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Business Recorder
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
AWAM, NCHR hold seminar: Constitutional right to equality highlighted
FAISALABAD: Authorities and political decision-makers must uphold constitutional guarantees by ensuring religious freedom and equal citizenship in Pakistan. It is essential to eliminate discriminatory provisions from laws and policies and to adopt concrete measures for the social inclusion of religious minorities. These concerns and recommendations emerged during the proceedings of a seminar titled 'Implementation of Article 25: Local Context, Challenges, and Way Forward,' presided over by Qudsia Batool, Member of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab and Member of the Parliamentary Minority Caucus. The event was organized by the Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM) in collaboration with the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR). Distinguished keynote speakers, including Sonia Javed, Sonia Patras, Dr Rizwan Ullah Kokab, Dr Ghulam Mustafa, Dr Sadaf Mehmood, Advocate Fatima Saeed, Naeem Ahmed, and Haider Abbas, shared their valuable insights on the subject. Qudsia Batool, Member of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab and Member of the Parliamentary Minority Caucus, affirmed, 'the government is committed to upholding human rights values and is striving to ensure that no one is left behind.' She pledged to raise on the floor of the House the concerns of minority communities regarding unresolved matrimonial issues, as well as the grievances of youth related to limited economic opportunities. Executive Director of AWAM, Sonia Javed, and Deputy Director, Sonia Patras, stated, 'constitutional guarantees such as Article 25 are not limited to the protection of minorities but also encompass gender equality. They highlighted that matrimonial issues within minority communities remain unresolved, with individuals facing significant challenges in registering births, marriages, divorces, and deaths.' They further emphasized, 'Concerned authorities and political decision-makers must ensure inclusive governance and the provision of seamless public services for minorities.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘You don't need a separate nomenclature': Supreme Court rejects plea challenging declaration of ISIS as terrorist outfit
The Supreme Court Tuesday rejected 2002 Mumbai blasts accused Saquib Nachan's plea challenging the central notifications classifying the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), 1967. The notifications dated February 16, 2015, and June 19, 2018, declared Islamic State/Islamic State of Iraq and Levant/Islamic State of Iraq and Syria/Daish/Islamic State in Khorasan Province/ISIS Wilayat Khorasan/Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham-Khorasan, and all its manifestation as 'terrorist organisation' under the anti-terror law. Saquib Nachan had contended that it was violative of his Article 25 rights, and that the expressions Caliphate and Jihad have been wrongly read to introduce the ban by equating them with terrorism. Saquib Nachan was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in December 2023 for his alleged role in promoting terrorist activities linked to ISIS. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi disposed of the matter, saying it would be more appropriate for those aggrieved to seek bail before the appropriate forum rather than contest the notifications. 'It seems to us that instead of bringing challenge to the impugned notifications, the remedy for the petitioner, or for his son, lies in approaching the appropriate forum and make out a case that the activities undertaken by them do not fall within the offending clauses of UAPA and/or that for any other valid reason, they are entitled to be released on bail,' said the bench. 'We have no reason to doubt that the court of competent jurisdiction will earnestly consider such submissions with reference to prayer for bail and/or any other relief that may be claimed by the petitioner or his son in the pending case(s),' the bench added. Senior Advocate Mukta Gupta, who was appointed amicus curiae in the case, said that according to the petitioner, his son was arrested merely based on a premise, and he too was arrested after he filed the present petition. Saquib Nachan, who was lodged in the Tihar jail, passed away at a private hospital in Delhi on June 28, 2025, following a brain haemorrhage. Gupta contended that while the UAPA provides for a mechanism to declare an organisation as an unlawful association, there is no definition of a terrorist organisation. But Justice Kant said any organisation indulging in activities that amount to a terrorist act will be considered a terrorist organisation. 'You don't need a separate nomenclature for that.' On the argument regarding jihad and caliphate, Justice Bagchi said the caliphate is defined as the Kingdom of Allah in the Quran. But when the notification uses the word, it is in relation to terrorist activity and therefore, it has to be read in the context of terrorist activity.
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Business Standard
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
SC rejects plea challenging declaration of ISIS as terrorist organisation
The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a petition challenging two government notifications declaring the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and associated ideological expressions as terrorist organisations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi was hearing the petition filed by Saquib Abdul Hamid Nachan. Petitioner alleged wrongful arrest The petitioner claimed that he and his son were wrongfully arrested for alleged links to ISIS. The bench, however, noted that these grievances could only be addressed through appropriate proceedings before the competent criminal court. The court also clarified that it was not inclined to entertain a blanket challenge to the government notifications dated February 2015 and June 2018, issued under Section 35 of the UAPA. Amicus curiae, senior advocate Mukta Gupta, submitted that the two notifications violated the petitioner's fundamental right under Article 25 of the Constitution by misinterpreting religious terms such as 'caliphate' and 'jihad', equating them with terrorism. She argued that the declarations lacked supporting material or adherence to any procedure akin to that prescribed for declaring 'unlawful associations' under Section 3 of the UAPA. 'He says the word 'caliphate' is wrongly interpreted. That violates his fundamental right of religion. He has given substantial portions indicating what, according to the Quran, is the meaning of caliphate and jihad,' Gupta submitted. However, the bench rejected this argument, stating that such terms must be interpreted in the context of the alleged terrorist activity and not purely from a religious or scriptural standpoint. 'When the notification used the word 'caliphate', it is in relation to terrorist activity. So it has to be read in that context,' Justice Bagchi observed. No mechanism to review terrorist declarations under Section 35 Gupta further highlighted that while the UAPA provides for a tribunal to review the banning of unlawful associations, there is no equivalent review mechanism under Section 35, which governs the designation of terrorist organisations. She also informed the court that the petitioner had been arrested after filing the writ petition, and that his son had previously been detained by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on similar allegations. In response, Justice Surya Kant noted that the petitioner could pursue bail or other legal remedies through the appropriate criminal forum. 'He can always avail his remedy before the appropriate forum,' he said. Plea not a constitutional challenge The bench concluded that the petition appeared to be an attempt to secure relief in ongoing individual criminal proceedings, rather than a genuine constitutional challenge to the notifications. 'It seems to us that instead of a challenge to the impugned notifications, the remedy for the petitioner and his son lies in approaching the appropriate forum,' the court said in its order, while disposing of the petition.
Scoop
03-08-2025
- Health
- Scoop
New Report Reveals Systemic Breaches Of Fundamental Human Rights Obligations, Urges Urgent Tobacco Control Reform
The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) today released a comprehensive analysis entitled "The Right to Health and Public Health Policy," which exposes critical failures in global public health systems and highlights the urgent need for policy reform grounded in human rights principles. The report, authored by CAPHRA researchers C.Y. Virgino and N.E. Loucas, presents a damning assessment of how governments worldwide have systematically failed to uphold Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which guarantee every individual's right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental well-being. "Governments are demonstrating extraordinary hypocrisy in their approach to tobacco control," said Nancy Loucas, co-author of the report. "They simultaneously tax tobacco products, creating reliance on tobacco revenue, whilst claiming to fight tobacco use. Meanwhile, safer nicotine alternatives that could reduce harm—such as vaping and nicotine pouches—are often overregulated or banned outright, whilst combustible cigarettes remain widely available. This directly contradicts both the spirit of harm reduction and governments' obligations under Article 25 to reduce preventable illness." The analysis identifies how public health policy must encompass four core elements: availability of adequate healthcare facilities, accessibility without discrimination, cultural acceptability of services, and quality that meets scientific and medical standards. However, the reality falls far short of these requirements. "We're witnessing systemic failures across multiple fronts," explained Clarisse Virgino, the report's co-author. "Chronic underfunding of public health systems persists, with governments allocating disproportionately low budgets to preventive care despite clear evidence of cost-effectiveness. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep gaps in preparedness and equitable vaccine distribution, whilst many stakeholders promote 'pay for play' health policies that prioritise appearances over sustainable, inclusive policy development." Virgino emphasised that these policies frequently fail to address core public health issues effectively, instead serving to generate favourable public perception for benefactors whilst perpetuating systems that continue to contribute to harm. The report concludes with a powerful call for reform, with both authors stressing that upholding the right to health represents both a legal obligation and moral imperative. "Without genuine accountability, transparency, and a renewed focus on the core values of human rights and harm reduction, these failures will persist and exacerbate global health inequalities," said Loucas. "The challenge for governments and international bodies is to continuously align policies with this essential human rights framework. Upholding the right to health demands courageous, accountable leadership to dismantle systemic inequities and build a future where health is a guarantee, not a privilege."
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Protest after BJP MLA offers bounty on priests
Mumbai: Thousands from the Christian community participated in a daylong sit-in at Azad Maidan Friday, protesting threats issued by the BJP MLA from Sangli, Gopichand Padalkar. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The MLA in a public speech on June 17 had allegedly offered a bounty ranging from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 11 lakh for acts of violence against Christian priests and missionaries engaging in "forceful conversions". Similar dharnas and morchas are being held in several cities and districts across the state. The community is demanding Padalkar's resignation and an FIR. The archdiocese of Bombay meanwhile expressed "deep concern" over state revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule's proposal to enact a strict anti-conversion law. "While we respect the govt's duty to uphold public order, we firmly believe that any legislation restricting religious freedom must be carefully evaluated against India's constitutional framework. The choice of religion is a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 25. We urge the Maharashtra govt to reconsider this proposal, which risks fostering division and targeting vulnerable communities," the archdiocese said in a statement Friday. In Mumbai, individuals, priests, pastors, NGOs and secular organisations came to Azad Maidan after a call by the Samast Christi Samaj. "Around 15,000 Christians from all parts of Maharashtra came. We are seeking protection from the govt and police and demanding that an FIR be registered against Padalkar," said Cyril Dara, convenor of the Samaj. Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar, Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi and Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad addressed the gathering. Gaikwad said, "People vote for you (BJP), and with this power you make such kinds of malicious comments." Samuel Salve, a pastor from Ahmednagar, said, "Today I have filed a petition against Padalkar in the high court." "We demand the suspension of Padalkar and the registration of a criminal case for hate speech," said Melwyn Fernandes, secretary of the Association of Concerned Christians. (Inputs by Bella Jaisinghani)
