documentary film struggle
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Documentary film on the struggle for Joint Elector…

ByJustpaste.in

By Yassar Talib

Aiman Zameer

Lahore: The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) held a screening of its documentary film, A Separation Refused, highlighting the Movement for the Restoration of the Joint Electorate in Pakistan, at a local hotel in Lahore.

The 20-minute documentary film, by the award-winning the producer and director, CSJ and Dawood Akhtar Murad, traces the culmination of the world unique Separate Electorate system in Pakistan’s history and the movement for the restoration of the Joint Electorate in Pakistan especially during the 1990s to 2001. The film chronicles the efforts of civil society organizations, political leaders, faith communities, and human rights advocates who campaigned for equal citizenship and inclusive democratic participation for religious minorities.

Using historical accounts and personal testimonies, the film illustrates how sustained advocacy contributed to democratic reforms and continues to inspire efforts towards equality, pluralism, social cohesion, and the protection of constitutional rights. Featuring over a dozen interviews, it brings together insights from Hina Jilani, Cardinal Joseph Coutts, Dr. Charles Amjad Ali, Dr. Yaqoob Bangash, and other prominent voices offering diverse perspectives youth, clergy and a parliamentarian.

The even also premiered a song Hum Juda Nahein (We Are Not Separate) that expressed the

The screenings were followed by an interactive panel discussion explored the progress made towards equal citizenship and the continuing challenges to the democratic participation of religious minorities in Pakistan. The panelists, Wajahat Masood a public intellectual and Peter Jacob, answered the questions while the academic Faaria Khan moderated the discussion.

While addressing the participants, Wajahat Masood, said that democracy is based on the principle of equal citizenship and that the categorization of citizens into majorities and minorities reflects a constitutional anomaly. Referring to the Separate Electorate system, he noted that institutionalizing such divisions weakened democratic systems and undermined the principle of equal political participation.

In response to a question on the rationale behind the documentary, Peter Jacob, Executive Director CSJ, said that the importance of the movement warranted a careful reading of the history. He noted that the film was developed to preserve authentic accounts of the struggle for the restoration of the Joint Electorate and to address competing interpretations of history and misunderstandings. He also emphasized the need for constitutional reforms to strengthen equal citizenship. He called for a review of Articles 41 and 91 of the Constitution, to remove precondition of religious affiliation for the offices of the President and Prime Minister. Moreover, implementation of Article 22(1) of the constitution of Pakistan that guarantees unbiased education.

In the open discussion, participants emphasized that the message of documentary film highlighting constitutional rights, democratic inclusion, should be screened more widely through universities, arts councils, mainstream media, and other public platforms to encourage informed dialogue and greater public awareness. They further stressed that equal citizenship is not solely the concern of religious minorities but a shared national responsibility, and called for greater participation and support from the majority community in future advocacy and dialogue.

At the end the participants reaffirmed a shared commitment to advancing constitutional rights, equal citizenship, participatory democracy, and peaceful coexistence through collective action.

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    Pakistani climbers open historic new route on broa…

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      Pakistani mountaineers have achieved a landmark feat by opening a brand-new climbing route on Broad Peak, one of the world’s highest mountains. The accomplishment is being hailed as a major milestone for Pakistan’s mountaineering community, showcasing the country’s growing expertise in high-altitude climbing and technical expedition planning. Broad Peak, standing at 8,051 metres (26,414 feet), is located in the Karakoram mountain range of Gilgit-Baltistan, approximately five miles from K2. Ranked as the world’s 12th-highest mountain, Broad Peak has long attracted climbers from around the globe because of its challenging terrain and unpredictable weather conditions. The newly established route, officially named the Mirza Ali Legacy Route, begins above Camp 3 and offers a fresh approach to the summit. The route was created after an intensive three-day effort that required climbers to navigate deep snow, steep rock faces, and mixed sections of snow and rock under extremely demanding conditions. The expedition was led by renowned Pakistani mountaineer Mirza Ali, founder of Karakorum Expeditions. Along with his team, he spent days fixing ropes and securing the mountain to make the route accessible for future expeditions. Their summit push began at 2:00 a.m. local time on July 19. Battling continuous snowfall, freezing temperatures, and severe weather, the climbers finally reached the summit at 9:55 p.m. after more than 24 hours of nonstop climbing. To establish the route, the team installed over 1,600 metres of fixed rope and placed permanent rock pitons at critical points to improve safety and stability. According to expedition organisers, the new line is shorter, more direct, and significantly safer than the traditional path, which passes through Broad Peak’s hazardous “V Section.” The redesigned route is expected to reduce climbers’ exposure to avalanches and falling rocks, two of the mountain’s most serious risks. Organisers estimate that under normal weather conditions, climbers using the new route should be able to reach the summit from Camp 3 within seven to eight hours and descend in approximately two to three hours, making the ascent both faster and more efficient. The route was unanimously named in honour of Mirza Ali to recognise his 16 years of dedication to Pakistan’s mountaineering sector. Throughout his career, he has trained aspiring climbers, organised national and international expeditions, and promoted Pakistan as a premier destination for adventure tourism. Reflecting on the achievement, Mirza Ali said the successful opening of the route demonstrates the technical capability, determination, and resilience of Pakistani climbers. He also stressed the importance of investing in mountaineering education, safety training, and adventure tourism, highlighting Gilgit-Baltistan’s enormous untapped potential within the mountain economy. International members of the expedition also praised the accomplishment. Argentine climber Juan Toro described the project as a historic milestone for Pakistani mountaineering, while Hungarian climber David Klein called the newly opened path an innovative and technically brilliant route that reflected the team’s exceptional skill and perseverance. The summit team included Mirza Ali, Ahmed Baig, Rizwan Dad, Waqar Ali, Nawaz Ali Khan, Zaman Karim, Juan Toro, and David Klein. To support future expeditions and improve emergency response, the team also recorded all major anchor locations using Garmin inReach GPS technology, ensuring the new route can be safely managed for climbers in the years ahead.

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    The limits and depth of human consciousness

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  • Why you crave fried foods

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  • Punjab Clean Water Program

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For decades, millions of residents in these areas have been forced to consume groundwater that contains levels of salts, arsenic, fluoride, and other hazardous contaminants far exceeding international safety limits. Consequently, gastrointestinal, liver, kidney, skin, and bone diseases are widespread, while children’s physical development is severely compromised. To ensure the public has access to safe, high-quality drinking water, Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz has launched the **”Chief Minister Clean Water Program.”** The Punjab government has allocated PKR 8 billion for this initiative in the current fiscal year’s budget. Under this program, 5,600 water filtration plants are being installed across various regions of Punjab. All these filtration plants will undergo digital geo-tagging to facilitate continuous performance evaluation and real-time monitoring. This project is far more than a routine development scheme; it is a vital public health, social welfare, and human dignity initiative aimed at bringing clean water to regions that have lacked this basic facility for years. In several districts of Punjab, poor groundwater quality has been a critical concern for decades. High levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), arsenic, fluoride, and nitrates not only affect the taste of water but also inflict long-term adverse health effects. In the first phase of the Chief Minister Clean Water Program, areas facing the most acute water shortages were selected, specifically in Khushab, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, and Bahawalnagar. State-of-the-art water bottling plants have been established in these districts, where water undergoes multi-stage purification in accordance with international standards. This purified water is then filled into 19-liter bottles and distributed to citizens free of cost. This initiative is especially transformative for families who previously had to travel several kilometers daily to fetch water or were forced to consume contaminated water. The Punjab Saaf Pani Authority has deployed cutting-edge, internationally imported machinery for the project. Each plant features an advanced multi-stage purification system combined with rigorous laboratory testing to ensure that every drop delivered meets World Health Organization (WHO) standards. A single plant has the capacity to fill approximately 150 bottles per hour. Operating for just ten hours a day, one plant can cater to thousands of families daily. Alongside this, an advanced management system has been established to monitor plant efficiency, water quality, and the supply chain to ensure an uninterrupted supply of clean water to citizens. A standout feature of this program is that the water bottling plants are powered by **Solar Energy**. This initiative will significantly reduce electricity costs while contributing to environmental conservation, carbon footprint reduction, and the realization of global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Consequently, experts regard this project not merely as a water delivery scheme, but as a comprehensive strategy integrating health, environmental protection, and sustainable development. Another key aspect of the initiative is its tailored design to accommodate elderly citizens, women, and persons with disabilities who cannot carry or fetch water from distant sources. Large water bottles will be delivered to designated distribution points, allowing residents to collect clean water easily. Additional distribution centers will be established in proportion to population density in each district to maximize public benefit. The selection of the four initial districts—Dera Ghazi Khan, Khushab, Rahim Yar Khan, and Bahawalnagar—was not coincidental, but based on scientific and technical assessments. Groundwater in these regions has long been deemed unfit for human consumption. In many areas, TDS levels far exceed global standards, while the presence of hazardous elements such as arsenic, fluoride, and nitrates remains a constant concern. The Chief Minister Clean Water Program is projected to benefit over 29 million citizens in the coming years. Initial results have been highly encouraging, and the government plans to phase this model into other districts, ensuring every citizen across the province gains access to safe, quality drinking water. If the project maintains its current momentum and standard, it will evolve from a government scheme into a benchmark model for public health, social welfare, and sustainable development in Punjab. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s “Chief Minister Clean Water Program” is a direct effort to translate this vision into reality. By delivering quality drinking water to millions in remote and underdeveloped areas, its impact will extend well beyond healthcare to encompass education, the economy, the environment, and overall living standards. The true success of any public project lies not in its announcement, but in its long-term outcomes. If the program continues to maintain transparency, quality, and steady expansion, it holds the potential to become a role model for safe water delivery across Punjab and all of Pakistan. If every drop of clean water protects a family from illness, enables a child to pursue an education in good health, relieves a mother from the grueling task of fetching water from afar, and affords an elderly person a dignified life—then this is not merely a development project, but the beginning of a genuine transformation in human lives.

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    Why is the risk of an India-China clash rising in …

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    Committee formed to investigate HIV Cases at Landh…

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      The authorities have established an inquiry committee to investigate the recent HIV cases reported at the Social Security Hospital in Landhi, Karachi. The decision comes after concerns were raised following the confirmation of 10 HIV cases at the hospital, prompting officials to initiate a detailed investigation into the matter. According to an official notification, a five-member inquiry committee has been constituted under the leadership of Chief Medical Officer Dr. Naila Zaheer. The committee has been assigned the responsibility of conducting a comprehensive investigation into the reported HIV cases and identifying any possible shortcomings in hospital practices that may have contributed to the situation. As part of its mandate, the committee will verify the total number of HIV cases reported at the hospital. It will also confirm the identities of the affected patients and examine laboratory reports to ensure the accuracy of the diagnoses. This verification process is considered essential to establish the exact scope of the issue before any conclusions are drawn. The inquiry will also focus on identifying the possible sources of HIV transmission. Investigators will carefully review medical procedures carried out at the hospital, particularly the use of injections and disposable syringes. The committee will examine whether proper infection prevention and control protocols were followed and whether single-use syringes and other disposable medical equipment were used appropriately. Any evidence of negligence or unsafe medical practices will be documented as part of the investigation. In addition, the committee has been directed to investigate the procurement, availability, and utilization of medicines and disposable medical supplies within the hospital. This includes reviewing purchasing procedures, stock management, and the distribution of medical equipment to determine whether any irregularities or shortages may have affected patient safety. The notification further states that the committee will compile complete records of the affected children and their parents. This data collection aims to provide a clearer understanding of the circumstances surrounding each reported case and assist in determining whether there are any common factors linking the infections. The information gathered will also help health authorities provide appropriate medical care and follow-up support to the affected families. Another important responsibility assigned to the committee is identifying any individuals or departments found responsible for lapses in hospital procedures, if such lapses are confirmed during the inquiry. The final report will include recommendations aimed at improving hospital management, strengthening infection control measures, enhancing patient safety, and preventing similar incidents in the future. The formation of the inquiry committee reflects the authorities’ effort to thoroughly investigate the reported HIV cases and ensure transparency in the process. Health officials are expected to review the committee’s findings once the investigation is completed and take tappropriate action based on its recommendations. It is worth noting that 10 HIV cases have been reported at the Social Security Hospital in Landhi, leading to growing public concern and the launch of this formal investigation. The outcome of the inquiry will play an important role in determining the cause of the reported infections and in reinforcing public confidence in healthcare services by ensuring accountability and improved safety standards.

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