BISP Temporarily Suspends Disbursements Amidst Heatwave

The Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) has decided to temporarily suspend cash disbursements to beneficiaries on 24th and 25th June 2023, Saturday and Sunday, in response to the ongoing heatwave affecting the country. This decision has been taken in the best interest of protecting precious lives, particularly women and children, from potential harm and inconvenience. The move to close the cash disbursement from the designated campsites comes after careful consideration of recommendations from relevant authorities. Despite the adequate arrangements made by BISP, in coordination with provincial/regional governments and partner banks, it has been determined that the existing measures may not be sufficient to ensure the convenient and safe delivery of funds to the beneficiaries during the heatwave. Cash disbursement on the same campsites will be resumed on Monday 26th June, 2023, and will continue until Wednesday, 28th June, 2023, across the country. The arrangements for disbursements will remain the same as those implemented on Friday, the 23rd June 2023. As of 6 pm today, June 23, over 2.9 million beneficiaries have already been served, with an impressive amount of Rs. 26.12 Billion disbursed from the campsites established nationwide. BISP acknowledges the inconvenience caused by the temporary suspension but remains committed to prioritizing the safety and well-being of its beneficiaries. The program appreciates the cooperation extended and understanding of all stakeholders during these challenging hours.

Dua Zahra, Zaheer recovered from Bahawalnagar

Dua Zehra and her husband Zaheer are now in police coustody the 14 years old missing girl has been recovered from Bahawalnagar, punjab along with her husband .

While hiding, they did not use cell phones and kept changing their location. Making their capture all the more difficult, they changed two houses in Lahore and moved around in Mansehra as well.

Dua's father has not been allowed to meet her as yet as she will be presented in court first on 10th June .

As per CIA, 45 raids were conducted and 16 people were arrested.

Police making arrangements to bring the teenage couple to karachi .

ICC Women’s World Cup: Hotels refuse to accommodate Pakistan team

CUTTACK - In the wake of protests and threats by radical outfits, the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) was forced to arrange separate accommodation for the Pakistan women’s team inside the Barbati Stadium in Cuttack, after five-star hotels showed reluctance to provide hospitality.

“The Pakistani players would have faced trouble while travelling from Bhubaneswar to Cuttack for the matches,” said OCA secretary Asirbad Behera. “So we have arranged for their accommodation on the Barabati Stadium premises.”

The women cricketers reached Cuttack from New Delhi on Sunday to participate in the ICC Women’s World Cup. The women cricketers, led by Sana Mir, were escorted by a heavy deployment which took them to the stadium.

According to the report, as most hotels in Bhubaneswar refused to host the Pakistani players under immense pressure and threats, the team will remain confined to the stadium throughout the tournament. However, the remaining group B teams playing their matches in Cuttack – Australia, New Zealand and South Africa – will stay in hotels in Bhubaneswar.

Right-wing outfits had warned hoteliers in Bhubaneswar against offering “hospitality to the Pakistani players”, following which posh hotels in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack withdrew, forcing the decision to house the players on the stadium premises.

However, the OCA promised the best lodging for the team at the stadium. “Accommodation for the Pakistan team became a headache,” an OCA official told The Times of India before adding that the decision was taken to ensure safety for the visitors.

“We will provide five-star facilities to the players at the Club House in the stadium. The Club House is equipped with a world class gymnasium and swimming pool", the official said. Nearly 600 security personnel, including officials, Special Security Battalion and Odisha police were deployed during the team’s arrival to ensure their safety on the way to the stadium.

Director General of Police (DGP) Prakash Mishra visited the stadium to review the security set-up and held discussions with OCA officials about the arrangements. Meanwhile, Pakistan team manager Ayesha Ashar said her side was well-prepared to put up an exciting performance in the World Cup. 

“I am grateful for receiving a warm welcome from all the fans,” said Ayesha after her arrival in Cuttack. “I will ask Indian fans to come in numbers to watch our matches.”

"The arrangements are more like we get in Pakistan," Ashar was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency. "We are happy with the facilities provided to us by the organisers." Pakistan open their campaign against Australia at the Barabati Stadium on Friday.

The Barabati Stadium Club House was chosen by the International Cricket Council for the Pakistani women cricketers.  "The ICC considered all options and the best security for the teams," the ICC said in a statement.  Cuttack was added as a venue only this month to accommodate Pakistan, and remove it from Mumbai, where the entire tournament was to have been staged. The Women's World Cup starts on Thursday. Pakistan's move also forced organisers to shift fellow Group B teams Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to Cuttack, as well as some Super Six and playoff games. However, the final will be in Mumbai on Feb 17. (Nation)

Beating up protesters is not the answer: HRCP

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has censured the merciless beating and ill-treatment of nurses protesting for their rights by police in Lahore on Thursday and called upon the government to be more imaginative and less heavy-handed in dealing with the people’s peaceful demands for their rights.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Commission said: “HRCP notes with concern and much distress the manner in which nurses protesting for their rights outside the Punjab Assembly in Lahore were beaten up on Thursday. It is a matter of grave concern that police used batons without restraint to disperse the protesters and it matters little whether the attackers were policemen or policewomen. The police action was manifestly ruthless and disproportionate to any ‘hazard’ the nurses were deemed to be causing. But this is not an isolated incident confined to any particular city or province of the country. Protesting teachers in Balochistan, and employees of the country’s biggest telecommunication company as well as gas department employees, among countless others have been dealt with in a similarly harsh manner even when they were not posing any threat to public security. The government must find a better method of dealing with these things and try listening to the people’s demands rather than focusing on the use of force to disperse those who come out on the streets to demand their rights.

USE OF PRESSURE TACTICS AGAINST AAISHA AHAD AND HER FAMILY IS A STATE TERRORISM: ALTAF HUSSAIN

Chief of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr Altaf Hussain has made an SOS appeal to Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Governor of the Punjab Sardar Latif Khosa to take serious notice of the unlawful confinement of Aaisha Ahad Malik, her parents, brothers and sister by the Punjab government. Mr Hussain said that justice should be done to the unfortunate family.

Mr Hussain said that Aaisha Ahad Malik and her family had been kept in unlawful confinement in their home, and serious threats were being given by the son of a big political personality to take back the case.  

Mr Hussain strongly demanded of the Federal Interior Minister and governor of the Punjab to give protection to Aaisha Ahad Malik and her family, and it should be ensured that the Punjab government does not keep the oppressed family in the illegal confinement. It should also be ensured that the Punjab government does not exert illegal and unconstitutional pressure on the family to change their principled stance directly or indirectly.  

Mr Hussain said that the illegal pressure being brought to bear on the family of Aaisha Ahad Malik was equal to unmitigated terrorism and should be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Notice should be taken of the illegal tactics of the Punjab government, and it should be proceeded against according to the law.