Pakistan's Muslim, Christian leaders demand special courts to punish culprits of Jaranwala violence

Special Pakistan's Muslim, Christian leaders demand special courts to punish culprits of Jaranwala violence
Pakistani Muslim and Christian religious leaders join hands in Islamabad to express solidarity with victims of Jaranwala violence on August 23, 2023. (AN photo)
Short Url
Updated 23 August 2023
Follow

Pakistan's Muslim, Christian leaders demand special courts to punish culprits of Jaranwala violence

Pakistan's Muslim, Christian leaders demand special courts to punish culprits of Jaranwala violence
  • A mob torched several Christian homes, churches last week over allegations two Christians had desecrated the Qur'an
  • Archbishop Dr. Joseph Arshad demands 'swift and transparent' justice to ensure similar incidents do not take place again

ISLAMABAD: A leading Pakistani Muslim organization of scholars, members of an Islamic constitutional body, and Christian leaders joined hands on Wednesday to demand the government constitute special courts to hand swift punishments to culprits of last week's mob attacks against Christians in eastern Pakistan. 

Several churches and homes of Christians in Pakistan's eastern Jaranwala city were torched last Wednesday by an angry Muslim mob over allegations that two Christian brothers had desecrated the holy Qur'an. 

Police have since rounded up over 100 suspects who were reportedly at the forefront of one of the most severe incidents of anti-Christian violence in the country's history and according to eyewitness records, had attacked Christian homes armed with sticks and knives. Pakistan's caretaker government has promised to provide protection to the Christian community and take stern action against culprits involved in the mob violence.  

“I am astonished as to why a special court has not yet been established to swiftly process and punish the culprits of the Jaranwala incident,” Dr. Qibla Ayaz, chairman of the constitutional Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) said during a seminar at an Islamabad church to promote interfaith harmony.

“It is our demand that a special court should be immediately established to work on this case day and night without any breaks,” Ayaz said. He called for heavy penalties to be imposed on those found guilty of the violence to ensure that financial losses dealt to the Christian community are compensated not from the public exchequer but from those who were involved in the attack. 

Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi demanded swift trials of the individuals involved in the violence, saying that it is unacceptable to disrespect any religion.

“We demand that all individuals involved in this horrific crime should undergo a speedy trial in a special court, and the investigation report must be made public,” Ashrafi said.

He urged authorities to uncover any conspiracies behind the episode, including the possible hand of foreign entities in the attack. 

Ashrafi pointed out that Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar had visited Jaranwala to express solidarity with Christians and handed out compensation cheques to the victims. 

“We will give them love and I appeal to the Muslims to give their Christian brothers so much love so that they forget the pain caused by this horrific incident,” he added.

Following the violence, the PUC constituted a 24-member committee comprising Christian and Muslim leaders to promote interfaith harmony between the two communities. 

“Our committee of 24 members will closely oversee developments on a daily basis and will organize conferences nationwide to enhance public awareness and foster interfaith harmony,” Ashrafi shared.

Dr. Joseph Arshad, bishop of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, thanked members of the Muslim community for speaking up for Christians after the violence in Jaranwala.  

“We seek swift and transparent justice that serves as a deterrent, ensuring that no one would dare to replicate such an incident in future,” Arshad said, adding that it was crucial to put an end to the abuse and disrespect of religions in Pakistan and worldwide.  

“Had our community responded with violence on that unfortunate day, it could have led to significant bloodshed, but our community consistently strives for peace during times of trouble,” he added. 


UN agency warns of Afghans dying in harsh winter without proper shelter after leaving Pakistan

UN agency warns of Afghans dying in harsh winter without proper shelter after leaving Pakistan
Updated 29 sec ago
Follow

UN agency warns of Afghans dying in harsh winter without proper shelter after leaving Pakistan

UN agency warns of Afghans dying in harsh winter without proper shelter after leaving Pakistan
  • Almost half a million Afghans have left Pakistan since early October, when Islamabad ordered illegal foreigners to leave 
  • The majority of them are from neighboring Afghanistan, though Islamabad insists policy doesn’t target specific nationality 

KABUL: The UN refugee agency has warned that Afghans could die in harsh winter conditions if they don’t get adequate shelter once they cross the border from Pakistan. 

Almost half a million Afghans have left Pakistan since early October, when the Islamabad government announced it would arrest and deport foreigners it said were in the country illegally. The overwhelming majority of them are from neighboring Afghanistan, though Islamabad insists the policy doesn’t target a specific nationality. 

The forced returns are piling pressure on Afghanistan and aid agencies, which are providing the bulk of essential services like health care. Freezing temperatures are setting in and conditions at the border remain dire. 

“Many Afghan returnees are vulnerable, including women and children, who could lose their lives in a harsh winter if left without adequate shelter,” the UN refugee agency said in a report published Friday. “People arriving at the border are exhausted and require urgent assistance as well as psychosocial support.” 

Families told the agency they were worried that colder winter temperatures in certain areas, particularly mountainous regions, may prevent them from returning home right away. 

“Many are arriving with illness, for example bronchitis, as a result of the cold weather and the difficult journey from Pakistan,” the agency said in a message to The Associated Press on Sunday. “They may not have all their belongings, including clothing, and therefore be unable to protect themselves from the elements.” 

It said that among those returning to Afghanistan are families who have never lived in the country. They have been living in Pakistan for one or more generations and may not have homes or extended family to return to. 

Cash to pay rent is needed, while families with some existing social networks could stay with family or friends. Others may return to homes needing repair. The agency said it will provide tents to such households. 

“For those who have nowhere to go, with limited means, they may stay in camps, established near the border,” the refugee agency said. 

A Taliban committee said it is distributing food, water, SIM cards, clothing and cash at two key border crossings: Torkham and Spin Boldak. Families are also learning about Afghanistan, the Islamic system, temporary living arrangements, registration and relocation, the committee said Sunday. 

But extreme temperatures and limited access to clean water and sanitation have led to a surge in infectious diseases and malnutrition. 

UN Women said there are additional challenges for Afghan women and girls leaving Pakistan as they have to deal with Taliban restrictions that could affect their mobility and access to information and services if they don’t have a male relative. It expressed similar concerns after October’s deadly earthquakes in Afghanistan’s west. 

The agency said around 80 percent of Afghans returning through Torkham and Spin Boldak are women and children. 

In its latest report, also published Friday, it said many women have lived through “distressing experiences” in Pakistan including being the victims of illegal detention, witnessing their spouse or family members be arrested, or being separated from relatives and returning to Afghanistan alone. 

Women told UN agencies they were “compelled” to hand their possessions over in exchange for transportation, leave all their belongings behind or saw their income taken by Pakistani authorities. 

The crackdown is hugely controversial and has drawn condemnation from rights groups, the Taliban, aid agencies and the UN 


At this Karachi restaurant, foodies love to savor chapli kebabs hot off the skillet

At this Karachi restaurant, foodies love to savor chapli kebabs hot off the skillet
Updated 30 min 58 sec ago
Follow

At this Karachi restaurant, foodies love to savor chapli kebabs hot off the skillet

At this Karachi restaurant, foodies love to savor chapli kebabs hot off the skillet
  • Chapli kebabs are a Pashtun staple, prepared at restaurants and homes in Afghanistan, Pakistan
  • Chapli kebabs are mutton or beef patties that are fried in a generous amount of ghee or fat

KARACHI: Abdul Wahid drops a round mixture of minced meat, maize flour, and spices into a pot sizzling with hot ghee in front of him. A couple of minutes pass before his assistant flips the finished kebabs onto a plate while a waiter attends to eager customers lining up for their takeout orders at a busy restaurant in Karachi. 

This is the scene one observes almost every night during the winter season at A-One restaurant in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi. Located in the bustling city’s Shah Faisal Colony area, it offers chapli kebabs, a popular staple cooked at roadside stands, sit-down restaurants and homes particularly in northwestern Pakistan and Afghanistan. 

Chapli kebabs are meat patties fried with a generous helping of animal fat or oil. The kebabs are mostly made from beef and mutton and are a mix of white cumin, carom seeds, dried coriander, pomegranate seeds, salt, green chilies, and tomatoes. Though the restaurant serves several popular food items such as chicken karahi dish, biryani and fish, A-One in Karachi has gained renown for its chapli kebabs over the years. 

“It [A-One] is famous for chapli kebab, which is our primary specialty,” Wahid told Arab News, noting that over the years, additional cuisines were later introduced to the menu. 

A-One occupies a large space now but the restaurant used to be a small shop in the ‘80s when it started. 

“Our Mr. Hajji Gohar Rahman, he started with a small shop,” Gul Muhammad Khan, the restaurant’s manager, told Arab News. “First of all, [the biggest success factor] is Allah’s Grace, then his honesty, and then his hard work gave us an entire complex of Peshawari chapli kebabs.” 

The first chef of the restaurant, 95-year-old Saeed Khan, brought the popular original chapli kebab recipe from Pakistan’s northwestern Peshawar city, said Khan. 

“This is our original recipe; it’s Peshawari,” he added. 

Abdul Wahid, the current chef, said what separates A-One’s chapli kebabs from the ones offered at other eateries, is that they are made from high-quality meat. 

“We use the meat of the leg only,” Wahid told Arab News. “We use high-quality, hygienic meat, which is why the quality that we started with hasn’t changed.” 

Despite being a dish traditionally associated with Pakistan’s ethnic Pashtun community, people of various ethnicities savor chapli kebabs at the restaurant, praising its authentic taste.

“People from every community eat,” Gul Muhammad Khan, the manager, told Arab News. 

“Their friends bring them here specifically to introduce them to a new taste, and those who eat, really enjoy it.” 

Zahid Jamal, a frequent customer, selected the venue to celebrate his daughter Safiya’s birthday this weekend. 

“Today is my daughter Safiya’s birthday, so we thought about going out for dinner,” Jamal told Arab News. “We decided to go to A-One as its chapli kebabs are very famous. So, we came here and enjoyed our meal. It was very good.” 

Another regular customer, Aimen Azam, said she regularly sends an uncooked blend of kebabs to her brother in Dubai. 

“Last month, I sent some uncooked chapli kebabs to my brother in Dubai,” Azam told Arab News. “I sent him about 6kg in uncooked form last month, and he had it with his friends there.” 


Hundreds of Pakistani doctors, paramedics in Karachi march for cease-fire in Gaza

Hundreds of Pakistani doctors, paramedics in Karachi march for cease-fire in Gaza
Updated 14 min 43 sec ago
Follow

Hundreds of Pakistani doctors, paramedics in Karachi march for cease-fire in Gaza

Hundreds of Pakistani doctors, paramedics in Karachi march for cease-fire in Gaza
  • Hundreds of lawyers, paramedics march from Karachi’s National Stadium signal to Liaquat National Hospital
  • March attended by members of Pakistani medical associations, interim Sindh health minister, Jamaat-e-Islami leaders

KARACHI: Hundreds of Pakistani doctors and paramedics marched in the southern port city of Karachi on Sunday to protest against Israel’s war in Gaza, demanding an immediate cease-fire amid the deteriorating human rights situation in Palestine.

The march took place in Pakistan’s commercial hub as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid increasing Israeli hostilities in Gaza. On Sunday afternoon, the Gaza health ministry said almost 18,000 Palestinians had now been killed by the Israeli military since Oct. 7.

Pakistani journalists, rights activists and celebrities have been consistently calling for an end to Israeli bombardment in Gaza and demanding an immediate cease-fire. On Sunday evening, a large number of doctors and paramedics took out a “White Coat March” from Karachi’s National Stadium signal to Liaquat National Hospital, calling for an end to Israel’s “war crimes.”

The event, which was organized by the Karachi Medical Forum, was attended by Interim Sindh Health Minister Saad Khalid Niaz, leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami religious party, Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA), and members of the Palestine Foundation in the country.

“Today in Karachi, thousands of doctors marched, demanding immediate end to human rights violations, bombing of civilian areas— particularly hospitals,” PIMA wrote on social media platform X.

Hundreds of doctors can be seen in several video clips on social media platforms, marching as they held up placards that read: “Where are human rights? Where is the Geneva Convention?”

Several other placards read: “Doctors, unite for Gaza.”

In a statement, the JI said its Karachi leader Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman appreciated Pakistani doctors for highlighting Israeli war crimes in Gaza.

“He [Rehman] said that by all means, Israel is an illegitimate, terrorist state whereas Hamas is fighting for the liberation of her homeland,” the statement added.

On Sunday, Pakistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said Israel’s “purposeful” targeting of Palestinians in Gaza violated all standards of human rights and was a breach of international law.

His statement came as the world marked International Human Rights Day. Pakistan does not recognize the state of Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.


Punjab chief minister kicks off cleanliness drive in Lahore to combat smog

Punjab chief minister kicks off cleanliness drive in Lahore to combat smog
Updated 10 December 2023
Follow

Punjab chief minister kicks off cleanliness drive in Lahore to combat smog

Punjab chief minister kicks off cleanliness drive in Lahore to combat smog
  • Lahore, considered Pakistan’s cultural capital, has been blanketed in thick haze since onset of winters
  • Punjab chief minister deploys four teams with one hundred members each to clear roads off dust

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi kicked off a cleanliness drive in smog-hit Lahore on Sunday, in a bid to clear the dust off the roads as thick haze hangs heavy in the provincial capital of Punjab.

Lahore, a city that houses over 11 million residents, has been blanketed in thick haze that partially blocks the sun and shrouds streets with fog at night. The problem is aggravated during the winter season, as temperature inversion prevents a layer of warm air from rising and traps pollutants closer to the ground.

Heavy smog has forced authorities in Punjab to announce several measures, including lockdowns, school closures, changing business hours for markets, and cracking down on smoke-emitting vehicles and industries since November.

Thousands of people in Lahore, children in particular, have suffered from respiratory issues due to the smog since the onset of winter.

“Taking another step to combat smog in Lahore,” Naqvi wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

“A cleanliness drive has started today, deploying four teams with 100 members each to clear the roads from dust.”

 

The caretaker chief minister said the initiative was aimed at improving Lahore’s air quality “without impacting traffic flow.”

The state-run Radio Pakistan said in a post that the campaign encourages citizens’ participation and emphasizes the responsibility of the community in “fostering a cleaner and greener Lahore.”

“By combining targeted actions with a commitment to minimal disruption, the government aims to set a precedent for effective and responsible governance in environmental management,” Radio Pakistan said.

Lahore topped the world’s most polluted city index several times in November, consistently having an air quality index (AQI) above 300, according to Swiss group IQAir.

The AQI is a standardized tool measuring air pollutants, serving as a crucial barometer for public health. An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered ‘unhealthy’, particularly for sensitive groups while an AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be ‘very unhealthy’ and above 300 is ‘hazardous.’


Pakistani entrepreneur honored with UK’s MBE eyes ‘innovative approaches’ for sustainable future

Pakistani entrepreneur honored with UK’s MBE eyes ‘innovative approaches’ for sustainable future
Updated 10 December 2023
Follow

Pakistani entrepreneur honored with UK’s MBE eyes ‘innovative approaches’ for sustainable future

Pakistani entrepreneur honored with UK’s MBE eyes ‘innovative approaches’ for sustainable future
  • Faraz Khan was conferred with Order of the British Empire award last month for his services to UK-Pakistan relations
  • Khan is CEO and partner of tech and data advisory firm Spectreco which simplifies, accelerates sustainability transitions

KARACHI: Pakistani entrepreneur Faraz Khan, who was conferred with the prestigious Order of the British Empire (MBE) award in November for his services to UK-Pakistan relations, said on Sunday he plans to introduce “innovative approaches” in the fields of impact investment and climate advocacy for a more sustainable future. 

Prince William conferred the MBE award on Khan during a ceremony at Windsor Castle in November for his “services to UK/Pakistan relations,” the UK government said on its website. Khan is the chief executive officer (CEO) and partner at Spectreco— a technology, data, and advisory firm that simplifies and accelerates sustainability and economic, social, and governance (ESG) transitions.

Born in Pakistan’s southwestern Quetta city, Khan earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Karachi, before traveling to the UK for his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Lincoln University from 1998-2000. 

According to Faraz, he has over 25 years of experience in multi-stakeholder investments, ESG policy, and impact development. He is also the founder and director of Social, Entrepreneurship & Equity Development (SEED) Ventures, an investment and impact development organization in emerging markets. 

As per his LinkedIn profile, Khan has transformed the group into a sustainable organization, which has achieved a turnover of $40 million for SEED and its portfolio companies over the past decade.

“I view this honor as a catalyst for fostering collaborative opportunities and partnerships that will contribute significantly to the sustainable development of both nations,” Khan said about the MBE award, speaking to Arab News over the phone from Dubai. 

He added that the MBE award underscored the positive impact of his endeavors in strengthening ties between Pakistan and the UK in ESG and climate advocacy.

“I am actively exploring innovative approaches in the realms of impact investment, social enterprise, and climate advocacy,” he said. “To address the evolving challenges our world faces. I am committed to advancing initiatives that align with our vision for a sustainable future.”

Impact investments are investments made to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return.

Khan said the realization that every action can bring about a “positive ripple effect” became the driving force behind his commitment to the fields of impact investment and social enterprise.

The Pakistani entrepreneur hoped Spectreco would contribute to a “greener, more resilient” future. 

“In the urgent landscape of climate action, we champion ESG initiatives, spearhead climate investments, and navigate the complex terrains of sustainable development, propelling Spectreco as a torchbearer in the global pursuit of a greener, more resilient future.”