Monday, October 14, 2019
Pakistani Christian girl, Sumara Anwar aged 14, faced sexual harassment and raped at a brick factory in Raiwind Lahore
Anwar Masih son of Sulakhan Masih aged 58, a poor Christian works for more than 15 years at Ghafor Bricks, village Maqu Wali Jhalar Raiwind Road, District Lahore and live here along with his children for more than 15 years; his wife has died a few years ago due to some health issues. There are more than 35 other families live in the factory quarters including Muslims. We can call it a small town/bricks factory colony. The families are cooperative and respect each other, caring about the social values and norms. In spite of this binding, the incident of raping a minor occurred on 1st October 2019 at about 12 pm. When Sumara Anwar, a young girl aged 14, was alone at home while the other family members working in the brick’s factory.
A local resident, Amjad Malooka aged 30, entered the home silently as he knew that Sara was alone at home, he took Sumara to a room and forcibly attempted rape, he slapped her when she showed resistance and refused doing so, and she shouted and screamed. Amjad threatened her and warned to shut her mouth otherwise she and her family will face consequences. But Sumara continually shouting, a neighbor followed the screams and shouting, came up at the spot and saw the happening. The news spread in the locality and Amjad ran away from the place of occurrence.
The distressed and poor family of Sumara Anwar has approached CTS on October 05, 2019 for legal assistance as well as for the protection of the family especially Sumara the minor, is in mental stress at the moment.
Sumara reported CTS that Amjad often harassed her sexually, and wanted to touch her body. He attempted to rape her twice and threatened her for life if she tells to anyone. He often warned about the helplessness of her poor family that they cannot punish her.
She further stated “I was afraid to share all happening me to my family; I was in doubt that they will not trust me and deliberately accuse me as guilty”.
The family reported that Amjad is a habitual, and involved in such incidents previously too. He is a criminal mind and often have quarrel in the town.
Shaukat Masih brother of Sumara informed CTS that Amjad Malooka is arrested at the spot, they called an emergency police helpline 15 police responded to the incident immediately. Case FIR no.2069/19 has been registered, offense under section 376 & 511 of Pakistan Penal Code dated on October 1 at Police station Raiwind City District Lahore.
After arrest of Amjad the aggrieved family of Sumara faced serious threats. He asked the victim’s family for compromise and settle down the matter outside the court.
The family facing life threats asked protection and support from CTS.
The women, adolescents, and youth are in need to be trained to defend them at the scene instead to seek help or be victimized.
http://www.pakistanchristianpost.com/head-line-news-details/7208
A local resident, Amjad Malooka aged 30, entered the home silently as he knew that Sara was alone at home, he took Sumara to a room and forcibly attempted rape, he slapped her when she showed resistance and refused doing so, and she shouted and screamed. Amjad threatened her and warned to shut her mouth otherwise she and her family will face consequences. But Sumara continually shouting, a neighbor followed the screams and shouting, came up at the spot and saw the happening. The news spread in the locality and Amjad ran away from the place of occurrence.
The distressed and poor family of Sumara Anwar has approached CTS on October 05, 2019 for legal assistance as well as for the protection of the family especially Sumara the minor, is in mental stress at the moment.
Sumara reported CTS that Amjad often harassed her sexually, and wanted to touch her body. He attempted to rape her twice and threatened her for life if she tells to anyone. He often warned about the helplessness of her poor family that they cannot punish her.
She further stated “I was afraid to share all happening me to my family; I was in doubt that they will not trust me and deliberately accuse me as guilty”.
The family reported that Amjad is a habitual, and involved in such incidents previously too. He is a criminal mind and often have quarrel in the town.
Shaukat Masih brother of Sumara informed CTS that Amjad Malooka is arrested at the spot, they called an emergency police helpline 15 police responded to the incident immediately. Case FIR no.2069/19 has been registered, offense under section 376 & 511 of Pakistan Penal Code dated on October 1 at Police station Raiwind City District Lahore.
After arrest of Amjad the aggrieved family of Sumara faced serious threats. He asked the victim’s family for compromise and settle down the matter outside the court.
The family facing life threats asked protection and support from CTS.
The women, adolescents, and youth are in need to be trained to defend them at the scene instead to seek help or be victimized.
http://www.pakistanchristianpost.com/head-line-news-details/7208
Balochistan: Families of disappeared Baloch anxious for their loved ones
The relatives of enforced-disappeared Baloch persons continue to search for their loved ones have expressed concerns about the safety and whereabouts of their loved ones.
Families of disappeared Baloch have been flooding in the protest camp of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons to record the details of their missing relatives.
The aged and frail mother of abducted Abdul Rasheed son of Saleh Mohammad on Sunday made a passionate appeal from the camp of VBMP in Quetta for her son release on ‘humanitarian grounds.’
Her son was abducted on 15 November 2014 from Nohski Balochistan.
The family of another four Baloch disappeared persons named Niaz Mohammad son of Qadir Dad, Mehran son of Rasool Bakhsh, Hameed son of Shahdad and Izzat son of Khorsheed have also appeal for the release of their loved ones.
The men were abducted on 5 April 2019 from their house in Kohaad area of Tump in district Kech Balochistan.
On Saturday, the family members of Elahi Bakhsh Bugti and Kado Bugti organised a protest at Lasbela Press Club to demand his immediate release.
Elahi Bakhsh was abducted Pakistani intelligence agencies on 2nd June 2011 whereas Kado Bugti was abducted on 5 December 2012.
The protesters who include women and children were carrying placard and banners for Elahi Bakhsh’s release.
The VBMP is a human rights organisation comprising families of disappeared persons from Balochistan which started its struggle for recovering of missing persons in 2009.
Air pollution: An inaudible killer in Pakistan
By: Yousaf Ajab Baloch
The report: “The State of Global Air 2019” ranks Pakistan as fifth country with fatal effects of Air pollution. Health and environmental experts’ term air pollution as emerging public health emergency in world and in Pakistan. Air pollution has been named as one of the leading cause of deaths in Pakistan with death toll reported to be 59,000 people every year. Various reasons cause air pollution in country; however, solid moves and policies can be tangible measures to cope with the issue.
According to US-based Health Effects Institute and University of British Colombia report, ” The State of Global Air’ states: “Air pollution is the fifth leading cause of early death world-wide responsible for more death than malaria, road accidents, or alcohol.” The mentioned report puts Pakistan among top 5 countries with highest mortality rate due to pollution. Shockingly, the top five countries with the highest mortality rate due to air pollution were all in Asia: China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Bangladesh.
At the same time, World Health Organization (WHO) estimates death of seven (7) million people annually worldwide. The pollution leads to the diseases such as stroke, heart diseases, lung cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), respiratory infections as well as pneumonia.
Similarly, the available statistics of WHO reveals that 9 out of 10 individuals die every year owing to high level of pollutants, like black carbon which penetrates deep into lungs and cardiovascular system. These pollutants then cause pneumonia, sever respiratory infections and heart diseases.
The air pollution is being termed as a silent or invisible killer. WHO data demonstrates that 24 %( 1.4 million deaths) all stroke deaths are attributed to air pollution. When it comes to air pollution and heart diseases so 25% (2.4 million) heart diseases deaths are caused by air pollution annually. Likewise, due to air pollution 43% (1.8 million deaths) of all lung diseases, such as lung cancer, are the leading cause of pollution yearly.
In addition, there are a large number of affecting contributors to toxic air which put Pakistan at fourth position with considerable human health hazards. One of the chief reasons to air pollution includes large scale industries which burn fossil fuels as source of energy. Apart from it, a number of small and large scale factories use furnace oil having higher sulfur contents, these include power plants, cement, and sugar and fertilizer industries. Waste recycle plants, bricks kiln are also add to releasing contaminants.
Among the main causes of air pollution, burning of solid waste is another issue. Because more than 55,000 tonnes of solid waste is produced on daily basis in Pakistan. Thus, burning of solid waste results emitting of toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and some other poisonous gases. Similarly, in the last two decades a huge increase has also been observed in the growing number of vehicles in Pakistan. Moreover, the massive traffic is massively contributing element to the air pollution in Pakistan. As carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are the greenhouse gases which are contributing to the global warming.
Different studies and experts expect serious impacts on Pakistan’s papulation by 2030. According to the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (PAK-EPA) air pollution levels for the major Pakistani cities have been recorded seven times higher than those quoted by WHO. However, complete implementation of environmental policies and laws as well as enforcement of national environmental quality standard can be a productive measure to cope with the discussed burning issue.
Finally, the air pollution can easily be confronted if the aforementioned measures are taken, such as (a) creatinine awareness on air pollution along with afforestation and plantation in urban areas can improve environment to fight toxic air. (b) Proper maintenance of machineries, vehicles and traffic free transportation can be effective measure to reduce impacts of air pollution. (c) Promotion of new technology in the industry can be tangible to reduce use of chemicals or smoke from industry which increase air pollution. (d) Developing public transportation system, control of burning solid waste and provision of pollution free fire at domestic and commercial level. Indeed, can assist to overcome alarming situation of air pollution in Pakistan.
"Biggest Pressure" On Pakistan From Anti-Terror Watchdog FATF
Pakistan is under pressure from global anti-terror watchdog FATF to crack down on terror groups operating from within its borders, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said today at a meeting of Anti-Terrorism Squad chiefs in Delhi. The anti-terror agency, which last week told Pakistan it had failed to fully implement a UN Security Council resolution against Hafiz Saeed and other UN-designated terrorists, as well as outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Lashkar-e-Taiba, began a six-day session in Paris on Sunday to decide whether to retain it in a list of countries with inadequate controls over terrorism financing. "The biggest pressure on Pakistan comes from the functionaries of the FATF, which is meeting now," Ajit Doval said in his speech, adding, "The proceedings of the FATF have created so much pressure that probably no other action could have done the same".Last week the FATF told Pakistan it had failed to fully implement a UN Security Council resolution against Hafiz Saeed and other UN-designated terrorists, as well as outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Lashkar-e-Taiba.
In a 228-page report released last week, the Asia-Pacific Group of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) said Pakistan was fully compliant with only one of 40 recommendations on curbing terror-financing. It further said the country was partially compliant on 26 and non-compliant on four.
Pakistan is now relying on allies within the FATF, like China, which holds the rotating presidency of the agency, Turkey and Malaysia to avoid being blacklisted, which could lead to being downgraded by the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank and facing negative assessments from credit agencies like Moody's and Standard & Poor's. India has lobbied hard for this blacklisting, arguing that Pakistan's anti-terror laws remain out of sync with FATF standards and UN Resolution 2462, which calls for criminalizing terrorist financing.
Interestingly, the rotating presidency of the Financial Action Task Force is currently held by China, meaning India will be keenly watching the Paris meeting.Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at an informal two-day summit in Chennai last week, where the Chinese leader is understood to have recognised the importance of working together, on a non-discriminatory basis, to strengthen frameworks against the training, financing and supporting of terror groups.
In his speech Mr Doval attacked Pakistan for making terrorism "state policy" and highlighted the difficulties of apprehending a criminal who has the support of the state.
"If a criminal has the support of a state, it becomes a great challenge. Some of the states have mastered this, in our case Pakistan has made it as an instrument of its state poli
cy," the NSA said, adding, "They not only recruit, provide training, weapons, intelligence, etc. but also give them resources and technology".
He spoke about the need for states investigating terror cases to network with each other and build a bank of "quotable and sustainable" evidence that could be presented to global agencies like the FATF.
"Pakistan has been using terrorism as the instrument of state policy. We all know Pakistan sponsors terrorism but in international forums we need evidence. Don't destroy this evidence... you have plenty of it. Let the world know about it," he said.
Mr Doval also indicated that the media had to play its part in the war on terrorism.
"We are not targeting one country. We need to have evidence. Put facts, use facts, don't destroy evidence, use them. How we did it against Pakistan? Give it to the media, use it," he said.
Pakistan has told the FATF that it has done enough by seizing over 700 properties belonging to the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamaat-ud-Daawa, Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation and the Jaish-e-Mohammed but India and other FATF members have pointed out that seizures do not necessarily indicate compliance.
India and China to join forces in Kashmir as Pakistan fume at Beijing betrayal
INDIA have secured a big step forwards in its fight with Pakistan over disputed Kashmir after Islamabad ally China suggested military cooperation with New Delhi.
China President Xi Jinping met with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week as the two countries looked to resolve their own conflict in the region. India and China have been at odds over the disputed Ladakh region in Kashmir, which sits near the Indo-Chinese border and has been the setting for conflict between the two countries for decades. Border disputes have led to skirmishes as recently as last month. In 1962, a war between New Delhi and Beijing was sparked in the Kashmir region spilling into Ladakh, with conflict engulfing the Himalayan territory for a month.
In 2017, a standoff occurred at the Doklam border as India resisted a road being built in the region by China, and earlier this month, Chinese and Indian military clashed again when the Chinese People’s Liberation Army objected to Indian patrols in Ladakh.
Despite this, talks were positive according to both parties, with Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale saying: “One of the understandings the two leaders reached was that a new mechanism will be established to discuss trade, investment and services.”Crucially however, Xi Jinping reportedly suggested that Beijing and New Delhi will seek increased military cohesion in the Kashmir region, despite China being a longstanding ally to Pakistan and its Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The move is motivated by a need for boosted trust between China and India, but Pakistan will be doubting the reliability of Xi Jinping given the tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad.
India has placed a curfew and other restrictions on people in its part of Kashmir since downgrading the special status of the disputed Himalayan region on August 5.
Article 370 granted the region autonomy, self governance and self identity – but Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi changed the legislation meaning the region is now split into two union territories.
Kashmir lost its right to frame its own laws and non-residents were allowed to buy property there in changes the Indian governm
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has called on India to lift curfews in the region which has been engulfed by violence for decades.
There has since been regular exchanges of fire between the two countries as Khan accused India of killing a Pakistani solider just two days ago.
In September, the war of words between Islamabad and New Delhi reached new levels when Khan hinted at nuclear warfare.
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