The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has dismissed the appeal of a convicted rapist and killer, affirming his death sentence as handed down by the trial court. A bench comprising Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah concluded that the medical evidence conclusively established the appellant’s involvement in the sexual assault and brutal murder of an eight-year-old girl in Nowshera district. The court found the prosecution’s account of the incident to be natural, trustworthy, and
Child Rights in Focus
“Child Marriage in Sindh: A Political Economy Analysis and Policy Options,” presents a comprehensive analysis of the factors contributing to child marriage in Sindh, one of the four provinces of Pakistan. The study was conducted by the Population Council and commissioned by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) as part of a broader effort to understand and address child marriage in Pakistan. Read Child Marriage in Sindh: A Political Economy Analysis and Policy Options
Sharp Rise in Number of Out-of-School Children
January 22, 2024
Pakistan is facing a staggering education crisis, with a whopping 26.2 million out-of-school children (OSC), according to a recent report by the Pakistan Institute of Education in collaboration with UNESCO. This number represents a disturbing 40% increase from 2021 to 2022, with Pakistan now ranking third in the world after Nigeria and India in terms of the highest number of OSC. The report highlights a bleak picture across all provinces, with Punjab leading the
Punjab Urged to Act on Enforcement of Hindu Marriage Act
January 19, 2024
ISLAMABAD: The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) has called upon the Punjab government to promptly and decisively implement the Hindu Marriage Act of 2017. In a letter from NCHR Member Punjab, Nadeem Ashraf, to Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, the commission emphasized the urgent need for the notification of Hindu marriage registrars, possibly secretaries of union councils. NCHR Chairperson Rabiya Javeri Agha, in a statement, revealed that the NCHR Regional Office Lahore
Poliovirus detected in sewage samples from 9 locations
January 19, 2024
According to the News, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health Islamabad has confirmed the detection of Type-1 Wild Poliovirus (WPV1) in nine environmental (sewage) samples collected in December 2023. The poliovirus was detected in the environmental samples from Multan, Karachi South, Karachi Malir, Peshawar, Nowshera, Dera Ismail Khan, Quetta, Hub and Mastung. In Multan, the environmental sample was collected on December 18, 2023 from the ‘Ali Town’
Japanese grant of $3.62m to fight polio in Pakistan
January 18, 2024
The Japanese government has announced $3.62 million grant to procure essential oral polio vaccines as part of its continued support for polio eradication efforts in Pakistan. Pakistan will use the funds to procure more than 21m doses of vaccines to support polio campaigns in 2024. According to a statement issued by the health ministry, Pakistan is one of the two countries in the world that has yet to eradicate polio. In 2023, the country
Supreme Court upholds the women’s right to seek khula
January 17, 2024
According to a report by Daily Tribune, The Supreme Court on January 15, 2024 has noted that Islam confers the right of khula—dissolution of marriage—to woman and a Muslim woman can get herself released from the bond of marriage if she feels, due to any reason, that she could not live with her husband within the limits prescribed by Allah Almighty. “The legislature while introducing amendment in the Family Court Act, 1964 has derived
Islamabad police establish first cybercrime investigation unit
January 16, 2024
The newly inaugurated Cybercrime Investigation Unit within the Pakistan police department has been officially established as part of Islamabad Police’s efforts to strengthen the fight against cybercrimes. This milestone initiative comes on the heels of amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), empowering Islamabad Police to register cybercrime cases under Section 30. Seeking to harness specialised expertise, Islamabad Police have collaborated with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to leverage technical assistance in
Gang using women, children and killers to extort money
January 16, 2024
Gangsters have been using women, children and contract killers to carry out their extortion activities in Karachi, an arrested suspect revealed on 11 Jan 2024 by a Daily News report. The suspect, Kabir Ahmed, is allegedly associated with gangster Wasiullah Lakho’s group based in Lyari, the District City police spokesperson said. During the initial interrogation, the suspect revealed that the Lakho gang has become active once again, starting its extortion activities in the Lyari
Case-Study on Afghan Children Education in Pakistan
January 16, 2024
A brief impact report released by Relief International in August 2023 discussed evidence-based case study on Afghan children in Education in Pakistan highlighting social behaviour change and retention. Read/Download Report
Mismanagement and Irregularities in School Procurement
January 15, 2024
According to a news report published by Daily The News, the acquisition of school furniture during the tenure of former education minister Syed Sardar Shah has been revealed to be marred by extensive mismanagement, irregularities, and substantial corruption, as per a government report presented to the Sindh High Court (SHC). The report, submitted in response to a case addressing the absence of furniture in public schools, raises serious concerns about the allocation and utilization
Health Dept. for age limit for girls’ marriage
January 12, 2024
The primary and secondary healthcare department has come up with a proposal to enhance the age limit of girl child for marriage following reports that the hormonal changes during adolescence are leading to physiological disorders. Currently, the age for girl child is 16 years old. Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Minister Dr Jamal Nasir said this while speaking at a consultative session held under the auspices of the National Commission on the Status of