Three held in maid’s death case – 08 Dec 2022

Mill owner and his son, while talking to some media persons, alleged that the maid had committed suicide

KURIANWALA:
In the aftermath of the mysterious death of a 17-year-old maid and after the City Police Officer, Syed Khalid Mehmood Hamdani’s taking notice of the matter, police registered a case against five people, including a mill owner and his son, under the sections of murder and arrested three of the accused, Rashid, Noman and Babloo.

The CPO had also sought a report on the matter from the SP of the Madina Town Police Station.

According to the police report and the contents of the complaint filed with the police by Ghulam Abbas, father of the deceased, his daughter had been working as a maid at the house of a mill owner in Chak 198 RB for the last eight months.

The complainant told the police that he received a call from his daughter’s employer the other day, informing him that his daughter had been unwell and was admitted to a hospital off the Canal Road.

Ghulam Abbas told the police that when he, along with other members of his family, reached the hospital he saw his daughter lying on a stretcher dead.

The complainant said that his daughter had marks of a rope around her neck.

Ghulam Abbas told the police that those marks proved that she had been strangulated.

Meanwhile, the mill owner and his son, while talking to some media persons, alleged that the maid had committed suicide.

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Gender Parity Report launched: Violence against women increases – 08 Dec 2022

LAHORE: Punjab Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) launched Gender Parity Report 2021 here at a local hotel on Wednesday.

Data collected to evaluate the status of women against more than 250 indicators that cut across six thematic areas regarding demographics, governance, health, education, economic participation and opportunities, and justice showed increase in violence against women (VAW) in the province. Rape was the most commonly reported crime, making up 45% of reported VAW cases. Reported cases of sexual crimes increased by 16% in 2021. Cases of abduction increased by 25%, cases of assault increased by 47%, acid burning increased by 18% while honour killing decreased by 17%. The acquittal rate in Punjab for VAW cases was 95% in 2021. The total number of active users for the PSCA Women Safety Application increased by 265%.

The PCSW with the help of UNFPA and SPO came up with this report that gives interesting demographics. Punjab’s population is 59.2m women (49.3%) and 60.8m men (50.7%). 64.3% men have their own mobile phones as compared to 25.3% women while 24% men use Internet as compared to 15.3% women. Birth registration has increased from 1.32m in 2020 to 1.37m in 2021 while death registration has increased from 540,681 in 2020 to 577,629 in 2021. Only seven percent women have driving license of cars while 0.04% women have license for bike and only 1.7% own vehicles. Whereas 17.8m men have their own land while on the other hand only 8.2m women are landowners.

Disability registration increased three times as 61,254 got CNIC in 2021 as compared to 22,804 in 2020. In higher education, women are ahead of men by a significant margin. 546,674 women enrolled in higher education as compared to 423,216 men in 2021. There is increase in registered female voters by 16%.

In the area of health, C-section has decreased by 6%. There are more women doctors but only 35% of them are specialists. About basic facilities in offices, a panelist informed that 700 offices do not have washrooms and in 71% offices, there is no daycare facility while 60.4% offices are without ramps. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Raja Basharat who was the chief guest, said he will take up discussion on the Gender Parity Report 2021 in the parliament.

Spokesperson to Chief Minister Musarrat Jamshed Cheema said there is need to stop shaming and victim blaming and encourage people to report when wronged. United Nation Population Fund Representative Latika Maske Pradhan, Secretary Women Development Department Sumaira Samad, Secretary Punjab Commission on Status of Women Nada Azhar and Senior Programme Manager Awaz 2 FCDO Asim Khan also spoke. There was a panel discussion as well. The panelists were Khawar , Mehreen Siddiqui, Dr Fareeha, Amara, Asha Bedar, Tauqeer Wattoo and Sumaira.

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Woman attempts suicide over marriage issue – 08 Dec 2022

LAHORE: A 20-year-old woman attempted suicide by jumping over Shanghai Bridge in Kot Lakhpat on Wednesday.

Reportedly, the victim “M” had been riding a bike with her brother and going somewhere. As they reached Shanghai Bridge, the victim after briefs arguments with her brother jumped from the bridge. She fell down and received serious injuries. The victim was moved to Lahore General Hospital. Reportedly, the victim was frustrated over failure in getting marriage of her choice. Her family had also agreed and the marriage ceremony was scheduled but the groom did not appear at time and went into hiding.

THREE BOOKED: A case was registered against three brothers for torturing a traffic warden in North Cantonment. Reportedly, a traffic warden Haseeb was performing duty at Jorhay Pull. He stopped three persons, real brothers, riding a bike. He demanded documents of the vehicle. It infuriated the bikers who allegedly started torturing him. The suspects according to traffic police were trying to run away when a patrolling officer responded and got them arrested. The suspects have been identified as Asif, Qasim and Khizar.

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Man commits suicide after killing boy in Swat – 08 Dec 2022

SWAT: A man committed suicide after shooting dead a boy over unknown reasons in Kuza Bandai area of Kabal tehsil here on Wednesday.

Kanju police station officials said Hussain Ali opened fire on Junaid, a 10th grade student, when he was returning from school.

The boy died on the spot.

After killing the boy, the man shot himself dead with the same pistol. The reason for the murder and suicide was not immediately known, but the police said Hussain Ali had recently returned from Germany and was mentally unstable.

The police started an investigation into the case.

Meanwhile, the police found the body of a teenage boy in a far-flung area of Manglawar the other day.

Sangota police officials said 19-year-old Zain Rehman of Azizabad locality of Malookabad was 1(illed by unknown persons.

The police claimed someone had invited the boy to the far-off area where he was murdered by slitting his throat. The police shifted the body to hospital for postmortem and started the investigation.Civil society and human rights activists demanded action against the culprits.

They said the killing of two boys had alarmed the people.

MEETING: Provincial housing minister Dr Amjad Ali has directed the relevant departments to ensure speedy and quality completion of the ongoing development projectsin the Barikot tehsil.

He issued the directives while presiding over a meeting to review the progress on the projectsinPK-6constituencyonWednesday.

Barikot tehsil council chairman Kashif Ali Khan also participated.

Officials of various departments briefed the minister about the ongoing projects.

Dr Ali also directed to start classes in the upgraded and newly-constructed educational institutions.

The minister said the provincial government was focusing on development of backward areas, adding work was continuing on a university, a scout centre, a paraplegic centre and roads in Barikot, the most backward tehsil in Swat.

He said the government was also focusing on development of agriculture and livestock in the area. He said most of the projects were in the completion stage, and soon the fruits of these projects would start reaching to people.

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FIA arrests man for harassing woman on social media – 08 Dec 2022

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The Federal Investigation Agency`s cybercrime circle, Dera Ismail Khan, has arrested a man for harassing a woman by posting inappropriate pictures on social media.

FIA cybercrime circle Inspector Mohammad Wali Khan told Dawn that a woman had lodged a report to the agency`s Dera cybercrime circle that a man was harassing her by posting inappropriate pictures on social media and was also threatening her.

He said that acting on the complaint, the FIA cybercrime wing took immediate action and arrested the accused, identified as Usman Ali, a resident of Gujrat district of Punjab.

According to the preliminary investigation, inappropriate content was recovered from the mobile phone of the accused, the official said, adding that a case had also been registered against him under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. Correspondent

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Expat held for killing woman, her son – 08 Dec 2022

SAHIWAL: Police on Wednesday arrested an Oman-based expat who alleged killed a woman and her teenage son at Inyat Elahi Colony here on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Thehusbandoftheslain woman (36) is also settled abroad, Saudi Arabia, and has not visited his family for the past eight years.

DPO Sadiq Baloch told Dawn the accused, also a permanent resident of Inyat Elahi Colony, was apparently in relationship with the woman as he would visit her house during each trip to Sahiwal.

On Wednesday morning, the family discovered the woman and her son strangled. The Ghala Mandi police shifted the bodies to the Sahiwal Teaching Hospital for autopsies.

According to the police, missing items from the property were found from Oman-based expat`s house.

The DPO said police were looking into the matter to confirm the motive of murder.

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Woman held for hiring hitmen to kill brother – 08 Dec 2022

LAHORE: Police claimed on Wednesday to have arrested a woman involved in hiring shooters to kill her brother over a marriage issue in Kot Lakhpat.

Adnan was shot dead by unidentified motorcyclists in Kot Lakhpat some days ago. The police registered a murder case.

During investigation, the police arrested the deceased’s sister and her accomplice Abbas for hiring two shooters Murtaza and Naeem to kill Adnan. The investigating team through the help of CCTV footage also arrested both shooters.

The suspects claimed that the woman wanted to contract marriage with Waqas, brother of Abbas, who was living in Italy but her brother opposed it.

They said the woman and Abbas jointly planned to kill Adnan and paid Rs270,000 to them.

Police have arrested the woman, her accomplice Abbas and two shooters and also recovered a pistol from their custody.

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First school for transgenders inaugurated – 08 Dec 2022

LAHORE: The Punjab School Education Department (SED) on Wednesday inaugurated first transgender schoolin the provincial capital to educate and teach skills to transpersons.

Punjab Minister for School Education Murad Raas cut the ribbon to inaugurate the school in New Garden Town near Barkat Market. A number of civil society activists, educationists, transgender persons and others were present on the occasion.

During the last year, the department had already established three transgender schools in Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan.

These institutes were providing free education from primary to higher secondary classes along with training of three sl(ills, including stitching and sewing, cooking and beauty malce-up.

The school will work in two shifts.

In the first shift, the students will be imparted education while in the second shift they will receive training in technical skills. The government will provide free books, uniforms, school bags, and pick and drop service.

Around 36 transgender persons were enrolled in the school. The school was established in Government Girls High School Barkat Market, New Garden Town. One of the portions of the girl`s school was specified for transgender school. A double-storey building with three classrooms was constructed.

Mr Raas said the department had to face a lot of challenges to establish a transgender schoolalthough three schools were working in other cities of the province.

He said the teachers of the schools would also belong to the transgender community while two consultants were deputed to help the community understand their problems.

Transgender person Neeli Rana said the government had taken a good step to educate their community.

Transperson Alisha Sherazi said they are not treated well in society but providing them with education is a historic step.

She said she had completed her MPhil and was enrolled to PhD in Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan.

A transgender leader Naya said the training for skills and education could make the transgender persons valuable citizens of the country and they could play their role for development of the country.

Fashion designer Hassan Sheheryar Yasin known as HSY said it was a good initiative.

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Newborn girl`s snatching turns into real-life soap opera – 08 Dec 2022

KARACHI: In a dramatic turn of events, police on Wednesday recovered the infant girl, who was allegedly kidnapped by motorcyclists when her mother was taking her to hospital in a cloth bag in Baldia Town, saying that the whole incident was a story fabricated by the woman to hide a child adop-tion scheme devised by the same woman, who was actually the foster mother of the baby girl.

Anni Shahid on Tuesday claimed that motorcyclists had `snatched` a bag containing her 11-day-old `daughter` Sidra.

Keamari SSP (investigation) Shamyl Riaz Malik told Dawn that the Madina Colony police had registered a case (FIR 488/22) underSection 363 (punishment for kidnapping) of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of Ms Anni and started an investigation.

During the investigation, the child was recovered and dramatic facts regarding the incident were discovered.

The complainant, Anni, was actually the first wife of Shahid Soomro, who lived with his second wife somewhere else. Mr Soomro had not met his wife Anni for the past several months. Anni told her husband that she gave birth to a baby girl, which was untrue, thepolice officer said.

In order to prove her claim, Ms Anniconvincedawoman,Ambreen, who was her tenant and recently gave birth to a baby girl, to allow her to adopt her newborn child.

The two women reached an agreement on the child adoption, but a few days later Ambreen, who was the biological mother of the child, changed her mind, and took away her inf ant from Ms Anni saying she would raise her daughter.

Ms Anni then lied to her husband, whom she had told that she had given birth to a child and fab-ricated a child kidnap story, the SSP added.

She lodged a false FIR to cover up the adoption incident, opined the SSPInvesugadon.

SSP Malik said that both the women had admitted this in their statements to the police.

The Madina Colony station investigation officer (SIO) has been directed to produce the `real mother` of the child before court and get recorded her statement under Section 164 of the criminal procedure code, said the Keamari police`s investigation head.

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Smoggy Lahore and Brain Fog – 08 Dec 2022

Brain Fog can be discerned in the rising statistics of depression

In the 20th Century, mankind fought to win the right to vote as it was the biggest challenge. In the 21st Century, mankind has achieved the democratic franchise and fundamental rights including free and fair trials. The demand and nature of rights have changed in the 21st Century — the century of ecological fallout and atmospheric crisis. It is not the military invasions that threaten humanity now, but the health hazards from air pollution. In the 21st Century, it must be a fundamental and constitutionally codified right for human beings to have access to healthy air. The polluted air is draining the energies and psychological balance of human beings in urban spaces. As Lahore, the second biggest country of Pakistan, is ever on top slots on the bad air index, a good number of its citizens suffer from breathing problems. However, the contaminated air not just causes respiratory illnesses, but can also drive human beings to suicidal ideation and heart-related diseases. The provision of healthy air in metropolitan cities must be incorporated into the category of basic rights.

Claudia Persico and David Marcotte of the American University, in Washington, recently hypothesised that poor air quality can impact people’s mood in an adverse manner, which can even enhance suicidal ideation. The wind-related schemes should feature an average of 35 micrograms per cubic meter but in fog and wind pollution, fine particulate matter — named PM2.5 — cross the level of 35 micrograms per cubic meter which is damaging as regards maintaining the normal moods of human beings. Contaminated air decreases the fine particulate matter and when this air enters into people’s lungs, it worsens their moods and causes a shift in attitudes and behaviours to the extent of triggering suicidal tendencies.

Brain Fog is an emerging phenomenon in the 21st Century. In Lahore, it can be discerned in the rising statistics of depression across the universities; people have less energy and pleasure at the workplace. All these tendencies are categorised into Brain Fog which worsens due to unhealthy air and pollution. The dirty air in the cities drains the energies of citizens, consequently decreasing their dedication and commitment to work. These all are effects of PM2.5 pollution that are translated through the organs and also harm the brain and mood regulatory mechanisms.

Polluted air decreases the response of the brain in the form of higher cytokines release due to the inflammation of the organs in response to the contaminated air. This protein also harms the part of the brain that regulates moods. The constant phenomenon of fog in Lahore and Karachi over the last two to three years is a paramount national threat for Pakistan. If this phenomenon is not treated with considerable policy orientation, the citizens will face a pandemic of depression and despair, besides respiratory and inflammatory illnesses. Apart from the health-related dimensions, the smog can halt citizens’ day-to-day activities and delay in work due to blockage of roads and citizens’ decreasing accessibility.

Coming to the solution, the government should regulate the Scope 1 emissions that are directly caused by companies in the form of burning fuel near Lahore. Secondly, in 2023, we should work on the introduction of Synfuels and e-fuels (electro fuels) in metropolitan cities like Lahore and Karachi. Synfuels are an alternate for traditional hydrocarbon fuels and are produced through artificial techniques. Moreover, e-fuels can be utilised in coming years to combat the existential threat of fog. This type of e-fuels is produced through renewable energy. Finally, the ‘15-minute city’ and ‘vertical living’ is a good infrastructure development design to combat the fog in future.

The provision of healthy air is the fundamental right of citizens. The government must initiate policy-making for future by considering due importance of health, ensuring healthy air for citizens.

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