PUKHTUNKHWA TIMES

M WAQAR..... "A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary.Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death." --Albert Einstein !!! NEWS,ARTICLES,EDITORIALS,MUSIC... Ze chi pe mayeen yum da agha pukhtunistan de.....(Liberal,Progressive,Secular World.)''Secularism is not against religion; it is the message of humanity.'' تل ده وی پثتونستآن

Friday, October 11, 2019

This Pakistan Twitter General @OfficialDGISPR protects his people with tweets & only follows himself

Iam a Pakistani Twitter General. I tweet when you sleep, I protect you with my tweets. The world may think otherwise but it is I who is defending the borders from all neigbhours and enemies. I scan through your social media timelines, and no, I am not looking for memes.

My work is hard and entails risks but have I ever shied away from taking those risks? Pakistanis can’t compare me with anyone else because there is no one else who does what I do on a daily basis.

In the history of Pakistan, there hasn’t been a soul like me. It takes just about a hundred characters for me to reject a sitting prime minister’s notification, like I did with PM Nawaz Sharif’s directives on the Dawn leaks issue.

When I face backlash, I say I’m withdrawing my tweet, but I don’t really delete the tweet. Why should I delete my tweets? My tweets are the first and last draft of history.

I can tell the leaders of an indigenous rights movement that their time is up, I can talk back at politicians, I can bully journalists, I can even take to task those nasty creatures across the Line of Control. I don’t need guns or ammunition, my battalion of fake accounts like Papa ki princess and PatriotcYouth is enough to win battles.

My press conferences are a treat to watch, I can talk all day and not complain. When Pashtun or Baloch people make a fuss about missing persons et al, I tell them everything is fair in love and war, but our love for Pakistan has more victims.

I am a peace lover, I don’t like wars, that’s why I make songs. I don’t like it when my army’s songs are stolen by inimical forces without acknowledgement. After all, that song was all I had to show to my boss.

I make photo collages to teach a lesson to my foes, when they don’t understand, I share their tweet screenshots.

I have been asked so many questions about Balakot, the so-called surgical strike by India. I will try to explain that soon in my new drama serial with my pet dog Zoro in the lead.

I am a dog lover. I once got upset with an anti-Pakistani element, I tweeted at him that stray dogs are the responsibility of the community corporation. I’m still wondering why it offended so many.

DG ISPR

✔@OfficialDGISPR

· Aug 1, 2019

Remarks by Senator Mir Hasil Bizenjo implicating head of national premier institution are unfounded. The tendency to bring entire democratic process into disrepute for petty political gains doesn’t serve democracy.

Oranxaib @oranxaib

As far as wandering & stray dogs are concerned, the nation not only shoots them on #SocialMedia, but also kicked out these dogs out of their respective territories & constituencies, But it's not our circle authority to shoot such a crazy, stray & wandering dogs or poison them.

10

1:14 AM - Aug 2, 2019

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Kashmir, like the rest of Pakistan, is my jugular “vain” too, and nothing can take it away from us. I tell that to India in every tweet, if that’s not enough, check out the trends that my troops manufacture in Pakistan to convince the Pakistanis that Kashmir is really ours.

I am gifted with many talents. I am a doctor and an economist, that’s why I ordered chemotherapy for our economy. On the political front, I am a minister of all ministries. I am a scientist and an astronaut, it bothered me that India spent ‘900 billion’ on Chandrayaan-2 when clearly all that money could have been given to me.

I love my followers to the moon and back. It is true that mine is a thankless job, so I don’t complain when my followers want to trend hashtags thanking me for doing nothing. Our “bondage” is beyond such gestures alone.

People have attacked me for promoting the business of antiseptic Burnol – I scolded a commentator for calling out my PM’s speech at the UN – but they don’t have the wisdom to understand how it will enhance our business and turnaround our economy. Everything has a price to it and I know that. Even crudeness.

Not many people know this secret but I am my favourite. On Twitter, I follow myself and no one else. That’s my message to the youth of this wonderful nation called Pakistan. Life is tough, you have to follow your dreams, my dream was to follow myself and I am living my dream.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Pashto Music Video - | SANAM | Ali Baba Khan |

Pakistan has the second-highest number of out-of-school children in the world.

The Citizens Foundation (TCF) and Mishal Pakistan signed a memorandum of understanding to create awareness among general public about out of school children through print, electronic and online mediums. Through this collaboration, TCF and Mishal committed to enhance quality reporting on out of school children by building capacity of journalists reporting on Education and Social Development related issues. Mishal and TCF will jointly develop a capacity building initiative by engaging senior journalists on multiple forums across the country.

Both TCF and Mishal aim to identify and mainstream the issue of out-of-school children among general public through media. The organizations have joined hands to conduct training sessions with senior journalists in Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi and Quetta. The purpose is to design strategic media trainings that provides data-sets for journalists to report on the issue with evidence-based journalism.

This collaboration will complement the efforts of TCF to implement changes in education system that are necessary to bring children into school, and to achieve the unanimous goal of keeping children in schools. Mishal Pakistan will also create special category at the AGAHI Awards 2019, Pakistan’s most sought after journalism recognition to include “the Reporter of the Year Award, Reporting on Out of School Children”.

Gaps in service provision at all education levels is a major constraint to education access. Socio-cultural demand-side barriers combined with economic factors and supply-related issues, such as availability of adequate and standardized school facilities, together hamper access and retention of certain marginalized groups, in particular adolescent girls.

Isfandyar Inayat, General Manager, TCF said, Economic development of a nation is closely related to the development of its human resources. Our partnership with Mishal Pakistan aims to spotlight Pakistan’s education crisis that is affecting the ability of our children to equip themselves with the skills and knowledge needed for effective participation and contribution to our national development. We are thankful to Mishal Pakistan for stepping up to help us in this cause.

Speaking on the occasion Amir Jahangir, CEO of Mishal Pakistan said, Education is the right of every child as envisioned in the Constitution of Pakistan Article 25-A which premises that the state shall provide free and compulsory education to children of age 5 to 16 years. However, its provision falls well below an adequate standard. Through this initiative both the organizations want to bring public policy focus on the Right to Education by raising awareness on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4 and SDG5).

According to an estimation by UNICEF, Pakistan has the second-highest number of out-of-school children in the world. Around 22.8 million children between the age of 5 and 16, 44 percent of the total population of this age group, are not in schools.

The Citizens Foundation (TCF) is a professionally managed, non-profit organization set up in 1995 by a group of citizens who wanted to bring about positive social change through education. 24 years later, TCF is now one of Pakistan’s leading organizations in the field of education for the less privileged. TCF has a long history of working in partnership with the private sector to find new and innovative solutions to provide education to the less privileged children of Pakistan. TCF is a non-profit organization, which believes education is the right of every child and not a privilege for the affluent. Established in 1996, TCF has been providing affordable quality primary and secondary education to the impoverished children living in rural areas and urban slums across Pakistan. Current enrolment is 252,000 children from low-income families, through 1567 school units. TCF is also the winner of the Schwab Foundation’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2015 at the World Economic Forum (WEF).

http://thebalochistanpoint.com/pakistan-has-the-second-highest-number-of-out-of-school-children-in-the-world/

د عمران خان په سفرونو کې پوځي مشر ولې ورسره وي؟

د پاکستان وزیراعظم عمران خان او د چین ولسمشر شي جن پنګ د اکتوبر پر نهمه په بیجنګ کې ولیدل او د سیمې پر حالاتو او پر دوه اړخیزو اړیکو یې خبرې وکړې. د لیدنې پر مهال د پوځ مشر جنرل قمر جاوید باجوه او د ای اېس ای مشر لېفټینټ جنرل فېض حمید هم موجود ول.

د جولای په میاشت کې هم امریکا ته د سفر پر مهال د پوځ او ای اېس ای مشران له وزیراعظم سره مله ول. د دغه ګډو سفرونو په اړه پر ټولنیزو رسنیو هم بحثونه ترسترګو کېږي.

نړۍ پوهه ده چې په پاکستان کې اصل واک له پوځ سره دی نو ځکه خو په داسې سفرونو کې د پوځي مشرانو شتون نړیوالو ته د ډېر باور وړ وي

ځینې کسان دا کار په اوسني سیاسي حکومت د پوځ زیات شوی اغېز ګڼي او نیوکې پرې کوي. په دوی کې یو هم شنونکی امتیاز عالم دی، هغه وایي، پر مخکنیو حکومتونو هم د پوځ اثر و، خو په اوسني حکومت بیخي زیات دی.

"پخوا به یو څه موده وروسته مارشلا لګېده، خو اوس د دې ضرورت نشته ځکه چې داسې حکومت په وجود کې راغلې چې د پوځ هر حکم مني."

په پاکستان کې په مخکنیو وختونو داسې هم شوي چې د پوځ او سیاسي حکومت ترمنځ اختلافات پیدا شوي او په نتیجه کې یې حکومتونه او یا وزیراعظمان لیرېکړل شويدي. خو د موجوده حکومت او هم پوځي چارواکو څو ځله ویلي چې پر ټولو معاملو پوځ او حکومت یوه خوله دي.

په لندن کې د ختیځ او افریقایي مطالعاتو پوهنتون څېړونکې عایشه صدیقه وایي، پاکستاني مشران د چین سفر په داسې مهال کوي چې په کشمیر او افغانستان کې بدلونه رامنځته کېږي، همدا راز د پاکستان چین اقتصادي راهدارۍ او ګوادر بندر پر پروژو خبرې کېږي او دا ټول د پوځ سره اړوند موضوعات دي نو ځکه د پوځي مشرانو حضور مهم دی.

"د عمران هغومره سیاسي روزنه نه ده شوې چې پکار وي، هغه څو ځله د بهرنو سفرونو پر مهال ځینې داسې خبرې وکړې چې پوځ پرې خوښ نه و، نو ځکه خو د پوځ مشر د داسې سفرونو پر مهال خپل شتون ضروري ګڼي"

نوموړې زیاتوي، نړۍ هم پوهه ده چې په پاکستان کې اصل واک له پوځ سره دی نو ځکه خو په داسې سفرونو کې د پوځي مشرانو شتون نړیوالو ته د ډېر باور وړ وي.

دنیا فکر کوی چې په پاکستان کې ولسي حکومتونه واک نه لري، د دې سره په نړۍ کې د پاکستان په جمهوري څېره منفي اثر پریوزي

په کراچۍ کې د وفاقې اردو یونیورسټۍ د ژورنالیزم څانګې پخوانی مشر توصیف احمد خان د وزیراعظم سره د پوځ د مشر په ګډو سفرونو انتقاد کوي او وایي، دا لومړی حکومت دی چې په مکمله توګه د پوځ تر اثر لاندې دی، نوموړی دا د جمهوري عمل لپاره زیانمن ګڼي.

"دنیا فکر کوی چې په پاکستان کې ولسي حکومتونه واک نه لري، په نړۍ کې نور هم جمهوري حکومتونه شته، خو هلته ورباندې د پوځ دومره اغېز نه وي. له دې سره نه یوازې په نړۍ کې بلکې د پاکستان په جمهوري څېره منفي اثر پرېوزي"

خو کارپوه رحیم الله یوسفزی بیا وایي، دا لومړی ځل نه دی چې پوځي مشران له وزیراعظم سره په دا ډول سفرونو کې ملګري دي، بلکې مخکې هم داسې شوي، همدا راز که د امریکا، چین او ځینو نورو هېوادونو مشران د پاکستان سفر کوي نو هم له پوځي مشرتابه سره ګوري.

"په مخکې حکومتونو کې هم داسې شوي چې له وزیراعظم سره پوځي مشران تللي دي. افغانستان او د امریکا څو سفرونه یې مثالونه دي خو په اوسني حکومت کې دا زیات تر سترګو کیږي. په پاکستان کې دننه هم دواړه مشران زیاتره وخت یوځای وي. ښایي دوی دا څرګندول غواړي چې پوځ او سیاسي حکومت یوه رایه لري"

یوسفزی زیاتوي، له امریکا او چینه پاکستان وسلې او نور دفاعي سامانونه هم اخلي نو ځکه دغو هېوادونو ته د سفرونو پر مهال د سیاسيانو ترڅنګ د پوځي مشرانو تلل مهم وي.

https://www.mashaalradio.com/a/30209292.html

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari takes notice of Larkana’s civic problems

Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Thursday took strong notice of increasing civic problems in the party’s strong fort, Larkana, ARY News reported.

As per details, the city remains centre of civic problems despite allocation of funds worth billions of rupees from last 11 years by the provincial government.

Heaps of garbage, sewerage water and other problems have irked the voters of the city. The party’s candidate for PS-11 Jameel Soomro is reportedly facing anger of the voters during his election campaign for the by-polls on the provincial seat of Sindh assembly.

Bilawal taking stern notice of the matter has directed Minister Anti-Corruption Sohail Anwar Siyal to carry out an investigation into the alleged embezzlement in the development funds of the city.

“I will personally monitor the situation and responsible will be taken to the task”, he said.

The by-polls on PS-11 will be held on October 17. The provincial constituency PS-11 has total 1,52,614 registered voters including 83,016 male and 69,598 female voters.

The election commission has established a total of 138 polling stations for the upcoming by-election in the constituency with 43 polling stations each for male and female, while 52 joint polling stations for men and women voters.

https://arynews.tv/en/bilawal-bhutto-zardari-notice-larkana-civic-problems/

Imran Khan’s party rose to power on dharnas. Now it is hilariously trying to stop Azadi March

NAILA INAYAT

If PTI leaders are to be believed then Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s protest is nothing less than a war on democracy.

Fourteen months is all it took for PM Imran Khan’s Naya Pakistan to be threatened with a mass protest led by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Planned for 27 October, the ‘Azadi March’ to Islamabad aims to oust the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government.

In any other countries, these protest shenanigans wouldn’t be a big deal, but in Naya Pakistan, it is no less than a war on democracy, a conspiracy of sorts, if some ruling party leaders are to believed. Wonder why a government that came into being after endless protests and dharnas is hell-bent on stopping a Maulana who they claim is only trying to save his “sinking politics”.

Suddenly, the one-time supporters of anarchy find themselves rather hilariously trying to stop the 27 October dharna. Why are the container-walas afraid of marchers? Everything – from concerns about school attendance in madrassas to homosexuality is being thrown at it.

Rehman has been urging the establishment, bureaucracy and police not to back Khan’s illegitimate regime. The protesters’ charge sheet against the PTI government include: being selected to power through rigged elections, selling out the Kashmir cause, dismal economic performance and putting opposition leaders in jail.

**Yesteryears’ dharna masters**

Who doesn’t remember the 126-day long dharna fest by the PTI in Islamabad in 2014? The capital was in lockdown and even the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Pakistan had to be cancelled. The same Xi who now inspires Khan to jail 500 “corrupt people” in Pakistan. Has the prime minister forgotten the attacks by his men on the building of the state-run Pakistan Television and Pakistan’s parliament, his calls for civil disobedience while burning electricity bills, his speeches atop container trucks, and the unforgettable shalwar kameez drying outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan? All this and much more to get Nawaz Sharif’s resignation.

Container trucks, biryani and protesters are coming back to D Chowk, minus Imran Khan this time. The container dharnas have boomeranged on Khan. The government is trying everything it can to put a brake on the protest brigade. And leading the charge is interior minister Brigadier Ijaz Shah (retd.) who has called the sit-in an act of “suicide”, hoping that the Maulana and followers will not march towards Islamabad. Not to forget that Shah had earlier threatened anyone who tries to block roads with sit-ins with severe police action, including baton-charge and beatings.

esteryears’ dharna masters are now running a smear campaign against the JUI-F protesters with fake letters and notifications. One fake letter said this about preparing for the protests: “Participants will completely refrain from [engaging in] sodomy without the permission of their emir (leader),” which was also tweeted by Science and Technology minister Fawad Chaudhry. Another fake notification read: “A possible massive wave of homosexuality in Islamabad after a political gathering planned on 27th October.” And that “homosexuality is strictly prohibited in Islam and hence, cannot be tolerated in any form, whether in a political gathering or during private meetings”.

Stopping Azadi March

A petition against the Azadi March in the Islamabad High Court has been filed. For the time being, the judge has termed the plea premature and adjourned the hearing for one week.

Never have PTI leaders worried so much about the madrassa students missing school, going to dharnas or even existing for that matter. But now everyone in the PTI and their uncles are worried about madrassa students. Did they worry about those madrassa kids who joined their 2014 sit-in with Tahirul Qadri or those students who missed school when they blocked the capital?

Meanwhile, Ali Amin Gandapur, Kashmir affairs minister, took things too seriously by sending a notice of Rs 50 billion to Maulana Fazlur Rehman “for making anti-state and derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Imran Khan”. Gandapur says he has evidence that the Maulana is working on foreign agenda. Nothing new there, everyone is accused of being an agent of someone in Pakistan.

Talking of agents, the rivalry of Fazlur Rehman and Imran Khan goes back to the days when Khan was called a “Jewish agent” by Rehman. His recent visit to the US and his meeting with Jewish billionaire philanthropist George Soros has gone unnoticed. Rehman says, “Imran Khan wants to make Pakistan’s educational system subservient to the West”. Strange how that will happen because Khan himself is blaming the British for destroying the education system in Pakistan.

The government wants to stop the Azadi March and Imran Khan is also hopeful that Maulana Fazlur Rehman won’t be able to exploit the “religion card”. Wonder if the PM’s 2018 election campaign, where he exploited the issue of blasphemy and finality of the Prophet to the full, is the reason that there aren’t any more credits to exploit from the religion card anymore.

https://theprint.in/opinion/letter-from-pakistan/imran-khans-party-rose-to-power-on-dharnas-now-it-is-hilariously-trying-to-stop-azadi-march/303720/

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

#Balochistan: Enforced Disappearances of Women on the Rise

According to a recent report released by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, there has been an alarming increase in cases of enforced disappearances of women in Balochistan. Human rights observers have noted that the absence of an explicit legislation criminalizing enforced disappearances in domestic law only aggravates the situation. This reflects the increasing suppression of the Baloch people by the Pakistani security forces which has perpetually denied the Baloch of their fundamental human rights including the right to life, freedom of expression, and freedom from torture.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has released a detailed report after conducting a fact-finding mission to Balochistan.

Titled ‘Balochistan: neglected still’, the report states that Balochistan continues to be short-changed politically

Incidents of enforced disappearances continue. In most cases, victims’ families say they are afraid of communicating their cases to the authorities. A disconcerting trend is that of women being ‘disappeared’ in certain areas, such as Dera Bugti and Awaran. Yet these cases tend not to be reported or recorded.

HRCP investigation also revealed that hundreds of coal-mines are being operated by people who possess neither the financial resources nor the technological skills to provide for operational safety or deal with emergencies.

The mission found that security agencies impose an unofficial security charge on per ton production from coalmines, which mine owners and labour unions alike deemed extortion.

The HRCP believes that the level of the Frontier Corps’ presence in Balochistan and its degree of control undermines provincial government and civilian administration. The unwarranted involvement and permanent presence of security personnel in educational institutions like Balochistan University must also end.

The HRCP strongly feels that the provincial government and civilian administration must run the affairs of the province without any undue interference, said the report. In addition, a law that criminalizes enforced disappearances, punishes the perpetrators and compensates victims’ families must be enacted expeditiously, suggested the report.

https://unpo.org/article/21684

Review: Abdus Salam documentary is a heartbreaking reminder of how a country suffers when its heroes are ignored

BY MANAL FAHEEM KHAN

Salam: The First Nobel Laureate documents how the physicist’s religious and national identity was important to his scientific discoveries.

While watching Salam: The First Nobel Laureate, a documentary on Pakistani physicist Abdus Salam’s life, there will be numerous occasions where you’ll be tempted to cry. And it won’t just be at how heartbroken Salam, an Ahmadi, was at being declared non-Muslim. Reading the words, “declared non-Muslim, cannot cope” etched across a notebook in Salam’s handwriting won’t be easy, and it will also illustrate how much love Salam had for his country, and more so, for his religion.

The documentary builds up on just that. His religious identity went hand in hand with his professional one, where he has even gone at lengths to claim that the only reason he was able to have these scientific breakthroughs was because he was a Muslim. His sons explain how he would listen to recitations of the Holy Quran in the background while writing notes. An imam of his place of worship stressed upon Salam’s devotion to his religion, that he would also attend the sermons and sit right in the front. Many of his peers in the documentary claim that he would get these ‘flashes’ of scientific inspiration and would have to immediately note them down lest he forgets. This is why many considered his intelligence as ‘god-given’.

The filmmaker has perhaps done this to make the viewer realise why it was devastating for someone like Salam to be declared non-Muslim. Following these laws, persecution and rioting against the minority community increased to dramatic proportions and because of the increasing hostility, Salam was abandoned and rejected by the very country he loved; the very country whose scientific infrastructure was almost non-existent before his contributions, and the very country that made him the man he became. He never forgot his roots, and that can be seen with the way he visited his teacher after receiving his Nobel Prize and claimed that the award belonged to his teacher, not him.

But there’s another reason why religion is important when discussing Salam. Muslims were once considered pioneers in science, with the most important scientific discoveries originating from Baghdad several hundred years ago. However, in recent history, Islam has not produced many men or women of science, with some fundamentalists claiming that science is a complete contradiction of Islam. After winning the award, Salam can be seen stating that this award is to encourage the Muslim youth to come towards science.

Of course, one learns other tragic details. For instance, Pakistan is the only country in the world that has through its constitution decided the rules of religion, on who can be called a Muslim and who cannot; that Salam obtained his PhD at the age of 24 and Pakistanis don’t even know about his list of achievements. They don’t even know why he won the Nobel Prize. No road, no building, no book even mentions his name. One of the most brilliant men that this country ever produced has simply been erased from our collective memories.

And sadly, this is where the tragedy lies. The documentary is a realisation of where our country is headed: Instead of prioritising knowledge and education that could benefit our economy and society at large, our leaders have been incapable of fixing divisions amongst people and countering extremist thoughts. What started off as persecution against Ahmedis has spread to other religious minorities, because Zia’s policies made extremist ideologies even stronger and more powerful, and Pakistan is still grappling with the after-effects. Till date, Pakistan’s minority communities – Hindus, Christians, Ahmadis and even Shia Muslims – are vulnerable to violence, persecution and ostracism.

This country isn’t safe for forward-thinking people. Abdus Salam is a hero and the film is a much-needed reminder of that.

https://cutacut.com/2019/10/04/review-abdus-salam-documentary-is-a-heartbreaking-reminder-at-how-a-country-suffers-when-its-heroes-are-ignored/

Christians in Pakistan ‘give children Islamic names to avoid abuse in school’

Bishop Samson Shukardin said minorities are 'considered infidels and they are depicted negatively' in school textbooks.

Religious bigotry in Pakistan schools is forcing Christian parents to give their children Islamic names – according to a bishop there.

Bishop Samson Shukardin of Hyderabad told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that Christian children and other faith minorities were using different names to prevent them from being subjected to abuse.He said: “Many minorities give their children Islamic names so they will not be singled out as Christians and become potential targets for discrimination in primary or secondary schools or at the college level.

“In many cases, minority students do suffer abuse in public schools.”

Bishop Shukardin spoke out against textbooks in state-run schools, saying: “The minorities are considered infidels and they are depicted negatively in textbooks, which promote prejudices against minorities.

“The fundamentalists believe that Islam is the only complete religion – that salvation is only found in the Qur’an as the last holy book.”

Bishop Shukardin said the febrile atmosphere whipped up by extremists has put pressure on minorities – including Christians.The bishop said: “Most of the minorities, and in particular Christians, are afraid of attacks and persecution.”He described how Christians in Pakistan suffer as a result of extremists falsely associating them with the West.

Bishop Shukardin said: “If the West strikes against Muslims anywhere in the world, enraged fundamentalists in Pakistan often attack the churches.”

But it is not just Christians who are attacked by extremists, he explained – moderate Muslims and other religious minorities are at risk too.

He said: “There are far more attacks on mosques than on churches – fundamentalist Muslims killing moderate fellow Muslims.”

Bishop Shukardin also highlighted problems about kidnappings and forced conversions and marriages, echoing concerns made in an ACN interview last week by Archbishop Sebastian Shaw of neighbouring Lahore archdiocese.

The bishop said: “Muslims believe that converting one person to Islam earns them eternal life. If an initial effort fails, people turn to kidnapping.

“Kidnappings and forced marriages are most common in rural areas, where people have little education.”

Both Archbishop Shaw and Bishop Shukardin stressed the importance of education in a country where clergy have prioritised the provision of Church-run schools and colleges.

He said: “We also need resources to help needy families send their children to college, which many cannot afford to do – let along enabling them to pursue advanced degrees.

“Education is key for every nation trying to transform society.”

ACN last year funded more than 60 projects in Pakistan, including the construction of churches, training of Sisters and other religious as well as emergency aid.

https://catholicherald.co.uk/news/2019/10/04/christians-in-pakistan-give-children-islamic-names-to-avoid-abuse-in-school/

اسلام آباد میں تاجروں کے پر امن احتجاج پر پولیس تشدد کی سخت الفاظ میں مذمت کرتے ہیں

پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کے ترجمان مصطفی نواز کھوکھر نے اسلام آباد میں تاجروں کے پرامن احتجاج پر پولیس تشدد کی سخت الفاظ میں مذمت کرتے ہوئے کہا ہے کہ ریاست مدینہ کا خواب دکھانے والوں نے قوم پر بدترین آمریت مسلط کر دی ہے۔ اپنے بیان میں سینیٹر مصطفی نواز کھوکھر نے کہا کہ سلیکٹڈ وزیراعظم نے لوگوں سے روزگار، تاجروں سے کاروبار اور مریضوں سے علاج چھین لیا ہے۔ ڈاکٹر ہو ں یا تاجر جو بھی پرامن احتجاج کرتا ہے خون میں نہلا دیا جاتا ہے۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ ابھی پشاور کے ڈاکٹروں کے زخم نہیں بھرے تھے اسلام آباد میں تاجروں پر فسطائیت برپا کر دی گئی ہے۔ معاشی حالات بھوک اور افلاس سے تنگ لوگ احتجاج نہ کریں تو کہاں جائیں۔ پیچھے بھوک ہے، سامنے پولیس کا ڈنڈا ہے بے بس لوگ کٹھ پتلی حکومت کے خلاف سراپا احتجاج بنے ہوئے ہیں۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ لاٹھی گولی کی سرکار نہ پہلے چل سکی نہ اب چلے گی۔ انہوںنے کہا کہ جب لوگ عمران خان کو ان کے وعدے یاد کرواتے ہیں جو عمران خان ان کے خلاف طاقت کا استعمال کرتے ہیںاور تشدد کا نشانہ بناتے ہیں۔