Category: Columns

  Pakistan is currently grappling with a constitutional crisis following the unanimous approval of the 2023 census results by the Council of Common Interests (CCI). This approval may have significant implications for the upcoming general elections scheduled for later this year. The CCI’s decision has paved the way for the delimitation of constituencies and the...

The Supreme Court of India (SCI) is set to hear today a batch of nearly 23 petitions challenging the Modi government’s decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution, which had given special status to Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The petitions, to be taken up by a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, will...

An endless bombardment of news and gossip and images has rendered us, manic information addicts. It broke me. It might break you, too.   I was sitting in a large meditation hall in a converted novitiate in central Massachusetts when I reached into my pocket for my iPhone. A woman in the front of the...

In a remarkable turn of events, Tabita Nazir Gill, a Christian nurse from Pakistan, was able to escape false blasphemy charges with the help of Bishop Iftikhar Indryas, a respected religious leader. Bishop Indryas ensured Tabita’s safe relocation to Canada, where she can rebuild her life free from persecution. This story highlights the challenges faced...

On June 28, 2023, at the third meeting of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress — the country’s top legislature — adopted “The Law on Foreign Relations of the People’s Republic of China”. Dubbed the country’s “first comprehensive foreign relations law”, the law was enacted on July 1st and would provide a framework...

Pakistan, a nation with a rich cultural heritage, faces significant challenges in its quest for women’s empowerment, particularly within the context of an illiterate society. Illiteracy rates in Pakistan, especially among women, remain alarmingly high, impeding progress toward gender equality and hindering the nation’s overall development. In this article, we delve into the complex interplay...

According to a report, Asma Gulfam, a 28-year-old Christian housecleaner in the Paka Ghara area of Sialkot District, Punjab was allegedly beaten and confined for a week by her employers after expressing her desire to leave her job due to pregnancy. The incident took place in early April, when Gulfam informed her employer, Huda Adnan,...

Shehersaaz and UN-Habitat jointly organized an event to mark the World Environment Day 2023 with theme “Solution to Plastic Pollution” at NUST University. A comprehensive discussion was carried out to highlight issues related to climate change. Country Program Manager – UN Habitat Pakistan, Jawed Ali Khan was the chief guest. He said that, “We have...

The Christian teenagers identified as Adil Baber and Simon Masih have been accused of blasphemy in Lahore. The allegations were levelled against them by the Police constable Zahid Sohail, soon after he had indulged in a fight with the young accusers on the 18th of May. According to the registered First Information Report (FIR) No...