An open letter to SC: List of dual nationals submitted Begum Shehnaz Sheikh

Begum Shehnaz Sheikh

PML-Q’s former MNA Begum Shehnaz Sheikh submitted through an open letter to the Supreme Court on Monday a list of parliamentarians having dual nationality.

In her open letter written to the Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, she alleged that the cases of all the parliamentarians having dual nationality were not equally dealt with. She requested the apex court to put the procedure pertaining to reimbursement of benefits enjoyed by the dual nationality holder parliamentarians, on hold until the final verdict on the pending review pleas of the dual nationality holders was delivered.

In her letter, she mentioned the names of 20 dual nationality holder parliamentarians. She said a few of those, whose membership was suspended by the apex court, still continued to remain at their offices. The letter includes the names of Asim Hussain, Raza Haroon, Shahbeen Rizvi, Tayyib Hussain, Fauzia Ejaz and Jameel Ashraf.

Shehnaz Sheikh alleged that she was not justly dealt with despite she had tendered her resignation. She claimed that all dual nationality holder members of parliament were not equally treated. She said all dual nationality holder parliamentarians were not directed to return all the monetary benefits they had drawn during the period they occupied public offices and other emoluments from the public exchequer, including monthly remunerations, TA/DA and facilities of accommodation, along with other perks etc.

She requested the apex court to stop all proceedings of reimbursement of monetary benefits granted to the suspended parliamentarians until a decision came on the review pleas filed against the Supreme Court’s verdict of disqualifying 11 members of parliament.

It may be recalled here that the membership of Begum Shehnaz Sheikh was suspended by the Supreme Court in October 2012 for holding Australian nationality, while being a Pakistani national and a member of the parliament.(The News)

Diwali Symbolizes The Triumph Of Good Over Evil And It Is The Festival Of Lights: Altaf Hussain

The Chief of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Mr Altaf Hussain has greeted the Hindu community in Pakistan and throughout the world on the occasion of the festival of Diwali. He said that Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the Hindu community and it symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. It is also the occasion of joy, mirth and happiness and celebrated as a festival of lights.
Mr Hussain said that all religions teach about respecting the places of worship and festivals of other religions besides recognizing the dignity of mankind. Those who do not follow these basic precepts of their religion are, in fact, acting contrary to the teachings of their religion.
Mr Hussain asked the Hindu community to offer prayers for peace and promotion of religious tolerance and harmony in the country. He asked them to offer special prayers for elimination of the heartless terrorists who were killing innocent people. 

Ansar, Sarim burney split over hindu boy's televised conversion

Ansar Burney

The conversion to Islam of a Hindu boy working with the Ansar Burney Trust has split the Burney brothers with one defending it and the other calling it a ‘drama’.

On Wednesday, chat show host Maya Khan opened the doors to another controversy by televising live Sunil’s conversion in the prime-time Ramazan slot.

Sunil works at the Ansar Burney Trust, a human rights organisation whose chairman, Ansar, was recently in the headlines for the case of the Pakistani sailors taken hostage by Somali pirates.

Ansar skewered the conversion, called it a ‘drama’, and announced that he would sue Maya Khan. He publicly lashed out at his younger brother Sarim on Twitter, saying that he had dismissed Sarim three months ago from the trust on corruption charges.

Sarim Burney

“If we [want] to save our country, we shall have to fight against corruption, and I started it from my own office at Karachi,” said Ansar tweeting about his brother Sarim. Talking to the Indian media, Ansar said that “[Sunil] was offered incentives, and though keen, he had no idea as to what was happening.”

Sarim was the vice chairman at the Ansar Burney Trust, which was started in 1980 as the Prisoners Aid Society. He dismissed the corruption allegations, saying that Ansar had always handled the funds and the accounts. “Ansar should know about corruption as he was directly involved with the monetary affairs of the organisation,” Sarim told The Express Tribune. He maintained that he had separated their work for the past three months and formed his own trust, Sarim Burney Welfare Trust. “This did not please Ansar as he always wants to be in the limelight,” alleged Sarim.

Sarim maintained that Ansar had settled in London 22 years ago and he had been running the organisation and “keeping his name alive”. Today Sarim has removed the signboards with Ansar’s name, and replaced it with his own at their office in Arambagh.

Maya Khan

Sarim backed the conversion. “I have seen the boy fast when he had not embraced Islam. He did it of his own free will. Being miles away, how can Ansar say that it was forced?” Sarim also claimed that Sunil worked for the Sarim Burney Welfare Trust and not the Ansar Burney Welfare Trust.

Ansar has served as the federal human rights minister, and the UN’s expert adviser on human rights. He is currently in London and could not be immediately reached for comment.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2012

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Sectarian killings won’t stop sans tackling root cause: HRCP

The continuing spilling of blood in sectarian killings in Quetta and Gilgit Baltistan manifests a blatant failure to address religious intolerance in society, which constitutes one of the biggest threats for the country, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said on Wednesday.

The Commission said in a statement: “HRCP is alarmed by the continuing sectarian bloodshed in Pakistan, particularly in Quetta and Gilgit Baltistan. The killings demonstrate a disturbing pattern and appear to be part of a well-planned sequence. It has been stated that miscreants from Afghanistan have been involved. That may be one problem but it certainly is not the only one. The mindless bloodshed that we witness day in and day out is rooted in religious intolerance cultivated by the state. Politics in the name of religion has substantially worsened what was already an appalling situation. It is alarming that no one responsible for these killings has been nabbed in years. The people are paying the price of indifference with their lives. Rather than wasting time on addressing mere symptoms,the root cause of the problem must be identified and addressed. Instead of living in denial, we must now identify the policies that strengthen extremism and promote faith-based hatred in society. These constitute the single biggest threat to Pakistan.

In these perilous times, all those who believe in people’s rights, human dignity and Pakistan’s future must not remain silent. Otherwise the consequences for the country will be unimaginably disastrous. It is time for the government, all democratic-minded political parties and conscious citizens to join hands to think of a way out of this brutal vortex in order to rescue the state that has been held to ransom by extremism and obscurantism.”

HRCP has deep concern at Sindh University situation

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has strongly condemned the recent developments atSindh University where, following the killing of Professor Bashir Channar on January 2, unjustified action has been taken against protesting teachers.

A statement issued by the Commission on Thursday said: “HRCP notes with alarm that the services of two representatives of Sindh University Teachers’ Association, Dr. Arfana Mallah and Dr. Azhar Ali Shah, have been terminated and show-cause notices issued to other teachers. The university had only reopened a few days ago on the assurance of the Sindh Governor that the vice-chancellor of Sindh University, who is past the age of retirement, would be replaced in accordance with the demands of the teachers.

“HRCP also has serious reservations over the authorities’ apathetic approach towards acknowledging and addressing teachers’ concerns. It defies reason why the teachers must protests for weeks upon weeks before their concerns register on the official radar. The teachers have protested long and in a peaceful manner for demands that are not unreasonable: a judicial probe into the assassination of Professor Bashir, withdrawal of police and Rangers from the campus, restoration of student unions and removal of the vice chancellor.

“It is regrettable that Sindh University and most other universities in the province are headed by academics who have crossed the retirement age. In a recent meeting with the HRCP vice-chairperson for Sindh and members of HRCP Council, the Sindh Governor had agreed to look into the issues concerning the Sindh University. HRCP calls upon the Governor, in his capacity as chancellor of Sindh University, to rescind the decisions regarding the dismissal and issuance of show-cause notices to teachers and take effective steps to fulfil the government’s obligation to ensure an atmosphere free from intimidation and conducive for academic progress at the university.”

NGOs to sue channel for Maya Khan dating raid episode

While many berated her and called her team ‘vigil aunties’ and her tactics a ‘witch hunt’, Maya Khan has also come under fire from four local non-governmental organisations for her morning show episode aired on 17th January. These NGOs have taken the matter to the Supreme Court and plan to file a suit against a private TV channel concerning a morning show episode. Maya Khan, the former host of a morning show, ‘hunted’ down dating couples in a Karachi park along with a group of about 15 women and a cameraman for an episode of her show. Her actions sparked outrage across the country, forcing the channel to fire her after she refused to issue an apology. (Pakistan Today)