Latest news with #Chitrali
Express Tribune
33 minutes ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
ECP disqualifies PTI's Abdul Latif Chitrali after ATC conviction
Listen to article The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has disqualified another Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) legislator, Abdul Latif Chitrali, and declared his National Assembly seat (NA-1, Upper and Lower Chitral) vacant, following the denotification of his electoral victory. This decision comes after Chitrali was sentenced to 10 years in prison by an Anti-Terrorism Court for his involvement in the violent events of May 9. The official notification issued by the ECP stated, 'As a result, Abdul Latif Chitrali stands disqualified under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.' Also Read: Shah Mahmood Qureshi acquitted, Yasmin Rashid sentenced to 10 years The court's ruling and the subsequent ECP action have led to the vacancy of Chitrali's seat in the National Assembly, marking a significant development in the aftermath of the May 9 events. A day earlier, ECP issued disqualification notifications for three PTI lawmakers, including Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, following their convictions by an anti-terrorism court. In a notification issued Monday, the ECP confirmed the disqualification of Chaudhry, MNA Muhammad Ahmad Chattha, and Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Ahmad Khan Bhachar. All three were handed 10-year prison sentences under anti-terrorism charges. Read More: Imran involved in May 9 conspiracy, rules LHC Senator Chaudhry was found guilty by an anti-terrorism court and is no longer eligible to remain a member of the Senate under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution, the ECP said. 'The anti-terrorism court has declared Ejaz Chaudhry guilty and sentenced him to ten years,' the notification stated. Meanwhile, ATC Lahore acquitted six PTI leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Hamza Azeem, in connection with the May 9 riots, while sentencing 10 others, including Dr Yasmin Rashid, to 10 years in prison. May 9 Riots The May 9 riots erupted nationwide following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan, after which PTI leaders and workers staged protests targeting both civil and military installations, including Jinnah House and the GHQ in Rawalpindi. The military condemned the events as a "Black Day" and decided to try the protesters under the Army Act. As a result of the unrest, many PTI members were arrested and tried in military courts. In December, a military court convicted 25 individuals, including Imran Khan's nephew, Hassan Khan Niazi, and later sentenced 60 more. In January, 19 convicts had their sentences pardoned following successful mercy appeals, although PTI expressed dissatisfaction over the limited number of pardons. The military trials had initially been halted following a Supreme Court ruling but were resumed following the court's instructions to finalise pending cases and announce judgments for those involved in the violent incidents.
Business Recorder
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
‘PTI lawmakers' convictions still stand': ECP rejects Barrister Gohar's claim
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has refuted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan's assertion regarding the status of three disqualified legislators, stressing that their convictions have not been set aside. The election commission said this in response to Barrister Gohar's blaming the ECP of being biased towards the PTI, asserting that disqualification of his party's leaders was another reflection of the alleged prejudice. Upon disqualification of Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, MNA Ahmed Chattha, and Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachar, the PTI chairman said they were de-notified under Article 63(1)(h) of the Constitution, without going into whether their convictions by the anti-terrorism court (ATC) Sargodha are legally sustainable or not. He asserted that none of the offences of which they were 'wrongfully' convicted, were offences of 'moral turpitude' to attract Article 63(1)(h). Gohar also said in the case of Abdul Latif, our MNA from Chitral, convicted by ATC Islamabad on May 30, the ECP issued notice on question of disqualification and fixed the case for hearing on July 29 (today). This was a self-contradiction, he added. Three PTI lawmakers: ECP issues disqualification notifications In its official statement, the ECP made clear that the disqualifications of Senator Chaudhry, MNA Chattha, and Punjab Assembly opposition leader Bhachar remain in full effect. 'Their convictions handed down by an anti-terrorism court still stand.' However, the ECP also clarified that Abdul Latif Chitrali's case stands apart from other convicted legislators. While Chitrali himself did not approach the Islamabad High Court (IHC), several of his co-accused in the May 9 case filed appeals. The IHC subsequently overturned their convictions and ordered their release. Although Chitrali was not among the petitioners, the ECP noted that the ruling carries implications for individuals linked to the same proceedings. Accordingly, Chitrali has been issued a notice to appear before the ECP to assist in determining whether the IHC's decision regarding his co-accused in the May 9 case may extend to him as well. A day ago, the ECP has issued separate disqualification notifications, under Article 63(1)(h), for three PTI lawmakers, following their convictions by an anti-terrorism court of Sargodha last week in the May 9 riots case. All three were handed 10-year prison sentences under anti-terrorism charges. The case, registered at the Musa Khel police station against PTI leaders and supporters, pertained to the violent protests and vandalism that erupted in Mianwali following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan in a graft case. The ATC found Bhachar and the other accused guilty of participating in the May 9, 2023 riots, which targeted state institutions and public properties and led to violent clashes with law enforcers across Pakistan, after former prime minister Imran Khan was arrested on May 9.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
Pakistani TikToker Sumeera Rajput found dead, daughter alleges murder over forced marriage pressure
Pakistani TikTok influencer Sumeera Rajput was found dead under suspicious circumstances in her home in the Bago Wah area of Sindh's Ghotki district, in what is emerging as yet another case of violence against women content creators in the country. According to Pakistani media house Geo News, the 15-year-old daughter of the deceased has alleged that her mother was murdered by individuals who had been coercing her into a forced marriage for a long time. She claimed Sumera was poisoned with tablets that ultimately led to her death. While two suspects have been taken into custody, police are yet to file a First Information Report (FIR). Authorities say they are currently investigating whether foul play was involved. The case has renewed concerns over the growing number of attacks targeting women influencers in Pakistan — a pattern of gendered violence that has persisted despite public outrage. Sumera had over 58,000 followers and more than a million likes on TikTok. Her death comes just a month after another young TikToker, 17-year-old Sana Yousaf, was shot dead in Islamabad. Sana, who had amassed over 500,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram, was shot at her home by a man who had allegedly been harassing her for months. The accused, 22-year-old Umar Hayat, reportedly killed her after she rejected his repeated 'offers of friendship.' The killing sparked a wave of outrage online, with hashtags like #JusticeForSanaYousaf trending on social media platforms such as X and Instagram. Born on June 2, 2008, in Upper Chitral, Sana came from a family of activists and was celebrated for her bold content that blended Chitrali folk culture with advocacy for girls' education and women's rights. A first-year medical student, she was seen as a rising voice challenging conservative gender norms in Pakistan. Sumera and Sana's deaths are the latest in a growing list of women influencers who have faced violence — often from within their own families or communities. In January, a 15-year-old was allegedly murdered by her father and maternal uncle in Quetta for refusing to give up TikTok. Both men were arrested and confessed, ARY News reported. The pattern is reminiscent of the 2016 murder of social media icon Qandeel Baloch, who was strangled by her brother in a so-called honour killing that drew global condemnation and ignited a national conversation about women's safety and freedom in Pakistan.
Express Tribune
11-07-2025
- Express Tribune
A nation struggling with violence and silence
Listen to article In Pakistan today, being a woman or a child often means navigating a life shadowed by fear — fear of being harassed, assaulted, silenced, or even killed. While legal protections exist, the troubling gap between law and implementation persists. The first half of 2025 serves as a grim reminder of how much remains to be done. In Punjab, reports surfaced of a young woman who was repeatedly assaulted by members of her extended family. Forced to undergo an abortion and later poisoned to death, her story only came to light through social media outrage. In other incidents, two young girls — one just three years old — were sexually assaulted and murdered. In another case, two women killed a man who had blackmailed and harassed them for years — an act of desperation, highlighting systemic failures to protect them. In Sindh, a schoolteacher was reportedly shot while returning home, allegedly by a man whose marriage proposal she had rejected. In separate incidents, two women were murdered by their husbands — one over suspicion, the other under the guise of honour. Another tragic case involved a woman abducted and killed after ransom demands went unmet. Arrests were made, but not before her life was taken. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, a man killed his wife and infant daughter in the name of honour. In other distressing incidents, a four-year-old girl was raped and murdered by a teenager, while a seven-year-old boy was sexually assaulted and fatally injured. In Balochistan, a father reportedly killed his teenage daughter for posting videos online — yet another example of how control, cloaked as honour, continues to claim young lives. In early June 2025, the murder of a 17-year-old TikToker from Islamabad, known for promoting girls' education and Chitrali culture, sent shockwaves across the country. With over 740,000 followers, she was shot in her own home on her birthday — reportedly by a cousin unable to handle rejection. One legal milestone in May 2025 came when the SHC delivered a landmark ruling in an honour killing case. Justice Nisar Ahmed Bhanbhro, dismissing the appeal of a man convicted of murdering his wife in Kashmore, declared honour killing an "uncivilised, barbaric and abominable" crime, likening it to Fasad Fil Arz (mischief on earth) — a grave offense under Islamic law. The Court ruled that both the life sentence for murder and the additional 14-year sentence for karo-kari must be served consecutively — underscoring the severity of the crime. "The honour killing has stained the society where the woman is even not given the right of defence to prove her innocence against the false charges of developing illicit relations," the judgment noted. The message was clear: no one may take the law into their own hands. The ruling reaffirmed the state's duty to protect all citizens and to punish perpetrators acting under the guise of honour. But these are not isolated incidents. They reflect systemic and societal failures. Such crimes often occur within families or communities — committed by people known to the victims. Survivors and their families are often left isolated or silenced. This is not only a legal issue, it is a societal one. Real protection requires timely investigations, efficient trials, survivor-centred justice and, most importantly, a cultural shift. Laws alone are not enough. A whole-of-society approach is needed, involving civil society, legal institutions, educators, law enforcement, media and communities working together to change both systems and mindsets. We must ask ourselves: why, even today, do lives continue to be lost over suspicion or rejection? Why must women returning from work or children playing outside still live in fear? Ending sexual violence, child abuse and honour killings demands more than policing; it requires participation. Justice Bhanbhro's ruling provides one example of how courts can lead, but it is up to the rest of us to ensure that such judgments become lived realities. This is no longer simply a matter of advocacy, it is one of survival. It is time to ensure that every woman and child in Pakistan can live in dignity — free from fear.
Euronews
06-06-2025
- Euronews
Human rights activists in Pakistan protest murder of TikTok star
Dozens of human rights activists took to the streets of the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Thursday to protest against the murder of 17-year-old TikTok influencer, Sana Yousuf. The protest comes after the man accused of killing the teenager made his first court appearance on Wednesday, officials and police said. "Why are there so few people present here at this protest rally today? Why is the whole of Pakistan not standing up and speaking out in protest? This is something which impacts and affects everyone," activist Tahira Abdullah said. The suspect, 22-year-old Umar Hayat who also creates content on TikTok, was arrested on Tuesday by police in Faisalabad, an industrial city in eastern Punjab province. He is accused of shooting Yousuf, who had more than 1 million followers on social media. Authorities believe he broke into her home after she rejected his offer of friendship. The killing earlier this week in Islamabad drew widespread condemnation. TV footage showed Hayat with his face covered as he was brought to court, where police requested additional time to complete their investigation and file formal murder charges. The judge ordered that Hayat be presented again on June 18 for pretrial proceedings. Yousuf, originally from the scenic northern region of Chitral, was known for promoting traditional Chitrali music and dress through her videos. She also advocated for girls' education. Hours before her murder, she had posted a photo celebrating her birthday with friends. TikTok has more than 60 million users in Pakistan, many of them young women and teenagers.
