Top Stories
Textile workers threaten sit-in outside Sindh Assembly
January 25th, 2021; Bureau Report; KARACHI; Textile and garment industry workers from Karachi have threatened to stage a sit-in in front of the Sindh Assembly if their "sweatshop-like" working conditions are not improved.
Allegedly abducted by the police over 2 months ago, the whereabouts of a Sanghar villager remains unknown
January 24th, 2021; By Hamid Riaz; LAHORE; Sanghar resident Abdul Sattar Awan has been missing for over 2 months. In a petition filed before the Sindh High Court his brother claims that Sattar was abducted by the police.
Police has failed to produce Sattar despite High Court's orders.
PFUJ, PBC slam PEMRA over Bol News’ suspension
January 23rd, 2021; By Ahmad Saeed; LAHORE; The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Pakistan Bar Council have slammed the Pakistan Electronic Media Authority (PEMRA) over suspension of Bol News broadcast, calling it an attack on freedom of expression.
Students’ march against in-person exams
January 26th, 2021; By Hamid Riaz; LAHORE; Students across the country are marching against ‘in-person exams’ being unliterally imposed on them by university administrations after months of online classes. University administrations have responded with dictatorial high handedness with several injuries being reported.
Govt rolls back mortgaging F-9 park following public backlash
26th January 2021; By Ayesha Mir; ISLAMABAD; Following outrage by citizens and civil society activists against the government's plan to mortgage Islamabad's scenic F-9 park, PM Imran Khan announced rolling back the decision
Rights Watch
Rights Watch | 26th January 2021
Rawalpindi couple convicted of abducting, raping and blackmailing a student with footage of her assault, accused gets death penalty while his wife gets life term. A young university student who was abandoned by her paramour at the emergency ward of a Lahore hospital died due to a botched abortion, police have arrested the suspect as well as his accomplice. Civil society organizations express serious concern over amendment to KP child protection law that will make public videos of executions of sex offenders.
Rights Watch | 25th January 2021
A Khudian Khas assistant sub-inspector (ASI) has been booked and detained for allegedly raping a woman at gunpoint; police however claim both the rape survivor and her husband are habitual offenders. Mardan police have arrested two of five suspects for gang-raping a married woman on January 20. A Dera Ghazi Khan man murdered his two minor daughters by setting them alight in bid to frame his third wife and her family.
Rights Watch | 23rd January 2021
CanSinoBIO has offered Pakistan special access and pricing options for 20 million single-shot COVID-19 vaccine doses, according to the firm's local partner AJM Pharma Pvt; Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani reiterates schools are obligated to call in half its enrolled student body for classes on alternating days; Fisherfolk community denounces discriminatory policies, calls for uplift schemes and an end to harassment of fisherfolk by security personnel
Journalism for Human Rights in Pakistan. Most popular stories you must read today!
Govt rolls back mortgaging F-9 park following public backlash
26th January 2021; By Ayesha Mir; ISLAMABAD; Following outrage by citizens and civil society activists against the government's plan to mortgage Islamabad's scenic F-9 park, PM Imran Khan announced rolling back the decision
Textile workers threaten sit-in outside Sindh Assembly
January 25th, 2021; Bureau Report; KARACHI; Textile and garment industry workers from Karachi have threatened to stage a sit-in in front of the Sindh Assembly if their "sweatshop-like" working conditions are not improved.
PFUJ, PBC slam PEMRA over Bol News’ suspension
January 23rd, 2021; By Ahmad Saeed; LAHORE; The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Pakistan Bar Council have slammed the Pakistan Electronic Media Authority (PEMRA) over suspension of Bol News broadcast, calling it an attack on freedom of expression.
Asma Jahangir group bags fifth consecutive win as Khushdil Khan elected PBC Vice Chair
January 22nd, 2021; By Ahmad Saeed; LAHORE; Khushdil Khan of Asma Jahangir group has been elected unopposed as Vice Chair of the Pakistan Bar Council, for a year-long term, capping the group’s fifth consecutive victory for the lawyer’s body top slot.
PM’s Advisor Moeed Yousaf says “Imran Khan wants 3G 4G services restored in all of former FATA, but there are risks”
January 21st, 2021; Bureau Report; LAHORE; “The PM understands the necessity of highspeed internet in the modern-age but his govt is trying to balance the “risks” involved," says PM's National Security advisor Yusaf Moeed.
PFUJ denounces Media Owners-Government Collusion
January 20th, 2021; Bureau Report; LAHORE; After three days of intensive discussions, the executive committee of the PFUJ has released a document outlining the hardships being faced by media workers in the country. The body has threatened the government with a protest campaign if it does not address these hardships.
Anti-rape ordinance not included in Khuzdar boy’s rape and murder case
January 20th, 2021; By Asim Khan; QUETTA; Police claim that 6 y/o Ameer Hamza's autopsy did not confirm sexual assault; his family say that hours before he died, the boy had told them he was raped & set on fire.
Amendment bill seeks to expedite cases of women property rights
January 21th, 2021; By Rehan Piracha; LAHORE; An amendment bill seeking to set 60 days timeframe for civil courts to decide cases of women’s property rights has been passed by the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice.
Women finally have say on water resource management in Sindh
January 19th, 2021; By Rehan Piracha; LAHORE; A landmark legislation will allow close to 92,000 women to become part of water resource management in Sindh, according to Rana Ansar, a provincial legislator from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement who proposed a bill for women participation in water governance structures in the province three years ago.
شمالی وزیرستان: سیکورٹی فورسز کے ہاتھوں پی ٹی ایم کے کارکن کاگھر تباہ
بیورو رپورٹ; لاہور; شمالی وزیرستان میں پی ٹی ایم کے مقامی رہنما کے گھر کے سیکورٹی فورسز کے ہاتھوں انہدام اور ایک بچے کی ہلاکت کے خللاف پی ٹی ایم کا پہیہ جام ہڑتال کا اعلان
محمود اچکزئی کی مینار پاکستان پر کی گئی تقریر نفرت انگیزی کی بجاۓ قومی ہم آہنگی کو فروغ دینے کی کوشش تھی: عدالت
بیورو رپورٹ; لاہور; لاہور کی ایک مقامی عدالت نے محمود اچکزئی کے خلاف نفرت انگیز تقریر کرنے کے الزام میں مقدمہ درج کرنے کی درخواست کومسترد کرتے ہوئے قرار دیا کہ تاریخی سچائیوں کی تلاش آزادی اظہار رائے کا لازمی جزو ہے اور مذکورہ تقریرتو قومی ہم آہنگی کو فروغ دینے کی کوشش تھی
Sindh high court reprimands government over non-recovery of missing persons
January 18th, 2021; Bureau Report; LAHORE; Sindh High Court (SHC) seeks reply from the federal government over the non-recovery of five citizens allegedly abducted by the state several years ago.
COVID-19 WATCH
COVID Watch | 26th January 2021
DRAP approves Russia's Sputnik-V for emergency use, meanwhile provinces inform NCOC that staff at teaching hospitals, and district and tehsil headquarters hospitals are nearing completion of their COVID-19 vaccination training. Researchers at the Montreal Heart institute find that colchicine helps significantly reduce the risk of developing complications and dying from COVID-19. Moderna finds its vaccine can protect against the UK and South African coronavirus variants
COVID Watch | 25th January 2021
Peshawar accounts for half of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's COVID-19 fatalities. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying states that the Chinese government is coordinating with firms to expedite vaccine exports to Pakistan. US health authorities claims that severe allergic reactions to Moderna's coronavirus vaccine are rare
Journalism for Human Rights in Pakistan. Most popular stories you must read today!
Women lawmakers agree on increasing marriage age for girls in Punjab
January 14th, 2021; By Ahmed Saeed; LAHORE; Lawmakers from both sides of the Punjab Assembly have joined hands to end the menace of child marriages by increasing the age of marriage to 18 years for girls in Punjab and make CNICs a mandatory document to solemnize the marriage.
A “Judicial Crusade” against ‘ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES’
January 13th, 2021; Staff Reporter; LAHORE; Summons, fines & threat of arrests in 2021 has seen a series of actions taken by the higher courts against the govt's inability to recover victims of enforced disappearance.
IHC hears petition seeking ban on Netflix
January 6th, 2021; By Hamid Riaz; LAHORE; In a petition filed before the IHC petitioner, Tariq Asad asserts that if Netflix fails to remove the 'sacrilegious' movie the website should be banned in the country altogether- much like the Youtube Ban of 2012.
Life in the Time of COVID
The year has ended but COVID is still around. Will dealing with an uncertain future be the new normal in 2021? Voicepk.net brings to you the stories of five working women from across Pakistan, who have lost their livelihood due to the global pandemic, but not their strength.
HRCP report on Karachi floods reveals number of reasons
December 24th, 2020; Bureau Report; LAHORE; On Wednesday the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) released an in-depth fact-finding report on the devastating urban floods that occurred in Karachi this year.
A silenced Meesha Battles Cases Amid Vilification Drive
December 23rd, 2020; By Rehan Piracha; LAHORE; Apart from the legal challenges, Meesha Shafi faced a targeted vilification campaign on social media, primarily to discredit her harassment claims, say women rights activists.
Noted columnist Irfan Husain passes away in England
December 16th, 2020; By Rehan Piracha; LAHORE; Friends and admirers pay tribute to noted columnist Irfan Hussain who passed away in England on Wednesday.
Big tech outlines objections to social media rules in new letter to PM
December 11th, 2020; By Rehan Piracha; LAHORE; In a new letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan, big technology firms have outlined their objections to the social media rules in the country, renewing calls for a credible consultation with the gove6rnment.
Gender based violence complaints have intensified in COVID
December 10th, 2020; By Rehan Piracha; LAHORE; Complaints related to domestic and online violence has intensified during the COVID period in the country, according to key findings of a report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan presented at a webinar to mark Human Rights Day on December 10.
Editorials
Is Nawaz’s battle cry for salvation or civilian supremacy
October 17th, 2020; By Munizae Jahangir; LAHORE; In an unprecedented first, Punjab’s most popular leader called out a sitting army head, Qamar Bajwa & ISI Chief General Faiz on meddling in politics, kidnapping journalists, & pressurizing the judiciary
Culture of Silence
Spotlight, the 2015 Academy Award winning motion picture, brought to global attention the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston sex abuse scandal of 2002. The film was based on factual events, showing how a group of reporters ...
News MakersPOPULARMost popular Videos you must view today!
The woman who could not be told ‘no’
Meet Farzana Siddique, the first woman Vice President in the 30 years-long history of the Faisalabad Press Club. As one of the few female crime reporters in the country, much less the province, Farzana has no qualms of shouldering the responsibility of also fighting for the rights of her fellow journalists in the third largest city of Pakistan. Watch our exclusive interview with the woman who could not be told "no".
In conversation with Muhammad Ali Durrani: Saving democracy through national dialogue
After a period of eight years, General Secretary of the PML-F and former Federal Minister for the Musharraf regime, Muhammad Ali Durrani has entered the political fray, paving the way for a grand national dialogue between the PTI, the Opposition, the judiciary, the people and - unsurprisingly - the military.
Fawad “Frodo” Hassan on marrying classical and contemporary music
Fawad Hassan - Frodo is ready to shake up the music world with his take on Eastern classical music infused with contemporary Western this new year.
HOT ARTICLESPOPULARRead Recent hot Articles by Voicepk.net
Feature Articles
Allegedly abducted by the police over 2 months ago, the whereabouts of a Sanghar villager remains unknown
January 24th, 2021; By Hamid Riaz; LAHORE; Sanghar resident Abdul Sattar Awan has been missing for over 2 months. In a petition filed before the Sindh High Court his brother claims that Sattar was abducted by the police.
Police has failed to produce Sattar despite High Court's orders.
A “Judicial Crusade” against ‘ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCES’
January 13th, 2021; Staff Reporter; LAHORE; Summons, fines & threat of arrests in 2021 has seen a series of actions taken by the higher courts against the govt's inability to recover victims of enforced disappearance.
LHC bans virginity test countrywide
January 4th, 2021; By Rehan Piracha; LAHORE; In a historic judgment, the Lahore High Court on Monday banned the two-finger test and the hymen test of female rape victims across the country, declaring the procedures unscientific, discriminatory, illegal and unconstitutional.
Workers' Right
PFUJ conference highlights #EnoughIsEnough campaign
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist (PFUJ) has launched a decisive movement for the resolution of issues faced by media workers in the country, setting a three-month deadline for the government to take tangible actions towards a framework that can provide physical, economic, and mental security to media persons, said Nasir Zaidi, the PFUJ’s Secretary General, as he read out a declaration.
Resolve journalists’ issues within 3 months, PFUJ tells govt
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) on Friday gave the government a three-month deadline to resolve the ongoing media crisis which has severely compromised the independence of media in the country.
Civil society expresses outrage on Macch incident
The brutal incident at Machh and the lack of the response shown by the government has given the civil society much to be angry about. They denounced the lack of government writ and demanded protection for marginalised citizens like the Hazaras.
Mehar Sattar: Farmer not Terrorist
December 13, 2020; By Hamid Riaz; LAHORE; Mehar Sattar returned home this September after spending over 4 years in jail including almost 2 in solitary confinement.
Though his passion for helping the oppressed remains firm he still fears being dragged back to a cage.
Press Releases
PFUJ denounces Media Owners-Government Collusion
January 20th, 2021; Bureau Report; LAHORE; After three days of intensive discussions, the executive committee of the PFUJ has released a document outlining the hardships being faced by media workers in the country. The body has threatened the government with a protest campaign if it does not address these hardships.
Pakistan among five most deadliest countries for journalists in 2020: RSF
50 journalists worldwide attacked and killed during 2020; Pakistan among top 5 worst countries.
Legal Issues
PFUJ, PBC slam PEMRA over Bol News’ suspension
January 23rd, 2021; By Ahmad Saeed; LAHORE; The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Pakistan Bar Council have slammed the Pakistan Electronic Media Authority (PEMRA) over suspension of Bol News broadcast, calling it an attack on freedom of expression.
Asma Jahangir group bags fifth consecutive win as Khushdil Khan elected PBC Vice Chair
January 22nd, 2021; By Ahmad Saeed; LAHORE; Khushdil Khan of Asma Jahangir group has been elected unopposed as Vice Chair of the Pakistan Bar Council, for a year-long term, capping the group’s fifth consecutive victory for the lawyer’s body top slot.
Anti-rape ordinance not included in Khuzdar boy’s rape and murder case
January 20th, 2021; By Asim Khan; QUETTA; Police claim that 6 y/o Ameer Hamza's autopsy did not confirm sexual assault; his family say that hours before he died, the boy had told them he was raped & set on fire.
Amendment bill seeks to expedite cases of women property rights
January 21th, 2021; By Rehan Piracha; LAHORE; An amendment bill seeking to set 60 days timeframe for civil courts to decide cases of women’s property rights has been passed by the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice.
محمود اچکزئی کی مینار پاکستان پر کی گئی تقریر نفرت انگیزی کی بجاۓ قومی ہم آہنگی کو فروغ دینے کی کوشش تھی: عدالت
بیورو رپورٹ; لاہور; لاہور کی ایک مقامی عدالت نے محمود اچکزئی کے خلاف نفرت انگیز تقریر کرنے کے الزام میں مقدمہ درج کرنے کی درخواست کومسترد کرتے ہوئے قرار دیا کہ تاریخی سچائیوں کی تلاش آزادی اظہار رائے کا لازمی جزو ہے اور مذکورہ تقریرتو قومی ہم آہنگی کو فروغ دینے کی کوشش تھی
Freedom Of Expression
PFUJ, PBC slam PEMRA over Bol News’ suspension
January 23rd, 2021; By Ahmad Saeed; LAHORE; The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Pakistan Bar Council have slammed the Pakistan Electronic Media Authority (PEMRA) over suspension of Bol News broadcast, calling it an attack on freedom of expression.
PFUJ denounces Media Owners-Government Collusion
January 20th, 2021; Bureau Report; LAHORE; After three days of intensive discussions, the executive committee of the PFUJ has released a document outlining the hardships being faced by media workers in the country. The body has threatened the government with a protest campaign if it does not address these hardships.
International Stories
Was there a lone survivor in the Machh incident?
January 9th, 2021; By Ahmad Saeed & Asim Ahmad Khan; QUETTA/LAHORE; By Ahmad Saeed; LAHORE; A statement by the Afghan Embassy revealed that a person named Rasul had survived the Mach Incident and is currently being held by the Balochistan Police.
Pakistan among five most deadliest countries for journalists in 2020: RSF
50 journalists worldwide attacked and killed during 2020; Pakistan among top 5 worst countries.
‘German sister’ gets top award for work on leprosy
Dr. Chris Schmotzer, has been awarded the top German civil award, Order of Merit, for outstanding contribution to the treatment of leprosy in Pakistan.
APS ATTACK: 6 years on, parents still await justice
“They are gone and can't come back," says one of the parents. "But we will strive till the end of our days to see that they get justice."
Most of the parents of the children martyred during APS massacre have not reached any closure even after the passage of six years. The only times where they have an opportunity for empathy, is when they all collect to remember their lost children. It is only them who can understand the depth of the grief that consumes them.
Judicial body for cross border prisoners’ rights must be revived
Human rights activists and experts while discussing the plight of Pakistani and Indian prisoners in either country's jails, have called for the revival of the joint judicial commission on prisoners.
South Asian rights activists decry attacks on civil society & media
December 9th, 2020; Bureau Report; LAHORE; In a webinar hosted by SAHR, Prominent rights activists from South Asian countries decry the use of power by state and non-state actors on civil society and press to quell the dissenting voices.
Silent coup against democracy underway in US, fears SAHR
South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) has expressed concern over President Donald Trump’s refusal to accede defeat in the recent presidential elections, fearing the emergence of ‘copycat’ leaders who will now justify their authoritarian and unlawful moves with reference to the United States.
Sri Lanka must cease cremation of Muslims who die of COVID: SAHR
November 16th, 2020; Bureau Report; LAHORE; South Asians for Human Rights has expressed its concern over Sri Lankan authorities insisting on mandatory cremation for Muslims who die of or are suspected to have died of COVID, in violation of Islamic funeral practices.
