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Twitter sees red over Rizvi’s posts

Khadim Hussain Rizvi, head of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) speaks to supporters during a protest following the Supreme Court’s decision to acquit Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi of blasphemy, in Lahore on Nov. 2, 2018. (AFP)
Updated 02 November 2018
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Twitter sees red over Rizvi’s posts

  • Pakistani users push social media giant to block TLP leader’s account
  • Accuse him of inciting hate through his messages on the platform
Updated 02 November 2018
Sabah Bano Malik

ISLAMABAD: He came, he tweeted and was last seen 12 hours ago.
But not before several in Pakistan’s Twitter circle took cognizance of his posts before urging the social media platform to block the account of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) leader, Khadim Hussain Rizvi.
Central to all his recent messages is the case of Aasia Bibi, a 51-year-old woman and mother of five who was accused of blasphemy in 2009. A session’s court judge found Bibi guilty and sentenced her to death a year later. The High Court upheld the verdict, making Bibi the first Pakistani woman to be charged for blasphemy. However, the Supreme Court – citing a lack of evidence -- overturned the verdict, acquitting her of all charges and asking for her immediate release on Wednesday. Objecting to the decision, the TLP party has been protesting ever since, pushing for the top court to overrule the verdict and threatening to continue with demonstrations until the Supreme Court gives in.
The government’s latest announcement to ensure Bibi and her family were given a safe passage out of Pakistan added further impetus to his cause with Rizvi urging followers to up their ante. Since blocking the main roads of all major cities in the country, Rizvi and his followers have called for the deaths of the three judges who issued the verdict, despite Prime Minister Imran Khan urging them to exercise restraint and issuing a warning that all miscreants would be dealt with an iron hand.
Adding fuel to the fire, Rizvi even suggested to his followers that Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa was a non-Muslim in order to incite violence against him.
Now, Pakistan’s Twitter users are saying enough is enough.
“I reported @KhadimRizviReal account to twitter and they returned to me with a dismissal of my report. I don't boast a big following on twitter but I will make it my life's work to get this hate monger off of twitter, fb and hopefully the Internet altogether,” tweeted Umer Naru. The post has been retweeted more than 200 times.
Journalist and editor, Aamina Haider Isani, joined the chorus by questioning why Rizvi has not been blocked from Twitter already, while tagging Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary in the post. “How difficult is it to get Khadim Rizvi blocked on social media for incitement of violence? I hear there's a cyber crime law ... why isn't it taking action? @fawadchaudhry,” she said.
Several others accused him of promoting hate on the platform, something which Bytes for All -- a human rights organization that fights against censorship of the internet – disagrees with, reasoning that Rizvi’s posts are not on his actual verified page.
“We have noticed that his verified account has not been used for dangerous speech but it proliferated from associated accounts. We have been monitoring this verified account very closely. Tweets from Maulana Khadim Rizvi’s account so far have been merely political expression, challenging state authorities and narratives, which at times touch the boundaries of being offensive but not violating the international principles of free speech and community guidelines of Twitter platform. Twitter has taken down dangerous speech from few of the TLP accounts,” Ahmad Shazad from Bytes for All said.
That being said, if it does not fall under Twitter’s domain, Ahmad says violations of Pakistan’s own cyber laws should be put into effect. “We believe that local laws should apply if there are credible threats to civil and public order and should be dealt as per law,” he added.
Taking the CEO of Twiiter, Jack Dorsey, into confidence, @Gulmeenay wrote: “Dear @jack This account has been reported again and again for hate speech. This man urges his followers  to kill people almost every days. I can’t understand why no one from @Twitter @TwitterSupport has taken any action.”
Reasoning that the only way to counter hate speech was to speak in a more peaceful manner, Ahmad said that the TLP was milking their presence on social media platforms as they do not enjoy positive media coverage offline.
“Social media in Pakistan is always chaotic and filled with difference of opinion. In the context of TLP, they do not have any media coverage in the country but they use social media effectively to reach out to their supporters. We believe that hate speech can only be countered with more speech. However, if hate speech turns into incitement to violence then rule of law comes in and the state authorities need to take action,” he said, adding that this should not be at the cost of limiting anyone’s basic rights.
“Rule of law and upholding the constitution is the key here. Even in the emergency situations fundamental rights cannot be suspended. Public life right now is hostage to these protestors and we hope that security agencies will ensure public safety and restore normal civil life as soon as possible,” he added.

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Topics: Pakistan Twitter Khadim Hussain Rizvi blasphemy

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Dozens arrested in southwest Pakistan as clashes between police, Imran Khan’s party injure 14

Updated 08 November 2024
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Dozens arrested in southwest Pakistan as clashes between police, Imran Khan’s party injure 14

  • PTI members tried to stage a rally near the Chief Minister House in Quetta, seeking Khan’s release
  • Quetta’s deputy commission says two of the arrested people were carrying guns and hand grenades
Updated 08 November 2024
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QUETTA: Dozens of protesters were rounded up by police in southwestern Balochistan on Friday after clashes broke out between former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters and law enforcement personnel, leaving at least 14 people injured, including eight policemen.
The incident occurred in the provincial capital of Quetta after PTI protesters attempted to stage a rally near the Chief Minister House, demanding the release of the ex-premier from a high-security jail in Rawalpindi. Khan has faced prison trials on multiple charges since his arrest last year in August, which he claims are fabricated to keep him out of the country’s political landscape.
Police officials said the PTI organized the rally without securing official permission, violating Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure imposed in the city, which prohibits gatherings of four or more people to maintain order or address urgent threats to public safety.
“The protesters were carrying weapons that they used against the police,” said Station House Officer (SHO) of Civil Line Police Naseebullah Khan while speaking to Arab News. “They pelted stones and even hit our officials with their vehicles. Fifty-five protesters have been arrested and a first information report has been lodged against the PTI workers.”

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party's supporters protest to demand the release of former prime minister Imran Khan, in Quetta on November 8, 2024. (AFP)

The SHO informed a senior police officer was among the injured, adding that both of his legs were fractured after a protester tried to run him down with a car.
Quetta’s Deputy Commissioner Saad bin Asad said the PTI was protesting without official permission, which had been denied despite the party’s decision to appeal to the court.
He added that authorities informed the judge they would not permit the gathering and provided reasons for the decision.
“But they deliberately came out for a rally,” Asad said, adding that among the arrested individuals, “two were carrying guns and hand grenades while participating in the protest.”
He confirmed that at least 14 people, including eight policemen, were injured in the clashes.
Asad said PTI supporters began pelting police with stones, prompting law enforcement to use tear gas to disperse them.
Dawood Shah, PTI’s provincial president in Balochistan, told Arab News the party was holding a peaceful rally near Quetta Railway Station because the government had “refused its workers permission to hold the rally at the designated venue.”
“Unknown people disguised as protesters started pelting stones and instigated PTI workers,” he said, adding that 67 PTI supporters were arrested and nine were injured in the clashes.
“Peaceful protest is our democratic right,” Shah continued. “We scheduled a peaceful rally at the Hockey Ground for the release of Imran Khan, but the administration did not give us permission.”
He accused the authorities of “attempting to repeat the 9th May episode,” referencing last year’s riots where people carrying PTI flags targeted government buildings and military installations after Khan’s brief arrest on corruption charges.
The incident triggered a crackdown on the party, whose leaders distanced themselves from the protests, alleging that they were intended to discredit the PTI.

Topics: Pakistan PTI protest Quetta Arab News Pakistan

Pakistan’s Punjab bans entry to parks, zoos and playgrounds amid pollution

Updated 08 November 2024
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Pakistan’s Punjab bans entry to parks, zoos and playgrounds amid pollution

  • The province has set up a ‘smog war room,’ using satellite, drones and AI to monitor and address pollution
  • Environmentalists want government to address fuel quality, renewable electricity and industrial emissions
Updated 08 November 2024
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LAHORE: Pakistan's eastern Punjab province banned entry to parks, zoos, playgrounds and other public spaces on Friday to protect the public from polluted air, and is considering closing down universities after shutting schools earlier this week.

The air quality in Lahore has deteriorated drastically, earning Punjab's regional capital the rank of world's most polluted city from Swiss air purification equipment maker IQAir.

"We are closely monitoring the situation. There's a possibility of closing universities and colleges on Monday to reduce vehicle emissions," said Jahangir Anwar, Secretary of the Environment Protection Department Punjab.

Friday's order from the regional government placed a "complete ban on public entry in all parks ... zoos, playgrounds, historical places, monuments, museums and joy/play lands" until Nov. 17 in areas including Lahore.

In addition to shutting schools, the province has already taken other steps such as suggesting half of employees work from home and banning rickshaws in certain areas.

South Asia annually faces severe pollution due to trapped dust, emissions and stubble burning - the practice of setting fire to fields after the harvest of grain.

Punjab has attributed this year's particularly high pollution levels to toxic air from neighbouring India, where air quality has also reached hazardous levels.

Punjab has set up a "smog war room," using satellite, drone technology and AI to monitor and address pollution. Nevertheless, Anwar says there is not enough equipment to effectively monitor the province, with only four air quality monitoring machines for the entire city of Lahore, "whereas we should have 50.”

Anwar said the department had imported and deployed five mobile monitoring units and plans to deploy eight more by year-end.

Ahmad Rafay Alam, an environment lawyer and member of the Pakistan Climate Change Council, stressed the need for robust data and policy changes.

"Right now, we just simply don't have those monitors, we simply don’t have as robust data as we should have to make decisions," Alam said.

He warned that without addressing fuel quality, renewable electricity and industrial emissions, the problem will continue to worsen.

 

Topics: Pakistan smog Pollution

Father accused of killing daughter tells UK jury wife told him to confess

Updated 08 November 2024
AFP
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Father accused of killing daughter tells UK jury wife told him to confess

  • Urfan Sharif is accused of murdering Sara Sharif last year, alongside her stepmother and uncle
  • Police found the girl’s body with multiple fractures, bruises, burns and bite marks at her home
Updated 08 November 2024
AFP

LONDON: The father of a 10-year-old British-Pakistani girl on trial in London for her murder on Friday said his wife told him to confess to killing his daughter.
Urfan Sharif, 42, is accused of murdering Sara Sharif on August 8 last year, alongside her stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and the girl’s uncle, Faisal Malik, 29.
All three deny the charge and of causing or allowing her death.
A jury at the Old Bailey court was told that all three left the family home in Woking, southwest of London, the day after Sara died and flew to Pakistan.
Sara’s body, which had multiple fractures, bruises, burns and bite marks, was found by police after a tip-off from Sharif in Islamabad.
Giving evidence for a fourth day, he said he was devastated by her death but agreed to leave because Batool had told him Sara had been beaten by another of his children, and he feared the consequences for them.
Before leaving, he wrote a note taking the blame. “Whoever sees this note, it’s me Urfan Sharif who killed my daughter by beating,” it read.
But Sharif told the jury that the confession was dictated by his wife.
“I was merely writing, the wording was not mine,” he said, insisting he took the blame to protect his other children.
Before leaving on August 9, 2023, Sharif left the house keys under the doormat, so the police would not have to break through the door, and had resolved to tell the authorities about Sara when he was out of the country.
A recording was played in court of Sharif’s garbled phone call to police in the UK after arriving in Islamabad.
“I killed my daughter, I killed my daughter,” he said.
Instructing police to the house, he said he “left in a panic” and added: “I promise I’ll come back.”
One month later, Sharif, Batool and Malik returned to the UK and were arrested.

Topics: Urfan Sharif

Pakistan PM unveils winter power relief package to cut electricity costs for consumers

Updated 08 November 2024
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Pakistan PM unveils winter power relief package to cut electricity costs for consumers

  • PM Shehbaz Sharif says the initiative will alleviate financial pressure on consumers, stimulate economic activity
  • Relief package will reduce tariffs for domestic, industrial and commercial users for three months starting December
Updated 08 November 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Friday a three-month electricity relief package starting in December, aimed at reducing tariffs for domestic, industrial and commercial consumers.

The announcement comes after the government faced widespread protests earlier this year over rising inflation and high electricity costs following the presentation of its first budget in June. Political parties urged the Sharif administration to renegotiate agreements with independent power producers to lower tariffs.

Pakistan’s manufacturing sector has also expressed concerns over the years due to the rising cost of electricity, saying the elevated power tariffs render national exports uncompetitive in the global market.

“The government has decided to offer an electricity relief package for the three winter months of December, January and February, providing substantial reductions in electricity prices for additional usage,” the prime minister said during a ceremony in Islamabad.

“Under this package, domestic consumers will pay a flat rate of Rs26.07 per unit for incremental electricity usage, resulting in savings of Rs11.42 to Rs26 per unit for household users,” he continued. “The package will apply across Pakistan.”

Electricity consumers in the country pay their bills according to the number of units that fall into various slabs, each with its own tariff rates.

Under the new winter package, industrial consumers will benefit from savings ranging between Rs5.72 and Rs15 per unit, according to Sharif, translating to an 18 percent to 37 percent reduction in electricity costs.

Commercial consumers are set to save between Rs13.46 and Rs22 per unit, equating to overall savings of 34 percent to 47 percent.

Sharif also emphasized the broader economic benefits of the initiative, saying it would alleviate financial pressures on consumers and stimulate economic activity in the country.

“With reduced electricity costs, industries will grow across Pakistan, agriculture will flourish, business and exports will expand, production will increase and Pakistan’s economy will strengthen further,” he said.

Topics: Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif electricity relief package

No official word from India it will participate in Champions Trophy in Pakistan — PCB

Updated 08 November 2024
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No official word from India it will participate in Champions Trophy in Pakistan — PCB

  • Mohsin Naqvi’s statement comes amid Indian media reports their team may not play the tournament
  • PCB chief maintains sports should be free from politics, says Pakistan’s preparations are continuing
Updated 08 November 2024
Falak Mahmood Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Friday there has been no official communication from Indian cricket authorities regarding their national team’s participation in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Champions Trophy scheduled to take place in Pakistan next year, despite recent reports in the Indian media suggesting otherwise.
Political tensions between India and Pakistan mean the two South Asian rivals only face each other at international tournaments. The Indian team last visited Pakistan in 2008 for the 50-over Asia Cup.
India’s refusal to play on Pakistani soil since then forced the PCB to settle for a “hybrid model” during last year’s Asia Cup, in which only four of the 13 matches were held in Pakistan, with the remaining nine played in Sri Lanka.
“For the past two months, there have been reports in Indian media that the Indian team is not coming [to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy],” Naqvi said during a news conference in Lahore.
“As far as what Indian media is reporting, if the Indian media is reporting this, then with that there must also be a letter that the ICC will give us [Pakistan] or the Indian [cricket] board must have announced [this decision] somewhere,” he continued. “So far, no such letter has reached me or the PCB.”
The ICC Champions Trophy, set to take place from February 19 to March 9, 2025, marks Pakistan’s first time hosting this prestigious tournament. The PCB has been preparing extensively, investing in stadium upgrades and infrastructure improvements to meet international standards.
Naqvi emphasized the need to keep sports free from political influence, adding the preparations for the Champions Trophy would continue as planned with hopes for a successful event.
The ICC has previously expressed satisfaction with Pakistan’s preparations, signaling that the tournament remains on track.
The PCB chief said during his media talk he was in contact with the cricket authorities in other countries, saying they were all excited about the upcoming event and wanted to play the tournament in Pakistan.

Topics: Champions Trophy 2025 Pakistan vs India Pakistan India Cricket

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