A teacher marking his attendance after inauguration of biometric system at Government Boys Degree College
Principal Government Boys Degree College Altaf Hussain Abro, Deputy Director Human Rights Ejaz Jamali leading a walk at SSP Office Road in connection with the upcoming International Human Rights Day organized by Human Rights Department Government of Sindh
A gypsy girl playing with sand outside her make-shift houses near Railway Station
Farmers thrashing rice crop in their filed
Labourers spreading rice crop for drying in a field
A shepherd guiding his herd of camels heading towards grazing field
Children playing with old tyres at Naranwala Road
Radicalism on rise as BJP leader says ‘salute those who razed Babri Mosque’
ISLAMABAD, Dec 6 (APP): Twenty-nine years after the demolition of Babri Mosque in India on December 6, 1992, the radicalism of the Bharatia Janta Party is still alive as one of its leaders has stated that “those who razed the mosque should be saluted”.
Uma Bharti, a BJP leader and a former Union Minister, who played a key role in the Ram Janmabhoomi Movement, said: “I salute those who brought down Babri Masjid.”
In her trademark style and no-holds-barred manner, the saffron-clad former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister said: “When I remember this day, I recall it as one of the proudest moments of my life.”
The BJP leader said she would “always rejoice the moment when she witnessed the collapse of Babri Masjid in front of her eyes”.
Uma Bharti said, “I don’t know who are those people who demolished that structure but I salute those people. It was a wonderful and unique moment for me.”
“It was only after the demolition of the structure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi could lay the foundation stone of Ram temple…. so those who demolished this structure deserve salute,” she added.
On December 6, 1992, a charged Hindu mob demolished a 16th century Babri Mosque in Ayodhya on the pretext that it was built at the birthplace of Hindu god Ram.
The unfortunate incident was a result of a sustained campaign by far-right Vishwa Hindu Parishad backed by many present leaders of Bharatia Janta Party (BJP).
Instead of delivering justice, the Indian Supreme Court ruled in favor of extremist Hindus and handed over the mosque’s site to Hindus for temple construction.
The demolition of the mosque and the jubilation of the mobs created a permanent fissure in India’s social fabric and instilled fear among India’s Muslim minority.
In short, minorities in India are not safe; they have to constantly fear for their beliefs and the places where they worship.
The Babri Mosque was constructed in Ayodhya, a city situated in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, by Mughal Emperor Babur’s general Mir Baqi between 1528-1529 AD.
The extremist Hindus claimed that it was built on the foundations of what they considered to be the birthplace of Lord Ram (Ram Janmabhoomi).
In December 1949, idols of Lord Ram were placed by Hindu Karseveks and mysteriously “appeared” from inside the mosque. This led to widespread protests and demand for the construction of Ram Temple at the place of Babri Mosque.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad formed a group to continue the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, in which BJP leader LK Advani was made the leader and face of the campaign for the construction of a grand ‘Ram Mandir’ at the site.
In November 1989, Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi allowed the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to conduct a ceremony, called the Shilanyas (consecration), at the site of Babri Mosque in a move to appease far-right Hindus.
On December 6, 1992, emboldened by BJP rule in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, a charged Hindu extremist mob, chanting Jai Shri Ram, attacked Babri Mosque and reduced it to rubble.
The unfortunate incident led to the instigation of communal riots between Hindus and Muslims across India which culminated in the killing of an estimated 2000 people, mainly Muslims.
On November 9, 2019, the Indian Supreme Court made a highly controversial decision by awarding Hindus control of a disputed religious site in the town of Ayodhya for the construction of a temple. The Court ruled that Muslims will be given five acres of land at an “alternative site” in Ayodhya.
The verdict is seemed to be an ultimate victory of Hindutva ideology in India where justice depends on which religion one belongs to.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the verdict, saying it had “amicably” ended the decades-old dispute.
On August 5, 2020, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the construction of a Hindu temple at the place of Babri Mosque. The move was highly appreciated by Hindu supremacists and media zealots which makes the base of the ruling BJP government.
The experts say that the demolition of the Babri mosque is a clear reflection of the Hindutva agenda, which remains its core identity today.
They urged the world community to take notice of the rising menace of religious intolerance in Hindutva.
A female vendor displaying protective facemasks to attract the customers while standing at a roadside
A worker preparing quilts at his workplace
Army aviation helicopter crashes at Siachin, two pilots embrace martyrdom: ISPR
RAWALPINDI, Dec 6 (APP):A Pakistan Army aviation helicopter on Monday crashed at Siachin where both the pilots on board embraced martyrdom.
The pilots were identified as Major Irfan Bercha and Major Raja Zeeshan Jahanzeb who embraced Shahadat (martyrdom), said an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) media release here received.
The search and rescue helicopters and army troops have reached the incident site, it added.
Digitalization vital to empower women, mainstream deprived people: President
ISLAMABAD, Dec 6 (APP): President Dr Arif Alvi Monday said that the digitalization of the economy was essential to empower women and bring other deprived segments into the mainstream.
The president, addressing the plenary session of the 24th Sustainable Development Conference here, said the disbursement of the cash assistance to women under Ehsaas program directly to their banks accounts would make the women more financially empowerment.
He said the banks had also introduced schemes for women to make them establish their own businesses which would ultimately make them play a constructive role in the society.
The president said the COVID-19 pandemic had shown the world multiple ways to do the things online and the nations making the decisions accordingly would excel.
He lauded the society’s support as well as the government’s prudent police of smart lockdown and data-driven decisions to support the poor and economy which saved the people as well as the economy.
He also spoke high of the government’s mass vaccination drive which he said had helped to aware the masses about the importance of preventive care instead of curative one which was also costlier.
He said Pakistan was the fourth largest country for the prevalence of diabetes which was also preventable.
President Alvi said the COVID pandemic also provided an opportunity to promote the online learning which the nation could not adopt earlier despite availability of tools.
The president said the think tanks like Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), the organizer of the conference, should identify the new trends and exploit them.
Highlighting the strengths of the Pakistani nation, he specifically mentioned the hosting of millions of Afghan refugees by the country which the developed countries could not do rather let them drown in the oceans.
He also referred to the Pope Francis’ recent statement during his visit to a refugee camp at Greek Island of Lesbos, in which he termed the neglect of refugees “shipwreck of civilization.”
“Let us not let our sea (mare nostrum) be transformed into a desolate sea of death (mare mortuum),” he said, Pope had said according to media reports.
President Alvi also asked the think tanks to ensure that their work was also bought by the opinion makers like the government and parliamentarians which otherwise would not have any impact base in the decision making.
Criticizing the trend of the fake news, the president urged the people to be cautious of the phenomenon which could adversely impact the nations and damage the people’s mindset.
Earlier, Executive Director SDPI appreciated the government’s timely steps to contain the pandemic and commodities’ prices which also saved the people from food scarcity.
He said the adoption of online life was essential as the information technology had made the people netizens of the internet world.
He said 250 speakers from 20 countries would address the three-day conference who would ponder on new lessons and opportunities for sustainable development.
SAPM Dr Sania Nishtar said the COVID pandemic had learnt the world that health was a national security issue and also compelled the people to do the things digitally.
She said Pakistan had put in place the largest social protection network which was declared the fourth fastest program by the World Bank and the third fastest in the world in the context of the pandemic.
Dr Sania said the government had been laying special emphasis on digitalization even prior to the pandemic as it had launched 20 programs under Ehsaas Initiative.
She said Pakistan was the first country which was paying higher stipend to girls for their enrolment in schools.
Chairman Board of Director of SDPI Shafqat Kakakhel also appreciated the government’s smart lockdown policy, massive cash disbursement and targeted subsidy to contain commodities price hike.
He said the SDPI’s research encompassed multiple subjects like climate change and environment besides providing advocacy on urgent issues.
A vendor displaying and arranging toys to attract the customers at his roadside setup
A street vendor showering water on carrots and radishes
A PHA worker showering water on plane fixed at China Chowk
A worker knitting children swing at his workplace
China’s ‘whole-process democracy’ has brought happiness to people: Shen Haixiong
ISLAMABAD, Dec 6 (APP): President of China Media Group (CMG) Shen Haixiong has said that after helping 1.4 billion people come out of poverty and bringing the COVID-19 pandemic under control, China’s “whole-process democracy” has given its people a sense of happiness and fulfillment.
“A country’s democratic system is deeply rooted in its history, culture and tradition, therefore, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ democracy model, Shen said in his remarks at the International Forum on ‘Democracy: The Shared Human Values’.
Held in Beijing, the forum was attended by more than 500 senior politicians and scholars from over 120 countries and regions, and 20 international organizations.
Shen said a country’s democracy should only be judged by its people, and the real democracy should be used to improve people’s well-being, SGTN reported.
Noting that CGTN coverage on Afghanistan had shown the world the real situation in the country, Shen pledged that CMG would continue to shoulder its responsibility as a major international media outlet to spread the truth and share democratic stories in China.
“We believe in the power of justice, and we’ll be committed to spreading objective and fair democratic awareness,” Shen said.
He vowed to work actively to build a healthy global public opinion environment and enhance exchanges between different civilizations to build a community with a shared future for mankind.
Khusro assures Coca-Cola company for support
ISLAMABAD, Dec 6 (APP):Federal Minister for Industries and Production Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar Monday assured the government’s full support for execution of Company’s investment plans and shared Prime Minister’s vision to make Pakistan a economic hub.
He said this in a meeting with the senior management of Coca-Cola Icecek Pakistan (CCI), said a press release issued here.
The delegation of CCI Pakistan shared details on its 7th Coca-Cola production plant with an investment of USD 50 million, CSR activities, venturing upon new investment opportunities.
They also discussed some issues relating to the Sugar taxes on beverages.
During the meeting, it was informed that company’s greenfield project would be completed by February, 2022, and company would request Prime Minister of Pakistan to inaugurate the project.
They added that the project would be used primarily for beverage needs in northern region. Moreover, it will create direct & indirect employment opportunities and revenue for the government as well as third-party suppliers, dealers and distributors.
The minister welcomed the business expansion plan by CCI Pakistan and said that the investment was reflection of the government’s successful pro-investment and pro-business polices.
Khusro said that beverage and food industry was 12% share of LSMI, the growth of this sector would create new jobs and support ancillary industries, as the business grows further.
A worker knitting children swing at his workplace
PM vows to spread network of sports grounds for youth across Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Dec 6 (APP): Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday highlighting the importance of sports for healthy life and giving the youth a mental strength to fight the challenges in life, expressed his government’s resolve to spread a network of sports ground across the country.
“When you learn to compete in ground, you also learn to win and also learn to face defeat…When there comes a difficult time in the life of a person, he or she faces that challenge with courage,” Imran Khan told a huge gathering youth here at Jinnah Stadium on the occasion of the launching of country’s historic Kamyab Jawan Sports Drive.
Sports Drive was part of the new four projects worth Rs. 4 billion initiated by the present government in coordination with Kamayab Jawan Programme and the Higher Education Commission to keep the country’s youth engaged in sports and extracurricular activities.
The Prime Minister, who earlier launched the Sports Drive and lit-up the torch, said that since the country’s 70% of population was under the age of 30 years, the present government has so far developed 300 and 260 sports grounds in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, respectively.
He said that with New Zealand, a country of just 5 million population, had more sports grounds than Pakistan – a country of 220 million people, the present government was striving to develop sports grounds in every village, town, Tehsil and Districts across the country.
The Prime Minister said as a new sports policy has also been announced, the government was taking all reforms measures to strengthen the sports bodies and organizations and eliminate mafias from sports.
Besides the promotion of sports activities, Imran Khan said that the government was also focusing on education and had disbursed Rs. 47 billion in scholarships to 6.3 million youth, the highest number of scholarships in country’s history.
The Prime Minister mentioned his 21 years of experience in sports and said his message for the youth was that they should never feel discouraged after defeat in a game, as it provided them an opportunity to review their shortcomings and prepare themselves for the next competition with a renewed vigor and spirit.
He said that the government was striving to take Pakistan forward in international sports through various measures including talent-hunt, development of grounds, reforms in sports bodies and elimination of mafias.
The Prime Minister congratulated his Special Assistant on Youth Affairs Usman Dar for organizing such a big event of Kamyab Jawan Sports Drive and hoped that such talent-hunt drives will help further promote sports culture in the country and among youth.
Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination and Sports Dr. Fehmida Mirza in her remarks on the occasion described the Kamayab Jawan Programme as one of the present government’s best programmes and initiatives.
She said under the new sports policy made in line with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the government during its five year tenure will develop sports grounds at every Tehsil and Districts of the country.
Dr. Femida Mirza also thanked the Prime Minister for allocating billions of rupees for the people of Sindh under the government’s Ehsas Programme.
Special Assistant to PM on Youth Affairs Usman Dar while speaking on the occasion highlighted the details and objectives of the Kamyab Jawan Sports Drive.
Besides the participation of a total of 6000 youth including 3300 boys and 2700 girls in the age group of 15 to 25 years in the sports competition, he said, a large number of youth from the across the country had gathered at Jinnah Stadium to witness the Sports Drive.
Usman Dar highlighted the importance the present government gives to youth and mentioned the allocation of Rs. 100 billion for the provision of soft loans to unemployed youth under the Kamayab Jawan Programme.