Pakistan imposes new restrictions on foreign media

  Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to assess Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to secure the safe and early release of 10 Pakistani nationals being held hostage aboard the oil tanker MT Honour 25 after it was hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The tanker, which was operating under the Somali flag, was travelling from Oman to Somalia when it was seized by pirates on April 21. A total of 17 crew members were on board the vessel, including 10 Pakistani citizens. Since the incident, the families of the Pakistani hostages have repeatedly appealed to the government to intensify efforts for their loved ones’ safe recovery. During the meeting, officials briefed the deputy prime minister on the latest developments surrounding the hostage situation and the measures being taken to secure the release of the Pakistani nationals. Dar directed all relevant authorities and stakeholders to maintain close and regular coordination while further strengthening diplomatic efforts with both national and international partners. The foreign minister placed particular emphasis on continued communication with Somali authorities and relevant international organisations. He said sustained diplomatic engagement was essential to creating conditions that could facilitate the safe recovery and repatriation of the hostages. Dar also expressed solidarity with the families of the detained Pakistanis and assured them that the government was closely monitoring the situation. He stressed that all possible efforts were being made to achieve a positive outcome and expressed hope that ongoing diplomatic contacts would ultimately result in the safe return of all 10 Pakistani citizens. Last month, Dar spoke by telephone with his Somali counterpart, Abdisalam Abdi Ali, to convey Pakistan’s serious concern over the hostage situation. During the conversation, Dar emphasised the need to protect the health and safety of the hostages, secure their early release and ensure their safe return to Pakistan. The Somali foreign minister assured Dar that his government was continuing sincere efforts to help secure the hostages’ release as soon as possible. The latest meeting in Islamabad comes amid growing concerns about the deteriorating conditions reportedly being faced by the Pakistani nationals aboard the vessel. In video and audio messages, some of the hostages have described severe shortages of essential supplies. They said food and medicines had run out and claimed that they were receiving only one serving of boiled rice each day. They also reported that clean drinking water was no longer available, forcing them to consume contaminated water. According to the hostages, the lack of safe water has already caused illnesses among several crew members, further increasing concerns about their health. One hostage said their lives remained under constant threat and that gunfire could be heard almost every day in the surrounding area. The situation has renewed attention on piracy along Somalia’s coastline and its potential threat to international shipping. Somali pirate attacks reached their highest level in 2011, when armed groups operated as far as 3,655 kilometres from Somalia’s coastline. At its peak, Somali piracy posed a major threat to one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes, disrupting commercial shipping and placing hundreds of seafarers at risk. Pakistan’s government is now seeking to strengthen diplomatic and international cooperation to ensure the safe release of the 10 Pakistani nationals. Authorities remain engaged with Somalia and other relevant stakeholders as efforts continue to bring the hostages home safely.

  When the history of Pakistan’s independence is discussed, the narrative often focuses on the male political leaders who negotiated with the British, addressed large public gatherings and worked toward the creation of a separate homeland. However, women also played an important and often overlooked role in the Pakistan Movement. They organised political activities, mobilised communities, created awareness, participated in protests, assisted refugees and challenged traditional expectations about women’s place in public life. Among the prominent women of the movement, Fatima Jinnah remains one of the most widely recognised figures. However, her contribution extended far beyond her relationship with Muhammad Ali Jinnah as his sister. She worked closely with her brother and played an active role in encouraging Muslim women to participate in political activities. At a time when women’s involvement in public politics was socially restricted, Fatima Jinnah’s visibility carried considerable significance. Her participation demonstrated that the struggle for Pakistan was not intended to be limited to men. She became an important symbol of women’s political participation and helped encourage Muslim women to take an active interest in the future of the community. Following Partition in 1947, Fatima Jinnah continued her public service. She became involved in efforts to support refugees and assist with their rehabilitation. She also continued to speak for greater participation of women in the political and social development of Pakistan. Another important figure was Abadi Bano Begum, popularly known as Bi Amma. Long before the demand for Pakistan became the central political objective of Indian Muslims, Bi Amma had already demonstrated that Muslim women could play a role in political movements. She was the mother of prominent leaders Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar and Maulana Shaukat Ali and became actively involved in the Khilafat Movement. Bi Amma addressed public gatherings and encouraged people to support the political struggle against British rule. Her involvement was significant because political activism was still considered unusual for many Muslim women. By entering the public sphere, she helped challenge the idea that politics was exclusively a man’s responsibility. Begum Jahan Ara Shah Nawaz was another influential woman associated with Muslim League politics. Rather than remaining a passive supporter, she actively participated in political mobilisation and worked to increase women’s involvement in the Pakistan Movement. During the politically tense period of 1946–47, Muslim League women participated in protests in Punjab, with some even facing arrest. Her political involvement had begun well before Pakistan was established. She participated in the First Round Table Conference and raised concerns about discrimination against women in political rights, government employment, business and professional opportunities. After independence, Begum Jahan Ara Shah Nawaz became one of the two women members of Pakistan’s first Constituent Assembly. Alongside Shaista Ikramullah, she worked to bring women’s rights and legal equality into discussions about the new state. The contributions of these women show that Pakistan’s independence was not achieved through the efforts of men alone. Women participated in political mobilisation, social reform and nation-building, helping establish the principle that they had a legitimate and important role in Pakistan’s public life.