Rights activist shot dead after seminar on Baloch issue

A pair of sandals lies amid broken glass in a car after the murder of Sabeen Mahmud in Karachi, Pakistan, April 25, 2015. — Reuters

KARACHI: Sabeen Mahmud, social media campaigner and human rights activist who founded the social forum T2F, was shot dead on Friday evening, minutes after the end of an interactive discussion ‘Unsilen­cing Balochistan’ organised by her and attended by journalists and rights activists, including the founder leader of the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, Abdul Qadeer Baloch.

Karachi-South Deputy Inspector General of Police Dr Jamil Ahmed ruled out the killing as result of a mugging attempt and said she had been attacked deliberately but he could not share any possible motive.

Sabeen Mahmud

Read: Director T2F Sabeen Mahmud shot dead in Karachi

“She was returning home with her mother in a car after the seminar she had organised on Balochistan,” he said.

“It’s an incident of targeted killing, but we are not aware of any threats she had been receiving. The investigations are on and it would be too early to speculate about the motive behind the killing,” the official said.

Also read: T2F hosts the Balochistan discussion that others shy away from

Defence police SHO Kansan Dean said pillion riders on a motorcycle attacked Ms Mehmud and her mother on Sunset Boulevard in DHA Phase-II after they had left the T2F in a car. Both of them suffered bullet injuries and were taken to a nearby private hospital where doctors pronounced Sabeen dead.

Her mother was shifted to the Aga Khan University Hospital.

The body was taken to the Jinnah Post-Graduate Medical Centre for post-mortem.

“She sustained four bullet injuries on her face, neck and chest,” police surgeon Dr Jalil Qadir said. Her autopsy, conducted by senior medico-legal officer Dr Nasreen Qamar, also showed injuries on her arm and shoulder that might be bullet exit wounds, added the police surgeon.

Sabeen Mahmud — a profile

Half an hour before her murder, Sabeen Mehmud’s Facebook status read: “Unsilencing Balochistan (Take 2) with Wusatullah Khan, Mama Qadeer, Farzana Baloch and Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur. Moderated by Moneeza Ahmed.”

“It appears that an attempt is being made to silence human rights defenders or those who take up the causes of the people,” the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s Chairperson Zohra Yusuf said after the incident.

“This is a shocking event for the city and citizens as T2F has been providing a space to the people to express their views,” the prominent rights activist said. On Thursday at 6.30pm, Sabeen Mehmud had also organised a seminar about the Balochistan situation, she said.

“It was the same seminar which was organised by LUMS (Lahore University of Management Sciences) where three speakers – Mama Qadeer, Farzana Majeed and Mohammed Ali Talpur – were the same, but it was cancelled under alleged pressure of ISI,” the HRCP chief said.

“It can’t be said categorically that her murder was linked with this event,” Ms Yusuf said.

“As Ms Sabeen has been consistently providing the space of T2F to discuss the issues of human rights, cultural diversity etc due to which she had received threats, prompting her to hire the services of a security guard,” she said.

“She was trying to promote liberal and rational thinking, which is lacking in society,” said Ms Yusuf.

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, who is in charge of the home ministry, sought a report about the incident and ordered the city police chief to arrest the killers.

Karachi police chief Ghulam Qadir Thebo formed a special team, headed by a DIG, to investigate the murder, according to a spokesman.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2015

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Strong earthquake strikes Nepal, tremors felt in Pakistan and India

Strong tremors were also felt across Northern India and minor tremors were reported in Lahore and parts of Punjab. —AFP/File

KATHMANDU: A strong 7.9-magnitude earthquake hit near Nepal's capital of Kathmandu before noon Saturday, causing extensive damage with toppled walls and collapsed buildings, officials said.

Dozens of people with injuries were being brought to the main hospital in central Kathmandu.There was no immediate estimate on fatalities.

Several buildings collapsed in the center of the capital, including centuries-old temples, said resident Prachanda Sual. He said he saw people running through the streets in panic.

Ambulance sirens blared and government helicopters hovered overhead.

National radio warned people to stay outdoors because more aftershocks are feared. It is also asking people to maintain calm. Old Kathmandu city is a warren of tightly packed, narrow lanes with poorly constructed homes piled on top of each other.

Nepal's Information Minister Minendra Rijal told India's NDTV station that there are reports of damage in and around Kathmandu but no immediate word on casualties. He said rescue teams were on the scene.

Analysis: Is it over for the JI after by-poll debacle?

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Jamaat-i-Islami candidate for NA-246 Rashid Naseem seen during his visit to a polling station in Gulberg Federal-B Area. — Online

Losing a seat in an election is not something that surprises the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), its leaders and ideology-driven loyal workers. But after the NA-246 by-election results, what probably shocked the country’s oldest political party the most is the number of votes it managed to poll. (The JI candidate was among those who forfeited their security deposit in the by-election.)

Hardly any political quarter in Karachi doubts the JI’s organisational strength — a trained and well-informed cadre of workers — as well as its decades-long presence in Karachi which was known as a stronghold of the right-wing party before the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) emerged to change the political demography and set a new electoral history in the city.

Read: NA-246: Official results announced, MQM regains seat by huge margin

Though it was never counted as an electoral competitor of the MQM, the JI was always believed to be, to a large extent, the second most influential party of the city. That was the factor that mostly allowed the JI to replace the MQM when the latter boycotted the 1993 National Assembly elections and the local bodies polls in 2001.

But, to some extent, things started to change after the May 2013 elections. And the situation that is emerging following the NA-246 by-poll is convincing analysts and people aware of Karachi’s political history that the JI is fast losing its traditional place in the city. For many, it could be the trickle-down effect of the growing popularity of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) across the country that is denting the JI in Karachi; but there are also other factors responsible for the declining graph of the party.

Also read: JI candidate complains of pre-poll rigging

“I think the Jamaat is fast losing its interaction with the common man,” says journalist Idrees Bakhtiar. “If you compete in a particular city you need to counter your rivals or competitors with better moves. For instance, I don’t think the JI is as active as the MQM when it comes to addressing the common man’s issues. People expect political parties to listen, but unfortunately the Jamaat did not do that even when it was governing the local bodies system of this city.”

To shore up his arguments, he refers to the regular sittings of MQM legislators and their scheduled meetings with people at Nine Zero, which strengthens the party’s contact with its voters and the people of this city. No such arrangements were made by the JI, even when the party won seats and was part of the government in some capacity.

Also read: Jamaat credits Rangers for peaceful Karachi by-poll

“I don’t think that the slogan of the Jamaat-i-Islami for Sharia rule has lost charm,” insists Mr Bakhtiar. “It’s all about the presentation you make to convince people about your slogan. The Ikhwan-ul-Muslimeen or Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and the Welfare Party or Refah Party in Turkey had the same slogan, and also had strong contact with people and made a larger contribution towards social and welfare segments. The Jamaat needs to come out of its shell and approach the common man. I don’t see new blood joining the party except those who have a family history of loyalty to the Jamaat.”

For Athar Hashmi, the editor of the JI-founded Daily Jasarat, the party is facing the challenge of ethnic politics in Karachi, which always attracts the masses, has a strong slogan and the power to defeat any ideology. He recognises the ‘PTI factor’ which is overtaking the JI in Karachi and feels that the city’s youth gravitates more towards Imran Khan.

“So it must surprise and disappoint the Jamaat that it’s no longer even at the third place,” he says. “But, at the same time, one has to understand that whatever policy reforms the JI leadership brings for its national politics, they are not going to affect its standing in Karachi. Here, the Mohajir slogan has become much stronger over the years for voters.”

He recognises that it’s a “source of concern” for the Jamaat leadership, but doesn’t sound very optimistic about the future trend of politics in Karachi. He is not supportive of any major change in policy in the Jamaat’s Karachi politics, but at the same time doesn’t see the existing slogan winning votes in the city.

“The Jamaat has an ideology and slogan for Sharia rule,” says Mr Hashmi. “You can’t change your ideology and slogan for the sake of votes or seats, nor should anyone do that.

But the problem is that it has not been effective in Karachi’s electoral politics.”

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2015

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Sabeen, the one who never backed down

Sabeen Mahmud, social media campaigner and human rights activist - Khuda Bux Abro

The fingers type, but I don’t feel them moving. The ears sense a commotion, but I cannot hear. The eyes fight back tears, but it’s futile to resist.

How can you feel, how can you react, how can you respond, when the news of a friend’s death hits you, right between the eyes?

But Sabeen was far more than a friend, she was a beacon; an island of calm in a sea of madness.

The Second Floor, conceived and modelled in her own image, was the physical embodiment of her intangible love for all things; food, the arts, knowledge and ideas, and, of course, people.

As bleeding heart liberals go, Sabeen’s was the bloodiest heart I have ever come across. Sabeen did a lot more than just help people. She championed causes, thought outside the box and wanted, with every breath, to make a difference.

Also read: Sabeen Mahmud — a profile

A leading light of the #PakistanForAll and #ReclaimYourMosque campaigns, she was usually the first to hit the streets and the last to go home.

When they came for the Shias of Alamdar Road, she was at Numaish from the very beginning to the bitter end.

When they came for the Christians of Peshawar, she was right there at the heart of the human chains that protected churches on Sunday mass.

Always one to challenge convention, always one to take the unpopular stand, always one to side with the underdog; Sabeen Mahmud never backed down from a fight.

When the bearded brigade came after her for daring to saying “Faasla na rakhein, pyaar honay dein,” she didn’t get cowed.

When Maulana Abdul Aziz was shouting obscenities into the loudspeaker, she was right there with Jibran Nasir and Shaan Taseer. I remember, because I met her, hugged her and asked her for some words of wisdom.

Also read: T2F hosts the Balochistan discussion that others shy away from

That was the last time I met Sabeen. On a cold Islamabad evening, outside the Aabpara police station.

She paced the crowd as Jibran held forth. She saw from a distance the incivility of a civil society, but turned and walked away, quietly smiling to herself.

I remember her as the flower-child in a sage’s body. I remember her youthful exuberance in the face of all adversity. I remember her because she introduced me to half of Twitter when she single-handedly conceptualised and hosted the Social Media Mela. I remember her because of our shared love for bad 80s pop.

I remember her because I can’t forget.

Over the days to come, a lot will be written and a lot more will be said on the woman I’m talking about. Some of it will be good, some bad. But none will manage to capture the essence of the woman herself.

No one can ever take her place and nothing can ever make up for the loss we’re all mourning. It comes in spurts.

As I fight back the tears and force my fingers to type words, all I remember is her slight smile, the fire in her eyes and the conviction in her voice.

We once bonded over our mutual love for the Wax song, ‘Right between the eyes’. As I write these words now, I’m listening to the same song again. It’s a love song, as much as this feeble blog is a love letter. But then, why does it feel like a bullet?

Why does it feel like I’ve taken one, right between the eyes? It’s because we all have.

Rest in peace Sabeen. You were truly the best of us.

All I’m afraid of now is, who will stand up when they come for us?

Who will stand up when they come for me?

Haj applications to be received from Monday

 

143,368 Pakistanis to go on pilgrimage; fares reduced; 10 bank branches to receive applications till May 8; tour operators not to get additional quota; machine readable passports, CNICs and medical certificates declared mandatory; those who performed Haj in last five years declared ineligible

 

 

Muhammad AnisSaturday, April 25, 2015
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ISLAMABAD: The government on Friday announced the Haj Policy under which 143,368 Pakistanis would go on pilgrimage this year under the government’s Regular and Private schemes.

Announcing the Haj Policy, Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf said 10 bank branches all over the country would receive applications from April 27 through May 8.In order to select the successful applicants, the government has decided to hold balloting contrary to the past practice of ‘first come, first served basis’.

The new policy will provide an equal opportunity to the applicants to perform Haj.There would be a 50 percent quota each for the government’s Regular and Private tour operators. As such, a total of 71,684 applicants would be selected for the Regular Scheme through balloting.

Flanked by Minister of State for Religious Affairs Pir Aminul Hasnat, Sardar Muhammad Yousuf said under the Regular Scheme, the Haj expenses for the North Region — Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhawa — had been reduced from Rs272,231 to Rs264,971 and from Rs262,231 to Rs255,971 for the South Region. However, the pilgrims opting to pay for ‘Qurbani’ will have to deposit an additional Rs14,210 along with the application.

The Haj expenses have been decreased mainly due to a reduction in air fares. The fare for the North Region has been reduced to Rs98,700 from Rs107,700 while for the South Region, it has been reduced to Rs89,700 from Rs97,700.

Like the last year, the pilgrims would get meals at their residences in Madina, Mecca and Mina without paying an additional amount under the Regular Scheme.All those who have performed Haj in the last five years will not be eligible except for those accompanying as Mahram or intending to do Haj-e-Badal.

Sardar Yousuf said 50 percent intending pilgrims would be airlifted to Jeddah and Madina directly and each pilgrim would get five-litre bottles of Zam Zam at the airport on their return to Pakistan.

The minister maintained that like the past few years, this year too there would be no free Haj.The Haj expenses also include transport fares during the pilgrims’ 40-day stay and they would be provided with round-the-clock transport facility there.

Moreover, they would also get the best possible accommodation in Azizia under the same category.To a question, the minister said the tour operators would not be given any additional quota of intending pilgrims.

Under the Private Scheme, the pilgrims will also be able to register their complaints through email and by meeting monitoring teams, which will also be there to look after the arrangements.

In order to provide better health facilities, a medical mission comprising 450 doctors and paramedics will also serve the pilgrims.Machine Readable passports, Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) an

Ex-Yemen leader urges rebel allies to heed UN, pull back

April 25, 2015 - Updated 220 PKT
From Web Edition

 

 

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Sanaa: Yemen´s influential former president urged his rebel allies Friday to heed UN demands to withdraw from territory seized in months of fighting, so Saudi-led air strikes can end and reconciliation begin.

Ali Abdullah Saleh, who still holds sway over army units allied with the Huthi rebels who now control large swathes of the country, had welcomed this month´s Security Council resolution as a way to "stop bloodshed" in Yemen.

More than 1,000 people have been killed in the fighting since late March, according to the UN, which said Friday at least 115 children were among the dead.

Saleh, in a statement read on his Yemen Today television channel, said: "I call on (the Huthis) to accept all UN Security Council decisions and to implement them in return for a halt in the coalition forces´ aggression."

"I urge them and everyone -- militias and Al-Qaeda as well as militias loyal to (President Abedrabbo Mansour) Hadi -- to withdraw from all provinces, especially Aden," the main southern city where fighting has raged between rival forces.

The Saudi-led coalition, which began an air war on rebels and their allies on March 26, announced an end to that campaign on Tuesday in favour of seeking a political solution, but strikes have continued.

Saleh, who still heads the influential General People´s Congress party, called for UN-brokered Saudi-Yemeni talks to be held in Geneva.

He proposed that all provinces be handed over to "the army and security apparatus under the control of local authorities in each province". (AFP)

Polling for LB polls in cantonment boards begins

 

April 25, 2015 - Updated 115 PKT
From Web Edition

 

 

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ISLAMABAD: Polling for local bodies elections in cantonment boards across the country began at 8:00AM and will continue till 5:00PM amid strict security.

A total of 1,151 candidates are running for the local bodies election in 199 wards of 42 cantonment boards on party basis after a gap of 17 years today.

 

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