PPP leader Sharmila Farooqi has castigated Pakistani actors for not visiting the flood-hit areas and expressing their solidarity with the climate catastrophe’s victims.
“Not a single one of them (Pakistani stars) even bothered to visit any flood-affected area or show any solidarity in cash or kind except for Hadiqa Kiani,” Farooqi stated in an Instagram post, adding that it was in sharp contrast to Hollywood actor Angelia Jolie, who visited the flood-hit areas.
Jolie, who is a special envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, visited people displaced by the floods with international aid organisation IRC in an effort to raise awareness of the issues faced by people in the country, including in some of the worst affected areas in Sindh.
The politician said that despite a catastrophe in the country, Pakistani actors are abroad for an awards ceremony.
Farooqi said although she “truly” believes in cultural activities, award shows, performances, and promoting local talent, artists, and actors, it would have been better had they shown support.
“It would have been a great support if all of them had reached out to their fellow countrymen who have lost their homes, lives and livelihood to the devastating floods,” she said.
Farooqi said there is a time for everything: to celebrate and to mourn. “We have a humanitarian crisis in our country, this is the time to stand by them, with them, to hold, support and love them.”
The PPP leader said every Pakistani has a responsibility towards the nation and its people who have given them so much.
“It’s payback time.”
Hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the floods are living in the open. Stagnant floodwaters, spread over hundreds of kilometres, may take two to six months to recede.
Already they have led to widespread cases of skin and eye infections, diarrhoea, malaria, typhoid and dengue fever.
Authorities and aid workers have said more immediate help is needed for displaced families exposed to swarms of mosquitoes and other hazards, such as snake and dog bites.
Despite the efforts of the government and local and foreign relief organisations, many people are in dire need of food, shelter, medical assistance and medicines.
A historic and intense monsoon dumped about three times as much rain as Pakistan’s three-decade average. Combined with glacial melt, this caused unprecedented flooding.
The deluge, which scientists say was exacerbated by climate change, has affected nearly 33 million people in the South Asian nation of 220 million. It has swept away homes, crops, bridges, roads and livestock in damages estimated at $30 billion.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) conducted a hearing about the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) plea for the revocation of Bushra Bibi’s bail.
The court, led by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, rejected the FIA’s petition during the hearing.
Judicial Proceedings
Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb sought information regarding Bushra Bibi’s location, to which her attorney, Barrister Salman Safdar, affirmed her attendance in court.
The judge urged the counsel to regard the matters with gravity, underscoring the necessity of adherence to trial protocols.
The court sought details about instances where Bushra Bibi had been exempted from attending trial hearings and clarified that if the High Court grants bail and the accused fails to appear, the trial court holds the authority to cancel the bail.
Justice Aurangzeb assured that such actions would not amount to contempt of the High Court’s order.
Based on these considerations, the court closed the proceedings and dismissed the FIA’s plea.
The Supreme Court has officially accepted the plea submitted by the PTI chairman for a judicial probe into the events of May 9 for a comprehensive hearing.
The constitutional bench of the Supreme Court annulled the registrar’s office’s objections to the petition and instructed the office to allocate a case number and arrange the hearing.
The PTI chairman was represented by prominent attorney Hamid Khan, who appeared in court to argue for the petition’s admission.
The Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) already convicted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in connection with the incidents on May 9 and denied his bail on eight distinct counts.
The court’s finding was delivered in a six-page written order by ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul.
The written ruling emphasized substantial evidence against the PTI founder, comprising audio and visual recordings of his directives to incite violence.
The court observed that witnesses had provided testimony on the conspiracy planned by Imran Khan at Zaman Park, where he purportedly strategized for his possible arrest by intending to disrupt state functions via his supporters.
Imran Khan’s legal counsel contended that he was in custody at the time of the incidents, proposing that bail be granted in accordance with precedents where bail was awarded in like circumstances following detention.
Nevertheless, the court rejected this argument, underscoring that the case’s nature was not a trifling issue of conspiracy or incitement.
The prosecution established that Mr. Khan had explicitly incited assaults on military and governmental facilities and had galvanized both his commanders and supporters to adhere to his directives.
The decision additionally cited the Lahore High Court’s finding regarding a prior release granted to Ijaz Chaudhry, highlighting Imran Khan’s involvement in the conspiracy. The court dismissed the defense’s challenge over the prosecution’s lack of specificity concerning the date, time, or location of the purported conspiracy, affirming that the scheme was allegedly devised on May 7 and May 9 at Zaman Park.
The prosecution asserts that undercover police officers, masquerading as PTI supporters, intercepted discussions outlining the scheme.
This increase, according to details, followed the submission of a report to the Islamabad High Court in response to a petition brought by Norin, the sister of the PTI founder.
Punjab has the most cases against Imran Khan (99), according to the Ministry of Interior’s report that breaks down the cases by area.
There are 76 cases in Islamabad, according to the Islamabad Police data, compared to two in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In addition, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is investigating three instances, while the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is still investigating seven cases.
Cases against Imran Khan also concern the protests in October, November, and December. In addition, there is an ongoing appeal in the Toshakhana criminal case against his sentencing.
Yesterday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder along with 60 other PTI leaders were indicted in the GHQ attack case.
Imran Khan and sixty other party leaders were charged in the GHQ attack case by Judge Amjad Ali Shah of the anti-terrorism court.
Imran Khan, who is presently detained at Adiala Jail, was released on bail in the Toshakhana case but was arrested again by the police in the New Town PS case.