Latest news with #ZubairAhmed
Indian Express
16 hours ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Asked to ‘trim' his beard, Kashmiri doctor loses seat at Coimbatore hospital
A Kashmiri doctor – Zubair Ahmed — has accused Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital located in Coimbatore of forcing him to 'quit his super speciality seat'. The doctor, who was allotted a seat at the nephrology department of the hospital after he cleared the NEET-SS was allegedly told by the hospital administration that he will have to either shave or trim his beard if he were to take admission. The doctor who had grown his beard for religious reasons refused the same, even as he agreed to abide by the hygiene requirements of the hospital including wearing a mask to 'hide his beard'. He decided to forgo the seat at the hospital, because the administration was refusing to budge. 'They clearly told him to shave or trim his beard or not take admission at all,' a source at the hospital told the Indian Express. When contacted the hospital administration clarified, 'We have not denied admission to anyone. We were allotted the candidate and we have to take admissions based on their rank given by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences'. The hospital administration asked Dr Ahmed to 'merely trim his beard', the hospital clarified. 'He was wearing a beard which reached his chest and we wanted him to trim it because in the nephrology department which he was planning to join he will be dealing with several patients whose immunity is low. Personal hygiene in such cases is absolutely important,' a spokesperson of the hospital told the Indian Express. According to sources at the hospital, Dr Ahmed had written to NBEMS 'accusing the hospital of discrimination'. NBEMS asked him to take admission by June 26. 'He had approached for admission on June 19, which was more or less the last day for admissions. His date of joining was extended to June 26, considering the special request he had made. But he did not turn up to take admission,' the hospital's spokesperson said. Doctors at the hospital said that the administration follows a strict attire policy and does not allow 'doctors with beards'. The spokesperson, however, said, 'We have a policy of grooming which is essential in all hospitals for the sake of hygiene. We only request our doctors to abide by these rules of personal hygiene'. The spokesperson clarified that there are senior doctors at the hospital who keep their beards. 'We allow groomed beards at the hospital. There are senior doctors who have been keeping trimmed beards for years at the hospital,' the spokesperson clarified. When contacted, Dr Zubair Ahmed was not available for comment. However, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has written to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, on Dr Ahmed's behalf. The letter read, 'Dr Zubair was left with no choice but to withdraw from the programme, despite having earned the seat through an all-India merit-based examination'.
United News of India
22-05-2025
- United News of India
A month after ghastly terror attack, Pahalgam still awaits tourists
Pahalgam, May 22 (UNI) Till exactly a month back, this world-famous tourist location in South Kashmir used to be overcrowded with tourists from various parts of the country, but today the scenic place wore a deserted look. The fortunes of this tourist attraction changed drastically, with the footfall dropping sharply, after a group of terrorists, believed to be three to four in number, carried out a massacre of 25 innocent male tourists and one local man on this date last month -- April 22 -- in the Baisaran meadows of Pahalgam. Due to the unprecedented fear caused by that gruesome incident, tourists have shunned Pahalgam, which used to bustle with visitors all the time. One can see a handful of tourists moving around on the main road, but hotels are hardly occupied, and shops are without customers. The Baisaran meadows are now out of bounds for visitors. According to the J&K Tourism Department, Pahalgam saw a daily footfall of nearly 10,000 tourists before April 22. Today, the number has dropped to under 300. Similarly, the number of vehicles entering the resort has plummeted from 1,300 per day to just about 150. 'This is the worst crisis we have ever faced,' says Zubair Ahmed, Vice President of the Pahalgam Beopar Mandal, a local traders' body. Describing it as the "darkest period" witnessed by him in his lifetime, he says, 'There are around 400 shopkeepers in this area, and the majority have had to let go of their employees." A few tourists who have dared to come here feel disappointed as the authorities have banned entry to all gardens in Pahalgam. 'The closure of the parks only deepens the sadness,' said a tourist from Odisha, who was here with his family, but refused to identify himself. 'It constantly reminded us of the tragedy (of April 22)," he said, adding that they did not want to stay here for long. Among the worst hit are the pony wallahs -- locals who earn their living by offering horseback rides to tourists around Pahalgam. 'I used to earn around Rs 4,000 a day but haven't earned a single penny since the attack," said a horse owner. He went on to add, "We are also caught between the devil and the deep sea. We are frequently summoned to the police station for questioning... What is our fault?' According to him, over 2000 pony walls are struggling for their livelihood because of the terror attack and its aftermath. 'The season is already lost,' said Zubair. 'But we have some hope from the upcoming Amarnath Yatra. Even though the pilgrimage doesn't directly benefit tourism, it might help instill confidence among tourists to return to the valley," he added. The Amarnath Yatra, an annual pilgrimage to the Holy Cave of Lord Shiva in the mountains of South Kashmir, is scheduled to begin on July 3. While its route passes through Pahalgam, the economic benefit to local tourism has historically been limited due to the restricted and high-security nature of the event. Still, many locals see it as a symbolic restart. For now, however, the once-vibrant Pahalgam continues to grapple with fear, uncertainty, and economic despair— a stark reminder of how terrorism continues to wound not just lives but livelihoods. The terror attack of April 22, which was claimed by 'The Resistance Front' (TRF), a front for Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit, has already brought India and Pakistan to the brink of a full-fledged war. Investigators identified the three attackers as Adil Hussain Thokar from Anantnag, and two Pakistani nationals, Ali Bahi alias Talha Bahi and Hashim Musa alias Suleman. To avenge the carnage, India launched 'Operation Sindoor' during the night of May 6–7, targeting 9 major terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Pakistan retaliated, and intense cross-border military operations ensued for 4 days, before a ceasefire was announced. Meanwhile, the Pahalgam attackers remain at large. Security forces believe the trio is still hiding in the treacherous forested mountains surrounding Pahalgam and a hunt continues. Security officials suspect the same group was behind at least three other attacks in Dera ki Gali in Poonch, Bota Patri in Gulmarg, and Gangangir in Ganderbal in a year and a half, leaving several Army men and nonlocal workers dead. 'We will get them,' a senior security officer said, confirming that large-scale combing operations are underway in the area. UNI MJR AKK BD SSP
Express Tribune
05-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
FIA launches inquiry over bank complaint
The FIA has registered an inquiry following a complaint lodged by officials of BankIslami Pakistan Limited, seeking record of five individuals — including three women — from all commercial banks. FIA's Commercial Banking Circle inquiry officer has written a letter to all the commercial banks, stating that after a written complaint by BankIslami senior officer Muhammad Shahid and Manager Zubair Ahmed, inquiry number 98/2024 has been registered against directors and associates of M/s Denim and Clothing, namely Farhan, Muhammad Hanif Machiyara, Maria Farhan, Iqra Hanif, and Aqsa Suleman Bawany. The FIA has requested the branch managers of the commercial banks to appear before the inquiry officer along with details of banks accounts and verified documents dated before Jan 8, 2025, including AOFs, SS cards, CNIC copies, complete debit and credit vouchers, IBFTVs account number, bank debit and credit cards and up-to-date account statements of the aforementioned individuals. It has directed banks to report whether these individuals hold any locker accounts or have availed other financial facilities. The FIA has also sought photocopies of any credit or debit transactions amounting to Rs100,000 or more, along with bank accounts details.
