Rampant drug use fuels divorce rate, ruins hundreds of families in coastal Karachi village

Special Rampant drug use fuels divorce rate, ruins hundreds of families in coastal Karachi village
The picture, taken on July 14, 2024, shows Arab News reporter Naimat Khan talking to Maryam Ameer, who was divorced by her drug-addicted husband, in Karachi's Rehri Goth neighborhood. (AN photo)
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Updated 18 July 2024
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Rampant drug use fuels divorce rate, ruins hundreds of families in coastal Karachi village

Rampant drug use fuels divorce rate, ruins hundreds of families in coastal Karachi village
  • Rehri Goth has a population of nearly 70,000 and is primarily home to ethnic Sindhi fisherfolk
  • The coastal village has been a hub for drug peddlers, with addicts often lining its shabby streets

KARACHI: Maryam Ameer’s world fell apart when her 22-year-old son, an addict, threatened his wife with divorce. His words brought back painful memories from 20 years ago when her husband abandoned her due to his own drug use.

Ameer fought through years of hardship alone to raise her two sons, but now history seemed to be repeating itself, only with different characters and the same underlying cause of her suffering: the rampant flow of drugs into her coastal village in Karachi.

Rehri Goth, with a population of nearly 70,000, is primarily home to ethnic Sindhi fisherfolk and dates back to the 13th century. The coastal village has become a hub for drug peddlers in recent decades, with hundreds of addicts often lining its shabby streets.

“He says ‘I will divorce my wife too,’” 40-year-old Ameer said, taking a sigh and pausing her sewing machine, her sole source of income in all these years. “There is no one who may put an end to drugs [in this village]. [The lives of] Our sons are being destroyed because of this.”

Her voice tinged with grief as she recalled the moment her husband abandoned her.

“Life has been ruined for all women just because of these men,” she added. “They are not willing to quit this addiction.”

The rising divorce rate in Rehri Goth alarmed social worker Nawaz Ali, who married a woman divorced by an addict. This prompted him to conduct a manual survey in all eight neighborhoods of the village, uncovering some shocking facts.

“I compiled a list that included the names of 850 [divorced] women,” Ali told Arab News, adding: “There is no place [in this neighborhood] where you will not find divorced women.”

In a recent incident, Ali said a 14-year-old girl committed suicide after her parents forced her to marry a boy who was a drug addict.

Arab News interviewed around 20 women in the coastal town who were divorced by their drug-addicted husbands.

“My husband left me. He was also addicted,” said 29-year-old Shahida, who goes by a single name.

Her husband divorced her last week, leaving their infant daughter in her lap. Shahida’s elderly father, who catches crabs and other seafood for a living, now bears their expenses.

“It’s very difficult to manage the expenses of children,” she said.

While interviewing these women last Sunday, Arab News witnessed drug transactions openly taking place in the streets of Rehri Goth, but none of the addicts agreed to speak about the drug distribution network in the locality.

“Here, this whole area is infested with drugs. Wherever I sit, it’s a den of drugs,” said Mushtaq Ahmed, a police officer administering a drug rehabilitation center run by the Sindh police in Rehri Goth. “If you look around, you’ll see drugs being sold everywhere.”

Frequent police actions have failed to dismantle the network of drug peddlers and most of them vanish in the narrow streets at the sight of the law enforcers, according to Ahmed.

Kashif Aftab Ahmad Abbasi, senior superintendent of police (SSP), said they had “zero tolerance” for drug peddlers in Karachi’s Malir district, where Rehri Goth is located. He cited various drug busts in June, including seizures of 704 grams of ice, 3.41 kilograms of heroin, 52.189 kgs of charas and 51 bottles of wine, with cases registered against the offenders.

Nevertheless, drug dealers continue to occupy the streets, significantly affecting the community, particularly women.

“We don’t produce it at home, someone is supplying it from the outside,” said Hurmat Muhammad Rafiq, a social worker in her 40s who launched a campaign against the menace of drugs after her own son became an addict. “Someone or the other is supplying it. That’s why this [drug addiction] is growing.”

In addition to drugs, Rafiq said, early marriages were also contributing to the rising divorce rate in the area.

“Don’t marry off children at a young age. Let them grow up first, then arrange marriages for them,” she urged, after discussing a campaign plan with women in the neighborhood. “If they get married now [at an early age], within five to six months, they end up divorced.”

The men, who were addicted to drugs, had no regard for their wives, according to Rafiq.

“The husband comes back after smoking a cigarette, exhales smoke, and asks the wife if there is food or not. [She] says no, he kicks her and says, ‘I divorce you’,” she recounted.

“What is that poor woman supposed to do now?”


Pakistan police arrest key suspect in gang rape of woman polio worker

Pakistan police arrest key suspect in gang rape of woman polio worker
Updated 58 sec ago
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Pakistan police arrest key suspect in gang rape of woman polio worker

Pakistan police arrest key suspect in gang rape of woman polio worker
  • Three men assaulted woman polio worker during last week’s vaccination campaign in Jacobabad district
  • Anti-polio campaigns in Pakistan are regularly marred by violence by militant groups opposed to them 

MULTAN, Pakistan: Pakistani police arrested the key suspect in the gang rape of a woman polio worker who was assaulted by three men during last week’s vaccination campaign, officials said Wednesday. Two other suspects are still at large.

The assault on Thursday in Jacobabad, a district in the southern Sindh province, was one in a spate of attacks targeting polio vaccination teams going door to door in the campaign across Pakistan.

The woman who was attacked had alerted the authorities, saying she was raped by three men after going into a house in Jacobabad to administer polio drops to the children there, local police official Mohammad Saifal said.

The suspect, identified as Ahmad Jakhrani, was arrested overnight, Saifal added.

Police are still seeking the arrest of the two other men, accused of taking turns to assault the woman, Saifal said. A local police chief was fired for negligence following the attack, for failing to provide the polio worker with adequate security.

The attack shocked many Pakistanis as such sexual assaults are rare, though women polio workers have complained of harassment in the past during the campaigns. The provincial government in Sindh has said it would fully investigate the case.

Police also detained the husband of the attacked woman for kicking her out of their home and threatening to kill her after the assault over allegedly tarnishing the family’s honor by being raped.

So-called honor killings, in which women and girls are slain by their own relatives for allegedly dishonoring the family’s reputation, are still common in Pakistan.

Saifal also said police have been deployed to the house where the woman was now staying with her relatives for her protection.

Anti-polio campaigns in Pakistan are regularly marred by violence. Militants often target polio vaccination teams and police assigned to protect them, falsely claiming that the campaigns are a Western conspiracy to sterilize children.

Since January, Pakistan has reported 17 new cases of polio, jeopardizing decades of efforts to eliminate the potentially fatal, paralyzing disease from the country. Polio often strikes children under age 5 and typically spreads through contaminated water.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries in which the spread of polio has never been stopped. Pakistan’s government is planning another polio vaccination drive in October.


Pakistan PM accepts King Charles’ invitation to attend Commonwealth summit in Samoa 

Pakistan PM accepts King Charles’ invitation to attend Commonwealth summit in Samoa 
Updated 56 min 19 sec ago
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Pakistan PM accepts King Charles’ invitation to attend Commonwealth summit in Samoa 

Pakistan PM accepts King Charles’ invitation to attend Commonwealth summit in Samoa 
  • King Charles III invites Sharif to Commonwealth summit during telephone call
  • Leaders to discuss global economic and environmental challenges during October summit

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif on Wednesday accepted an invitation by British King Charles III to attend an upcoming Commonwealth summit in Samoa, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said, reiterating his country’s commitment to the international association. 

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2024 (CHOGM) will take place in Apia, Samoa from October 21-26, 2024. This will be the first time that King Charles III will head a meeting of the global association since becoming king. 

According to the Commonwealth’s website, leaders will deliberate on global economic, environmental and security challenges during the summit. They will also discuss how Commonwealth countries can work together to build resilience, boost trade, innovation, growth and empower the 1.5 billion young people who live in member states. 

Sharif received the invitation over a telephone call from the British king on Wednesday, the PMO said, adding that the Pakistani premier described it as a “significant moment in the history of the Commonwealth.”

“Prime Minister Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the Commonwealth and the values enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter,” the PMO said. 

He noted the UK monarch’s longstanding interest in environmental issues and initiatives for climate sustainability. The Pakistani premier said he looked forward to engaging with Commonwealth leaders on climate change as Pakistan is “highly vulnerable” to its impacts.

Unusually heavy rains and the melting of glaciers in June 2022 triggered flash floods in many parts of the country. Over 1,700 people were killed as large swathes of crops were destroyed and critical infrastructure was damaged. Pakistan estimated losses of over $30 billion from the floods. 

Sharif also expressed his best wishes for the king’s health and for Catherine Middleton, the princess of Wales, who announced in May that was suffering from cancer. 

“Recalling the fond memories of the King’s last visit to Pakistan, when he was the Prince of Wales, the Prime Minister hoped that the King and Her Majesty The Queen would visit Pakistan soon,” the PMO said. 

Pakistan is a member of the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 56 countries out of which the vast majority are former British territories.

The governments of Commonwealth countries pledge to promote common objectives such as development, democracy and peace.


Pakistan co-sponsors resolution at UN for implementation of ICJ verdict against Israel

Pakistan co-sponsors resolution at UN for implementation of ICJ verdict against Israel
Updated 18 September 2024
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Pakistan co-sponsors resolution at UN for implementation of ICJ verdict against Israel

Pakistan co-sponsors resolution at UN for implementation of ICJ verdict against Israel
  • Proposal demands Israel’s ‘unconditional’ withdrawal from Palestinian territories, reparation for damage
  • Pakistan does not recognize the state of Israel and calls for an independent and viable Palestinian state

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan co-sponsored a draft resolution presented at the United Nations on Tuesday, seeking the implementation of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion on the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

The ICJ declared Israel’s settlement policy in the West Bank and East Jerusalem a violation of international law in July, issuing its non-binding advisory opinion on the legality of Israel’s 57-year occupation of Palestinian lands.

Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip during the 1967 War. The Palestinians seek all three areas for an independent state.

“Pakistan has co-sponsored the draft resolution … which seeks to implement the conclusions of the ICJ,” said Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Munir Akram, during the Tenth Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly.

“The ICJ’s advisory opinion marks a milestone of justice, an expression of equity, and a flame of hope,” he added.

Akram highlighted the resolution demanded Israel’s “immediate, complete, and unconditional” withdrawal from Palestinian territories, reparations for the damage caused, an immediate end to its unlawful policies, compliance with ICJ orders and the assurance of Palestinians’ right to self-determination.

The Pakistani diplomat said the draft resolution also recommended holding Israel accountable for its violations of international law and bearing legal consequences for all its “wrongful” actions by establishing an “international register of damage” to assist in reparations.

Pakistan does not recognize the state of Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters.”

The ICJ ruling came against the backdrop of Israel’s devastating 11-month military assault on Gaza, which began last October. The world court also found Israel’s use of natural resources in the occupied territories “inconsistent” with its obligations under international law as an occupying power.


British Council launches £15,000 grants for Pakistani artists to tackle climate change

British Council launches £15,000 grants for Pakistani artists to tackle climate change
Updated 18 September 2024
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British Council launches £15,000 grants for Pakistani artists to tackle climate change

British Council launches £15,000 grants for Pakistani artists to tackle climate change
  • Pakistan ranks as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change, says the Global Climate Risk Index
  • The council’s country director says arts have a crucial role to play in addressing climate crisis

ISLAMABAD: The British Council has launched a new program for cultural organizations and artists in Pakistan, awarding grants of up to £15,000 to address the climate change emergency, aiming to promote sustainable projects and practices within the country, said a statement on Wednesday.
The program is part of an initiative to support climate action by providing grants to South Asian artists and cultural organizations in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, with mentorship sessions offered to selected grantees by UK specialists throughout the project’s course.
According to the Global Climate Risk Index, Pakistan ranks as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change, with its susceptibility to extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and heatwaves, which have significant impacts on agriculture, infrastructure and public health.
“A new initiative from the British Council aimed at supporting climate action in the creative industries in Pakistan is now open for applications,” the statement said on Wednesday. “The Climate Futures: South Asia program is designed to support the arts sector with grants of £15,000 available to artists and cultural organizations.”
The statement added that the program would support artist-led initiatives promoting “knowledge creation” and cultural sector sustainability, designing and implementing capacity-building initiatives, and “optimizing infrastructure to enhance climate change awareness and sustainable approaches within the arts sector.”
The deadline for all applications is November 25 at 4:59 am PST, the statement said, highlighting that successful applicants would have the opportunity to “make a significant impact on the global climate conversation through their projects.”
“We believe that the arts have a crucial role to play in addressing the climate crisis,” British Council Pakistan’s Country Director James Hampson said. “Climate Futures: South Asia is an exciting opportunity for artists and cultural organizations to lead the way and drive forward innovative projects that will inspire change.”
The British Council will also host a series of information sessions on October 8 and 22 to guide applicants through the application process and help them maximize their chances of securing funding.


Karachi’s oldest lockup, Jackson Police Station, evolves as city sprawls

Karachi’s oldest lockup, Jackson Police Station, evolves as city sprawls
Updated 18 September 2024
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Karachi’s oldest lockup, Jackson Police Station, evolves as city sprawls

Karachi’s oldest lockup, Jackson Police Station, evolves as city sprawls
  • Founded in 1924, Jackson is used to hold petty criminals and suspects in serious crimes before they are presented in court, sentenced
  • Proximity to Keamari Port means lockup sees all manner of suspects in cases of smuggling, illegal fishing, murder and drug trafficking

KARACHI: The Jackson Police Station, founded in 1924, is the oldest surviving police station in the Pakistani megacity of Karachi. Once known as a temporary lockup for petty criminals, it has evolved over the decades into a key facility to hold suspects involved in serious crimes like murder, armed robbery and drug trafficking in a bustling port area of the country’s commercial hub.
As the population of Karachi, Pakistan’s largest and most populous city, has surged from 244,000 to over 20 million in the last century, so too has the nature of crimes. The Jackson Police Station — which is used to house suspects before they are produced in courts or convicted and sentenced to prison — has kept up pace.
“While the lockup has been in existence for the past 100 years, its guests have changed over time,” Station House Master Muhammad Ishaq told Arab News.
Fifty years ago, the criminals brought to the lockup may have pick-pocketed a few hundred rupees or nicked schoolbooks from a nearby shop, but now, people accused of violent murders are brought in and a drug dealer was recently holed up there after being caught with nearly 58 kilograms of narcotics.
“Similarly, we’ve apprehended robbers and those involved in oil theft from the [nearby] refinery,” Ishaq said.
The area where Jackson Police Station is located on Napier Mole Road near Karachi’s Keamari Port is one of the city’s most dynamic and densely populated regions, a dizzying mishmash of residential, commercial, and industrial zones.
Due to its proximity to the port, offenses such as smuggling, illegal fishing and other maritime-related crimes are common in the area. Issues of street crime, narcotics, and public order are also standard-fare in the Keamari region, home to a diverse population of dock workers, traders and various ethnic communities.
Peerzada Salman, the author of ‘Legacies of Empires’ about colonial-era buildings in Karachi, said most of the buildings in Keamari were built before the partition of the Indian Subcontinent and the end of British colonial rule in 1947. 
The police station and a nearby market were named after either of two prominent Jacksons of Karachi, Salman said: one, the principal of DJ College and the other a prominent pharmacy owner.
“PRISON CONDITIONS”
According to documents seen by Arab News, the police station existed before 1933.
“In 1924, the first police post or police station [of Karachi] was established here, and its building is still there in front of you, and it also has a plaque from that time,” SHO Ishaq said. “We also have records of the SHOs from after 1935 onwards.
“From the very beginning, it has a lockup and an arms depot where weapons are stored securely. It has a bunker [as well]. All of this indicates that the building was originally constructed precisely to be used as a police station.”
But the condition of the lockup has long been a point of concern.
Pakistan has one of the world’s most overcrowded prison systems, according to Human Rights Watch, which said in a report released last year that the South Asian nation’s more than 100 jails had at least 88,000 inmates, against the officially approved capacity of 65,168. Some jail cells, the report said, were holding as many as 15 prisoners when they were designed for just three. 
Prisoners are forced to live under unsanitary conditions and “lice, fleas, scabies and skin diseases are common in prison,” it said.
Other than the lack of health care facilities in prisons, the report also highlighted rights abuses faced by the prisoners, including torture, discrimination and lack of access to legal aid.
Prisons are also under-resourced, experts say, and efforts at reform are stymied by ingrained attitudes of discrimination, among other reasons.
Jibran Nasir, a lawyer and human rights activist, criticized the state of lockups across Pakistan, describing them as “overcrowded, poorly ventilated, smelly, and lacking basic amenities like washrooms and bedding.”
 “Suspects are held temporarily, but their detention can be extended during physical remands. Often, they have no contact with family members who could provide essentials like pillows or clean clothes,” Nasir said.
But SHO Ishaq said “standard operating procedures” at Jackson were “of the same level and methods in the whole of Pakistan.”
“Safety, security, cleanliness and the facilities that should be provided to the accused, they are all there, because we hate the crime, not the suspect,” the police officer said, adding that greater attention was now being paid to the cleanliness and hygiene of the police station.
Salman, whose book has a dedicated chapter on Jackson, also said there was room for improvement.
Apart from playing a “vital role” in policing, the station was also part of the city’s cultural heritage and along with other buildings in the vicinity needed upkeep, the historian said.
“The Jackson Police Station, I think, is in pretty good shape. Still, it needs a bit of restoration, a bit of refurbishment … The facade looks good, but obviously the inner area needs a bit of touch-up.”