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Express Tribune
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
IHC orders probe into online blasphemy spike
Listen to article The capital's high court has ordered a government probe into allegations that young people are being entrapped in online blasphemy cases, following appeals from hundreds of families. There has been a spike in cases of mostly young men being arrested for committing blasphemy in WhatsApp groups since 2022. Rights groups and police have said that many are brought to trial by private law firms, who use volunteers to scour the internet for offenders. "The government will constitute a commission within a 30-day timeframe," said Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, adding that the commission is required to submit its findings within four months. A report published by the government-run National Commission for Human Rights in October last year said there were 767 people, mostly young men, in jail awaiting trial over blasphemy allegations. "This is a huge ray of hope and it is the first time that the families have felt heard," said lawyer Imaan Mazari, who represents the families of arrested men and women, of the court order. "Youngsters have been falsely roped into cases of such a sensitive nature that the stigma will last forever even if they are acquitted," she added. A 2024 report by the Punjab Police into the sudden spike in cases, that was leaked to the media, found that "a suspicious gang was trapping youth in blasphemy cases" and may be motivated by financial gain. The Legal Commission on Blasphemy Pakistan (LCBP) is the most active of lawyers groups prosecuting young men in Pakistan. Sheraz Ahmad Farooqi, one of the group's leaders, told AFP in October that "God has chosen them for this noble cause". In recent years, several youngsters have been convicted and handed death sentences, although no execution has ever been carried out for blasphemy in Pakistan. "We will fully support the probe commission and are confident that our voices will finally be listened to, our concerns will be heard, and the truth will come out," the relative of one of the accused, who asked not to be named because of the backlash, told AFP. WITH INPUT FROM AFP
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Pakistan court orders probe into online blasphemy spike
A Pakistan court ordered a government probe on Tuesday (July 15, 2025) into allegations that young people are being entrapped in online blasphemy cases, following appeals from hundreds of families. There has been a spike in cases of mostly young men being arrested for committing blasphemy in WhatsApp groups since 2022. Rights groups and police have said that many are brought to trial by private law firms, who use volunteers to scour the internet for offenders. "The government will constitute a commission within a 30-day timeframe," said Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan at Islamabad High Court, adding that the commission is required to submit its findings within four months. Blasphemy is an incendiary charge in Muslim-majority Pakistan punishable by death, and even unsubstantiated accusations can incite public outrage, lead to lynchings and to families being shunned by society. A report published by the government-run National Commission for Human Rights in October last year said there were 767 people, mostly young men, in jail awaiting trial over blasphemy allegations. "This is a huge ray of hope and it's the first time that the families have felt heard," said lawyer Imaan Mazari, who represents the families of arrested men and women, of the court order. "Youngsters have been falsely roped into cases of such a sensitive nature that the stigma will last forever even if they are acquitted," she added. A 2024 report by Punjab police into the sudden spike in cases, that was leaked to the media, found that "a suspicious gang was trapping youth in blasphemy cases" and may be motivated by financial gain. The Legal Commission on Blasphemy Pakistan (LCBP) is the most active of lawyers groups prosecuting young men in Pakistan. Sheraz Ahmad Farooqi, one of the group's leaders, told AFP in October that "God has chosen them for this noble cause". In recent years, several youngsters have been convicted and handed death sentences, although no execution has ever been carried out for blasphemy in Pakistan. "We will fully support the probe commission and are confident that our voices will finally be listened to, our concerns will be heard, and the truth will come out," the relative of one of the accused, who asked not to be named because of the backlash, said.
Eyewitness News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Toll from anti-government memorial marches in Kenya rises to 38
NAIROBI, KENYA - At least 38 people were killed at anti-government protests commemorating a 1990 uprising against autocratic rule in Kenya, the country's National Commission for Human Rights (KNCHR) said on Friday. The updated toll makes Monday the deadliest day of demonstrations since the beginning of the youth-led protests against President William Ruto, which have shaken the east African country for more than a year. The KNHCR, an independent yet state-funded rights body, had previously given a tally of 31 deaths. Kenya has been grappling with waves of protests from people angry over economic stagnation, police brutality and corruption, with the marches at times degenerating into violence and looting. Monday's demonstrations saw clashes between protesters and police on the outskirts of Nairobi, though a hefty security deployment kept the marchers out of the capital's centre. In the wake of the chaos, Ruto ordered officers to shoot protesters in the leg if they engaged in looting, and warned against attempts to "overthrow" his government, in his toughest remarks yet on the unrest. "The Commission observes that the death toll has now risen to thirty-eight (38) people," a KNCHR statement said on Friday, adding that at least 130 people were injured in Monday's demonstrations. With eight dead, the southern city of Kiambu saw the most victims, followed by the capital Nairobi and Kajiado to the south with six each, the commission said. The demonstrations began in June 2024 as a youth-led anti-taxation protest, which subsequently forced the government to withdraw a contested finance bill. The protesters were repressed by the police with a heavy hand, with Monday's deaths bringing the total toll to more than 100 killed. Rights groups have pointed the finger at the police for the violence, as well as for the number of protesters who have disappeared in the demonstrations' wake. Marchers meanwhile, accuse the security forces of hiring armed criminals to chase protesters and paying vandals to discredit their movement. Kenya's long-running issue with police violence has tarnished the image of a country considered to be a beacon of stability and democracy in a troubled region.
Express Tribune
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Children's voices missing from Pakistan's child rights policy: experts
Listen to article In Pakistan, children's voices are often absent from the policymaking process on child rights, with decisions typically shaped by experts, policymakers, and activists. This adult-centric approach, experts warn, fails to reflect the lived experiences and needs of children, undermining both the relevance and effectiveness of policies intended to protect them. 'When policies are designed solely from an adult perspective, they often don't align with children's age, interests, and needs,' said a child rights expert. 'This results in low engagement and weak implementation.' However, promising signs of change are emerging. A notable example is 16-year-old Abihah Batool, a student from Lahore and an active member of a child forum. She recently represented Pakistan at the United Nations' Annual Child Rights Convention in Geneva, where she advocated for a comprehensive social protection programme for children. She has also met with the Punjab Minister for Human Rights, the Chairperson of the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau, and a member of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) to present a charter of demands developed by children. 'From schools to national consultations and even global platforms, children in Pakistan have shown they can speak with insight, sincerity, and moral courage—if only they are given the chance,' said Abihah. She emphasized that social stigma, institutional weaknesses, and tokenistic inclusion continue to obstruct meaningful child participation. Ayesha Raza Khan, Chairperson of the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC), shared that Pakistan is leading the way in the South Asian region by including two children as members of the commission. 'We've also established a Child Advisory Panel with representation from across the country,' she noted. 'It is crucial that when we talk about child protection and rights, we start by listening to children themselves. Their perspectives must be taken seriously.' She pointed to a recent Supreme Court case on child custody as a landmark, where, for the first time, the court sought the children's preferences about which parent they wished to live with after separation. Iftikhar Mubarak, Executive Director of Search for Justice, highlighted Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which guarantees every child the right to express their views on matters affecting them and to have those views taken seriously. 'This means creating safe, inclusive, and effective platforms where children can speak on critical issues such as education, violence, environmental change, gender equality, and mental health.' Despite these developments, child protection institutions across Pakistan— including in Punjab—remain dominated by adult professionals, with little or no representation of children themselves. Experts argue that this exclusion not only hinders children's development in confidence, leadership, and civic responsibility but also conceals serious issues like sexual abuse and domestic violence. "When children are excluded from shaping the policies that impact them, they feel alienated from society, which can lead to long-term inequality," experts warn. They urge policymakers to ensure meaningful inclusion of children as a foundational principle for building effective, inclusive, and sustainable child protection frameworks.
Express Tribune
11-03-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Children's futures shattered by 2022 floods
Following the devastation caused by the heavy rains and catastrophic flooding in 2022, many people rallied to provide humanitarian aid through food, clothing and medicine for the affected families. However, no amount of aid could restore the futures of innocent children whose lives were upended. Muhammad Arsalan, a 12-year-old boy, was found working at a shop in Gulberg. Originally from Rajanpur, Arsalan had been living with a relative in Lahore for the past three years. Before the floods, Arsalan was a Class 4 student, but when the disaster struck in 2022, his home and school were completely destroyed, forcing him and his family to flee to Lahore. "When the reconstruction of homes in my hometown was complete, my parents and four siblings return, but they left me behind since I had started working for Rs200 a day," Arsalan shared. Like Arsalan, thousands of children across the country have been forced to face similar setbacks and challenges due to the impacts of climate change. The 2022 floods, in particular, decimated schools across Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan, leaving thousands of children without access to education for months. UN figures further revealed that two million children did not return to classrooms once the floods had subsided. According to Nadeem Ashraf, a member of the National Commission for Human Rights in Punjab, in the aftermath of the 2022 floods, many schools in the affected areas were either completely destroyed or severely affected, due to which educational activities remained suspended for several months. "Nearly 1.5 million children were displaced as a result of the floods. The displaced children not only struggled academically but also suffered from various ailments, including skin diseases and gastrointestinal diseases. The recovery process after migration is long and difficult and the affected families, especially women and children, face uncertainty and insecurity," said Ashraf. Iftikhar Mubarak, Executive Director at Search for Justice, highlighted the fact that children, who were the most vulnerable segment of society, suffered the most from climate crises. "During the devastating floods of 2022, countless educational institutions were destroyed, and children's education was abruptly suspended. Similarly, recently, the closure of schools across the province due to the smog crisis has once again disrupted education," noted Mubarak. Mubarak further opined that the economic distress caused by climate change instigated child labour. "When parents, especially those involved in agriculture or animal husbandry, lose their livelihood, the children are often forced to work as labourers to support the household financially. Hence, the uncertainty and disruption caused by climate change can create a sense of insecurity and fear among children, affecting their emotional and social development," he added. On the other hand, Fatima Tahir, a clinical psychologist, was of the opinion that the climate crisis disproportionately affected girls in Pakistan. "After disasters like floods and droughts, girls are forced to take on additional household responsibilities, which hinders their education and development. Furthermore, limited access to resources and support systems, health risks, and displacement disrupts girls' education, increasing their risk of exploitation and abuse. Additionally, financial difficulties increase the likelihood of underage or forced marriages, which takes away the girl child's right to education," emphasized Tahir. Climate marriages have indeed emerged as a significant challenge, with 45 underage girls married off in a single village in interior Sindh during the monsoon rains last year. According to data provided by the Inspector General Police Sindh to the Sindh Home Department, 57 cases of child marriage were registered in eight districts of Sindh between 2018 and 2023.
