupled with immense pressure on the insurgents’ friends, such as Pakistan, might succeed in producing some form of power-sharing agreement. But even if that were to happen—and the chances are low—it would be a depressing spectacle. The Taliban would insist on moving backwards in the direction of the brutal theocracy they imposed during their previous stint in power, when they confined women to their homes, stopped girls from going to school and meted out harsh punishments for sins such as wearing the wrong clothes or listening to the wrong music.
More likely than any deal, however, is that the Taliban try to use their victories on the battlefield to topple the government by force. They have already overrun much of the countryside, with government units mostly restricted to cities and towns. Demoralised government troops are abandoning their posts. This week over 1,000 of them fled from the north-eastern province of Badakhshan to neighbouring Tajikistan. The Taliban have not yet managed to capture and hold any cities, and may lack the manpower to do so in lots of places at once. They may prefer to throttle the government slowly rather than attack it head on. But the momentum is clearly on their side.
At the very least, the civil war is likely to intensify, as the Taliban press their advantage and the government fights for its life. Other countries—China, India, Iran, Russia and Pakistan—will seek to fill the vacuum left by America. Some will funnel money and weapons to friendly warlords. The result will be yet more bloodshed and destruction, in a country that has suffered constant warfare for more than 40 years. Those who worry about possible reprisals against the locals who worked as translators for the Americans are missing the big picture: America is abandoning an entire country of almost 40m people to a grisly fate.
It did not have to be this way. For the past six years fewer than 10,000 American troops, plus a similar number from other nato countries, have propped up the Afghan army enough to maintain the status quo. American casualties had dropped to almost nothing. The war, which used to rile voters, had become a political irrelevance in America. Since becoming president, Mr Biden has focused, rightly, on the threats posed by China and Russia. But the American deployment in Afghanistan had grown so small that it did not really interfere with that. The new American administration views the long stalemate as proof that there is no point remaining in Afghanistan. But for the Afghans whom it protected from the Taliban, the stalemate was precious.
There will be a long debate about how much the withdrawal saps America’s credibility and prestige. For all its wealth and military might, America failed not only to create a strong, self-sufficient Afghan state, but also to defeat a determined insurgency. What is more, America is no longer prepared to put its weight behind its supposed ally, the Afghan government, to the surprise and dismay of many Afghan officials. Hostile regimes in places like China and Russia will have taken note—as will America’s friends. That does not make Afghanistan a second Vietnam. For one thing, the Afghan war was never really the Pentagon’s or the nation’s focus. American troops were on the ground far longer in Afghanistan than they were in Vietnam, but far fewer of them died. Other events, from the war in Iraq to the global financial crisis, always seemed more important than what was happening in Kandahar. And American politicians and pundits have agonised over whether to stay or go for so long that, now the withdrawal has finally arrived, it has lost its power to shock. To the extent that outsiders see it as a sign of American weakness, that weakness has been evident for a long time.
Unhappy things
Shocking or not, though, the withdrawal is nonetheless a calamity for the people of Afghanistan. In 2001 many hoped that America might end their 20-year-old civil war and free them from a stifling, doctrinaire theocracy. For a time, it looked as though that might happen. But today the lives of ordinary Afghans are more insecure than ever: civilian casualties were almost 30% higher last year than in 2001, when the American deployment began, according to estimates from the un and academics. The economy is no bigger than it was a decade ago. And the mullahs are not only at the gates of Kabul; their assassins are inside, targeting Shias, secularists, women with important jobs—anyone who offends their blinkered worldview. America was never going to solve all Afghanistan’s problems, but to leave the country back at square one is a sobering failure. ■
https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/07/10/americas-longest-war-is-ending-in-crushing-defeat

Video Report - #Afghanistan War - Meet The Press Broadcast - July 11th, 2021

Video Report - #ABCNews #AnthonyFauci 'This is no time for politics. This is a public health issue': Dr. Anthony Fauci

Video Report - #StateoftheUnion #Fauci : Vaccine booster isn't needed now, but that could change

Pashto News: پښتو خبرونه: د خلیلزاد د نوي پړاو سفرونه او طالبانو ته درنه مرګ ژوبله

#Pakistan - Muzzling dissent?

 


Mubasher Bukhari

          @BukhariMubasher 

A provincial assembly has passed a bill providing for summary trials of journalists, bureaucrats.

The provincial assembly recently passed the Punjab Privileges (Amendment) Act 2021, sending a wave of concern among journalists, bureaucrats and the civil society. Media activists, press clubs and unions of journalists have since been protesting against this law, calling it a conspiracy against the freedom of expression.The passage of the law and the later conciliatory statements by the speaker indicate that the legislation was prepared and passed in haste and without any serious deliberation.Makhdoom Usman Mehmood of the Pakistan Peoples Party moved the bill as a private member. It also carried the names of some Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz members as sponsors. The bill was passed unanimously despite not being featured on the order of the day.
Press clubs and unions of journalists, including the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and other bodies have strongly criticised the bill.
Pakistan Press Foundation secretary Owais Aslam Ali says, “The law is an attempt to make the media a puppet. Already, the media in Pakistan is under pressure. There are so many state institutions being used to control the media. In such a situation, this bill was not needed. Now, any journalist who reports news about any member of the Punjab Assembly can be arrested and punished by the speaker or a committee.” “It is shocking that a PPP member tabled the bill after the PPP introduced the Protection of Journalists Bill 2021 in the Sindh Assembly to protect newspersons and their sources.”
Clause 1 of the schedule, given at the end of the bill states: “Using criminal force to, or obstructing, assaulting, threatening or insulting any Member or an Officer of the Assembly in the discharge of their official duty may lead to six months’ imprisonment or a Rs 10,000 fine or both.”
Talking to The News on Sunday, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, an MPA and PML-N Punjab vice-president said PA officials were included after some media people exchanged harsh words with some of them. “The clause has been amended and assembly officials have been omitted from it,” he said.
Clause 2 of the schedule reads: “Contravention of the provisions of the Rules of Procedure of Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, 1997, will incur a Rs 10,000 fine.”
Clause 3 of the schedule says, “Breach of any of the privileges as provided in Section 16, or Section 17 or Section 18, as the case may be. It may lead to imprisonment of either description for three months, or a fine of ten thousand rupees, or both.” This clause indirectly targets the media and the bureaucracy. Coming to the media related clauses, the schedule in its Clause 6 reads: “Willfully publishing a false or perverted report of a debate or proceedings of the Assembly or a Committee or willfully misrepresenting a speech made by a Member before the Assembly or a Committee may lead to imprisonment for three months or a Rs 10,000 fine or both.” As a result, writing and publishing a commentary about PA’s proceedings will be a challenge.
Clause 7 says, “Willfully publishing a report of a debate or proceedings of the Assembly or a Committee the publication of which has been prohibited or expunged by the Presiding Officer may amount to three months’ imprisonment or a fine of Rs 10,000 or both.” The restriction is apparently pointless as PA proceedings frequently go on air live. The speaker then expunges parts of it after they have been broadcast/telecast. The relevant news persons are sensitive to the rules in any case so that newspapers never publish the expunged remarks. Following protests by journalists’ bodies, Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi issued a notification omitting entries 6, 7 and 10 of the Act. The notification says the speaker exercised powers conferred upon him under Section 21 of the PunabPrivileges Act 1972. However, constitutional experts say the speaker cannot abrogate any entry or clause without the approval of the House. Entry 8 says, “Casting or publishing any reflection upon the character or conduct of the Presiding Officer or any imputation of partiality against him in the discharge of his duties may lead to imprisonment of either description for three months, or a fine of twenty thousand rupees, or both.” This is ridiculous as almost every presiding officer faces the accusation of being partial. Apparently, this entry is meant to be used against opposition members.
Entry 9 of the schedule says, “Making or publishing a maliciously false, scandalous, defamatory or derogatory statement concerning any Member in respect of his conduct as a Member or an Officer of the Assembly will lead to imprisonment of either description for three months, or a fine of ten thousand rupees, or both.” Given that the law of libel empowers every citizen to file a defamation case against anybody, this entry was totally unnecessary.
To stopping the media from educating the people about what’s cooking in the PA in terms of legislation or budgetary documents, there is Entry 10 of the schedule. It reads: “Printing of a copy of any Act or Ordinance or of any report, paper, minutes or notes of proceedings of the Assembly or a Committee, which purports to have been printed by or under the authority of the Assembly or any Committee but which in fact has not been so printed or the tendering in evidence of any such copy as aforesaid will lead to imprisonment of either description for three months, or a fine of ten thousand rupees, or both.” This entry puts paid to all investigative journalism.
The law seems to have been made to further empower the speaker. Entry 12 reads: “Willful failure or refusal to obey any order of the Judicial Committee under this Act, or any order of the Presiding Officer or any Member or Officer of the Assembly which is duly made under this Act will lead to imprisonment of either description for three months, or a fine of ten thousand rupees, or both.” The law empowers the Sergeant-at-Arms to arrest any person to prevent them from acting in any manner in breach of privileges within the precincts of the assembly. The arrests can be made without any warrant, at any place within the “precincts of the Assembly”, that has been defined as the assembly’s courtyard, hall, lobbies, press galleries, rooms etc.
The law also allows for the use of “reasonable force as may be necessary” when making the arrests. Now, the speaker “can in writing direct the arrest and detention in custody” of a journalist, bureaucrat and/ or any lawmaker.
The law further empowers the speaker to form a Judicial Committee of the assembly to try offences and award punishments and the sentence passed by the committee that will enjoy magisterial powers.
Following protests by journalists, Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi issued a notification on July 4. The notice says, “The Entries 6, 7 and 10 shall be omitted and the schedule will be renumbered.” The notification states that the speaker exercised powers conferred upon him under Section 21 of the Punjab Privileges Act 1972. Constitutional experts say that the speaker cannot abrogate any entry or clause from a law without approval of the House. In a media statement, Elahi said he held journalists in great esteem. He said the clauses that had sparked controversy, had been removed from the bill. However, journalists are not happy. Most of them see the action as an eyewash.
MPA Khan said, “We wanted better working in standing committees. We wanted a law in this regard. The bill was tabled and passed unanimously. The PML-N raised questions on the media-related clauses before anybody including the media did.” “Now the objectionable clauses, including those about privilege of the assembly officials have been removed. If somebody publishes a concocted story against any of the legislators what can be done against them?.”
Abid Saqi, a senior lawyer and human rights activists, says, “The bill clashes with Article 8 of the Constitution of Pakistan. Article 8 of the constitution of Pakistan reads: ‘Laws inconsistent with or in derogation of fundamental rights to be void. (1) Any law, or any custom or usage having the force of law, in so far as it is inconsistent with the rights conferred by this Chapter, shall, to the extent of such inconsistency, be void.’”
Saqi says the law should be abrogated by those who passed it. Else, a court will nullify it if somebody files a petition.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/861836-muzzling-dissent

Pakistan's Islamic body that said man can ‘lightly beat’ wife halts legislation on Domestic Violence Bill

In Pakistan, a bill aimed at protecting women, children, the elderly, and other vulnerable populations from domestic abuse has uncovered flaws and divided sentiments.
The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) paused legislation on the Domestic Violence Bill in 2020 on Friday, stating that the Islamic constitutional authority must evaluate the bill and report back to the Pakistan government.
They expressed concerns about several aspects of the law. According to The News International, the CII's judgement was finally given to the Human Rights Ministry in the third week of June, after the bill sparked controversy following its passing in the Senate.
After the bill was brought before the National Assembly in November 2020, the CII considered it (NA).
Following its passage in the Senate, the bill sparked outrage among lawmakers, political leaders, religious scholars, and opinion-makers, including Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Amir Sirajul Haq, Senator Mushtaq Ahmad, and Jamiat Ulema-e Islam of Fazal-ur-Rehman (JUI-F) Senator Atta-ur-Rehman.
Following public pressure, Prime Minister Imran Khan's Parliamentary Affairs Advisor, Babar Awan, publicly met Speaker of the National Assembly Asad Qaiser and requested that the bill be referred to the CII.
Babar Awan wrote a letter on behalf of Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was also informed of the bill's' 'un-Islamic aspects. '
In the letter, Awan draws attention to various contents and definitions in the bill. According to a report in Dawn, the letter notes: "Most importantly, it is being highlighted that the bill contravenes the Islamic [injunctions] and way of life as enshrined in the responsibility of the state in Article 31 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan".
What is the proposed Pakistan's Domestic Violence Bill?
The bill demands harsh penalties for all sorts of domestic violence.
Any act of domestic abuse is punishable by a maximum of three years in prison and a minimum of six months in prison, according to the law.
Furthermore, the offender may face fines ranging from Rs20,000 to Rs1,000,000.
‘Lightly beating’ wife permissible
In 2016, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) advocated allowing a husband to ‘lightly' beat his wife if he feels it is necessary, as well as requiring women to breastfeed their children for two years.
In the same year, the constitutional council ruled that the Punjab Assembly and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government's women's protection bills, which criminalised all types of violence against women, were "un-Islamic."
https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-islamic-body-that-said-man-can-lightly-beat-wife-halts-legislation-on-domestic-violence-bill-397103

Pakistan braces for fourth Covid wave as fresh infections witness three-fold rise

According to the country’s ministry of national health services, 1,980 people tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, as against 663 on June 21.
Pakistan is bracing for what has been described as the country’s fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic, with the number of fresh daily Covid-19 cases registering a three-fold rise over the corresponding figures from just three weeks ago.
The country’s ministry of national health services on Sunday put the number of those who tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 24 hours at 1,980, while the number of those who succumbed to the viral disease in the same duration was recorded at 27. In contrast, three weeks ago, on June 21, the new daily caseload stood at just 663. In another concerning development, the positivity rate crossed 4 per cent for the first time since May 31 when it was at 4.05 per cent.
According to the health ministry, Pakistan’s confirmed tally of Covid-19 infections has reached 9,73,824 of which 22,582 cases have resulted in deaths. The official data also shows that 9,13,203 people have recovered from the infection, while more than 2,100 people are still in a critical condition.
Health experts have attributed this sudden uptick in cases to the reopening of the business and tourism sectors and have urged the government to announce a lockdown so that the festival of Eid al-Adha can be observed in accordance with pandemic-related restrictions. The government has also come under fire for holding board examinations of secondary and higher secondary students, despite warnings from Opposition parties, and protests by students. Going ahead with the examinations, health experts have warned, could lead to a further spike in fresh daily infections.
However, according to reports, the Pakistan government is banking on its vaccination drive to prevent any further surge in Covid-19 cases. The government says it has administered more than 19 million doses of anti-Covid vaccines and has been urging people to get themselves inoculated at the earliest.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pakistan-braces-for-fourth-covid-wave-as-fresh-infections-witness-three-fold-rise-101626002461560.html

قوم کو امن، چین اور خوشحالی کے ساتھ مساوی مواقع والے معاشرے میں تبدیل کرنے کے لیئے وسائل اور آبادی میں توازن انتہائی اہم ہے، چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری


 پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے کہا ہے کہ قوم کو امن، چین اور خوشحالی کے ساتھ مساوی مواقع والے معاشرے میں تبدیل کرنے کے لیئے وسائل اور آبادی میں توازن انتھائی اہم ہے۔ میڈیا سیل بلاول ہاؤس کی جانب سے جاری کردہ بیان کے مطابق پی پی پی چیئرمین نے آبادی کا عالمی دن منانے پر پاکستان کی عوام کو مبارکباد دی ہے۔ رواں سال کی تھیم: Rights and Choices are the Answer: Whether baby boom or bust, the solution to shifting fertility rates lies in prioritising all people’s reproductive health and rights. آبادی سے منسلک معاملات کا ذکر کرتے ہوئے پی پی پی چیئرمین نے کہا کہ ایک جانب وہ ممالک ہیں جہاں فرٹیلٹی ریٹ کم ہے۔ ان ممالک میں برزگ شہریوں کی آبادی بہت ہے۔

 دوسری جانب بہت سارے ترقی پذیر ممالک ہیں، جہاں فرٹیلٹی ریٹ زیادہ ہونے کے باعث انہیں ایک چیلنج جیسی صورتحال کا سامنا ہے۔ اس کا مطلب یہ ہے کہ وہاں دوسروں پر انحصار کرنے والی آبادی یعنی نوعمر اور نوجوان افراد کی تعداد بہت زیادہ ہے۔ یہ صورتحال ملک میں بیروزگاری، تعلیم اور صحت کی سہولیات کے فقدان جیسے مسائل کو جنم دیتی ہے۔ پی پی پی چیئرمین نے نشاندہی کرتے ہوئے کہ کہ پاکستان کا شمار ان ممالک میں ہوتا ہے، جہاں فرٹلٹی ریٹ بہت زیادہ ہے اور مانع حمل طریقوں کا استعمال بہت کم ہے، جس کا نتیجہ آبادی میں اضافے کی شکل میں نکلتا ہے۔ 

انہوں نے کہا کہ 2017ع کی آدمشماری کے نتائج (گو کہ متنازعہ ہیں) سے واضح ہوا ہے کہ پاکستان کی آبادی 208 ملین سے زیادہ افراد پر مشتمل ہے، جو سالانہ 2.4 فیصد سے بڑھ رہی ہے۔ اس ضمن میں ایک اہم عنصر یہ بھی ہے کہ 100 شادی شدہ خواتین میں سے صرف 34 فیصد خواتین مانع حمل تدابیر اختیار کر رہی ہے۔ انہوں نے مزید کہا کہ 18 فیصد مزید خواتین مانع حمل تدابیر اختیار کرنا چاہتی ہیں، لیکن انہیں ایسی سروسز تک رسائی حاصل نہیں ہے۔ پی پی پی چیئرمین نے کہا کہ گو کہ، پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی اور صوبہ سندھ میں اس کی حکومت کو آدمشماری کے نتائج پر شدید تحفظات ہیں، لیکن جہاں تک آبادی میں توازن لانے کا معاملہ ہے تو ملکی سطح پر ہم فرٹیلٹی اور خاندانی منصوبہ بندی کے سلسلے میں اٹھائے جانے والے اقدام پر تعاون کر رہے ہیں۔ بلاول بھٹو زرداری ن ے کہا کہ پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی ایسے اقدامات سے کمٹڈ ہے، جیسا کہ مشترکہ مفادات کونسل (سی سی آئی) کی سفارشات کے تحت وفاقی و صوبائی سطح پر ٹاسک فورسز کا قیام؛ خاندانی منصوبہ بندی اور تولیدی صحت کی خدمات تک آبادی کی رسائی کو یقینی بنانا؛ مالی معاونت؛ نئی قانون سازی کرنا؛ ایڈووکیسی اور کمیونیکیشن کے سلسلے میں اقدام اٹھانا، نصاب اور تربیت پر مبنی تعلیم دینا؛ محفوظ مانع حمل اشیاء کو یقینی بنانا؛ اور رائے عامہ ہموار کرنے والوں اور علماء کرام کی حمایت کرنا شامل ہے۔ 

پی پی پی چیئرمین نے کہا کہ یہ دیکھ کر افسوس ہوتا ہے کہ سپریم کورٹ کے ازخود نوٹس کے تحت حکم کے باوجود، جس کی توثیق بعد ازاں سی سی آئی بھی کرچکا ہے، سلیکٹڈ وزیراعظم پاپولیشن کے متعلق ٹاسک فورس کی صدارت سے گریزاں ہے۔ ٹاسک فورس کی ہونے والے چاروں اجلاسوں کی صدارت صدر مملکت نے کی۔ یوں، وسائل اور عملدرآمد کے متعلق سی سی آئی کی سفارشات پر من و عن عملدرآمد ممکن نہیں ہوسکا ہے۔پاپولیشن فنڈ کے لیئے وفاقی حکومت کی جانب سے 10 ارب روپئے مختص کییئے جانے تھے، جس میں سے تاحال صرف ایک ارب روپے رکھے جا سکے ہیں۔ چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے کہا کہ پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی اور اس کی سندھ میں حکومت آبادی میں توازن اور زچہ و بچہ کی صحت کے سلسلے میں صفِ اول سے قائدانہ کردار ادا کر رہی ہیں۔ وزیر اعلی سندھ آبادی کے متعلق ایک ملٹی سیکٹورل ٹاسک فورس کی سربراہی کرتے ہیں۔ 

انہوں نے کہا کہ سندھ ملک کا وہ پہلا صوبہ تھا، جس نے 2015ع میں فیملی پلاننگ کے سلسلے میں اپنا کوسٹڈ امپلیمنشن پلان (سی آئی پی) تیار کیا، جو 2012ع میں لندن سمٹ کے اعلامیئے گلوبل ایف پی 2020 انیشیٹو کے تحت تھا۔ سی آئی پی پر عملدرآمد جارہی ہے اور اب اسے سسٹینایبل ڈولپمنٹ گولز (ایس ڈی جی) اور ایف پی 2030 گلوبل ایجنڈا کا حصہ بنا دیا گیا ہے۔ انہوں نے وزیراعظم شہید محترمہ بینظیر بھٹو کی جانب سے متعارف کردہ لیڈی ہیلتھ ورکرز پروگرام کا حوالہ دے کت قوم کو پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے آبادی کو کنٹرول کرنے کے متعلق موقف اور ضرورتمند خواتین کی مدد کرنے کو یاد دلاتے ہوئے کہا کہ اب اس افرادی قوت کا فوکس ایک بار پھر خاندانی منصوبہ بندی پر مرکوز کیا گیا ہے، جبکہ سابق صدر آصف علی زرداری کی زیرِ قیادت تاریخی 18 ویں آئینی ترمیم کے بعد اب صحت اور بھبودِ آبادی کے محکمے باضابطہ مربوط و فعال ہیں۔ پی پی پی چیئرمین نے کہا کہ اس کے بعد صوبہ سندھ نے اپنے محکمہ بھبود آبادی کی بجٹ میں 8 گنا سے بھی زیادہ اضافہ کیا ہے۔ دیہی اور دور دراز علاقوں میں خواتین کی فیملی پلاننگ اور تولیدی صحت کی خدمات تک رسائی ہوئی ہے اور اس تعداد میں 10 لاکھ سے زائد صارفین کا اضافہ ہوا ہے، یوں مانع حمل تدابیر اختیار کرنے والی خواتین کی سالانہ تعداد بھی دوگنی ہوئی ہے۔

 پاکستان ڈیموگرافک اینڈ ہیلتھ سروے کے مطابق گذشتہ پانچ سالوں کے دوران سندھ میں ایف پی میں 4 فیصد اضافہ ہوا ہے۔ پی پی پی چیئرمین نے حکومتِ سندھ کی جانب سے منظور کردہ ترقی پسند قوانین جیسا کہ ریپروڈکٹو ہیلتھ رائٹس ایکٹ 2019، چائلڈ میرج ریسٹرینٹ ایکٹ 2013 اور انسدادِ گھریلو تشدد کو سراہتے ہوئے کہا کہ ازدواجی مشاورت کے بل پر بھی کام کیا جا رہا ہے۔ چیئرمین پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے قوم کو یقین دہانی کراتے ہوئے کہا کہ پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی خواتین کو بااختیار بنانے، صنفی مساوات، اور انفارمڈ چوائسز کے حقوق اور نوعمر و نوجوانوں کے حقوق سے کمٹڈ ہے اور جب وہ منتخب ہوکر حکومت میں آئے گی تو ایسی اصلاحات کو پورے ملک میں متعارف کروائے گی۔

https://www.ppp.org.pk/pr/25253/