Latest news with #KarachiPressClub
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Protest demands justice for Shanti
A protest was staged outside the Karachi Press Club by the Women's Action Forum (WAF) and Aurat March on Monday, demanding justice for 19-year-old Shanti, who was allegedly killed due to torture and brutal sexual violence by her husband. Uzma Noorani, a senior member of WAF, said, "Shanti's tragic death is a reminder of the deep-rooted gender violence in our society." Activist Anita Panchwani added that when WAF members visited the trauma centre, they were shown graphic images of Shanti's internal injuries. "Her abdomen was ruptured, and private hospital staff reportedly attempted to wash her wounds to destroy evidence. Even when her family tried to visit her, they were denied access under the pretext of infection risk." Renowned poet Atiya Dawood highlighted the victim's background, saying, "Shanti came from a working-class family. She married with hope and trust, only to face unimaginable cruelty. On June 17, her husband assaulted her brutally. She was taken to a private hospital by her in-laws, where her injuries were allegedly concealed rather than treated properly." During a press conference held by WAF at the press club, speakers condemned the failure of law enforcement and medical institutions to protect her. Protesters demanded not only the arrest and punishment of Shanti's husband, Ashok, and his family but also legal proceedings against the doctors who allegedly showed gross negligence in her treatment. Faeza, another WAF member, questioned why hospitals are still refusing treatment in such cases. "Under the 2019 Amal Umer Act, hospitals are required to provide emergency care without delay or police paperwork. Yet Shanti was repeatedly denied proper medical attention and was transported in a rickshaw instead of an ambulance." Shanti's sister-in-law, Sonia, emotionally recounted the family's ordeal. "We married her off with joy, not knowing her husband was a monster. When we saw her again, she was covered in blood. Hospitals delayed treatment and refused to involve the police. They even stuffed cotton into her wounds and stitched them shut without providing basic care."
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Even Trump deals with 'real power', not PM, says Miftah
Central Secretary General of Awam Pakistan Party and former finance minister Miftah Ismail has said that even U.S. President Donald Trump, like many others, prefers speaking to Pakistan's power centres rather than the prime minister because it is widely believed that only the powerful can resolve real issues. Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Monday, Miftah stated, "If the PML-N returns to its original narrative of 'respect the vote,' a political alliance with Awam Pakistan Party is possible." Clarifying recent allegations, Miftah said he does not engage in blame games. Referring to accusations made by Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Senator Anusha Rahman regarding the Nashonuma programme under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), he categorically denied any wrongdoing and demanded a public apology. "The allegations are false and baseless. If they do not apologise, I will take them to court," he warned. He offered condolences to the families of victims of the Gwadar incident, recent rains and other tragic accidents. Criticising governance failures, he said, while people were drowning in floods, the Punjab government's performance drowned with them. "As for Sindh and K-P, no one expects good governance from them anyway."
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
BYC denounces terror, seeks dialogue
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) on Thursday reiterated its commitment to a peaceful and democratic struggle, urging both the federal and Balochistan governments to initiate dialogue within the constitutional framework to address the longstanding grievances of the Baloch people. Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, BYC central leader Sammi Deen Baloch said her organisation believes in lawful and nonviolent means of protest and has no affiliation with any terrorist activity. "We submit to the Constitution of Pakistan and recognise the state and its institutions," she said. "The BYC is a peaceful political movement, and we are open to dialogue with the federal government, the Balochistan government, or any legitimate representative of the state." Sammi Deen demanded the immediate release of detained political activists and stressed the urgent need for a resolution to the issue of missing persons, which she described as a humanitarian crisis. She also launched the BYC's biannual human rights report, covering the period from January to June 2025, which alleges that 752 individuals were forcibly disappeared across Balochistan in the first half of the year. Of these, 181 were later released, the report claims. Highlighting another grave concern, she condemned a recent case of honour killing in Balochistan that drew widespread outrage after a video of the incident circulated on social media. "Such tragedies are common in the province but often go unreported," she said. "These crimes persist because of a systemic failure. If the state stops the patronage of tribal chieftains, such incidents can be prevented." The BYC leader called on civil society, human rights organisations, and the media to raise their voices for justice, accountability, and the protection of fundamental rights in Balochistan.
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
No aid, no justice: Qawwal group to stage sit-in
Overwhelmed by sorrow, Qawwal Majid Ali Sabri breaks down at the funeral of his brother, nephew, and a fellow troupe member, while PPP's Saeed Ghani, Governor Kamran Tessori of MQM-P, and PTI's Haleem Adil Sheikh stand united in condolence. PHOTO: JALAL QURESHI/EXPRESS Qawwal Majid Ali Sabri has announced a protest and symbolic sit-in outside the Karachi Press Club on Friday, accompanied by musical instruments and fellow musicians, in response to the federal and provincial governments' failure to announce any form of compensation - more than a week after the Kalat tragedy. Majid Ali Sabri, of the renowned Sabri Qawwal family, stated that certificates received from performances in Qawwali gatherings cannot eradicate hunger and poverty. His group, which lost members in the Kalat incident, has warned of a peaceful demonstration after Friday prayers, where they will gather outside the Karachi Press Club with their instruments to express their outrage through silence. The protest is in response to the absence of any financial assistance or official statements acknowledging the loss of three lives and the injury of five others, one of whom remains in critical condition in hospital. In an interview with The Express Tribune, Sabri emphasised that unless immediate aid and compensation are announced, they will place their tabla, harmonium, and dholak on the ground in a silent sit-in to "shake the conscience of those in power." Sabri expressed frustration over repeated appeals to government officials that have resulted only in sympathy and hollow assurances. "No practical steps have been taken, and no meaningful response has come for the families who lost everything," he said. "There is deep sorrow and even deeper hunger in the homes of the victims." He described the homes of the deceased Qawwals as filled not just with grief, but with the cries of hungry children, saying families are struggling for basic necessities like food and milk. "Performance certificates cannot fill stomachs," he said. "They are not enough to address this suffering." Sabri stressed that the group is not demanding govt stipends, but rather justice — which, he said, is the right of every citizen affected by terrorism. "We have brought honour to this country through our art," he said. "Now it is the government's responsibility to answer our call." He also voiced disappointment at the silence of prominent cultural and literary institutions, which have not stepped forward to support the grieving families or demand justice on their behalf.
Express Tribune
21-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Brutal 'honour killing' caught on video sparks nationwide outrage
Listen to article A horrifying video emerged on social media on Sunday, depicting the brutal killing of a man and a woman in Balochistan, in the name of so-called honour, sending shockwaves across the country and beyond. As the video spread like wildfire, the public recoiled in disbelief. The graphic images sparked immediate outrage, igniting a firestorm of condemnation from civil society, religious scholars, and political leaders alike. The victims, whose identities were not immediately known, were allegedly targeted by their own family or community members — a grim reminder of the archaic and deadly tradition of honour killings that continues to plague parts of Pakistan. The video purportedly showed that a few armed men were apparently shooting and killing a man and a woman publically. In this video, all the people were speaking in the Brahui language and their accent was the same as that spoken in different areas of Quetta and Mastung, according to BBC. The video is apparently made in a mountainous area where there is a desert around a dirt road. In the beginning, several vehicles and Jeeps can be seen in broad daylight, outside of which there are several people. Apparently, these men ask a woman dressed in a red dress and a wheatish chador to stand some distance from the vehicles. During this, the woman could be heard in Brahui that "only shooting is allowed, nothing else". The woman did not resist, rather stood quietly away from the vehicles. After this conversation, a few shots were also fired one by one. According to BBC, it was not clear in the video whether the man or the woman was shot first, however, after the first round of shots, a voice is heard saying "kill Him," which is followed by the sound of multiple shots. Talking to the media at the Karachi Press Club, Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed that the incident took place in Balochistan, but did not say when and where in the province. He revealed that one accused had been arrested. "The names of the deceased have been obtained, and the tribes they belonged to, but these cannot be disclosed at this time," he said. Their bodies had not yet been recovered, he continued, saying further that their relatives had not filed any police case. "The pictures of those seen in the video were given to Nadra [National Database and Registration Authority] and with their help one of the accused is arrested. Raids are being conducted to arrest the other accused," Rind said. "Initially, this incident seemed to be taking place on Eidul Azha [which was celebrated in June] but we cannot confirm it yet. Both the families of the murdered persons have not filed any police report, therefore, now a case has been registered on the government's complaint," Rind said. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti took notice of the incident, ordering a thorough investigation and a detailed report on the matter. He ordered law-enforcement agencies to arrest all perpetrators without delay. "The rule of law will not be compromised. Those who challenge the writ of the state will be dealt with firmly. No one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands," Bugti said in a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Secretariat. Rind assured the public that the provincial government would take all legal steps to ensure justice is served. "The Balochistan government will not remain a silent spectator in the face of such cruelty. All legal means will be used to bring those responsible to justice," Rind said. Meanwhile, the provincial government has also appealed to the public for assistance in identifying the suspects. Citizens are being urged to share any information that may help in locating the individuals involved.
