Pakistani father defies social norms, educates 13 daughters to master’s level in conservative northwest

In this photo, taken on September 5, 2024, Pakistani academic Nazar ul Islam, 82, gestures for a group photograph with his grandchildren in his village in Karak district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during an interview with Arab News. Haq defies social norms and educates 13 daughters to master’s level in conservative northwest. (AN Photo)
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Updated 09 September 2024
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Pakistani father defies social norms, educates 13 daughters to master’s level in conservative northwest

  • Fazal Haq, who could not attend college, secured three postgraduate degrees himself before educating children
  • The 82-year-old academic braved resistance, threats of disownment by family to educate all 17 of his children

PESHAWAR: For Nazar ul Islam, a Pakistani octogenarian academic who grew up in the country’s conservative northwest, acquiring education was not merely a personal pursuit, but a gateway to empowerment and self-reliance for his children, especially daughters.
In an era when the idea of education was a rare privilege in Pakistan’s northwestern Karak district, Haq stood as a beacon of progressive thinking by sending his first-born daughter, Nighat Parveen, to school in the 1970s.
Although he never formally attended college, the 82-year-old pursued private studies, ultimately earning postgraduate degrees in Arabic, Urdu literature, and Islamic studies, before educating all of his 13 daughters and four sons.
“Fewer men attended school during his time, and the notion of women pursuing education was virtually unheard of,” he told Arab News this week. “Yet, despite societal constraints, I made a pioneering decision to send my daughter [Parveen] to school against the societal norms.”




In this photo, taken on September 5, 2024, Pakistani academic Nazar ul Islam, 82, reads a newspaper in his village in Karak district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during an interview with Arab News. Haq defies social norms and educates 13 daughters to master’s level in conservative northwest. (AN Photo)

Haq said his groundbreaking choice initially seemed promising and his daughters’ early education proceeded smoothly but as they grew older, the murmurs of dissent within his family became louder.
Relatives questioned his wisdom for educating his girls and the resistance escalated to threats of disownment, but Haq said he remained resolute and his daughter achieved prominent positions in both her 8th and 10th grade exams, outshining many in their area. Her academic success reinforced Haq’s belief in his decision.
“That was a big relief, I would say one of my happiest moments,” Haq said, recalling how his extended family members had distanced themselves from him for sending his daughter to high school.
Parveen, who passed her matriculation exam in 1986, told Arab News that initially, she did not grasp the vitality of education and only saw herself fulfilling her father’s mission on a path fraught with obstacles.
“I would often find myself as the only girl in a classroom full of boys. Sitting in a corner, isolated from my peers, I faced the weight of societal scrutiny and the discomfort of being an ‘outsider’,” she said.
“The psychological toll of being the only girl in a boys’ class was immense, but I remained steadfast in the pursuit of education.”




In this photo, taken on September 5, 2024, Nighat Parveen, daughter of Pakistani academic Nazar ul Islam, gestures outside a government school in her village in Karak district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during an interview with Arab News. Haq, 82, defies social norms and educates 13 daughters to master’s level in conservative northwest. (AN Photo)

Parveen today stands as a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of education as she serves as the principal of Government Girls’ High School in Karak, shaping the minds of future generations.
She set the bar high for all 16 of her siblings — 12 sisters and four brothers — who now have master’s degrees in disciplines as varied as English Literature, Political Science, History, Botany, Zoology, and Physics. All of Haq’s daughters are currently serving as government teachers.
Haq sees education as a gateway to empowerment and self-reliance for women, contrary to the perception in rural communities that believe investing in daughters’ education would benefit the “other household” to which they are wedded off.
“Education equips women with knowledge and confidence to contribute actively to their family’s economic affairs, eliminating the need to depend on others for financial support,” he said.




In this photo, taken on September 5, 2024, Pakistani academic Nazar ul Islam, 82, gestures for a photograph with his son in his village in Karak district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during an interview with Arab News. Haq defies social norms and educates 13 daughters to master’s level in conservative northwest. (AN Photo)

Haq’s wife, Jahan Bano, did not have a formal education, but her journey alongside her husband reflects a profound transformation. Her ability to converse in English and engage in discussions about politics demonstrates her intellectual growth and confidence in expressing herself.
Both Haq and Bano feel proud that their perspective about women education, which was once widely disapproved by the society, has been embraced by those very critics.
“At this later stage of life, when I watch young girls in school uniforms going to school, college, and university from my balcony, I feel a strange sense of happiness,” Haq added.


Pakistan says Roosevelt Hotel’s base valuation complete, will decide on transaction structure this month

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Pakistan says Roosevelt Hotel’s base valuation complete, will decide on transaction structure this month

  • Hotel could fetch 4–5 times more under joint venture than in outright sale, privatization chief says
  • Government hopes to finalize deal structure this June, has hired US consulting firm Jones Lang LaSalle

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has completed the baseline valuation of the Roosevelt Hotel in New York and is preparing to move forward with a transaction structure this month to privatize the state-owned property, the head of the Privatization Commission told Arab News this week.

The Roosevelt, a 1,015-room historic hotel in Midtown Manhattan, has long been one of Pakistan’s most prominent but politically sensitive overseas assets. Acquired by Pakistan International Airlines Investment Limited (PIAIL) in 1979, the hotel occupies a full city block on Madison Avenue and 45th Street. Over the past two decades, successive Pakistani governments have floated plans to sell, lease, or redevelop the property, but no proposal has advanced beyond early-stage planning.

Operations at the Roosevelt were suspended in 2020 following steep financial losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, Pakistan entered a short-term lease with the City of New York to use the property as a temporary shelter for asylum seekers, generating more than $220 million in projected rental income. That agreement ended in 2024 and no new revenue stream has since been announced.

“We have an idea of the asset valuation in Roosevelt,” Muhammad Ali, chairman of Pakistan’s Privatization Commission, said in an interview when asked about the timeline to privatize the hotel.

“We have appointed JLL [Jones Lang LaSalle], who are one of the top consultants in the US market. They have done their homework. They have done the market sounding also. We just need to get approval from the Cabinet Committee [on Privatization on the structure, and we’ll move ahead.”

He added:

“So this year, before June, I’m hoping that on the Roosevelt, we will have gone ahead with execution of the transaction as far as whatever structure is decided.”

VALUATION AND TRANSACTION STRUCTURE

The Roosevelt, whose liabilities and losses the privatization chief did not disclose, is one of several state assets the government hopes will contribute to its target of raising Rs86 billion ($306 million) in privatization proceeds during the fiscal year starting July 1, alongside the sale of national carrier Pakistan International Airlines and three electricity distribution companies.

But how much money the hotel ultimately brings in, and its overall valuation, depended on the type of transaction structure adopted, Ali said.

If the government opted for a straightforward “as-is” sale and sold the property without securing any new permissions or approvals for zoning or development, the hotel would fetch the lowest price.

However, if the government first obtained the necessary permits and approvals that a buyer would typically need for redevelopment, the property’s value could double compared to the “as-is” sale.

Alternatively, if the government formed a joint venture with a private investor, sharing both the risks and future profits, the hotel could be worth four to five times more than its as-is valuation.

“So, depending on what sort of structure you have, how much risk you take, how much effort the government puts in, we can make a lot of money from this asset,” the privatization chief said. 

“If we go with a joint venture structure, then this year we will only get the first advance payment, so that’s a small amount of money which will be coming in [FY26].”


India rejects signing Shanghai Cooperation Organization statement seen as pro-Pakistan

Updated 32 min 1 sec ago
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India rejects signing Shanghai Cooperation Organization statement seen as pro-Pakistan

  • Indian Defense says statement diluted India’s position on critical issues such as terrorism, regional security
  • Singh, without explicitly naming Pakistan, urged the SCO to criticize countries that use “cross-border terrorism“

NEW DELHI, India: Beijing’s bid for enhanced regional leadership suffered a setback Thursday when India rejected signing a joint statement put before members of the China-backed Shanghai Cooperation Organization, saying it was pro-Pakistan in not mentioning April’s terror attack on Indian tourists.

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said the statement diluted India’s position on critical issues such as terrorism and regional security, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak to the media.

India blames Pakistan for backing the gunmen behind the April 22 killing of 26 people, most of them Indian Hindu tourists, in India-controlled Kashmir, and has described it as a terror attack. Islamabad denies the charge.

Singh alleged that the joint statement “suited Pakistan’s narrative” because it did not include that attack but mentioned militant activities in Balochistan, the person said. Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of backing Balochistan freedom movement, allegations that India denies.

The signing ceremony came during a meeting of defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional grouping formed by China and Russia to counter US influence in Asia.

China has largely taken over running the SCO, staging joint drills and holding summits, while Russia is embroiled in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and international isolation.

While little known globally, the SCO has become one of China’s main instruments to expand its political and economic reach into areas traditionally neutral, such as India, or closely linked to Russia such as Central Asia.

Thursday’s meeting took place in the east China city of Qingdao, home to China’s northern fleet.

Singh, without explicitly naming Pakistan, urged the SCO to criticize countries that use “cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists.” He said members should unite in eliminating terrorism and ensure accountability for those who aid such activities.

“Peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups. Dealing with these challenges requires decisive action,” said Singh, according to a defense ministry statement.

The April 22 killings embroiled the two nuclear-armed nations in the most serious military confrontation in decades. After days of exchanging fire, they agreed to end all military actions under a US-brokered ceasefire.

On Wednesday, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun held one-on-one meetings with his counterparts from Belarus, Iran, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. India, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are also members.

“Unilateralism and protectionism are surging, while hegemonic, high-handed, and bullying acts severely undermine the international order, making these practices the biggest sources of chaos and harm,” Dong said according to the official Xinhua News Agency, in a swipe at the US and its allies.

China and India have decades-old border disputes and Beijing has become one of Pakistan’s closest allies.


Four dead, 19 injured as monsoon rains trigger building collapses, drownings in Punjab

Updated 43 min 8 sec ago
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Four dead, 19 injured as monsoon rains trigger building collapses, drownings in Punjab

  • The provincial disaster agency has urged citizens to take precautionary measures as rains continue
  • Authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have also warned of torrential rains, hailstorms in several districts

ISLAMABAD: At least four people were killed and 19 injured in rain-related incidents across Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province over the past 24 hours, the provincial disaster management authority said on Thursday, as monsoon downpours triggered building collapses and drownings in several districts.

The statement came as authorities in both Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa warned of continued rainfall through July 1, with Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issuing a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) alert for the country’s northern regions a day earlier.

“Two people died when weak, dilapidated structures collapsed in Okara and Bahawalnagar,” the Punjab PDMA said in a statement. “Two others drowned in separate incidents in Jhelum.”

Thirteen houses were also damaged in the province, mostly in rural or structurally vulnerable areas, the statement added.

Punjab’s disaster agency urged citizens to take precautionary measures and said financial compensation for the victims’ families would be provided under government policy.

Separately, the PDMA in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa warned of torrential rains and hailstorms in several districts from Thursday evening through July 1, with a risk of glacier bursts in the north.

It issued alerts to local administrations in Chitral, Swat, Upper and Lower Dir and Kohistan to initiate preemptive measures and inform nearby communities.

Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with a history of extreme weather events linked to erratic monsoon patterns, glacial melt and heatwaves.

In 2022, record floods killed over 1,700 people and caused more than $30 billion in damages.

On Wednesday, the NDMA said continued high temperatures and intense monsoon activity were putting stress on glacial lakes in Pakistan’s mountainous north, raising the risk of flash floods.

Valleys in Chitral and Ghizer are among the most vulnerable, with warnings issued to avoid travel near glaciers and riverbanks.


Iran expressed rare gratitude to Pakistan amid recent Israel war — PM Sharif

Updated 26 June 2025
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Iran expressed rare gratitude to Pakistan amid recent Israel war — PM Sharif

  • Shehbaz Sharif acknowledges Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's ‘significant role’ in defusing tensions
  • He also highlights Field Marshal Asim Munir’s lengthy meetings with the top American and Iranian officials

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed satisfaction over the ceasefire that brought an end to the recent Israel-Iran conflict, saying Tehran had thanked Pakistan’s political and military leadership for playing a constructive role during the war after Field Marshal Asim Munir’s meetings with both American and Iranian officials.

The 12-day war began after Israel carried out airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, killing several senior military commanders and scientists, while officials in Tehran were engaged in nuclear negotiations with the United States.

Shortly before the ceasefire was announced, US forces struck three Iranian nuclear sites and claimed to have set back Iran’s nuclear program by years.

“For the first time in history — and I am not just talking about the war itself, but on several fronts — Iran openly thanked Pakistan’s political and military leadership in a way that, in my view, has no precedent in recent times,” Sharif told the federal cabinet.

“Our Field Marshal had a luncheon meeting in Washington with President [Donald] Trump,” he continued. “Then in Istanbul, the army chief had a one-and-a-half-hour meeting with [Iranian Foreign Minister] Abbas Araghchi.

During that meeting, he specified Pakistan’s efforts. In response, he [Araghchi] said … ‘We [Iranians] were not the ones who attacked… If Israel stops, then we are ready for dialogue.’”

The prime minister said Pakistan also condemned the missile attacks on US bases in Qatar and had conveyed its position clearly to all sides.

He described Iran’s posture during the war as one of “dignity and restraint,” praising the Iranian people for refusing to capitulate under pressure.

Sharif said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also played a significant role in defusing tensions.

“I had a phone conversation with the Crown Prince,” he said. “We spoke in great detail. And I say this to you with full sincerity: he played a significant role in helping to stop this war.”

“As soon as Israel launched its attack, Saudi Arabia issued a strong statement of condemnation,” he added. “After that, the Crown Prince personally spoke to the President of Iran [Masoud Pezeshkian].”

As the ceasefire continues to hold between the two Middle Eastern rivals, President Trump has said American and Iranian officials could engage in talks next week, though Tehran has not confirmed any such plans.

Trump, speaking at a NATO summit, said he was not keen to resume formal negotiations but declared the war was over and insisted Iran would not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.

Iran’s parliament, meanwhile, voted to fast-track legislation suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, following US strikes on its nuclear facilities.

With input from AP


Pakistan decries use of torture in Palestine, Kashmir on UN anti-torture day

Updated 26 June 2025
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Pakistan decries use of torture in Palestine, Kashmir on UN anti-torture day

  • Rights groups have long reported widespread abuse in both areas, including arbitrary detentions
  • Pakistan calls for strong oversight mechanisms to prevent torture and promote accountability

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday expressed grave concern over the use of torture as a tool of repression in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Indian-administered Kashmir, accusing the “occupying powers” of systematically inflicting abuse to suppress demands for self-determination.

The statement came on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, marked each year on June 26 to promote the eradication of torture and support survivors. The UN General Assembly designated the day in 1997, coinciding with the anniversary of the 1987 entry into force of the UN Convention Against Torture.

Human rights groups have long reported widespread abuse in both Palestine and Kashmir, including arbitrary detentions, custodial beatings and torture, particularly of young men and boys.

“The people of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) continue to be subjected to the worst forms of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the occupying powers to suppress their right to self-determination,” the foreign office said in a statement.

Reaffirming its commitment to human dignity and justice, Pakistan said it was strengthening legal reforms, institutional safeguards and oversight mechanisms to prevent torture and promote accountability.

It also underscored its provision of medical, legal, and psycho-social support to victims.

Citing the values of justice and compassion in religious teachings, the foreign ministry said any act of torture was incompatible with Islam and international law.

Pakistan called on the international community to condemn what it described as systematic crimes by occupying forces and to take steps to hold them accountable.