sherry rehman flags
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Sherry Rehman flags polling delays, security lapse…

ByJustpaste.in

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman has voiced concern over delays in polling at several constituencies in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), saying the disruption has caused significant hardship for voters and raised serious questions about election management.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Rehman said delayed arrival of election staff had affected the voting process at a number of polling stations, preventing many voters from casting their ballots on time.

She identified constituencies LA-28, LA-31, LA-25 and LA-34 among the areas where polling was reportedly delayed, calling on the Election Commission to immediately investigate the matter and ensure that the electoral process proceeds without further disruption.

The PPP leader also expressed concern over security arrangements at a women’s polling station in Shark Kamal Bandi in LA-31, claiming that only one police officer had been deployed despite the polling station having previously been declared sensitive.

According to Rehman, inadequate security at such locations could undermine voter confidence and create unnecessary challenges for women participating in the electoral process.

She further highlighted transportation problems affecting voters in the region. Rehman said the road connecting Rangla to Katkair had remained blocked since Saturday night, leaving more than 50 vehicles carrying voters stranded and preventing many people from reaching their designated polling stations.

The senator said these issues had been formally reported to the Election Commission, urging the electoral body to conduct an immediate inquiry into the reported irregularities and take prompt corrective measures wherever necessary.

“Every voter must be given the opportunity to exercise their democratic right without obstacles,” she said, emphasizing that transparent, impartial and well-managed elections are essential for strengthening democratic institutions.

Rehman maintained that any compromise on the sanctity of the vote would be unacceptable and stressed the need for election authorities to ensure equal access to polling facilities for all eligible voters.

Her remarks come amid ongoing polling across Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where election authorities have been working to address logistical and weather-related challenges in some areas. The Election Commission has yet to issue a detailed response to the specific concerns raised by the PPP senator, while voting continues in constituencies where polling arrangements remain unaffected.

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    Noreen Niazi’s comments do not reflect PTI polic…

    ByJustpaste.in

    RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has distanced the party from recent remarks made by Imran Khan’s sister, Noreen Niazi, stating that her comments reflected her personal opinion and should not be viewed as the official position of PTI. Speaking to journalists outside Adiala Jail on Tuesday, Gohar said he had been informed that the interview in question was recorded nearly three months ago. He emphasized that Noreen Niazi holds no office within the party and is not involved in PTI’s political decision-making process. Highlighting national security, the PTI chairman described Pakistan’s recent success in Marka-e-Haq as a matter of national pride and credited it as a blessing for the country. He said Pakistan’s response to external threats had demonstrated its strength before the world and warned that any future aggression would be met with an even stronger reaction. Gohar also appealed to political leaders and the public to avoid making controversial statements about the armed forces or the country’s martyrs, stressing that such sensitive issues should remain above political disagreements. Reaffirming PTI’s position on terrorism, he said the party fully supports decisive action against terrorist elements and called for a united national strategy to eliminate the threat through collective efforts and available state resources. On the political front, Gohar confirmed that PTI’s boycott of parliamentary standing committees and the Judicial Commission remains unchanged. Discussing the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections, he said the party had received reports that the electoral process had been rescheduled into three phases. Although some members had proposed reconsidering the boycott, no agreement had been reached, and the party’s decision to stay away from the polls remains in force. Separately, prison sources confirmed that former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were allowed to meet inside Adiala Jail. The meeting reportedly took place in the prison’s conference room and lasted around 30 minutes. Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan called on PTI lawmakers and senior leaders to actively participate in the party’s anti-government campaign instead of leaving the responsibility to a limited number of workers and family members. Expressing concern over the lack of updates regarding her brother’s condition, she questioned how long the movement could continue without stronger support from the party’s elected representatives and leadership.

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    Pakistan’s civil awards triple in nine years…

    ByJustpaste.in

    ISLAMABAD: The number of people receiving Pakistan’s civil awards has increased sharply over the past nine years, but the share of women among the recipients has remained almost unchanged, according to an analysis by economist Zehra Farooq. Farooq, who has analysed civil award lists from 2018 to 2026, said she compiled all 2,209 awards announced during the nine-year period and examined each award by field, gender, level of award and nationality. Her analysis shows that the number of award recipients increased more than three times during the period, rising from 73 people in 2018 to 372 in 2026. However, the share of women receiving the awards did not show a similar increase. Women made up between roughly 10% and 16% of civil award recipients in each year from 2018 to 2026. Ms Farooq said the figures show that while the size of the annual awards lists changed greatly, the share of women remained within almost the same range. The lowest share was around 10% in 2023, while the highest was 16% in 2018 and 2021. The share stood at 15% in 2024 before falling to 12% in 2025 and 11% in 2026. Her analysis also looked at the figures after excluding gallantry awards. Gallantry awards were kept separate because they mainly relate to military and police roles. Even after removing these awards, the overall share of women increased only from around 12% to 14%, according to the analysis. This suggests that the low share of women is not limited to gallantry awards. Farooq said the same pattern can also be seen in civilian awards. Public service awards show a wider gap The Public Service category is the largest civilian category in the dataset and shows a particularly large difference between men and women. Among Pakistani recipients of Public Service awards, 295 were men and only 27 were women. This means men received about 92% of these awards, while women received only around 8%. Farooq noted that in several years, the entire Public Service list included only one or two women. The figures raise questions about how women are represented among people being recognised for public service. The analysis does not, however, establish why the gap exists. Farooq suggested that one possibility worth examining is whether the awards reflect the existing structure of Pakistan’s civil bureaucracy. She noted that the quota for women in the civil bureaucracy is around 10%, while the share of awards going to women remains below or around that level. This raises a question about whether the civil awards are reflecting the existing gender structure in public institutions rather than creating a separate pattern of their own. Major changes in fields The analysis also found major changes in the fields represented in the civil award lists. Science and engineering together accounted for close to one-third of the 2021 list. However, by 2025 and 2026, the two fields together made up less than 2% of the list. At the same time, some new categories appeared. Information technology appeared as a category for the first time in 2021, while climate appeared in 2025. Farooq said these changes raise questions about how the state decides which areas deserve recognition. She asked whether the decline in science and engineering awards reflects fewer major contributions in these fields, fewer people entering these professions, or a change in the areas where the state looks for achievement. The appearance of IT and climate-related awards also raises another question: whether official recognition is beginning to follow changes in the areas where Pakistan’s talent and work are growing. Women receive fewer top-level awards The analysis also examined the civil awards according to their level. The awards are divided into different levels, with Nishan and Hilal at the senior end, followed by Sitara and Tamgha. Ms Farooq found that the share of women becomes smaller as the level of the award becomes higher. At the two highest levels, women account for less than 5% of recipients. At the more common lower levels, the share of women is higher, generally ranging between 11% and 14%. This means that the overall percentage of women receiving civil awards does not tell the full story. Women may represent around 10% to 16% of all recipients in a year, but their representation becomes much smaller when only the highest-level honours are considered. The findings therefore point to two separate issues: the overall number of women receiving civil awards and the level of recognition they receive. Nine years provide a wider picture Ms Farooq said looking at the awards over several years gives a clearer picture than looking at a single annual list. The civil awards are announced every August, and each year’s list can show changes in the number and type of recipients. But when the lists are combined over nine years, longer-term patterns become visible. The biggest pattern in the data is the contrast between the rapidly growing number of awards and the almost unchanged share of women. From 73 recipients in 2018, the annual list reached 372 in 2026. Yet women remained within roughly the same 10% to 16% range throughout the period. The analysis also shows that the composition of the awards has changed in other ways, including the fields being recognised and the introduction of new categories. She said the data does not provide all the answers, but it raises questions that can be examined further.

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    Iran warns of Strait of Hormuz closure as regional tensions escalate

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    TEHRAN: Iran has warned that continued US pressure in regional waters could force the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and other strategic maritime routes, as military and diplomatic tensions across the Middle East continue to intensify. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said continued US actions in the region could have serious consequences for global shipping and energy supplies. According to Iranian state media, he warned that any further escalation could affect not only the Strait of Hormuz but also other key maritime chokepoints. He said such developments would have a significant impact on the global economy, international energy markets and trade, while also increasing political pressure within the United States. Meanwhile, Kuwait announced that its air defence systems intercepted drones launched from Iran early Saturday. The Kuwaiti military said the drones were successfully engaged before causing damage and confirmed that no casualties or destruction had been reported. Residents were advised to follow official safety instructions as authorities monitored the situation. In Yemen, the Houthi movement denied reports that it planned to charge commercial vessels for passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The group’s Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center said no decision had been taken to impose transit fees and stressed that safe passage through the waterway remained free. The Houthis also urged shipping companies not to make payments to unauthorised individuals claiming to represent Yemeni authorities. The clarification came after reports suggested the group was considering introducing charges following its declaration of a maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia. Separately, the Houthis claimed that eight Saudi oil tankers had been forced to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope instead of using the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The group said the diversions were a result of its maritime blockade, although the claim has not been independently verified. Maritime security concerns also increased after a commercial tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile near the coast of Oman. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the projectile damaged the vessel’s engine room, leaving it unable to manoeuvre. No casualties or environmental damage were reported, while an investigation into the incident is underway. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is working with Oman to establish practical mechanisms for managing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. During a telephone conversation with British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Araghchi said outside interference would only worsen the regional situation and complicate efforts to maintain maritime stability. The British foreign secretary reiterated London’s support for diplomacy and said the United Kingdom was not involved in any war with Iran. He stressed that dialogue remained the best path to reducing tensions in the region. Meanwhile, reports from US media suggested that Washington and Israel are considering possible strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure. According to the reports, discussions have focused on targeting energy facilities if diplomatic efforts fail. However, no final decision has been officially announced. Iranian officials responded by warning that the country has prepared plans to retaliate against any future military action targeting its territory. They said any attack would receive a strong response against strategic interests in the region.

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    Pakistan digitises Hajj 2027, announces Rs1.2m cost

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    Pakistan has moved towards a completely digital Hajj management system, enabling intending pilgrims to complete registration and make pilgrimage-related payments through the official Pak Hajj mobile application, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf announced on Monday. Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, the minister outlined the government’s preparations for Hajj 2027, including the estimated cost of pilgrimage packages, payment schedules, allocation of seats for short-duration Hajj and arrangements for collecting payments from pilgrims. He said the government had taken steps to bring the entire Hajj process onto a digital platform in an effort to make registration, payments and other administrative procedures easier, more transparent and traceable. According to the minister, approximately 400,000 people have already registered and are currently progressing through the application process for the government’s Hajj arrangements. Hajj 2027 packages and costs Sardar Yousuf announced that the estimated expenditure for the regular government Hajj package, which will cover a stay of around 40 to 42 days, has been set at approximately Rs1.2 million. The cost of the shorter package, designed for pilgrims opting for a stay of approximately 20 to 22 days, will be around Rs1.3 million, he said. The government has allocated 30,000 seats specifically for pilgrims opting for the short-duration Hajj package. The minister said the government would begin collecting the first instalment of Hajj expenses from August 17, while the second instalment would be payable during the second week of October. He added that applicants who are not selected to perform Hajj in 2027 would be placed on a waiting list for consideration in the subsequent year. Payments to be processed digitally The minister said the digitalisation programme would cover financial transactions as well as the registration process. Pilgrims would be required to use the Pak Hajj application for making payments instead of relying on other payment channels. The same digital mechanism will also be available to pilgrims travelling under the private Hajj scheme, allowing them to make their payments through the application. Sardar Yousuf emphasised that the government intends to keep Hajj-related financial transactions within the designated digital system to improve monitoring and ensure greater transparency. Pilgrims opting for the private scheme, however, will retain the option of selecting an online Hajj service provider of their choice. Habib Bank selected for Hajj payments As part of the new financial arrangements, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has entered into an agreement with Habib Bank Islami to facilitate the collection of Hajj payments. The minister said the bank would work with the ministry as its authorised banking partner for receiving pilgrimage-related funds under the arrangements being introduced for the upcoming Hajj season. He expressed satisfaction over the partnership and said the agreement would formally be signed on Monday. Minister responds to question over bank selection During the press conference, a journalist questioned the ministry’s decision to authorise Habib Bank as the banking partner for collecting Hajj applications and payments, asking why other banks had not been selected. Responding to the question, Sardar Yousuf said the ministry had opened the process to banks and invited them to participate. He explained that the banks that submitted applications were evaluated against the ministry’s requirements. According to the minister, Habib Bank was the only institution that fulfilled the required criteria, particularly those related to digital payment facilities. He said other participating banks were unable to meet the ministry’s stipulated requirements, which ultimately led to Habib Bank being selected as the authorised partner. Government seeks greater transparency through digital system The government believes the new digital framework will reduce paperwork and simplify several stages of the Hajj process for Pakistani pilgrims. By shifting registration and payment procedures to a centralised digital platform, the Ministry of Religious Affairs aims to improve oversight of applications and financial transactions while reducing the scope for manual errors. The integration of both government and private Hajj arrangements into the app-based system is also expected to provide pilgrims with easier access to information and payment services.

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    Berlin Pride turns tragic as car hits crowd, 1 dea…

    ByJustpaste.in

    BERLIN: A celebration that had drawn huge crowds to Berlin for Christopher Street Day ended in tragedy late Saturday when a vehicle drove into people near the event, killing one person and injuring at least 16 others. The incident happened shortly after 10pm local time in the Tiergarten area, near the route of the Pride celebrations. Emergency services rushed to the scene as police launched a major operation and ordered people to leave the area. According to police, the vehicle struck several people before the driver fled the scene. One person died, while 16 others were injured. Several victims were reported to be in serious or life-threatening condition, adding to the shock surrounding an event that had begun peacefully. Authorities quickly called off the remaining Christopher Street Day celebrations and urged visitors to stay away from the affected area. Police and rescue teams remained deployed around Tiergarten as investigators worked to establish exactly what happened and why. The incident also triggered an immediate search for the suspected driver. Police said they had identified a possible suspect but had not initially confirmed an arrest. German authorities were investigating the circumstances and motive behind the vehicle attack. Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner described the incident as an attack on the city’s free and cosmopolitan society, expressing sympathy for the victims and their families. He also praised emergency responders who arrived at the scene shortly after the incident. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also condemned the incident and pledged that those responsible would face justice. The tragedy cast a dark shadow over one of Berlin’s biggest annual public celebrations. Christopher Street Day is both a major Pride gathering and a public demonstration for LGBTQ+ rights, equality and freedom. What had started as a day of colorful parades, music and crowds waving rainbow flags ended with emergency vehicles filling the streets and the celebration being abruptly abandoned. Police have urged members of the public to avoid the area while the investigation continues and to rely on official information rather than unverified reports circulating online.

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    Lahore police intensify crackdown on usury, drugs …

    ByJustpaste.in

    LAHORE: Capital City Police Officer Lahore Bilal Siddique Kamyana has ordered intensified action against criminal activities while directing officers to improve law enforcement and public service delivery across the city. Chairing a meeting to review the performance of the Civil Lines and City divisions, the CCPO was briefed that 21 suspects allegedly involved in illegal moneylending had been arrested during an ongoing crackdown. He directed police to pursue legal action without leniency and ensure that victims receive protection and timely justice. Kamyana also ordered stronger operations against drug trafficking, calling for targeted action to dismantle narcotics networks and arrest those involved in the illegal trade. The CCPO directed officers to identify foreign nationals residing illegally in Lahore and proceed against them in accordance with the law. He also ordered enhanced surveillance of sensitive areas and monitoring of suspicious activities. He further called for continued combing operations and expanded intelligence-led action against elements posing threats to law and order. Stressing the importance of citizen-focused policing, Kamyana instructed officers to resolve public complaints promptly and prevent citizens from being repeatedly sent from one office to another. Senior police officials, including DIG Investigation Zeeshan Raza, DIG Operations Faisal Kamran and SSP Investigation Muhammad Naveed, attended the meeting.

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