radiofree.asia

Category: pakistan

  • Mohibaan-e-Rehmat-ul-Ulameen will work for highlighting religious and Prophet’s (PBUH) teachings.

    Zaka Mohsin, Riyadh,

    Meeting held in the Saudi capital Riyadh at the invitation of political and social figure Riaz Rathore and chaired by Maulana Abdul Malik Mujahid, director of Maktab Dar-e-Islam, community members said that, in some countries of the world, sentiments of Muslims have been hurt by making blasphemous caricatures.

    In response, we should disseminate such literature to spread the teachings of Islam and the biography of the Prophet (peace be upon him) Which could easily reach everyone.

    On this occasion, director of Maktab Darul Salam Maulana Abdul Malik Mujahid said that Holy Prophet (PBUH) has been sent as a mercy for all the worlds.

    Now it is our duty to highlight the aspects of the personality of the Holy Prophet and tell the world that his personality is important not only for Muslims but also a beacon of hope for non-Muslims, Abdul Malik Mujahid added.

    The meeting decided to set up an organization called Mohibaan-e-Rehmat-ul-Ulameen which will carry out the work of highlighting religious issues and the Prophet’s teachings in other countries of the world including Saudi Arabia.

     

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Social media influencer Dananeer trying a paan for very first time.

    Web desk,

    Social media influencer Dananeer Mobeen known as pawri girl, who gained popularity after her #pawrihorihai video went viral globally especially in Pakistan and India, tried a paan for the very first time in her life.

    A video of Dananeer is making rounds on social media in which she can be seen sitting next to her sister Nafayal in an open-air restaurant, trying a paan.

    The 19-year-old social media influencer kind of liked the taste of it when asked about it.

    “It’s a good [kind of] strange,” said Dananeer.

    However, Dananeer, instead of taking the full paan in her mouth only bit a chunk of it which became a new talk on social media.

    Netizens criticized her for eating the paan in the wrong way and told her that one should always put the whole paan in the mouth.

    One of the social media users wrote in the #pawrihorihai way that,

    “Ya pan hain! eski direct mun me rakhte hain. Ande wale burger ki trah nahe khate.”

     

     

    Earlier in an interview, Dananeer Mobeen, the Instagram influencer, revealed details of how she came up with the idea for the viral video and also shared her future plans.

    Dananeer said she wants to become a CSS officer. “After I’m done with my bachelors, I will be doing my CSS,” Dananeer told.

    She is receiving offers from everywhere since her video went viral. The host said Dananeer could take up one of those offers and go on another adventure.

    “It can be an adventure but I know what I want to do and I’m very sure about doing CSS,” said the viral girl. She said she is “very academically oriented” and knows what she’s doing and is confident of getting it done.

     

    Read also

    Dananeer video reach Saudi Arabia via Pakistan and other countries.

     

    Mega surge in Peshawari girl, Dananeer Mobeen fan base.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • PML-N KSA Region celebrates the release of Hamza Shahbaz.

    Zaka Mohsin, Riyadh,

    A meeting was organized by PML-N in the Saudi capital Riyadh, regarding the release on bail of Hamza Shahbaz in which PML-N members cut a cake and expressed happiness.

    Speaking at a meeting PML-N officials and members PML-N Riyadh Region President Khalid Rana and senior leader Zahid Latif Sindhu said that revenge politics flourished thanks to NAB-Niazi Nexus.

    But PTI government including NAB has not been able to prove serious allegations like corruption. Arrest of Shahbaz Sharif, Hamza Shahbaz and other PML-N leaders is revenge. There is a conspiracy to wall off the PML-N, which is now understood by the Pakistani people. Under no circumstances PML N wall off will be allowed to succeed. Overseas Pakistan Muslim League stands with the party.

    A cake was also cut at the meeting to celebrate the release of Hamza Shahbaz on bail.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Pakistani youth in Saudi says Saudi Arabia is our second home.

    Zaka Mohsin,

    Limited number of Pakistani youth meeting held in Saudi capital Riyadh with Corona virus prevention SOPs

    Expressing their views, Ahmed Hussain and Talal Safdar said that the activities of Pakistanis have been restricted due to Covid 19. But Saudi Arabia is now winning the war against corona virus, and as soon as life return to normal, such entertainment events will be held again.

    Saudi Arabia is our second home so that community members can enjoy living abroad and according to its laws, we have to follow the Corona Prevention SOPs so that we can all get rid of the pandemic quickly and return to normal life.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Khulli Kachehri on PM orders to resolve Pakistani workers issues.

    Zaka Mohsin, Riyadh,

    An open forum held at Pakistan embassy in Saudi capital Riyadh on special orders of Prime Minister Imran Khan to resolve issues facing the workers in Saudi Arabia.

    In an open forum at Chancery Hall, hundreds of Pakistani workers expressed their grievances to Pakistan Ambassador Raja Ali Ijaz and other officials. Most of the issues included expiration of stay, non-availability of salaries by companies including Huroob.

    On the occasion, Pakistan Ambassador Raja Ali Ijaz said that Pakistan Embassy plays a vital role in resolving the issues and efforts are being made to resolve the issues facing the workers by staying in constant touch with the Saudi authorities. Deputy Ambassador Zeeshan Ahmed, Community Welfare Attaché Malik Abu Bakar, Naveed Afzal and other officials were also present in the open court of the Pakistan Embassy .

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • ‘Prisoners Of Conscience’: A Look At Some Of The Biggest Names On The List

    Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny’s time as an Amnesty International “prisoner of conscience” was short-lived — but not because he was released from detention.

    Navalny received the designation on January 17 following his arrest at a Moscow airport by Russian authorities who said he had violated the terms of a suspended sentence stemming from a 2014 embezzlement conviction. Navalny and his supporters say that both the conviction and the alleged violation are unfounded, politically motivated, and absurd.

    The subsequent conversion of the suspended sentence into more than 30 months of real prison time promised to keep the ardent Kremlin critic away from street protests for the near-term, even as he stayed in the focus of anti-government demonstrators and human rights groups such as Amnesty.

    But on February 23, Amnesty withdrew the designation, citing what it said were past comments by the 44-year old anti-corruption activist that “reach the threshold of advocacy of hatred.”

    The term “prisoner of conscience” is widely attributed to the founder of Amnesty International, Peter Benenson, who used it in 1961 to describe two Portuguese students who had each been sentenced to seven years in prison simply for making a toast to freedom under a dictatorial government.

    The label initially came to apply mainly to dissidents in the Soviet Union and its Eastern Bloc satellites, but over the years expanded to include hundreds of religious, political opposition, and media figures around the world, including countries of the former Soviet Union and others in RFE/RL’s immediate coverage region.

    According to Amnesty’s current criteria for the designation, prisoners of conscience are people who have “not used or advocated violence but are imprisoned because of who they are (sexual orientation, ethnic, national, or social origin, language, birth, color, sex or economic status) or what they believe (religious, political or other conscientiously held beliefs).”

    Navalny’s delisting has been tied by Amnesty to comments he made in the mid-2000s, as his star as a challenger to President Vladimir Putin and as an anti-corruption crusader in Russia was on the rise, but also as he came under criticism for his association with ethnic Russian nationalists and for statements seen as racist and dangerously inflammatory.

    And while the rights watchdog acknowledged that the flood of requests it received to review Navalny’s past statements appeared to originate from pro-Kremlin critics of Navalny, Amnesty ultimately determined that he no longer fit the bill for the designation, even as the organization continued to call for his immediate release from prison as he was being “persecuted for purely political reasons.”

    The “prisoner of conscience” designation is a powerful tool in advocating for the humane treatment of people who hold different religious, political, and sexual views than the powers that be — in some cases helping to lead to the release of prisoners.

    Here’s a look at some of the biggest names who have been or remain on the list.

    In Russia

    Russia is a virtual cornucopia of prisoners of conscience, with formidable political opposition figures, journalists, LGBT rights activists, and advocates for ethno-national rights gracing the list.

    Political Opposition

    Boris Nemtsov

    Boris Nemtsov

    Boris Nemtsov, the opposition politician who was shot dead in 2015, received the designation in 2011, along with activists Ilya Yashin and Eduard Limonov, after they attended a rally in Moscow in support of free assembly.

    Big Business

    Former Yukos owners Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s and Platon Lebedev’s listing the same year relating to what Amnesty called “deeply flawed and politically motivated” charges that led to their imprisonment years earlier drew sharp condemnation from the Russian Foreign Ministry.

    ‘Terror Network’

    In February 2020, Amnesty applied the designation to seven men standing trial in central Russia on what it called “absurd” charges relating to membership in a “nonexistent ‘terrorist’ organization.”

    Days later, all seven members were convicted and sentenced to prison for belonging to a “terrorist cell” labeled by authorities as “Network” that the authorities claimed planned to carry out a series of explosions in Russia during the 2018 presidential election and World Cup soccer tournament.

    Religious Persecution

    Aleksandr Gabyshev — a shaman in the Siberian region of Yakutia who has made several attempts to march on foot to Moscow “to drive President Vladimir Putin out of the Kremlin” — was briefly placed in a psychiatric hospital in September 2019 after he called Putin “evil” and marched for 2,000 kilometers in an attempt to reach the capital.

    “The Russian authorities’ response to the shaman’s actions is grotesque,” Amnesty said. “Gabyshev should be free to express his political views and exercise his religion and beliefs just like anyone else.”

    In May 2020, riot police raided Gabyshev’s home and took him to a psychiatric hospital because he allegedly refused to be tested for COVID-19. Amnesty called for his immediate release.

    But in January, Gabyshev was again forcibly taken to a psychiatric clinic after announcing he planned to resume his trek to Moscow to oust Putin.

    In Ukraine

    Prominent Ukrainian filmmaker and activist Oleh Sentsov made the list after he was arrested in Crimea in May 2014 after the peninsula was illegally annexed by Russia.

    Oleh Sentsov

    Oleh Sentsov

    Amnesty repeatedly called for the release of Sentsov after he was sentenced to 20 years in prison on a “terrorism” conviction in what the rights watchdog declared was an “unfair trial on politically motivated charges.”

    After five years in prison in Russia, Sentsov was released in a prisoner swap between Kyiv and pro-Russia separatists fighting in eastern Ukraine.

    Sentsov was far from the only Ukrainian to be taken down for criticizing Russia’s seizure of Crimea, prompting Amnesty to call for the release of all “all Ukrainian political prisoners” being held in Russia.

    Among them is the first Jehovah’s Witness to be sentenced by Russian authorities in the annexed territory, Sergei Filatov. The father of four was handed a sentence of six years in prison last year for being a member of an extremist group in what Amesty called “the latest example of the wholesale export of Russia’s brutally repressive policies.”

    In Belarus

    In Belarus, some of the biggest names to be declared “prisoners of conscience” are in the opposition to Alyaksandr Lukashenka, the authoritarian leader whose claim to have won a sixth-straight presidential term in August has led to months of anti-government protests.

    Viktar Babaryka

    Viktar Babaryka

    Viktar Babaryka, a former banker whose bid to challenge Lukashenka was halted by his arrest as part of what Amnesty called a “full-scale attack on human rights” ahead of the vote, went on trial on February 17 on charges of money laundering, bribery, and tax evasion.

    Fellow opposition member Paval Sevyarynets, who has been in custody since June, was charged with taking part in mass disorder related to his participation in rallies during which demonstrators attempted to collect signatures necessary to register presidential candidates other than Lukashenka.

    Syarhey Tsikhanouski

    Syarhey Tsikhanouski

    The popular blogger Syarhey Tsikhanouski was jailed after expressing interest in running against Lukashenka and remains in prison. Three of his associates went on trial in January on charges of organizing mass disorder in relation to the mass protests that broke out after the election.

    Tsikhanouski’s wife, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, took his place as a candidate and considers herself the rightful winner of the election.

    In Kazakhstan

    Aigul Otepova

    Aigul Otepova

    Aigul Otepova, a Kazakh blogger and journalist accused of involvement in a banned organization, was forcibly placed by a court in a psychiatric clinic in November, prompting Amnesty to declare her a “a prisoner of conscience who is being prosecuted solely for the peaceful expression of her views.”

    Otepova has denied any affiliation with the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK) opposition movement, which has been labeled an extremist group by the Kazkakh authorities, and Otepova’s daughter told RFE/RL that the authorities were trying to silence her ahead of Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections in January.

    Otepova was released from the facility in December.

    In Iran

    Nasrin Sotoudeh

    Nasrin Sotoudeh

    Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who has represented opposition activists including women prosecuted for removing their mandatory head scarves, was arrested in 2018 and charged with spying, spreading propaganda, and insulting Iran’s supreme leader.

    She found herself back in prison in December, less than a month after she was granted a temporary release from her sentence to a total of 38 1/2 years in prison and 148 lashes.

    Amnesty has called Sotoudeh’s case “shocking” and considers her a “prisoner of conscience.” In its most recent action regarding Sotoudeh, the rights watchdog called for her to be released “immediately and unconditionally.”

    In Kyrgyzstan

    Amnesty International in August 2019 called the life sentence handed down to Kyrgyz rights defender Azimjan Askarov a “triumph of injustice.”

    Azimjan Askarov

    Azimjan Askarov

    The ethnic Uzbek Askarov was convicted of creating a mass disturbance and of involvement in the murder of a police officer during deadly interethnic clashes between local Uzbeks and Kyrgyz in June 2010 when more than 450 people, mainly Uzbeks, were killed and tens of thousands more were displaced.

    Askarov has said the charges against him are politically motivated, and the UN Human Rights Committed has determined that he was not given a fair trial and was tortured in detention.

    In May, after the Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s decision to not review Askarov’s sentence, Amnesty said the ruling “compounds 10 years of deep injustice inflicted on a brave human rights defender who should never have been jailed.”

    In Pakistan

    Junaid Hafeez

    Junaid Hafeez

    Amnesty has called the case of Junaid Hafeez “a travesty” and in 2019 called on Pakistan’s authorities to “immediately and unconditionally” release the university lecturer charged with blasphemy over Facebook uploads.

    Hafeez was charged under the country’s controversial blasphemy laws, which Amnesty has called on the country to repeal, describing them as “overly broad, vague, and coercive” and saying they were “used to target religious minorities, pursue personal vendettas, and carry out vigilante violence.”

    Hafeez has been in solitary confinement since June 2014.

    In Azerbaijan

    Leyla and Arif Yunus

    Leyla and Arif Yunus

    Human rights activists Leyla Yunus and Arif Yunus were arrested separately in 2014 and convicted of economic crimes in August 2015 after a trial Amnesty denounced as “shockingly unjust.”

    After Leyla Yunus was sentenced to 8 1/2 years in prison, and her husband to seven years, Amnesty said that the rulings showed the “continuous criminalization of human rights defenders in Azerbaijan.”

    After the two were released on health grounds in late 2015 and their prison sentences reduced to suspended sentences, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ordered Azerbaijan to pay them approximately $45,660 for violating their basic rights.

    In April 2016, they were allowed to leave the country and settled in the Netherlands.

    In Uzbekistan

    Azam Farmonov

    Azam Farmonov

    In 2009, Amnesty called for the immediate release of rights activists Azam Farmonov and Alisher Karamatov, who were detained in 2006 while defending the rights of farmers in Uzbekistan who had accused local officials of extortion and corruption.

    Amnesty said the two men had allegedly been tortured and declared them “prisoners of conscience.”

    In 2012, Karamatov was released after serving nearly two-thirds of a nine-year prison sentence.

    Farmonov served 10 years before his release in 2017, but reemerged in March when his U.S.-based NGO representing prisoners’ rights in Uzbekistan, Huquiqiy Tayanch, was successfully registered by the country’s Justice Ministry.

    Written by Michael Scollon, with additional reporting by Golnaz Esfandiari

    This post was originally published on Radio Free.

  • International Defense Exhibition (IDEX 2021) in Abu Dhabi.

    Zaka Mohsin, Abu Dhabi,

    International Defense Exhibition (IDEX) 2021 is underway in Abu Dhabi. The stall set up by Global Industrial and Defense Solutions from Pakistan was the center of attention.

    On the second day of exhibition, Tawazun, a UAE company, and Global Industrial and Defense Solutions (GIDS), a Pakistani company, signed a $1 million contract. The UAE will buy defense weapons and equipment from the Pakistani company Goods (GIDS) under an agreement signed by Asad Kamal, CEO of a Pakistani company, GIDS and Tawazun, a UAE company.

    General Nadeem Raza, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Pakistan (CJCSP) also attends the signing ceremony. On this occasion, senior officials of UAE and Pakistan agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation between two countries, and said that two brotherly Islamic countries would continue to enhance cooperation with each other in future as well.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • ‘World must act against Khojaly massacre perpetrators’

    Islamabad, Pakistan

    Pakistani officials, academics, and defense analysts have urged the international community to take action against the perpetrators of a 1992 massacre by Armenian forces in Khojaly, Nagorno-Karabakh which left over 600 people dead.

    Speaking at a seminar on Monday co-organized by Azerbaijan’s Embassy in Islamabad and the Islamabad Institute of Conflict Resolution, parliamentarian Shehryar Khan Afridi said that repeated massacres and genocides show how the world has failed to protect oppressed people living in conflict zones, as the brutal principle of “might makes right” prevails.

    “Mass rapes of women in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Khojaly, Nagorno-Karabakh have been used by occupation forces as tools of genocide,” said Afridi, who also heads the Pakistani parliament’s Committee on Kashmir, a region disputed between Pakistan and India.

    He added that Indian forces are also waging a “rape war” to advance their “genocide” of freedom-loving Kashmiris.

    On Feb. 26, 1992, with the Soviet Union just dissolved, Armenian forces took over the town of Khojaly in occupied Karabakh after battering it with heavy artillery and tanks, assisted by infantry.

    The massacre is seen as one of the bloodiest atrocities by Armenian forces against Azerbaijani civilians in the Upper Karabakh region, which was liberated by Azerbaijan forces last fall after decades of occupation.

    The two-hour Armenian offensive on Khojaly killed 613 Azerbaijani citizens including 106 women, 63 children, and 70 elderly people and seriously injured 487 others, according to Azerbaijani figures.

    Some 150 of the 1,275 Azerbaijanis that the Armenians captured during the massacre remain missing. In the massacre, eight families were completely wiped out, while 130 children lost one parent, and 25 children lost both parents.

    “What has the international community, including the UN Security Council, done against the culprits who killed hundreds of innocents in Khojaly?” asked Salma Malik, a political scientist at Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad.

    Azerbaijan Ambassador Ali Alizada said that Armenia bears full responsibility for the Khojaly massacre, whose perpetrators must brought to justice.

    He said that even though there were four UN Security Council resolutions and similar statements by other groups, there has been no action or pressure against Armenia during the 30 years of occupation and no legal acts against the perpetrators of the genocide.

    He stressed that that Kashmir dispute also led to several UN Security Council resolutions but similarly no implementation of these resolutions for seven decades. He said he hopes the Kashmir issue will soon be solved by amicable and peaceful means in line with relevant UN resolutions.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Dananeer video reach Saudi Arabia via Pakistan and other countries.

    Zaka Mohsin, Riyadh,

    Salim Rafique, a young Pakistani singer based in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, has made a comeback with a video of Dananir Mobin, which is becoming very popular.  Due to Dananir Mobin’s accent and unique style, her video has reached Saudi Arabia via Pakistan and other countries.

     

    According to Singer Saleem Rafique, he has been singing for the last 12 years.  The four-second video of Dananir Mobin compelled him to compose meme poetry with his friend and make music and sing it which people now liking.

     

     

    Read Also

    Mega surge in Peshawari girl, Dananeer Mobeen fan base.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Pakistani envoy appreciations for Saudi Arabia’s extraordinary support to OIC

    Zaka Mohsin, Jeddah,

    Meeting held at OIC headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Pakistani envoy Rizwan Saeed Sheikh expressed the Pakistani government’s and people’s appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s extraordinary support to the OIC.

    He added that Saudi Arabia, as the host country of the OIC headquarters, has been supporting OIC since its inception. The Saudi envoy, Dr. Saleh Al-Suhaibani, said that meeting with the Pakistani envoy was part of a policy to strengthen multilateral working relations between permanent members of OIC and to increase consultation and solidarity on all issues.

    He also said that co-operation was essential to unite the Islamic world, achieve common interests, create unity in the decisions of Muslim countries and advance the Islamic struggle in a standardized manner.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Living legend of South Asian Sufi music Abida Perveen, 65th birthday.

    Web desk,

    When someone talks about music, it is impossible not to talk about Abida Parveen. Abida Parveen has been singing since early 70s. Her father, Ustad Ghulam Haider, gave her the basic training. Initially, she performed in Dargahs, usually on different death anniversaries. Her first break was in 1973 on Radio Pakistan, where the nation heard her live. However, in 1977, she was signed by Radio Pakistan as their official Singer. Since then, begun her journey of life in the music industry.

    Abida Parveen has chosen Sufi Music as her Genre in the industry. From singing in Pakistan to getting her license for Bollywood industry, it has been a long run for the maestro. Apart from singing, Abida Parveen also knows to play Pump organ, Keyboard and Sitar. Moreover, she has also judged many different shows all over the world.

    Due to her stunning and outstanding voice, living legend Abida Parveen has been rewarded various times. Few of her prestigious achievements are

        • Pride of Performance Award (1984) by the President of Pakistan.
        • Sitara-e-Imtiaz Award (2005) by President Pervez Musharaff.
        • Hilal-e-Imtiaz Award (2012) by President Asif Ali Zardari.
        • Lifetime Achievement Award at the Kaladharmi Begum Akhtar Academy of Ghazal in India (2012).
        • She had been awarded in Dhaka International Folk Fest 2015.
        • PISA Lifetime Achievement Award – 2020.

    Everyone who loves Sufi music, listens to Abida Parveen, worldwide. Regardless of her age, her voice still remains the same. With the same intensity, we hope and pray, there are many more years added to her life. Sufi music lovers pray for Abida Parveen blessing with her euphonious voice, and send Happy Birthday greetings to the living legend.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Globo Asia Pakistan, Bahrain Chapter hold a Real estate and property exhibition in Manama.

    Zaka Mohsin, Manama,

    Globo Asia Pakistan, Bahrain Chapter will hold a Real estate and property exhibition in Manama, Bahrain on February 25 and 26. A meeting of Pakistani and Bahraini businessmen was held in Bahrain for this important exhibition which aims to promote investment opportunities in real estate in Pakistan.

    On finalizing of the arrangements for the exhibition, the organizer of the exhibition Imran Khattak said that a property exhibition is being organized to promote foreign investment in Pakistan.

    In addition to investing in real estate for Pakistani businessmen abroad, the aim is to educate foreign investors about real estate in various sectors of Pakistan and to draw their attention to it.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Webinar at Stimson center on “The Future of Pak-US Relations After Changing Geopolitical Situation”

    Fazal Khaliq, Washington

    The Stimson Center hosts a webinar on “The Future of Pak-US Relations After Changing Geopolitical Situation”

    Ambassador Pakistan to United States Dr. Asad Majeed Khan address, Dr. Sameer Lalwani, Stimson’s Program Director for South Asia and others also participated

    Pak-US relations, especially with new US administration, are important for peace, security and development in the region. Ambassador of Pakistan

    Talking about bilateral relations with the US, the Pakistani Ambassador stressed the need for a joint partnership on a broader basis and said that this relationship should not be seen in the context of any third country.

    Pakistan wants better relations with neighboring countries as well as peace in the region, now India must also show responsibility. We urge the US to play its part. Pakistan Ambassador added. There is full coordination between Pakistan and US regarding peace process in Afghanistan. Now is the time to move this peace process forward. Dr. Asad Majeed Khan

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Pakistani mountaineer and two other foreign climbers dead, Sajid Sadpara.

    Gilgil Baltistan,

    On Thursday, hours after Pakistani mountaineer Muhammad Ali Sadpara’s family declared him and two other missing foreign climbers dead. Twitter reacted to the mountain climber’s demise

    Announcing the tragic news, Ali Sadpara’s son, Sajid Sadpara said that he would keep his “father’s mission alive and fulfil his dream”.

    Sadpara, Iceland’s John Snorri, and Chile’s Juan Pablo Mohr had departed for their journey on February 3 after Sadpara’s birthday, asking fans and admirers to pray for them.

    They had started their attempt for the final summit in the early hours of February 5, hoping to accomplish the herculean task by afternoon.

    According to updates posted on Snorri’s Facebook account on Friday, at 12:29 pm, the GPS stopped working and had not been updated for six hours after that.

    Ali Sadpara’s management revealed a few days ago that the government and other stakeholders were employing their best efforts to find Sadpara and the other climbers who went missing, despite him being gone for almost 10 days.

     

    Read Also,

    Muhammad Ali Sadpara and team missing during K2 summit.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Pakistan’s Ambassador and Saudi Minister for Multilateral affairs discuss bilateral relations.

    Zaka Mohsin, Riyadh,

    Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Raja Ali Ijaz has called on Saudi Deputy Minister, Abdul Rehman Al-Rasi for Multilateral Affairs.

    According to a statement issued by the Pakistani embassy in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, the meeting discussed bilateral relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

    During the meeting, various issues including ways to enhance cooperation between the two friendly countries in various fields were also discussed.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Mushahidullah Khan condolence meeting in Saudi capital Riyadh

    Zaka Mohsin, Riyadh,

    Pakistan Muslim League-N held a condolence meeting in Saudi capital Riyadh, on the death of Mushahidullah Khan. The death of Mushahidullah Khan has created a vacuum and the powerful voice of democracy is no more. Mushahidullah Khan has rendered immense services for democracy which can never be forgotten.

    Mushahidullah Khan was a favorite leader of other political parties in Saudi Arabia, including PML N workers. With his death, the PML-N has lost an ideological activist, but PML N workers will work together to advance their ideology and serve Pakistan to the fullest

    PML-N Riyadh Region President Khalid Akram Rana, Dr Muzammil Shah, Wasim Sajid Rana, Khadim Hussain expressed their views while prayers for forgiveness were also offered for the highest reward of Mushahidullah Khan.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Mega surge in Peshawari girl, Dananeer Mobeen fan base.

    Peshawar,

    The video of a young influencer Dananeer Mobeen, travelling in the northern area of Pakistan is trending on social media. Mimicking the Pakistani burger accent saying “Yeh hamari party ho rahi hai” in a funny way has amused the netizens.

    A four-second video with these three lines by a Peshawari girl, has created a mega storm on the social media a few days back. The video has been shared and watch thousands of times across social media platforms.

    Moments after the video went viral, the Internet started flooding with various memes and recreations of the video by the users.

    Celebs like Aijaz Aslam and Saba Qamar also joined the bandwagon of taking up the trending challenge, and uploaded their versions of the video.

    Aijaz Aslam also taking up the trending challenge, and uploaded his version of the video.

    Akcent is a Romanian singing formation whose members sing in Romanian, English and Spanish. Akcent also make a video in response of  “#PawriHoriHai”.

    She thanked her fans and followers on Instagram Friday after Indian music composer Yashraj Mukhate recreated her video.

    “Very overwhelmed right now it’s crazy, I am so happy that you are enjoying this video so so much,” Mobeen said in her video message.

    “I think at this point the only thing that matters to me is that everyone is enjoying this thing and I’m having fun looking at you guys enjoying this trend and this song.. its recreations.”

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • British High Commission says before April, Pakistan receives 17 million shots of AstraZeneca.

    Islamabad,

    The British High Commission on Sunday announced that Pakistan will soon receive shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

    According to a statement from the Commission, the country will receive “17 million doses of the vaccine before April”.

    Thereafter, “before June”, Pakistan will receive an “additional 10 million doses”, said the statement.

    With the vaccine, more than eight million people will receive protection from coronavirus, it added.

    The chief of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Asad Umar, had earlier broke the news that COVAX has indicated a supply of up to 17 million doses of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for Pakistan in the first half of 2021.

    “Good news on COVID vaccine front. Received a letter from COVAX of an indicative supply of up to 17 million doses of AstraZeneca in 1st half 2021,” Umar wrote on Twitter.

    According to the planning minister, six million of the total 17 million doses will be received by March with delivery starting in February. He did not specify any dates.

    Soon after, the COVAX program for COVID-19 vaccines announced a list of countries it will be distributing doses to, with Pakistan to get 17.2 million doses.

    The initiative has planned enough doses for dozens of countries to immunize more than 3% of their populations by mid-year.

    A statement said the initial distribution was in line with a target “to protect the most vulnerable groups such as health care workers” in the first half of the year.

    The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is made from a weakened version of a common cold virus, known as adenovirus, from chimpanzees, and has been modified to look more like the coronavirus although it cannot cause the illness.

    When the vaccine is injected into a human body, it prompts the immune system to make antibodies and trains it to attack any coronavirus infection. The vaccine requires two doses to be administered.

    The jab has been found to be 76% effective against the original coronavirus after the first dose. Research shows that when a second dose is given after 12 weeks or more, the efficacy rises to 82%.

    The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is more suitable for developing countries as it can be stored in a normal fridge for six months, making it much easier to distribute. It is also cheaper to make. It was first approved for emergency use by the United Kingdom government.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • ANP Webinar in Saudi Arabia on 11th anniversary of baba Ajmal Khattak

    Zaka Mohsin, Riyadh,

    Awami National Party Saudi Arabia organized a webinar on the 11th anniversary of famous revolutionary poet Ajmal Khattak Baba, former central president of ANP, in which participants paid tribute to him.

    Ajmal Khattak was an ideological politician and poet whose poetry was revolutionary aimed at improving and reforming society and system which, was in line with sentiments of the Pakhtun people. His services to the party are invaluable and will never be forgotten.

    In the webinar, ANP Saudi Arabia Central President Dr. Syed Muzammil Shah, Habib Younis, Hussain Shah Yousafzai, Noshirwan Khattak and others spoke and paid tribute to Ajmal Khattak.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Earthquake, 6.4 magnitude, shakes parts of Pakistan.

    Web desk,

    A 6.4 magnitude earthquake shakes various parts of Pakistan and its neighbouring countries on Friday night.

    According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC) the epicenter of the quake was 35 kilometer west of Murghob, Tajikistan and its depth was 80 kilometres.

    The earthquake tremors were felt in Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lower Dir, Haripur, Muzafarabad, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Multan, Charsada, Charsadda, Rawalpindi and other areas.

    People of the areas where the quake was felt rushed out of their homes in panic reciting Quranic verses.

    According United State Geological Survey, the magnitude of the earthquake was 5.9 with 91.6 kilometre depth.

    Jolts were also felt in Indian capital New Delhi and other parts of the country.

    On Friday, an earthquake of 4 magnitude felt in Balochistan and Southern Punjab. The depth of the quake was 15 kilometre with its epicentre was 43km west of Dera Ghazi Khan.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • PTI USA delegation meets Consul General Ayesha Ali

    New York:

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) USA delegation headed by president Amjad Nawaz visited Pakistan Consulate Office New York. Ms. Ayesha Ali Consul General, welcomed the delegation and discussed important community related matters including government’s new economic and business initiatives.

    PTI USA delegation were consist on finance secretary Imran Qazi, senior advisor Zaman Afridi and senior hint secretary of membership Umer Farooq.

    Meanwhile, Vice Consul General Nawab Adil khan were also present in meeting.

    “PTI USA will work closely woth government to creat awareness and encourage business investment”, Amjad nawaz assured to Consul General Ayesha Ali.

    It has been jointly agreed in meeting to conduct seminar and webinar for speedy awareness regarding trade, investment and also highlight government’s new policies related to create opportunities of safe investment for overseas Pakistani.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • I’m on Hunger Strike in Guantánamo. I Dream of Cooking for My Family.

    Illustration of Ahmed Rabbani cooking with Guantanamo fencing behind, in past

    There are very few freedoms at Guantánamo Bay prison, where I have been held without charge or trial — referred to as Guantánamo ISN 1461 — for over 16 years. The right to starve myself is one of them, but even then, they force-feed me, to spare themselves the embarrassment of my death.

    Back in Pakistan, before I was kidnapped and tortured and flown halfway around the world in chains, I loved cooking. There is nothing more satisfying than preparing a hot meal for your family and sharing it with them. Here, I am allowed to cook for my fellow prisoners, but only in a microwave, and the guards could take even that away at any time. I never eat the food myself. I have been on hunger strike for seven years in protest at my indefinite detention. When everything else has been taken from you, this small measure of self-determination means a lot.

    Ahmed Rabbani, pictured pre-detention
    This photograph shows Ahmed Rabbani in Karachi, Pakistan, before he was sold to the U.S. for a bounty in 2002. (Courtesy of Reprieve)

    I was abducted from my home on September 10, 2002, and sold to the U.S. for a bounty, with the false story that I was a terrorist called Hassan Ghul. As a result of that, I was taken to the Dark Prison in Kabul, and tortured for 540 days. I refused to say I was Hassan Ghul because I wasn’t. Eventually the U.S. captured Ghul, and because he was deemed “cooperative,” they let him go. He went back to his old ways, and was killed by a drone in 2012.

    I was rendered to Guantánamo in September 2004. I tried to obey the prison’s foolish rules for a long time before I gave up. I began hunger striking in earnest in 2013 when my patience finally ran out. Twice a day, they strap me into their torture chair and force a 110-centimeter tube up my nose.

    My lawyers have now created a website where, as I approach 3,000 days on strike, you can follow my gradual disappearance. I was 170 pounds when they first seized me, and I am now down to 80 pounds. This means that 53 percent of me has “escaped” from this prison. It can’t go on forever of course, and I hope that I don’t get shipped home in a coffin — but I have to do something to peacefully protest.

    This would be hard enough for anyone, but for a man like me who loves to cook and eat, it is even worse. Can you begin to imagine the torture when I make meals for my brethren here, but do not eat myself?

    All I have to sustain me are dreams. When I get out of here, I dream of opening a restaurant where I will cook only the most original food from our society, food that has existed for centuries. I will give you one example which perhaps you would like to try.

    I call it a “Rabbani” as it is my own take on an ancient tradition: I am ethnically Rohingya, but I am a Pakistani citizen and lived for many years in Saudi Arabia. The name of a similar dish among Arabs is “harisa” or “hareesa” and it is very spicy. My wife used to make it the Pakistani way: it is called “haleem” and has lentils with less spice. My innovation was to blend the cultures, using the spice of Arabia and the lentil flavor of Pakistan.

    Take whole wheat and soak it all night, with half as much weight in lentils. The next morning boil the wheat and lentils together in water for at least one hour, adding some spices — whole spices, not powder — plenty of cinnamon, cardamom and cloves.

    Meanwhile, fry some onion — cut very thin — in oil to begin with, but I generally add butter or organic ghee as they soften. Then add pepper and ginger.

    Now the meat. Lamb was my favorite, with a bit of fat. It should have been boiled beforehand until tender.

    Then mix everything for many minutes. It must be done by hand with a spoon, over the fire — never use a machine for this. Adding a little milk will lighten the color.

    Here at Guantánamo, I don’t have the ingredients for a Rabbani, so when I cook for the other men, I must make do with lentils. Last night I soaked some so that they would be ready after my call with my lawyer. One day, when I go back to my wife and family in Karachi, I hope to be able to make the dish properly once again.

    This post was originally published on Latest – Truthout.

  • Muhammad Ali Sadpara and team missing during K2 summit.

    Skardu, Gilgit Baltistan,

    Muhammad Ali Sadpara and two other mountaineers John Snorri from Iceland and Juan Pablo Mohr from Chile had gone missing on Saturday after which a search operation to retrieve them was launched.

    It had been reported two days ago that Sadpara and his team had successfully summited the 8,611-metre K2, the world’s second-highest mountain, late Friday, a month after their first attempt failed.

    Helicopters flew to a height of 7,000 metres on Saturday afternoon in their attempt to locate the missing mountaineers but were unable to find any clue to their whereabouts.

    Pakistan Army’s continued their search for Pakistani mountaineer Muhammad Ali Sadpara, Iceland’s John Snorri and Chile’s Juan Pablo Mohr for the third day with helicopters hoping to locate the missing men alive.

    Gilgit Baltistan’s Home Secretary Muhammad Ali Randhawa shared pictures taken of the K2 on the Pakistan Army Aviation Helicopters during the search operation.

    Earlier, Randhawa had tweeted that the third-day helicopter search mission by Pakistan Army aviation began at 9:30 am.

    The secretary had shared the update after the helicopters had reached the basecamp.

    On Sunday, Sajid Ali Sadpara, the son of Muhammad Ali Sadpara, who safely climbed down and reached Skardu, had said that the chances of his father being alive “are next to none”.

    In a conversation with reporters in Skardu, where he arrived earlier on Sunday, Sajid said: “Rescue operations now only make sense if they are carried out to bring back his body. Otherwise, the chance for anyone to survive at 8,000 meters after being missing for two to three days are next to none.”

    Sajid said that a team of four mountaineers began their climb at around 11pm-12am on February 5 the night between Thursday and Friday.

    “Unfortunately, I was without oxygen and at a height of about 8,200 meters in the winter. I felt like my health was getting affected as well as my mental well being.”

    “My father was carrying another oxygen tank which he offered me to use. But as I began fitting the oxygen mask regulator, it leaked. So, I had to climb down,” he narrated.

    Sajid said that the last time he saw his father was at the bottleneck at around 8,200-8,300 meters, the most “technical portion” of the climb, at around 11am on Friday.

    “I’m sure he summited the peak and was on his way back after which he encountered an accident which is why he is missing,” he said.

     

    Read also

    Bulgarian mountaineer Atanas Skatov dies on K2

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • German Lanka and We Are Pakistan launch Protests against deportation of Pakistanis and immigrants.

    Mateullah, Berlin,

    German political party Leaders reassured Pakistani community that they would play their part in preventing deportation of migrants and called for a review of government’s current policy. Attempts are being made to integrate immigrants instead of deporting them because of COVID-19. While the current government threatens to deport migrant workers due to its misguided policies.

    Lanka, Germany’s left-wing political party, has vowed to raise its voice in other important sessions, including parliament, to prevent deportation from across Germany. Representatives of human rights organizations also took part in the demonstration, which was co-sponsored by organization, ‘We are Pakistan’. Immigrants should be issued visas, giving them  right to stay in Germany on the basis of wages. Immigrants living in Germany have spent most of their youth here for years. Immigrants who have adopted German society should be given the right to stay in Germany.

    founder and leader, of “We are Pakistan”,  Mahmood Saeed, General Secretary, Asadullah Tariq, a well-known social activist Sunny  and leader of German political party Lanka, also called deportation policy inhumane and part of the capitalist system.

    Leading social activist Samar Khan, organize the demonstration, told protesters that there was unrest among immigrants in Germany. He called on German government to stop deportation and to integrate Pakistani migrants into the German labor market. Representatives of local political parties and human rights groups also strongly condemned the deportation.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • JI Leader and Ex MNA Hafiz Salman died.

    New York,

    Leader of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan and former member National Assembly (MNA), Hafiz Salman Butt died of a heart attack last week in Lahore, Pakistan.

    New York-based Pakistani-American Pharmacist Chaudhry Zahid Farooq arranges a Fateha at his residence for the reward and forgiveness of deceased. The Fateha Khawani was attended by business and social personalities of the community including Pakistani American Pharmacists and prayed for highest rank and forgiveness of deceased.

    On Fateha Khuwani, participants said that late Salman Butt was a brave and straightforward leader and an honest man who raised their voices at every forum for the oppressed of the society. Participants paid homage to the deceased for political services.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Seminar organizes by Pakistan High Commission in London.

    Muqeem Ahmad, London,

    A parliamentary webinar held on occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day at Pakistan High Commission London. It was attended by a large number of British MPs from both houses of Parliament, eminent scholars, academics and members of civil society.

    The President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan addressed the gathering while, British MPs supported the right of Kashmiris to self-determination and assured to raise their voice in their favor.

    Addressing the webinar, High Commissioner, Moazzam Ahmad Khan said that one million armed occupying forces in occupied Kashmir are violating fundamental rights of innocent and unarmed Kashmiris on a large scale in modern times. He said that Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir were a reminder of worst atrocities of fascism in Second World War.

    Pakistan’s Ambassador, Moazzam Ahmad Khan called on British Government to play its full role in bringing humanitarian crisis and political conflict to a peaceful and just conclusion in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of Kashmiri people.

    Addressing the gathering, President, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Masood Ahmad Khan said that Occupied Kashmir has become a center of Islamophobia and Kashmiris have faced genocide.

    He said that rape and target killings of women were being used by occupying forces in Occupied Kashmir as a means of intimidating population.

    Sardar Masood Ahmad Khan said that, BJP government was resettling millions of Hindus in occupied territories to change their population in violation of international law and Geneva Conventions. He urged British government to mobilize UN for resolution of the dispute.

    On the occasion, British MPs and MPs of Pakistani descent in their speeches assured the Kashmiris of all kinds of support.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Webinar at Riyadh to express solidarity with oppressed Kashmiri

    Zaka Mohsin, Riyadh,

    The Pakistan Embassy in Saudi Arabia organized a webinar to express solidarity with Kashmiri people. Webinar attends by political, social, literary personalities and journalists including Pakistan Ambassador, Raja Ali Ijaz and Expressed solidarity with people of Occupied Kashmir.

    The entire Pakistani nation is with Jammu and Kashmir in this struggle for independence and the way India is changing the Muslim majority in Kashmir by creating 3 million fake domiciles is not only a heinous crime but also a humiliation of humanity which will never be accepted.

    Speaking on the webinar, Pakistan Ambassador, Raja Ali Ijaz said that February 5 is a day to remember the story of 73 years of persecution in Kashmir and the UN resolution.

    Today, India use every tactic to suppress Kashmiris to give up their demand for independence and by providing land in Kashmir to 30,000 Indians is playing with the sentiments of the Kashmiri nation But Kashmiri youth have thwarted Indian intentions. Pakistan will continue to provide all possible moral and diplomatic support to its Kashmiri people and as a lawyer will continue to highlight Kashmir issue all over the world.

    In the webinar, Ilyas Rahim presented the resolution while Muhammad Khalid Rana, Mian Hamid, Qari Mumtaz, Dr Asad Rumi, Khalid Akram Rana, Gohar Ali, Chaudhry Bashir and others spoke.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • New York Assembly passes resolution on Kashmir Day

    New York,

    The New York State Assembly has passed a resolution that February 5 naming as Kashmir Day. After the resolution was passed, the New York Assembly became, first legislature in US to pass Kashmir Day. The efforts of American Pakistani Advocacy Group (APAG), a political organization of American-Pakistani youth, have been successful.

    Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York State Assembly issued a formal decree in this regard. Members of both parties supported the resolution. State Assembly member Neder K. Siag presented a document approving agreement to APAG chief Ali Rashid and his team. Ali Rashid, a member of APAG, said his organization would continue to speak loud in favor of Kashmiris.

    On the occasion, Amin Ghani, Pervez Riaz, Zameer Chaudhry, Sehar Khan, Sara Pervez, Naomi, Sultan Rashid, Faisal Khan, Anisa Riaz and others were present.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • International Solidarity Day is celebrated as Independence Day of Kashmir says Pakistan Ambassador

    Vienna,

    Pakistan Ambassador, Aftab Ahmed Khokhar host foreign media persons in Austria on the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day. They were described Indian atrocities in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

    Ambassador said that International Solidarity Day of Kashmir is being celebrated on February 5 as Independence Day. Ambassador Aftab Ahmed Khokhar, referring to illegal action of Indian government on August 5, 2019, and said that there is a violation of resolutions.

    He also said that India continued its endless military siege from August 5, 2020 and made Jammu and Kashmir, largest prison in the world through a communication blockade, depriving Kashmiri people of medical or other facilities.

    He reiterated that government and people of Pakistan would continue their unwavering political, moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiris as long as they were entitled to self-determination in accordance with the UNSC resolutions and aspirations of Kashmiri people.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Solidarity with Kashmir at Pakistan Consulate in Germany.

    Mehwish/ Berlin,

    An event organized at Pakistani Embassy in Berlin, Germany on the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day. People from different schools of thought belongs to Pakistan were invited in the event.

    Addressing the function, Pakistan Ambassador Dr Muhammad Faisal said that no one knows real lockdown better than Kashmiri people. Kashmiris spend their lives at the mercy of Indian Army for last one and a half years.

    For a year and a half, they have been cut off from rest of the world. If Kashmiris lose morally, then this movement has died down and goes in vain but it cannot happen. We stand with Kashmiri Ambassador added.

    We know that every time this movement boosted, it emerges stronger than before. Talking to media, Dr Muhammad Faisal said that Kashmir issue should be resolved according to their wishes and aspirations. We are not saying that they should be part of Pakistan or India.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.