HARIPUR: The area magistrate allowed two days physical remand of the woman accused of having bludgeoned to death her minor stepson, police said on 8th July. Kotnajibullah police quoted Ansar Hussain, a resident of Muhallah Katha Kotnajibullah, as saying that he was a daily wager at a grocery shop in Taxila. On Monday, he left for his job in the morning leaving his only son Rehan Ansar, 8, with his wife Huma Khitab, who
Child Rights in Focus
BARA: The police arrested the main accused involved in the kidnapping case of a minor girl in Bara tehsil of the Khyber tribal district, police officials said on 08-July-205. They said a police team raided Chorlaka Chowk in Kalakhel and arrested the main accused identified as Hussain, son of Khista Jan, resident of Akakhel. The accused was shifted to Bara lockup for further investigation. It is to be mentioned here that District Police Officer,
MUZAFFARABAD: At least 25 schoolchildren and a driver sustained injuries after a van fell into a gorge near Chikar hill station in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s (AJK) Neelum Valley. The AJK police said that the injured children and van driver were shifted to the hospital. According to the Superintendent Police (SP) Mirza Zahid, the van driver and two children are in critical condition. The affected children were taken to the DHQ Hospital Hattian
The policy paper analyzes the newly enacted Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2025, which sets 18 years as the minimum legal age of marriage for all genders. It highlights the Act’s progressive legal reforms, such as stricter penalties, protection measures, and alignment with international human rights standards. However, it also identifies significant gaps, including lack of enforcement clarity, absence of victim support mechanisms, and potential conflict with religious laws. Read the full
ISLAMABAD: Highlighting the legal and ethical ramifications of media coverage during criminal investigations, the Supreme Court on 7th July urged media professionals to exercise responsibility in order to safeguard the rights of both the accused and victims while reporting on criminal proceedings. “A disproportionate and excessive media spotlight and the manner it is presented is likely to create perceptions of guilt and influence the public as well as those who are associated with the
PESHAWAR: Members of a UK-based organisation conducted 70 free, non-invasive, and open cardiac surgeries on poor children at Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar (LRH) during their first visit to Pakistan. The mission consisting of 15 paediatric cardiac surgeons representing Muntada AID, a UK-based charity group, in collaboration with paediatric cardiology ward of LRH performed complex heart procedures for which patients were prepared beforehand. Dr Sadia Ilyas, head of the department, said that all procedures and
The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) submitted an alternative report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child as part of Pakistan’s 6th periodic review under the UNCRC. The report highlights key child rights concerns in Pakistan, focusing on child marriage, juvenile justice, and child labor, while pointing to legal gaps and socio-economic challenges. It draws on NCHR’s independent research and consultations, and offers actionable recommendations to strengthen Pakistan’s compliance with
Despite widespread awareness of the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), mothers in Karachi’s urban slums face significant barriers that prevent them from fully adhering to recommended practices, a new study has found. Myths, lack of family support, maternal health issues and socioeconomic pressures continue to hinder optimal infant feeding practices even though caregivers understand its importance. These findings came out as a result of a qualitative study conducted in the informal settlements of Rehri
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training on 07-July-2025 pushed for stronger educational reforms, and put under scrutiny the Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design (PIFD) amendments, free milk initiative, and special education policy. The committee meeting, presided by its chairperson Senator Bushra Anjum Butt at the Parliament House, reaffirmed its commitment to improving governance, inclusivity, and transparency in education sector. On the agenda item moved by Senator Sarmad Ali regarding
ABBOTTABBAD. A 12 year old domestic help was allegedly raped and murdered at a residential property in Jinnahabad. Mirpur Police identified the victims as a girl who was found murdered at the residence of Harris Latif, an influential figure who originally hails from from Shergarh. A police team swiftly responded, arrested Harris and registered a case. A post-mortem examination conducted at DHQ hospital revealed that the child was indeed subject to sexual assault; her
ISLAMABAD: The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) will provide a $9m grant to improve access to and quality of early childhood and primary education in Balochistan. The funding aims to enhance learning environments and strengthen reading and numeracy skills for boys and girls in GPE-supported schools across the province. GPE, a global initiative to address the education crisis, is coordinating this grant through two key agencies — the World Bank and Unicef. The World
LAHORE: Before schools across Punjab closed for the summer vacation in May this year, a surprising issue came to light: more than 46,000 government teachers in the province were found to be surplus, meaning they were posted at public schools that didn’t actually need them. This was revealed in a briefing to Punjab’s Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat here on 04-July-2025. The School Education Department (SED) officials revealed that hundreds of government schools across