Latest news with #MazharAbbas
Business Recorder
15-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Sindh govt striving to resolve issues facing journalists: Sharjeel
KARACHI: A delegation of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ), and Sukkur Union of Journalists, led by renowned journalist and PFUJ Federal Executive Council Member Mazhar Abbas along with PFUJ Secretary Finance Lala Asad Pathan, called on Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon. Senior journalists including KUJ President Tahir Hussain Khan, Sardar Liaquat, Saleem Sehto, Javed Jatoi, and other KUJ office bearers were also present at the meeting. During the meeting, the delegation of journalists invited Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport, and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon to attend the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). The three-day celebrations will be held at the historic Khaliq Dina Hall in Karachi. The delegation also informed the minister that the three-day meeting of the PFUJ Federal Executive Council will take place in Karachi from August 1 to August 3. A special session is scheduled for August 2 at Khaliq Dina Hall, the site where PFUJ was founded 75 years ago. Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon assured the union representatives of his government's full commitment and support. On the occasion, he remarked that journalism and democracy are inseparable, and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Sindh government has always taken significant steps to promote press freedom. He added that the Sindh government is making every possible effort to address the issues faced by journalists. 'The sacrifices of the journalist community for the cause of democracy are historic and unforgettable. The welfare of journalists remains a top priority for the Sindh government,' he said. On the occasion, Sharjeel Inam Memon also briefed the delegation on ongoing projects in the health, transport, energy, and housing sectors. He said that the benefits of the Sindh government's initiatives in these areas are reaching the people. During the meeting, the delegation of journalists appreciated the Sindh government's development projects, noting that the measures taken by the government are providing relief to the people. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Dialogue termed only solution to Balochistan's problems
Human rights activists and senior journalists have emphasised that the resolution to Balochistan's longstanding issues lies in peaceful dialogue. Baloch leaders stressed that they accept the writ of the state and reiterated their commitment to peaceful struggle, asking the state to listen to them. They demanded that true representatives of the Baloch people be given space in the parliament and that all missing persons be recovered. If anyone is accused of a crime, they should be presented in court under due legal process. These views were expressed during a seminar held on Sunday at Karachi Press Club, organised by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC). The event marked 16 years since the enforced disappearance of Dr Deen Muhammad Baloch, father of central committee leader Sami Deen Baloch. Speakers included Sami Deen Baloch herself, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Chairman Asad Iqbal Butt, BYC's Wahab Baloch, Karachi Press Club President Fazil Jamili, senior journalists Wusatullah Khan and Mazhar Abbas, Karachi Bachao Tehreek convener Khurram Ali, and women's rights activist Sheema Kermani, who highlighted the plight of missing persons through her performance. Sami Deen Baloch appealed to the state to acknowledge and resolve the issue of enforced disappearances. "We uphold and believe in the sovereignty of the state and want it to act justly with us," she said. Mazhar Abbas remarked that had the recommendations from the Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan initiative been implemented timely, many of these problems could have been resolved.
Business Recorder
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
GCUF holds seminar
FAISALABAD: A national seminar entitled 'Proceedings and Practices on Women's Land Rights Cases in the Revenue Department, Punjab,' was conducted at Government College University Faisalabad, as part of the Higher Education Commission's-funded project, 'Women's Land Rights in Pakistan: Laws, Policy and Practices.' The seminar was organised by Dr Mazhar Abbas, Principal Investigator of the research project and a lecturer in History at Government College University Faisalabad. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Analysts say blaming PTI won't help resolve problem
Some key political analysts believe that the ruling PML-N wants to put the burden of its failure on the beleaguered PTI by blaming the policies of its past governments in the Centre and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces for the recent resurgence of terrorism in the country. As the country witnessed an upsurge in terrorism, especially in the K-P and Balochistan province, the PML-N led governments' in the Centre and Punjab have intensified their criticism of the PTI for allegedly implementing policies that contributed to resurgence of terrorism in Pakistan. Just recently, PML-N's Talal Chaudary accused the PTI of providing safe haven to terrorists. He alleged that the PTI's policies of giving white gloved treatment to terrorists resulted in bringing terrorism back to Pakistan. The PML-N led provincial government in Punjab also routinely takes swipes at the PTI and its K-P government for "patronizing terrorists". Senior political analyst Mazhar Abbas said the responsibility to control terrorism rests with the incumbent PML-N government and the attempt to shift the blame onto the PTI is "lame and unfortunate". "This behavior of the politicians of both treasury and opposition benches comes in the way of forging a national consensus. If one is to go by the PML-N's claim that it was the PTI's policy of resettling three to four thousand former militants in the K-P that resulted in resurgence of terror, then the government must reveal how many of those that it squarely blames for resurgence of terrorism have been arrested." He said if the PML-N sincerely believes that the PTI government's policies are to blame, then they do not register a case against the former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and army bosses, who were the main people calling the shots then. Abbas said the government has thus far failed to get at the bedrock of the issue. Situation in terror-hit areas has deteriorated to a point where many areas have become inaccessible. He said the night-time traveling restriction in Balochistan speaks volumes about the government failure in battling the situation. He said the PTI has a certain position regarding Taliban, but in the past after the APS incident, Imran Khan did attend the APC and budged from his position, allowing the government of the day to delineate a National Action Plan. Senior anchor Habib Akram, who recently was taken off air reportedly for his views, said the PML-N in the past used to blame the PPP for terrorism now it blames the PTI. He said during a public address ahead of 2013 polls, Shehbaz Sharif, then Punjab chief minister, had urged terrorists to attack those who were pro-American, declaring that the PML-N was actually anti-American. He said back then the PML-N led Punjab government blamed the then K-P government for terrorism, an accusation that used to incense people of the province. He said even today the PML-N is following the same playbook. He said accusing an already embattled PTI was merely political expediency, as they want to settle a political score and draw the attention away from the actual issue. He said security for long has remained the military establishment's exclusive domain, so how can one political party be accused of implementing any policy on its own. He said accusing PTI founder Imran Khan of the rise in terrorism, also helps the PML-N to paint the PTI and Imran in a bad light globally. Senior political analyst Hasan Askari Rizvi said PML-N leaders are habitual of bashing PTI in all their public addresses. He said the situation has come to a point where he does not see stability in the coming few years. Askari said Balochistan and the K-P issues are vastly different. In Balochistan, there is a sense of alienation, while in the K-P, there is terrorism. The people of former FATA, however, also feel that the government has not done anything for their rehabilitation. He said curbing terrorism is the federal government's responsibility, and the PTI led K-P government cannot be squarely blamed for it. "by PTI bashing, the government is deflecting the blame from those who are actually responsible," he added.
Times of Oman
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Pakistan journalists rally against PECA amendments, decry 'Civilian Martial Law'
Islamabad: The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Digital Nation Pakistan Bill 2024, which seek to establish a digital economy, society, and governance, were adopted by the upper house on Tuesday despite protests from the opposition benches according to a report by Geo News. The Senate also approved the revisions on Wednesday after it was already passed in the National Assembly. The changes are intended to tighten the noose around people who spread false information and fake news on social media, the government said according to Geo News. The journalism community staged nationwide demonstrations against the "controversial" Prevention of Electronic Crimes (PECA) (Amendment) Bill 2025 on Tuesday. After labelling the PECA law "controversial" due to "lack of clarity" in several legal elements, including the term "fake news," the journalist organisation joined forces in nationwide protests against controversial changes to the law, Geo News reported. Media professionals worry that the altered law may affect press freedom and be used to target them as well. The media community was also incensed at the current administration for enacting the modifications without seeking their input or taking them seriously. Geo News reported that many journalists, attorneys, and members of civil society took part in the agitation organized by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) outside the National Press Club in Islamabad yesterday, as protests spread throughout the nation's major towns. While chanting anti-PECA Act slogans at the rally, the journalists were observed protesting by wearing chains as per a report by Geo News. Once the protesters arrived near D-Chowk, the rally took the form of a sit-in. Speaking to the participants, the president of PFUJ made it clear that while they did not oppose rules, no one would be permitted to undermine the nation's freedom of expression. Geo News reported that barbed wire was put up and large police contingents were sent to D-Chowk in an attempt to halt the demonstrators' movement. Journalists attempted to break through police-erected obstacles to continue their march but were injured when they attempted to remove the barbed wire. The PFUJ leader was also prevented from leading the march to the Red Zone, where he was tried to be detained by some police officers. Senior journalist Mazhar Abbas, addressing the protest rally, said, "This is the beginning of a historical struggle against a civilian martial law as the first attack was carried out on the judiciary and the second on media." Expressing outrage over the PECA tweaks, he claimed that digital media has been targeted since 2016 and slammed the rulers, saying: "Fake news is not an issue but the actual issue is reporting news" as quoted by Geo News. Abbas further said that some state elements wanted to keep journalism under their control and warned stakeholders not to compromise on the new tweaks, "otherwise, everyone would be controlled".
