BJP’s attempt to unite Hindu fragments likely to fail, predicts Director ISC

ISLAMABAD, DEC 2 /DNA/ – The India Study Centre (ISC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted renowned French scholar Christophe Jaffrelot, for a roundtable discussion on “The Plight of Indian Minorities under Modi’s India.” The event was attended by academics, practitioners, diplomats, students and representatives of the media.

Dr. Khurram Abbas, Director ISC, in his introductory remarks said that the BJP’s attempt to unite all Hindu fragments together into a single Hindu party will fail as sub-castes galore had begun to create small parties of their own in every state. Hindus alone had 1,600 jatis, with multiple caste-like divisions and holding them together for a long time was highly challenging.

According to the Election Commission of India, 38 new parties registered after 2014, the year when Mr. Modi was sworn in as Prime Minister. To keep these parties united, the BJP required ‘enemy’ within and outside of India.

DG ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood welcomed the distinguished participants and emphasized the significance of the subject. He underlined that contemporary India was drifting towards deeper polarization, more religious intolerance, and increased violence. Rise in hate speech, mushrooming of vigilante groups, frequent mob lynchings, demolition of churches and mosques, schemes like ‘Love Jihad’ and ‘Ghar Wapsi’, and legislative measures like the National Register of Citizens and Citizens Amendment Act (CAA) were manifestations of the ‘Hindutva’ ideology, which had a deep impact on the minorities, especially Muslims.

He further pointed out the disturbing demographic change being effected in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) by turning the local Muslim majority into a minority in its own land through the colonial settler project. India under the BJP was also witnessing unprecedented rise in Islamophobia. The DG ISSI pointed out that Prof.Dr. Jafferlot, a leading international scholar on South Asia and India, had meticulously mapped India’s transformation and shown how Muslims faced increased social marginalization, institutional exclusion and judicial obliteration.In his presentation, Professor Jaffrelot affirmed that it was necessary to mention vigilantism and hate speeches; and that there was a lot more to cover when Muslims’ marginalization in today’s India was contemplated. In this context, three facets — namely institutional representation, socio-economic condition, and educational status — of Indian Muslims were worth examining. Through thoroughly researched quantitative data, Prof. Jaffrelot pointed out as to how Muslims in India were facing a consistent decline in their condition since 1947. Besides Muslims’ significant proportion in India’s overall population, they were highly underrepresented in government offices, but over-represented in jails. He asserted that the most deplorable reality about Muslims under the BJP was that their representation in elected assemblies, either in the Lok Sabha or State Assemblies, was severely decreasing. From the 1980s to 2019, Muslims participation in the Lok Sabha had decreased from 9 percent to just 4.6 percent. In major Indian states like UP, Muslims had been facing political marginalization.Prof. Jaffrelot also highlighted the yawning socio-economic gaps between Muslims and Hindus. Muslims in India were more deprived institutionally than other backward communities like Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Muslims’ share of wealth was just 9.5 percent compared to 36.1 percent of Hindu Upper castes and 33.3 percent of Hindu OBCs. Same was the case with education. There was a huge decline in Muslims going for higher education, and this gap had increased under the BJP government. In 2021-22, only 19.8 percent of the whole Muslim population entered higher education institutions. These factors had collectively caused Muslims’ deprivation under Modi’s India.During the interactive session, experts delved into the deepening marginalization of Muslims in socio-economic sectors, institutions, and education. Prof. Jaffrelot further illustrated the wealth gap, job losses, decreasing educational opportunities, and the threat to Urdu language in India. The discussion also touched upon the challenges faced by other minority communities, including Christians, and the role of the diaspora in spreading the ‘Hindutva’ ideology globally. The ongoing de-Kashmirization process, developments in South India, and the issue of Akhand Bharat were also discussed. The exchanges also covered the future trajectory of India, the potential for radicalization of Indian minorities due to their marginalization, and the geopolitical implications of the rise of the BJP-led ‘Hindutva’ ideology. Prof. Jaffrelot emphasized the importance of understanding the ground realities and the long-term impact of policies pursued by the incumbent Indian government.The Roundtable ended with concluding remarks by Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman BoG ISSI.

RAWALPINDI, DEC /DNA/ – General Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS) visited troops at Khairpur Tamewali (KPT) to witness Field Exercise of Bahawalpur Corps.

COAS was briefed about Field Exercise, aimed at enhancing professional skills at various tiers and battlefield procedures required to meet future challenges in operational environment.

COAS witnessed integrated fire and battle maneuvers of various elements, including Armour, Mechanized Infantry, Artillery, Air Defense, Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs) duly supported by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Combat Aviation.

Later, COAS interacted with troops participating in the exercise.

COAS appreciated the training standards, operational preparedness and high morale of officers and troops. COAS directed troops to keep serving the nation with traditional zeal and passion under all circumstances.

“We are cognizant of the challenges and with the support of the nation we are prepared to thwart any nefarious designs of the enemies of Pakistan”, COAS emphasized.

“Pakistan Army is fully prepared to defend territorial integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan against all odds. Pakistan Armed Forces are focused on defending the frontiers of motherland against full spectrum of threat and with the support of the nation, Armed Forces will defeat the enemies of Pakistan, InshaAllah, COAS concluded.

Earlier, on arrival, COAS was received by Commander Bahawalpur Corps.

DNA

ASHKHABAD CITY, DEC 1: Many thanks indeed for all of you for being with us today to share the Photo Exhibition dedicated to 31st anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations. The relevant protocol on it was signed in the Ashkhabad city, capital of Turkmenistan on May 10 1992. The copy of that doc is also displayed today in our Exhibition.

Let me first express my sincerest appreciation to Federal minister for National heritage and culture Mr. Syed Jamal Shah for his great support and guidness in arranging today`s event.

Special thanks indeed go to Mr. Muhammad Ayoub Jamali DG Pakistan National council of Arts and all his team for indispensible help and excellent cooperation in all arrangements of our Exhibition.

Together we are able to show to Pakistani public and Diplomatic corpse the retrospective and hystorical photos demonstrating the very active dynamic interaction of Uzbek and Pakistani leaders – Presidents, Prime Ministers and federal ministers.

Secretaries, additional secretaries, generals, DGs, ambassadors and  diplomats of our countries had made great input in cementing our ties through the 3 decades.

I`m glad to greet 2 of prominent heads of Pak missions who 24\7 tirelessly were serving for the active development of bilateral relations –my kind greetings are to Ambassadors – Mr Irfan Yusuf Shami and Mr. Riaz Ahmad Bukhari who are also graced the today`s occasion.

Please allow me express the very warm appreciation of course to prominent experts, researchers, experts, highly skilled journalists from our countries daily and immensely contributing for the strengthening for the re-connectivity of our countries and nations, Alhamdulillah.

Dear friends, ladies and gentleman,

After 3 decades of our active interaction let`s focus on the Connectivity strategy of our two regions South Asia and Central Asia – implementation of the projects for the boosting trade and economics,  transport linkages – cultural and people to people re-connectivity.

Alhamdullilah, this strategical approach is also is actively promoted by our country`s governments, experts`s community and most importantly supported by our young generation.

Our connectivity logically emanates from the closeness of cultures and religion traditions – carawan`s roads of the Central Asia with South Asia – Pakistan, China, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Butan and Bangladesh.

The rich scientific and cultural legacy of such great Ulemas like Imam Al-Bukhari, Imam At –Termizi, Al-Motrudi and Marghinani   scholars as Abu Ali Ibn Sina, Al-Ferghany, Abu Raihan Al-Beruni and Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur, Alloma Muhammad Iqbal, Mirza Ghalib is considered as a richest and common heritage of our religion.

The brilliant works of Rahman Baba, Khushhal Khan Hattak, Alloma Iqbal, Jalaluddin Rumi, Makhtumquli Fraghi, Sadriddin Aini, Mirza Golib, Alisher Navoi are well known in the world`s history, science and culture.

The period of our interactions were brightly manifested during the era of Ghandhara, Harappa civilizations, with the civilizations Saikhun and Jaihun rivers, Moghulistan and Khorasan cities -Samarqand, Bukhara, Khwarazm, Termiz which are the well known centers of Islamic cultural enlightment and sciences.

I`m sure that all Pakistanies are well aware of the common great heritage of the such dynasties like Amir Taymur`s, Zakhiriddin Muhammad Babar`s. The great successors of Bukharys, Mughals, Barlas, Termizi, Mirsas in Pakistan are bright followers of our connectivity, promoting the mutual understanding among our nations.

My sincerest thanks goes to two highly skilled artists – photographers Mr Ramzan Mughal and Mr Fazan Rabi who during last several years made beautiful photos of our common national and cultural heritage – from Tashkent to Islamabad, from Samarqand to  Lahore, Bukhara-e Sharif, Mazar-e Sharif to Golra Sharif and Uch Sharif to be displayed today in our Exhibition.

Dear friends, Ladies and gentlemen,

In last years our brotherly cooperation has been elevated to a level of the strategical partnership due to confidant political dialogue, strengthening the trade and industrial, and cultural cooperation.

Last 3 years we together have increased bilateral trade via brotherly Afghanistan based on Transit and Preferential trade agreements. Every year the bilateral trade is dynamically growing on 40-50% ($317 mln in 10 months 2023) and no doubt that our teams along with our colleagues will reach very soon the goals of recently signed 1 bln trade record, Inshallah.

Let me express confidence that with valuable and tireless efforts of 2 sides we will be able to gain remarkable results – strengthening people to people contacts, business to business forums while developing region to region connectivity.

Hon Minister Syes Jamali Shah, dear friends, ladies and gentlemen!

Exceptional privilege for me and my Embassy is to be a humble servant of the re-connectivity between our two regions and nations.

In conclusion, I`m honored to convey best wishes to all of you and hopefully with such events our 2 countries will celebrate many good occasions and achievements in coming future. Inshallah.

ISLAMABAD, DEC 01 (DNA) — Amidst the prevailing maritime situation in the Middle East, Pakistan Navy has deployed PNS TUGHRIL to ensure safety and security of merchant ships carrying shipments to and from Pakistani ports passing through one of the world’s busiest choke points in the Gulf of Aden.

Pakistan Navy is committed to ensuring freedom of navigation on high seas and safety of international sea lanes of communication besides safeguarding national maritime interests and trade through sea.

Pakistan Navy is well cognizant of its national obligation with regards to maintenance of rule based order in the region. In the same spirit, the Pakistan Navy regularly deploys its ships on Regional Maritime Security Patrols and also contributes to collaborative maritime security efforts under the ambit of Combined Maritime Forces. — DNA

ISLAMABAD: /DNA/ – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has started the process of receiving the applications of candidates to take part in the intra-party elections slated to be held today (Saturday), as the PTI founding Chairman Imran Khan-nominee for the slot of the Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has submitted his nomination papers.
According to the details, the nomination papers were received by Returning Officer, Sardar Masroof Khan here on Friday.
PTI senior central leader Ahmed Owais was the proposer in the nomination papers filed by Barrister Gohar Ali Khan for the slot of PTI Chairman while PTI Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan was his seconder.
PTI Chief Election Commissioner Advocate Niazullah Niazi was also present on the occasion.

KARACHI, DEC 1 /DNA/ – “Nazafreen Saigol Lakhani, President and Sarmad Ali, Secretary General of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society have expressed profound grief on behalf of APNS Office Bearers and members of the Executive Committee over the sad demise of Mr. Ajmal Dehlvi, Chief Editor, Daily Amn, Karachi and Mr. Habib-ur-Rehman, Managing Director, Daily Amn, Karachi.         

The APNS offered condolence to the bereaved families and prayed that Almighty Allah rest the departed souls in eternal peace and give them courage and patience to bear the loss. DNA

ISLAMABAD, Dec 01 (APP/DNA): President Dr Arif Alvi on Friday directed the Muslim Commercial Bank (MCB) to investigate and initiate criminal proceedings, including the registration of FIRs, against corrupt bank officials of Gojra Road Branch, Jhang.

The bank officials were involved in bank fraud.

He also directed MCB to return Rs 3.093 million to a customer who had been swindled out of his money through the connivance of a tea boy and bank officials posted at the branch.

The president gave these directions while deciding upon a representation filed by MCB against the decision of the Banking Mohtasib directing the bank to pay the complainant a sum of Rs 3.093 million.

As per details, Muhammad Munir Ahmed etc (complainants) were maintaining a joint account at the MCB’s Gojra Road Branch, Jhang Saddar.

They complained that upon reconciliation of the account in March 2021, they found a huge shortfall in their account balance and that 292 deposit slips totalling Rs 3,941,660/- were not credited to their account.

They also held valid deposit slips duly signed and stamped by the bank officials for the deposits.

They approached the bank for the redressal of their complaint but the Bank rejected their claim on the basis that a tea boy, posted at the branch, used to visit their laboratory for cash collection and the deposit slips were affixed with a
“Utility Bills Received” stamp instead of “cash received” stamp.

They further contended that the tea boy was employed by a third-party organization that had already lodged an FIR against him.

The bank stated that it was not responsible for the personal dealings of the customer with the tea boy which took place outside the Branch premises.

Feeling aggrieved, they approached the Banking Mohtasib for redressal of their grievance.

The Banking Mohtasib accepted the complaint and directed the Bank to credit the complainant’s account with a sum of PKR 3.093 million and report compliance within 40 days. Subsequently, the Bank filed a representation against the Mohtasib’s decision with the President.

The president conducted a personal hearing of the case at Aiwan-e-Sadr and rejected the Bank’s representation.

In his decision, the president stated that the Bank’s denial of the claims of the Complainants on the ground that the deposit slip neither had the required “Cash Received” stamp nor was validated with any system entry was not tenable as the receipt was a bona fide document and admittedly issued under the signature of the bank’s authorized Teller Services Officers (TSO) who had been penalized in terms of dismissal from Bank’s service.

 He further observed that the bank branch had violated the procedures by not complying with the bank’s own SOPs, introducing on its own a new system of signing deposit slips, affixing the “Utility Bills Received” stamp (on customer copy only) without receiving cash as well as collecting cash from customers from their business places.

This, he added, proved the bank’s maladministration, malpractice, system failure and control weaknesses.

The president held that the bank was vicariously liable for the acts of their employees’ conduct who were in active service of the Bank when the Complainants had become victims of fraud.

“Shifting of liability on a tea boy is preposterous and carries no weight as he was admittedly, deputed by the branch to collect cash from customers’ business place and pre-signed and pre-stamped deposit slips were handed over to him by the branch and, as such, he was working as bank’s agent and not as customer’s agent”, he said.

He added that such fraud could not have been committed by a mere tea boy without the connivance of the corrupt bank officials by violating the defined procedure and in-vogue banking practices.

The president concluded that the Bank failed to fulfil its responsibility, breached the trust of the customers, and put them at a disadvantageous and risky position.

He added that the appointment of vigilant, honest and professional bank officials/staff was the responsibility of the bank and not of the complainants, who had posed trust in the bank.

“It is a case of wrongdoing and maladministration by the bank owing to their negligence. The bank is responsible for making good the loss of the complainants.”, held the President and rejected the bank’s representation.

The event featured live performances by renowned artists Hadiqa Kiyani, Irfan Ali Taj, talented students of Lief Larsen Music Center and students from the School of Disabled Children showcasing the country’s musical heritage, allowing attendees to connect with the heart and soul of Pakistan

DNA

ISLAMABAD: Serena Hotels under its Cultural Diplomacy initiative joined hands with the Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan, UNESCO, the Aga Khan Foundation and KOICA to host a musical evening ‘Mystic Melodies’ to promote the rich cultural heritage of Pakistan through folk music. This event aimed to showcase the cultural expression via creative industries to develop understanding of the folk music traditions of Pakistan.

A substantial turnout of guests graced the event, including distinguished dignitaries, diplomats, the Austrian Ambassador, the Egyptian Ambassador, Federal and Provincial Ministers, Government Officials representatives from the corporate sector, members of the business community, and media professionals. The attendees enjoyed the vibrant traditions, melodious tunes, and captivating performances that reflect the essence of Pakistan’s cultural identity.

The event featured live performances by renowned artists Hadiqa Kiyani, Irfan Ali Taj, talented students of Lief Larsen Music Center and students from the School of Disabled Children showcasing the country’s musical heritage, allowing attendees to connect with the heart and soul of Pakistan. The Leif Larsen Music Centre was founded in April 2011 at the Altit Fort which provides facilities for traditional musicians and performers of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral to train youth in different traditions and genres of mountain music.

The Minister of National Heritage and Culture, Mr. Jamal Shah, was the chief guest at the event. In his speech he delved into the significance and impact of these programs, shedding light on their collective contribution to cultural preservation, architectural excellence, and the promotion of music as integral components of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s overarching vision. His insightful briefing illuminated the audience on the diverse facets of these initiatives and their role in fostering a deeper appreciation for cultural heritage.

Over the past two decades, Serena Hotels has played an important role in bringing Pakistani culture into the hearts and minds of the people. Serena has consistently supported cultural diplomacy initiatives led by the Strang Art Gallery, the musical platform Sarangi, and the Craft Bazaars, all of which have significantly contributed to showcasing and nurturing young talent. Serena Hotels is excited and honored to present itself as a platform to celebrate the cultural richness of Pakistan. The aim of these initiatives is to create an atmosphere where attendees can not only enjoy spectacular performances but also gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the diverse traditions that make Pakistan unique.