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CTV News
7 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Pakistan teen influencer killed after ‘rejecting' man
The TikTok app logo appears in Tokyo on Sept. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File) Pakistani police on Tuesday said a 17-year-old TikTok star was shot dead by a man who had repeatedly contacted her online. Sana Yousaf, who turned 17 last week and had more than a million followers across her social media accounts, was killed at her home in the capital Islamabad on Monday evening. The police have arrested a 22-year-old on suspicion of her murder who spent hours loitering outside her home. 'It was a case of repeated rejections. The boy was trying to reach out to her time and again,' Islamabad police chief Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi said during a news conference. 'It was a gruesome and cold-blooded murder,' Rizvi added. Yousaf had more than 800,000 followers on TikTok, a wildly popular platform in Pakistan, where she posted lip-sync videos, skincare tips, and promotional content for beauty products. The last video posted on her account was hours before her murder, in which she was seen cutting a cake for her birthday. Some comments under social media posts sharing the news of Yousaf's murder suggested it was justified because of her social media career, in a society where honour codes restrict how women should behave. 'You reap what you sow,' said one comment. Women's rights activist Nighat Dad such reactions embolden abusers to 'silence women who dare to be visible'. 'The vile comments under news of Sana's murder aren't just hateful noise, they're part of a mindset that normalizes violence against women in Pakistan,' she posted online. Violence against women is pervasive in Pakistan according to the country's Human Rights Commission, and cases of women being attacked after rejecting marriage proposals are not uncommon. In 2021, 27-year-old Noor Mukadam was beheaded by her Pakistani-American boyfriend, Zahir Jaffer, after she rejected his marriage proposal in a case that sparked widespread anger. In 2016, Khadija Siddiqui survived being stabbed 23 times by a jilted ex-boyfriend.
Business Recorder
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Pakistan military gets social media boost
ISLAMABAD: The brief conflict between India and Pakistan last week may have left no clear victor, but Islamabad's generals are taking a win, riding a wave of approval on social media to burnish their recently tarnished image. Much of the praise for the military, which had faced increasing criticism over its involvement in politics, has been driven by young people online, with nearly two-thirds of Pakistan's 240 million people younger than 30. The last major conflict between the nuclear-armed rivals was in 1999 and confined to the disputed region of Kashmir, so young Pakistanis have been more accustomed to seeing the neighbouring countries clash on the cricket pitch, said digital rights activist Nighat Dad. But from the start of Indian strikes on Wednesday, 'for the first time, they were able to listen to the shots, the blasts, the drone strikes and they witnessed drones flying over their very own houses' in major cities, including the capital, she told AFP. She said it sparked 'an emotionally charged sentiment that someone who is our neighbour, who has been blaming us for terrorist attacks in their country for decades attacks us'. New Delhi launched strikes after accusing Pakistan of backing a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April, a charge repeatedly denied by Islamabad. By retaliating, Pakistan's 'army cooked Bollywood in front of the whole world', joked one social media user, claiming the military exploits outshone Indian blockbusters. 'Even Indians would fall for (our) generals,' another said, as social media has been flooded with images of romanticised soldiers and pilots surrounded by hearts. This year, on May 10, India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire, and it will now be commemorated in Pakistan as the day of 'the battle for justice'. 'We are all behind our army,' proclaim posters put up on streets across the country by both the state and private citizens. Army chief General Asim Munir, stayed out of the spotlight during the conflict with India, with only the army and government spokespeople speaking publicly. One high-ranking officer in particular seems to have won the hearts of Pakistanis online: Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed, spokesperson for the Air Force, who revelled in the victories of his pilots, with Pakistan having claimed to have downed three French Rafale jets belonging to India. A European military source considered it 'highly unlikely' that three Rafales were destroyed, but said it is 'credible' that one may have been. The 'Rafale is a very potent aircraft... if employed well', quipped Ahmed during a press conference. The clip quickly spread on social media, with users hailing a 'David versus Goliath victory' of their military, which has far less funding, manpower and equipment than the armed forces of India. 'Young Pakistanis used the memes culture, using Indian misinformation as a joke and humour,' with India in response blocking dozens of accounts belonging to Pakistani public figures on X and YouTube, said Dad.
Arab News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan military gets social media boost after India flare-up
ISLAMABAD: The brief conflict between India and Pakistan last week may have left no clear victor, but Islamabad's generals are taking a win, riding a wave of approval on social media to burnish their recently tarnished image. Much of the praise for the military, which had faced increasing criticism over its involvement in politics, has been driven by young people online, with nearly two-thirds of Pakistan's 240 million people younger than 30. The last major conflict between the nuclear-armed rivals was in 1999 and confined to the disputed region of Kashmir, so young Pakistanis have been more accustomed to seeing the neighboring countries clash on the cricket pitch, said digital rights activist Nighat Dad. But from the start of Indian strikes on Wednesday, 'for the first time, they were able to listen to the shots, the blasts, the drone strikes and they witnessed drones flying over their very own houses' in major cities, including the capital, she told AFP. She said it sparked 'an emotionally charged sentiment that someone who is our neighbor, who has been blaming us for terrorist attacks in their country for decades attacks us.' New Delhi launched strikes after accusing Pakistan of backing a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April, a charge repeatedly denied by Islamabad By retaliating, Pakistan's 'army cooked Bollywood in front of the whole world,' joked one social media user, claiming the military exploits outshone Indian blockbusters. 'Even Indians would fall for (our) generals,' another said, as social media has been flooded with images of romanticized soldiers and pilots surrounded by hearts. The social network X had been blocked in Pakistan for over a year before coming back online just as hostilities flared, with the army praising the efforts of young 'cyber and information warriors.' The platform went down in Pakistan during the 2024 general elections as anti-military sentiment had begun to spread in the country where analysts say the armed forces have long been considered untouchable and the institution pulling the strings. Former prime minister Imran Khan and hundreds of his supporters were jailed after riots against the army on May 9, 2023. This year, on May 10, India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire, and it will now be commemorated in Pakistan as the day of 'the battle for justice.' 'We are all behind our army,' proclaim posters put up on streets across the country by both the state and private citizens. But the honeymoon with the army may not last. Already, Khan's party, which, along with all the others, has voted for anti-India resolutions in the Senate, is calling for a return to 'the real fight.' That battle is for the release of their champion, who sees the criminal accusations against him as a means by those in power to sideline him. For more than half of its 78-year history, Pakistan has been directly ruled by the military. Today, the army is still seen as a kingmaker, even though it claims to have stepped away from politics. Army chief General Asim Munir, who had long drawn criticism from the opposition, stayed out of the spotlight during the conflict with India, with only the army and government spokespeople speaking publicly. One high-ranking officer in particular seems to have won the hearts of Pakistanis online: Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed, spokesperson for the Air Force, who revelled in the victories of his pilots, with Pakistan having claimed to have downed three French Rafale jets belonging to India. A European military source considered it 'highly unlikely' that three Rafales were destroyed, but said it is 'credible' that one may have been. The 'Rafale is a very potent aircraft... if employed well,' quipped Ahmed during a press conference. The clip quickly spread on social media, with users hailing a 'David versus Goliath victory' of their military, which has far less funding, manpower and equipment than the armed forces of India. 'Young Pakistanis used the memes culture, using Indian misinformation as a joke and humor,' with India in response blocking dozens of accounts belonging to Pakistani public figures on X and YouTube, said Dad. Under the guise of humor, these memes became a way to spread opinions, information and support, she added. These same people might have reacted strongly online to a Supreme Court decision to allow Pakistani military courts to try civilians — but announced the same day as the start of the confrontation between Islamabad and New Delhi, it went relatively unnoticed. 'The crisis bolstered the army,' said researcher Michael Kugelman. 'It was able to rally the country around it in the face of Indian attacks and to play the role of protector that is such an important part of the military's identity and legitimacy.'
Straits Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Pakistan military gets social media boost after India flare-up
Pakistanis hold a rally to show solidarity with the Pakistani military on April 12. PHOTO: EPA-EFE ISLAMABAD – The brief conflict between India and Pakistan last week may have left no clear victor, but Islamabad's generals are taking a win, riding a wave of approval on social media to burnish their recently tarnished image. Much of the praise for the military, which has faced increasing criticism over its involvement in politics, has been driven by young people online, with nearly two-thirds of Pakistan's 240 million people younger than 30. The last major conflict between the nuclear-armed rivals was in 1999 and confined to the disputed region of Kashmir, so young Pakistanis have been more accustomed to seeing the neighbouring countries clash on the cricket pitch, said digital rights activist Nighat Dad. But from the start of Indian strikes on May 7, 'for the first time, they were able to listen to the shots, the blasts, the drone strikes, and they witnessed drones flying over their very own houses' in major cities, including the capital, she said. She said it sparked 'an emotionally charged sentiment that someone who is our neighbour, who has been blaming us for terrorist attacks in their country for decades attacks us'. New Delhi launched strikes after accusing Pakistan of backing a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir in April, a charge repeatedly denied by Islamabad. 'Cooked Bollywood' By retaliating, Pakistan's 'army cooked Bollywood in front of the whole world', joked one social media user, claiming the military exploits outshone Indian blockbusters. 'Even Indians would fall for (our) generals,' another said, as social media has been flooded with images of romanticised soldiers and pilots surrounded by hearts. The social network X had been blocked in Pakistan for over a year before coming back online just as hostilities flared, with the army praising the efforts of young 'cyber and information warriors'. The platform went down in Pakistan during the 2024 general elections as anti-military sentiment began to spread in the country where analysts say the armed forces have long been considered untouchable and the institution pulling the strings. Former prime minister Imran Khan and hundreds of his supporters were jailed after riots against the army on May 9, 2023. On May 10, India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire, and it will now be commemorated in Pakistan as the day of 'the battle for justice'. 'We are all behind our army,' proclaim posters put up on streets across the country by both the state and private citizens. But the honeymoon with the army may not last. Already, Khan's party, which, along with all the others, has voted for anti-India resolutions in the Senate, is calling for a return to 'the real fight'. That battle is for the release of their champion, who sees the criminal accusations against him as means by those in power to sideline him. For more than half of its 78-year history, Pakistan has been directly ruled by the military. Today, the army is still seen as a kingmaker, even though it claims to have stepped away from politics. Army chief General Asim Munir, who has long drawn criticism from the opposition, stayed out of the spotlight during the conflict with India, with only the army and government spokesmen speaking publicly. One high-ranking officer, in particular, seems to have won the hearts of Pakistanis online: Air Vice-Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed, spokesman for the Air Force, who revelled in the victories of his pilots, with Pakistan having claimed to have downed three French Rafale jets belonging to India. A European military source considered it 'highly unlikely' that three Rafales were destroyed, but said it is 'credible' that one may have been. 'David v Goliath' The 'Rafale is a very potent aircraft… if employed well', quipped Vice-Marshal Ahmed during a press conference. The clip quickly spread on social media, with users hailing a 'David versus Goliath victory' of their military, which has far less funding, manpower and equipment than the armed forces of India. 'Young Pakistanis used the memes culture, using Indian misinformation as a joke and humour', with India in response blocking dozens of accounts belonging to Pakistani public figures on X and YouTube, said Ms Dad. Under the guise of humour, these memes became a way to spread opinions, information and support, she added. These same people might have reacted strongly online to a Supreme Court decision to allow Pakistani military courts to try civilians. But announced the same day as the start of the confrontation between Islamabad and New Delhi, it went relatively unnoticed. 'The crisis bolstered the army,' said researcher Michael Kugelman. 'It was able to rally the country around it in the face of Indian attacks and to play the role of protector that is such an important part of the military's identity and legitimacy.' AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Express Tribune
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Viral message about WhatsApp surveillance debunked
An official with Meta's popular WhatsApp chat service said Israeli spyware company Paragon Solutions had targeted scores of its users, including journalists and members of civil society. PHOTO: CHATGPT A message making the rounds on social media and WhatsApp groups has set alarm bells ringing, suggesting that authorities are keeping a close watch on WhatsApp calls and groups on a massive scale – a claim the PTA has quickly shot down. The viral post, heavy on speculation and light on evidence, claims that a new "privacy mode" has been rolled out, enabling officials to track the WhatsApp activity of every Pakistani. The post also warns users against sharing politically or religiously sensitive content, alleging that violators could face arrest without warning. "From midnight tonight, all groups will be placed under privacy mode as new communication rules for WhatsApp and phone calls will be enforced in Pakistan. In the coming days, strict monitoring of groups and messages will take place," the message read. The message contains alarming claims about extensive surveillance measures. It claims that all phone calls will be recorded and stored, while social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and X will be closely monitored. Moreover, it suggests that users' devices will be connected to government systems. According to the message, discussing political or religious topics online could result in arrest without a warrant. It urges individuals to exercise caution and inform their family, friends, and acquaintances about these alleged monitoring efforts. However, a fact-check revealed that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has categorically denied issuing any such instructions or playing any role in the monitoring of WhatsApp calls or messages. Due to WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption (E2EE), mass surveillance of private conversations is technically impossible. WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption (E2EE) technology, meaning only the sender and recipient can read messages. Even WhatsApp itself cannot access these conversations. Digital rights expert Nighat Dad of the Digital Rights Foundation confirmed that the encryption prevents Pakistani authorities from conducting large-scale surveillance of WhatsApp communications. While governments cannot read encrypted messages, they can collect metadata information about who you communicate with, the duration of conversations, locations (if GPS is enabled), and group participation. However, this form of surveillance is typically targeted at specific individuals rather than the general public. Governments can use spyware such as Pegasus or malware to monitor individuals, but these tools are not effective for large-scale surveillance. The claim that Pakistan has enacted new laws to monitor all WhatsApp groups and calls is completely false. However, authorities can still track metadata and conduct targeted surveillance of specific persons of interest. Experts recommend that users protect their digital privacy by avoiding suspicious links, and unauthorised apps and sharing sensitive information online. While mass surveillance is unlikely, targeted monitoring of individuals remains a possibility.
