QUETTA: Pakistan has reported four new cases of poliovirus in its southwestern Balochistan and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces, authorities said on Friday, amid an outbreak of the crippling disease.
The Emergency Operations Center for Polio confirmed the detection of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in three children in the Chaman, Pishin and Nushki districts of Balochistan, and one child in KP’s Lakki Marwat district, bringing the nationwide tally to 37 this year.
Speaking to Arab News, Inam-ul-Haque, a provincial coordinator for polio in Balochistan, said the children affected by the virus in the latest cases aged between 9 months and five years.
“We are very much focused on the quality of our next [vaccination] campaigns because the pressure is high due to the rapid number of polio cases,” he said.
Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan which shares its border with Afghanistan and Iran has reported the highest 20 polio cases this year, according to the official.
“Two nationwide anti-polio drives are scheduled for the last week of October and December [in Balochistan],” Haque told Arab News. “We have set a target to re-launch the next campaigns in January and February 2025.”
There is no cure for polio, and paralysis caused by an infection is irreversible, according to the Pakistan polio program. Apart from the nationwide polio campaign from October 28, a major initiative, led by the expanded program for immunization, is also underway in targeted districts to vaccinate those children against 12 childhood diseases, including polio, who have missed their doses or have not completed their vaccination course.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries where polio remains an endemic. Since late 2018, Pakistan has seen a resurgence of cases and increased spread of poliovirus, highlighting the fragility of gains achieved in the preceding three years.
Pakistan reports four new polio cases in deepening crisis
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Pakistan reports four new polio cases in deepening crisis
- The new polio cases surfaced in Balochistan’s Chaman, Pishin, Nushki and KP’s Lakki Marwat districts
- Pakistan will launch a polio vaccination campaign from Oct. 28 to vaccinate over 45 million children
Stokes sorry for frustration over dropped catches in England loss
- The visitors were left to rue two dropped catches, with Salman Agha escaping on four and six on his way to a crucial half-century
- England were left to chase an unlikely 297 to seal the series with a match to go but never got close on a sharply turning Multan pitch
MULTAN: Ben Stokes, whose England team were beaten in the second Pakistan Test by 152 runs on Friday, said he apologized after showing his frustrations on the field a day earlier.
The visitors were left to rue two dropped catches on day three in Multan, Salman Agha escaping on four and six on his way to a crucial half-century as Pakistan made 221 in their second innings.
England were left to chase an unlikely 297 to seal the series with a match to go but never got close on a sharply turning Multan pitch that was recycled from the first Test.
It was Pakistan’s first Test win at home since February 2021.
“No one means to drop catches but it just proves how important catches are out in these subcontinent conditions because they don’t come along that often,” skipper Stokes told Sky Sports.
“I actually apologized to the group up there last night.”
Stokes, who missed England’s innings victory in the first Test in Multan because of injury, added: “It’s the first time in my captaincy that I’ve let my emotions, how I was feeling as the game was unfolding, show in my body language.
“I owned up to that and I’m very annoyed with myself for letting that out and it’s something I don’t want to do or be seen to be doing.
“So I apologized to the group about that and I said it was poor old me coming out, tired, grumpy old man last night but you won’t see that happen again.”
The third and final Test is in Rawalpindi from October 24 and Stokes refused to look backwards or wonder what might have been.
“Next week is going to be good. I’m sure everyone’s enjoyed watching here and back home,” said the skipper.
“Hopefully we can get a win next week and go home with another series win.”
England swept a three-Test series in Pakistan in 2022.
Revolution in the fields: Sindh’s women cotton pickers win fair wages under new laws
- Change began to emerge after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, granting autonomy to all provinces
- Local NGOs have helped agricultural workers register trade unions to negotiate assertively with landlords
SHAHEED BENAZIRABAD, Sindh: Samina Khaskheli, who works in the cotton fields of Pakistan’s southeastern Sindh province, feels empowered like never before.
A resident of a small village in Shaheed Benazirabad district, formerly Nawabshah, she recalls how most women working with her in the fields complained about not being paid properly.
However, the province’s evolving legal framework recognized agriculture and fishery laborers as industrial workers in 2013, granting them the right to associate, form trade unions and negotiate with landlords and employers.
Subsequently, these women, about 50 in number, decided to register their trade union, presenting a united front that eventually led to improved wages, bringing them closer to the official fixed rates that had previously been denied to them.
“We are women who manually pick cotton,” she told Arab News this week. “In the past, employers didn’t pay us the official rates. But united, we 50 female members decided to take a stand.”
“When offered Rs800 per maund, we declined, demanding Rs1,200,” she added, referring to a traditional unit of weight in South Asia that is equivalent to 40 kilograms. “Our unity forced the employer to accept our demand.”
Cotton, one of Pakistan’s most important cash crops, forms the backbone of the country’s textile sector, the largest contributor to its economy. However, for decades, women like Khaskheli, who are the primary labor force in cotton-picking, have struggled under poor working conditions, receiving less than the minimum wage.
“We’ve found our voice,” she said. “Our increased income lets us buy clothes and stationery for our children.”
BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
A little more than a decade after the passage of the 18th Constitutional Amendment, which granted autonomy to all federating units, peasants in Sindh are beginning to see benefits from new post-amendment laws.
In 2023, provincial lawmakers introduced an amendment to the Sindh Protection of Human Rights Act, incorporating the principles of Responsible Business and Human Rights, which encourages employers to recognize basic privileges of their workers or being held accountable.
“Responsible Business and Human Rights is a relatively new field in Pakistan,” said Iqbal Ahmed Detho, chairperson of the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC), an independent body.
“Under this framework, we’ve focused on prioritizing local employment, improving occupational health and safety, enforcing minimum wages, reviewing existing laws and making legal aid more accessible,” he continued. “We’ve also built capacity among government officials, labor inspectors and police to effectively address violations and safeguard workers’ rights.”
The significance of the framework is hard to overstate. Before its introduction, agricultural workers had limited rights and little bargaining power. But now, trade unions are being registered under the Sindh Labour Department, helping people find their voice.
Speaking to Arab News, Ghulam Sarwar Uttero, the department’s regional director, confirmed the change.
“So far, there are 26 registered agriculture workers’ trade unions at the Sindh Labour Department. The majority of members and leaders in Sindh’s agricultural trade unions are women, numbering around 800,” he said.
A UNION OF STRENGTH
The Hari Welfare Association (HWA), an NGO working to advocate for farmers’ rights, has helped 12 women-only agricultural trade unions register with the provincial department, including Khaskheli’s Azad Harinyani Trade Union.
“The Sindh Protection of Human Rights Act, 2023, has been a game-changer for women trade union workers in Sindh,” said Akram Khaskheli, the association’s president, to Arab News. “This law has ensured that they receive the minimum wage fixed by the government of Sindh, a right that was previously denied to them by their landlords and contractors.”
For Begum Zaadi, another peasant, the law has not just accrued economic benefits but has also instilled a sense of confidence among women.
“The difference emerged after NGO representatives started conducting consultative meetings and awareness sessions in our village, which were previously missing,” she said.
“Through an adult literacy program, the NGO played a crucial role in establishing our trade union and teaching us effective bargaining techniques,” she added. “They empowered us to negotiate confidently with landlords. As a result, we now communicate assertively with employers, securing better wages.”
Meanwhile, Khaskheli, the cotton picker, is happy with the bump in her income since it makes it relatively easier to educate her children.
“Education is expensive, but as poor women peasants, we value literacy, having missed it in our childhood,” she said. “We’ve always held agricultural tools, but we want our children to succeed through education and secure jobs like others.”
Pakistan’s top court: Election law changes can’t overturn reserved seats verdict seen as favoring Imran Khan
- The court ruling deals a blow to PM Sharif’s administration that may lose some of its parliamentary seats
- Ruling comes after the ECP sought guidance regarding the court’s July verdict after election law changes
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration suffered a blow on Friday when the Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled that recent amendments to election laws cannot override its previous verdict on the distribution of reserved parliamentary seats, which had benefited ex-premier Imran Khan’s opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
The court’s latest ruling could impact the government, which had to work hard after the February 8 general elections to secure a majority by aligning with other winning political factions before benefiting from the allocation of more than its share of reserved seats for women and minorities. These seats are distributed to political parties in proportion to their election victories to ensure the inclusion of underrepresented groups in the political process.
The Supreme Court’s earlier verdict in July had reversed the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision, which denied these seats to PTI after its candidates were forced to contest the national polls as independents following the party’s loss of its electoral symbol. Although PTI-aligned candidates won the most seats, the ECP distributed its share of reserved seats to other factions, citing that they were only allocated to political parties, not independent candidates.
In August, the government amended election laws after the court’s July verdict that the ECP had misinterpreted its previous decision, which stripped PTI of its election symbol. These changes were widely seen as an effort to prevent PTI from claiming its share of reserved seats.
“The amendments made in the Elections Act after the release of our Short Order will have no bearing and the Commission is bound to implement the judgment passed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, in its letter and spirit, without seeking any further clarification,” the court said after the ECP sought guidance regarding the implementation of the July verdict after election law amendments.
ELECTIONS BILL
The Elections (Second Amendment) Bill of August says if a candidate does not submit a declaration of his affiliation with a political party to the returning officer before seeking the allotment of an election symbol, he or she shall be “deemed to be considered as an independent candidate and not a candidate of any political party.”
Another amendment says if a political party fails to submit its list for reserved seats within the prescribed time period, it would not be eligible for reserved seats at a later stage. A third amendment says a winning independent candidate’s decision to join a political party after elections was irrevocable.
All the legal changes were widely viewed as being directed against PTI, whose candidates had to join the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) after the elections to claim their share of reserved seats, as the ECP believed PTI had no parliamentary presence and was therefore ineligible.
Under the election bill, party candidates who contested as independents and later joined the SIC could no longer be allowed to rejoin their original party.
The Supreme Court’s July decision recognized PTI as a political party even after losing its election symbol.
Friday’s ruling marks the second such clarification of the court’s verdict to the ECP.
Last month, the election regulatory body filed a petition seeking guidance on the matter, only to be rebuked for employing “dilatory tactics” and instructed to implement the verdict immediately.
Win over England a ‘relief’ but doesn’t fix Pakistan woes, says skipper Shan Masood
- The 152-run victory against England was Pakistan’s first home win since February 2021
- Pakistani captain wants to carry forward the momentum in the final Test on Oct. 24
MULTAN: Captain Shan Masood hailed Pakistan’s second Test win over England in Multan on Friday as a “relief” but warned his team’s dire recent record would take a long time to turn around.
Pakistan spinner Noman Ali grabbed 8-46 and Sajid Khan took 2-93 as the pair wrapped up England’s second innings for 144 after the visitors were set a daunting target of 297.
The 152-run victory was Pakistan’s first home win since February 2021 and came after they were thumped by an innings in the first Test on the same Multan pitch.
“This was a very important win for Pakistan cricket. The recent results were unacceptable. There is relief, whether you ask cricketers or fans,” said Masood.
“We were hurt after recent results and wanted a positive result, which has come here,” he said. “We need to carry this forward because things will not change overnight.”
Noman finished with a match haul of 11-147 while Sajid had figures of 9-204, only the second time in Pakistan’s history that two bowlers took all 20 wickets in a Test.
Pakistan’s last Test win at home came against South Africa in Rawalpindi more than three years ago. It was followed by 11 home Tests without a win.
Friday’s victory is the first for Masood in his six Tests since being appointed captain last year. “This win is special for the team and for me as well,” he said.
Pakistan dropped ace batsman Babar Azam in one of four changes after their defeat in the first Test.
“Since I’ve come in we’ve had no issue taking risks. We’ve tried to play cricket that brings results, and we’ve lost a lot of matches doing that too,” said Masood.
“But we want to become a team that can produce results anywhere. This is a long process and journey.”
Masood said his team’s first innings score of 366 had set up the win.
“We need big first innings with the bat and then the bowlers to back us up,” said Masood, whose team then bowled England out for 291 for an invaluable 75-run lead.
“The lead took the third innings pressure off us,” he said.
The final Test starts in Rawalpindi on October 24.
Pakistan’s parliamentary committee chair claims unanimous approval of contentious amendment
- The constitutional amendment advocates judicial reforms previously opposed by ex-PM Khan’s PTI party
- PTI still says it is deliberating over the amendment package and plans to consult its jailed founding leader
ISLAMABAD: A special parliamentary committee, comprising government and opposition politicians, has unanimously approved the draft for the 26th constitutional amendment, according to its chairman on Friday, even as former premier Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party opposed it and called for a nationwide protest by its supporters.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration has been attempting to introduce a set of constitutional changes since last month, which the country’s opposition and prominent lawyers argue is aimed at granting more power to the executive in making judicial appointments.
The proposed amendments initially suggested establishing a federal constitutional court, raising the retirement age of superior judges by three years and modifying the process for appointing the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The PTI believed the amendments were intended to grant an extension to Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who is widely thought to be aligned with the government and opposed to its chief rival, ex-PM Khan, though the ruling administration denied the allegation.
Different political parties prepared various drafts of the constitutional amendment during several rounds of negotiations before announcing their agreement on the proposed judicial reforms and submitting it to the parliamentary committee.
“The special parliamentary committee has unanimously approved the draft of the 26th Constitutional Amendment today, Friday,” Syed Khursheed Shah, the committee chairman from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), told the media after presiding over the meeting.
“It will now be presented to the cabinet for approval before being submitted to both houses of parliament,” he continued, adding the committee also included the long-standing demand to allow overseas Pakistanis to contest elections.
However, Shah noted that these individuals would only be able to participate in the voting process by first renouncing their foreign nationality.
In a televised speech to his parliamentary party leaders, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari expressed optimism that the constitutional amendment would soon be adopted, as political parties were close to reaching a consensus to secure the required majority.
However, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, chairman of the opposition PTI party, said the fourth draft of the constitutional amendment, containing 26 points, was shared with his party earlier today, adding that it was still deliberating on it.
“We will soon reach a decision and meet with Imran Khan to finalize it,” he said. “We will submit a request for a meeting with Khan and discuss the party’s decision for final approval.”
The former prime minister has been imprisoned in a high-security jail for over a year on multiple charges.
The PTI had given a nationwide protest call for Friday against the constitutional amendment, though its supporters only came out small clusters in various Pakistani cities.
Senator Irfan Siddique, a committee member from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) party, told the media that no one opposed any clause of the draft constitutional amendment, describing it as a positive sign.
“We hope to present it before both houses of parliament soon,” he said.
