Political leaders, media and human rights bodies condemn the abduction of the senior journalist   Herald Report   Islamabad: Journalist Matiullah Jan returned home late Tuesday night, nearly 12 hours after he was abducted from Sector G-6, a highly secured locality of the capital city in broad daylight, family sources said. Earlier on Tuesday, Matiullah Jan, known for his criticism …

‘We squandered a decade’ says UN’s outgoing special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. Goal to eradicate poverty by 2030 ‘completely off track’,  with Covid-19 likely to impoverish millions more, Australian academic Philip Alston says in his report published in the Guardians International institutions are losing the fight against global poverty despite “self-congratulatory” messages to the contrary, according to the UN’s …

by Beena Sarwar The country’s most prominent media owner-editor is detained and incarcerated. The image-conscious prime minister ignores a letter from United Nations officials about the detention, which Time magazine lists among the “10 ‘Most Urgent’ Cases of Threats to Press Freedom in the Age of Coronavirus.” The media tycoon is held for over 100 days without charge; five bail hearings are postponed, and the bench assigned …

Student’s Solidarity Protest against Poor Internet connectivity & falsified policies of HEC regarding online classes organised by All Baltistan Movement in Skardu.#teamABM Posted by ABM (All Baltistan Movement) on Tuesday, June 23, 2020 Students from GB, Kashmir, ex-Fata districts, Seraiki and Balochistan regions demand suspension of online classes, waiver of fees Inayat Abdali, Iqbal Salik & Aunil Muntazir   Gilgit/Ghizer/Skardu/Islamabad: …

Monal restaurant sealed for illegal construction and chopping 200 precious trees by Herald Reporter Islamabad: Pakistan’s top court has ordered the capital administration to halt all illegal constructions on Margalla Hills. The court ordered the capital administration to immediately halt the expansion of Monal Restaurant, a popular eatery and other construction activities at the picturesque hills which are protected under the …

Worshipers entering the Memon Mosque in Karachi, Pakistan, on Sunday. The mosque remained open during a three-day lockdown of the city. Photo:Saiyna Bashir While Pakistan’s government and military are at odds over how to respond, doctors are protesting to get equipment and more testing, and clerics are refusing to limit mosque gatherings, says a report published in The New York …

by Mariam Bokhari & Ayesha Mushtaq When a global pandemic burns through a country it first tests both its leadership as well as its national public resolve. In Pakistan much more is being tested, including the limits of the healthcare system across the federation, and the state’s ability to mobilise responses and shape civic engagement. First things first. The one …

Marches will be held in Islamabad, Lahore, Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Peshawar, Karachi and Quetta   High Asia Herald Report    The brave and resolute women of Pakistan take to the streets on March 8, for equal space, rights in the face of violent threats by the conservative groups and uninformed commercial media spreading hysteria, fear and obfuscation around trivial slogans and …

High Asia Herald Report Islamabad: The government’s top counsel on Thursday resigned from his post. He submitted his resignation to President Arif Alvi, media reports said. In his resignation letter, Khan said: “I note with profound regret that the Pakistan Bar Council, of which I am the Chairman, has demanded through its press release dated 19th of February 2020 that …

IHC wraps up cases against AWP PTM activists, asks government to protect the right to freedom of expression    High Asia Herald Report   Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday disposed of a petition of 23 workers who were arrested by the police last month for protesting against the arrest of PTM chief Manzoor Pashteen when the court …