Latest news with #Kamran
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
University of HITEC Taxila organises 11th Open House
ISLAMABAD: The University of HITEC Taxila, Friday, organised 11th Open House where final year students of the mechanical engineering department showcased their creativity featuring highly innovative, creative and industry-relevant projects. Vice Chancellor Hi-Tech Dr Kamran, welcoming the guests, industry representatives and participants, said that the university has become Pakistan's first-ever international champion in the field of combat robotics by wining 'ENIM Robot 10 Combat Robotics Competition' organised in Tunisia. The students' projects highlighted topics such as energy efficiency, automation, design innovation and industrial problem solving. Featured projects included a solar-powered hybrid cooling system, automated vehicle, recovery ventilation, and a smart manufacturing module based on Industry 4.0. These projects not only demonstrated technical expertise but also highlighted the students' ability to understand problems and come up with creative solutions. On this occasion, Dr Fahad Butt, Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, said, 'We are proud of the hard work, innovation and research-based thinking of our students. The Open House not only provides a practical learning opportunity for our students but also exposes them to the real demands of the industry.' He said that the university believes that these young people are the engineers of the future who will play a key role in the country's journey of development, self-reliance, and industrial revolution. He extended heartfelt congratulations to our faculty members and students for their tireless work and successful projects. Speaking at the inauguration of the event, the chief guest, Dr Kamran said that the passion, skills and innovative thinking of the students of Hi-Tech University are proof that the future of Pakistan is in safe hands. These young engineers have the potential to introduce new dimensions in our industry, economy and technology sectors. At the end of the open house, the participants appreciated the university's arrangements and the students' presentations and expressed their determination to create more such opportunities in the future so that young talent can emerge. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Bilawal's dual party roles challenged in LHC
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday directed its Registrar's Office to reconsider a petition challenging Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's eligibility as a Member of the National Assembly, after objections to the filing are addressed. Justice Khalid Ishaq issued the directive during the preliminary hearing of a constitutional petition filed by Ashba Kamran. The petitioner contended that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's simultaneous association with two distinct political entities — PPP and Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) — constitutes a violation of Section 203(3) of the Elections Act, 2017. According to the petition, Bilawal serves as chairman of the PPP, which uses the electoral symbol "sword," while he was elected MNA in the 2018 and 2024 general elections from PPPP, which uses the symbol "arrow." Kamran argued that both entities are separately registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and that dual membership in both contravenes election laws and constitutional obligations. "The ECP, despite being the constitutional guardian of the electoral process, failed to enforce Section 203(3) and its own pre-election guidelines issued to returning officers on June 13, 2024," the petitioner stated. She maintained that Bilawal's dual role leading one party while contesting elections under another violates not only the Elections Act but also Article 5 of the Constitution, which mandates loyalty to the state and adherence to the Constitution. Furthermore, she claimed the practice deceived voters and violated Article 4, which ensures equal protection and fairness under the law. Kamran further requested that the court summon the secretary generals and information secretaries of both PPP and PPP-P to produce documentation from the ECP specifically certificates under Section 209 that clarify Bilawal's official designation. She argued that Bilawal's continued leadership of PPP, despite being an elected representative under the PPPP banner, is misleading and legally untenable. Highlighting that Bilawal was elected unopposed as PPP chairman in intra-party elections held in January 2021 and again in April 2025, Kamran alleged that such dual roles were not only illegal but compromised the credibility of the democratic process.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Islamist sectarianism is the most frightening force in British politics and will only grow stronger
The growing tensions between India and Pakistan have prompted repeated warnings that 'sectarianism threatens to spill onto the streets of Britain'. But it's a bit too late for that. Sectarianism isn't just rife at the protests in London or even the rhetoric being spouted in the mosques and madrassas of the UK. It is fast infecting our local councils, Parliament itself and many of our great institutions. So much so, in fact, that a senior Labour source told me recently that its MPs were unlikely to get re-elected in some parts of the country. 'Leicester is lost, as are parts of Birmingham and Bradford,' he conceded. 'We won't get elected in some of these areas again.' As the focus understandably turned to the rise of Reform, few noticed that the local elections once again witnessed the elevation of a number of Islamist candidates. In years gone by, they would have stood for Labour, but the growth of Britain's nearly four million strong Muslim population means they are now able to be elected in their own right – without being tied to a national party. In Burnley Central East, Maheen Kamran was elected as an independent in the formerly Labour-held ward after campaigning in favour of segregation between the sexes. The pro-Gaza candidate, 18, won 38 per cent of the vote, surpassing Reform UK's 30 per cent and leaving Labour trailing in third place on 14 per cent. The victory came after Ms Kamran said she had been motivated to enter politics by the 'genocide' taking place in Gaza, and called for the end of 'free mixing' between Muslim men and women. Progressive stuff. In nearby Brierfield and Nelson West, Mohammed Iqbal beat Labour to win his seat as an independent with a 2,396 majority. Formerly the Labour leader of Pendle Council, the 63-year-old was suspended by the party after the Jewish Chronicle revealed that during a debate on flying the Palestinian flag above Nelson Town Hall, he said: 'The fact is that what's going on in Ukraine, Palestine, and other areas I've mentioned, reminds me, I barely passed my GCSE history at school, but many people in this room will remember what justification Hitler had for what he did to the Jews in the Second World War.' Mr Iqbal later insisted: 'I wish to publicly state I am not anti-Semitic and have campaigned all my life against all forms of racism and sexism and will continue to do so.' Another suspended Labour candidate, Azhar Ali, won the neighbouring seat of Nelson East despite being dumped by the party as its parliamentary contender for the Rochdale by-election. He was dropped after apologising 'unreservedly' following reports he had told a meeting that Israel 'allowed' Hamas's attack on October 7 in order to get a 'green light to do whatever they bloody want'. Other pro-Palestine politicians to win council seats last week include pro-Gaza Sohail Asghar for the Greens in Accrington West and Oswaldtwistle Central. Just days after the October 7 attacks, Asghar reposted a message on X which read: 'Israel = Isis'. He has promoted the posts of people associated with Holocaust denial. None of this should come as any surprise, not least when Labour's vote share in highly Muslim-populated areas dropped by 29 percentage points at the last general election, from 65 per cent in 2019 to 36 per cent in 2024. And still Labour panders to the Islamists. As the Conservative MP Nick Timothy has raised in the House of Commons, Labour pretends not to engage with groups like the European Islamic Centre (EIC) which is associated with the Islamist ideologues Jamaat-e-Islami and Abul A'la al-Maududi. And yet, Jim McMahon, the minister for Local Government and English Devolution, attended an iftar hosted by the EIC during Ramadan. The Government also insists it has a 'non-engagement policy' with the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), and yet Stephen Timms, the minister for Social Security and Disability, attended the MCB's annual dinner in January. Some are less subtle. Last November, the Labour MP Tahir Ali called on Sir Keir Starmer to introduce measures to prohibit 'desecration of all religious texts and the prophets of Abrahamic religions'. The Prime Minister did not rule it out, instead insisting that we must tackle 'Islamophobia in all its forms'. In February, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner appointed Dominic Grieve, the former Conservative attorney general, to lead a review into creating a new definition of Islamophobia, despite repeated warnings it could curb free speech. Ever the wetty, Grieve appeared to pre-empt the outcome by saying he hoped the review would 'help support positive change in our country'. And we have Lucy Powell, Leader of the House of Commons, suggesting that anyone who mentions the grooming rape gangs scandal is blowing a 'dog whistle'. Last month, a group of 20 Labour MPs petitioned the prime minister of Pakistan to build a new airport in Mirpur, the ancestral homeland of a majority of Britain's Pakistani population. Factor in the regular contributions of the four 'pro-Gaza' independent MPs in Parliament and you can't easily escape sectarianism. Iqbal Mohamed, the MP for Dewsbury and Batley, has spoken out against a ban on first cousin marriage in the Commons, suggesting that 'ordinary people see family inter-marriage overall as something that is very positive'. And this week, Adnan Hussain, the independent MP for Blackburn, criticised free speech because 'it means protecting the right to offend Muslims'. It came after Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, highlighted the case of Hamit Coskun, 50, who was charged with intent to cause distress 'against the religious institution of Islam' after allegedly burning a Quran. As Jenrick rightly pointed out, blasphemy was abolished as a common law offence in England and Wales in 2008. Even some Tories have been indulging the Islamists in their midst by this week signing a letter demanding that the UK 'recognises Palestine' in a move that would only embolden the murderous death cult that is Hamas. Meanwhile, Indhu Rubasingham, who refused to host the UK Jewish Film Festival when she was head of the Kiln Theatre in Kilburn (then known as the Tricycle) in 2014, has just been appointed to lead the National Theatre, while Minouche Shafik has been picked as the new head of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Baroness Shafik, you may remember, was president of Columbia University in the US during the outbreak of the worst anti-Semitism the campus has seen in recent times, before she resigned last year. After years of turning a blind eye to sectarianism, it is now everywhere you look. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pro-Gaza candidates elected despite gender segregation, antisemitism controversies
A small English town north of bustling Manchester just saw two controversial pro-Gaza candidates flip seats held by the mainstream Labour Party. Both candidates ran as independents in the May 1 local elections. Maheen Kamran, 18, won the Burnley Central East seat on the Lancashire County Council, while Azhar Ali won the position of county councillor for the Nelson East ward. The Telegraph noted that their victories could be part of a growing trend, following a slew of pro-Gaza candidates—including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn—winning seats in last year's general election. Ali is a former Labour Party member who was suspended from the party and lost its backing over allegations of antisemitism during an election last year. Labour initially supported Ali after he claimed that Israel "allowed" Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre to occur as a pretext to invade Gaza, according to the BBC. He later apologized for making what he called a "deeply offensive, ignorant and false" claim. Labour withdrew its support for Ali and later suspended him from the party. Israel Denies Entry To Two British Lawmakers Accused Of Planning To 'Spread Anti-israel Hatred' The Board of Deputies of British Jews did not accept Ali's apology, calling his comments "disgraceful and unforgivable." "It is clear to us that Mr. Ali is not [apologizing] out of a genuine sense of remorse. Despite what he says in his apology, we do not see how we could possibly engage with him at this time, and we believe other leading Jewish communal groups will feel similarly," the organization wrote in a 2024 statement. Read On The Fox News App Netanyahu Slams Carney's Reply To Anti-israel Agitator Who Said There's A 'Genocide' In Gaza Meanwhile, Kamran has taken radical stances of her own. She voted in favor of ending the "free mixing" of Muslim men and women in public spaces. "Muslim women aren't really comfortable with being involved with Muslim men. I'm sure we can have segregated areas, segregated gyms, where Muslim women don't have to sacrifice their health," Kamran told PoliticsHome. In the same interview, Kamran said she entered politics because she believes there is a "genocide" taking place in Gaza. While critics of Israel's military actions use the term "genocide," supporters of the Jewish state often argue that Israel has the capability to destroy Gaza's population but has chosen not to, thereby disputing the genocide claim. Ali and Kamran's victories come as mainstream parties lose influence in local elections. The right-wing populist Reform UK Party saw major gains in the latest election, according to the Telegraph. Meanwhile, despite its control of 10 Downing Street, Labour suffered losses in the recent local article source: Pro-Gaza candidates elected despite gender segregation, antisemitism controversies
Fox News
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Pro-Gaza candidates elected despite gender segregation, antisemitism controversies
A small English town north of bustling Manchester just saw two controversial pro-Gaza candidates flip seats held by the mainstream Labour Party. Both candidates ran as independents in the May 1 local elections. Maheen Kamran, 18, won the Burnley Central East seat on the Lancashire County Council, while Azhar Ali won the position of county councillor for the Nelson East ward. The Telegraph noted that their victories could be part of a growing trend, following a slew of pro-Gaza candidates—including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn—winning seats in last year's general election. Ali is a former Labour Party member who was suspended from the party and lost its backing over allegations of antisemitism during an election last year. Labour initially supported Ali after he claimed that Israel "allowed" Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre to occur as a pretext to invade Gaza, according to the BBC. He later apologized for making what he called a "deeply offensive, ignorant and false" claim. Labour withdrew its support for Ali and later suspended him from the party. The Board of Deputies of British Jews did not accept Ali's apology, calling his comments "disgraceful and unforgivable." "It is clear to us that Mr. Ali is not [apologizing] out of a genuine sense of remorse. Despite what he says in his apology, we do not see how we could possibly engage with him at this time, and we believe other leading Jewish communal groups will feel similarly," the organization wrote in a 2024 statement. Meanwhile, Kamran has taken radical stances of her own. She voted in favor of ending the "free mixing" of Muslim men and women in public spaces. "Muslim women aren't really comfortable with being involved with Muslim men. I'm sure we can have segregated areas, segregated gyms, where Muslim women don't have to sacrifice their health," Kamran told PoliticsHome. In the same interview, Kamran said she entered politics because she believes there is a "genocide" taking place in Gaza. While critics of Israel's military actions use the term "genocide," supporters of the Jewish state often argue that Israel has the capability to destroy Gaza's population but has chosen not to, thereby disputing the genocide claim. Ali and Kamran's victories come as mainstream parties lose influence in local elections. The right-wing populist Reform UK Party saw major gains in the latest election, according to the Telegraph. Meanwhile, despite its control of 10 Downing Street, Labour suffered losses in the recent local elections.
