Aasim Sajjad Akhtar Christmas is hardly a big occasion in Pakistan. More than two million Pakistani Christians celebrate it guardedly, with few from the Muslim majority joining them. Government officials issue cut-and-paste statements and put up a Christmas tree or two in public places, and then return to the business of lending legitimacy to majoritarianism. Indeed, Christians in this country …

by Waseem Altaf Since the Muslims of the South Asian sub-continent were divided into ethnic, linguistic, cultural, provincial and class lines, the only thread available to the makers of the state of Pakistan was religion which was used to form the basis of a separate national identity. To further strengthen the role of Islamic nationalism, the “Objectives Resolution” was adopted …

The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, marked on August 15, has prompted a sequence of pushbacks on the rights and regular movements of citizens, especially women who, as they anticipated, are facing multiple threats to political representation, education and public work.

The euphemism of “collateral damage” encompassed bombing raids and cruise missile assassination strikes that killed civilians, meaning women and girls as well as men and boys. Berry quotes one critic of the war who argued that the alleged concern for women put a “feminist glow on some of the most brutal bombings.

Tajik rider Malika Rajabova is used to being the only woman on the field when she plays buzkashi, a Central Asian sport in which competitors on horseback fight to grab a goat carcass.

There is a need for creating awareness about the rights of women and persons with disability, and struggle for an end to objectification, discrimination, harassment, and exploitation of women and the demolition of patriarchal structures to establish an egalitarian and pluralistic society

The tradition of using microphones for calling to prayers in mosques started in 1930s. While many Muslim scholars were at first skeptical of its use on theological grounds, it established itself firmly as a sophisticated method in call for prayers and religious summons in mosques all over the world.

In the remote mountain region of Chitral valley of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the Kalash people, followers of a pre-Islamic religion, mark death as few on the planet do. With dance, drums, and gunfire, the colorful funeral ritual is an elaborate and expensive celebration of a loved one's life.

HRCP’s flagship annual report State of Human Rights in 2020 documents widespread human rights violations by HAH Special Correspondent Islamabad: The novel Coronavirus that swept the globe last year infected and killed millions. The pandemic battered economies and social fabric. Pakistan and Gilgit-Baltistan were no exceptions. The beginning of the pandemic and consequent lockdowns widened social inequalities, increased poverty, domestic …

Modern audio recording studio and other facilities established in a record two-month time. Songs of legendary artist and singer Jan Ali will be recorded first. High Asia Herald Report Artist and singer Jan ali along with PNCA Director-General inaugurate culture Centre at Sports and Culture Complex, Jutial in Gilgit on Thursday, April 8, 2021. Photo HAH/PNCA Pakistan National Council of …

High Asia Herald Report Journalists, politicians, academics, intellectuals and rights activists have expressed solidarity with the organisers of Aurat Azadi March (AAM) and have condemned the smear campaign by obscurantist rightwing groups and trolls. The Aurat March was held in several cities of Pakistan to commemorate International Women’s Day on 8th March. A joint statement signed by over 1,000 leading …

By Tariq Siyal ISLAMABAD: Writers, academics and intellectuals of the twin cities praised the contribution of Khadim Hussain Soomro in promoting the message of love and harmony of mystics of Sindh. They described him an embodiment of Sufism. Renowned human rights defender and social worker Tahira Abdullah speaking at a literary event at the Pakistan Academy of Letters on Wednesday, …

By Rozina Ahmed Marriage is a social contract between an adult man and woman with their free will to live a life together. The success of this relationship depends on shared ideals, mutual respect, dignity and equal distribution of economic and social responsibilities. However, historically, women have always been disadvantaged and exploited in the name of customs and traditions associated …

By: Reshma P. Musofer The educational reforms and ‘single-national curriculum’ have lately become a widely debated topic in Pakistan and across the globe. However, little efforts have been seen to respond to the practical challenges pertaining to ways of enactment and imparting education. My recent research paper as part of my PhD thesis, published in Curriculum Journal, is an effort …

News Desk Islamabad: Majority of women face restrictions from their families when using the internet, a new study finds. Six out of 10 women internet users face some kind of restrictions from their families, finds the survey titled “Women Disconnected: Feminist Case Studies on the Gender Digital Divide Amidst COVID-19”, conducted by Media Matters for Democracy (MMfD). The study examines …