MONSOON FURY RAGES ON AS NDMA
g RAINS, FLOODS CLAIM 18 LIVES IN BALOCHISTAN AND CAUSED WIDESPREAD DAMAGE TO INFRASTRUCTURE AND CROPS: PDMA
g MULTIPLE LANDSLIDES IN GHIZER DAMAGE DOZENS OF HOMES, BLOCK KARAKORUM HIGHWAY AT THREE LOCATIONS
g SINDH CM DIRECTS PLUGGING BREACH IN DADU CANAL BESIDES STRICT VIGILANCE ON CANAL EMBANKMENTS AND DYKES
SENATE BODY CRITICIZES PERFORMANCE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MINISTRY’S DEPARTMENTS
TDuring a meeting on Monday chaired by Senator Kamil Ali Agha, the committee expressed serious concerns about the ministry’s overall performance
“There are 17 departments in the Ministry of Science and Technology but not a single one is working properly lamented Senator Agha He emphasized that the current state of affairs is unacceptable and that the committee will not allow it to continue unchecked One of the focal points of the discussion was the Pakistan Halal Authority (PHA) an attached department of the Ministry of Science and Technology which was established in 2016 Despite the passage of over seven years, the authority has failed to make a significant impact, largely due to bureaucratic hurdles and negligence from senior officials within the authority and ministry It took years for the PHA’s service and business rules to be approved and even those have remained largely
unimplemented Senator Agha questioned the current staffing and recruitment processes at the PHA during the meeting Officials revealed that while a total of 100 posts are sanctioned the PHA is currently operating with only 38 officials, including six inspectors The process to fill the remaining sanctioned posts is still underway The committee recommended that inspectors should possess relevant experience and a diploma in Halal certification To date, the PHA has registered 16 local Halal certification bodies, one foreign certification body, and several slaughterhouses, primarily in Punjab In other discussions officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology proposed amendments to the Pakistan Halal Authority (PHA) Act and suggested a name change for the Scientific and Technological Development Corporation They claimed that the corporation’s financial situation had improved compared to the previous year reporting a budget of Rs250 million and sales of Rs365 million The corporation operating through the Pakistan Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (PCSIR), produces and sells products, including those used to spray pesticides on fruits and vegetables, without imposing any financial burden on the federal government
Senator Agha also addressed the declining agricultural yields in Pakistan attributing the drop to diseases affecting crop production Senator Afnan Ullah raised additional health concerns, noting the emergence of the previously unheard-of “blue tint allergy ” He also identified white sugar and white salt as major health hazards leading to widespread cases of diabetes and hypertension in the country White sugar is poison; it is made white by adding chemicals, he stated The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology also deliberated on the Private Member ’s Bill titled “Pakistan Halal Authority (Amendment) Bill 2023 The meeting chaired by Senator Kamil Ali Agha included a presentation by Senator Dr Zarqa Suharwardhy, the bill s mover, who explained that the bill aims to strengthen the PHA by providing guidelines for the enforcement of Halal standards Additionally the committee was briefed on the role and performance of the National Institute of Electronics (NIE) and
Pakistan steel sector faces demand woes as 4QFY24 results loom
payout of PKR4 per share As the steel sector navigates these ongoing challenges, the focus remains on companies like Mughal which are leveraging diversification and strategic growth in non-ferrous segments to bolster their financial performance amid a tough operating environment
Prices for other vegetables like ginger and garlic remain unchanged with ginger at Rs800 per kilogram and garlic at Rs400600 per kilogram Green chilies are priced at Rs120-150 per kilogram Peas and capsicum are priced at Rs250-300 per kilogram while ladyfinger costs Rs150-180 per kilogram Other vegetables like curry leaves kachalu and turnips are priced between Rs60 and Rs200 per kilogram, with zucchini at Rs80-100 per kilogram and lemons at Rs200 per kilogram FLOUR: The price of flour remains unchanged, with a 20-kg fine flour sac selling for Rs2200-2300 and a browncolored flour sac at Rs1800-1900 Wheat flour products like maida, soji, and choker flour also maintain high prices Pulses and Rice: Prices for pulses and rice show some variation Highquality rice (sela) is available at Rs260-270 per kilogram, while lowquality rice costs Rs250 per kilogram Various pulses are priced as follows: dal mash at Rs600 per kilogram dal masoor at Rs320 per kilogram and dal chilka (black) and (green) at Rs320 and Rs260 per kilogram respectively SUGAR: The price of sugar has risen to
Rs150 per kilogram up from Rs144 previously Fruits and Beverages: Fruit prices include apples at Rs200-250 per kilogram, bananas at Rs100-150 or Rs200 per dozen, and strawberries at Rs200-300 per kilogram Watermelon is priced at Rs70 per kilogram Beverage prices remain high with black tea selling for Rs1400-1500 per kilogram The survey notes that despite the fluctuations in some food item prices, overall costs for essential groceries, dairy products,
JPMC’S NEW HEALTHCARE FACILITIES A MILESTONE FOR SINDH, SAYS BIL AWAL
KARACHI S ta f f
CHAIRMAN of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday heralded the newly enhanced facilities at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) as a substantial gift from the Sindh government to the residents of the province, including Karachi During the inaugural ceremony, Bilawal underscored the introduction of the 120-bed Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences the 110-bed Department of
Neurology and Stroke Unit, and the state-ofthe-art CyberKnife S7-FIM at JPMC These facilities reinforce Sindh s commitment to providing top-tier and free healthcare services Bilawal highlighted the excellence of Sindh s healthcare institutions, including JPMC, the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), and the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) describing them as exemplars of good governance and successful public-private partnerships Addressing criticisms of
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
RAIN LASHES PARTS OF LAHORE On the other hand, several parts of the provincial metropolis Lahore downpour on Monday which flooded various low-lying areas and affected traffic on roads Light to moderate rain fell on Canal Road, The Mall, Davies Road, Lakshmi Chowk and adjacent areas Weather pundits had forecast monsoon rains from Aug 14 to 18 and more spells till Aug 25 across country Last week s rain in Punjab resulted in casualties as three labourers were killed and one was injured when the roof of a room collapse in Faisalabad The injured labourer is being treated at Allied Hospital In all 84 people have lost their lives and 224 others were injured in rainrelated accidents in Punjab As many as 84 houses have been damaged A few days earlier several low-lying areas in Lahore turned puddles as rain lashed places far and wide Rains continue to disrupt routine activities in Koh-e-Suleman in south Punjab Low-level floods in the mountainous region caused headache for the residents whereas a 20-foot sinkhole developed after downpour in Uch canal, Ahmedpur East Flooded river sweeps away two schools, a BHU building in DI Khan In Dera Ismail Khan River Indus swept away two primary schools and a basic health unit (BHU) building in Kacha area on Monday Heavy monsoon rains during recent days increased the water level in Indus River which swept away buildings Beit Kalu and Beit Noorpur primary schools besides BHU Khery Kacha Talking to media persons Assistant Commissioner Faseeh Ishaq Abbasi said that the administration has made all the arrangements for Monsoon season, adding, the staff and machinery of the administration were present at the site for relief activities He said the overall situation was under control and the
people of affected areas were shifted to safe locations While responding to a question about the flood water in different areas due to heavy rains Faseeh Ishfaq informed that there was no more risk of flood as the rain water has been passed through Looni area of Kulachi He said that no loss of lives was reported so far Moreover the assistant commissioner said the water level of Indus River has also started to decrease Met official denies claim about record rainfall in Sukkur Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz on Monday denied the claim of 372mm record breaking rainfall in Sukkur A day earlier Sukkur Mayor Arsalan Shaikh has claimed heavy rainfall breaking 77 years record in the city The Met official called the claim as incorrect adding that there is no truth in the claim about 300mm rainfall within two days in Sukkur”
“Sukkur received 116mm rainfall in 48 hours while 134mm rain recorded in adjacent Rohri during the period Sardar Sarfaraz added Mayor Arsalan Shaikh has insisted that Sukkur received 292mm rainfall yesterday breaking 77 years record “The water pumped out of all areas of the city including Ghanta Ghar Bunder Road High Court road Old Sukkur Tanga Stand and other areas he added
FLOODWATER CAUSES
DESTRUCTION IN ROJHAN, JAMPUR
Meanwhile, residents of Safdarabad on the outskirts of Rojhan in south Punjab evacuated their houses after floodwater entered their homes
As per eyewitnesses accounts the height of floodwater was over six feet on Monday The residents said that when they were facing great difficulties in shifting to safe places how they could take their cattle with them
They complained that nobody from the administration had reached
FLOOD
The situation was no different in Jampur where floodwater washed away a road, leaving people cut off from each other On the other hand it appeared that the administration had surrendered as residents of the area who were without food and fodder for their animals, had to move to safe places on their own WATER LEVEL NORMAL IN RIVER RAVI IN NAROWAL In Narowal in north-eastern Punjab water levels are normal in River Ravi as well as in nullahs The water level in the river at Jasarr on Monday dropped from 45,000 cusecs to 6,602 cusecs On the other hand, Deputy Commissioner Syed Hassan Raza said that the administration was fully prepared to deal with any situation We have set up four temporary rescue camps on the bank of the river he informed LANDSLIDE DAMAGES DOZENS OF HOUSES IN GB Multiple landslides in Ghizer district of Gilgit-Baltistan left dozens of homes damaged and the Karakorum Highway closed at three locations
According to the Deputy Commissioner of Ghizer, 15 houses were completely destroyed and 59 partially damaged in the village of Yangal in Gupis due to a massive landslide
COMMENT
TH E devastation from the recent monsoon rains in Balochistan and Sindh are an eerie reminder of the floods that overran the country’s agriculture sector and economy in 2022
At least 19 people were killed, 11 injured, and over 3 000 were affected as the ongoing monsoon rains, which began on July 1, continued to wreak havoc across various parts of Balochistan on Monday The deaths in Balochistan are part of a larger wave of monsoon related destruction Data from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) shows that from July 1 to August 17 195 people have been killed and 362 injured across the country due to rain-related incidents, while 2,293 houses have been damaged
The scenario was also quite dreary in Sindh, where heavy rains and urban flooding in Sukkur and other cities of Sindh have prompted the provincial administration to move government machinery for relief operations in the affected areas
There was also heavy urban flooding in Karachi
One would do well to remember that Pakistan has only two years ago undergone massive floods caused by climate change The two provinces saw the highest amount of water fall from the skies in living memory, recording 522 and 469 per cent more than the normal downpour this year according to the met department
The effects on the entire country were very clear The floods that ensued have still not been recovered from Farmers have not had their lands go back to normal and Pakistan is not close to achieving normalcy All of this is because weather patterns are changing to a degree that we have never experienced before Areas that experience extreme water shortages are flooded within days The rules are changing fast and Pakistan needs to keep up with international financiers to create an environment in which they can mitigate the effects of the climate crisis The response must go much farther than simple responses from disaster management agencies, because the problem is much larger than anyone understands
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late)
Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Navigating inclusive learning through hear t , head and hands apprenticeship pathways
H I E V I N G
Goal 4 (SDG-goal 4) has been a
agenda for the Pakistani education system to achieve the
of education that has been debated for many
education reforms and intervention plans have been adopted to address the
issue in all levels of the education system One of the substantial barriers to quality education relates to inadequately prepared teachers who often demonstrate low enthusiasm to directly impact student learning
Teachers having undertaken their professional education but departing their courses with limited knowledge of inclusion and without a robust groundwork in inclusive teaching practices are likely to struggle to address the needs of students from diverse backgrounds, including those with disabilities or from marginalized communities Thus, in pursuing the agenda of including all children irrespective of ability or disability it is crucial that university educators prepare student teachers with the critical pedagogical skills to enable them to cater for the needs of learners with diverse disabilities Grounded upon my decade research on reforming teacher education I conclude that initial teacher education should find the pathways by which theory and practice can be better integrated One indispensable aspect of this ‘twin’ relationship as evidenced by my research is that teacher preparation might best occur through student teachers being availed of the opportunity to work collaboratively with classroom teachers in the constructing and exercising their professional knowledge In Pakistan, the State has taken steps in regard to the enhancement of inclusive education through embracing the execution of the National Education Policy and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to affirm the value of inclusive and equitable quality education for all However, the need to translate policy legislation into practice is one that has been currently sidelined To overcome this stalemate, it seems necessary that university faculties invite different stakeholders’ to collaborate in the change agenda and thereby transfer to some extent the responsibility of creating a viable functional concrete model representing the training
process for teaching students This approach to some extent looks to western universities that are adopting inclusive collaborative models to prepare teacher educators to cater for learners with diverse needs Since this collaborative model did not exist in Pakistani teacher education programs, I adopted this model to experiment with the agenda of university and school collaboration to integrate inclusive practices in my recently sponsored Higher Education Commission project Pakistan I employed the 3-H model addressing Heart Head and Hands apprenticeship for navigating the emotional, cognitive, and practical dimensions of teaching and learning This inclusive model originated in the work of Australian researchers notably Umesh Sharma from Monash University who discovered the promising results in preparing teachers for the implementation of inclusive practices Pakistan s education system is characterized by a wide range of disparities, including those related to socioeconomic status, geographical location, and disabilities This holistic 3-H apprenticeship approach to inclusive education is not only essential for promoting a supportive and accessible learning environment but also for empowering educators to effectively meet the needs of all students irrespective of their abilities or diverse backgrounds I trained almost two hundred student teachers at a public university with the apprenticeship model to integrate inclusion by heart head and hands in collaboration with the university faculty and school staff Different cohorts of student teachers engaged with the university faculty and school educators to learn the concepts of inclusion encapsulated by heart, head and hands through inclusive pedagogies Teacher candidates were taught the first component of inclusion by ‘Heart’ that creates significant connections with their students to promote understanding and mutual respect that allows students to feel safe and valued; these are indispensable in creating a positive learning environment A sense of belongingness, including all, and feeling for others were demonstrated through teacher educators developing the emotional and social relationship with students Second the component of inclusion by Head apprenticeship emphasizes the importance of promoting cognitive engagement and critical thinking in teaching Student teachers worked collaboratively with the university and school educators to learn about the skill of differentiating instruction to
The fallacy of the Pakistani industrialist
haSSan aizaD Sheikh
Teacher candidates were trained how to translate learning theories into practice through a collaborative approach. They were provided different teaching scenarios for role modelling and were given feedback from supervisory classroom teachers how they might address studentsÊ learning difficulties to further enhance their responses The second segment of the Pakistani private sector is the expor t related industr y These industries seem focused on passing responsibility of their weaknesses on to the government due to rising energy cost and other such factors
Soaring Utilit y Bills
Dr SaDia Shaukat
Dr M rahiM naSar
SO C I O L O G Y deals with interaction in such a way that it is an influencing force, where an individual gets influenced from the other individuals or the environment Unlike it is deemed usually that interaction is taking place between the human beings only Sociologists claim that the circle of interaction is ostensibly very vast A man does not get influenced solely from the other same beings However, his mind, thoughts and personality is always influenced rather from the other sources too like culture geography cast class economy family status and its background his profession moreover his personal getup that how he appears and looks to others and what he thinks about himself Interestingly, this statement has been finely analyzed by a prominent sociologist C H Cooley through his theory “Looking-glass self He articulates that the self of an individual is developed through three stages in a society He furthermore resembles society with a glass or mirror and summaries that like an individual appears in front of a mirror, the mirror reflects his look, whether he is looking good or bad; resultantly he feels proud or shy Similarly by Cooley a man in the first stage exhibits himself in front of the society in the second stage the society responds him that how he is looking and in the third stage he feels shy or proud of the social response It is further asserted that the appearance is not merely in terms of outer outlook however it also consists of a man s thoughts conduct contributions competence intellect feelings emotions bravery and services which he tenders to the society Sociologists put forth a broad approach or perspective regarding social interactions in our daily life titled as “symbolic interactionism” popularly known as
interactionist perspective , which stresses upon the mutual interactions among the social beings as well as the influence a man gets from the environment The perspective concludes that the domain of social interaction is very vast and it encompasses a number of factors that are influencing the human thoughts and personality in different ways In this context, economy is one of the prominent indicator attributes to the superiority or inferiority feelings of an individual A person comes from a high-up family always showing high confidence and considers himself superior and contrary to that a man with poor economy manifests himself often very inferior and low confident Similarly, a person with an outstanding position or status showing himself superior and the person with a low status or position is always considering himself inferior It all happens only through their stimulus and interaction which they have with their economy and the social status People from different casts and class behave differently, because of their casts and class respond them in different ways The superior cast or class boosting up their confidence level and the inferior cast or class downing their morale and the confidence level Likewise, ethnicity and race are also outstanding factors influencing the thoughts, ideas and social positioning of a person In our daily lives it is noticed always and everywhere that the people with backward and nomadic ethnic groups often feel shy and rest introvert and the people from educated ethnicities or races and sedentary communities showing boldly behavior and remain very extrovert These feelings and confidence is instilled through their interactions which influence and maintain
their ethnic and racial status superior Human beings across the globe live quite different lives from one another in terms of their costumes traditions norms values, standards, beliefs and so on It happens richly because of the humans interaction and getting influenced from these cultural traits Behaving and acting otherwise the life could become impossible in the said culture Cultural theories indicate that a person as much as critical of a culture where he lives, it (culture) must keep impacts on the cognition and conduct of that person, and he would follow that culture by and large to some extent Politically the interactions have prominent role in shaping ideologies of the masses Voting behavior and voting patterns are constructed and molded through interactions According to a survey 30% of voting behavior is changed exactly during the vote casting time owing to influencing power of interactions
Political leaders and workers while showing charming manifesto and programs influencing the views of masses and transform their ideology and thoughts Besides other forms of interaction, the intra-personal interaction is very insightful Human being is always in interaction with his intellectual and apparent outlook His sublime competence and charming outlook always motivates him to show high confidence and on the contrary it mitigates his confidence and gives him feelings of discouragement Contextually, a well suitedbooted person always participates in activities and face the public very confidently and a marginalized man feeling afraid to face the masses and always remain at one side it happens prominently because of the interaction of human beings with their physical appearance explicitly and latently with their economy The process of interaction is also in practice with the getup and body texture of human beings A man with expensive dress is found quite confident than the one who is attired with low-cost or uncleaned clothes It is because human beings have interaction with their personal getup, which in turn influencing their thoughts and minds Accordingly, a person with long beard (religious clergy) demonstrates always different conduct than that one who is clean shaver Subsequently it indicates that the human appearance dictates and guides him/her that how to behave and how to act Moreover, a doctor, lawyer, professor, singer, driver, politician and likewise every one
Human beings across the globe live quite different lives from one another in terms of their costumes, traditions, norms, values, standards, beliefs and so on. It happens richly because of the humansÊ interaction and g etting influenced from these cultural traits. Behaving and acting otherwise the life could become impossible in the said culture . Cultural theories indicate that a person as much as critical of a culture where he lives, it (culture) must keep impacts on the cognition and conduct of that person, and he would follow that culture by and larg e to some extent.
Europe planning Abraham Accords II
European troika seeking to salvage Israel under the pretex t of recognizing Palestinian statehood
Europe will manage to throw the ball in Iran’s cour t and blame it for the crisis in Gaza after Tehran rejec ts the initiative
TEHRAN TIMES M
FR A N C E, Germany, and Britain intend to join the 146 countries recognizing Palestine as a state contingent upon significant concessions from Iran, including its recognition of Israel and a halt to support for Resistance groups in Palestine Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria, according to information obtained by the Tehran Times
The initiative proposed by Paris and endorsed by London and Berlin aims to offer additional protections for Israel but does not establish any conditions to safeguard Palestinians against Israel’s apartheid policies in the occupied territories, its massacres in Gaza the abuse of Palestinian prisoners or the growing number of illegal settlements in the West Bank If the initiative is implemented, the European trio will align with their counterparts in Norway Ireland and Spain who became the latest group of European countries to recognize Palestine as a state earlier this year While the May decision drew fury from the Israeli regime it failed to stop the ongoing suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied territories
According to information gathered by the Tehran Times, White House officials have expressed their support for the European plan as they view it as a continuation of the 2020 Abraham Accords which led to recognition of Israel s sovereignty over Palestinian territories by some Arab and African nations including the UAE Bahrain Morocco and Sudan Saudi Arabia was on the verge of joining the accords before the outbreak of the latest round of Israeli onslaughts in Gaza
As the data collected by the Tehran Times shows, some critics in Europe and the U S have warned that even if Iran were to acknowledge Israel and distance itself from the Resistance, Israel would not be granted the security it desires Rather the move would reinforce the regime s unlawful practices and hinder any prospects for a genuine peace process They highlight that the Abraham Accords did not stop the successful Hamas operation on October 7 Sources have told the Tehran Times that voices averse to the initiative believe Western leaders should recognize and respect Palestinians’ rights, instead of turning to regional countries to strengthen Israel s hand The Tehran Times understands that besides the perceived impracticality and ineffectiveness of the initiative, some in Europe and the United States also believe that Iran is highly unlikely to acquiesce to Europe’s demands Nevertheless, the leaders of France, Germany, and Britain intend to promote the initiative in the future as a way to vindicate themselves following months of intense criticism regarding their support for Israel s devastating campaign in Gaza Europe will manage to throw the ball in Iran s court and blame it for the crisis in Gaza after Tehran rejects the initiative the Tehran Times was informed Rather than a genuine attempt at peace Europe’s proposed recognition of Palestine is a calculated move to shift blame onto Iran
Indian media’s role in harming Bangladeshi Hindus
Several reports from Bangladesh indicate that in numerous instances, attacks on the Hindus across the country may have been orchestrated by factions within the former ruling Awami League
larger, justified agenda
FO L L O W I N G the student-led protests the mass uprising and the prime minister Sheikh Hasina s exit on August 5 Indian mainstream media and social media have circulated false claims of rising persecution against the religious minority the Hindu community in Bangladesh The reports, frequently accompanied by misleading footage, misrepresent the situation and escalate risks for Bangladeshi Hindus The coverage of alleged attacks, vandalism and persecution, often linked to conspiracy theories involving the BNP-Jamaat-Shibir alliance and even the Pakistani ISI has intensified the crisis While these reports might appear to champion the cause of a vulnerable community they are in reality, exacerbating the situation for the Hindus in Bangladesh feeding into a dangerous cycle of fear violence and marginalisation
POWER OF MISINFORMATION: The media play an influential role in shaping public perception setting agendas and framing narratives When stories about attacks on the Hindus in Bangladesh are amplified without proper verification, they create an exaggerated sense of danger This framing not only inflames communal tension in India but also paints a distorted picture of the reality on the ground in Bangladesh
Misinformation particularly when it involves sensational claims of violence spreads rapidly It creates a moral panic, a term coined by sociologist Stanley Cohen where society overreacts to a perceived threat
In this case, the exaggerated portrayal of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh stirs up fears within the community and beyond Such a state not only heightens anxiety but also sets the stage for actual violence
As social learning theory suggests that people often imitate behaviours that they observe especially when those behaviours are portrayed as justified or necessary In this context reports of vandalism and attacks may prompt copycat incidents as individuals or groups might feel motivated to emulate such acts either to undermine the spirit of the mass uprising or for personal gains
SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY OF VIO-
LENCE: The dissemination of misinformation does more than merely distort perceptions It actively exacerbates the situation The portrayal of the Hindus in Bangladesh as persistently under threat creates a self-fulfilling prophecy Increased belief in such threats correlates with a heightened likelihood of actual violence This dynamic is further explained by Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann’s ‘spiral of silence’ theory, which asserts that those who might oppose such violence remain silent for fear of social exclusion
Concurrently, supporters or perpetrators of violence are empowered believing their actions are part of a
The role of Indian media in disseminating misinformation about attacks on the Hindu community in Bangladesh is profoundly problematic and hazardous
This cycle of action and reaction leads to an escalation of violence The initial misinformation about attacks and vandalism catalyses more incidents, which are then reported and sensationalised leading to further violence The media in this case are not merely reporting on violence They are helping to create and perpetuate it
ROLE OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES: Several reports from Bangladesh indicate that in numerous instances, attacks on the Hindus across the country may have been orchestrated by factions within the former ruling Awami League The dissemination of conspiracy theories that implicate groups such as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party Jamaat-e-Islami Shibir and Hefazat serves to obscure the perpetrators, thereby impeding the pursuit of justice These narratives effectively deflect attention away from the perpetrators obstructing accountability and maintaining the existing power dynamics This strategic misdirection complicates the pursuit of justice and diverts attention from internal issues and political rivalries that may be fuelling the violence Consequently, the propagation of such conspiracy theories acts as a deliberate tactic to obscure the sources of communal discord thereby reinforcing entrenched power structures As a result, individuals, regardless of their political affiliations who have forcibly seized Hindu property or engaged in vandalism may evade punishment and escape justice as conspiracy theories deflect scrutiny and accountability from their actions
IMPACT ON BANGLADESHI HINDUS: The consequences of misinformation and propaganda for Hindus in Bangladesh are significant and far-reaching The persistent portrayal of the Hindu community as perpetual victims in Indian media not only exacerbates their marginalisation but also aligns them with foreign interests thereby hindering their integration into broader Bangladeshi society This enforced isolation increases their vulnerability rendering them more susceptible to actual physical attacks Consequently, this dynamic creates a pernicious cycle in which the perceived threat of violence incites further violence thereby intensifying the risks faced by the community This creates a vicious cycle where the perception of violence leads to more violence further endangering the community
POOREST HINDUS: MOST EXPLOITED VICTIMS: When attacks are misrepresented as being solely the work of external groups or political adversaries it masks the reality that such violence often stems from local power struggles and economic motives The powerful class specifically when it is the religious majority, benefits from this
also ensures that the status quo remains unchallenged, with the powerful continuing to exert control over the most vulnerable sections of society The poorest class in this community, who lack economic and political power is even more vulnerable to exploitation by local power often powerful Muslims who may forcibly acquire their houses, land or shops These ac-
evidence at this stage ” said Ataur Rahman deputy director of the tribunal s investigation cell adding the cases were related to mass murder After this, we will go to the site of the crimes,” Rahman told AFP All three cases were brought by private individuals and several of Hasina s former top aides have also been named in the cases he said
The cases relate to violence in suburbs or nearby districts of the capital Dhaka, in Mirpur, Munshiganj and Savar In addition local police units
across the country have filed at least 15 cases against Hasina according to local media reports
Some relate to cases that predate the recent unrest, and charges include murder and crimes against humanity”
Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) was set up by Hasina in 2010 to probe atrocities during the country s liberation war
Under Hasina, the ICT sentenced more than 100 people to death, including several of her political opponents
The court was often criticised by rights groups for not following
international conventions Hasina’s government was accused of widespread human rights abuses including the extrajudicial killing of thousands of her political opponents
The United Nations said Friday there were strong indications that the Bangladeshi security forces used unnecessary force in tackling the student-led uprising There are strong indications warranting further independent investigation, that the security forces used unnecessary and disproportionate force in their response to the situation ” the UN human rights office said in a preliminary report
MOSCOW A G E N C I E S
Russia s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday it was clear that the United States had ordered the 2022 attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines German prosecutors last week issued an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian man over the blasts
Descon Engineering has successfully completed the EnVen Project at the ENGRO Fertilizer Plant (EFERT) in Dharki, Pakistan In recognition of this accomplishment, senior management from EFERT, including Mr Syed Shahzad Nabi (SVP Manufacturing) Mr Muhammad Majid Latif (VP Technical) and Mr Muhammad Nauman (GM Engineering Mechanical) visited Descon Headquarters They were warmly received by Descon s senior leadership, which included Mr Taimur Saeed (CEO), Mr Yasir Siddique (CFO), Mr Muhammad Khawar Khan (CRCO), Mr Anwar Ul Haq (President Industrial Services Division) Mr Muhammad Kamran Riaz (Head Finance) and Mr Shahzad Malik (Head Operations) along with other team members During the session EFERT s management commended Descon s leadership resilience, and exceptional teamwork, emphasizing how these qualities played a pivotal role
Pakistan’s largest batter y manufac turer ACM Group announces its new brand; SAGA Batteries
ISLAMABAD P R
ACM Hi-Tech Engineering a division of ACM Group of Industries proudly unveils SAGA Batteries setting new standards in battery technology
The launch event, held at Serena Hotel in Islamabad, inaugurated by Founder and Chairman ACM Group of Industries Muhammad Talha Mahmood was attended by ambassadors from multiple countries, senior government officials, and key business partners
This event marked the official introduction of the SAGA ‘Bolt’ Dry-Charged Battery designed for automotive applications with a focus on reliability durability and efficiency SAGA Batteries represent a significant step forward in delivering superior products that meet the evolving needs of our customers ” said Muhammad Mustafa Bin Talha CEO of ACM Hi-Tech Engineering Pvt Ltd Our legacy of excellence is built on quality, innovation, and sustainability The SAGA product line will soon expand with the introduction of Maintenance-Free (MF) Tubular (Turbo Tube), and Lithium batteries, further solidifying ACM Hi-Tech Engineering’s commitment to innovation and leadership in the industry Choose SAGA Batteries for a reliable, efficient, and future-ready power solution backed by ACM Hi-Tech Engineering’s decades of expertise and unwavering
PM VIEWS ISL AMABAD IT PARK AS MILESTONE TO ACHIEVE $25B EXPORT TARGET
PR I M E Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that the completion of the Information Technology Park project in Islamabad would help boost the country’s exports in this sector and prove a significant milestone in achieving the $25 billion IT exports target
prime minister while chairing
accompanied by unidentified individuals in plain clothes, forcibly entered Khosa s home, seizing his phone, laptop, computer system, and digital camera The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) raised alarms over Khosa s alleged abduction implying that it might be related to his work as a satirist The HRCP called for his immediate release In the early hours of Monday, Khosa s lawyer, Khadija Siddiqi, announced on X that Khosa had been released and was now back at home Another lawyer representing Khosa, Mian Ali Ashfaq also confirmed his safe return noting that he had spoken to Khosa at length
Former judge claims ex-spymaster predicted Nawaz conviction ahead verdict
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
In a startling revelation former Islamabad High Court (IHC) senior puisne judge, Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, disclosed that the ex-Director General (DG) of InterServices Intelligence (ISI), Lt-Gen (r) Faiz Hameed, had foretold the sentencing of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif prior to the judicial decision Speaking to a private news channel Justice (retired) Siddiqui recounted that the former ISI chief had visited him before the verdict was announced in the case against Nawaz Sharif According to Siddiqui, Hameed explicitly mentioned that Nawaz Sharif would be convicted Furthermore during their conversation Hameed inquired about the potential decision if Maryam Nawaz s case were to come before Siddiqui s bench to which Siddiqui responded I cannot ruin my hereafter Hameed allegedly remarked that their two years of hard work would be wasted Justice Siddiqui also shared that Hameed revisited him after a trip to Karachi, where he had been involved in operations concerning the MQM stating that his superior General Qamar Javed Bajwa had expressed frustration over not being able to control one judge Additionally, Siddiqui claimed that Hameed had offered him the position of Acting Chief Justice, which he declined ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
On the 78th Independence Day of Pakistan, President Asif Ali Zardari approved the conferral of the prestigious Nishan-i-Khidmat on Sultan Ali Allana in recognition of his exceptional contributions to public service This award is the latest in a series of honors bestowed upon Allana, who has previously received the Hilal-i-Imtiaz in 2006 and the Sitara-i-Imtiaz in 2022 for his invaluable services to Pakistan particularly in the economic and financial sectors Sultan Ali Allana, a distinguished Pakistani banker, has had a profound impact on the nation s financial landscape As the Chairman of Habib Bank Limited (HBL) the largest bank in Pakistan he has played a pivotal role in steering the bank through significant challenges, including Pakistan's successful exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List His leadership and strategic initiatives have been instrumental in ensuring HBL s compliance with international financial regulations, earning him praise from financial experts and government officials alike Allana's career in banking began in 1985 at Citibank where he quickly rose through the ranks due to his keen financial acumen In 1994 he founded Global Securities, a venture that partnered with UBS AG, and later acquired a management stake in NDLC, leading to the formation of NIB Bank in 2003 His work in the early 2000s with the Government of Pakistan was crucial in the establishment of the country s microfinance sector As
the first Chairman of the ‘First Microfinance Bank HBL he laid the groundwork for financial inclusion providing much-needed services to underserved communities across Pakistan In 2003, Allana joined the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) where he took on the responsibility of overseeing the fund s investments in banking insurance, and aviation His contributions have been critical in expanding the reach and impact of these sectors not just within Pakistan but globally
Under his leadership HBL has grown its presence to over 15 countries, demonstrating the strength and resilience of Pakistani financial institutions on the international stage Additionally, Allana’s involvement in various government committees including the CPEC Business Council and the Economic Advisory Council highlights his expertise and commitment to driving Pakistan s economic growth As a Director of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development Allana has also overseen numerous projects aimed at improving the qual-
ity of life in Pakistan AKFED through HBL Microfinance Bank has made significant strides in providing financial services to vulnerable populations, including microloans, insurance, and mobile banking services, which have been crucial in fostering entrepreneurship and economic stability in remote areas The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) through its various agencies including AKFED, has been an integral part of Pakistan’s development for over a century Its initiatives range from rural development and healthcare to education and infrastructure The network has worked tirelessly to improve livelihoods, preserve cultural heritage, and enhance civil society organizations, making it a cornerstone of sustainable development in the country Sultan Ali Allana s contributions to Pakistan are a testament to his dedication to public service and his vision for a prosperous, financially inclusive nation His recognition with the Nishan-i-Khidmat serves as an acknowledgment of his tireless efforts and the lasting impact of his work on Pakistan s socio-economic landscape