by Rozina Ahmed Debate over women’s right to property and inheritance in Pakistan, in general, and in Gilgit-Baltistan, in particular, is commonplace in mainstream media, social media, and political circles. Although women’s right to property and inheritance is mandated by Islamic Shariah as well as the Constitution of Pakistan, it is rarely honored in practice. Even in regions where the …

There is a need for a rational debate on the death penalty involving scholars, jurists, academia, civil society and human rights defenders and legislation on the scope of the President’s powers to grant pardons to resolve the ambiguities created by the rulings of the superior courts.

The two-day events aimed at providing entertainment and engaging 90 prisoners including four women in healthy activities By Gul Hamaad Farooqi Chitral: A two-day sports festival was organized for the Chitral District Jail inmates for the first time in the history of the region. There are 90 prisoners, including four women. The sports event was organized by District Sports Officer …

Participants of an awareness session demand a new legal framework for digital and electronic media journalists and workers and; updating of existing laws for print media.

Since July, the courts have handed down more than 5,000 verdicts with heavy sentences against members of a Shiite Ismaili ethnic group. About 100 detainees, including seven journalists, are awaiting trial. Authorities in Tajikistan have forced the closure of two religious bodies in the capital Dushanbe within a succession of a week, according to media reports. The institutions are the …

Senator Farhatullah Babar says a new instrument of law to redefine the mandate of ISI and to bring the intelligence agencies under the ambit of the constitution to tackle the issue.

It should also provide guarantees that those deprived of liberty are kept at a fully authorized place of detention, provide protection to victims, their families and witnesses and also compensation to them.

By Ziauddin Ali Shah As Pakistan commemorates the 75th Independence Day, it is important to reflect upon the achievements, failures, developments and issues in Gilgit-Baltistan from different perspectives and see how, as a nation, we have reached this adversity. The region, administered by Pakistan, is home to the three largest mountain ranges and massif of snow-clad lofty peaks, scenic pastures, …

By Gul Hameed Farooqui A beautiful view of Oveer Lasht Valley in Upper Chitral now facing climate-change-induced danger. Photo by Gul Hamaad Farooqui/HAH Daniyal visited his scenic valley Oveer Lasht nestled in the Hindu Kush Mountains to enjoy summer vacations with peace of mind and enjoy its tranquillity escaping the humid and scorching hot weather of Karachi. But to his …

In addition to needing a male chaperone to go places within the war-torn country, women are now required to bring a male family member with them if they hope to study abroad.

By Inayat Amir The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called upon the state to criminalize torture and make legislations for its prevention. On International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the HRCP said that neither a state of war nor an order from a superior authority justified torture which hurts the very foundation of the rule of …

By Dr. Naazir Mahmood The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) is an area where one would expect much better labour laws and working conditions compared to other parts of the country. Sadly, this is not true. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) keeps an eye on such issues, conducts fact-finding missions across the country and holds dialogues. On June 7, …

By Rozina Parveen When the horrors of life outway the terrors of death a man commits suicide — Albert Camus Suicide cases are on the rise in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. According to media reports in Pakistan 20 people, mostly female, aged between 15 and 35 years, take their lives every day. According to studies and survey reports, there has been …

The mission is especially alarmed by the apparent surge in suicide cases in various parts of GB, particularly in district Ghizer. A large number of these victims comprise women and the mission has reason to believe that some cases of honour killings have been labelled suicide and thus ‘forgotten

The Pamir region happens to be the only part of the country where protesters still take to the streets against the government.

Pakistan’s media has been grappling with an existential crisis in recent years, with critical areas going from bad to worse. This includes a staggering two-fifths of media jobs — 8,000 out of 20,000 — being wiped out, partly because of lifeline public sector advertising having shrunk by over half, and a squeezed media economy that is drying up even private sector advertising.