Latest news with #Farooq
NDTV
4 hours ago
- General
- NDTV
Pak Businessman Arrested For Assault On Hindu Siblings After Minor Road Mishap
Karachi: A Karachi-based media entrepreneur has been arrested after he and his armed bodyguards allegedly assaulted a Hindu man following a minor road accident, police said. Salman Farooq and his accomplices were arrested late Monday in Karachi after video clips of the man being brutally beaten went viral and caused an outrage on social media. According to the First Information Report (FIR), the incident took place on Sunday at Defence Society Ittehad area. Sudhair Dhun Raj had picked up his sister Kalpana, who works at a beauty parlour, and was en route to collect their youngest sibling when his motorcycle grazed Farooq's car. Farooq and his armed aides brutally thrash Raj, despite his apologies and Kalpana's pleas for mercy. An eyewitness, Muhammad Saleem, came forward, prompting the police to take action against Farooq, who owns a media production and distribution company. Initially hesitant to speak out, the siblings, residents of the impoverished Ranchore Lines area, decided to come forward after the FIR was filed based on Saleem's complaint. The FIR includes charges of issuing death threats, physical assault, harassment of a woman, and verbal abuse.
Express Tribune
26-05-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Year's third polio drive kicks off
A health worker administers polio drops to a child during a door-to-door vaccination campaign amidst heavy snow in the Bakwali-Surgan area of Azad Jammu Kashmir's Neelum Valley, on February 4, 2025. (AFP In continued efforts toward a polio-free Pakistan, the Pakistan Polio Programme launched its third National Immunisation Days (NIDs) campaign of the year on Sunday at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), Islamabad. The campaign was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister's Focal Person for Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq, alongside members of the Polio Programme's core group and representatives of partner organisations. To mark the launch, Farooq administered oral polio vaccine and Vitamin A drops to children under five, reinforcing the government's unwavering commitment to eradicating the crippling disease from every corner of the country. Scheduled to begin on May 26, the weeklong campaign aims to vaccinate over 45 million children under five, making it a critical intervention in Pakistan's final push to interrupt poliovirus transmission and achieve eradication by the end of 2025. "Polio eradication is not just a health goal — it is a national imperative and a matter of immense pride for our country," Farooq said. "This third campaign of 2025 marks a decisive milestone in our 2-4-6 roadmap. These back-to-back rounds from September 2024 to May 2025 represent our most strategic opportunity to close immunity gaps and halt virus circulation before the high transmission season begins." Farooq acknowledged the persistent challenges in key reservoirs such as Karachi, South K-P and Quetta Block but noted encouraging progress in reaching previously underserved populations. She also extended heartfelt appreciation to the 400,000 frontline workers powering the campaign, including 225,000 female vaccinators and recognised the critical role of civil and military law enforcement in ensuring safe access to children. Despite major gains, wild poliovirus continues to pose a threat. Pakistan has confirmed 10 cases so far this year. Environmental surveillance has detected the virus in 272 sewage samples from 127 testing sites, across 68 districts, signalling continued circulation. Speaking at the event, UNICEF representative in Pakistan, Abdullah Fadil, expressed confidence in the programme's direction. As he concluded his tenure in Pakistan, Fadil commended the national leadership and Farooq for their tireless dedication to polio eradication. "Pakistan is closer than ever to making history. With continued political will, community engagement, and coordinated action by all partners, I believe this country can soon achieve a polio-free future," he said. The public is strongly encouraged to cooperate with vaccination teams and report any missed children via the Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline 1166 or the WhatsApp Helpline at 0346-7776546.
The Star
25-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Pakistan launches national polio vaccination drive
ISLAMABAD, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan launched its third National Polio Vaccination Campaign of 2025 on Sunday to immunize more than 45 million children under the age of 5 against polio, said the health ministry. Prime Minister's Focal Person for Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq emphasized the national significance of polio eradication during an inauguration event, described it as a "matter of immense pride" and outlined a roadmap to interrupt virus transmission and achieve eradication by the end of 2025. "This campaign is a decisive milestone to achieve the complete eradication of the disease," said Farooq, highlighting the campaign's role in closing immunity gaps and halting virus circulation ahead of the high transmission season. So far this year, Pakistan has reported 10 polio cases, with environmental surveillance detecting the virus in 272 sewage samples from 127 testing sites across 68 districts, underscoring the continued threat, added the ministry.
Metro
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Metro
Calls to ban Islamic preacher who said sex with female prisoners is 'halal'
Politicians have been urged to bar a preacher from entering the UK after it was revealed he said it was 'halal' to have sex with female slaves. Uthman ibn Farooq, a Muslim preacher based out of California, has dates scheduled in multiple English cities for his 'Waking the Dead – Returning from the Darkness' tour. But he's come under serious scrutiny for his remarks online, including one instance where he said women who wear perfume are 'fornicatresses.' His YouTube channel has 150,000 subscribers, but he's featured in One Message Foundation's videos – they have more than 1,000,000 followers. Farooq sparked outrage when in one video, he was asked why it was lawful to have 'intimacy' with a slave, but adulterous if someone was to have sex with a non-slave. He said: 'Allah made it that those people taken under a war as captives, who were trying to kill you, who you're now going to support and keep in your house and spend money on and treat well, that they are like a wife. 'This is somebody whom you can have those relationships with. So if Allah made it halal [lawful], then it's not sinning, that is not adultery because Allah made it.' UK politicians have cited the remarks as a reason for his visa to be revoked before his upcoming tour dates. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said: 'This man should never set foot on UK soil. His visa must be revoked immediately. Islamists spreading hate and sowing division are not welcome here.' Charity founder Fiyaz Mughal, of Tell Mama, said Farooq's remarks send a 'barbaric message to people'. 'Any sheikh or imam who attempts to publicly justify having sex with people who have no choice should not be allowed in the UK,' he said. 'We have enough problems with backwards views in the UK and we don't need others coming here and legitimising such poison.' Farooq works with One True Message Foundation, based in West London – and is featured prominently in their videos. The organisation previously sparked outrage when they released a video where a member compared women who don't wear hijabs to 'unwrapped sweets'. 'I have two sweets, yeah, one I open the wrapper and I throw it on the floor, yeah, and I tread on it a little bit. The other one I leave in the wrapper, and I throw it on the floor and I tread on it. 'One's in the wrapper, one's not. I pick both of them up and I say take one. Which one are you going to choose? Case closed,' they said. Last year, the previous government announced that dangerous hate preachers would begin to be blocked from the UK as part of a new taskforce to 'clamp down on hate and protect the British public'. More Trending 'Hate preachers and extremists will be automatically referred to the Home Office for immigration action, including the cancellation or refusal of visas, should they attempt to travel to the UK. 'Information will be gathered using our embassy network and using open-source intelligence expertise,' they said. It's unclear if this guidance could be used to bar Farooq. Metro has contacted the Home Office, Farooq and One Message Foundation for comment. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Universal's Epic Universe theme park is finally open – the queue was my favourite part MORE: Man named Michael Myers charged with murder in West Virginia MORE: People are placing bets on which five escaped New Orleans prisoners will be caught last
Hans India
20-05-2025
- Hans India
2nd batch of AP Haj pilgrims departs from Hyderabad
Amaravati: The second contingent of Haj pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh, totalling 906 individuals, departed for Jeddah on Monday, marking a significant phase in the State's meticulously organised pilgrimage arrangements. Minister for Law and Minority Welfare NMD Farooq flagged off the pilgrims from Hyderabad, emphasising the State government's comprehensive efforts to ensure a smooth and hassle-free journey for all, according to a communiqué released from the Secretariat here on Monday. The flag-off ceremony took place at Shah Function Plaza in Lakdikapul in Hyderabad, organised jointly by the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Haj Committee. Minister Farooq accompanied by Minority Affairs Ministry Advisor MA Sharif, Haj Committee Chairman Hasan Basha and other committee members, extended their best wishes to the departing pilgrims. Minister Farooq stated that a total of 1,630 pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh are undertaking the sacred Haj journey this year. Of these, 1,170 are departing from the Hyderabad embarkation center, 451 from Bengaluru, and the remaining nine from other embarkation points. He further detailed that 818 Haj pilgrims are scheduled to travel from the Hyderabad embarkation center on Monday and Tuesday across three flights. An additional 88 pilgrims will depart on the final flight on May 27. Due to only 72 pilgrims opting for Vijayawada as their embarkation point, and resulting technical limitations preventing a special charter flight from being arranged by the Indian Ministry of Aviation, the Haj Committee of India, Mumbai, granted permission for these 72 pilgrims to depart from Hyderabad. Minister Farooq also highlighted that during the first phase last month, 724 pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh successfully travelled to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina from Hyderabad and Bengaluru embarkation centers. He assured that all these pilgrims reached their destinations safely and securely with the support of the state government, and similar arrangements have been made for the remaining pilgrims. The Minister extended his gratitude to the governments of Telangana and Karnataka for their full cooperation. Haj Committee EO Ghaus Peer and representatives from the Minority Ministries and Haj Committees of both Telugu states were also present.
