STIGMATISED AZAM SWATI CRIES IN VAIN?

Reacting to a video clip of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Azam Swati breaking down in tears at a press conference, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar has said that he never thought the intelligence could be so ‘shameless and disrespectful’.

The PPP Senator shared a clip of Azam Swati detailing his torture at the hands of the authorities at a press conference. Swati revealed that his daughter had allegedly broken down while telling him that the agencies had some private and personal videos of him and his wife. The PTI Senator himself started crying while narrating this.

Tweet from Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar on Nov5, 2022

Tweet from Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar on Nov, 5, 2022.

Reacting to the video clip, Khokhar said, “This clip of Azam Swati Sahib is a slap on the face of the Senate Chairman and all parliamentarians.”

He went on to say that he never would have thought the intelligence would be so shameless and disrespectful so as to tear our religious and social ethics and etiquette to shreds in such a manner.

“No one’s self-respect is safe,” he wrote, adding, “May God curse these people.”

Talking about the aftermath of assassination attempt on PTI Chief Imran Khan, it would be sheer fantasy to talk little of Mr Khan’s popularity but neither he nor those willing to burn the citadel down in his name would wish to create more holes in an already struggling ship. Economically speaking, we are in no position to stomach yet another setback. In the meantime, the nation is in desperate need of some olive branch from the state to at least repair the razed-to-ground bridges. If history serves oft-repeating lessons, Pakistan would spend a while before it recovers from this attack. Still, optimism forces us to hope for normalcy to prevail before more lives are lost to an endless spree of violence. If only, wishes were horses!

RIP ARSHAD SHARIF!

There can be nothing more tragic than the loss of human life, especially when mired in obscurities. Amid heart-wrenching sobs and utter shock, news of hardcore journalist Arshad Sharif being shot dead in Kenya spread like wildfire on Monday (October 24, 2022).

On Tuesday, Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar said the military had asked the government to carry out a high-level investigation into the tragic killing of senior journalist Arshad Sharif by Kenyan law enforcement officials.

The Kenyan police fatally wounded Sharif on the night of Sunday, October 23, in what the Kenyan authorities said was a “mistaken identity” shooting on the outskirts of the Kenyan capital Nairobi. 

“We have requested the government to hold a high-level investigation so that all these speculations can be put to rest,” he said while talking to a private news channel. “All the aspects of this terrible incident need to be looked into.”

To a question regarding the accusations being hurled at the institutions' alleged involvement in Sharif’s killing in Kenya, the DG ISPR said: “It is very unfortunate that people engage in allegations without any evidence to back them up … and I think an exhaustive investigation should be carried out to deal with these things”.

He said it was critical to watch out for the elements trying to exploit this tragic incident to their advantage. “I believe it should also be investigated as to why Arshad Sharif had to leave Pakistan in the first place,” the DG ISPR said.

“Though Kenyan police have confessed to their mistake, a number of questions need to be answered.”

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had decided to form a judicial commission headed by a high court judge to probe into the tragic incident.

While, PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has claimed that slain journalist Arshad Sharif has been killed in a "targeted attack." “No matter what anyone says, I know that Arshad Sharif became a victim of target killing,” Khan claimed, while addressing a lawyer’s convention in Peshawar.

 

While condolences continue to pour in from all quarters, the grief-stricken announcement on social media by the cast-down widow–punctuated with appeals for respecting privacy–reflects the sheer pain of someone who has had their loved ones snatched away. The need to gain closure becomes all the more critical in such dreary circumstances when it is only the unforgettable sight of the white shroud that can strengthen hearts and lace souls with solace. Ergo, the unrelenting efforts of Pakistan’s ambassador to Kenya in repatriating the deceased should be appreciated.

But just as important as not wasting any time in the process is the request from PM Shehbaz calling for a “fair and transparent” investigation. While the police in Nairobi have admitted the killing was a case of “mistaken identity” during a hunt for a similar vehicle, the Kenyan authorities should be taken to task for the gross negligence, which resulted in the death of a Pakistani national.

 

The diplomatic channels promised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as it assured the family of the deceased of “all possible assistance,” need to be further pursued. This has already been underscored by Islamabad High Court in a directive given to the secretaries for interior and foreign ministries. Shrouded in ambiguities, the details of the sudden death should be brought before the public eye using diplomatic clout.

 

May it be a liaison with the Kenyan agencies or the dedicated efforts of the embassy staff, all Pakistanis deserve to know that a thorough investigation has been conducted for the sake of one of their own. To agree with his politics is no litmus test to grieve yet another target of a long, grim record of violence against members of the press.

Aleast Islamabad can do to put up a strong case against any rumours of complicity is the pursual of an immediate inquiry. Rest in Peace, Mr Sharif. You may have left us far too young and far too brutally but the world would forever remain witness to your courageous streak and nerves of steel.

WHEN PARACETAMOL AUGMENTS YOUR PAIN!

Perhaps, the most useful medicine in flood-hit areas is paracetamol. Though it is primarily used as a cold or flu medicine, it is also useful in cases of dengue and other viral infections, because it is an anti-pyretic, which controls symptoms and thus allows the patient to recover without the danger that high-grade fever can bring.

Unfortunately, the floods coincided with the most popular formulation, Panadol, going off the market, after a pricing dispute with the government ending with the manufacturers deciding to stop making it, as it did not make economic sense to keep making it at the price the government allowed.

True, paracetamol has not disappeared off the shelves, being available in other formulations manufactured by other pharmaceutical firms, but the facilities available for the manufacture of these pills cannot be ramped up to meet the suddenly increased demand, which will be pushed up further by the coming winter.

This is not the first time the government has failed to ensure the supply of an essential. Every Ramazan and Eid, prices of foodstuffs go up. The example of petrol prices is to hand, with an increase coming at a time when international prices are falling, so that the government can get the difference.

Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel

The government should have ensured the availability of Panadol, either by subsidizing its manufacture, or by obtaining supplies at least for itself, at an economic price for the manufacturer. There is too disturbing a trend of official neglect of citizen’s needs to be ignored.

The assumption by the constituents of the government machinery, both elected and permanent, that the citizenry exists to provide them with their perks, must come to an end, and be placed by the view that they exist to provide that citizenry a better life.

Courtesy: Pakistan Today, September 23, 2022

FLOODS IN PAKISTAN: NATURAL CALAMITY OR BAD GOVERNANCE?

Only one Nero was enough to push a thriving city into the deadly flames. The notorious Queen of France’s shameless suggestion to her starving peasant subject during the days of the French Revolution to eat cake continues a blot on her legacy to this day. But what to do when there’s a Nero–ready to fiddle at the expense of hapless millions–lurking in every corner in this star-crossed country, no matter how dire the circumstances may be.

For quite some time, people in the flood-impacted regions have started raising their heads; daring to ask their feudal landlords about their due share of the relief goods. But nothing can trump what transpired in the town of Nasirabad where none other than a district judge led a sting operation against an influential councillor in a bid to recover as many as 500 tents and ration packages.

 

The same judge had similarly conducted another raid to find 200 tents stuffed inside a local authority’s office. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands continue to bear the brunt of rains under open skies, desperate for a single morsel of grain or a sip of clean water.

 

That Pakistan does not need the help of any enemies to plot against it has long been written on the wall. The neverending greed and obsession with misusing whatever power one has is now a part and parcel of our national character. At a time when the entire nation should have joined hands and unitedly stepped forward to take care of as many as 33 million brothers and sisters, those sitting on seats that actually matter are either jacking for their own gains, smearing mud on others trying to make a difference of peddling a political narrative.

 

Such tight is the Machiavellianistic grip on our societal mindset that the pleas of the hungry, thirsty and homeless continue to fall on deaf ears. The government is constantly sounding the alarm over the virtually incomprehensible extent of the devastation but its requests for an immediate lifeline have not yet warranted a response from the developed countries. The stunning statistics, the saddening stories and above all, a negligible share of the egregious climatic damages, all seem to have failed in gaining their empathy.

Thinking again, why should they? When heated propaganda over the black market sale of international relief items and media reports about such reprehensible actions become the order of the day, those sitting outside the stadium are bound to pull back their hands. Why bother wasting their precious resources on a country that is itself not interested in helping its own? 

Courtesy: Daily Times, Septemeber 17, 2022

PENNY APPEAL's FOR HUMAN UPLIFT ACROSS THE GLOBE

Penny Appeal founder Adeem Younis shares the secrets behind the monumental success of one of Britain’s fastest growing charities. Stuck by personal tragedy with the death of his father when he was just six, ‘Small Change, Big Difference’ follows Adeem’s unlikely story, from growing up in poverty to becoming a dotcom millionaire and award-winning philanthropist.

MAHTAB BASHIR
mahtabbashir@gmail.com
03335363248
ISLAMABAD

A UK-based humanitarian charity organisation Penny Appeal has distributed an estimated 2.1 billion PKR in aid across Pakistan and has been instrumental in disaster relief, as well as launching income generating projects to support women and children in need.

"I was six year old, when my Dad expired. I chose, at quite a young age, to be an observer, and to listen. More than anyone else, Mum showed me by example how to grow financially, one step at a time. She was very unusual in the community of Wakefield in the 1990's, being the sole breadwinner in a house with three kids and a poor parent. From her piecework sewing job to acquiring her car and thus her independence, renting a market stall and then opening her shop, I now realise that every step of her courageous progress involved calculated risk. Month after month, year after year, Mum was a case study in diligent entrepreneurial thinking." 

 

Talking to this scribe, 42 year Adeem Younis, founder of UK-based humanitarian charity- Penny Appeal, in his typical Yorkshire accent told that the charity, has helped transform the lives of over 20 million people around the world and has worked in 60 countries.

Adeem, whose parents from Gujjar Khan, said that Penny Appeal have a diverse portfolio of relief projects in Pakistan which includes water wells, hunger relief, eye operations, care for the elderly, orphan homes and a number of excellent schools. 

The Scribe with the writer of "Small Change, Big Difference"

While talking about the ongoing projects in Pakistan, Adeem said that the charity has sought to prioritise projects that have a perpetual and multiplying impact on its intended beneficiaries. With cutting edge water waste management, for example, through its network of 9,334 kitchen gardens, the charity produces the equivalent of 65,000 meals every day. This is in addition to 18,645 Tube Wells, benefiting 216,020 individuals, 461 Deep Wells benefiting 105,200 individuals, and 27 Solar Powered Wells and Power Centers benefiting 32,600 individuals. 

By focusing on sustainability, Penny Appeal has helped transform Zakat receivers into Zakat givers. In 2018, Penny Appeal provided livestock to vulnerable families and widows in District Vehari, Punjab Province and with the income, meat, and milk these animals provide, families- who were once struggling to feed their children, are now able to support multiple families beyond their own. 

Penny Appeal established 31 mosques that are also used to teach over 6,700 children- a comprehensive Islamic Education. 

A group photograph with the founder of Penny Appeal

Adeem Younis said that "Pakistan is where our charity began. It's here where we draw our inspiration to serve vulnerable people and communities all over the world. We want to help people not just escape poverty but become agents of change in their own communities."

He said "we are inspired by the dignity, hope, and aspiration of every day Pakistanis, we founded a charity that would transform small change, that most of us take for granted, into a big difference for those who need it the most. 

Penny Appeal is here, not to give hands-outs, but rather offer hand-ups, to help people escape the vicious cycle of poverty for good, he added. "During the Covid19- Pandemic, an estimated 2 million more Pakistanis were plunged into poverty. Penny Appeal has helped transform over 20 million lives across 60 countries since 2009," he said. 

Adeem also told that over 9.7 m pounds (2.1 billion PKR) has been distributed in aid across the country, reaching countless Pakistanis living in poverty. "Everyday, an estimated 353,820 people across Pakistan benefit from Penny Appeal's water solutions almost 20,000 of tube-wells, over 400 deep wells and 27 sustainable solar powered wells with adjacent power centres," he said. 

Penny Appeal's network of cutting edge waste-water management systems irrigate an estimated 9,334 kitchen gardens, providing the equivalent of 65,000 meals every single day. 

Funded by Penny Appeal's Education First Appeal, Govt. Girls' Primary School Chah Karori Wala School in the Layyah District (Punjab) now, serves 200 girls of primary school age. "It is one of the 17 schools, Penny Appeal has funded and supported across Pakistan, directly reaching 5,400 students and teachers, opening 51 classrooms. A total of 31 Mosques in Pakistan have been built by Penny Appeal donors, directly serving 31,800 congregants, every remote region of Pakistan, Adeem said. 

He further told that over 6,700 children benefit from an Islamic education hosted in these Mosques. "In 2018, Penny Appeal provided families in need across Vehari, a total of 168 pregnant goats. A few years later, the numbers have grown to 1,512 goats with more on the way," he said. The milk and meat the goats represent a significant income for these vulnerable families. Incredibly, many have gone from being Zakat receivers to Zakat givers, the CEO Penny Appeal said. 

Impossible spells I'Mpossible: Adeem Younis

Narrating his tale of mixed emotions of his single parent mother, Adeem Younis takes us behind the scenes, through the blood, sweat and tears that it took to beat the odds, escape the vicious cycle of poverty and help millions more, at home and abroad, do the same. 

According to Dr. Husna Ahmad OBE, Secretary General, World Muslim Leadership Forum," it is a story of one Muslim man's journey describing both the thorns and roses along the path of building and sustaining a humanitarian charity."         

Adeem Younis founded his first business- SingleMuslim.com, aged 17 above a pizza shop he worked for in Wakefield. What started as a leap into the unknown, grew into the world's largest Muslim matrimonial service, reaching over a million members in the UK and a further three million around the world. 

In 2009, he founded Penny Appeal- an award-winning and Guinness World Record-holding humanitarian charity. His inspired vision, daring strategies and tremendous work ethic have enabled Penny Appeal to raise over 100 million pounds for good causes across the world. 

“Zero to £100 million in just 10 years? I’m in!”

James Caan CBE- BBC’S DRAGON’S DEN     

Adeem was appointed an Ambassador of the Yorkshire Society seeking to improve cohesion amongst divided communities. He was decorated as the 2017 'NatWest Great British Entrepreneur for Good' and in the same year received a Highly Commended National Award from the Institute of Directors. He also won Entrepreneur of the Year in Wakefield Business Awards 2018 and won Charity Chair of the Year at the 2018 Third Sector Excellence Awards. And in 2019, he received the Prime Minister's Points of Light Award for outstanding individuals making a change in the community. 

A renowned academician, scientist and a religious scholar Dr. Musharraf Hussain OBE DL, recommends this book to anyone interested in serving humanity, see a stunning portrait of a Godly servant. Anyone interested to understand how altruism produces amplified results, let him read Adeem's story of the Penny Appeal.

Chairman HEC Vows To Meet Global Challenges Taking Drastic Measures

MAHTAB BASHIR
0333 53 63 248
mahtabbashir@gmail.com
ISLAMABAD

Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed has said that in his expected stipulated tenure of two-years as Chief of the Commission, he will, first up, consult the high-ups of all public and private universities, HEI’s and stakeholders to devise a roadmap for national security, water crisis, climate change, food security, health issues to cope these current global challenges to secure our posterity. 

Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed

talking to this scribe, the newly appointed Chairman HEC while waning the expression that the present financial crunch varsities are facing is the biggest challenge, said “It’s not at all a financial issue, it’s a mal-administrative and mal-governance issue- we will have to rectify with immediate effect,” he said.

Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed maintained that “since its inception, a lot has been done for the uplift of higher education sector, people who think for the last few years, HEC has done nothing better as a “Clash of Titans’ in the recent past damages the Commission reputation- is not true. It was, he kept on saying, our higher education sector that created the space in the world in a very short time. I, also disagree saying that the government does not support this sector. But, we must forget about the past to make headway for future with a ray of hope and a positive attitude,” he said.

“For the last so many years, I’ve kept on ignoring few of those (persons) involved in damaging the reputation of our national institutions, higher education sector and also found guilty of my personal character assassination. I’m not a man of vendetta, but I admonish them all to mend their nefarious actions ASAP.” Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman HEC

Now, it’s a testing time for me as well to meet all the challenges. I have an edge for being here again, that I know this institution inside out. “I have given precious thirteen years of my life to this institution. I will soon change the negative perception of HEC into a positive one. I am least bothered whether, the policy makers revert the amendment (of two years into four years), but I assure the nation that I will work as hard in two years that others might dream of reaching to that milestone in four years, perhaps,” Dr Mukhtar vows.

The HEC chief said in the past, we started working on smart universities concepts, but we could not prepare enough to benefit from it in the Covid-19 phase- which caused immense problems for our education system. “Now, the higher education sector all over the world is shifted to a hybrid mode, we must immediately follow it. The coming era is all about skills. Now, in near future, classrooms and books might become obsolete, we must learn and employ Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our education system,” he maintain.

Talking about the past, Commission Chairman said, “I believe, in the past few years, HEC has not taken all the stakeholders on board, in particular, on the PhD and Undergraduate Policy, which was approved by the Commission. I will, within few days, invite all stakeholders including Vice Chancellors to review this policy,” he said.

Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed said HEC will take forward the agenda of improving quality of teaching and research in higher education institutions and the universities will be encouraged and supported to play a proactive role for socio-economic growth of the country. “HEC will bring together universities, research organisations and other government departments to jointly work on presenting solutions to the problems facing the country, especially water depletion and flooding, food security, climate change, and country’s security,” he said lamenting these issues are global, I will be surprised to talk about senior faculty members of varsities to work on these issues, rather they are ought to teach me about it, but… , yes, I am here to work on and work hard.

The Chairman pointed out that quality, governance and technology-readiness as the major challenges facing the higher education sector, and assured that HEC will put more efforts for continuous improvement in quality and governance. We will also review research methodology, research journals, plagiarism policy, Commission (board) members, VC’s Search Committee and so on, he said adding we will upgrade our courses in all disciplines to make them market-oriented. 

He said HEC is committed to the mandate of enhancing access, improving quality and ensuring relevance, but added that HEC will emphasise care in expanding the higher education sector. He asserted that the government has shown its strong commitment to supporting the higher education sector despite challenges.

“I assure the Vice Chancellors, faculty, and students that HEC will facilitate all of you. And we will work together for development of higher education sector,” he said, affirming that HEC’s role as a regulatory body will be to streamline the processes and improve the quality standards.”

Dr. Mukhtar hoped that the public and private sectors will jointly work to enhance their contributions towards the development of Pakistan.

RAISING AWARENESS ON MIGRATION ISSUES THROUGH MEDIA REPORTING

Strengthening the knowledge, access to information and tools for journalists to better reporting on migration in Pakistan

MAHTAB BASHIR
mahtabbashir@gmail.com
0333 53 63 248
ISLAMABAD

Participants of the training workshop

Mass communication and migration experts at a three day training workshop for media personnel said that the media should refrain from sensationalising reports on labour migration and human trafficking. They also stressed the need for proactive role of media in facilitating the safe migration of female workers, and suggested for more coverage of news concerning migration of female workers in different media.

Raising awareness on “Migration through Media Reporting”, the training contributed in strengthening the knowledge, access to information and tools for journalists to better and ethical reporting on migration in Pakistan.

These trainings were a part of a project, “Raising awareness on migration in Pakistan (PARIM) funded by the European Union (EU), Ministry of Interior, Austria and Bulgaria and implemented by International Centre for Migration and Policy development (ICMPD).

The training workshop (20-22 July, 2022) provided the participants an understanding of the regional and international context of migration; explain the terminology of migration, considering existing media coverage of migration, especially its ethical aspects. The trainings dispel key commonly held myths on migration, and present a primer on the national legal framework governing migration.

Migration is not an easy topic to cover. It is mired in complexity, opacity and the concerted effort of some, with a particular agenda, to perpetuate myths and misconceptions. Challenges faced by journalists in covering migration, and methods to overcome them, are also addressed in the training.

The journalists from Islamabad found the training modules highlighting common myths around migration, the resources that can be utilized to access the most recent data on migration and the guidance on the optimal steps for creating multimedia content on migration very relevant and interesting.

The experts during the training also shared the best practices in migration journalism, focusing the individual first and giving migrants a voice.

Myra Imran, Vice President National Press Club shared that “it requires the careful and accurate use of terminology, prudent use of pictures, and care not to contribute to the reinforcement of stereotypes and myths.”

Talha Ahad, CEO, The Centrum Media (TCM) while elaborating the importance of digital media, its visual impact and the ways to use the social media tool effectively shared “the internet and digital platforms offer traffickers numerous tools to recruit, exploit, and control victims; organise their transport and accommodation; advertise victims and reach out to potential clients; communicate among perpetrators; and hide criminal proceeds –with greater speed, cost-effectiveness and anonymity.”

Other interesting and learning sessions included Irregular migration and human trafficking including legal framework, irregular migration trends, legal and labour migration, migration trends and data, digital storytelling, reporting ethics, avoiding hate speech and pitching stories to the editor was conducted by Azaz Syed, Hassan Gilani, Dr. G.M Arif, Fauzia Kalsoom Rana and Ayesha Qaisarani.

ICMPD developed a training manual for journalists on human trafficking in 2017 and a migration media reporting guideline (2020) which builds the basis to develop a more thorough programme. Journalists for the training were chosen based on a call for applications and a specified selection process, evaluating applicants by experience, years of media engagement, sample writings and endorsements by senior editors.

In July 2022, Pakistan has recently moved up in global ranking from Tier- I watch list to Tier- II in combating human trafficking in Pakistan. Irregular migration remains a high priority issue for the Government of Pakistan. The government, national and international organisations have taken significant steps in preventing and combating the phenomenon.

Migrant smuggling and human trafficking like any other enterprise are processes that end up in making illicit money through exploitation. Traffickers often lure people with false job offers, including fake modeling advertisements, sham recruitment agencies, and high recruitment fees charged by illegal labor agents or sub-agents entrap Pakistanis in debited and bonded labor, including in Gulf countries. The trainings over all contributed to more evidence- and human rights-based, ethical and responsible reporting on migration.

Faisal Raza Khan, a senior journalist and one of the participants thanked ICMPD and rest of resource persons for their extensive information sharing and valuable presentations. “It was very useful, superb, informative and to be honest wonderful experience, that will definitely contribute in our future work. Delighted to have such mind boggling, multidimensional, vibrant and extremely talented young journalist colleagues. Wish ICMPD team and all group members the very best in all future endeavors. Regards,” he remarked at the conclusion of three days workshop.

Fauzia Kalsoom, a female journalist, said she is indebted to all senior journalists who graced the event. “It was your show and all deserve to be praised for such a keen participation. I am excited for story ideas, hope you all will follow the ethics and secure your physical and digital security as well, she said.

Sehrish Qureshi also spoke high about all the stakeholders for arranging informative and interactive training sessions. “It was a pleasure to learn from all the trainers and other resource persons of the training. Indeed you all are very knowledgeable and professional. Thank you all the participants for being so kind & inclusive,” she concluded.

Abdul Hamid Malik, Deputy Controller News, Radio Pakistan and Abdullah Achakzai, a journalist from Balochistan thanked the management for well organized and informative sessions. “It's been a great learning experience especially the interaction with the international experts. Special thanks to Ms Myra Imran and Fauzia Rana for proposing my name as a participant. Ms Hina and her team really deserve the applause for conducting the training sessions. Looking forward to future interaction,” said Abdullah Achakzai.

Hina Maqsood, Project Manager, The Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) Pakistan told this scribe that MRC was established in Islamabad and Lahore in 2016. The MRCs work under the auspices of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD) at Federal Level and with the Department of Labour, Government of Punjab at the provincial level. 

A group photograph of the participants

They are supported by the EU-funded project “Raising Awareness on Migration in Pakistan” and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). The MRCs help people make informed decisions when considering to migrate. They provide different types of services: personal counselling, referrals to services for migrants, pre-departure orientation and outreach to outgoing, intending and potential migrants by engaging with local communities, technical, vocational institutes, universities and government offices.