Infinity Social Updates

Widespread and in some cases ethnically motivated sexual violence is being used in conflict-ravaged Sudan as “a tool of war”, a dozen UN experts said on Thursday, demanding that perpetrators be held accountable. Since April, forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan — Sudan’s de facto head of state — have been at war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. Over 10,000 people have been killed, according to a conservative estimate from the Armed Conflict and Event Data Project, and the UN says 6.3 million more have been forced to flee their homes. “We are appalled by reports of widespread use of gender-based violence, including sexual violence, as a tool of war to subjugate, terrorise, break and punish women and girls,” the independent United Nations rights experts said in a joint statement. The experts, including the special rapporteurs on violence against women and girls and sexual exploitation and sexual ab...

Ex-president Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday called Balochistan the “heart of Pakistan”, lamenting that this view was not shared by Islamabad or the other provinces. He made the remarks while addressing a rally in Quetta to mark the party’s 56th foundation day in an effort to improve its prospects in the province in the run up to the general elections. “Pakistan has everything. And Balochistan is the heart of Pakistan. Unfortunately, Islamabad does not see that Balochistan is the heart. The other provinces do not see it [either],” he lamented. “But we see that Balochistan is the heart of Pakistan. And it is very important to win over this heart. Without winning over the heart of Balochistan, we cannot fix Pakistan.” Zardari said that there was “grief” prevalent in the province, which needed to be addressed. “There is much grief […] in Balochistan and we need to address that. We tried to do it in our time but it was not enough,” he said, adding that PPP wanted the people of Balochista...

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday hinted at conducting the trial of former prime minister Imran Khan in a contempt case at Adiala Jail, where he is incarcerated, citing a report submitted by the interior ministry. The development follows Imran’s hearings in the Toshakhana, cipher, and Al-Qadir Trust cases already being conducted at jail premises due to security concerns. The ECP had initiated contempt proceedings against the PTI chief, former party leader Asad Umar and former information minister Fawad Chaudhry last year for allegedly using “ intemperate ” language against the chief election commissioner and the electoral watchdog. However, instead of appearing before the ECP, the three had challenged the ECP notices and contempt proceedings in various high courts on the grounds that Section 10 of the Elections Act 2017, which is the statutory provision regarding the commission’s power to punish for contempt, was against the Constitution. The PTI leaders had al...

A group of academics on Thursday filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the government’s campaign to “en masse deport Afghans” and seeking orders to restrain law enforcement agencies from implementing the decision. The plea, filed by six faculty members of the Lahore University of Management Sciences under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, has been fixed for hearing on Dec 1. Article 184 (3) empowers the Supreme Court to hear cases from individuals who believe their fundamental rights have been violated and the issue is of public importance or take suo motu action (act on its own initiative). In November, the government initiated a nationwide campaign to deport illegal foreign nationals, the majority of whom are Afghans. While the decision had prompted criticism from Afghanistan and several other quarters, the caretakers refused to budge, insisting the move was not aimed at any particular ethnic group. Of the more than four million Afghans living in Pakistan, the g...

Skipper Shan Masood set Pakistan a tough target on Wednesday for their forthcoming Test tour of Australia — make history. Pakistan have never won a Test series in the 12 times they have toured down under, with the South Asian side losing the last 14 five-dayers in a row there. But Masood, 34, who took over the Test side after Babar Azam relinquished the captaincy in all formats of cricket following Pakistan’s disastrous World Cup campaign, sees an opportunity. “When you have not achieved something in history, then you have an opportunity to change it,” he told a news conference in Lahore ahead of the team’s departure. “So we will make an effort to produce positive results for Pakistan and for the World Test championship,” he said. Pakistan are on the top of the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle with wins in both Tests against Sri Lanka, while India are second and Australia third on the nine-team table. But Australia are flying high after winning the last cycle of the ...

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday directed the government to ensure criminal proceedings were initiated against “delinquent officials” if concrete evidence was found regarding their role in the blaze that erupted at a commercial building on Karachi’s Rashid Minhas road last week. The directives were issued on a petition seeking implementation of laws regarding fire safety in buildings and prevention of fire related incidents in high-rises of the city. Eleven people died while five others were injured after a blaze erupted inside the R.J. Shopping Mall on Saturday because of a suspected short circuit. According to officials, the deaths occurred because the building had no ventilation. On Sunday, police had registered a first information report (FIR) of the fire at the Sharea Faisal police station. The case was registered on behalf of the state but no one was nominated in the FIR. Instead, the FIR stated that the “connivance” of K-Electric (KE) and other institutions — which ...

A preliminary report prepared by the Fire Brigade Department has stated that there was “no kind of public safety system” in place at the commercial high-rise building in Karachi’s Gulistan-i-Jauhar area which caught on fire over the weekend, it emerged on Tuesday. At least 11 people died while five others were injured after a blaze erupted inside the R.J. Shopping Mall at 6:20am on Saturday because of a suspected short circuit. The fire erupted on the fourth floor before spreading to other parts of the building. According to officials, the deaths occurred because the building had no ventilation. A police team was subsequently formed to investigate the fire. On Sunday, police had registered a first information report (FIR) of the fire at the Sharea Faisal police station. The case was registered on behalf of the state but no one was nominated in the FIR. Instead, the FIR stated that the “connivance” of K-Electric (KE) and other institutions — which gave approval for the building’s map...

Indian police in occupied Kashmir have arrested seven university students under tough anti-terrorism laws for alleged intimidation and “anti-India sloganeering” after Australia’s victory over India in the Cricket World Cup final. Police said on Tuesday that the students were arrested following “anti-India sloganeering and intimidation of others who did not agree with them” after the match. Hosts India were favourites to capture the one-day cricket crown in the November 19 final but they lost to Australia in a six-wicket defeat. Police said the Kashmiri students at an agriculture university were arrested last week after a complaint filed by another student, who came from outside the territory. “They started abusing me and targeting me for being a supporter of my country and also threatened me to shut up otherwise I would be shot (sic),” the police case file seen by AFP notes, quoting the complainant. Police charged the seven students under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (...

After wrapping up his trip to the United Arab Emirates, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar will embark on a two-day visit to Kuwait later today. According to Radio Pakistan , the premier will meet Kuwait Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al Jaber Al Sabah and the Kuwait PM Sheikh Ahmed Nawaf Al Ahmed Al Sabah. During his visit, Kakar will also sign various memorandums of understanding (MoU) in the fields of manpower, information technology, mineral exploration, food security, energy and defence, the report said. It added that 2023 marked the 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Kuwait. PM visits memorial of UAE’s national heroes, Sheikh Zayed mosque Earlier today, PM Kakar visited a landmark in Abu Dhabi which paid tribute to the sacrifices rendered by UAE’s national heroes. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said the premier was welcomed by Sheikh Thayeb bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the chairman of the Office of Development and Martyrs F...

Indian rescuers were on the verge on Tuesday of bringing out 41 men trapped in a collapsed road tunnel after laying the final section of pipe in the culmination of a marathon 17-day operation. Ambulances moved towards the mouth of the tunnel entrance, preparing to receive the men who have been trapped since a portion of the under-construction tunnel in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand collapsed. “The work of laying pipes in the tunnel to take out the workers has been completed,” chief minister of Uttarakhand state Pushkar Singh Dhami said, adding they would be brought out of the tunnel “soon”. Rescue teams were seen in photos on social media smiling and flashing victory signs as the drilling ended through the tonnes of earth, concrete and rubble that had been blocking the workers’ escape. Stretchers have been specially fitted with wheels to pull the exhausted men out through 57 metres (187 feet) of steel pipe. “We are thankful to God and the rescuers who worked hard to save ...

PTI leader and former special assistant to the prime minister Mirza Shahzad Akbar on Monday said that he was attacked at his England home, adding that “acidic liquid” was thrown at him. “Last evening, I was attacked at my address in England (where I am living in exile with my family) by unknown assailant/s who threw acidic liquid at me. Thankfully, my wife and children are safe, however, I sustained some injuries but nothing life-threatening,” Akbar said on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He added that police and emergency services arrived instantly and his house was now under protection. “I will not be intimidated nor bow down to those who are doing this,” he said without elaborating further. Akbar was a former special assistant to the prime minister (SAPM) during the PTI government. He had left Pakistan soon after PTI Chairman Imran Khan was ousted through a no-confidence motion in April last year. He had reportedly left for Dubai from where he departed for the U...

Two civilians died and 10 others, including three Pakistan Army soldiers, were injured in a suicide attack on a convoy of security forces in Baka Khel area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district, the military’s media affairs wing said on Monday. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relation (ISPR) said that a “motorcycle borne suicide bomber” detonated himself on a security forces’ convoy on Sunday. It said that the bomber was affiliated with the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group and “later identified as an Afghan national”. The ISPR said that “two innocent civilians embraced martyrdom while seven civilians and three soldiers got injured”. “Sanitisation operation is being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area. Security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave civilians and soldiers further strength our resolve,” the ISPR said. Last night, the ISPR said that eight militants were killed in an intelli...

For over a month and a half, Gaza has endured relentless bombardment and devastation following Israel’s retaliatory attacks initiated after the events of October 7. Despite global protests and pleas from international humanitarian organisations to halt the onslaught, and the UN lamenting that “no place is safe” in the strip, Israel shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. The death toll is staggering with more than 14,000 lives lost in Gaza, predominantly children and women. At least 50 journalists have been killed in Gaza since Israel began its retaliatory attacks on the strip, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports. Israeli bombardment of south Lebanon also killed two journalists from Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen television, the broadcaster reported on November 21. The third civilian killed with the journalists was a “contributor”. Amidst the chaos, Gazan journalists have taken it upon themselves to reveal the harsh realities on the ground using limited resources and access....