Latest news with #Qayyum
Express Tribune
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
HEC boss shown the door
Higher Education Commission (HEC) Executive Director, Dr Ziaul Qayyum, has been dismissed from his position after his performance was declared unsatisfactory. Mazhar Saeed has been appointed as the acting Executive Director. The decision was made during a meeting of HEC members chaired by HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar. The meeting, which lasted an hour, included a presentation of Dr Qayyum's performance report via PowerPoint. Following the review, members unanimously approved his dismissal based on the findings. Dr Ziaul Qayyum was appointed as executive director in 2023 for a four-year term. Under the rules of the MP-I scale, annual performance evaluations are mandatory, and his performance was found lacking during the latest review. Acting Executive Director Mazhar Saeed is primarily serving as Director General at the HEC and also holds the additional charge of Advisor for Planning and Development. HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar, whose one-year extended term ends on July 28, has long been part of HEC and previously served as executive director before assuming his current role. Sources revealed that tensions between the HEC chairman and the Executive Director had been simmering for several months. Dr Qayyum's removal was reportedly linked to alleged delays in the execution of the federal laptop scheme. Repeated internal efforts to reconcile the differences between the two senior officials failed. In response to his dismissal, Dr Qayyum raised serious concerns about the legality of the process. In a letter, he alleged that he was not allowed to defend himself or respond to the allegations. He claimed that he was informed of the commission meeting via a delayed email the night before and was denied both attendance and secretariat support. He further stated that the HEC chairman unilaterally called the meeting, disregarding his formal objections submitted on April 28. He termed the session a violation of Sections 6, 9, 10, and 11 of the Higher Education Commission Act 2021. The lack of agenda circulation before the virtual meeting, he argued, casts doubt on its legal validity. Dr Qayyum has demanded an impartial review of the allegations and a chance to present his side in accordance with legal procedures. He emphasised that the credibility and transparency of the commission rely on fair treatment and due process. HEC officials maintain that the dismissal was carried out under applicable rules and policies. The post of Executive Director is very important as it acts as the principal accounting officer of the HEC, which deals with about 130 development and non-development budgets of the commission annually. The role also plays a crucial part in coordinating with universities across Pakistan, ensuring policy implementation, and overseeing major national initiatives in the higher education sector. As the HEC navigates this leadership transition, stakeholders within the academic community are closely watching how the commission addresses governance concerns and maintains continuity in its key projects and reforms.
Business Recorder
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Charges framed against another PTI leader for ‘violating' Section 144
ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Monday framed charges against another Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader in a case of violation of Section 144, in which it has also indicted PTI leader Faisal Javed and others. ATC judge Tahir Abbas Sipra, while hearing the case, indicted PTI leader Raja Majid in a case registered against them at the Industrial Area police station related to the protest at Faizabad, following the PTI founding chairman Imran Khan's disqualification. The accused have pleaded not guilty and intend to contest the case. During the previous hearing, the court had indicted Javed, Qayyum, former PTI leader Aamir Kiyani and others. At the start of the hearing, Javed and Qayyum's counsel filed an application seeking an exemption from personal appearance before the court for their client, which the court has approved. Kiyani and others appeared before the court along with his counsel. Defence counsel Sardar Masroof Khan and Zahid Bashir Dar appeared before the court. The court has summoned the prosecution's witnesses for the next hearing, and the case has been adjourned until May 19. Meanwhile, a local court has fixed July 17 for the indictment of PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Ghandpur and others in the case registered against them in connection with the PTI's October 4 protest. Judicial Magistrate Shaista Kundi, while hearing the case, fixed July 17 for the indictment of Omar Ayub Khan and Barrister Saif. During the hearing, the prosecution presented the charge sheet against the accused. The individuals named in the case include Barrister Gohar Khan, Ali Amin Gandapur, Barrister Saif, and Omar Ayub. A total of 29 PTI workers appeared in court. Four of the accused filed applications seeking exemption from attendance. The case was registered against the PTI leaders and workers at Koral Police Station. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Upturn
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Business Upturn
'Will reveal everything about match-fixing,' ex-Pak cricketer Rashid Latif threatens to expose Wasim Akram, Salim Malik, Ata-ur-Rehman, Sharjeel Khan and more from 90s scandal
By Aditya Bhagchandani Published on April 21, 2025, 12:51 IST Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif, long regarded as one of the first whistleblowers in the murky world of cricket match-fixing, has confirmed he is writing a book that will expose 'everything' about the scandals that rocked Pakistan cricket in the 1990s. Latif, who abruptly retired during the 1994 Zimbabwe tour alongside Basit Ali, stated in an interview with Geo TV that his upcoming biography will 'open everyone's eyes.' 'I can assure you I will reveal everything as it happened,' Latif declared, adding that work on the book has already begun. Match-Fixing: The Scandal That Shook a Nation Latif was at the heart of Pakistan cricket's most controversial phase, when rampant allegations of match-fixing led to the formation of the Justice Qayyum Commission. The inquiry exposed troubling connections between cricketers and bookies, implicating several stars, although many escaped with minor consequences or warnings. The scandal didn't spare high-profile players either. Cricketers such as Salim Malik, Ata-ur-Rehman, Sharjeel Khan, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif, and Salman Butt have either faced bans or been questioned in match-fixing investigations. Even the legendary Wasim Akram's name surfaced in the Qayyum report, though he never faced a formal ban. A History of Incomplete Truths? Latif has often spoken out on corruption in cricket, notably stating as far back as 1997 that 'something was rotten in subcontinental cricket.' His accusations helped launch the Qayyum Commission, which did expose some wrongdoing, but failed to fully cleanse the system. In a striking revelation, Latif also mentioned his willingness to testify before the King Commission about the 1995 Mandela Trophy final, which he claims was 'fixed.' These claims add to a long history of former Pakistani cricketers alleging wrongdoing without full public disclosures. Will This Book Be Any Different? Over the years, multiple ex-players have promised to reveal the truth about match-fixing but never followed through completely. With Rashid Latif now vowing to name names and present first-hand details, his book may finally offer the inside story cricket fans have long speculated about — unless history repeats itself again. As the cricketing world waits with bated breath, one question looms: Will Rashid Latif truly expose the darkest secrets of Pakistan cricket this time? Aditya Bhagchandani serves as the Senior Editor and Writer at Business Upturn, where he leads coverage across the Business, Finance, Corporate, and Stock Market segments. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to journalistic integrity, he not only contributes insightful articles but also oversees editorial direction for the reporting team.
BBC News
19-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Bretton Library dementia resource centre idea moves a step closer
A council plan to set up a dementia resource centre in a library has moved a step closer to City Council is selling a building which currently houses the centre and wants to set up a service at a library in the of the council's planning committee have approved a change of use, which would allow such a centre to be set up at Bretton Library. Library users, and people working with dementia sufferers, have raised concerns about the idea. Members of the council's planning and environmental protection committee were on Tuesday asked to decide whether approving a change of use was appropriate under planning officers had recommended that a change of use should be members did not decide on the rights or wrongs of setting up a dementia centre in the library - or dismiss health concerns raised by people working with dementia woman who works as a volunteer with dementia sufferers said the library was not the right setting for a resource said dementia sufferers could have library users have said library activities would be under threat if space was reduced. Paula Flood, who runs a "Knit and Natter" group at the library, is campaigning against the dementia centre plan and said the fight would continue."They've just approved a change of use. It's just one hurdle," she said."The fight's not over yet. We will continue with the campaign." No party has overall control of Peterborough City Council, although Labour has the most Qayyum, the council's Labour cabinet member for adults and health, has said both the library and dementia resource centre are "important community facilities".She said the council wanted to ensure that space was being used in the "best possible way" and the "best services possible" were being dementia resource centre gives advice, information and support to people, and is currently based in a council-owned building on York Road. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
CBC
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Tazeen Qayyum's drawings are a vortex of words that pull viewers in to think more deeply
The first word Tazeen Qayyum painted was tauba. The Urdu word means repentance or penitence, an act of seeking forgiveness. Trained in the art of miniature painting from Pakistan, where she emigrated from in 2003, the Oakville, Ont.-based artist was aware of the rich tradition of text in Islamic art — even in miniature painting — but she'd never focused on the written word in her work before. In 2018, however, she felt stuck in her personal life as well as her artistic practice, and she started writing tauba on a large piece of paper at home. "I felt like I really needed to connect with the higher being, and I [needed] to have an inner conversation. The very first word I chose was tauba. To bring yourself down to that level, you have to submit." Then, in October 2023, Qayyum was working toward a solo exhibition. Like many around the world, she watched with horror as the events in and around Gaza escalated into a drawn out war between Israel and Hamas. "There was no way for me to do anything else but the words you see on the wall, and reflect on this time," she says, referring to her newest body of work. The result of that rumination is here/now, Qayyum's latest exhibition currently on view at Red Head Gallery in downtown Toronto. Written in tight, intricate coils that form spirals on paper, the words — including rahm (plea for mercy), daem (continuous, incessant), fehm (to understand), khawab (dream, aspiration) and zikr (to remember) — are a personal call to action. The works draw the viewer in, inviting them to enter into dialogue with the word and the artist. Rahm, for example, the centrepiece and starting point of Qayyum's exhibition, is an ongoing installation. She'd started it last October with a piece of paper, intending to finish it within the usual 20-by-30-inch frame of her other works. Each time she wrote the word, she offered a prayer for a resolution to the crisis in the Middle East. The work would only be complete, she'd decided, once her prayer ended. Typically, she works on a single word before moving onto another. She starts at the centre, drawing out the words with care, while listening to qawwalis (a form of devotional music, often associated with Sufism). She zones into the word and out of the world around her. But this time, as the wardragged on, her painting spilled out from one piece of paper and onto several more. "The paper ended, but my prayers didn't," she says. Her artwork has always been sociopolitical, from the moment she set pen — or brush — to paper. "A singular incident triggers and this becomes my voice, my expression — whether it was my miniature paintings in the beginning, the figurative work or coming to the work with cockroaches," says Qayyum, referring to a previous series featuring the insect. That body of work, which spans over two decades, was inspired by the U.S.-led "war on terror" after 9/11 and Qayyum's own experience as an artist splitting her time between Canada and Pakistan. A more recent collection of text-based work that was shown in Pakistan, featuring Urdu words such as rehmat (blessing), izzat (respect) and gairat (honour), was inspired by feminist movements in Pakistan, including the Aurat March. The practice of etching out words started as an act of reflection, allowing her mind to wander even as her hand focused on the inscription. When she was working with the word tauba in 2018, her partner, artist Faisal Anwar, was travelling. Qayyum was alone at home with her daughter, drawing into the night, as long as the CD of qawwali music would play on. It was a deeply personal project that gave her purpose, she says. Like many artists at some stage in their career, she had been at a crossroads, questioning what her artwork meant in the grand scheme of life, and feeling stagnant. That initial work spun out into a series of engagements, many of them live performances — from festivals such as Nuit Blanche Toronto, the Salam Orient Festival in Vienna and the Bangkok Art Biennale to exhibitions at the Royal Ontario Museum and the National Museum of Qatar. There were hesitations, of course. Qayyum recognized that she's not a trained calligrapher. But the idea of performing these works, writing out a vortex of words in public, spurred her on. "I've always been in my own world growing up; I was a quiet child," says Qayyum. "Those performances were giving me that space, where I can completely detach myself from the world … I can bring a focus right to those words and the thoughts, and try to make some sense of my work and then the world around me. "My work has always been my voice, where I think I can be more upfront and aggressive," she continues, "whereas, as a person, I am not confrontational at all. I can lose any argument." But with age, Qayyum, who recently turned 51, has begun to feel a new confidence. "Being in the West, coming from Pakistan … and as a woman, there's always been different kinds of fears — of meeting people or conversing with people," she says with a laugh. "Now, when I am in a room or a gallery or meeting museum staff or curators, it really hits me: I have much more experience than anybody in this room." That sense of faith in herself has given her a new perspective on what continues to be a meditative art practice. "There's a sense of hopelessness," she says. "We keep on talking about inequality, equity and justice and all that, right? And then you realize that nothing has changed. No matter how far back you go in history, it's a continuous cycle." "But still that comes from a space of hope," she continues. "That rage also comes from the same place because you are hurt. You want it to end." The hesitations she once had about her lack of training in calligraphy, her preference to avoid in-person confrontation and even the despair she feels with the current state of the world have all given way to an urgent need to respond. "I am also not shy of … exhibiting this work, right? We've seen how [speaking out] is affecting people's careers and voices. So even with that sense of censorship or fear, I am not scared of what I want to say — and what needs to be said. My activism is poetic in nature."
