Lockdown Dairy: Is it really extended till 30th April?

Lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the entire country has been extended till April 30 and the federal cabinet approved this decision on 14^th April followed by a formal nod by the National Coordination Committee, which is a reprehensive body consisting of the federal government, all provinces and armed forces.

The current period of nationwide lockdown has expired on the 14^th.  Prime Minister Imran Khan along with his cabinet members addressed a press conference in the evening in which he said certain sectors are being opened, however, the lockdown is to continue till 30^th, especially where there are chances of gatherings.

India has also hinted at the extent of its 21-day lockdown till May 3 as the case of cornavirushttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-52277096 has increased there.

Although this was a demand from the Sindh provincial government to extend the ongoing lockdown due to an increase in the cases of coronavirus in the province, the provincial government was being severely criticized by the ruling PIT and other coalition partners due to economic losses to the businessmen. Two federal ministers from PTI Ali Zaidi and Faisal Vawda spoke bluntly in the media previous days against the Sindh government.

Today two major press conferences were held in Karachi. The traders’ representatives held a press conference early this morning announcing to open up their businesses by tomorrow at all costs (by violating the government orders). However, they put off their decision for two days after the federal government’s announcement in the evening.

Another important press conference was also held at Karachi Press Club in which the so-called Ulema of all sects including Mufti Taqi Usmani, Mufti Muneebur Rehman, Shah Owais Noorani (JUP), Mohammad Hussain Mehnati (JI) and others in which they announced to end lockdowns in the mosques and start 5-time prayers from 15^th April.

Moreover, they also announced that Tarawih prayers and Itikaf will continue as per schedule during the forthcoming Holy month of Ramzan. They called on people coming to mosques to practice social distancing, come with Wuzu from homes and wear masks. Mufti Munib urged the government to not arrest people from within mosques. All those who have been arrested should be released, he said.

President Dr Arif Alvi has convened a high-level meeting of religious leaders of all sects on April 18 to discuss restrictions on religious gatherings during the lockdown. It is a matter of fact that Saudi Arabia has announced to suspension of Taraweeh during Ramzan because of the coronavirus.

The Pakistani religious leaders have been violating the government’s lockdown orders and many cases of violence and attack on police have been reported during the last two Fridays in which not only Juma congregations were held in Karachi in many parts but people resorted to violence against the law enforcement agencies in some areas. The government seems to be helpless against the religious zealots who are bent to violate the lockdown orders and instigate the general public to take laws into their hands.

Despite the persistent pressure from traders and the federal government of PTI, the Sindh government has still sustained all types of pressures and remained steadfast in its decisions to implement the lockdown. Last week, the provincial government announced to seal of 11 union councils in District East of Karachi due to more reported cases of coronavirus in those areas. This decision was not only criticised by residents of those areas, but the Supreme Court of Pakistan during its hearing of the suo moto case on the government’s measures to control coronavirus also questioned the purpose of such sealing of the residential areas.

The provincial government seems to be reluctant to succumb to any pressure from anywhere, but there is apparent ineffectiveness of the lockdown in many parts of Sindh as reports of people roaming around are coming from everywhere, especially in rural areas. A huge rush at the centres to receive Prime Minister’s coronavirus support fund is reported from many areas of interior Sindh.

In Karachi also the situation in congested areas, Katchi Abadis and Lyari is not satisfactory as people are not observing the lockdown orders and roaming around. Many people have been arrested in violation of orders and violence of police on citizens is reported on social media.

Currently all public transport is closed down, but the private cars, rickshaws and Chingchis (rickshaws carrying 8 passengers) are plying on the city’s many arrears.

Ration distribution and payment of Rs 12,000 under the PM programme have not reached all people as still a large number of people can be seen sitting at the roadsides in many areas or begging near the fruit and grocery markets.

Inefficiency, corruption and lack of essential equipment are the main reasons of non-observance of the lockdown orders in Sindh.

احفاظ الرحمان: ایک دانشورصحافی اور صحافی حقوق کے رہنما

میں ایک صاحب کردار آدمی ہوں

اور ایک صاحب کردار آدمی کی حیثیت سے

یہ چاہتا ہوں کہ جب مروں تو

میرا چہرہ سورج کی طرف ہو : احفاظ الرحمان

کینسر جیسے موذی مرض سے جنگ لڑتے ہوئے سینئر صحافی اور پاکستان فیڈرل یونین آف جرنلسٹس کے مرکزی لیڈر احفاظ الرحمان آج (12 اپريل 2020) اتوار کو دن طلوع ہونے سے پہلے اس دنیا سے کوچ کرگئے۔ وہ نا صرف ایک اچھے لکھاری تھے مگر ایک اعلی پیمانے کے شاعربھی تھے۔ ان کے گلے کے کینسر کا آپریشن ہوا تھا اورانہوں نے باقائدہ علاج سے بیماری کو شکست بھی دے دی تھی، مگراس دوران وہ کافی کمزور ہوگئے تھے جس کی وجہ سے ان کو کئی مرتبہ ہسپتال میں داخل ہونا پڑا تھا۔ اس لاک ڈائوں کے دنوں میں بھی وہ ہسپتال میں داخل ہوگئے تھے۔ صبح صبح ان کی شریک حیات مہناز رحمان کی فیس بوک پوسٹ دیکھے جس میں انہوں نے یہ افسوسناک خبر دی اور اوپر دیا گیا شعر بھی شامل کیا تھا، جس کا ایک ٹکڑہ میں نے شیئر کیا ہے۔

جب میں نے 1991 سے انگریزی صحافت میں قدم رکھا تو احفاظ صاحب کو نہیں جانتا تھا، مگر جب بھی کراچی پریس کلب میں جانا ہوتا تھا تو اکثر ان کے اشعاراورنظمیں کلب کے نوٹس بورڈ پر آویزاں دیکھتا تھا اور پڑہتا رہتا تھا۔ دوستوں نے بتایا کہ وہ جنگ اخبار میں کام کرتے ہیں۔

پھر شین – فرخ کے ساتھ مل کر انٹر پریس کمیونیکیشن (آئی پی سی) میں حصہ لینا شروع کیا تو ان کے گلشن اقبال والی صحافی کالونی کے گھر پر مہناز رحمان سے ملاقاتیں ہوئیں، اس طرح احفاظ صاحب سے بھی تعارف ہوا۔ مگر ان سے قربت تب ہوئی جب میں نے کے یو جے اور کراچی پریس کلب کی سیاست میں حصہ لینا شروع کیا۔ وہ ہمارے رہمنا تھے اوراکثر اوقات الیکشن کے دوران ہدایات دیتے تھے۔ بہت ساری میٹنگز میں میں نے ان کو کئی سینئر رہنمائوں کو ڈانٹے ہوئے بھی دیکھا تھا، اوراکثر اراکین ان سے بہت ڈرتے بھی تھے۔ مگر پریس کلب میں جو دوشخصیات مجھے بہت محبت سے ملتے تھے ان میں احفاظ صاحب اور مرحوم محمود علی اسد تھے۔

احفاظ صاحب کی ٹریڈ یونین کے لیے طویل جدوجہد ہے جس کی داستان بھی اتنی ہی طویل ہے۔ انہوں نے جنرل ضیا کی مارشل لا کے دوران آزادیء صحافت کے لیے پی ایف یو جے کی جدوجہد میں نمایاں کردار ادا کیا اور جیل بھی گئے اور ان کو بلیک لسٹ کردیا گیا جس کی وجہ سے کافی عرصے تک بے روزگاربھی رہے۔

بے نظیر بھٹو کے پہلے دور میں ان کو چائنا میں کام کرنے کا موقع ملا جہاں سے ان کی شریک حیات مہناز رحمان باقائدگی سے اخبارجہاں میں چائنا کی صورتحال پر کالم بھی لکھتی رہی ہیں۔

احفاظ صاحب ایک بڑے صحافی بھی تھے۔ پروفیشنل معاملات میں بھی میں نے سنا ہے کہ بہت سخت تھے، کام میں کوئی کوتاہی برداشت نہیں کرتے تھے۔ جنگ کے بعد جب ایکسپریس اخبار نکلا تو وہ اس کے ادارتی عملے میں شامل ہوگئے۔ ان کے کالم بھی ایکسپریس میں چھپتے تھے۔

جب ملٹری ڈکٹیٹر جنرل پرویز مشرف نے 2007 میں ملک میں ایمرجنسی لگا کر ٹی وی چینلز پر بھی پابندیاں لگائیں توانہوں نے کراچی میں صحافیوں کے احتجاج کی سربراہی کی اور کراچی پریس کلب کے سامنے پولیس کے ڈنڈے بھی کھائے اور گرفتار بھی ہوئے۔ بعد میں جب صحافیوں کو چھوڑا جارہا تھا تو انہوں نے لاک اپ سے نکلے سے انکار کردیا اور پولیس والوں سے کہا کہ جب تک آخری صحافی کو چھوڑا نہیں جاتا وہ لاک اپ سے باہر نہیں آئیں گے۔

وہ کئی کتابوں کے مصنف بھی تھے جس میں ان کی شاعری کے مجموعے بھی شامل تھے۔

مجھے احساس ہے کہ ایک فیملی کے سربراہ کے طور پر یہ ان کی فیملی کے لیے بہت بڑا نقصان ہے اور میں ہماری سول سوسائٹی کی ایک اہم ساتھی محترمہ مہناز رحمان سے اس موقع پر دلی افسوس اور تعزیت کا اظہار کرتا ہوں اوران کے درجات بلند ہونے کی دعا کرتاہوں۔ یقیناً یہ ایک بہت بڑا صحافتی نقصان بھی ہے اور اس خال کو پر کرنے میں کئی سال لگ سکتے ہیں۔

Dishonoring vulnerable

An unfortunate incident happened in village Thorhi Bijar in Drigh police station in Kamber-Shahdadkot district Tuesday (March 24) where three accused belonging to an influential landlord’s family entered into the house of a poor man Manzoor Tunio and tortured his wife Kamalaan while putting black and blue colour.

The accused also set their thatched house on fire too while injuring both husband and wife. The accused were identified as Sartaj and Sadam sons of Ranjhan Tunio and Mujahid sons of Fazal Mohammad, KTN News reporter Qadir Lashari reported on his FaceBook page.

According to people the local police and SHO of the area are supporting the criminals. Reports said the incident happened after a dispute between the son of the victim woman on a petty matter. The woman said she is not aware of the whereabouts of her son, who she apprehends might have been kidnapped by the accused. The woman is mentally shocked and under medical treatment.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of the district, Imran Qureshi reached the village and ensured the victim's provision of justice.

So far no action has been taken against the accused and police have also not registered a case against anyone.

Meanwhile, local people said that the SHO of the area Abdus Salam Chandio is supporting the accused. The SHO is said to be in the area for the last four years and local landlords and influential persons are supporting the SHO and in the reciprocating act, he always supports criminals.

Latest: DIG of Larkana ranger Irfan Ali Baloch in a FaceBook post on his page stated: “The woman named Kamala Tunio appeared at PS Drigh district Qambar n complained about maltreatment n beating by her rivals. Police have arrested the main accused Fazal Tunio. Fir is being lodged n raids r being conducted for the arrest of the rest of the accused.”

کرونا اورکرانچی والے

کراچی کے لوگ صدیوں سے انسان دوست ہیں۔ پاکستان بننے سے پہلے ہندو اور پارسیوں نے جو انسانیت کی بھلائی کے کام کیے تھے ان کے آثارآج بھی شہر کے کئی علاقوں میں موجود ہیں۔ کراچی کی آبادی میں 1947 کے بعد بے پناہ اضافہ ہوا، مگر شاید یہ اس شہرکی مٹی میں شامل ہے کہ یہاں آنے والے نئے باسیوں (شخصیات اور اداروں) نے اسی طرح آگے بڑھ کر بےشمار بھلائی کے کام کیے ہیں، جن میں اکثر کا دائرہ تو پورے ملک تک پھیلا ہوا ہے۔

وہ عبدالستارایدھی ہو، ظفرعباس یا رمضان چھیپا ہویا سیلانی ویلفیئر ہو، جے ڈی سی ہو یا عالمگیر ویلفیئر ٹرسٹ، یا پھر انڈس ہاسپیٹل یا سٹیزنز فائونڈیشن ہو، افراد و اداروں نے ہر مصیبت کی گھڑی میں کراچی کے باسیوں کی دل کھول کر امداد کی ہے۔ ملک میں اگر کوئی مصیبت آئی یہی شخصیات اورتنظیمیں ہیں جنہوں نے بڑھ چڑھ کر حصہ لیا ہے۔

خواہ 2005 کا کشمیروکے پی کے کا اندوہناک زلزلہ ہو، 2010 کا سپر سیلاب ہو، 7-2005 کا کراچی میں ہیٹ ویو ہو، کراچی کے مخیر انسانوں اور اداروں نے وقت کی حکومت سے زیادہ امداد کی ہے۔ یہ سب میرا ذاتی مشاہدہ ہے۔

پاکستان سینٹر آف فلنتھراپی کی 2015 – 2014 میں کی گئی ایک تحقیق کے مطابق سندھ کے لوگ نا صرف روپوں میں امداد کرتے ہیں ، بلکہ صوبے کے کئی مخیرافراد اپنا وقت فلاحی کاموں میں زیادہ دیتے ہیں اوروقت دینے کی یہ شرح تمام صوبوں کے مقابلے میں سندھ میں سب سے زیادہ ہے، جو کہ 48 فیصد بنتی ہے۔ البتہ روپوں میں دی گئی امداد کے تناسب میں سندھ دوسرے نمبر پر رہا، مگر یہ رقم بھی آبادی کے لحاظ سے کافی زیادہ ہے ۔

آج بھی جب پورا ملک کرونا وائرس کی وبا سے خوفزدہ ہے اور 19 مارچ تک اس وائرس میں مبتلا افرد کی تعداد 453 تک جا پہنچی ہے، سب سے زیادہ متاثر افراد میں سندھ کی افرادکی تعداد سب سے زیادہ ہے، جن میں سے اکثریت ان افراد کی ہے جو ایران زیارتوں کے لیے گئے ہوئے تھے اور واپسی میں ان کو بارڈر پر روک لیا گیا تھا۔ ایران سے آئے زائرن کو پہلے 14 دن تک تفتان بارڈر پر حکومت پاکستان کی طرف سے قائم کردہ قرنطینہ میں رکھا گیا تھا، اور اکثر متاثرین وہاں رہتے ہوئے ناقص انتظامات کی وجہ سے وائرس کا شکار ہوچکے ہیں۔جب ان افراد کا سکھر پہنچنے پر دوبارہ ٹیسٹ کیا گیا تو اکثریت کا ٹیسٹ پازیٹو نکلا۔

اس مایوس کن صورتحال میں کراچی آج بھی امداد میں آگے ہے۔ جے ڈی سی کے سربراہ ظفرعباس اج بھی سکھرشہرمیں موجود ہیں، جہاں ایران زائرین کی سب سے بڑی تعداد قرنطینہ ہسپتال میں داخل ہیں، جو کہ نئی تعمیر شدہ لیبر کالونی میں قائم کی گئی ہے۔ یہ دنیا کا سب سے بڑا تنہائی وارڈز والا سینٹر قرار دیا گیا ہے۔ ان کے علاوہ دیگر سماجی تنظیمیں بھی امدادی سامان لے کر پہنچی ہوئی ہیں۔

ادھر کراچی میں بھی کئی افراد کرونا وائرس کی وجہ سے شہرمیں قائم سرکاری و نجی ہسپتال میں زیرعلاج ہیں۔ یہ افراد ایران کے علاوہ سعودی عرب، عرب امارات، برطانیہ اور دیگر ممالک سے آئے تھے۔ کچھ افراد ایسے بھی ہیں جی کی کوئی ٹرویل ہسٹری نہیں ہے۔ سندھ حکومت نے 3 ارب روپے کی سیڈ منی پر مشتمل ایک امدادی فنڈ قائم کرلیا ہے اورمخیرافراد سے اس فنڈ میں حصہ ڈالنے کی اپیل بھی کی گئی ہے۔ شہر کی کئی مخیر شخصیات کو اس فنڈ کی شفافیت کو یقینی بنانے کے لیے شامل کیا گیا ہے۔

بہت سی کراچی کی تنظیموں نے اس وبا سے نمٹنے کے لیے کئی عملی اقدامات کا اعلان کیاہے۔ شہر میں لاک ڈائون کی صورتحال کے پیش نظردہاڑی پر کام کرنے والے مزدور سب سے زیادہ شدید مالی مشکلات کا شکار ہیں۔ انٹرسٹی ٹرانسپورٹ بند ہے، جس وجہ سے دیگر شہروں سے آمدرفت مشکل ہے، بڑے شاپنگ مالزاور مارکیٹس کو بند کرنے کا حکم دیا جاچکا ہے۔ کھانےپینے کے ہوٹل اور شادی ہال بند کردیے گئے ہیں، جہاں ہزاروں نوجوان دہاڑی پر کام کرتے ہیں۔ شہرمیں چلنے والی دو پرائیویٹ ایپ بیسڈ ٹرانسپورٹ کمپنیزںے شہر میں اپنا آپریشن ملتوی کردیا ہے۔ اس علاوہ فیکٹریوں اور دکانوں میں کام کرنے والے لاکھوں مزدورخواتین و حضرات کا روزگار شدید متاثر ہواہے، اور ان کے خاندان فاقہ کشی کا سامنا کرہے ہیں۔ اس صورتحال میں صوبائی حکومت نے متاثر خاندانوں میں ایک مہینے کا راشن تقسیم کرنے کا اعلان تو کیا ہے، مگرصوبائِی حکومت کی خراب حکمرانی کی صورتحال میں یہ امداد متاثرین تک کیسے پہنچے گی ، یہ سب زیادہ تشویش ناک ہے۔ ایسے میں کئی سماجی تنظیموں نے جن میں اخوت بھی شامل ہے نے روزانہ اجرت پر کام کرنے والے مزدوروں کی امداد کا اعلان کیا ہے، جو کہ حوصلہ افزا ہے۔

سندھ میں سکھرکے علاوہ حیدرآباد و دیگر شہروں میں بھی وائرس کے متاثرین سامنے آرہے ہیں اور امید ہے کہ یہ امدادی ادارے ان کے مسائل کے حل میں بھی موثر کردار ادا کریں گے۔

ليبر ڪالونيون يا ايمرجنسي ڪيمپون؟

سنڌ حڪومت وڏي فخر سان اعلان ڪيو آهي، ته هن چين ۾ 10 ڏينهن اندر قائم ٿيل ڪرونا ڪيمپ کان به تمام ٿوري وقت ۾ دنيا جي سڀ کان وڏي ڪرونا جي وبا جي علاج ۽ تصديق ٿيل مريضن کي ڌار رکڻ لاءِ 2048 بسترن تي ٻڌل هڪ اسپتال سکر ۾ قائم ڪري ورتي آهي

ايران کان آيل سنڌ سان تعلق رکندڙزيارت لاءِ ويل پانڌيئڙن کي شروع ۾ وفاقي سرڪار طرفان بلوچستان جي تفتان بارڊر وٽ قائم شده ڪرونا جي قرطينيا ڪيمپ ۾ رکيو ويو هئو، جن کي 14 ڏينهن گذرڻ بعد سنڌ ۾ موڪليو ويو هئو. پر سکر ۾ انهن جي ٻيهر ٽيسٽ ڪئي وئي جنهن مان انهن جي هڪ وڏي انگ کي ڪرونا وائرس جي بيماري ظاهر ٿي. سنڌ حڪومت موجب ايران کان آيلن سميت ڪل 88 ڪرونا کان متاثر ماڻهو ظاهر ٿيا آهن. انهن مان اڪثريت کي سکر جي ان اسپتال ۾ رکيو ويو آهي. جڏهن ته ڪجھ اهڙا مريض ڪراچي جي مختلف سرڪاري اسپتالن ۾ قائم اڪيلائي وارڊن ۾ داخل ڪيا ويا آهن

سکر جي ان اڪيلائي وارن وارڊن تي ٻڌل اسپتال بابت تفصيل پڙهڻ کان پوءِ معلوم ٿيو ته اها ايمرجنسي اسپتال ويجھڙ ۾ مڪمل ٿيل 1000 فليٽن تي ٻڌل ليبرڪالوني ۾ قائم ڪئي وئي آهي، جنهن ۾ موجود فليٽ مزدورن کي اڃا تائين الاٽ نه ٿي سگھيا آهن

اهڙي اسپتال قائم ڪرڻ تي بظاهرهڪ تمام سٺو قدم آهي، پر ايترن بسترن ۽ وينٽيليٽرن کي هلائڻ ۽ سنڀالن لاءِ تمام گھڻي تعداد ۾ عملو ۽ ڊاڪٽرکپندا، جيڪي ڪٿان ايندا؟ اهوهڪ اهم سوال آهي جنهن جي جواب جي اڃا خبر ڪانهي

سنڌ ۾ مختلف علائقن ۾ قائم ليبر ڪالونيون ڪيتري عرصي کان مڪمل ٿيل آهي، مگر ڪن اڻ ڄاڻايل سببن جي ڪري مزدورن جي حوالي نه ٿي سگھيون آهن. اهي ڪالونيون ماضي ۾ پڻ امدادي ڪيمپن طور استعمال ٿينديون رهن ٿيون. صوبائي ليبر اينڊ هيومين ريسورسز کاتو ورڪرز ويلفيئر فنڊ مان اهي ليبر ڪالوني جوڙائيندو آهي، جيڪي کاتي سان رجسٽر ٿيل مزدورن ۾ قرعي اندازي وسيلي ڏنيون وينديون آهن. سرڪار ليبر ڪالونين ۾ گھر ڏيڻ لاءِ اخبارن ۾ اشتهار ڏيندي آهي

سن 2010 جي مها ٻوڏ دوران اتر سنڌ جي ڪيترن ئي ضلعن مان ٻوڏ متاثر سنڌ جي وڏن شهرن جهڙوڪ ڪراچي ۽ حيدرآباد ۾ آندا ويا هئا ۽ کين صوبائي سرڪار طرفان سرڪاري زمينن تي قائم ڪيمپن ۾ رهايو ويو هئو. ڪراچي ۾ به ٻوڏ متاثرين جو هڪ وڏو انگ آيو هئو، جن کي شهر جي مختلف علائقن ۾ قائم سرڪاري ڪيمپن ۾ ترسايو ويو. ڪجھ ٻوڏ متاثر سپر هاءِ وي ڀرسان ءِ ڪجھ ٻين علائقن ۾ قائم پرائيويٽ ڪمپن ۾ پڻ ترسيا هئا جتي ڪجھ خيراتي ادارن سندن امداد ڪئي هئي

ٻوڏ متاثرين جو هڪ وڏو انگ (تقريبا 10،000) گڏاپ ٽائون ۾ قائم هڪ سرڪاري ليبرڪالوني ۾ پڻ ترسايو ويوهئو. گلشن معمار ڀرسان قائم ان ليبر اسڪائر ۾ 1000 کن فليٽ آهن. توڙي جو اها ڪالوني ان وقت به مڪمل هئي پر ان ۾ موجود فليٽ ڪنهن به مزدور کي اڃا الاٽ ڪونه ڪيا ويا هئا

اهي ٻوڏ متاثر ڊسمبر 2016 تائين ان ڪيمپ ۾ رهيا پر پوءِ کين زوري اتان اٿاريو ويو، چاڪاڻ ته ليبر ڊپارٽمينٽ وارن کي خوف ورائي ويوهئو ته اهي ٻوڏ متاثر انهن فليٽن تي مستقل قبضو نه ڪري ويهن

پر ايتروعرصو گذرڻ جي باوجود ليبر ڪالوني گڏاپ جا اهي فليٽ اڃا تائين خالي پيا آهن. شايد ڪنهن ٻي آفت جي انتظار ۾ آهن

Aurat Azadi March 2020

“I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”

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The world is observing International Women’s Day on March 8 to recognize the importance of gender equality in every sphere of life.

This year (2020) is important as the United Nations is also observing the silver jubilee of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action held in China in 1995. This year’s theme of International Women’s Day is: “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”.

Pakistan had actively taken part in the Beijing Women’s Conference and then Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had taken part in this important conference.

In her address at the Beijing conference on September 4, 1995, Benazir Bhutto clearly emphasized the importance of women, especially in a Muslim society.

“Freedom of choice alone does not guarantee justice. Equal rights are not defined only by political values. Social justice is a triad of freedom, equality, of liberty: Justice is political liberty. Justice is economic independence. Justice is social equality,” she stated in Beijing.

Aurat Azadi March

“Mera Jism Meri Marzi” was one of the prominent slogans in the Aurat Azadi March (Women Freedom March) last year when women observed International Women’s Day in major cities of the country by taking out marches in major cities. Although there were many other slogans for women’s rights which were also termed objectionable, the slogan “Mera Jism Meri Marzi” received a severe lashing. It also raised the eyebrows of many in Pakistan as religious leaders and right-wing political party leaders objected to such slogans. They, not only criticised the women organisers of the March in TV programmes, but they hurled threats at many in public places.

Many such influential males with the narrow-mindedness of patriarch, misogyny and toxic masculinity severely criticized the women leaders in their seminars and social media posts, some others termed the march an “NGOs’ Agenda”. Some more zealots went to the courts to stop Aurat March. The Lahore High Court, however, dismissed such a petition. The federal and provincial governments have clearly allowed the march.

In Sindh, the Women Action Forum and many other women’s and human rights organisations have announced to hold of Aurat Marches in Sukkur and Karachi. The Sukkur March has received severe censure. The extreme-right wing religious-cum-political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) is on top of the political parties opposing the women's march in Sukkur. Jamat-e-Islami and Jamiat Ulema Pakistan (Noorani group) have also supported the JUI stance. But JUI central leader Maulana Rashid Mehmood Soomro hurled threats in a public rally and asked its workers to stop the Sukkur rally. These threats received severe criticism on social media from rights activists and human rights organisations. Later, Soomro telephoned one of the organisers of the Sukkur March Dr. Arfana Mallah and assured them that his party would not oppose the activity.

However on the next day, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman addressed a rally in Karachi, apparently against price-hike, but in that rally, he severely criticized the Aurat March and later a twit was posted on his official account stating that his party “would not allow any act against Quran, Sunnah and traditions in the name of human rights.”

Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) has openly supported the Aurat March and its central leadership has asked the provincial government to ensure the security of the marches in Karachi and Sukkur.

The Sindh PTI’s President Haleem Adil Shaikh, however, has opposed the Aurat Azadi March and demanded the government stop it. In a Facebook post, he termed it “an attempt to distort the image of Pakistani women.” His statement was also criticised on social media.

Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari has supported the Women’s March and condemned any attempt to stop the activities.

The Aurat Azadi March further came into the limelight when in a live TV show on March 3 on a not-so-popular Neo TV channel the famous playwright Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar used abusive language against the woman activist and writer Marvi Sarmad. The playwright objected to the slogan “Mera Jism Meri Merzi”, but he used very objectionable language to banish the woman rights activist.

This onslaught against women was severely criticised on both electronic and social media. On the next day, some other TV channels again invited Qamar, but he refused to apologise for his yesterday’s words. The women rights activists are demanding a complete ban on his appearance in TV programmes and on his dramas.

Although women rights activists are ready to proceed to hold Aurat March in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Sukkur, there are apprehensions that the march may be disturbed by the right-wing political parties and groups who are openly opposing the event.

Thai monks in Pakistan for World Peace

A group of Buddhist monks from a monastery in Thailand on a mission “walk for world peace” will leave Karachi for Turkey today evening as they visited some Pakistani cities to spread the message of peace. Entered Lahore through the Wagah border from India these Buddhist marchers were initially to go to Iran, but due to the Coronavirus threat, the Pakistan-Iran border has been closed down, so they are now going directly to Turkey via air, their next destination after Iran.

Draped in the traditional maroon robes of monks, these Buddhist preachers are on a mission to spread the message of Lord Buddha in the world.

In Pakistan, besides Lahore, these eight monks, who were invited by Thailand Embassy, also visited Sukkur, Hyderabad, Khuzdar and Karachi. However, Pakistani security authorities did not allow them to walk on the streets of any Pakistani city due to “security reasons.”

These innocent and poor Monks expressed their sadness with some local friends in Karachi saying:  “Police vehicles were surrounding to our all sides everywhere and they did not allow us to walk on streets.”

Initiated first by a Thai monk Sutham Nateetong, who had walked over 5000 kilometres from Thailand to the United States to promote peace, the other Buddhist walkers joined him on his second leg of the “walk for world peace”. Drawn from different parts of Thailand these Monks started their journey from Myanmar and also visited Vietnam, Laos, Nepal and India.

Watch Video Click Here

They crossed the Indian border by foot, but then they were put in vehicles by the Pakistani Embassy of Thailand.

In Karachi, the Thai Consulate General had arranged their stay in a private guest house in the Bath Island area. Some of the Monks incidentally met with a few Pakistani meditators, who practice Vipassana, a Buddhist meditation system from Maynmar teacher S. N. Goenka. The Karachi friends invited Thai Monks to some private gatherings. They also arranged their visit to the National Museum of Pakistan, where they, with great interest, found the relics of Buddhism periods in different galleries of the museum. They were delighted to see different size well-preserved Buddha sculptures in the museum.

They said they wanted to see Buddhist sites like Taxila and Swat in Pakistan but they did not get permission to go there.

They were also happy to see that many Pakistanis are practising meditations for their inner peace and overall peace of the world.

A video recorded by me Click Here

I fail to understand why when the Pakistan government is promoting tourism, especially religious tourism, then why they put such strict vigilance and restrictions and they did not allow them to walk on the streets. In Pakistan only Sikhs are the single blue-eyed religious minority for the security establishment, the followers of other religions are suspected.

A similar type of treatment was experienced by us when last week some Nepalese peace activists visited Karachi on account of the international peace march “Jai Jagat”. They also faced similar restrictions and the security agencies chased them everywhere. In Hyderabad, they were not allowed to visit the University of Sindh Jamshoro due to “security reasons.”

Although the Thai Buddhist Monks were happy to meet with Pakistani peace activists, they wish to visit again to see the Buddhist historical places in the Northern part of Pakistan.

Corona Virus in Pakistan

Since Wednesday evening, Pakistan, especially its largest city, Karachi, which is also the commercial capital of the country, is in a grip of fear of the deadly Coronavirus. The government announced the diagnosis of two patients affected by Coronavirus, one each in Karachi and Islamabad.

The provincial Sindh government has further added to the fear among common people as the provincial government announced the closure of all the schools across the province for remaining two days of the week (Thursday and Friday). TV channels have further created a scare among kids and families due to news of school closures. The Balochistan government which has already closed down the border with Iran has also announced the closure of schools in the province till March 15. There is an emergency in border districts of Balochistan and Special Assitant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza held a press conference along with Balochistan Chief Minister on the coronavirus issue on Wednesday evening.

The profiteers in Karachi are exploiting the situation as medical masks have disappeared from the city’s medical stores and those sellers are charging a heavy price for each mask. Although it has become our national character that in case of emergencies traders try to swindle money through hook and crook and hoardings. We just saw it last week when in the Keamari area 14 people lost their lives due to the release of a mysterious toxic gas and marks became costly in the area.

Although only one case of Coronavirus has been reported in Karachi, who had reportedly arrived by air at Karachi airport from Iran on 20th February and is not under treatment in Aga Khan Hospital, there is a widespread scare due to the non-availability of healthcare facilities in Sindh including special isolation wards in the government hospitals.

The Sindh government has announced to set up an Emergency Centre (whose phones seldom work), but no special isolation ward is identified in any government hospital in the city. According to media reports, isolation wards are already available in three major government hospitals including Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Civil Hospital, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and a costly private Aga Khan Hospital.

On Thursday the provincial cabinet met and decided to form a task force on coronavirus.

Photo courtesy: dawn.com

After the emergency meeting on Thursday morning the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, in a press conference said that over 1,500 people have been identified who had returned from Iran or had come into contact with those coming from Iran and later entered Sindh in the past 15 days. Those 15,00 people would be tested and if suspected some symptoms would be kept in quarantine for treatment and observation.

There are improper and inadequate arrangements at the airports in Pakistan for testing any patients of coronavirus. All those who arrived from Iran on 20th February along with the affected patient of Karachi were allowed to leave to homes without checking.

Pakistan has very poor healthcare facilities to meet such types of intense emergencies. In the Larkana district, last year hundreds of cases of HIV positive were detected and the provincial government failed to test or provide medical facilities to those patients, despite the fact the World Health Organisation (WHO) provided assistance in this regard. After the WHO campaign, those patients don’t receive any medical help.

Similarly, the country faced a shortage of rabies vaccines and many deaths were reported due to rabies in Sindh but the provincial government seemed inept to provide the vaccinations in even every district hospital. The local government bodies are unable to kill stray dogs.

But handling Coronavirus is a big challenge for the health ministry of Sindh as after the 18th Amendment in the Constitution, health has become a provincial subject and the government has no capacity and capability.

The official Emergency numbers are not working: A video by a social worker of JDC

The health experts have been issuing only preventive advice, which also included keeping hygiene and washing hands with soap frequently.

The coronavirus, which started in China at the end of last year has spread over many countries. European developed countries Italy and neighbouring Iran have reported multiple deaths and hundreds of infected patients due to this endemic disease. Iran has also no quality healthcare facilities and due to restrictions on the media correct figures are not arriving in the media. Similar is the situation in China, from where only official data is released.

No vaccination or antibiotic is available anywhere in the world to prevent or treat this virus, which is said to be transferred in human beings from animals in Wuhan city in China.

Given the healthcare situation in Pakistan and the non-availability of effective treatment of infectious diseases, there is widespread fear among the population, even though the mortality ratio is quite lower (about 2 per cent) in this virus.

So please don’t panic but take preventive measures, avoid going to busy places and use tissues or handkerchiefs in case of sneezing or coughing. God bless all humanity!

International Mother Language Day

The United Nations (UN) has declared 21st February as International International Mother Language Day to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to promote multilingualism.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was first announced on 17 November 1999, which was formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly with the adoption of the UN Resolution No. 56/262 Multilingualism in 2002.

The idea to observe International Mother Language Day was an initiative of Bangladesh as 21st February is the anniversary of the day when Bangladeshis fought for recognition of the Bangla language. There is a public holiday on 21st February in Bangladesh.

In 1948, the then Government of Pakistan declared Urdu to be the sole national language of Pakistan even though Bengali or Bangla was spoken by the majority of people combining East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). East Pakistan’s Bengali-speaking people protested. At that, time the majority of the population was Bengali speaking so they demanded Bangla be at least one of the national languages, in addition to Urdu.

The demand was raised first by Dhirendranath Datta, a member from East Pakistan on 23 February 1948, in the constituent Assembly of Pakistan. To demolish the protest, the government of Pakistan outlawed public meetings and rallies. The students of the University of Dhaka, with the support of the general public, arranged massive rallies and meetings. On 21 February 1952, police opened fire on rallies. Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Jabbar and Shafiur died, with hundreds of others injured. This is a rare incident in history, where people sacrificed their lives for their mother tongue.

In Pakistan, the day is being observed with enthusiasm for the last few years as at two times the legislators from smaller provinces (Sindh, Balochistan and KP) have submitted two separate bills in the Parliament (National Assembly and Senate) to declare other languages of Pakistan as National Languages.

Even the Senate’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice passed “The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2016” on March 9, 2018, seeking the status of national languages for major provincial languages, including Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto and Balochi.

But on both occasions, the proposed bills were rejected on the basis of majority as Punjabi-speaking people are in dominant in the Parliament.

Most of the information for this blog is taken from Wikipedia

Toxic gas release: Still a mystery

Mystery still shrouds around the leakage of deadly toxic gas, which caused the deaths of over 14 people and sickness to over 300 people in Karachi port surrounding areas in Keamari till Tuesday evening.

According to a report by the daily Dawn provincial Local Government minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah and Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani addressed a press conference on February 18, and said they were still clueless about the source of the gas and what was its nature. Authorities are still investigating it.

A laboratory report released by the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) indicated that soybean dust (aeroallergens) was found in the samples of those who died on Monday.

The new development of the lab report has further deepened the crisis as the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) authorities denied the release of soybean dust and said a patient who died in a hospital was already admitted to the hospital before the anchorage of the soybean ship.

Although there is no confirmed cause of the deaths, the environmental watchdog Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is also blank.

Meanwhile, the residents of Keamari, Jackson and Railway Colony staged a protest demonstration at the main road against authorities on their failure to ascertain the cause of the toxic gas.

Deaths due to mysterious gas leakage in Keamari port area

At least six persons died and dozens were seriously got an illness and admitted to two major hospitals in the port area of Keamari – Kutiyana and Ziauddin — early in the morning on Monday, media reports said.

The mysterious poisonous and deadly gas is suspected to have come out from a chemical storage warehouse in the Keamari area. The authorities have kept mum on the cause of the release.

“Port authorities are trying to hide the facts,” said Faisal Edhi, head of Edhi Foundation, the top ambulance service in the country in a video shared by media. “They should tell the truth so further deaths and damage be prevented,” Edhi added.

Watch wideo by clicking herehttps://youtu.be/T7Bn9GS-prQ

According to police, most of the affected people have become unconscious after inhaling toxic gas and many others are facing difficulties in inhaling.  

It is a very serious matter and criminal neglect on part of the authorities as they have failed to prevent the release of deadly and toxic gas in the congested port area. They are now trying to hide the fact to save their skins.

The police and port authorities should locate the place from where the gas was released and all the responsible persons or departments be taken to task. Besides Police, the Karachi Port Authority, Federal Government’s Ports and Shipping Department, Pakistan Navy, Environment Protection Authority (EPA), KMC (City Government) and the Civil Defence departments should be asked to play their roles. Not only the culprits be nabbed, but the government should take preventive measures so a similar incident has not happened in future.

Families Demand Students be Repatriated from China

A large number of parents and relatives of Pakistani students studying in China staged a protest demonstration outside Karachi Press Club demanding the repatriation of all the students from Wuhan city of China, where they are kept inside their rooms or homes due to the viral epidemic Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Many countries including neighbouring India have airlifted their students from China, but Pakistan has refused to repatriate its citizens as according to authorities Chinese government is taking care of the Pakistani students very well.

“Wapas Lao Wapas Law, Hamare Bache Wapas Lao (bring back our children)” chanted the protesting relatives.

Carrying banners and placards, a large number of males and females, children and a wheel-chaired woman were demanding Prime Minister Imran Khan, Army Chief and politicians including Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to bring back their loved ones who are stranded in Wuhan city, where over 1500 people have died of viral infection and thousands are under treatment as Pakistan government had decided to keep them in China due to non-availability of effective quarantine and healthcare facilities at home.

According to reports, there were a total of 1300 Pakistani students enrolled in 25 universities of Wuhan before the outbreak of the Coronavirus epidemic but due to vacations about 500 students had already left the city but 800 were still stranded.

“We just want to see our children back in Pakistan as we don’t demand the government to make arrangements for their air tickets,” said a male speaker adding “we only want our children to be given permission to come back from Wuhan,” he added.

A woman said their children were kept in jail-like conditions in their homes and they were facing strict surveillance and restrictions despite the fact none of them is infected by the disease.

Some elderly women were weeping and said they felt helpless as the government has left the Pakistani student at the mercy of the Chinese and no politician or media is raising their voices for bringing back Pakistani students.

A man contacted a girl student living in China on his small phone and showed the girl’s face (which was covered with a mask) and said she was trying to tell their ordeal.

After some time of the protest, the protesters disperse peacefully.

Mahak’s Forced Conversion:

Another Hindu girl feared becoming victim of Pakistan’s legal system

It was my apprehension. But it seems my anxiety may become a reality as strong indications have started coming after the court proceedings inJacobabad. Because today the judge did not announce the verdict in the Hindu girl MehakKumari case, which he reserved yesterday to announce today.

Even the judge ordered to re-record of the girl’s version on 18th February for the third time. Before the announcement of the verdict, the Hindu girl Mahak, who was allegedly kidnapped and then forcibly converted to Islam would have to meet her parents and her kidnapper husband.

The same situation happened when in 2012 another Hindu girl Rinkle Kumari was also made to go with her alleged husband after she made a statement in court about her conversion. But she had previously insisted to go with her parents. In the suo moto case, the then Chief Justice of Pakistan Chaudhry Iftikhar Muhammad had earlier sent her to a shelter home.

Video link: https://youtu.be/9WTBmIO8hCY

There are many identical things in both Mehak and Rinklecases: The girls were sent to official shelter homes and the religious zealots influenced the courts in their favour despite the civil society’s protest and hue and cry on social media.

“The judge was positive in favour of the girl yesterday and I am hoping he would allow her to go with her parents,” said a social activist and a local lawyer from Sukkur Sattar Zangejo when I called him at 12.30 pm. He said, “we are still waiting for the verdict to be announced in favour of Mehak.”But later the local media reported adjournment of the case till February 18.

The interesting point case of Mehak's forced conversion is that the girl was declared as a minor of 16 years of age by the official medical board that issued a certificate on the orders of the country. The court had earlier ordered the constitution of a medical board to ascertain the age as the girl’s lawyers had objected that marriage after conversion was illegal under Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act 2013. The court had sent the girl to Darul Aman of Larkana.

Yesterday (February 6) workers of a right-wing religious party Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) -Fazlur Rehman group were present in the court in a large number and they also held a protest demonstration outside the court today(February 7) against a potential verdict in girl’s favour.

The local leaders of JUI-F had Yesterday also addressed a press conference in Jacobabad by threatening to the girl, her family and the lawyers, although a large number of human rights and civil society activists and lawyers were also present in the court in support of the Hindu girl. The indigenous Hindus of Jacobabad seemed helpless against the religious fanatics.

Mehak Kumari was reportedly kidnapped and later converted to Islam early this month. She appeared in a video saying she was married off to a twenty-eight-year-old Muslim Ali Raza Machhi who in fact, along with his father has been working on the construction site of Mehak’s father Vijay Kumar.