Latest news with #Qureshi
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Cattle traders in Maharashtra to launch boycott amid ‘harassment'
Mohammed Sufiyan (25), a licensed cattle trader in Washim district of Maharashtra, says he was shocked when his buffaloes were detained by 'gau rakshaks with the help of the local police' in May, while being shifted from Badnera in Amravati district to Washim. 'I received a court order and paid ₹65,000 as khavati [maintenance payment for animals in custody], but I am yet to get my buffaloes back,' says Mr. Sufiyan, adding that cow vigilantes had obtained a stay order, and a hearing is scheduled in August. Mr. Sufiyan and his father are licensed traders who buy and sell cattle for a living. 'I may have to pay more depending on how the August 11 hearing goes. I cannot even think of the loss I have to bear. It makes no sense to continue in this business,' said Mr. Sufiyan. Mr. Sufiyan is not in the slaughter business, but says he still faces the squeeze. The situation is worse for several other members of the Muslim Qureshi community dealing in buffalo and other bovine meat, be it traders or butchers, who have allegedly been harassed by cow vigilante groups, including members of the Bajrang Dal. The harassment has lasted for over a decade now, they allege. According to the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 2015, a fitness certificate from a veterinary doctor is required for slaughtering buffaloes, certifying that the buffalo is 'unfit' for milking and not pregnant. However, community members say gau rakshak groups 'harass them' even though they follow the law. Condemning the violent attacks on cattle and meat traders and transporters, and the heavy losses and trauma caused by such attacks, members of the Qureshi community have staged protests across Maharashtra. They have also announced an indefinite boycott of cattle trade from Monday (July 21, 2025). 'Some of the traders have already stopped dealing in cattle; however, formally, we are launching a complete boycott in Maharashtra from July 21,' said Shabir Qureshi of the All India Jamiatul Quresh (AIJQ), a traders' union. A delegation of the traders' body also met Minister of State for Home (Urban) Yogesh Kadam and Director-General of Police Rashmi Shukla, seeking protection from the self-proclaimed gau rakshaks. 'Both have given us oral assurance that action will be taken as per law,' claimed Abdul Sadiq Qureshi, Vidharba chief of the AIJQ. In a letter to the DGP on July 2, the AIJQ highlighted 'harassment' and 'loss of life and property' suffered by those who transport animals within Maharashtra and requested that 'police officers' in the respective jurisdictions be directed to remain 'extra-vigilant and control harassment' of the community. The community also says atrocities had increased after the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976 was amended in March 2015, prohibiting the slaughter of cows, bulls, oxen, and bullocks. Citing the amended law, AIJQ president Mohammed Arif Chowdhary said in the letter, 'Under Section 5A of the said Act, there is no restriction for transport of animals such as goats, sheep, buffaloes and other bovines within the State, including for purposes of being butchered.' Shiraj Qureshi, a trader in Aurangabad, said traders were being looted in the guise of cow protection. 'They stop vehicles carrying cattle, beat drivers, and with the help of the police, forcibly seize our cattle,' said Mr. Shiraj Qureshi, adding, 'You will find hundreds of such cases. The police have to intervene and provide us protection.' Some of the Qureshi community's demands include protection for legal animal traders; the prohibition of illegal interference and harassment; accountability for inaction of the police and administration; ensuring smooth operation of slaughter houses; and ending violence against the community on religious grounds. The AIJQ has organised meetings with members in several regions including Vidarbha, Marathwada, and western Maharashtra. Shabir Qureshi claimed at least three lakh traders will be affected by the boycott, but said they were 'left with no choice'. 'The boycott will also impact all farmers, as they depend on the Qureshi community to sell aged animals and buy new ones,' said Amravati-based trader Shaikh Afsar, adding buying and selling cattle is part of the farming ecosystem, which will be disturbed by the boycott.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Divine Art, Waitara, Run For The Sun, Mighty Hero and Aldgate impress
Divine Art, Waitara, Run For The Sun, Mighty Hero and Aldgate impressed when the horses were exercised here on Saturday morning (July 19) Inner sand: 600m: Assurance (rb), Star Honour (Siddaraju) 40. Former finished four lengths ahead. 1400m: Chicago Chimes (Koshi K), Golden Thunder (Bhawani) 1-38, 1,200/1-24, 1,000/1-9, 600/41. They moved freely. Outer sand: 600m: Highland Dreams (B. Nayak) 44. Moved well. Best Of Us (Suraj) 44.5. Easy. Shellacking (Qureshi) 45. Moved freely. 1000m: Dubai Safari (Qureshi) 1-11, 600/42. Strode out well. Aldgate (Antony) 1-11, 600/41.5. Pleased. Fils De France (Antony) 1-15, 600/44. Moved freely. Run For The Sun (Antony) 1-9.5, 600/41.5. Moved attractively. Ceremonial (Antony) 1-13, 600/45.5. Easy. Power Of Beauty (Anish) 1-13.5, 600/41. Moved fluently. Romping Home (Peter) 1-14.5, 600/44. Moved well. Divine Art (Suraj) 1-11, 600/41. A fine display. 1200m: Sir Winston (rb) 1-29.5, 1,000/1-12.5, 600/43.5. Worked well. Chinky Pinky (rb) 1-30.5, 1,000/1-14.5, 600/45. Easy. Victoria Doresaani (Rosario), Zeppelin (Arvind) 1-27.5, 1,000/1-11.5, 600/43. A notable pair. Never Give In (Antony) 1-27, 1,000/1-12, 600/42. Shaped well. Waitara (C. Umesh) 1-23.5, 1,000/1-8.5, 600/41. Responded well to the urgings. Elveden (Antony) 1-27.5, 1,000/1-13, 600/43. In fine trim. 1400m: Mighty Hero (C. Umesh) 1-42, 1,200/1-25, 1,000/1-9.5, 600/42. Impressed. Alamgir (Pavan), Zephyrine (Arvind) 1-46.5, 1,200/1-30.5, 1,000/1-15.5, 600/44.5. They moved on the bit. N R I Victory (Qureshi) 1-45.5, (1,400-600) 58.5. Eased up. Mayne Magic (Antony) 1-43.5, 1,200/1-27, 1,000/1-11.5, 600/42. In fine nick. Unforgettable Star (Prabhakaran) 1-45, 1,200/1-30, 1,000/1-15.5, 600/45. In fine shape. Outer sand - July 18: 600m: Bezawada Sultan (Bhawani) 46. Easy. 1200m: N R I Ace (Qureshi) 1-26, 1,000/1-12, 600/43.5. Pleased. Dun It Again (Sai Kiran), Laamika (G. Vivek) 1-24, 1,000/1-10, 60043. They moved impressively. N R I Victory (Qureshi) 1-31, (1,200-600) 44. Eased up. 1400m: Sativur (G. Vivek) 1-39, 1,200/1-24.5, 1,000/1-10, 600/41. A good display.
Mint
7 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
‘You don't require him, you require a dictionary': SC to Haryana SIT probing Ali Mahmudabad's posts
The Supreme Court on July 16 asked why the Haryana Police Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted to investigate the two FIRs lodged against Ashoka University Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad over his two social media posts on 'Operation Sindoor', was 'misdirecting' itself. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi observed that the SIT was formed specifically to investigate the two social media posts and asked why it was expanding the scope. The top court directed the SIT to complete its inquiry within four weeks, legal news website LiveLaw reported. The bench pointed out that the SIT was constituted specifically to understand the true meaning of the social media posts and to ascertain if they constituted any offence. The bench asked why the petitioner's devices were seized. "We just want to know from what purpose they have seized devices? We will call them (officers)," Justice Kant told Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who was representing the State. Noting that the petitioner has cooperated with the investigation and surrendered his devices, the Court relaxed his bail conditions and directed that he should not be summoned again. "You don't require him (Mahmudabad), you require a dictionary," Justice Kant said. The Court reiterated that the investigation must remain confined to the contents of the two FIRs and not become a broader inquiry. Mahmudabad, who teaches Political Science at Haryana-based Ashoka University, was arrested on May 18 for his remarks regarding press briefings on Operation Sindoor, India's military action in May on terror camps in Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in South Kashmir on April 22. The arrest was based on a complaint filed by Yogesh Jatheri, the general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Yuva Morcha in Haryana, reports said quoting his lawyers. On May 21, however, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Mahmudabad and directed the constitution of a three-member SIT to investigate the case. The Haryana Police said the two FIRs were lodged at the Rai Police Station in Sonipat – one based on a complaint from the chairperson of Haryana State Commission for Women, Renu Bhatia, and the other on the complaint of a village sarpanch. Mahmudabad's remarks were annexed to the commission's notice, and in one of them, he purportedly said right-wing people applauding Col Sofiya Qureshi should demand protection for victims of mob lynchings and "arbitrary" bulldozing of properties. Mahmudabad was alleged to have described the media briefings by Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh as "optics". "But optics must translate to reality on the ground, otherwise it's just hypocrisy," he added. The commission previously said an initial review of Mahmudabad's remarks raised concerns about the "disparagement of women in uniform, including Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh, and undermining their role as professional officers in the Indian Armed Forces". Mahmudabad, 42, is a historian, political scientist, writer, poet and a faculty at Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana. Born in Lucknow on December 2, 1982, Ali is the son of Mohammad Amir Mohammad Khan, popularly known as Raja Sahab Mahmudabad, who spent about 40 years in a legal battle to reclaim his ancestral property seized by the government under the Enemy Properties Act. Raja Saheb passed away in October 2023. Key directions and developments from the hearing: Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad is free to write articles and social media posts, except on the subjudice matter. -The Court clarified that its earlier orders did not restrict his expression. -The SIT does not need to summon him again for questioning. The Court noted that the petitioner has already joined the investigation and his devices have been examined. -The probe must be completed within four weeks, strictly limited to the language and content of the two Facebook posts related to the violence in Pahalgam. -Justice Surya Kant questioned the course of the SIT's probe, observing: 'Why is the SIT, on the face of it, misdirecting itself?' -The Court reminded the SIT that it was set up specifically to examine whether any offence was made out from the phrasing used in the posts—not to launch a roving inquiry. - Interim protection from arrest granted to Mahmudabad will continue.
Mint
7 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
‘You don't need him, you need a dictionary': SC on why SIT probing Ali Mahmudabad's posts is ‘misdirecting' itself
The Supreme Court on July 16 asked why the Haryana Police Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted to investigate the two FIRs lodged against Ashoka University Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad over his two social media posts on 'Operation Sindoor', was 'misdirecting' itself. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi observed that the SIT was formed specifically to investigate the two social media posts and asked why it was expanding the scope. The top court directed the SIT to complete its inquiry within four weeks, legal news website LiveLaw reported. The bench pointed out that the SIT was constituted specifically to understand the true meaning of the social media posts and to ascertain if they constituted any offence. The bench asked why the petitioner's devices were seized. "We just want to know from what purpose they have seized devices? We will call them(officers)," Justice Kant told Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who was representing the State. Noting that the petitioner has cooperated with the investigation and surrendered his devices, the Court relaxed his bail conditions and directed that he should not be summoned again. "You don't require him (Mahmudabad), you require a dictionary," Justice Kant said. The Court reiterated that the investigation must remain confined to the contents of the two FIRs and not become a broader inquiry. Mahmudabad, who teaches Political Science at Haryana-based Ashoka University, was arrested on May 18 for his remarks regarding press briefings on Operation Sindoor, India's military action in May on terror camps in in Pakistan in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26, people mostly tourists in South Kashmir on April 22. The arrest was based on a complaint filed by Yogesh Jatheri,the general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Yuva Morcha in Haryana, reports said quoting his lawyers. On May 21, however, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Mahmudabad and directed the constitution of a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case. Haryana Police said the two FIRs were lodged at the Rai Police Station in Sonipat – one based on a complaint from the chairperson of Haryana State Commission for Women, Renu Bhatia, and the other on the complaint of a village sarpanch. Mahmudabad's remarks were annexed to the commission's notice, and in one of them, he purportedly said right-wing people applauding Col Sofiya Qureshi should demand protection for victims of mob lynchings and "arbitrary" bulldozing of properties. Mahmudabad was alleged to have described the media briefings by Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh as "optics". "But optics must translate to reality on the ground, otherwise it's just hypocrisy," he added. The commission previously said an initial review of Mahmudabad's remarks raised concerns about the "disparagement of women in uniform, including Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh, and undermining their role as professional officers in the Indian Armed Forces". Mahmudabad, 42, a historian, political scientist, writer, poet and a faculty at Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana. Born in Lucknow on December, 2, 1982, Ali is the son of Mohammad Amir Mohammad Khan, popularly known as Raja Sahab Mahmudabad, who spent about forty in a legal battle to reclaim his ancestral property seized by the government under the Enemy Properties Act. Raja Saheb passed away in October 2023. Key directions and developments from the hearing: Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad is free to write articles and social media posts, except on the subjudice matter. -The Court clarified that its earlier orders did not restrict his expression. -The SIT does not need to summon him again for questioning. The Court noted that the petitioner has already joined the investigation and his devices have been examined. -The probe must be completed within four weeks, strictly limited to the language and content of the two Facebook posts related to the violence in Pahalgam. -Justice Surya Kant questioned the course of the SIT's probe, observing: 'Why is the SIT, on the face of it, misdirecting itself?' -The Court reminded the SIT that it was set up specifically to examine whether any offence was made out from the phrasing used in the posts—not to launch a roving inquiry. - Interim protection from arrest granted to Mahmudabad will continue. (With inputs from Bar and Bench)
Express Tribune
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
ATC rejects bail plea of PTI's Qureshi
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday rejected post-arrest bail pleas of three top PTI leaders — Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Umar Sarftaz Cheema and Mian Mehmoodur Resheed — in a May 9, 2023 rioting case. ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul delivered a decision after hearing arguments from both sides. The case related to arson and rioting outside Lahore's Rahat Bakery and was registered by Sarwar Road Police Station. Qureshi serves as the PTI vice chairman while Cheema and Rasheed respectively served as Punjab governor and provincial minister during the PTI's rule. Meanwhile, a trial court in Islamabad reserved its decision on a plea filed by Shah Mahmood Qureshi seeking acquittal in another May 9 case. Judicial Magistrate Shehzad Khan heard the case at the Islamabad District and Sessions Court. During the proceedings, Qureshi's lawyer, Ali Bukhari, appeared before the court and argued that several co-accused have already been acquitted in the same case. He pointed out that on March 8, 2025, the court had acquitted other individuals involved in the matter. Bukhari maintained that Qureshi was accused of acting on a video message from PTI founder Imran Khan, which allegedly led to acts of vandalism. He requested the court to dismiss the charges against his client on similar grounds as those previously acquitted. Following the arguments, the court reserved its decision on Qureshi's acquittal plea. The case was initially registered at Tarnol Police Station. Separately, the hearing of another case related to the Haqeeqi Azadi March, involving the PTI founder and party workers, could not proceed due to the unavailability of Imran Khan who has been detained at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail since September 2023. The court marked the attendance of the other accused and adjourned the proceedings without further developments. Advocate Masroof Khan appeared on behalf of PTI workers during the hearing.
