Category Archives: BLOGS

“Kashmir Day: A Global Perspective on People’s Reactions to the Events Unfolding.”

February 2, 2023 TAUQEER RIAZ

On 5 February each year, Pakistan comes together to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day or Kashmir Day. This national holiday pays tribute to the people of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and Kashmiri separatists who strive for independence from India, as well as honoring those who have lost their lives in the long-standing conflict. Across the country, solidarity rallies are held in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and by Mirpuri Kashmiris in the United Kingdom, This important day was first proposed by Qazi Hussain Ahmad of the Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan in 1990 and was then supported by Nawaz Sharif in 2004.

Kashmir Solidarity Day is an important national holiday celebrated in Pakistan on 5 February each year to demonstrate the country’s support for the people of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and Kashmiri separatists’ efforts to secede from India. It is also a day to pay homage to the Kashmiris who have lost their lives in the struggle for freedom.

At Kashmir Day Pakistan express its support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination and to make sure their voices are heard around the world. It is important to recognize that Kashmir is an unresolved political issue and that a peaceful resolution is the only way forward. Through the observance of Kashmir Solidarity Day, Pakistan shows its commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue.

The world views Kashmiris with a shared sentiment of needing an immediate solution to the long-standing conflict. Under Modi’s rule, India’s increasing adoption of Hindutva ideology has been highlighted by the human rights violations perpetrated against Kashmiris. As a result, Kashmir has been transformed into an international prison, trapping its people in a cycle of suffering.

“Kashmir: An International Prison in the Modi Era – Seeking A Solution.”

On the 5th of February, Tony Lloyd, a Member of Parliament, reminds us of the Kashmir crisis. “We remember the immense suffering of those in Jammu and Kashmir—those who have died, been imprisoned, and had their human rights disregarded by the authorities in New Delhi. We urge India to respect and restore the human rights of the Kashmiri people.

It has been many years since the United Nations called for the right of self-determination for the Kashmiri people. This year, we implore the United Nations and the world community to put an end to the suffering of the Kashmiri people and reunite Kashmir as one”Tony Lloyd said.

Tony Lloyd, Member of Parliament

"This is Tony Lloyd Member of Parliament on the 5th of February Kashmir is everywhere. Remember the division of Kashmir, and this year in particular, I think we do remember the suffering of those in Jammu and Kashmir those who died those imprisoned, and those whose basic human rights have been torn Away by the authorities in New Delhi. And we say, to India, it's time now for India to respect those basic human rights to restore a proper sense of Lauren order and to the people of Jammu, and Kashmir, but we also remember that it's many years. Now, since the United Nations said that the solution to the issue of Kashmir was the right of self-determination for the Kashmiri people. Let's this year, say to the United Nations, say to the world Community. Now is the time to bring the suffering of the Kashmiri people to an end. Now is the time to bring Kashmir together as one. Thank you."

This year, let us send a strong message to the United Nations and the World Community: it is time to put an end to the suffering of the Kashmiri people and to recognize and uphold their right to self-determination. Now is the time to bring Kashmir together as one.

Andrew Gwynne MP Labour MP for Denton and Reddish
Chairman, Labour Friends of Kashmir, sends his best wishes to the Kashmiri community in the UK and across the world, including Kashmir, on Solidarity Day (5th February). He said, they remember the suffering of Kashmir over the past 70 years and acknowledge that the problems in Kashmir are present today, particularly in Indian-administered Kashmir, which has been facing a brutal lockdown since August 1990. On 5th February, I will host my Chairman’s Conversation webinar with the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Kashmir, Debbie Abrahams MP. It’s a great way to get involved and understand the issues around Kashmir.

Andrew Gwynne (MP Labour MP for Denton and Reddish
Chairman, Labour Friends of Kashmir)

Hi. I'm Andrew Gwynne. I'm the chair of Labour Friends of Kashmir, and I want to send my best wishes to the Kashmiri community here in the United Kingdom and across the world, and especially in Kashmir on solidarity day for the 5th of February. It's a day. When we remember the suffering of Kashmir is the story of Kashmir over the past 70 years, or more, and particularly remember that the problems in Kashmir. Are not just parts of history, but they're part of the present too, and particularly those in Indian-administered Kashmir who have been facing a brutal lockdown since August 20 1990 on the 5th of February, I have my latest Chairman's conversation webinar with the brilliant chair of the all-party parliamentary group on Kashmir, in the British Parliament, dead. Abraham's MP and it's a great way to get involved to understand the issues around Kashmir. So please do log onto the labor friends of Kashmir Facebook or YouTube accounts on the 5th of February because we all need to raise awareness of the situation. We need to campaign to stop human rights violations. And we need to ensure that the voice of Kashmir is there are huge herd. So so that the Kashmiri people will have ultimately that basic right of self-determination. So I'm sending my best wishes and solidarity to you all for the 5th of February.

Remembering the suffering of Kashmiris over the past 70 years, we must not forget that the problems in Kashmir are not merely part of history, but remain a pressing reality today. In particular, those in Indian-administered Kashmir have been subjected to a brutal lockdown since August 20, 1990, and, most recently, the 5th of February.

His name is John. What comes to mind when one thinks of India and Kashmir?. John replies, Sadly, the first thing that comes to mind is genocide and brutality. The Indian government has caused the Army to commit atrocities against innocent people. If the Kashmiris want independence, I would urge the Indians to acknowledge the pain and suffering of the Kashmiris and give them back their land. Move on and move forward.

John.

Hi, my name is John. What India is doing to Kashmir? Yeah, what comes in your mind first genocide?, genocide. Yes. And what else is brutality? The government's causing the Army to kill the people. The innocent Kashmiri is innocent, Kashmiri. do You have any message for the Indians, Leave the Kashmiri alone if they want independence. Yeah, nothing to you and you give them back their land, just move back, move on, thank you so much, John.

Daud, a Bangladeshi Muslim, who resides in London, calls upon India to end the digital discriminatory practices against Kashmir.

Daud (Bangoli Muslim)

My name is Daud. I'm a Bangoli Muslim. I live in London and I demand that India. Stop the digital apartheid on Kashmir.

In conclusion, Kashmir Solidarity Day is an important day for both Pakistan and the people of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. By observing this day, Pakistan shows support and unity with the Kashmiri people in their fight for self-determination. This day also serves as a reminder of the human cost of the conflict and pays homage to the Kashmiris who have lost their lives. The current commemoration of Kashmir Day was first proposed by Qazi Hussain Ahmad in 1990 and has been observed since 2004.

The world is aware that the atrocities in Kashmir must cease immediately. India continues to distract global attention with its antics.
The right of Kashmiris to determine their own destiny has been blocked.
Kashmiris now seek freedom and the autonomy to choose their path. The international community must support this cause and take concrete action to ensure it is enforced.

TAUQEER RIAZ KHAN

Blogger/Writer/Digital Journalist. He is a blogger, writer, and digital journalist. He specializes in creating engaging content for the web.

BLOGS, BLOGS, ISLAMABAD, WORLD

Horrifying Attack: Hindu Supremacists Viciously Beat Christian Man in India, Accusing Him of Encouraging Religious Conversion.

January 24, 2023 TAUQEER RIAZ

The news of a Christian man being brutally beaten in Bihar, India, due to accusations of encouraging religious conversion has sparked outrage among the global community. Reports of Hindu supremacists attacking the man, simply because of his faith, stand as a stark reminder of the ongoing discrimination and injustice faced by religious minorities in India. This is an appalling incident that requires urgent action to ensure that such injustices are not repeated in the future.

The news of a Christian man being mercilessly beaten up by Hindu supremacists in Bihar, India, is yet another sign of the increasing intolerance towards religious minorities in the country. Reports say that the Christian man was accused of encouraging religious conversion and was brutally assaulted by Hindu supremacists.

This incident is not an isolated one and is just the latest in a long list of attacks against religious minorities in India. Over the past few years, there have been a number of reports of religious minorities being targeted by Hindu supremacists. In many cases, the perpetrators have been emboldened by the fact that they are likely to get away with their violent acts.

The attack on the Christian man in Bihar is particularly egregious because it was motivated by religious hatred and intolerance. The perpetrators wanted to send a message that religious conversion will not be tolerated in India and that anyone who attempts to do so will be met with violence.

This incident is a reminder of the growing threat of religious extremism in India. It is also a reminder of the urgent need for the government to take action against such violence and intolerance. Religious minorities in India have the right to practice their faith without fear of violence or intimidation.

It is important that the government does not turn a blind eye to such attacks and takes necessary steps to protect the rights of all its citizens. The government needs to ensure that all religious minorities are given the right to practice their faith without fear of violence or intimidation.

“A Reminder of the Cost of Religious Intolerance: The Tragic Incident in Bihar, India”

It is also important that the perpetrators of such violence are brought to justice and held accountable for their actions. Only then will the fear of religious extremism be eliminated and religious minorities in India be able to live in peace and harmony.

We must all come together to condemn this attack and make sure that such violence and intolerance is not tolerated in India. We must also send a strong message to the perpetrators of such acts that they will be met with severe consequences.

In conclusion, the tragic incident in Bihar, India, serves as a reminder that religious intolerance and Hindu supremacy are major threats to the safety of individuals of all faiths in India. To create a tolerant and safe society, the government must take an active role in condemning all forms of religious intolerance and prejudice. This can only be achieved when all citizens are able to practice their own beliefs without fear of violence or persecution. Only then can India progress as a nation of tolerance and respect between different religious beliefs.

Blogger: Tauqeer Riaz Khan.

BLOGS, LATEST, WORLD

“Internet Shutdowns in India: Jammu Kashmir Worst Hit – SFLC Reports”

December 28, 2022 TAUQEER RIAZ

SFLC.in has been granted Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the UN. SLFC.in analyzed the impact of Internet shutdowns from a human rights and economical perspective, and how they affect access to basic essential services, such as education and healthcare, using its Internet Shutdowns Tracker (IST).

India is a country that prides itself on its digital initiatives like Unified Payments Interface (UPI) continues to record the maximum number of Internet Shutdowns across the world. The number of Internet shutdowns in India increased exponentially in the last decade to 690, out of which 101 were imposed in 2021, Jammu Kashmir tops with 418 internet blackouts.

The year 2022 saw India take over the presidency of G20 and at the same time saw the highest number of shutdowns for another year in a row. Economically too, IIOJK was the worst hit region, which had no access to the Internet for more than 18 months after 2019.

A report by the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries claims that from August 5, 2019, to July 2020, firms experienced losses totaling Rs 40,000 crore.” India has seriously jeopardized the life of Kashmiris, from worst HRAs to economic strangulation, Kashmiris face the brunt of Indian perpetual atrocities.

BLOGS, BLOGS, PAKISTAN

Youth no longer reads Urdu books, lament book publishers

Aside April 10, 2018 nnpadmin

The younger generation prefers reading English literature and takes more interest in internationally bestselling books. Books written in Urdu are read now mostly by middle-aged people and the older generations, said Adeel Haq, a publisher taking part in the National Book Festival.

Organised by the National Book Foundation (NBF), the four-day festival concluded on Monday at the Pak-China Friendship Centre.

“I have participated in expos in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad every year and during the last decade, I have observed that young people, especially students, have stopped reading books in Urdu. They know more about the books published in different countries and they ask for them as well,” he said.

Mr Haq added that he used to deal mostly in Urdu books in the past, but now knows more about books in English due to the changing demand.

He said new writers who write in Urdu now do not find fame as the older generations want to read the books written by Qudrat Ullah Shahab, Bano Qudsia, Asfaq Ahmed and other established writers.

“Most of the over 130 stalls at the festival have English books. Parents now want short stories in English for their children,” Mr Haq said.

He suggested that the government should not charge fee from stalls at book festivals because expos are held to promote book reading culture, where books are sold at discounted rates.

Another publisher, Subah Sadiq, who had come from Jhelum, said the impression that book reading is declining due to the internet is not true.

“Those who claim they do not find time to read due to the internet did not have the habit of reading before the internet as well. We have now started using social media for the promotion of books,” he said.

He added that more books are sold at expos in Lahore and Karachi, perhaps because Islamabad is a smaller city.

IKRAM JUNAIDI

Adeel Haq says he used to deal mostly in Urdu books but now knows more about books in English due to the changing demand

BLOGS, BLOGS, LATEST, PAKISTAN

Pakistan’s flawed forensic investigation in rape cases is the weak link in the justice system

Aside January 3, 2018 TAUQEER RIAZ

Observing the low rates of reported rapes in Pakistan, a recent Dawneditorial rightly points towards the gross “inadequacies of investigators and prosecutors…” as a key contributor to this issue.

The role of medical examiners holds immense importance in investigations for rape, since their report can often make or break the case.

Despite this, the investigational techniques utilised by our medicolegal system tend to rely upon crude, insensitive, and often brutal methods.

Newsreels of crime scenes being mobbed by curious onlookers, rescue volunteers, and reporters, the place being hosed down and precious evidence washed away or trampled on, is nothing new to us.

Our methods are unprofessional, to say the least, in sharp contrast to the meticulous, and methodical approaches being adopted by investigators that impress us on TV shows like CSI Miami.

Advancements in forensic investigations have come a long way but have yet to reach our shores.

Lack of career opportunities

The domain of the medical examiner unfortunately does not present a very rosy picture either. Medical forensic is an orphan specialisation in this country with the brightest minds choosing more lucrative fields.

The forensic departments in medical colleges exist due to requirements laid down by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, the governing body for undergraduate medical education in Pakistan.

While the subject is taught in all medical colleges as a compulsory course, it is treated by students as no more than a necessary irritant to be endured, rather than a discipline to be learnt and understood, since very few people want to make a career out of it.

This is not surprising since the only employment that forensic specialists get in Pakistan are in understaffed, under budgeted police surgeon offices in casualty departments of government hospitals.

The medicolegal officers are the underpaid, unrespected and entirely unacknowledged foot soldiers of our medicolegal system that is known more for its failings rather than its accomplishments.

The necessary close linkage with the law enforcement system also exposes this cadre to corruption that is rife in our police force.

Hence we have very few people in this field, out of whom many are there due to a lack of alternatives rather than out of choice.

This dismal state of affairs translates into limited progress in the field, the result of which is the suffering endured by the hapless victims seeking justice.

Systemic backwardness

A prime example of this was highlighted by a recent Dawn articlelamenting the use of the archaic and useless two-finger test used to establish ‘consent’ in a sexual assault case.

This legal requirement for a two-finger test to determine the veracity of the complaint of a rape victim resides within the dusty archives of law books, as a relic of the medieval precedence on which British law of that time was often structured, and is not in practice in any modern legal system across the world.

Same topic: It’s time Pakistan banned the two-finger test for decoding consent in rape trials

Yet, the legal and judicial system of this country seeks the results of this humiliating and unnecessary examination, to be conducted on a victim who summons enough courage to seek justice from a system not renowned for its sensitivity.

Not only is this test regarded as scientifically invalid, it does nothing but to doubly curse the woman.

After getting brutally violated once by the perpetrator of the crime, her recourse for justice lies in submitting to what amounts to nothing less than the most dehumanising and humiliating invasion of a woman’s privacy.

And this is done at the hands of a medical practitioner, a messiah whose hands are supposed to heal.

Resource constraints

The Dawn editorial rightly applauds the Peshawar High Court’s decision to make it mandatory to include DNA evidence in rape investigations.

Whereas DNA forensic has been an established field across the world for years, enabling accurate linking of cells found at the site of the crime to the person they belong to, this technology has been introduced in Pakistan primarily to deal with cases of terrorism and has been very useful in identifying both victims and perpetrators.

Public sector hospitals can access these specialised labs to investigate rape investigations. However, the presence of a facility does not mean it will be used optimally.

Even though specimen collection using rape kits is no rocket science, and any trained person can do so, the lack of availability of trained staff often results in the loss of the window of opportunity to collect appropriate samples.

Due to the social taboo associated with rape and the psychological trauma, the victims may understandably present themselves to the investigation officer late.

Once this narrow window of opportunity is lost, there will be no second chance at collecting appropriate DNA samples.

Even if the samples are collected and preserved within the designated time frame, lack of appropriate transportation to the labs presents another challenge.

The samples sitting on the dashboard of a van on a hot summer afternoon, while the driver stops for lunch and namaz on the way from Karachi to Hyderabad, where the DNA lab is located for the province of Sindh, is not the recommended way to handle these delicate specimens.

Another challenge is the costs involved in the examination. While the service lies within the public sector domain, there is a cost attached to every procedure.

The lack of budgetary allocations precludes free availability of this investigation.

While the test ought to be provided for free to the victims, the cost which typically amounts to Rs20,000 is generally passed on to the victims’ families.

This may serve as a further deterrent for low income families who may still want to seek justice but find themselves in a bind because of their economic situation.

With so little faith in the legal system, many may understandably choose to forgo this added expense.

Failing education system

Perhaps even worse than ignorance and poor training is apathy of those who matter: the medical practitioners.

While our medical system may train our students in the modern methods of medical care, there is hardly any attempt to inculcate within them the values of empathy, compassion and caring, all part of the largely ignored multidimensional field of bioethics.

Our students are not trained in communication skills, which form an essential part of a physicians’ work, particularly for a medicolegal officer who deals with highly sensitive cases including rape and attempted suicide, to mention a few.

Most of our medical colleges either entirely ignore teaching bioethics, and even when it is included in the curriculum, according to a study conducted by one of the authors, the students believed that there was a disconnect between what was being taught and what they experienced in real life.

Another study has also previously indicated that a vast majority of the medical students expressed concern that instead of strengthening their moral values during medical schooling, the realities of the work environment may actually lead to erosion of their preexisting values.

In such a situation, easy availability and accessibility of advanced investigational techniques may not be enough.

Dealing with rape victims requires compassionate practitioners, equipped not only with advanced forensic knowledge and skills, and access to technology, but also armed with appropriate bioethics training with a focus on enhancing professionalism and communication skills.

A humane and ethical professional will make the best use of whatever technology is available and will provide the victim with the best chance at justice.