Quetta, Oct 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) The family of a school teacher killed in Balochistan’s Pasni has accused Pakistani forces of shielding suspects named in the case and warned that they would block the Makran Coastal Highway if no action was taken, a report said.

Citing local sources, The Balochistan Post reported that the children of slain teacher Parvez Mazar were among the residents who gathered outside the Pasni Press Club to demand justice.

“Parvez Mazar, an Arabic-language teacher at Government High School Babbar Shor, was found dead in Pasni on Wednesday, a day after he was allegedly abducted in front of his family,” the report stated.

Mazar’s relatives blamed an armed group, which they called a state-backed “death squad”, for his abduction, alleging that he was taken to a private torture cell and killed there.

“The protesters alleged that suspects named in the First Information Report (FIR) were being sheltered by Pakistani forces and demanded that they be handed over to the police,” the report added.

Meanwhile, in Quetta, relatives of missing persons continued their sit-in against enforced disappearances outside the Press Club, as the protest camp of the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) completed 6,390 days on Friday with relatives of more victims like father and brother of Kamran Khan joining the demonstration to demand information about the whereabouts of their loved ones.

“According to his family, Kamran Khan was detained by Pakistani forces from Killi Kashmirabad on Qambrani Road in Quetta on April 1, 2026, and taken to an undisclosed location,” the Balochistan Post said.

VBMP chairman Nasrullah Baloch said a government commission had registered Kamran’s case and sent notices to the institutions concerned, and urged an end to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in the province.

“He said that if any disappeared person was accused of an offence, the authorities should produce them before a court in accordance with the law, rather than leaving their families in prolonged uncertainty,” the report noted.

Separately, Sammi Deen Baloch, a central leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), described forced displacement, demolition of homes and curbs on access to basic necessities in Balochistan as grave violations of the fundamental rights of local communities.

“Forcibly displacing people from their land can neither establish lasting peace nor provide genuine security,” Sammi, whose father Deen Muhammad Baloch was forcibly disappeared, said in a statement.

She said two decades of forced displacement had cost thousands of families their ancestral land, homes and livelihoods, with fresh incidents this year from Mastung to Gwadar, while prolonged curfews and road closures in Zehri, Mashkay and Zamuran had cut off access to food and other essentials for months.

Source: IANS

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New York, Oct 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent nonprofit organisation that promotes press freedom worldwide, has urged the authorities in Pakistan to withdraw sweeping restrictions imposed on television network broadcasts asserting that journalists and media workers must be able to report breaking news and current affairs independently, free from fear of legal retaliation, and in the public interest.

On October 13, the CPJ highlighted while citing details from a directive issued by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), that all satellite television channels have been told to refrain from broadcasting, rebroadcasting, or airing live coverage of any “unfortunate” or “unpleasant” incident, including explosions, blasts, shootings, and terrorist attacks.

It said that PEMRA has warned of legal action against broadcasters that don’t comply with the order and they can only air information that has been verified by the relevant government departments or law enforcement agencies.

According to the directive, broadcasters must also use time delays and maintain independent editorial boards.

"The Committee to Protect Journalists urges Pakistan authorities to withdraw sweeping restrictions preventing television network broadcasts from airing live coverage of terrorist attacks and other vaguely defined 'unpleasant' incidents. Journalists and media workers must be able to report breaking news and current affairs independently, free from fear of legal retaliation, and in the public interest," a statement issued by the committee stated.

"Preventing journalists from independent reporting of major security incidents and requiring them to rely on information authorised by state and security agencies risks turning legitimate safety safeguards into a system of official information control and censorship," added Waliullah Rahmani, CPJ’s Afghanistan and Pakistan representative.

Pakistani authorities, he said, must rescind these sweeping restrictions and allow newsrooms to make responsible editorial decisions without fear of regulatory retaliation.

As per CPJ, the directive reiterates restrictions on television channels first issued in February 2023 by PEMRA, which accused TV channels of broadcasting unverified and speculative information during militant attacks.

In August, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued guidelines requiring foreign journalists and their associates in Pakistan, as well as those working with international media, to register with the ministry and obtain a certificate before undertaking reporting assignments outside Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi.

"The latest directive comes after heightened political-security instability in Pakistan, including the imposition of emergency rule in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting did not respond to CPJ’s email seeking comment," the committee stated.

Source: IANS

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Dhaka, Oct 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan's Shehbaz Sharif government has become a "prisoner of Imran Khan phobia", a report has stated, while accusing the "captive government" of pushing the country towards a civilian dictatorship. The government is unwilling to risk releasing the jailed former Prime Minister and is not even prepared to transfer him to a hospital.

Had the Supreme Court’s August 18 decision to transfer Imran Khan to Al-Shifa Hospital in Islamabad been implemented, there would have been neither Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after suspending the provincial government led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) nor a long march by the party, a report in leading Bangladeshi daily 'Porthom Alo' mentioned earlier this week.

“Whether anyone accepts it or not, the truth is that Pakistan’s politics revolves around a man who has been imprisoned in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail for the past three years. The name of this prisoner is Imran Khan. On 18 August, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered that Imran Khan be transferred to Al-Shifa Hospital in Islamabad within two days. Ignoring this order, Shehbaz Sharif’s government gave Imran Khan a tour of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and locked him back up in Adiala Jail,” the report mentioned.

“Sohail Afridi, Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, belongs to Imran Khan’s party, Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Afridi announced a long march toward Islamabad for Imran Khan’s release. To stop the march, the federal government began negotiations with PTI. But Afridi said that if Imran Khan tells them to stop the long march, they will stop. The federal government did not agree. Holding Afridi responsible for the failure of the talks, it decided to impose Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” it detailed.

Although Pakistan has a history of imposing Governor’s Rule in its provinces, the consequences have often been deeply painful. Sadly, the country appears to be repeating the same troubled past, the report said.

While Sohail Afridi’s march sought Imran Khan’s release, Shehbaz Sharif has embarked on a political march of his own, one that it said is steering Pakistan towards civilian dictatorship.

“The Shehbaz Sharif government’s position is that whatever they are doing, they are doing within the Constitution. The Constitution also commands them to implement the Supreme Court’s orders, but where the Constitution becomes an obstacle in their path, they ignore it. Where the Constitution serves the fulfillment of their political agenda, they become champions of the Constitution. Imran Khan used to do much the same,” the report noted.

Source: IANS

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Dhaka, Oct 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) As Bangladesh grapples with an unprecedented measles outbreak, five more children died from symptoms of the disease on Friday, pushing the death toll in 2026 to 1,186 this year, local media reported.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the deaths were reported in the 24 hours leading up to Friday morning.

The latest five fatalities from the disease were identified as suspected, Bangladeshi media outlet UNB reported.

Reports suggest that while the number of confirmed deaths remained at 104, the total number of suspected deaths climbed to 1,082.

The DGHS recorded a total of 1,1164 new suspected measles cases during the 24-hour period, bringing the overall tally of suspected cases to 211,040.

Additionally, 46 new confirmed cases were reported, increasing the total to 22,972 during the same period.

Despite Bangladesh reinstating vaccine procurement through UNICEF in April, followed by an emergency vaccination drive, the epidemic is unlikely to be quickly contained given the speed of transmission, said Be-nazir Ahmed, former director of disease control at DGHS, last week, Bangladesh's leading newspaper ‘The Daily Star’ reported.

Last month, public health experts linked the resurgence to gaps in previous vaccination coverage and shortcomings in hospital and patient management, including delays in detecting infected children and isolating them at home.

Speaking to 'The Daily Star', public health expert Mushtuq Husain said children generally need three to four weeks after vaccination to develop sufficient immunity. “Therefore, the current wave of infections, hospitalisations and deaths may continue for at least another month,” he added.

Earlier, a leading international advocacy group described the 2026 measles outbreak as one of Bangladesh’s worst public health crisis in recent history, highlighting the concern that the disease is preventable through vaccination.

In its report titled ‘Preventable Tragedy: Bangladesh's 2026 Measles Outbreak’, Canada-based Global Centre for Democratic Governance (GCDG) said that although the measles outbreak appeared sudden to the public, it was not an unexpected event from an "epidemiological perspective".

The report noted that the crisis resulted from a combination of disruptions to vaccine supply and health programs in 2024-2025 during the former interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, along with missed routine vaccinations, cancellations of scheduled supplementary immunisation programmes, administrative delays in vaccine procurement, and a failure to promptly identify at-risk populations.

Source: IANS

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Quetta, Oct 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Baloch Republican Guards (BRG) on Friday claimed responsibility for the killing of six Pakistani military personnel during a highway blockade in Balochistan’s Sibi district, local media reported.

A police station was blown up in a separate attack in Chagai district.

In a statement, BRG spokesperson Dostain Baloch said its fighters blocked the main highway in Sibi’s Mithri area on Thursday and searched vehicles that passed through the area.

According to the BRG, Pakistani forces tried to advance during the highway blockade, leading to a prolonged clash in which six personnel were killed on the spot and several others wounded, The Balochistan Post reported.

The spokesperson said that the fighters subsequently took control of a nearby police post after its personnel fled, seized equipment and motorcycles, and set the facility ablaze.

Reiterating the group’s commitment to its armed struggle, he said, “Our operations of this kind will continue until Balochistan achieves complete independence.”

Meanwhile, in Balochistan’s Chagai district, armed men seized the Yakmach police station early Thursday and blew up the building using explosives.

Police officials said the attackers took control of the station, planted a large quantity of explosives and detonated them, completely destroying the structure. No casualties were reported.

The attackers also opened fire on several security cameras in Yakmach Bazaar, destroying them. However, no group had claimed responsibility for the attacks in Yakmach.

The latest attack comes against the backdrop of a spate of incidents in Yakmach and nearby areas. On October 5, armed fighters blocked the Quetta–Taftan highway before setting ablaze a National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) office, with the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) later claiming responsibility for the attack.

Earlier this week, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for 16 attacks across different regions in Balochistan over the last six days targeting Pakistani forces, which resulted in the deaths of dozens of personnel and injuries to several others.

In a statement on Monday, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch claimed that the group conducted multiple operations from October 7 to 12, targeting military convoys, involving improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and sniper attacks, blocking highways, and attacking men it accused of working for Pakistan's military.

Source: IANS

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Dhaka, Oct 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) As many as 34 incidents of violence, including attacks on temples, vandalism of idols and other forms of violence, have been recorded at Durga Puja venues across Bangladesh ahead of the community’s biggest religious festival, local media reported citing two Hindu organisations.

Seeking stronger protection for religious and ethnic minorities, the two organisations, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and the Mahanagar Sarbojanin Puja Committee, urged the authorities to take effective measures to prevent further attacks and ensure their security throughout the year.

The demand was raised at a press conference organised by the two bodies at the Dhakeshwari National Temple complex in Dhaka on Thursday, ahead of Sharadiya Durga Puja, leading Bangladeshi daily Dhaka Tribune reported.

Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad General Secretary, Santosh Sharma, said: “This year, the notable development is that a total of 34 incidents involving idol vandalism, attacks on temples and other related incidents have been reported so far.”

The leaders expressed hope that Durga Puja would be celebrated peacefully and without any untoward incidents, emphasising that religious festivals should bring together people from all communities and uphold Bangladesh’s tradition of communal harmony.

According to the statement issued by the organisations, several districts, including Sylhet, Rajbari, Panchagarh, Netrokona and Tangail, have witnessed incidents of idol vandalism and attacks on temples during preparations for the festival.

The statement also highlighted a theft at a historic Kali temple in Faridpur and incidents of attacks and looting at homes, shops and temples belonging to members of the Hindu community in Sunamganj.

It also cited a robbery in Naogaon involving people who allegedly impersonated intelligence agency personnel.

The leaders stressed the need to strengthen secular values and build greater social resistance against communal violence.

“Security for five days of Puja is not enough; security must be ensured for 365 days a year,” the leaders said, stressing that building a discrimination-free Bangladesh required upholding secular values and ensuring justice for those responsible for violence.

The latest incident highlighted a troubling surge in attacks on Hindu temples and minority communities across Bangladesh, a trend that began during the former Muhammad Yunus-led interim government and has persisted under the current Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) administration.

Earlier this week, Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) documented 498 reported incidents affecting religious and ethnic minorities in the country between July and September 2026, including killings, assaults, sexual violence, attacks on places of worship, and property violations.

“Every incident demands scrutiny. Every victim deserves protection. Impunity must not prevail,” HRCBM posted on X, highlighting the alarming surge in violence against minorities.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Oct 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Defence lawyers have condemned Pakistan Supreme Court's decision to uphold the death sentence for blasphemy against a Christian man named Qaiser Ayub, terming the court's dismissal of his appeal against conviction for allegedly defiling the name of Prophet Muhammad as "devastating", a report has detailed.

The defence team welcomed the court's decision to acquit Qaiser's younger brother 46-year-old Amoon of an identical conviction. However, they raised questions about how the evidence was applied differently against the two men, a report in 'Barnabas Aid' mentioned.

"If the evidence against one brother was insufficient, how can the other be sent to the gallows based on evidence from the same case?," Barnabas Aid quoted Nasir Saeed, Director of the Center for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS), as saying.

Qaiser and Amoon were accused of publishing blasphemous content on a website registered in Qaiser's name. Both men were convicted and sentenced to death in 2018. Qaiser said that he shut the website in 2009 and the website was later revived by a Muslim acquaintance who retained his name in the copyright details.

Saeed stated that the two brothers were convicted largely on digital evidence taken from a seized laptop, which needed the highest standards of verification. He urged the government to spare Qaiser's life and demanded strengthening of safeguards against the misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan. He stressed the need to hold accusers accountable in cases where an innocent person is wrongfully implicated, the report in Barnabas Aid stated.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has warned that Pakistan’s religious minorities continue to face systematic persecution, discrimination and denial of equal rights, with the abduction and forced marriages of Hindu and Christian girls, blasphemy cases and extremist attacks highlighting persistent failures to protect vulnerable communities.

In its latest report titled 'Sanctuary Denied: Freedom of religion or belief in 2025/26', the HRCP said that girls from Christian and Hindu communities continued to face abduction and forced marriage, compounded by poverty and inadequate police responses.

“Girls from minority communities continued to disappear and be coerced into wedlock by older Muslim men. An underage Christian girl’s ordeal is included in the report alongside that of Hindu girls. Weak police response and poverty worsened the struggles of the victims and their families. Alarmingly, a Hindu human rights activist posted on a social platform about alleged threats from a right-wing party for his activism against forced marriages of Hindu girls in Sindh," the rights body stated.

Citing Hindu minority rights activist Faqir Shiva Kachhi from Pakistan’s Sindh province, the HRCP said he has been fighting for the rights of minor Hindu girls, particularly those from lower-caste communities, against forced conversions for nearly a decade.

Referring to data provided by Kachhi, the HRCP said 36 underage Hindu girls were abducted in 2025, while 32 such cases were reported in the first seven months of 2026.

“And these are the ones we know of. There might have been countless others,” HRCP quoted Kachhi as saying.

Highlighting police’s reluctance to act promptly, he further said, “We have to stage sit-ins in front of the police station and superintendent’s office just to get an FIR registered.”

The report highlighted persistent misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan, noting that hundreds of people accused of blasphemy remain in legal limbo, while the alleged perpetrators of an organised entrapment network have yet to be investigated.

It also documented attacks on the Ahmadiyya community, including two extremist attacks in Chenab Nagar, alongside increasingly overt attempts to exclude Ahmadis from public and commercial life.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Oct 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) A Christian man's house and shop were set ablaze by a Muslim mob in Pakistan's Punjab province after he was accused of blasphemy. Subsequently, over 35 Christian families were forced to leave their homes amid fear of further violence, a report has detailed.

A day prior to the incident, police arrested a 40-year-old Christian man, identified as Kamran Masih, who ran a small pharmacy in Gharial Kalan village of Punjab. Local Muslims had accused him of sharing a blasphemous video in WhatsApp groups, Christian Daily International reported, citing a source.

"As word of Masih’s arrest spread, his family and other Christians started fleeing the village, fearing a mob attack," Christian Daily International-Morning Star News quoted the source on condition of anonymity.

The source stated that dozens of Muslims gathered near Masih's shop and his residence to protest and set fire to the two buildings.

Human rights organisations and legal experts have criticised blasphemy laws of Pakistan, stressing that the provisions are vulnerable to misuse in personal disputes and other conflicts and have disproportionately impacted religious minorities, Christian Daily International reported.

On July 22, a leading minority group accused Pakistan of failing to curb the misuse of blasphemy laws, citing false allegations, widespread mob violence against the accused and failure to protect the minorities from their consequences.

According to the Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM), the blasphemy laws remain among Pakistan’s most "controversial issues", with their impact on religious minorities and the continued failure of institutions to prevent their misuse.

The rights body noted that one of the biggest failures has been the inability of Pakistan's justice system to safeguard the innocent from false allegations.

Referring to the case of Rimsha Masih, a Pakistani Christian girl with Down syndrome, the VOPM said that the incident exposed serious weaknesses in the system. She was accused of desecrating the Quran, but subsequent evidence indicated that the allegations were “fabricated”.

While she was eventually released, the rights body said the damage was already done, with her family facing immense pressure and the case highlighting how easily someone can become a victim before the court examines the facts.

“The judiciary and law enforcement agencies have repeatedly been criticised for failing to act strongly against those who misuse blasphemy allegations. When false accusers or those who manipulate religious emotions are not held accountable, it sends a dangerous message that such actions can continue without consequences. This lack of accountability weakens public trust in the legal system,” the VOPM stated.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) India has approved the request of the Maldives government for the rollover of a Rs 30 billion currency swap facility as part of New Delhi’s 'Neighbours First’ policy and the commitment to deepening bilateral relations with the island nation, according to an official statement issued on Friday.

The facility is being extended under the Framework on Currency Swap Arrangement for SAARC countries, signed between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Maldives Monetary Authority during Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s state visit to India in October 2024.

The first drawdown of Rs 30 billion was extended to the Maldivian government on April 23 this year.

The currency swap arrangement provides the Maldives with access to Indian rupees, helping support liquidity and financial stability when needed. For India, continued financial assistance also forms part of its broader engagement with a strategically important Indian Ocean neighbour.

Under the 2024–27 framework, the bilateral currency swap arrangement provides concessions, including favourable interest rates and other conditions. Since the framework was introduced in 2012, the RBI has provided aggregate swap support of more than $1.1 billion to the Maldives.

India has also supported the Maldives through investments in government securities. It subscribed to two long-term treasury bonds worth $250 million and $100 million. In addition, three treasury bills worth $150 million subscribed by India have been settled by the Maldives, with the Indian government paying $42.8 million in interest incurred on the securities.

The currency swap facility and its subscriptions to Maldivian treasury bonds and bills have played an important role in supporting the country's financial stability.

The latest decision comes against the backdrop of India's broader efforts to deepen economic and strategic ties with the Maldives.

Maldives holds a special place under India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and its MAHASAGAR vision — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. India is also committed to deepening the bilateral relationship with the Maldives, including by implementing the Joint Vision for a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership, adopted during Muizzu's visit in October 2024, the statement added.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Oct 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan's political landscape is currently defined by the confrontation between the army chief, Asim Munir, and former Prime Minister Imran Khan. While Khan remains imprisoned, along with hundreds of his party members, and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party faces sustained pressure, the General Munir-led military establishment has expanded its hold over the country’s political affairs through constitutional manoeuvring facilitated by the current Shehbaz Sharif government. For Khan and his supporters, this confrontation has taken on a personal dimension, with accusations that the army chief is using his power to settle scores with the former Prime Minister, who once presided over his removal from the country’s intelligence leadership.

These allegations are not new and merit scrutiny as the relationship between the two men had deteriorated well before Khan’s removal from office in April 2022. The chronology of events over the years reveals how a series of institutional confrontations and political decisions have fuelled suspicions of personal animosity on both sides. It raises a question of whether a dispute between powerful individuals has become inseparable from the military’s continuing role in Pakistan’s political order.

The roots of the conflict go back to 2019 when Khan was Prime Minister and Munir was serving as Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), a position widely regarded as the most powerful in the country after the army chief. Munir held the position for approximately eight months before being replaced by Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed. It was the shortest tenure of any military officer in that position. While the military did not publicly explain the change, subsequent accounts alleged that Munir had raised concerns about Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, and corruption in her circle. Khan later rejected that account and denied that Munir had presented him with evidence of corruption or had been removed for raising the matter. Instead, his party alleged that Munir tried to reach out to Bushra Bibi after his removal as spymaster to discuss his removal.

The episode nevertheless became an important reference point in later speculation about their relationship. Khan’s critics and supporters have interpreted it differently, while the absence of a definitive public explanation has allowed allegations of a personal grievance to persist. A personnel decision within the intelligence establishment thus became part of a much larger political narrative.

The political relationship between Khan and the military, then led by General Qamar Javed Bajwa, deteriorated further during his final months in office. Disagreements over senior military appointments and the government's direction, including its foreign policy orientation, strained an alliance widely believed to have helped Khan consolidate power after the 2018 election. When Munir was appointed chief of army staff in November 2022, Khan had already been removed through a parliamentary vote of no confidence in April, becoming Pakistan’s first Prime Minister to lose office by that mechanism. Khan’s party alleged that the no-confidence motion, which brought together various smaller parties and saw many PTI members defect, was supported by the army establishment from behind the scenes.

Khan claimed that his removal resulted from a conspiracy involving the United States and Pakistan’s military establishment, with backing from Saudi Arabia. The parliamentary opposition maintained that it had exercised its constitutional right to remove a government that had lost its majority. The vote itself was a parliamentary process, though the broader political environment surrounding Khan’s departure remains contested. The episode intensified his confrontation with the army leadership and turned his political campaign into a direct challenge to the establishment’s influence.

The consequences became more severe after Khan’s arrest on May 9, 2023 triggered protests across Pakistan. Demonstrators attacked military installations and other state property, including the residence of a senior military commander in Lahore. Following this, the authorities launched a sweeping crackdown on PTI leaders and supporters, hundreds of whom have been tried in the military courts.

Khan was arrested again in August 2023 and has remained imprisoned under dozens of charges, including corruption and anti-state activities. Though he has received convictions in cases involving state gifts, a classified diplomatic cable, and his marriage, several of those convictions were subsequently suspended or overturned. In January 2025, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case with the prosecutors alleging that Khan and Bushra Bibi received land from a property developer in exchange for a favour involving funds returned to Pakistan from Britain.

Nevertheless, the accumulation of cases, protracted incarceration and restrictions affecting his PTI party have strengthened the perception that legal proceedings are operating within a wider political struggle. It should be noted that Pakistan’s military has long shaped the boundaries within which civilian governments operate. Khan himself benefited from a close relationship with the establishment during his rise to power, with his political fortunes changing when that relationship collapsed. It therefore reflects a familiar institutional problem wherein political leaders can gain an advantage from military support but their autonomy becomes precarious when they seek to challenge the institution that helped elevate them.

General Munir’s expanding authority has intensified these concerns. Since his appointment as army chief in November 2022, he has consolidated power at a scale never seen before while retaining the façade of civilian and parliamentary supremacy. Shehbaz Sharif’s government has, in order to preserve the support of the military establishment, pushed one after another constitutional amendments to help Munir consolidate power. These provisions have extended the tenures of armed forces service chiefs from three to five years, with the possibility of an equal second term. The government has also abolished the office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) and established the position of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), to be held concurrently by the army chief, further centralising command under the army chief, strengthening his position as the dominant figure in Pakistan’s military hierarchy. This has coincided with the weakening of PTI’s organisational space, continued legal pressure on Khan and an expansion of the military’s influence over national affairs.

The danger lies in the interaction between personal rivalry and institutional power. As such, the Munir-Khan confrontation has moved far beyond the relationship between two individuals. The 2019 intelligence leadership dispute, Khan’s removal in 2022, the May 2023 violence and crackdown, and the ongoing legal proceedings have created a political environment in which personal animosity is widely alleged to underlie the country's current political instability. This evolving situation has raised the challenge of whether Pakistan can prevent the state's power from becoming an instrument of personal or institutional retaliation.

Pakistan’s political stability depends on restoring civilian supremacy, ensuring judicial independence and separating legal accountability from political retaliation. Whether personal animosity has shaped Munir’s approach towards Khan or not, the concentration of military power and the prolonged suppression of political opposition demand scrutiny. Without institutional restraints, Pakistan’s power struggle will continue to undermine democratic legitimacy.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Oct 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan’s religious minorities continue to face systematic persecution, discrimination and denial of equal rights, with the abduction and forced marriages of Hindu and Christian girls, blasphemy cases and extremist attacks highlighting persistent failures to protect vulnerable communities, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has warned.

In its latest report titled 'Sanctuary Denied: Freedom of religion or belief in 2025/26', the HRCP said that girls from Christian and Hindu communities continued to face abduction and forced marriage, compounded by poverty and inadequate police responses.

“Girls from minority communities continued to disappear and be coerced into wedlock by older Muslim men. An underage Christian girl’s ordeal is included in the report alongside that of Hindu girls. Weak police response and poverty worsened the struggles of the victims and their families. Alarmingly, a Hindu human rights activist posted on a social platform about alleged threats from a right-wing party for his activism against forced marriages of Hindu girls in Sindh," the rights body stated.

Citing Hindu minority rights activist Faqir Shiva Kachhi from Pakistan’s Sindh province, the HRCP said he has been fighting for the rights of minor Hindu girls, particularly those from lower-caste communities, against forced conversions for nearly a decade.

Referring to data provided by Kachhi, the HRCP said 36 underage Hindu girls were abducted in 2025, while 32 such cases were reported in the first seven months of 2026.

“And these are the ones we know of. There might have been countless others,” HRCP quoted Kachhi as saying.

Highlighting police’s reluctance to act promptly, he further said, “We have to stage sit-ins in front of the police station and superintendent’s office just to get an FIR registered.”

The report highlighted persistent misuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan, noting that hundreds of people accused of blasphemy remain in legal limbo, while the alleged perpetrators of an organised entrapment network have yet to be investigated.

It also documented attacks on the Ahmadiyya community, including two extremist attacks in Chenab Nagar, alongside increasingly overt attempts to exclude Ahmadis from public and commercial life.

“The weaponisation of blasphemy law continued during the reporting period, with recurring patterns of personal vendetta, extortion and misguided religiosity driving the accusations. Although religious minorities are common targets, an influential scholar of the majority religion was also accused of blasphemy after making comments about the Christian faith,” the report mentioned.

The HRCP said that the discriminatory employment practices, the Islamisation of school curricula and the marginalisation of minority concerns in mainstream media further undermine equal citizenship.

“Apathy towards minority issues in mainstream media has not only continued but become more pronounced. Social media, which is more susceptible to fake news and propaganda, has become the major news source,” it further stated.

The HRCP warned that the existing legislation intended to protect religious minorities stood in stark contrast to persistent violations of freedom of religion or belief, including the weaponisation of blasphemy laws, forced marriages and conversions, escalating hate speech, and the state’s failure to ensure equal citizenship.

Source: IANS

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Dhaka, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) As custodial deaths of Awami League members continue to rise in Bangladesh, another party leader died after falling ill while in custody at Gazipur District Jail, according to local media reports.

The deceased, 54-year-old Mobarak Hossain, convener of the Meghdubi East unit of the Awami League in Gazipur City Corporation, died on Tuesday night.

According to Gazipur District Jail Jailer Nur Mohammad Sohel, Mobarak complained of chest pain at approximately 9.50 p.m. on Tuesday and received preliminary treatment at the jail, Bangladeshi daily New Age reported.

“As his condition deteriorated, he was taken to Gazipur Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital at about 10:00 pm, where the physician on duty declared him dead at about 10:30 pm,” the jailer said.

Jail authorities said that Mobarak had been in prison since August 16, following his arrest in a case registered under the country’s Anti-Terrorism Act at Pubail police station.

His death comes amid a growing number of custodial deaths involving Awami League leaders in Bangladesh since the 2024 political upheaval.

On Thursday, the Awami League expressed grave concern over Mobarak’s death in custody, alleging that he was repeatedly denied bail after being detained under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Citing reports of his arrest on August 15, 2026, under anti-terrorism legislation, the party said police had seized leaflets bearing the words “Sheikh Hasina will return, Bangladesh will smile,” along with mobile phones, while the case reportedly involved mourning-day posters, a political song and leaflet distribution.

Highlighting that bail was sought at six or seven hearings but repeatedly denied, the Awami League said his subsequent illness and death in custody raised serious concerns, while calling for an urgent and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death

“What specific evidence justified his continued detention? What reasons were recorded for refusing bail? When did he become ill, what treatment did he receive, and was he referred promptly for appropriate hospital care?” it questioned.

Stressing that counterterrorism legislation must not be used to criminalise peaceful political expression, the Awami League said political leaflets, songs and commemorative posters alone do not constitute evidence of terrorism.

The party called on United Nations human rights mechanisms, international rights organisations, diplomatic missions and independent media to scrutinise this case and allegations of politically motivated detention in Bangladesh.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) The imposition of emergency rule in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which was long governed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has raised questions over the relationship between Pakistan's civilian government and its military establishment, a report has detailed.

"There is an old saying in Pakistan that most countries have an army, but in Pakistan the army has a country. It is a cynical observation, certainly, but one that has survived successive governments, constitutional crisis and military interventions with remarkable durability. The latest developments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the northwestern province governed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, suggest that the observation may be as relevant today as ever," a report in EU Today mentioned.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's decision to impose emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, citing deteriorating security conditions, has sparked a question of whether Pakistan is witnessing another military coup, without rolling tanks near the parliament or Generals appearing on television to announce the suspension of democracy. The response depends largely on how one defines a coup.

Under Pakistan's constitutional framework, federal authorities have the power to impose emergency rule under specified circumstances. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed rise in violence involving the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the federal government has a responsibility to protect people against terrorist attacks. However, the timing of the Pakistan government's decision demands scrutiny.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is one of the most significant remaining political strongholds of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, whose imprisonment and confrontation with Pakistan's political establishment has caused unrest in the country. Removing an elected provincial government in these conditions inevitably sparks suspicions that national security has become a convenient tool for achieving political objectives.

"The crucial distinction is between responding to a genuine emergency and exploiting that emergency to neutralise an inconvenient opposition. Pakistan’s authorities must demonstrate not merely that a security threat exists, but that the removal of elected provincial leadership is necessary and proportionate," the report in EU Today stated.

PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari condemned the Pakistan government's decision to impose Governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, terming it as a "coup disguised as emergency."

"Strongly condemn the arrest of the only mandated Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and of Junaid Akbar. This coup disguised as emergency or Governor rule has squashed the only little bit of democracy left in Pakistan. Further instability and collateral damage to follow. The regime must be feeling very proud," Bukhari wrote on X.

"Yet evidence that the military directly ordered the takeover remains absent from the public record. Accusations of military involvement should be investigated rather than treated as established fact. Nevertheless, a coup need not always involve soldiers removing a Prime Minister. Democratic institutions can also be progressively hollowed out through ostensibly lawful decisions that concentrate authority and deprive opposition parties of meaningful power," the EU Today report mentioned.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) The death of a young student of the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) - reportedly by committing suicide after she discovered that the admission and scholarship she believed she had secured were fake - is an indictment of a system that allows unscrupulous individuals to exploit the educational ambitions of young Pakistanis with seemingly little fear of being caught or punished, a report has detailed.

The young Pakistani woman who earned a gold medal and dreamed of studying at Harvard University died as her goal of studying at Harvard University was allegedly exploited by people who promised her that she will get admission and a scholarship in exchange for money. She paid Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 9.3 million through a scheme involving fake university documents, according to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), a report in leading Pakistani daily 'The Friday Times' mentioned.

"Laiba Aijaz, a student of the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), reportedly died by suicide after discovering that the admission and scholarship she believed she had secured were fake. It is a heartbreaking tragedy. But it is also an indictment of a system that allows unscrupulous individuals to exploit the educational ambitions of young Pakistanis with seemingly little fear of being caught or punished. And unless something changes, Laiba will not be the last student whose dreams are shattered by this flourishing industry of deception," Karachi-based journalist Omar Quraishi wrote in The Friday Times.

Education consultants and visa consultants in Pakistan promise students that they will get admission in prestigious universities abroad, scholarships, student visas and guaranteed immigration. Some of these consultants provide legitimate services but the industry also includes individuals who prey on desperation, ambition and ignorance of foreign admissions procedures. According to the report, the lack of effective oversight in Pakistan implies that anyone can present themselves as an educational consultant, advertise their services on social media and start collecting money from unsuspecting students and their families.

The FIR registered by the FIA on October 10 stated that two people - Muhammad Nauman and Fatima Sarwar, also identified as Aiza, allegedly obtained PKR 9.3 million from Laiba Aijaz after they promised her that they would arrange a US visa and university scholarship for her.

According to the FIR, PKR 2.9 million were transferred through the bank account while the remaining payment was made in cash. Investigators allege that these individuals had provided Laiba Aijaz fake scholarship letters, fee payment receipts and university admission offers. The FIR also mentioned the subsequent death of Laiba Aijaz. However, the FIA has not mentioned the cause of her death.

Source: IANS

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Kabul, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) As Afghanistan continues to report cross-border infiltration by militants supported and trained by Pakistan's security agencies, Taliban has once again slammed Islamabad for creating unrest within Afghanistan, a report has highlighted.

Recently, Taliban said its forces killed 41 terrorists and captured 62 others in Nuristan, who were linked with ISIS-affiliated groups and backed by Pakistani authorities, a report in Kathmandu-based Hamrakura highlighted.

Afghanistan's Defence Ministry said that terrorists tried to infiltrate into Afghanistan with the “direct guidance and cooperation” of the Pakistani military.

US has also accused Pakistan of allowing the Haqqani Network, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) to conduct attacks when American soldiers were deployed in Afghanistan. The then-US Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen had said, "The Haqqani network, for one, acts as a veritable arm of Pakistan’s intelligence."

For years, India has blamed Pakistan for cross-border terrorism, infiltrating militants into Jammu and Kashmir and facilitating the execution of bomb blasts and killings across the country. India has several times presented concrete evidence about Pakistan state actors' active involvement. In response to the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in April last year, India carried out airstrikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Iran too has accused Pakistan of supporting anti-Iranian forces, who conducted attacks across the border. Tehran has also accused Pakistan's spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), of backing the militants.

Investigations have revealed a connection between terrorist attacks in Europe and Pakistan-based outfits. Europe has recognised Pakistan as a safe haven for terrorism, and the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has recorded a "strong" link between the ISI and LeT, the Hamrakura report mentioned.

"It is ironic that Pakistan has faced allegations of infiltrating militants into Afghanistan, which it called a source of terrorism earlier. The government in Pakistan set up a terrorism ecosystem as a strategic instrument against neighbours. However, the very militancy ecosystem turned against Pakistan itself. The institutionalisation of militant networks as an instrument of security policy has made Pakistan a source of a source and exporter of terrorism and cross-border infiltration," Hamrakura mentioned in a report.

Source: IANS

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Quetta, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Human rights body Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) on Thursday strongly condemned Pakistani authorities, accusing them of forcibly displacing thousands of families across Balochistan and stripping people of their ancestral homes, livelihoods and the security of living on their own land.

“For the past several months, thousands of families have been forcibly displaced from various areas of Balochistan. In areas such as Zehri, Sarawan, Kaland, Jiwani, Noshki, Chagai, Kharan, Mand, Dasht, Sani Shoran, Mangchar, Mastung, Mashkay, and many others, the Baloch people have been compelled to abandon their ancestral homes, while notifications to vacate have already been issued for several other areas. This list grows longer with each passing day, and no one knows which settlement's turn it will be tomorrow,” the BYC stated.

“Local people are handed a piece of paper and stripped of the life they built over years of toil, forced to accept the identity of a migrant on their own land for the rest of their lives. With that identity comes the loss of their home, their livelihood, and protection from the harsh seasons—everything. They either end up as part of a makeshift slum by the roadside in some city or wander endlessly in temporary shelters,” it added.

According to the BYC, many displaced people continue to lead a nomadic life in the rest houses of Koh-e-Murad in Kech district, while others have been forced to seek refuge in the homes of relatives.

The rights body said that the displacement was not merely about losing homes, as coastal fishermen were cut off from the sea, farmers from their land, and herders from their flocks and pastures. It added that generations-old skills and livelihoods had been rendered meaningless by a single decree.

“On the basis of one decree, our people are driven away from the soil of their ancestors' graves, and despite being the rightful heirs of this homeland, they are forced to live as helpless migrants. Whoever leaves their home does not merely leave walls behind — they leave their history, their memories, and their identity,” the BYC noted.

Condemning the destruction of ancestral settlements and forced displacement in Balochistan, the Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ) said that stripping people of their land and livelihoods amounted to erasing their cultural identity, dignity, and generations of history.

“Burning homes, bulldozing ancestral settlements, cutting down orchards and trees, and displacing people from their lands is not merely the destruction of buildings and villages, but is tantamount to erasing generations of memories, cultural identity, human dignity, and the bonds tied to the earth. When a nation is stripped of its land, homes, and livelihoods, it is not only its present that is ravaged, but the markers of its past and the dreams of its future are buried beneath the rubble as well,” it said.

The rights body called on the United Nations and global human rights organisations to take immediate notice of the forced displacements and destruction of residential homes in Balochistan, ensure the protection of the rights of the affected people, and take effective measures to halt this humanitarian tragedy.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) At least 31 children and two female teachers were killed and over 50 others injured after the roof of a private school collapsed in Pakistan's Peshawar, local media reported, citing local Lady Reading Hospital (LRH).

According to LRH, 53 children were taken to the hospital, majority of them boys. Among those, 33 died while 17 were discharged from the hospital after observation. All the children were aged 14 years or below, Pakistani daily The Express Tribune reported.

LRH spokesperson Muhammad Asim said that an emergency was declared at LRH and senior hospital officials were present in the trauma ward to oversee the treatment of the injured people, including some in critical condition.

Speaking to reporters, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Mian Saeed said that the owner of the school has been taken into custody and a case will be lodged over the incident, The Express Tribune reported.

Saeed said the roof of the school had been poorly constructed and the building was located in narrow streets, which created difficulties for rescue operations. He said that 110 children were enrolled in the school.

Pakistan army personnel reached at the site of the incident and joined rescue and relief agencies in conducting operations to find children and staff feared trapped under the debris.

Reports suggest that roof and building collapses are a recurring problem in Pakistan, where weak safety enforcement and substandard construction materials have repeatedly contributed to such tragedies.

In August, a couple was killed, and their daughters injured after the roof of their house collapsed in Islamabad following three days of heavy rainfall, Dawn had reported.

In July, at least 11 people were killed and six others injured after a three-storey building collapsed in Harbanspura town of Pakistan's Lahore.

According to the spokesperson, three brothers lived in the building with their families while their sister and her children were there for birthday celebrations, just before the building collapsed. Lahore DC retired Captain Muhammad Ali Ijaz had ordered an investigation to determine the cause of the incident.

In June, as many as 14 children were killed after the roof of a private tuition centre in the Kahna area of Pakistan's Lahore, Dawn reported.

The incident took place less than two months after four children were killed and 20 people were injured after the roof of a classroom at a private school collapsed in Dera Ghazi Khan city of Pakistan's Punjab.

Source: IANS

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Kathmandu, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Nepal and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), part of the World Bank Group, have signed a mandate agreement to explore the development of a catastrophe bond that could help the Himalayan nation secure rapid access to funds in the event of a major natural disaster.

The agreement marks the beginning of a collaboration to assess the feasibility and potential structure of a catastrophe bond, under which Nepal could transfer part of its disaster risk to international capital markets and strengthen its financial preparedness for natural disasters, the World Bank said in a statement.

Under the agreement, the World Bank Group Treasury will work with the Nepal government and market participants to evaluate the proposed transaction.

The initiative comes as Nepal seeks to strengthen its capacity to prepare for, withstand and recover from natural disasters in the wake of devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi and downstream Trishuli river basins on August 26. The floods have killed nearly 1,500 people, while more than 5,000 remain unaccounted for, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.

Triggered by an avalanche near the Nepal-China border that blocked the river's flow, the floods swept away several human settlements, a dozen hydropower projects, a solar plant, and several roads and bridges. Physical damage is estimated at 1.66 billion US dollars, according to the World Bank's Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation report.

According to the World Bank, Nepal is highly vulnerable to earthquakes, floods, landslides and other climate-related hazards, which can cause extensive damage to infrastructure, disrupt economic activities and place considerable pressure on public finances.

A catastrophe bond is a financial instrument that allows governments or other entities to transfer specific disaster risks to investors. Depending on the terms of the bond, investors may lose some or all of their principal if a specified disaster occurs, allowing the funds to be used to support the affected entity.

“Such instruments can provide an alternative source of disaster financing, potentially enabling governments to access funds more quickly than relying solely on budget reallocations or post-disaster assistance,” the World Bank said.

The initiative is part of the World Bank Group's established catastrophe bond programme, which has helped countries access international capital markets to transfer disaster risks and secure financial protection against natural hazards.

The World Bank helps countries increase their financial resilience to disasters by supporting disaster risk financing programmes and offering contingent financing and insurance solutions.

It also assists countries in designing, developing and implementing comprehensive disaster risk financing strategies.

“A risk financing strategy helps clients determine a balance between retaining risk, for example, through a contingent financing product, and transferring risk, for example, through an insurance product,” the World Bank said.

A range of financial products can be used to address the financial risks of disasters, and the optimal mix of approaches depends on the types of risks faced by a country and the frequency and severity of disaster events, it said.

Developing countries are particularly vulnerable to the economic and fiscal consequences of disasters because of factors such as gaps in insurance coverage, inadequate infrastructure resilience, and the concentration of populations and economic activities in exposed areas.

“Following a major disaster, governments often have to redirect budgetary resources towards emergency response, relief and reconstruction, potentially affecting other development priorities,” the World Bank said.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday issued a warning to Pakistan, stating that any future act of terrorism by it would be met with a strike even more powerful than the previous one.

Addressing an event here, Rajnath Singh remarked that whenever terrorists have attempted to stain Indian soil with blood, "India has delivered a fitting response—an echo of which likely still resonates with the masters of these terrorists".

Recalling the 2016 terrorist attack in Uri, he said: "Our brave soldiers carried out surgical strikes, completely destroying terrorist hideouts."

"Wishing for peace is an integral part of our civilisational consciousness and cultural values," he said, describing dialogue, coexistence and peaceful solutions as central to India’s cultural outlook.

However, he clarified that the country’s preference for peace should not be confused with an inability or unwillingness to defend itself. In a warning to Pakistan, he said: "If further terrorist activity originates from its territory, India could launch a strike bigger than its previous operations."

Citing Operation Sindoor, Rajnath Singh highlighted India's progress in defence technology.

"We are all aware of 'Operation Sindoor.' It served as an excellent example of technology-driven warfare. This operation utilised advanced systems -- such as the 'Akash Teer' (air defence command and control system), the Akash missile system, and the BrahMos missile -- alongside various other state-of-the-art equipment. It demonstrated that our armed forces not only grasp the nature of these changes but are also leveraging them with great confidence," he said.

He noted that today, 159 out of 175 types of ammunition in the Indian armed forces' arsenal are indigenously produced—"meaning we have achieved over 90 per cent self-reliance in this category".

Moreover, the Defence Minister highlighted that India’s defence exports, which stood at just Rs 686 crore in 2013-14, have now grown to over Rs 38,000 crore.

"Defence products manufactured in India are currently being exported to nearly 200 countries. It is not just our defence exports that have increased; I believe this has bolstered India’s reputation, enhanced its credibility, and strengthened global trust in Indian technology," he said

"Our goal is to build an India that, while advocating for peace, remains vigilant about its own security and is fully capable of safeguarding its sovereignty, integrity, and national interests. The nation's security is not merely a reflection of the preparedness of our armed forces; it is also a testament to the nation's resolve and strength. Our commitment to peace remains steadfast, yet India's armed forces are fully prepared to confront any challenge."

He said that by the time India marks 100 years of its independence, it will not only be a developed nation but will also lead the world with confidence across various sectors, including technology, the economy, and defence.

"Today, we are developing a defence ecosystem that strengthens national security, accelerates economic growth, and bolsters India's role within the global security architecture. There was a time when we relied on external sources for all our defence needs—from the smallest items to major systems; we were dependent on imports. But today, the landscape is shifting. We are now building the capacity to manufacture everything domestically—from minor requirements to large, state-of-the-art defence systems," Rajnath Singh stressed.

Rajnath Singh further remarked that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is no longer merely an institution focused on defence research and development and has rather become a "national innovation platform" that connects industries, universities, start-ups, and scientists.

"Our clear objective is to strengthen our start-ups as well as micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). To this end, the Ministry of Defence has approved procurement worth over Rs 2,400 crore from these enterprises, and projects exceeding Rs 1,500 crore have been sanctioned for the development of new technologies. Furthermore, 75 per cent of the budget allocated for the modernisation of the armed forces has been earmarked for procurement from Indian industries. The new defence procurement process currently being introduced incorporates several major reforms, which will provide fresh momentum and strength to defence production within the country," he stated.

Source: IANS

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Toronto, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Pashteen has accused Pakistan’s military of killings, enforced disappearances and plunder of resources in the country’s Pashtun regions while urging the diaspora to work towards isolating Islamabad internationally.

"The state is shedding Pashtun and Afghan blood like water. It has plundered our resources and destroyed our homeland," said Pashteen while virtually addressing an international conference organised by PTM Canada in Toronto.

He alleged that many Pashtuns were still being held in the military’s "private prisons" while citing the continued imprisonment of PTM leaders Ali Wazir and Haji Samad.

Pashteen dismissed Pakistan’s democracy as a facade and also questioned the military’s counter-terrorism justification.

“Look at its parliament: the military brings in whoever it wants and removes whoever it does not want. Keeping hopes alive in such a system was a waste of time. What kind of strange terrorism is this that does not exist in Punjab, while projects of terrorism are implemented only in Pashtunkhwa?", he asked and called on Pashtuns, Baloch, Sindhis and Kashmiris to unite against the "common enemy".

The conference titled 'Unmasking Pakistan's Atrocities' was attended by hundreds of people. It adopted a declaration with the demands of an independent truth and reconciliation commission under UN auspices; disclosure of the whereabouts of missing persons; release of those unlawfully detained; lifting of the ban on PTM; and, local control over land and natural resources.

Chris Alexander, a former Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan, also addressed the gathering and accused Pakistan’s military leadership of seeking to dominate Afghanistan through proxies and terrorism.

“End the violence. That is the key to everything,” he said.

Former Afghan member of Parliament and ex-Ambassador to Canada, Shinkai Karokhail, said Pakistan nurtures terrorism and also presents itself as its victim. She said Afghans would take documented evidence of Pakistan’s atrocities to every international forum.

PTM was founded in 2014 and has campaigned against extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in Pakistan where it was banned in October 2024 under the so-called 'Anti-Terrorism Act'.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) The World Bank's October 2026 regional update highlights that roughly 48 per cent of all people living below the $3 a day poverty line across the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENAAP) region are Pakistani, while the remaining 47 per cent are in Afghanistan, Syria, and Yemen.

Pakistan, thus, holds nearly as many extremely poor people as three active war zones combined, without a war on its own territory.

The World Bank states that MENAAP is the only region where poverty remains above pre-pandemic levels and continues to rise, with Pakistan driving most of that deterioration. This is not the arithmetic of a country stabilising after a war or long military crisis but of managed decline, presided over by the military establishment that took control of economic policy while showing no capacity to exercise it, according to an article in the European Times.

The article highlights that Pakistan’s continued high expenditure on defence, driven by the military leadership, is responsible for the worsening economic crisis. The FY2026-27 budget allocated PKR 3 trillion to defence services, a 17.6 per cent increase, with physical assets rising 39.6 per cent to PKR 925.8 billion for weapons procurement. Military pensions of PKR 822 billion sit outside that figure, as does PKR 319 billion for the Armed Forces Development Programme. Development spending stayed flat at roughly PKR 1 trillion nominally, a substantial real-terms cut. The previous budget raised defence by more than 20 per cent while cutting total federal expenditure by seven per cent, and the allocation exceeded combined spending on higher education, agriculture and climate adaptation in one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries.

The article blames Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the de facto ruler of Pakistan, for the economic mess in the country. Since June 2023, he has co-chaired the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the apex body now directing economic policy, which includes 36 serving officers drawing salaries from the defence budget. The SIFC is formalising the army’s influence over economic policy and has drawn alarm among economists and businessmen in Pakistan. The council was created to deliver $5 billion in annual foreign direct investment and has not come close. Three years on, its principal achievement is the institutionalisation of the Pakistan military authority over a portfolio in which the institution has no competence, the article observed.

It underscored that Pakistan’s economy is growing 2.2 per cent while its poverty rate climbs 6.4 points is not a sign of recovery, and the military controlling policy has responded by expanding its own budget by 17.6 per cent and its procurement line by nearly 40 per cent. American money, should it arrive in Pakistan, would only buy more time rather than a solution. Pakistan’s problem is not a shortage of external finance, since it has received more of that than almost any comparable country. The problem is a political economy in which the only actor with the power to reform, the military establishment, has the greatest interest in preserving things exactly as they are.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Indian Army on Wednesday dismissed the fake information being spread on social media by Pakistani handles claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing to remove Chief of Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth.

The Army said that the claim is "fabricated" and was posted with "malicious intent" by Pakistan-backed social media accounts to create a misleading impression of divisions within the force.

Taking to X, the Indian Army Fact Check said, "Pakistan-linked propaganda accounts are circulating fake claims that PM Narendra Modi is preparing to remove Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth for allegedly speaking against the Chief Election Commissioner. It further alleges that Army officers have been instructed to disobey his orders."

"FACT: The claim is fabricated and posted with malicious intent by Pak backed accounts as part of their ongoing disinformation campaign against Indian Army," it added.

Tagging X accounts @indiantiwari01 and @Diksha_sharma03, the Army's fact-checking division said that these handles are "circulating fake allegations concerning India's political and military leadership as well as creating a misleading impression of divisions within the Indian Army".

"Unverified political allegations + Fabricated military disobedience narrative + Claims of internal divisions = Misleading propaganda targeting the Indian Armed Forces," it added.

Pakistan's 'digital jihad' campaign against India has reportedly intensified, with fake news peddlers stepping up efforts to malign the security forces and the Union government.

This heightened activity on social media comes against the backdrop of the ongoing protests across India against the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the alleged irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Review (SIR) of the electoral rolls.

Over the past two weeks, more than 5,000 social media accounts have reportedly been created in Pakistan with the alleged objective of spreading misinformation and inciting violence.

According to the officials, the sudden proliferation of these accounts was directly linked to the ongoing anti-Special Intensive Revision (SIR) protests.

The focus of these posts is largely on the actions of law enforcement agencies. Fake claims about police firing, lathi charges, and the use of tear gas shells are being circulated on social media at regular intervals.

Authorities have urged the public to rely on official sources for any information regarding the security officials and government notifications.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Oct 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) The local administration has imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in Dera Ismail Khan district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, prohibiting public gatherings, rallies, processions and pillion riding on motorcycles until November 11, local media reported on Wednesday.

The restrictions imposed by the district administration prohibit displaying, carrying and possessing weapons and the erection or use of tents, temporary structures and other obstructions on public roads, highways and other public places as it could stop traffic movement, leading Pakistani daily The Express Tribune reported.

The authorities issued the order after Dera Ismail Khan's District Police Officer (DPO) made the request, citing the current law and order situation and the likelihood that public gatherings, processions and marches could hinder the movement of people, disrupt essential services and traffic movement, the newspaper reported.

Public gatherings, assemblies, processions, rallies and marches that could likely disturb public peace and tranquillity have been banned in Dera Ismail Khan, according to the order. Pillion riding on motorcycles has also been prohibited in Dera Ismail Khan.

Under the order, the authorities have also imposed a ban on any other activity that would likely hinder public movement, suspend traffic or essential services, pose a danger to public safety or disturb public peace and tranquillity. The order that came into effect immediately would remain in force until November 11.

The latest order comes after Pakistan's federal government imposed an emergency and Governor's Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

On October 11, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari approved emergency measures after recommendations made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's cabinet. The move suspended the provincial government led by former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan-founded PTI and placed the province under Governor's rule. In addition, the federal government announced the deployment of forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The decision came at a time when PTI had been preparing major protests demanding the release of party founder Imran Khan, Pakistan-based another daily Dawn reported.

PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari condemned the Pakistan government's decision to impose Governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, terming it as a "coup disguised as emergency."

"Strongly condemn the arrest of the only mandated Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and of Junaid Akbar. This coup disguised as emergency or Governor rule has squashed the only little bit of democracy left in Pakistan. Further instability and collateral damage to follow. The regime must be feeling very proud," Bukhari wrote on X.

PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan also condemned the imposition of emergency and Governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, describing the federal government's decision as a "political mistake and undemocratic." He emphasised that there is no disagreement on eliminating terrorism; however, the fight against terrorism cannot be used as justification to suppress the voice of the people, achieve political objectives and restrict the constitutional authority of the province.

"We strongly condemn the imposition of emergency in the province in the strongest terms and completely reject this action. This is an extremely alarming and grave political mistake and an undemocratic measure — the people will never accept such actions against their rights," Khan posted on X.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday met his Nepalese and Bhutanese counterparts, Sudan Gurung and Lungten Dorji, on the sidelines of the first The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Home Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi, reaffirming India's commitment to deepen cooperation with both its South Asian neighbours.

"Delighted to meet Nepal's Home Minister Sudhan Gurung, on the sidelines of the First BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi," Home Minister Shah said on social media platform X.

"We reaffirmed our commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation and further strengthen the close ties between India and Nepal for peace, progress and prosperity in our region," he added.

With Bhutan's Home Minister, Home Minister Shah reaffirmed the shared commitment to further strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

"Great pleasure meeting Bhutan's Home Minister Lungten Dorji, on the sidelines of the First BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi. We reaffirmed our shared commitment to further strengthen the close bonds of friendship and cooperation between India and Bhutan, advancing our common aspirations for peace, progress and prosperity," the Home Minister said in another post on X.

The meeting, chaired by Home Minister Shah, culminated in the adoption of the Delhi Declaration.

"Chaired the First BIMSTEC Home Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi today, culminating in the adoption of the historic Delhi Declaration. Building on the vision of PM Narendra Modi Ji at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, the Home Ministers' Meeting strengthens regional cooperation for lasting peace, security and prosperity across the Bay of Bengal. Together, we move towards a safer, stronger and better connected region," Home Minister Shah said.

The meeting deliberated upon a framework for regional cooperation across five key areas: drug control; counter-terrorism and legal cooperation; repatriation of fugitives; cybersecurity and cybercrime investigation; and institutional cooperation and capacity building.

"Member States also made significant progress towards strengthening regional security by finalising key agreements on the BIMSTEC Convention on Combating Human Trafficking and the Action Plan for Drug Control. Finalising the draft of an MoU on capacity building to combat money laundering, illicit financial flows and terror financing further reinforces our collective commitment to a safer, more secure, resilient and prosperous BIMSTEC region," the Home Minister said.

Source: IANS

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Berlin, Oct 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) A leading human rights organisation has raised serious concerns over gaps in Bangladesh’s child protection system, warning that children remain vulnerable to commercial transfer, irregular adoption practices, trafficking, exploitation and disappearance.

Citing recent investigations, the Germany-based International Society for Human Rights (ISHR) has exposed an alarming informal market in which children and newborns are advertised through social media groups and private networks under the guise of “adoption”.

The report found that some such arrangements involve direct financial negotiations, middlemen, advance payments, and assurances that newborn children would be handed over to prospective buyers.

An assessment by ISHR Bangladesh found advertisements offering children for amounts ranging from tens of thousands of taka to several lakh Bangladeshi taka (Tk), while some intermediaries reportedly sought money from prospective parents and from families relinquishing children.

Referring to its investigations of publicly accessible social media groups, the rights body said that it had uncovered numerous advertisements seeking or offering children.

It examined 39 public groups and subsequently reviewed 288 posts in a sample of these groups, finding that 34 sought children for adoption, while 63 offered children.

Some advertisements specifically referred to newborns, boys, girls and twins, while others mentioned particular ages and characteristics. The rights body expressed particular concern over the use of prices and bargaining language in these advertisements.

“The investigation documented an offer involving a six-month-old boy with a stated demand of Tk 200,000. Other contacts reportedly requested payments of Tk 100,000 or more. An intermediary described a system in which pregnant women who did not wish or were unable to keep their babies could be identified through hospitals and connected to prospective recipients,” the ISHR stated.

“According to the account obtained during the investigation, payments could reach approximately Tk 300,000 for a newborn boy and Tk 200,000 for a girl, with intermediaries receiving commissions. These allegations require independent law-enforcement investigation rather than being treated as ordinary adoption transactions,” it noted.

ISHR called on the Bangladesh government to establish a unified, transparent and child-centred national framework for adoption, guardianship and alternative care. It stressed that every transfer of a child outside their biological family must be subject to independent verification, judicial or authorised government oversight, documented consent and an assessment of the child’s best interests. Private financial agreements between families, the rights body emphasised, must never replace lawful guardianship procedures.

“The ultimate test of Bangladesh’s child-protection framework will not be the number of laws on the statute book. It will be whether a vulnerable newborn, a missing child, a child without a birth certificate and a family living in poverty can each be reached by an effective protection system before exploitation occurs. The state has both a legal duty and a human-rights responsibility to ensure that this protection exists for every child,” the ISHR noted.

Source: IANS

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Quetta, Oct 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) At least two civilians were extrajudicially killed in Balochistan by Pakistani forces, a leading human rights organisation alleged on Tuesday.

Human rights body Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) revealed that 28-year-old driver Balakh Sher was killed in the Winder region of Balochistan on October 11 after Pakistan’s Coast Guard personnel opened fire on him.

“Once again, a Baloch family’s happiness has turned into mourning. His family was waiting for him to return home, hoping to hear his voice and welcome him back. Little did they know that the son they were waiting for would never knock on their door again,” the BYC stated.

“Balakh Sher had dreams, responsibilities, and loved ones waiting for him. Now, his family must live with the pain of his loss. Why was a civilian shot and killed on the road? What was Balakh Sher’s crime? Does being Baloch make a human life any less valuable?” it questioned.

Raising serious concerns over the right to life and the protection of civilians in Balochistan, the BYC called for an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into the killing, while urging that those responsible be held accountable.

Highlighting the atrocities against civilians in Balochistan, the rights body said that the dead body of 28-year-old labourer Muhammad Iqbal was dumped in the Barkhan region on October 10, following a fake encounter.

According to the BYC, Iqbal was forcibly disappeared on December 26, 2025, by Pakistani Military Intelligence in front of the Sessions Court in Barkhan.

“Muhammad Iqbal’s family had been waiting for their loved one to return, hoping that one day their home would light up with his arrival. But today, the state has turned their home of hope into a home of mourning by returning their loved one’s dead body instead of bringing him home alive,” the BYC stated.

Condemning the incident, Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ) said, “No family should have to endure such suffering. Enforced disappearance followed by an alleged staged encounter raises grave concerns about the right to life, due process, and accountability.”

The BVJ called for an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into Iqbal’s disappearance and subsequent killing.

“National authorities, the United Nations, and international human rights organisations must take urgent action to address enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions in Balochistan. Those responsible must be held accountable, and his family must receive truth and justice,” it added.

Source: IANS

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Dhaka, Oct 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) As violence against women and children continues unabated in Bangladesh, 783 women were subjected to violence and 733 children suffered different forms of abuse between July and September this year, local media reported citing a human rights organisation.

In its quarterly report released on Monday, the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) said at least 253 women and girls were raped during the period, including 154 minors. Of them, 42 were gang-raped, 12 were killed after being raped, and one died by suicide. The report documented sexual harassment affecting 220 others, including 103 children.

As per the findings, dowry-related violence left 13 women dead and 17 injured, while two others died by suicide. Another 137 women were killed, 68 injured and 72 died by suicide in incidents involving domestic violence, Bangladesh’s leading newspaper 'The Daily Star' reported.

Of the 733 children subjected to abuse, 189 died, while 544 suffered physical or psychological abuse. The report did not specify the circumstances surrounding the children's deaths.

According to the report, 137 incidents of mob violence and lynching, triggered by allegations of theft, robbery, religious insult, rape, attempted rape, and other disputes, claimed 54 lives and left 145 people injured.

It also documented six incidents of violence against minority communities, leaving six people injured and involving attacks on two temples, vandalism of five idols and damage to four homes.

Highlighting the rise in custodial deaths, the report said at least 37 people died in prisons, including 14 convicted prisoners and 23 awaiting trial. Another six people died in law enforcement custody or allegedly due to torture.

The report also revealed escalating attacks on the media, documenting 88 incidents of assault or harassment involving 135 journalists. Of them, 63 were injured, 27 were humiliated, 18 were threatened, and nine were detained.

Amid a worsening law and order situation in Bangladesh, political violence claimed 17 lives and left 1,227 people injured in 183 incidents, according to the HRSS report.

Of these, 161 involved feuds within the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) or clashes with other political groups.

Internal BNP disputes accounted for 69 incidents, leaving nine people dead and at least 540 injured. Another 31 clashes between the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami resulted in one death and 338 injuries, The Daily Star reported.

The rights body linked the violence to political rivalries, factional disputes within parties, conflicts over control of land and businesses, and extortion

Calling for coordinated action by the state and society to strengthen the rule of law, HRSS Executive Director Izazul Islam urged the government to take effective measures to address violence against women and children, political and mob attacks, assaults on journalists and minorities, workplace safety concerns, and deaths in custody and prisons.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Oct 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) A leading human rights organisation on Tuesday condemned the Pakistan government's decision to impose emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, describing it as a "military-backed power grab".

The International Human Rights Foundation (IHRF) called for the release of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and other detained leaders, emphasising that rights cannot be suspended through decrees.

"Troops in the streets, an elected chief minister jailed, internet cut: Pakistan's emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a military-backed power grab. Sohail Afridi and all detained leaders must be freed. Rights cannot be suspended by decree," the IHRF posted on X.

The IHRF's statement came after Sohail Afridi and several cabinet members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government detained when the authorities imposed Governor's Rule in the province.

The PTI had reported their detention on October 11, shortly after Pakistan's federal government's imposition of Governor's Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution, leading Pakistani daily Dawn reported.

PTI leader Sheikh Waqas Akram condemned the arrest of Afridi, terming it as a "serious assault on the democratic mandate of the people of the province and undermines constitutional governance." He said that the arrest of Afridi further deepens political polarisation and undermines people's confidence in democratic institutions.

"I strongly condemn the reported arrest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. The detention of an elected chief minister constitutes a serious assault on the democratic mandate of the people of the province and undermines constitutional governance. Coming in the wake of the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule, this action further deepens political polarisation and erodes public confidence in democratic institutions. We demand his immediate release and an end to measures that target elected representatives. Political differences must be resolved through constitutional and democratic means," Akram posted on X.

He also criticised the Pakistan government for imposing emergency and governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, describing it as a "direct assault on the democratic mandate of the people of KP, a clear violation of provincial autonomy, and an unconstitutional attempt to dismantle an elected government."

In a post on X, Akram stated, "I unequivocally condemn the federal government’s decision to impose emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Articles 232 and 234. This is a direct assault on the democratic mandate of the people of KP, a clear violation of provincial autonomy, and an unconstitutional attempt to dismantle an elected government. The timing of this move, coinciding with PTI’s peaceful long march, lays bare its political intent. We demand its immediate and unconditional withdrawal. The constitutional struggle continues."

On October 11, the Pakistan government imposed emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and placed the province under governor's rule after President Asif Ali Zardari approved the recommendations presented by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's cabinet, Dawn reported.

The emergency proclamation includes Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's districts of Bannu, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Mar­wat, North Waziristan, and South Waziristan. The government also approved the deployment of Pakistan Army personnel and assets in support of civil power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Pakistan government's decision came at a time when PTI was holding a long march to Islamabad led by Afridi. The PTI has pledged to continue with the planned protest, however, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has been ordered to stop any such move.

Source: IANS

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Dhaka, Oct 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Amid growing political hostility in Bangladesh, a group of people attacked and vandalised the residence of Jatiya Party Chairman G M Quader in Dhaka’s Uttara, drawing strong condemnation.

The attack occurred on Monday after around 50 people gathered outside the house carrying a banner reading “Anti-Autocracy General Public” while demanding Quader’s arrest, local media reported.

They accused Quader of being an aide to ousted former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and betraying the July 2024 uprising.

Speaking to Bangladesh’s newspaper 'The Daily Star', Quader recounted that he and his wife were having breakfast when they heard a commotion outside, followed by the attackers approaching their home.

“I then heard that they were heading towards our house. Shortly afterwards, bricks and stones started being thrown at the house from all sides,” he stated.

The stone-pelting shattered the windowpanes, leaving broken glass scattered across the drawing room, but the attackers failed to enter the house as the gate was locked, he added.

Confirming the incident, Uttara West Police Station Officer-in-Charge Khalid Mansur said, “We rushed to the spot immediately after receiving the information. The attackers fled after noticing the police presence. Around 30-40 people threw bricks at the house from outside and vandalised it, but none of them could enter the building."

Bangladesh’s Awami League has strongly condemned the violent attack on former opposition leader Quader, warning that public calls for his “arrest and killing” reflect a growing threat to political dissent and democratic rights in the country.

“Those claiming to fight autocracy are accused of using violence to silence opponents. Meanwhile, attacks on dissenters continue amid international silence. When dissent becomes a death sentence, democracy is dead in spirit. The right to life is not a political privilege. It is a fundamental human right,” the party stated.

“When dissent becomes a death sentence, democracy is dead in spirit. The right to life is not a political privilege. It is a fundamental human right,” it noted.

Criticising the attack, former Bangladesh Minister and Awami League leader Mohammad Ali Arafat alleged that BNP workers carried out the brutal attack at the residence of Quader because he had admitted to speaking with Sheikh Hasina.

In a post on X, Arafat said, “This is utterly disgraceful. No political disagreement, past association, or conversation with a political leader can justify mob violence or intimidation. If a political leader can be targeted at his own home simply for speaking to someone the attackers oppose, what does that say about the state of democracy, freedom of expression, and the rule of law in Bangladesh under the BNP government?”

He cited the US-based advocacy group Human Rights Watch, which recently raised concerns over the arbitrary detention of perceived political opponents, the mass arrest of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal supporters, and the erosion of human rights safeguards under the current BNP government.

Warning of broader implications of political violence, Arafat said, “Democracy cannot survive when political disagreement is answered with violence, dissent is treated as a crime, and mobs are allowed to intimidate their opponents with impunity. Bangladesh deserves equal protection under the law, accountability for political violence, and the restoration of fundamental rights for everyone.”

Source: IANS

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New York, Oct 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor of the former interim government in Bangladesh, faced an angry confrontation at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York where some Bangladeshi expatriates severely humiliated him by branding him a "terrorist", accusing him of killing thousands of people and destroying democracy in the South Asian country.

In a video widely circulated on social media, one protester was heard shouting at Yunus and saying, “You terrorist, why did you come here? You have destroyed the democracy in my country!”

Another man accused Yunus of being responsible for the deaths of thousands of people in Bangladesh. He said: “You terrorist, you killed thousands of people in Bangladesh”.

The footage showed the protesters hurling accusations at Yunus as he was being escorted out of the airport in a wheelchair. Some accused him of killing thousands of Bangladeshi police personnel, while others shouted “Go back” at the former Chief Advisor.

Yunus arrived at the airport in New York on October 12 aboard a Qatar Airways flight from Doha and was confronted by a group of people after reaching Terminal 8, Bangladeshi newspaper 'Daily Sun' reported.

The confrontation comes amid continued criticism of Yunus’s 18-month tenure as head of the interim government, which has faced accusations of political vendetta, arbitrary arrests, escalating attacks on minorities and the prolonged detention of lawyers, politicians, journalists, academics and political activists.

A recent report in Daily Sun questioned the absence of publicly available records detailing the number of people arrested, formally charged or prosecuted during the period.

"One of the key promises of the interim government was to carry out comprehensive reforms of state institutions. Instead, critics contend that governance became increasingly dominated by unelected civil society figures – many of whom reportedly held foreign citizenships, an influential ‘kitchen cabinet,’ and other vested interests that exercised considerable influence without democratic accountability,” the report mentioned.

The report said that another major criticism of the interim administration was the alleged politicisation of state institutions. Citing critics, it noted that the political instability during the interim period enabled the Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP) to expand their influence within sections of the bureaucracy and other state institutions. Rather than improving governance, critics argue, the period was characterised by growing "patronage, self-aggrandisement, and corruption".

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, Oct 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan government's decision to impose emergency rule in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has intensified an already volatile political confrontation between the federal government and the opposition. It has reignited long-standing debates regarding governance, security and the state's relationship with its Pashtun-majority frontier region, a report has detailed.

Pakistan government effectively removed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial government and presented it as a "necessary response" to militancy. However, critics have described the decision by Pakistani authorities as a political intervention disguised as a security measure, an opinion piece in Afghan Diaspora Network detailed.

On October 11, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari approved emergency measures after recommendations made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's cabinet. The move suspended the provincial government led by former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan-founded PTI and transferred authority to a Governor. In addition, the federal government announced the deployment of forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The decision comes at a politically sensitive moment as PTI has been preparing major demonstrations demanding the release of Imran Khan.

PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari has condemned the Pakistan government's decision to impose Governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, terming it as a "coup disguised as emergency."

"Strongly condemn the arrest of the only mandated Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and of Junaid Akbar. This coup disguised as emergency or Governor rule has squashed the only little bit of democracy left in Pakistan. Further instability and collateral damage to follow. The regime must be feeling very proud," Bukhari wrote on X.

PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan condemned the imposition of emergency and Governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, describing the federal government's decision as a "political mistake and undemocratic." He emphasised that there is no disagreement on eliminating terrorism; however, the fight against terrorism cannot be used as justification to suppress the voice of the people, achieve political objectives and restrict the constitutional authority of the province.

"We strongly condemn the imposition of emergency in the province in the strongest terms and completely reject this action. This is an extremely alarming and grave political mistake and an undemocratic measure — the people will never accept such actions against their rights," Khan posted on X.

Former Member of Pakistan's National Assembly, Mohsin Dawar, accused the Pakistan government of following “colonial” policies towards Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and said that the decisions impacting the province are once again imposed without a democratic mandate. He said that emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could push the region "into further darkness."

Veteran Pashtun nationalist leader Afrasiab Khattak said that Pakistan government's imposition of emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which has already faced decades of conflict, was another experiment in authoritarian governance. According to the Afghan Diaspora Network report, he asked whether Pashtuns should see the decision as proof of how they continue to be treated as subjects of a colony instead of equal citizens within the federation.

"Whether one accepts these arguments or not, they reflect a broader perception found among many critics of Pakistan’s security policies: that the country’s current security challenges cannot be separated from decisions made over several decades. The emergency declaration therefore represents more than an administrative measure. It sits at the intersection of three overlapping crises: rising militancy, deep political polarisation, and unresolved questions about the governance of Pakistan’s Pashtun borderlands," the report in Afghan Diaspora Network stated.

"Supporters see decisive action against a deteriorating security situation. Opponents see a dangerous precedent in which elected governments can be sidelined under the banner of counterterrorism. As troops move into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and federal authorities assume greater control, the province has once again become the focal point of Pakistan’s most important national debate: whether security and democracy can coexist or whether one will continue to be used to justify curtailing the other," the author added.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday reiterated India's zero-tolerance stance against terrorism, while also stressing the importance of mutual trust and cooperation among the BIMSTEC member states for the fight against terrorism and organised crime and for the security of the region.

In his remarks at the BIMSTEC Home Ministers' meeting, HM Shah said: "On behalf of the Republic of India, I will present to you India's statement. Ministers and Special Representatives present at this first meeting, it is a matter of great pride and honour for India to host the first meeting of BIMSTEC Home Ministers. BIMSTEC has become an important platform for regional integration, economic cooperation, and collective security."

Stressing that India is moving forward with the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' ('the world is one family'), he said that the country has "always been committed to peace, co-existence, and human welfare, and we remain committed to these principles even today".

"India has never believed in attacking or dominating any country. India has always believed in respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and resolving differences through peaceful means," he added.

The Home Minister said that during the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok on April last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had stated that for them BIMSTEC "is not just a regional organisation; it is a model of inclusive development and security".

"Taking this forward, as Home Ministers today, it is our responsibility to translate our cooperation into practical arrangements that protect our citizens and strengthen the capabilities of our agencies," he added.

HM Shah said that India appreciates the progress made under the BIMSTEC security framework and remains committed to cooperating in addressing interconnected challenges such as international terrorism, trans-border organised crime, and drug trafficking, as well as to fully and effectively implementing relevant BIMSTEC agreements.

He stated that real-time cooperation and coordination between intelligence agencies, law enforcement agencies, financial monitoring agencies, and border management agencies are essential to effectively address these challenges.

"India has always maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. Our partnership is strengthened by the belief that the security of each member country contributes to the security of other member countries. Our shared commitment should ensure that terrorist networks do not find any opportunity or space to seek refuge, recruit and train personnel, raise funds, or carry out activities against neighbouring countries in any part of the region. We should support each other in matters of mutual legal assistance and extradition, in accordance with national laws and applicable treaties," the Home Minister added.

Recalling his 2020 speech during the BIMSTEC Conference on Combating Drug Trafficking, HM Shah said he had stressed strengthening cooperation in fighting against the drug menace.

"It is an attack on our youth, our society, our culture, and the lives of future generations. It cannot be stopped by the efforts of any one country. We must adopt a region-wide approach. Illicit proceeds from drug trafficking provide financial strength to organised crime and are also used to fuel terrorism. The misuse of precursor chemicals and transactions conducted through the dark web further complicate this challenge," he said.

On human trafficking, the Home Minister said that it also poses a "serious challenge to our shared security and human rights".

"Cooperation in identifying, rescuing, assisting, rehabilitating, and safely repatriating victims must remain a vital part of our collective efforts," he added.

BIMSTEC (the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) is a regional organisation comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

According to the organisation's official website, BIMSTEC works to strengthen collaboration in areas such as agriculture and food security, the blue economy, connectivity, culture, disaster management, energy, environment and climate change, fiscal and monetary policy, health, human resource development, fisheries and livestock, and people-to-people relations, among other fields.

Source: IANS

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Quetta, Oct 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) At least four civilians were critically injured in two separate incidents involving a Pakistani drone strike and Frontier Corps (FC) firing in Balochistan’s Mastung district, a leading human rights organisation said.

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) accused Pakistani forces of turning Balochistan into a “battlefield of fire and fear”, alleging that drone strikes and aerial bombings targeting civilian populations amounted to open “state aggression”.

The rights body said that a Pakistani drone strike outside a civilian residence in the Khad Kocha area of Mastung on October 9 left two civilians Javed Hammad and Allah Bakhsh severely injured.

Condemning the incident, it said, such attacks near civilian homes and settlements raise the fundamental question of how long the lives of ordinary people in Balochistan will remain under the shadow of fear, violence, and insecurity.

“Attacks on civilian populations in Balochistan via drones and jet aircraft are not merely a matter of security operations, but a grave issue concerning the protection of citizens, human dignity, and fundamental rights. No political or military justification can be allowed to overlook the lives and safety of ordinary citizens. Transforming homes into symbols of fear and settlements into war zones endangers people's basic right to life and security,” the BYC stated.

“The people of Balochistan are not military targets; they are human beings who have the right to peace, protection, and a dignified life. The chain of attacks on civilian populations must end, injured citizens must receive justice, and accountability for those responsible must be ensured through independent investigations of such incidents,” it added.

In another incident on October 4, heavy firing by FC near Zakir Hotel on the Singar Bypass in Mastung left two young men from Paringabad critically injured.

The victims were identified as Muhammad Ismail and Muhammad Zahir.

“Zakir Hotel has been shut down by the FC for about a month and turned into a checkpoint. Along with it, 12 shops, a block factory, a tile factory, and other businesses nearby have been closed, cutting off the livelihoods of dozens of families. For some time now, life in Mastung has become hell. Mutilated bodies have been dumped by the roadside, fruit orchards cut down, families displaced, drones have struck, and now open firing is killing and wounding Baloch people,” the BYC stated.

The rights body called on international organisations and human rights defenders to recognise the Baloch genocide by the Pakistani forces and hold Pakistan accountable, warning that “otherwise, Balochistan will be pushed into a land of bloodshed.”

Source: IANS

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Colombo, Oct 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan’s creation of new provinces without addressing the entrenched structures of corruption, patronage, feudal dominance and institutional decay would merely alter geographical boundaries while allowing the same dysfunctional system to persist, a report has stated.

It noted that the key question remains whether such a move can dismantle the system that has turned Sindh, one of Pakistan’s wealthiest provinces, into a region of untapped potential.

Without fundamental changes to this system, new provincial boundaries are likely to yield the same outcomes, leaving Sindh’s people to bear the consequences of a political order that has spent decades distributing privileges instead of delivering progress, according to a report in the Sri Lankan newspaper ‘Daily Mirror’.

“Proposals emanating from Islamabad for the creation of new provinces and administrative units have reignited long-standing anxieties about federal encroachment, resource control, and the political future of Pakistan's most economically significant yet politically embattled province, Sindh,” the report noted.

Stressing that the push is being driven by influential figures within Pakistan’s federal government, it said, “Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has argued that Pakistan's traditional four-province structure is ill-suited to govern a country of more than 250 million people. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has gone even further, suggesting the creation of 12 to 15 administrative units across the country.”

Among the most contentious proposals under discussion, the report said, is the possibility of separating Karachi from Sindh and placing it under direct federal control

“Any discussion about new provinces in Pakistan cannot be divorced from the realities of Sindh itself. The fundamental question is not whether Sindh is too large to govern, but why decades of governance have failed to translate the province's wealth into prosperity for its people,” Daily Mirror mentioned.

According to the report, Sindh presents one of South Asia’s most striking paradoxes.

Despite being home to Pakistan’s largest city, its main ports, extensive agricultural lands, significant energy reserves, and a major share of the country’s industrial and commercial activity, large parts of the province continue to grapple with poor educational standards, inadequate healthcare, deficient infrastructure, persistent poverty, and limited economic opportunities, the report noted.

“Gas extracted from Sindh fuels industries and households across the country, while many producing areas remain deprived of development. Water disputes, centralised fiscal arrangements, and unequal control over provincial resources have reinforced perceptions that wealth generated in Sindh is routinely diverted elsewhere. These grievances are further shaped by historical experiences following Partition, including linguistic marginalisation, the weakening of Sindhi-medium education, and the diminishing role of Sindhi speakers within state institutions,” it highlighted.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan is facing a major energy crisis due to the disruption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies from Qatar amid the continuing Middle East conflict, which has choked the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report.

Buying additional LNG at soaring market prices could push up electricity and gas costs, while failing to secure sufficient supplies could put pressure on power generation, industry and other sectors that depend on gas, the Assahifa news website reported.

According to data cited by Reuters from Pakistan’s electricity system and market operator, the power sector could require as much as 400 million cubic feet of gas per day during the winter. Only two LNG cargoes had been confirmed for September, while a standard LNG cargo delivered to Pakistan contains around 140,000 cubic metres, which is slightly more than a week’s supply.

Pakistan is seeking to make up for disruptions to supplies from Qatar by looking for alternative cargoes on international markets, but this comes as spot LNG prices have risen sharply to around $30 per million British thermal units.

Reuters reported earlier that disruptions to Qatari LNG supplies had prompted Pakistan to run furnace-oil-fired power plants at full capacity and postpone maintenance at some nuclear power plants as the country sought to manage electricity shortages. Authorities at the time reported a power shortfall of around 3,400 megawatts, partly linked to lower hydropower generation.

At the same time, gas demand is expected to increase during the winter, when household consumption rises for heating and other domestic uses, putting additional pressure on the government to balance supplies between different sectors.

According to officials cited by Arab News, Pakistan was using diplomatic channels with Qatar, Iran, and the United States to facilitate the passage of Qatari LNG cargoes covered by long-term contracts through the Strait of Hormuz. The movement of the cargoes, however, also depends on factors including whether vessel crews and insurers are willing to operate under the prevailing security conditions.

LNG imports play an important role in meeting the needs of Pakistani households, factories, power plants, and fertiliser producers. According to official data cited by Arab News, imported LNG accounted for around one-fifth of Pakistan’s total gas consumption between July 2025 and March 2026.

The supply disruption is also raising concerns among Pakistan’s industrial sector, which depends on reliable gas supplies to operate factories and maintain production levels. Business representatives have warned that continued shortages during the winter could affect output, particularly as companies are already facing high energy costs and supply disruptions.

Local reports quoted Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry President Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo as saying that managing the balance between demand and supply was the government’s responsibility and that cargoes needed to be secured in time to prevent production disruptions and possible factory closures.

Source: IANS

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